Remarks by the President on a World-Class Education

McGavock Comprehensive High School
Nashville, Tennessee

4:45 P.M. CST

THE PRESIDENT:  Hello, everybody.  (Applause.)  It is good to be in Nashville!  (Applause.)  And it’s good to be here at Big Mac.  (Applause.)  

I want to thank Reverend Sinkfield for your words of prayer. I want to thank Ronald for the great introduction.  We are very proud of him.  (Applause.)  He’s going somewhere.  And he looks very sharp in that bow-tie.  (Laughter.) 

I want to thank the Mayor of Nashville, Karl Dean, for having us here today.  (Applause.)  Mr. Mayor.  You’ve got two outstanding members of Congress who are here -- Steve Cohen and Jim Cooper.  (Applause.)  And I want to acknowledge one of the finest public servants that we've ever had, and a native of -- proud native of Tennessee -- Mr. Al Gore is here as well.  (Applause.)

To the Superintendent and your outstanding principal, and all the teachers, and most importantly, the students -- (applause) -- as well as all the parents who are doing an outstanding job -- (applause) -- I just want to say thank you. 

I wanted to come here today because I’ve heard great things about this high school and all of you.  But I also recognize the past couple days have been hard and have tested people’s spirits. Some of you lost a good friend.  So I wanted you to know that Michelle and I have been praying for all of you and the community.  And I know that all of us are sending prayers to those families that have been so directly impacted.  It’s been heartbreaking.   

I’d been planning to come to this school for a while because you’ve made great strides.  (Applause.)  You’ve made great strides, and the reason you’ve made great strides is because you’ve worked hard together.

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  That's right.

THE PRESIDENT:  And by the way, those of you who have seats feel free to sit down.  (Laughter.)  Those of you who don't, don't.  (Laughter.) 

You’ve been there for each other.  In the weeks and months ahead, I hope you keep being there for each other, help each other through challenges and difficulties.  This community cares about you.  This country cares about you.  And we want to celebrate what you’ve achieved, because the message I want to send here today is we want every child to have every chance in life, every chance at happiness, every chance at success.  (Applause.)

On Tuesday, I delivered my State of the Union address.  (Applause.)  Now, what I was going to say right at the top was “the state of the Union is cold.”  (Laughter.)  But what I instead focused on is a very simple but profound idea -- the idea of opportunity.  It’s at the heart of who we are as Americans.  It means that no matter who you are, no matter what you look like, no matter where you come from, if you work hard, if you live up to your responsibilities, you can make it in America.  (Applause.)

And that’s the chance that this country gave me.  I’m not very different than a lot of the students who are here -- except probably I was more irresponsible.  (Laughter.)  I was raised by a single mom, with the help of my grandmother and my grandfather. We didn’t have a lot of money and sometimes my mom was struggling because she was raising two kids and also trying to go to school herself. 

We lived overseas for a time, but my mother emphasized even then, even when I was six, seven, eight years old, that your ticket is an education.  And because I was living overseas she was worried that I'd fall behind.  So she used to wake me up before sunrise to do my correspondence courses, to make sure I was keeping up with my American schooling, before I went to school over there. 

And if you're seven and eight and you're waking up at 4:30 a.m.-5:00 a.m. in the morning, you don't feel real good.  You're not happy.  (Laughter.)  And so I'd grumble and complain.  And she’d say, “Listen, this is no picnic for me either, buster.”  (Laughter.)  But she understood that if her son, and later her daughter, my sister, got a good education, even if we didn’t have a lot, then the world would open up to us. 

And with that support structure that started at home, but then extended to teachers and communities and a country that was willing to give scholarships, and folks who were willing to give me a helping hand and sometimes give me second chances when I made mistakes -- through all of that I was able to go to some of the best colleges in the country, even though we didn’t have a lot of money. 

Michelle, my wife, the daughter of a blue-collar worker and a secretary, was able to go to some of the best schools in the country.  And we were able to achieve things that our parents and our grandparents could have never imagined, could have never dreamed of.  And I want every young person in America to have that same chance.  Every single one. 

And that’s why, in my speech on Tuesday night, I laid out an agenda where we need to grow our economy for everybody, we need to strengthen the middle class, we've got to make it easier for folks to work their way into the middle class -- an opportunity agenda that has four parts:  More new jobs.  Making sure folks have the skills to fill those jobs.  Making sure that we are rewarding hard work with a living wage and incomes.  And the thing that I'm here to talk about right here -- guaranteeing every young person access to a world-class education.  (Applause.)  Every single one.

Now, sometimes we only hear the bad news.  So I just want to report on some good news.  We have made progress when it comes to education in America.  (Applause.)  Right now our high school graduation rate is the highest that it’s been in 30 years.  (Applause.)  The dropout rate has been falling and, for example, the Latino dropout rate has been cut in half over the last 10 years.  (Applause.)  

When I came into office, we took on a financial aid system running through the banks that was good for the banks but wasn’t good for students.  We reformed it, providing billions more dollars to millions more students.  And now we've got more young people graduating from college than ever before.  (Applause.) 

And then, to spark reform, five years ago we started a competition that we call Race to the Top to promote innovation and reform in America’s schools.  Tennessee was one of the first states to win that competition.  (Applause.)  And because of that commitment, bringing together educators and parents and businesses and elected officials at state and federal levels -- because of all that, you are actually the fastest-improving state in the nation.  (Applause.)

You’ve given teachers more support.  You’ve found new ways to identify and reward the best teachers.  You’ve made huge strides in helping young people learn the skills they need for a new economy -- skills like problem-solving and critical thinking, science, technology, engineering, math.  In Nashville alone, you’ve boosted graduation rates by almost 20 percent in about a decade.  That's something you should be very proud of.  (Applause.) 

So I want us to take the lessons we've learned and are learning in terms of what’s working and make sure more schools are able to do some of the things you're doing.  I want to build on what works.  But to do that, we’ve got to reach more kids -- and we’ve got to do it faster.  Because my attitude is there’s no child that we should let slip simply because of politics or because adults can't get their act together.  (Applause.)  We've got to make sure that we're reaching every single one of them as fast as we can.  And right now we're not doing that. 

So here’s where we should start.  Research shows that high-quality early education is one of the best investments we can make in a child’s life.  We know that.  (Applause.)  And not only is it good for the child, it’s a smart investment.  Every dollar you put into early childhood education, the government will -- taxpayers will save seven dollars because you have fewer dropouts, fewer teen pregnancies, fewer --

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  Incarcerations.

THE PRESIDENT:  -- incarcerations -- thank you.  (Laughter.) Folks will get better jobs, pay more taxes.  So it's a win-win for everybody

And last year I asked Congress, help states make high-quality pre-kindergarten available to every four-year-old in America.  (Applause.)  Now, the good news is 30 states have decided to raise some pre-K funding on their own.  And school districts like this one have plans to open dedicated pre-K centers with space for hundreds of young kids.  And we did get a little help from Congress earlier this month.  But while we got a little help, we need more help.  Because even with the efforts of your superintendent and folks who are working hard in this school district, there are still going to be some kids who could use the help but aren't getting it. 

So Congress -- I'd like to see them act more boldly than they are.  But while Congress decides if it’s willing to give every child that opportunity, I’m not waiting.  (Applause.)  So we're going to bring business leaders from all across the country and philanthropists from all across the country who are willing to help work with school districts, mayors, governors to make sure more young people every single year are getting access to the high-quality pre-K that they need.  That’s going to be a project over the next three years. 

We also need to give students access to the world's information.  Technology is not the sole answer for a child's education.  Having a good teacher is what is most important, and having great parents is even more important than that.  (Applause.)  But in this modern, 21st-century economy, technology helps.  It can be a powerful tool to leverage good teaching.

