Washington, D.C. – Congressman André Carson released the following statement today after the Department of Labor reported that the number of newly laid off people signing up for jobless benefits recently climbed to its highest level in more than six years.  New applications filed for unemployment insurance rose by a seasonally adjusted 7,000 to 455,000 for the week ending Aug. 2.

“With jobless claims soaring to their highest level in six years, it is imperative that President Bush work with Congressional Democrats in supporting a second economic stimulus package that will provide immediate and comprehensive assistance to working American families. 
 
“For the past several months, I have joined my Democratic colleagues in steadfastly urging the Bush Administration to support legislation that will eliminate the multi-billion deficit that currently exists in our nation’s Highway Trust Fund.  By fully funding our Highway Trust Fund, we can provide an immediate boost to our economy through the creation of jobs and repair our nation’s aging roads and highways. 

“Record high gas prices, soaring health care costs and surging jobless claims have caused our economy to recede and jeopardized the financial security of thousands of working families.  It is therefore imperative that we quickly pass another economic stimulus package that will aid those hardworking American families struggling to make ends meet in these tough economic times.”

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