The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
January 24, 2012
Remarks by the President in State of the Union Address
United States Capitol
Washington, D.C.
9:10 P.M. EST
THE PRESIDENT: Mr. Speaker, Mr. Vice President, members of Congress,
distinguished guests, and fellow Americans:
Last month, I went to Andrews Air Force Base and welcomed home some of our
last troops to serve in Iraq. Together, we offered a final, proud salute
to the colors under which more than a million of our fellow citizens fought --
and several thousand gave their lives.
We gather tonight knowing that this generation of heroes has made the United
States safer and more respected around the world. (Applause.) For
the first time in nine years, there are no Americans fighting in Iraq.
(Applause.) For the first time in two decades, Osama bin Laden is not a
threat to this country. (Applause.) Most of al Qaedafs top
lieutenants have been defeated. The Talibanfs momentum has been broken,
and some troops in Afghanistan have begun to come home.
These achievements are a testament to the courage, selflessness and teamwork
of Americafs Armed Forces. At a time when too many of our institutions
have let us down, they exceed all expectations. Theyfre not consumed with
personal ambition. They donft obsess over their differences. They
focus on the mission at hand. They work together.
Imagine what we could accomplish if we followed their example.
(Applause.) Think about the America within our reach: A country that
leads the world in educating its people. An America that attracts a new
generation of high-tech manufacturing and high-paying jobs. A future where
wefre in control of our own energy, and our security and prosperity arenft so
tied to unstable parts of the world. An economy built to last, where hard
work pays off, and responsibility is rewarded.
We can do this. I know we can, because wefve done it before. At
the end of World War II, when another generation of heroes returned home from
combat, they built the strongest economy and middle class the world has ever
known. (Applause.) My grandfather, a veteran of Pattonfs Army, got
the chance to go to college on the GI Bill. My grandmother, who worked on
a bomber assembly line, was part of a workforce that turned out the best
products on Earth.
The two of them shared the optimism of a nation
that had triumphed over a depression and fascism. They understood they
were part of something larger; that they were contributing to a story of success
that every American had a chance to share -- the basic American promise that if
you worked hard, you could do well enough to raise a family, own a home, send
your kids to college, and put a little away for retirement.
The defining issue of our time is how to keep that promise alive. No
challenge is more urgent. No debate is more important. We can either
settle for a country where a shrinking number of people do really well while a
growing number of Americans barely get by, or we can restore an economy where
everyone gets a fair shot, and everyone does their fair share, and everyone
plays by the same set of rules. (Applause.) Whatfs at stake arenft
Democratic values or Republican values, but American values. And we have
to reclaim them.
Letfs remember how we got here. Long before the recession, jobs and
manufacturing began leaving our shores. Technology made businesses more
efficient, but also made some jobs obsolete. Folks at the top saw their
incomes rise like never before, but most hardworking Americans struggled with
costs that were growing, paychecks that werenft, and personal debt that kept
piling up.
In 2008, the house of cards collapsed. We learned that mortgages had
been sold to people who couldnft afford or understand them. Banks had made
huge bets and bonuses with other peoplefs money. Regulators had looked the
other way, or didnft have the authority to stop the bad behavior.
It was wrong. It was irresponsible. And it plunged our economy
into a crisis that put millions out of work, saddled us with more debt, and left
innocent, hardworking Americans holding the bag. In the six months before
I took office, we lost nearly 4 million jobs. And we lost another 4
million before our policies were in full effect.
Those are the facts. But so are these: In the last 22 months,
businesses have created more than 3 million jobs. (Applause.)
Last year, they created the most jobs since 2005. American
manufacturers are hiring again, creating jobs for the first time since the late
1990s. Together, wefve agreed to cut the deficit by more than $2
trillion. And wefve put in place new rules to hold Wall Street
accountable, so a crisis like this never happens again. (Applause.)
The state of our Union is getting stronger. And wefve come too far to
turn back now. As long as Ifm President, I will work with anyone in this
chamber to build on this momentum. But I intend to fight obstruction with
action, and I will oppose any effort to return to the very same policies that
brought on this economic crisis in the first place.
(Applause.)
No, we will not go back to an economy weakened by outsourcing, bad debt, and
phony financial profits. Tonight, I want to speak about how we move
forward, and lay out a blueprint for an economy thatfs built to last -– an
economy built on American manufacturing, American energy, skills for American
workers, and a renewal of American values.