So last year I pledged to connect 99 percent of our students to high-speed broadband over five years.  (Applause.)  And with help of the Federal Communications Commission, the FCC, we’re making a down payment on that goal by connecting more than 15,000 schools, 20 million students over the next two years, so that there is wireless in every classroom. 

And we are going to hit that goal of -- there's not going to be a child in a school in America that does not have the kind of wireless connection that allows them to stream in the information they need that can power their education.  That’s going to be a priority.  (Applause.)  And I want to acknowledge, by the way -- we've got companies like Apple, Microsoft, Sprint, Verizon -- they're going to help students and teachers use the latest tools to accelerate learning.

Now, we also need to encourage more schools to rethink not just what they teach, but how they teach it.  (Applause.)  And that’s where what you're doing here is so important.  If you’re a student here, your experience is a little different from students at other high schools.  Starting in 10th grade, you get to choose from one of four “academies” that allow you to focus on a specific subject area.  Local businesses are doing their part by giving students opportunities to connect the lessons you learn in the classroom with jobs that are actually out there to be filled. 

So students in the Academy of Business and Finance, they're operating their own credit union here at the school, and doing some work in a real one over the summer.  (Applause.)  If you choose Digital Design and Communication -- (applause) -- you get to spend time in a TV studio designed by a local business partner.  If you choose the Aviation and Transportation Academy

-- (applause) -- you get to learn how to operate a 3D printer, and work on your very own airplane.  That’s pretty cool.  I didn’t get my own plane until I was 47 years old.  (Laughter.) 

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  And it's big.

THE PRESIDENT:  Yes, it's a nice plane, but I've got to give it back.  (Laughter.)  That’s the only thing.  It's a rental.  (Laughter.)   

But the idea is simple but powerful:  Young people are going to do better when they're excited about learning, and they're going to be more excited if they see a connection between what they're doing in the classroom and how it is applied.  If they see a connection between -- all right, the math that I'm doing here, this connects to the business that’s going on out there.  The graphic design I'm doing here, I am learning now what that means in terms of marketing or working for a company that actually gets paid to do this, which means I might get paid to do it.  And I'm seeing people who may open up for me entire new career options that I didn’t even realize. 

So that makes words on a pate exciting and real and tangible.  And then schools like this one teach you everything you need to succeed in college, but because of that hands-on experience, you're able to create pathways to make sure that folks also are able, if they choose not to go to a four-year institution, potentially get a job sooner. 

And it’s working.  Over the past nine years, the graduation rate here has gone up 22 percent -- 22 percent.  (Applause.)  Last year, attendance across the district, which includes 12 academy high schools, was higher than ever.  Thousands of students are getting a head start on their future years before many of their peers do.  And it's great for businesses because they're developing a pool of workers who already have the skills that they’re looking for. 

Now, every community is different, with different needs, different approaches.  But if Nashville can bring schools and teachers and businesses and parents together for the sake of our kids, then other places can.  (Applause.)  That’s why my administration is already running a competition to redesign high schools through employer partnerships that combine a quality education with real-world skills and hands-on learning. 

I want to encourage more high schools to do what you are doing.  (Applause.)  That’s why we’re also in the process of shaking up our system of higher education so that when you graduate from high school ready to succeed in college, it’s easier to afford college.  And we’re also working to help more students pay off their student loan debt once they graduate.  (Applause.)  A quality education shouldn’t be something that those other kids get; it's something that all kids get.

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  Including DREAMers.

THE PRESIDENT:  Absolutely. 

Now, the other day, I heard the story of a recent graduate here named Sara Santiago.  Where is Sara?  There's Sara right here.  (Applause.)  I want to -- I hope I'm not embarrassing Sara.  I'm going to tell her story. 

Sara's parents came to America from Guatemala, and she struggled her freshman year -- I think she'll admit it.  In her own words, she was “one of the bad kids.”  Now, she doesn’t look that bad.  (Laughter.)  I promise you, I was bad.  (Laughter.)  You might not have been that bad, but probably you weren't taking your studies that seriously.  And then she took a broadcasting class with a teacher named Barclay Randall.  (Applause.)  There's Mr. Randall right back there.  Go ahead and wave, Mr. Randall.  That’s Mr. Randall.  (Applause.)  Mr. Randall is over there with the press right now because some of his students are covering this event, they're doing some reporting.  (Applause.) 

But when Sara was in Mr. Randall's class he helped her discover this passion for filmmaking.  And pretty soon, Sara’s grades started to improve.  She won the school’s “best editing” award.  Then she got an internship with Country Music Television –- one of your business partners.  (Applause.)  And then she was accepted to the prestigious Savanna College of Art and Design.  (Applause.)  And she gives credit to Mr. Randall for this.  She says, “Mr. Randall gave me a second chance.  He saw things I never saw in myself.  He’s the person who helped me change.”  (Applause.) 

Now, giving every student that chance -- that’s our goal.  That’s what America is all about.  We work and study hard and chase our individual success, but we are also pulling for each other, and we've got each other's backs.  And as a nation, we make the investment in every child as if they're our children.  Because we're saying to ourselves, if every child is successful, then the world my child grows up in will be more successful.  The America that my child grows up in will be more successful.  (Applause.) 

So there are some lessons that we've got to absorb as a nation.  Where we can, we've got to start early.  Get to kids when they're three, four years old, because not every parent has got the same resources and we've got to help them get that good start for that child.  We've got to make sure that we are supporting our teachers, because they are the most critical ingredient in a school.  (Applause.)  And we've got to show them how important they are -- which means giving them the professional development they need, giving them the support that they need -- and giving them the pay that they need.  (Applause.) 

We've got to make sure that our high schools engage our children.  And not every child is going to go on the same path at the same speed, but we can restructure how our high schools operate to make sure every child is engaged.  And the more we can link them to real hands-on experience, the more likely they are to be engaged. 

And we've got to make college affordable for every young person in America.  But we can do all that -- we'll still be missing something if we don’t capture the spirit that Mr. Randall showed with Sara.  That investment in our children -- nothing is more important.  And it doesn’t cost any money, the initial spirit.  The spirit then can express itself by us putting more resources into schools that need it. 

But that spirit that every child matters -- that’s something that we can all embrace.  We help each other along in good times and bad.  And if America pulls together now around our young people, if we do our part to make sure every single child can go as far as their passions and hard work will take them, then we will keep the American Dream alive not just for your generation, but for generations to come. 

That’s my goal.  I hope it is yours, too.

Thank you, Nashville, for the great job.  Thank you, Riders.  I appreciate you.  God bless you.  (Applause.)

END
5:10 P.M. CST

Remarks by the President on Retirement

2:05 P.M. EST

THE PRESIDENT:  Hey, hello, everybody.  (Applause.)  Well, thank you, Mario, for that great introduction and your leadership.  You just don’t come to the Steel City without coming to U.S. Steel.  I just got a great tour and had a chance to see a little bit about how you guys build America every single day.  And I could not be prouder to be here. 

I brought a few friends with me.  We've got America’s Treasury Secretary, Jack Lew.  (Applause.)  We've got a couple of guys who wake up and go to bat for Pennsylvania workers every single day, Senator Bob Casey and Congressman Mike Doyle.  (Applause.)  We've got the Mayor of West Mifflin, Chris Kelly, in the house.  (Applause.)  Pittsburgh’s new Mayor, Bill Peduto is here.  (Applause.)  And we've got Allegheny County Executive, Rich Fitzgerald.  (Applause.)  And then, we’ve got one of my good buddies who is always in my ear about working people -- and I love this guy -- the International President of the United Steelworkers, Leo Gerard, is here.  (Applause.)  And I also brought along our great friend, our former ambassador to Ireland and, most importantly, Chairman of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Dan Rooney in the house.  (Applause.) 

