Remarks by the President on the Veterans Job Corps

Fire Station #5
Arlington, Virginia

11:30 A.M. EST

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you!  Thank you, guys.  (Applause.) Thank you so much.  Everybody, please have a seat.  Well, good morning, everybody.

AUDIENCE:  Good morning!

THE PRESIDENT:  Jacob, thank you for that introduction.  More importantly, thank you for your extraordinary service to our country.

I want to acknowledge two outstanding members of my Cabinet who are here today -- Secretary of Veterans Affairs Ric Shinseki is in the house, also one of our finest -- (applause) -- himself, one of our finest veterans and obviously an extraordinary leader when he was in our Army.  And I also want to acknowledge Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, who's in the house.  (Applause.)  

And we’re joined by another president -- the International Association of Firefighters president, Harold Schaitberger, is here.  (Applause.)

Now, this is a fire station that holds some special significance for our country.  On September 11th, the firefighters of this house were among the first to respond to the attack on the Pentagon.  You guys answered this nation’s call during its hour of need.  And in the years that followed, as Americans went to war, some of you answered that call as well.

Today’s 9/11 generation of veterans has already earned a special place in our history.  Our veterans -- and all the brave men and women who serve our country -- are the reason why America’s military is the greatest in the history of the world.  In the face of great odds and grave danger, they get the job done.  They work as a team.  They personify the very best that America has to offer.

That’s true on the battlefront.  But we’re here today because it's also true on the home front.  After a decade of war, our nation needs to do some building right here in the United States of America.

Now, this morning, we received more good news about our economy.  In January, American businesses added another 257,000 jobs.  The unemployment rate came down because more people found work.  And altogether, we’ve added 3.7 million new jobs over the last 23 months.   

Now, these numbers will go up and down in the coming months, and there's still far too many Americans who need a job, or need a job that pays better than the one they have now.  But the economy is growing stronger.  The recovery is speeding up.  And we've got to do everything in our power to keep it going. 

We can't go back to the policies that led to the recession. And we can't let Washington stand in the way of our recovery.  We want Washington to be helping with the recovery, not making it tougher. 

The most important thing Congress needs to do right now is to stop taxes from going up on 160 million Americans at the end of this month.  They've got to renew the payroll tax cut that they extended only for a couple of months.  They need to pass an extension of the payroll tax cut and unemployment insurance -- and do it without drama, without delay, without linking it to some ideological side issues.  They just need to get it done.  It shouldn't be that complicated.  Now is not the time for self-inflicted wounds to our economy.  Now is the time for action.

So I want to send a clear message to Congress:  Do not slow down the recovery that we're on.  Don't muck it up.  Keep it moving in the right direction.  (Applause.)

Beyond preventing a tax hike, we need to do a lot more to create an economy that’s built to last.  To restore American manufacturing, we need to stop giving tax breaks to companies that ship jobs overseas; give those tax breaks to companies that are investing in plants and equipment and hiring workers right here in the United States of America.  That makes a lot of sense.

To reduce our dependency on foreign oil, we need to stop subsidizing oil companies that are already making record profits, and double down on clean energy, that creates jobs and creates opportunities in new industries but also improves our security, because we're not as dependent on foreign oil. 

To make sure our businesses don’t have to move overseas to find skilled workers, we've got to invest in education, and make sure college is affordable for every hardworking American. 

And -- this is the reason we're here today -- we need to make sure that as our troops return from battle, they can find a job when they get home.  That’s what I want to talk about today. (Applause.)

The war in Iraq is over.  The war in Afghanistan is moving to a new phase -- we're transitioning to Afghan lead.  Over the past decade, nearly 3 million service members have transitioned back to civilian life, and more are joining them every day.

When these men and women come home, they bring unparalleled skills and experience.  Folks like Jacob -- they’ve saved lives in some of the toughest conditions imaginable.  They’ve managed convoys and moved tons of equipment over dangerous terrain.  They’ve tracked millions of dollars of military assets.  They've handled pieces of equipment that are worth tens of millions of dollars.  They do incredible work.  Nobody is more skilled, more precise, more diligent, more disciplined.

Our veterans are some of the most highly trained, highly educated, highly skilled workers that we’ve got.  These are Americans that every business should be competing to attract.  These are the Americans we want to keep serving here at home as we rebuild this country.  So we’re going to do everything we can to make sure that when our troops come home, they come home to new jobs and new opportunities and new ways to serve their country.

Now, this has been a top priority of mine since I came into office.  Already, we’ve helped 600,000 veterans and their family members go back to school on the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill.  We’ve hired over 120,000 veterans to serve in the federal government.  We’ve made it easier for veterans to access all sorts of employment services.  We’ve set up online tools to connect veterans with job openings that match their skills. 

Michelle and Jill Biden have worked with the private sector, with businesses, to secure a pledge of 135,000 jobs for veterans and their families.  And with the support of Democrats and Republicans, we’ve put in place two new tax credits for companies that hire veterans.

So these are all important steps.  We’ve made progress.  But we’ve got to do more.  There’s more we can do.
 
In my State of the Union address, I proposed a new initiative, called the Veterans Jobs Corps, to put veterans back to work protecting and rebuilding America.  And today, we’re laying out the details of this proposal.

First, we want to help communities hire more veterans as cops and firefighters.  You guys have seen what a great job Jacob is doing.  Well, there are a whole bunch of folks like that who could be doing that same outstanding work all across the country. But it’s not that easy these days to get a job at a firehouse.