Now, this blueprint begins with American manufacturing.
On the day I took office, our auto industry was on the verge of
collapse. Some even said we should let it die. With a million jobs
at stake, I refused to let that happen. In exchange for help, we demanded
responsibility. We got workers and automakers to settle their
differences. We got the industry to retool and restructure. Today,
General Motors is back on top as the worldfs number-one automaker.
(Applause.) Chrysler has grown faster in the U.S. than any major car
company. Ford is investing billions in U.S. plants and factories.
And together, the entire industry added nearly 160,000
jobs.
We bet on American workers. We bet on American ingenuity. And
tonight, the American auto industry is back. (Applause.)
Whatfs happening in Detroit can happen in other industries. It can
happen in Cleveland and Pittsburgh and Raleigh. We canft bring every job
back thatfs left our shore. But right now, itfs getting more expensive to
do business in places like China. Meanwhile, America is more
productive. A few weeks ago, the CEO of Master Lock told me that it now
makes business sense for him to bring jobs back home. (Applause.)
Today, for the first time in 15 years, Master Lockfs unionized plant in
Milwaukee is running at full capacity. (Applause.)
So we have a huge opportunity, at this moment, to bring manufacturing
back. But we have to seize it. Tonight, my message to business
leaders is simple: Ask yourselves what you can do to bring jobs back to
your country, and your country will do everything we can to help you
succeed. (Applause.)
We should start with our tax code. Right now, companies get tax breaks
for moving jobs and profits overseas. Meanwhile, companies that choose to
stay in America get hit with one of the highest tax rates in the world. It
makes no sense, and everyone knows it. So letfs change it.
First, if youfre a business that wants to outsource jobs, you shouldnft get a
tax deduction for doing it. (Applause.) That money should be used to
cover moving expenses for companies like Master Lock that decide to bring jobs
home. (Applause.)
Second, no American company should be able to avoid paying its fair share of
taxes by moving jobs and profits overseas. (Applause.) From now on,
every multinational company should have to pay a basic minimum tax. And
every penny should go towards lowering taxes for companies that choose to stay
here and hire here in America. (Applause.)
Third, if youfre an American manufacturer, you should get a bigger tax
cut. If youfre a high-tech manufacturer, we should double the tax
deduction you get for making your products here. And if you want to
relocate in a community that was hit hard when a factory left town, you should
get help financing a new plant, equipment, or training for new workers.
(Applause.)
So my message is simple. It is time to stop rewarding businesses that
ship jobs overseas, and start rewarding companies that create jobs right here in
America. Send me these tax reforms, and I will sign them right away.
(Applause.)
Wefre also making it easier for American businesses to sell products all over
the world. Two years ago, I set a goal of doubling U.S. exports over five
years. With the bipartisan trade agreements we signed into law, wefre on
track to meet that goal ahead of schedule. (Applause.) And soon,
there will be millions of new customers for American goods in Panama, Colombia,
and South Korea. Soon, there will be new cars on the streets of Seoul
imported from Detroit, and Toledo, and Chicago.
(Applause.)
I will go anywhere in the world to open new markets for American
products. And I will not stand by when our competitors donft play by the
rules. Wefve brought trade cases against China at nearly twice the rate as
the last administration –- and itfs made a difference. (Applause.)
Over a thousand Americans are working today because we stopped a surge in
Chinese tires. But we need to do more. Itfs not right when another
country lets our movies, music, and software be pirated. Itfs not fair
when foreign manufacturers have a leg up on ours only because theyfre heavily
subsidized.
Tonight, Ifm announcing the creation of a Trade Enforcement Unit that will be
charged with investigating unfair trading practices in countries like
China. (Applause.) There will be more inspections to prevent
counterfeit or unsafe goods from crossing our borders. And this Congress
should make sure that no foreign company has an advantage over American
manufacturing when it comes to accessing financing or new markets like
Russia. Our workers are the most productive on Earth, and if the playing
field is level, I promise you -– America will always win.
(Applause.)
I also hear from many business leaders who want to hire in the United States
but canft find workers with the right skills. Growing industries in
science and technology have twice as many openings as we have workers who can do
the job. Think about that –- openings at a time when millions of Americans
are looking for work. Itfs inexcusable. And we know how to fix
it.
