Remarks by the President at fundraising event for Senator Boxer and the DNC

California Science Center
Los Angeles, California

6:12 P.M. PDT

THE PRESIDENT:  Hello California!  (Applause.)  Hello.  I am fired up!  (Applause.)  It’s good to see you.  It’s good to see you.  (Applause.)  It’s good to see you.  All right, all right, all right.  Okay.  (Applause.)  Thank you.  Thank you, California. 

I want to begin by just thanking -- everybody is a special guest, but let me just point out some folks who are here who I want to acknowledge.  First of all, somebody who was one of the finest governors in the country is now one of the best DNC chairmen of the country -- Tim Kaine.  Give it up for Tim Kaine.  (Applause.)

Attorney General and may soon be another great governor -- Jerry Brown.  (Applause.)  Where’s Jerry?  He’s around here somewhere.  State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell is in the house.  (Applause.)  Congresswoman -- outstanding Congresswoman -- Jane Harman.  (Applause.)  Congressman Joe Baca.  (Applause.)  Congresswoman Diane Watson.  (Applause.)  Congresswoman Laura Richardson.  (Applause.)  Congresswoman Judy Chu.  (Applause.)  Former governor Gray Davis.  (Applause.)  Speaker Emeritus -- that’s a pretty fancy title -- (laughter) -- Speaker Emeritus of the California Assembly, Karen Bass, is in the house.  (Applause.) 

I haven’t seen her, but I’m told she’s here and I love this woman’s music and her spirit -- India Arie is supposedly in the house.  (Applause.)  Hello, India, wherever you are.  Where is she?  Right there -- no, where you are?  Backstage -- she’s backstage, okay.  I was like, where?  I don’t see her.  Somebody else who I’m very honored to have -- I want everybody to acknowledge -- there she is, there’s my girl -- India Arie.  (Applause.) 

And while we’re at it with special people, somebody who helped Major League Baseball become what it is but also helped America become what it is -- Hall of Fame pitcher Don Newcombe is in the house.  (Applause.)  I just had the honor of meeting him.  Just had the honor of meeting him and taking a picture with him and he was very gracious in saying, you know, Jackie would be proud.  And I said, well, I would not be here if it were not for Jackie and it were not for Don Newcombe.  (Applause.) 

It is nice to be back.  (Applause.)  It is nice to be in California -- not just because it’s good to get out of Washington.  (Laughter.)  But one of the things that I enjoy most about coming to events like this is the chance to be with some old friends.  To be with some of the people who were there with me at the beginning -- (applause) -- who knocked on doors and made telephone calls, who helped us win the presidency in 2008.  (Applause.)

But as happy as I am to see you -- as happy as I am to see you, I am even happier to be with my good friend and great senator, Barbara Boxer.  (Applause.)  It was one of the privileges of being a senator that I had a chance to work alongside Barbara.  You know, California has been --

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  (Inaudible.)

THE PRESIDENT:  -- you know, California has been a leader in promoting hybrids and cleaner burning fuels, and appropriately, you have in Barbara Boxer a subcompact senator with a seemingly inexhaustible supply of energy.  (Applause.) 

Now, a lot of you are aware of how deeply Barbara cares about the environment, about her work to pursue a clean energy future, and that work is vitally important.  But what I also want you to know is that this is a woman who has a deep passion for fighting for you, fighting for all her constituents here in California. 

She’s passionate about fighting for jobs, jobs with good wages, jobs with good benefits.  She’s passionate about fighting for California’s families.  She is --

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  Repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell!”

THE PRESIDENT:  We are going to do that.  Hey, hold on a second, hold on a second.  We are going to do that. 

AUDIENCE:  Yes, we can!  Yes, we can!  Yes, we can!  Yes, we can! 

THE PRESIDENT:  Here we go.  All right -- guys, guys, all right.  I agree, I agree, I agree.  (Applause.)  Now --

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  (Inaudible.)

THE PRESIDENT:  No, no, no, no, listen.  What the young man was talking about was we need to -- we need to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don't Tell,” which I agree with and which we have begun to do.  (Applause.)  But let me say this:  When you’ve got an ally like Barbara Boxer and you’ve got an ally like me who are standing for the same thing, then you don't know exactly why you’ve got to holler, because we already hear you, all right?  (Applause.)  I mean, it would have made more sense to holler that at the people who oppose it.  (Applause.) 

When you’ve got Barbara Boxer, who is passionate to give people all across this state a fair shake, to put the American Dream within reach for all Americans, then what we should be worried about is how are we going to make sure Barbara Boxer gets elected.  (Applause.)

And that's mostly what I want to talk about tonight.  I am proud of the work we’ve done to bring the world together around a host of problems, from terrorism to the nuclear threat; from climate change to deprivation and poverty around the globe.  I was gratified to sign a new START treaty with Russia -- (applause) -- and to host so many world leaders in Washington last week, working in concert to reduce the perilous risk that nuclear materials could fall into the wrong hands.

But reviving our own economy remains the central challenge that we’re facing today.  I don’t have to tell you that.  This state has been hit as hard as any state in the union with economic troubles these past few years.  Jobs have been lost at a heartbreaking level all across this state, and they’ve devastated families and devastated communities.

The housing crisis hit this state with a particular vengeance, driving your friends, your neighbors out of their homes, injecting a sense of fear and financial insecurity into too many people’s lives.

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  It’s time for equality for all Americans!

THE PRESIDENT:  I’m sorry, do you want to come up here?  (Applause.)  You know, the -- all right, because can I just say, once again, Barbara and I are supportive of repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” so I don't know why you’re hollering. 

Now, the problems that we have here put a further strain on folks in this state, forcing painful choices about where to spend and where to save.  And the challenges folks have been facing here --

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  (Inaudible.)

AUDIENCE:  Yes, we can!  Yes, we can!  Yes, we can!  Yes, we can!

THE PRESIDENT:  Barbara -- I just -- everybody, I just wanted to confirm -- I just wanted to confirm -- I just checked with Barbara, so if anybody else is thinking about starting a chant, Barbara didn’t even vote for “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” in the first place, so you know she’s going to be in favor of repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”  (Applause.)

Now, that is a key issue, but I think putting Californians back to work is also a key issue -- (applause) -- because there are folks, gay and straight, who are out of work right now.  (Applause.)  And the challenges that are being faced right here in California are facing Americans all across the country.

Now, these aren’t challenges that suddenly appeared when I got sworn into office.  They didn’t come out of nowhere.  When I walked into the White House, on that very first day, America was embroiled in a series of crises the likes of which we hadn’t seen in some time.

Abroad, we were confronting a war in Iraq that needed to come to a responsible end, a war in Afghanistan that demanded a greater focus, a new world of threats and new dangers.

And at home, we were facing a financial crisis that just about every credible economist said had the potential to plunge us into another Great Depression; an economic crisis that was producing stagnant wages, falling incomes, and a shaken middle class; and a deficit crisis that was saddling our children with a mountain of debt.  That's what we inherited when we came in.

