Washington, D.C.— Today, House Small Business Committee Chairwoman Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) issued the following statement after the Labor Department released its January jobs report:
“The January jobs report removes any doubt that our economic recovery is stalling. The economy added just 49,000 jobs last month, long term unemployment is up, and our jobs deficit since February remains higher than its great recession peak. Small businesses continue to bear the brunt of this crisis, particularly those in the leisure and hospitality industry where employment is down a whopping 23%.
“These numbers paint a bleak picture of the current state of our economy. Congress can’t afford to sit idly as our recovery languishes. Now is the time for big, bold relief that gets aid to struggling Americans and provides the funding necessary to crush this virus.
“As long as the pandemic continues to rage, small businesses will struggle. That’s why we must pass President Biden’s American Rescue Plan, which will supply small firms with the money they need to stay afloat and fund the public health initiatives necessary to end this pandemic.
“The House and Senate have taken the important step of passing budget resolutions to give Congress a tool to deliver aid quickly. We must continue to push forward to help American small businesses and the American people as quickly as possible. These numbers make it clear that they need relief now.”
