Philadelphia's landmark historic City Hall with traffic in Pennsylvania, United States, 4k time lapse clip

--SUPERS--
:00-:04
Donald Trump
(R) Presidential Nominee

:21-:25
Donald Trump
(R) Presidential Nominee

:32-:35
Donald Trump
(R) Presidential Nominee

:42-:55
Donald Trump
(R) Presidential Nominee

1:03-1:08
Ivanka Trump
Donald Trump"s Daughter

1:20-1:35
Donald Trump
(R) Presidential Nominee

1:40-1:52
Donald Trump
(R) Presidential Nominee

 --LEAD IN--
PRESIDENT OBAMA IS TAKING ISSUE WITH PARTS OF DONALD TRUMP"S SPEECH AT THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION.
WHILE TRUMP SPENT HIS FIRST DAY AS THE OFFICIAL G-O-P NOMINEE DEFENDING SOME OF HIS WORDS AGAINST TED CRUZ.
SUNLEN SERFATY REPORTS
 --REPORTER PKG-AS FOLLOWS--
(Donald Trump/ (R) Presidential Nominee) "We had an amazing convention, it was one of the best."
THE NEWLY-MINTED NOMINEE, HIS RUNNING MATE AND FRESHLY BRANDED PLANE ARE TRYING TO MOVE FORWARD.
(Donald Trump/ (R) Presidential Nominee) "The party"s just come together."
….BUT TWELVE HOURS AFTER DELIVERING THE MOST CONSEQUENTIAL AND CAREFULLY-TAILORED SPEECH OF HIS LIFE, DONALD TRUMP IS LOOKING BACKWARD.
(Donald Trump/ (R) Presidential Nominee) "I don"t want his endorsement. Just, Ted, stay home, relax, enjoy yourself."
... RENEWING AN OLD FIGHT.
(Donald Trump/ (R) Presidential Nominee) "...somebody got booed the hell out of a place by thousands and thousands of people."
RESURRECTING NOT ONLY HIS FEUD WITH SENATOR TED CRUZ BUT AGAIN RAISING A BASELESS ATTACK ON CRUZ"S FATHER.
(Donald Trump/ (R) Presidential Nominee) "All I did is point out the fact that on the cover of the National Enquirer there was a picture of him and crazy Lee Harvey Oswald having breakfast. Now, Ted never denied that it was his father."
TRUMP"S TIRADE IS THREATENING TO OVERSHADOW HIS TRIUMPHANT MOMENT AND BLUNT THE MOMENTUM COMING OFF HIS CONVENTION.
(Ivanka Trump/ Donald Trump"s Daughter) "Our next president, Donald J. Trump!"
THE NOMINEE CAPPED OFF THE WEEK DELIVERING A MORE SERIOUS ADDRESS.
(Donald Trump/ (R) Presidential Nominee) "I alone can fix it!"
....AS HE ACCEPTED THE GOP NOMINATION THURSDAY NIGHT IN CLEVELAND.
(Donald Trump/ (R) Presidential Nominee) "Our convention occurs at a moment of crisis for our nation. The attacks on our police, and the terrorism of our cities, threaten our very way of life."
... PAINTING A DARK AND OMINOUS PICTURE OF A NATION IN CHAOS.
(Donald Trump/ (R) Presidential Nominee) "Homicides last year increased by 17% in America"s fifty largest cities. That"s the largest increase in 25 years."
THAT VIEW DRAWING A QUICK REBUKE FROM PRESIDENT OBAMA TODAY.
(Pres. Obama) "This idea that America is somehow on the verge of collapse, this vision of violence and chaos everywhere, doesn"t really jive with the experience of most people." 
COUNTERING THE GOP NOMINEE"S CLAIMS ABOUT RISING CRIME RATES.
(Pres. Obama) "The fact of the matter is that the murder rate today, the violence rate today is far lower than it was when Ronald Reagan was president and lower than when I took office."
 --SUGGESTED TAG--
THE POLITICAL WORLD IS NOW TURNING ITS ATTENTION TO NEXT WEEK"S DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION IN PHILADELPHIA.
SOME OF THE BIG SPEAKERS WILL INCLUDE: FORMER CANDIDATE SENATOR BERNIE SANDERS, FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA AND OF COURSE HILLARY CLINTON, WHO IS SCHEDULED TO ACCEPT HER PARTY"S NOMINATION THURSDAY NIGHT.
 -----END-----CNN.SCRIPT-----

 --KEYWORD TAGS--
TRUMP CONVENTION CRUZ OBAMA POLITICS



United Garment workers (UGW) Union members discuss plan for 1914 convention in Nashville Tennessee. View from railroad locomotive traveling on a straight train track. A steam locomotive pulling a passenger train. Trainman on rail car waving a lantern. Views of the convention, October 12, 1914, in Nashville, headed by UGW President Thomas A. Rickert of Chicago. Labor union locals from New York, Boston, Rochester, Cincinnati, Philadelphia, and Baltimore, were deemed in arrears on dues (although they had been on strike) and not allowed to participate. They walked out, with the Chicago delegation too. View of Telegram sent from Nashville, by the dissidents, to Sidney Hillman in New York, October, 1914, asking him to head a rival union. Photo of Hillman taking telephone call. A special convention at Webster Hall, in New York City, where dissidents join with Journeyman Tailors union and form the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America, with Sidney Hillman as President. Key members of the new union are seen standing in front of a car. Sidney Hillman in his office dictating to his secretary. Copies of the new union's House organs in various languages. Amalgamated Clothing Workers holding signs in various languages. Workers pose on a truck by a sign reading:"A Fair Deal, A Chance to Live, Arbitration is all we ask." Workers in cars. Girls on roller skates wearing sashes reading: "Don't Be A Scab." A man in a barrel with sign reading: "Can't afford to wear pants. Pa works in an open shop." Women pose in sandwich boards that spell out: "Closed Shop." Philadelphia garment worker ostensibly writing letter to Sidney Hillman. Shop owners examine sewn item and shop records while man works at sewing machine. Location: United States USA. Date: 1914.

VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE SENATOR LLOYD BENTSEN (D-TEX) CAMPAIGNS IN PENNSYLVANIA. 04:05:00 bentsen works an airport crowd, boards a jet and waves. he arrives at an airport in northeast philadelphia, pennsylvania and attends a union workers rally. cu of banners on a wall for the following unions, electricians, glaziers, clothiers, drywall finishers and steam fitters. bentsen appears on stage and delivers a campaign speech tailored for workers. CI: PERSONALITIES: BENTSEN, LLOYD. POLITICS: PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN, 1988.

