Fluent Essays

Article II, Section 3, Clause 1 of the U.S. Constitution requires the President to periodically give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union, and recommend to their consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient. The State of the Union Address is an annual message delivered by the President to a joint session of the United States Congress at the beginning of each calendar year in office. In this address, the President outlines her/his vision for the country, the goals s/he hopes to achieve during her/his first term of office, the major programs and initiatives s/he intends to enact, and any significant changes s/he plans to make in the administration of the federal government. Your assignment is to examine President Barak Obama’s 2010 State of the Union address. You must answer the following questions: How does the President describe the state of the U.S. economy? What are the priorities of the Obama Administration outlined in the President’s address? Were these priorities to be implemented through new programs, new regulations, new agencies, restructuring existing agencies, or other means? How much will the President’s initiatives cost? How will they be funded? What are the goals of the initiatives? Is your assessment of the President’s plans for administering the federal government positive or negative? Explain your position. Select one (1) of the administrative priorities outlined in President Obama’s 2010 State of the Union address and answer the following questions: What is the issue selected? Why is this issue a priority for the Administration? Be specific as to Obama’s reasons. What federal cabinet department or agency has primary administrative responsibility for carrying out this priority? Will these administrative responsibilities require new laws or regulations? Provide a brief history of this department or agency including the public law(s) or Act that created it, its primary mission, an organization chart, and a profile of the Cabinet Secretary in 2010. Between 5-7 pages. The American Presidency Project (https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/) Address Before a Joint Session of the Congress on the State of the Union January 27, 2010 Madam Speaker, Vice President Biden, Members of Congress, distinguished guests, and fellow Americans: Our Constitution declares that from time to time, the President shall give to Congress information about the state of our Union. For 220 years, our leaders have ful�lled this duty. Theyve done so during periods of prosperity and tranquility, and theyve done so in the midst of war and depression, at moments of great strife and great struggle. Its tempting to look back on these moments and assume that our progress was inevitable, that America was always destined to succeed. But when the Union was turned back at Bull Run and the Allies �rst landed at Omaha Beach, victory was very much in doubt. When the market crashed on Black Tuesday and marchers were beaten on Bloody Sunday, the future was anything but certain. These were the times that tested the courage of our convictions and the strength of our Union. And despite all our divisions and disagreements, our hesitations and our fears, America prevailed because we chose to move forward as one Nation, as one people. Again, we are tested. And again, we must answer historys call. BARACK OBAMA (/PEOPLE/PRESIDENT/BARA CK-OBAMA) https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/people/president/barack-obama One year ago, I took o�ce amid two wars, an economy rocked by a severe recession, a �nancial system on the verge of collapse, and a Government deeply in debt. Experts from across the political spectrum warned that if we did not act, we might face a second depression. So we acted, immediately and aggressively. And 1 year later, the worst of the storm has passed. But the devastation remains. One in 10 Americans still cannot �nd work. Many businesses have shuttered. Home values have declined. Small towns and rural communities have been hit especially hard. And for those whod already known poverty, lifes become that much harder. This recession has also compounded the burdens that Americas families have been dealing with for decades: the burden of working harder and longer for less, of being unable to save enough to retire or help kids with college. So I know the anxieties that are out there right now. Theyre not new. These struggles are the reason I ran for President. These struggles are what Ive witnessed for years, in places like Elkhart, Indiana; Galesburg, Illinois. I hear about them in the letters that I read each night. The toughest to read are those written by children asking why they have to move from their home, asking when their mom or dad will be able to go back to work. For these Americans and so many others, change has not come fast enough. Some are frustrated, some are angry. They dont understand why it seems like bad behavior on Wall Street is rewarded, but hard work on Main Street isnt, or why Washington has been unable or unwilling to solve any of our problems. Theyre tired of the partisanship and the shouting and the pettiness. They know we cant a�ord it. Not now. So we face big and di�cult challenges. And what the American people hope, what they deserve, is for all of us, Democrats and Republicans, to work through our di�erences, to overcome the numbing weight of our politics. For while the people who sent us here have di�erent backgrounds, di�erent stories, di�erent beliefs, the anxieties they face are the same. The aspirations they hold are shared: a job that pays the bills, a chance to get ahead, most of all, the ability to give their children a better life. And you know what else they share? They share a stubborn resilience in the face of adversity. After one of the most di�cult years in our history, they remain busy building cars and teaching kids, starting businesses and going back to school. Theyre coaching Little League and helping