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Obama Calls 2014 A "Breakthrough Year"

With the unemployment rate falling to 6.7 percent, its lowest level in five years, President Barack Obama called attention to the growing industries of solar power and natural gas. As the president addressed the 113th Congress during his fifth State of The Union speech on Jan. 28, he reported that the economy has continued to rebound and that eight million jobs have been created during the past four years. Looking ahead, the Boston Consulting Group predicted that by 2020, the economy will grow by $130 billion and produce five million more jobs.The president pointed out that the solar industry added 23,000 jobs last year alone. “Every four minutes, another American home or business goes solar,” he said.Obama explained that his “all of the above” energy policy has yielded positive results since its launch in 2012 as the U.S. continues to edge closer to energy-independence. He said that the country’s energy dependency is expected to drop to 32.9 percent by next year. In addition, North Carolina State University is developing new wide bandgap semiconductors that are smaller and more efficient than those made of silicon thus, cutting energy costs by billions of dollars. America’s Natural Gas Alliance stated that the natural gas industry currently provides 2.8 million jobs and $181 billion in revenue. Natural gas has also reduced the U.S. carbon footprint to -500 million metric tons, the lowest emission rate in the world, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. On the job front, the president pointed out that his administration has opened two manufacturing centers in Raleigh, N.C. and Youngstown, Ohio and intends to open six more this year. According to the McKinsey Global Institute, cloud computing, mobile Internet and advanced robotics also continue to flourish and are expected to generate an average of $5.6 trillion by 2025. “We know that the nation that goes all-in on innovation today will own the global economy tomorrow,” said Obama. “This is an edge America cannot surrender.” He explained that this industrial boom is testament to the robust American work ethic and “the scope of our dreams.” As the president spoke in a convictive and sometimes raspy voice, a black and white picture appeared on television screens across the nation. It was a 1950s portrait of an expressionless eight-year-old boy from the Cincinnati suburbs and his 17 family members, 11 of whom were siblings. The boy was John Boehner, who in 2011 became the speaker of the House of Representatives. The picture got a thumbs up from Boehner as well as a standing ovation from Vice President Joe Biden.  “Opportunity is who we are,” said Obama.However, the president voiced his concern for those still without jobs saying that unemployment insurance needs to be revamped. “This Congress needs to restore the unemployment insurance you just let expire for 1.6 million people,” he said. Obama warned that if the House and the Senate do not act, another 3.3 million people will lose unemployment benefits this year.  In addition, the president recognized the five states that have new minimum wage laws. He urged congressional leaders to support the efforts being made by Sen. Thomas Harkin (D-Iowa) and Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.) to increase the national minimum wage to $10.10 an hour, the first raise since 2009.   “Join the rest of the country,” said Obama. “Say yes. Give America a raise.”The president pointed out that immigration is another source of economic growth and therefore, called upon Congress to “fix our broken immigration system.” Obama said that immigration would produce $1.4 trillion and cut the deficit by $850 billion.“Let’s get immigration reform done this year,” he said. In speaking about education, Obama said that the Race to the Top Fund has worked well since it was introduced in 2009.  As a result, 60 percent of high school graduates are able to go to college and 15,000 schools will have high-speed broadband Internet connections by 2016 “without adding a dime to the deficit.”“It was worth it, it is working,” he said. For younger students, Obama was pleased to announce that 30 states have taken the initiative to raise funding for pre-K education without being directed to do so by Congress. “They know we can’t wait,” he said. On the issue of healthcare, the president explained that despite the 40 Republican votes that opposed the Affordable Care Act, six in 10 people can receive health insurance for no more than $100 per month. “More than nine million Americans have signed up for private health insurance or Medicaid coverage,” he said.Obama also shared the story of Amanda Shelley, a physician’s assistant from Gilbert, Ariz., who had been unable to get healthcare because of a “pre-existing condition.” However, on Jan. 1 she received coverage from the Affordable Care Act. Obama said that on Jan. 6, she was taken into surgery – the cost of which would have forced Shelley to file for bankruptcy had it occurred one week earlier.“That's what health insurance reform is all about,” said Obama. “The peace of mind that if misfortune strikes, you don't have to lose everything.”  Regarding the U.S. involvement in the Middle East, Obama explained that when he took office, 180,000 soldiers were deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan. Five years later, the president reported that there is no longer a U.S. presence in Iraq and the number of troops in Afghanistan has been reduced by 60,000. “We will complete our mission there by the end of year and America’s longest war will be over,” he said.Obama also applauded the country’s diplomacy concerning Iran. He said that through those negotiations and sanctions, the Iranian nuclear program has been stopped for the first time in 10 years. Therefore, no further sanctions are needed at this time. “As we gather here tonight, Iran has begun to eliminate its stockpile of higher levels of enriched uranium,” he said. 

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