English subtitles for clip: File:20090124 WeeklyAddress.ogv
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
1 00:00:05,903 --> 00:00:08,793 We begin this year and this Administration in the midst 2 00:00:08,846 --> 00:00:12,346 of an unprecedented crisis that calls for unprecedented action. 3 00:00:13,406 --> 00:00:16,405 Just this week, we saw more people file for unemployment 4 00:00:16,405 --> 00:00:18,545 than at any time in the last twenty-six years, 5 00:00:18,865 --> 00:00:20,896 and experts agree that if nothing is done, 6 00:00:21,256 --> 00:00:23,506 the unemployment rate could reach double digits. 7 00:00:24,085 --> 00:00:26,425 Our economy could fall $1 trillion short 8 00:00:26,425 --> 00:00:29,275 of its full capacity, which translates into more 9 00:00:29,275 --> 00:00:32,686 than $12,000 in lost income for a family of four. 10 00:00:33,396 --> 00:00:35,545 And we could lose a generation of potential, 11 00:00:36,045 --> 00:00:39,216 as more young Americans are forced to forgo college dreams 12 00:00:39,216 --> 00:00:41,745 or the chance to train for the jobs of the future. 13 00:00:42,636 --> 00:00:45,596 In short, if we do not act boldly and swiftly, 14 00:00:46,085 --> 00:00:48,525 a bad situation could become dramatically worse. 15 00:00:49,496 --> 00:00:52,026 That is why I have proposed an American Recovery 16 00:00:52,026 --> 00:00:53,066 and Reinvestment Plan 17 00:00:53,506 --> 00:00:56,276 to immediately jumpstart job creation as well 18 00:00:56,329 --> 00:00:57,902 as long-term economic growth. 19 00:00:58,055 --> 00:01:00,315 I am pleased to say that both parties 20 00:01:00,316 --> 00:01:02,676 in Congress are already hard at work on this plan, 21 00:01:02,676 --> 00:01:05,536 and I hope to sign it into law in less than a month. 22 00:01:06,456 --> 00:01:08,536 It's a plan that will save or create three 23 00:01:08,536 --> 00:01:10,906 to four million jobs over the next few years, 24 00:01:11,325 --> 00:01:14,525 and one that recognizes both the paradox and the promise 25 00:01:14,525 --> 00:01:16,995 of this moment - the fact that there are millions 26 00:01:16,995 --> 00:01:20,786 of Americans trying to find work even as, all around the country, 27 00:01:20,786 --> 00:01:22,624 there's so much work to be done. 28 00:01:23,406 --> 00:01:25,776 That's why this is not just a short-term program 29 00:01:25,775 --> 00:01:26,925 to boost employment. 30 00:01:27,186 --> 00:01:30,276 It's one that will invest in our most important priorities 31 00:01:30,465 --> 00:01:32,795 like energy and education; health care 32 00:01:32,796 --> 00:01:36,176 and a new infrastructure that are necessary to keep us strong 33 00:01:36,176 --> 00:01:38,385 and competitive in the 21st century. 34 00:01:39,305 --> 00:01:41,085 Today I'd like to talk specifically 35 00:01:41,085 --> 00:01:43,926 about the progress we expect to make in each of these areas. 36 00:01:44,796 --> 00:01:47,316 To accelerate the creation of a clean energy economy, 37 00:01:47,676 --> 00:01:50,706 we will double our capacity to generate alternative sources 38 00:01:50,706 --> 00:01:53,475 of energy like wind, solar, and biofuels 39 00:01:53,475 --> 00:01:54,795 over the next three years. 40 00:01:55,346 --> 00:01:58,266 We'll begin to build a new electricity grid that lay 41 00:01:58,266 --> 00:02:01,536 down more than 3,000 miles of transmission lines 42 00:02:01,775 --> 00:02:04,695 to convey this new energy from coast to coast. 43 00:02:05,525 --> 00:02:10,055 We'll save taxpayers $2 billion a year by making 75% 44 00:02:10,056 --> 00:02:12,246 of federal buildings more energy efficient, 45 00:02:12,756 --> 00:02:15,735 and save the average working family $350 46 00:02:15,735 --> 00:02:19,625 on their energy bills by weatherizing 2.5 million homes. 47 00:02:20,066 --> 00:02:22,455 To lower health care cost, cut medical errors, 48 00:02:22,455 --> 00:02:23,316 and improve care, 49 00:02:23,765 --> 00:02:26,681 we'll computerize the nation's health record in five years, 50 00:02:26,925 --> 00:02:28,235 saving billions of dollars 51 00:02:28,235 --> 00:02:30,425 in health care costs and countless lives. 