Deputy labor secretary Chris Lu is urging Congress to pass a long-term bill that would not only benefit the nation's aging infrastructure (roads, bridges, tunnels, and airports), but that would also create more jobs, increase wages, and encourage businesses to bring jobs back to the United States. Lu's comments came after the Department of Labor recently reported that unemployment had held steady at 5.3%, a 7-year low. Congress has been facing increased pressure to deal with the country's infrastructure problems after a series of high-profile incidents this summer, including the derailment of an Amtrak train in May and the current standstill between New York, New Jersey, Amtrak and New Jersey Transit over aging tunnels damaged by Hurricane Sandy.
See "Economy sees uptick – now Congress urged to pass bill to create more jobs", Jana Kasperkevic, August 10, 2015