Van Hollen Statement on August Jobs Report

Statement

Today Maryland Congressman Chris Van Hollen, Ranking Member of the House Budget Committee, issued the following statement on the Department of Labor's employment report announcing that the U.S. economy added 173,000 jobs in August:

"Today's report showing the 66th straight month of private sector job growth in August with the unemployment rate falling to 5.1 percent is the latest evidence of how far we have come since the depths of the recession, and how much we have to lose if the GOP causes another self-inflicted wound to our economy by shutting down the government over women's health care.

"The uncertainty generated when the U.S. government shuts down creates damaging ripple effects across the country and taxpayers stand to lose billions of dollars. I will work tooth and nail to prevent Republicans from using the threat of a government shutdown to defund women's health care, just like we prevented them from using this tactic to end the Affordable Care Act.

"Additionally, it is long past time Republicans joined us at the negotiating table to make a concerted effort to replace the damaging sequester cuts. Every day that we're not investing in America's future -- from scientific research to infrastructure to education -- is another day that we're failing to realize our full potential and becoming less competitive with the rest of the world."

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