WASHINGTON — 

Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) issued the following statement today regarding the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ announcement that the economy added 263,000 jobs in April and the unemployment rate dropped to 3.6 percent — the lowest in five decades.

“Jobs, opportunity, and economic growth — this is the new normal for hardworking Americans. Today’s report that 263,000 jobs were added to our economy is just the latest in a list of good economic news we’ve seen since Republican-led tax reform was passed. Unemployment is now at the lowest level in five decades. Last week, we learned the economy grew by 3.2 percent in the first quarter of 2019. There’s no doubt about it, our economy is booming. Job creation is up. Household income is at a record high. Wages are rising. Meanwhile, Democrats have been busy promoting policies that would reverse our economic successes. Despite that, Republicans in Congress will continue to look for ways we can further our pro-growth, pro-jobs agenda — improving the lives of Americans and keeping our nation prosperous.”