And while we’ve still got a long and difficult road ahead of us, while too many of our neighbors are still struggling, especially here in California, these are challenges that Barbara and I and others are working hard to solve together.  We’re beginning to see some signs of progress all across America -- adding jobs instead of losing them; spending -- people spending again; orders rising again; an economy that’s growing instead of shrinking.  (Applause.)

And California, this progress -- this progress we’re seeing didn’t happen by accident.  It happened because we’ve taken a number of necessary but not always popular steps to break the back of this recession and to get our economy moving again.  But you didn’t send us to Washington just to manage the crisis or rescue the economy.  You sent us there to rebuild it so that it was stronger than before, to make it more prosperous than it was before, more competitive than it was before.  You sent us there to make the 21st century another American century and lay a new foundation for growth that will reach all our people.

And that’s what health insurance reform was about.  (Applause.)  That’s why we embarked on historic education reforms.  That's why we’re embarking on clean energy reform.  That's what our future is about.  (Applause.)  That’s why we have restored science to its rightful place.  (Applause.)  That's why we renewed our commitment to research and development, from medical labs to nanotechnology.  We’re focusing on the next generation, California, not just the next election.

That’s the mission that I have been trying to faithfully carry out on your behalf.  And that’s the mission that members of Congress like Barbara have been carrying out faithfully on your behalf.  Now, I’ll be honest, it would have been nice if we have had a little more help from the other side of the aisle sometimes.  (Applause.)  Say, any help.  (Laughter.)  Just a smidgen of help.  (Laughter.)  And I’ve been disappointed sometimes that that little smidgen hasn’t been more forthcoming.  You would have expected that Republican leaders would have been willing to help out, cleaning up after this mess since they had more than a little to do with creating it.  (Applause.) 

And we all have a stake in cleaning it up.  We’re all, after all, Americans.  Not Democrats, not Republicans first -- we’re Americans first.  So we should all have a stake in seeing success in cleaning this situation up.  And yet, after driving our economy into the ditch, they decided to stand on the side of the road and watch us while we pulled it out of the ditch.  They asked, why haven’t you pulled it out fast enough?  (Laughter.)  I noticed there’s like a little scratch there in the fender.  Why didn’t you do something about that?  (Laughter and applause.)

Now, look, you know, that’s their prerogative, California.  That’s also what elections are for.  (Applause.)  And the American people will have a clear choice when they head to the polls in November.  And they’ll have to do -- all they’ll have to do is look what we’ve been for and what the other side has been against.

For example, tax cuts.  You know, we just had Tax Day and there a bunch of folks out there complaining about their taxes.  I understand that.  Nobody likes paying taxes -- except I just want to make sure their anger is properly directed, because we were for putting $200 billion in tax cuts into the pockets of the American people -- tax cuts for making college more affordable, tax cuts for buying a first home.  Altogether, we gave 25 different tax cuts for families and for businesses -- several of them directed at small businesses that are the backbone of our economy.  Here in California, 98 percent of working families are getting a tax cut.  (Applause.)  So that's what we were for, and that's what the other side was against.

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  Thank you for my tax cut.

THE PRESIDENT:  You’re welcome.  (Laughter and applause.)

Barbara and I and other members of Congress here, we thought it was wasteful and wrong to give billions of dollars to banks to act as unnecessary middlemen in administering student loans.  (Applause.)  So we said, let’s use that money to help more students go to college and get the skills they need to outcompete workers around the world.  (Applause.)  We said, let’s make the repayment of student loans more manageable, so that kids don’t start out with a crushing debt.  That's what we were for.  That's what they were against.  (Applause.)

We thought it was unfair to deny health insurance to Americans with preexisting conditions.  (Applause.)  We thought it was wrong to let hardworking families and small businesses continue to get crushed by skyrocketing health care costs and families go bankrupt because somebody gets sick in their family.  So we did what Americans have been trying to do for a century -- Republican Presidents and Democratic Presidents and Republican Congresses and Democratic Congresses -- and we finally enshrined the principle that all of us ought to have a sense of security when it comes to our health care.  That’s what we were for.  That’s what they were against.  (Applause.) 

In fact, the Republican leader in the House said the other day that repealing health insurance reform would be his number one priority if he becomes Speaker of the House in November.

AUDIENCE:  Boo!

THE PRESIDENT:  So he would say to you and 800,000 Californians with preexisting conditions, “You know what, we think it was a mistake to make sure that you can get coverage.”  And he’d tell all those seniors, “Give back that $250 you’ll get this year to help pay for prescription drugs.”  And then he’ll say to millions of small business men and women who today qualify for new tax credits to help them cover their workers, “You know what, your workers don’t need health insurance and you don’t need help, either.” 

Now, that -- if he wants to run on that appealing agenda -- (laughter) -- go ahead.  But Barbara Boxer is not going to let it happen.  And I’m not going to let it happen.  And you’re not going to let it happen.  And the American people are not going to let it happen, because we believe that Americans should have affordable, quality health care.  (Applause.)

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  Thank you!

THE PRESIDENT:  You’re welcome.  (Laughter.)

Even as we speak, we’re in the midst of another important battle in Washington.  I want everybody to be paying attention these next several weeks, because one of the main reasons our economy faltered was because some on Wall Street made irresponsible bets, with no accountability.  The rules weren’t adequate.  Sometimes the government simply looked the other way.  And as a result, we had a financial crisis that led to the loss of eight and a half million jobs; a crisis that’s caused millions of Californians to lose their homes, and cost families and businesses trillions of dollars in savings and assets.

I’ve said this many times before:  I believe in the free financial market.  I believe that's -- that it’s essential that we have a strong financial market, because that helps to boost dynamic economic growth.

But a free market doesn’t mean you should be free to do whatever you want, however you can get it, without regard to consequences.  There have to be some rules of the road; there’s got to be some accountability; there’s got to be some transparency -- or else we’re going to see more abuses and disastrous meltdowns like the ones we just experienced.  (Applause.)

So Barbara and the members of Congress who are here and I believe that we’ve got to update the rules governing the financial markets to bring greater accountability, greater transparency to Wall Street, and greater protections to consumers and taxpayers and the broader economy.

And not surprisingly, Wall Street has fought some of these reforms.  Shocking.  (Laughter.)  They’ve sent down an army of lobbyists.  They’re just waiting to water them down.  The truth is, that’s a big reason we got into this mess in the first place, because of the disproportionate power of these lobbyists.  So this time, we’ve got to get it right.  This time we have a responsibility to meet -- a responsibility to the American people and to America’s future.

Now, the Senate Republican leader, he paid a visit to Wall Street a week or two ago.  He took along the chairman of their campaign committee.  He met with some of the movers and shakers up there.  I don’t know exactly what was discussed.  All I can tell you is when he came back, he promptly announced he would oppose the financial regulatory reform.  He would oppose it.  Shocking.  (Laughter.)  And once again, he’s threatening to tie up the Senate with a filibuster to try to block progress. 

AUDIENCE:  Boo!

THE PRESIDENT:  And he made the cynical argument that is just plain false that this plan that is essential to avoiding future taxpayer bailouts was somehow going to create taxpayer bailouts. 

