Rep. Kevin Brady (R-TX), Chairman of the Joint Economic Committee, commented on today’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) report showing that 175,000 nonfarm payroll jobs and 162,000 private payroll jobs were added in February, while the unemployment rate rose to 6.7%:

“Every additional job is important, but the bigger picture is still awfully disappointing. A smaller percentage of adult Americans are working today than when the recession ended more than four years ago. That just isn't an acceptable recovery."

“This President keeps hitting the brakes as our economy struggles to take off. A failed healthcare law, the failed stimulus and crushing regulatory policies are smothering job creation. It’s time for the President to start cooperating with Congress to put more Americans back to work instead of proposing more spending, taxes, and regulations.”

The employment-to-population ratio stood at 59.4% when the recession ended in June 2009 and at 60.6% in January 2009 when the President took office. According to BLS, the employment-to-population ratio was 58.8% in February.