WHITE HOUSE VIDEO MESSAGE: Investing in America

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

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EMBARGOED UNTIL 6:00 AM ET, SATURDAY, May 17, 2014

WHITE HOUSE VIDEO MESSAGE: Investing in America

WASHINGTON, DC – In this week’s message, Senior Advisor to the Vice President for Latin American Affairs Juan Gonzalez discussed three important steps the Administration is taking to create jobs and expand opportunity for all. 

Remarks of Juan Gonzalez

Spanish Weekly Address

The White House

Hi, everybody.  I am Juan Gonzalez, Advisor to the Vice President for Latin American affairs.

At a time when our businesses have created 9.2 million new jobs in just over four years, and more companies are considering bringing jobs back from overseas, we have a choice to make.  We can make it easier for businesses to invest in America – or we can make it harder. 

The President wants to work with Congress to create jobs and opportunity for more Americans.  But where Congress won’t act, the President  will.  And I want to talk about three things the Obama Administration is doing right now.

First, we’re helping more businesses bring jobs to America from overseas.  Three years ago, the Administration created SelectUSA – a team of people in embassies abroad and agencies here at home focused on insourcing instead of outsourcing. 

Second, on Thursday, the President will be heading to Cooperstown, New York – home of the Baseball Hall of Fame – to talk about tourism.  Because believe it or not, tourism is an export.  And if we make it easier for more foreign visitors to visit and spend money at America’s attractions and unparalleled national parks, that helps local businesses and grows the economy for everyone. 

Finally, we know that investing in first-class infrastructure attracts first-class jobs.  Business owners don’t seek out crumbling roads and bridges.  They’ll set up shop where the newest, fastest transportation and communications networks let them invent and sell goods Made in America to the rest of the world as fast as possible.

But here’s the problem: If Congress doesn’t act by the end of this summer, federal funding for transportation projects will run out.  States might have to put some of their projects on hold.   And if Congress fails to act, nearly 700,000 jobs would be at risk over the next year.

That’s why the President put forward a plan to rebuild our transportation infrastructure in a more responsible way.  It would support millions of jobs across the country.  And we’d pay for it without adding to the deficit by closing wasteful tax loopholes for companies that ship jobs overseas.

But we could do a lot more if Congress was willing to help.  In the meantime, the President will do whatever he can – not just to make America a better place to do business, but to make sure hard work pays off, and opportunity is open to all.

Thanks, and have a great weekend.

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