English subtitles for clip: File:West Wing Week- 2-11-11 or "The New Electrification".webm
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1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:00,870 ♪♪ (drum and bugle corps) ♪♪ 2 00:00:00,867 --> 00:00:03,337 Narrator: Welcome to the West Wing Week, your guide to everything that's 3 00:00:03,333 --> 00:00:05,803 happening at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. 4 00:00:05,800 --> 00:00:08,670 This week, President Obama focused on the second part of 5 00:00:08,667 --> 00:00:11,567 his State of the Union goals of out-innovating, out-building, 6 00:00:11,567 --> 00:00:13,397 and out-educating the rest of the world, 7 00:00:13,400 --> 00:00:16,430 putting forward plans to build a 21st Century infrastructure, 8 00:00:16,433 --> 00:00:18,633 investing in things like high-speed rail, 9 00:00:18,633 --> 00:00:21,933 and expanding broadband access so all of America's families 10 00:00:21,934 --> 00:00:24,134 will be equipped to win the future. 11 00:00:24,133 --> 00:00:26,463 Oh, and the Prime Minister of Canada dropped by. 12 00:00:26,467 --> 00:00:28,397 That's February 4th through February 10th, 13 00:00:28,400 --> 00:00:33,770 or "The New Electrification." 14 00:00:33,767 --> 00:00:36,667 On Friday, February 4th, President Obama welcomed Prime 15 00:00:36,667 --> 00:00:39,467 Minister Harper of Canada to the White House to strengthen the 16 00:00:39,467 --> 00:00:41,537 partnership between our nations and to provide the prime 17 00:00:41,533 --> 00:00:43,133 minister with some warmer weather. 18 00:00:43,133 --> 00:00:45,033 Speaker: I'm from Ohio, so actually -- 19 00:00:45,033 --> 00:00:46,063 Prime Minister Harper: That's unreasonably cold. 20 00:00:46,066 --> 00:00:46,966 Speaker: I know. 21 00:00:46,967 --> 00:00:49,267 Narrator: The two leaders talked about the vital economic partnership 22 00:00:49,266 --> 00:00:51,996 we share and agreed to a new vision for managing our shared 23 00:00:52,000 --> 00:00:56,200 security, not just on the border we share, but beyond the border. 24 00:00:56,200 --> 00:00:57,930 The President also took the opportunity to address the 25 00:00:57,934 --> 00:00:59,434 situation in Egypt. 26 00:00:59,433 --> 00:01:01,433 President Obama: We want to see this moment of turmoil turned 27 00:01:01,433 --> 00:01:03,863 into a moment of opportunity. 28 00:01:03,867 --> 00:01:06,867 The entire world is watching. 29 00:01:06,867 --> 00:01:10,167 What we hope for and what we will work for is a future where 30 00:01:10,166 --> 00:01:13,996 all of Egyptian society seizes that opportunity. 31 00:01:14,000 --> 00:01:15,830 Narrator: On a beautiful and temperate Monday morning, 32 00:01:15,834 --> 00:01:16,664 February 7th -- 33 00:01:16,667 --> 00:01:18,537 President Obama: What a spectacular thing. 34 00:01:18,533 --> 00:01:21,103 Narrator: The President, accompanied by Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett 35 00:01:21,100 --> 00:01:23,730 and Chief of Staff Bill Daley, crossed Lafayette Park to 36 00:01:23,734 --> 00:01:26,334 address the Chamber of Commerce on what the government is doing 37 00:01:26,333 --> 00:01:28,933 to make America the best place in the world to do business and 38 00:01:28,934 --> 00:01:32,204 the responsibility the business community has to invest in 39 00:01:32,200 --> 00:01:34,530 America's workers and economic recovery. 40 00:01:34,533 --> 00:01:38,603 President Obama: But as we work with you to make America a better place to do 41 00:01:38,600 --> 00:01:43,430 business, I'm hoping that all of you are thinking what you 42 00:01:43,433 --> 00:01:46,663 can do for America. 43 00:01:46,667 --> 00:01:52,037 Ask yourselves what you can do to hire more American workers, 44 00:01:52,033 --> 00:01:54,633 what you can do to support the American economy and invest in 45 00:01:54,633 --> 00:01:56,403 this nation. 46 00:01:56,400 --> 00:01:57,470 Narrator: Back at the White House -- 47 00:01:57,467 --> 00:01:58,197 President Obama: Coach? 