U.S. President Barack Obama is urging Congress to pass his $447 billion proposal aimed at creating jobs and averting fears of another recession in the world’s biggest economy.

At the White House, the president said he is sending the legislation to Congress Monday and that lawmakers should pass it immediately — without delay or politics.

He said the legislation would cut taxes for small businesses and middle-class workers, help teachers, police officers and veterans, and fund projects to employ construction workers. He said it also includes initiatives to put people to work repairing and modernizing roads and at least 35,000 schools.

Mr. Obama introduced the “American Jobs Act” late last week in an address to both houses of Congress.

The president has said he will also propose a deficit reduction plan that will explain how his administration plans to cover the cost of the jobs bill.

Critics say the legislation amounts to another “economic stimulus” package that would further add to the nation’s growing debt. But the president said Monday the jobs bill is fully paid for and would not add to the federal debt.

The president will head to the states of Ohio and North Carolina promoting the bill later in the week.

Recent U.S. government figures have shown job creation at a standstill, as concerns grow about the possibility of a second recession.

The U.S. unemployment rate stands at 9.1 percent. About 14 million workers are unemployed and millions more are working part-time or in jobs they consider below their skill level.