President Barack Obama is thanking lawmakers -- and Republicans especially -- for their help sending him a jobs bill.

The Senate passed the bill on Wednesday with 11 Republican votes. It contains about $18 billion in tax breaks and a $20 billion infusion of cash into highway and transit programs.

President Obama told reporters that the bill marks the beginning of Congress' efforts to put the unemployed back to work.

President Obama spoke in the Oval Office on Wednesday after a meeting with Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen. He said he looked forward to bipartisan support on other measures in Congress.