U.S. President Barack Obama says building a strong middle class is key to helping the country heal its economy.
In his weekly address Saturday, Mr. Obama said the upcoming Labor Day holiday is a chance to reaffirm a commitment to American workers.
The president touted some of his administration's initiatives, including tax cuts for working families and investment in construction projects that he says will create jobs.
His address followed a new report showing the U.S. unemployment rate rose last month to 9.6 percent, although private employers added about 67,000 jobs.
In the weekly Republican Party address, U.S. Representative Geoff Davis called for greater scrutiny of federal rules and regulations he said are a burden to small business owners.
Davis has introduced legislation that would have Congress vote on rules proposed by federal agencies if the regulations are expected to have an economic impact greater than $100 million.
Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.
