genuine. and it delivered a message not only for us but for our children in the future. thank you. it is now 11:00 in the east here in washington dc. the snow was falling. the president is en route back to the white house. he will travel to maryland tomorrow and then kick off a two-day, four stator that will include pennsylvania, wisconsin, and finally tennessee on thursday he for turning to the white house. our phone lines and continue the conversation throughout the hour on facebook.com/c-span where you continue to -- or you can 'sntinue to jump in on c-span twitter. first, a rear of the state of the union address. it runs about one hour. state of thef the union address. it runs about one hour.

>> mr. speaker, the president of the united states. [applause]

>> members of congress, i have the high honor and privilege of presenting to you the presidents of the united states. [applause] >> thank you.

thank you. thank you. thank you so much. speaker, mr. vice president, members of congress. my fellow americans. teacher spentca a extra time with 80 -- a student who needed it. they did their part to lift america's graduation rate to its highest level in more than three decades. an entrepreneur flipped on the andts at her tech start up did her part to add to the more than 8 million new jobs our businesses have created over the past four years. [applause] and autoworker fine-tuned some of the best, most you efficient

cars in the world and did his part to help america wean itself oil.oreign a rural doctor gave a young child the first prescription to treat asthma that his mother could afford. [applause] a man took the bus home from the graveyard shift, bone tired but dreaming dreams for his son. in a tight knit community -- in tightknit immunities all across america, fathers and mothers will talk in their kids, put an arm around their spouse, remember fallen comrades, and give thanks for being foam -- that after 12r long years is finally coming to an end. [applause]

tonight, this chamber speaks with one voice to the people we represent. citizens, who make the state of our union strong. [applause] and here are the results of your efforts. the lowest unemployment rate in over five years. , aebounding housing market manufacturing sector that is adding jobs for the first time since the 1990's. produced at home that we buy from the rest of the world. the first time that is happened in nearly 20 years. [applause] deficits cut by more than

--f and for the first time 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. [applause] that is why i can believe this can be a breakthrough year for america. of great andars 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 .elp or hinder this progress

for several years now this town has been consumed by an argument over the proper size of the federal government. it is an important debate. it is one that dates back to our very founding. when that debate prevents us from carrying out even the most --, whenctions of our our differences shut down government or threaten the full faith and credit of the united states than we are not doing right by the american people. [applause] as president, i am committed to making washington work better and rebuilding the trust of the people who sent us here. i believe that most of them -- you are too.

to the workthanks of democrats and republicans, congress produced a budget that undoes some of the severe cuts last year. one got anything -- no one got everything they wanted. we can do more to invest in this country's future to bring down the deficit in a balanced way. the budget, my should leave us for your to compromise -- to focus on creating new jobs. [applause] let's seeing months, where else we can make progress together. let's make this a year of action. that's what most americans want .or all of us in this chamber to focus on their lives, their hopes, their aspirations. -- elitelieve's unite unites the people of this nation, young or old, rich or poor, is a simple, profound leaf in opportunity for all --

believe in opportunity for all. you work hardt if and take responsibility, you can get at had in america. -- get ahead in america. [applause] let's face it. that belief has suffered some serious blows. for more than three decades, even before the great recession hit, massive shifts in global competition had illuminated a lot of good middle-class jobs and weakened the economic foundations that families depend on. today, after four years of , stock priceshs incorporate profits have rarely been higher but average wages have barely budge. upward mobility has stalled. 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. stone -- are still not working at all. our job is to reverse these trends. it will not happen right away and we will not agree on everything. 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 am eager to work with all of you. america does not stand still and neither will i. workver and whenever i can without legislation to expand opportunity for american families, that is what i will do. [applause]

as usual, our first lady sets a good example. [applause] michelle has moved michelle has made partnership with schools and help bring down childhood obesity rates for the first time in 30 years. that will improve health care costs and improve lives for decades to come. encouraged employers to hire or train nearly 400,000 veterans and military spouses. [applause]

taking a page from that playbook, the white house just organized a college opportunity summit were already 100 50 universities, businesses, nonprofits have made concrete tomitments to help access education. [applause] we arethe country, partnering with mayors, governors, and state adjust lasers would -- from issues from homelessness to marriage equality. the point is there are millions of americans outside of washington who are tired of stale political arguments and are moving this country forward. believe,eve, and i 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. it is what drew our forebears here. that is how the daughter of a

factory worker is ceo of america's largest automaker. [applause] how the son of a barkeep is speaker of the house. [applause] how the son of a single mom can be president of the greatest nation on earth. [applause] opportunity is who we are. and the defining project of our generation must be to restore

that promise. we know where to start. the best measure of opportunity is access to a good job. with the economy picking up speed, companies say they intend to hire more people this year. over half of the manufacturers say they are thinking of in sourcing jobs from abroad. [applause] so let's make that decision easier for more companies. both democrats and republicans have argued that our tax code is riddled with wasteful, competition loopholes that punish businesses investing your and reward companies that keep profits abroad. let's flip that equation. let's work together to close the work -- loopholes and lower tax rates for businesses that create jobs right here at home. [applause]

moreover, we can take the money we save from this transition to tax reform to create jobs rebuilding our roads, upgrading our forts, unclogging our commutes. in today's local economy, first-class jobs gravitate to first-class infrastructure. we need congress to protect more than 3 million jobs by finishing transportation and waterway bills this summer. [applause] that can happen. and toill act on my own slash bureaucracy and streamline the permitting process for keep projects so we can get more construction workers on the job as fast as possible. [applause] we also have the chance, right now, to beat other countries in the race for the next wave of

