This is unfinished business; there is a great deal more to be done.

Every American who works hard and obeys the law should be able to get ahead in this new world.

We must do three things.

I have declared that a major disaster exists in California caused by the damaging floods in northern and southern California.

We see this as a year of not only how far we've come since the end of World War II, but where we are in this rich partnership and the potential of looking forward.

You have shown over the past year during the earthquake, the fires, and now the current floods that you are a people that come together in times of crisis.

I think we all ought to try to keep that in our own minds as we deal with life's challenges and adversity.

We can rebuild America now.

I care about you and your future.

We want to get at these deficits, in particular I would highlight the automotive sector.

What we want is not a program that punishes poor people but that requires poor people to take those steps that will enable them to move from welfare to work.

There will be considerable attention to reaffirming that alliance in the course of this year.

I believe that we need a new sense in this country that the Government's job is to do what it can to provide more opportunity, but we need more responsibility from our citizens as well.

I want Congress to adopt what I call the middle class bill of rights, four new ideas to help middle class Americans build a future that lives up to their dreams.

I will not allow anyone to destroy this progress in reducing the deficit and to threaten our economic recovery.

If we want middle class Americans to benefit from what we do, then the public interest, not those of special interest, should have the loudest voice in Washington.

Does it advance the interests of average American families—does it promote their values, build their future, increase their jobs and incomes?

We've reduced the deficit by $700 billion; that's $11,000 in less debt for every family in America.