Nearly six years after the worst financial crisis

of our lifetimes, our businesses have

added nearly 10 million new jobs over the past 53 months.

That's the longest streak of private-sector

job creation in our history.

And we're in a six-month streak with our economy

creating at least 200,000 new jobs each month --

the first time that's happened since 1997.

Thanks to the decisions we made to rescue

and rebuild our economy, and your hard work and resilience,

America is leading again.

Areas like manufacturing, energy, technology,

and autos are all booming.

And here's the thing: we're selling more goods

Made in America to the rest of the world

than ever before.

American exports are at an all-time high.

Over the past five years, we've worked hard

to open new markets for our businesses,

and to help them compete on a level playing field

in those markets.

And we've broken records for exports

four years running.

Last year, our exports supported more than

11 million American jobs - about 1.6 million

more than when I took office.

They're good jobs that typically

pay about 15% more than the national average.

And more small businesses are selling their goods

abroad than ever before -- nearly

300,000 last year alone.

We should be doing everything

we can to accelerate this progress, not stall it.

One place to start is by supporting

something called

the U.S. Export-Import Bank.

Its sole mission is to create American jobs.

That's it.

It helps many American entrepreneurs take that

next step and take their small business global.

But next month, its charter will expire --

unless Members of Congress do their

job and reauthorize it.

Now, past Congresses have done this 16 times,

always with support from both parties.

Republican and Democratic Presidents

have supported the bank, too.

This time around shouldn't be any different.

Because the bank works.

It's independent.

It pays for itself.

But if Congress fails to act, thousands

of businesses, large and small,

that sell their products abroad will take

a completely unnecessary hit.

Small business owners have had to overcome

a lot these past several years.

We all saw local businesses close their

doors during the crisis.

And in the past few years, we've seen more

and more open their doors and do their part to help

lead America's comeback.

At the very least, they deserve a Congress

that doesn't stand in the way of their success.

Your members of Congress are home this month.

If you're a small business owner or employee

of a large business that depends on financing

to tackle new markets and create new jobs,

tell them to quit treating your business

like it's expendable, and start treating

it for what it is: vital to America's success.

Tell them to do their jobs -- keep America's

exports growing, and keep America's recovery going.

Thanks, and have a great weekend.