Obama's 2011 State of the Union address

After September 11th, they volunteered their best roofers to help repair the Pentagon.

You see, we know what’s possible for our children when reform isn’t just a top-down mandate, but the work of local teachers and principals; school boards and communities.

If the central government wants a railroad, they get a railroad – no matter how many homes are bulldozed.

For less than one percent of what we spend on education each year, it has led over 40 states to raise their standards for teaching and learning.

And we have sent a message from the Afghan border to the Arabian Peninsula to all parts of the globe: we will not relent, we will not waver, and we will defeat you.

And let’s stop expelling talented, responsible young people who can staff our research labs, start new businesses, and further enrich this nation.

America is the nation that built the transcontinental railroad, brought electricity to rural communities, and constructed the interstate highway system.

We live and do business in the information age, but the last major reorganization of the government happened in the age of black and white TV. There are twelve different agencies that deal with exports.

Just recently, China became home to the world’s largest private solar research facility, and the world’s fastest computer.

We’ll invest in biomedical research, information technology, and especially clean energy technology – an investment that will strengthen our security, protect our planet, and create countless new jobs for our people.

Because people need to be able to train for new jobs and careers in today’s fast-changing economy, we are also revitalizing America’s community colleges.

Remember – for all the hits we’ve taken these last few years, for all the naysayers predicting our decline, America still has the largest, most prosperous economy in the world.

We’ll invest in biomedical research, information technology, and especially clean energy technology – an investment that will strengthen our security, protect our planet, and create countless new jobs for our people.

America is the nation that built the transcontinental railroad, brought electricity to rural communities, and constructed the interstate highway system.

We need to out- innovate, out-educate, and out-build the rest of the world.

Over the last two years, we have begun rebuilding for the 21st century, a project that has meant thousands of good jobs for the hard-hit construction industry.

It’s about a firefighter who can download the design of a burning building onto a handheld device; a student who can take classes with a digital textbook; or a patient who can have face-to-face video chats with her doctor.

We’re selling acres of federal office space that hasn’t been used in years, and we will cut through red tape to get rid of more.

Sustaining the American Dream has never been about standing pat.

Our purpose is clear – by preventing the Taliban from reestablishing a stranglehold over the Afghan people, we will deny al Qaeda the safe-haven that served as a launching pad for 9/11.

Our purpose is clear – by preventing the Taliban from reestablishing a stranglehold over the Afghan people, we will deny al Qaeda the safe-haven that served as a launching pad for 9/11.

Some are the children of undocumented workers, who had nothing to do with the actions of their parents.

The bipartisan Fiscal Commission I created last year made this crystal clear.

And she told me she’s earning her degree in biotechnology now, at 55 years old, not just because the furniture jobs are gone, but because she wants to inspire her children to pursue their dreams too.

They came from businesses that opened near a town’s new train station or the new off-ramp.

Veterans can now download their electronic medical records with a click of the mouse.

At Oak Ridge National Laboratory, they’re using supercomputers to get a lot more power out of our nuclear facilities.

With our European allies, we revitalized NATO, and increased our cooperation on everything from counter-terrorism to missile defense.

And with that change, I call on all of our college campuses to open their doors to our military recruiters and the ROTC.

But because it’s not always profitable for companies to invest in basic research, throughout history our government has provided cutting-edge scientists and inventors with the support that they need.

Because people need to be able to train for new jobs and careers in today’s fast-changing economy, we are also revitalizing America’s community colleges.

We may have differences in policy, but we all believe in the rights enshrined in our Constitution.

Amid all the noise and passions and rancor of our public debate, Tucson reminded us that no matter who we are or where we come from, each of us is a part of something greater – something more consequential than party or political preference.

As we speak, this law is making prescription drugs cheaper for seniors and giving uninsured students a chance to stay on their parents’ coverage.

It’s about a firefighter who can download the design of a burning building onto a handheld device; a student who can take classes with a digital textbook; or a patient who can have face-to-face video chats with her doctor.

