Administration of Joseph R. Biden, Jr., 2021

February 5, 2021

We're going to be talking about the recovery package, but we saw the jobs report that only 6,000 private sector jobs have been created. And at that rate, it's going to take 10 years before we get to full employment. That's not hyperbole, that's a fact. We're going to be in a situation where it'll take a long, long time.

And I appreciate you all coming over becauseâand the urgency with which you're movingâthis is about people's lives. This is not just about numbers; this is about people's lives. People areâI don't have to tell any of you, they're really hurting. People are being evicted.

Just look at all the number of people who are needing and seeking mental health services now. Suicide is up. People are veryâreally, reallyâdrug abuse, violence against women. People are really feeling the hole. They don't know how to get out. You've given them a lot of hopeâa lot of hopeâand with theâas they say in Southern Delaware: the grace of God and the good will of the neighbor, with the creek not rising, we can really begin to do something consequential here.

So I want to thank you all. And what Iâyou know, PresidentâPresident Obama put me in charge of the Recovery Act, and it was hard as hell to get the votes for it to begin with, and then it was hard as hell to get even the number we got. But one thing we learned is, you know, we can't do too much here; we can do too little. We can do too little and sputter.

But again, the end result is, it's not just the macroeconomic impact on the economy and our ability to compete internationally, it's people's lives. Real, live people are hurting, and we can fix it. And we can fix it. And the irony of all ironies is, when we help them, we are also helping our competitive capacity through the remainder of this decade. I mean, it's real.

So weâve got a chance to do something big here. And I'mâand thank you for last night, yesterday, and what you're going to be doing on this Recovery Act. And I can hardly wait to sit down with Peter DeFazio to work on infrastructure. [*Laughter*] This is the next big piece.

So thank you all for being here, and thank you for coming in. I appreciate it.

Q. Mr. President, should schools reopen?

NOTE: The President spoke at 10:04 a.m. in the Oval Office at the White House. In his remarks, he referred to Rep. Peter A. DeFazio, in his capacity as chairman of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

Categories: Addresses and Remarks : Economic stimulus and pandemic relief legislation, meeting with Democratic congressional leaders.

Locations: Washington, DC.

Names: DeFazio, Peter A.; Obama, Barack.

Subjects: Congress : Members, meetings with President; Diseases : Coronavirus, domestic prevention efforts; Economy, national : Strengthening efforts; Employment and unemployment : Job creation and growth; Health and medical care : Mental health programs and services; Law enforcement and crime : Domestic violence.

DCPD Number: DCPD202100123.