It Happened in Mayfair

NAME: US CAMPAIGN 150704N TAPE: EF04/0715 IN_TIME: 11:19:05:22 DURATION: 00:02:36:07 SOURCES: APTN/ABC DATELINE: Philadelphia/Washington DC - 15 July 2004 RESTRICTIONS: Part No Access Internet SHOTLIST: ABC - No Access Internet Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 1. Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry walks through crowd shaking hands 2. Kerry walks on stage, hugs National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) President Kweisi Mfume and Chairman Julian Bond 3. SOUNDBITE: (English) John Kerry, US Democratic presidential candidate: "Now, I want you to know I'm honoured to be here. I understand, listening to Julian (Bond, NAACP Chairman) and recognising what has been going on, I understand you've been having trouble getting some speakers (laughter). So I want to thank you for the invitation. Some people may have better things to do, but there's no place that I'd rather be right now than right here in Philadelphia with the NAACP." 4. Kerry at lectern 5. SOUNDBITE: (English) John Kerry, US Democratic presidential candidate: "I will be a president who truly is a uniter, not one who seeks to divide one nation by race, or riches, or any other label. And you know something, the president may be too busy to speak to you now, but I got news for you, he's going to have plenty of time after November 2nd." (Applause) APTN Washington DC 6. White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan walking to podium 7. SOUNDBITE: (English) Scott McClellan, White House press secretary: "The president has many friends who are members of the NAACP. This president has been an inclusive leader who has set a positive tone for this country and he has a proven record of working to improve the quality of life for all Americans and a proven record of reaching out to all Americans. I think it really is disappointing to see the current leadership continue to repeat the hostile rhetoric they have used which really shows that they're not interested in a constructive dialogue. Nevertheless, the president is committed to continuing to reaching out to the African-American community and committed to continuing reaching out to NAACP members and he will do that based on his record and based on his vision." 8. McClellan leaving White House briefing room STORYLINE: US Democratic presidential contender John Kerry has accused President Bush of dividing America by race and riches. Taking advantage of a White House feud with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Kerry declared himself a leader of all people as he addressed the crowd at the annual convention of the NAACP. Bush skipped the convention to protest against the NAACP's criticism of his policies, but plans to address another influential black organisation, the Urban League, next week. White House spokesman Scott McClellan told reporters that the current leadership of the NAACP had clearly crossed the line in partisanship, making it impossible to have a constructive dialogue. President Bush hasn't spoken to the NAACP since the 2000 campaign, when the group's National Voter Fund ran an advert that portrayed him as unsympathetic to the killing of James Byrd, a black Texas man who was dragged to death behind a pickup truck by white men in 1998. Since the 2000 campaign, which ended in the Florida ballot fiasco that angered many black voters, the NAACP has called Bush an illegal president, compared his anti-abortion views to the Taliban and called his trip to Africa a photo opportunity. Kerry's address to the NAACP in Philadelphia on Thursday was tailored toward the supportive - yet sceptical - black community.

IS A CAREER IN THE SERVICE INDUSTRIES FOR YOU?

This 1950s black and white film “Battleship” is from the Adventure Today series with Ray Forrest and focuses on the USS Wisconsin (BB-64) [decommissioned in 1958]. Ray arrives at the battleship and the sailors release the mooring ropes from the dock. Captain RJ Foley talks to Ray (:24-1:55). Ray adjusts the settings on his video camera. Footage from the top down shows sailors walking below. The ship’s service ribbons are shown. Sailors perform various tasks, including thoroughly scrubbing the ship. The anchor rope is examined and carried across the deck (1:56-3:58). A Man Overboard drill is done using a box. The Captain uses binoculars. Sailors are lowered in a lifeboat to rescue it. Once they have, they return and hook the lifeboat to the wires and are lifted back up. Footage is shown of the boat slicing through the water and stark against a cloudy sky as evening sets in (3:59-5:50). An officer relaxes in a chair, reading. Another watches television in a 1950s cabinet. Officers eat in the wardroom (5:51-6:01). Commander Ryder shows Ray the main engineering panel with all of its dials. Ray is shown the LP Turbine Unit No. 4 boiler, the reduction gear, and the propeller shaft. Sailors work on projects in the machine shop, the electrical shop, the printing shop, the bakery, and the butcher shop (6:02-7:34). Meat covers large flat-top grills. The cook ladles a sauce on top. Sailors go through the food chow line cafeteria-style as food is placed on their trays (7:35-8:10). Sailors receive wages at the pay line. Places to spend money include the soda fountain, the ship store, the barber shop, and the tailor shop (8:11-9:00). A Lance Corporal polishes a pin. A sailor sits on a bottom bunk, smoking a cigarette and reading. Sailors return to their bunks and hang clothes up in their lockers. Sailors in t-shirts smile for the camera (9:02-9:32). The decks are hosed and scrubbed down, including holystoning (9:33-10:07). Officers use binoculars as the battleship approaches the gun drill area. Sailors scramble to their battle stations. The 16-inch guns move to face various targets (10:08-12:10). Morse code flashing lights signal the shore at Norfolk, Virginia. Navigation maps are plotted. The ship arrives (12:11-12:50). <p><p>USS Wisconsin (BB-64) is an Iowa-class battleship, the second ship of the United States Navy to be named in honor of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. She was built at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and launched on 7 December 1943 (the second anniversary of the Pearl Harbor raid), sponsored by the wife of Governor Walter Goodland of Wisconsin.<p><p>During her career, Wisconsin served in the Pacific Theater of World War II, where she shelled Japanese fortifications and screened United States aircraft carriers as they conducted air raids against enemy positions. During the Korean War, Wisconsin shelled North Korean targets in support of United Nations and South Korean ground operations, after which she was decommissioned. She was reactivated on 1 August 1986; after a modernization program, she participated in Operation Desert Storm in January and February 1991.<p><p>Wisconsin was last decommissioned in September 1991 after a total of 14 years of active service in the fleet, and having earned a total of six battle stars for service in World War II and Korea, as well as a Navy Unit Commendation for service during the January/February 1991 Gulf War. She currently functions as a museum ship operated by Nauticus, The National Maritime Center in Norfolk, Virginia. Wisconsin was stricken from the Naval Vessel Register (NVR) 17 March 2006, and was donated for permanent use as a museum ship. On 15 April 2010, the City of Norfolk officially took over ownership of the ship.<p><p>We encourage viewers to add comments and, especially, to provide additional information about our videos by adding a comment! See something interesting? Tell people what it is and what they can see by writing something for example: "01:00:12:00 -- President Roosevelt is seen meeting with Winston Churchill at the Quebec Conference."<p><p>This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com

Wide aerial over and around the city hall building in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with the rest of the city visible in the background. To obtain a clean version of this video, please contact your Getty representative.

Aerial over City Hall in Philadelphia with the William Penn statue on top To obtain a clean version of this video, please contact your Getty representative.