And so he designed a rescue that would come to be known as Plan B. His employees worked around the clock to manufacture the necessary drilling equipment.

Because people need to be able to train for new jobs and careers in today’s fast-changing economy, we are also revitalizing America’s community colleges.

Our purpose is clear – by preventing the Taliban from reestablishing a stranglehold over the Afghan people, we will deny al Qaeda the safe-haven that served as a launching pad for 9/11.

I’ve seen it in the shuttered windows of once booming factories, and the vacant storefronts of once busy Main Streets.

As we speak, this law is making prescription drugs cheaper for seniors and giving uninsured students a chance to stay on their parents’ coverage.

Then there’s my favorite example: the Interior Department is in charge of salmon while they’re in fresh water, but the Commerce Department handles them in when they’re in saltwater.

But I will not hesitate to create or enforce commonsense safeguards to protect the American people.

What I’m not willing to do is go back to the days when insurance companies could deny someone coverage because of a pre-existing condition.

By the jobs they can find and the quality of life those jobs offer.

As we speak, routes in California and the Midwest are already underway.

Sustaining the American Dream has never been about standing pat.

Because you deserve to know when your elected officials are meeting with lobbyists, I ask Congress to do what the White House has already done: put that information online.

It may feel like you’re flying high at first, but it won’t take long before you’ll feel the impact.

Amid all the noise and passions and rancor of our public debate, Tucson reminded us that no matter who we are or where we come from, each of us is a part of something greater – something more consequential than party or political preference.

We have reset our relationship with Russia, strengthened Asian alliances, and built new partnerships with nations like India.

But we have never measured progress by these yardsticks alone.

It’s about a firefighter who can download the design of a burning building onto a handheld device; a student who can take classes with a digital textbook; or a patient who can have face-to-face video chats with her doctor.

Already, we are seeing the promise of renewable energy.

It’s family that first instills the love of learning in a child.

It’s why our students don’t just memorize equations, but answer questions like “What do you think of that idea?

Our troops come from every corner of this country – they are black, white, Latino, Asian and Native American.

Now is the time for both sides and both houses of Congress – Democrats and Republicans – to forge a principled compromise that gets the job done.

In Robert’s words, “We reinvented ourselves.”

That is not sustainable.

Tonight, I’m proposing that we redouble these efforts.

Health insurance reform will slow these rising costs, which is part of why nonpartisan economists have said that repealing the health care law would add a quarter of a trillion dollars to our deficit.

Then there’s my favorite example: the Interior Department is in charge of salmon while they’re in fresh water, but the Commerce Department handles them in when they’re in saltwater.

Level the playing field.

Robert and Gary Allen are brothers who run a small Michigan roofing company.

It is time to leave behind the divisive battles of the past.

That’s what helped make possible things like computer chips and GPS. Just think of all the good jobs – from manufacturing to retail – that have come from those breakthroughs.

Half a century ago, when the Soviets beat us into space with the launch of a satellite called Sputnik¸ we had no idea how we’d beat them to the moon.

And with that change, I call on all of our college campuses to open their doors to our military recruiters and the ROTC.

And as extremists try to inspire acts of violence within our borders, we are responding with the strength of our communities, with respect for the rule of law, and with the conviction that American Muslims are a part of our American family.

No single wall separates East and West; no one rival superpower is aligned against us.

So instead of subsidizing yesterday’s energy, let’s invest in tomorrow’s.

We can start right now by correcting a flaw in the legislation that has placed an unnecessary bookkeeping burden on small businesses.

Still, I’m willing to look at other ideas to bring down costs, including one that Republicans suggested last year: medical malpractice reform to rein in frivolous lawsuits.

To put us on solid ground, we should also find a bipartisan solution to strengthen Social Security for future generations.

It’s why we have speed limits and child labor laws.