high-tech manufacturing jobs. my administration has launched two hubs for high-tech manufacturing in raleigh, north carolina and youngstown, ohio. with connected with research universities that can help america lead the world in advanced technologies. tonight i am announcing that we will launch six more this year. bipartisan bills in both houses could double the number of these and the jobs they can create. get the bills to my desk and put more americans back to work. [applause] thes do more to help entrepreneurs and small-business owners who create most new jobs in america. over the past five years my administration has made more loans to small business owners than any other. 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 i partisan trade promotion authority to protect our workers, our environment, and open new markets to new goods stamped, "made in the usa." [applause] listen, china and europe are not standing on the sidelines. either should we. -- neither should we. we know that the nation the goes all in on innovation today will only global economy tomorrow. this is an edge america cannot surrender. federally funded research has led to ideas and inventions behind google and smartphones and that is why congress should

undo the damage done by last year's cuts to basic research so we can unleash the next great american discovery. [applause] there are entire industries to be built based on vaccines that stay ahead of drug-resistant bacteria or paperthin material that is stronger than steel. let's pass a patent reform bill that allows businesses to stay focused on innovation, not costly and needless litigation. [applause] one of the biggest factors in bringing more jobs back is our memo to american energy. energy of the above strategy i announced a few years ago is working and today america is closer to energy independence

than we have been in decades. [applause] one of the reasons why is natural gas. thextracted safely, it is bridge fuel that can power the economy with less of the harbin omission that causes climate emissions thatn cause climate change. i will help states get the factories build and it folks to work in this congress can help by getting people to work by building fueling stations that ship more and that cars and trucks from foreign oil to natural gas. [applause] meanwhile, my administration will keep working with the industry to sustain production and jobs growth all strengthening protection of our --, orter or communities communities. [applause]

it is not just oil and natural gas production that is booming. we are becoming a global leader in solar, too. every four minutes another american home or business go solar. every panel pounded into place i a worker whose job cannot be worker whose by a job cannot be outsourced. let's stop giving $4 billion in year two fossil fuel industries who do not need it so we can invest more of the fuels in the future that do. [applause] even as we have increased energy

production, we have partnered with businesses, builders, and local communities to reduce the energy we consume. when we rescued our automakers, for example, we worked with them set higher fuel efficiency standards for our cars. in the coming months i will build on that success by setting new standards for trucks so we own oilp driving d imports and what we pay at the pump. our energy all see is creating jobs and leading to a cleaner, safer planet -- hollis he is creating jobs and leading to a cleaner, safer planet. our total carbon pollution more than any other nation on earth. [applause] we have to act with more urgency. it changing climate is already harming western community struggling with drought and coastal cities dealing with that is why direct the

ministration to work with states, utilities, and others to set new standards on the amount of carbon pollution power plants are allowed to dump into the air. [applause] the shift to a cleaner energy economy will not happen overnight and it will require some tough choices along the way . the debate is settled. climate change is a fact. when our children's children look up in the -- us in the eye and ask if we did all we did to leave them a safer, more stable world with new sources of energy, i want to see -- i want to be able to say that yes, we did. [applause] finally, if we're serious about economic growth, it is time to businesscall of leaders, faith leaders, law enforcement, and fix our broken

immigration system. [applause] republicans and democrats the senate have acted. i know that members of both parties in the house want to do the same. independent economists say that immigration reform will grow our economy and shrink our deficits by almost $1 trillion in the next two direct -- decades with good reason. people come here to for fill dreams, study, invent, contribute to our culture. they make our country a more attractive place for businesses to locate and create jobs for everybody. so let's get immigration reform done this year. [applause] let's get it done. it is time.

the ideas i have outlined so far can speed up growth and create more jobs. 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. , as the auto industry came roaring back, a manufacturing firm was opened in detroit. she knew that ford needed parts for the best-selling truck in america and she knew how to make those parts. she just needed the workforce. so she dialed up what we call an american job center. places where folks can walk in to get the help or training they need to get a new job or a better job. she was flooded with new workers and today, the detroit manufacturing system has more than 700 employees. what she and her employees experienced is how it should be for every employer and every job

seeker. tonight, i have asked vice president biden to lead it -- lead an across-the-board reform of america' 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. [applause] that means more on the job training and more apprenticeships that set an upward ash a young worker on an upward trajectory for life. that means helping community colleges to -- that can help design training for specific needs. if congress was to help coming you can concentrate funding unproven programs that connect ready to work americans with ready to be filled jobs.

i am also convinced we can help americans return to the workforce faster by reforming unemployment insurance so that it is more effective in today's economy. congress needs to restore the unemployment insurance you just let expire for 1.6 million people. [applause] let me tell you why. misty is a mother of two young boys. she had been steadily employed since she was a teenager. she put herself through college. she had never collected unemployment benefits but she had been paying taxes. in may, she and her husband used their life savings to buy their first home. a week later, budget cuts claimed the jobs she loved.

last month when her uninsured -- unemployment insurance was cut off she sat down and wrote me a letter, the kind i get every day. we are the face of the unemployment crisis, she wrote. i'm not dependent on the government. our country depends on people like us who build careers, contribute to society, care about our neighbors. i am confident that in time i will find a job or it i will pay --taxes, and we will rain and raise our children in the home and community we love. please, give us this chance. give these hard-working, responsible americans that chance. [applause] give them that chance. give them the chance.