And most of all, it’s great to be here with the men and women of U.S. Steel.  This company helped build America, and over a hundred years later, you’re still at it.  You forge the pipes that transport cleaner-burning natural gas.  You manufacture the lightweight alloys that our automakers use to build fuel-efficient cars.  You’re part of one of the great turnaround stories of this economic recovery, the rebound of the American steel industry.  And, look, just every time I go to a steel plant, I remember being a steelworker is hard work.  But every single one of you is doing your part to make the country stronger. 

Because of your efforts, businesses like U.S. Steel have now created 8 million new jobs over the past four years -- 9,000 new jobs in the steel industry alone.  Our unemployment rate is the lowest it’s been in more than five years.  Our deficits have been cut in half.  Housing is rebounding.  Manufacturing is adding jobs -- not shrinking jobs -- for the first time since the 1990s.  We sell more of what we make here in America to other parts of the world than ever before.  Business leaders are starting to realize that China is no longer the best place to invest and create jobs, America is -- the U.S. of A -- (applause) -- which is why I said last night I believe this can be a breakthrough year for America. 

After five years of hard work, after everything we did to dig ourselves out of the worst recession of our lifetimes, we’re better positioned in this 21st century than any other country on Earth.  And the question I posed to Congress yesterday is whether folks in Washington are going to help or they're going to hinder the progress we've been making, whether they’re going to waste time creating new crises that slow down our economy or they're going to spend time creating new jobs and new opportunities?  (Applause.)  

And I don't know what their plans are, but I choose a year of action.  Because too many Americans are working harder than ever just to get by, let alone get ahead.  They still have the scars of the recession.  But the truth is the middle class have been taking it on the chin since way before the financial crisis hit.  You know that.  The economy now has been growing for four years.  Corporate profits, stock prices they've gone up, but folks’ wages haven’t risen in over a decade. 

That’s why, last night, I laid out new steps we can take right now to speed up economic growth, strengthen the middle class and build new ladders of opportunity into the middle class.  It's an opportunity agenda, because opportunity is what America is all about.  And the agenda has four parts.  Number one, more new jobs:  jobs in American manufacturing, jobs in American energy, jobs in American innovation and technology.  (Applause.)   Number two, we've got to train more Americans with the skills that we need to fill those jobs.  Number three, we've got to guarantee every child in America a world-class education.  (Applause.)  And number four, we've got to make sure hard work pays off.

Now, some of these ideas that I presented last night are going to require Congress to pass legislation.  But America doesn’t stand still.  U.S. Steel hasn't stood still.  I'm not going to stand still.  So wherever I can take steps to expand opportunity for more families, regardless of what Congress does, that’s what I’m going to do -- (applause) -- because I am determined to work with all of you and citizens all across this country on the defining project of our generation, and that is to restore opportunity for every single person who is willing to work hard and take responsibility in this country.  That's what I'm committed to doing.  (Applause.)

I’ve come to U.S. Steel today because I want to talk about the fourth part of that opportunity agenda, making hard work pay off for every single American:  making sure jobs pay good wages, making sure affordable health care is there when you need it, making sure that after a lifetime of hard work you can retire with some dignity.

Today, women make up about half our workforce, but they still make 77 cents for every dollar a man makes.  As I said last night, that's wrong.  In 2014, it’s an embarrassment.  Women deserve equal pay for equal work.  They deserve to be able to have a baby without sacrificing a job.  (Applause.)  Moms and dads deserve to be able to take a day off for a sick kid or a sick parent.  We've got to get rid of some of these workplace policies that belong back in the '50s, back in a “Mad Men” episode, I said.  (Laughter.)  We've got to give every woman the opportunity she deserves, because when women succeed, America succeeds.  (Applause.)  And I'm really proud that there's a woman who is heading up this plant and doing some amazing work.  So I was really glad to see that.

But women hold the majority of lower-wage jobs.  And they're not the only ones who have been stifled by stagnant wages.  The truth is wages and incomes for the average working American haven't gone up.  Even though the economy is more productive, even though it's grown over the last two decades, the average person's salary -- what they're taking home, their paycheck -- it hasn't really grown.  Now, Americans understand, we all understand some people are going to earn more money than others.  And we don’t envy anybody who achieves success through their hard work.  That's what we want for our kids.

Michelle and I were talking.  Michelle's dad was a blue-collar worker, worked at a water filtration plant in Chicago.  Her mom was a secretary.  My mom was a single mom.  When we were growing up, we weren't worrying about what rich people were doing.  We weren't going around saying, oh, man, we don't have caviar for lunch -- (laughter) -- and we're not vacationing down in some fancy place.  We don't begrudge success to other folks. But we did expect -- and I think most Americans still expect -- that if you work hard, you should be able to make it.  You don't have to make it the way some folks make it, but everybody should have enough to feel some security. 

And Americans overwhelmingly agree that nobody who works full-time should ever have to raise a family in poverty.  (Applause.)  If you're doing your responsibilities and working hard, you should be able to pay the rent, buy food and look after your family.  

Now, today, the federal minimum wage doesn’t go as far as it did even in the 1950s.  That’s why some states and cities are raising their minimum wages on their own.  And I support their efforts.  And as I mentioned last night, as chief executive, I’m going to lead by example.  In the coming weeks, I'm issuing an executive order requiring federal contractors, folks doing business with the federal government, to pay your federally funded employees a fair wage of at least $10.10 an hour, because if you cook our troops’ meals or you wash their dishes, you shouldn’t have to live in poverty.  (Applause.) 

Of course, if we're going to reach millions more, then Congress is going to have to get on board.  There’s a bill in Congress right now to raise that minimum wage to $10.10.  And I told Congress, say yes to that.  Give America a raise. 

But that's not all we have to do to grow our middle class.  Making work pay also means access to health care that’s there for you when you get sick.  Now, the good news is if you work here at U.S. Steel, I know you've got good benefits.  And that's why I'm a strong supporter of unions, because they fought for those benefits.  (Applause.) 

But as everybody here knows -- and I'll bet you've got friends and family who haven't been so lucky and don't have those benefits.  And what the Affordable Care Act means is that no one can ever again be dropped or denied coverage for a preexisting condition like asthma or cancer.  You can’t be charged more if you’re a woman.  You can’t be charged more just because forging steel might hurt your back, make it hurt sometimes.  And if you don't have health insurance on the job, you can actually get affordable health insurance. 

So the days when folks are just on their own, out of luck, those days are over.  More Americans are signing up for new private health insurance plans every day.  (Applause.)  We're signing folks up for Medicaid.  And if you know somebody who isn’t covered, call them up, sit them down, help them get covered at healthcare.gov by March 31st.  We are going to get all of America covered.  That's one of my commitments.  (Applause.)  

And, finally -- and that's what this little desk here is about -- there's another thing we can all agree on.  If you've worked hard all your life, you deserve a secure retirement.  Some of the folks I met before I came here on the tour, some of these folks have been on the job 15 years, 20 years.  I think your roller has been on the job 38 years.  Let me tell you something, if you work 38 years, at the end of it you should feel like you're going to retire with some security.   

And a retirement used to be a three-legged stool, used to have a pension.  Then you had your Social Security.  Then you had your own private savings.  And you put that all together, and you could retire.  But today, most workers don’t have a pension in America.  Just half work for an employer that offers any kind of retirement plan.  A Social Security check is critical, but oftentimes that monthly check, that's not enough.  And while the stock market has doubled over the last five years, that doesn’t help somebody if you don't have a 401(k).

So what I’ve asked Congress to do is work with me to give more people more retirement security.  Let's fix an upside-down tax code that right now gives the wealthiest Americans big tax breaks to save, but does almost nothing for middle-class folks, doesn't give them the same kinds of tax advantages.  That's not fair.  And we need to give every American access to an automatic IRA on the job, so they can save at work.

