Speech Transcript:

 Madam Speaker, Vice President Cheney, Members of Congress,
distinguished guests, and fellow citizens:

Seven years have passed since I first stood before you at this
rostrum. In that time, our country has been tested in ways none of us
could have imagined. We faced hard decisions about peace and war,
rising competition in the world economy, and the health and welfare
of our citizens.

These issues call for vigorous debate, and I think it's fair to say
we've answered the call.

Yet history will record that amid our differences we acted with
purpose, and together we showed the world the power and resilience of
American self-government.

All of us were sent to Washington to carry out the people's business.
That is the purpose of this body. It is the meaning of our oath. It
remains our charge to keep.

The actions of the 110th Congress will affect the security and
prosperity of our nation long after this session has ended. In this
election year, let us show our fellow Americans that we recognize our
responsibilities and are determined to meet them.

Let us show them that Republicans and Democrats can compete for votes
and cooperate for results at the same time.

From expanding opportunity to protecting our country, we've made good
progress. Yet we have unfinished business before us, and the American
people expect us to get it done.

In the work ahead, we must be guided by the philosophy that made our
nation great. As Americans, we believe in the power of individuals to
determine their destiny and shape the course of history. We believe
that the most reliable guide for our country is the collective wisdom
of ordinary citizens.

And so, in all we do, we must trust in the ability of free peoples to
make wise decisions and empower them to improve their lives for their
futures.

To build a prosperous future, we must trust people with their own
money and empower them to grow our economy. As we meet tonight, our
economy is undergoing a period of uncertainty. America's added jobs
for a record 52 straight months.

But jobs are now growing at a slower pace. Wages are up, but so are
prices for food and gas. Exports are rising, but the housing market
has declined.

At kitchen tables across our country, there is a concern about our
economic future. In the long run, Americans can be confident about
our economic growth, but in the short run, we can all see that that
growth is slowing.

So, last week, my administration reached agreement with Speaker
Pelosi and Republican Leader Boehner on a robust growth package that
includes tax relief for individuals and families and incentives for
business investment.

The temptation will be to load up the bill. That would delay it or
derail it, and neither option is acceptable.

This is a good agreement that will keep our economy growing and our
people working. And this Congress must pass it as soon as possible.

We have other work to do on taxes. Unless Congress acts, most of the
tax relief we've delivered over the past seven years will be taken
away.

Some in Washington argue that letting tax relief expire is not a tax
increase.

Try explaining that to 116 million American taxpayers who will see
their taxes rise by an average of $1,800. Others have said they would
personally be happy to pay higher taxes. I welcome their enthusiasm. I
am pleased to report that the IRS accepts both checks and money
orders.

Most Americans think their taxes are high enough. With all the other
pressures on their finances, American families should not have to
worry about the federal government taking a bigger bite out of their
paychecks. There is only one way to eliminate this uncertainty: Make
the tax relief permanent.

Members of the Congress should know, if any bill -- raises taxes
reach -- reaches my desk, I will veto it.

Just as we trust Americans with their own money, we need to earn
their trust by spending their tax dollars wisely.

Next week, I'll send you a budget that terminates or substantially
reduces 151 wasteful or bloated programs, totaling more than $18
billion. The budget that I'll submit will keep America on track for a
surplus in 2012.

American families have to balance their budgets; so should their
government.

The people's trust in their government is undermined by congressional
earmarks, special interest projects that are often snuck in at the
last minute, without discussion or debate. committee reports that
never even come to a vote.

Unfortunately, neither goal was met.

So, this time, if you send me an appropriations bill that does not
cut the number and cost of earmarks in half, I'll send it back to you
with my veto.

And tomorrow I will issue an executive order that directs federal
agencies to ignore any future earmark that is not voted on by
Congress. If these items are truly worth funding, Congress should
debate them in the open and hold a public vote.

Our shared responsibilities extend beyond matters of taxes and
spending. On housing, we must trust Americans with the responsibility
of home ownership and empower them to weather turbulent times in the
housing market.

My administration brought together the Hope Now alliance, which is
helping many struggling homeowners avoid foreclosure.

And Congress can help even more.

Tonight I ask you to pass legislation to reform Fannie Mae and
Freddie Mac, modernize the Federal Housing Administration, and allow
state housing agencies to issue tax-free bonds to help homeowners
refinance their mortgages.

It's been a difficult time for many American families and, by taking
these steps, we can help more of them keep their homes.

