Yesterday evening, the President of the United States delivered his yearly State of The Union address to both chambers of the 113th Congress. He discussed the importance of strengthening the American economy, ensuring that we care for our troops, and his forthcoming approach to working with Congress on large legislative issues. The President also noted the vital need for robust, federally-funded initiatives which are very important to the nations’ health and economy. The text from that portion of the President’s speech is below:

“We know that the nation that goes all-in on innovation today will own the global economy tomorrow. This is an edge America cannot surrender. Federally-funded research helped lead to the ideas and inventions behind Google and smartphones. And that’s why Congress should undo the damage done by last year’s cuts to basic research so we can unleash the next great American discovery. (Cheers, applause.)

There are entire industries to be built based on vaccines that stay ahead of drug-resistant bacteria or paper-thin material that’s stronger than steel. And let’s pass a patent reform bill that allows our businesses to stay focused on innovation, not costly and needless litigation. (Applause.)”

Full text of the President’s remarks to Congress are available on the Washington Post’s website:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/full-text-of-obamas-2014-state-of-the-union-address/2014/01/28/e0c93358-887f-11e3-a5bd-844629433ba3_story.html