Now, I’m hoping that Congress goes along with this, but I'm not going to wait for Congress.  I could do more with Congress, but I'm not going to not do anything without Congress, not when it’s about the basic security and dignity of American workers.  So here's what I'm going to do today.  This is what this little table is set up for.  I'm going to sign a presidential memorandum that directs the U.S. Treasury Secretary, Jack Lew, to create a new way for working Americans to start their own retirement savings.  (Applause.)  And as soon as I sign this, Jack Lew will get the memo.  He is right here.  So I'm going to be able to just -- here, here's your memo. 

And we're calling it “MyRA.”  Not IRA -- MyRA.  And what it is, it's a new type of savings bond that we can set up without legislation that encourages Americans to begin to build a nest egg.  And it’s simple.  Workers can contribute through automatic deductions in their paychecks, just like those of you who have an employer-sponsored pension fund can do.  They can keep the same account even if they change jobs, so they can carry it over.  It’s safe.  These account balances will never go down in value.  They’re backed by the full faith and credit of the United States government.  And it’s affordable.  So you can open an account with as little as $25.  You can contribute as little as $5 at a time. 

But what that means is for those of you who don't have a 401(k) on the job, don't have a pension on the job, don't have a mechanism to start saving -- especially younger workers -- you can get started now.  And in an emergency, you can withdraw contributions without paying a penalty.  So it's a pretty good deal.  (Applause.)  And what I'm hoping is that working Americans will take a look, because I want more people to have the chance to save for retirement through their hard work.  And this is just one step that we can take to help more people do that. 

So this is the opportunity agenda that's going to help restore some sense of economic security in this 21st century economy.  We want jobs that are more plentiful.  We want skills that keep you employable.  We want savings that are portable.  We want health care that’s yours and that's not going to be canceled when you really need it.  We want every American who works hard and takes responsibility to retire with dignity after decades of honest work.  These are real, practical, achievable solutions to help shift the odds back a little bit in favor of more working and middle-class Americans, so that if they work hard, they can get ahead and they can leave something for the next generation.

And that's something that U.S. Steel knows a little bit about.  For over a hundred years, people throughout the Mon Valley and across this country have been punching in at plants just like this one.  You’ve been keeping the furnaces blasting, keeping the cold mill rolling, carrying on the tradition of hard work and determination.  We've got two, three-generation steel workers at this plant right here.  And I know for a lot of you, this is more than a job.  This is a team.  This is a family that you're proud to be a part of. 

Robin Birk is with me today.  Decades ago, her granddad worked for Union Switch and Signal in Pittsburgh, making parts for railroads.  Her dad worked for U.S. Steel for over 30 years, rising to plant manager.  Robin’s been a safety manager here for 23 years.  And I want to share something Robin said.  She said, “When I was growing up, I would think about what my grandfather and father did for a living, and I always thought my brother would be the one who got to work here.  But it ended up being me.  Women before me maybe didn’t have that opportunity.”
 
Now, Robin’s dad, Bernard, who just passed away a little more than a year ago, he was full of pride for this company.  He used to say, “When we bleed, we bleed blue” -- the color of U.S. Steel. 

So that pride has run across generation.  That's the pride that built this company.  And that's the pride that built America.  That’s the spirit we all need today.  That's the resilience, the grit, the determination, and the optimism that keeps the American Dream alive not just for this generation, but for future generations to come. 

That's what I'm going to be fighting for this year, just like I was for the last five years and for the next three years.  And I expect all of you to join me in making sure that we deliver that promise to the next generation.  (Applause.)

And now, I'm going to sign this bill.  Thank you.  God bless you.  God bless the United States of America. 

END
2:26 P.M. EST

President Barack Obama's State of the Union Address

Mr. Speaker, Mr. Vice President, Members of Congress, my fellow Americans:

Today in America, a teacher spent extra time with a student who needed it, and did her part to lift America’s graduation rate to its highest level in more than three decades.

An entrepreneur flipped on the lights in her tech startup, and did her part to add to the more than eight million new jobs our businesses have created over the past four years. 

An autoworker fine-tuned some of the best, most fuel-efficient cars in the world, and did his part to help America wean itself off foreign oil.

A farmer prepared for the spring after the strongest five-year stretch of farm exports in our history.  A rural doctor gave a young child the first prescription to treat asthma that his mother could afford.  A man took the bus home from the graveyard shift, bone-tired but dreaming big dreams for his son.  And in tight-knit communities across America, fathers and mothers will tuck in their kids, put an arm around their spouse, remember fallen comrades, and give thanks for being home from a war that, after twelve long years, is finally coming to an end.

Tonight, this chamber speaks with one voice to the people we represent: it is you, our citizens, who make the state of our union strong.

Here are the results of your efforts:  The lowest unemployment rate in over five years.  A rebounding housing market.  A manufacturing sector that’s adding jobs for the first time since the 1990s.  More oil produced at home than we buy from the rest of the world – the first time that’s happened in nearly twenty years.  Our deficits – cut by more than half.  And for the first time in over a decade, business leaders around the world have declared that China is no longer the world’s number one place to invest; America is.

That’s why I believe this can be a breakthrough year for America.  After five years of grit and determined effort, the United States is better-positioned for the 21^st century than any other nation on Earth.

The question for everyone in this chamber, running through every decision we make this year, is whether we are going to help or hinder this progress.  For several years now, this town has been consumed by a rancorous argument over the proper size of the federal government.  It’s an important debate – one that dates back to our very founding.  But when that debate prevents us from carrying out even the most basic functions of our democracy – when our differences shut down government or threaten the full faith and credit of the United States – then we are not doing right by the American people.

As President, I’m committed to making Washington work better, and rebuilding the trust of the people who sent us here.  I believe most of you are, too.  Last month, thanks to the work of Democrats and Republicans, this Congress finally produced a budget that undoes some of last year’s severe cuts to priorities like education.  Nobody got everything they wanted, and we can still do more to invest in this country’s future while bringing down our deficit in a balanced way.  But the budget compromise should leave us freer to focus on creating new jobs, not creating new crises.

In the coming months, let’s see where else we can make progress together.  Let’s make this a year of action.  That’s what most Americans want – for all of us in this chamber to focus on their lives, their hopes, their aspirations.  And what I believe unites the people of this nation, regardless of race or region or party, young or old, rich or poor, is the simple, profound belief in opportunity for all – the notion that if you work hard and take responsibility, you can get ahead.

Let’s face it: that belief has suffered some serious blows.  Over more than three decades, even before the Great Recession hit, massive shifts in technology and global competition had eliminated a lot of good, middle-class jobs, and weakened the economic foundations that families depend on.

Today, after four years of economic growth, corporate profits and stock prices have rarely been higher, and those at the top have never done better.  But average wages have barely budged.  Inequality has deepened.  Upward mobility has stalled.  The cold, hard fact is that even in the midst of recovery, too many Americans are working more than ever just to get by – let alone get ahead.  And too many still aren’t working at all.

Our job is to reverse these trends.  It won’t happen right away, and we won’t agree on everything.  But what I offer tonight is a set of concrete, practical proposals to speed up growth, strengthen the middle class, and build new ladders of opportunity into the middle class.  Some require Congressional action, and I’m eager to work with all of you.  But America does not stand still – and neither will I.  So wherever and whenever I can take steps without legislation to expand opportunity for more American families, that’s what I’m going to do. 

As usual, our First Lady sets a good example.  Michelle’s Let’s Move partnership with schools, businesses, and local leaders has helped bring down childhood obesity rates for the first time in thirty years – an achievement that will improve lives and reduce health care costs for decades to come.  The Joining Forces alliance that Michelle and Jill Biden launched has already encouraged employers to hire or train nearly 400,000 veterans and military spouses.  Taking a page from that playbook, the White House just organized a College Opportunity Summit where already, 150 universities, businesses, and nonprofits have made concrete commitments to reduce inequality in access to higher education – and help every hardworking kid go to college and succeed when they get to campus.  Across the country, we’re partnering with mayors, governors, and state legislatures on issues from homelessness to marriage equality.