they need our help right now but more importantly, his country needs them in the game. that is why i have been asking ceo's to get more long-term unemployed workers a shot at new jobs, a 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 do the same because we are stronger when america feels -- fields a full team. [applause] course, it is not enough to train today's workforce. we also have to prepare tomorrow's workforce. by guaranteeing every child access to a world-class education. [applause] stephen rodriguez could not speak a word of english when he moved to new york city at age

nine. last month, thanks to the support of great teachers and an innovative tutoring program, he led a march of his classmates to a crowd of cheering parents and neighbors from their high school to the post office where they mailed off their college applications. this son of a factory worker just found out he is going to college this fall. [applause] five years ago, we set out to change the odds for all of our kids. we work with lenders to reform student loans and today, more people are earning college degrees than ever before. with the help of governors from both parties has helped states raise expectations and performance. teachers and principals in schools from tennessee to washington dc are making big strides in preparing students with the skills for the new

economy. problem solving, critical thinking, science, technology, engineering, math. some of the changes hard. -- is hard. it requires more demanding parents and more challenging , and new ways to measure how well our kids think, not how well they can fill in a bubble on a test. but, it is worth it and it is working. the problem is we are still not reaching enough kids. we're not reaching them in time. that has to change. that one of the best investments we can make it a child's life is high-quality, early education. [applause]

last year i asked this congress to help states make high-quality pre-k available to every four your gold -- every four-year-old. as a parent, i repeat that request tonight. 30 states have raised pre-k funding on their own. they know we cannot wait. just as we work with the states to reform schools, this year we will invest in new partnerships with states and communities across the country in a race to the top for our youngest children. as congress decides what it will do, i will pull together a coalition of elected officials, business leaders, and philanthropist willing to help more kids access the high-quality pre-k that they need. it is right for america. [applause] we need to get this done. last year i also pledge to

connect 99% of our students to high-speed broadband over the next four years. tonight, i can announce that with the support of the fcc and companies like apple, microsoft, sprint, and verizon, we got a down payment to start connecting more than 15,000 schools and 20 million students over next two years without adding a dime to the deficit. [applause] we are working to redesign high schools and parted them with high schools and employers that offer them the real world education and training that can lead directly to a job and career. we are shaking up our system of higher education to give parents more information and colleges more incentives to offer better value. -- class kidcat priced out of a college education. we are offering the opportunity to cap student loan payments to

10% of their income. i would work with congress to see how we can help more americans that feel trapped by student loan debt. [applause] i am reaching out to some of america's leading foundations and corporations on a new initiative to help more young men of color facing especially tough odds to stay on track and reach their full potential. , michele andne is i want every child to have the same chance that this country gave us. we know our opportunity agenda will not be complete and too many young people entering the workforce today will see the american dream as an empty promise. unless we also do more to make sure the honor -- the economy honors the dignity of work. hard work pays off for every single american. women make up about half

of our workforce. they still make $.77 for every one dollar -- every dollar that a man makes. that is wrong. and in 2014, it is an embarrassment. women deserve equal pay for equal work. [applause] she deserves to have a baby without sacrificing her job. toother deserves a day off care for a sick child or a sick parent without running into hardship. [applause] you know what? a father does, too. it is time to do away with workpaper -- workplace policies that belong in a "mad men" episode.

[applause] for businesses from wall street to main street to give every woman the opportunity to deserve it does when i believe -- because i believe that when women succeed, america succeeds. [applause] now, women hold a majority of lower-wage jobs. but they are not the only one stifled by wages. americans understand that some people were earn more money than others and we don't resent those who, by virtue of efforts, at chief incredible success. that is what america is all about. but americans overwhelmingly agreed that no one who works full-time should ever have to raise a family in poverty. [applause]

in the year since i asked this congress to raise the minimum-wage, five states have passed laws to raise theirs. many businesses have done it on their own. nick is here today with his boss, john. john is an owner of a pizza shop in minneapolis. nick helps make the dough. [laughter] only now, he makes more of it. [laughter] john just gave his employees a raise to $10 an hour and that is a decision that has eased their financial stress and boosted their more i'll -- more i'll -- morale. i asked more of american business owners to follow john's

lead. [applause] it is good for the economy. it is good for america. every mayor, governor, state legislator in america, i say, you don't have to wait for congress to act. americans will support you if you take this on. as the chief executive, i intend to lead by example. profitable corporations like costo see higher wages as the smart way to boost productivity and reduced 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' meal and washed their dishes you should not have to live in the -- in poverty. [applause]

of course, to reach millions more congress does need to get on board. today, the federal minimum wage is worth about 20% less than it was when ronald reagan first it here. -- first stood here. they have a bill to fix that by listing the minimum-wage to $10 and $.10. that's $10.10. it is easy to rim or. ten-ten. it does not involve any new bureaucratic program. join the rest of the country. say yes. give america a raise. [applause] give them a raise.

the other steps we can take to help families make ends meet. few are more effective at reducing inequality than the armed income tax credit. right now it helps that about half of all parents that all -- at some point. half of all the parents in america at some point in their lives. i agree with republicans that it does not do enough for single workers that don't have kids. so let's work together to strengthen the credit, reward work, help more americans get ahead. let's do more to of american safer retirement. today, most workers don't have a pension. a social security check is often not enough on its own. while the stock market has doubled over the last five years, that does not help folks who do not have 401(k)'s.

that is why i will direct the treasury tomorrow to create a new way for working americans to start their own retirement savings. it is 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. if this congress wants to help, work with me to fix an upside down tax code the gives big rakes to help the wealthy say but does little or nothing for middle-class americans. offer every american access to an automatic ira on the job so that they can say that work just like everyone and -- in this chamber can. since the most important investment many families make is their home, send me legislation that protects taxpayers for footing the bill for a housing pricing -- housing crisis ever again and keeps the dream of

homeownership alive for future generations. [applause] one last point on financial security. , few things exposed hard-working families to economic hardship more than a broken health care system. heard, weu have not are in the process of fixing that. [applause] a pre-existing condition used to , an that someone like amanda physician's assistant and single mom from arizona, could not get health insurance. on january 1 she got covered. [applause] on january 3, she felt a sharp pain.

