WASHINGTON, DC (September 6, 2013) – Today, the Bureau of Labor Statistics unveiled the August unemployment statistics, showing the economy gained 169,000 jobs, and the unemployment rate dropped slightly to 7.3 percent. The following is a statement from BlueGreen Alliance Executive Director David Foster:

“Another month of steady job growth is a win for the economy. With a summer of gradual progress behind us, we now look to Congress to get back to work on the important issues on which Americans are demanding action, including the economy and climate change. In the next few months, our nation is facing serious economic decisions and it is critical that strategic investments in our nation’s infrastructure are a key part of the solution.

“We have an opportunity to turn the corner toward long term economic growth. In order to do that, we have to make investments like renewing and reinforcing our infrastructure in a way that safeguards communities from the effects of climate change. We’re as vulnerable today to storms like Hurricane Sandy as we have ever been. Americans are calling for the bold action on climate change that President Obama laid out earlier this summer that will fix our most basic systems, eliminate inefficiencies, cut carbon pollution, and create good jobs across the economy. For workers and communities there’s a lot at stake, but it’s worth fighting for.”