WASHINGTON, DC (June 7, 2013) – Today, the Bureau of Labor Statistics unveiled the May unemployment statistics, showing the economy gained 175,000 jobs, and the unemployment rate increased to 7.6 percent. The following is a statement from BlueGreen Alliance Executive Director David Foster:

“Leaders in Congress have again missed the opportunity to pursue a pro-growth agenda that will create the jobs we need to build a prosperous America. The across-the-board budget cuts known as the sequester are continuing to stifle growth, and the U.S. construction and manufacturing sectors have stagnated after making great strides over the past two years.

“To achieve long-term economic growth we must get back to innovating, manufacturing, and building in every part of the country. Fixing our roads and bridges and wastewater, transit, and communications systems — and getting them prepared for climate change — is an opportunity to protect our communities and provide a much-needed boost to our economy by creating good jobs.

“Repairing America is a policy we can all agree on. There’s too much at stake to hold back now, we must move forward.”