[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 2]
[Senate]
[Pages 2061-2066]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   REPORT ON THE STATE OF THE UNION DELIVERED TO A JOINT SESSION OF 
                  CONGRESS ON JANUARY 28, 2014--PM 27

  The PRESIDING OFFICER laid before the Senate the following message 
from the President of the United States, together with an accompanying 
report; which was ordered to lie on the table:

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

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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, it's the 
bridge fuel that can power our economy with less of the carbon 
pollution that causes climate change. Businesses plan to invest almost 
$100 billion in new factories that use natural gas. I'll cut red tape 
to help States get those factories built, and this Congress can help by 
putting people to work building fueling stations that shift more cars 
and trucks from foreign oil to American natural gas. My Administration 
will keep working with the industry to sustain production and job 
growth while strengthening protection of our air, our water, and our 
communities. And while we're at it, I'll use my authority to protect 
more of our pristine Federal lands for future generations.
  It's not just oil and natural gas production that's booming; we're 
becoming a global leader in solar, too. Every 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.

[[Page 2063]]

  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

[[Page 2064]]

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

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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

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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 T. 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.

                          ____________________