State of the Union Addresses of Barack Obama, 2009-2016Obama, Barack
General
State of the Union Addresses of Barack Obama, 2009-2016
Obama, Barack
Presidents -- United States -- Messages; United States -- Politics and government -- Sources
Next, we need to encourage American innovation. Last year, we made the
largest investment in basic research funding in history, an investment
that could lead to the world's cheapest solar cells or treatment that
kills cancer cells, but leaves healthy ones untouched. And no area is
more ripe for such innovation than energy. You can see the results of
last year's investments in clean energy in the North Carolina company
that will create 1,200 jobs nationwide helping to make advanced
batteries or in the California business that will put a thousand people
to work making solar panels.
But to create more of these clean energy jobs, we need more production,
more efficiency, more incentives. And that means building a new
generation of safe, clean nuclear power plants in this country. It
means making tough decisions about opening new offshore areas for oil
and gas development. It means continued investment in advanced biofuels
and clean coal technologies. And yes, it means passing a comprehensive
energy and climate bill with incentives that will finally make clean
energy the profitable kind of energy in America. Now, I am grateful to
the House for passing such a bill last year. And this year, I'm eager
to help advance the bipartisan effort in the Senate.
I know there have been questions about whether we can afford such
changes in a tough economy. I know that there are those who disagree
with the overwhelming scientific evidence on climate change. But here's
the thing: Even if you doubt the evidence, providing incentives for
energy efficiency and clean energy are the right thing to do for our
future, because the nation that leads the clean energy economy will be
the nation that leads the global economy. And America must be that
nation.
Third, we need to export more of our goods, because the more products
we make and sell to other countries, the more jobs we support right
here in America. So tonight we set a new goal: We will double our
exports over the next 5 years, an increase that will support 2 million
jobs in America. To help meet this goal, we're launching a National
Export Initiative that will help farmers and small businesses increase
their exports and reform export controls consistent with national
security.
We have to seek new markets aggressively, just as our competitors are.
If America sits on the sidelines while other nations sign trade deals,
we will lose the chance to create jobs on our shores. But realizing
those benefits also means enforcing those agreements so our trading
partners play by the rules. And that's why we'll continue to shape a
Doha trade agreement that opens global markets and why we will
strengthen our trade relations in Asia and with key partners like South
Korea and Panama and Colombia.
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