Ellison says job creation must be top priority

The bill requires the Super Committee to draft and vote on job-creating legislation by Oct. 14. Congress would then have to vote to approve the measures by Oct. 31, which is well before the Dec. 23 deadline for the Super Committee to vote on deficit reduction measures.

“The ‘Emergency Jobs Now Act’ ensures that deficit reduction does not jeopardize our economy’s growth even more than it already has—and that we focus on the millions of Americans who are out of work,” said Ellison, co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

“Creating at least 3 million jobs by the end of 2013 will generate the economic activity we need to pull out of this Republican-crafted recession.”

The Committee is currently charged with reducing the federal deficit by $1.5 trillion from fiscal years 2014-2021, but has no mandate for job creation. Ellison said the Committee must address unemployment to rebuild and preserve the American middle class.