Have in america at its best. [applause] i have seen the hopeful faces from new york to california and our newest officers at west point, Colorado Springs new london. I have mourned with grieving families in tucson in west texas and west virginia. And i have watched americans beat back adversity from the gulf coast to the great plains from the midwest to the midatlantic seaboard. And i have seen gay marriage go from a wedge issue to a story of freedom across our country, a civil rights legal in states that seven in 10 americans call home. [applause] [cheers] [applause] and so i know the good the optimistic and big hearted generosity of the American People who every day live the idea that we are our brothers keeper and our sisters keeper. And i know that those of us who are here want to set a better example. So the question for those of us here tonight is how we all of us can better reflect americas hopes. I have served in congress with many. I know many of you well. And there are a lot of good people here on both sides of the aisle. And many of you have told me that this is not what you signed up for. Arguing past each other on cable shows, a constant fundraiser, always looking over your shoulder at how the reaction is to every decision. Imagine if we broke out of these tired old patterns and if we did something different. Imagine if we did something different. Understand that better politics isnt one where tim democrats abandoned their agenda and republicans do as well that is where we appeal to each other with basic decency. It is one where we debate without demonizing each other. Were we talked issues and values and principles and facts rather than gotcha moments and trivial gaffes. Where we focus on the moment of every day lives. [applause] better politics is one where we spend less time drowning and pulling us into the gutter and spend more time looking young people up with a sense of purpose and possibility. And asking them to join in the Great Mission of building america. If we are going to have arguments, lets have arguments. But lets make the debates were the of this body and worthy of this country. We still may not agree on a womans right to choose, but surely we can agree that teen pregnancy is nearing an alltime low and every woman should have access to the health care that she needs. [applause] [applause] yes passions fly on immigration. But surely we can all see something of ourselves in a striving young student. And agree that no one benefits when a hardworking mom is snatched from her child. That it is possible to shape a law that upholds our tradition as a nation of laws and a nation of immigrants. I have talked to republicans and democrats about that. It is something that we can share. We may go at it in campaign season, but surely we can agree that the right to vote is sacred. That it is being denied to too many. And that on the 50th anniversary of the great march from selma to montgomery and the passage of the Voting Rights act we can come together as democrats and republicans to make voting easier for every american. [applause] [cheers] [applause] we may have different takes on the events of ferguson and new york. But surely we can understand a father who fears that his son cannot walk home without being harassed. Surely we can understand a wife that will not rest until the Police Officer that she married will walk through the door after his shift. We can agree that for the first time in 40 years the crime rate and the incarceration rates have come down together. We can use that as a starting point for democrats and republicans. Community leaders and Law Enforcement to reform americas criminal Justice System so that it protects and serves all of us area. [applause] [applause] [applause] [applause] president obama that is better politics and that is how we start to rebuild trust and that is how we move this country forward. That is what the American People want. And that is what they deserve. I have no more campaigns to run. [applause] my only agenda i know because i won both of them. [applause] [laughter] [applause] [cheers] [applause] [laughter] president obama my only agenda for the next two years is the same as the one since i had as the day i swore an oath on the steps of this capitol. To do what i believe is best for america. If you share the broad vision that i outlined tonight, i ask you to join me in the work at hand. If you disagree with parts of it i hope that you will at least work with me. I commit to every republican here tonight that i will not only seek out your ideas but to work with you in make this country stronger. [applause] [applause] because [applause] because i want this chamber i want the city to reflect the truth. For all of our blind spots and shortcomings, we are people with the strength and generosity and spirit to bridge divides. To unite in common efforts and to help our neighbors whether down the street or on the other side of the world. I want our actions to tell every child in every neighborhood that your life matters and we are committed to improving your life and working on behalf of our own kids. I want future generations to know that we are a people who see our differences as a great gift. And that we are people that value the dignity and worth of every citizen. Man and woman, young and old latino and asian, native american gay or straight. Americans with Mental Illness and physical disability. Everybody matters. I want them to grow up in a country that shows the world that we still know these things to be true that we are more than a collection of red states and blue states. That we are the United States of america. [applause] [applause] and i want them to grow up in a country where a young mom can sit down and write a letter to her president and write her story about these past six years. It is amazing what you can bounce back from when you have to. We