To build a future of quality health care, we must trust patients and
doctors to make medical decisions and empower them with better
information and better options.

We share a common goal: making health care more affordable and
accessible for all Americans.

The best way to achieve that goal is by expanding consumer choice,
not government control.

So I propose ending the bias in the tax code against those who do not
get their health insurance through their employer. This one reform
would put private coverage within reach for millions, and I call on
the Congress to pass it this year.

Congress must also expand health savings accounts, create association
health plans for small businesses, promote health information
technology and confront the epidemic of junk medical lawsuits.

With all these steps, we will ensure that decisions about your
medical care are made in the privacy of your doctor's office, not in
the halls of Congress.

On education, we must trust students to learn, if given the chance,
and empower parents to demand results from our schools.

In neighborhoods across our country, there are boys and girls with
dreams. And a decent education is their only hope of achieving them.

Six years ago, we came together to pass the No Child Left Behind Act,
and today no one can deny its results.

Last year, 4th and 8th graders achieved the highest math scores on
record. Reading scores are on the rise. African-American and Hispanic
students posted all-time highs. Now we must...

Now we must work together to increase accountability, add
flexibilities for states and districts, reduce the number of high
school dropouts, provide extra help for struggling schools.

Members of Congress, the No Child Left Behind Act is a bipartisan
achievement. It is succeeding. And we owe it to America's children,
their parents and their teachers to strengthen this good law.

We must also do more to help children when their schools do not
measure up. Thanks to the D.C. Opportunity Scholarships you approved,
more than 2,600 of the poorest children in our nation's capital have
found new hope at a faith-based or other nonpublic schools.

Sadly, these schools are disappearing at an alarming rate in many of
America's inner cities. So I will convene a White House summit aimed
at strengthening these lifelines of learning.

And to open the doors of these schools to more children, I ask you to
support a new $300 million program called Pell Grants for Kids. We
have seen how Pell Grants help low-income college students realize
their full potential.

Together, we've expanded the size and reach of these grants. Now let
us apply the same spirit to help liberate poor children trapped in
failing public schools.

On trade, we must trust American workers to compete with anyone in
the world and empower them by opening up new markets overseas.

Today, our economic growth increasingly depends on our ability to
sell American goods and crops and services all over the world.

So we're working to break down barriers to trade and investment,
wherever we can.

We're working for a successful Doha round of trade talks. And we must
complete a good agreement this year.

At the same time, we're pursuing opportunities to open up new markets
by passing free trade agreements.

I thank the Congress for approving a good agreement with Peru. And
now I ask you to approve agreements with Colombia and Panama and
South Korea.

Many products from these nations now enter America duty-free.

Yet many of our products face steep tariffs in their markets. These
agreements will level the playing field. They will give us better
access to nearly 100 million customers.

They will support good jobs for the finest workers in the world,
those whose products say, "Made in the USA."

These agreements also promote America's strategic interests. The
first agreement that will come before you is with Colombia, a friend
of America that is confronting violence and terror and fighting drug
traffickers. If we fail to pass this agreement, we will embolden the
purveyors of false populism in our hemisphere.

So we must come together, pass this agreement, and show our neighbors
in the region that democracy leads to a better life.

Trade brings better jobs and better choices and better prices. Yet,
for some Americans, trade can mean losing a job. And the federal
government has a responsibility to help.

I ask Congress to reauthorize and reform Trade Adjustment Assistance,
so we can help these displaced workers learn new skills and find new
jobs.

�And I ask Congress to reauthorize the Reform Trade Adjustment
Assistance so we can help these displaced workers learn new skills and
find new jobs.

To build a future of energy security, we must trust in the creative
genius of American researchers and entrepreneurs and empower them to
pioneer a new generation of clean energy technology.

Our security, our prosperity and our environment all require reducing
our dependence on oil. consumption over the next decade, and you
responded. Together, we should take the next steps. Let us fund new
technologies that can generate coal power while capturing carbon
emissions.

Let us increase the use of renewable power and emissions- free
nuclear power.

Let us continue investing in advanced battery technology and
renewable fuels to power the cars and trucks of the future.

Let us create a new international clean technology fund which will
help developing nations like India and China make greater use of
clean energy sources.

And let us complete an international agreement that has the potential
to slow, stop, and eventually reverse the growth of greenhouse gases.

This agreement will be effective only if it includes commitments by
every major economy and gives none a free ride.

