Iowa Congressman Tom Latham released the following statement today after the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the national unemployment rate rose in January to 7.9% from 7.8% in December 2012:
"For the last four years, Official Washington has failed to honestly address the concerns that continue to weigh heaviest on the hearts and minds of the American people -- jobs and economic security -- and that has to change now.
"With the release of today's jobs report, the unemployment rate in this country has been near or above 8 percent every month since January 2009. This comes after yesterday's grim news that the economy actually shrunk by 0.1 percent in the fourth quarter of 2012. This is no one's idea of moving the economy forward. Instead, we're driving in reverse.
"As the 113th Congress and a new presidential administration begin, I will continue urging and working with my colleagues -- regardless of party affiliation -- to help deliver the economic results Americans need and to promote job creation and growth from our farms to our businesses on Main Street and beyond."