The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
September 08, 2011

Washington Governor Christine Gregoire Backs American Jobs Act

Statement from Washington Governor Christine Gregoire:
“Combining ideas supported by both parties, the President has put forward a plan to put more people to work including teachers, veterans, first responders and construction workers, while putting more money in the pockets of working Americans, ensuring a thriving economy. And it won’t add a dime to the federal deficit.”

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
September 08, 2011

Small Business Majority Backs American Jobs Act

President’s Jobs Speech Recognizes the Path to Recovery Starts with Small Business

Statement by John Arensmeyer, CEO, Small Business Majority:

Sept. 8, 2011

President Obama’s speech today on the American Jobs Act underscores the fact that all roads to a brighter economic future start with small business. We applaud the president for highlighting the need to cut taxes for small businesses and offsetting those cuts by closing corporate tax loopholes, which do no harm to small firms. Additionally, his focus on putting middle class Americans back to work and boosting their spending power is imperative for our entrepreneurs, as they are small businesses’ primary customers. We have an employment problem, and small businesses create 65 percent of all new jobs. Spotlighting small business will help create a cycle of prosperity that directly benefits the economy by putting America back to work.
 
However, there is more to do. We encourage lawmakers to develop and support programs that will provide small businesses with the cash flow they need to keep their doors open, pursue new business opportunities and hire more workers, and urge them to support small business innovation, which fuels economic expansion.
 
Implementing policies that help small businesses get credit, hire and put people to work will not only help unemployment, it will reduce government spending and boost revenue. Fewer unemployed workers means government needs to spend less on social programs and unemployment benefits.
 
We cannot emphasize enough the need for Congress to act quickly to secure small businesses in their traditional role as job creators, and as a result, get our economy back on the right track. Congress needs to put aside partisan bickering to focus on what really matters. We urge lawmakers to rise above the gridlock that has gripped them for too long and put the public good above politics.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
September 08, 2011

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand Backs American Jobs Act

Gillibrand Statement On President Obama’s Address To Nation On Jobs Proposals
September 8, 2011

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand issued the following statement tonight after President Obama addressed the nation on proposals to create jobs.

“Tonight was a call to action from the President. Congress must rally around bold new ideas that encourage businesses to hire Americans who are ready to work, and ideas that unlock the full potential of American innovation, entrepreneurship and hard work.

“I’ve traveled throughout New York State this summer, hearing from small business owners and everyday families. I can tell you, they want Democrats and Republicans to work together to once and for all address this crisis, and create new jobs. They are tired of the same old political fights, and with good reason. Old fights won’t solve new problems. Americans deserve better from Congress.

“If we’re going to create new jobs and a thriving middle class that is prepared for the new economy, we can’t think small. We need big ideas met with good faith and common purpose from both parties in Congress.” 

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
September 08, 2011

United Steelworkers (USW) Back the American Jobs Act

USW Statement on President Obama’s jobs address to Congress

               Pittsburgh (Sept. 8) – Leo W. Gerard, International President of the United Steelworkers (USW) issued the following statement after President Obama delivered his jobs address to the joint session of Congress.

               "President Obama has made it clear to us that job creation is his top priority – now it needs to become one for this Congress. Unemployment is stuck near double-digits and the economy stagnant. We need action now. Inaction is unacceptable.

               “Calling Congress into a joint session signals that this isn't business as usual. Quick and decisive action is necessary to begin to restore our economy by rebuilding our manufacturing capacity through important investments in our country and our people as proposed by the President. The billons of infrastructure investments announced by the President will drive new jobs in manufacturing. He is right in saying that the next generation of manufacturing must be Made in America.

               “The American Jobs Act is a promising tool to restore confidence that our government will act to ignite economic growth, reduce our unemployment rate and provide sustainable good jobs. It will put money in the pockets of working Americans, grow manufacturing, return teachers to classrooms hit by budget cuts, and cut taxes for small business.

               “The roll out is a bold jobs plan to establish a national infrastructure bank, reshape the tax code, refocus of the trade agenda, provide new federal loan guarantees for energy projects and to promote infrastructure project for schools, rail, airports, bridges and roads.

               “For this plan to work, those individuals and corporations must prosperous must pay their fair share and the benefits delivered by social programs such as Medicare and Social Security must be continued to be efficiently delivered.

               “We call on Republicans to join the Democrats lead on the jobs plan and abandon their confrontational obstructionist tactics. We need to put America back on track. USW members will do their part and make their voices heard in support of the Administration’s plan.”

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
September 08, 2011

Senator Barbara Boxer Backs American Jobs Act

BOXER STATEMENT ON PRESIDENT OBAMA’S JOBS SPEECH

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Boxer (D-CA) issued the following statement after President Obama’s jobs speech tonight:
“The President’s plan for immediate job creation is the recipe we need to reinvigorate our economy. In Harry Truman-style – straight from the heart – the President was both inspirational and specific.

“I particularly support his call for rebuilding our deficient roads, bridges and schools and for helping homeowners refinance – issues that I have been working with my Republican colleagues to address.

“I will work on a bipartisan basis to pass the American Jobs Act.”

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
September 08, 2011

Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton Backs American Jobs Act

Statement from Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton:

The President's vision should inspire Americans and galvanize Congress.  As he stated so eloquently, the time to act is NOW.  His American Jobs Act will put thousands of Minnesotans back to work; they need Congress to act NOW. As we learn more in the days ahead about the details of the President's plan, I am confident we will find even more initiatives that will help Minnesota's citizens, businesses, and economy.  I look forward to rolling up my sleeves to support the President's proposals and to put them to work for Minnesota."

