Shake Shack Washington, D.C.

12:12 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT: Let me say something to these folks real quick so we can eat our burgers in peace. And excuse me, my voice is a little hoarse -- I had a cold at the beginning of the week. In addition to coming to Shake Shack -- which has great burgers and pays its employees over 10 bucks an hour, so were very proud of them and the great work that theyre doing -- weve been talking a lot all across the country about the importance of raising the minimum wage. These four individuals just completed a project here in D.C. - an infrastructure project that put a lot of folks to work, it is going to make the economy move better, traffic move better. And as you know, earlier this week, both Joe and I highlighted the fact that were fast-tracking projects all across the country.

One of the things that we could do right now to put more Americans back to work is to fund our transportation more effectively and more consistently. And if Congress does not act, then by the end of this summer, we could have hundreds of thousands of projects like this all across the country stop. And people whose livelihoods depend on those projects sent home. And businesses that need improved infrastructure suffering under downgraded infrastructure.

So it is a no-brainer for Congress to do what its supposed to do: Pass transportation funding. We can do it without adding to the deficit simply by getting rid of some corporate tax loopholes that arent creating jobs and are basically giveaways to folks who dont need them. And when people -- when you ask Americans from all walks of life all across the country whats their number one priority, its improving the economy and putting people back to work. And one of the best ways we can do it is to do something about the roads, the bridges, the ports, the airports, the sewer lines all across the country that need repair.

We know were going to have to do it. This is like deferred maintenance on your house. If youve got to do some tuck-pointing to fix the roof or fix the boiler, theres no point in putting it off. Now is the time to do it, and weve got outstanding contractors and workers ready to work. So I hope Congress gets working, and Im prepared to work with anybody on a bipartisan basis to get it done.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Mr. President, for 40 years its been a bipartisan notion.

THE PRESIDENT: Right.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: For 40 years. This is the first time -- Ive been hanging around and its like, oh, infrastructure.

THE PRESIDENT: This shouldnt be Democrat or Republican. This is American. Weve got to rebuild America. And these are folks who are doing it.

So thank you very much, everybody. Enjoy your burgers if you guys are buying them.

END 12:14 P.M. EDT