READOUT: PRESIDENT OBAMA'S MEETING WITH TECHNOLOGY CEO COUNCIL MEMBERS

FROM:  THE WHITE HOUSE TECHNOLOGY
March 02, 2015
Readout of the President's Meeting with Members of the Technology CEO Council

Today, President Obama met with members of the Technology CEO Council to discuss 21st century economic and security issues including trade, cybersecurity, immigration and tax reform.  Growing U.S. exports to support new opportunities for our workers and businesses is a top priority for the President and the members of the Council, who reiterated their commitment to building bipartisan support for Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) as a critical first step towards strong new trade agreements with high standards in critical areas such as labor, environment, and technology services.

The President also highlighted our continued progress towards fixing our broken immigration system -- including a final rule announced last week that gives U.S. work authorization to spouses of certain high-skilled immigrant workers who are approved for a green card and waiting for one to become available. The President and the Tech CEO Council agreed that immigration reform remains an imperative for our nation and high tech sector, and that we should continue striving for comprehensive reform that will fix our broken immigration system once and for all.

The group also shared concerns on cybersecurity and agreed to work with the Administration and Congress to develop better methods to help protect our critical infrastructure and privacy. The President and the executives also discussed a shared desire to work with Congress to enact pro-growth, business tax reform.

Participants Included:

Ursula Burns, Chairman and CEO, Xerox Corp.; Chair of Tech CEO Council
Michael Dell, Chairman and CEO, Dell Inc.
Mark Durcan, CEO and Director, Micron Technology Inc.
Steve Mollenkopf, CEO, Qualcomm Inc.
Ginni Rometty, Chairman, President and CEO, IBM Corp.
Joe Tucci, Chairman and CEO, EMC Corp.
White House Participants:

Valerie Jarrett, White House Senior Advisor
Jeff Zients, Director of the White House National Economic Council
Megan Smith, Chief Technology Officer

PRESIDENT OBAMA SPEAKS ON IMMIGRATION AT DE SOL HIGH SCHOOL

PRESIDENT OBAMA'S LAW ENFORCEMENT BRIEFING ON IMMIGRATION REFORM

FROM:  THE WHITE HOUSE 

Remarks by the President at Law Enforcement Briefing on Immigration

Room 350
Eisenhower Executive Office Building

May 13, 2014

12:01 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you, everybody.  (Applause.)  Have a seat.  Have a seat.  Well, it's wonderful to see all of you.  Some of you I've had the chance to get to know working on law enforcement issues and criminal justice issues.  But I cannot thank you enough for participating today on an issue that I think is important to our economic future, to our cultural future, to our standing in the world and to our safety and security, and that's the issue of immigration.

I’m here with some of the leaders of America’s law enforcement agencies who recognize that fixing a broken immigration system isn’t just the right thing to do -- it’s also the right thing to do for safety and security in communities all across America. 

The immigration system that we have right now makes it harder, not easier, for law enforcement agencies to do their jobs.  It makes it harder for law enforcement to know when dangerous people cross our borders.  It makes it harder for business owners who play by the rules to compete when they’re undercut by those who would exploit workers in a shadow economy. And it makes it harder for law enforcement to do their jobs when large segments of the community are afraid to report crimes or serve as witnesses because they fear the consequences for themselves or their families. 

This system is not fair.  It’s not fair to workers; it's not fair to businesses who are trying to do the right thing; it’s not fair to law enforcement agencies that are already stretched thin.

Now, the good news is the Senate has already passed a bill with a wide, bipartisan majority that would go a long way towards fixing a broken system.  It would strengthen our borders even further.  And I'm sure Jeh has talked to you about the work that's been done over the last five years -- we have put unprecedented resources at the borders, and you’ve seen the results.  We have fewer folks coming in than ever before.  And the personnel that is arrayed along our borders is well beyond anything that we saw five years ago, 10 years ago, 20 years ago. So we take border enforcement seriously. 

But what this reform package would also do is create a firm but fair pathway to earned citizenship for those who live in the shadows -- and as a consequence, would give law enforcement a better idea of who’s in the country.  It would also help build trust between local communities and law enforcement and immigrant communities.  It would undermine criminal enterprises that prey on undocumented immigrants.  And it would allow law enforcement to focus on its primary mission, which is keeping our communities safe.

And these are some of the reasons why a broad, bipartisan coalition -- including law enforcement agencies like the ones who are represented today -- is pushing Congress to go ahead and get the job done, get us over the finish line and do it this year. 

I hope all of you keep it up because it’s making a difference.  A number of Republicans are realizing that blocking immigration reform is not an option, and that's the good news.  And most Americans, the majority of Americans, know this is the right thing to do.  Public opinion is on our side on this.  Unfortunately, we've got a handful of House Republicans right now who are blocking going ahead and letting legislation get to the floor. 

