Rep. Pete Olson (R-Sugar Land) today issued the following statement in response to the latest jobs numbers report:

"The latest jobs numbers are encouraging, but the fact remains that unemployment has been stuck above 8 percent for 36 months. Unbelievably, 50% of Americans are sitting at or near the poverty level. We can and must do a better job of creating a pro-job environment where the private sector has room to expand. Sadly, the unemployment rate fails to take into account the millions of Americans who have actually given up on looking for work.  We cannot leave them behind.

"Due to the failed policies of this President, more than one million Americans have lost their jobs, gas prices have doubled, and the number of new business start-ups has dropped to a 17-year low. The President and the Senate need to approve the multitude of job creating bills the House has already passed. Lower regulations, needed tax reform and cuts to spending will revive economic output and the long-term prosperity of millions of Americans."

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