Rep. Pascrell Statement on February Jobs Report

Statement

U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ), a member of the House Budget and Ways & Means Committees, released the following statement today after the Department of Labor announced that the U.S. added 242,000 jobs in February, up from 172,000 jobs the previous month. The unemployment rate was 4.9 percent, unchanged from January.

"This is a watershed moment in the economic turnaround," said Rep. Pascrell. "Six consecutive years of private sector job growth, defying expectations, with an additional 242,000 jobs in February. The U.S. economy is growing, and more and more people who are looking for work are finding it."

"We need to build on this strength and continue moving forward. I have put forward and passed into law policies that would incentivize businesses to hire those who have been unemployed and out of the work force for too long. I have supported investments in our infrastructure, roads and bridges."

"And as we debate the next year's federal budget and make decisions about investments going forward, I will oppose any draconian Republican budget proposals that would set us back on the progress we have made. As a member of the Budget Committee and New Jersey's only member of the powerful Ways and Means Committee, I am fighting for the economic prosperity and growth our country needs."

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