Barack Obama – President Obama Nominates Anthony Foxx As Secretary Of Transportation

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[Barack Obama - President Obama Nominates Anthony Foxx As Secretary Of Transportation]

[Barack Hussein Obama II (born August 4, 1961)]
Thank you. (Applause.) Thanks. Thank you. Everybody, please have a seat.

[Audience]
Good afternoon.

[Barack Obama] Source: LYBIO.net
Ray LaHood has said that being the Secretary of Transportation is the best job he ever had in public service. And that’s fitting because Ray may be the best Secretary of Transportation that the nation’s ever had.

From the day that he was sworn in, Ray has fought tirelessly to rebuild America’s infrastructure — creating good jobs that strengthen our economy and allow us to better compete in the global economy. Over the past four years, thanks to Ray’s leadership, we’ve built or improved more than 350,000 miles of road — enough to circle the world more than 14 times. We’ve upgraded more than 6,000 miles of rail -– enough to go coast to coast and back. We’ve repaired or replaced more than 20,000 bridges, and helped put tens of thousands of construction workers back on the job. And that’s all due in no small part to Ray LaHood’s leadership.

So every American can thank Ray for his dedication to make our transportation system not just stronger, but also safer. When it comes to his focused attention on the dangers of distracted driving, for example, it’s saving lives.

And on a personal note, Ray LaHood has been a good friend of mine for many years. Before he served in my Cabinet, we served together in Congress. He’s a Republican; I’m a Democrat. These days, that sometimes keeps folks apart, but what always brought Ray and I together was a shared belief that those of us who serve in public service owe their allegiance not to party but to the people who elected them to represent them.

And it helps that we’re from the same state — Ray is from Peoria; I’m from Chicago. But we both love the state of Illinois, and we both get out there on the golf course — and we’re not that good — (laughter) — but we don’t take ourselves too seriously. He is a good man, and has been an outstanding public servant and a model for the kind of bipartisan approach to governance that I think we need so badly in this town.

So, Ray, on a personal level, I could not be more grateful to you for your service and for your friendship. (Applause.)

Now, unfortunately for us but fortunately for them, Ray is now looking forward to spending more time with his wife Kathy and their family –- especially a whole gaggle of grandchildren. And so, today, I’m proud to announce my intent to nominate another impressive leader to carry on his great work at the Department of Transportation: the Mayor of Charlotte, my friend from North Carolina, Mr. Anthony Foxx. (Applause.)

Anthony’s life reflects the values he learned growing up in West Charlotte, where he was raised by his single mom and his grandparents. I should add, by the way, that his grandmother is here, and she informed me that she worked here in the White House in the Truman administration. So she’s just coming back to — (applause) — she’s just coming back for a visit. And so, the values that they instilled in them was to take pride in hard work, to take responsibility for your actions, to take care of your community. And over the past three and a half years, those values have helped Anthony become one of the most effective mayors that Charlotte’s ever seen.

[Barack Obama] Source: LYBIO.net
When Anthony became mayor in 2009, Charlotte, like the rest of the country, was going through a bruising economic crisis. But the city has managed to turn things around. The economy is growing. There are more jobs, more opportunity. And if you ask Anthony how that happened, he’ll tell you that one of the reasons is that Charlotte made one of the largest investments in transportation in the city’s history.

Since Anthony took office, they’ve broken ground on a new streetcar project that’s going to bring modern electric tram service to the downtown area. They’ve expanded the international airport. And they’re extending the city’s light rail system. All of that has not only helped create new jobs, it’s helped Charlotte become more attractive to business.

So I know Anthony’s experience will make him an outstanding Transportation Secretary. He’s got the respect of his peers, mayors and governors all across the country. And as a consequence, I think that he’s going to be extraordinarily effective. One of the things that Ray taught me in watching him do his job is that establishing personal relationships with mayors and governors and county executives makes all the difference in the world, because transportation is one of those things that — it’s happening on the ground.