their neighbors. One woman wrote to me and said, We are strained but hopeful, struggling but encouraged. Its because of this spirit, this great decency and great strength, that I have never been more hopeful about Americas future than I am tonight. Despite our hardships, our Union is strong. We do not give up. We do not quit. We do not allow fear or division to break our spirit. In this new decade, its time the American people get a Government that matches their decency, that embodies their strength. And tonight Id like to talk about how together we can deliver on that promise. It begins with our economy. Our most urgent task upon taking o�ce was to shore up the same banks that helped cause this crisis. It was not easy to do. And if theres one thing that has uni�ed Democrats and Republicans and everybody in between, its that we all hated the bank bailout. I hated it. I hated it; you hated it. It was about as popular as a root canal. [Laughter] But when I ran for President, I promised I wouldnt just do what was popular; I would do what was necessary. And if we had allowed the meltdown of the �nancial system, unemployment might be double what it is today. More businesses would certainly have closed. More homes would have surely been lost. So I supported the last administrations e�orts to create the �nancial rescue program. And when we took that program over, we made it more transparent and more accountable. And as a result, the markets are now stabilized, and weve recovered most of the money we spent on the banks-- most but not all. To recover the rest, Ive proposed a fee on the biggest banks. Now, I know Wall Street isnt keen on this idea. But if these �rms can a�ord to hand out big bonuses again, they can a�ord a modest fee to pay back the taxpayers who rescued them in their time of need. Now, as we stabilized the �nancial system, we also took steps to get our economy growing again, save as many jobs as possible, and help Americans who had become unemployed. Thats why we extended or increased unemployment bene�ts for more than 18 million Americans, made health insurance 65 percent cheaper for families who get their coverage through COBRA, and passed 25 di�erent tax cuts. Now, let me repeat: We cut taxes. We cut taxes for 95 percent of working families. We cut taxes for small businesses. We cut taxes for �rst-time home buyers. We cut taxes for parents trying to care for their children. We cut taxes for 8 million Americans paying for college. [Applause] I thought Id get some applause on that one. [Laughter] As a result, millions of Americans had more to spend on gas and food and other necessities, all of which helped businesses keep more workers. And we havent raised income taxes by a single dime on a single person--not a single dime. Now, because of the steps we took, there are about 2 million Americans working right now who would otherwise be unemployed. Two hundred thousand work in construction and clean energy. Three hundred thousand are teachers and other education workers. Tens of thousands are cops, �re�ghters, correctional o�cers, �rst-responders. And were on track to add another 1 1/2 million jobs to this total by the end of the year. The plan that has made all of this possible, from the tax cuts to the jobs, is the Recovery Act. Thats right, the Recovery Act, also known as the stimulus bill. Economists on the left and the right say this bill has helped save jobs and avert disaster. But you dont have to take their word for it. Talk to the small business in Phoenix that will triple its workforce because of the Recovery Act. Talk to the window manufacturer in Philadelphia who said he used to be skeptical about the Recovery Act, until he had to add two more work shifts just because of the business it created. Talk to the single teacher raising two kids who was told by her principal in the last week of school that because of the Recovery Act, she wouldnt be laid o� after all. There are stories like this all across America. And after 2 years of recession, the economy is growing again. Retirement funds have started to gain back some of their value. Businesses are beginning to invest again, and slowly some are starting to hire again. But I realize that for every success story, there are other stories, of men and women who wake up with the anguish of not knowing where their next paycheck will come from, who send out resumes week after week and hear nothing in response. That is why jobs must be our number-one focus in 2010, and thats why Im calling for a new jobs bill tonight. Now, the true engine of job creation in this country will always be Americas businesses. [Applause] I agree, absolutely. But Government can create the conditions necessary for businesses to expand and hire more workers. We should start where most new jobs do, in small businesses, companies that begin when an entrepreneur takes a chance on a dream or a worker decides its time she became her own boss. Through sheer grit and determination, these companies have weathered the recession, and theyre ready to grow. But when you talk to small-business owners in places like Allentown, Pennsylvania, or Elyria, Ohio, you �nd out that even though banks on Wall Street are lending again, theyre mostly lending to bigger companies. Financing remains di�cult for small-business owners across the country, even those that are making a pro�t. So tonight Im proposing that we take $30 billion of the money Wall Street banks have repaid and use it to help community banks give small businesses the credit they need to stay a�oat. Im also proposing a new small business tax credit, one that will go to over 1 million small businesses who hire new workers or raise wages. While were at it, lets also eliminate all capital gains taxes on small-business investment and provide a tax incentive for all large businesses and all small businesses to invest in new plants and equipment. Next, we can put Americans to work today building the infrastructure of tomorrow. From the �rst railroads