VIRGINIA FOXX, NC ROBERT C. SCOTT, VA Chairwoman Ranking Member COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION MAJORITY (202) 225-4527 AND THE WORKFORCE MINORITY (202) 225-3725 FAX (202) 225-9571 u_S_ HOUSE OF REPRESENTATEVES FAX (202) 225-5398 217'6 RAYBURN HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON, DC 20515?6100 February 2, 2017 The President The White House Washington, DC 20500 Dear Mr. President: For over 100 years, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has initiated studies on employment and payroll.?1 Its present iteration popularly known as the employment situation report provides non-partisan data on the United States labor market and the nation?s unemployment rate. We write to inquire about whether your Administration will continue the longstanding and bipartisan tradition of standing behind the employment situation report. We also seek a commitment that you and your Administration will not undermine or interfere with independent mission to ?collect, analyze, and disseminate economic information to support public and private We believe our inquiry is warranted because of the apparent skepticism and distrust of the nation?s unemployment rate expressed by you and your White House staff. In the ?rst few days of your presidency, the White House press secretary reportedly refused to cite the of?cial unemployment rate when directly asked to do so by a reporter.3 This comes after a presidential campaign where you falsely characterized the unemployment rate as ?one of the biggest hoaxes in American modern polities.?4 Last February, you also incorrectly claimed the unemployment rate is ?probably 28, 29, as high as 35. In fact, I even heard recently This was just a few days after BLS reported the unemployment rate was 4.9 percent. 1 Bureau of Labor Statistics, "Timeline," (Last Modi?ed Date: July 5, 2012), available at: 2 Bureau of Labor Statistics, ?Mission Statement," (Last Modi?ed Date: April 13. 2010). available at: 3 Allan Smith, ?Sean Spicer Won?t Say What the Unemployment Rate Is," Business Insider, (January 23, 2017), available at: 1 7-1 4 Julia Horowitz, ?Will Trump team try to undermine of?cial unemployment numbers?" CNN A-foney. (January 25. 201?], available at: 5 Lori Robertson, "Fact Check: Trump Wildly Inflates Unemployment.? USA Today, (February 10, 2016). available at: http?wwu-z I 6/02/ I 8/ The President February 2, 2017 Page 2 While the employment situation report is not a panacea, it provides critical, non- partisan employment data that has been utilized for decades by presidents of both political parties, businesses of all sizes, Members ofCongress, economists, and, most importantly, the American people. For them, the BLS employment situation report has been a barometer of the country?s economic well?being and we believe Americans are correct to interpret it that way. Moreover, BLS publishes ?ve additional measures of unemployment and underemployment each month, which include those working part time but wanting to work ?ill time, and those who are too discouraged to look for work because they believe there are no jobs available for them and the job search effort would be futile. These measures, when viewed in conjunction with the unemployment rate, provide the public and policy makers a more fulsome depiction of the extent of unemployment. So when the independent analysis of the nation?s labor market is mocked, politicized, and baselessly attacked, it not only delegitimizes the critically important work. It also erodes the public?s trust. We respectfully recommend that you and your staff keep this in mind in the days ahead. In the event that you and your Administration endorse alternative metrics to gauge the nation?s unemployment rate, we trust you will communicate that decision to us and the American people forthwith, as well as your rationale for doing so. As Members of the House Education and Workforce Committee, which has legislative and oversight jurisdiction over the BLS, we appreciate your attention to the issues we raised. We look forward to working with you to build on the signi?cant job gains and economic progress that were achieved during the Obama presidency. We also stand ready to work with you to restore balance to the economy so that hardworking Americans can get ahead and provide a better future for their families. Sincerely, C. SCOTT 3 SAN A. DAVIS Ranking Member Member of Congress House Committee on Education and the Workforce RAU . RIJALVA JOE COURTNE Member of Congress Member of Congress The President February 2, 2017 Page 3 MARCIA L. Member of Congress GREGORIO KILILI CAMACHO VFREDERICA s. WILSON SABLAN Member of Congress Member of Congress BONAMICI Member of Congress Member of Congress ALMA S. ADA MARK DESAULNIER Member of Congress Member of Congress DONALD NORCROSS LISA Member of Congress Member of Congress KRI CAROL Member of ongress Member of Congress Member of Congress -43;