Scott Statement on March Jobs Report
WASHINGTON – Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement today after the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that during the month of March, the economy added 215,000 jobs:
“Today’s job report represents the 73rd consecutive month of private sector job growth with unemployment steady at 5 percent. This extends the longest streak of job growth on record, which was previously set in April 2000 at 51 months. This is welcome news, however more work must be done to support the economic recovery and strengthen working families.
“Yesterday we saw that the state of California passed a proposal to raise its minimum wage to $15 per hour – thanks to workers that rallied for fairer wages. But they are not alone. Workers in cities and states all across the country are calling on lawmakers to give them the long overdue raise they need to be able to support their families.
“This month will mark the one-year anniversary of Democrats introducing the Raise the Wage Act – a bill that would give a raise to 35 million working people. The legislation would increase the minimum wage to $12 per hour by 2020, index the federal minimum wage to the median wage, and gradually eliminate the subminimum tipped wage. This legislation is just one way that we can boost wages and bring more financial assurance to working families across the nation.
“Bigger paychecks not only help families make ends meet, they also help expand economic opportunity and build an economy that works for all Americans. Our nation’s working families need proposals that would boost wages, help them balance work and family, and level the playing field by eliminating discrimination. It is up to all of us here in Congress to make sure that they get a fair deal.”
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