48 00:01:58,200 --> 00:02:00,800 Narrator: -- President Obama called Green Bay Packers' Coach Mike McCarthy 49 00:02:00,800 --> 00:02:02,730 to congratulate him on the Packers' victory in 50 00:02:02,734 --> 00:02:04,104 Super Bowl XLV (45). 51 00:02:04,100 --> 00:02:07,200 President Obama: Even for a Bears fan, it's heartwarming, you know, 52 00:02:07,200 --> 00:02:11,770 that the Green Bay community is able to celebrate like this. 53 00:02:11,767 --> 00:02:14,797 So, you guys, you should be very proud of yourselves. 54 00:02:14,800 --> 00:02:17,130 I'm looking forward to hosting you. 55 00:02:17,133 --> 00:02:20,003 Narrator: On Tuesday, February 8th, Vice President Joe Biden and 56 00:02:20,000 --> 00:02:23,000 Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood hopped aboard the Amtrak 57 00:02:23,000 --> 00:02:27,230 Acela heading to Philadelphia to announce the administration's 58 00:02:27,233 --> 00:02:29,233 plan to build a 21st Century infrastructure from roads and 59 00:02:29,233 --> 00:02:31,133 bridges to high-speed rail. 60 00:02:31,133 --> 00:02:34,603 Vice President Biden: I went to school -- this is a place called Claymont, Delaware, 61 00:02:34,600 --> 00:02:37,070 and it became a steel town. 62 00:02:37,066 --> 00:02:39,396 Narrator: Famous for his daily commutes from Delaware to D.C. when he 63 00:02:39,400 --> 00:02:41,600 was a senator, the Vice President knows just about 64 00:02:41,600 --> 00:02:43,130 every mile of these tracks. 65 00:02:43,133 --> 00:02:45,463 At 30th Street Station in Philly, 66 00:02:45,467 --> 00:02:47,397 the two laid out the comprehensive plan that will 67 00:02:47,400 --> 00:02:50,730 help the nation reach President Obama's goal of giving 80% of 68 00:02:50,734 --> 00:02:53,734 Americans access to high-speed rail within 25 years, 69 00:02:53,734 --> 00:02:56,064 as outlined in his State of the Union Address. 70 00:02:56,066 --> 00:02:59,296 Vice President Biden: In a global economy, we can't forget that infrastructure, 71 00:02:59,300 --> 00:03:03,870 and also are the veins and the arteries of commerce, 72 00:03:03,867 --> 00:03:05,237 you think about it in those terms; 73 00:03:05,233 --> 00:03:11,263 they literally are the veins and the arteries of commerce. 74 00:03:11,266 --> 00:03:13,796 You know, if those passageways get clogged, 75 00:03:13,800 --> 00:03:15,730 commerce is going to suffer, and it's going to show up in 76 00:03:15,734 --> 00:03:19,764 the bottom line, and it shows up really quickly. 77 00:03:19,767 --> 00:03:22,937 Narrator: By clarifying the long-term federal role in passenger rail, 78 00:03:22,934 --> 00:03:25,264 this six-year program will provide states and cities with 79 00:03:25,266 --> 00:03:28,736 the certainty they need to make long-term transportation plans 80 00:03:28,734 --> 00:03:30,734 for their communities. 81 00:03:30,734 --> 00:03:33,804 On Wednesday, February 9th, we caught up with Aneesh Chopra, 82 00:03:33,800 --> 00:03:35,800 the Federal Chief Technology Officer, 83 00:03:35,800 --> 00:03:38,200 who explained some of the nuts and bolts of expanding broadband 84 00:03:38,200 --> 00:03:41,100 access and how crucial it will be to economic development in 85 00:03:41,100 --> 00:03:42,200 rural America. 86 00:03:42,200 --> 00:03:44,900 Aneesh Chopra: And it's not just about roadways, railways, and runways, 87 00:03:44,900 --> 00:03:47,470 President Obama believes in a nation's 21st Century 88 00:03:47,467 --> 00:03:51,137 infrastructure that must include connectivity to every corner of 89 00:03:51,133 --> 00:03:53,663 the country so that people that live in rural parts of the 90 00:03:53,667 --> 00:03:55,797 country have access to global markets just as 91 00:03:55,800 --> 00:03:58,470 they would if they lived in urban environments that have 92 00:03:58,467 --> 00:04:00,597 access to technology today. 93 00:04:00,600 --> 00:04:02,270 This is a challenge we faced before in 94 00:04:02,266 --> 00:04:05,966 our country with electrification. 