Over the past few years, tight budgets have forced a lot of states, a lot of local communities to lay off a lot of first responders.  Now, my administration -- when I first came into office, one of the first things we did was, through the Recovery Act, make sure that states and local governments helped -- or got the help that they needed to prevent some of these layoffs.  And thousands of jobs were saved all across the country.

Harold and I were talking as we came over here -- thousands of firefighter jobs were saved because of the actions we took. But budgets are still tight, and that’s a problem we need to fix. Jobs that protect our families and our communities shouldn’t be the first on the chopping block.  They should be one of our highest priorities as a nation. 

Over the past three years, my administration has made it possible for states to keep thousands of first responders on the job.  But today, we’re announcing that communities who make it a priority to recruit veterans will be among the first in line when it comes to getting help from the federal government. 

And I know that’s one of the things, Chief, that you’ve been doing here in Arlington.

So we want to prioritize veterans and we want to help states and local communities hire veterans to firehouses and police stations all across the country.

The second thing we want to do is to connect up to 20,000 veterans with jobs that involve rebuilding local communities or national parks.  That’s why Ken Salazar is here as the Interior Secretary.  He needs some help.  And our veterans are highly qualified to help him.  They’ve already risked their lives defending America.  They should have the opportunity to rebuild America.  We’ve got roads and bridges in and around our national parks in need of repair.  Let’s fix them. 

Of course, Congress needs to fund these projects.  Congress should take the money that we’re no longer spending on war, use half of it to pay down our debt, and use the rest to do some nation-building here at home, to improve the quality of life right here in the United States of America -- (applause) -- and put our veterans to work.  (Applause.) 

So let’s get more cops on the beat.  Let’s gets more rangers in the parks.  Let’s get more firefighters on call.  And, in the process, we’re going to put more veterans back to work.  It’s good for our communities, it’s good for our economy, and it’s good for our country.

And for veterans who want to do something else -- maybe put their leadership skills to use starting a small business -- we’re going to start offering entrepreneurial training to our veterans. We want service members prepared for battle -- and for professional success when they come home.  So we should do all that we can to support our troops and our veterans -- in helping them start a business, in helping them get a foothold in a fire station like this one, and start moving up the ranks, doing outstanding work the way Jacob has been doing.
 
But we also need to follow their lead.  We want to help them, but we should also learn from them.  We should remember from our veterans that no matter what the circumstances, those men and women in uniform -- a lot like the firefighters in this fire station -- work together.  Act as a team.  Finish the job. That’s what we've got to do when it comes to our nation's recovery.

These are challenging times for America, but we’ve faced challenging times before.  On the grounds here you've got a stone from the Pentagon and a beam from the World Trade Center.  And that reminds us of our resolve as a people.  They remind us that when we come together as one people and as one community, one nation, then we prevail.  That’s who we are.

This is a nation that exists because generations of Americans worked together to build it.  This is a nation where, out of many, we come together as one.  Those are the values that every veteran understands.  Those are values that this fire station understands.  We've got to make sure that we return to those values.  And if we do, then I guarantee you we'll remind everybody around the world just why it is the United States is the greatest country on Earth.

Thank you very much, everybody.  God bless you.  God bless America.  (Applause.)

END          
11:44 P.M. EST

Remarks by the First Lady at a DNC Event -- Los Angeles, CA

Private Residence, Los Angeles, California

1:18 P.M. PST

        MRS. OBAMA:  All right!  (Applause.)  All right, this is some good stuff.  This really is.  (Applause.)  Wow.  Thank you all so much.  Please, rest yourselves, because you obviously have been working hard already.  (Laughter.)

        Wow, the power of women -- and a few brave men, too.  (Laughter.)  It's a good thing.  Thank you so much.  It is such a pleasure and an honor to be here with so many fabulous, fabulous women.  And you all brothers are okay, too -- the men -- men are good, men are good.  (Laughter.)

        I want to start by thanking Mattie for that very kind introduction.  But, more importantly, she and Michael have -- they have been with us from the way beginning; the "Barack Obama Who?" beginning; the Barack -- what?  You want me to write a check for that guy?  (Laughter.)  They were there from the very start, and they have not just been supporters but they have been friends, they have been our encouragers, they have been the handful of people who kind of keep us grounded in ways that I don't think they even really understand.  So I want to take this time to just give them a shoutout of love, because they are just amazing people.  Thank you.  Thank you, guys.  Thank you for opening up your home.  (Applause.) 

        I've been in L.A. for a couple of days, doing a few things, but today we had a wonderful event with your wonderful mayor, in Inglewood.  And it was a true privilege.  I mean, that's something that -- I know we come here to raise money, but it is so important for us to get out in the neighborhoods and to focus on what's going on on the ground.  (Applause.)  Thank you, mayor.  Thank you for your leadership, thank you for your service, and thank you for taking time to be here with me today.  It means a lot.

        And of course, I want to recognize all the co-chairs and all the host committee people, and everyone here who worked so hard to make this event what is obviously a tremendous success.  Thank you all so much. 

        And finally, I want to thank everyone -- everyone -- for being here this afternoon.  Because the women in this room, the people in this room are busy folks.  And I know there's a reason why you are all here today.  And while you all may love me, it's not just because you like me -- which I hope you do.  (Laughter and applause.)

