[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 117 (Monday, September 9, 2013)]
[House]
[Page H5418]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      ADDRESSING EMPLOYMENT CRISIS

  (Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, last Friday, the 
Department of Labor released figures suggesting that unemployment 
decreased to 7.3 percent in August, the lowest rate in over 4\1/2\ 
years.
  While seemingly good news, if you actually look below the surface, 
labor force participation fell to its lowest level in 35 years, with 
only 63.2 percent of working-age Americans being employed. While the 
unemployment rate declined, it can be attributed to a growing share of 
individuals giving up on trying to find a job.
  Mr. Speaker, it's not that American workers are lazy or reliant upon 
handouts. Over 12 million Americans are struggling to make ends meet, 
with tens of millions more struggling with underemployment.
  The solution to our national employment crisis is straightforward: we 
must get a handle on out-of-control debt, a cumbersome and out-of-date 
Tax Code, and limit bloated regulations.
  As we continue our work here in the House, I encourage all of my 
colleagues to focus their work on breaking down these barriers to 
employment. Our constituents deserve as much.

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