to the Interstate Highway System, our Nation has always been built to compete. Theres no reason Europe or China should have the fastest trains or the new factories that manufacture clean energy products. Tomorrow Ill visit Tampa, Florida, where workers will soon break ground on a new high-speed railroad funded by the Recovery Act. There are projects like that all across this country that will create jobs and help move our Nations goods, services, and information. We should put more Americans to work building clean energy facilities and give rebates to Americans who make their homes more energy e�cient, which supports clean energy jobs. And to encourage these and other businesses to stay within our borders, it is time to �nally slash the tax breaks for companies that ship our jobs overseas and give those tax breaks to companies that create jobs right here in the United States of America. Now, the House has passed a jobs bill that includes some of these steps. As the �rst order of business this year, I urge the Senate to do the same, and I know they will. They will. People are out of work. Theyre hurting. They need our help. And I want a jobs bill on my desk without delay. But the truth is, these steps wont make up for the 7 million jobs that weve lost over the last 2 years. The only way to move to full employment is to lay a new foundation for long-term economic growth and �nally address the problems that Americas families have confronted for years. We cant a�ord another so-called economic expansion like the one from the last decade, what some call the lost decade, where jobs grew more slowly than during any prior expansion, where the income of the average American household declined while the cost of health care and tuition reached record highs, where prosperity was built on a housing bubble and �nancial speculation. From the day I took o�ce, Ive been told that addressing our larger challenges is too ambitious; such an e�ort would be too contentious. Ive been told that our political system is too gridlocked and that we should just put things on hold for a while. For those who make these claims, I have one simple question: How long should we wait? How long should America put its future on hold? You see, Washington has been telling us to wait for decades, even as the problems have grown worse. Meanwhile, Chinas not waiting to revamp its economy. Germanys not waiting. Indias not waiting. These nations are-- theyre not standing still. These nations arent playing for second place. Theyre putting more emphasis on math and science. Theyre rebuilding their infrastructure. Theyre making serious investments in clean energy because they want those jobs. Well, I do not accept second place for the United States of America. As hard as it may be, as uncomfortable and contentious as the debates may become, its time to get serious about �xing the problems that are hampering our growth. Now, one place to start is serious �nancial reform. Look, I am not interested in punishing banks. Im interested in protecting our economy. A strong, healthy �nancial market makes it possible for businesses to access credit and create new jobs. It channels the savings of families into investments that raise incomes. But that can only happen if we guard against the same recklessness that nearly brought down our entire economy. We need to make sure consumers and middle class families have the information they need to make �nancial decisions. We cant allow �nancial institutions, including those that take your deposits, to take risks that threaten the whole economy. Now, the House has already passed �nancial reform with many of these changes, and the lobbyists are trying to kill it. But we cannot let them win this �ght. And if the bill that ends up on my desk does not meet the test of real reform, I will send it back until we get it right. Weve got to get it right. Next, we need to encourage American innovation. Last year, we made the largest investment in basic research funding in history, an investment that could lead to the worlds cheapest solar cells or treatment that kills cancer cells, but leaves healthy ones untouched. And no area is more ripe for such innovation than energy. You can see the results of last years investments in clean energy in the North Carolina company that will create 1,200 jobs nationwide helping to make advanced batteries or in the California business that will put a thousand people to work making solar panels. But to create more of these clean energy jobs, we need more production, more e�ciency, more incentives. And that means building a new generation of safe, clean nuclear power plants in this country. It means making tough decisions about opening new o�shore areas for oil and gas development. It means continued investment in advanced biofuels and clean coal technologies. And yes, it means passing a comprehensive energy and climate bill with incentives that will �nally make clean energy the pro�table kind of energy in America. Now, I am grateful to the House for passing such a bill last year. And this year, Im eager to help advance the bipartisan e�ort in the Senate. I know there have been questions about whether we can a�ord such changes in a tough economy. I know that there are those who disagree with the overwhelming scienti�c evidence on climate change. But heres the thing: Even if you doubt the evidence, providing incentives for energy e�ciency and clean energy are the right thing to do for our future, because the nation that leads the clean energy economy will be the nation that leads the global economy. And America must be that nation. Third, we need to export more of our goods, because the more products we make and sell to other countries, the more jobs we support right here in America. So tonight we set a new goal: We will double our exports over the next 5 years, an increase that will support 2 million jobs in America. To help meet this goal, were launching a National Export Initiative that will help farmers