WASHINGTON— House Small Business Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO) today issued the following statement after the U.S. Department of Labor reported that 117,000 jobs were created in July while the unemployment rate fell slightly to 9.1%:

“Today’s unemployment report is better than expected, but still below levels that are consistent with a healthy recovery. Unemployment above 9% and .4% quarterly GDP growth is unacceptable for the most powerful economy in the world.

“Earlier this week, Vice President Joe Biden said that his caucus would now pivot their focus from the debt ceiling deal to jobs. It seems like the President, Vice President, and Majority Leader Reid have ‘pivoted’ and ‘refocused' on jobs now at least 10 separate times over the last two years. By contrast, House Republicans have consistently kept job creation as a central focus of our agenda. When they are ready to enact serious policies to help create jobs, House Republicans stand ready with a list of proposals that will unleash the world’s most dynamic job creators – small businesses."

“House Republicans have proposed pro-growth policies that help job creators by reducing regulatory burdens, reforming the tax code and lowering business tax rates to 25 percent, spurring exports by passing the pending free trade agreements, and introducing a budget that addresses our debt and gets America’s fiscal house in order. Fears of another recession in the U.S., a jittery stock market, and a worsening debt crisis in other countries are adding to the uncertainty that many small businesses face. It is imperative that we work together to help the private sector grow and lead us to economic strength.”

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