Now, understand, I’m not saying Democrats and Republicans ought to agree on everything.  There are some things we just philosophically disagree on.  And that's a good thing.  That’s part of our democracy.  But a wise man once said, “He has the right to criticize who has the heart to help.”  (Applause.)

And all we’re looking right now for is some help, some common sense and some help.  That's what we hope the other side is going to do.  Not just criticize, but help.  Exercise some common sense.  Don’t just stand in the way, but lend a hand and help.  Because the fact is, we need everybody’s help.  The problems we face are too great for any one party to solve.  And all of us, Democrats and Republicans, have to come together to solve them.  (Applause.)

All of us together have to tackle exploding deficits. That’s why I directed my team to go through the budget line by line to cut what we don’t need so we can pay for what we do.  That’s why I took a Republican idea -- an idea they had been fighting for -- and set up a bipartisan fiscal commission to rein in our deficits.  And Barbara and I set a clear goal -- to cut our deficits in half over the next three years.

All of us need to come together on behalf of clean energy.  It’s the right thing to do for the environment.  (Applause.)  It’s the right thing to preserve our natural heritage.  It’s the right thing to do for our economy.  And that’s why following California’s lead -- that's why following California’s lead I worked to bring everybody up to a tough, new standard for cars and trucks, ushering in the first national standard for fuel economy and greenhouse gas reductions.  That’s why Barbara and I worked together to provide incentives for companies building wind turbines and solar panels and green jobs that can’t be outsourced.  (Applause.) 

That’s why we need to build on Barbara’s good work and pass comprehensive energy and climate legislation, because the country that leads the energy economy will lead the global economy.  Barbara and I want that country to be the United States of America.  (Applause.) 

All of us -- all of us -- need to come together to expand the reach of the American Dream.  And that’s why the first bill I signed as President helps ensure equal pay for equal work for men and women alike.  (Applause.)  And yes, that’s why I’m committed to ending “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and upholding nondiscrimination in the workplace.  (Applause.) 

That’s why last week, I signed an order to help end the cruel practice of denying loved ones hospital visitation rights because of who they are.  (Applause.)  We need to keep a fundamental promise of America.  We’ve got to keep a fundamental promise that it doesn’t matter who you are, what you look like, where you come from -- the blessings of this country are open to every single American.  (Applause.) 

So, let me close by saying this.  These have been difficult years for California.  And they have been difficult years for America.  And I can’t pretend we’re over all the tough times.  There are going to be some more hard days ahead. 

But here is what I want you to know:  I have never been more optimistic about America’s future.  And I am optimistic because I know there are people like you out there and I know there are people like Barbara Boxer in the Senate who’s fighting to change this country for the better.  And because you are out there fighting and because Barbara is there fighting, I draw inspiration.  And there are people all across this country who are dreaming of a better tomorrow, and then they are willing to fight for those dreams to come true. 

And you know what, that’s the story of California.  This is a state that always drew dreamers, men and women with the courage to pursue their dreams.  It’s a state that inspired pioneers to head out across an unforgiving wilderness; a state that spurred glory-seekers to rush westward for gold; the state that draws innovators and entertainers, from Hollywood Hills to Mountain View.  And there’s always been something about California that inspires us to dream; that’s called on us to build a better life; that has helped us imagine the world as it is and then recognize that the world as it might be is out there.

And I’m absolutely confident that if folks in Washington can recapture that same spirit -- that same boundless, resilient American spirit -- we’re not only going to rescue our economy, we’re not only going to rebuild it stronger than before, but we’re going to do what generations did before and make the American Dream more secure for our children and our grandchildren.  That's what Barbara Boxer is about.  That's what you’re about.  And that's why I expect you to be out there making phone calls and knocking on doors and rallying the troops just like you did in 2008 to make sure that you returned Barbara Boxer to the United States Senate.

Thank you very much, California.  God bless you.  (Applause.)

END
6:41 P.M. PDT

Remarks by the President at a Meeting with the President's Economic Recovery Advisory Board

Roosevelt Room

1:38 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT:  Hello, everybody.  All right -- don’t break anything.  (Laughter.)  You guys all set?  All right.

Well, thank you all for coming.  We have a few topics to discuss today and I’m eager to hear from all of you about how the economy looks from your perspective and your forecast for the next few months.  We’re particularly interested, obviously, in the issuing of hiring and how we’re putting Americans back to work.  And I’m also going to be focused on hearing from you your recommendations in terms of how we can increase exports in the years to come -- because we know that if we are selling products overseas and not just purchasing products and services, then that is going to directly benefit the growth of our economy.

I do want to say a few words quickly about the issue of Wall Street reform.  I know that some of you have worked in the financial industry or been leading financial regulators.  Many of you have been advocates of reform for some time -- Paul and Bill, in particular, have been active in this area for more years than they probably care to remember.

As I’ve said before, we need a strong and healthy financial sector to grow jobs and our economy.  And it’s exactly because of the centrality and importance of the financial sector that we have to act.  The devastating recession that we just went through offered a very painful lesson in what happens when we don’t have adequate accountability and transparency and consumer protection.

We can’t allow history to repeat itself.  Never again should American taxpayers be forced to step in and pay the price for the responsibility of speculators on Wall Street who made risky bets with the expectation that taxpayers would be there to break their fall.  And we can’t leave in place a tattered set of rules that will allow another crisis to develop without the tools to deal with it.  And that’s why I expect that we are going to have a strong reform proposal that demands new accountability from Wall Street and provides new protections for consumers.

This is reform that will force banks and financial institutions to pay for bad decisions that they make, and not have taxpayers pay for those bad decisions.  And that means no more bailouts.

This reform would also bring new transparency and accountability to the derivatives market, and this is something that Paul Volcker spoke publicly about just the other week.  The derivatives market is where a lot of the big, risky financial bets by companies like AIG took place.  There are literally trillions of dollars sloshing around this market that basically changes hands under the cover of darkness.  When things go wrong, as they did in AIG, they can bring down the entire economy, and that’s why we’ve got to bring more transparency and oversight when it comes to derivatives and bring them into a framework in which everybody knows exactly what’s going on, because we can’t afford another AIG.

Now, let’s be honest.  Some in the industry are not happy with the prospect of these reforms.  We’ve seen the usual army of lobbyists dispatched up on Capitol Hill.  They have found some willing allies on the other side of the aisle in Congress who have been trying to carve out a lot of exceptions and special loopholes so that folks on Wall Street can keep making these risky bets without any oversight.

I hope that we can pass a bipartisan bill.  Bipartisanship cannot mean simply allowing lobbyist-driven loopholes that put American taxpayers at risk.  That would not be real reform.

So in the coming weeks, every member of Congress is going to have to make a decision:  Are they going to side with the special interests and the status quo, or are they going to side with the American people?  And anyone who opposes this reform is going to be leaving taxpayers on the hook if a crisis like the one that we’ve just seen ever happens again.  And I consider that unacceptable.

My hope and belief is that all of us, Democrats and Republicans, are going to be able to find some common ground on this issue and move it forward.  It is too important to become bogged down in the same partisan gridlock and politics that we’ve seen.  It’s time that we demanded accountability from Wall Street and protections for consumers so that we don’t find ourselves in this same mess again.

