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State of the Union, Part 3: President proposes infrastructure, housing and education initiatives
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America's energy sector is just one -- Of an aging infrastructure badly in need of repair.
Ask any -- where they'd rather locate and hire.
The country -- deteriorating roads and bridges.
For one with high speed rail and Internet.
Hi tech schools self healing power grids.
The -- of -- -- company that brought hundreds of new jobs in North Carolina said that if we upgrade our infrastructure.
They'll bring even more jobs.
And that's the attitude of lot of companies all around the world.
And I know you want these job creating projects and you're desperate I've seen all those written comes.
I propose a fix -- first program.
The -- people who work as soon as possible on our most urgent repairs.
Like the nearly 70000.
Structurally deficient bridges across the country.
Had to make sure taxpayers don't shoulder the whole burden.
I'm also proposing a partnership to rebuild America that attracts private capital to upgrade what our businesses need most.
Modern ports to move our goods.
Modern pipelines to withstand a strong.
Modern schools.
Worthy of our children.
What's true.
There's no better place to do business -- here in the united states of American let's start right away.
We can get this done.
And part of -- rebuilding effort must also involve our housing sector.
The good news is our housing market is finally healing from the collapse of 2007.
Home prices arriving at the fastest pace in six years.
Home purchases are up nearly 50%.
And construction is expanding again.
But even with the mortgage rates near a fifty year old law.
Too many families with solid credit who want to buy a home are being rejected.
Too many families who never missed a payment and -- -- refinance.
-- being told no.
That's holding our entire economy back.
We need to fix it.
Right now there's a -- in this congress that would give every responsible homeowner America.
The chance to save 3000 dollars a year -- by refinancing at today's rates.
Democrats and Republicans have supported it before.
So what are we waiting -- Take a vote and send -- that bill.
Why would there be a partisan issue.
Helping folks refinance.
Right now overlapping regulations keep responsible young families from buying their first don't.
What's holding us back -- streamline the process and help our economy grow.
These initiatives in manufacturing.
Energy.
Infrastructure.
Housing.
All these things will help -- the -- and small business owners expand.
And create new jobs.
But none of them.
No matter unless we also equip our citizens with the skills and training.
To fill those jobs.
And -- at the start.
At the earliest possible wage.
You know the study after study shows that the sooner or a child begins learning.
The better he or she does them wrong.
But today fewer than three -- 104 year olds -- and rolled.
In a high quality preschool program.
Most middle class parents can't afford a few hundred bucks a week for private preschool.
And for poor kids.
Who need help the most and this lack of access to preschool education can -- them for the rest of their lives.
Yeah Susan tonight I -- working with states.
To make high quality preschool available to every single child in America.
Every dollar we invest in high quality early childhood education.
Can save more than seven dollars -- wrong.
Mike boosting graduation rates reducing teen pregnancy.
Even reducing violent crime.
In states that make -- eight prior warning to educate our youngest children like Georgia.
Or Oklahoma -- Studies show students brought more likely to read and do math at grade level.
Graduate high school -- the job.
For more stable families of the wrong.
We know this works.
So let's do what works and make sure none of our children start the race.
Of life already behind let's give our kids that chance.
Let's also make sure that a high school diploma.
Put our kids on a path to a good job.
Right now countries like Germany focus on -- -- high school students would be equivalent.
Of a technical degrees from one of our Community Colleges.
So -- German kids they're ready for a job when they graduated high school.
They've been trained for the jobs that are there.
Now at schools like.
A collaboration between new York public schools and city university of new York and IBM.
Students will graduate with a high school diploma and an associates degree in computers are engineer.
We need to give every American student opportunities like this.
And forty years ago.
Four years ago we started race to the top.
The competition that convinced almost every state to develop -- -- the curricula and higher standards.
All for about 1% of what we spent on education agent.
Tonight I'm announcing a new challenge.
To redesign America's high school so they better equipped graduates.
For the demands of high tech become.
And will reward schools that develop new partnerships with colleges and employers.
And -- classes that focus on science technology.
Engineering.
And math.
The skills today's employers are looking -- to fill the jobs that are there right now and will be there in the future.
I even -- better -- -- Most young people will need some higher education.
The simple fact.
The more education you've got.
More likely are to have a good job and worked her way in the middle class.
But today skyrocketing cost price too many young people out of a higher education.
-- -- them with -- unsustainable debt.
Through tax credits grants and -- loans.
We've made college more affordable for millions of students and families over the last few years.
The taxpayers.
Can't keep on subsidizing.
Higher and higher and higher costs for higher education.
Colleges must do their part to keep costs -- And it's our job to make sure that they do.
Tonight I ask congress to change the higher education act.
So that affordability.
And value are included in determining which colleges receive certain types of federal -- And.
Tomorrow my administration will release a new college scorecard the parents and students.
Can use to compare schools based on a simple right here.
Where you can get the most bang for your educational --
