This month's jobs report again sounds an alarm that Republicans have been ignoring for months: it is time to focus on jobs. For almost 250 days, Republicans have been running the House of Representatives, yet they have not offered a single proposal to put Americans back to work. Instead, they have further damaged our economy by seeking to end programs that support middle-class Americans. The American people did not elect their leaders to create more economic uncertainty by fabricating crises like the recent default crisis, which only hurt our standing in the world. It is time for Republicans to stop holding our economy hostage and focus on jobs.
"I look forward to the President's upcoming address on his jobs agenda. The Congressional Progressive Caucus has urged the President to support emergency jobs legislation to immediately put millions of Americans back to work. We also hope to hear bold ideas from the President--and I hope Congress will be bold enough to act.
"Our country is desperate for a plan to create jobs. It is time for both parties to focus on this crisis."