PRESIDENT OBAMA: Thank you. (Applause.) Thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you. (Applause.) Thank you so much.
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
levels 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 8
million new jobs our businesses have created over the past four years.
(Applause.)
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. (Applause.) A man
took
the bus home from the graveyard shift, bone-tired but dreaming big
dreams for his son. And in tight-knit communities all 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.
(Applause.)
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. (Applause.)
And
here are the results of your efforts: the lowest unemployment rate in
over five years; a rebounding housing market -- (applause) -- a
manufacturing sector that's adding jobs for the first time since the
1990s -- (applause) -- more oil produced -- more oil produced at home
than we buy from the rest of the world, the first time that's happened
in nearly twenty years -- (applause) -- our deficits cut by more than
half; and for the first time -- (applause) -- 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.
(Cheers,
applause.) 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 21st 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. (Cheers, applause.)
Now,
as president, I'm committed to making Washington work better, and
rebuilding the trust of the people who sent us here. And I believe most
of you are, too. Last month, thanks to the work of Democrats and
Republicans,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.
And
in the coming months -- (applause) -- 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 in America. (Applause.)
Now,
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 to get ahead. And too many still aren't working at all.
So 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. (Applause.) 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. (Cheers, applause.)
As
usual, our first lady sets a good example. Michelle's -- (applause) --
well. (Chuckles.) (Cheers, applause.) Yeah. Michelle's Let's Move!
partnership with schools, businesses, local leaders has helped bring
down childhood obesity rates for the first time in thirty years, and
that's an achievement -- (applause) -- 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.
(Applause.)
Taking a
page from that playbook, the White House just organized a College
Opportunity Summit, where already 150 universities, businesses,
nonprofits have made concrete commitments to reduce inequality in access
to higher education and to help every hardworking kid go to college and
succeed when they get to campus.
And
across the country -- (applause) -- 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 --
(applause) -- how the son of a barkeeper is speaker of the House --
(cheers, applause) -- how the son of a single mom can be president of
the greatest nation on Earth. (Cheers, applause.)
Now
-- (sustained cheers and applause) -- opportunity is who we are. And
the defining project of our generation must be 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. (Applause.)
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 right here
at home. (Cheers, applause.)
Moreover,
we can take the money we save from 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 3 million jobs by finishing transportation and waterways bills
this summer. (Cheers, applause.) That can happen.
But
-- but I'll 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. (Applause.)
We
also have the chance, right now, to beat other countries in the race
for the next wave of high-tech manufacturing jobs. And my
administration's launched two hubs for high-tech manufacturing in
Raleigh, North Carolina, and Youngstown, Ohio, 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. (Applause.)
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 98
percent of our exporters are small businesses, new trade partnerships
with Europe and the Asia-Pacific will help them create even 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." (Applause.)
Listen,
China and Europe aren't standing on the sidelines; and neither --
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. And 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. (Cheers,
applause.)
There are
entire industries to be built based on 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 and needless litigation.
(Applause.)
Now, one
of the biggest factors in bringing more jobs back is our commitment to
American energy. The "all the above" energy strategy I announced a few
years ago is working, and today America is closer to energy independence
than we have been in decades. (Applause.)
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. (Applause.) Businesses plan to invest almost a
hundred billion dollars in new factories that use natural gas. I'll cut
red tape to help states get those factories built and put folks to work,
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. (Applause.)
Meanwhile,
my administration will keep working with the industry to sustain
production and jobs growth while strengthening protection of our air,
our water, our communities. And while we're at it, I'll use my authority
to protect more of our pristine federal lands for future generations.
(Applause.)
Now, 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 we can
invest more in fuels of the future that do. (Cheers, applause.)
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.
And 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.
(Applause.)
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 -- (applause) -- the shift to a cleaner energy economy won't
happen overnight, and it will require some tough choices along the way.
But
the debate is settled. Climate change is a fact. (Applause.) 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. (Cheers, applause.)