Jackie Bray is a single mom from North Carolina who was laid off from her job
as a mechanic. Then Siemens opened a gas turbine factory in Charlotte, and
formed a partnership with Central Piedmont Community College. The company
helped the college design courses in laser and robotics training. It paid
Jackiefs tuition, then hired her to help operate their plant.
I want every American looking for work to have the same opportunity as Jackie
did. Join me in a national commitment to train 2 million Americans with
skills that will lead directly to a job. (Applause.) My
administration has already lined up more companies that want to help.
Model partnerships between businesses like Siemens and community colleges in
places like Charlotte, and Orlando, and Louisville are up and running. Now
you need to give more community colleges the resources they need to become
community career centers -– places that teach people skills that businesses are
looking for right now, from data management to high-tech manufacturing.
And I want to cut through the maze of confusing training programs, so that
from now on, people like Jackie have one program, one website, and one place to
go for all the information and help that they need. It is time to turn our
unemployment system into a reemployment system that puts people to work.
(Applause.)
These reforms will help people get jobs
that are open today. But to prepare for the jobs of tomorrow, our
commitment to skills and education has to start earlier.
For less than 1 percent of what our nation spends on education each year,
wefve convinced nearly every state in the country to raise their standards for
teaching and learning -- the first time thatfs happened in a generation.
But challenges remain. And we know how to solve them.
At a time when other countries are doubling down on education, tight budgets
have forced states to lay off thousands of teachers. We know a good
teacher can increase the lifetime income of a classroom by over $250,000.
A great teacher can offer an escape from poverty to the child who dreams beyond
his circumstance. Every person in this chamber can point to a teacher who
changed the trajectory of their lives. Most teachers work tirelessly, with
modest pay, sometimes digging into their own pocket for school supplies -- just
to make a difference.
Teachers matter. So instead of bashing them, or defending the status
quo, letfs offer schools a deal. Give them the resources to keep good
teachers on the job, and reward the best ones. (Applause.) And in
return, grant schools flexibility: to teach with creativity and passion;
to stop teaching to the test; and to replace teachers who just arenft helping
kids learn. Thatfs a bargain worth making. (Applause.)
We also know that when students donft walk away from their education, more of
them walk the stage to get their diploma. When students are not allowed to
drop out, they do better. So tonight, I am proposing that every state --
every state -- requires that all students stay in high school until they
graduate or turn 18. (Applause.)
When kids do graduate, the most daunting challenge can be the cost of
college. At a time when Americans owe more in tuition debt than credit
card debt, this Congress needs to stop the interest rates on student loans from
doubling in July. (Applause.)
Extend the tuition tax credit we started that saves millions of middle-class
families thousands of dollars, and give more young people the chance to earn
their way through college by doubling the number of work-study jobs in the next
five years. (Applause.)
Of course, itfs not enough for us to increase student aid. We canft
just keep subsidizing skyrocketing tuition; wefll run out of money. States
also need to do their part, by making higher education a higher priority in
their budgets. And colleges and universities have to do their part by
working to keep costs down.
Recently, I spoke with a group of college presidents whofve done just
that. Some schools redesign courses to help students finish more
quickly. Some use better technology. The point is, itfs
possible. So let me put colleges and universities on notice: If you
canft stop tuition from going up, the funding you get from taxpayers will go
down. (Applause.) Higher education canft be a luxury -– it is an
economic imperative that every family in America should be able to afford.
Letfs also remember that hundreds of thousands of talented, hardworking
students in this country face another challenge: the fact that they arenft
yet American citizens. Many were brought here as small children, are
American through and through, yet they live every day with the threat of
deportation. Others came more recently, to study business and science and
engineering, but as soon as they get their degree, we send them home to invent
new products and create new jobs somewhere else.
That doesnft make sense.
I believe as strongly as ever that we should take on illegal
immigration. Thatfs why my administration has put more boots on the border
than ever before. Thatfs why there are fewer illegal crossings than when I
took office. The opponents of action are out of excuses. We should
be working on comprehensive immigration reform right now. (Applause.)