95 00:04:05,967 --> 00:04:08,967 Our cities were lit up far before our rural communities 96 00:04:08,967 --> 00:04:11,937 were, and it was a priority administration back then to 97 00:04:11,934 --> 00:04:14,534 make sure the entire country had access to this critical 98 00:04:14,533 --> 00:04:17,203 infrastructure as it is today. 99 00:04:17,200 --> 00:04:20,070 It is in that spirit, in a collaboration with the private 100 00:04:20,066 --> 00:04:22,866 sector, that President Obama wishes to extend high speed 101 00:04:22,867 --> 00:04:26,697 wireless access to 98% of the nation's population so that an 102 00:04:26,700 --> 00:04:29,670 entrepreneur in rural America can tap into global markets and 103 00:04:29,667 --> 00:04:32,437 compete in this 21st century economy. 104 00:04:32,433 --> 00:04:35,363 Narrator: On Thursday, February 10th, President Obama traveled to 105 00:04:35,367 --> 00:04:38,197 Marquette, Michigan, located in the snowy upper peninsula 106 00:04:38,200 --> 00:04:40,570 of that state, where local businesses have been able 107 00:04:40,567 --> 00:04:43,297 to grow as a result of greater broadband access. 108 00:04:43,300 --> 00:04:45,230 The President went to see a demonstration of how Northern 109 00:04:45,233 --> 00:04:48,463 Michigan University's WiMAX Wireless Network has enabled 110 00:04:48,467 --> 00:04:51,137 distance learning for university and community students. 111 00:04:51,133 --> 00:04:54,403 President Obama: What is so exciting is the fact that, you know, 112 00:04:54,400 --> 00:04:58,930 talented young people like the kids in your class or the ones 113 00:04:58,934 --> 00:05:04,864 in Negaunee, you guys can basically start a company 114 00:05:04,867 --> 00:05:08,837 or do your work anywhere. 115 00:05:08,834 --> 00:05:11,234 Narrator: The next generation wireless network in Marquette is an 116 00:05:11,233 --> 00:05:14,133 effective demonstration of how the President's proposal to open 117 00:05:14,133 --> 00:05:16,803 up airwaves will spark new innovation, 118 00:05:16,800 --> 00:05:18,900 put people back to work, grow the economy, 119 00:05:18,900 --> 00:05:20,470 and help America win the future. 120 00:05:20,467 --> 00:05:22,567 President Obama: When it comes to High-Speed Internet, 121 00:05:22,567 --> 00:05:27,937 the lights are still off in one-third of our households. 122 00:05:27,934 --> 00:05:31,134 One out of every three households in America 123 00:05:31,133 --> 00:05:34,333 don't have that same access. 124 00:05:34,333 --> 00:05:39,663 For millions of Americans, the railway hasn't showed up yet. 125 00:05:39,667 --> 00:05:41,797 And for our families and our businesses, 126 00:05:41,800 --> 00:05:45,370 high-speed wireless service, that's the next train station. 127 00:05:45,367 --> 00:05:47,267 It's the next off-ramp. 128 00:05:47,266 --> 00:05:50,136 It's how it will spark new innovation, new investment, 129 00:05:50,133 --> 00:05:51,533 new jobs. 130 00:05:51,533 --> 00:05:53,833 Narrator: The President also got a chance to stop by Donkers, 131 00:05:53,834 --> 00:05:56,334 a local candy shop and lunch spot. 132 00:05:56,333 --> 00:05:59,063 President Obama: The Obama Burger seems like a -- 133 00:05:59,066 --> 00:06:01,096 Speaker: Our chef did his research. 134 00:06:01,100 --> 00:06:04,200 President Obama: Nice. Yeah, that looks -- that's a tasty looking burger. 135 00:06:04,200 --> 00:06:06,400 Narrator: To find out more information on any of these topics or to 136 00:06:06,400 --> 00:06:09,670 see complete videos of these events, go to whitehouse.gov. 137 00:06:09,667 --> 00:06:12,467 And thanks again for checking out your West Wing Week. 138 00:06:12,467 --> 00:06:14,997 Vice President Biden: Well, I can tell you -- Chuck will tell you -- my mother used 139 00:06:15,000 --> 00:06:18,030 to say, if it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, 140 00:06:18,033 --> 00:06:20,433 and quacks like a duck, it's a duck. 141 00:06:20,433 --> 00:06:21,733 This is a duck right here.