Finally,
if we're serious about economic growth, it is time to heed the call of
business leaders, labor leaders, faith leaders, law enforcement -- and
fix our broken immigration system. (Cheers, applause.) Republicans and
Democrats in the Senate have acted, and 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, contribute
to our culture -- they make our country a more attractive place for
businesses to locate and create jobs for everybody. So let's get
immigration reform done this year. (Cheers, applause.) Let's get it
done. It's time.
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 those parts. 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 a better job. She was flooded with new workers, and today,
Detroit Manufacturing Systems has more than 700 employees. And 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. (Cheers, applause.) 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. (Cheers,
applause.)
Let me tell you why.
Misty
DeMars is a mother of two young boys. She'd been steadily employed
since she was a teenager, put herself through college. She'd never
collected unemployment benefits, but she's been paying taxes.
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'm 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. (Cheers,
applause.) Give them that chance. Give them the chance. They need our
help right now, 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 new jobs, a new chance to support their families.
And in fact, 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 do the same
because we are stronger when America fields a full team. (Applause.)
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. (Applause.)
Estiven
Rodriguez couldn't speak a word of English when he moved to New York
City at age 9. 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. (Applause.)
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 the
skills for the new economy -- problem solving, critical thinking,
science, technology, engineering, math.
Now, 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 is worth it -- and it is working.
The problem is we're still not reaching enough kids, and we're not reaching them in time, and 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. (Applause.) Last year, I asked this
Congress to help states make high-quality pre-K available to every
4-year-old. And as a parent as well as a president, I repeat that
request tonight.
But
in the meantime, 30 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
that they need. (Applause.) It is right for America. We need to get this
done.
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 20 million students over the next two years, without adding a
dime to the deficit. (Cheers, applause.)
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 10 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. (Applause.)
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
especially 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 also do more to
make sure our economy honors the dignity of work, and hard work pays off
for every single American.
You
know, 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.
Women deserve equal pay for equal work. (Cheers, applause.)
You
know, she deserves to have a baby without sacrificing her job. (Cheers,
applause.) A mother deserves a day off to care for a sick child or sick
parent without running into hardship. (Applause.) And you know what, a
father does too. It is time to do away with workplace policies that
belong in a "Mad Men" episode. (Laughter, cheers, applause.) This year
let's all come together, Congress, the White House, businesses from Wall
Street to Main Street, to give every woman the opportunity she
deserves, because I believe when women succeed, America succeeds.
(Cheers, applause.)
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 money than others, and we don't resent those who, by virtue of
their efforts, achieve incredible success. That's what America's all
about. But Americans overwhelmingly agree that no one who works
full-time should ever have to raise a family in poverty. (Applause.)
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 today with his
boss, John Soranno. John's an owner of Punch Pizza in Minneapolis, and
Nick helps make the dough. (Laughter.) Only now he makes more of it.
(Laughter.) John just gave his employees a raise to 10 bucks an hour,
and that's a decision that has eased their financial stress and boosted
their morale.
Tonight
I ask more of America's business leaders to follow John's lead. Do what
you can to raise your employees' wages. (Applause.) It's good for the
economy; it's good for America. (Sustained applause.)
To
every mayor, governor, 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 -- (cheers, applause) -- our troops' meals or
wash their dishes, you should not have to live in poverty. (Sustained
applause.)
Of course, to reach millions more, Congress does need to get on board.
Today
the federal minimum wage is worth about twenty percent less than it was
when Ronald Reagan first stood here. And Tom Harkin and George Miller
have a bill to fix that by lifting the minimum wage to $10.10. It's easy
to remember: 10.10. This will help families. It will give businesses
customers with more money to spend. It does not involve any new
bureaucratic program. So join the rest of the country. Say yes. Give
America a raise. (Cheers, applause.) Give 'em 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. Think about
that. It helps about half of all parents in America at some point in
their lives.
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, 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 401(k)s. 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 -- 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
or nothing for middle-class Americans, offer every American access to
an automatic IRA on the job, so they can save at work just like
everybody 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. (Applause.)
