Obama Hosts Town Hall In Dunlap
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Jennifer [email protected]
Obama held a town hall-style meeting at Concord High School in Dunlap in Elkhart County. He previously spoke at the high school in August when he was campaigning for the presidency.
The county's unemployment rate hit 15.3 percent in December, the highest unemployment rate in the nation.[[In-content Ad]]Kosciusko County's unemployment rate, which topped 11 percent in December, also is hinged to Elkhart County. A number of unemployed Kosciusko County residents worked in the Elkhart County RV industry.
"We're talking about people who have lost their livelihood and don't know what will take its place, parents who have lost their health care and lie awake at night praying their kids won't get sick," Obama said.
He said these are stories he heard six months ago while campaigning in Elkhart County, and those are the stories he carried with him to the White House and are not forgotten.
"Being here in Elkhart, I am more confident than ever that we will get where we need to be," Obama said. "Because I know people are struggling, but I also know that folks here are good workers and good neighbors who step up, who help each other out, who make sacrifices when times are tough."
Obama said the situation the United States faces could not be more serious.
"We can't afford to wait and see and hope for the best and believe in the same ideas that got us in this mess in the first place," Obama said. "We need to act quickly and boldly to carry out change and that's exactly what I intend to do as president of the United States of America."
He said that is why there is a Recovery and Reinvestment Plan currently before Congress. He said the plan's goal is to put Americans back to work doing the work America needs done. Obama said he will do what it takes to make sure companies succeed.
The plan will save or create three to four million jobs over the next two years, according to Obama. He said not just any jobs, but jobs that have been neglected for far too long.
He said the jobs will be to fix schools, roads, bridges and levies, and jobs reinvesting in renewable energy to move toward energy independence.
He said the plan also calls for immediate tax relief for 95 percent of American workers.
He said the plan will provide for extended unemployment insurance, health care, and other assistance for workers and families who lost their jobs in the recession.
He said the plan will allow people to keep their insurance while they are out looking for a new job.
Obama said, in terms of unemployment insurance, a person will receive an additional $100 a month in unemployment benefits that will go to more than 450,000 Indiana workers.
He also said, under the bill, there will be extended unemployment benefits for another 89,000 people who have been laid off, and job training assistance to help more than 51,000 people in Elkhart get back on their feet.
"That is not only our moral responsibility, but it's a way to help our fellow Americans during a time of emergency. It makes economic sense, if you don't have money, you can't spend it," Obama said.
He said under the plan, individuals will receive $500 and working families will receive $1,000 for relief for 2.5 million workers and their families in Indiana.
The plan also will provide a partially refundable $2,500 per-student tax credit to help 76,000 Hoosier families send their children to college.
He said providing tax relief and college assistance and helping people who have lost their jobs is not enough. Obama said a real recovery plan helps create more jobs and puts people back to work.
"That's why the investments our plan makes and tax relief for small businesses it provides will create or save nearly 80,000 badly needed jobs in Indiana right here over the next couple of years," he said.
Obama said more than 90 percent of the jobs created under the recovery act will be in the private sector. He said the jobs will include rebuilding roads, bridges, dams and levees.
He said people also will be put to work building more schools so students have access to a world-class education.
Obama said the country should invest in clean renewable energy jobs and transport the new energy from coast to coast.
He said if a windmill is built in Indiana, that energy could get to Chicago, St. Louis and other areas across the country.
He said the plan also calls for installing high-speed broadband lines that reach schools and businesses in Indiana.
He said these projects will put people to work and train people for jobs that pay a living wage.
"Not only are we creating jobs now, but we are creating the infrastructure for the jobs of the future," Obama said.
He said the bill that is currently going through Congress is not perfect.
"I can, with complete confidence, say that endless delay or paralysis in Washington in the face of this crisis will bring only deepening disaster," Obama said.
He said doing nothing is not an option and that he is calling on Congress to immediately pass the bill.
"Folks here in Elkhart and all across America need help right now. They can't afford to keep waiting for folks in Washington to get this done," Obama said.
He said even with this plan, the road ahead will not be easy and the economic crisis has been a long time in the making and the economy will not be turned around over night.
He said the recovery will be measured in years, not weeks or month, but the economy will be stronger for generations to come if we commit ourselves to work that needs to be done.
Obama said if the bill is approved there will be an independent board set up to review how the money is being spent.
There will be a Web site called recovery.gov set up that gives people a report on where money is going in their community and how many jobs are created.
