My fellow Americans,

It's a long-standing tradition for the sitting president of the United States to leave a parting letter in the Oval Office for the American elected to take his or her place. It's a letter meant to share what we know, what we've learned, and what small wisdom may help our successor bear the great responsibility that comes with the highest office in our land, and the leadership of the free world.

But before I leave my note for our 45th president, I wanted to say one final thank you for the honor of serving as your 44th. Because all that I've learned in my time in office, I've learned from you. You made me a better President, and you made me a better man.

Throughout these eight years, you have been the source of goodness, resilience, and hope from which I've pulled strength. I've seen neighbors and communities take care of each other during the worst economic crisis of our lifetimes. I have mourned with grieving families searching for answers -- and found grace in a Charleston church.

I've taken heart from the hope of young graduates and our newest military officers. I've seen our scientists help a paralyzed man regain his sense of touch, and wounded warriors once given up for dead walk again. I've seen Americans whose lives have been saved because they finally have access to medical care, and families whose lives have been changed because their marriages are recognized as equal to our own. I've seen the youngest of children remind us through their actions and through their generosity of our obligations to care for refugees, or work for peace, and, above all, to look out for each other.

I've seen you, the American people, in all your decency, determination, good humor, and kindness. And in your daily acts of citizenship, I've seen our future unfolding.

All of us, regardless of party, should throw ourselves into that work -- the joyous work of citizenship. Not just when there's an election, not just when our own narrow interest is at stake, but over the full span of a lifetime.

I'll be right there with you every step of the way.

And when the arc of progress seems slow, remember: America is not the project of any one person. The single most powerful word in our democracy is the word 'We.' 'We the People.' 'We shall overcome.'

Yes, we can.

And if you'd like to stay connected, you can sign up here to keeping getting updates from me.

In 1796, as George Washington set the precedent for a peaceful, democratic transfer of power, he also set a precedent by penning a farewell address to the American people. And over the 220 years since, many American presidents have followed his lead.

On Tuesday, January 10, I'll go home to Chicago to say my grateful farewell to you, even if you can't be there in person.

I'm just beginning to write my remarks. But I'm thinking about them as a chance to say thank you for this amazing journey, to celebrate the ways you've changed this country for the better these past eight years, and to offer some thoughts on where we all go from here.

Since 2009, we've faced our fair share of challenges, and come through them stronger. That's because we have never let go of a belief that has guided us ever since our founding—our conviction that, together, we can change this country for the better.

So I hope you'll join me one last time.

Because, for me, it's always been about you.

President Barack Obama

The Farewell Address

Over the past eight years, we've made incredible progress in our economic recovery. Our businesses have created more than 15 million new jobs since early 2010. Twenty million people now have the security of health coverage thanks to the Affordable Care Act. Together, we've turned around an economy in freefall and put it on a stronger, more durable course.

And last week, we got even more great news: the policies we've put in place since the recession have started to pay off in real ways for American families. Take a look at these charts:

Last year, across every race and age group in America, incomes rose and the poverty rate fell. Folks’ typical household incomes rose by about $2,800 -- which is the fastest rate on record. The good news is that it went up for everybody, with folks at the middle and bottom of incomes seeing the largest gains, and folks at the very top seeing the smallest gains.

By so many measures, our country is stronger and more prosperous than it was eight years ago.   
 

We lifted 3.5 million people out of poverty, including one million children – the largest one-year drop in almost 50 years. Poverty went down across all racial and ethnic groups. 
 
Now, we know that inequality is still too high. We know that a lot of folks still feel like they're treading water. There's still so much more we could do to grow the economy,  get wages rising faster, and slow the trend of inequality that's been on the rise for decades. That's why I've called on Congress to raise the minimum wage high enough so that if somebody is working full time, they're not living in poverty. It's why I've called for investments in clean energy and infrastructure to create more secure, good-paying jobs.  

So we’re not done yet. We plan to sprint through the tape to keep building an economy where all working Americans and their families can have a fair shot at opportunity and security. This has been my goal since day one as your President -- and it's what I'll continue fighting for as long as I'm in office.

