WASHINGTON, DC-House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn today released the following statement on the jobs report released by the Labor Department.

"The December jobs report shows that recovering from the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression is an uphill climb, and we still have a lot of work to do to put the country back on stronger footing.  Thanks to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act 1.6 million jobs have been saved or created and the nation experienced the biggest six month economic turnaround in 29 years, but unemployment is still at 10 percent and Americans are hurting. 

"In December the House passed The Jobs on Main Street Act which will create or save jobs here at home by redirecting TARP funds from Wall Street to Main Street.  It includes targeted investments for highways and transit, school renovation, hiring teachers, police, and firefighters, small business, job training and affordable housing - key drivers of economic growth that have the most bang for the buck. 

"And today a report from the Center for American Progress shows that health reform legislation will slow the growth of medical costs and allow employers to create 4 million jobs over the next decade.

"I look forward to working with the President and my Senate colleagues in the coming weeks on making law a jobs package and landmark health insurance legislation in order to create good-paying jobs and generate sustainable economic growth."

To see the report from the Center for American Progress on health reform and job creation click here.