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For Immediate Release
Contact:

Michael Briggs or Will Wiquist (202) 224-5141

Unemployment Emergency Requires Urgent Action

Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) called today for immediate action to create jobs in the wake of a new report that more than half a million jobs were lost in November, the worst monthly showing in 34 years.

The job losses pushed the unemployment rate to 6.7 percent, the highest rate since the recession of the early 1990s, the Labor Department reported.

Sanders called on Congress to pass an economic recovery package.

BURLINGTON, Vermont

Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) called today for immediate action to create jobs in the wake of a new report that more than half a million jobs were lost in November, the worst monthly showing in 34 years.

The job losses pushed the unemployment rate to 6.7 percent, the highest rate since the recession of the early 1990s, the Labor Department reported.

Sanders called on Congress to pass an economic recovery package.

"This is an emergency. We need to jolt our economy back to life. Immediate action is needed to create millions of jobs," Sanders said. "The situation is urgent!"

The senator has advocated a stimulus package of at least $500 billion. "After years of neglect, our top priority should be a major investment in repairing our crumbling roads and bridges, fixing our schools, reviving our railroads, and making a major financial commitment to energy efficiency and sustainable energy. Now is the time to move forward aggressively because each $1 billion investment creates up to 47,000 new jobs," Sanders said. "If Congress can fork over $700 billion to rescue the Wall Street fat cats from their reckless gambles, why can't we put millions of Americans to work rebuilding our country as we address the severe economic crisis we face?"

Sanders also said Congress must take a hard look at the manufacturing sector in the United States. "American corporations must reinvest in America and stop taking away our good-paying jobs and sending them overseas."

United States Senator for Vermont

(202) 224-5141