President Barack Obama

My journey to the White House began as a community organizer in a poor neighborhood on the South Side of Chicago, working with people to help improve their lives.

An organizer’s work comes with little sleep, little pay, and a lot of sacrifice. There are many days of disappointment. But there are also days when you see real change. A family that can afford to see a doctor. A teacher who sparks a student’s love of learning. A neighborhood that’s a little healthier and safer for our children. Successes like these taught me about the power and importance of ordinary people coming together to create a better vision — their own vision — for the future.

This lesson — that real change starts from the ground up — has driven my work as President. So over the past seven years, we’ve worked to develop a new, smarter, more collaborative approach to how the federal government engages with local communities. We’ve put citizens, community groups, and local leaders at the center of our efforts. We’ve streamlined and targeted federal resources to get folks the support they need. And we’re using data to learn from our efforts and share what works.

Today, we’re partnering closely with more than 1,800 communities across the country, bringing federal and local government together with nonprofits, businesses, and community residents to boost opportunity for more Americans. And in 2014 we launched what we call Promise Zones. They’re communities that develop a holistic plan to ensure that every child’s course in life is determined not by the zip code she’s born in, but by the scope of her dreams. To date, 13 urban, rural, and tribal poverty communities have been designated Promise Zones, where the federal government is working hand-in-hand with local community leaders to create jobs, increase graduation rates, build more affordable housing, reduce violent crime in our neighborhoods, and much more.

And it’s working.

In Los Angeles, thanks to our investments, especially in science, technology, engineering, and math education, more high school students growing up in poverty are prepared to succeed in college.

In San Antonio, the community expanded early learning programs, and implemented free job training and certifications in fields like nursing, manufacturing, and information technology.

In Southeast Kentucky, one high school saw its graduation rate soar from 67 to 99 percent, thanks to ongoing community efforts and leadership, a new education plan, and support from AmeriCorps VISTA service members.

So today, we’re announcing the third and final round of nine new Promise Zone designations. Congratulations to Nashville, South Los Angeles, Atlanta, Evansville, San Diego, Spokane Tribe of Indians in Washington, Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians, North Dakota, Southwest Florida, and Puerto Rico’s Ceiba, Fajardo, and Naguado Municipalities. Each of these Promise Zones is prepared to do what it takes to strengthen their communities and lift people’s lives. And we’re going to be your partner every step of the way.

This is what it looks like when we come together, look out for one another, and roll up our sleeves to do the hard work of change. That’s when America is at our best. And that’s how we’ll ensure that all of our children have the opportunity to achieve their dreams.

Earlier this spring, I met with a group of individuals whose sentences were commuted either by President Bush, President Clinton, or myself. They were all at different stages of a new chapter in their lives, but each of their stories was extraordinary.

Take Phillip Emmert. When he was 27, Phillip made a mistake. He was arrested and convicted for distributing methamphetamines and received a 27-year sentence. So, by the time he was released, he’d have spent half his life behind bars.

Unfortunately, while in prison, his wife was paralyzed in an accident. So while he was in prison, Phil learned everything he could about fixing heating and air conditioning systems — so he could support his wife when he got out. And after his sentence was commuted by President Bush, he was able to do just that. Today, he’s gainfully employed. He’s a caregiver for his wife, an active father, and a leader in his community.

Like so many nonviolent offenders serving unduly harsh sentences, Phillip is not a hardened criminal. He’s taken responsibility for his mistakes. And he’s worked hard to earn a second chance.

Today, I commuted the sentences of an additional 58 individuals just as deserving as Phillip — individuals who can look to him as inspiration for what is possible in their lives.
As President, I’ve been working to bring about a more effective approach to our criminal justice system, particularly when it comes to drug crimes. Part of that effort has been to reinvigorate our commutations process, and highlight the individuals like Philip who are doing extraordinary things with their second chances. To date, I will have commuted 306 individual sentences, which is more than the previous six presidents combined.

While I will continue to review clemency applications, only Congress can bring about the lasting changes we need to federal sentencing. That is why I am encouraged by the bipartisan efforts in Congress to reform federal sentencing laws, particularly on overly harsh mandatory minimum sentences for nonviolent drug offenses. Because it just doesn’t make sense to require a nonviolent drug offender to serve 20 years, or in some cases, life, in prison. An excessive punishment like that doesn’t fit the crime. It’s not serving taxpayers, and it’s not making us safer.