on january 6, she had emergency surgery. just one week earlier, amanda said that that surgery would have meant bankruptcy. that is 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' plan. [applause] more than 9 million americans have signed up for private health insurance or medicaid coverage. [applause] 9 million. and here is another number -- zero. because of this law, no american almond non-, zero, you never again be dropped or denied coverage for a pre-existing condition like asthma or back pain or cancer. [applause]

no woman can ever be charged more just because she is a woman. [applause] and we did all of this while adding years to medicare's finances, keeping medicare premiums flat, and lowering prescription costs for millions of seniors. i do not expect to convince my republican friends on the merits of this law. [laughter] , i know that the american people are not interested in refighting old battles. again, if you have specific plans to cut costs, cover more people, increased choice, tell

america what you would do different. let's see if the numbers add up. but let's not have another fortysomething vote to repeal a law that is already helping millions of americans like amanda. [applause] the first 40 were plenty. it to the american people to say what we are for, not just what we are against. if you want to know the real talk tos laws having,

the governor of kentucky who was here tonight. kentucky is not the most liberal part of the country. that is not where i get my highest vote totals. [laughter] he is like a man possessed when it comes to his -- to covering his commonwealth's families. they are neighbors and friends, he says. they are people we shop and go to church with, farmers out on the tractor, grocery clerks. they're people who go to work every morning ring that they do not get sick -- praying that they do not get sick. no one deserves to live that way. steve is right. tonight, i ask every american who knows someone without health insurance to help them get covered by march 31. [applause] help them get covered. moms, get all of your kids to sign up. kids, call your mom and walked her through the application. ofwill give her some peace

mind and plus, she will appreciate hearing from you. [laughter] after all that, that is the spirit that has always move the nation forward. is 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 it streams as well -- it's dreams as well. citizenship means standing up for everyone's right to vote. [applause] last year, part of the voting rights acts -- rights act was thereg that weekend but

is work to strengthen it. the bipartisan commission i appointed chair by my campaign lawyer and governor romney's campaign lawyer have come together and offered reform so that no one has to wait more than a half-hour to vote. what support these efforts. it should be the power of the vote and not the size of the bank account that drives our democracy. [applause] citizenship means standing up for the lives that gun violence steals from us each day. i have seen the courage of pastors,students, police officers all over this country who say, we are not afraid. i intend to keep trying, with or without congress, to help stop more tragedies from visiting in

his and americans in our movie theaters and our shopping mars -- shopping malls or schools like sandy hook. [applause] arch is a patient in the hard work of self-government -- participation in the hell participation in the hard work of self-government. i know this chamber agrees that few americans give more to this country than our diplomats and the men and women of the united states armed forces. [applause]

tonight, because of the extraordinary troops and civilians who risked 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 of our troops are out of iraq. war than 60,000 of our troops have already come home from afghanistan. -- or than 60,000 of our troops have already come home from afghanistan. our troops have moved to a support role. together with our allies, we will complete our mission there it by the end of this year in america's longest war will finally be over. [applause]

after 2014, we will support a unified afghanistan as it takes responsibility for its own future. if the afghan government signs a security agreement that we have negotiated, a small force of americans could remain in afghanistan with nato allies to two missions. training and assisting afghan forces and counterterrorism operations to pursue any remnants of al qaeda. while our relationship with afghanistan will change, one thing will not -- our resolve that terrorists do not launch attacks against our country. [applause]

the fact is, that danger remains. qaeda's have put out core leadership on the path to defeat, the threat has evolved as al qaeda affiliates and other extremist take root in other parts of the world. in yemen, somalia, iraq, molly -- mali, we have to work with partners to disrupt and disable those networks. theyria, we will support agenda that rejects terrorist networks. here at home, we will keep strengthening our defenses and combat new threats like cyber attacks. as we do for -- as we reform our defense budget, we will have to invest in the capabilities that

men and women in uniform will need to succeed in future missions. [applause] we have to remain vigilant. i strongly believe our leadership and our security cannot depend on our outstanding military alone. i haveander-in-chief, used force when needed to protect the american people and i will never hesitate to do so as long as i hold this office. i will not send our troops into harm's way unless it is truly necessary, nor will i allow our sons and daughters to be mired in open-ended conflicts. we must fight the battles that need to be fought, not those aat terrorists prefer from spirit of large-scale deployments that drain our

strength and may ultimately feed extremists. we actively and aggressively pursue terrorist networks through more targeted efforts and by building the capacity of our foreign partners, america must move off the permanent war footing. [applause] that is why i have imposed limits on the use of drones. we will not be safer if people abroad believe we strike in their countries without regard for the consequence. 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. the privacy of ordinary people is not being violated. [applause] and, with the afghan war ending,

this needs to be the year it congress -- your congress list restrictions on detainee transfers and we close the prison at guantánamo bay because we counterterrorism 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. [applause] see, in a world of complex threats, our security, our leadership depends on all elements of our power. including strong and principled diplomacy. american diplomacy has rallied more than 50 countries to prevent nuclear mattila -- materials from falling in the wrong hands and allowing us to reduce cold war stockpiles. american diplomacy, backed by the threat of force, is why syria's chemical weapons are being eliminated. [applause]

we will continue to work with the international community to usher in the future the syrian people deserve, if future free of dictatorship, terror, and fear. as we speak, american diplomacy the -- diplomacy is supported as they engage in difficult but necessary talks to end the conflict there, too achieve an independent state for the palestinians and security for the state of israel. they know that america will always be at their side. [applause] it is american diplomacy, backed by pressure, that has halted the progress of iran's nuclear

program and rolled back parts of that program for the very first time in a decade. rane gather here tonight, i -- iran has begun to eliminate stockpiles of higher enriched uranium. it is not installing advanced centrifuges. unprecedented inspections help the world verify every day that iran is not building a bomb. with our allies and partners, we are engaged in negotiations to see if we can peacefully achieve a goal that we all share -- preventing iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. [applause] these negotiations will be difficult. they may not succeed.