To their credit, I think Speaker Boehner and some of the other leaders there do believe that immigration reform is the right thing, but they’ve got to have a political space that allows them to go ahead and get it through their caucus and get it done.  I've said to them, if they’ve got ideas I'm happy to talk to them.  We're not hell-bent on making sure that every letter of what’s in the Senate bill is exactly what ultimately lands on my desk for signature, but there are some core principles that we've got to get done.  We've got to have stronger border security.  We've got to make sure that we are dealing with companies that are not doing the right thing by workers.  We've got to make sure that we've got an improved legal immigration system, because a lot of folks are getting pushed into the illegal system because the waits are so long through the legal process.  And we've got to make sure that there’s a way for people to earn some pathway to citizenship.

And keep in mind, some of these statistics you may have already heard -- it's estimated that over 80 percent of the folks who are here on an undocumented basis have been here 10 years or longer.  These are folks who are woven into the fabrics of our communities.  Their kids are going to school with our kids.  Most of them are not making trouble; most of them are not causing crimes.  And yet, we put them in this tenuous position and it creates a situation in which your personnel, who have got to go after gang-bangers and need to be going after violent criminals and deal with the whole range of challenges, and who have to cooperate with DHS around our counterterrorism activities -- you’ve got to spend time dealing with somebody who is not causing any other trouble other than the fact that they were trying to make a living for their families.  That's just not a good use of our resources.  It's not smart.  It doesn’t make sense. 

So I know I'm preaching to the choir here.  You wouldn't be here if you didn’t agree with us that this is time for us to go ahead and get moving.  But I just want all of you to know your voices, particularly over the next couple of months, are going to be critical.  I think people have come to expect that I'm in favor of comprehensive immigration reform.  I think that people anticipate that the Congressional Hispanic Caucus is going to be in favor of comprehensive immigration reform.  I think people understand that there are a lot of agricultural enterprises that know how important their immigrant workers are to them.  But it's more important in some ways to get over the hump when they hear from unexpected voices. 

I think the evangelical Christian community has shown itself to be foursquare behind immigration reform, and that's a powerful voice.  I think portions of the business community that people may not anticipate know that this is the key to our economic future.  It would lower our deficits; it would grow our economy; it would bring in some of the most skilled people around the world.  We want them to continue to come here.  That's part of our competitive advantage relative to the rest of the world.  Our population is not aging the way some other populations are because it's constantly replenished with folks who are go-getters.  And hearing from law enforcement is important and I think it lends this overall effort great credibility.

So I just want to say thank you to all of you.  But we've got this narrow window.  The closer we get to the midterm elections the harder it is to get things done around here.  Now, I know it's hard to believe that things could get harder -- (laughter) -- that this place could get a little more dysfunctional.  But it's just very hard right before an election. So we've got maybe a window of two, three months to get the ball rolling in the House of Representatives.  And your voices are going to be absolutely critical to that effort.

So I just want to say thank you to all of you.  And while I'm here, I want to thank you for a wide range of issues that we've had a chance to cooperate with you on.  Whether it's dealing with counterterrorism issues and the preparations that ensure that if and when an event happens that we're prepared, and more importantly, that we're able to prevent such activities from taking place in the first place, or dealing with natural disasters where our first responders are always right there on the scene, day in and day out your teams, your personnel are doing heroic work on behalf of America.  And we're very, very grateful for that.

So thank you, everybody.  Let’s make this happen.  (Applause.)

END              
12:10 P.M. EDT

PRESIDENT OBAMA'S REMARKS AT DNC DINNER HELD ON APRIL 2, 2014

FROM:  THE WHITE HOUSE 

Remarks by the President at DNC Dinner

Private Residence

Chicago, Illinois

7:34 P.M. CDT

THE PRESIDENT:  So, first of all, Grace and Craig have been just incredible friends and supporters for a really long time.  And I just want to say thank you.  And thanks, guys, for letting us crash your house.  (Laughter.) 

I do think that the story Grace told is partly about roots and family, and where do you start off.  And I have to tell you, as I look around this room, I’m reminded of all the pieces of myself that are connected to individuals in this room.  There are people who have been friends of mine for a couple of decades now.  There are folks here who have been with me when nobody gave me a chance to even get to the U.S. Senate, much less the presidency.  There are people here who have been to Michelle and my wedding, and have been at Mom N Tots watching our kids waddle around.  (Laughter.) 

And so to have friends like this, to be home like this, even when the weather is like this -- (laughter) -- is invigorating and it reminds you of why you got into this business in the first place.  Because you got a lot of people here who have taught me a lot about community and friendship and family, and for that reason I’m just really grateful and I just want to say thank you to all of you.

