Jobs News

Watch Live: President Obama on the American Jobs Act in North Carolina

Ed. Note: The event has now ended. Watch video and see photos from the event.

Today, President Obama will visit Raleigh, North Carolina to continue the conversation with Americans on why Congress needs to pass the American Jobs Act to put workers back to work. Watch the President live beginning at 12:55 p.m. EDT at WhiteHouse.gov/live.

In advance of the President’s visit, Governor Beverly Perdue and mayors across North Carolina explained the importance of passing the American Jobs Act. Governor Beverly Perdue said, "My top priority is creating jobs. I'm pleased that the President put forward the American Jobs Act. Congress should pass a plan quickly that encourages companies to hire, helps unemployed people get back to work, and puts more money in the pockets of working families."

President Obama: "Every Child Deserves a Great School"

President Barack Obama delivers remarks to students, faculty and staff at Fort Hayes Arts and Academic High School in Columbus, Ohio, Sept. 13, 2011. The President highlights his American Jobs Act proposal to put workers back on the job by rebuilding and modernizing schools across the country. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

It was a hot afternoon in Columbus, Ohio today when President Obama spoke to an enthusiastic crowd of over 3,000 people at Fort Hayes Arts and Academic High School. He laid out how the American Jobs Act will put teachers back in the classroom and get construction workers, carpenters and electricians back on the job modernizing America's schools.

Even though the September sun felt more like midsummer, students are back in school at Fort Hayes and on days like today they’re glad to have air-conditioning, one of many recent renovations to buildings on campus that were originally built during the Civil War. The American Jobs Act would make it possible to renovate at least 35,000 schools like Fort Hayes across the country. As the President said, putting construction workers back on the job rebuilding schools is just common sense for the economy and for the education of our kids:

When buildings are that old, they start falling apart.  They start leaking, and ceiling tiles start to cave in, and there’s no heat in the winter or air-conditioning in the summer.  Some of the schools the ventilation is so poor it can make students sick. 

How do we expect our kids to do their very best in a situation like that?  The answer is we can’t.  Every child deserves a great school, and we can give it to them, but we got to pass this bill. 

More Organizations and Businesses Respond to the American Jobs Act

Yesterday, President Obama sent The American Jobs Act to Congress and urged Congress to pass the bill right away to get the economy moving. Organizations and businesses continue to respond to the President’s call to put partisanship aside and do what is right for the American people. Here is what organizations around the country are saying about the American Jobs Act:

UNITE HERE, John W. Wilhelm, President

On behalf of UNITE HERE’s 250,000 members who work in the hotel, food service, gaming and manufacturing industries, I applaud the President’s vigorous and inspired push to put America back to work. We join him in calling for the Congress to act and to act now!

Public Transportation Association (APTA), William Millar, President

On behalf of the more than 1,500 members of the American Public Transportation Association I commend President Obama for his remarks last night that highlighted creating and supporting jobs through investing in transportation infrastructure. The $50 billion in direct funding proposed in the American Jobs Act will go a long way to jump start needed transportation investments.  Every $1 billion in public transportation investment supports or creates 36,000 jobs.  Also, for every $1 invested in public transportation, $4 is generated in economic returns.

International Federation of Professional & Technical Engineers (IFPTE), Gregory J. Junemann, President

The President’s plan is needed now, more than ever, and we encourage all Americans and every member of Congress to get on board in pushing this plan into law. President Obama made a great speech in outlining his plan for the restoration of the nation’s economy. And he called on all of us—each and every one of us—to support him. We must answer his call with meaningful action. Reach out to every member of Congress and demand the swift passage of the American Jobs Act.

Fraternal Order of Police, Chuck Caterbury, National President

President Obama has presented us with a sound, no nonsense, blueprint for getting Americans back to work and jumpstarting the economy. We support and applaud this effort and will work to ensure its passage by Congress.

Open for Questions: The American Jobs Act

On Thursday, September 15^th at 2:00PM EDT, the White House will host a special “Open for Questions” event.

Last week, President Obama unveiled the American Jobs Act before a Joint Session of Congress and yesterday the President sent the American Jobs Act to Congress. This plan puts more people back to work and puts more money in the pockets of working Americans. On Thursday, September 15^th at 2:00PM EDT Obama Administration officials will answer questions submitted through Facebook, Twitter, and the White House website during a live event that you won’t want to miss. 

Participating Obama Administration include:

• Brian Deese, Deputy Director of the National Economic Council
• Jon Carson, Deputy Assistant to the President & Director of the Office of Public Engagement

Right now, you can submit questions through:

• Ask questions in advance on the White House facebook wall
• Ask us through a form on WhiteHouse.gov

On September 15th at 2:00 p.m. EDT, you can watch and engage live:

• Ask the panel questions on Twitter with the hashtag #WHChat
• Ask question through the White House Live facebook app
• Watch the event on WhiteHouse.gov/live

Back on the Job Thanks to Federal Transportation Investments

Ed. Note: The following is cross-listed with the Department of Transportation blog.

