my budget has funded a responsible increase in our ongoing operations . it has funded our nation's important priorities . it has protected social security and medicare . and our surpluses are big enough that there is still money left over . 
our military has put the terror training camps of afghanistan out of business , yet camps still exist in at least a dozen countries . a terrorist underworld - including groups like hamas , hezbollah , islamic jihad , jaish - i - mohammed - operates in remote jungles and deserts , and hides in the centers of large cities . 
during the last two years , we have seen what can be accomplished when we work together . to lift the standards of our public schools , we achieved historic education reform - which must now be carried out in every school , and every classroom , so that every child in america can read , and learn , and succeed in life . to protect our country , we reorganized our government and created the department of homeland security - which is mobilizing against the threats of a new era . to bring our economy out of recession , we delivered the largest tax relief in a generation . to insist on integrity in american business , we passed tough reforms , and we are holding corporate criminals to account . 
i have sent you a comprehensive energy plan to promote energy efficiency and conservation , to develop cleaner technology , and to produce more energy at home . i have sent you clear skies legislation that mandates a 70 percent cut in air pollution from power plants over the next 15 years . i have sent you a healthy forests initiative , to help prevent the catastrophic fires that devastate communities , kill wildlife , and burn away millions of acres of treasured forest . 
 despite endless threats from the killers in their midst , nearly 12 million iraqi citizens came out to vote in a show of hope and solidarity that we should never forget .
 so , last week , my administration reached agreement with speaker pelosi and republican leader boehner on a robust growth package that includes tax relief for individuals and families and incentives for business investment .
 we have other work to do on taxes . unless congress acts , most of the tax relief we've delivered over the past seven years will be taken away .
 this breakthrough has the potential to move us beyond the divisive debates of the past by extending the frontiers of medicine without the destruction of human life .
 we must do the difficult work today so that , years from now , people will look back and say that this generation rose to the moment , prevailed in a tough fight and left behind a more hopeful region and a safer america .
 this program strengthens democracy , transparency and the rule of law in developing nations , and i ask you to fully fund this important initiative .