The United States is committed to strengthening our energy security
and confronting global climate change, and the best way to meet these
goals is for America to continue leading the way toward the
development of cleaner and more energy-efficient technology.

To keep America competitive into the future, we must trust in the
skill of our scientists and engineers and empower them to pursue the
breakthroughs of tomorrow.

Last year, Congress passed legislation supporting the American
Competitiveness Initiative, but never followed through with the
funding. This funding is essential to keeping our scientific edge.

So I ask Congress to double federal support for critical basic
research in the physical sciences and ensure America remains the most
dynamic nation on earth.

On matters of life and science, we must trust in the innovative
spirit of medical researchers and empower them to discover new
treatments while respecting moral boundaries.

In November, we witnessed a landmark achievement when scientists
discovered a way to reprogram adult skin cells to act like embryonic
stem cells.

This breakthrough has the potential to move us beyond the divisive
debates of the past by extending the frontiers of medicine without
the destruction of human life.

So we're expanding funding for this type of ethical medical research.
And, as we explore promising avenues of research, we must also ensure
that all life treated with the dignity it deserves.

And so I call on Congress to pass legislation that bans unethical
practices such as the buying, selling, patenting or cloning of human
life.

On matters of justice, we must trust in the wisdom of our founders
and empower judges who understand that the Constitution means what it
says.

I've submitted judicial nominees who will rule by the letter of the
law, not the whim of the gavel. Many of these nominees are being
unfairly delayed. They are worthy of confirmation, and the Senate
should give each of them a prompt up-or-down vote.

In communities across our land, we must trust in the good heart of
the American people and empower them to serve their neighbors in
need.

Over the past seven years, more of our fellow citizens have
discovered that the pursuit of happiness leads to the path of
service. Americans have volunteered in record numbers. Charitable
donations are higher than ever. Faith-based groups are bringing hope
to pockets of despair with newfound support from the federal
government.

And, to help guarantee equal treatment of faith-based organizations
when they compete for federal funds, I ask you to permanently extend
Charitable Choice.

Tonight, the armies of compassion continue the march to a new day in
the Gulf Coast. America honors the strength and resilience of the
people of this region. We reaffirm our pledge to help them build
stronger and better than before.

And tonight I'm pleased to announce that, in April, we will host this
year's North American Summit of Canada, Mexico, and the United States
in the great city of New Orleans.

There are two other pressing challenges that I've raised repeatedly
before this body, and that this body has failed to address:
entitlement spending and immigration.

Every member in this chamber knows that spending on entitlement
programs -- like Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid -- is growing
faster than we can afford.

We all know the painful choices ahead if American stays on this path:
massive tax increases, sudden and drastic cuts in benefits, and
crippling deficits.

I've laid out proposals to reform these programs. Now I ask members
of Congress to offer your proposals and come up with a bipartisan
solution to save these vital programs for our children and our
grandchildren.

The other pressing challenge is immigration. America needs to secure
our borders. And, with your help, my administration is taking steps
to do so. We're increasing work site enforcement, deploying fences
and advanced technologies to stop illegal crossings.

We've effectively ended the policy of "catch and release" at the
border. And by the end of this year, we will have doubled the number
of border patrol agents.

Yet we also need to acknowledge that we will never fully secure our
border until we create a lawful way for foreign workers to come here
and support our economy.

This will take pressure off the border and allow law enforcement to
concentrate on those who mean us harm.

We must also find a sensible and humane way to deal with people here
illegally. Illegal immigration is complicated, but it can be
resolved, and it must be resolved in a way that upholds both our laws
and our highest ideals.

This is the business of our nation here at home. Yet building a
prosperous future for our citizens also depends on confronting
enemies abroad and advancing liberty in troubled regions of the
world.

Our foreign policy is based on a clear premise: We trust that people,
when given the chance, will choose a future of freedom and peace.

In the last seven years, we have witnessed stirring moments in the
history of liberty. We've seen citizens in Georgia and Ukraine stand
up for their right to free and fair elections. We've seen people in
Lebanon take to the streets to demand their independence. We've seen
Afghans emerge from the tyranny of the Taliban and choose a new
president and a new parliament.

We've seen jubilant Iraqis holding up ink-stained fingers and
celebrating their freedom.

These images of liberty have inspired us.

In the past seven years, we've also seen the images that have sobered
us. We've watched throngs of mourners in Lebanon and Pakistan carrying
the caskets of beloved leaders taken by the assassins' hands.

