Washington, D.C. - Rep. David Price (D-NC) released the following statement this morning following reports from the Bureau of Labor Statistics that the national unemployment rate fell from 9.8% to 9.4% in the month of December bringing the unemployment rate to its lowest level since May of 2009.

"Today's job creation announcement is enormously positive—and affirms the pro-growth agenda pursued by Democrats—but it is still not enough. The number one priority of Congress should be continuing and accelerating the economic recovery. Instead, House Republicans' first priority is a Tea Party-driven repeal of health care reform that would hurt America's middle class, subjecting millions to rising premiums and exclusions from coverage if they have pre-existing conditions. Repeal would increase the deficit by $230 billion in the next ten years. And according to a recent study repeal would kill over four million jobs this decade by eliminating small business tax credits and reigniting rapid growth in business' health costs.

"Now is not the time to discourage hiring or eliminate health care reforms that Americans already are counting on. Republicans should return their focus to job creation and the investments in education, research and infrastructure that will position us to not just compete—but win—in the global economy."

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