All right.  So with that, we’re going to officially convene the meeting, which will be live-streamed.  So let’s clear out the room a little bit.

All right.  Everybody was much better behaved than usual.  (Laughter.)

CHAIRMAN VOLCKER:  Well, I guess we’re making progress.

THE PRESIDENT:  Yes, obviously.  Usually I get at least one shouted question.  This time everybody was very well behaved, it was good.

PARTICIPANT:  Friday afternoon.

THE PRESIDENT:  Yes, exactly.  (Laughter.)

Q    Well, Mr. President, can I ask you -- (laughter) --

PARTICIPANT:  You took the bait.

THE PRESIDENT:  Go ahead.  Go ahead.

Q    -- if you would veto legislation if the derivatives language isn’t as strong as what Senator Dodd has?

THE PRESIDENT:  You know, I want to see what emerges, but I will veto legislation that does not bring the derivatives market under control and some sort of regulatory framework that assures that we don’t have the same kind of crises that we’ve seen in the past.

Okay.  All right.  With that, I’m going to turn it over to our Chairman, Mr. Paul Volcker.

END

Remarks by the President at DNC Reception, 4/15/10

Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, Miami, Florida

6:42 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you, everybody.  Everybody have a seat.  Everybody have a seat.  Settle down here for a second.  (Applause.)  Oh, it is good to be back in Miami.  (Applause.)  It’s good to be back in the Sunshine State.  I came to Florida today to visit NASA, lay out a bold new vision for America’s future in space.  And I figured, hey, while I’m here -- (laughter) -- let’s beam down and visit some old friends in Miami.  (Applause.)

Thank you, Tim Kaine, not only for the generous introduction but for the great job he is doing -- (applause) -- an unbelievable job as DNC chair, just like he did an unbelievable job as the governor of the great Commonwealth of Virginia.

Thank you to your vice chair, your own Debbie Wasserman Schultz.  We love Debbie.  (Applause.)  We have in the house Florida’s next governor, Alex Sink.  (Applause.)  We’ve got Florida’s next CFO and one of the first people in Florida to stand up and endorse my campaign -- Lorann Ausley is here as well.  (Applause.)  Somewhere around here is the next senator from the great state of Florida, Kendrick Meek.  He’s here somewhere.  There he is.  (Applause.)  Kendrick’s doing a great job. 

I also want to point out a great friend of mine, a former member of my administration who just yesterday announced he is running for Congress in Florida’s 25th -- Joe Garcia is in the house.  Joe Garcia.  (Applause.)  So is Florida’s next agricultural commissioner, Scott Maddox.  (Applause.)  And a wonderful member of Congress from further up north, I don’t know if she came out, but she’s doing unbelievable work, so keep her in mind -- Suzanne Kosmas.  (Applause.)  There’s Suzanne.  There she is.  She came out. 

And thank you to the talented Esperanza Spalding.  Isn’t she terrific?  (Applause.)  I love listening to Esperanza, she is wonderful.

I also want to thank all the leaders of the Haitian American community who are with us tonight.  (Applause.)  I think some of you know my political director, Patrick Gaspard, is from Haiti.  (Applause.)  And so through him we understood how much you’ve lost and how much you’ve given.  And some of you know, I think, Michelle just took her first solo trip abroad as First Lady.  Her first stop was to Haiti.  (Applause.)  The devastation moved her deeply, and she also saw, though, the resiliency and the resolve of the people.  And that filled her with hope.  And so I asked her to give the people of Haiti a message from me, which is the United States of America will continue to stand with the people of Haiti as they recover and they rebuild.  That is something that we are committed to.  (Applause.)

So it’s good to be among friends in Florida.  I spent a lot of time here during our campaign.  Many of you were on the frontlines, devoting your time, your energy, knocking on doors, making phone calls, arguing with people.  (Laughter.)  Most of all, affirming that unyielding faith in the promise of America.  And so I want to thank you for being part of this journey.  (Applause.)

In a time of incredible economic uncertainty, you believed that we could still make the American Dream accessible for everybody who was willing to work for it.  And at a time of cynicism, you believed that we could still solve problems that had held us back for years, decades.  At a time of great challenge, especially when we were challenged, you believed that change was still possible in the United States of America.

So, Miami, I’ve come back here to tell you tonight that we have kept the faith with those beliefs.  We’ve begun to fix the problems that we identified during the campaign.  The change you fought for is beginning to take hold in Washington and all across the country.  (Applause.)

Now, change is never easy.  I don’t know if you’ve noticed this.  (Laughter.)  People tend to be comfortable with the status quo, even when the status quo isn’t working for them.  And the fact is that with all the turbulence that’s been taking place this year, for many Americans, change still can’t come fast enough.  But I wanted people to understand what we were looking at when we first came into office:  a financial crisis unlike any we had seen in generations; an economy that was bleeding 750,000 jobs a month; challenges that ranged from the specter of terrorism to the impacts of globalization to two wars that were costly in every sense of the word.

Before we could start healing, we had to stop the bleeding.  We needed to make sure that an economic disaster did not become a full-blown depression.  And some of those short-term steps designed to stabilize the economy, they weren’t popular.  The Recovery Act, even though we gave tax cuts to everybody -- (applause) -- somehow got confused with the bank bailout.  And then there was the auto thing, and everybody said, gosh, what’s Obama doing?  (Laughter.)  He’s not listening to the polls; this is unpopular.

But it turns out that there are some things that, shockingly enough, are more important than polls, more important that elections.  (Applause.)  The country was in trouble.  We had to respond.  We had to respond to the problems that were facing the American people with the same sense of urgency that they felt in their own lives.  That was just over a year ago.

Now, we’ve still got a long way to travel.  There’s still a lot of people hurting out there.  You see them in your communities; you see them in your own family; maybe you see them in your own lives.  But one year later, we can say that the financial system has stabilized.  (Applause.)  People have recouped a lot of what they had lost in their 401(k)s.  We’ve seen that an economy that was contracting is now growing again.  We were losing jobs; now we’re gaining jobs.

As far as the bank system goes, we recovered most of the money that it cost to stabilize it.  (Applause.)  And I proposed a fee on the nation’s biggest banks so that we recover every dime the taxpayers put into them.  (Applause.)

So one year later we’ve made progress.  The economy is growing again; the markets are rising again; America’s businesses are creating jobs again.  One year later more than 2 million Americans, more than 100,000 Floridians are at work today who otherwise would not be there, because of the Recovery Act, because of what Debbie Wasserman Schultz did and Suzanne Kosmas did and Kendrick Meeks did.  (Applause.)

And since today happens to be Tax Day -- (laughter) -- I should just point out that one third of the Recovery Act went to tax cuts -- tax cuts that strengthened the cornerstone of the American Dream:  working for a living, earning an education, owning a home, raising a family.  We cut taxes for 95 percent of working Americans, just like I promised we would on the campaign.  (Applause.)  That made a difference for 7 million families in Florida alone.  We cut taxes on small businesses.  We cut taxes for students and parents paying for college.  We cut taxes for first-time homebuyers, more than 128,000 here in Florida.  In all, we passed 25 different tax cuts last year.  And one thing we haven’t done is raise income taxes on families making less than $250,000 a year -- another promise that we kept.  (Applause.) 

