Oakland, CA – Congresswoman Barbara Lee released the following statement in response to Speaker Boehner’s remarks at the American Enterprise Institute: “This idea that has been born, maybe out of the economy over the last couple years, that you know, I really don't have to work. I don't really want to do this. I think I'd rather just sit around. This is a very sick idea for our country."
“Speaker Boehner’s comments continue the line of attacks on the unemployed. I reject the idea that the American people are averse to hard work. The real problem is a Republican-controlled House that has obstructed every real effort to create good-paying jobs.
Congressional Republicans refuse to pass proven job-creating legislation including: raising the minimum wage, investing in our crumbling infrastructure, passing comprehensive immigration reform or renewing unemployment insurance for more than 3 million Americans still looking for work.
Instead of blaming the millions of people who are struggling to find work, we should be redoubling our efforts in Congress to create jobs.”
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Congresswoman Lee is a member of the Appropriations and Budget Committees, the Steering and Policy Committee, is a Senior Democratic Whip, former chair of both the Congressional Black Caucus and Progressive Caucus. She serves as chair of the newly formed Whip’s Task Force on Poverty and Opportunity.