Press Releases

Congressman Larry Bucshon (IN-08) released the following comment on the January jobless rate.  The current rate is 8.3 percent, down from 8.5 percent last month.

Congressman Bucshon (IN-08) states:

            “Even though the unemployment rate fell to 8.3 percent, the true story should be that millions of Americans are choosing to give up on their search for work altogether as the labor market contracted to its lowest level in 30 years.  We cannot truly recover from this economic downturn until we can end this exodus from the labor force and get the private sector economy expanding and creating jobs.

“There are currently 30 bipartisan jobs bills that have passed the House that sit idle in the Senate and I will continue to support legislation that will get Americans back to work immediately.  This is why I am proud to have helped craft the American Energy and Infrastructure Act that passed through committee last night to invest in our nation’s infrastructure and provide jobs for hardworking Americans.  It is unconscionable that the President would dole out political favors to radical environmentalists by blocking the Keystone XL pipeline, which would create 20,000 well-paying jobs.  It is time for the President to provide leadership, not lip service, and finally focus on producing jobs for Americans in need.”

Background:

The labor force participation rate fell to 63.7 percent, a 30 year low, as a record 1.2 million people left the labor force last month.

The unemployment rate has been over 8 percent for 36 consecutive months beginning in February 2009.

H.R. 7, the American Energy and Infrastructure Act, is a five year reauthorization of the surface transportation bill that will invest $260 billion during the span of the bill.

The Congressional Budget Offices’ annual Budget and Economic Outlook, released January 31st, predicted that unemployment would remain above 8 percent for 2012 and 2013.

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