So I’ve been a little amused over the last couple of days where people have been having these rallies about taxes.  (Laughter.)  You would think they would be saying thank you.  (Laughter.)  That’s what you’d think.  (Applause.) 

So we’re headed in the right direction on our road to recovery.  But the true measure of our progress is the progress that the American people feel in their lives -- and there’s still a lot of hurt out here.  Too many folks still out of work.  That’s why we’re doing everything we can in the short term to accelerate private sector job creation.  But here’s the thing, Miami, if we want our economy to fuel job creation in the long term, if we want to grow in the way that brings the middle class along for the ride, then we need to rebuild it on a new and a stronger foundation for growth.  And that’s what we’ve been doing.  We’re working to give every American the world-class education they need to compete and win in the global economy.  (Applause.)  Every child in America.

We launched a national competition to improve our schools.  We took on the special interests, and with the help of Debbie and Suzanne and Kendrick, we reformed the school loan system -- $68 billion that was going to banks is now going to students and families to help pay for their education.  (Applause.)  So we’re making college education more affordable and more accessible.

We’ve made the largest investment in clean and renewable energy in our nation’s history -- (applause) -- because there are factories to reopen and assembly lines to restart and workers ready to build wind turbines and solar panels and advanced batteries for the new electric cars, right here in America.  The nation that leads the clean energy economy will lead the 21st century economy.  And I believe that America has to be that nation.  And that’s what we’re going to fight for.  (Applause.)

And Miami, for the sake of our families and businesses, and with your help, we finally passed comprehensive health reform right here in the United States of America.  (Applause.)  We did it thanks to Debbie, thanks to Suzanne, and thanks to Kendrick, and thanks to you.  As my Vice President said, this is a big deal.  (Laughter and applause.)  Joe’s got a way with words.  And he was right.  It’s a big deal.  (Applause.) 

I mean, think about what we accomplished here.  This reform is the strongest, most sweeping insurance reform in history.  It will begin to end the worst practices of the insurance industry.  It cuts the deficit by over $1 trillion -- (applause) -- puts in place all sorts of reforms that are going to make sure that we are getting better-quality health care for less money, and it’s going to finally offer millions of families and small business owners quality, affordable care and the security and peace of mind that comes with it -- a lot of people for the very first time in their lives.  (Applause.)

So for all the sound and fury and all the scare tactics, here’s what you need about health care reform.  The law doesn’t hand more control to the government.  It doesn’t hand more control to health insurance companies.  It gives it back to you, the American people.  (Applause.)  This law doesn’t weaken Medicare; it strengthens it and extends its life almost by a decade.  This law doesn’t increase our deficits; it’s going to reduce them -- more than $100 billion over the next decade, over $1 trillion the decade after that. 

And there’s an array of consumer protection and benefits that take effect this year.  I just want to list some of these off just in case you’re having a conversation with your coworker or friend.  (Laughter.)  I know you’ve had some of those conversations. 

This year, seniors who fall into the doughnut hole coverage gap will receive $250 to help them pay for their prescriptions, and that begins a pathway where we are closing that doughnut hole completely so that seniors have the coverage they need and the security they need for their prescription drug coverage.  (Applause.)  This year, millions of small business owners will be eligible for tax credits to cover the cost of ensuring their employees -- this year.  (Applause.)  This year, 10,000 -- tens of thousands of uninsured Americans with a preexisting condition and parents with children with preexisting conditions will finally be able to purchase the coverage they need.  (Applause.)  This year, insurance companies can’t drop you when you get sick.  (Applause.)  This year, insurance companies can’t apply lifetime limits on your coverage.  (Applause.)  These are big deals for families all across America. 

Now, this reform is not perfect.  There are going to be adjustments that we’re going to have to make.  This is going to take a few years to fully implement, because we’ve got the responsibility to get it right.

But when you turn on the television, you’ve got pundits saying that the country is still divided on health care; it’s not universally popular yet.  Folks, I want to repeat what I said in Maine:  It’s only been a couple weeks.  (Applause.)  You know, sometimes the way they cover stuff in Washington -- I was talking about how the way they cover a farm, you know.  You’d be up there tilling the soil, and the press would look, and, “Look, the dirt’s all messed up!”  (Laughter.)  And then you’d put the seeds in and pack it down.  And next morning they’d come up, “There are no crops!  It’s not working!  We’re going to starve!”  (Laughter and applause.)  Let me tell you. 

And then you’ve got -- then you have some of my Republican friends who were warning that after health care -- this was going to be Armageddon.  (Laughter.)  Wanted to repeal health reform before the signature was even dry. 

So I went to NASA today and I asked some of the guys.  I said, are asteroids coming?  (Laughter.)  Are you sending Bruce Willis and Ben Affleck out to –- (laughter.)  They told me, America is going to be okay.  (Laughter.)

And for those Republicans and folks who are on the “repeal” platform, my attitude is, go for it.  I’ll have that fight.  We’ll have that argument.  (Applause.)   We’ll take that argument across the country.  If they want to let kids -- if they want to let kids be barred from getting insurance because of preexisting conditions, we can have that discussion.  They want to take back tax cuts from small businesses who want to do the right thing by their employees, I’m happy to have that argument.  They want to allow insurance companies to take away your insurance right when you get sick and need it most, I’m happy to have that debate.  Are they really willing to look that senior in the eye and say, we’re not going to help you afford that medicine?  Well, they may -- (laughter and applause) -- but I tell you what, if they do it, I don’t think they’re going to get a very good response.  (Applause.)   I don’t think they’re going to look a small business owner in the eye and take away their tax credits or say that your son can’t have health care after all; too bad, tough luck, you’re on your own.

Look what happened the other day, just north of here.  Ted Deutch -- (applause) -- won the first congressional election since health reform passed.  Now, look, I mean, let’s not get too excited, it’s a Democratic district.  (Laughter.)  But to listen to the Republicans, they were warning over and over again this would be a referendum on health care; this is a referendum on the Recovery Act; this is a referendum on Obama.  Well, maybe it was.  (Laughter and applause.)  I’m just listening to them.

AUDIENCE:  Obama!  Obama!  Obama!

THE PRESIDENT:  Here’s what I think, Miami.  Here’s what I think.  I think if we stay true to our principles, if we do what’s right for the American people, then elections will take care of themselves.  (Applause.)   You know, I noticed -- this was one of the great things about running for President -- especially for two years -- (laughter) -- is it gives you a little perspective because you realize that these things go in cycles, the mood of the media and how things get portrayed.  And so you’re like a genius for about a month and then you’re an idiot for about six months.  (Laughter.)  Then, you know, you’re smart again for -- you’re not as smart as you were, but you’re a little smarter than they thought you were, then you’re an idiot again.  (Laughter.)