I want to acknowledge our outstanding Governor of the great state of Illinois, Pat Quinn.  (Applause.)  I want to thank Henry Muñoz, who, although stuffed in a corner at the moment -- (laughter) -- actually has been working tirelessly on behalf of Democrats.  It is a thankless job, but he does it with good humor and grace, and he is a great friend, so we’re so glad that he came up here.

I was a little bit late.  Some of you may have heard there was another shooting at Fort Hood.  We don’t know the details, but we’re monitoring the situation carefully.  So I’m not going to give a long speech.  I want to spend most of the time that I’m here answering questions and hearing from all of you.

Let me just say a couple of general points.  First of all, the economy has bounced back in a way that is not only there yet, but, when you compare it to what’s happened in other countries around the world, is pretty significant.  We have seen 8.7 million new jobs created since I took office.  We have seen a creation -- the recovery of trillions of dollars of wealth because people’s 401(k)s have bounced back, and housing prices have begun to bounce back.  The unemployment rate is lower than at any time since 2007.  Health care costs are rising at a slower rate.  Our energy production is up.  Our exports are on pace potentially to double.  There’s a lot of good stuff going on.  Our manufacturing base has, after a couple of decades of sloughing off jobs, is now actually hiring folks back again.  And obviously the auto industry has come roaring back.

So there’s a good story to tell.  But, as I said at the State of the Union, there’s some long-term trends in our economy that we have not yet fixed.  And what it comes down to is the fact that, in part because of globalization, in part because of technology, but also in part because of some long-term government policies, we have an economy now in which folks at the very top are doing very, very well, but folks in the middle haven’t seen their incomes or wages go up in a very long time.  And folks who are fighting to get into the middle class find that there are fewer and fewer ladders of opportunity.

And that is a problem for all us, even if you’re doing well -- because the premise in this country has always been that we grow best when our growth is broad-based, when everybody has got a shot; when Grace’s parents come here and they’re able to, through hard work and responsibility and transmitting values to their kids, they’re able to succeed.  And one of the great things about Chicago is, is that although folks usually didn’t come here right first -- they tended to go through one of the coasts typically -- this is a city of immigrants.  And the story of Chicago has been starting off with nothing and building something.  And when I look throughout this room, it’s filled with people who lived out that story.

And I want to make sure that story is true for the next generation and the generation after that, and the generation after that -- because that is what makes America great.  Obviously in the news lately has been the whole situation in Ukraine and Russia.  And I’ve had to explain to people, Russia’s  moving troops into Ukraine wasn’t a sign of strength; it was a sign of weakness.  Because you’ve got a country that isn’t attracting people from the outside; a population that’s shrinking.  It feels surrounded, in part because people look at the West and they look at Europe and they look at America and they say this is a place where, if we put in effort, without connections, without being born to the right place, without having to pay a bribe, we might be able to succeed.  Whether it’s setting up a cheesecake business -- (laughter) -- or it is going into the helping professions, we can succeed.  And we have to make sure that that continues for the next generation.

Now, the good news is we know how to do it.  It’s not as if there’s a mystery here.  We know that if we invest in early childhood education then every kid can succeed.  We know that if we make college affordable then this could be the best-trained workforce in the country.  We know that if we rebuild our infrastructure, we can put people to work right now rebuilding our roads, our bridges, our sewer systems, our airports, our ports, setting up smart grids.  There are a bunch of folks that right away could get to work and suddenly they’ve got money in their pockets and they’d be spending that money on businesses all across Chicago, all across the country.

We know that we have to invest in research and development.  We know that immigration reform isn’t just good for the families but it keeps on bringing dynamic, energized folks to our country.  It’s one of our biggest comparative advantages to other countries, including Europe and Asia, is that we’ve got a relatively young population, because folks who are hungry keep on wanting to come here and it keeps our economy vibrant.

And we know that when we pay workers a living wage, when we make sure that women are getting paid the same as men, when they’ve got decent benefits, when they have the financial security of having health insurance so they don’t go bankrupt when they get sick, we know all those things make people more productive and the entire economy grows.

So we know what to do.  The problem is right now Congress isn’t willing or capable of doing it.  And that’s why you being here tonight is so important and why even though I promised Michelle that 2012 was going to be my last campaign, actually this one is my last campaign.  (Laughter.)

We need to hang on to the Senate.  We need to pick up seats in the House.  We need to make sure that the public knows very clearly what is at stake in this election.  And it’s hard during midterms, because Democrats have a tendency to get really excited during presidential years and then during the midterms we go into hibernation. 

