Remarks of President Barack Obama
As Prepared for Delivery
The White House
February 8, 2014
Hi, everybody. In my State of the Union Address, I talked about the idea of opportunity for all.
Opportunity is the idea at the heart of this country – that no matter
who you are or how you started out, with hard work and responsibility,
you can get ahead.
I ran for President to restore that idea, and I’m even more
passionate about it today. Because while our economy has been growing
for four years, and those at the top are doing better than ever, average
wages have barely budged. Too many Americans are working harder than
ever just to get by, let alone get ahead – and that’s been true since
long before the recession hit.
We’ve got to reverse those trends. We’ve got to build an economy
that works for everyone, not just a fortunate few. And the opportunity
agenda I laid out last week will help us do that.
It’s an agenda with four parts. Number one: more new jobs. Number
two: training folks with the skills to fill those jobs. Number three:
guaranteeing every child access to a world-class education. And number
four: making sure that hard work pays off, with wages you can live on,
savings you can retire on, and health insurance that’s there when you
need it.
I want to work with Congress on this agenda where I can. But in this
year of action, whenever I can take steps without legislation to expand
opportunity for more American families, I will. I’ve got a pen and a
phone – a pen to take executive action, and a phone to rally citizens
and business leaders who are eager to create new jobs and new
opportunities. And we’ve already begun.
In Wisconsin, I ordered an across-the-board reform of our training
programs to train folks with the skills employers need, and match them
to good jobs that need to be filled right now.
In Pittsburgh, I directed the Treasury to create “my-RA,” a new way
for working Americans, even if you’re not wealthy, to start your own
retirement savings.
In Maryland, I rallied the leaders of some of America’s biggest tech
companies to help us make sure all our kids have access to high-speed
internet and up-to-date technology to help them learn the skills they
need for the new economy.
And at the White House, I brought together business leaders who’ve
committed to helping more unemployed Americans find work, no matter how
long they’ve been looking. And I directed the federal government to
make hiring decisions the same way – based on whether applicants can do
the job, not when they last had a job.
So when you hear me talk about using my pen and my phone to make a
difference for middle class Americans and those working to get into the
middle class, that’s what I mean. And I’m going to keep asking students
and parents and business leaders to help – because there are millions
of Americans outside Washington who are tired of stale political
arguments, ready to move this country forward, and determined to restore
the founding vision of opportunity for all.
And so am I. Thanks, have a great weekend, and to our Olympians in Sochi, go Team USA!
Opportunity is the idea at the heart of this country – that no matter who you are or how you started out, with... http://t.co/JHkiLSRyDU
— James Rudyanto (@translatorbali) February 9, 2014
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