Pelosi Statement on April Jobs Numbers

Contact: Drew Hammill, 202-226-7616

San Francisco - Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi released the following statement today after the Department of Labor announced that the economy added 165,000 jobs and the unemployment rate fell to 7.5 percent in April. With private businesses adding 176,000 jobs, this marks the 38th consecutive month of private sector growth:

"Today's jobs report shows signs of progress for our workers and our middle class. Yet it is also a reminder that Americans cannot afford more Republican political games that protect the sequester, slow our growth, inject uncertainty into our economy, and create instability for our working families. Members of Congress must work together to put people to work, invest in American businesses and manufacturers, and build a lasting recovery.

"What's clear today has been clear for months: the growth of good-paying jobs would be greater if Republicans were more interested in a real budget solution rather than debilitating sequester cuts. Yet House Republicans refuse to appoint budget conferees, reject votes on reasonable Democratic budget alternatives, and rebuff efforts to enact a balanced, fair, comprehensive measure to create jobs, grow the economy, responsibly reduce the deficit, and end the sequester.

"Our most important job is to put good-paying jobs in reach for any American willing to work hard and play by the rules. Democrats are ready to get the job done. It is up to our Republican colleagues to join us in this effort to strengthen our economy, our middle class, and our future prosperity.”

###