52 00:02:30,724 --> 00:02:32,815 And we'll protect health insurance for more 53 00:02:32,816 --> 00:02:35,336 than 8 million Americans who are in danger 54 00:02:35,336 --> 00:02:38,120 of losing their coverage during this economic downturn. 55 00:02:38,915 --> 00:02:41,355 To ensure our children can compete and succeed 56 00:02:41,355 --> 00:02:43,525 in this new economy, we'll renovate 57 00:02:43,526 --> 00:02:45,716 and modernize 10,000 schools, 58 00:02:46,105 --> 00:02:48,395 building state-of-the-art classrooms, libraries, 59 00:02:48,395 --> 00:02:51,835 and labs to improve learning for over five million students. 60 00:02:52,326 --> 00:02:55,260 We'll invest more in Pell Grants to make college affordable 61 00:02:55,299 --> 00:02:56,993 for seven million more students, 62 00:02:57,235 --> 00:03:02,075 provide a $2,500 college tax credit to four million students, 63 00:03:02,475 --> 00:03:05,096 and triple the number of fellowships in science 64 00:03:05,316 --> 00:03:07,506 to help spur the next generation of innovation. 65 00:03:08,656 --> 00:03:11,986 Finally, we will rebuild and retrofit America 66 00:03:11,985 --> 00:03:13,915 to meet the demands of the 21st century. 67 00:03:14,441 --> 00:03:17,156 That means repairing and modernizing thousands of miles 68 00:03:17,156 --> 00:03:18,385 of America's roadways 69 00:03:18,385 --> 00:03:20,466 and providing new mass transit options 70 00:03:20,466 --> 00:03:21,776 for millions of Americans. 71 00:03:22,325 --> 00:03:25,965 It means protecting America by securing 90 major ports 72 00:03:26,022 --> 00:03:28,284 and creating a better communications network 73 00:03:28,327 --> 00:03:31,246 for local law enforcement and public safety officials 74 00:03:31,246 --> 00:03:32,716 in the event of an emergency. 75 00:03:33,515 --> 00:03:36,855 And it means expanding broadband access to millions of Americans, 76 00:03:37,145 --> 00:03:39,475 so business can compete on a level-playing field, 77 00:03:39,786 --> 00:03:40,996 wherever they're located. 78 00:03:41,130 --> 00:03:43,815 I know that some are skeptical about the size and scale 79 00:03:43,826 --> 00:03:45,186 of this recovery plan. 80 00:03:45,645 --> 00:03:47,055 I understand that skepticism, 81 00:03:47,485 --> 00:03:49,786 which is why this recovery plan must 82 00:03:49,786 --> 00:03:52,037 and will include unprecedented measures 83 00:03:52,097 --> 00:03:53,776 that will allow the American people 84 00:03:53,776 --> 00:03:56,786 to hold my Administration accountable for these results. 85 00:03:57,167 --> 00:03:59,204 We won't just throw money at our problems - 86 00:03:59,239 --> 00:04:00,833 we'll invest in what works. 87 00:04:01,005 --> 00:04:04,233 Instead of politicians doling out money behind a veil of secrecy, 88 00:04:04,278 --> 00:04:07,239 decisions about where we invest will be made public, 89 00:04:07,313 --> 00:04:10,781 and informed by independent experts whenever possible. 90 00:04:11,093 --> 00:04:13,866 We'll launch an unprecedented effort to root out waste, 91 00:04:13,925 --> 00:04:16,826 inefficiency, and unnecessary spending in our government, 92 00:04:17,175 --> 00:04:19,246 and every American will be able to see 93 00:04:19,293 --> 00:04:21,781 how and where we spend taxpayer dollars 94 00:04:21,789 --> 00:04:25,515 by going to a new website called recovery.gov. 95 00:04:26,586 --> 00:04:29,028 No one policy or program will solve the challenges 96 00:04:29,034 --> 00:04:30,441 we face right now, 97 00:04:30,487 --> 00:04:33,307 nor will this crisis recede in a short period of time. 98 00:04:34,005 --> 00:04:36,137 But if we act now and act boldly; 99 00:04:36,346 --> 00:04:39,776 if we start rewarding hard work and responsibility once more; 100 00:04:40,396 --> 00:04:42,946 if we act as citizens and not partisans 101 00:04:43,235 --> 00:04:45,716 and begin again the work of remaking America, 102 00:04:46,015 --> 00:04:48,015 then I have faith that we will emerge 103 00:04:48,105 --> 00:04:50,517 from this trying time even stronger 104 00:04:50,535 --> 00:04:53,000 and more prosperous than we were before. 105 00:04:53,665 --> 00:04:54,698 Thanks for listening.