clear-i'd about iran's support for terrorist organizations like has blood, which threatens our allies and we are clear about the mistrust between our nations, mistrust that cannot be wished away. these negotiations don't rely on trust. any long-term deal we agreed you must be based on verifiable action that convinces us and the international community that iran is not building a nuclear bomb. kennedy and ronald reagan could negotiate with the soviet if john f. kennedy could negotiate with the soviet union, then surely the u.s. government can enter the debate. the sanctions that we put in place help the sanctions that we put in place made this opportunity

possible. but let me be clear. newhis congress sends me a sanctions bill now that threatens to derail these talks, i will veto it. 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. fie ran's leaders do seize the chance, and we'll know soon enough, then iran could take an important step to rejoin the community of nations and we will have resolved one of the leading security challenges of our time ithout 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. forge greater cooperation. expand new markets. 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 tu knee shah 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. but they have a saying -- that they have a say in their country's future. across africa, we're bringing together businesses and governments to double access to electricity and help end extreme poverty. in the americas, we're building

new ties with 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 who were greated 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. next week, the world will see one expression of that commitment when team u.s.a. marches the rhett, white, and

blue into olympic stadium and rings 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 earned and our wounded warriors receive the health care, including the mental health care, that they eed. we'll keep working to help all our veterans translate their skills and leadership into jobs here at home and we will all continue to join forces to honor and support our remarkable military families. let me tell you about one of those families i have come to know. hemsberg, an ey army ranger, on omaha beach on

d-day. along with some rangers, he walked me through the ceremony. he was a -- an impressive young man, an easy manner, sharp as a tack. we took some pictures, i told him to stay in touch. a few months later, on his 10th deployment he was nearly killed by a massive roadside bomb in his comrades found him face down in the canal face down . for months he laid in a coma. next time i met him, he couldn't speak. he could barely move. over the years, he has endured hours of surgeries, grueling rehab. he is still blind in one eye, still struggles on his left

side. but slowly, steadily, with the support of caregivers like his dad greg and the community around him, he has grown stronger, he has learned to speak again, stand again and walk again and walking 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. corey is here tonight and like the army he loves, like the america he serves, sergeant neverclass corey ramsburg gives up and he does not quit.

the president: my fellow americans, my fellow americans, men and women like corey remind us that america has never come easy. our freedom, our democracy have 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 work is plentiful and prosperity is widely shared and opportunity lets us go as far as our dreams, none it of it is easy. and if we work together, if we summon what is best in us, the

way corey summoned what is best in him, with our feet planted intoy but our eyes looking the future. god bless you. and god bless the united states of america. thank you so much.

>> the gop response to the jenna the union is rodgers. she spoke for 10 minutes.

>> what an honor it is to be with you after the president's state of the union. tonight, we honor america. a nation that has witnessed the greatest rise in freedom and opportunity our world has seen. our nation where we are not defined by our limits but i our potential. -- by our potential. and the nation where a girl who worked at the mcdonald's drive- through to pay for college can be with you at the united states capitol. the most important moments right now are not happening here. they are not in the oval office or in the house chamber. there in your homes. kissing your kids good night, figuring how to pay the bills, getting ready for tomorrow's doctors visit. we ain't two-year from those you -- waiting to hear from those you love serving in afghanistan. or searching for that big job interview. we the people have been the foundation of america since her earliest days. people from all walks of life and from all corners of the world. people who come to america

because here, no challenge is too great and no dream too big. that is the genius of america. tonight, the president made more promises that sound good. but it will not solve the problems facing americans. we want you to have a better life. the president wants that, too. but we part ways when it comes to how to make that happen. so tonight, i would like to share a more hopeful republican vision, one that empowers you, not the government. it is one that champions free markets and trusts people to make their own decisions, not a government that decides for you. it helps working families rise above the limits of poverty and protect our most vulnerable. it is one where washington plays by the same rules that you do. it is a vision that is fair and offers the promise of a better future for every american. if you would have told me as a little girl that i would one day put my hand on the bible and be

sworn in as the two hundredth woman to serve in the house of representatives, i would not have thought it possible. i grew up work emi families urgent -- in my family loss orchard. getting up before dawn with my brother to pick apples. my mom worked as a part-time bookkeeper. the tommy to help others and -- they taught me to work hard, help others and always dream for more. when i showed my animals at the county fair, my parents used to say, you need to save us money so you can go to college one day. and so i did. i saved, i worked hard, and i became the first in my family to graduate from college. the chance to go from my washington to this one was unexpected. i came to congress to help empower people. not politicians. to grow the working middle class, not the government. and to ensure that everyone in

this country can find a job, because a job is so much more than a paycheck. it gives us purpose, dignity, and the foundation to build the future. i was single when i was elected. it was not long before i met brian, a retired navy commander and now we have three beautiful children, one who was born just a weeks ago. ago.rn eight weeks like all parents, we have high hopes and dreams for our children. we also know what it is like to face challenges. we got news no parent expects. cole was diagnosed with down syndrome. the doctor's told us he could have endless complications, heart defects, even early alzheimer's. they told us all the problems but we looked at our son, we saw only possibilities.

