Washington, DC -- Congressman Eliot Engel said today’s Department of Labor employment numbers showed that the federal government must still take action to stimulate the economy and put Americans back to work.

Rep. Engel said, “Only 69,000 jobs were added to our economy last month and the jobs figure for April was revised downwards from 115,000 jobs to 77,000.  The economy has stalled and this raises fears it could be receding.”

But, Rep. Engel said, there were bright spots in the news. He cited a Wall Street Journal story today which noted a reversal of the decline in Riverdale with a number of stores opening along Riverdale and Johnson Avenues, almost all of them opening since 2010 and independently owned.

The 12-term congressman said that our economic situation demands that government do more to keep our economy moving forward. Government, he said, is the only actor who can play this constructive role.

“Among the bad news was a drop in construction. Here government can, and should, do something. Our infrastructure, including the Tappan Zee Bridge, needs repair. Bridges and roads deteriorate with age and America’s ‘Golden Age’ of bridge and road building is now entering a similar age of repair.

“For several years I have advocated for a surface transportation reauthorization bill which would be a prime opportunity to invest in America, and our people. Congress must work to develop a better transportation bill which will make our nation’s infrastructure safer, stronger and more secure. For every­ $1 billion invested in infrastructure approximately 30,000 jobs are created.

“It is a simple equation,” he said. “Our economy and our infrastructure need help. We can help to repair our economy by repairing our infrastructure.”

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