The point is, there are millions of Americans outside Washington who are tired of stale political arguments, and are moving this country forward.  They believe, and I believe, that here in America, our success should depend not on accident of birth, but the strength of our work ethic and the scope of our dreams.  That’s what drew our forebears here.  It’s how the daughter of a factory worker is CEO of America’s largest automaker; how the son of a barkeeper is Speaker of the House; how the son of a single mom can be President of the greatest nation on Earth. 

Opportunity is who we are.  And the defining project of our generation is to restore that promise.

We know where to start: the best measure of opportunity is access to a good job.  With the economy picking up speed, companies say they intend to hire more people this year.  And over half of big manufacturers say they’re thinking of insourcing jobs from abroad.

So let’s make that decision easier for more companies.  Both Democrats and Republicans have argued that our tax code is riddled with wasteful, complicated loopholes that punish businesses investing here, and reward companies that keep profits abroad.  Let’s flip that equation.  Let’s work together to close those loopholes, end those incentives to ship jobs overseas, and lower tax rates for businesses that create jobs here at home.

Moreover, we can take the money we save with this transition to tax reform to create jobs rebuilding our roads, upgrading our ports, unclogging our commutes – because in today’s global economy, first-class jobs gravitate to first-class infrastructure.  We’ll need Congress to protect more than three million jobs by finishing transportation and waterways bills this summer.  But I will act on my own to slash bureaucracy and streamline the permitting process for key projects, so we can get more construction workers on the job as fast as possible.

We also have the chance, right now, to beat other countries in the race for the next wave of high-tech manufacturing jobs.  My administration has launched two hubs for high-tech manufacturing in Raleigh and Youngstown, where we’ve connected businesses to research universities that can help America lead the world in advanced technologies.  Tonight, I’m announcing we’ll launch six more this year.  Bipartisan bills in both houses could double the number of these hubs and the jobs they create.  So get those bills to my desk and put more Americans back to work.

Let’s do more to help the entrepreneurs and small business owners who create most new jobs in America.  Over the past five years, my administration has made more loans to small business owners than any other.  And when ninety-eight percent of our exporters are small businesses, new trade partnerships with Europe and the Asia-Pacific will help them create more jobs.  We need to work together on tools like bipartisan trade promotion authority to protect our workers, protect our environment, and open new markets to new goods stamped “Made in the USA.”  China and Europe aren’t standing on the sidelines.  Neither should we.

We know that the nation that goes all-in on innovation today will own the global economy tomorrow.  This is an edge America cannot surrender.  Federally-funded research helped lead to the ideas and inventions behind Google and smartphones.  That’s why Congress should undo the damage done by last year’s cuts to basic research so we can unleash the next great American discovery – whether it’s vaccines that stay ahead of drug-resistant bacteria, or paper-thin material that’s stronger than steel.  And let’s pass a patent reform bill that allows our businesses to stay focused on innovation, not costly, needless litigation.

Now, one of the biggest factors in bringing more jobs back is our commitment to American energy.  The all-of-the-above energy strategy I announced a few years ago is working, and today, America is closer to energy independence than we’ve been in decades.

One of the reasons why is natural gas – if extracted safely, it’s the bridge fuel that can power our economy with less of the carbon pollution that causes climate change.  Businesses plan to invest almost $100 billion in new factories that use natural gas.  I’ll cut red tape to help states get those factories built, and this Congress can help by putting people to work building fueling stations that shift more cars and trucks from foreign oil to American natural gas.  My administration will keep working with the industry to sustain production and job growth while strengthening protection of our air, our water, and our communities.  And while we’re at it, I’ll use my authority to protect more of our pristine federal lands for future generations.

It’s not just oil and natural gas production that’s booming; we’re becoming a global leader in solar, too.  Every four minutes, another American home or business goes solar; every panel pounded into place by a worker whose job can’t be outsourced.  Let’s continue that progress with a smarter tax policy that stops giving $4 billion a year to fossil fuel industries that don’t need it, so that we can invest more in fuels of the future that do.

And even as we’ve increased energy production, we’ve partnered with businesses, builders, and local communities to reduce the energy we consume.  When we rescued our automakers, for example, we worked with them to set higher fuel efficiency standards for our cars.  In the coming months, I’ll build on that success by setting new standards for our trucks, so we can keep driving down oil imports and what we pay at the pump.

Taken together, our energy policy is creating jobs and leading to a cleaner, safer planet.  Over the past eight years, the United States has reduced our total carbon pollution more than any other nation on Earth.  But we have to act with more urgency – because a changing climate is already harming western communities struggling with drought, and coastal cities dealing with floods.  That’s why I directed my administration to work with states, utilities, and others to set new standards on the amount of carbon pollution our power plants are allowed to dump into the air.  The shift to a cleaner energy economy won’t happen overnight, and it will require tough choices along the way.  But the debate is settled.  Climate change is a fact.  And when our children’s children look us in the eye and ask if we did all we could to leave them a safer, more stable world, with new sources of energy, I want us to be able to say yes, we did.

Finally, if we are serious about economic growth, it is time to heed the call of business leaders, labor leaders, faith leaders, and law enforcement – and fix our broken immigration system.  Republicans and Democrats in the Senate have acted.  I know that members of both parties in the House want to do the same.  Independent economists say immigration reform will grow our economy and shrink our deficits by almost $1 trillion in the next two decades.  And for good reason: when people come here to fulfill their dreams – to study, invent, and contribute to our culture – they make our country a more attractive place for businesses to locate and create jobs for everyone.  So let’s get immigration reform done this year.

The ideas I’ve outlined so far can speed up growth and create more jobs.  But in this rapidly-changing economy, we have to make sure that every American has the skills to fill those jobs.

The good news is, we know how to do it.  Two years ago, as the auto industry came roaring back, Andra Rush opened up a manufacturing firm in Detroit.  She knew that Ford needed parts for the best-selling truck in America, and she knew how to make them.  She just needed the workforce.  So she dialed up what we call an American Job Center – places where folks can walk in to get the help or training they need to find a new job, or better job.  She was flooded with new workers.  And today, Detroit Manufacturing Systems has more than 700 employees.

What Andra and her employees experienced is how it should be for every employer – and every job seeker.  So tonight, I’ve asked Vice President Biden to lead an across-the-board reform of America’s training programs to make sure they have one mission: train Americans with the skills employers need, and match them to good jobs that need to be filled right now.  That means more on-the-job training, and more apprenticeships that set a young worker on an upward trajectory for life.  It means connecting companies to community colleges that can help design training to fill their specific needs.  And if Congress wants to help, you can concentrate funding on proven programs that connect more ready-to-work Americans with ready-to-be-filled jobs.

I’m also convinced we can help Americans return to the workforce faster by reforming unemployment insurance so that it’s more effective in today’s economy.  But first, this Congress needs to restore the unemployment insurance you just let expire for 1.6 million people.

Let me tell you why.

Misty DeMars is a mother of two young boys. She’d been steadily employed since she was a teenager.  She put herself through college.  She’d never collected unemployment benefits.  In May, she and her husband used their life savings to buy their first home.  A week later, budget cuts claimed the job she loved.  Last month, when their unemployment insurance was cut off, she sat down and wrote me a letter – the kind I get every day.  “We are the face of the unemployment crisis,” she wrote.  “I am not dependent on the government…Our country depends on people like us who build careers, contribute to society…care about our neighbors…I am confident that in time I will find a job…I will pay my taxes, and we will raise our children in their own home in the community we love.  Please give us this chance.”

