President Obama: Our Problems Are Eminently Solvable

The President today outlined a series of steps Congress can take to quickly add momentum to our nation's economic growth. Click on the links below to find out more about how each of these proposals can help propel our economy forward:

• Extend the payroll tax cut so that middle class families have more money in their paychecks next year.  If you've got more money in your paycheck, you're more likely to spend it, and that means businesses of all sizes will have more customers.  They'll be in a better position to hire. 

We also need to make sure that millions of workers who are still pounding the pavement looking for jobs to support their families are not denied needed unemployment benefits.

If Congress fails to extend the payroll tax and unemployment insurance it could mean one million fewer jobs and half a percent less growth. 

• Pass a bipartisan infrastructure bill. There are over a million construction workers out of work after the housing boom went bust, just as a lot of America needs rebuilding.  We can connect the two by helping private companies rebuild our roads and bridges and railways.  
   
• Pass the patent reform bill to give our entrepreneurs the chance to get their job-creating ideas to market faster by streamlining the patent process. 
   
• Pass the trade agreements that will help businesses sell more American-made goods and services to Asia and South America, supporting tens of thousands of jobs here at home.

Trade Adjustment Assistance Fact Sheet
South Korea Free Trade Agreement
Colombia Free Trade Agreement
Panama Free Trade Agreement