        But you’re here because you also know that we stand at a fundamental crossroads for our country.  This is serious stuff.  You’re here because you know that in less than a year from today, we're going to make a choice that will impact our lives for decades to come.

        And you’re here because you know that that choice won’t just affect all of us, but more importantly, it's going to affect our children and our grandchildren and the world we leave for them long after we're gone.  And that's why I'm here today.  That’s why I'm going to be out there, working hard.  That's -- we have only just begun.

        You see, as First Lady, I have had the privilege -- and this is a wonderful job -- of traveling all across this country, something that we should all have the privilege and the honor to do.  Because when you do that, you get to meet folks -- folks from all different kinds of backgrounds -- and I get to hear what’s going on in their lives.

        Every day, I hear about how people are struggling to keep it together -- the bills they're trying to pay, the business they're trying to keep afloat.  I hear about how folks are doing everything in their power to make it work, taking the extra shift, or working that extra job; how so many people are saving and sacrificing, not spending a dime on themselves because they desperately want something better for their kids.

        This is our America.  And make no mistake about it, these struggles are not new.  For decades now, middle-class folks have been squeezed from all sides.  While the cost of things like gas and groceries -- tuition -- have continued to rise, people’s paychecks just haven’t kept up.

        So when the economic crisis hit, for far too many families the bottom completely fell out.  Now, over the past three years, your President has worked very hard to dig us out of this mess.  And there has been a lot of progress made.  A lot of progress made.  (Applause.)  What I want you all to remember, if anybody asked:  We have had 22 straight months of private sector job growth.  (Applause.)  And the unemployment rate is now the lowest it’s been in nearly three years.  (Applause.)

        But we know that we still have a very long way to go.  Folks are still struggling.  And your President has been working hard to rebuild our economy based on a vision.  See, a President has to have a vision, and his is one that we all share -- the belief, as my husband says, that hard work should pay off; that responsibility should be rewarded; and that everyone -- everyone -- in this country should get a fair shot, do their fair share, and play by the same rules.  (Applause.)  See, these are basic American values.  They're the values that so many of us were raised with, including myself.  We know these values.  We know who we are.

        My father was a blue-collar city worker; worked at water plant.  My family lived in a little-bitty apartment on the South Side of Chicago.  Neither -- (applause) -- yeah, South Side.  (Laughter and applause.)  Neither of my parents -- I'm sure like many people in this room -- they didn't attend college.  But what my parents did, like so many -- they worked, and they saved, and they sacrificed everything for us.  My mother is still sacrificing her life to be a part of ours.  Because they want so much to have me and my brother to have more than they could ever imagine.

        See, and more than anything else, we have to remember that's what’s at stake -- that fundamental promise that no matter who you are, or how you started out, if you work hard, you can build a decent life for yourself, and yes, an even better life for your kids.  That's what's at stake.

        And on just about every issue -- from health care to education to the economy -- that's the choice we face.

        For example, when we talk about tax cuts for middle-class families, when we talk about unemployment insurance for folks out of work, we're talking about whether people can heat their homes; put a hot meal on the table; put gas in their car so that they can even look for work.  We talk about these issues -- this is about whether folks can afford to own a home, send their kids to college, retire with just a little dignity and security.  It’s about whether people will have more money in their pockets, which means more money in our economy, which in turn means more jobs.

        And that’s what’s at stake.  That is the choice we face.  That's why you're here.

        And if you think, for a minute, about what the Obama administration has done to stand up for the American consumer -- see, I’m talking about families getting hit with those hidden credit card fees; I’m talking about students -- our students, America's students -- drowning in debt; our seniors losing their homes, losing their savings because they were tricked into loans they couldn’t afford, couldn't understand. 

        And that’s why my husband created a new consumer watchdog with just one simple mission, and that is to protect folks from exactly these kind of abuses.  Because when you’ve worked, and you’ve saved, and you've followed the rules, you shouldn’t lose it all to someone looking to make an easy buck.  That is not fair.  That is not right.  And your President is working to do something about that.  That's what's at stake.  (Applause.)

        And what about what we've all done together for our small businesses?  I mean, these are the companies that create two-thirds of all new jobs each year in this country -- two-thirds.  We're talking about the mom who opens up a drycleaners in her neighborhood to help provide for her kids -- that's who we're talking about.  We're talking about the family that's been running that neighborhood diner for generations, or the veteran who launches a startup and pursues that American Dream that he fought so hard for.

        See, it's these folks who work themselves to the bone during the day, and then they head home, pore over the books late into the night, determined to make those numbers add up.  See, for these folks, the small business tax cuts that this administration has passed, that means the difference from these folks hiring new employees or handing out pink slips; it's the difference between them closing their doors for good, or having a place open forever.

        That is the choice we face.

        And how about the very first bill my husband signed into law -- the very first thing he did as President of the United States:  the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, to help women get equal pay for equal work.  (Applause.)

        And he did this because he knows what it means when women aren’t treated fairly in the workplace.  See, he watched his own grandmother, woman with a high school education, who worked her way up to become the vice president at a little community bank.  And he saw how hard she worked.  He saw how good she was at her job.  Yet, like so many women, she hit that glass ceiling and watched men no more qualified than she was -- men she had actually trained -- climb that corporate ladder ahead of her.