And that’s why you being here tonight is so important. That’s why what’s Henry is doing is so important.  And that’s why we’re so grateful for what Grace and Craig are doing is so important.  Because our agenda, our values, the things that we care about -- things, by the way, that the majority of Americans by and large agree with up and down the line -- can only happen if we’ve got a Congress that is prepared to work, to engage constructively in debate and have some differences, but also say there are some things that go beyond politics.  That’s what we’re fighting for.  And that’s why all of you being here tonight is something I truly, truly appreciate -- in addition to just seeing some old friends. 

Thank you, everybody.  (Applause.)

END
7:45 P.M. CDT

PRESIDENT OBAMA AND IRISH PRIME MINISTER KENNY MAKE REMARKS AFTER MEETING

FROM:  THE WHITE HOUSE 

Remarks by President Obama and Prime Minister Kenny of Ireland after Bilateral Meeting

Oval Office

11:15 A.M. EDT

PRESIDENT OBAMA:  Well, it is wonderful to have Taoiseach Kenny back here in the Oval Office.  This is one of my favorite times of year because I'm able to join with our friends from Ireland to celebrate the incredible bond that exists between our two countries.  I think it's fair to say that there are very few countries around the world where the people-to-people ties are so strong.

And in addition to sharing values and sharing a commitment to democracy, we also share these family ties that go back generations.  And I want to once again thank the people of Ireland for the incredible hospitality that they showed me and Michelle and the girls each time that we've had an opportunity to visit Ireland. 

I started the meeting today congratulating Taoiseach Kenny on the economic progress that's been made over the last several years in Ireland.  Obviously Ireland was hit hard by the financial crisis and problems with its banking system.  It required some very tough decisions that Taoiseach Kenny was willing to take.  But what we've now seen is Ireland emerge from its assistance program in a much stronger position on the global stage and in global markets.  And as a consequence, I think it's really well positioned to start building for the future and attracting businesses with a highly skilled and well-educated workforce. 

And there is tremendous investment by U.S. companies in Ireland.  There’s tremendous investment here in the United States by Irish companies.  We're an example of the mutually beneficial trade that can take place across the Atlantic.  And that's why we appreciate Taoiseach Kenny being a strong leader as we move forward on the Transatlantic trade agreement that is currently being negotiated between the United States and the EU.

We had an opportunity to discuss a range of global affairs.  Obviously on our minds right now is the situation in Ukraine.  Ireland has been a strong voice in the European Council for the need to send a clear message of support for Ukrainian democracy and self-determination, and a strong message to Russia that it should not violate the integrity and the sovereignty of its neighbor.  We continue to hope that there’s a diplomatic solution to be found, but the United States and Europe stand united not only in its message about Ukrainian sovereignty but also that there will be consequences if, in fact, that sovereignty continues to be violated.

We had an opportunity to discuss the fact that Ireland does tremendous work around the world on a whole range of issues.  It punches above its weight when it comes to humanitarian efforts.  We very much appreciate that. 

Closer to home, we both share an interest in seeing Northern Ireland continue to take the next steps that are necessary to finally bring an end to what so often has been a tragic history. I was disappointed, the U.S. government was disappointed that the All-Party Talks did not arrive at a final conclusion and agreement.  But we're urging the parties to continue to work and negotiate.  And I know that the good influence coming from Dublin will help to encourage that to move out of the past and get the kind of history that -- or the kind of future that Northern Ireland so richly deserves.

So I greatly appreciate, Taoiseach, your visit.  We look forward to a good lunch and I suspect some good Irish music.  And we will have a wonderful St. Patrick’s Day reception this afternoon.  The Taoiseach, I understand, has brought his children here this time, so they’ll be able to celebrate alongside us.  And to you and your delegation, thank you again for your friendship and support.

PRIME MINISTER KENNY:  Let me just say it's a privilege to be here in the Oval Office with the President to continue these traditions and discussions that we've had between our two countries.  I might say that on this occasion we did not have to have a detailed discussion about Ireland’s economy.  I was able to report to the President the progress our country has made in the last couple years.

The President spoke about the issues that we did discuss.  In addition to that, we also discussed the question of immigration reform, which is an issue for Ireland and for many other countries, and we hope to pursue those discussions down at the Capitol building later on with a number of other representatives.

So it's a privilege to be here.  It’s a great occasion for us.  And I've given the President a review of the attitude and the happenings at the European Council meeting, particularly in relation to the situation in Ukraine.  And we hope that the entirety of message and strength of feeling can prevent very difficult circumstances arising there.

I explained to him the European Council meeting presentation by the Ukrainian President, the discussion with the EPP Congress with Prime Minister Cameron in Downing Street earlier this week and our hopes that this matter can be resolved.

So, again, my privilege to be here on behalf of the Irish people to wish the President, the First Lady and his family every success in their onerous responsibilities with so many places around the world requiring the assistance of the United States.

