Pelosi Statement on Better-Than Expected July Job Loss Numbers

Pelosi Statement on Better-Than Expected July Job Loss Numbers

Friday, August 7, 2009

Contact: Brendan Daly/Nadeam Elshami/Drew Hammill, 202-226-7616

Washington, D.C. -- Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued the following statement on unemployment numbers for July issued today by the Department of Labor, which showed that 247,000 jobs were lost last month and the unemployment rate dropped to 9.4 percent, both better results than economists had anticipated. The July job loss was the lowest of any month since last summer.

"Today's better-than-expected news on job losses and a slight drop the unemployment rate is evidence that the recession is slowing and that our economic policies - such as the economic recovery act passed earlier this year -- are beginning to take a positive effect.

"Millions of Americans remain unemployed, and we must redouble our efforts on their behalf; unemployment figures are cold comfort to those grappling with daily survival. Though we have a long way to go to rebuild the economy, we are headed in the right direction and beginning to see real results with our efforts to create good-paying jobs, reduce health care costs, and build a 21st century American economy."