1、re also mindful of the empty chair in this chamber, and we pray for the health of our colleague and our friend Gabby Giffords. (Applause.)Its no secret that those of us here tonight have had our differences over the last two years. The debates have been contentious; we have fought fiercely for our b
2、eliefs. And thats a good thing. Thats what a robust democracy demands. Thats what helps set us apart as a nation.But theres a reason the tragedy in Tucson gave us pause. Amid all the noise and passion and rancor of our public debate, Tucson reminded us that no matter who we are or where we come from
3、, each of us is a part of something greater something more consequential than party or political preference.We are part of the American family. We believe that in a country where every race and faith and point of view can be found, we are still bound together as one people; that we share common hope
4、s and a common creed; that the dreams of a little girl in Tucson are not so different than those of our own children, and that they all deserve the chance to be fulfilled.That, too, is what sets us apart as a nation. (Applause.)Now, by itself, this simple recognition wont usher in a new era of coope
5、ration. What comes of this moment is up to us. What comes of this moment will be determined not by whether we can sit together tonight, but whether we can work together tomorrow. (Applause.)I believe we can. And I believe we must. Thats what the people who sent us here expect of us. With their votes
6、, theyve determined that governing will now be a shared responsibility between parties. New laws will only pass with support from Democrats and Republicans. We will move forward together, or not at all for the challenges we face are bigger than party, and bigger than politics.At stake right now is n
7、ot who wins the next election after all, we just had an election. At stake is whether new jobs and industries take root in this country, or somewhere else. Its whether the hard work and industry of our people is rewarded. Its whether we sustain the leadership that has made America not just a place o
8、n a map, but the light to the world.We are poised for progress. Two years after the worst recession most of us have ever known, the stock market has come roaring back. Corporate profits are up. The economy is growing again.But we have never measured progress by these yardsticks alone. We measure pro
9、gress by the success of our people. By the jobs they can find and the quality of life those jobs offer. By the prospects of a small business owner who dreams of turning a good idea into a thriving enterprise. By the opportunities for a better life that we pass on to our children.Thats the project th
10、e American people want us to work on. Together. (Applause.)We did that in December. Thanks to the tax cuts we passed, Americans paychecks are a little bigger today. Every business can write off the full cost of new investments that they make this year. And these steps, taken by Democrats and Republi
11、cans, will grow the economy and add to the more than one million private sector jobs created last year.But we have to do more. These steps weve taken over the last two years may have broken the back of this recession, but to win the future, well need to take on challenges that have been decades in t
12、he making.Many people watching tonight can probably remember a time when finding a good job meant showing up at a nearby factory or a business downtown. You didnt always need a degree, and your competition was pretty much limited to your neighbors. If you worked hard, chances are youd have a job for
13、 life, with a decent paycheck and good benefits and the occasional promotion. Maybe youd even have the pride of seeing your kids work at the same company.That world has changed. And for many, the change has been painful. Ive seen it in the shuttered windows of once booming factories, and the vacant
14、storefronts on once busy Main Streets. Ive heard it in the frustrations of Americans whove seen their paychecks dwindle or their jobs disappear proud men and women who feel like the rules have been changed in the middle of the game.Theyre right. The rules have changed. In a single generation, revolu
15、tions in technology have transformed the way we live, work and do business. Steel mills that once needed 1,000 workers can now do the same work with 100. Today, just about any company can set up shop, hire workers, and sell their products wherever theres an Internet connection.Meanwhile, nations lik
16、e China and India realized that with some changes of their own, they could compete in this new world. And so they started educating their children earlier and longer, with greater emphasis on math and science. Theyre investing in research and new technologies. Just recently, China became the home to
17、 the worlds largest private solar research facility, and the worlds fastest computer.So, yes, the world has changed. The competition for jobs is real. But this shouldnt discourage us. It should challenge us. Remember for all the hits weve taken these last few years, for all the naysayers predicting
18、our decline, America still has the largest, most prosperous economy in the world. (Applause.) No workers no workers are more productive than ours. No country has more successful companies, or grants more patents to inventors and entrepreneurs. Were the home to the worlds best colleges and universiti
19、es, where more students come to study than any place on Earth.Whats more, we are the first nation to be founded for the sake of an idea the idea that each of us deserves the chance to shape our own destiny. Thats why centuries of pioneers and immigrants have risked everything to come here. Its why o
20、ur students dont just memorize equations, but answer questions like What do you think of that idea? What would you change about the world? What do you want to be when you grow up?The future is ours to win. But to get there, we cant just stand still. As Robert Kennedy told us, The future is not a gif
21、t. It is an achievement. Sustaining the American Dream has never been about standing pat. It has required each generation to sacrifice, and struggle, and meet the demands of a new age.And now its our turn. We know what it takes to compete for the jobs and industries of our time. We need to out-innov
22、ate, out-educate, and out-build the rest of the world. (Applause.) We have to make America the best place on Earth to do business. We need to take responsibility for our deficit and reform our government. Thats how our people will prosper. Thats how well win the future. (Applause.) And tonight, Id l
23、ike to talk about how we get there.The first step in winning the future is encouraging American innovation. None of us can predict with certainty what the next big industry will be or where the new jobs will come from. Thirty years ago, we couldnt know that something called the Internet would lead t
24、o an economic revolution. What we can do what America does better than anyone else is spark the creativity and imagination of our people. Were the nation that put cars in driveways and computers in offices; the nation of Edison and the Wright brothers; of Google and Facebook. In America, innovation
25、doesnt just change our lives. It is how we make our living. (Applause.)Our free enterprise system is what drives innovation. But because its not always profitable for companies to invest in basic research, throughout our history, our government has provided cutting-edge scientists and inventors with
26、 the support that they need. Thats what planted the seeds for the Internet. Thats what helped make possible things like computer chips and GPS. Just think of all the good jobs from manufacturing to retail that have come from these breakthroughs.Half a century ago, when the Soviets beat us into space
27、 with the launch of a satellite called Sputnik, we had no idea how we would beat them to the moon. The science wasnt even there yet. NASA didnt exist. But after investing in better research and education, we didnt just surpass the Soviets; we unleashed a wave of innovation that created new industrie
28、s and millions of new jobs.This is our generations Sputnik moment. Two years ago, I said that we needed to reach a level of research and development we havent seen since the height of the Space Race. And in a few weeks, I will be sending a budget to Congress that helps us meet that goal. Well invest
29、 in biomedical research, information technology, and especially clean energy technology (applause) an investment that will strengthen our security, protect our planet, and create countless new jobs for our people.Already, were seeing the promise of renewable energy. Robert and Gary Allen are brother
30、s who run a small Michigan roofing company. After September 11th, they volunteered their best roofers to help repair the Pentagon. But half of their factory went unused, and the recession hit them hard. Today, with the help of a government loan, that empty space is being used to manufacture solar sh
31、ingles that are being sold all across the country. In Roberts words, We reinvented ourselves.s what Americans have done for over 200 years: reinvented ourselves. And to spur on more success stories like the Allen Brothers, weve begun to reinvent our energy policy. Were not just handing out money. Were issuing a challenge. Were telling Americas scientists and enginee
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