and small businesses increase their exports and reform export controls consistent with national security. We have to seek new markets aggressively, just as our competitors are. If America sits on the sidelines while other nations sign trade deals, we will lose the chance to create jobs on our shores. But realizing those bene�ts also means enforcing those agreements so our trading partners play by the rules. And thats why well continue to shape a Doha trade agreement that opens global markets and why we will strengthen our trade relations in Asia and with key partners like South Korea and Panama and Colombia. Fourth, we need to invest in the skills and education of our people. Now, this year, weve broken through the stalemate between left and right by launching a national competition to improve our schools. And the idea here is simple: Instead of rewarding failure, we only reward success. Instead of funding the status quo, we only invest in reform, reform that raises student achievement, inspires students to excel in math and science, and turns around failing schools that steal the future of too many young Americans, from rural communities to the inner city. In the 21st century, the best antipoverty program around is a world-class education. And in this country, the success of our children cannot depend more on where they live than on their potential. When we renew the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, we will work with Congress to expand these reforms to all 50 States. Still, in this economy, a high school diploma no longer guarantees a good job. Thats why I urge the Senate to follow the House and pass a bill that will revitalize our community colleges, which are a career pathway to the children of so many working families. To make college more a�ordable, this bill will �nally end the unwarranted taxpayer subsidies that go to banks for student loans. Instead, lets take that money and give families a $10,000 tax credit for 4 years of college and increase Pell grants. And lets tell another 1 million students that when they graduate, they will be required to pay only 10 percent of their income on student loans and all of their debt will be forgiven after 20 years and forgiven after 10 years if they choose a career in public service, because in the United States of America, no one should go broke because they chose to go to college. And by the way, its time for colleges and universities to get serious about cutting their own costs, because they too have a responsibility to help solve this problem. Now, the price of college tuition is just one of the burdens facing the middle class. Thats why last year, I asked Vice President Biden to chair a task force on middle class families. Thats why were nearly doubling the childcare tax credit and making it easier to save for retirement by giving access to every worker a retirement account and expanding the tax credit for those who start a nest egg. Thats why were working to lift the value of a familys single largest investment, their home. The steps we took last year to shore up the housing market have allowed millions of Americans to take out new loans and save an average of $1,500 on mortgage payments. This year, we will step up re�nancing so that homeowners can move into more a�ordable mortgages. And it is precisely to relieve the burden on middle class families that we still need health insurance reform. Yes, we do. Now, lets clear a few things up. I didnt choose to tackle this issue to get some legislative victory under my belt. And by now it should be fairly obvious that I didnt take on health care because it was good politics. [Laughter] I took on health care because of the stories Ive heard from Americans with preexisting conditions whose lives depend on getting coverage, patients whove been denied coverage, families, even those with insurance, who are just one illness away from �nancial ruin. After nearly a century of trying--Democratic administrations, Republican administrations--we are closer than ever to bringing more security to the lives of so many Americans. The approach weve taken would protect every American from the worst practices of the insurance industry. It would give small businesses and uninsured Americans a chance to choose an a�ordable health care plan in a competitive market. It would require every insurance plan to cover preventive care. And by the way, I want to acknowledge our First Lady, Michelle Obama, who this year is creating a national movement to tackle the epidemic of childhood obesity and make kids healthier. [Applause] Thank you, honey. She gets embarrassed. [Laughter] Our approach would preserve the right of Americans who have insurance to keep their doctor and their plan. It would reduce costs and premiums for millions of families and businesses. And according to the Congressional Budget O�ce, the independent organization that both parties have cited as the o�cial scorekeeper for Congress, our approach would bring down the de�cit by as much as $1 trillion over the next two decades. Still, this is a complex issue, and the longer it was debated, the more skeptical people became. I take my share of the blame for not explaining it more clearly to the American people. And I know that with all the lobbying and horse-trading, the process left most Americans wondering, Whats in it for me? But I also know this problem is not going away. By the time Im �nished speaking tonight, more Americans will have lost their health insurance. Millions will lose it this year. Our de�cit will grow. Premiums will go up. Patients will be denied the care they need. Small-business owners will continue to drop coverage altogether. I will not walk away from these Americans, and neither should the people in this Chamber. So as temperatures cool, I want everyone to take another look at the plan weve proposed. Theres a reason why many doctors, nurses, and health care experts who know our system best consider this approach a vast improvement over the