WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Congressman Bill Flores (R-Texas), an entrepreneur and job creator, issued the following statement today regarding the July unemployment report released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

“Today’s unemployment report marks another month of disappointment for Americans as President Obama’s failed economic policies continue to hurt our strained economy. Our nation has experienced 42 consecutive months with an unemployment rate above 8 percent. For the second time in three months, the unemployment rate has increased and now has returned to 8.3 percent, with a broad measure (U6) unemployment rate of 15 percent. This latest report illustrates that employment remains weak with a 63 percent labor force participation rate. Another way to look at this job creation number is that the number of jobs created is less than 1 percent of the 23 million Americans that are struggling to find good jobs.

“American families and businesses are becoming increasingly frustrated each day as the president’s economic policies prolong the inability for job creation. The president is clearly out of touch with the struggles that America’s small business owners and entrepreneurs are facing. His proposed tax increase on job creators will cost over 700,000 American jobs – 57,000 of them in the state of Texas. In addition, the implementation of Obamacare and the Defense Sequester are estimated to cause the loss of up to another 2.9 million American jobs. It is time that the president realizes that more spending, more taxes and more debt will not create jobs nor build a robust economy.   

“Since the 112th Congress convened in January 2011, the House has taken the lead and passed dozens of ‘Main Street’ solutions jobs bills that would aid job creators and our economy. Over the last month the House has passed bipartisan bills which will cut regulatory red tape that hinders job creation, stop the threatening tax hikes on job creators, and avoid the Defense Sequester which will harm American jobs and security. It is time for the Senate to take action on the dozens of bipartisan bills that the House has sent over to assist job creators and bring opportunity to the millions of Americans who are struggling to find work.”

To find out more about what House Republicans are doing to improve the economy, please visit jobs.gop.gov.

Congressman Bill Flores represents the 17th District of Texas and is an entrepreneur, former energy executive, Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and member of the House Budget, Natural Resources and Veterans’ Affairs Committees.

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