PRESIDENT OBAMA:  Thank you.

Thank you, everybody.

Q    Will Vice President Biden come to Ireland?

PRESIDENT OBAMA:  You know, Biden wants to come to Ireland  -- he lobbies me every week to go to Ireland.  So I guarantee you he'll get there.  He'll get there.

Thank you, everybody.

Q    Will you come back to join us again?

PRESIDENT OBAMA:  Oh, I'd love -- tell everybody in Moneygall I said hi.

END 
11:22 A.M. EDT

PRESIDENT OBAMA'S REMARKS ON IMMIGRATION REFORM IN SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA

FROM:  THE WHITE HOUSE
Remarks by the President on Immigration Reform -- San Francisco, CA

Betty Ong Chinese Recreation Center
San Francisco, California

11:55 A.M. PST

THE PRESIDENT:  Hello, everybody!  (Applause.)  Well, hello, San Francisco!  (Applause.)  It is great to be back in California.  It is great to be with all of you.  I love San Francisco.  (Applause.)  You got great food.  You got great people, beautiful scenery -- no more super villains because Batkid cleaned up the streets.  (Applause.)  Love Batkid.  (Laughter.)  

I want to start by thanking Geetha for the wonderful  introduction and the great work that she’s doing.  Give her a big round of applause.  (Applause.)  I want to thank your Mayor, Ed Lee.  (Applause.)  Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom.  (Applause.)  I want to recognize some wonderful members of Congress who are fighting every day for the people of California -- Mike Honda -- (applause) -- Eric Swalwell, Judy Chu.  They are all doing great work every single day.  (Applause.)

We have a special guest, Janet Napolitano, who is now overseeing the entire UC system and going to be doing a great job.  (Applause.)  We miss her back in Washington, but she is going to be outstanding leading the University of California.

Now, before I begin, I want to say a few words about the news from the weekend.  I'm here to talk about immigration reform, but I'm also here in my capacity as Commander-in-Chief, and this weekend, together with our allies and our partners, the United States reached an agreement with Iran -- (applause) -- on a first step towards resolving our concerns over its nuclear program.

Now, some of you may recall that when I first ran for President, I said it was time for a new era of American leadership in the world -- one that turned the page on a decade of war, and began a new era of our engagement with the world.  And as President and as Commander-in-Chief, I’ve done what I said.  We ended the war in Iraq; we brought our troops home.  Osama bin Laden met justice; the war in Afghanistan will end next year.

And as the strongest, most powerful nation on the face of the Earth, we’ve engaged in clear-eyed and principled diplomacy  -- even with our adversaries -- in order to begin to destroy Syria’s chemical weapons and to place the first real constraints in a decade on Iran’s nuclear program.  Because I firmly believe in what President Kennedy once said:  He said, “Let us never negotiate out of fear, but let us never fear to negotiate.”  I believe that.  And this diplomacy, backed by the unprecedented sanctions we brought on Iran, has brought us the progress that was achieved this weekend.

For the first time in a decade, we’ve halted the progress on Iran’s nuclear program.  Key parts of the program will be rolled back.  (Applause.)  International inspectors will have unprecedented access to Iran’s nuclear-related facilities.  So this will help Iran from building a nuclear weapon.  And over the coming months, we’re going to continue our diplomacy, with the goal of achieving a comprehensive solution that deals with the threat of Iran’s nuclear program once and for all.

And if Iran seizes this opportunity and chooses to join the global community, then we can begin to chip away at the mistrust that’s existed for many, many years between our two nations.

None of that is going to be easy.  Huge challenges remain.  But we cannot close the door on diplomacy.  And we cannot rule out peaceful solutions to the world’s problems.  We cannot commit ourselves to an endless cycle of conflict.  And tough talk and bluster may be the easy thing to do politically, but it’s not the right thing for our security.  It is not the right thing for our security.  (Applause.)

Now, this progress, and the potential it offers, reminds us of what is possible when the United States has the courage to lead -- not just with the force of arms, but with the strength of our diplomacy and our commitment to peace.  That’s what keeps us strong.  That’s what makes us a beacon to the world.  That’s how I’ll continue to lead so long as I’m President of the United States.

And that spirit -- not just what we can criticize or tear down or be against, but what we can build together -- that’s what brings me here today.  Because it’s long past time to fix our broken immigration system.  (Applause.)  We need to make sure Washington finishes what so many Americans just like you started. We’ve got to finish the job.

And it’s fitting that we’re here in Chinatown, just a few miles away from Angel Island.  In the early 1900s, about 300,000 people -- maybe some of your ancestors -- passed through on their way to a new life in America.  And for many, it represented the end of a long and arduous journey -- they’d finally arrived in a place where they believed anything was possible.

