Obama wants to make public buildings more energy-efficient; repair roads and bridges; modernize schools; increase broadband access; and ensure health care uses the latest technology.
"Our government now pays the highest energy bill in the world," he said in the weekly Democratic Radio Address.
"We need to upgrade our federal buildings by replacing old heating systems and installing efficient light bulbs. That won't just save you, the American taxpayer, billions of dollars each year. It will put people back to work."
In addition, he said, "It is unacceptable that the United States ranks 15th in the world in broadband adoption. Here, in the country that invented the Internet, every child should have the chance to get online."
"In addition to connecting our libraries and schools to the Internet, we must also ensure that our hospitals are connected to each other through the Internet."
"These are a few parts of the economic recovery plan that I will be rolling out in the coming weeks. When Congress reconvenes in January, I look forward to working with them to pass a plan immediately.
"We won't do it the old Washington way. We won't just throw money at the problem.
"We'll measure progress by the reforms we make and the results we achieve -- by the jobs we create, by the energy we save, by whether America is more competitive in the world," Obama added.
On Friday, the Department of Labor released a report showing the economy shed 533,000 jobs in November -- the largest monthly job loss since December 1974. For the year, job losses now stand at 1.9 million.
The unemployment rate rose to 6.7 percent in November, up from 6.5 percent in October. It is the highest unemployment rate since October 1993.
The report came out as Congress and the White House wrestled with financial bailout requests from the Big Three automakers -- Ford Motor Company (F, Fortune 500), General Motors (GM, Fortune 500) and Chrysler -- whose top executives testified this week on Capitol Hill.
Obama asked Americans to "rise to the moment" to put his plans in place, and said his economic recovery team is working on his proposals.
"We need action -- and action now," he said.
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