Graves Statement on December Jobs Report

Statement

House Small Business Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO) today issued the following statement after the U.S. Department of Labor reported that 200,000 jobs were created in December while the unemployment rate fell slightly to 8.5 percent:

"As the private sector tries to lead our nation out of the worst economy in a generation, Washington should focus on ways to help small companies build from their holiday hires, because small business growth is the key to addressing our unemployment crisis. According to Thursday's ADP report, more than 85 percent of the jobs created in December came from small businesses.

"The House has passed 27 bipartisan jobs bills that will provide relief from burdensome regulations, address our nation's unsustainable debt, create energy production jobs, and encourage entrepreneurship. Unfortunately, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has refused to bring them up for a vote in the Senate. December marked the 35th straight month that unemployment has been higher than 8 percent-- continued proof that the President and the Senate Majority Leader's failed policies of higher taxes, increased spending and burdensome regulations do not create jobs. Small businesses want to hire and invest in their companies more, but they need Washington to work together to address the uncertainty they face."

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