WHITE HOUSE VIDEO MESSAGE: Fighting for Working Families

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

EMBARGOED UNTIL 6:00 AM ET, SATURDAY, August 2, 2014

WHITE HOUSE VIDEO MESSAGE: Fighting for Working Families

WASHINGTON, DC – In this week’s message, Katherine Vargas detailed our nation’s economic progress, with the economy creating over 200,000 jobs in July to build a six month streak of at least 200,000 jobs each month – something that hasn’t happened since 1997. While the economy is getting stronger, the President wants to continue to take steps in the right direction to lift the middle class. The President has continued to push for common-sense ideas – re-building our infrastructure, raising the minimum wage, fair pay, and paid leave – but House Republicans have ignored and blocked these efforts. Although Congress left for their summer recess, the President will continue to act whenever he can to help working families across America.

The audio of the address and video of the message will be available online HERE.

Remarks of Katherine Vargas

Spanish Weekly Address

The White House

August 2, 2014

Hi, everybody.  I’m Katherine Vargas, the Director of Hispanic Media at the White House.

The President’s top priority is doing everything he can to create more jobs and more opportunities for hardworking families to get ahead. 

On Friday, we learned that our economy created over 200,000 new jobs in July.  That’s on top of about 300,000 new jobs in June.  We’re now in a six-month streak with at least 200,000 new jobs each month.  That hasn’t happened since 1997.  All told, our businesses have created 9.9 million jobs over the past 53 months. 

The economy is clearly getting stronger, and the decisions we make now can keep things moving in that direction. 

That’s why the President has been pushing for common-sense ideas like rebuilding our infrastructure in a way that supports millions of good jobs and helps our businesses compete.  Raising the minimum wage.  Making it easier for working folks to pay off their student loans.  Fair pay and paid leave. 

All of these policies would help working families feel more stable and secure.  But all of them have been blocked or ignored by Republicans in Congress.

House Republicans actually voted to sue the President for this.  And then they left town for the month without settling a bunch of unfinished business that matters to working families across America.                                                                                                                        

In the meantime, the President will never stop doing whatever he can, not only to make sure that our economy succeeds, but that people like you succeed. 

Thanks, and have a great weekend. 

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