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OPA News Release:
Statement of Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao RegardingNovember
Unemployment Numbers
WASHINGTON – “Today’s unemployment numbers
demonstrate that the country is still feeling the economic aftershocks of the
September 11th terrorist attacks.
“The higher unemployment, now at 5.7 percent, and the drop in
non-farm employment of 331,000 jobs last month, are both signs of the economic
havoc wrought on our country three months ago. The airlines, hotels and
restaurants, and the retail industry all continue to post significant job
losses – many of which are directly attributable to September
11th.
“We are currently fighting a two-front war: one against terrorism
overseas and the other at home against the persistent economic reverberations
of the terrorist attacks.
“The best Christmas present Congress could give America would be to
pass President Bush’s economic security package – to quickly
reinvigorate the economy, get emergency assistance to those who have lost their
jobs, and reconnect them to the workforce as soon as possible.”
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