we saw a gift from god. today, we see a six-year-old boy who dances to bruce bring stain and reads above grade level and who is the best big brother in the world. we see all the things he can do. not those he cannot. cole and his sisters have only made me more determined to see the potential in every human life, that whether we are born with an extra 21st chromosome or not a dime to our name. we are not defined by our limits but by our potential. because our mission as americans is to ensure that we are not bound by where we come from, but empowered by what we can become. that is the gap republicans are working to close. it is the gap will face between where you are and where you want to be. the president talks a lot about

income inequality. the real gap we face today is one of opportunity inequality. with this administration's policies, that gap has become far too wide. we see this gap growing every single day. we see it in our neighbors who are struggling to find jobs. a husband who is working just our time. -- just part time. a child who dropped out of college because she cannot afford tuition. or parents who are outliving their life savings. last month, more americans stop looking for a job then found one. too many people are falling further and further behind because right now, the president's policies are making lives harder. republicans have plan to close the gap, focusing on jobs first without war spending, government bailouts, and red tape. we are working to expand our economy, one manufacturing job,

nursing degree at a time. we have plans to improve our education and training systems so you have the choice to determine where your kids go to school. college is affordable and skilled training is modernized. it is time to honor our history of legal immigration. we are working on a step-by-step solution to immigration reform by first securing our borders and making sure america will always attract the best, brightest, and hardest working from around the world. and with too many americans living paycheck to paycheck, we have solutions to help you take home more of your pay through roller taxes, cheaper energy costs, and affordable health care. not long ago, i got a letter from betty in spokane who had hoped the health care law would save her money but found in instead her premiums were going

up nearly $700 a month. we have all talked to too many people who have received cancellation notices they did not expect. or who can no longer see the doctors they always have. no, we should not go back to the way things were. but this law is not working. republicans believe health care choices should be yours, not the governments and that whether you are a boy with down syndrome or a woman with breast cancer, you can find coverage and a doctor who will treat you. we hope the president will join us in a year of real action by empowering people and not by making their lives harder with unprecedented spending, higher taxes, and fewer jobs, as republicans we advance these plans every day. we believe in a government that trusts people. and does not limit where you finish because of where you started.

that is what we stand for. an america that is every bit as compassionate as it is exceptional. if we are successful, years from now, our children will say that we rebuild the american dream. a workforce that can take on the world. whether you are a girl in kettle falls or boy from brooklyn, our children should be able to say that we closed the gap. our plan is one that dreams big for everyone and turns it back on no one. the president said many things tonight but now, ask him to listen to you. -- i ask him to listen to you. the true state of the union lies in your heart and in your home.

tomorrow, i will watch my son get on the school bus. others will wait in the doctors office or interview for that first job. some of us will celebrate new beginnings. others will face great challenges. all of us will wake up and do what is uniquely american. we will look forward to the balanced potential that lies ahead. we will give thanks to the brave men and women who have answered america's call to freedom. like sergeant jacob has from spokane who recently gave his life to protect all of ours. so tonight, i simply offer a prayer, a prayer for sergeant hess's family and the larger american family. that with the guidance of god, we may prove ourselves worthy of his blessings of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. for when we embrace these gifts, we are each doing our part to form a more perfect union.

may god guide you and our president and may god continue to bless the united states of america. the republican response from rep is the is his kathy morris rogers. she is in her fifth term. that, a rear of the president's state of the union address, a 65-minutes each focus focused primarily on domestic issues including other challenges facing this country. we want to get your reaction on what the president outlined and his priorities for 2014. in.can call

you can also join us on our facebook page at facebook.com/c- span. or on twitter. #c-spanchat.s scott wilson writing about tonight's speech, he says this was not the presidency that barack obama had in mind after winning his historic election five years ago. but it is the one he believes he has left. the first time since taking office, the president spoke to congress today from a clear position of confrontation, threatening to veto new iran sanctions, warning against further moves against health care law and demanding action on a series of previously proposed economic measures. that from "the washington post was good at washingtonposted.com. caller: first of all come

i believe that the republican party can do a lot to help solidify our nation by first of -- republicans can overturn obamacare, which i believe is the biggest thing that needs to be taken care of here in -- care of. , it hasearly have seen been one failure after another with obamacare. it's hurting our businesses. both small and large businesses. hurting thearly private people themselves. and fact, i am reminded of the woman from california whose costs went up at least three times more than what she was paying. and she also has to have

sherage for her children doesn't have. >> thank you very much for the call. from chris ross, this comment. again, #c-spanchat. we found this on the "weekly standard" website. they posted an interview done by dana bash with mark udall. the headline, democratic senator did not say whether he would campaign with barack obama. that interview has been posted on "the weekly standard. cnn's did" -- cnn's dana bash did ask mark obama tother he wanted campaign with an directory. cassandra joins us from white plains, new york. good evening. if you are on the air. please go ahead. we are going to move onto bradley in akron, ohio. turn the volume on your -- turn the volume down on your

television set. i have been watching this. i am really a nobody in this country. -- ia couple questions don't know if it will be aired -- that i have to ask. i am far from an angel. i have been in trouble in my life. i am 57 years old. i have never, ever done things that you shouldn't do, but i have done things just to survive. i don't understand why this -- i believe the part that 1% got everything and we have nothing. say a man is starting, they -- is starving, they say, you are serving the country because you need help, you know? all of these things are not right. host: thanks very much for the call. "the l.a. times" has this story

you see a picture with congressman paul ryan. a viewer who describes himself as a southern patriot says on c-span 2, we checked in with the number of members of congress, democrats and republicans, for a series of interviews, including this from senator joe manchin, democrat from west virginia. [video clip] >> i think he could've chosen his words a lot better. when i was a governor, an executive, i had responsibility to do everything in the powers i had within the office of governor to run this government as efficiently and as effectively as i could. goinge it sound like, i'm to go outside the boundaries of the constitution and do what i think works without the approval of the legislature or without the approval of congress, it rubs people wrong.