Congress, give these hardworking, responsible Americans that chance.  They need our help, but more important, this country needs them in the game.  That’s why I’ve been asking CEOs to give more long-term unemployed workers a fair shot at that new job and new chance to support their families; this week, many will come to the White House to make that commitment real.  Tonight, I ask every business leader in America to join us and to do the same – because we are stronger when America fields a full team. 

Of course, it’s not enough to train today’s workforce.  We also have to prepare tomorrow’s workforce, by guaranteeing every child access to a world-class education.

Estiven Rodriguez couldn’t speak a word of English when he moved to New York City at age nine.  But last month, thanks to the support of great teachers and an innovative tutoring program, he led a march of his classmates – through a crowd of cheering parents and neighbors – from their high school to the post office, where they mailed off their college applications.  And this son of a factory worker just found out he’s going to college this fall.

Five years ago, we set out to change the odds for all our kids.  We worked with lenders to reform student loans, and today, more young people are earning college degrees than ever before.  Race to the Top, with the help of governors from both parties, has helped states raise expectations and performance.  Teachers and principals in schools from Tennessee to Washington, D.C. are making big strides in preparing students with skills for the new economy – problem solving, critical thinking, science, technology, engineering, and math.  Some of this change is hard.  It requires everything from more challenging curriculums and more demanding parents to better support for teachers and new ways to measure how well our kids think, not how well they can fill in a bubble on a test.  But it’s worth it – and it’s working. 

The problem is we’re still not reaching enough kids, and we’re not reaching them in time.  That has to change. 

Research shows that one of the best investments we can make in a child’s life is high-quality early education.  Last year, I asked this Congress to help states make high-quality pre-K available to every four year-old.  As a parent as well as a President, I repeat that request tonight. But in the meantime, thirty states have raised pre-k funding on their own.  They know we can’t wait.  So just as we worked with states to reform our schools, this year, we’ll invest in new partnerships with states and communities across the country in a race to the top for our youngest children.  And as Congress decides what it’s going to do, I’m going to pull together a coalition of elected officials, business leaders, and philanthropists willing to help more kids access the high-quality pre-K they need.

Last year, I also pledged to connect 99 percent of our students to high-speed broadband over the next four years.  Tonight, I can announce that with the support of the FCC and companies like Apple, Microsoft, Sprint, and Verizon, we’ve got a down payment to start connecting more than 15,000 schools and twenty million students over the next two years, without adding a dime to the deficit. 

We’re working to redesign high schools and partner them with colleges and employers that offer the real-world education and hands-on training that can lead directly to a job and career.  We’re shaking up our system of higher education to give parents more information, and colleges more incentives to offer better value, so that no middle-class kid is priced out of a college education.  We’re offering millions the opportunity to cap their monthly student loan payments to ten percent of their income, and I want to work with Congress to see how we can help even more Americans who feel trapped by student loan debt.  And I’m reaching out to some of America’s leading foundations and corporations on a new initiative to help more young men of color facing tough odds stay on track and reach their full potential.

The bottom line is, Michelle and I want every child to have the same chance this country gave us.  But we know our opportunity agenda won’t be complete – and too many young people entering the workforce today will see the American Dream as an empty promise – unless we do more to make sure our economy honors the dignity of work, and hard work pays off for every single American. 

Today, women make up about half our workforce.  But they still make 77 cents for every dollar a man earns.  That is wrong, and in 2014, it’s an embarrassment. A woman deserves equal pay for equal work.  She deserves to have a baby without sacrificing her job.  A mother deserves a day off to care for a sick child or sick parent without running into hardship – and you know what, a father does, too.  It’s time to do away with workplace policies that belong in a “Mad Men” episode.  This year, let’s all come together – Congress, the White House, and businesses from Wall Street to Main Street – to give every woman the opportunity she deserves.  Because I firmly believe when women succeed, America succeeds.

Now, women hold a majority of lower-wage jobs – but they’re not the only ones stifled by stagnant wages.  Americans understand that some people will earn more than others, and we don’t resent those who, by virtue of their efforts, achieve incredible success.  But Americans overwhelmingly agree that no one who works full time should ever have to raise a family in poverty.

In the year since I asked this Congress to raise the minimum wage, five states have passed laws to raise theirs.  Many businesses have done it on their own.  Nick Chute is here tonight with his boss, John Soranno.  John’s an owner of Punch Pizza in Minneapolis, and Nick helps make the dough.  Only now he makes more of it: John just gave his employees a raise, to ten bucks an hour – a decision that eased their financial stress and boosted their morale.

Tonight, I ask more of America’s business leaders to follow John’s lead and do what you can to raise your employees’ wages.  To every mayor, governor, and state legislator in America, I say, you don’t have to wait for Congress to act; Americans will support you if you take this on.  And as a chief executive, I intend to lead by example. Profitable corporations like Costco see higher wages as the smart way to boost productivity and reduce turnover. We should too.  In the coming weeks, I will issue an Executive Order requiring federal contractors to pay their federally-funded employees a fair wage of at least $10.10 an hour – because if you cook our troops’ meals or wash their dishes, you shouldn’t have to live in poverty.

Of course, to reach millions more, Congress needs to get on board. Today, the federal minimum wage is worth about twenty percent less than it was when Ronald Reagan first stood here.  Tom Harkin and George Miller have a bill to fix that by lifting the minimum wage to $10.10.  This will help families.  It will give businesses customers with more money to spend.  It doesn’t involve any new bureaucratic program.  So join the rest of the country.  Say yes.  Give America a raise.

There are other steps we can take to help families make ends meet, and few are more effective at reducing inequality and helping families pull themselves up through hard work than the Earned Income Tax Credit.  Right now, it helps about half of all parents at some point.  But I agree with Republicans like Senator Rubio that it doesn’t do enough for single workers who don’t have kids.  So let’s work together to strengthen the credit, reward work, and help more Americans get ahead.

Let’s do more to help Americans save for retirement. Today, most workers don’t have a pension.  A Social Security check often isn’t enough on its own.  And while the stock market has doubled over the last five years, that doesn’t help folks who don’t have 401ks.  That’s why, tomorrow, I will direct the Treasury to create a new way for working Americans to start their own retirement savings: MyRA. It’s a new savings bond that encourages folks to build a nest egg.  MyRA guarantees a decent return with no risk of losing what you put in.  And if this Congress wants to help, work with me to fix an upside-down tax code that gives big tax breaks to help the wealthy save, but does little to nothing for middle-class Americans.  Offer every American access to an automatic IRA on the job, so they can save at work just like everyone in this chamber can.  And since the most important investment many families make is their home, send me legislation that protects taxpayers from footing the bill for a housing crisis ever again, and keeps the dream of homeownership alive for future generations of Americans.

One last point on financial security.  For decades, few things exposed hard-working families to economic hardship more than a broken health care system.  And in case you haven’t heard, we’re in the process of fixing that.

A pre-existing condition used to mean that someone like Amanda Shelley, a physician assistant and single mom from Arizona, couldn’t get health insurance.  But on January 1^st, she got covered.  On January 3^rd, she felt a sharp pain.  On January 6^th, she had emergency surgery.  Just one week earlier, Amanda said, that surgery would’ve meant bankruptcy.

That’s what health insurance reform is all about – the peace of mind that if misfortune strikes, you don’t have to lose everything. 

Already, because of the Affordable Care Act, more than three million Americans under age 26 have gained coverage under their parents’ plans.

More than nine million Americans have signed up for private health insurance or Medicaid coverage.

And here’s another number: zero.  Because of this law, no American can ever again be dropped or denied coverage for a preexisting condition like asthma, back pain, or cancer. No woman can ever be charged more just because she’s a woman.  And we did all this while adding years to Medicare’s finances, keeping Medicare premiums flat, and lowering prescription costs for millions of seniors.