We've seen wedding guests in blood-soaked finery staggering from a
hotel in Jordan, Afghans and Iraqis blown up in mosques and markets,
and trains in London and Madrid ripped apart by bombs.

On a clear September day, we saw thousands of our fellow citizens
taken from us in an instant.

These horrific images serve as a grim reminder. The advance of
liberty is opposed by terrorists and extremists -- evil men who
despise freedom, despise America and aim to subject millions to their
violent rule.

Since 9/11, we have taken the fight to these terrorists and
extremists. We will stay on the offense. We will keep up the
pressure, and we will deliver justice to our enemies.

We are engaged in the defining ideological struggle of the 21st
century. The terrorists oppose every principle of humanity and
decency that we hold dear.

Yet, in this war on terror, there is one thing we and our enemies
agree on. In the long run, men and women who are free to determine
their own destinies will reject terror and refuse to live in
tyranny.

And that is why the terrorists are fighting to deny this choice to
the people in Lebanon, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan and the
Palestinian territories.

And that is why, for the security of America and the peace of the
world, we are spreading the hope of freedom.

Let us show them that Republicans and Democrats can compete for votes
and cooperate for results at the same time.

From expanding opportunity to protecting our country, we've made good
progress. Yet we have unfinished business before us, and the American
people expect us to get it done.

In the work ahead, we must be guided by the philosophy that made our
nation great. As Americans, we believe in the power of individuals to
determine their destiny and shape the course of history. We believe
that the most reliable guide for our country is the collective wisdom
of ordinary citizens.

And so, in all we do, we must trust in the ability of free peoples to
make wise decisions and empower them to improve their lives for their
futures.

In Afghanistan, America, our 25 NATO allies and 15 partner nations
are helping the Afghan people defend their freedom and rebuild their
country.

Thanks to the courage of these military and civilian personnel, a
nation that was once a safe haven for al Qaeda is now a young
democracy where boys and girls are going to school. New roads and
hospitals are being built. And people are looking to the future with
new hope.

These successes must continue. So we're adding 3,200 Marines to our
forces in Afghanistan, where they will fight the terrorists and train
the Afghan army and police.

Defeating the Taliban and al Qaeda is critical to our security, and I
thank the Congress for supporting America's vital mission in
Afghanistan.

In Iraq, the terrorists and extremists are fighting to deny a proud
people their liberty and fighting to establish safe havens for
attacks across the world.

One year ago, our enemies were succeeding in their efforts to plunge
Iraq into chaos, so we reviewed our strategy and changed course.

We launched a surge of American forces into Iraq. We gave our troops
a new mission: Work with the Iraqi forces to protect the Iraqi
people, pursue the enemy in his strongholds, and deny the terrorists
sanctuary anywhere in the country.

The Iraqi people quickly realized that something dramatic had
happened.

Those who had worried that America was preparing to abandon them
instead saw tens of thousands of American forces flowing into their
country. They saw our forces moving into neighborhoods, clearing out
the terrorists and staying behind to ensure the enemy did not return.
And they saw our troops, along with provincial reconstruction teams
that include Foreign Service officers and other skilled public
servants, coming in to ensure that improved security was followed by
improvements in daily life.

Our military and civilians in Iraq are performing with courage and
distinction, and they have the gratitude of our whole nation.

The Iraqis launched a surge of their own.

In the fall of 2006, Sunni tribal leaders grew tired of al Qaeda's
brutality and started a popular uprising called the Anbar Awakening.
Over the past year, similar movements have spread across the
country.

Today, the grassroots surge includes more than 80,000 Iraqi citizens
who are fighting the terrorists.

The government in Baghdad has stepped forward as well, adding more
than 100,000 new Iraqi soldiers and police during the past year.

While the enemy is still dangerous and more work remains, the
American and Iraqi surges have achieved results few of us could have
imagined just one year ago.

When we met last year, many said that containing the violence was
impossible. A year later, high-profile terrorist attacks are down;
civilian deaths are down; sectarian killings are down.

When we met last year, militia extremists, some armed and trained by
Iran, were wreaking havoc in large areas of Iraq.

When we met last year our troop levels in Iraq were on the rise.
Today, because of the progress just described, we are implementing a
policy of return on success, and the surge forces we sent to Iraq are
beginning to come home.

This progress is a credit to the valor of our troops and the
brilliance of their commanders.

