DeLauro Statement on December Job Losses

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro (CT-3) issued the following statement following news from the Labor Department that in December the economy shed another 524,000 jobs. Additionally, the job-loss figures for November were revised upward – to 584,000 from the earlier number of 533,000. This brings the number of jobs lost for all of 2008 to 2.6 million. Further the unemployment rate increased a half a percentage pointing jumping to 7.2 percent from 6.7 percent in November. In Connecticut, the jobless rate has increased 1.7%, to jump from 4.9% to November 2007 to 6.6% in November 2008.

"It is a loss of 524,000 jobs that should unify the country to act boldly and quickly to avert a deepening recession.

"We need to craft an economic recovery package that will create jobs create jobs by investing in infrastructure projects, such as roads, highways, rail and mass transit and water and watershed improvements, as well as increasing alternative energy production, modernizing our health care systems; renovating public buildings to make them more energy efficient; and building 21st century classrooms, labs, and libraries to help our children and workers succeed in a global economy. And we will put more money into the pockets of hardworking families by providing tax relief to American workers.

"All of those who testified before our economic forum earlier this week called for urgent action."