TAPE_NUMBER: EF00/0855 IN_TIME: 03:32:45 - 07:29:31 - 09:19:30 LENGTH: 03:08 SOURCES: APTN RESTRICTIONS: FEED: VARIOUS (THE ABOVE TIME-CODE IS TIME-OF-DAY) SCRIPT: English/Nat XFA Four years ago, a handful of internet companies attempted to cover the Republican National Convention in San Diego. The Philadelphia 2000 convention has already been dubbed the first E-convention ... and new technology is promising to revolutionise the way Americans see and get involved in their political process. Scores of news organisations at the Convention have promised Internet users unprecedented access from living rooms across the country. Republican Conventions are not unaccustomed to the sight of thousands of party faithful, television, radio and print journalists covering the event. But this year there is an addition - the internet is making its presence felt right on the floor. As television networks scale back coverage, news organisations, from veteran ABC News to newcomer Pseudo, are turning to Web sites to fill the void. Yahoo!, C-Span, MSNBC and several other sites are Webcasting the conventions live, gavel to gavel. Some even let viewers choose vantage points for sight and sound. Pseudo.com has 360-degree remote cameras on the floor - and computer users around the world can direct the camera to the angle they want to catch all the action. That is, if the site is working - there have been a few technical hitches. "Internet Alley" is a short walk away from the convention floor. It's a crowded hall with more than 35 different organisations all tailoring their material for the internet. Small dot.com companies compete with the giant American Television networks - all trying to get their take on the convention. SOUNDBITE: (English) "And this is actually the first E-convention against which is going to be the benchmark for future conventions, so we had to make it work ... and I think it is working." SUPER CAPTION: Don Upson, Convention Internet Manager High profile guests are prominent features of this "e-convention." Republican Congressman David Drier took himself away from the convention floor to hold a chat session on-line with Excite.com. As chairman of the House of Representatives Rules committee, Drier is the convention's parliamentarian - the man who makes sure that all political procedures are correctly followed. Attracting the convention's big names down Internet Alley has not been a problem. SOUNDBITE: (English) "Its actually been really great. I think people are really excited about it. They get to basically come in and ask a question that has been on their mind and there is no filter to it. They just come in and ask their question and they get an answer right then and there from some one who is in a position to know." SUPER CAPTION: Cecilia Marihart, Excite.com So successful have the dot.com organisations been in attracting big names that the more traditional media outlets hang around Internet Alley to see who's paying a visit. New Jersey Governor Christie Whitman and Representative Jennifer Dunn were guests on ABC.com. Prominent television reporter and anchor Sam Donaldson played moderator - enthusiastic about his role in the new medium. SOUNDBITE: (English) "I think over the air broadcasting is going down the drain. I think one of the reasons why the networks are trying to get into this is because we recognize we are dinosaurs if we don't do something different to use this new technology in a few years people will look at us like a dinosaur say, here are the bones ... I wonder what it looked like, lets reconstruct it and put it in a museum." SUPER CAPTION: Sam Donaldson, ABC reporter Convention organisers are impressed with the enthusiasm generated by their newest medium and they can only dream what will happen down Internet Alley in 2004. SHOTLIST: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - July 31, 2000 1. Wide shot of crowded convention hall 2. Pull back from traditional TV camera, to 360 degree remote camera 3. Mid shot of dot.com company signs from convention floor 4. Tilt up shot of Pseudo.com camera and microphone 5. Pan of convention floor 6. Mid shot of computer 7. Close-up of computer screen showing video from convention floor 8. Pan of man with digital camera 9. Pull back of Internet Alley sign 10. Close-up of computer screen of TV cameraman 11. SOUNDBITE: (English) Don Upson, Convention Internet Manager 12. Close-up pan of Congressman David Drier arriving at Excite.com 13. Pull back shot of fingers typing 14. Mid shot Drier talking to computer operators 15. Wide shot of Drier talking to computer operators 16. SOUNDBITE: (English) Cecilia Marihart, Excite.com 17. Mid shot of computers 18. Pan from digital computers to booth 19. Push in shot of woman holding camera 20. Wide shot crowd around ABC.com booth 21. Various of ABC reporter Sam Donaldson talking to New Jersey Governor Christie Whitman and Representative Jennifer Dunn, (Republican-Washington) 22. Pull back view of web page 23. SOUNDBITE: (English) Sam Donaldson, ABC reporter 24. Pull back view of MSNBC.com 25. Close-up man working at voter.com 26. Close-up woman working at computer screen?

Work Pays America

WORK PAYS AMERICA

TAPE_NUMBER: EF01/0286 IN_TIME: 14:28:57 LENGTH: 04:39 SOURCES: APTN/VAR. FILM DISTRIBUTORS RESTRICTIONS: No re-use/re-sale of film/video/tv clips without clearance FEED: SCRIPT: xfa English/Nat Title: Oscars: Best Actor Date: File Location: Various With the Oscars just six days away, the race for best Actor is one of the most open. The five nominees for the Academy Award are Tom Hanks for Castaway, Russell Crowe for Gladiator, Ed Harris for Pollock, Geoffrey Rush for Quills and Javier Bardem for Before Night Falls. The bookies' joint favorites are Tom Hanks and Russell Crowe. Tom Hanks is no stranger to the Oscars' podium having won twice previously for Philadelphia and Forrest Gump. With his latest film Cast Away, he has to carry the movie alone, aided only an inanimate object. Surviving a plane crash in the Pacific, he is stranded alone on a desert island with the few things that wash up on the island with him. One of those things is a football, on which he paints a face and adds some tufts of hair. The resulting object becomes his confidant and friend. A modest and likeable man, the actor, director, writer, producer sums up his career thus: "I've made 20 movies, and five of them are pretty good." Tom Hanks is married to actress Rita Wilson with whom he has two children. He was educated at Chabot Junior College, Hayward, California (attended one year) and California State University, Sacramento, where he majored in theatre. His mother worked in a hospital and his father, Amos Hanks, was a cook. Coincidentally, the father of fellow nominee, Russell Crowe, also works in the catering trade, albeit the showbiz end - Crowe's parents run a film catering company. Crowe, nominated for his powerful performance as Maximus in Gladiator, was born in Wellington, New Zealand, on April 7th 1964. He grew up in Australia, so has aspects of both cultures - the New Zealander's persistence twinned with a streak of Australian happy-go-lucky charm. He rose to fame as the quick-tempered, brutal cop Bud White in L.A. Confidential after playing opposite Gene Hackman and Sharon Stone in The Quick and the Dead. Other movies include Proof of LIfe, The Insider, Romper Stomper and Proof. Film runs in his blood. His Grandfather, Stan Wymess, was a cinematographer during WWII. He is cousin to Martin Crowe, the New Zealand cricket player. When he isn't making movies he spends his time on his Australian cattle station. In fact, he likes it so much he was reported recently to have left Meg Ryan, with whom he had an affair while shooting "Proof of Life", to spend more time with his cows. His previous awards include: Australian Film Institute: Best Supporting Actor, Proof 1992: Australian Film Institute: Best Actor, Romper Stomper 1999: National Board of Review: Best Actor, The Insider 1999: Los Angeles Film Critics Association: Best Actor, The Insider 1999: Broadcast Film Critics Association: Best Actor, The Insider 1999: National Society of Film Critics Award: Best Actor, The Insider. Ed Harris is nominated for his role in the Jackson Pollock biopic, Pollock, which he also directed. Marcia Gay Harden, who plays his wife in the film, has been nominated for a best Best Actress award. Harris first came into the public eye when he played the role of astronaut, John Glen in The Right Stuff. He actually made it into space (at least on-screen) when he took on the role of Gene Kranz in Apollo 13 for which he was nominated for Best Supporting Actor. He was also praised for his part as the Controller in The Truman Show. He can currently be seen in Enemy at the Gate, in which he plays a German sniper. Australian born actor, Geoffrey Rush has been nominated for his role as the Marquis de Sade in Quills. Like Hanks, he has made the walk up to the stage before. He won the Best Actor Oscar for Shine in 1996. He has since starred in The Tailor of Panama, House on Haunted Hill, Shakespeare in Love, Elizabeth and Les Mis?rables. Spanish actor, Javier Bardem is the fifth nominee, cited for his role in Before Night Falls. Bardem had a shot at playing the villain in the 1999 James Bond movie ''The World Is Not Enough'' but ended up turning it down. ''With all my respects,'' he says, ''that's not the kind of thing I like to do.... I want to be on risk. Otherwise, this job has no meaning.'' Bardem certainly got his wish, playing persecuted gay Cuban writer Reinaldo Arenas in the fact-based biopic ''Before Night Falls.'' Enlisted by director Julian Schnabel after Benicio Del Toro passed on the role, Bardem had less than two months to learn Arenas' highly idiosyncratic speaking style. He had to speak fluently in both Cuban-inflected Spanish, which is heavily colloquial, and Cuban-accented English. To master these argots, Bardem worked 11 hours a day for six weeks with a coach. At night, he listened to tapes of the writer reading his autobiography, a sad task because ''you can hear that he is dying.'' (Arenas, who fled Cuba in 1980, contracted AIDS and later died in New York City in 1990.) In one of the film's most astonishing passages, Bardem enacts the author's last quarter hour of life in real time. Bardem had to argue passionately to keep the scene at its true length. SHOTLIST: 1. FILM CLIP - BEFORE NIGHT FALLS 2. SOT JAVIER BARDEM ON BEING NOMINATED 3. FILM CLIP - GLADIATOR 4. SOT RIDLEY SCOTT ON RUSSELL CROWE 5. FILM CLIP - POLLOCK 6. SOT ED HARRIS 7. FILM CLIP - QUILLS 8. SOT GEOFFREY RUSH 9. FILM CLIP - CASTAWAY 10. SOT TOM HANKS?