And we must do it without putting at risk current retirees, the most vulnerable, or people with disabilities; without slashing benefits for future generations; and without subjecting Americans’ guaranteed retirement income to the whims of the stock market.

There will be tough fighting ahead, and the Afghan government will need to deliver better governance.

That’s why we’ve ended the unwarranted taxpayer subsidies that went to banks, and used the savings to make college affordable for millions of students.

Steel mills that once needed 1,000 workers can now do the same work with 100.

This would reduce the deficit by more than $400 billion over the next decade, and will bring discretionary spending to the lowest share of our economy since Dwight Eisenhower was president.

Cutting the deficit by gutting our investments in innovation and education is like lightening an overloaded airplane by removing its engine.

Because Republicans and Democrats approved the New START Treaty, far fewer nuclear weapons and launchers will be deployed.

Already, we have frozen the salaries of hardworking federal employees for the next two years.

And over the next ten years, with so many Baby Boomers retiring from our classrooms, we want to prepare 100,000 new teachers in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math.

And their conclusion is that the only way to tackle our deficit is to cut excessive spending wherever we find it – in domestic spending, defense spending, health care spending, and spending through tax breaks and loopholes.

In the coming months, my administration will develop a proposal to merge, consolidate, and reorganize the federal government in a way that best serves the goal of a more competitive America.

Meanwhile, when our own engineers graded our nation’s infrastructure, they gave us a “D.” We have to do better.

I’ve seen it in the shuttered windows of once booming factories, and the vacant storefronts of once busy Main Streets.

Cutting the deficit by gutting our investments in innovation and education is like lightening an overloaded airplane by removing its engine.

And let’s stop expelling talented, responsible young people who can staff our research labs, start new businesses, and further enrich this nation.

Our free enterprise system is what drives innovation.

Then there’s my favorite example: the Interior Department is in charge of salmon while they’re in fresh water, but the Commerce Department handles them in when they’re in saltwater.

Thanks to the tax cuts we passed, Americans’ paychecks are a little bigger today.

Thanks to our heroic troops and civilians, fewer Afghans are under the control of the insurgency.

And yet, as contentious and frustrating and messy as our democracy can sometimes be, I know there isn’t a person here who would trade places with any other nation on Earth.

What we can do – what America does better than anyone – is spark the creativity and imagination of our people.

Our purpose is clear – by preventing the Taliban from reestablishing a stranglehold over the Afghan people, we will deny al Qaeda the safe-haven that served as a launching pad for 9/11.

But all the rest are hit with one of the highest corporate tax rates in the world.

This means further reducing health care costs, including programs like Medicare and Medicaid, which are the single biggest contributor to our long-term deficit.

And this year, I ask Congress to go further, and make permanent our tuition tax credit – worth $10,000 for four years of college.

America is the nation that built the transcontinental railroad, brought electricity to rural communities, and constructed the interstate highway system.

We need to get behind this innovation.

Our troops come from every corner of this country – they are black, white, Latino, Asian and Native American.

The debates have been contentious; we have fought fiercely for our beliefs.

And it’s why we passed reform that finally prevents the health insurance industry from exploiting patients.

Amid all the noise and passions and rancor of our public debate, Tucson reminded us that no matter who we are or where we come from, each of us is a part of something greater – something more consequential than party or political preference.

And I hear it gets even more complicated once they’re smoked.

That’s why we’ve ended the unwarranted taxpayer subsidies that went to banks, and used the savings to make college affordable for millions of students.

I’ve heard it in the frustrations of Americans who’ve seen their paychecks dwindle or their jobs disappear – proud men and women who feel like the rules have been changed in the middle of the game.

Let us serve them as well as they have served us – by giving them the equipment they need; by providing them with the care and benefits they have earned; and by enlisting our veterans in the great task of building our own nation.

They grew up as Americans and pledge allegiance to our flag, and yet live every day with the threat of deportation.

No single wall separates East and West; no one rival superpower is aligned against us.