Obama held a town hall-style meeting at Concord High School in Dunlap in Elkhart County. He previously spoke at the high school in August when he was campaigning for the presidency.
The county's unemployment rate hit 15.3 percent in December, the highest unemployment rate in the nation.[[In-content Ad]]Kosciusko County's unemployment rate, which topped 11 percent in December, also is hinged to Elkhart County. A number of unemployed Kosciusko County residents worked in the Elkhart County RV industry.
"We're talking about people who have lost their livelihood and don't know what will take its place, parents who have lost their health care and lie awake at night praying their kids won't get sick," Obama said.
He said these are stories he heard six months ago while campaigning in Elkhart County, and those are the stories he carried with him to the White House and are not forgotten.
"Being here in Elkhart, I am more confident than ever that we will get where we need to be," Obama said. "Because I know people are struggling, but I also know that folks here are good workers and good neighbors who step up, who help each other out, who make sacrifices when times are tough."
Obama said the situation the United States faces could not be more serious.
"We can't afford to wait and see and hope for the best and believe in the same ideas that got us in this mess in the first place," Obama said. "We need to act quickly and boldly to carry out change and that's exactly what I intend to do as president of the United States of America."
He said that is why there is a Recovery and Reinvestment Plan currently before Congress. He said the plan's goal is to put Americans back to work doing the work America needs done. Obama said he will do what it takes to make sure companies succeed.
The plan will save or create three to four million jobs over the next two years, according to Obama. He said not just any jobs, but jobs that have been neglected for far too long.
He said the jobs will be to fix schools, roads, bridges and levies, and jobs reinvesting in renewable energy to move toward energy independence.
He said the plan also calls for immediate tax relief for 95 percent of American workers.
He said the plan will provide for extended unemployment insurance, health care, and other assistance for workers and families who lost their jobs in the recession.
He said the plan will allow people to keep their insurance while they are out looking for a new job.
Obama said, in terms of unemployment insurance, a person will receive an additional $100 a month in unemployment benefits that will go to more than 450,000 Indiana workers.
He also said, under the bill, there will be extended unemployment benefits for another 89,000 people who have been laid off, and job training assistance to help more than 51,000 people in Elkhart get back on their feet.
"That is not only our moral responsibility, but it's a way to help our fellow Americans during a time of emergency. It makes economic sense, if you don't have money, you can't spend it," Obama said.
He said under the plan, individuals will receive $500 and working families will receive $1,000 for relief for 2.5 million workers and their families in Indiana.
The plan also will provide a partially refundable $2,500 per-student tax credit to help 76,000 Hoosier families send their children to college.
He said providing tax relief and college assistance and helping people who have lost their jobs is not enough. Obama said a real recovery plan helps create more jobs and puts people back to work.
"That's why the investments our plan makes and tax relief for small businesses it provides will create or save nearly 80,000 badly needed jobs in Indiana right here over the next couple of years," he said.
Obama said more than 90 percent of the jobs created under the recovery act will be in the private sector. He said the jobs will include rebuilding roads, bridges, dams and levees.
He said people also will be put to work building more schools so students have access to a world-class education.
Obama said the country should invest in clean renewable energy jobs and transport the new energy from coast to coast.
He said if a windmill is built in Indiana, that energy could get to Chicago, St. Louis and other areas across the country.
He said the plan also calls for installing high-speed broadband lines that reach schools and businesses in Indiana.
He said these projects will put people to work and train people for jobs that pay a living wage.
"Not only are we creating jobs now, but we are creating the infrastructure for the jobs of the future," Obama said.
He said the bill that is currently going through Congress is not perfect.
"I can, with complete confidence, say that endless delay or paralysis in Washington in the face of this crisis will bring only deepening disaster," Obama said.
He said doing nothing is not an option and that he is calling on Congress to immediately pass the bill.
"Folks here in Elkhart and all across America need help right now. They can't afford to keep waiting for folks in Washington to get this done," Obama said.
He said even with this plan, the road ahead will not be easy and the economic crisis has been a long time in the making and the economy will not be turned around over night.
He said the recovery will be measured in years, not weeks or month, but the economy will be stronger for generations to come if we commit ourselves to work that needs to be done.
Obama said if the bill is approved there will be an independent board set up to review how the money is being spent.
There will be a Web site called recovery.gov set up that gives people a report on where money is going in their community and how many jobs are created.
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