FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
February 2, 2024
CONTACT: [email protected]
One Country Statement on January 2024 Jobs Report
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, One Country Project issued the following statement after the release of the January jobs report:
“January started the new year off strong with an addition of 353,000 jobs to the labor market. These opportunities, paired with the 0.6 percent hourly wage increase and the second straight year of unemployment below 4 percent, are creating a worker-friendly environment for Americans.
“While this a positive landscape for workers, more must be done to ensure that families have the tools they need to handle costs of essentials from groceries to gas and energy to health care. Republican-led proposals to institute Medicaid work requirements, refusals to extend summer food assistance to children, and willingness to allow the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) to lapse shows a disregard for vulnerable populations, particularly those in rural regions who already disproportionately lack access to health care, affordable and nutritious food, and high-speed internet.
“2024 presents the chance for lawmakers to build on the job market gains and foster economic growth for working families. Congress must overcome partisan divisions to deliver commonsense solutions – such as renewing the ACP and the Farm Bill – that guarantee rural Americans’ ability to thrive.”
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About One Country Project
Rural America holds an essential role in moving the United States forward and the One Country Project is dedicated to ensuring Rural America’s priorities and values are heard and reflected in policy at the federal level. To learn more, visit us at www.onecountryproject.com or on Twitter or Facebook.