Jobs Report for November Up

graphic courtesy of LumaxArt

House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) released the following statement after the Department of Labor released its jobs report for November:

“With our economy adding another 197,000 private sector jobs in November, and the unemployment rate remaining at 5 percent,  its lowest level since April 2008, we have now experienced 69 consecutive months of growing private sector jobs.  After having brought our economy back from the brink of collapse seven years ago, Democrats have focused relentlessly on moving our country from recovery to a new phase of growth and opportunity.  However, neither party alone can enact the policies necessary to achieve this goal.  That’s why Democrats and Republicans must work together to advance bipartisan measures that create the right environment for businesses to invest and create jobs here in America.

“This week, we saw a major bipartisan victory in the reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank, which was made possible by a courageous majority of Republicans joining with nearly every Democrat to force a vote in the House to end the shutdown of the Bank that has resulted in uncertainty and lost jobs since July.

“A wide majority of Members, nearly every Democrat and most Republicans, worked together to ensure …  a multi-year reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank – supported by a majority of Republicans and all but one Democrat.”

Congressional inaction stripped the Bank in July of its authority to guarantee loans, which cost jobs, Rep. Hoyer said. That policy was changed in the bill that passed last week that reopened the Export-Import Bank to help American businesses and workers compete on a level playing field in overseas markets.

At the same time the Export-Import Bank was finally re-authorized, Rep. Hoyer says, “we were able to reach agreement on a bipartisan highway bill that invests in the infrastructure needed to move people and goods efficiently.  As we look ahead to the 114th Congress’s Second Session, I hope we can build on this progress by working together to achieve further victories for job creation.  Before that happens, though, Congress must avert a government shutdown on December 11 by passing an omnibus funding bill, and I hope Speaker Ryan and Majority Leader McCarthy will work across the aisle with Democratic leaders to ensure that does not happen.”

For more information about House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer, visit his Leader Page.