are a strong tightknit family has made it through some very hard times. And my fellow americans we too, are a strong and tightknit family. We, too have made it through some hard times. We have picked ourselves up, dusted ourselves off and begun again the work of remaking america. We have laid a new foundation. A Brighter Future is ours to write. Lets begin this new chapter together and lets start the work right now. Thank you and god bless you. God bless this country that we love. Thank you. [cheers] [applause] [cheers] [applause] [applause] [applause] [applause] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] this state of the union is over and it cspan state of the Union Coverage continues on cspan2 and cspan. Org. The president saying the shadow of crisis has passed and the state of the union is strong we are bringing you reaction from members of congress, we begin with congresswoman johnson. It is certainly a great speech. The president said there are no more campaigns for him. What do you think that he had to push hardest for on capitol hill to get done . Well, i think it is amazing. He focused where the focus should be. He focused on tax reform where it should be and the education of our children and the opportunity for the working people. That is exactly where the focus should be. Whether we can all agree to that is yet to be determined. But i am hoping that we can. What is the tenor like between democrats and republicans, certainly the senate has changed over to republicans control, but what is it like this time around . We are trying to get it some people to have some input and i hope that we can. I dont think that it can make a difference as to whether we can all participate equally. In terms of the issues that we heard in the state of the union, what is the most important to you in congress . To continue the information education of young people, to focus on what we need for the hightech environment and its very important. Community College Education is very important and those are the things that i hope all the people around me understand. I hope that im not the only one that represents dallas, texas, there are several of us that do. And so i hope we can learn together. Congresswoman, thank you for being with us. A groom for your democratic colleagues in california, congressman mike honda. Its good to see you. What did you hear in the president s state of the union speech that stuck out to you tonight . My First Impression was we have been working since 2001. [inaudible] i think that what stuck out was the ability for us to work through a lot of issues. That would provide continuation of jobs, retraining of jobs, have young people start their university experiences. It is a republican dominated congress how do we get that through . We have to just keep putting it out there and make sure that Everybody Knows how we are voting on the issues. You said that this was a progressive stage. We have been talking about this for a long time. We started really faltering on all those things. [inaudible] [inaudible] and the we are trying to come together and adjust the issues that really create inequity in this country [inaudible] and we are trying to move forward and addressed these issues. Congressman honda, we appreciate you being with us on cspan2. We will make way now for peter defazio. Congressman what if you hear in particular with the president talking about the structure spending and also about Climate Change. There were a number of mentions of infrastructure and the ice is starting to thaw on both sides of the aisle. And this includes the recovery act, which spends money on tax cuts as it does on rebuilding america. So we were pleased it was mentioned. If you had to put a dollar view on Something Like that you are talking about the stimulation. There was an 800 billiondollar bill in about 15 billion went into Investment Infrastructure in the broadest sense of the term. That includes the stupid tax cuts it in and put anyone back to work. He brought up the warmest year of the planet this past year 2014. What do you expect him and his administration to do about that . I hope they continue to press forward on Carbon Emissions. Obviously the republicans are Climate Change deniers and they theyre going to try anything and everything they can to overturn the regulations, but an efficient system of transportation might be a bipartisan solution that we can agree upon that with lower Carbon Emissions by people not sitting in traffic and idling, giving them opportunities in terms of mass transit. Do think that the president will veto the keystone bill, beyond that you think he will approve the project . Im not going to guess what the president will do on the keystone. Congressman defazio thank you so much. We are now live on cspan2 with reaction. Senator, thank you for being with us. What did you think about the president s speech . He talked about the highway bill, he talked about cybersecurity. We need to look at that. Higher taxes more regulations those are the things that we have for economic job creation and that is what we will try to downplay that really helps our Small Businesses try to move the best we can. He talked about some veto threat didnt mention keystone specifically about vetoing that. What is your sense from this beach on where he stands on that issue . He indicated it, but think about how its energy, Economic Growth and its about National Security with energy security. And what he is talking about we are producing so much more in gas because we are energy secure, but holding up the infrastructure as well. So this is an advanced piece of legislation and he has to start working on some of these issues. What is the solution with transportation in terms of coming up with a funding of the gas tax . We had even defazio talking about transportation spending. We would like to provide an incentive for