WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., touted Thursday's monthly jobs report as a sign of economic progress but said his Republican colleagues could be doing more to help American workers.
Reid argued that Republicans specifically threatened the job security of American workers by allowing the deadline for reauthorizing the Export-Import Bank to pass with no action.
'Republicans had plenty of time to address this issue, but they just don't seem to care,' Reid said. 'I stand ready, along with my Democratic colleagues, to vote to immediately reauthorize this vital institution for American businesses and to protect American jobs.'
The Nevada Senator claimed the Export-Import Bank, which is designed to help facilitate exports of U.S. goods and services, supports 165,000 American jobs.
Reid also accused Republicans of manufacturing another crisis by failing to replenish the federal Highway Trust Fund.
'Democrats want a long-term solution that properly invests in upgrading our nation's crumbling highways, bridges and roads,' Reid said.
He added, 'This would put more Americans to work, improve our nation's infrastructure and create good-paying jobs throughout the country.'
Reid said congress should act to immediately pass a long-term highway bill and reauthorize the Export-Import Bank following the July 4th recess.
The minority leader's remarks came after the Labor Department released a report earlier in the day showing that the U.S. added 223,000 jobs in June, pushing the unemployment rate down to a seven-year low of 5.3 percent.
Meanwhile, House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, also described the report as encouraging but suggested Democrats need to get on board with Republican solutions to promote stronger economic growth and reduce Americans' cost of living.
'Millions of Americans are still struggling to find a job or living paycheck to paycheck, and they deserve a better opportunity to get ahead,' Boehner said. 'That's why we will continue to focus on the priorities of hardworking families, and advance solutions that will make a real difference for them.'
He added, 'We're off to a good start this year, but we still have plenty of work to do and I encourage the president and members of his party to work with us to get more bipartisan, House-passed jobs bills signed into law.'
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