But what it shows you is that you can’t hyperventilate about the day-to-day politics and the gamesmanship and the polls.  What you’ve got to focus on is that true North, that lodestar, which is, are the things we’re doing over the long term going to help not just this generation but the next generation?  Is this going to make America stronger?  Is it going to help the economy grow?  Is it going to help equip our children to compete in a new economy?

There are always going to be issues that Democrats and Republicans don’t see eye to eye on.  That’s how our democracy works.  I have to say, though, it’s one thing to disagree out of principle.  It’s another to stand in the way simply because of politics.  And too often that’s been what’s going on.  (Applause.)  And we had -- we had Republican leaders who made a decision even before I took office -- now, this is their quote, so I’m not making this up -- who just said, you know, we’re not going to work with the Obama administration on the most important issues facing the American people. 

A few weeks into my presidency I went to the Capitol to meet with some of my Republican friends on the House to talk about what were we going to do about this economy plunging into disaster.  It turned out there was a press release issued before I got to the meeting saying they had already decided to vote against it.  They didn’t know what “it” was, but they were going to oppose it.  (Laughter.)

Early in the health care debate a Republican senator said, if we are able to stop Obama on this it will be his Waterloo, it will break him.  When it comes to fiscal responsibility -- these are the folks who inherited this massive surplus from Bill Clinton and the Democrats, right?  (Applause.)  So they conveniently forget when they’re in charge that they turned this massive surplus into massive deficits, voting for two tax cuts for the wealthy that weren’t paid for, two wars, a new entitlement program -- paid for none of it.  Suddenly we’re in and they’ve got the green visors out and they’re sharpening the pencils -- (laughter) -- and they’re deficit hawks again.  Blamed me for all of it.  I walked in with a $1.3 trillion deficit.  Suddenly it’s mine.  It’s a sight to see.  (Laughter.)

So I said, okay, I’m President, I’m going to take responsibility for it.  I embrace a Republican idea -- we’re going to create a bipartisan fiscal commission to help us close the deficit.  What happened?  Some of the same folks who had proposed the idea -- they were sponsors of the bill -- suddenly they’re against it.  (Laughter.)  

So I’m sensing a pattern.  (Laughter and applause.)  So somebody has got to tell them, you talk and you share ideas first, then you can say no.  You don’t say no first.  (Laughter.)

So, not surprisingly, people are frustrated with Washington.  But if folks spent less time trying to score points and more time thinking about the needs and the hopes of the American people, imagine all that we could accomplish together.  (Applause.)  I know this may be heresy to say in front of a crowd like this, at an event like this -- but there are more important things than political party.  (Applause.)

So I’m going to keep on reaching out to Republicans.  I’m going to keep on incorporating good ideas when they have them -- even if they refuse to consider my good ideas -- because there is a lot that we should be able to agree on.  We should be able to agree on rebuilding our economy so that hard work is rewarded and families feel like they’ve got a shot at achieving the American Dream again.  This is more than just an economic challenge because jobs are more than about a paycheck.  It’s about feeling a job well done, the sense of self-worth and dignity, the fulfillment of meeting one’s responsibilities.  (Applause.)   We’ve got to think creatively and collaboratively if we want to put America back to work in well-paying jobs.

We should all agree we’ve got to close our mounting deficits.  I take this very seriously.  Even as we’ve had to spend our way out of this recession in the near term, helping people with unemployment insurance and their health insurance needs, and helping states so they’re not having to lay off teaches and cops and firefighters -- we’ve still been making hard choices necessary to put our country on a more stable fiscal footing in the long run.

But we’re going to face more tough choices ahead, and we’ve got to work on them together.  We should all agree that we’ve got to pass common-sense Wall Street reform that prevents the kind of situation that led us into this crisis in the first place and damaged the dreams of millions of Americans.  (Applause.)

Now, it’s no surprise that the financial institutions that profit from the status quo have sent hordes of lobbyists to kill reform.  It’s like throwing a piece of meat into a piranha tank -- they’re going to race to see how fast they can tear it apart.  But we can’t allow them to succeed.  Every member of Congress is soon going to have to make a decision; they’re going to have to make a choice.  And the choice is going to be very simple between special interests and the American people.  (Applause.)  If you want the status quo where banks are able to take wild risks to pump up their bonuses and leave you footing the bill when things go south -- that’s one option.  I don’t think it’s the right one.  And there’s going to be a very clear choice to make.  I believe that all of us, Democrat and Republican, can find some common ground here.

So the bottom line is we’ve come a long way to go -- we’ve come a long way this past year, but we’ve got a long way to go.  We’ve got a lot of work left to do.  Times are still tough for too many of our fellow Americans.  But here’s what I want you to remember.  America has endured tough times before -- tougher times than these, even.  And we always come out of them stronger.  We always come out of them smarter, we always come out more united.  And Miami, I’m convinced that if we keep at it, if we see this through, if we shun the cynics, if we heed the better angels of our nature, if we look beyond the next election, do what’s right for the next generation, then we’re going to meet our common challenges and we are going to finish what we’ve started.  We are going to keep the promise and hope of America alive for this generation and for the next generation and every generation after that.  (Applause.)   And we’re only going to do it because of you guys and the incredible work that you’re doing each and every day.

Thank you.  I love you.  God bless you and God bless the United States of America.  (Applause.)

END
7:11 P.M. EDT

Remarks by the President on Space Exploration in the 21st Century

John F. Kennedy Space Center
Merritt Island, Florida

2:55 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you, everybody.  Thank you. (Applause.)  Thank you so much.  Thank you, everybody.  Please have a seat.  Thank you.

I want to thank Senator Bill Nelson and NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden for their extraordinary leadership.  I want to recognize Dr. Buzz Aldrin as well, who’s in the house.  (Applause.)  Four decades ago, Buzz became a legend.  But in the four decades since he’s also been one of America’s leading visionaries and authorities on human space flight.

Few people -- present company excluded -- can claim the expertise of Buzz and Bill and Charlie when it comes to space exploration.  I have to say that few people are as singularly unimpressed by Air Force One as those three.  (Laughter.)  Sure, it’s comfortable, but it can’t even reach low Earth orbit.  And that obviously is in striking contrast to the Falcon 9 rocket we just saw on the launch pad, which will be tested for the very first time in the coming weeks.

A couple of other acknowledgments I want to make.  We’ve got Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee from Texas visiting us, a big supporter of the space program.  (Applause.)  My director, Office of Science and Technology Policy -- in other words my chief science advisor -- John Holdren is here.  (Applause.)  And most of all I want to acknowledge your congresswoman Suzanne Kosmas, because every time I meet with her, including the flight down here, she reminds me of how important our NASA programs are and how important this facility is.  And she is fighting for every single one of you and for her district and for the jobs in her district.  And you should know that you’ve got a great champion in Congresswoman Kosmas.  Please give her a big round of applause.  (Applause.)

I also want to thank everybody for participating in today’s conference.  And gathered here are scientists, engineers, business leaders, public servants, and a few more astronauts as well.  Last but not least, I want to thank the men and women of NASA for welcoming me to the Kennedy Space Center, and for your contributions not only to America, but to the world.

