Pelosi Calls for Action on Main Street Economic Recovery Package After Dismal Jobs Report

November 7, 2008

Washington, D.C. - Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued the following statement this morning after the Department of Labor released its employment report for October showing a loss of another 240,000 American jobs, bringing the total number of jobs lost this year to 1.2 million, and a 14-year high jobless rate of 6.5 percent:

"Today's announcement that America has lost more than 1 million jobs this year underscores what working families already know: the Congress and the Bush Administration must take swift action to boost the economy, create jobs and help struggling Americans.

"The House has already passed strong economic recovery and job creation legislation in September. Today's economic news should send a clear signal to Republicans in the Senate and to President Bush that they must join us in an effort leading economists agree is critical.

"We will also continue our dialogue with America's automakers and the United Auto Workers in the coming weeks to safeguard the interests of American taxpayers, protect hundreds of thousands of workers and retirees, and use cutting-edge technology to transform blue-collar jobs to green collar jobs for generations to come. For our economic and national security, it is essential that we preserve our manufacturing and technology base.

"We can create good-paying jobs here at home, provide relief to struggling families and small businesses, and take action to make America more competitive in the 21st century global economy. It is time for a Main Street Recovery."