SPRINGFIELD, MA-Today, House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard E. Neal (D-MA) released the following statement on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) May 2021 jobs report :
“Healing our economy from the devastation of COVID-19 and building it back to be better than ever before is a process that certainly isn’t going to happen overnight, but this week’s new pandemic low for unemployment claims is proof that our investments are working. On top of that, the wage growth in this month’s jobs report is a positive sign that employers are beginning to finally pay workers what’s needed to afford life in today’s economy, but we cannot overlook the relatively flat labor participation rate. Even with employers actively hiring as more and more Americans feel safe enough to return to work, our recovery will be limited by the structural challenges in our economy that keep many workers from fully participating.
“None of this would be possible without the Biden Administration’s ambitious leadership on the American Rescue Plan and aggressive vaccine distribution strategy. Vaccines are saving lives, stimulating our economy, and putting an end to this horrific pandemic.
“Now is the time to capitalize on the momentum we already have and make the investments necessary to unleash the full potential of our economy. The American people are counting on us to finally account for their realities outside of the workplace and invest in basic supports, like paid leave and access to child care, to fundamentally strengthen our workforce. The Ways and Means Committee’s Building an Economy for Families Act should be a key piece of the major investments we know are necessary to modernize our nation’s infrastructure, create good-paying jobs, and stimulate our economy. The Committee is ready to build on this past month’s success, and work with the Biden Administration to pass the next phase of our recovery."