Here at the Kennedy Space Center we are surrounded by monuments and milestones of those contributions.  It was from here that NASA launched the missions of Mercury and Gemini and Apollo.  It was from here that Space Shuttle Discovery, piloted by Charlie Bolden, carried the Hubble Telescope into orbit, allowing us to plumb the deepest recesses of our galaxy.  And I should point out, by the way, that in my private office just off the Oval, I’ve got the picture of Jupiter from the Hubble.  So thank you, Charlie, for helping to decorate my office.  (Laughter.)  It was from here that men and women, propelled by sheer nerve and talent, set about pushing the boundaries of humanity’s reach.

That’s the story of NASA.  And it’s a story that started a little more than half a century ago, far from the Space Coast, in a remote and desolate region of what is now called Kazakhstan.  Because it was from there that the Soviet Union launched Sputnik, the first artificial satellite to orbit the Earth, which was little more than a few pieces of metal with a transmitter and a battery strapped to the top of a missile.  But the world was stunned.  Americans were dumbfounded.  The Soviets, it was perceived, had taken the lead in a race for which we were not yet fully prepared.

But we caught up very quick.  President Eisenhower signed legislation to create NASA and to invest in science and math education, from grade school to graduate school.  In 1961, President Kennedy boldly declared before a joint session of Congress that the United States would send a man to the Moon and return him safely to the Earth within the decade.  And as a nation, we set about meeting that goal, reaping rewards that have in the decades since touched every facet of our lives.  NASA was at the forefront.  Many gave their careers to the effort.  And some have given far more.

In the years that have followed, the space race inspired a generation of scientists and innovators, including, I’m sure, many of you.  It’s contributed to immeasurable technological advances that have improved our health and well-being, from satellite navigation to water purification, from aerospace manufacturing to medical imaging.  Although, I have to say, during a meeting right before I came out on stage somebody said, you know, it’s more than just Tang -- and I had to point out I actually really like Tang.  (Laughter.)  I thought that was very cool.

And leading the world to space helped America achieve new heights of prosperity here on Earth, while demonstrating the power of a free and open society to harness the ingenuity of its people.

And on a personal note, I have been part of that generation so inspired by the space program.  1961 was the year of my birth -- the year that Kennedy made his announcement.  And one of my earliest memories is sitting on my grandfather’s shoulders, waving a flag as astronauts arrived in Hawaii.  For me, the space program has always captured an essential part of what it means to be an American -- reaching for new heights, stretching beyond what previously did not seem possible.  And so, as President, I believe that space exploration is not a luxury, it’s not an afterthought in America’s quest for a brighter future -- it is an essential part of that quest.

So today, I’d like to talk about the next chapter in this story.  The challenges facing our space program are different, and our imperatives for this program are different, than in decades past.  We’re no longer racing against an adversary.  We’re no longer competing to achieve a singular goal like reaching the Moon.  In fact, what was once a global competition has long since become a global collaboration.  But while the measure of our achievements has changed a great deal over the past 50 years, what we do -- or fail to do -- in seeking new frontiers is no less consequential for our future in space and here on Earth.

So let me start by being extremely clear:  I am 100 percent committed to the mission of NASA and its future.  (Applause.)  Because broadening our capabilities in space will continue to serve our society in ways that we can scarcely imagine.  Because exploration will once more inspire wonder in a new generation -- sparking passions and launching careers.  And because, ultimately, if we fail to press forward in the pursuit of discovery, we are ceding our future and we are ceding that essential element of the American character.

I know there have been a number of questions raised about my administration’s plan for space exploration, especially in this part of Florida where so many rely on NASA as a source of income as well as a source of pride and community.  And these questions come at a time of transition, as the space shuttle nears its scheduled retirement after almost 30 years of service.  And understandably, this adds to the worries of folks concerned not only about their own futures but about the future of the space program to which they’ve devoted their lives.

But I also know that underlying these concerns is a deeper worry, one that precedes not only this plan but this administration.  It stems from the sense that people in Washington -- driven sometimes less by vision than by politics -- have for years neglected NASA’s mission and undermined the work of the professionals who fulfill it.  We’ve seen that in the NASA budget, which has risen and fallen with the political winds.

But we can also see it in other ways:  in the reluctance of those who hold office to set clear, achievable objectives; to provide the resources to meet those objectives; and to justify not just these plans but the larger purpose of space exploration in the 21st century.

All that has to change.  And with the strategy I’m outlining today, it will.  We start by increasing NASA’s budget by $6 billion over the next five years, even -- (applause) -- I want people to understand the context of this.  This is happening even as we have instituted a freeze on discretionary spending and sought to make cuts elsewhere in the budget.

So NASA, from the start, several months ago when I issued my budget, was one of the areas where we didn’t just maintain a freeze but we actually increased funding by $6 billion.  By doing that we will ramp up robotic exploration of the solar system, including a probe of the Sun’s atmosphere; new scouting missions to Mars and other destinations; and an advanced telescope to follow Hubble, allowing us to peer deeper into the universe than ever before.

We will increase Earth-based observation to improve our understanding of our climate and our world -- science that will garner tangible benefits, helping us to protect our environment for future generations.

And we will extend the life of the International Space Station likely by more than five years, while actually using it for its intended purpose:  conducting advanced research that can help improve the daily lives of people here on Earth, as well as testing and improving upon our capabilities in space.  This includes technologies like more efficient life support systems that will help reduce the cost of future missions.  And in order to reach the space station, we will work with a growing array of private companies competing to make getting to space easier and more affordable.  (Applause.)

Now, I recognize that some have said it is unfeasible or unwise to work with the private sector in this way.  I disagree.  The truth is, NASA has always relied on private industry to help design and build the vehicles that carry astronauts to space, from the Mercury capsule that carried John Glenn into orbit nearly 50 years ago, to the space shuttle Discovery currently orbiting overhead.  By buying the services of space transportation -- rather than the vehicles themselves -- we can continue to ensure rigorous safety standards are met.  But we will also accelerate the pace of innovations as companies -- from young startups to established leaders -- compete to design and build and launch new means of carrying people and materials out of our atmosphere.

In addition, as part of this effort, we will build on the good work already done on the Orion crew capsule.  I’ve directed Charlie Bolden to immediately begin developing a rescue vehicle using this technology, so we are not forced to rely on foreign providers if it becomes necessary to quickly bring our people home from the International Space Station.  And this Orion effort will be part of the technological foundation for advanced spacecraft to be used in future deep space missions.  In fact, Orion will be readied for flight right here in this room.  (Applause.)

Next, we will invest more than $3 billion to conduct research on an advanced “heavy lift rocket” -- a vehicle to efficiently send into orbit the crew capsules, propulsion systems, and large quantities of supplies needed to reach deep space.  In developing this new vehicle, we will not only look at revising or modifying older models; we want to look at new designs, new materials, new technologies that will transform not just where we can go but what we can do when we get there.  And we will finalize a rocket design no later than 2015 and then begin to build it.  (Applause.)  And I want everybody to understand:  That’s at least two years earlier than previously planned -- and that’s conservative, given that the previous program was behind schedule and over budget.

