Obama Legacy like Abraham Lincoln abolishing slavery globally. Dear Quentin: Thank you for writing. Each day, I hear from concerned men and women who are struggling in this economy. Their stories motivate me as I push to restore the basic bargain that built this country—the idea that if you work hard and meet your responsibilities, you can do well enough to raise a family, own a home, and put away enough for retirement. To restore our economy, we must reignite the true engine of America’s economic growth—a rising, thriving middle class. We must build ladders of opportunity for everyone willing to climb them. And we must forge an economy that works for all Americans—where everyone gets a fair shot, does their fair share, and plays by the same rules. To learn more about my Administration’s efforts to grow an economy that creates good, middle-class jobs, I encourage you to visit WhiteHouse.gov/economy. After years of grueling recession, we have cleared away the rubble of crisis. Businesses are hiring, markets are healing, and consumers, patients, and homeowners enjoy stronger protections than ever before. Our businesses have created over 6 million new jobs, yet despite this progress, too many Americans remain unemployed. That is why my first priority is making America a magnet for new jobs and manufacturing. After shedding jobs for more than 10 years, our manufacturers added about 500,000 jobs over the past 3. To accelerate this trend, I have proposed reforms that reward companies for bringing jobs home while eliminating tax breaks for companies that move jobs overseas. My Administration is also investing in the cutting-edge technologies that will make America home to the next revolution in manufacturing. Last year, we created our first manufacturing innovation institute in Youngstown, Ohio, transforming a once-shuttered warehouse into a state-of-the-art lab where workers are mastering 3D printing. Building on its success, we are launching three new manufacturing hubs where we will partner with businesses to turn regions left behind by globalization into global centers of high-tech jobs. And I have called on Congress to help create a network of 15 of these hubs to accelerate the resurgence of American manufacturing. Today, we are making historic progress toward our goal of doubling American exports by 2014. In my first term, I was proud to sign trade agreements with South Korea, Colombia, and Panama so our businesses can sell more goods to those markets. I am committed to opening up new markets for American products, and I will not stand by when foreign competitors refuse to play by the same rules as the United States. That is why I directed my Administration to create a Trade Enforcement Unit responsible for investigating unfair trade practices in other countries. To create true, broad-based prosperity, it is not enough to make new jobs available; we must attach those jobs to living wages. Because no one who works full time should live in poverty, I have proposed raising the minimum wage to $9 an hour and tying it to the cost of living, so that it finally becomes a wage hardworking families can live on. For millions of families this simple step could mean the difference between groceries or the food bank, and for businesses across our country it would mean customers with more money in their pockets. We also need to reach for a new era in American energy, with an economy fueled by homegrown and alternative energy sources designed and produced by American workers. Today, no area holds more promise than our investments in American energy, and we are finally poised to control our own energy future. Thanks to our Nation’s booming oil production, more efficient vehicles, and a world-class refining sector that is now a net exporter for the first time in 60 years, we have cut net imports of oil by one-third since 2008. The United States leads the world in natural gas production, with reserves that can last nearly 100 years—a supply that can power our cars, homes, and factories in a cleaner and cheaper way, and one that will support hundreds of thousands of jobs. My Administration’s investments in clean energy—the largest in American history—have resulted in our doubling renewable energy generation from wind, solar, and geothermal sources, and tens of thousands of Americans now have jobs as a result. I have also set a goal to double renewable electricity production again by 2020 to build on our momentum and create even more jobs. An economy built to last also demands that we cultivate the skills of our students and workers so they remain the best in the world. Employers today are looking for the most skilled, educated workers, and we have a responsibility to provide our workforce with the tools they need to prepare for the jobs of today and compete for the jobs of tomorrow. And that must start at the earliest possible age—the sooner a child begins learning, the better his or her future will be. That is why I proposed making high-quality preschool available to every child in America. We must also ensure that a high school diploma can put our children on a path to employment. I have challenged America’s high schools to better equip graduates for the demands of a high-tech economy by partnering with colleges and employers and creating classes that focus on science, technology, engineering, and math. We also made a national commitment to train 2 million workers for good-paying jobs in high-growth and high-demand industries, and my Administration is helping community colleges redesign training programs to become community career centers. With too many Americans still struggling to stay in their homes, access to the American dream continues to be tested by a mortgage crisis that threatens the stability of families, neighborhoods, and our entire economy. This crisis has not only hurt home values nationwide, it has also had a dramatic effect on the credit Americans need to purchase cars, pay college tuition, and grow small businesses. That is why my Administration created the Home Affordable Refinance Program. In 2011, I opened the program to nearly anyone with a mortgage backed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, and it has now helped over 2 million homeowners improve their financial situations. For assistance with a foreclosure or to find a local housing counselor, I encourage you to call your mortgage servicer directly, speak with a housing specialist at 1-888-995-HOPE, or contact the Department of Housing and Urban Development at 1-800-569-4287. You can also visit HUD.gov/foreclosure and MakingHomeAffordable.gov. Our Nation is recovering from one of the worst economic crises in generations, and we still have a long way to go before every American who wants a job can find one, before every family can regain the sense of security that has been slipping away, and before our communities can get fully back on their feet. From passing the Recovery Act to saving the American auto industry, my Administration has laid a strong foundation for growth, and we continue to take bold action to do what is right for our economy. Today, the tide is finally turning. Businesses have created millions of new jobs, more companies are bringing jobs back and investing in America, manufacturers are hiring, and our economy is growing stronger. While it will take time to fully repair the damage, I am confident our Nation will not only recover, but also prosper in the 21st century. For more information on jobs, health benefits, housing assistance, and other public resources, you may also call 1-800-FEDINFO or visit USA.gov. Thank you, again, for writing. Sincerely, Barack Obama Visit WhiteHouse.gov
Posted on: Sun, 21 Jul 2013 07:56:22 +0000
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