{"id":176401,"date":"2024-05-08T17:17:14","date_gmt":"2024-05-09T00:17:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/?p=176401"},"modified":"2024-05-08T17:17:14","modified_gmt":"2024-05-09T00:17:14","slug":"president-biden-on-his-investing-in-america-agenda","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/?p=176401","title":{"rendered":"President Biden on His Investing in America Agenda"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Racine, WI&#8230;Hello, hello, hello. (Applause.)  AUDIENCE:  Four more years!  Four more years!  Four more years!  THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you, thank you, thank you.  Hello, Wisconsin!  (Applause.)  And, Nick, thank you for that introduction.  Look, before \u2014 before I get started, I want to set the record straight.  Please, sit down.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Fullscreen-capture-582024-51252-PM.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Fullscreen-capture-582024-51252-PM.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"362\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-176402\" srcset=\"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Fullscreen-capture-582024-51252-PM.jpg 640w, https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Fullscreen-capture-582024-51252-PM-300x170.jpg 300w, https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Fullscreen-capture-582024-51252-PM-123x70.jpg 123w, https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Fullscreen-capture-582024-51252-PM-570x322.jpg 570w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/xfEIsrNiMY8\" title=\"President Biden Delivers Remarks on his Investing in America Agenda\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>I went to a Catholic High School in Delaware taught by the Norbertine priest from St. Norbert\u2019s College, you know, a little t- \u2014 a little team called \u201cGreen Bay.\u201d  (Applause.)<\/p>\n<p>Now, here\u2019s the deal.  We were the only high school in Delaware that overwhelmingly rooted for Green Bay e- \u2014 (laughter) \u2014 not a joke; I\u2019ll tell you why \u2014 every single Sunday. <\/p>\n<p>Not only did they have great teams at the time \u2014 they still do \u2014 but not only that, my theology professor at the Catholic school I went to was a guy named Reilley, last name.  And he had been drafted by the Green Bay Packers.  And he decided to become a priest before that, so he didn\u2019t go.  But every single, solitary Monday that Green Bay won, we got the last period of the day off.  (Laughter and applause.)<\/p>\n<p>Now, we Catholics call that indirect bribery.  (Laughter.)  But it worked.  (Laughter.)<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s always great to be with one of the best governors in America, Tony Evers.  Tony \u2014 (applause) \u2014<\/p>\n<p>I think of Tony \u2014 I mean it \u2014 I think of one word: integrity.  You\u2019re a man of absolute integrity.  (Applause.) <\/p>\n<p>And what I\u2019m really doing \u2014 I\u2019m really auditioning for a job \u2014 (laughter) \u2014 with a \u2014 a little company that\u2019s going to build something out here.  (Laughter.)<\/p>\n<p>Thank you for the comments you made about what we\u2019re doing together.<\/p>\n<p>Well, look, while she couldn\u2019t be here, I want to thank the best \u2014 one of the best U.S. senators in the United States of America and a good friend of mine, Tammy Baldwin.  (Applause.)  I mean it.<\/p>\n<p>You also got a great mayor in Racine, Cory Mason.  (Applause.)<\/p>\n<p>Brad Smith, president of Microsoft, thank you for your partnership and for showing how we get things done \u2014 and big things done \u2014 in America.  And thank you for your friendship.  (Applause.)  I really mean it.<\/p>\n<p>And Liz Schuler, the president of AFL-CIO, thank you for all you do benefitting the American union movement.  There\u2019s a \u2014 you know, I get called the most pro-union president in American history.  I make no apologies for it.  (Applause.)  None.  I\u2019m serious.<\/p>\n<p>The middle class built America, but unions built the middle class.  (Applause.)  I\u2019ve been saying that for a long time.<\/p>\n<p>Folks, I\u2019m here to talk about a great comeback story in America.<\/p>\n<p>And I\u2019m sure you remember.  Racine was once a manufacturing boomtown, all the way through the 1960s, powering companies \u2014 invented and manufacturing Windex, pro- \u2014 portable vacuum cleaners, and so much more, and powered by middle-class jobs.