But if election-year politics keeps Congress from acting on a comprehensive
plan, letfs at least agree to stop expelling responsible young people who want
to staff our labs, start new businesses, defend this country. Send me a
law that gives them the chance to earn their citizenship. I will sign it
right away. (Applause.)
You see, an economy built to last is one where we encourage the talent and
ingenuity of every person in this country. That means women should earn
equal pay for equal work. (Applause.) It means we should support
everyone whofs willing to work, and every risk-taker and entrepreneur who
aspires to become the next Steve Jobs.
After all, innovation is what America has always been about. Most new
jobs are created in start-ups and small businesses. So letfs pass an
agenda that helps them succeed. Tear down regulations that prevent
aspiring entrepreneurs from getting the financing to grow.
(Applause.) Expand tax relief to small businesses that are raising wages
and creating good jobs. Both parties agree on these ideas. So put
them in a bill, and get it on my desk this year. (Applause.)
Innovation also demands basic research. Today, the discoveries taking
place in our federally financed labs and universities could lead to new
treatments that kill cancer cells but leave healthy ones untouched. New
lightweight vests for cops and soldiers that can stop any bullet. Donft
gut these investments in our budget. Donft let other countries win the
race for the future. Support the same kind of research and innovation that
led to the computer chip and the Internet; to new American jobs and new American
industries.
And nowhere is the promise of innovation greater than in American-made
energy. Over the last three years, wefve opened millions of new acres for
oil and gas exploration, and tonight, Ifm directing my administration to open
more than 75 percent of our potential offshore oil and gas resources.
(Applause.) Right now -- right now -- American oil production is the
highest that itfs been in eight years. Thatfs right -- eight years.
Not only that -- last year, we relied less on foreign oil than in any of the
past 16 years. (Applause.)
But with only 2 percent of the worldfs oil reserves, oil isnft enough.
This country needs an all-out, all-of-the-above strategy that develops every
available source of American energy. (Applause.) A strategy thatfs
cleaner, cheaper, and full of new jobs.
We have a supply of natural gas that can last America nearly 100 years.
(Applause.) And my administration will take every possible action to
safely develop this energy. Experts believe this will support more than
600,000 jobs by the end of the decade. And Ifm requiring all companies
that drill for gas on public lands to disclose the chemicals they use.
(Applause.) Because America will develop this resource without putting the
health and safety of our citizens at risk.
The development of natural gas will create jobs and power trucks and
factories that are cleaner and cheaper, proving that we donft have to choose
between our environment and our economy. (Applause.) And by the way,
it was public research dollars, over the course of 30 years, that helped develop
the technologies to extract all this natural gas out of shale rock –- reminding
us that government support is critical in helping businesses get new energy
ideas off the ground.
(Applause.)
Now, whatfs true for natural gas is just as true for clean energy. In
three years, our partnership with the private sector has already positioned
America to be the worldfs leading manufacturer of high-tech batteries.
Because of federal investments, renewable energy use has nearly doubled, and
thousands of Americans have jobs because of it.
When Bryan Ritterby was laid off from his job making furniture, he said he
worried that at 55, no one would give him a second chance. But he found
work at Energetx, a wind turbine manufacturer in Michigan. Before the
recession, the factory only made luxury yachts. Today, itfs hiring workers
like Bryan, who said, gIfm proud to be working in the industry of the
future.h
Our experience with shale gas, our experience with natural gas, shows us that
the payoffs on these public investments donft always come right away. Some
technologies donft pan out; some companies fail. But I will not walk away
from the promise of clean energy. I will not walk away from workers like
Bryan. (Applause.) I will not cede the wind or solar or battery
industry to China or Germany because we refuse to make the same commitment
here.
Wefve subsidized oil companies for a century. Thatfs long enough.
(Applause.) Itfs time to end the taxpayer giveaways to an industry that
rarely has been more profitable, and double-down on a clean energy industry that
never has been more promising. Pass clean energy tax credits. Create
these jobs. (Applause.)
We can also spur energy innovation with new incentives. The differences
in this chamber may be too deep right now to pass a comprehensive plan to fight
climate change. But therefs no reason why Congress shouldnft at least set
a clean energy standard that creates a market for innovation. So far, you
havenft acted. Well, tonight, I will. Ifm directing my
administration to allow the development of clean energy on enough public land to
power 3 million homes. And Ifm proud to announce that the Department of
Defense, working with us, the worldfs largest consumer of energy, will make one
of the largest commitments to clean energy in history -– with the Navy
purchasing enough capacity to power a quarter of a million homes a year.
