Ellison Statement On December Jobs Numbers

Statement

Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN) released the following statement after the U.S. Department of Labor announced that economy added 200,000 jobs in December:

"It's very encouraging to see the national unemployment rate dip for two months in a row by creating 200,000 jobs, but our economy won't be totally healthy until the unemployment rate goes down to pre-recession levels. If the economy remains on the present course of job recovery we won't get back to those levels until 2019, according to the Economic Policy Institute. We need to enact policies that promote job creation more quickly. The U.S. economy needs to be revitalized, which can only happen if we pass legislation like the Restore the American Dream for the 99% Act, which the Congressional Progressive Caucus introduced in December. This bill would create millions of jobs and expand the middle class. It is also good to see that Minnesota's unemployment rate of 5.9% is lower than the national average. Let's hope my Republican counterparts decide to stop putting up roadblocks against jobs legislation and help the American people by crafting policies that get our economy back on its feet."

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