Washington, D.C., Feb 4 - Congressman Silvestre Reyes (D-Texas) is optimistic that the country is on the right track to economic prosperity after learning from the U.S. Department of Labor that 243,000 jobs were added throughout the country, the most in nine months, and that the unemployment rate fell yet again to 8.3 percent, the lowest in three years.

"As more job opportunities open up for people in El Paso and throughout the country, I am optimistic, now more than ever, that our country is on track to economic prosperity. For the past few months, we have seen the unemployment rate decline time and time again," Congressman Reyes said. "While there are many people who are still without jobs, and much more work to be done, I am encouraged by the positive trend."

Congressman Reyes said the latest report from the U.S. Department of Labor indicates the country's unemployment rate is the lowest since February 2009, and locally unemployment has declined for a third straight month.