WASHINGTON, DC (WOWO): Thursday afternoon, Senator Dan Coats, chairman-designate of the Joint Economic Committee, today commented on the Department of Labor’s report that weekly jobless claims were a higher-than-expected 316,000, the highest level since September 2014:

“It is concerning that the number of Americans filing claims for unemployment benefits has reached a four month high,” said Coats. “This report is further indication that in 2015 Congress must focus on building an economic climate that encourages job creation. Enhancing economic opportunity should be the cornerstone of our domestic agenda.”