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. (Scattered laughter, applause.)
Now
-- a pre-existing condition used to mean that someone like Amanda
Shelley, a physician's assistant and single mom from Arizona, couldn't
get health insurance. But on January 1st, she got covered. (Applause.)
On January 3rd, she felt a sharp pain. On January 6th, 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 3 million Americans under
age 26 have gained coverage under their parents' plans. (Applause.)
More than 9 million Americans have signed up for private health insurance or Medicaid coverage -- 9 million. (Applause.)
And
here's another number: zero. Because of this law, no American, none,
zero, can ever again be dropped or denied coverage for a pre-existing
condition like asthma or back pain or cancer. (Cheers, applause.) No
woman can ever be charged more just because she's a woman. (Cheers,
applause.) 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 do not expect to convince my Republican friends on the merits of this
law. (Laughter.) (Chuckles.) (Laughter.) But I know that the American
people are not interested in refighting old battles. So again, if you
have specific plans to cut costs, cover more people, increase choice,
tell America what you'd do differently. Let's see if the numbers add up.
(Applause.) But let's not have another 40- something votes to repeal a
law that's already helping millions of Americans like Amanda.
(Cheers,
applause.) The first 40 were plenty. 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. Now, Kentucky's
not the most liberal part of the country. That's not where I got my
highest vote totals. (Laughter.) But he's like a man possessed when it
comes to covering his commonwealth's families. They're our neighbors and
our friends, he said. They're people we shop and go to church with --
farmers out on the tractor, grocery clerks. They're 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 31st. Help them get
covered. (Applause.) Moms, get on your kids to sign up. Kids, call your
mom and walk her through the application. It'll give her some peace of
mind, and plus, she'll appreciate hearing from you. (Laughter.)
After all, that -- 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. (Applause.) 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, chaired by my campaign lawyer and
Governor Romney's campaign lawyer, came together and have 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. (Cheers, applause.)
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 and our shopping
malls, or schools like Sandy Hook. (Applause.)
Citizenship
demands a sense of common purpose; 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. (Extended applause.) Thank you.
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. (Applause.)
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-Qaida. For while our relationship with Afghanistan will change, one
thing will not: our resolve that terrorists do not launch attacks
against our country. (Applause.)
The
fact is that danger remains. While we've put al-Qaida's core leadership
on a path to defeat, the threat has evolved as al-Qaida affiliates and
other extremists take root in different parts of the world. In Yemen,
Somalia, Iraq, 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. (Applause.)
We have to remain vigilant.
But
I strongly believe our leadership and our security cannot depend on our
outstanding 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 is truly necessary, nor will I allow our sons
and daughters to be mired in open-ended conflicts. We must fight the
battles -- (applause) -- 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 actively and 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. (Applause.)
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 privacy of ordinary people is
not being violated. (Applause.) 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 --
(applause) -- 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, our leadership
depends on all elements of our power -- including strong and principled
diplomacy. American diplomacy has rallied more than 50 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. (Applause.) 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 the 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. (Applause.)
And
it is American diplomacy, backed by pressure, that has halted the
progress of Iran's nuclear program -- and rolled back parts of that
program -- 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's
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. (Applause.)
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 we're clear about the mistrust between our
nations, mistrust that cannot be wished away. But these negotiations
don't 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.
(Applause.)
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. (Applause.) For
the sake of our national security, we must give diplomacy a chance to
succeed.
(Applause.)
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 -- and we'll know soon enough -- 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.
And
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 to 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're
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. (Cheers, applause.)
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. (Applause.)
We'll keep working to help all our veterans translate their skills and
leadership into jobs here at home, and we will 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, the ceremony. He was a strong, impressive
young man, had an easy manner. He was sharp as a tack. And we joked
around, and took pictures, and I told him to stay in touch.
A
few months later, on his 10th 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. And 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, 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. (Cheers, applause.) Cory. (Extended cheers and applause.)
My
fellow Americans -- 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, the way Cory summoned what is best in him, 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. (Cheers, applause.)
