“Congress hasn’t acted on enough of the other ideas in that bill that would make a difference and help create jobs right now. And there’s no excuse for that. Not when so many people are looking for work. Not when so many people are struggling to pay the bills,” Obama said. “So my message to Congress is, get to work.”

Obama said lawmakers should pass federal aid to state governments, surface transportation reauthorization legislation and a small business tax break. The president also said Congress should extend a clean energy tax credit and end tax breaks for companies that move U.S. jobs overseas, among other items.

Republicans argue that the GOP-controlled House has done its work by passing a series of jobs bills that are stalled in the Democrat-controlled Senate.