companies to bring these things back overseas, that can generate investment so we can pass this without raising taxes. And i think that that is a big reaction. Do you want to give us a timeline when you think that they will finish up this on the floor . I anticipate this, hopefully adapting and going to conference with the house and then the Senate Floor Action probably early next week. Senator john hoeven, thank you so much for being on cspan2. We are reporting live from the u. S. Capitol. The house of representatives. Senator tom carpenter, what did you like about the president s speech . A message from the voters, they want us to Work Together. They want us to get things done. They want us to figure out in the question is how do we keep it going. [inaudible] the second is to break through. [inaudible] and that includes searching Development Opportunities and whatever we have to do to progress forward. So you are in a Republicancontrolled Senate now. Cybersecurity, is in an area that the house and senate can agree on . Cybersecurity is an area trade policy is a good area. And i hope that their other reforms as well that can be looked at. So lets focus. Congressman, thank you for being here this evening. What did you think of the president s speech . Aspirational notes. Big issues. While we have made some progress regulations or stifling businesses. One example, a bakery in in colorado that has difficulty with access to capitol its inhibiting our ability to get the economy going pres. Talks about jobs growth comparing it to the last four years saying it has been better than japan europe, and advanced nations combined. Is that the rate of job growth or the quality of jobs that needs to be improved . An opportunity to be able to get a a job, maintain it, and see opportunities for a Brighter Future for their family is what we feel is missing in this economic recovery. Americans are now sharing in that prosperity simply because they have not been able to find a job. We need to unleash that economic potential again. What about immigration big issue in colorado. The house recently coming up with legislation to reverse a lot of these negative actions. The president tonight stating his intent to veto legislation that would overturn that poor dog frank or healthcare. What is the next step . You know, the president called on congress to work. That means that he cannot circumvent congress. We have a constitutional process. He circumvented those actions. Promoting on a stepbystep basis to address the problem and to be able to make sure that we have a system that is working for the American Public and to have immigration coming into the country. The Biggest Issue that did not get addressed by the president tonight. Really how we were going to get Small Businesses, role america pockets of prosperity in the country rural america. Basically doubledigit unemployment in terms of unemployment numbers. We have to be able to create opportunities. Regulation is stifling Small Business development. Right now we have more businesses shutting down the new business startups. We have to open that door. Here with us tonight. Thank you. We go next to the congressman from pennsylvania. Pennsylvania. Thank you for being here. What did you here from the president tonight . My thoughts on the speech, more a political statement than a governing agenda was my initial reaction. At some. On the one hand he says we need to come together and at other times he throws down the goblins. Contradictions in his speech that struck me. There are areas where we can Work Together. Transportation to and infrastructure. He said he was against the Keystone Pipeline. It will be harder to get the broader infrastructure infrastructure, maybe some tax or form. I cannot get a good sense. More of a political a political tone to you in the present saying, i have no more to campaign. Who is that political tone directed at . Hearing a lot of talk more class warfare is what it sounded like to me. But then at the end of the speech he says you come together. A contradiction. So it was largely political. Some of the same statements you for before. If we increase the minimum wage he seems to think that all we will be well. We could have arguments about that issue. I dont think thats the answer to all of our economic challenges. Lower energy prices. And trade and other policies that would raise energy prices. So there are some contradictions. Number one or two issues in your district, and what did you here from the president about those issues tonight . The top issues in my district is just like everywhere. Its really about the economy. I agree that the economy is in a better position now. The real the real question is, is this a durable and sustainable recovery . We see better data on jobs but there is concern this is not translating into wage increases or even a higher standard of living. Too early . Way too early. I think the economy is in a better position, to be sure but we, but we are not out of the woods by any stretch of the imagination. The danger on the horizon with respect to what is happening in asia and the economy elsewhere. We appreciate you stopping by. Thank you. We go next to the senate side the senator from arizona. Great to see you. Let me ask you 1st about an issue you have spoken about, cuba. The the president mentioning it in the state of the union tonight. The best part of his speech. He did the right thing. I dont often agree with the president on foreignpolicy. It will be good for cuba. What else stuck out in a speech to you . I i think we can work with the president on trade promotion authority, a bipartisan majority that believes that we needed. I think we can work with him on that. Also some of the tax reform we can bring the rate down. Were going to need to. Surprise that all that the pres. s president s proposal increased the rate on some income