WASHINGTON, DC -- U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, issued the following statement after the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that 524,000 jobs were lost in December and the unemployment rate jumped to 7.2 percent. Approximately 3.6 million jobs have been lost since the recession began in December 2007.
“Today’s announcement of the continuation of steep job losses proves
that our nation must take immediate action to bring our economy out of
recession. More than 11 million Americans are without jobs. Millions of
families are struggling to get by and are looking for smart investments
to create jobs and strengthen our economy for the long run.
“Economists, both conservative and progressive, agree that prompt action to create jobs and invest in our future is the only way to revive and grow our economy. As they told Congress this week, without action the economic landscape will worsen dramatically: another 3 million jobs will be lost this year, the unemployment rate will easily hit double digits, and real GDP will drop $750 billion. In short, our economy will shut down.
“As President-elect Obama urged yesterday, it’s time to put tired politics aside and put the future of our country first. We will act swiftly and make wise decisions to tackle our nation’s many challenges: rebuilding our economy and the middle class, improving our infrastructure and energy-independence, and regaining the competitive edge that will fuel discovery and opportunity for generations to come.
“Our nation’s children, workers and families can't afford to wait.”
On Wednesday House lawmakers held a forum with bipartisan economists and scientists on the need for a comprehensive job creation and economic recovery package. For more information, click here.
“Economists, both conservative and progressive, agree that prompt action to create jobs and invest in our future is the only way to revive and grow our economy. As they told Congress this week, without action the economic landscape will worsen dramatically: another 3 million jobs will be lost this year, the unemployment rate will easily hit double digits, and real GDP will drop $750 billion. In short, our economy will shut down.
“As President-elect Obama urged yesterday, it’s time to put tired politics aside and put the future of our country first. We will act swiftly and make wise decisions to tackle our nation’s many challenges: rebuilding our economy and the middle class, improving our infrastructure and energy-independence, and regaining the competitive edge that will fuel discovery and opportunity for generations to come.
“Our nation’s children, workers and families can't afford to wait.”
On Wednesday House lawmakers held a forum with bipartisan economists and scientists on the need for a comprehensive job creation and economic recovery package. For more information, click here.
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