4K Footage of Philadelphia's landmark historic City Hall with traffic car and crowd pedestrian crossroad in Pennsylvania, United States, Travel Destination tourist and Transportation concept

Universal-International Newsreels

**LOGGED BY JOANNA SUAREZ AND JACLYN EVENS** In NY interplay as: RS 5105 CAMPAIGN 2012 ROMNEY ROUNDTABLE PHILADELPHIA PA 052412 P1 FTG OF PRESUMPTIVE REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE MITT ROMNEY HOLDING A ROUNDTABLE WITH EDUCATORS AT UNIVERSAL BLUFORD CHARTER IN PHILADELPHIA, PA 052412 ROMNEY INTRODUCTORY REMARKS 08:52:53 Romney walks in, all sit down at roundtable 08:53:47 Romney shakes hands with Kenneth Gamble 08:53:53 KENNETH GAMBLE: On behalf of Universal Companies, and all the wonderful students we have in Philadelphia, I'd like to take this opportunity to welcome Governor Romney to the great city of Philadelphia. And today is a special day because of your presence, Governor. And we pray that your stay in Philadelphia is a pleasant one. And that we can discuss today the most important thing that we at Universal believe, AND THAT IS EDUCATION. And being that the experience of African Americans in this country where there was a time when it was against the law of the country for people of African descent to even read or write. It is even more important today that we discuss education for the African American community because of the conditions that are in the African American community as it relates to prisons and crimes. So I'm glad that you're here so we can discuss and find out what your thoughts are as it relates to the destiny and future of America. Because America is for everyone and the African American community is a major portion of this country. And that is our number one concern, is how do we develop the educational system that connects the African Americans with their history and past before slavery. So, once again, thank you for being here. 08:55:50 MITT ROMNEY: Thank you, thank you. Well, once again, Kenny, I appreciate the chance to be with you and I come to learn obviously from people who are having experiences that are unique and instructive, not just to me but I think to the nation. And I have my own experiences relating to education and the experiences of people in Massachusetts. I realize right now the rivalry between Boston and Philadelphia between the Seventy Sixers and the Celtics may strain this discussion (laughs) and instead talk about our young people. When I came in as a new governor, there were a number of features that concerned me about our education system. One - there was a very substantial gap in the achievement scores of minority students relative to Caucasian students and I wondered why that gap was as large as it was there some way to improve it. Secondly it was clear there were some schools that were succeeding and some schools that were not succeeding. And it was not entirely based on urban schools versus suburban and rural. But there was some correlation of that nature. There were reports of some charter schools being highly successful and others being less so. So I came in with an open mind with as to what we could do to improve our education system and give our kids a better chance. 08:57:56 Romney: I'm going to briefly tell you my limited experience in those four years, what I learned. But I'd like to get your experience from the front lines and first salute you for the investment you made, financial and personal, in establishing a pathway for hundreds, thousands of young people to have changed lives. (KENNETH: "THANK YOU") I can't imagine anything more rewarding and more important to do. I came into office and talked to people and said what do we do to improve our schools and a number of folks said we need smaller classroom sizes, that will make the biggest difference. So I gathered information across our state. We had 351 cities and towns and I said let's compare the average class size from each district with the performance of our students. Because we test our kids so I said let us see if there is a relationship. And there was not. As a matter of fact, the district with the smallest classrooms Cambridge had students performing in the bottom 10 percent. So just getting smaller classrooms didn't seem to be the key. We had begun doing a couple things that made a difference. We began testing our kids, that was done before my time by several years. Democrats and Republicans came together to fashion a program where we would measure the progress of our students. And to graduate from high school you had to pass a graduation exam. And I added something to that with my friends in the legislature - the Speaker of the House and the Senate President - we were bipartisan on this by the way. We came together and put in place the John and Abigail Adams Scholarship program which said when you took that graduation exam, if you scored in the top quarter of those in your high school when you took in then you were entitled to this scholarship which was four years tuition free at a Massachusetts Public institution of higher learning. Now that paid for tuition not for fees and fees in Massachusetts are much higher than tuition but it was a help. And it communicated we were interested in performance in excellence. We were able to see our schools rise to be number one in the nation - Massachusetts as you may know in the NAPE exams is number one for fourth graders and eighth graders in both English and Math. And I attribute that to a number of things - one is we have a lot of good Catholic schools in Boston and in Massachusetts so there's been a good deal of school choice and that has not only helped those kids that go to those schools but I think it's helped elevate the public schools around them. And made them more competitive and they do a better job. I believe also that the Boston School District has focused on hiring excellent teachers, trying to find among the best and brightest of kids coming out of school and helping them get into teaching. I believe that makes a difference. 09:00:24 I was happy to see, by the way, in our state the achievement gap between minority and non minority was cut by about half as I recall from when we began testing until the time I was leaving as governor. I don't take the credit for that, but I think the focus on school choice, we have more and more charter schools, we're testing our kids and the effort to try and hire very capable teachers, those things combined. And then when I stepped back and studied the topic from the standpoint of researchers it struck me that there were three things that they spoke about that have the biggest impact on the quality of education in helping our kids. One was great teachers, hiring among the very best and brightest of teachers and having them have a career path that was not just associated with becoming an administrator, but being a great teacher was a great career in and of itself. Number two was having, where possible, a mom and a dad, a two parent family where two people could invest in the child's education, where one could be more involved with the child's homework and so forth by virtue of having two parents in the home, which of course is a rarity in many circumstances. And number three was sound leadership. People who were able to guide the school and to focus on its primary mission to make sure that discipline is in place and that student achievement is being tracked. But those three things seem to be highly correlated with success in schools and interestingly a number of charter schools, parochial schools, private schools and a number of public schools were able to get those things right. Great teachers, good career path for the teachers, helping involve families to the extent possible. And where there were single parents, still finding ways to involve them in the education of their child. And then superb leaders. So that's a very top, if you will, line kind of view, but I'm told about the success of these institutions that you helped found and this institution in particular. And I would love to get your perspective on what makes it work and what makes it better. 09:02:40 The reason I say that is I've proposed at the federal level we do some things to help do what I think makes a difference - And one, I propose is this. Which is that federal money, IDEA and title one money follows the student so that if a student wants to go to a charter school or a parochial school or private school depending on state law, depending on state law which of those they can do, the student can go and the money goes with the student. So we allow more choice for parents. I like every parent to have a choice and every child to have a chance, which is the phrase that I am describing. And number two, the amount of federal funds that go to a state will be dependent in part upon whether they have ample school choice, whether they're grading their schools to see which ones are succeeding or failing. Whether they make sure they don't prevent digital learning. Digital learning-Cyber learning, so to speak, technologies are improving every day, my guess is 10 years from now we'll find digital learning plays a bigger role in helping tailor education to the needs of each child. So those among other things are designed to improve digital opportunities, school choice. 09:03:58 And then with regards to the quality of teaching, boy I don't recall the number, but it is dozens of teacher quality programs at the federal government level. I'd like take those monies, bundle them up, send them back to the states and have states guide programs to improve the quality of their teachers. So, with that as an introduction.