WASHINGTON, March 5 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Speaker Nancy Pelosi released the following statement on the February jobs report issued today by the Department of Labor showing that the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 9.7 percent.

"Today's jobs report demonstrates that economic stabilization is taking hold: the unemployment rate held steady despite the disruptions caused by the winter storms, and manufacturing jobs grew for the second straight month. The report is cautious evidence that America's businesses are gaining confidence and that the Recovery Act continues to restore strength in key sectors of our economy. To keep the recovery moving in the right direction on behalf of all Americans, we must continue to invest wisely and act with fiscal discipline.

"Yesterday, the House passed the HIRE Act to give small businesses a tax break for hiring new workers and create jobs building the infrastructure of the future. And in December, the House passed a sweeping Jobs for Main Street Act.

"We will take additional steps to move our economy forward. As the recovery begins, too many Americans are still unemployed. Too many workers in the hardest hit communities have fallen behind during this downturn and are not seeing reason for hope.

"All Members of the Congress must continue to act with the urgency felt by millions of families and small businesses struggling to make ends meet . While the unemployment rate held steady, we know steady isn't good enough. We must keep fighting to reach our goal: putting Americans back to work."

SOURCE Office of the Speaker of the House