        So, believe me, Barack, for him, this issue is not abstract.  This is not hypothetical for your President.  He signed this bill because he knows that closing that pay gap can mean the difference between women losing $50, $100, $500 from each check, or having that money to buy gas and groceries, to put school clothes on the backs of their children.

        He did it because when nearly two-thirds of women are breadwinners or co-breadwinners, he knows that women’s success in this economy is the key to families’ success in this economy.  (Applause.)  And he did it because, as he put it, we believe that here in America, there are no second-class citizens in our workplace. 

        That is what’s at stake in this election.

        And let’s talk just a minute about health care.  Just a little second about health care.  (Applause.)  Because last year, we made history together by finally passing health reform.  We did that together.  But now, there are folks actually talking about repealing this reform.  So today, we have to ask ourselves, are we going to stand by and let that happen?  Or are we going to stand up to those insurance companies?  Are we going to let them refuse to cover things like cancer screenings, prenatal care; things that save money, but more importantly, save lives?  Or are we going to stand up for our lives, and the lives of the people we love?  What are we going to do?  (Applause.) 

        Are we going to go back to the days when insurance companies could deny our children coverage because they have a pre-existing condition like cancer, diabetes, even asthma?  Or will we stand up and say that in this country, no one should ever have to choose between going bankrupt or watching their child suffer because they can’t afford a doctor?

        And when our kids get older and they graduate from school, we all know how hard it is for them to find jobs, let alone jobs with insurance.  And that’s why, as part of health reform, kids can now stay on their parents’ insurance until they’re 26 years old.  (Applause.)  And today, that is how 2.5 million of our young people are getting their coverage.

        So will we take that insurance away from our kids?  Or will we say that we don't want our sons and our daughters going without health care when they’re just starting out, trying to build families and careers of their own?  But that is the choice we face.

        And think, for a minute, about what's been done on education.  Think about all the investments your President has made to raise standards and reform our public schools.  I mean, this is about -- (applause) -- yes, it's about improving the circumstances for millions of children in this country.  I mean, these are all our kids we know are sitting in crumbling classrooms; our kids, with so much promise, kids who could be anything they wanted if we just gave them a chance.

        And think about how we've tripled investments for job training at community colleges.  I mean, this is about hundreds of thousands of hard-working folks who are determined to get the skills they need to better their job and better their wages.  I mean, these are the folks who are doing it all.  They’re working full-time, raising kids, but they still make it to class every evening, study late into the night because they desperately want something better for their families.

        And make no mistake about it, this kind of investment in our students and our workers will determine nothing less than the future of this economy.  It will determine whether we’re prepared to make the discoveries and to build the industries that will let us compete with any country, anywhere in the world.  That’s what’s at stake.

        And let us not forget what it meant when my husband appointed those two brilliant Supreme Court Justices -- (applause) -- and for the first time in history, our daughters and our sons watched three women take their seat on our nation’s highest court.  (Applause.)  And let's not forget the impact their decisions will have on our lives for decades to come -- on our privacy and our security; on whether we can speak freely, worship openly and, yes, love whomever we choose.  That’s what’s at stake here.  (Applause.)  That’s the choice we're facing in this election.  That's why you're here.  (Applause.)

        And finally, let’s not forget about all this administration has done to keep our country safe and restore our standing in the world.  (Applause.)  And thanks to our brave men and women in uniform, we finally brought to justice the man behind the 9/11 attacks and so many other horrific acts of terror.  (Applause.)

        My husband ended the war in Iraq, brought our troops home for the holidays.  (Applause.)  And, yes, we are working, now that these wars are coming to a close, to make sure that our veterans and their families get the education, the employment, the benefits that they have earned.  (Applause.)  

        And because my husband ended "don’t ask, don’t tell," never again will our troops have to lie about who they are to serve the country they love.  (Applause.)  Believe me, that is what’s at stake.  That's the choice.  That's what's going on this year.  (Applause.)

        So make no mistake about it, whether it’s health care, whether it's the economy, education, foreign policy, you name it -- I could go on, but we don't have all day.  (Laughter.)  The choice we make will determine nothing less than who we are as a country, but more importantly, who do we want to be.  Who are we?

        Will we be a country where opportunity is limited to a few at the top?  Is that who we are? 

        AUDIENCE:  No!

        MRS. OBAMA:  Or will we be a place where if you work hard, you can get ahead no matter who you are or how you started?  Who are we?  That's what we have to ask ourselves.  (Applause.)  Will we tell folks who’ve done everything right, but are struggling just a little bit -- are we going to tell those folks, tough luck, you’re on your own?  I mean, who are we?

        Or will we honor that fundamental American belief that this country is strongest when we’re all better off?  Who do we want to be?  Will we continue all the change we’ve begun, all the progress that we’ve made, or will we allow everything to just slip away?  What are we going to do?  But that is the choice we face.  See, those are the stakes.

        And, believe me, your President, my husband, he knows this far too well.  He understands these issues, because he’s lived them.  He was raised by a single mother he watched struggle to put herself through school, pay the bills.  And when she needed help, who stepped in?  His grandmother, waking up every morning before dawn to take that bus to the job at a bank.  And even though she was passed over -- clearly faced disappointment -- she didn’t complain.  How many people do we know like that in our lives?  She didn't complain.  She just kept showing up, just kept doing her best.  (Applause.)

