WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady (R-TX) released the following statement in response to the Department of Labor’s January 2016 jobs report:

“Every new job is important, but America is still missing millions of jobs that would be back by now if the Obama ‘recovery’ had been a normal recovery. That’s what higher taxes and excessive red tape on local businesses will do – block job creation, keep paychecks stagnant and force millions of people to give up looking for work.

“The President’s budget next week should be focused on pro-growth policies that will help people get back in the workforce. Instead, we are hearing it will include job-killing energy tax hikes on every American – including those with low incomes who can least afford it.”

Note: The Department of Labor reported today the economy added 151,000 jobs in January and the unemployment rate was 4.9 percent.