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
September 08, 2011

Senator Mark Udall Backs American Jobs Act

Following Obama’s Jobs Speech, Udall Urges Congress to Work Together for the Economy
 
Vows to Continue to Fight for his Bipartisan Bills to Create Jobs, Help Small Businesses

In Symbolic Gesture of Bipartisanship, Udall Sat with GOP Senator During President’s Address

Mark Udall issued the following statement in response to President Obama's speech to Congress this evening about creating jobs and boosting the economy:

"Last month I traveled across the state visiting with business leaders on the Western Slope and farmers on the Eastern Plains, and they all asked me when Congress would start working together to create jobs.  What Washington could use is some of Colorado's common sense.  We don't care if you're a Republican or a Democrat, we just want to get the job done.  It's time for Congress to get the job done and get the economy going again.

"Tonight President Obama rolled out what looks like a practical and responsible proposal for how we can create jobs with ideas from both sides of the aisle.  Tax cuts for working families and investments in our crumbling roads, bridges and schools in communities across the country will help put people to work, get consumers spending again, create reliable infrastructure, and help businesses find agile, well-trained workers.  Similar investments have helped Colorado's economy, as the president illustrated through the story of Kirk Bergstrom, an engineer from Centennial who is helping build the FasTracks light rail line to DIA.  

"More than anything, America's business leaders need a shot of confidence so they can start investing long-term in their businesses, and the only way to create confidence is when leaders in Washington work together to create a climate of certainty.  While I always want to see the details, we need to take the president's proposal seriously.  We can't afford a repeat of the political games that have blocked our country's progress over the last several months."

Udall urged the president to consider some of his job creation bills that would create jobs at no cost to the taxpayers by responsibly lifting regulations and allowing businesses to expand.  And he will continue to push to pass them.  They include a proposal to lift the cap limiting the amount credit unions can lend to small businesses.  Experts estimate the bill would create well over 100,000 new jobs in the first year alone.  Another bill would make it clear that the Forest Service can permit year-round activities that will boost Colorado's ski communities and create jobs during the shoulder seasons.

Finally, in a symbolic gesture showing the importance of working together, Udall sat during the speech with GOP Senator Lisa Murkowski from Alaska.  Earlier this year, Murkowski joined Udall in calling for Congress to sit in a bipartisan fashion - rather than divided by party - during the president's State of the Union Address.  Later this fall, Udall and Murkowski will be headlining a discussion at a Republican think tank in Washington on the importance of bipartisanship.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
September 08, 2011

Senator Chris Coons Backs American Jobs Act

Statement from Senator Coons on President Obama's plan for job creation

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) released the following statement after President Obama’s address to Congress on job creation:
 
“With our nation mired in a jobs crisis, I was pleased to hear President Obama lay out his strategy for helping the millions of Americans looking for work. I strongly support many of the ideas he proposed tonight, including significant investments in America’s aging infrastructure, additional support for small businesses, and a specific focus on helping our veterans find work.
 
“I was proud to see my Senate colleagues cast votes in favor of final passage of the America Invents Act just hours before the President’s speech tonight. The sweeping changes to our nation’s patent system that it makes will help create jobs in Delaware and throughout the country, which is why I cosponsored the measure and worked aggressively for its passage. That this legislation passed with overwhelming bipartisan support is a hopeful sign that both parties will come together and work with President Obama to address our jobs crisis.
 
“As I said last week while releasing my own legislative strategy for job creation, there is no shortage of good ideas, only a lack of political will to act. The President laid out a clear challenge tonight, insisting that Republicans put the American economy ahead of partisan ideology. I agree. Congressional Republicans must step up and support these aggressive measures to help businesses create jobs and restore American competitiveness.”
 
Senator Coons’ legislative strategy for job creation, which includes 38 bills or ideas for helping America’s businesses create jobs, can be found at http://coons.senate.gov/blueprint.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
September 08, 2011

Senator Dick Durbin Backs American Jobs Act

DURBIN STATEMENT ON THE PRESIDENT’S JOBS ADDRESS

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement tonight after President Obama’s address to a Joint Session of Congress on job creation:

“Tonight the president challenged Congress to work together to put America back to work. His plan, the American Jobs Act, will create new jobs for teachers, veterans and construction workers. It will cut taxes for small business owners and middle class families and give tax credits to companies that hire new workers. And it gives much needed support those who have been unemployed for far too long.

“This is a good plan, a fair plan and is fully paid for.”

“Most of these proposals have been supported by both Democrats and Republicans in the past. We need to set partisanship aside and work together to put America back to work.”

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
September 08, 2011

Statement by Ken Chenault, Chairman and CEO, American Express and Member of the President's Council on Jobs and Competitiveness Backs American Jobs Act

“The need to create more jobs is the greatest challenge facing America today, and the President’s speech tonight underscored the commitment all of us must show in responding to that challenge.  As a member of the President’s Council on Jobs and Competitiveness, I have worked with my colleagues to identify initiatives across different business sectors that can accelerate job creation and strengthen our economy.  We appreciate the focus the President is placing on this crucial issue and that his recommendations reflect some of the work of the Council in areas like training and support for small business.

The country knows that progress will only come as a result of sustained, bipartisan action. Those of us on the Jobs Council look forward to working with the President and congressional leaders on initiatives to create more jobs.”