Today, with the help of a government loan, that empty space is being used to manufacture solar shingles that are being sold all across the country.

It’s why last year, we put in place consumer protections against hidden fees and penalties by credit card companies, and new rules to prevent another financial crisis.

But there’s a reason the tragedy in Tucson gave us pause.

And because the American people deserve to know that special interests aren’t larding up legislation with pet projects, both parties in Congress should know this: if a bill comes to my desk with earmarks inside, I will veto it.

Only parents can make sure the TV is turned off and homework gets done.

And yet, as contentious and frustrating and messy as our democracy can sometimes be, I know there isn’t a person here who would trade places with any other nation on Earth.

Within the next five years, we will make it possible for business to deploy the next generation of high-speed wireless coverage to 98% of all Americans.

We’re selling acres of federal office space that hasn’t been used in years, and we will cut through red tape to get rid of more.

Thanks to our intelligence and law enforcement professionals, we are disrupting plots and securing our cities and skies.

Every business can write off the full cost of the new investments they make this year.

We are the nation that put cars in driveways and computers in offices; the nation of Edison and the Wright brothers; of Google and Facebook.

And so we must defeat determined enemies wherever they are, and build coalitions that cut across lines of region and race and religion.

We are the nation that put cars in driveways and computers in offices; the nation of Edison and the Wright brothers; of Google and Facebook.

Now, I strongly believe that we should take on, once and for all, the issue of illegal immigration.

Thanks to our heroic troops and civilians, fewer Afghans are under the control of the insurgency.

Race to the Top is the most meaningful reform of our public schools in a generation.

Tonight, let us speak with one voice in reaffirming that our nation is united in support of our troops and their families.

Of course, as we speak, al Qaeda and their affiliates continue to plan attacks against us.

And yet, as contentious and frustrating and messy as our democracy can sometimes be, I know there isn’t a person here who would trade places with any other nation on Earth.

In Afghanistan, our troops have taken Taliban strongholds and trained Afghan Security Forces.

South Korean homes now have greater internet access than we do.

The bipartisan Fiscal Commission I created last year made this crystal clear.

To attract new businesses to our shores, we need the fastest, most reliable ways to move people, goods, and information – from high-speed rail to high-speed internet.

That dream is why a working class kid from Scranton can stand behind me.

Cutting the deficit by gutting our investments in innovation and education is like lightening an overloaded airplane by removing its engine.

Our infrastructure used to be the best – but our lead has slipped.

One mother of two, a woman named Kathy Proctor, had worked in the furniture industry since she was 18 years old.

Brandon started a company in Berlin, Pennsylvania that specializes in a new kind of drilling technology.

And after the first year of the school’s transformation, the principal who made it possible wiped away tears when a student said “Thank you, Mrs. Waters, for showing… that we are smart and we can make it.”

Recent events have shown us that what sets us apart must not just be our power – it must be the purpose behind it.

We saw that same desire to be free in Tunisia, where the will of the people proved more powerful than the writ of a dictator.

One day last summer, he saw the news that halfway across the world, 33 men were trapped in a Chilean mine, and no one knew how to save them.

Still, I’m willing to look at other ideas to bring down costs, including one that Republicans suggested last year: medical malpractice reform to rein in frivolous lawsuits.

And I hear it gets even more complicated once they’re smoked.

At stake is whether new jobs and industries take root in this country, or somewhere else.

But after investing in better research and education, we didn’t just surpass the Soviets; we unleashed a wave of innovation that created new industries and millions of new jobs.

Thirty-seven days later, Plan B succeeded, and the miners were rescued.

It’s about a firefighter who can download the design of a burning building onto a handheld device; a student who can take classes with a digital textbook; or a patient who can have face-to-face video chats with her doctor.

In the coming months, my administration will develop a proposal to merge, consolidate, and reorganize the federal government in a way that best serves the goal of a more competitive America.

