Hoyer Statement on September Jobs Report

Statement

House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) released the following statement today after the Department of Labor released its jobs report for September:

"Today's jobs report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which shows that our economy added 126,000 private sector jobs in September and that the unemployment rate dropped to 7.2%, confirms that our recovery was still on the right track before reckless and irresponsible actions by House Republicans led to a shutdown of the federal government and threatened an unprecedented default on America's obligations. While we do not yet know the full extent of the economic damage caused by the shutdown or the uncertainty that resulted from the risk of not paying our bills, I hope that next month's jobs report will reflect the continued resilience of our private sector even in the face of harmful dysfunction in Congress.

"We have a real opportunity to boost job creation by ending the uncertainty caused both by governing from crisis to crisis and by Congress's failure to set clear, long-term fiscal policies or invest in economic competitiveness. That's why House Democrats were unanimous in voting to end the Republican shutdown and are ready to work in a bipartisan way to achieve a big and balanced solution to reduce our deficits and debt and replace the irrational sequester cuts. It is also why we have made promoting job growth a priority by introducing legislation under our Make It In America plan, which aims to revitalize America's manufacturing sector and boost competitiveness over the long-term. It does so by pursuing a national manufacturing strategy, promoting the export of goods made here, encouraging businesses to bring innovation and jobs back, and securing a twenty-first century workforce.

"I hope that, moving forward, Republicans will work with Democrats to negotiate a long-term budget agreement that is balanced and can set us on a sound fiscal path -- and that we can partner to advance job-creating Make It In America bills to the Floor. With budget conferees beginning discussions next week, we have a real opportunity to make progress toward a big and balanced solution -- one that can replace the irrational policy of sequester. Now is the time for bipartisan action in Congress to help more of our people find the jobs they need to sustain a strong and growing middle class."

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