Chairman Graves Statement on September Jobs Report

Statement

House Small Business Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO) today issued the following statement after the U.S. Department of Labor reported that 103,000 jobs were created in September while the unemployment rate remained at 9.1 percent:

"The monthly unemployment announcement has turned into an ominous symbol of our stalled economy and a reminder of the frustration that many Americans face. Right now, small businesses are looking for any sign that progress is being made towards improving our economy. Rather, because of actions taken by this administration, both consumers and business owners are feeling less and less certain that an economic recovery is imminent.

"It is undeniable that small business uncertainty and pessimism are not improving, but instead getting worse. Considering that small businesses account for about 7 of every 10 new jobs and more than half of Americans either own or work for a small business, Washington must do more to remove barriers for private sector growth by providing more long-term tax, spending and regulatory certainty for small companies.

"Despite the President's assertion that House Republicans have consistently opposed legislative action that creates jobs, this simply doesn't mesh with reality. House Republicans have passed over a dozen separate "jobs' bills that can grow our economy and help create jobs right away. In fact, we passed a bipartisan bill yesterday that will eliminate excessive government regulations that threaten thousands of American small business jobs in the cement manufacturing industry -- the Cement Sector Regulatory Relief Act (H.R. 2681). Rather than delivering campaign-style rally speeches around the nation touting his all-or-nothing plan, the President should encourage Senate Majority Leader Reid to act on the House-passed bills sitting in the Senate right now."

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