We Can't Wait

We Can’t Wait

President Obama is not letting congressional gridlock slow
our economic growth.

"Without a doubt, the most urgent challenge that we face right now is getting our economy to grow faster and to create more jobs…. we can’t wait for an increasingly dysfunctional Congress to do its job. Where they won’t act, I will."

- President Barack Obama, October 24, 2011

We Can't Wait Video

Here are the executive actions President Obama has taken to support middle class Americans

Oct

Expedited two major transit projects to improve local and regional connectivity and provide more transit choices for residents in Minnesota and Ohio

Sept

Expedited two significant surface transportation projects in California

aug

Freed up $473 million in unspent earmarks for states to spend on infrastructure projects

aug

Launched public-private institute aimed at boosting innovation in Youngstown, Ohio

aug

Accelerated Seven Major Renewable Energy Infrastructure Projects

july

Expedited the Atlanta Regional Multimodal Passenger Terminal Project

july

Expedited the process for modernizing five major national ports

june

Opened up federal roadways and properties to broadband construction -- which could make that work 90 percent cheaper and more efficient

apr

Signed an order to crack down on bad actors who prey on veterans and service members considering higher education

apr

Combatting domestic violence in the federal workplace

apr

Directed federal agencies to use the Do Not Pay tool to prevent payment errors like sending funds to dead people or contracting with companies who have attempted to defraud the government

mar

Directed federal agencies to make permitting and review processes more efficient and effective, while ensuring environmental health and safety and supporting economic growth

mar

Invested $45 million in a pilot program aimed at promoting collaboration between government and industry in order to boost innovation in manufacturing

mar

Launched Ethics.gov to help make the government more accountable and open

mar

Made refinancing easier for millions of Americans who have government-sponsored mortgages by cutting fees to help families save money and make refinancing more attractive

feb

Unveiled a Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights to ensure that the Internet remains an engine for innovation and economic growth

feb

Directed the federal government to increase the purchase of products made from materials produced by American Farmers

feb

Announced new steps to promote American manufacturing and increase U.S. exports

feb

Granted 10 states the flexibility needed to raise student achievement standards, improve school accountability and increase teacher effectiveness

feb

Helped to make an additional $50 million available for cutting-edge Alzheimer’s research

jan

Launched new initiatives to boost travel and tourism in the United States

jan

Announced new resources for companies that want to hire and invest in America

jan

Launched Summer Jobs+ to provide employment opportunities for nearly 180,000 young people

jan

Appointed Richard Cordray to head the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

dec

Awarded Race To The Top-Early Learning Challenge grants to help states build systems of high quality early education programs

dec

Backed a law extending overtime pay protections and guaranteed minimum wage for homecare workers

dec

Launched two initiatives to provide startup companies with $2 billion in resources

dec

Announced the single largest purchase of biofuels in government history

dec

Announced a $4 billion investment to make buildings more energy efficient

nov

Taking steps to help doctors and health professionals more easily adopt health IT, like electronic medical records

nov

Launched effort to improve the management of records across the federal government

nov

Introduced a new proposal to improve fuel economy standards

nov

Announced four new actions to help further reduce waste and fraud in Medicare and Medicaid

nov

Launched the $1 billion Health Care Innovation Challenge

nov

Signed an executive order to cut waste and promote efficiency in the federal government

nov

Announced a rule change to Head Start that will make low-performing centers compete for funding

nov

Provided new resources to help veterans find opportunities in the private sector job market

nov

Expediting reviews of surface transportation projects and accelerating important transportation grants

nov

Designated Fort Monroe in Virginia as a new national park

oct

Signed an executive order designed to combat prescription drug shortages and fight price gouging

oct

Directed federal agencies to speed up the transfer of federal research and development from the laboratory to the marketplace – and ordered the creation of BusinessUSA

oct

Issued orders to make it even easier for students to repay their college loans

oct

Challenged Community Health Centers to hire 8,000 veterans over the next three years

oct

Introduced new rules to help responsible borrowers with little or no equity in their homes take advantage of current low mortgage rates