Now, I don’t expect to convince my Republican friends on the merits of this law.  But I know that the American people aren’t interested in refighting old battles.  So again, if you have specific plans to cut costs, cover more people, and increase choice – tell America what you’d do differently.  Let’s see if the numbers add up.  But let’s not have another forty-something votes to repeal a law that’s already helping millions of Americans like Amanda.  The first forty were plenty.  We got it.  We all owe it to the American people to say what we’re for, not just what we’re against. 

And if you want to know the real impact this law is having, just talk to Governor Steve Beshear of Kentucky, who’s here tonight.  Kentucky’s not the most liberal part of the country, but he’s like a man possessed when it comes to covering his commonwealth’s families.  “They are our friends and neighbors,” he said.  “They are people we shop and go to church with…farmers out on the tractors…grocery clerks…they are people who go to work every morning praying they don’t get sick.  No one deserves to live that way.” 

Steve’s right.  That’s why, tonight, I ask every American who knows someone without health insurance to help them get covered by March 31^st.  Moms, get on your kids to sign up.  Kids, call your mom and walk her through the application.  It will give her some peace of mind – plus, she’ll appreciate hearing from you. 

After all, that’s the spirit that has always moved this nation forward.  It’s the spirit of citizenship – the recognition that through hard work and responsibility, we can pursue our individual dreams, but still come together as one American family to make sure the next generation can pursue its dreams as well.

Citizenship means standing up for everyone’s right to vote.  Last year, part of the Voting Rights Act was weakened.  But conservative Republicans and liberal Democrats are working together to strengthen it; and the bipartisan commission I appointed last year has offered reforms so that no one has to wait more than a half hour to vote.  Let’s support these efforts.  It should be the power of our vote, not the size of our bank account, that drives our democracy.

Citizenship means standing up for the lives that gun violence steals from us each day.  I have seen the courage of parents, students, pastors, and police officers all over this country who say “we are not afraid,” and I intend to keep trying, with or without Congress, to help stop more tragedies from visiting innocent Americans in our movie theaters, shopping malls, or schools like Sandy Hook.

Citizenship demands a sense of common cause; participation in the hard work of self-government; an obligation to serve to our communities.  And I know this chamber agrees that few Americans give more to their country than our diplomats and the men and women of the United States Armed Forces.

Tonight, because of the extraordinary troops and civilians who risk and lay down their lives to keep us free, the United States is more secure.  When I took office, nearly 180,000 Americans were serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Today, all our troops are out of Iraq.  More than 60,000 of our troops have already come home from Afghanistan.  With Afghan forces now in the lead for their own security, our troops have moved to a support role. Together with our allies, we will complete our mission there by the end of this year, and America’s longest war will finally be over.

After 2014, we will support a unified Afghanistan as it takes responsibility for its own future.  If the Afghan government signs a security agreement that we have negotiated, a small force of Americans could remain in Afghanistan with NATO allies to carry out two narrow missions: training and assisting Afghan forces, and counterterrorism operations to pursue any remnants of al Qaeda.  For while our relationship with Afghanistan will change, one thing will not: our resolve that terrorists do not launch attacks against our country.

The fact is, that danger remains.  While we have put al Qaeda’s core leadership on a path to defeat, the threat has evolved, as al Qaeda affiliates and other extremists take root in different parts of the world. In Yemen, Somalia, Iraq, and Mali, we have to keep working with partners to disrupt and disable these networks. In Syria, we’ll support the opposition that rejects  the agenda of terrorist networks. Here at home, we’ll keep strengthening our defenses, and combat new threats like cyberattacks.  And as we reform our defense budget, we have to keep faith with our men and women in uniform, and invest in the capabilities they need to succeed in future missions.

We have to remain vigilant.  But I strongly believe our leadership and our security cannot depend on our military alone. As Commander-in-Chief, I have used force when needed to protect the American people, and I will never hesitate to do so as long as I hold this office.  But I will not send our troops into harm’s way unless it’s truly necessary; nor will I allow our sons and daughters to be mired in open-ended conflicts.  We must fight the battles that need to be fought, not those that terrorists prefer from us – large-scale deployments that drain our strength and may ultimately feed extremism.

So, even as we aggressively pursue terrorist networks – through more targeted efforts and by building the capacity of our foreign partners – America must move off a permanent war footing.  That’s why I’ve imposed prudent limits on the use of drones – for we will not be safer if people abroad believe we strike within their countries without regard for the consequence.  That’s why, working with this Congress, I will reform our surveillance programs – because the vital work of our intelligence community depends on public confidence, here and abroad, that the privacy of ordinary people is not being violated.  And with the Afghan war ending, this needs to be the year Congress lifts the remaining restrictions on detainee transfers and we close the prison at Guantanamo Bay – because we counter terrorism not just through intelligence and military action, but by remaining true to our Constitutional ideals, and setting an example for the rest of the world.

You see, in a world of complex threats, our security and leadership depends on all elements of our power – including strong and principled diplomacy.  American diplomacy has rallied more than fifty countries to prevent nuclear materials from falling into the wrong hands, and allowed us to reduce our own reliance on Cold War stockpiles.  American diplomacy, backed by the threat of force, is why Syria’s chemical weapons are being eliminated, and we will continue to work with the international community to usher in the future the Syrian people deserve – a future free of dictatorship, terror and fear. As we speak, American diplomacy is supporting Israelis and Palestinians as they engage in difficult but necessary talks to end the conflict there; to achieve dignity and an independent state for Palestinians, and lasting peace and security for the State of Israel – a Jewish state that knows America will always be at their side.

And it is American diplomacy, backed by pressure, that has halted the progress of Iran’s nuclear program – and rolled parts of that program back – for the very first time in a decade.  As we gather here tonight, Iran has begun to eliminate its stockpile of higher levels of enriched uranium.  It is not installing advanced centrifuges.  Unprecedented inspections help the world verify, every day, that Iran is not building a bomb.  And with our allies and partners, we’re engaged in negotiations to see if we can peacefully achieve a goal we all share: preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

These negotiations will be difficult.  They may not succeed.  We are clear-eyed about Iran’s support for terrorist organizations like Hezbollah, which threaten our allies; and the mistrust between our nations cannot be wished away.  But these negotiations do not rely on trust; any long-term deal we agree to must be based on verifiable action that convinces us and the international community that Iran is not building a nuclear bomb.  If John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan could negotiate with the Soviet Union, then surely a strong and confident America can negotiate with less powerful adversaries today.

The sanctions that we put in place helped make this opportunity possible.  But let me be clear: if this Congress sends me a new sanctions bill now that threatens to derail these talks, I will veto it.  For the sake of our national security, we must give diplomacy a chance to succeed.  If Iran’s leaders do not seize this opportunity, then I will be the first to call for more sanctions, and stand ready to exercise all options to make sure Iran does not build a nuclear weapon.  But if Iran’s leaders do seize the chance, then Iran could take an important step to rejoin the community of nations, and we will have resolved one of the leading security challenges of our time without the risks of war.

Finally, let’s remember that our leadership is defined not just by our defense against threats, but by the enormous opportunities to do good and promote understanding around the globe – to forge greater cooperation, to expand new markets, to free people from fear and want.  And no one is better positioned to take advantage of those opportunities than America. 

Our alliance with Europe remains the strongest the world has ever known.  From Tunisia to Burma, we’re supporting those who are willing to do the hard work of building democracy.  In Ukraine, we stand for the principle that all people have the right to express themselves freely and peacefully, and have a say in their country’s future.  Across Africa, we’re bringing together businesses and governments to double access to electricity and help end extreme poverty.  In the Americas, we are building new ties of commerce, but we’re also expanding cultural and educational exchanges among young people.  And we will continue to focus on the Asia-Pacific, where we support our allies, shape a future of greater security and prosperity, and extend a hand to those devastated by disaster – as we did in the Philippines, when our Marines and civilians rushed to aid those battered by a typhoon, and were greeted with words like, “We will never forget your kindness” and “God bless America!”