This evening, I want to speak directly to our men and women on the
front lines, soldiers and sailors, airmen, Marines and Coast you and
more.

Our nation is grateful for your courage. We are proud of your
accomplishments.

And tonight, in this hallowed chamber with the American people as our
witness, we make you a solemn pledge: In the fight ahead, you will
have all you need to protect our nation.

And I ask Congress to meet its responsibilities to these brave men
and women by fully funding our troops.

Our enemies in Iraq have been hit hard. They are not yet defeated and
we can still expect tough fighting ahead.

Our objective in the coming year is to sustain and build on the gains
we made in 2007, while transitioning to the next phase of our
strategy. American troops are shifting from leading operations to
partnering with Iraqi forces and eventually to a protective
over-watch mission.

As part of this transition, one Army Brigade Combat team and one
Marine Expeditionary Unit have already come home and will not be
replaced. In the coming months, four additional brigades and two
Marine battalions will follow suit.

Taken together, this means more than 20,000 of our troops are coming
home.

Any further drawdown of U.S. troops will be based on conditions in
Iraq and the recommendations of our commanders.

General Petraeus has warned that too fast a drawdown could result in,
quote, "the disintegration of the Iraqi security forces, al Qaeda-
Iraq regaining lost ground, and a marked increase in violence."

Members of Congress, having come so far and achieved so much, we must
not allow this to happen.

In the coming year, we will work with Iraqi leaders as they build on
the progress they're making toward political reconciliation.

At the local levels, Sunnis, Shiite and Kurds are beginning to come
together to reclaim their communities and rebuild their lives.
Progress in the provinces must be matched by progress in Baghdad.

We're seeing some encouraging signs. The national government is
sharing oil revenues with the provinces. The parliament recently
passed both a pension law and de-Baathification reform. They're now
debating a provincial powers law.

The Iraqis still have a distance to travel. But, after decades of
dictatorship and the pain of sectarian violence, reconciliation is
taking place and the Iraqi people are taking control of their
future.

The mission in Iraq has been difficult and trying for our nation, but
it is in the vital interest of the United States that we succeed.

A free Iraq will deny al Qaeda a safe haven. A free Iraq will show
millions across the Middle East that a future of liberty is possible.
A free Iraq will be a friend of America, a partner in fighting terror
and a source of stability in a dangerous part of the world.

By contrast, a failed Iraq would embolden the extremists, strengthen
Iran and give terrorists a base from which to launch new attacks on
our friends, our allies and our homeland.

The enemy has made its intentions clear.

At a time when the momentum seemed to favor them, al Qaeda's top
commander in Iraq declared that they will not rest until they have
attacked us here in Washington.

My fellow Americans, we will not rest either. We will not rest until
this enemy has been defeated.

We must do the difficult work today so that, years from now, people
will look back and say that this generation rose to the moment,
prevailed in a tough fight and left behind a more hopeful region and
a safer America.

We're also standing against the forces of extremism in the Holy Land,
where we have new cause for hope. Palestinians have elected a
president who recognizes that confronting terror is essential to
achieving a state where his people can live in dignity and at peace
with Israel.

Israelis have leaders who recognize that a peaceful, democratic
Palestinian state will be a source of lasting security.

This month in Ramallah and Jerusalem, I assured leaders from both
sides that America will do and I will do everything we can to help
them achieve a peace agreement that defines a Palestinian state by
the end of this year.

The time has come for a Holy Land where a democratic Israel and a
democratic Palestine live side by side in peace.

We're also standing against the forces of extremism embodied by the
regime in Tehran.

Iran's rulers oppress a good and talented people. And wherever
freedom advances in the Middle East, it seems the Iranian regime is
there to oppose it.

Iran is funding and training militia groups in Iraq, supporting
Hezbollah terrorists in Lebanon, and backing Hamas' efforts to
undermine peace in the Holy Land.

Tehran is also developing ballistic missiles of increasing range and
continues to develop its capability to enrich uranium, which could be
used to create a nuclear weapon.

Our message to the people of Iran is clear. We have no quarrel with
you. We have respect your traditions and your history. We look
forward to the day when you have your freedom.

Our message to the leaders of Iran is also clear. Verifiably suspend
your nuclear enrichment so negotiations can begin. And to rejoin the
community of nations, come clean about your nuclear intentions and
past actions. Stop your oppression at home. Cease your support for
terror abroad.

But above all, know this: America will confront those who threaten
our troops; we will stand by our allies; and we will defend our vital
interests in the Persian Gulf.