And for some, it also represented the beginning of a new struggle against prejudice in a country that didn’t always treat its immigrants fairly or afford them the same rights as everybody else.  Obviously, Asians faced this, but so did the Irish; so did Italians; so did Jews; and many groups still do today.

That didn’t stop those brave men and women from coming.  They were drawn by a belief in the power of opportunity; in a belief that says, maybe I never had a chance at a good education, but this is a place where my daughter can go to college.  Maybe I started out washing dishes, but this is a place where my son can become mayor of San Francisco.  (Applause.)  Maybe I have to make sacrifices today, but those sacrifices are worth it if it means a better life for my family.

And that’s a family story that will be shared by millions of Americans around the table on Thursday.  It’s the story that drew my great-great-great-great-grandfather from a small village in Ireland, and drew my father from a small village in Kenya.  It’s the story that drew so many of your ancestors here -- that America is a place where you can make it if you try.

And here’s something interesting:  Today, more than one in four residents born outside the United States came here from Asian countries -- many through our family immigration system.  They’re doctors and business owners, laborers, refugees.  This rec center’s namesake, Betty Ong, was a hero on 9/11.  (Applause.)  But she was also the daughter of immigrants who grew up not far from here.  And we’re honored to have her family with us here today.  (Applause.)

But too often when we talk about immigration, the debate focuses on our southern border.  The fact is we’re blessed with immigrants from all over the world who’ve put down roots in every corner of this country.  Here in San Francisco, 35 percent of business owners are immigrants -- and your economy is among the fastest growing in the country.  That’s not an accident.  That’s the impact that our talented, hardworking immigrants can have.  That’s the difference they can make.  They’re hungry and they’re striving and they’re working hard and they’re creating things that weren’t there before.

And that’s why it is long past time to reform an immigration system that right now doesn’t serve America as well as it should. We could be doing so much more to unleash our potential if we just fix this aspect of our system.

And I know out here in California that you watch the news and you share the country’s not very sunny view of Washington these days.  For the last few months, you’ve seen a lot of headlines about gridlock and partisan bickering, and too often one faction of one party in one house of Congress has chosen courses of action that ended up harming our businesses, or our economy, or our workers.  Or they want to refight old political battles rather than create jobs and grow the economy and strengthen the middle class, or take 40 more votes to undermine or repeal the Affordable Care Act -- (laughter) -- instead of passing a single serious jobs bill, despite the fact that Americans want us to focus on jobs and business and growth.  And, by the way, thousands of Californians are signing up every day for new health care plans all across this state.  (Applause.)

So even as we’re getting this darn website up to speed -- (laughter) -- and it's getting better -- states like California are proving the law works.  People want the financial security of health insurance.

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  Thanks to you!

THE PRESIDENT:  And even if you’re already insured, reach out to a friend or neighbor who’s not and help them get covered.

But when it comes to immigration reform, we have to have the confidence to believe we can get this done.  And we should get it done.  And, by the way, most Americans agree.  The only thing standing in our way right now is the unwillingness of certain Republicans in Congress to catch up with the rest of the country.
I met the other day with the CEOs of some of America's biggest companies.  And I'm positive not all of them voted for me.  (Laughter.)  I'm pretty sure.  (Laughter.)  Maybe some of them, but definitely not all of them.  But the thing they wanted to talk about, their top priority was the fact that we invite the brightest minds from around the world to study here -- many of them enrolled in the University of California system -- and then we don't invite them to stay.  We end up sending them home to create new jobs and start new businesses someplace else.  So we're training our own competition, rather than invite those incredibly talented young people, like Geetha, to stay here and start businesses and create jobs here.

I hear from folks who’ve been separated from their families for years because of green card backlogs who desperately want their loved ones to be able to join them here in America.  I hear from young DREAMers who are Americans through and through in every way but on paper, and they just want a chance to study and serve and contribute to the nation that they love.  (Applause.)

I talk to business owners who play by the rules, but get frustrated because they end up being undercut by those who exploit workers in a shadow economy -- aren't getting paid overtime, aren't required to meet the same obligations.  And so those companies end up losing out on business.

Right now, I'm seeing brave advocates who have been fasting for two weeks in the shadow of the Capitol, sacrificing themselves in an effort to get Congress to act.  And I want to say to Eliseo Medina, my friend from SEIU, and the other fasters who are there as we speak, I want them to know we hear you.  We're with you.  The whole country hears you.

And there are plenty of leaders –- Democrat and Republican  –- who don’t think it’s fair that we’ve got 11 million people in this country, including more than a million from Asia, with no real way to come forward and get on the right side of the law.  It’s not smart.  It’s not fair.  It doesn’t make sense.  And we have kicked this particular can down the road long enough.  Everybody knows it.