it is just not who we are as a people. maybe it is just his choice of words. and aormer governor staunch defender of the constitution, i say, listen, you cannot regulate what has not been legislated outside the powers you were given. you just cannot do it. from senator -- senator joe manchin, democrat of west virginia, as he spoke to us. if you are interested in getting more information on executive orders, the "chicago tribune" has this story a complete list of what the president outlined in his speech tonight and what is within his authority. this is from one of our viewers joins us from macon, georgia. what did you here tonight? what about the president's priorities in the year ahead? caller: what i liked most was about the jobs, raising the

minimum wage to $10 an hour. outlook. have a good there's really nothing to do. people don't want to work for less. i think that would be something that would increase jobs. host: thanks very much. how will does your child in the background? caller: i have a daughter. she is nine months. then i have a one-year-old. host: thanks very much for joining us from macon, georgia. the luck to you. easth is joining us from providence, rhode island. this is a live picture of the u.s. capitol. yes, the snow has come back to washington, d.c. air.r: i am coming on the athink president obama is

good stock -- is a good president. it was a very good speech. republicans have to learn a little more not to cut him down. -- iieve that he should think you should make it $15 an hour instead of $10 for hasoyees, but i think he done a good job. i was with him all the way. somelad that he's getting help. i'm going to have maybe a little problem when we go to the olympics in sochi. i heard somebody say that we might have two ships out there waiting if anything goes wrong. host: we do. in fact, the u.s. navy sent those ships there. they are in the black sea to be used for any security precautions needed in sochi or in the surrounding area. thanks very much for the call. from one of our viewers

again, one of our many comments. you can check it out at #c-spanchat. from politico, there is this read abstain rights that the president dialed on immigration to more of a nudge than a shove, with the hope of building momentum. ae president devoted just paragraph of his state of the union to what he once called "the most important domestic policy agenda of his second term." we should point out that congressional republicans, in fact, will be meeting for their retreat in cambridge, maryland along the eastern shore starting tomorrow afternoon. immigration is front and center among the topics. we also heard from speaker of the house john weiner in a briefing with reporters earlier

this year, saying the house would take it piece by piece approach, rather than a copperheads of immigration bill. the next call is jerry from texas on our line for republicans. good evening. welcome. caller: i am flabbergasted. words cannot even -- [indiscernible] my lord. seele in our country don't this man cannot, he can't tell the truth. i'm in the hospital right now myself. shieldblue cross blue insurance. i had a surgery. nothing wrong with that. it is going to be -- i don't know if it is going to be paid for or not. -- this mumbo-jumbo

[indiscernible] oh my gosh. , i'm trying to think of the word -- every person, i don't understand how -- i want to help congress. i really mean i want to help congress. statement, ithat have a pen -- [indiscernible] host: we appreciate the comments. there is this from charles c w cook -- a photograph of the president with a pen. he has been making references to

the fact that he has a pen and phone and he will use both. don ritchie is a senate historian, and in a series of interviews we did with him in advance of this address, one of the questions -- how the president's proposals outlined in the state of the union in fact become legislation, what the success rate is of past presidents when they deliver remarks before a joint session of congress. here is what john ritchie had to say. [video clip] >> we actually do rate presidents according to how successful they are in terms of getting what they want. one way to determine what it is they want, what their priorities are is to look at their state of the union messages. it sometimes takes a very long time to get those things through. 1945 truman in 1946, proposed a very long list of policybitious domestic agendas, some of which weren't connected until the 1960's. so, presidents can be

unsuccessful in the short run, but they set a pattern for the long run. that is one way of judging it. presidents have much more success in getting what they want if their party controls both houses of congress. they have much less success if their party controls one or neither of the houses of congress. set a bar can try to to say, this is what you should be aiming for. this is what i'm expecting. that requires the opposition than to come up with alternatives. senate historian donald ritchie, a live view of the u.s. capitol -- the president is back at the white house this evening. he will travel tomorrow not too far from the washington, d.c. to maryland where he will visit a cosco facility. he will tout the fact that cosco has higher than the minimum wage for its employees. then the president will travel to the pittsburgh area, a steel plant in west mifflin, pennsylvania, where he will talk ira, the new 401(k)

plan the president outlined. then till milwaukee, wisconsin, part of a two-day, four-state to work -- tour. the headline from "the l.a. times" jason is joining us from las vegas, nevada, the independent line. caller: good evening, how are you? i just want to make a quick couple of points. hopefully i can finish my statement. number one, i would like to say i am an american first. all i want to do is work. i have been wanting to work my whole life. i am 47 years old. i have never collected food stamps nor welfare. all i have ever wanted to do is work and work hard so i can take care of my family. can't two, the president do anything by himself. he cannot. he is not an emperor. democrats and republicans both realize to put america

first, we will be in the situation forever. last but not least, to keep on claiming there was a war on poverty -- lyndon johnson did put things in place, but if we remember correctly in history, it has been republicans in the house for some many years that cut back everything. the war on poverty only actually was for six years, not 50. that was a farce. last but not least, when we go the republican way, cutback health care, 50 million more people uninsured, is that going to make america better? if it is, let's do it. let's do it the republican way if it is going to make america better. i'm tired of not working. all i want to do his work, take care of my family, and get health care for my family. i don't want any handouts. and never have. i just want to work. god bless america. host: thanks very much for the call. we will go next to little rock, arkansas, a democrat. good evening. are you with us?

caller: yes, i am. i was just watching the state of the union. i think we have a great president, but we have to work together. republicans and democrats, they have to be united. you cannot make it a house divided. wet we need to start doing, need to put hate aside and put love their. thanks very much for the call. nathan is joining us from washington state, our line for republicans. your reaction to what you heard tonight from the president and the priorities he outlined for the year ahead. caller: thanks for having me. i noticed a big deal with the liberals -- they say, raising the higher minimum wage, and i think that is wrong. i think conservatives are right.