And we must do it without putting at risk current retirees, the most vulnerable, or people with disabilities; without slashing benefits for future generations; and without subjecting Americans’ guaranteed retirement income to the whims of the stock market.

The Secretary of Defense has also agreed to cut tens of billions of dollars in spending that he and his generals believe our military can do without.

And over the next ten years, with so many Baby Boomers retiring from our classrooms, we want to prepare 100,000 new teachers in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math.

We will put more Americans to work repairing crumbling roads and bridges.

You see, we know what’s possible for our children when reform isn’t just a top-down mandate, but the work of local teachers and principals; school boards and communities.

And we have sent a message from the Afghan border to the Arabian Peninsula to all parts of the globe: we will not relent, we will not waver, and we will defeat you.

But last May, 97% of the seniors received their diploma.

That’s why instead of just pouring money into a system that’s not working, we launched a competition called Race to the Top. To all fifty states, we said, “If you show us the most innovative plans to improve teacher quality and student achievement, we’ll show you the money.”

To compete, higher education must be within reach of every American.

No single wall separates East and West; no one rival superpower is aligned against us.

And because the American people deserve to know that special interests aren’t larding up legislation with pet projects, both parties in Congress should know this: if a bill comes to my desk with earmarks inside, I will veto it.

Within 25 years, our goal is to give 80% of Americans access to high-speed rail, which could allow you go places in half the time it takes to travel by car.

This would reduce the deficit by more than $400 billion over the next decade, and will bring discretionary spending to the lowest share of our economy since Dwight Eisenhower was president.

Now, by itself, this simple recognition won’t usher in a new era of cooperation.

In the coming months, my administration will develop a proposal to merge, consolidate, and reorganize the federal government in a way that best serves the goal of a more competitive America.

Health insurance reform will slow these rising costs, which is part of why nonpartisan economists have said that repealing the health care law would add a quarter of a trillion dollars to our deficit.

I’ve seen it in the shuttered windows of once booming factories, and the vacant storefronts of once busy Main Streets.

Thanks to our intelligence and law enforcement professionals, we are disrupting plots and securing our cities and skies.

And after the first year of the school’s transformation, the principal who made it possible wiped away tears when a student said “Thank you, Mrs. Waters, for showing… that we are smart and we can make it.”

No country has more successful companies, or grants more patents to inventors and entrepreneurs.

In South Sudan – with our assistance – the people were finally able to vote for independence after years of war.

It’s about a firefighter who can download the design of a burning building onto a handheld device; a student who can take classes with a digital textbook; or a patient who can have face-to-face video chats with her doctor.

Get rid of the loopholes.

That’s what helped make possible things like computer chips and GPS. Just think of all the good jobs – from manufacturing to retail – that have come from those breakthroughs.

They came from businesses that opened near a town’s new train station or the new off- ramp.

This March, I will travel to Brazil, Chile, and El Salvador to forge new alliances for progress in the Americas.

The third step in winning the future is rebuilding America.

Before I took office, I made it clear that we would enforce our trade agreements, and that I would only sign deals that keep faith with American workers, and promote American jobs.

Now, I’ve heard rumors that a few of you have some concerns about the new health care law.

So tonight, I’m asking Democrats and Republicans to simplify the system.

To help businesses sell more products abroad, we set a goal of doubling our exports by 2014 – because the more we export, the more jobs we create at home.

Others want nuclear, clean coal, and natural gas.

And we have sent a message from the Afghan border to the Arabian Peninsula to all parts of the globe: we will not relent, we will not waver, and we will defeat you.

And so they started educating their children earlier and longer, with greater emphasis on math and science.

It’s why our students don’t just memorize equations, but answer questions like “What do you think of that idea?

And as we mark this occasion, we are also mindful of the empty chair in this Chamber, and pray for the health of our colleague – and our friend – Gabby Giffords.

We live and do business in the information age, but the last major reorganization of the government happened in the age of black and white TV. There are twelve different agencies that deal with exports.