status quo. But if anyone from either party has a better approach that will bring down premiums, bring down the de�cit, cover the uninsured, strengthen Medicare for seniors, and stop insurance company abuses, let me know. Let me know. Let me know. Im eager to see it. Heres what I ask Congress, though: Dont walk away from reform. Not now. Not when we are so close. Let us �nd a way to come together and �nish the job for the American people. Lets get it done. Lets get it done. Now, even as health care reform would reduce our de�cit, its not enough to dig us out of a massive �scal hole in which we �nd ourselves. Its a challenge that makes all others that much harder to solve and one thats been subject to a lot of political posturing. So let me start the discussion of Government spending by setting the record straight. At the beginning of the last decade, the year 2000, America had a budget surplus of over $200 billion. By the time I took o�ce, we had a 1-year de�cit of over $1 trillion and projected de�cits of $8 trillion over the next decade. Most of this was the result of not paying for two wars, two tax cuts, and an expensive prescription drug program. On top of that, the e�ects of the recession put a $3 trillion hole in our budget. All this was before I walked in the door. [Laughter] Now--[applause]--just stating the facts. Now, if we had taken o�ce in ordinary times, I would have liked nothing more than to start bringing down the de�cit. But we took o�ce amid a crisis. And our e�orts to prevent a second depression have added another $1 trillion to our national debt. That too is a fact. Im absolutely convinced that was the right thing to do. But families across the country are tightening their belts and making tough decisions. The Federal Government should do the same. So tonight Im proposing speci�c steps to pay for the trillion dollars that it took to rescue the economy last year. Starting in 2011, we are prepared to freeze Government spending for 3 years. Spending related to our national security, Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security will not be a�ected. But all other discretionary Government programs will. Like any cash-strapped family, we will work within a budget to invest in what we need and sacri�ce what we dont. And if I have to enforce this discipline by veto, I will. We will continue to go through the budget, line by line, page by page, to eliminate programs that we cant a�ord and dont work. Weve already identi�ed $20 billion in savings for next year. To help working families, well extend our middle class tax cuts. But at a time of record de�cits, we will not continue tax cuts for oil companies, for investment fund managers, and for those making over $250,000 a year. We just cant a�ord it. Now, even after paying for what we spent on my watch, well still face the massive de�cit we had when I took o�ce. More importantly, the cost of Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security will continue to skyrocket. Thats why Ive called for a bipartisan �scal commission, modeled on a proposal by Republican Judd Gregg and Democrat Kent Conrad. This cant be one of those Washington gimmicks that lets us pretend we solve a problem. The commission will have to provide a speci�c set of solutions by a certain deadline. Now, yesterday the Senate blocked a bill that would have created this commission, so Ill issue an Executive order that will allow us to go forward, because I refuse to pass this problem on to another generation of Americans. And when the vote comes tomorrow, the Senate should restore the pay-as-you-go law that was a big reason for why we had record surpluses in the 1990s. Now, I know that some in my own party will argue that we cant address the de�cit or freeze Government spending when so many are still hurting. And I agree, which is why this freeze wont take e�ect until next year, when the economy is stronger. Thats how budgeting works. [Laughter] But understand, if we dont take meaningful steps to rein in our debt, it could damage our markets, increase the cost of borrowing, and jeopardize our recovery, all of which would have an even worse e�ect on our job growth and family incomes. From some on the right, I expect well hear a di�erent argument, that if we just make fewer investments in our people, extend tax cuts, including those for the wealthier Americans, eliminate more regulations, maintain the status quo on health care, our de�cits will go away. The problem is, thats what we did for 8 years. Thats what helped us into this crisis. Its what helped lead to these de�cits. We cant do it again. Rather than �ght the same tired battles that have dominated Washington for decades, its time to try something new. Lets invest in our people without leaving them a mountain of debt. Lets meet our responsibility to the citizens who sent us here. Lets try common sense--[Laughter]--a novel concept. Now, to do that, we have to recognize that we face more than a de�cit of dollars right now. We face a de�cit of trust, deep and corrosive doubts about how Washington works that have been growing for years. To close that credibility gap, we have to take action on both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue to end the outsized in�uence of lobbyists, to do our work openly, to give our people the Government they deserve. Now, thats what I came to Washington to do. Thats why, for the �rst time in history, my administration posts on--our White House visitors online. Thats why weve excluded lobbyists from policymaking jobs or seats on Federal boards and commissions. But we cant stop there. Its time to require lobbyists to disclose each contact they make on behalf of a client, with my administration or with Congress. Its time to put strict limits on the contributions that lobbyists give to candidates for Federal o�ce. With all due deference to separation of powers, last week, the Supreme Court reversed a century of law that I believe will open the �oodgates for special interests, …