国际英语新闻:Obama Delivers 2012 State of the Union Address

U.S. President Barack Obama is laying out a blueprint for an economy he says "is built to last" - an economy built on manufacturing, energy, skills for American workers, and what he describes as "a renewal of American values."

In his State of the Union address, President Obama called on U.S. lawmakers to follow the example of the nation's troops and work together to form a United States that leads the world in education, attracts a "new generation of high-tech manufacturing and high-paying jobs" and controls its own energy. He called for an economy in which hard work pays off and responsibility is rewarded.

Mr. Obama said keeping that American promise is "the defining issue of our time," and he said no challenge is more urgent.

The president said Americans can either "settle for a country where a shrinking number of people do really well" while a growing number "barely get by," or "restore an economy where everyone gets a fair shot, everyone does their fair share and everyone plays by the same set of rules."

He touted his administration's achievements in creating jobs and cutting the deficit, and he warned Republicans in Congress that he will fight any effort to return to an economy that he said was "weakened by outsourcing, bad debt and phony financial profits."

President Barack Obama says U.S. companies should be rewarded for keeping jobs at home, rather than getting tax breaks for moving them overseas.

The president said in his State of the Union address to Congress Tuesday that the U.S. tax code must be changed so companies no longer get a deduction for outsourcing jobs. He said manufacturers who keep factories and jobs at home should get a bigger tax cut.

Mr. Obama also announced the creation of what he calls a Trade Enforcement Unit, that he says will investigate unfair trade practices from nations such as China. The unit will also investigate cases of pirated American movies, music, and software and increase inspections to stop fake and unsafe products from entering the country.

He also urged Congress to ensure that no foreign company has an advantage over American manufacturing when it comes to accessing finance or new markets, such as Russia.  If the playing field is level, President Obama says, "America will always win."The president's speech on the nation's progress comes as he faces a contentious re-election bid this year. He is speaking before a joint session of the U.S. Congress and millions of television viewers.

President Obama also pledged to take action on the issues of education, immigration, innovation and energy.

He called for steps to give schools the resources to keep and reward good teachers, and help make college more affordable. He said higher education cannot be a "luxury," but rather should be "an economic imperative that every family should be able to afford."

Mr. Obama also addressed the issue of students who are illegal immigrants, calling on lawmakers to agree to stop expelling responsible young people who want to staff the nation's labs and start new businesses. He said an economy built to last is one that encourages the talent and ingenuity of every person in the country.

The president called on Congress to pass an agenda that helps entrepreneurs, expanding tax relief to small businesses and tearing down regulations that prevent them from getting the financing to grow.

On the issue of energy independence, President Obama announced he is directing his administration to open more than 75 percent of the country's potential offshore oil and gas resources.  He said last year the U.S. relied less on foreign oil than in any of the past 16 years.

He also outlined plans for a "cleaner, cheaper, and full of new jobs" strategy developing every available source of American energy, including natural gas and clean energy.

He called on lawmakers to spur energy innovation and job creation with new incentives. He said he is directing his administration to allow the development of clean energy on enough public land to power 3 million homes.  He also announced that the Defense Department, which he called "the world’s largest consumer of energy," will make one of the largest commitments to clean energy in history.The president's State of the Union speech falls between two critical Republican presidential primaries - South Carolina last Saturday and Florida next week.

Political analysts will watch closely to see what effect this address will have on Mr. Obama's public approval ratings, which, according to the Gallup polling organization, have averaged about 44 percent this year.