They’re investing in research and new technologies.

As we speak, routes in California and the Midwest are already underway.

We are poised for progress.

That dream is why a working class kid from Scranton can stand behind me.

It’s not a matter of punishing their success.

In Afghanistan, our troops have taken Taliban strongholds and trained Afghan Security Forces.

Over the years, a parade of lobbyists has rigged the tax code to benefit particular companies and industries.

And on the Korean peninsula, we stand with our ally South Korea, and insist that North Korea keeps its commitment to abandon nuclear weapons.

And to help pay for it, I’m asking Congress to eliminate the billions in taxpayer dollars we currently give to oil companies.

Those with accountants or lawyers to work the system can end up paying no taxes at all.

Today, with the help of a government loan, that empty space is being used to manufacture solar shingles that are being sold all across the country.

What I’m not willing to do is go back to the days when insurance companies could deny someone coverage because of a pre-existing condition.

This means further reducing health care costs, including programs like Medicare and Medicaid, which are the single biggest contributor to our long-term deficit.

And because the American people deserve to know that special interests aren’t larding up legislation with pet projects, both parties in Congress should know this: if a bill comes to my desk with earmarks inside, I will veto it.

And tonight, let us be clear: the United States of America stands with the people of Tunisia, and supports the democratic aspirations of all people.

In fact, to every young person listening tonight who’s contemplating their career choice: If you want to make a difference in the life of our nation; if you want to make a difference in the life of a child – become a teacher.

And as extremists try to inspire acts of violence within our borders, we are responding with the strength of our communities, with respect for the rule of law, and with the conviction that American Muslims are a part of our American family.

We’re selling acres of federal office space that hasn’t been used in years, and we will cut through red tape to get rid of more.

But half of their factory went unused, and the recession hit them hard.

And we must do it without putting at risk current retirees, the most vulnerable, or people with disabilities; without slashing benefits for future generations; and without subjecting Americans’ guaranteed retirement income to the whims of the stock market.

That’s what we did with Korea, and that’s what I intend to do as we pursue agreements with Panama and Colombia, and continue our Asia Pacific and global trade talks.

And this year, I ask Congress to go further, and make permanent our tuition tax credit – worth $10,000 for four years of college.

But to help our companies compete, we also have to knock down barriers that stand in the way of their success.

Because Republicans and Democrats approved the New START Treaty, far fewer nuclear weapons and launchers will be deployed.

This is just a part of how we are shaping a world that favors peace and prosperity.

Two years after the worst recession most of us have ever known, the stock market has come roaring back.

In South Korea, teachers are known as “nation builders.”

Over the years, a parade of lobbyists has rigged the tax code to benefit particular companies and industries.

Of course, as we speak, al Qaeda and their affiliates continue to plan attacks against us.

Thanks to the tax cuts we passed, Americans’ paychecks are a little bigger today.

By the prospects of a small business owner who dreams of turning a good idea into a thriving enterprise.

There are at least five different entities that deal with housing policy.

America is the nation that built the transcontinental railroad, brought electricity to rural communities, and constructed the interstate highway system.

NASA didn’t even exist.

Today, with the help of a government loan, that empty space is being used to manufacture solar shingles that are being sold all across the country.

As we speak, this law is making prescription drugs cheaper for seniors and giving uninsured students a chance to stay on their parents’ coverage.

Three years ago, it was rated one of the worst schools in Colorado; located on turf between two rival gangs.

Brandon started a company in Berlin, Pennsylvania that specializes in a new kind of drilling technology.

We’re not just handing out money.

I’ve heard it in the frustrations of Americans who’ve seen their paychecks dwindle or their jobs disappear – proud men and women who feel like the rules have been changed in the middle of the game.

I’ve proposed cuts to things I care deeply about, like community action programs.

Only parents can make sure the TV is turned off and homework gets done.

In Afghanistan, our troops have taken Taliban strongholds and trained Afghan Security Forces.

