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- Welcome to West Wing Week!
Narrator: Welcome to the West Wing Week,
your guide to everything that's happening
at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
This week, the President repeated his call for Congress
to extend emergency unemployment insurance
for more than a million Americans
and announced the first five of what will be 20 Promise Zones
to help change the odds for kids,
as the War on Poverty turned 50.
And as a polar vortex descended on much of the country,
the President's science advisor explained why.
That's January 3rd to January 9th, or...
"A Year of Action."
The President: This is going to be a year of action.
That's what the American people expect,
and they're ready and willing to pitch in and help.
Narrator: On Sunday, the President and his daughters
returned from their holiday break,
arriving at the beginning of the cold front that brought
record-breaking cold along with the polar vortex
to much of the country.
Here to explain the phenomenon
is the President's science advisor, John Holdren.
Dr. Holdren: As the temperature difference
between the Arctic and the mid-latitudes declines,
the polar vortex weakens,
and it becomes wavier.
The waviness means that there can be increased,
larger excursions of cold air southward --
that is, into the mid-latitudes --
and, in the other phase of the wave,
increased excursions of relatively warmer
mid-latitude air into the far north.
Narrator: On Tuesday, the President spoke again on the urgent need
for Congress to extend emergency unemployment insurance
for more than a million Americans,
like Kathrine Hackett, a mother of two sons
in the U.S. military who's actively looking for work
and has been forced to cut back on necessities
like food and home heating.
The President: I can't name a time where I met an American
who would rather have an unemployment check
than the pride of having a job.
[applause]
The long-term unemployed are not lazy.
They're not lacking in motivation.
They're coping with the aftermath
of the worst economic crisis in generations.
Narrator: West Wing Week caught up with Kathrine Hackett,
who had introduced the President in the East Room,
to hear from her about the urgent need to support,
rather than ignore, those looking for work.
- I am here today as an American, and that's a very,
very special thing to be, is an American,
and be able to voice my opinion and be able to stand
with the President of the United States
and introduce him,
and that means to me that he really cares
about people like me.
Narrator: Wednesday marked the 50th anniversary
of President Lyndon B. Johnson's declaration of a War on Poverty.
Here to give us some historical perspective
is Deputy Press Secretary Amy Brundage,
for the latest installment of "This Day in History."
Ms. Brundage: This week marks the 50th anniversary
of President Johnson declaring a War on Poverty.
Over the past decades,
we've seen a lot of progress fighting poverty,
and we've seen a decline in the poverty rate,
but there's a lot more work to do.
That's why the President is focused on economic mobility,
fighting income inequality,
and ensuring that every person in this country
who wants to fight for a chance at opportunity has that chance.
That's why he's been focusing on extending
unemployment insurance benefits for those folks
fighting to find a job.
That's why he's focused on raising the minimum wage
so everybody who's willing to work hard has a living wage,
and strengthening the middle class
and those trying to get in it.
Narrator: On Thursday, the President named the first five
of what will be 20 Promise Zones across the United States.
Inspired by the incredible undertaking of the last 17 years
at the Harlem Children's Zone,
Promise Zones are a way to partner with local communities
and businesses to create jobs,
increase economic security,
expand access to educational opportunities and quality,
affordable housing,
and improve public safety.
The President: If you want to know why I care about this stuff so much,
it's because I'm not that different from Roger.
There was a period of time in my life where I was goofing off.
I was raised by a single mom.
I didn't know my dad.
The only difference between me and Roger was,
my environment was more forgiving than his.
That's the only difference.
So if Roger can make it, and if I can make it,
if Kiara can make it, every kid in this country can make it.
Narrator: To find out more information
on any of these "Year of Action" topics,
or to see complete videos of these events,
go to WhiteHouse.gov.
And thanks again for checking out your West Wing Week.
The President: Hey, guys.
- Hi!
The President: Everybody staying warm?
- Yes!
The President: It's a little cold.
But compared to Chicago, this is balmy.