(Applause.)
Of course, the easiest way to save money is to waste less energy. So
herefs a proposal: Help manufacturers eliminate energy waste in their
factories and give businesses incentives to upgrade their buildings. Their
energy bills will be $100 billion lower over the next decade, and America will
have less pollution, more manufacturing, more jobs for construction workers who
need them. Send me a bill that creates these jobs.
(Applause.)
Building this new energy future should be just one part of a broader agenda
to repair Americafs infrastructure. So much of America needs to be
rebuilt. Wefve got crumbling roads and bridges; a power grid that wastes
too much energy; an incomplete high-speed broadband network that prevents a
small business owner in rural America from selling her products all over the
world.
During the Great Depression, America built the Hoover Dam and the Golden Gate
Bridge. After World War II, we connected our states with a system of
highways. Democratic and Republican administrations invested in great
projects that benefited everybody, from the workers who built them to the
businesses that still use them today.
In the next few weeks, I will sign an executive order clearing away the red
tape that slows down too many construction projects. But you need to fund
these projects. Take the money wefre no longer spending at war, use half
of it to pay down our debt, and use the rest to do some nation-building right
here at home. (Applause.)
Therefs never been a better time to build, especially since the construction
industry was one of the hardest hit when the housing bubble burst. Of
course, construction workers werenft the only ones who were hurt. So were
millions of innocent Americans whofve seen their home values decline. And
while government canft fix the problem on its own, responsible homeowners
shouldnft have to sit and wait for the housing market to hit bottom to get some
relief.
And thatfs why Ifm sending this Congress a plan that gives every responsible
homeowner the chance to save about $3,000 a year on their mortgage, by
refinancing at historically low rates. (Applause.) No more red
tape. No more runaround from the banks. A small fee on the largest
financial institutions will ensure that it wonft add to the deficit and will
give those banks that were rescued by taxpayers a chance to repay a deficit of
trust. (Applause.)
Letfs never forget: Millions of Americans who work hard and play by the
rules every day deserve a government and a financial system that do the
same. Itfs time to apply the same rules from top to bottom. No
bailouts, no handouts, and no copouts. An America built to last insists on
responsibility from everybody.
Wefve all paid the price for lenders who sold mortgages to people who
couldnft afford them, and buyers who knew they couldnft afford them.
Thatfs why we need smart regulations to prevent irresponsible behavior.
(Applause.) Rules to prevent financial fraud or toxic dumping or faulty
medical devices -- these donft destroy the free market. They make the free
market work better.
Therefs no question that some regulations are outdated, unnecessary, or too
costly. In fact, Ifve approved fewer regulations in the first three years
of my presidency than my Republican predecessor did in his.
(Applause.) Ifve ordered every federal agency to eliminate rules that
donft make sense. Wefve already announced over 500 reforms, and just a
fraction of them will save business and citizens more than $10 billion over the
next five years. We got rid of one rule from 40 years ago that could have
forced some dairy farmers to spend $10,000 a year proving that they could
contain a spill -- because milk was somehow classified as an oil. With a
rule like that, I guess it was worth crying over spilled milk. (Laughter
and applause.)
Now, Ifm confident a farmer can contain a milk spill without a federal agency
looking over his shoulder. (Applause.) Absolutely. But I will
not back down from making sure an oil company can contain the kind of oil spill
we saw in the Gulf two years ago. (Applause.) I will not back down
from protecting our kids from mercury poisoning, or making sure that our food is
safe and our water is clean. I will not go back to the days when health
insurance companies had unchecked power to cancel your policy, deny your
coverage, or charge women differently than men. (Applause.)
And I will not go back to the days when Wall Street was allowed to play by
its own set of rules. The new rules we passed restore what should be any
financial systemfs core purpose: Getting funding to entrepreneurs with the
best ideas, and getting loans to responsible families who want to buy a home, or
start a business, or send their kids to college.
So if you are a big bank or financial institution, youfre no longer allowed
to make risky bets with your customersf deposits. Youfre required to write
out a gliving willh that details exactly how youfll pay the bills if you fail –-
because the rest of us are not bailing you out ever again.
