I’m encouraged by the latest employment numbers released this morning showing 22 straight months of private sector job growth.  Getting the unemployment rate down to 8.5.% is progress, but we still have a great deal of work to do.  With a new session of Congress upon us, I expect my Republican colleagues will come back prepared to work and quit playing political games at the American people’s expense.  Congress must preserve a payroll tax cut for the American worker and extend unemployment insurance for 2 million Americans for the remainder of the year.

Congress must also forge long-term solutions to our nation’s economic challenges.  The American worker and our middle-class need champions that are going to fight for them.  That work begins with my legislation to rebuild American manufacturing. My proposals will convince US-based and foreign companies to manufacture in the United States by providing unrivaled access to our enviable consumer market and unparalleled workforce.

Right now, there’s an unemployed line worker in San Jose waiting to roll up his sleeves and get to work.  His skill and energy are the key to putting America back on top.  If we rebuild manufacturing in America, even 8.5% unemployment will become a distant memory.

A number of votes critical to our economic recovery are looming on the horizon. I hope Congress’s urgent work will not be derailed by Tea Party extremist stunts that turn legislative housekeeping into full-blown global crises.  The American people demand results.  The American people deserve results.  I stand shoulder to shoulder with fellow Democrats in Congress to deliver just that.