As a country, we have to make sure that those who take responsibility for their mistakes are able to transition back to their communities. It’s the right thing to do. It’s the smart thing to do. And it’s something I will keep working to do as long as I hold this office.

Read the stories of three former clemency recipients who are making the most of their second chances:

Norman Brown

Ramona Brant

Phillip Emmert

​

Read more about how President Obama is taking action on criminal justice reform.

Ed.: The following is crossposted from Medium. 

When we have a level playing field, Americans out-compete anyone in the world. That’s a fundamental truth about our country.

But right now, the rules of global trade put our workers, our businesses, and our values at a disadvantage.

If you’re an autoworker in Michigan, the cars you build face taxes as high as 70 percent in Vietnam. If you’re a worker in Oregon, you’re forced to compete against workers in other countries that set lower standards and pay lower wages just to cut their costs. If you’re a small business owner in Ohio, you might face customs rules that are confusing, costly, and an unnecessary barrier to selling abroad.

The Trans-Pacific Partnership will change that -- and you can read the complete text of it right here.

The TPP is the highest standard trade agreement in history. It eliminates 18,000 taxes that various countries put on American goods. That will boost Made-in-America exports abroad while supporting higher-paying jobs right here at home. And that’s going to help our economy grow.

I know that past trade agreements haven’t always lived up to the hype. So I want to tell you a little bit about what makes this trade agreement so different, and so important.

The TPP includes the strongest labor standards in history, from requiring a minimum wage and worker safety regulations to prohibiting child labor and forced labor. It also includes the strongest environmental commitments in history, requiring countries in one of the most biologically diverse areas on Earth to crack down on illegal wildlife trafficking, illegal logging, and illegal fishing. These standards are at the core of the agreement and are fully enforceable -- which means we can bring trade sanctions against countries that don’t step up their game.

And for the first time ever, we’ll have a multilateral trade agreement that reflects the reality of the digital economy by promoting a free and open Internet and by preventing unfair laws that restrict the free flow of data and information.

In other words, the TPP means that America will write the rules of the road in the 21st century. When it comes to Asia, one of the world’s fastest-growing regions, the rulebook is up for grabs. And if we don’t pass this agreement -- if America doesn’t write those rules -- then countries like China will. And that would only threaten American jobs and workers and undermine American leadership around the world.

That’s why I am posting the text of this agreement here for you to read and explore.

There’s a lot in here, so we’ve put together summaries of each chapter to help you navigate what’s in the agreement and what these new standards will mean for you.

Read it all in full right here.

I know that if you take a look at what’s actually in the TPP, you will see that this is, in fact, a new type of trade deal that puts American workers first.

Take a look. Then make up your mind.

If you’re like most parents, here’s what I suspect you wouldn’t want your children to be doing with their extra time in the classroom: Taking more standardized tests. I certainly wouldn’t want that for my girls.

In moderation, I believe smart, strategic tests can help us measure our kids’ progress in school. As a parent, I want to know how my kids are doing, and I want their teachers to know that, too. As President, I want to hold all of us accountable for making sure every child, everywhere, is learning what he or she needs to be successful.

But when I look back on the great teachers who shaped my life, what I remember isn’t the way they prepared me to take a standardized test. What I remember is the way they taught me to believe in myself. To be curious about the world. To take charge of my own learning so that I could reach my full potential. They inspired me to open up a window into parts of the world I’d never thought of before.

These aren’t the kinds of things you can easily measure by filling in the right bubble. In letters, emails, and conversations around the country, I’ve heard from parents who worry that too much testing is keeping their kids from learning some of life’s most important lessons. I’ve heard from teachers who feel so much pressure to teach to a test that it takes the joy out of teaching and learning, both for them and for the students. I want to fix that.

I’ve asked the Department of Education to work aggressively with states and school districts to make sure that any tests we use in our classroom meet three basic principles.

First, our kids should only take tests that are worth taking – tests that are high quality, aimed at good instruction, and make sure everyone is on track.

