Economy

As the American people continue to suffer under President Biden's broken economy, disconcerting data in the latest jobs report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) showed June as having the weakest overall job growth in the last 14 months. The data also revealed the workforce participation rate is decreasing at a time when employers need workers most. According to BLS, the number of Americans in the workforce decreased to 62.2 percent in June.

As a member of the Republican Jobs and the Economy Taskforce, I am committed to promoting America's economic recovery; however, concerns of a recession continue to mount due to President Biden's mismanagement of the economy. The June jobs report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows the weakest overall job growth since April 2021. This comes at a time when 57 percent of Americans say the actions of the federal government have hurt their family over the last six months, according to a recent Monmouth University Poll.

As our nation celebrates Independence Day, the grocery bill for cookouts and picnics is hitting the budgets of American families harder this year. The American Farm Bureau Federation calculated U.S. consumers are paying 17 percent more for standard Fourth of July fixings than last year. Furthermore, soaring gas prices are limiting summer vacation plans and travel. It's not just holiday expenses: American families are feeling the pain caused by the Biden administration's failed policies every single day. Costs are up across the board.

The importance of a strong agriculture economy to the state of Nebraska and our entire nation cannot be overstated. Often overlooked in policy conversations, the products supplied by farmers and ranchers are fundamental to fueling our lives, filling our plates, putting shirts on our backs, and so much more. Yet, American ag producers currently face a bevy of historic crises which threaten their livelihoods and the long-term health of our economy.

American families across the country are grappling with increasing costs and economic uncertainty. Last week, the Consumer Price Index confirmed costs of household items, energy, and services have risen by more than 8 percent, on average, over the last 12 months. Consumers are tightening their budgets, purchasing less, choosing generic groceries more, and often going without.

While traveling in the Third District in recent weeks, I have been encouraged by the expertise and creativity our communities possess and sobered by the challenges we face. We have much to be thankful for, but there is also no shortage to the adversity we must overcome.