(KENNETH GAMBLE INTERJECTS: "THAT SOUNDS GOOD. THAT WAS A GOOD AND LONG INTRODUCTION..THATS A LONG INTRODUCTION! HA-HA-HA-HA-HA" 09;04;20 Continued laughter. Romney: YEAH, IVE BEEN KNOWN TO DO THAT FROM TIME TO TIME.LAUGHS GAMBLE: LAUGHTER. WELL, I APPRECIATE IT. IT WAS GOOD, IT FELT GOOD. (ROMNEY: WELL, THANK YOU!).GAMBLE CONTINUES, "Ryan would you like to make a comment?" 09;04;38 Ryan: I think, I mean you guys have a tremendous amount of experts in education sitting at that end of the table far more than mine. Mine is based separate. For all the poor performing schools that we talk about, BEHIND THAT ARE KIDS-TRAPPED. So my fundamental belief is that we have to rustle control so we can correct that situation. So, my only thing that I would add, and I would definitely ask Nick and David and all those guys who are actually in the field doing the work. When we constantly see talking about poor performing schools and what we do about it from the top level down, there is never any support. So there is always a penalty. We are going to do this and we are going to do that, but the bottom line is AT THE END OF THE DAY THERE ARE THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN TRAPPED TO THESE POOR PERFORMING SCHOOLS. So, whatever policies that one punishes those schools, those policies should be coupled with support. And to just add to what you basically said, because I hear that constantly just in the past 15 years-We are going to identify the bad schools, we are going to force them. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THAT FORCING AND THE TRANSITION OF THAT SCHOOL FROM BEING A POOR PERFORMING SCHOOL TO ACTUALLY BECOMING A GOOD SCHOOL COULD TAKE UP TO SEVEN OR EIGHT YEARS. HOW MANY STUDENTS DID WE LOSE IN THAT PERIOD OF TIME? (ROMNEY: YEAH.).And that, this is at the end of the day when Kenny Gamble talked about the African American specifically, we have lost too many children because of that. And those children are growing up and they are having children. In real estate development, we have a concept called structural deficit-WE HAVE TO REBUILD THIS SYSTEM BECAUSE IT IS STRUCTURALLY MESSED UP. SO WE WILL NEVER GET TO THAT POINT THAT YOU DESCRIBED ABOUT HAVING A TWO PARENT SITUATION-A PAIR OF SUPPORT-AS A KEY COMPONENT FOR YOUR THREE. IT MIGHT BE TO GET GOOD TEACHERS AND GET GOOD LEADERSHIP. BUT WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GET THE PARENT AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT BECAUSE IT IS UPSIDE DOWN. So we have to work at it both ways. And I don't want to be long.(Romney: No, that's alright).Go ahead, I think Nick and David, I think you guys are.. 09;07;00 Romney interjects: Let me note also, I didn't say, and I didn't mention that, but the WISDOM OF THE PEOPLE THAT PRECEDED ME IN MY STATE WAS THAT WHEN A SCHOOL WAS DEEMED TO BE FAILING, THEY HAD A PROVISION WHERE THE STATE WOULD THEN POTENTIALLY TAKE OVER THE SCHOOL AND BRING IN PLACE A CORE OF HIGHLY EFFECTIVE AND EXPERIENCED SCHOOL LEADERS THAT WOULD COME IN AND TURN THE SCHOOL AROUND. And I think that was not just saying, OKAY THIS SCHOOL IS A DISASTER, TOO BAD. IT WAS SAYING, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?? AND I THINK THAT IS YOUR POINT. And I think that is a very critical and important point. Thank you. 09;07;40 Gamble: You know, Governor, YOU HAVE TO GO BACK AND REMEMBER HOW THE WHOLE CONCEPT OF EDUCATION HAS FAILED. YOU KNOW, YOU GO BACK A FEW YEARS, EVEN IN BOSTON WHEN THEY WERE TRYING TO INTEGRATE SCHOOLS AND THEY HAD YOUNG WHITE CHILDREN GOING INTO BLACK SCHOOLS AND THEY WERE THROWING EGGS AT LITTLE BLACK CHILDREN. SPITTING ON THEM AND CALLING THEM ALL KINDS OF NAMES. BOTTOM LINE IS THAT WILL NEVER WORK. THAT CONCEPT NEVER WORKED. THAT MINDSET WILL NEVER WORK. IT HAS TO BE A REGIMENT-IT IS A STRUCTURAL COMPONENT WITHIN THE THINKING OF AMERICA. And basically my job is to look after the African community in Philadelphia. And to look after what can I contribute during my lifetime. And what I see is trying to correct all of the miss-thinking as it relates to a people who has contributed SO MUCH TO THIS COUNTRY AND HAVE GOTTEN SO LITTLE BACK FROM THIS COUNTRY. So, I don't want us to think that the concepts, and I would like for you to know that basically, THIS WHOLE GOVERNMENT CONCEPT OF EDUCATION AND AFRICAN AMERICAN PEOPLE NEEDS A NEW MIND. You have to be able to take America, and look at America and say WHERE IS AMERICA GOING IN THE NEXT 10/20/40/50/100 YEARS? WHERE IS IT GOING??? 09;09;27 Romney chuckles..YOU AND I ARENT GOING TO BE THERE, BUT IT WOULD BE NICE TO WATCH IT.(mild chuckle) Gamble continues: But the key of it is, is that people remember you by what you build. NOTHING ELSE. Because when you go on vacation. Come to Philly. People come here, they want to see the liberty bell, want to see independence hall. THESE ARE THINGS THAT WERE BUILT BY THE FOUNDING FATHERS. You go to Greece, you go to Rome.All these other places. Those were built we have to build now. Because the foundation we are building on has a lot of DEFAULTS IN IT. And when I speak, I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT MY MAJOR CONCERN IS THE FUTURE OF THE AFRICAN AMERICAN PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY. Because once that problem is solved, then I think that all of America will benefit from it. (Romney: "I agree, I agree") Gamble continues: ALL OF AMERICA. And so it has been overlooked for many many years so I just want to keep that on the burner. IT IS NOT OKAY. NOTHING IS OKAY. See, I am almost 70 years old, you are a young guy. 09;10;41 Romney: WE'RE NOT FAR APART, IM 65 HA-HA-HA Gamble: OH WELL WE'RE IN THE SAME BOAT HERE! (laughter). So, when you get to be seventy years old, you start to look at life a bit different. So those persons who can make a change, THEY MUST STEP UP TO THE PLATE. And I think a lot of it will have to do about the people you have around you, the way that they think, the people you associate yourself with. BECAUSE HOW DO YOU GET THIS THING DONE? Because it's not going to get done in 4 to 8 years. It has to be a major major plan, and you are going to need PEOPLE POWER MORE SO THAN MONEY POWER. BECAUSE YOU ARE NEVER GOING TO GET ENOUGH MONEY-That will just drive yourself into a hole. We have to get the community and people behind because the most important resource that we have is the resource of people. (Romney: Thank you!) 09;11;47 (Man participating in roundtable): So, I just want to talk a little bit about the cyber education. I started a Bricks and Mortar school that focused Latino population. SIMILAR ISSUES-DUAL LANGUAGE-ACADEMICALLY DOING EXCELLENT. But the most important issue is start with the STUDENT. And who cares most about the student is always the parents. Whether you are Latino or white or of low income or wealthy, you care most about your kids. So our families start there. And then, as was said earlier, you get to the Charter Schools, and Charter Schools are driven by the local politics of what it is. We spend so much as adults fighting each other about what is the politics? WHO GETS TO SERVE THE KID. And we always reach this cap that we cannot get beyond. So if you are 300 or 700 students, but you have ten thousand applying, you can only spend 300 students. So it has kind of moved into this idea-some states have cyber applications. Now, there are a lot of debates on cyber and whether they work or don't work, and a lot of critiques out there. But, it is not cyber online learning, sure technology is moving really quickly and other Bricks and Mortar schools need to move with them. But cybers allow us to give parents other options for their kids if they are trapped within their local setting. But really, it is the concept-we are playing with the concept of blended learning models. So it is like you use the best of technology, but you don't give away the Bricks and Mortars face to face instruction that you are doing. So we are taking the cyber stuff, which ALLOWS YOU TO STAY ABOVE THE POLITICS AND REALLY FOCUS ON WHAT THE KIDS WANT. So do a school within a school model. ROMNEY: SO YOU ARE COMBINING IT? Continues: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. A school within a school model. Specifically, we are focused on another in its population. So African Americans are considered a minority, Latinos. We are also saying there is a special needs population out there. Dyslexic kids, most of those kids out there are saying I get what I get at my school, and if it is good, FANTASTIC. But most parents are saying, it's not what I want or need-WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS? Private independent schools-20-40 thousand dollars a shot. Most families can't afford that. So it was like, we are trying to create another option for those parents. So it is another way to think of that. You look at LOCAL POLITICS, STATE POLITICS AND FEDERAL POLITICS. So your idea of like the dollar following the students is a fantastic one. Will it support a school entirely? Not necessarily, so then it gets to how are our states thinking. But states have state politics and then they have local ones, and PA has now got 3,000 districts and to get a charter into those districts is always a challenge. And the more districts have more. So that is kind of the hard thing with Politics. 