Second, tests shouldn’t occupy too much classroom time, or crowd out teaching and learning.

And third, tests should be just one source of information. We should use classroom work, surveys, and other factors to give us an all-around look at how our students and schools are doing.

You can learn more in our new Testing Action Plan.

The Council of the Great City Schools – a group of the nation’s largest urban public school systems – recently released a new report that surveyed standardized testing in our schools and found that the average student in some school systems are taking 112 standardized tests before high school graduation. The report shows how much opportunity there is to eliminate redundant and uncoordinated tests — and free up more classroom time for teaching and learning. You can take a look at that here.

We’re going to work with states, school districts, teachers, and parents to make sure the principles I outlined are reflected in classrooms across our country – and together, we’re going to help prepare our kids for a lifetime of success.

If you’ve got thoughts on this topic, I want to hear them.  Share them here

Ed. note: This is cross-posted on Medium.

The right to vote is one of the most fundamental rights of any democracy.

Fifty years ago today, because of the sacrifice of countless men and women, that right was secured for more Americans.

On August 6, 1965, President Lyndon Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act into law — breaking down legal barriers at the state and local level that had prevented African Americans and others from exercising their constitutional right to vote.

Because of that law — one of our nation's most influential pieces of legislation — Americans who were previously disenfranchised and left out of the democratic process were finally able to cast a ballot. The law was designed to ensure that all American citizens, regardless of the color of their skin, had an equal opportunity to make their voices heard.

But that law didn’t come to pass because folks suddenly decided it was the right thing to do.

This past March, I had the honor of traveling to Selma, Alabama for the 50th anniversary of the “Bloody Sunday” march from Selma to Montgomery. Those who marched over the course of those five days in 1965 were fighting to ensure that African Americans could exercise their right to vote under the 15th Amendment of our Constitution. They were marching in the face of a segregationist system that wanted to deny them that right. 

And on one afternoon, two visions of America met on the Edmund Pettus Bridge. Those nonviolent marchers, representing the idea that all men and women are created equal and deserved to be treated as such, stared into the faces of those who represented a South that stood for the racial segregation and oppression of Jim Crow.

Roughly 600 people stood on the right side of history that day — armed only with their faith, and the conviction that we could be better. They were willing to sacrifice their own bodies in order to help bring America closer to its ideals of equality and justice for all.

Men and women were bloodied on that bridge. Bones were broken on that bridge. And because of the sacrifices made there, their vision — of a just America, a more fair America, a more equal America — ultimately triumphed. We made ourselves a more perfect union.

Today, each time we walk to the polls to cast a ballot, we cannot forget the heroes that helped make that possible for all of us. Jimmie Lee Jackson. John Lewis. C.T. Vivian. Joseph Lowery. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. And so many others whose names aren’t known to history — ordinary citizens who made extraordinary sacrifices in order to ensure that all of our voices could be heard.

We owe them a great debt. I am certain I wouldn’t be where I am today without their sacrifices.

But as John Lewis said on that bridge when we commemorated the 50th anniversary of that day this past March, “There’s still work to be done.”

Fifty years ago, registering to vote across much of the South meant guessing the number of jellybeans in a jar or bubbles on a bar of soap. And while the Voting Rights Act broke down many of the formal and more ridiculous barriers to voting, today — in 2015 — there are still too many barriers to the vote, and too many people trying to erect new barriers to the vote. They’re even written into the code of law in some parts of our country — provisions specifically designed to make it harder for some people to vote.

Laws that roll back early voting. Laws with restrictive photo ID requirements. Laws that lead to improper purges of voter rolls.

What’s more, we’ve seen steps to weaken the Voting Rights Act itself. Two years ago, in the case of Shelby County v. Holder, the Supreme Court struck down a key part of the law, which has allowed a number of states to change their voting laws without having to comply with the important procedural protections put in place to safeguard against discrimination.

I've therefore called on Congress to restore the Voting Rights Act. We must work to ensure every American has equal access to the polls.

Across the country, there are people coming together around this issue. Right now, for instance, the NAACP is mobilizing activists for a 40-day march from Selma all the way to Washington, D.C. in support of a number of issues — one of which is “uncorrupted and unfettered access to the ballot box.”

