U.S. President Barack Obama called again for Congress to pass his jobs creation plan, as he spoke to students Friday at a science and technology high school outside Washington, D.C.

In remarks made before signing a bill on patent reform, Mr. Obama called on Congress to pass the American Jobs Act and send it to the White House “right away.”

He also invited his student audience to read the jobs bill on the White House website .

Mr. Obama has been traveling across the country promoting his $447 billion proposal. He says it will boost the struggling U.S. economy by helping small businesses and creating nearly 2 million jobs. He says it will put construction workers and teachers back to work.

House Speaker John Boehner dismissed Mr. Obama’s plan Thursday during a speech before the Economic Club of Washington. Boehner said excessive regulation, government spending and the current tax code threaten job creation.

But despite widespread Republican opposition, Boehner said there are opportunities within the president’s proposal for common ground.

The White House says it will fully pay for the jobs package, stabilize the deficit and debt over 10 years, and go beyond the $1.5 trillion target of additional savings that a joint congressional committee must achieve.

President Obama will announce a long-term deficit and debt-reduction plan next week.

Unemployment in the United States is hovering at about nine percent.