Congresswoman Barbara Lee Applauds Positive July Job Growth
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 2, 2013
Contact: Carrie Adams (202) 225-2661
Washington, D.C.— Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee released the following statement today after the Department of Labor announced that the economy gained 162,000 jobs and the overall unemployment rate fell to 7.4% percent in July. With businesses adding 161,000 workers, this marks the 41st consecutive month of private sector job growth:
"Today's jobs report shows signs of progress for our our country. But, it is also a reminder that Americans cannot afford any more Republican inaction. Instead of passing a jobs bill, they are voting for a 40th time to repeal the Affordable Care Act. The deep and indiscriminate cuts from sequester have slowed our growth, created instability, and made every month uncertain for our nation’s vulnerable families. Congress must work together to put people to work so that we can continue to grow an economy that works for the whole country.
“The indiscriminate cuts from sequester are holding the country back and leaving some behind. When we see unemployment rates in the African American community of 12.6%, down from 13.7% and unemployment among Hispanics at 9.1%, down from 9.4%, and a staggering 23.7% for our youth, we know that the economic recovery isn’t reaching everyone. We’ve got to put Americans back to work with a special focus on getting the long term unemployed back to work, as well as ensuring that our nation’s most vulnerable have a pathway to the American Dream, and that starts with a good-paying job.”
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Follow Barbara Lee on Facebook and Twitter at @RepBarbaraLee. To learn more, visit lee.house.gov.
Congresswoman Lee is a member of the Appropriations and Budget Committees, the Steering and Policy Committee, is a Senior Democratic Whip, former chair of the Congressional Black Caucus and Progressive Caucus. She serves as chair of the newly formed Whip’s Task Force on Poverty and Opportunity.