The Economy
President Obama began his address talking about jobs. He said that jobs must be our number one priority in 2010. He proposed using the $30 Billion paid back by the bank bailouts to give to community banks so that they in turn can loan to small business to help them weather this economic storm. 

The President also stated that the Recovery Act saved 2 million Americans from unemployment by the creation of jobs in the new construction and clean energy fields and by the end of 2010 we would be adding another one and one half million jobs.

Another point was that he cut taxes in 2009 for 95% of working families.

Also Obama announced a goal of doubling exports over the next 5 years which should equate to about 2 million jobs.

Education
With this statement – “because in the United States of America, no one should go broke because they chose to go to college” Obama said that we need to invest “in the skills and education of our people” and to back that up he proposed a $10,000 tax credit to families paying for four years of college. Obama also wants to increase Pell Grants that assist lower income college students.

In addition, the president proposed requiring graduating students to pay only 10% of their income on student loans, and forgiving their debt after 20 years – 10 years if they chose a career in public service.

Clean Energy
Obama challenged congress to provide incentives for energy efficiency and clean energy by saying – “the nation that leads the clean energy economy will lead the global economy”.

He wants a new generation “safe” clean nuclear power plants, opening offshore areas for oil and gas exploration, continued investments in biofuels and clean coal technologies.

Health Care
Obama said that his administration’s proposal would protect Americans from the insurance industry, provide small business and uninsured Americans with affordable plans and cover preventative care. He urged congress to not walk away from reform and further joked that “by now it should be fairly obvious that I didn’t take on health care because it was good politics”.

Trust
The president stated that there was a “deficit of trust” on both side of Pennsylvania Avenue and we need an action to reduce the influence of lobbyist in Washington. He also announced that he would begin monthly meetings with both Democrat and Republican leadership to keep the communication flowing on the hill.

Security
Obama spoke of having all our combat troops out f Iraq by the end of August. On Afghanistan he stated his hope that the transition of duties to the Afghan Security Forces will begin by July 2011, allowing US troops to begin coming home.

Obama also warned Iran it would face “growing consequences” if it continues to violate international agreements in pursuit of nuclear weapons.

Don’t ask, don’t tell
The president said that he will work with Congress and the military to repeal “the law that denies gay Americans the right to serve the country they love because of who they are.