Early, IA  – U.S. Congressman Steve King (IA-05) today praised the announcement by the Department of Labor that the economy gained 51,000 jobs in September, bringing the total new jobs to 6.6 million since August 2003.

“Our economy thrives when we enact sound policies that get government out of the way to help small businesses create new jobs and allow American families to keep more of their hard-earned paychecks,” said King.

This week, the Dow Jones Industrial Average set three record highs, closing yesterday at 11,870.06. Previously, the Dow’s all-time high had been 11,750.28. The Bureau of Labor Statistics also announced today that the unemployment rate is 4.6 percent, lower than the average unemployment rate for the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. In the past year, the economy has created more than 1.7 million new jobs, and today marks thirty-seven straight months of job creation.

King voted to help American families and businesses owe less to the federal government through the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003. This law cut income tax rates, reduced the capital gains tax rate by 25 percent and spurred economic growth.