Press Releases

Today, Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Richard E. Neal (D-MA) released the following statement on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) October 2023 jobs report:

“This month's jobs report shows the Biden recovery, powered by American workers, is holding strong. When workers are empowered, we all win, and the recent successful labor negotiations will only build on the continued wage growth we are seeing. Last month, thousands of workers took to the picket line to demand record contracts in the face of record growth. Their wage wins, more paid leave, stronger retirement security, and other wins will reverberate throughout our economy, and continue strengthening the job market.

“Last year at this time, every headline forecasted a recession. Ways and Means Committee Democrats knew better than to bet against America’s workers. With our blockbuster 4.9% GDP growth last quarter, Democrats’ historic legislative agenda continues to grow our economy by growing the middle class. Our economic progress doesn’t stop there: nearly 14 million jobs have been created since President Biden took office, wages are on the rise, and inflation continues to moderate. Democrats are investing in America, with historic levels of public and private investment driving economic opportunity for communities across the country through good-paying, union jobs in construction and other industries. We’re rewriting the playbook, putting American workers and families first and doing away with the failed trickle-down economics that only reward the wealthy and well-connected.

“On the other side of the aisle, Republicans continue the dysfunction that has marked every moment of the most unproductive Majority in decades. Just a week into his tenure, their radical new Speaker has already called for a closed-door commission to make good on Republicans’ threats to gut Social Security and Medicare and politicized critical national security aid to protect wealthy tax cheats at the expense of the debt owed by our children and grandchildren. Americans see it for what it is: endless conspiracies, chaos, and cuts. Democrats remain laser-focused on the work of the American people: growing the middle class, lowering costs, and building on the historic progress we’ve made for workers and families.”