Chairman Emanuel Cleaver, II Statement on the Recent Unemployment Numbers
June 3, 2011
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Chairman Emanuel Cleaver, II Statement on the Recent Unemployment Numbers
Washington DC – Chairman Emanuel Cleaver, II released the following statement on the recent unemployment numbers:
“For the 17th straight month, we have seen growth in private sector jobs. Nevertheless, the overall unemployment rate increased by .1% and unemployment in the African American community has increased again, this time by .1% to a painful 16.2%. Millions are still out of work and families are still struggling to make ends meet.
“After five months of controlling the House, the Republican Leadership continues to prevent critical jobs legislation from being considered and passed. Instead, they have cut funding to critical programs that directly serve our country’s most vulnerable communities, costing hundreds of thousands of jobs and further weakening our economy. I am fearful that reckless spending cuts will severely undermine and prevent recovery for every American community. The CBC remains committed to responsibly reducing the deficit, while safeguarding the progress that we have made in the job market by investing in our future. Investing in our communities goes hand in hand with full economic recovery. No investment, no recovery.
“As our communities’ unemployment rates continue to hover at treacherous highs, it is clear now more than ever, that we are in need of a serious jobs bill that puts Americans back to work, and back in control of their families’ futures. It is even more evident that we cannot rely on the Republican Leadership to deliver. The Congressional Black Caucus is working with great haste from now through Labor Day on a vital jobs initiative program. At the conclusion of the initiative, the CBC will continue to focus on job creation and economic development through our taskforce structure. There is no time to waste. The time to act is now, and we are on the move.”
- Chairman Emanuel Cleaver
