Congresswoman Barbara Lee Releases Statement on September Jobs Report
Oakland, CA – Today, the Department of Labor announced that September marked the 67th consecutive month of private sector job growth. Congresswoman Barbara Lee, chair of the Democratic Whip’s Task Force on Poverty, Income Inequality and Opportunity, released this statement:
“Today’s job report shows sustained progress in our economic recovery. As companies grow and hire, this month marks the continuation of the longest consecutive period of private sector job growth in our nation’s history.
It is clear that President Obama’s efforts to improve our economy are working. However, Congressional Republicans put these gains and our entire economy at risk by hopping from one manufactured crisis to another. This week, House Democrats and a minority of Republicans managed to pass an eleventh hour continuing resolution to avert a government shutdown. More than 150 House Republicans voted to shutter the government, despite the fact that the 2013 GOP shutdown cost our economy more than $24 billion, according Standard and Poor’s.
It’s past time for Republicans to end their brinksmanship tactics and sit down with Democrats to chart a responsible path forward. In order to safeguard our economic gains, we must achieve a long-term budget deal and end the job-killing sequester.
Today’s report also shows that despite an improving economy, the recovery has not reached all communities. While the African American unemployment rate decreased slightly (0.3) to 9.2 percent, it is still more than twice the rate of white Americans (4.4 percent).
Likewise, the Latino unemployment rate has slightly decreased (0.2) to 6.4 percent, but it remains two full points higher than the white unemployment rate.
We cannot allow our economic recovery to leave anyone behind. It’s past time for Congress to create good-paying jobs by investing in our crumbling infrastructure, renewing unemployment insurance for those still struggling to find work and empowering workers with workforce training for the jobs of the 21st century.”
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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 co-chair of the Progressive Caucus. She serves as chair of the Whip’s Task Force on Poverty and Opportunity.