Congressman Andy Levin (MI-09), member of the House Education and Labor Committee and workforce policy expert, released the following statement:
"The U.S. economy adding a mere 235,000 jobs in August shows not only how real of a threat the Delta variant poses to American livelihood and prosperity, but also why it is important now more than ever that we pass President Biden's Build Back Better Act. With this bill, we have a chance to address many of the interconnected crises we face and make workers' lives better in real, tangible ways.
"The Build Back Better Act will lower costs for American families, whether by reducing childcare costs and prescription drug prices, or finally having paid leave and an opportunity to pursue higher education. My America's College Promise Act, included in the larger legislation, provides two years of free community college to all by creating partnerships between the federal government and states to make skills development and meaningful credentials affordable for all students – whether they are recent high school graduates or established workers looking to retrain to be competitive in the marketplace. Importantly, we make the wealthiest corporations and individuals pay their fair share, generating trillions in revenue so that working Americans have a real shot.
"I renew my call to address the long-term unemployment crisis through targeted, local programs, as would be created by my Long-Term Unemployment Elimination Act with Senator Chris Van Hollen. Let me be clear: ignoring this issue will have lasting damage for decades to come. As we work to emerge from the economic crisis caused by the pandemic, we must be proactive and intentional in rebuilding our workforce and supporting our workforce development system. We must also do everything we can to help the long-term unemployed and those who want to work but are discouraged from getting back to the labor force.
"Finally, I continue to urge all Americans who are able to be vaccinated to do so immediately. As we continue to wrestle with COVID-19 and its variants, this safe, simple step is hugely important to protect public health and restore our economy."
Source:https://andylevin.house.gov/media/press-releases/levin-statement-august-jobs-numbers