That dream is why someone who began by sweeping the floors of his father’s Cincinnati bar can preside as Speaker of the House in the greatest nation on Earth.

But this shouldn’t discourage us.

And let’s stop expelling talented, responsible young people who can staff our research labs, start new businesses, and further enrich this nation.

Then there’s my favorite example: the Interior Department is in charge of salmon while they’re in fresh water, but the Commerce Department handles them in when they’re in saltwater.

Because you deserve to know exactly how and where your tax dollars are being spent, you will be able to go to a website and get that information for the very first time in history.

And so they started educating their children earlier and longer, with greater emphasis on math and science.

To put us on solid ground, we should also find a bipartisan solution to strengthen Social Security for future generations.

And let’s stop expelling talented, responsible young people who can staff our research labs, start new businesses, and further enrich this nation.

But we are strengthening the capacity of the Afghan people and building an enduring partnership with them.

That responsibility begins not in our classrooms, but in our homes and communities.

This March, I will travel to Brazil, Chile, and El Salvador to forge new alliances for progress in the Americas.

And Race to the Top should be the approach we follow this year as we replace No Child Left Behind with a law that is more flexible and focused on what’s best for our kids.

I’ve seen it in the shuttered windows of once booming factories, and the vacant storefronts of once busy Main Streets.

One day last summer, he saw the news that halfway across the world, 33 men were trapped in a Chilean mine, and no one knew how to save them.

Just recently, China became home to the world’s largest private solar research facility, and the world’s fastest computer.

Our purpose is clear – by preventing the Taliban from reestablishing a stranglehold over the Afghan people, we will deny al Qaeda the safe-haven that served as a launching pad for 9/11.

This means further reducing health care costs, including programs like Medicare and Medicaid, which are the single biggest contributor to our long-term deficit.

Thousands lined up before dawn.

We live and do business in the information age, but the last major reorganization of the government happened in the age of black and white TV. There are twelve different agencies that deal with exports.

The quality of our math and science education lags behind many other nations.

This March, I will travel to Brazil, Chile, and El Salvador to forge new alliances for progress in the Americas.

And Race to the Top should be the approach we follow this year as we replace No Child Left Behind with a law that is more flexible and focused on what’s best for our kids.

You didn’t always need a degree, and your competition was pretty much limited to your neighbors.

Still, I’m willing to look at other ideas to bring down costs, including one that Republicans suggested last year: medical malpractice reform to rein in frivolous lawsuits.

Within the next five years, we will make it possible for business to deploy the next generation of high-speed wireless coverage to 98% of all Americans.

Cutting the deficit by gutting our investments in innovation and education is like lightening an overloaded airplane by removing its engine.

We are the nation that put cars in driveways and computers in offices; the nation of Edison and the Wright brothers; of Google and Facebook.

Still, I’m willing to look at other ideas to bring down costs, including one that Republicans suggested last year: medical malpractice reform to rein in frivolous lawsuits.

At stake right now is not who wins the next election – after all, we just had an election.

It’s about connecting every part of America to the digital age.

That’s what helped make possible things like computer chips and GPS. Just think of all the good jobs – from manufacturing to retail – that have come from those breakthroughs.

We are poised for progress.

One day last summer, he saw the news that halfway across the world, 33 men were trapped in a Chilean mine, and no one knew how to save them.

This means further reducing health care costs, including programs like Medicare and Medicaid, which are the single biggest contributor to our long-term deficit.

You see, we know what’s possible for our children when reform isn’t just a top-down mandate, but the work of local teachers and principals; school boards and communities.

And to help pay for it, I’m asking Congress to eliminate the billions in taxpayer dollars we currently give to oil companies.

Last month, I saw the promise of these schools at Forsyth Tech in North Carolina.

But let’s make sure that we’re not doing it on the backs of our most vulnerable citizens.

And to help pay for it, I’m asking Congress to eliminate the billions in taxpayer dollars we currently give to oil companies.