(Applause.) And if youfre a mortgage lender or a payday lender or a credit
card company, the days of signing people up for products they canft afford with
confusing forms and deceptive practices -- those days are over. Today,
American consumers finally have a watchdog in Richard Cordray with one
job: To look out for them. (Applause.)
Wefll also establish a Financial Crimes Unit of highly trained investigators
to crack down on large-scale fraud and protect peoplefs investments. Some
financial firms violate major anti-fraud laws because therefs no real penalty
for being a repeat offender. Thatfs bad for consumers, and itfs bad for
the vast majority of bankers and financial service professionals who do the
right thing. So pass legislation that makes the penalties for fraud
count.
And tonight, Ifm asking my Attorney General to create a special unit of
federal prosecutors and leading state attorney general to expand our
investigations into the abusive lending and packaging of risky mortgages that
led to the housing crisis. (Applause.) This new unit will hold
accountable those who broke the law, speed assistance to homeowners, and help
turn the page on an era of recklessness that hurt so many Americans.
Now, a return to the American values of fair play and shared responsibility
will help protect our people and our economy. But it should also guide us
as we look to pay down our debt and invest in our future.
Right now, our most immediate priority is stopping a tax hike on 160 million
working Americans while the recovery is still fragile. (Applause.)
People cannot afford losing $40 out of each paycheck this year. There are
plenty of ways to get this done. So letfs agree right here, right
now: No side issues. No drama. Pass the payroll tax cut
without delay. Letfs get it done. (Applause.)
When it comes to the deficit, wefve already agreed to more than $2 trillion
in cuts and savings. But we need to do more, and that means making
choices. Right now, wefre poised to spend nearly $1 trillion more on what
was supposed to be a temporary tax break for the wealthiest 2 percent of
Americans. Right now, because of loopholes and shelters in the tax code, a
quarter of all millionaires pay lower tax rates than millions of middle-class
households. Right now, Warren Buffett pays a lower tax rate than his
secretary.
Do we want to keep these tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans? Or do
we want to keep our investments in everything else –- like education and medical
research; a strong military and care for our veterans? Because if wefre
serious about paying down our debt, we canft do both.
The American people know what the right choice is. So do I. As I
told the Speaker this summer, Ifm prepared to make more reforms that rein in the
long-term costs of Medicare and Medicaid, and strengthen Social Security, so
long as those programs remain a guarantee of security for seniors.
But in return, we need to change our tax code so that people like me, and an
awful lot of members of Congress, pay our fair share of taxes.
(Applause.)
Tax reform should follow the Buffett Rule. If you make more than $1
million a year, you should not pay less than 30 percent in taxes. And my
Republican friend Tom Coburn is right: Washington should stop subsidizing
millionaires. In fact, if youfre earning a million dollars a year, you
shouldnft get special tax subsidies or deductions. On the other hand, if
you make under $250,000 a year, like 98 percent of American families, your taxes
shouldnft go up. (Applause.) Youfre the ones struggling with rising
costs and stagnant wages. Youfre the ones who need
relief.
Now, you can call this class warfare all you want. But asking a
billionaire to pay at least as much as his secretary in taxes? Most
Americans would call that common sense.
We donft begrudge financial success in this country. We admire
it. When Americans talk about folks like me paying my fair share of taxes,
itfs not because they envy the rich. Itfs because they understand that
when I get a tax break I donft need and the country canft afford, it either adds
to the deficit, or somebody else has to make up the difference -- like a senior
on a fixed income, or a student trying to get through school, or a family trying
to make ends meet. Thatfs not right. Americans know thatfs not
right. They know that this generationfs success is only possible because
past generations felt a responsibility to each other, and to the future of their
country, and they know our way of life will only endure if we feel that same
sense of shared responsibility. Thatfs how wefll reduce our deficit.
Thatfs an America built to last. (Applause.)
Now, I recognize that people watching tonight have differing views about
taxes and debt, energy and health care. But no matter what party they
belong to, I bet most Americans are thinking the same thing right about
now: Nothing will get done in Washington this year, or next year, or maybe
even the year after that, because Washington is broken.
Can you blame them for feeling a little cynical?