        So, believe me, Barack knows what it means when a family struggles.  This isn't a joke to him.  He knows what it means when someone doesn’t have a chance to fulfill their potential, what that does to the spirit.  Those are the experiences that have made him the man, and yes, the President he is today.  And we are blessed to have him.  (Applause.) 

        And I share this with everyone:  It is that -- is what I hear in his voice when he returns home from a long day traveling around the country, and he tells me about the people he’s met.  See, that's what I see in those quiet moments late at night, after the girls have gone to bed, and he is up poring over those letters -- the thousands of letters people send him.  The letter from the woman dying of cancer whose insurance company won’t cover her care; the letter from the father still struggling to pay his family’s bills; the letter from too many young people with so much promise, and so few opportunities.

        And I hear the passion and the determination in his voice.  He says, "You won’t believe what folks are going through."  He says, "Michelle, this is not right.  We have to fix this.  We have so much more to do."

        See, when it comes to the people Barack meets, he has a memory like a steel trap.  (Laughter.)  He might not remember your name, but if he's had a few minutes and a decent conversation, he will never forget your story.  It becomes imprinted on his heart.  And that's what he carries with him every single day -- it is our collections of struggles and hopes and our dreams.

        And that is where he gets his passion.  That is where he gets his toughness and his fight.  And that’s why, when he faces those hard moments, when it seems like all is lost and we're all sweating it, wringing our hands and sweating him -- "Oh, lord, Barack" -- (laughter) -- "What you going to do now?"  "Oh, no!" -- because I've done it, too.  (Laughter.)  Barack Obama never loses sight of the end goal.  He sees it.  (Applause.)  He never lets himself get distracted by all that chatter and noise.  He just keeps moving forward.  (Applause.)

        Because, as I said earlier, he has a vision for this country.  And it is a vision that we all share.  But I have said this before and I will say it again and again -- he cannot do this alone.  He cannot do this alone.  That was never the promise -- never the promise.  I know I didn’t make that promise.  (Laughter.)

        He needs your help.  He needed it then, he needs you now.  He needs you to be fired up.  He needs you to understand like nothing else what is at stake.  So you make those calls.  Look what you've done just in this room.  This has to be multiplied 100-fold.  We need you to register those voters.  He needs you to take your “I’m In” cards, sign them up.  Sign up your friends, your neighbors, and your colleagues.  Do not underestimate the power of that one-on-one connection.  People have to know what this President has done, what's at stake, and what more we have to let -- have left to do.  You have to convince them to join in giving just a little part of their lives each week to this campaign.

        Because we all know that this is not just about one extraordinary man.  Although, I think my husband is very cute, very wonderful.  (Laughter and applause.)  And as it turns out, he can sing.  (Laughter and applause.)  But it was never about Barack Obama.  This election, this presidency was not about Barack Obama.  It's always been -- it always has been about us.  All of us.  All of us coming together for the values we believe in, and the country that we want to be.

        And I’m not going to kid you, this journey is going to be long.  It already has been.  (Laughter.)  There are going to be many twists and turns along the way.  See, but the truth is that’s how change always happens in this country -- always.  The reality is -- and we have to own this -- real change is slow.  Real change does take time.  Real change never happens all at once.  But if we keep showing up, if we keep fighting the good fight, then eventually we will get there.  Because we always do.  We have never moved backwards -- never.  There has never been a point in time when we moved backwards.  Maybe it won't happen in our lifetimes, but maybe it will happen in our children’s lifetime, maybe it will happen in our grandchildren’s lifetimes.

        Because in the end, that’s what this is about.  In the end, we are not fighting these battles for ourselves.  It's not about us.  We are fighting them for our sons and our daughters.  We're fighting them for our grandsons and our granddaughters.  (Applause.)  We’re fighting for the world we want to leave for them.  This is about them, it's not about us.  (Applause.)

        And I am in this not just as a mother who wants to leave a legacy for my girls.  I’m in this as a citizen who knows what we can do together to change this country for the better.  Because the truth is that no matter what happens, my girls will be fine.  See, they're blessed.  My girls will have plenty of advantages and opportunities in their lives, and that's probably true for so many of your kids as well.

        But I think the last few years have shown us the truth of what Barack has always said:  that if any child in this country is left behind, then that matters to all of us, even if she is not our daughter, even if he is not our son.  (Applause.)  If any family in this country struggles, then we cannot be fully content with our own family’s good fortune, because that is not who we are.  (Applause.)

        In the end, we cannot separate our individual story from the broader American story.  That is not who we are.  Because we know that in this country, we rise and we fall together.  And we know that if we make the right choices, if we have the right priorities, we can ensure that everyone gets a fair shake, that everyone has a chance to get ahead.  That is what's at stake.

        So it's time for us to get moving.  It is time for us to get to work.  We don't have time to be tired, or disappointed, or complacent.  We don't have time.  So I have one last question:  Are you in?

        AUDIENCE:  Yes!  (Applause.)

        MRS. OBAMA:  No, no, are you in?

        AUDIENCE:  Yes!  (Applause.) 

        MRS. OBAMA:  Are you ready for this?  Because I am in, and I am so fired up.  (Applause.)  I hope you all are ready to go.  We've got work to do.  We've got a vision to create.  We've got more people who need help.  We've got more kids who need work done.  And I am looking forward to getting out there, and I need every single one of you just as passionate today as you will be in 10 months.

        You all -- thank you all so much.  Thank you for having our backs.  God bless you all.  (Applause.)
 
