Good morning, everybody. Please have a seat.



Well, on this beautiful morning, we are here to mark the passage of a welcome piece of legislation for our fellow Americans who are seeking work in this difficult economy. But first, let me say a few words about the latest development in the debate over health insurance reform. I don’t know if you guys have been hearing, but there’s been a big debate going on here.



This morning, a new analysis from the Congressional Budget Office concludes that the reform we seek would bring $1.3 trillion in deficit reduction over the next two decades. (Applause.) That makes this legislation the most significant effort to reduce deficits since the Balanced Budget Act in the 1990s. (Applause.) And this is -- this is but one virtue of a reform that will bring new accountability to the insurance industry and greater economic security to all Americans. So I urge every member of Congress to consider this as they prepare for their important vote this weekend.



And I want to welcome all the members of Congress who are here, those who are on stage -- Madam Speaker, Majority Leader Reid -- as well as some of my Cabinet members who are here.



In a few moments, I’ll sign what’s called the HIRE Act -- a jobs bill that will encourage businesses to hire and help put Americans back to work. And I’d like to say a few words about what this jobs bill will mean for workers, for businesses, and for America’s economic recovery.



There are a number of ways to look at an economic recovery. Through the eyes of an economist, you look at the different stages of recovery. You look at whether an economy has begun to grow; at whether businesses have begun to hire temporary workers or increase the hours of existing workers. You look at whether businesses, small and large, have begun to hire full-time employees again.



That’s how economists measure a recovery -- and by those measures, we are beginning to move in the right direction. But through the eyes of most Americans, recovery is about something more fundamental: Do ...