Tonko: Job Creation Should be our Number One Priority

Press Release

Congressman Paul Tonko released the following statement after the U.S. Department of Labor reported that the economy added 117,000 new jobs in July, and the unemployment rate fell to 9.1%:

"While the news on unemployment today was better than expected, it is still a reminder that job creation is far below what we need to get our economy moving in the right direction. We have a jobs crisis -- and unfortunately,House Republicans have been more fixated on slashing spending and eliminating the EPA than creating jobs for the middle class. It has been 213 days since the House has been in session and Congress has yet to consider a single jobs bill, and the lack of action on jobs has sent Wall Street into turmoil and eroded billions in retirement savings for the middle class.

"There's no better way to reduce the deficit than by creating jobs. We must focus squarely on getting our economy back on track, strengthening our middle class, and addressing the American people's concerns. Working together, it's time to place Americans' top priority -- job creation -- at the top of our agenda in Congress."

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