09;14;25 Romney: How is cyber learning being received, if you will, at the local and the state level. Guy: So you have 30 thousand students in there that sometimes want it, but it's not the cyber education they necessarily want. So when you look at performance, they are not necessarily doing as well. That's why we are saying LETS DO THE BLENDED LEARNING MODEL. Because you don't need to do it just all online, but also face to face. But the question is how do you do it? So cybers are starting to adapt to these learning hub concepts. Like where do we establish learning hubs, still give them the best of technology but also face to face. So, that is kind of how-IF YOU DO THAT MODEL, THE PARENTS ARE VERY RECEPTIVE TO IT. IF ITS JUST THE PURELY ONLINE MODEL, SOME PARENTS ARE RECEPTIVE, BUT THEY ARE MORE JUST YOUR HOME SCHOOL POPULATION. 09;15;15 Romney: Yeah, I am thinking of a more blended setting within a charter school or a standard public school that digital learning-cyber learning is part of the curriculum and able to enhance, if you will, the way the learning experience is enhanced through the tailoring to each individual child. David it looked like you had something to add. 09;15;36 David: First of all, I want to say that I send a lot of guys up to MA.Our school is an all boys school, high school. It is called Boys Latin. And as the name implies, four years of Latin. What struck me was when Kenny talked about in Boston when they tried to integrate the schools. Whenever they talk about providing education for low income kids, they always talk about sending them to a school somewhere else. WHY CANT WE HAVE GOOD SCHOOLS IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD? And I think that is what you see in this school here. And that is what you see in our school. You see good education accessible by people they know in this community. People they know CARE ABOUT THEM. Everybody in this school wants to be here. WHY IS THIS SUCH A GOOD SCHOOL? BECAUSE EVERYONE WANTS TO BE HERE. The kids want to be here, the parents, the teachers, the administrators love it, the board loves it. EVERYBODY WANTS TO BE HERE AND THE POWER OF CHOICE BRINGS GREAT THINGS. GREAT OPPORTUNITIES AND ACHIEVEMENTS. AND THE THING YOU COULD DO AS PRESIDENT IS GIVE THEM AS MUCH CHOCE AS POSSIBLE. GIVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO ACCESS GOOD EDUCATION IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. AND YOU WILL SEE THOSE COMMUNITIES CHANGE AND YOU WILL CERTAINLY SEE THOSE LIVES CHANGE. So that is why we can send these boys to great schools all over the country. Because they got a great education in their community where they were comfortable. It allowed them to have the ability to step out of their community, go forward and feel confident and capable to achieve. 09;18;00 Romney: Well, that is quite a story. And I'm glad you sent that point guard to Boston!! (laughter) David: I would get a season ticket if I were you! (EVERYONE: HA-HA-HA-HA-HA!!!!!!!) Romney: IM HOPING NOT TO HAVE TO BE ABLE TO SPEND TOO MUCH TIME IN MY HOME TOWN!! HA-HA-HA-HA-HA!!! Thank you QUESTION ABOUT CLASS SIZE 9:18:33 (man in red tie, music teacher, can't read his name):Yeah, I would like to bring up two concerns in terms of the way you opened up your introduction. These are things I think about as a teacher all the time, like one, is class size and the other is testing. Kind of like when I was driving to school today I heard your position on class size and testing and apparently it's a platform and education is I guess a topic right now. But you know I can't think of any teacher in the whole time I have been teaching, 13 years, who would say that more students [in the classroom] would benefit. And I can't think of a parent that would say I would like my teacher to be in a room with a lot of kids and only one teacher. So I'm wondering where this research comes from. And another thing is you're looking at their test scores. So you're saying that big class sizes don't affect the test scores. Well that to me is a whole different issue. I think kids are being over tested and I say this because I was listening to 7 Habits of Higher Individuals and he was saying that you know the really good instructor, a really good teacher, a really good leader is not getting their kids to answer questions, they're going to ask the questions. And I think a lot of our education system is directed to kids answering questions and not asking the right ones. And you'd be surprised how many faces I look at and there's no questions. You know it's like where are the hands going up? Isn't this music, science, art, history, culture. Don't you want to know about this stuff. And I feel like they feel like they're going to be tested on it. And in terms for me, lifelong learning, lifelong leadership has to do with asking the questions, wanting to learn. 0920:58 music teacher: So I believe in assessment but not in terms of like this school won't get no money if they don't get 98s. because there are so many things we're dealing with as the African American community that have to do with character development. And have to do with how do we even want to be educated in a society that has oppressed us. And I think they do want to be educated, but it's like where are the questions? If you really want to be educated, where are the questions? And it concerns me. the testing. It concerns me you know the class size. Mr. Bennett would you want more kids in the classroom? ROUNDTABLE LAUGHS BENNETT (Teaches Technology class): It's large enough, actually it's too large. It varies between classes but anywhere from 23 to 28 somewhere in there. And you can give more personalized attention to each student if you have a smaller class size. GAMBLE: What's your view on it? ROMNEY: On class size? Well if you had a class of five that would be terrific, if you had a class of 50 that's impossible. So there are points where I think those who have looked at schools in this country and schools around the world, McKenzie for instance, that consulting firm McKenzie Institute, which is a think tank type organization went around the world and looked at schools in Singapore and Finland and South Korea and the United States and looked at differences and said gosh, schools that are the highest performing in the world, their classroom sizes are about the same as in the United States. So it's not the classroom size that is driving the success of those school systems. And then they looked at it and said well what is driving the success of those school systems? It's parents very involved and the idea of choice means you have chosen to be involved, parents are involved, excellent teachers, drawing teachers from the very best and brightest of graduates. And administrators that are able to guide the school with good policies of discipline and getting the right resources. So it was those things that tended to drive the most successful nations relative to those that were less successful. 09:23:34 TEACHER (next to music teacher): There was a study done by the University of Tennessee, a definitive study about class size and what they said was that in first through third grade, if the class size is under 18 those kids stay ahead of everybody else all the way through school, including classes where you might have 25 in the class and co-teachers. Those students lose their gains after a couple years. If you have small classes in those primary years, those most important years, that's what makes the difference. And what it is, you go to school from first to third grade you learn to read. From third grade on, you read to learn. So if you don't get that reading piece you never catch up. That's where really is the most critical. And then once you do that, once you have kids kind of stabilized and everybody is on the same page, you can have kind of bigger classes. They used to have Catholic schools around here with 50 kids in the class and kids learned because everybody was there for the same reason. And that's where choice comes in. 09:24:47 But if you can find a way to help, especially in those primary years and make that a priority then when a kid comes out of third grade they can read, they can do basic computation, they have the foundation to move forward. TEACHER: We have spent all day talking about class size, but that's just one aspect of many systems that makes schools work. You talk a lot about your background in business. And in business, there are two sides of education. There's the education side but there's the business side. So all of those factors have to be working properly. All the systems. And the charter movement and as you know you talked about cyber, charter is a new phenomenon in many cases. You need to build that capacity, that infrastructure from leadership, from administrator, all the way down to teacher leadership. And when we compete against systems that are 100 years old. So when you compare it like that you know you need to provide that additional support. MOM AND DAD EXCHANGE 09:26:36 Patricia Coulter, President of the Philadelphia Urban League: The report we just released in 2012 says that African Americans are only 71 percent as well of as whites in America. And we do a statistical measurement of five areas - economics, education, health, social justice and civic engagement. And when you look at the independent entities in all those areas, the two that stand out the most for us happen to be economics and education. And so those two thinks are linked. So it's hard to talk about one without talking about the other. So jobs become really the basis for so much and as I listen to you talk about your three points of class size, parents, leadership, the thought that came to my mind was for those young people, those students, children where the parents are struggling to just keep food on the table, or a place to live. Are shuffling from a shelter to a relative and back to a shelter and back to a relative and the child is being upset each time that happens. How do you view that whole perspective? We're talking about a lot of children. [In] Philadelphia, and my colleagues can correct me, our poverty rate is close to 28 percent in Philadelphia. That's huge. So it's a lot of children that are in that position where they may not have the support of a parent or a guardian to really make good choice and good decisions. So as you think through that what do you see as elements that you would like to propose that could really help to move the needle a bit on that equality gap. In the last couple of years we've also measured the Latino gap and it's also falling in and around that same 70 percent. So something is happening and maybe it's the structural pieces that we're talking about that need to be. maybe as Kenny said we throw them all away and start over. We're losing so many people and I don't think America can afford to lose so many people. 