first things we did was to protect pensions for as many as 2 million union workers as we signed the butch lewisct. the most significant act to protect unions in 50 years. it helped them retire with dignity. just like the social security fairness act. what i'm about to sign, when i came to office and promised i would also protect social security, i never thought we would have to make that promise but we still do. i said that if anyone tried to cut these programs, i would stop them. that is the promise we have kept. even in the face of cutting these programs, i know there is a lot more work to do to improve and expand benefits including those who need it most. to protect social security for the long-term and asking the wealthiest to pay their fair share and so much more. we could not have done this alone. to the people in this room, the people around the country who did the work and kept the faith, thank you. our economy today is the strongest economy in the world. we have more to do but it is the strongest economy in the world because we have the best workers in the world. we do. [applause] i mi