Democratic presidential hopeful Rep. Tim Ryan Timothy (Tim) RyanNow's the time to make 'Social Emotional Learning' a national priority Mourners gather outside Supreme Court after passing of Ruth Bader Ginsburg Lincoln Project hits Trump for criticizing Goodyear, 'an American company' MORE (D-Ohio) on Saturday announced an economic plan aimed at strengthening the middle class.

The plan aims to give a boost to the manufacturing sector, double union membership and expand apprenticeship programs, in an effort to rebuild "our forgotten cities."

Ryan also called to raise the minimum wage to $15, allow public sector employees the abiliity to collectively bargain and proposes an increase infrastructure funding.

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The Ohio congressman, whose longshot campaign has largely focused on manufacturing jobs and issues, said he would establish a U.S. Chief Manufacturing Officer who would set production goals and advocate for manufacturing workers.

"When I am President I will never forget that workers come first, and that our economic policy cannot put corporations before the hardworking men and women of our country," Ryan said in a post describing the plan.

Our economic policy cannot put corporations before the hardworking men and women of our country. Today, I'm releasing my industrial plan to re-empower workers and revive the American middle-class. — Tim Ryan (@TimRyan) July 27, 2019

Ryan made the stage for the first round of Democratic debates last month, but has failed to gain traction in the polls. NBC News reported Friday, however, that two campaign staffers for Former Vice President Joe Biden Joe BidenPelosi slams Trump executive order on pre-existing conditions: It 'isn't worth the paper it's signed on' Hillicon Valley: Subpoenas for Facebook, Google and Twitter on the cards | Wray rebuffs mail-in voting conspiracies | Reps. raise mass surveillance concerns Fox News poll: Biden ahead of Trump in Nevada, Pennsylvania and Ohio MORE were giving their support to Ryan.

Fletcher Smith and Brandon Brown, who held senior roles in Biden's 2008 presidential campaign, told NBC that Biden had neglected some South Carolina relationships.

Ryan is among more than two dozen people running for the 2020 Democratic Party's presidential nomination.