At the same time, after decades of neglect, we will increase investment -- right away -- in other groundbreaking technologies that will allow astronauts to reach space sooner and more often, to travel farther and faster for less cost, and to live and work in space for longer periods of time more safely.  That means tackling major scientific and technological challenges.  How do we shield astronauts from radiation on longer missions?  How do we harness resources on distant worlds?  How do we supply spacecraft with energy needed for these far-reaching journeys?  These are questions that we can answer and will answer.  And these are the questions whose answers no doubt will reap untold benefits right here on Earth.

So the point is what we’re looking for is not just to continue on the same path -- we want to leap into the future; we want major breakthroughs; a transformative agenda for NASA.  (Applause.)

Now, yes, pursuing this new strategy will require that we revise the old strategy.  In part, this is because the old strategy -- including the Constellation program -- was not fulfilling its promise in many ways.  That’s not just my assessment; that’s also the assessment of a panel of respected non-partisan experts charged with looking at these issues closely.  Now, despite this, some have had harsh words for the decisions we’ve made, including some individuals who I’ve got enormous respect and admiration for.

But what I hope is, is that everybody will take a look at what we are planning, consider the details of what we’ve laid out, and see the merits as I’ve described them.  The bottom line is nobody is more committed to manned space flight, to human exploration of space than I am.  (Applause.)  But we’ve got to do it in a smart way, and we can’t just keep on doing the same old things that we’ve been doing and thinking that somehow is going to get us to where we want to go.

Some have said, for instance, that this plan gives up our leadership in space by failing to produce plans within NASA to reach low Earth orbit, instead of relying on companies and other countries.  But we will actually reach space faster and more often under this new plan, in ways that will help us improve our technological capacity and lower our costs, which are both essential for the long-term sustainability of space flight.  In fact, through our plan, we’ll be sending many more astronauts to space over the next decade.  (Applause.)

There are also those who criticized our decision to end parts of Constellation as one that will hinder space exploration below [sic] low Earth orbit.  But it’s precisely by investing in groundbreaking research and innovative companies that we will have the potential to rapidly transform our capabilities -- even as we build on the important work already completed, through projects like Orion, for future missions.  And unlike the previous program, we are setting a course with specific and achievable milestones.

Early in the next decade, a set of crewed flights will test and prove the systems required for exploration beyond low Earth orbit.  (Applause.)  And by 2025, we expect new spacecraft designed for long journeys to allow us to begin the first-ever crewed missions beyond the Moon into deep space.  (Applause.)  So we’ll start -- we’ll start by sending astronauts to an asteroid for the first time in history.  (Applause.)  By the mid-2030s, I believe we can send humans to orbit Mars and return them safely to Earth.  And a landing on Mars will follow.  And I expect to be around to see it.  (Applause.)

But I want to repeat -- I want to repeat this:  Critical to deep space exploration will be the development of breakthrough propulsion systems and other advanced technologies.  So I’m challenging NASA to break through these barriers.  And we’ll give you the resources to break through these barriers.  And I know you will, with ingenuity and intensity, because that’s what you’ve always done.  (Applause.)

Now, I understand that some believe that we should attempt a return to the surface of the Moon first, as previously planned.  But I just have to say pretty bluntly here:  We’ve been there before.  Buzz has been there.  There’s a lot more of space to explore, and a lot more to learn when we do.  So I believe it’s more important to ramp up our capabilities to reach -- and operate at -- a series of increasingly demanding targets, while advancing our technological capabilities with each step forward.  And that’s what this strategy does.  And that’s how we will ensure that our leadership in space is even stronger in this new century than it was in the last.  (Applause.)

Finally, I want to say a few words about jobs.  Suzanne pointed out to me that the last time I was here, I made a very clear promise that I would help in the transition into a new program to make sure that people who are already going through a tough time here in this region were helped.  And despite some reports to the contrary, my plan will add more than 2,500 jobs along the Space Coast in the next two years compared to the plan under the previous administration.  So I want to make that point.  (Applause.)

We’re going to modernize the Kennedy Space Center, creating jobs as we upgrade launch facilities.  And there’s potential for even more jobs as companies in Florida and across America compete to be part of a new space transportation industry.  And some of those industry leaders are here today.  This holds the promise of generating more than 10,000 jobs nationwide over the next few years.  And many of these jobs will be created right here in Florida because this is an area primed to lead in this competition.

Now, it’s true -- there are Floridians who will see their work on the shuttle end as the program winds down.  This is based on a decision that was made six years ago, not six months ago, but that doesn’t make it any less painful for families and communities affected as this decision becomes reality.

So I’m proposing -- in part because of strong lobbying by Bill and by Suzanne, as well as Charlie -- I’m proposing a $40 million initiative led by a high-level team from the White House, NASA, and other agencies to develop a plan for regional economic growth and job creation.  And I expect this plan to reach my desk by August 15th.  (Applause.)  It’s an effort that will help prepare this already skilled workforce for new opportunities in the space industry and beyond.

So this is the next chapter that we can write together here at NASA.  We will partner with industry.  We will invest in cutting-edge research and technology.  We will set far-reaching milestones and provide the resources to reach those milestones.  And step by step, we will push the boundaries not only of where we can go but what we can do.

Fifty years after the creation of NASA, our goal is no longer just a destination to reach.  Our goal is the capacity for people to work and learn and operate and live safely beyond the Earth for extended periods of time, ultimately in ways that are more sustainable and even indefinite.  And in fulfilling this task, we will not only extend humanity’s reach in space -- we will strengthen America’s leadership here on Earth.

Now, I’ll close by saying this.  I know that some Americans have asked a question that’s particularly apt on Tax Day:  Why spend money on NASA at all?  Why spend money solving problems in space when we don’t lack for problems to solve here on the ground?  And obviously our country is still reeling from the worst economic turmoil we’ve known in generations.  We have massive structural deficits that have to be closed in the coming years.

But you and I know this is a false choice.  We have to fix our economy.  We need to close our deficits.  But for pennies on the dollar, the space program has fueled jobs and entire industries.  For pennies on the dollar, the space program has improved our lives, advanced our society, strengthened our economy, and inspired generations of Americans.  And I have no doubt that NASA can continue to fulfill this role.  (Applause.)  But that is why -- but I want to say clearly to those of you who work for NASA, but to the entire community that has been so supportive of the space program in this area:  That is exactly why it’s so essential that we pursue a new course and that we revitalize NASA and its mission -- not just with dollars, but with clear aims and a larger purpose.

Now, little more than 40 years ago, astronauts descended the nine-rung ladder of the lunar module called Eagle, and allowed their feet to touch the dusty surface of the Earth’s only Moon.  This was the culmination of a daring and perilous gambit -- of an endeavor that pushed the boundaries of our knowledge, of our technological prowess, of our very capacity as human beings to solve problems.  It wasn’t just the greatest achievement in NASA’s history -- it was one of the greatest achievements in human history.

And the question for us now is whether that was the beginning of something or the end of something.  I choose to believe it was only the beginning.

So thank you.  God bless you.  And may God bless the United States of America.  Thank you.  (Applause.)

END
3:21 P.M. EDT