Chairman Scott Statement on February Jobs Report
WASHINGTON – Chairman Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that the economy added 20,000 jobs in February and the unemployment rate fell to 3.8 percent.
“Today’s jobs report continues to show the harmful impacts of the unnecessary partial government shutdown caused by President Trump and Majority Leader McConnell. What’s worse, wages are still barely keeping pace with inflation and hardworking Americans are being left behind.
“This week, the Committee advanced the Raise the Wage Act, which would gradually increase the federal minimum wage to $15 by 2024. After 10 years with no increase in the federal minimum wage, minimum wage workers have suffered a 17 percent pay cut due to inflation and have less buying power than workers had in 1968. Research shows that gradually raising the minimum wage will not only lift millions of workers out of poverty, it will stimulate local economies and small businesses across the country.
“This report is another reminder that Congress must take action to lift millions out of workers out of poverty and building a thriving middle class.”
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