The greatest blow to our confidence in our economy last year didnft come from
events beyond our control. It came from a debate in Washington over
whether the United States would pay its bills or not. Who benefited from
that fiasco?
Ifve talked tonight about the deficit of trust between Main Street and Wall
Street. But the divide between this city and the rest of the country is at
least as bad -- and it seems to get worse every year.
Some of this has to do with the corrosive influence of money in
politics. So together, letfs take some steps to fix that. Send me a
bill that bans insider trading by members of Congress; I will sign it
tomorrow. (Applause.) Letfs limit any elected official from owning
stocks in industries they impact. Letfs make sure people who bundle
campaign contributions for Congress canft lobby Congress, and vice versa -- an
idea that has bipartisan support, at least outside of Washington.
Some of whatfs broken has to do with the way Congress does its business these
days. A simple majority is no longer enough to get anything -– even
routine business –- passed through the Senate. (Applause.) Neither
party has been blameless in these tactics. Now both parties should put an
end to it. (Applause.) For starters, I ask the Senate to pass a
simple rule that all judicial and public service nominations receive a simple up
or down vote within 90 days. (Applause.)
The executive branch also needs to change. Too often, itfs inefficient,
outdated and remote. (Applause.) Thatfs why Ifve asked this Congress
to grant me the authority to consolidate the federal bureaucracy, so that our
government is leaner, quicker, and more responsive to the needs of the American
people. (Applause.)
Finally, none of this can happen unless we also lower the temperature in this
town. We need to end the notion that the two parties must be locked in a
perpetual campaign of mutual destruction; that politics is about clinging to
rigid ideologies instead of building consensus around common-sense
ideas.
Ifm a Democrat. But I believe what Republican Abraham Lincoln
believed: That government should do for people only what they cannot do
better by themselves, and no more. (Applause.) Thatfs why my
education reform offers more competition, and more control for schools and
states. Thatfs why wefre getting rid of regulations that donft work.
Thatfs why our health care law relies on a reformed private market, not a
government program.
On the other hand, even my Republican friends who complain the most about
government spending have supported federally financed roads, and clean energy
projects, and federal offices for the folks back home.
The point is, we should all want a smarter, more effective government.
And while we may not be able to bridge our biggest philosophical differences
this year, we can make real progress. With or without this Congress, I
will keep taking actions that help the economy grow. But I can do a whole
lot more with your help. Because when we act together, therefs nothing the
United States of America canft achieve. (Applause.) Thatfs the
lesson wefve learned from our actions abroad over the last few years.
Ending the Iraq war has allowed us to strike decisive blows against our
enemies. From Pakistan to Yemen, the al Qaeda operatives who remain are
scrambling, knowing that they canft escape the reach of the United States of
America. (Applause.)
From this position of strength, wefve begun to wind down the war in
Afghanistan. Ten thousand of our troops have come home. Twenty-three
thousand more will leave by the end of this summer. This transition to
Afghan lead will continue, and we will build an enduring partnership with
Afghanistan, so that it is never again a source of attacks against
America. (Applause.)
As the tide of war recedes, a wave of change has washed across the Middle
East and North Africa, from Tunis to Cairo; from Sanafa to Tripoli. A year
ago, Qaddafi was one of the worldfs longest-serving dictators -– a murderer with
American blood on his hands. Today, he is gone. And in Syria, I have
no doubt that the Assad regime will soon discover that the forces of change
cannot be reversed, and that human dignity cannot be denied.
(Applause.)
How this incredible transformation will end remains uncertain. But we
have a huge stake in the outcome. And while itfs ultimately up to the
people of the region to decide their fate, we will advocate for those values
that have served our own country so well. We will stand against violence
and intimidation. We will stand for the rights and dignity of all human
beings –- men and women; Christians, Muslims and Jews. We will support
policies that lead to strong and stable democracies and open markets, because
tyranny is no match for liberty.
And we will safeguard Americafs own security against those who threaten our
citizens, our friends, and our interests. Look at Iran. Through the
power of our diplomacy, a world that was once divided about how to deal with
Iranfs nuclear program now stands as one. The regime is more isolated than
ever before; its leaders are faced with crippling sanctions, and as long as they
shirk their responsibilities, this pressure will not relent.