END 1:45 P.M. PST

Remarks by the President on Housing

James Lee Community Center
Falls Church, Virginia

11:05 A.M. EST

THE PRESIDENT:  Hello, everybody!  (Applause.)  Thank you so much.  Thank you.  (Applause.)  Thank you so much.  Everybody please have a seat.  Have a seat.  It is great to be back in Falls Church.  (Applause.)  Thank you for having me. 

Last week, in my State of the Union, I laid out my blueprint for an economy that’s built to last.  And I want to assure you I am not going to go over the whole thing again this morning.  (Laughter.)  That was a long speech.  I'm not going to repeat the whole thing.  (Laughter.)  But I do want to talk about some of the issues that I discussed last week because the blueprint we put forward was one that focuses on restoring what have always been this country's greatest strengths -- American manufacturing, American energy, skills and education for American workers so that we can compete with anybody around the world in this 21st century economy, and most importantly, the American values of fairness and responsibility.  Fairness and responsibility.  (Applause.)

Now, we know what happens, because we've just seen it -- what happened when we stray from those values.  We saw what happened over the past decade when we strayed from those values  -- especially when it comes to the massive housing bubble that burst and hurt so many people.  Millions of families who did the right and the responsible thing, folks who shopped for a home that they could afford, secured a mortgage, made their payments each month -- they were hurt badly by the irresponsible actions of other people who weren’t playing by the same rules, weren’t taking the same care, weren’t acting as responsibly.  By lenders who sold loans to people who they knew couldn’t afford the mortgages; and buyers who bought homes they knew they couldn’t afford; and banks that packaged those mortgages up and traded them to reap phantom profits, knowing that they were building a house of cards. 

It was wrong.  It was wrong.  It triggered the worst economic crisis of our lifetimes.  And it has been the single biggest drag on our recovery from a terrible recession.  Crushing debt has kept millions of consumers from spending.  A lack of building demand has kept hundreds of thousands of construction workers idle.  Everybody involved in the home-building business  -- folks who make windows, folks who make carpets -- they've all been impacted.  The challenge is massive in size and in scope, because we've got a multitrillion-dollar housing industry.  And economists can tell you how it’s affected all sorts of statistics, from GDP to consumer confidence.

But what’s at stake is more than just statistics.  It’s personal.  I’ve been saying that this is a make-or-break moment for the middle class.  And this housing crisis struck right at the heart of what it means to be middle class in America:  our homes -- the place where we invest our nest egg, place where we raise our family, the place where we plant roots in a community, the place where we build memories. 

It’s personal.  It affects so much of how people feel about their lives, about their communities, about the country, about the economy.  We need to do everything in our power to repair the damage and make responsible families whole again.  Everything we can.  (Applause.) 

Now, the truth is it’s going to take more time than any of us would like for the housing market to fully recover from this crisis.  This was a big bubble, and when it burst it had a big effect.  Home prices started a pretty steady decline about five years ago.  And government certainly can’t fix the entire problem on its own.  But it is wrong for anybody to suggest that the only option for struggling, responsible homeowners is to sit and wait for the housing market to hit bottom.  (Applause.)  I refuse to accept that, and so do the American people.

There are more than 10 million homeowners across the country right now who, because of an unprecedented decline in home prices that is no fault of their own, owe more on their mortgage than their homes are worth.  It means your mortgage, your house is underwater. 

Here in Falls Church, home values have fallen by about a quarter from their peak.  In places like Las Vegas, more than half of all homeowners are underwater.  More than half.  So it’s going to take a while for those prices to rise again.  But there are actions we can take right now to provide some relief to folks who've been responsible, have done the right thing, and are making their payments on time. 

Already, thanks to the outstanding work, in part, of my Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Shaun Donovan, who's here today -- (applause) -- yes, there he is, the good-looking guy in the front here.  (Laughter.)  The housing plan we launched a couple years ago has helped nearly 1 million responsible homeowners refinance their mortgages, and they’re saving an average of $300 on their payments each month -- $300 -- which is great.  (Applause.)  

But I’ll be honest -- the programs that we put forward haven’t worked at the scale that we hoped.  Not as many people have taken advantage of it as we wanted.  Mortgage rates are as low as they’ve been in half a century, and when that happens, usually homeowners flock to refinance their mortgages -- so a lot of people take advantage of it and save a lot of money.  But this time too many families haven’t been able to take advantage of the low rates, because falling prices lock them out of the market.  They were underwater; made it more difficult for them to refinance.

Then you’ve got all the fees involved in refinancing.  And a lot of people just said, you know what, even though I’d like to be, obviously, cutting down my monthly payment, the banks just aren’t being real encouraging.

So last year we took aggressive action that allowed more families to participate.  And today we’re doing even more.  This is the main reason I’m here today.  (Applause.)

As I indicated at the State of the Union last week, I am sending Congress a plan that will give every responsible homeowner in America the chance to save about $3,000 a year on their mortgage by refinancing at historically low rates.  (Applause.)  No more red tape.  No more runaround from the banks. And a small fee on the largest financial institutions will make sure it doesn’t add to our deficit.

I want to be clear:  This plan, like the other actions we’ve taken, will not help the neighbors down the street who bought a house they couldn’t afford, and then walked away and left a foreclosed home behind.  It’s not designed for those who’ve acted irresponsibly, but it can help those who’ve acted responsibly.  It’s not going to help those who bought multiple homes just to speculate and flip the house and make a quick buck, but it can help those who’ve acted responsibly.

