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Narrator: Welcome to the West Wing Week,
your guide to everything that's happening
at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue and beyond.
This week, the president urged action on long-term
unemployment, hung out on Google for his first
virtual road trip, and announced major private
sector commitments to expand broadband internet
for students, spoke with both House and Senate
Democrats, and joined the First Lady for the
National Prayer Breakfast while she helped students
get a leg up with filing for financial aid.
And the vice president traveled to Amtrak's
new Cities Sprinter electric locomotive.
It's January 31st to February 6th
for POTUS cam.
The President: Oh, I've been recording
this whole time?
(laughter)
Narrator: On Friday morning,
the president and vice president highlighted
the success story of Eric Verella, who leveraged
job training programs to move out of unemployment
and spoke on the challenges faced
by the long-term unemployed.
The event was organized by the White House for more
than 100 companies committed to reforming
their human resources policies to address the
challenges faced by the long-term unemployed.
The President: We're going to keep on knocking
down barriers to reemployment so more
of the nearly four million long-term unemployed
Americans can regain the stability and security
that a good job brings their families.
And by the way, so that they have more money
to spend on local businesses, which will lift the entire
economy up and create a virtuous cycle instead
of a negative one.
Narrator: Later, the president
participated in a series of Google+ hangouts
as a part of his very first virtual road trip.
He video chatted with participants from around
the country, answering their questions and topics
ranging from immigration to minimum wage.
And at the end, he took a surprising question.
Male Speaker: Out of a million that I'd love
to ask you over a beer, are you happy?
And, you know --
The President: That's a great question, Rob.
Male Speaker: I everything good with you?
Is everything good with you?
President Obama: You know, we should have that beer
because I think It'd be -- this might take a longer
answer, but, you know, I am pretty happy.
I got to tell you.
Narrator: On Tuesday, the president traveled
to Adelphi, Maryland, to tour Buck Lodge Middle School
and highlight the school's use of technology
in the classroom.
The President: You do everything on your iPad?
Female Speaker: Yeah, mostly.
President Obama: Most of your reading as well?
Okay.
You guys feeling kind of shy because
of all these cameras?
Female Speaker: And I'm going to show you
some of my work.
The President: Yeah, show me the
Journey of the Red Planet.
How long is it?
Ah, we're getting the sounds effects
(inaudible).
Narrator: The president just met with a classroom
of students who showed him how they use technology
in their learning.
He's about to announce some major commitments
by the FCC and some of our biggest companies
in America to get wireless and broadband
into every classroom.
The President: (inaudible) Navy Seal (inaudible).
Right now you can smile.
The President: So the country invested in me.
My parents invested in me, my grandparents invested
in me, but my country invested in me.
And I want America to now invest in you.
In a country where we expect free Wi-Fi with our
coffee, we should definitely demand
it in our schools.
(applause)
Narrator: Then back at the White House, The President and
Vice President met with the House Democratic
caucus in the East Room.
Afterwards, The President made a congratulatory call
to Head Coach Pete Carroll,
the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks.
The President: The way everybody works together.
That defense -- it's unbelievable.
Narrator: Wednesday morning was all about
education, as the First Lady and Secretary
of Education Arne Duncan attended a financial
aid workshop at T.C.
Williams High School in Alexandria, Virginia.
They worked with parents, students, and school
counselors to fill out the FAFSA forms, which unlock
federal financial aid and open the door
to a college education for middle class students
and those looking
to get into the middle class.
Michelle Obama: It has been a real delight
for me and an inspiration to meet you guys.
The best investment that we can make is investing
in you all.
Narrator: Later that day, the president
traveled to Nationals Park -- no, not for batting
practice, but to meet with Democratic senators
at the Senate Democratic Issues Conference.
(applause)
On Thursday, the president,
the Vice President, and the First Lady started early,
attending the 62nd Annual National Prayer Breakfast
at the Washington Hilton.
The President: Some history shows that nations
that uphold the rights of their people, including
the freedom of religion, are ultimately more just
and more peaceful and more successful.
Nations that do not uphold these rights sow the
bitters seeds of instability
and violence and extremism.
So freedom of religion matters
to our national security.
(applause)
It is not always comfortable to do,
but it is right.
Narrator: Then, Vice President Biden
and Secretary of Transportation Fox
traveled to the 30th Street Station
in Philadelphia to unveil Amtrak's new City Sprinter
electric locomotive that will power the Northeast
Corridor and highlight the need
for infrastructure investments like these nationwide.
The new locomotives were built in the U.S.
by Siemens and include parts from nearly
70 different suppliers representing more
than 60 cities and 23 states.
The Vice President: Critical part of moving
is the infrastructure, and a critical part
of the transportation infrastructure is rail.
Narrator: Meanwhile, back at the Oso Stationery
White House, the president hosted a bilateral meeting
with President Martelly of Haiti.
Well, you got it done.
You spent a perfectly good five minutes watching
the West Wing Week.
So keep at.
Stay engaged with us online.
President Obama: Oh, I've been recording
this whole time?
(laughter)
Narrator: And remember, you can find
out more information about any of these topics
or see complete videos
of these events at
www.whitehouse.gov
And thanks again for checking
out your West Wing Week.
The President: Valerie is doing
outstanding calculations here, describing right
angles, and that's Mike, my Secret Service agent.
He never smiles.
(laughter)
He's sort of smiling.
That's not bad.
And this is our press.
(laughter)
They're (inaudible).
All right (inaudible).
Female Speaker: All right.
Thanks, guys.
The President: I hope I did as good
of a job as you (inaudible)
All right.
Hey.