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    January 21, 2012

Obama: Tourism Will Boost US Economy

   VOA News

   U.S. President Barack Obama is urging Congress and the country to back
   his new initiative to boost tourism, which he says will create jobs.
   During his weekly address Saturday, Obama said he wants to make it
   easier for visitors to come and spend money in America.

   IFRAME: [1]http://www.youtube.com/embed/0SaVqB0w718

   The president is proposing to speed up immigration screening at
   airports for frequent travelers, process visas quicker for countries
   with growing middle classes such as China and Brazil, and expand the
   number of countries where visitors qualify for pre-clearance by the
   Homeland Security Department.
   President Obama says he has taken steps to improve the economy after
   Congress earlier failed to embrace his initiatives.
   The president says he will outline a blueprint of his call for action
   during his State of the Union address Tuesday.

   In the Republican weekly address, Jeb Hensarling of Texas said that
   President Obama's policies have failed the American people. He
   criticized the nation's high unemployment, gas prices, and national
   debt during Mr. Obama's term in office.
   Hensarling also cited the Canada-to-Gulf-of-Mexico pipeline project
   that the administration blocked this week, which he says could have
   created 20,000 jobs.

   IFRAME: [2]http://www.youtube.com/embed/4pouBhMinY8

   Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

References

   1. http://www.youtube.com/embed/0SaVqB0w718
   2. http://www.youtube.com/embed/4pouBhMinY8