Congresswoman Lee Releases Statement on July Jobs Report
Oakland, CA – Today, the Department of Labor announced that July marked the 65th consecutive month of private sector job growth, the longest period of private sector job growth in American history. Congresswoman Lee released this statement:
“Today’s jobs report marks another step in the right direction for our recovering economy and continues the longest consecutive period of private sector job growth in our history.
It is clear that President Obama’s leadership is helping our economy recover. Yet, the ongoing manufactured crises from Republican leadership threaten this momentum. It’s past time for Republican leaders to sit down with Democrats and develop a responsible budget and spending plan that helps all families succeed.
Today’s report also shows that Congress must do more to ensure the current economic recovery reaches all families.
The unemployment rate for African Americans remained unchanged at 9.1 percent, nearly twice the unemployment for white Americans (4.6 percent).
Additionally, the unemployment rate for Latinos (6.8 percent) remains more than two points higher than the average for white Americans.
Congress cannot allow this economic recovery to leave anyone behind. It’s past time for Congress to renew unemployment insurance for those still struggling, empower workers with adequate workforce training and create good-paying jobs by investing in our crumbling infrastructure.
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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.