Last week, as President Obama addressed Congress on the American Jobs Act, Kirk Bergstrom, a construction engineer from Centennial, Colorado, who personifies our economic challenges, sat in the First Lady’s box.

Here's what I mean.  Kirk Bergstrom is a stand-up guy, one of those Americans who has played by the rules all his life.  He went to college to improve his opportunities. He developed his skills and experience through more than a decade working in his field.  He got married and began raising a family.  He was doing all the right things.

Then, when the recession began, he was laid off from a company he'd been with for 11 steady years.  He was picked up by another construction company, but was laid off again.  Hired back by his original company, he was again let go when the projects dried up.

For long stretches during this period--three months, six months, another six months--Kirk was unemployed.  But even then he would not give up.  He took part-time work in a warehouse while his wife struggled to hold down different part-time jobs.  The bills--mortgage, utilities, groceries--piled up.

"My wife and I," Kirk says, "would sit up at night and just stare at each other, not knowing what to say."

The Bergstrom Family (Photo from US DOT)

Open for Questions: Youth and the American Jobs Act

Hi everyone. I’d like to invite you to a very special edition of “Open for Questions” on Wednesday, September 14th, at 4:00PM EDT. Please join me and senior White House officials as we field questions on how the American Jobs Act will impact young Americans. I'll moderate this conversation with:

• Michael Pyle, Special Assistant to the President, National Economic Council
• Roberto Rodriguez, Special Assistant to the President for Education Policy

We’ve already received a number of questions about the American Jobs Act, like:

• How will the President’s plan support young entrepreneurs?
• Will the plan help prevent police, firefighters and teacher layoffs?
• What programs will the American Jobs Act support on youth employment?

On Wednesday, we'll answer these questions, and many more. So, send us your questions and please be sure to tune in for the live video chat. Here's how you can participate:

Right now, you can:

• Ask questions in advance on the White House facebook wall
• Ask us through a form on WhiteHouse.gov

President Obama: "Let's Put this Country Back to Work"

Watch President Obama's speech on the American Jobs Act here.

This morning, President Obama was joined by Vice President Biden as well as teachers, veterans, small business owners, construction workers and first responders, as he called on Congress to pass the American Jobs Act right away:

On Thursday, I told Congress that I’ll be sending them a bill called the American Jobs Act.  Well, here it is.  This is a bill that will put people back to work all across the country.  This is the bill that will help our economy in a moment of national crisis.  This is a bill that is based on ideas from both Democrats and Republicans.  And this is the bill that Congress needs to pass.  No games.  No politics.  No delays. I’m sending this bill to Congress today, and they ought to pass it immediately. 

The President's Plan for the Economy and Education

Ed. Note: The following is cross-listed with the Department of Education blog.

In his speech to Congress, President Obama laid out two job programs critical to ensuring every child has the opportunity for a world-class education.

He proposed to invest $30 billion to put hundreds of thousands of construction workers, engineers, boiler repairmen, and electrical workers back to work rebuilding and modernizing our aging public schools and community colleges. And he proposed an additional $30 billion to keep hundreds of thousands of educators facing potential layoffs and furloughs in classrooms where they belong—instead of on unemployment lines.

In the global economy, the nation that out-educates America will out-compete America. But the hard truth is that a number of nations are now out-educating the U.S.—and the antiquated conditions of many public schools are limiting children’s access to the 21st century tools and skills needed to compete in a knowledge economy.

The average public school building in the United States is over 40 years old. Many school buildings are even more antiquated. Today, the digital age has penetrated every nook of American life—with the exception of many of our public schools.

Most classrooms have changed little from a century ago. In fact, 43 states report that a third or more of their schools fail to meet the functional requirements necessary to effectively teach laboratory science—even though hands-on science education is vital for the jobs of the future. That’s no way to provide a world-class education.

Cash-strapped school districts meanwhile face an enormous $270 billion backlog of deferred maintenance and repairs. Tragically, children in the nation’s poorest school districts often attend schools with crumbling ceilings, overcrowded classrooms, and facilities that lack basic wiring infrastructure for computers, projectors, and other modern-day technology.

Office Hours 9/9/11 or “Gotta sign off, headed to #WHTweetup”: Brian Deese Answers Your Questions on Twitter

Earlier today, we brought back White House “Office Hours”, a question and answer session with Administration officials on Twitter to hear from you and answer your questions, submitted using the hashtag #WHChat, on the new White House twitter account @WHLive.

Today, Brian Deese, Deputy Director of the National Economic Council answered your questions about the American Jobs Act, announced by President Obama in a joint session of Congress and designed to create more jobs now, and put more money in the pockets of working Americans.

If you missed this session, check out the schedule for upcoming chances to join.

Follow us at @WhiteHouse for the latest updates and use the hashtag #WHWeb to share your feedback and ideas on how we can improve Office Hours and our online program. 

During White House Office Hours, Deputy Director of the National Economic Council Brian Deese answers questions from the public on the American Jobs Act through Twitter. September 9, 2011 (Photo by Thomas Kelley)