Strengthening the tourist industry and taking steps where Congress has dragged its feet
The focus of President Obama's Weekly Address began with a discussion of the tourist industry, attracting visitors from around the world to America's highlight destinations. Earlier this week, the President made a stop at none other than Disney World (above) to promote his plan to bring more visitors to the United States. In his weekly address, President Obama outlined the steps he'll take to increase tourism:
"Frequent travelers who pass an extensive background check will be able to scan their passports and fingerprints and skip the long lines at immigration at more airports. We're going to expand the number of countries where visitors can get pre-cleared by Homeland Security so they don't need a tourist visa. And we're going to speed up visa processing for countries with growing middle classes that can afford to visit America -- countries like China and Brazil."
President Obama categorized his attempts to attract tourism alongside a list of other decisions he has made in recent months to help stimulate the economy - steps that the President characterizes as being made despite Congress dragging its feet:
"Too often over the last few months, we've seen Congress drag its feet and refuse to take steps we know will help strengthen our economy. That's why this is the latest in a series of actions I've taken on my own to help our economy keep growing, creating jobs, and restoring security for middle-class families.
In September, we decided to stop waiting for Congress to fix No Child Left Behind and give states the flexibility they need to help our kids meet higher standards. We made sure that small businesses that have contracts with the federal government can get paid faster so they can start hiring more people. We made it easier for veterans to get jobs and put their skills to work. We took steps to help families whose home values have fallen to refinance their mortgages and save up to thousands of dollars a year. We sped up the loan process for companies that want to rebuild our roads and bridges -- putting construction workers back on the job. And I appointed Richard Cordray to be America's consumer watchdog and protect working Americans from the worst abuses of the financial industry."
Citing the need to do even more, President Obama turned his attention towards Tuesday's State of the Union Address, saying he will lay out his blueprint where everyone can help rebuild the economy.
"On Tuesday evening, I'll deliver my State of the Union Address, where I'll lay out my blueprint for actions we need to take together -- not just me or Congress, but every American -- to rebuild an economy where hard work and responsibility are rewarded. An economy that's built to last."
President Obama's Weekly Address:
