On January 28, President Barack Obama delivered his fifth State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress.
In his address, President Obama discussed domestic issues, sounding a theme of opportunity and economic improvement. Noting the role of women in the country’s economic progress, the president said, “A woman deserves equal pay for equal work. She deserves to have a baby without sacrificing her job. A mother deserves a day off to care for a sick child or sick parent without running into hardship – and you know what, a father does too. It’s time to do away with workplace policies that belong in a ‘Mad Men’ episode. This year, let’s all come together – Congress, the White House, and businesses from Wall Street to Main Street – to give every woman the opportunity she deserves. Because I firmly believe when women succeed, America succeeds.”
The president also highlighted the importance of financial security for American families. “Today, most workers don’t have a pension. A Social Security check often isn’t enough on its own.” The president indicated that he would establish a new savings program through the Department of Treasury called MyRA. Similar to 401(k) retirement plans, the MyRA would operate as “a new savings bond that encourages folks to build a nest egg.” The program would “[o]ffer every American access to an automatic IRA on the job, so they can save at work just like everyone in this chamber can.”
Mr. Obama also touted the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) (P.L. 111-148) as a vehicle to help families achieve financial security: “For decades, few things exposed hard-working families to economic hardship more than a broken health care system…That is what health insurance reform is all about – the peace of mind that if misfortune strikes, you don’t have to lose everything.” The president added, “Because of [the ACA], no American can ever again be dropped or denied coverage for a pre-existing condition like asthma, back pain, or cancer. No woman can ever be charged more just because she’s a woman.”
Citing education as a means for preparing “tomorrow’s workforce,” the president said, “Research shows that one of the best investments we can make in a child’s life is high-quality early education.” He repeated his request that Congress help establish universal pre-kindergarten. “So, just as we worked with states to reform our schools, this year, we’ll invest in new partnerships with states and communities across the country in a race to the top for our youngest children…I’m going to pull together a coalition of elected officials, business leaders, and philanthropists willing to help more kids access the high-quality pre-K they need.”
To access the full transcript of the president’s State of the Union address, click here.