<\/p>\n<p>And then came trickle-down economics \u2014 cut taxes for the very wealthy and biggest corporations beginning in the \u201860s.  We shipped American jobs overseas because labor was cheaper.  We slashed public investment in education and innovation.  And the result: We hollowed out the middle class.<\/p>\n<p>My predecessor and his administration doubled down on that failed trickle-down economics, along with the trial of broken promises. <\/p>\n<p>Look, my dad used to have an expression.  He\u2019d say, \u201cJoey, a job\u201d \u2014 I mean this sincerely.  \u201cA j-\u201d \u2014 my dad was a well-read man.  Never got to go to college, but he was a good man all across the board.  And he\u2019d say, \u201cJoey, remember, a job is a lot more than a \u2014 about more than a paycheck.  It\u2019s about your integrity.  It\u2019s about your dignity.  It\u2019s about being treated with respect.  It\u2019s about being able to look your kid in the eye and say, \u2018Honey, everything is going to be okay.\u2019\u201d  (Applause.)<\/p>\n<p>In fact, six years ago, when my predecessor came to Racine with a promise of, quote, \u201creclaiming our country\u2019s proud manufacturing legacy.\u201d  Well, we had \u201cInfrastructure Day\u201d every \u2014 ev- \u2014 \u201cWeek\u201d every week for four years, didn\u2019t build a damn thing.  (Laughter.)<\/p>\n<p>He and his administration promised a $10 billion investment by Foxconn to build a new manufacturing complex and create 13,000 new jobs.<\/p>\n<p>In fact, he came here with your senator, Ron Johnson, literally holding a golden shovel, promising to build the \u201ceighth wonder of the world.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Are you kidding me?  (Laughter.)  Look what happened.  They dug a hole with those golden shovels, and then they fell into it.  (Laughter and applause.) <\/p>\n<p>Look, they didn\u2019t shovel other dirt \u2014 they did shovel some dirt.  One hundred homes were bol- \u2014 were bulldozed.  They wasted hundreds of millions of dollars \u2014 your state and local tax dollars \u2014 to promise a project that never happened.<\/p>\n<p>Foxconn turned out to be just that: a con.  Go figure.<\/p>\n<p>In just four years under his administration, instead of creating 13,000 jobs in Racine, my predecessor \u2014 and a hundred \u2014 and 1,000 manufacturing jobs \u2014 rather than creating them, 1,000 manufacturing jobs left Racine.  Eighty-five thousand five \u2014 eighty-three thousand five hundred total jobs left Wisconsin during my predecessor\u2019s term.<\/p>\n<p>But that\u2019s not on my watch.  We\u2019re determined to turn it around.<\/p>\n<p>Thus far, since we\u2019ve come into office, we\u2019ve created \u2014 and with the governor\u2019s overwhelming leadership, we\u2019ve created over 178,000 jobs in Wisconsin and we\u2019re going to create more here in Racine and big time.  (Applause.)<\/p>\n<p>Some of my friends on the far right have criticized my Investing in America agenda, my \u2014 which includes my Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the CHIPS and Science Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act.  But a lot of business leaders support it as a key to economic growth that we\u2019re seeing now.<\/p>\n<p>Remember hear \u2014 you\u2019re going to hear \u201ca recession next week,\u201d \u201ca recession next week,\u201d \u201cno soft landing.\u201d  Well, in fact, I\u2019ve asked business leaders like Brad a simple question: When the United States decides to invest considerable resources in a new industry that we need to build, does that encourage or discourage them engaging?  The answer overwhelmingly is it encourages business investment.  And that\u2019s what we\u2019re seeing now with our administration.<\/p>\n<p>My Investing in America agenda is fueling a historic boom in rebuilding our roads and bridges, developing and deploying clean energy, revitalizing American manufacturing, and so much more.<\/p>\n<p>So far, we\u2019ve created $866 billion in private-sector investment nationwide \u2014 almost a trillion dollars \u2014 historic amounts in such a short time.  And that\u2019s literally creating hundreds of thousands of jobs; building new semiconductor factories, electric vehicles and battery factories; and so much more here \u2014 all here in America.