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[House Document 113-82]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]

113th Congress, 2d Session - - - - - - - - - - - - - House Document 113-82

 
        PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS BEFORE A JOINT SESSION OF CONGRESS

                               __________

                                MESSAGE

                                  from

                   THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

                              transmitting

       THE PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS BEFORE A JOINT SESSION OF CONGRESS

  January 29, 2014.--Message and accompanying papers referred to the 
 Committee on the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to 
                               be printed
To the Congress of the United States:
    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 4 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 12 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 5 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 20 
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 5 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.
    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 4 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 30 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 5 
years, my Administration has made more loans to small business 
owners than any other. And when 98% 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, 
its 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 4 
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 8 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, 
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 they need.
    Last year, I also pledged to connect 99 percent of our 
students to high-speed broadband over the next 4 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 2 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 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. 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 20 
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 5 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 1st, she 
got covered. 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.
    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 31st. 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 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, 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 200 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.

                                                      Barack Obama.
    The White House, January 28, 2014.

                                  
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