Ranking Member Scott Statement on July Jobs Report

As originally released by the Committee on Education and Workforce, Democrats

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), House Committee on Education and Workforce, released the following statement after the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that the economy added 73,000 jobs in July, and the unemployment rate ticked up from 4.1 percent to  4.2 percent.  

“Working people in this country are struggling to make ends meet.  Despite this, Congressional Republicans pushed through the 'Big, Ugly Law.' A cruel law that rips away food assistance and health care from millions of Americans to give massive tax breaks to the wealthy and big corporations.  What’s worse is that Congressional Republicans applauded cuts to SNAP and Medicaid while families are struggling to put food on the table and afford basic care. 

"Instead of addressing rising costs, investing in our workforce, or protecting access to health care, Republicans chose to advance policies that deepen inequality and increase hardship for working class people all over this country.  Democrats are fighting back.  We are committed to protecting the programs that lift families up, not tear them down.  We believe in an economy that works for everyone, not just those at the very top.

“That’s why I’m proud to have reintroduced the Raise the Wage Act this Congress, which would raise the minimum wage to $17 by 2030 and give roughly 22 million Americans a long-overdue raise.  We haven’t raised the federal minimum wage since 2009 — it’s long past time for Congress to do its job and ensure every worker is paid a living wage."

Background: During former President Biden’s first six months in office, the economy created 3.8 million jobs.  In President Trump’s first six months in office during his second term, he has created 486,000 jobs.  Under former President Biden, the economy added 16.1 million jobs in total and did not have a single month of seasonally adjusted job loss during his entire term.  Former President Biden created more jobs during his tenure than any Republican president, whether they served four or eight years.  Former President Reagan created the most jobs of any Republican President on record—16,128,000 in eight years—which is still less than the 16,140,000 jobs created during former President Biden’s four years.

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