There’s still work for us to do.

Now, as shameful as it is that laws are being designed to keep people away from the polls, here’s something just as troubling — if not worse:

Among those of us who can vote, far too many of us choose not to.

After that Supreme Court decision, Congressman Lewis told the country in stark terms what that vote meant to him.

“The vote is precious,” he said that day. “It is almost sacred. It’s the most powerful nonviolent tool we have in a democratic society, and we’ve got to use it.”

When we sit at home on Election Day, we give away our power. We give away our voice. We give away our ability to help shape the future of our communities and this country we love.

There is no possible excuse for it.

It may be easy to look at Washington these days and feel frustrated with the pace of change, and to lose hope in the political process as a result. But we can't give in to that cynicism. Because our government — our democracy — is us. It’s only as good as the people we elect. It only reflects our will when we exercise it.

It would have been easy for those marchers 50 years ago to accept things as they were, to stay in the place they were made to believe they belonged, to succumb to the idea that change was not possible.

What they knew and what we need to remember today is this: Change doesn't come easy, and it doesn’t happen overnight. You have to fight for it.

Our country changed for the better because those marchers chose to do the hard thing. They chose to fight for it. They risked bodily harm for it. And each day, they woke up and picked up that work again.

Today, we don’t just do ourselves — and this country — a disservice when we choose not to exercise that fundamental right. We dishonor those who fought so hard to give us that right in the first place.

All of us have to play a part as citizens. If you run a business, you can make a commitment to give your workers time off to vote. You can use your time to volunteer to help register new voters.

And at the very least, you can get out there and vote.

Every day, we carry on the work of making this union a little more perfect for the next generation. And this fight is just as important now as it ever has been.

President Barack Obama, with Vice President Joe Biden, delivers a statement on the Iran nuclear agreement in the East Room of the White House, July 14, 2015. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

This morning, the President sent the following message to the White House email list, explaining the details of today's historic nuclear deal with Iran and how it will make our country, our allies, and the world safer and more secure. 

Watch the highlights from his speech today -- then read his email below:

Didn't get the President's message? Sign up for email updates here. 

Today, after two years of negotiations, the United States -- together with our international partners -- has achieved what decades of animosity has not:

A comprehensive, long-term deal that will verifiably prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

This deal shows the real and meaningful change that American leadership and diplomacy can bring -- change that makes our country and the world safer and more secure.

We negotiated from a position of strength and principle -- and the result is a nuclear deal that cuts off every pathway to a nuclear weapon.

I want to make sure every American knows what this deal means and how it works. Take a look here.

Because of this deal, Iran will not be able to produce highly enriched uranium or weapons-grade plutonium, the raw materials necessary to build a bomb. Here's why:

Under this deal, Iran will reduce its stockpile of enriched uranium by 98 percent, remove two-thirds of its installed centrifuges -- the machines necessary to produce highly enriched uranium -- and store them under constant international supervision.

To put that in perspective, Iran currently has a stockpile that could produce up to 10 nuclear weapons. Now, its uranium stockpile will be reduced to a fraction of what would be required for a single weapon.

Under this deal, Iran will modify its nuclear reactor in Arak so it cannot produce weapons-grade plutonium -- and all spent fuel from the reactor will be shipped out of the country indefinitely.

This deal is not built on trust -- it's built on verification. Under this deal, we will, for the first time, be in a position to verify that Iran is meeting all of these commitments. International nuclear inspectors will have access to Iran's nuclear program -- where necessary, when necessary. This is the most comprehensive and intrusive verification regime that we have ever negotiated. If Iran tries to divert raw materials to covert facilities, inspectors will be able to access any suspicious locations.

As Iran implements this deal, it will receive gradual relief from sanctions. If it violates any aspect of this deal, sanctions that have crippled Iran's economy will snap back into place.

Learn more, and get additional context, right here.

That's the deal.

It has the full backing of the international community. Without it, there'd be no agreed-upon limitations on Iran's nuclear program and other countries would feel more compelled to pursue their own programs, threatening a nuclear arms race in the most volatile region of the world.

