You're watching...
State of the Union, Part 2: President talks trade, education, immigration reform
Also in this playlist...
Auto-advance: ON
Auto-advance
This transcript is automatically generated
We're also making it easier.
For American businesses to sell products all over the world.
Two years ago I set a goal of doubling US exports over five years.
With a bipartisan trade agreements we signed in long.
We're on track to meet that goal ahead of schedule.
Soon there will be millions of new customers for American goods in Panama.
Columbia.
And South Korea.
Soon there'll be new cars on the streets of Seoul imported from Detroit.
And Toledo and Chicago.
I won't go anywhere in the world.
To open new markets for American products.
And I will not stand behind when our competitors don't play by the rules.
We've brought trade cases against China at nearly twice the rate as the last administration.
And it's made a difference.
Over a thousand Americans are working today because we stop the surge in Chinese tires.
We need to do more.
It's not right when another country let's -- movies music and soft or be pirated.
Not -- -- foreign manufacturers have a leg up on ours.
Only because they're heavily subsidized.
Tonight I'm announcing the creation of a trade enforcement unit that will be charged with investigating unfair trading practices in countries like China.
There will be more infections.
Inspections.
-- or unsafe goods from crossing our borders.
And this congress should make sure that no -- company has an advantage over American manufacturing when it comes to accessing financing.
Or new markets like Russia.
Our workers are the most productive on earth and that the playing field is level.
I promise you.
America will always win.
I also hear from any business leaders who want a higher.
In the United States but can't find workers with the right skills.
Growing industries in science and technology have twice as many openings.
As where workers who can do the job.
Think about that.
Openings at a time when millions of Americans are looking for work.
It's inexcusable.
And we know how to fix.
Them.
Jack -- -- new single mom from North Carolina.
Who was laid off from her job as a mechanic.
-- Siemens opened the gas turbine factory in Charlotte.
And formed a partnership with central Piedmont community college.
The company helped the college design courses and laser and robotics training.
It paid -- tuition.
And higher order to help operate the plant.
I want every American looking for work to have the same opportunity as -- did.
Join me.
You know national commitment to train two million Americans with skills that will lead directly -- -- job.
Administrations are lined up more companies that want to help.
Model partnerships between business is like Siemens and community colleges and places like Charlotte and Orlando and Louisville are up and running.
Now you need to give more Community Colleges the resource -- they need to become community career centers.
Places that teach people skills that businesses.
Are looking for right now.
From data management to high tech manufacturing.
And I want to cut through the maze of confusing training programs.
That from now on people like -- have one program.
One website and one place to go for all the information and help that they need it is time to turn our unemployment system.
Into a re employment system that puts people to work.
-- reforms will help people get jobs.
They're open to that.
But to prepare for the jobs of tomorrow.
Our commitment to skills and education has to start earlier.
For less than 1% of what our nation spends on education each year.
We've convinced nearly every state in the country to raise their standards for teaching and learning.
The first time that's happened in a generation.
For challenges remain.
And we know how to solve them.
At a time when other countries are doubling down on education.
Tight budgets are forced states to lay off thousands of teachers.
We know a good teacher can increase the lifetime and -- of a classroom by over 250000.
Dollars.
A great teacher can offer an escape from poverty.
To the childhood dreams beyond -- circumstance.
Every person in this chamber.
Can point to a teacher who changed the trajectory of their lives.
Most teachers worked tirelessly.
-- modest pay.
Sometimes digging into their own pocket for school supplies just to make a difference.
Teachers matter.
So instead of bashing them for defending the status quo -- offer schools and eight.
Giving them the resources to keep good teachers on the job and reward the best ones.
-- schools flexibility.
To teach with creativity and passion to stop teaching to the test and to replace -- Just aren't helping kids learn.
-- -- -- -- We also know that when students don't walk away from their education.
More of them walk the stage together to -- When students.
Are not allowed to drop out.
-- and do better.
So tonight.
I am proposing that every state.
Every state.
Requires that all students stay in high school until they graduate -- -- -- -- -- -- The most daunting challenge can be the cost of college.
The time when Americans all more intuition -- credit card that.
This congress needs to stop me interest rates on student loans from doubling.
In July.
Extent the tuition tax credit we started.
That saves millions.
Of middle class families.
Thousands of dollars.
And give more young people the chance to earn their way through college by doubling.
The number of work study jobs the next five years.
Of course it's not enough for us to increase to night.
-- we can't just keep subsidizing skyrocketing tuition.
Will run out of money.
States also need to do their part by making higher education a higher priority in their budgets.
And colleges and universities have to do their part -- working to keep costs down.
The recently I spoke with a group of college presidents who've done just that.
Some schools re design courses to help students finish more quickly.
Some -- better technology.
The point is it possible.
So let me put colleges and universities on notice.
If you can't stop -- from growing up the funding you get from taxpayers will go down.
Higher education can't be a luxury.
It is an economic imperative that every family in America should be able to afford.
Let's also remember that hundreds of thousands of talented.
Hard working students in this country faces another challenge.
The fact that they are yet American citizens.
Many were brought here a small children.
Our American through and through here they live every day with the threat of deportation.
Others -- more reason to study business and science and engineering.
But as soon as they get their degree.
We send them home to invent new products and -- new jobs somewhere else.
And doesn't make sense.
I believe as strongly as ever that we should take on -- illegal immigration.
That's why my administration has put more boots on the border than ever -- That's why there are fewer illegal crossings.
-- when I took office.
The opponents of action are out of excuses.
We should be working on comprehensive immigration reform.
-- have election year politics keeps congress from acting on a comprehensive plan.
Let's at least agree to stop expelling responsible young people who -- -- staff our labs start new businesses.
Defend this country.
Send me a law that gives them the chance to earn their citizenship I will sign it right away.
