FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
January 7, 2022
CONTACT: [email protected]
One Country Statement on December Jobs Report
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, One Country Project founder Heidi Heitkamp issued the following statement after the release of the December jobs report:
“While the December payrolls underperformed expectations, our country’s economic outlook remains positive. The unemployment rate dipped below 4 percent for the first time since March 2020, and in total, the economy added just under 6 million new jobs in 2021, the highest annual number in history, demonstrating the positive economic impact of Democratic leadership.“The Biden administration’s tireless work to put relief directly into the hands of Americans and inject new funding into communities through the American Rescue Plan and bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act has helped to stabilize an economy going through unprecedented turbulence during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“However, there is more work to do. The quickly spreading COVID-19 Omicron variant has already had an impact on the American economy, and Congress and the Administration must ensure communities and health care systems have what they need to prevent the worst outcomes. The Biden administration and members of Congress must continue to pass legislation that will bolster the U.S. economy, like Build Back Better, which will enhance the lives of rural Americans through priorities like expanding the Child Tax Credit and funding climate-smart agriculture, among others.
“As Congress reconvenes after the holiday recess, now is the time to build on our economic success and work together to improve the lives of families in every corner of the country.”
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About One Country ProjectThe One Country Project, led by former Senators Heidi Heitkamp and Joe Donnelly, is working to promote greater opportunities for rural communities and ensure leaders earn their support. One Country is reengaging with rural Americans, serving as a clearinghouse of research and information for rural Americans, and working to ensure leaders regain trust by fighting for these communities. To learn more, visit the website, OneCountryProject.org.