Lee Statement on January Jobs Report
Contact Kristal DeKleer (202) 225-1882
Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) issued the following response to the figures released by the Department of Labor showing a continuing decline in unemployment rates:
“I am encouraged by the falling unemployment report, showing a gain of 243,000 jobs in January. While the national unemployment rate remains high at 8.3%, it is the fifth straight monthly decline.
“Now more than ever we must focus our efforts at rapidly reducing unemployment, especially among those hardest hit which continue to be youth (23.2%) which has remained stagnant, Hispanics (10.5%) which dropped a half point, and African Americans, whose unemployment rate dropped to 13.6% from 15.8% last month. We must boldly act to build on these gains and invest in programs and projects that create jobs and make our country better.
“While it is clear that progress is being made, Republicans must join Democrats in creating jobs and reigniting the American Dream for all. Job creation remains the best way to get our economy back on track. Until Republican leaders in the House can pass President Obama’s American Jobs Act, or put forth any kind of reasonable plan for job creation, we must address the needs of the 5.5 million people in this country who have been out of work for longer than 27 weeks. We must pass H.R. 589, a bill I introduced with Congressman Bobby Scot to provide fourteen weeks of benefits for those who have exhausted their unemployment benefits and are now off the books and in desperate need.
“Americans across the country are demanding good jobs now. People want to be able to get back to work to earn a fair living. It is incumbent upon this Congress to ensure that the bridge is strong enough to deliver us all – even our most vulnerable – over these troubled waters. Everyone should have the freedom to participate in this economy, have the opportunity to earn a fair wage, and have hope for tomorrow. We must take bold action now.”
###
Follow Barbara Lee on Twitter @RepBarbaraLee