WASHINGTON, DC (February 5, 2010) – Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-IL, released the following statement in response to news that the U.S. unemployment rate fell to 9.7 percent.

“The economy continues to improve because of the swift action and policies Democrats enacted to bring us back from the brink of another depression.  The recent employment numbers are encouraging and illustrate a positive trend but the road is long and there is more to be done to return our economy to solid ground.  We must redouble our efforts to create jobs, prop up small business, reform health care, and pass the difficult but necessary financial reform that will put in place safeguards to protect our economy from the greed and risky practices that brought this situation upon us.”