FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACTS:
Erin Bzymek, erinb@bluegreenalliance.org, 202-706-6916
WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 4, 2012) Today, the Bureau of Labor Statistics unveiled the April unemployment statistics, showing the economy gained 115,000 jobs, and the unemployment rate dropped slightly to 8.1 percent. The following is a statement from BlueGreen Alliance Executive Director David Foster:
"Last year at this time, unemployment was at 9 percent and the economy was still losing jobs. Today we’ve translated strategic investments into millions of jobs created. But twenty-six straight months of private sector job growth is not a fluke, it’s the result of federal investments in clean energy and manufacturing that we need to continue.
“When Congress convenes next week on infrastructure, they must move quickly and send a transportation bill based on the Senate’s approach — which garnered strong bipartisan support — to the President’s desk. This will help put millions of unemployed back to work in good paying construction and manufacturing jobs building the cleaner, more efficient infrastructure America needs to compete in the 21st century economy. The last transportation bill expired nearly three years ago. Congress can and we must do better on behalf of all Americans.”
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The BlueGreen Alliance is a national partnership of labor unions and environmental organizations dedicated to expanding the number and quality of jobs in the green economy. Launched in 2006, the strategic partnership now brings together major U.S. labor unions and America's most influential environmental organizations and unites more than 14 million members and supporters in pursuit of good jobs, a clean environment and a green economy. Visit www.bluegreenalliance.org.