Put simply: No deal means a greater chance of more war in the Middle East.

That is why it would be irresponsible to walk away from this deal. Moving forward, I welcome a robust debate in Congress on the details of this deal. As Commander-in-Chief, I am confident that this deal will meet the national security interests of the U.S. and our allies. So I will veto any legislation that prevents the successful implementation of this deal.

Our differences with Iran are real, and the difficult history between our nations cannot be ignored. But it is possible to change. The path of violence and rigid ideology; a foreign policy based on threats to attack your neighbors or eradicate Israel -- is a dead end. A different path -- one of tolerance, and peaceful resolution of conflict -- leads to more integration into the global economy, more engagement with the international community, and the ability of the Iranian people to prosper and thrive. This deal offers an opportunity to move in a new direction.

We should seize it.

Thank you,

President Barack Obama

Learn more about today's decision, and about the history of health care in America.

On March 23, 2010, I sat down at a table in the East Room of the White House and signed my name on a law that said, once and for all, that health care would no longer be a privilege for a few. It would be a right for everyone.

Five years later, after more than 50 votes in Congress to repeal or weaken this law and multiple challenges before the Supreme Court, here is what we know today:

This law worked. It's still working. It has changed and saved American lives. It has set this country on a smarter, stronger course.

And it's here to stay.

If that means something to you today, add your voice here.

This morning, the Supreme Court upheld one of the most critical parts of health reform -- the part that has made it easier for Americans to afford health insurance, no matter where you live.

If the challenges to this law had succeeded, millions would have had thousands of dollars in tax credits taken away. Insurance would have once again become unaffordable for many Americans. Many would have even become uninsured again. Ultimately, everyone's premiums could have gone up.

Because of this law, and because of today's decision, millions of Americans will continue to receive the tax credits that have given about 8 in 10 people who buy insurance on the new Health Insurance Marketplaces the choice of a health care plan that costs less than $100 a month.

If you're a parent, you can keep your kids on your plan until they turn 26 -- something that has covered millions of young people so far. That's because of this law. If you're a senior, or have a disability, this law gives you discounts on your prescriptions -- something that has saved 9 million Americans an average of $1,600 so far. If you're a woman, you can't be charged more than anybody else -- even if you've had cancer, or your husband had heart disease, or just because you're a woman. Your insurer has to offer free preventive services like mammograms. They can't place annual or lifetime caps on your care.

And when it comes to preexisting conditions -- someday, our grandkids will ask us if there was really a time when America discriminated against people who got sick. Because that's something this law has ended for good.

Five years in and more than 16 million insured Americans later, this is no longer just about a law. This isn't just about the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare.

This is health care in America.

Today is a victory for every American whose life will continue to become more secure because of this law. And 20, 30, 50 years from now, most Americans may not know what "Obamacare" is. And that's okay. That's the point.

Because today, this reform remains what it always has been -- a set of fairer rules and tougher protections that have made health care in America more affordable, more attainable, and more about you.

That's who we are as Americans. We look out for one another. We take care of each other. We root for one another's success. We strive to do better, to be better, than the generation before us, and we try to build something better for the generation that comes behind us.

And today, with this behind us, let's come together and keep building something better. That starts right now.

Learn more about the history of health care in America here -- and make sure to tune in tomorrow at 11:45 a.m. ET to watch the President's remarks on health care.

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On a day in early September of 2009, I received the following letter from Senator Edward Kennedy.

He'd written in May of that year, shortly after he learned that his illness was terminal. He asked that it be delivered to me upon his death.

It is a letter about the cause of his career -- what he called "that great unfinished business of our society" -- health care reform.

"What we face," he writes, "is above all a moral issue; that at stake are not just the details of policy, but fundamental principles of social justice and the character of our country."

Senator Kennedy never stopped asking what he could do for his country. Today, tens of millions of Americans are better for it.

And while Teddy didn't live to see his life's work signed into law, more than five years after its passage, the spirit of his words ring true. This is, fundamentally, about the character of our country. Doing right by one another.

It's who we are.

Tomorrow, I will deliver remarks about health care in America. Get a history of where we've been, and let me know you'll be watching.

Thank you,

President Barack Obama