get rid of all the job regulations that say you cannot work or do this or that. is lower thing his -- taxes. host: virgil had this point as we said, one of the talks tomorrow will be just outside of pittsburgh in west mifflin, pennsylvania. this is the headline tonight from the "pittsburgh post-gazette" -- we also checked in with members of the republican side of the aisle. senator lindsey graham who is up for reelection this year in south carolina spoke to peter swan. [video clip] >> incredibly disappointed. the picture the president painted to me is not remotely similar to what is really going on. there is a serious contagion. the civil war in syria is a humanitarian disaster that is affecting lebanon. 700,000 refugees.

the king of jordan is under siege. it is affecting iraq. he lack of troops in iraq -- forgot to tell us that iraq is falling apart and al qaeda is on the rise. the picture the president painted of our national security situation in the mideast was not remotely connected to the world as i see it. >> what about his call to talk with iran? >> at the end of the day, the goal is to disarm the iranians' nuclear capability. this agreement doesn't dismantle one centrifuge. it doesn't remove one ounce of enriched uranium from iran. it doesn't deal with the plutonium reactor. the final deal should be, no enrichment capability. no plutonium-producing reactor. remove all highly-enriched uranium out of the country. the interim deal is so far away from what i think would be an acceptable deal. i'm very worried. the sections are falling apart.

delegation after delegation is going to iran to do business. they are beginning to crumble before our eyes. they are the reason we are at the table, but if we do not reinforce sanctions, i think they are going to fall apart. >> three times the president said he would act with or without congress. >> that is up to the president. one thing that was slightly encouraging on foreign policy -- if he will leave a residual force behind in afghanistan to hold the country together and not commit the same mistake we made in iraq, i would support that. if there are no troops left in afghanistan in 2015, the place will fall apart in a year. as far as the executive orders, the president will make that decision. i hope he will not bypass the constitution. host: republican senator lindsey graham, and again, a live view of the u.s. capitol on the state of the union address. the president's remarks and the republican response, available on our website, c-span.org. these headlines from "the

washington times" a show of, shows aanship -- fewer bipartisanship in the president's speech. you can get those stories online at washingtontimes.com. don joins us from wisconsin. good evening. caller: thank you for taking my call. the president mentioned with working -- mentioned working with industries in the basic functions of democracy, as well as paying attention not to size of the bank account that drives the democracy. i would like to comment on how americans and their joblessness is caused by working with the industry's -- industries. dodd-frank act isn't upheld when a whistleblower context the

government. there is nothing but obstruction of people that are trying to fix the economy by exposing corruption. host: we appreciate the call. this comment politico, the state of the union, what he said and what he meant. that story is on -- available online at politico.com. or nextia, louisiana is color. daniel is our caller, a democrat. good evening. caller: how are you doing? host: fine, thank you. go ahead with your comments. -- ir: the priorities really highly recommend that the president is doing what he can for the american people, the military, low income workers, the people that are looking forward to that american dream.

i am predominantly in a republican place up in louisiana, alexandria to be exact. is it compels it me that he is very passionate , having not only security for family members, but generations to come. i just really think that everybody ought to look in the mirror and take a glance at themselves and just put themselves up in that situation of people that are minorities or poor or not able to have the luxury is other people. i mean, we are the american people. we fight for our rights. we all have the same common laws. it shouldn't be any different. if it helps anybody's grandchildren, relatives, grandmothers, so forth, etc., everybody ought to come together, stop bickering, put everything to the side, and let's work together as one unit,

one nation under god. that is our american dream. lastly, i just really feel like republicans -- not to bash them -- they ought to take a reality check on the basic low income worker. they ought to live the lives that their people live on a day-to-day basis of trying to strive for their families, caring, things of that nature. there are a lot of people that are sick, that are hungry, that are ill, and a lot of people need to worry about the united states of america, not overseas. their problems are not our problems. we need to focus in on our children. we need to focus on jobs, relating to one another. all the bigotry, the prejudice, the insults, the bashing at each other -- we just need to work together, move forward, and get over this, who is right, who is wrong. host: thanks very much for the

call. many of you are weighing in on our facebook page. we're asking about your thoughts about the president's 2014 state of the union address. a couple of comments, this is one from sherry, who says james says page, #cswitter panchat you can continue to join in on our facebook page at facebook.com/c-span. a reminder, republican congressman price and democratic representative larson will be among our guests tomorrow morning. "washington journal" is seen at 7:00 a.m. eastern time, 4:00 for those of you on the west coast. the president's remarks and the republican response are available on our website at c-span.org. they do joining us on this

tuesday evening -- thank you for joining us on this tuesday evening. [captioning performed by national captioning institute] [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2013] the sergeant at arms: mr. speaker, the president of the nited states.

the speaker: members of congress, i have the high privilege and distinct honor of presenting to you, the president of the united states.

the president: thank you. thank you so much. thank you. .hank you thank you so much. ,r. speaker, mr. vice president members of congress, my fellow a icans, today in america, teacher spent extra time with a student who needed it and did her part to lift america's graduation rate to its highest levels in more than three decades. an entrepreneur flipped on the lights in her tech startup and did her part to add to the more than eight million new jobs our businesses have created over the past four years.

auto worker fine-tuned some of the best most fuel-efficient cars in the world and did his part to wean america off of foreign oil. a farmer who prepared for the spring after the longest, a rural doctor gave a young child the prescription to treat asthma hat his mother could afford. a man took the bus home from the graveyard shift, bone tired, dreaming big dreams for his son and in a 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. and here are the results of your efforts. the lowest unemployment rate in over five years, a rebounding housing market, a manufacturing sector that's adding jobs for the first time since the 1990's,

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 -- for the first time in over a decade, business leaders around the world have declared that china is no longer the number one place to invest. merica is. that's why i believe this can be a break-through year for america . after five years of grit and determined effort, the united states is better positioned for the