9:29:38 ROMNEY: I totally agree. Education and the gap in the educational opportunity and achievement of people of color in this society I believe is the civil rights issue of our time. And you'll have a better perspective of that than I do but from my perspective our failure to provide kids with the skills they need for the jobs of today and tomorrow is a crisis. We have an American education crisis. And we keep doing the same things, expecting somehow things to get better. Guys, we gotta try some new things. We gotta be bold and you go back to the more foundational elements which I totally agree with you. For a single mom living in a shelter with a couple of kids, those kids are at an enormous disadvantage. There's no question about that. Relative to a home where a mom and a dad are able to be home for dinner. I remember that study a few years ago that showed what a big advantage it was to just have dinner together as a family (Roundtable nods, says right, right) 09:30:45 Romney: And to have a Mom and Dad home where if one is bushed the other can spend some time with the child and help them with their homework. If a parent sees a child isn't reading up to the level they should be they can talk to the school and say hey I'm upset my child isn't reading very well. Having two parents in the home makes an enormous difference. And so if we're thinking about the kids of tomorrow, trying to help move people to understand you know getting married and having families where there's a mom and a dad together has a big impact. And in my view that's critical down the road. For those that are already in the setting where they don't have two parents having good jobs. Right now with so many people out of work and particularly in the minority communities, this is devastating not just for the people that are out of work, but for their kids and the next generation. The cost of now 3 ½ - 4 years of recession like economics and employment opportunities, is not just born by the adults it's born by the next generation. And that's why in my opinion it's such an urgent priority to bring jobs back, to get this economy going again, to put people to work so they're not in a shelter, they're in an apartment or a home. The consequences is more than just those adults that are out of work. It's not just the 8, 10, 15 percent depending on how you're counting. It's instead the next generation. So jobs, intact families where that's possible. In many cases that's not possible. But where that is possible, intact families. And then the education experience. What was encouraging to me was the so-called education gap between minority and non-minority in our schools in MA-that difference was cut in half in part by the kinds of things that were done that preceded me, as well as through our term. For instance, the Adams Scholarship, saying if you do well in school you get to go to college and get a college tuition. It's not just a stick, it's also a carrot. And focusing on getting good teachers to the extent possible. If schools were failing, having the state be able to take over and get them back on track. In 1993, we had a provision that said if a school is consistently failing and a state takes it over, they can remove any provision within the union contract which they believe is interfering with the education of the children. SO IT HAD GREAT FREEDOM AND FLEXIBILITY TO FOCUS ON THE NEEDS OF THE CHILD AND HELP THE TEACHER IN THAT EFFORT. So we are learning lessons. I guess, what frustrates me IS MOST FOLKS KNOW WHAT THE ANSWERS ARE, WE JUST DON'T SEEM TO BE DOING WHAT IS NECESSARY TO IMPLEMENT THOSE ANSWERS. There are all these forces that don't want to see that change. David talks about letting the communities have choice within the community as opposed to having to go 40 miles out of the way for a private school. LETS CREATE THOSE CHOICES. THIS SHOULD BE A PRIORITY. 09;34;12 From off camera: CAN I MAKE A REQUEST? Building on that point. I don't think there has ever been a president in this country who wasn't pro-education. I don't think there has ever been a presidential candidate who wasn't pro-education. But what happens is you get in to that job I think and the education department is a small part of the budget compared to other things going on. But as you said, education is inexplicably linked to other big issues we have in this country. ON BEHALF OF EVERYONE HERE AND EVERY STUDENT IN THIS BUILDING, WE NEED A PRESIDENT WHO WAKES UP EVERY MORNING DETERMINED TO MAKE A MESSAGE OF THIS. Because, in this city and others in America, we have schools that are doing it for kids that are in the most challenging situations. And right across the street, we have schools who are not doing it. And what is the difference between those schools, from my experience? I MEAN, YOU ALREADY TALKED ABOUT GREAT TEACHING BEING THE MOST IMPORTANT (Romney nods). BUT WHAT REALLY SEPARATES THOSE SCHOOLS IN MY EXPERIENCE IS THERE IS A FOCUS IN THOSE BUILDINGS TO MAKE SURE THAT GREAT TEACHING HAPPENS IN EVERY CLASSROOM EVERY DAY, DAY IN AND DAY OUT. And the schools that aren't getting it done, it's not because they don't want to get it done. I have met very few people on education who didn't get into it to help kids. BUT IT IS BECAUSE THEY HAVE LOST THEIR FOCUS. OTHER FACTORS HAVE INTERVENED AND THEY HAVE LOST FOCUS. AND WE AS A COUNTRY HAVE LOST FOCUS. If half of the energy that has been spent in this country over the last years debating the different models, charter vs. public, private vs. public-If we put half of that energy that goes into those fights to getting the job done right for kids, we would be the number one country in the world on education. I HAVE NO DOUBT ABOUT IT BUT WE LOSE FOCUS. We need a president-at the end of the day, most education spending and policy is done locally. BUT YOU ARE ON THE RIGHT INSIGHT. MONEY AND FOCUS NEEDS TO FOLLOW THE KID. WE NEED TO STAY FOCUSED ON THE JOB. I WOULD SAY YOU NEED EVERY SPEECH ABOUT JOBS, THE ECONOMY, AND HIGHER EDUCATION TO COME BACK TO THOSE BASIC THINGS. THAT IS WHAT WE NEED TO DO. Romney: Thank you, thank you. 09;36;33 Gamble: Well, in closing, Governor, thank you for coming here to listen and also give your comments. I would just like to give one request to you. THAT YOU COME BACK TO US LATER. WHEN AND IF YOU ARE IN THE POSITION. Because it is one thing to come NOW. But if the spirit guides you to that point if you are POTUS, I want to see if you will come back. BECAUSE YOU NEED US. THE COUNTRY NEEDS US. THEY NEED THIS TYPE OF UNIT THAT CAN DEAL WITH THE REALITY OF AMERICA. NOT THE JOKES. Not the fictitious thing that we're dealing with. Because in the education of America, there is the fundamentals, the fluff, and then there is the business of America. THIS EDUCATION BUSINESS HAS BEEN A CASH COW FOR MANY PEOPLE FOR MANY YEARS. AND IT HAS TURNED OUT THE WORST PRODUCT THAT YOU COULD EVER IMAGINE. WHAT IT IS DOING IS IT IS FEEDING THE PRISON BUSINESS RIGHT NOW. AND SO WE SEE WHAT IS HAPPENING. DON'T THINK THE AMERICAN PEOPLE DOES NOT SEE WHAT IS GOING ON. The danger in that is YOU HAVE A COUNTRY THAT IS NOT BALANCED. And when you get imbalanced, you get problems. And America is too great of a country, too great of a concept and an idea to let it fail. So thank you for coming into Philadelphia. Romney: Thank you, Kenny, thank you very much! ROUND TABLE APPLAUDS. 09;38;30 BROLL CAMERA P/O TO A W/S OF ROUND TABLE. 09;38;35 ROMNEY: HELP US UNDERSTAND, AND YOU MAY MAKE A NOTE ON THIS. HOW DO YOU KEEP SCHOOLS FOCUSED ON THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS? WHY DOES THAT HAPPEN IN SOME SCHOOLS AND NOT OTHERS. ONE SIDE OF THE STREET AND NOT THE OTHER? BECAUSE YOU ARE RIGHT, YOU ARE DOING IT HERE! THAT'S WHAT IS INTERESTING. THAT IS HAPPENING AMONG THE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM. THAT'S WHY WE ARE HERE, BECAUSE THIS IS A SUCCESSFUL ENTERPRISE. HOW DO WE MAKE THAT HAPPEN SCHOOL BY SCHOOL? WE WILL TALK ABOUT IT. THANK YOU EVERYONE. THANKS BUDDY. 09;39;00 BROLL members get up. Romney shakes hands with Kenneth Gamble. Stands and talks with members of roundtable.

