Administration of Barack Obama, 2009 / May 27 And finally, even as we do all this, we need to by the progress that the American people see in restore fiscal discipline in Washington so we their own lives. don’t leave our children and grandchildren with And so if you stand with me, if you stand with a mountain of debt. Already, my administration Harry Reid, I know that years from now we will has identified more than 100 Government pro- look back on this time, at this moment and say, grams that we can reduce or eliminate. They’re that’s when the American people came together to reclaim their future to write the next great not working the way they should. That will save chapter of the American story. taxpayers nearly $17 billion next year alone. We can only do it with Harry Reid, and I can We’re going through the budget line by line only do it with you, the people of Las Vegas, the looking for more places where we can shift dol- people of Nevada, the people of America. lars from things that don’t work to things that Thank you. God bless you. May God bless the do. United States of America. Thank you. We’re living through extraordinary times. We didn’t ask for the challenges that we face, but NOTE: The President spoke at 8:33 p.m. in the we are determined to answer the call to meet Colosseum at Caesars Palace hotel. In his re- those challenges, to cast aside the old argu- marks, he referred to entertainers Bette Midler, ments and overcome the stubborn divisions and Sheryl Crow, Rachael Yamagata, Rita Rudner, and Clint Holmes; former Senate Majority move forward as one people and one nation. It Leader Chester T. “Trent” Lott; and Celina So- won’t be easy, Nevada. There will be setbacks, tomayor, mother, and Juan Sotomayor, brother, Las Vegas. It will take time but I promise you, I of Supreme Court Associate Justice-designate promise you, I’ll always tell you the truth about Sotomayor. The transcript was released by the the challenges we face. I’ll always tell you the Office of the Press Secretary on May 27. Audio truth about the steps we’re taking to meet was not available for verification of the content them. I will continue to measure my progress of these remarks. Remarks at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada May 27, 2009 Thank you so much. Everybody please have a mainly I want to thank all of you, the men and seat. Thank you so much. I’ve got some special women in uniform, for your service to our coun- acknowledgments that I have to make. First of try. We’re grateful to you. Thank you. all, we’ve got some members of the congressio- I just spoke to a handful of your commanders nal delegation Nevada who are doing outstand- here. I know some are about to be deployed to ing jobs not only for Nevada but also for the Iraq and Afghanistan, many have just come men and women in uniform. And so please give back. The fact that you serve each and every day a warm welcome to Congresswoman Shelley to keep us safe is something that every Ameri- Berkley, Congresswoman Dina Titus. And can is grateful for. And so if I don’t do anything we’re in his district, he couldn’t be here, but else as your Commander in Chief, I’m going to Congressman Dean Heller, please give him a make sure that we’re there for you just as you’ve big round of applause. been there for us. So thank you very much. I also want to thank the State controller, Kim Finally, let me acknowledge Senator Harry Wallin, for her great work; the Nevada secretary Reid, not just for the generous introduction, not of State, Ross Miller; Nevada State treasurer, only because he’s been a great friend, not only Kate Marshall. I want to thank the Brigadier because he’s been an outstanding Majority General, Stanley Kresge, for the wonderful, Leader, but also because of everything that he’s outstanding work that he does, as well as Colo- done for the people of Nevada and for the nel Dave Belote, who just gave me an outstand- armed services. He is somebody who has never ing tour of the solar panel facility out here. But forgotten his roots. After all these years, he still 721 May 27 / Administration of Barack Obama, 2009 brings the voices and values of Searchlight, covery Act through Congress with the skill and Nevada to the Nation’s most important de- tenacity and urgency of somebody who knows bates in Washington, DC, and we are better the struggles that millions of people are going off because he does. So please give Harry Reid through, we would have not gotten it done. So a big round of applause. I am eternally grateful to him and the other You know, it’s always a pleasure to get out of members of the congressional delegation for Washington a little bit. Washington is okay, helping to pass this plan. but it’s nice taking some time to talk to Ameri- And 100 days later, we’re already seeing re- cans of every walk of life outside of the Na- sults. And today we’re releasing a report that tion’s Capital. And there’s nothing like a quick details the progress that we’ve made in every trip to Vegas in the middle of the week. Like region of the country. In these last few millions of other Americans, we come to this months, the American Recovery and Reinvest- beautiful city for the sights and for the sounds. ment Act has saved or created nearly 150,000 And today we come for the sun, because right jobs, jobs building solar panels and wind tur- now, we’re standing near the largest solar elec- bines, making homes and buildings more en- tric plant of its kind in the entire Western ergy efficient. They’re the jobs of teachers and Hemisphere—the entire Western Hemi- police officers and nurses who have not been sphere. More than 72,000 solar panels built on laid off as a consequence of this Recovery Act. part of an old landfill provide 25 percent of the They’re the jobs fixing roads and bridges, jobs electricity for the 12,000 people who live and at startups and small businesses, and jobs that work here at Nellis, that’s the equivalent of will put thousands of young Americans to work powering about 13,200 homes during the day. this summer. It’s a project that took about half a year to Also in the Recovery Act, by the way, is all complete, created 200 jobs, and will save the sorts of construction taking place on bases just United States Air Force, which is the largest like Nellis to support military families, and I consumer of energy in the Federal Govern- ment, nearly $1 million a year. It will also re- know that that is something that Michelle duce harmful carbon pollution by 24,000 tons Obama has taken a lot of time looking into; per year, which is the equivalent of removing that’s something that I’m spending a lot of 4,000 cars from our roads. And most impor- time thinking about. We want to make sure tantly, this base serves as a shining example of that our bases and our facilities are the best in what’s possible when we harness the power of the world for our best troops. clean, renewable energy to build a new, firmer Ninety-five percent of all working families foundation for economic growth. saw their take-home pay increase because of Now, that’s the kind of foundation we’re the tax cut that we provided in the Recovery trying to build all across America. One hun- Act. Fifty-four million seniors received $250 dred days ago, in the midst of the worst eco- extra in their Social Security checks. Laid-off nomic crisis in half a century, we passed the workers have received greater unemployment most sweeping economic recovery act in histo- benefits and paid less for their health care. For ry, a plan designed to save jobs, create new the thousands of families whose homes have ones, and put money in people’s pockets. It’s a been made more energy efficient, it’s also plan designed not only to revive the economy saved them about $350 on their energy bills. in the short term, but to rebuild the economy Other Americans saved thousands by taking over the long term. It’s a plan that we passed advantage of the tax credits the Recovery Act thanks to the tireless efforts of Harry Reid and has provided for the purchase of a new home, Congresswoman Berkley and Congresswom- or a new fuel-efficient car, or energy efficient an Titus and all the other outstanding public cooling and heating systems, windows, and in- servants in Washington. sulation. And all of this has helped to fuel de- But if it hadn’t been for Harry Reid—be- mand that is helping businesses put more cause the Senate is tough—moving this Re- Americans back to work. 722 Administration of Barack Obama, 2009 / May 27 But this is just the beginning. There are still like Germany and Japan in generating it, even too many Americans out of work and too many though they get less sun than we do.