What this plan will do is help millions of responsible homeowners who make their payments on time but find themselves trapped under falling home values or wrapped up in red tape. 

If you’re ineligible for refinancing just because you’re underwater on your mortgage, through no fault of your own, this plan changes that.  You’ll be able to refinance at a lower rate. You’ll be able to save hundreds of dollars a month that you can put back in your pocket.  Or you can choose those savings to rebuild equity in your homes, which will help most underwater homeowners come back up for air more quickly.

Now, to move this part of my plan, we’re going to need Congress to act.  We’re going to need Congress to act.  I hear some -- (laughter) -- murmuring in the audience here.  We need them to act.  But we’re not just going to wait for Congress.  We’re going to keep building a firewall to prevent the same kinds of abuses that led this crisis -- led to this crisis in the first place.  So there are things we can do administratively that are also going to help responsible homeowners.  (Applause.)

Already, we’ve set up a special task force I asked my Attorney General to establish to investigate the kind of activity banks took when they packaged and sold risky mortgages.  (Applause.)  And that task force is ramping up its work as we speak.  We’re going to keep at it and hold people who broke the law accountable and help restore confidence in the market.  We’re going to speed assistance to homeowners.  And we’re going to turn the page on an era of recklessness that hurt so many hardworking Americans.  (Applause.)

Today, I’m also proposing a Homeowners Bill of Rights -- one straightforward set of common-sense rules of the road that every family knows they can count on when they’re shopping for a mortgage.  No more hidden fees or conflicts of interest.  No more getting the runaround when you call about your loan.  No more fine print that you used to get families to take a deal that is not as good as the one they should have gotten.  New safeguards against inappropriate foreclosures.  New options to avoid foreclosure if you’ve fallen on hardship or a run of bad luck.  (Applause.)  And a new, simple, clear form for new buyers of a home.  (Applause.)

Now, think about it.  This is the most important purchase a family makes.  But how many of you have had to deal with overly complicated mortgage forms and hidden clauses and complex terms? I remember when Michelle and I bought our first condo -- and we're both lawyers.  (Laughter.)  And we’re looking through the forms and kind of holding it up -- (laughter) -- reading it again -- "What does this phrase mean?"  And that’s for two trained lawyers.  The forms, the confusion, the potential for abuse is too great just because the forms were too complicated.

So this is what a mortgage form should look like.  This is it.  (Applause.)  Now that our new consumer watchdog agency is finally running at full steam -- (applause) -- now that Richard Cordray is in as the Director of the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau -- (applause) -- they’re moving forward on important protections like this new, shorter mortgage form.  Simple, not complicated.  Informative, not confusing.  Terms are clear.  Fees are transparent. 

This, by the way, is what some of the folks in Congress are trying to roll back and prevent from happening.

AUDIENCE:  Booo --

THE PRESIDENT:  I guess they like complicated things that confuse consumers and allow them to be cheated.  I prefer actions that are taken to make things simpler and easier to understand for consumers -- (applause) -- so that they can get the best deal possible, especially on the biggest single investment that most people will ever make.  (Applause.) 

Americans making a down payment on their dreams shouldn’t be terrified by pages and pages of fine print.  They should be confident they’re making the right decision for their future. 

There’s more that we’re announcing today.  We’re working to turn more foreclosed homes into rental housing, because as we know and a lot of families know, that empty house or “for sale” sign down the block can bring down the price of homes across the neighborhood.  We’re working to make sure people don’t lose their homes just because they lose their jobs.  These are steps that can make a concrete difference in people’s lives right now.  (Applause.)

As I said earlier, no program or policy will solve all the problems in a multitrillion-dollar housing market.  The heights of the housing bubble reached before it burst, those were unsustainable, and it’s going to take time to fully recover.  That requires everybody to do their part.

As much as our economic challenges were born of eroding home values and portfolio values, they were also born of an erosion of some old-fashioned American values.  An economy that’s built to last, that’s on a firm foundation, so that middle-class families have a sense of security and those who want to get in the middle class can make it if they’re working hard -- that demands responsibility from everyone. 

Government must take responsibility for rules that are fair and fairly enforced.  (Applause.)  Banks and lenders must be held accountable for ending the practices that helped cause this crisis in the first place.  (Applause.)  And all of us have to take responsibility for our own actions -- or lack of action.  (Applause.) 

So I urge Congress to act.  Pass this plan.  Help more families keep their homes.  Help more neighborhoods remain vibrant.  Help keep more dreams defended and alive.  And I promise you that I’ll keep doing everything I can to make the future brighter for this community, for this commonwealth, for this country.

Thank you, everybody.  God bless you.  God bless the United States of America.  Thank you.  (Applause.)

END                                                          
11:24 A.M. EST

Remarks by the President at a Campaign Event

St. Regis Hotel
Washington, D.C.

7:05 P.M. EST

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you so much, Rob, for the introduction.  And it's wonderful to see all of you.  I'm going to be very brief at the top because I want to spend most of this time in a dialogue.

As Rob said, I see a lot of friends here, people who supported me since way back when before people could say my name. And as I look around the room, folks from all across the country, I am mindful of the fact that not only have you done so much to help me be in a position where I can make a difference in America, but separate and apart from my election, so many of you have supported good causes that are making a difference day in and day out.  And so I just want to say thank you for that.