On the homefront, we will continue to take every lawful and effective
measure to protect our country. This is our most solemn duty.

We are grateful that there has not been another attack on our soil
since 9/11. But this is not for the lack of desire or effort on the
part of the enemy.

In the past six years, we've stopped numerous attacks, including a
plot to fly a plane into the tallest building in Los Angeles, and
another to blow up passenger jets bound for America over the
Atlantic.

Dedicated men and women in our government toil day and night to stop
the terrorists from carrying out their plans. These good citizens are
saving American lives, and everyone in this chamber owes them our
thanks.

And we owe them something more. We owe them the tools they need to
keep our people safe. And one of the most important tools we can give
them is the ability to monitor terrorist communications.

To protect America, we need to know who the terrorists are talking
to, what they are saying and what they're planning.

Last year, Congress passed legislation to help us do that.

Unfortunately, Congress set the legislation to expire on February
1st. That means, if you don't act by Friday, our ability to track
terrorist threats would be weakened and our citizens will be in
greater danger.

Congress must ensure the flow of vital intelligence is not disrupted.
Congress must pass liability protection for companies believed to have
assisted in the efforts to defend America. We've had ample time for
debate. The time to act is now.

Protecting our nation from the dangers of a new century requires more
than good intelligence and a strong military. It also requires
changing the conditions that breed resentment and allow extremists to
prey on despair. So America is using its influence to build a freer,
more hopeful and more compassionate world.

This is a reflection of our national interests. It is the calling of
our conscience. America opposes genocide in Sudan.

We support freedom in countries from Cuba and Zimbabwe to Belarus and
Burma.

America's leading the fight against global poverty with strong
education initiatives and humanitarian assistance. We've also changed
the way we deliver aid by launching the Millennium Challenge Account.

This program strengthens democracy, transparency and the rule of law
in developing nations, and I ask you to fully fund this important
initiative.

America is leading the fight against global hunger. Today, more than
half the world's food aid comes from the United States.

And tonight, I ask Congress to support an innovative proposal to
provide food assistance by purchasing crops directly from farmers in
the developing world, so we can build up local agriculture and help
break the cycle of famine.

America is leading the fight against disease. With your help, we're
working to cut, by half, the number of malaria-related deaths in 15
African nations. And our emergency plan for AIDS relief is treating
1.4 million people.

We can bring healing and hope to many more. So I ask you to maintain
the principles that have changed behavior and made this program a
success. And I call on you to double our initial commitment to
fighting HIV/AIDS by approving an additional $30 billion over the
next five years.

America is a force for hope in the world because we are a
compassionate people. And some of the most compassionate Americans
are those who have stepped forward to protect us. we might live in
freedom and peace.

Over the past seven years, we've increased funding for veterans by
more than 95 percent. And as we increase funding...

And as we increase funding, we must also reform our veterans' system
to meet the needs of a new war and a new generation.

And, as we increase funding, we must also reform our veterans system
to meet the needs of a new war and a new generation.

I call on Congress to enact the reforms recommended by Senator Bob
Dole and Secretary Donna Shalala so we can improve the system of care
for our wounded warriors and help them build lives of hope and promise
and dignity.

Our military families also sacrifice for America. They endure
sleepless nights and the daily struggle of providing for children
while a loved one is serving far from home.

We have a responsibility to provide for them. So I ask you to join me
in expanding their access to child care, creating new hiring
preferences for military spouses across the federal government, and
allowing our troops to transfer their unused education benefits to
their spouses or children.

Our military families serve our nation. They inspire our nation, and
tonight our nation honors them.

The secret of our strength, the miracle of America, is that our
greatness lies not in our government, but in the spirit and
determination of our people. When the federal convention met in
Philadelphia in 1787, our nation was bound by the Articles of
Confederation which began with the words, "We the undersigned
delegates." Constitution, he offered an important revision, and
opened with words that changed the course of our nation and the
history of the world: "We the people."

By trusting the people, our founders wagered that a great and noble
nation could be built on the liberty that resides in the hearts of
all men and women. By trusting the people, succeeding generations
transformed our fragile young democracy into the most powerful nation
on earth and a beacon of hope for millions.

And so long as we continue to trust the people, our nation will
prosper, our liberty will be secure and the state of our union will
remain strong.

So tonight, with confidence in freedom's power and trust in the
people, let us set forth to do their business.

God bless America