Let there be no doubt: America is determined to prevent Iran from
getting a nuclear weapon, and I will take no options off the table to achieve
that goal. (Applause.)
But a peaceful resolution of this issue is still possible, and far better,
and if Iran changes course and meets its obligations, it can rejoin the
community of nations.
The renewal of American leadership can be felt across the globe. Our
oldest alliances in Europe and Asia are stronger than ever. Our ties to
the Americas are deeper. Our ironclad commitment -- and I mean ironclad --
to Israelfs security has meant the closest military cooperation between our two
countries in history. (Applause.)
Wefve made it clear that America is a Pacific power, and a new beginning in
Burma has lit a new hope. From the coalitions wefve built to secure
nuclear materials, to the missions wefve led against hunger and disease; from
the blows wefve dealt to our enemies, to the enduring power of our moral
example, America is back.
Anyone who tells you otherwise, anyone who tells you that America is in
decline or that our influence has waned, doesnft know what theyfre talking
about. (Applause.)
Thatfs not the message we get from leaders around the world who are eager to
work with us. Thatfs not how people feel from Tokyo to Berlin, from Cape
Town to Rio, where opinions of America are higher than theyfve been in
years. Yes, the world is changing. No, we canft control every
event. But America remains the one indispensable nation in world affairs
–- and as long as Ifm President, I intend to keep it that way.
(Applause.)
Thatfs why, working with our military leaders, Ifve proposed a new defense
strategy that ensures we maintain the finest military in the world, while saving
nearly half a trillion dollars in our budget. To stay one step ahead of
our adversaries, Ifve already sent this Congress legislation that will secure
our country from the growing dangers of cyber-threats.
(Applause.)
Above all, our freedom endures because of the men and women in uniform who
defend it. (Applause.) As they come home, we must serve them as well
as theyfve served us. That includes giving them the care and the benefits
they have earned –- which is why wefve increased annual VA spending every year
Ifve been President. (Applause.) And it means enlisting our veterans
in the work of rebuilding our nation.
With the bipartisan support of this Congress, wefre providing new tax credits
to companies that hire vets. Michelle and Jill Biden have worked with
American businesses to secure a pledge of 135,000 jobs for veterans and their
families. And tonight, Ifm proposing a Veterans Jobs Corps that will help
our communities hire veterans as cops and firefighters, so that America is as
strong as those who defend her. (Applause.)
Which brings me back to where I began. Those of us whofve been sent
here to serve can learn a thing or two from the service of our troops.
When you put on that uniform, it doesnft matter if youfre black or white; Asian,
Latino, Native American; conservative, liberal; rich, poor; gay, straight.
When youfre marching into battle, you look out for the person next to you, or
the mission fails. When youfre in the thick of the fight, you rise or fall
as one unit, serving one nation, leaving no one behind.
One of my proudest possessions is the flag that the SEAL Team took with them
on the mission to get bin Laden. On it are each of their names. Some
may be Democrats. Some may be Republicans. But that doesnft
matter. Just like it didnft matter that day in the Situation Room, when I
sat next to Bob Gates -- a man who was George Bushfs defense secretary -- and
Hillary Clinton -- a woman who ran against me for president.
All that mattered that day was the mission. No one thought about
politics. No one thought about themselves. One of the young men
involved in the raid later told me that he didnft deserve credit for the
mission. It only succeeded, he said, because every single member of that
unit did their job -- the pilot who landed the helicopter that spun out of
control; the translator who kept others from entering the compound; the troops
who separated the women and children from the fight; the SEALs who charged up
the stairs. More than that, the mission only succeeded because every
member of that unit trusted each other -- because you canft charge up those
stairs, into darkness and danger, unless you know that therefs somebody behind
you, watching your back.
So it is with America. Each time I look at that flag, Ifm reminded that
our destiny is stitched together like those 50 stars and those 13 stripes.
No one built this country on their own. This nation is great because we
built it together. This nation is great because we worked as a team.
This nation is great because we get each otherfs backs. And if we hold
fast to that truth, in this moment of trial, there is no challenge too great; no
mission too hard. As long as we are joined in common purpose, as long as
we maintain our common resolve, our journey moves forward, and our future is
hopeful, and the state of our Union will always be strong.
Thank you, God bless you, and God bless the United States of America.
(Applause.)
END
10:16 P.M. EST