<\/p>\n<p>Today is another example of the private sector optimism.  Microsoft, as the president already pointed out, is investing $3.3 billion to build a new data center here in Racine that\u2019s going to help operate one of the most powerful artificial intelligence systems in the world.  And I\u2019ve gone around the world \u2014 literally, not figuratively \u2014 meeting with the leading architects of AI.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s going to result in 2,300 union construction jobs just to build the new facility \u2014 (applause) \u2014 and 2,000 permanent workers to work in the data centers.  In addition, we\u2019re also providing a pipeline to train these \u2014 for new \u2014 these new jobs \u2014 a pipeline that starts right here at this very spot.<\/p>\n<p>Microsoft is partnering with Gateway Technical Community College right here to train and certify 200 students a year to fill high-demand, good-paying jobs in data and IT at Microsoft\u2019s new AI data center here in Racine.<\/p>\n<p>But that\u2019s not all.  In addition, Microsoft is continuing a pipeline, going to high schools in nearby Mount Pleasant to train high school students for jobs of the future.  As the boss pointed out, it\u2019s going to create 100,000 jobs over time.  It\u2019s all part of Microsoft\u2019s broad plan to build an artificial intelligence ecosystem right here in Racine.<\/p>\n<p>And it\u2019s going to be transformative not he- \u2014 just here but worldwide.  It\u2019s not only a significant investment in infrastructure of Racine but for the people of Racine.<\/p>\n<p>It means folks are getting trained \u2014 folks are getting trained in new high-paying, high-skilled jobs that don\u2019t require a four-year college degree and don\u2019t require you to leave home.<\/p>\n<p>You know, where I come from, that really matters.<\/p>\n<p>I know what it\u2019s like when your parents have to move the family in search of work because there\u2019s no jobs, what it does to the family\u2019s dignity.<\/p>\n<p>My wife, Jill, who teaches full time at a community college, cares a lot about this as well.  Last year, she announced our first five Workforce Hub sites to build a pipeline of workers in industries that create the new hometowns \u2014 that are creating new \u2014 there are new \u2014 hometowns in Phoenix; Baltimore; Columbus, Ohio; Augusta, Georgia, building everything from semiconductors to electric vehicles.<\/p>\n<p>Last month, I announced four new hubs to continue to train workers for the jobs of the future \u2014 one of which is in Milwaukee that trains workers to help replace every poisonous lead pipe in America in a decade and funded by the Infrastructure Law.  (Applause.)<\/p>\n<p>And, by the way, \u201cBuy America\u201d has been the law of the land since the \u201830s, but it\u2019s been ignored by most administrations.    Past administrations, including my predecessor, have failed to buy American.<\/p>\n<p>Not anymore.  Here\u2019s how it works.  When the pre- \u2014 when the Congress sends something to the president to build something \u2014 whether it\u2019s a road, a highway, a deck of an aircraft carrier; whatever it is \u2014 that president is \u2014 back from a law that was passed in the \u201830s \u2014 is supposed to hire American workers to build it and use American products. <\/p>\n<p>Well, on my watch and with Tammy\u2019s leadership, federal projects like the Blatnik Bridge here in Wisconsin \u2014 it\u2019s going to cost $1 billion, but it\u2019s all \u2014 all American made, all American products, and all American workers.  And it\u2019s creat- \u2014 going to create 10,000 new jobs \u2014 10,000.  (Applause.) <\/p>\n<p>In addition, the roads and highways and so much more will be made with American products, built by American workers, creating good-paying American jobs.<\/p>\n<p>What\u2019s happening in Racine is really important for another reason.<\/p>\n<p>We\u2019ll see more technical community colleges \u2014 technical changes needed in the next 10 years than we saw in the last 50.  AI is already driving that change in every part of American life, from how we teach and learn to how we solve the biggest challenges, from curing cancer to climate change.<\/p>\n<p>America is a global leader in AI, and American companies lead the world in A- \u2014 AI innovation and a lot of what we\u2019re going to see here in Racine.<\/p>\n<p>Because of our initiatives, American workers will power that innovation here in America.