As Rob said, the last three years we've obviously gone through historic times, a set of historic challenges -- the worst economic crisis and financial crisis since the Great Depression, two wars, a transformation of our geopolitics.  And I couldn't be prouder of the track record that we've been able to put together over the last three years -- not only in preventing us from sliding into a Great Depression, not only shifting from a situation where we were losing 800,000 jobs per month to 22 consecutive months of job growth, the highest manufacturing job growth since the '90s, the largest job growth, period, last year since 2005, passing historic health care legislation that we're in the process now of implementing, tough Wall Street reform legislation that is going to make sure that we don't see the same kind of reckless behavior that got us into this mess in the first place, along with a set of laws that are going to make sure that the values we care so deeply about are the law of the land --things like ending "don’t ask, don't tell," or making sure that people are actually getting equal pay for equal work, one of the strongest environmental records of any President in the modern era.

So, across the board, I couldn't be prouder of what we've accomplished.  On the other hand, what I'm also mindful of is how much remains to be done. 

What led me to run in 2008 was a sense that there had been a fundamental shift in the social compact, a fundamental shift in the American promise -- the notion that if you worked hard, if you met your responsibilities, that you could get ahead, support a family, send your kid to college, avoid being bankrupted by an illness, retire with dignity and respect.  That basic bargain felt like it was slipping away from far too many Americans.

And so in addition to dealing with crises, our goal since before I came into office was how do we restore that sense that any American, no matter where they're from, no matter what they look like, that they've got a shot to succeed; how do we restore an America where everybody gets a fair shot, everybody is doing their fair share, and we're all playing by the same set of rules.

This past Tuesday, I tried to lay out that vision, that blueprint for how we move forward, involving resuscitating American manufacturing -- the same way we've done with the auto industry, we can do that across the board.  American energy -- how do we, yes, make sure that American oil production and natural gas are properly produced, but how do we also make sure that we're still investing in clean energy and looking 10, 20, 30 years down the road and making sure that we're at the forefront of the kind of clean energy economy that I think everybody is going to have to adjust to.

How do we make sure that we've got a tax system that reflects everybody doing their fair share -- because if we're going to bring down our deficits and make investments in our infrastructure and our basic research, then we're going to have to do it in a balanced way. 

And how do we make sure that we've got a set of regulations in place that aren’t designed to squelch entrepreneurial activity and the free market but are designed to make sure that our consumers are protected and that our air is clean and our water is clean and that we don't see another crisis like we saw in the housing market.

And those are going to be huge fights.  And that's why I think this year is going to be extraordinarily exciting.  In some way, the spirit of this year's race will be different because in 2008, obviously everybody was full of hope and possibility, and we had not yet gone through a crisis.  And it's worn on people and it's been tough for folks.  Now I think what we're really struggling for is the kind of America that most of the people here believe in and I believe that most Americans believe in.

But we're going to have to fight for it, because the other party has a fundamentally different vision about where to take this country.  Their basic argument is, is that if we strip out regulations, if we disregard environmental concerns, if we take away protections for consumers, if we lower taxes even further for the kind of folks who are in this room, that somehow growth and the American Dream will be restored.  And I fundamentally disagree with that vision.  I think it's the wrong vision for America. 

But given the difficulties that Americans have gone through over the last three years, this is going to be a tough fight, and we're all going to have to be focused on making sure that every single day the American people understand not only where we want to take the country but also that we're willing to fight for them; that this is not an abstract ideological argument, but this is a practical, concrete argument about whether or not they're going to be able to find a good job that pays a living wage, whether they're going to have health care that protects their families, whether or not, as consumers, they're going to be protected from being taken advantage of.  They've got to feel that we are actively advocating on their behalf.

The last point I'd make is, is that -- and I made this point at the State of the Union -- as I travel around the world -- and obviously we've been extraordinarily active, not only ending the war in Iraq, but managing a responsible transition in Afghanistan, helping to usher in an Arab Spring that is still uncertain in terms of its outcome -- what's striking to me is the degree to which for all of the challenges we've gone through over the last three years, the world still looks to us for leadership. They're still looking to America because for all our power, they also understand we are invested in a set of international rules and international norms and a set of universal values that historically superpowers have not paid a lot of attention to.

And so when we went to Asia, for example, what was striking was, yes, people understand that China is on the rise and economically their fates are going to be tied not only to us but also to a rapidly growing China, but when it comes to putting together an architecture out there that assures that small countries are protected, that everybody is abiding by the same sets of rules, that their natural resources are properly developed and not exploited -- they're still looking to us.

And so part of the message I wanted to send last week at the State of the Union was we've been through tougher times before, we've been through bigger challenges before, and we've always come out stronger, more united, and have remained a beacon of hope around the world because -- I think it was Churchill who said that the Americans always end up doing the right thing after they've tried every other alternative.  (Laughter.)  And that's true.  We muddle our way through because of messy democracy and it's in our nature to be contentious and have these big arguments, but ultimately we choose the right path.  And that's what the world is counting on right now as well.

I think we're going to get there.  But -- in fact, I know we're going to get there, but I'm going to need all of your help to get there as well.

So thanks for the support in the past and I'm looking forward to you guys being in the foxhole with me this year.  Thank you very much.  (Applause.)
 
END  
7:16 P.M. EST