And the federal government has got to be responsive and has to understand what it’s like when you’re a mayor or a governor or a county executive trying to get these projects up and running, which also means that we have the potential of continuing to streamline our approvals and get rid of some — sometimes difficulties in permitting that slow projects down, because we want to get people back to work and we want to get this country moving.

So I am absolutely confident that Anthony is going to do an outstanding job. I want to thank his mom and grandma and lovely wife and two good-looking kids for being willing to serve as well. And I hope that the Senate confirms him quickly because we’ve got a lot of work to do.

Our top priority as a nation right now is doing everything we can to grow our economy and create good jobs and rebuild opportunity for the middle class. And one of the best ways we can do that is to put more Americans back to work rebuilding our infrastructure.

So that’s why, in my State of the Union Address, I proposed a “Fix-It-First” program to put more people to work as soon as possible on our most urgent repairs. And to make sure taxpayers don’t shoulder the entire burden, I’ve also proposed a partnership with the private sector. But Congress has to step up, fund these projects. They need to do it right away.

[Barack Obama] Source: LYBIO.net
We need to modernize the infrastructure that powers our economy. We need more high-speed rail, and Internet, and high-tech schools, and self-healing power grids, and bridges, and tunnels, and ports that help us ship products all around the world stamped with three proud words: Made in America. That’s how we’re going to attract more businesses. That’s how we’re going to create more jobs. That’s how we’re going to stay competitive in this global economy.

So to Ray LaHood and his entire family, I want to thank you for just doing an extraordinary job. To Anthony and his family, I want to thank you guys for agreeing to serve. And I know that today’s announcement is not the biggest thing that Anthony’s family’s got going on in the next week, because tomorrow is Anthony’s birthday. (Laughter.) So we’re happy that we can kick off the celebration here at the White House.

And with that, what I’d like to do is ask both of them to say a few words, starting with our outstanding current Secretary of Transportation, Mr. Ray LaHood. (Applause.)

[Ray LaHood] Source: LYBIO.net
Thank you, thank you, Mr. President. Your staff told me I only had one minute. And since this is the last time will be at this podium I’m gonna take a little bit more than one minute. I know they won’t forgive me but I know you well I think there’s no way there’s no way. I can ever thank you for the opportunity that you have provided. To Write the final chapter in my book of service businesses. You’re right it’s the best job I’ve ever had.

And if you’re not the best person I’ve ever worked for, your right at the top of the list you’ve been extraordinary.

And I know that. Every mayor in America is thrilled today. Because one of the theirs will become the secretary of transportation. And what a message you send around the country, what you say to every city is that Mayors count, city’s count. And Anthony Foxx – Mayor Fox will do a great job. Quality transportation choices can mean a better job or better schools for our families across and Mayor Fox gets that. And I’m confident he’ll do a terrific job.

And the other thing Mr. President is more than four years ago on a very cold day in Chicago you kind of roll the dice on Ray LaHood. I’m not sure you really knew other than our friendship. And that I was a lousy golfer. Whether I’d be a good secretary of transportation we gave is plenty a license to be a good secretary of transportation. And we have been very proud. To carry out your vision and very proud. To be the sixteenth secretary of transportation.

We – the president I did not share a political party. As he said I’m a Republican and he’s a Democrat. But what we did share. While we served in congress from Illinois is a friendship. A deep friendship. And that friendship has become much stronger over the last four and a half years. And so I just wanted — name four things. That I think we’ve been able to do there are many more than four but we put a great team of people together Mayor Fox you are gonna inherit some of the smartest brightest hard working people. At the Department of Transportation.

We’ve worked hard for four and a half years to carry out the president’s agenda. And one thing that we’re very proud in three and a half years of and the president told us. Within thirty days of his being sworn in to his first term. Raise the cafe standards.

And what we’re proud of is it by 20/20 five. Every car and light truck and America will get 54 point five miles per gallon. And that it didn’t take one vote in Congress, all it took, a little bit leadership here and a little bit leadership and EPA in DOT and we made it happen. That will be part of president Obama’s legacy what a legacy cleaning up the air and America. Getting cleaner burning cars that’s a big deal.

