Washington, D.C. -The Department of Labor today issued its monthly employment report finding that in the month of February, the economy created 192,000 jobs, with an increase of 222,000 private sector jobs and a drop to a 8.9 percent unemployment rate. Ways and Means Ranking Member Sander Levin (D-MI), and Human Resources Subcommittee Ranking Member Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) issued the following statements:
Ranking Member Levin: “These are encouraging signs for our economy. But families are still struggling with deep unemployment as job creation is too slow. Two months after taking control of the House, Republicans have yet to offer a single piece of legislation focused on creating jobs. Instead, they have proposed a budget that will recklessly cost jobs -- from schools to police departments -- and has hundreds of economists now warning against."
Ranking Member Doggett: “Today’s job numbers are a good step forward-but our goal in the weeks ahead must be preventing our economy from sliding back. The problem we face today is not the unemployed-it is unemployment. And after two years of repeatedly asking Democrats ‘Where are the jobs,’ Republicans have failed to produce a comprehensive job-creation agenda. Instead, they have prioritized helping insurance monopolies, criticizing the UN, encouraging more special interest financing of Presidential elections, and just about anything else imaginable except jobs. The Republican prescription has been nothing more than a placebo-and for Americans still looking for work, it has been quite a bitter pill."
Since assuming the majority in January, Republicans have proposed no job creation measures. Instead, House Republicans have:
* Proposed a budget estimated to cost the economy 700,000 jobs and reduce economic growth by up to 2 percent.
* Opposed extension of the Trade Adjustment Assistance program, preventing 227,000 trade-affected workers from receiving assistance.
* Proposed $2 billion in cuts to vital job training programs.
