Congresswoman Lee Responds to July Jobs Report
Washington, DC – Congresswoman Barbara Lee released the following statement on the Department of Labor’s July Jobs Report, which showed the economy created 255,000 jobs:
“The promising July Jobs Report shows that our nation’s economy continues to grow under President Obama’s leadership. With 255,000 new jobs created last month and a 2.6 percent wage increase over last year, our economic recovery remains strong. As the economy grows, we must keep investing in job creation and ensure that these gains are reaching the paychecks of working families.
We must also keep working to ensure that our economic recovery benefits all Americans. Sadly, the African American unemployment rate (8.4%) stands at nearly double the rate for white Americans.
Additionally, while the Latino unemployment rate (5.4%) declined slightly in July, it remains more than a full point higher than the white unemployment rate. Clearly, much work remains to address these racial and economic inequalities.
From increasing the minimum wage to creating good-paying jobs, House Democrats have an agenda to ensure all families can live the American Dream. In contrast, Congressional Republicans left for a historically long recess instead of doing their job and passing meaningful job creation legislation.
The American people can no longer afford Republican inaction; it’s past time for Congress to get back to work.”
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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 Democrat Whip Task Force on Poverty, Income Inequality and Opportunity.