We also have spent a lot of time on safety and I guess we will be known poor. Trying to persuade people to put their cell phones in their blackberries down while they’re driving. And we are right at the start indeed on this distracted driving is an epidemic. We spent a lot of time working on it and I hope that Mayor Fox will continue.

I think — the crowning glory for the president. And – he’s gonna have many legacies. But his transportation legacy will be. High speed rail in America; bringing passenger rail all over America. And let me tell you what I mean by that I visited eighteen countries and last 4 and 1/2 years – looking at high speed rail and the common thread throughout every country is a national vision. National leadership. National commitment and that’s what the president provided over the last four and a half years.

What he’s said to America is we know you want a different kind of transportation. And Lincoln started the rail system. In America. Obama — has started high speed rail in America. What a great. Thank you. [Applause] So so – We’re proud of that vision Mr. President thank you. Thank you for really given a scene courage to continue to carry on.

So obviously. It goes without saying. When I talked to the president right after his reelection about the fact that I was very conflicted about this job – not – not about the job and about the fact that I’d like to stay but I told him Kathleen had been married 46 years and she wins out on this one. He said give me your cell number I’m gonna call her, And I said no, Mr. President I don’t want you to do — okay. I don’t want you to hear all these arguments that she’s gonna make to you.

So this – I am conflicted about this but it’s the right decision for our family; we’ve been in public service 35 years. And we think that we’ve done it the right way, we’ve done it in a bipartisan way in a way that reflects the best values of America so. The final pages of my book of service, I think will be remembered for bipartisanship. First serving in one of the most historic administrations. In the history of our country. And I am so pleased that the president gave us an opportunity to have a front row seat on watching history and a front row seat on making a little history.

And in – what an opportunity that we will never ever forget. And so. We leave while they’re still applauding which is not always easy in public service.
They’re not only applauding for me there they are applauding for President Obama. And the team of people that he put in place here. That’s what they’re applauding for. And so we go while they are applauding and we go out also. With the fact that my successor. Will continue to do a great job. Representing America representing the American people representing President Obama and his vision for putting people back to work for giving the economy going and for continuing what we’ve tried to start at the Department of Transportation is my pleasure yo introduce the next the seventeenth Secretary. Of transportation, when he’s confirmed, which is always what we have to say it’s a little thing around here. When he’s confirmed he’ll be the seventeenth secretary of transportation and he will do a great job the Mayor of Charlotte Anthony Foxx.

[Anthony Foxx] Source: LYBIO.net
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Mr. President you, I am humbled and honored to be your nominee for secretary of transportation. As Mayor I know two things. First, over the last four years cities have had no better partners than you Mr. President and you Mr. Secretary. Ray LaHood, you have drawn the admiration and appreciation of America’s mayors.

Particularly Secretary Lahood for astute vision and no nonsense approach and that of your entire team. If confirmed I would do my absolute best to uphold the standards you have set at the US Department of Transportation. The second thing I know, is that there is no such thing as a democratic. Or Republican wrote, Bridge, Port, Airfield, or rail system. We must work together across party lines to enhance this nation’s infrastructure.

I stand here today with many people to thank, most especially my Wife Samara and my two children Hillary and Zachary, my mother and my grandmother all of whom are here with us today.

I also want to thank the wonderful people of Charlotte. The fastest growing area of our country. I know well the opportunities in the challenges of maintaining and improving infrastructure and providing good transportation choices. And throughout my service in Charlotte. I have worked to use infrastructure to put Charlotte and therefore our country on the path of job growth today and tomorrow.

Mr. President. I look forward to engaging with members of Congress on both sides of the aisle during the confirmation process. If confirmed I will work with you with congress with states, local governments and of course the great team at the US Department of Transportation to keep the wheels of our national renewal turning. Thank you again for your confidence in me Mister President. Thank you.

Barack Obama – President Obama Nominates Anthony Foxx As Secretary Of Transportation. I am humbled and honored to be your nominee for secretary of transportation. Complete Full Script, Dialogue, Saying, Quotes, Words And Text.