We do these things because they help promote our long-term security.  And we do them because we believe in the inherent dignity and equality of every human being, regardless of race or religion, creed or sexual orientation.  And next week, the world will see one expression of that commitment – when Team USA marches the red, white, and blue into the Olympic Stadium – and brings home the gold.

My fellow Americans, no other country in the world does what we do.  On every issue, the world turns to us, not simply because of the size of our economy or our military might – but because of the ideals we stand for, and the burdens we bear to advance them.

No one knows this better than those who serve in uniform.  As this time of war draws to a close, a new generation of heroes returns to civilian life.  We’ll keep slashing that backlog so our veterans receive the benefits they’ve earned, and our wounded warriors receive the health care – including the mental health care – that they need.  We’ll keep working to help all our veterans translate their skills and leadership into jobs here at home.  And we all continue to join forces to honor and support our remarkable military families.

Let me tell you about one of those families I’ve come to know.

I first met Cory Remsburg, a proud Army Ranger, at Omaha Beach on the 65th anniversary of D-Day.  Along with some of his fellow Rangers, he walked me through the program – a strong, impressive young man, with an easy manner, sharp as a tack.  We joked around, and took pictures, and I told him to stay in touch.

A few months later, on his tenth deployment, Cory was nearly killed by a massive roadside bomb in Afghanistan. His comrades found him in a canal, face down, underwater, shrapnel in his brain. 

For months, he lay in a coma.  The next time I met him, in the hospital, he couldn’t speak; he could barely move.  Over the years, he’s endured dozens of surgeries and procedures, and hours of grueling rehab every day. 

Even now, Cory is still blind in one eye.  He still struggles on his left side.  But slowly, steadily, with the support of caregivers like his dad Craig, and the community around him, Cory has grown stronger. Day by day, he’s learned to speak again and stand again and walk again – and he’s working toward the day when he can serve his country again. 

“My recovery has not been easy,” he says. “Nothing in life that’s worth anything is easy.” 

Cory is here tonight.  And like the Army he loves, like the America he serves, Sergeant First Class Cory Remsburg never gives up, and he does not quit. 

My fellow Americans, men and women like Cory remind us that America has never come easy.  Our freedom, our democracy, has never been easy.  Sometimes we stumble; we make mistakes; we get frustrated or discouraged.  But for more than two hundred years, we have put those things aside and placed our collective shoulder to the wheel of progress – to create and build and expand the possibilities of individual achievement; to free other nations from tyranny and fear; to promote justice, and fairness, and equality under the law, so that the words set to paper by our founders are made real for every citizen.  The America we want for our kids – a rising America where honest work is plentiful and communities are strong; where prosperity is widely shared and opportunity for all lets us go as far as our dreams and toil will take us – none of it is easy.  But if we work together; if we summon what is best in us, with our feet planted firmly in today but our eyes cast towards tomorrow – I know it’s within our reach. 

Believe it.

God bless you, and God bless the United States of America.

Remarks by the President and the Vice President at U.S. Conference of Mayors Reception

East Room

5:30 P.M. EST

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Well, welcome to the White House.  My name is Joe Biden.  I work for President Obama.  (Laughter.)  Best job I ever had. 

Hey, folks, look, there's a reason the President and I like talking to mayors.  You're the one group of elected officials that get things done, in large part because you have no option but to get things done.  (Laughter.)  And also, most of the innovation is coming from you all.

Today, I got further evidence of that when I talked with a few of you about what we can do together on the jobs, skills and workforce development.  We promised, back in 2009, there would be -- we'd be a strong partner with you, and I'm confident in saying that because of the man I'm about to introduce, we've kept that promise.

President Obama understands cities better than most American presidents have in American history.  He knows cities face unique challenges when it comes to building infrastructure and creating jobs, and that’s why he nominated a big city mayor, Anthony Foxx -- he doesn’t have all the money in the world, but he's ready to help. 

And also, I've gotten a chance to work directly with so many of you during the Recovery Act.  The only reason it worked, the only reason there was less than 1 percent waste or fraud -- including with our Republican friends who investigated -- is because of you.  You made it work.  You're used to getting things done on time -- mostly under budget -- and getting answers back to people immediately.  And it never ceases to amaze me the tough political decisions, you guys and women, you make every single day in doing your job -- to save your neighborhoods, to rebuild and balance your budgets, and to bring jobs back to your communities. 

So I'm honored to have you here, we're honored to have you here.  And I'm really honored to introduce the best friend the cities have ever had in this White House, President Barack Obama.  (Applause.)

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

Well, welcome to the White House.  It is great to have you.  For those of you who have been here before, welcome back.  I see a lot of friends and a lot of familiar faces around the room, but I've also already had a chance to meet some newly elected mayors.  So to all of you, congratulations -- and make sure you're shoveling the snow.  (Laughter.)  Just a little piece of advice.  It's been cold. 

We've got more than 250 mayors here from more than 45 states and territories.  You represent about 40 million Americans.  And over the last five years, thanks in part to the partnerships that we've been able to forge with mayors in this room and across the country, we've accomplished some big things on behalf of the American people.

But you know as well as anybody that while our economy is growing stronger, and we are optimistic about growth this year and in subsequent years, we've got a lot more work to do to make sure that everybody has a chance to get ahead.  If they're willing to work hard and take responsibility, they've got to be able to participate in that growth.  And every day, mayors are proving that you don’t have to wait for the gridlock to clear in Congress in order to make things happen. 

Now, Mayor Greg Stanton in Phoenix and Mayor Ralph Becker in Salt Lake City have ended chronic homelessness among veterans.  (Applause.)  In San Antonio, Mayor Castro has launched an early childhood education program designed to reach more than 22,000 four year olds over the next eight years.  In Fresno, Mayor Ashley Swearengin is spearheading projects to develop her city's downtown, including a high-speed rail station that's going to help attract jobs and businesses to the Central Valley.  In Philadelphia, Mayor Nutter is helping young people reach higher during their summers by working with partners across the city to create thousands of summer jobs.  In Tampa, Mayor Bob Buckhorn has gone, in his words, "all in," helping his constituents get covered with quality, affordable health insurance.

So mayors from both parties are a part of the climate task force, helping to make sure that cities have what it takes to withstand changes that may be taking place in our atmosphere in the years to come.  More than a thousand mayors across America have signed agreements to cut dangerous carbon pollutions.  I want to work with Congress whenever and wherever I can, but the one thing I'm emphasizing to all my Cabinet members is we're not going to wait.  Where Congress is debating things and hasn't been able to pull the trigger on stuff, my administration is going to move forward and we're going to do it in partnership with all of you.  I've got a pen and I've got a phone.  And that's all I need.  (Applause.)

Because with a pen I can take executive actions.  With a phone I can rally folks from around the country to help grow the economy and restore opportunity.  And that's what today, hopefully, has been about.  You've met with members of the administration.  You've gotten to know each other, but also, hopefully, they've given you some insight into where we see the most promising programs, things that are working, best practices.  And we want to cooperate and coordinate with you as effectively as we can to make sure that whatever works is getting out there and hitting the streets and actually having an impact on people's lives.  And, frankly, there are a lot of things that folks in this town could learn from all of you. 

And I want to close by personally saying how much it means to me to have you here today.  As Joe mentioned, I know a little something about cities.  I got my professional career started as somebody working in some of the toughest neighborhoods in Chicago.  But I also saw how hard work can transform communities block by block, neighborhood by neighborhood.  And to see the resilience and the strength of people, and the incredible vibrancy that cities bring to not just those who live within the boundaries of cities but entire regions, that's what you understand.  And I want to make sure that I've got your back in everything that you do.

So I want to say thank you to all of you for making sure that your constituents are well-served.  But, as a consequence, America is well-served. 

END
5:38 P.M. EST