Beech Tree News Network

January 20th marked President Obama’s sixth State of the Union Address. It is the first time during his presidency that Republicans have held the majority in both houses of Congress. Many of us listened to President Obama’s speech, and it’s also available on the Internet.

Some quotes from the speech are listed below (in the order mentioned; http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2015/01/20/remarks-president-...):
•    “Our unemployment rate is now lower than it was before the financial crisis.”
•    “More of our kids are graduating than ever before.” 
•    “…we are as free from the grip of foreign oil as we’ve been in almost 30 years.”
•    “…over the past five years, our businesses have created more than 11 million new jobs.”
•    “…today, America is number one in oil and gas. America is number one in wind power. Every three weeks, we bring online as much solar power as we did in all of 2008. And thanks to lower gas prices and higher fuel standards, the typical family this year should save about $750 at the pump.”
•    “In today’s economy, when having both parents in the workforce is an economic necessity for many families, we need affordable, high-quality childcare more than ever.”
•    “Send me a bill that gives every worker in America the opportunity to earn seven days of paid sick leave. It’s the right thing to do.”
•    “…to everyone in this Congress who still refuses to raise the minimum wage, I say this: If you truly believe you could work full-time and support a family on less than $15,000 a year, try it. If not, vote to give millions of the hardest-working people in America a raise.”
•    “…yet, we still live in a country where too many bright, striving Americans are priced out of the education they need. It’s not fair to them, and it’s sure not smart for our future. That’s why I’m sending this Congress a bold new plan to lower the cost of community college -- to zero…. Understand, you’ve got to earn it. You’ve got to keep your grades up and graduate on time.”
•    “And I want to work with this Congress to make sure those already burdened with student loans can reduce their monthly payments so that student debt doesn’t derail anyone’s dreams.”
•    “Already, we’ve made strides towards ensuring that every veteran has access to the highest quality care.”
•    “Twenty-first century businesses need 21st century infrastructure -- modern ports, and stronger bridges, faster trains and the fastest Internet.”
•    “I intend to protect a free and open Internet, extend its reach to every classroom, and every community and help folks build the fastest networks so that the next generation of digital innovators and entrepreneurs have the platform to keep reshaping our world.”
•    “I want Americans to win the race for the kinds of discoveries that unleash new jobs.”
•    “Let’s close loopholes so we stop rewarding companies that keep profits abroad, and reward those that invest here in America….And let’s close the loopholes that lead to inequality by allowing the top one percent to avoid paying taxes on their accumulated wealth.”
•    “First, we stand united with people around the world who have been targeted by terrorists -- from a school in Pakistan to the streets of Paris. We will continue to hunt down terrorists and dismantle their networks, and we reserve the right to act unilaterally, as we have done relentlessly since I took office to take out terrorists who pose a direct threat to us and our allies. At the same time, we’ve learned some costly lessons over the last 13 years.”
•    “And tonight, I urge this Congress to finally pass the legislation we need to better meet the evolving threat of cyber attacks, combat identity theft, and protect our children’s information.”
•    “2014 was the planet’s warmest year on record. Now, one year doesn’t make a trend, but this does:  14 of the 15 warmest years on record have all fallen in the first 15 years of this century….The Pentagon says that climate change poses immediate risks to our national security. We should act like it.”
•    “I want future generations to know that we are a people who see our differences as a great gift, that we’re a people who value the dignity and worth of every citizen -- man and woman, young and old, black and white, Latino, Asian, immigrant, Native American, gay, straight, Americans with mental illness or physical disability.  Everybody matters.”

President Obama concluded his hour-long address with, “My fellow Americans, we, too, are a strong, tight-knit family. We, too, have made it through some hard times. Fifteen years into this new century, we have picked ourselves up, dusted ourselves off, and begun again the work of remaking America. We have laid a new foundation. A brighter future is ours to write. Let’s begin this new chapter together -- and let’s start the work right now. Thank you. God bless you. God bless this country we love. Thank you.”

Before the State of the Union Address on January 16th, Newsmax quoted Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell as saying, “There's much we can get accomplished for the American people, if the president's willing to work with us. We'll be looking for signs of that in the speech he delivers” (http://www.newsmax.com/Politics/Mitch-McConnell-congress-obama-State-of-...). I’m no expert on politics, but I want to see elected officials take care of business. Hopefully, 2015 will be a good year for that.