Hoyer Statement on June 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 June:

"Today's monthly jobs report by the Bureau of Labor Statistics reveals what many Americans already know -- that our economic recovery continues to move forward as a result of the policies President Obama and Democrats instituted during the recession in order to help businesses create jobs and boost competitiveness. With 262,000 private sector jobs created in June, bringing our unemployment rate down to 6.1%, we can be proud of the work we have done so far to bring our economy back. But over the long term, if we want to keep America competitive in the global marketplace and ensure that we can continue to attract the high-skill, high-wage manufacturing jobs we need to sustain a strong middle class, Congress must take action to pass Make It In America legislation which focuses on growing a strong manufacturing sector by investing in innovation, infrastructure, and education.

"Congress must also take action on a number of time-sensitive and critical pieces of legislation that would strengthen our economy, including reauthorizing the Export-Import Bank, whose charter is set to expire in September and which provides a significant boost to American businesses seeking to access new markets and turn exports into growth and new jobs. Additionally, Congress must act to keep the Highway Trust Fund from running out later this month so that we can continue to invest in infrastructure that helps move goods to market efficiently. We must also take steps right away to make the American Dream more attainable for our nation's workers by raising the minimum wage and restoring emergency unemployment insurance for millions of Americans searching for work.

"I hope Democrats and Republicans can come together to build on the job growth we've seen in recent months and partner in the effort to pass Make It In America bills into law. The future of our economy, our middle class, and our role as the world's innovation leader depend on our ability to do so."

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