Rep. Robert Hurt's Statement on Latest Unemployment Report

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Robert Hurt (R-Virginia) released the following statement in response to the latest unemployment report issued today:

 

"While I was pleased to see that the unemployment rate dropped to 6.7 percent, our economy added just 74,000 jobs in December – far short of the recovery that Fifth District Virginians expect.  The drop in the unemployment rate is largely based on the plunging labor force participation rate.  Unfortunately, the labor force participation rate fell to 62.8 percent, its worst level since January 1978, as more Americans ended their job search in this stagnant economy.

 

"Over the course of the past year, my colleagues in the House and I have put forth dozens of bills aimed at eliminating job-hampering regulations and saving our economy from the job-crushing burden of debt.  Unfortunately, our colleagues in the Senate are stifling this effort as they have failed to pass much-needed jobs legislation, including two bills I introduced to protect our small businesses and the vital jobs they create from costly, inefficient, and unnecessary Washington red tape.

 

"It is my hope that, in the coming year, we are able to come together in a bicameral, bipartisan way to make progress toward bringing good-paying jobs to our communities and guarantee a brighter future for all Virginians and Americans."