Larson: Economic Growth Is A Good Sign, Now It Must Lead To More Jobs

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 29, 2010

CONTACT: Emily Barocas/202-225-7295

LARSON: ECONOMIC GROWTH IS A GOOD SIGN, NOW IT MUST LEAD TO MORE JOBS

Washington, DC – Congressman John B. Larson (CT-01), Chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, issued the following statement in response to the news today that our economy grew 5.7% in the fourth quarter of last year, the highest rate of growth in six years.

"Today's positive news on the economy is a sign that there is light at the end of the tunnel. Our country is coming out of this deep recession.  But a rising GDP isn't enough.  That growth must be translated into new jobs, rising wages and a fair shake for average Americans.  In Congress, we will continue to do everything we can to support economic growth and encourage small businesses to thrive and create new jobs.  Businesses that have weathered this financial storm now need to start looking for ways they can hire new employees or give a current employee a few more hours of work each week.

"The economic situation we found ourselves in when President Obama took office a year ago was nothing less than dire.  This Congress has been working since then to create jobs, rebuild our economy and make sure a financial crisis like this never happens again.  It is taking hard work from all of us to build our way out of the hole left for us by the Bush Administration and to lay a strong foundation for shared prosperity for the future. Today we began to see the benefit of that work with the strongest economic growth in six years. "

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