Now, the good news is we know what the solutions are.  There is bipartisan hope of getting it done.  This year, the Senate passed an immigration reform bill by a wide, bipartisan majority, and it addresses the key issues that need to be addressed.  It would strengthen our borders.  It would level the playing field by holding employers accountable if they knowingly hire undocumented workers.  It would modernize our legal immigration system so that we eliminate the backlog of family visas and make it easier to attract highly skilled entrepreneurs from beyond our borders.  It would make sure that everybody plays by the same rules by providing a pathway to earned citizenship for those who are living in the shadows –- a path that includes passing a background check, and learning English, and paying taxes and a penalty, and getting in line behind everyone trying to come here the right way.

And each of these pieces would go a long way towards fixing our broken immigration system.  Each of them has been supported by Democrats and Republicans in the past.  There’s no reason we can’t come together and get it done.

And what's more, we know the immigration reform that we're proposing would boost our economy and shrink our deficits.  Independent economists have said that if the Senate bill became law, over the next two decades, our economy would grow by $1.4 trillion more, and it would reduce our deficits by $850 billion more.

And you don’t have to be an economist to figure out that workers will be more productive if they’ve got their families here with them, they're not worried about deportation, they're not living halfway around the world.  This isn’t just the right thing to do -– it’s the smart thing to do.

Of course, just because something is smart, fair, good for the economy, and supported by business, labor, law enforcement and faith leaders -- (laughter) -- Democratic and Republican governors, including the Governor of this state –- just because all that is in place doesn’t mean we'll actually get it done, because this is Washington, after all, that we’re talking about and everything is looked through a political prism.  And, look, let's be honest, some folks automatically think, well, if Obama’s for it, then I've got to be against it even if I was, before that, I was for it.

But I want to remind everybody, to his great credit, my Republican predecessor, President Bush, was for reform.  He proposed reform like this almost a decade ago.  I was in the Senate.  I joined 23 Senate Republicans back then supporting reform.  It's worth remembering that the Senate bill that just passed won more than a dozen Republican votes this past summer.  And some of them even forget that I'm -- sometimes people forget I'm not running for office again.  Michelle doesn’t forget.   (Laughter and applause.)  So you don’t have to worry about this somehow being good for me.  This is good for the country.   It's the right thing to do for the American people.

And I believe, ultimately -- not always in the short term -- but ultimately, good policy is good politics.  Look at the polls right now, because the American people support immigration reform by a clear majority.  Everybody wins if we get this done.  So there's no reason we shouldn’t get immigration reform done right now.  None.  If there is a good reason I haven't heard it.

And, by the way, if there's a better plan out there than the one that Democrats and Republicans have already advanced together, if there are additional ideas that would make it even better, I’m always willing to listen to new ideas.  My door is always open.  But right now it’s up to Republicans in the House to decide if we can move forward as a country on this bill.  If they don’t want to see it happen, they’ve got to explain why.

The good news is, just this past week Speaker Boehner said that he is “hopeful we can make progress” on immigration reform. And that is good news.  I believe the Speaker is sincere.  I think he genuinely wants to get it done.  And that’s something we should be thankful for this week.  And I think there are a number of other House Republicans who also want to get this done.  Some of them are hesitant to do it in one big bill, like the Senate did.  That’s okay.  They can -- it’s Thanksgiving; we can carve that bird into multiple pieces.  (Laughter.)  A drumstick here -- (laughter) -- breast meat there.  But as long as all the pieces get done -- soon -- and we actually deliver on the core values we’ve been talking about for so long, I think everybody is fine with it.  They're not worried about the procedures.  They just want the result.

But it’s going to require some courage.  There are some members of the Republican caucus who think this is bad politics for them back home.  And they're free to vote their conscience, but what I’ve said to the Speaker and others is, don't let a minority of folks block something that the country desperately needs.  And we can’t leave this problem for another generation to solve.  If we don’t tackle this now, then we’re undercutting our own future.

So my message to Congress is rather than create problems, let’s prove Washington can get something done.  This is something that has broad-based support.  We’ve been working on it for a decade now.  This reform comes as close as we’ve gotten to something that will benefit everybody, now and for decades to come.  And it has the potential to enrich this country in ways that we can’t even imagine.

And I’ll just give you one example to wrap up.  Andrew Ly is here today.  Where’s Andrew?  He’s around here somewhere.  There he is.  Now, Andrew has got an amazing story.  Andrew grew up in Vietnam, and he and his four brothers tried three times to flee to the United States.  Obviously, the country was going through all kinds of difficulties.  So three times, they tried; three times, they failed.  On the fourth try, their boat –- filled with 140 refugees -- is that right, Andrew -– was attacked by pirates.

