April Unemployment Report Demonstrates Need To Change Course

Congressman Robert Hurt
Weekly Column 5/06/13


This past week, the Department of Labor issued the latest unemployment
report indicating that 7.5 percent of Americans who are looking for work
still cannot find a job. And as I traveled across the 5th District this
week, from Pittsylvania County to Fauquier, it is clear that policies
handed down from Washington are continuing to burden our families,
farmers, and small businesses.

Millions across the country and thousands in Virginia's 5th District
remain out of work. Many places in our district continue to struggle
with unacceptably high unemployment rates – some nearing double-digits.
Additionally, our labor force participation rates are at historic lows
under President Obama's watch, and many have given up their job search
all together. It is clear that four years of more government, more
regulations, and more spending are discouraging 5th District Virginians
and Americans across our country from continuing their search for work.

As more and more Americans stop their job search each month or resort to
underemployment, the House of Representatives remains committed to
adopting policies that will create jobs and give them renewed
opportunity. We remain committed to putting an end to over-regulation on
our small businesses, higher taxes on our families, and high fuel prices
that destroy jobs and slow economic growth.

And we in the House remain committed to repealing and replacing the
President's health care law – a law that is destroying jobs, reducing
full-time work to part-time, and raising costs for small businesses and
families. The House will continue its work to adopt policies that will
remove the federal government as a barrier to job creation so our small
business owners and family farmers can create the jobs our communities need.

If you need any additional information, please visit my website at
hurt.house.gov or call my Washington office: (202) 225-4711,
Charlottesville office: (434) 973-9631, Danville office: (434) 791-2596,
or Farmville office: (434) 395-0120.