Barbara Lee Issues Statement on November Jobs Numbers
Contact: Katherine Jolly, 510-763-0370
Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) issued the following response to the figures released by the U.S. Department of Labor showing 146,000 jobs were added in November, marking the 33nd consecutive month of private sector job growth. Overall unemployment rate decreased from 7.9 to 7.7 percent.
“The continued growth of jobs in the private sector shows that our economy is heading in the right direction, and is a clear signal that we must work together in Congress to avoid stymieing that growth.
"House Republicans should work with Democrats to extend the middle class tax cuts and the emergency unemployment compensation program to encourage consumer spending, job creation, and strengthen the economy for all.
"There are still unprecedented levels of long term unemployment, with 4.8 million Americans unemployed for 27 weeks or longer. African American unemployment is still untenable high at 13.2 percent, and 2 million American workers are slated to be stripped of their unemployment insurance benefits - one of the only remaining lifelines they have to feed and house their families - this Holiday season. The American people and their families cannot afford continued Republican grandstanding and Congressional inaction.
“As President Obama and Congressional leaders continue to negotiate a year-end deal, targeted job-creating measures, including infrastructure spending, and accelerating public-sector job growth to re-hire teachers, firefighters, police officers and the long-term unemployed should be key components to keep our economy moving forward.
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Congresswoman Lee is a long-time champion of the unemployed. Earlier this week she and Congressman Gary Peters (D-MI) authored a letter to House and Senate Leadership requesting a full and robust extension of the Federal Emergency Unemployment Compensation Program, which is currently set to expire at the end of December. The letter earned the support of 78 Members of Congress.
Follow Barbara Lee on Twitter @RepBarbaraLee