*American Jobs Act

While I am encouraged that the number of private sector jobs grew by 104,000 over the past month, representing the twentieth straight month of increase and bringing our unemployment rate down to 9.0%, there is still much left for us to do. Too many Americans remain out of work, and Congress ought not waste any more time and consider legislation that will help businesses create jobs right away.

Today’s jobs report shows that we need to take action on jobs immediately. But after more than 300 days in the majority, Republicans have done little to address job creation despite their repeated claims that they would focus on Americans’ top priorities: creating jobs and growing the economy. However, Republican rhetoric doesn’t match their actions.

I am disappointed that Republicans continue their refusal to work with Democrats on jobs legislation. This is the third time in the past few weeks that Senate Republicans have voted to block even the consideration of a jobs bill. At the same time, House Republican leaders have not brought any of the Democrats' Make It In America proposals onto the floor or put forth a comprehensive jobs plan of their own. The American people deserve a Congress that works, that is focused on creating jobs, and it is increasingly clear the Republicans will not deliver.

Yesterday we had a press conference… twenty Republicans and Democrats, equal number. Mike Simpson, myself and others made it very clear that over 100 members of the House of Representatives signed the letter saying to the Super Committee, look, everything needs to be on the table – mandatory expenditures and revenues – and we need to reach a $4 trillion give or take deal to put this country on a sound fiscal path. So we sent a letter to the Committee yesterday urging them to come to an agreement on that kind of package. Erskine Bowles and Senator Simpson testified, Alice Rivlin and Pete Domenici testified on Tuesday to the same objective. I am hopeful given the weight of responsibility that we placed on their shoulders and given the critical nature of achieving the objective of a big deal and doing it within a near term that they will come to agreement. It's obviously been tough. Obviously both sides have sort of hardened positions. But it is absolutely essential in the opinion of a lot of people around this country and a large number of members of the House and Senate that we come to agreement.

It’s been over 300 days since Republicans took control of the House majority and pledged to focus on growing the economy and creating jobs. While Republicans have repeatedly claimed they are focused on jobs, a look at their calendar paints a different picture:

Today marks 300 days since Republicans took control of the House majority and pledged to focus on Americans’ top concerns: growing the economy and creating jobs. But after 300 days, Republicans have taken little action to help put Americans back to work and still do not have a comprehensive plan. While children across the country dress as ghosts and goblins for trick or treating on Halloween night, Republicans are busy dressing up their partisan ideas as jobs bills, leaving the American people with plenty of tricks but no treats.

We need to have more bipartisanship. We need to be working together. There needs to be a greater response to the President of the United States’ initiative to pass an American Jobs Act, which would create a million, over a million jobs. At least it would up our economy, would invest in our infrastructure. Keep policemen, firemen, teachers on the job in our communities. Unfortunately, the Republicans have turned a deaf ear to those initiatives to the detriment, in my opinion, of our economy and of our people.

Today’s third quarter GDP report shows why you should never underestimate the resilience of the American economy and the American worker. After posting quarterly growth rates of .4% and 1.3% earlier this year, our economy grew at a 2.5% rate, nearly a full percentage point higher than most predicted earlier this month. While this is welcome news for our economic recovery in general, it does little to reassure the 14 million Americans still out of work and looking for jobs or the families across the country struggling to get by in these tough times. We need a comprehensive strategy to boost our economy and create jobs for the middle class. I urge Republicans to work with Democrats and allow Congress to vote on real jobs legislation, like the President’s American Jobs Act and House Democrats’ Make It In America plan, that will create jobs and invest in the growth of American businesses and in the competitiveness of our workforce. We cannot wait any longer.