In continuing Congress’ efforts to revitalize job opportunities in New Jersey and across the nation, U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-8) has accepted an appointment to the Congressional Task Force on Job Creation.

“I am proud and honored to be a part of this most-important undertaking,” said Pascrell, a member of the House Ways and Means Committee. “After eight years of fiscal mismanagement and permitting an unscrupulous marketplace that bilked the middle class, this government is working to keep Americans working. It won’t be easy. But our nation has met this challenge before, and we are able to meet it again.”

The task force’s first meeting on Wednesday at 12 p.m. on Capitol Hill is scheduled a day before President Barack Obama’s Forum on Jobs and Economic Growth at the White House.

House Democratic Caucus Chairman John Larson appointed Rep. Pascrell with more than 15 other members of Congress to the task force in mid-November. The task force will focus on bringing new and innovative ideas to the table that will create jobs and restore the promise of the middle class. The House is working to pass a job-creation package before the end of the year. The task force will work toward crafting innovative ways to strengthen our economy and put Americans back to work.

Prior to accepting this appointment, Rep. Pascrell’s efforts toward job creation have included his support for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which saved 24,000 jobs in New Jersey including teachers, police and firefighters.

Rep. Pascrell also wrote the provisions in the House Affordable Health Care for America Act that provide for the development of the nation’s medical professional workforce, including more primary care physicians, nurses and other medical professionals.

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