<\/p>\n<p>But, look, to get the full benefit of all this safeguards [AI], we need safeguards.  That\u2019s why, as the president pointed out, I signed the landmark executive order on which the most significant action any government has taken anywhere in the world \u2014 has ever taken for AI safety, security, and trust. <\/p>\n<p>This order helps make sure workers have a seat at the table in determining how these technologies are developed and used.  (Applause.)  For real.<\/p>\n<p>And we\u2019ll support workers in every industry by defending their right to a fair wage, to organize as these technologies emerge across the board.  And they\u2019re going to happen.  (Applause.)<\/p>\n<p>Folks, during the previous administration, my predecessor made promises which he broke more than kept and left a lot people behind in communities like Racine.<\/p>\n<p>On my watch, we make promises and we keep promises.  (Applause.)  And we leave no one behind.<\/p>\n<p>Since I took office, we\u2019ve added nearly 4,000 jobs in Racine.  As I said earlier, we\u2019ve added 178,000 in the state of Wisconsin.  The unemployment rate has hit a record low in Racine.  Racine has seen some of the strongest new business growth in all of Wisconsin.  And it\u2019s only just beginning.<\/p>\n<p>We\u2019re seeing the great American comeback story all across Wisconsin and, quite frankly, the entire country.<\/p>\n<p>The bottom line is we\u2019re doing what\u2019s always worked in this country: Giving people a fair shot, leaving nobody behind, and grow the economy from the middle out and the bottom up, not the top down.  When that happens, everybody does well.  Everybody does well.  (Applause.)<\/p>\n<p>Let me close with this.  When folks see a new factory being built here in Wisconsin, people going to work making a really good wage in their hometowns, I hope they feel the pride that I feel.  Pride in their hometowns making a comeback.  Pride in knowing we can get big things done in America still.<\/p>\n<p>Folks, I\u2019ve never been more optimistic \u2014 and I\u2019ve only been around a couple years, I know.  (Laughter.)  I know I don\u2019t look it, but I\u2019m only 40 plus 2 times \u2014 well, anyway.  (Laughter.) <\/p>\n<p>But I\u2019ve never been more op- \u2014 I swear to God, I\u2019ve never been more optimistic about our future.  We just have to remember who in the hell we are.  We\u2019re the United States of America.  And there\u2019s nothing beyond our capacity when we work together.  Nothing.  I mean that: nothing.  (Applause.)<\/p>\n<p>The rest of the world looks to us.  So, keep it going. <\/p>\n<p>God bless you all.  And may God protect our troops.  Thank you, thank you, thank you.  (Applause.)<\/p>\n<p>AUDIENCE:  Four more years!  Four more years!  Four more years!<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  Don\u2019t jump!<\/p>\n<p>12:12 P.M. CDT<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Racine, WI&#8230;Hello, hello, hello. (Applause.) AUDIENCE: Four more years! Four more years! Four more years! THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, thank you, thank you. Hello, Wisconsin! (Applause.) And, Nick, thank you for that introduction. Look, before \u2014 before I get started, I want to set the record straight. Please, sit down. I went to a Catholic [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":176402,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_cbd_carousel_blocks":"[]","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[20,5,1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-176401","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured","category-government","category-news","last_archivepost"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Fullscreen-capture-582024-51252-PM.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/176401","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=176401"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/176401\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":176403,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/176401\/revisions\/176403"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/176402"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=176401"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=176401"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=176401"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}