But the Lys and their family eventually made it to Malaysia, and then they eventually made it here to San Francisco.  And they learned English, and they worked as handymen, and they worked as seamstresses.  And eventually, Andrew and his brothers earned enough money to buy a small bakery.  And they started making donuts, and they started selling them to Chinese restaurants.  And with a lot of hard work and a little luck, the Sugar Bowl Bakery today is a $60 million business.  (Applause.)

So these humble and striving immigrants from Vietnam now employ more than 300 Americans.  They’re supplying pastries to Costco and Safeway, and almost every hotel and hospital in San Francisco.  And I don't know if Andrew brought me any samples, but -- (laughter) -- they must be pretty good.  (Laughter.)  

And Andrew says, “We came here as boat people, so we don’t take things for granted.  We know this is the best country in the world if you work hard.”  That’s what America is about.  This is the place where you can reach for something better if you work hard.  This is the country our parents and our grandparents and waves of immigrants before them built for us.  And it falls on each new generation to keep it that way.  The Statue of Liberty doesn’t have its back to the world.  The Statue of Liberty faces the world and raises its light to the world.

When Chinese immigrants came to this city in search of “Gold Mountain,” they weren’t looking just for physical riches.  They were looking for freedom and opportunity.  They knew that what makes us American is not a question of what we look like or what our names are -- because we look like the world.  You got a President named Obama.  (Laughter and applause.)  What makes us American is our shared belief in certain enduring principles, our allegiance to a set of ideals, to a creed, to the enduring promise of this country.

And our shared responsibility is to leave this country more generous, more hopeful than we found it.  And if we stay true to that history -- if we get immigration reform across the finish line -- and it is there just within our grasp, if we can just get folks in Washington to go ahead and do what needs to be done -- we’re going to grow our economy; we’re going to make our country more secure; we’ll strengthen our families; and most importantly, we will live --

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  Mr. Obama --

THE PRESIDENT:  -- most importantly, we will live up --

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  -- my family has been separated for 19 months now --

THE PRESIDENT:  -- most importantly, we will live up to our character as a nation.

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  I’ve not seen my family.  Our families are separated.  I need your help.  There are thousands of people --

THE PRESDIENT:  That’s exactly what we’re talking about.

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  -- are torn apart every single day.

THE PRESIDENT:  That’s why we’re here.

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  Mr. President, please use your executive order to halt deportations for all 11.5 undocumented immigrants in this country right now.

THE PRESIDENT:  What we’re trying --

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  Do you agree

AUDIENCE:  Obama!  Obama!  Obama!

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  -- that we need to pass comprehensive immigration reform at the same time we -- you have a power to stop deportation for all undocumented immigrants in this country.
THE PRESIDENT:  Actually I don’t.  And that’s why we’re here.

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  So, please, I need your help.

THE PRESIDENT:  Okay --

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  Stop deportations!

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  Stop deportations!

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you.  All right.

AUDIENCE MEMBERS:  Stop deportations!  Stop deportations!

THE PRESIDENT:  What I’d like to do -- no, no, don’t worry about it, guys.  Okay, let me finish.

AUDIENCE MEMBERS:  Stop deportations!  Yes, we can!  Stop deportations!

THE PRESIDENT:  These guys don’t need to go.  Let me finish. No, no, no, he can stay there.  Hold on a second.  (Applause.)  Hold on a second.

So I respect the passion of these young people because they feel deeply about the concerns for their families.  Now, what you need to know, when I’m speaking as President of the United States and I come to this community, is that if, in fact, I could solve all these problems without passing laws in Congress, then I would do so.

But we’re also a nation of laws.  That’s part of our tradition.  And so the easy way out is to try to yell and pretend like I can do something by violating our laws.  And what I’m proposing is the harder path, which is to use our democratic processes to achieve the same goal that you want to achieve.  But it won’t be as easy as just shouting.  It requires us lobbying and getting it done.  (Applause.)

So for those of you who are committed to getting this done, I am going to march with you and fight with you every step of the way to make sure that we are welcoming every striving, hardworking immigrant who sees America the same way we do -- as a country where no matter who you are or what you look like or where you come from, you can make it if you try.

And if you’re serious about making that happen, then I’m ready to work with you.  (Applause.)  But it is going to require work.  It is not simply a matter of us just saying we’re going to violate the law.  That’s not our tradition.  The great thing about this country is we have this wonderful process of democracy, and sometimes it is messy, and sometimes it is hard, but ultimately, justice and truth win out.  That’s always been the case in this country; that’s going to continue to be the case today.  (Applause.)

Thank you very much, everybody.  God bless you.  God bless America.  (Applause.)

END