4K Footage Time lapse of Philadelphia's landmark historic City Hall with traffic car and crowd pedestrian tourist crossroad city street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, Travel Destination tourist and Business Transportation concept

Aerial establishing shot of downtown Philadelphia, from over Callowhill, Pennsylvania at dusk in Fall. Authorization was obtained from the FAA for this operation in restricted airspace.

President Barack Obama delivers remarks at the 95th National Convention of Disabled American Veterans Participants: President Barack Obama Time: 1:34 pm EDT, Date: Monday, August 1st, 2016 OBAMA: Thank you, DAV. (APPLAUSE) Thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you. Please everybody have a seat. What an honor to be with you today. (APPLAUSE) Thank you and thanks to Bobby. You know, I'll never forget the time Bobby came to the Oval Office carrying a baseball bat. Secret Service got a little nervous. It was a genuine Louisville Slugger. Thank you for going to bat for our veterans. I want to thank Bobby for your devotion to our veterans, especially your fellow Vietnam vets. Thank you. Let's give Bobby a big round of applause.(APPLAUSE) OBAMA: I love you back. (APPLAUSE) I do. I want to thank our outstanding leadership team for welcoming me today including National Commander Moses McIntosh, Senior Vice Commander Dave Riley, National Adjutant Marc Burgess, Executive Director Barry Jesinoski, your voice in Washington Garry Augustine, and don't forget Pat Kemper and all the spouses and families of the DAV Auxiliary, thank you. I also want to acknowledge Mayor Kasim Reed and County Chairman John Eaves for welcoming us to the great state of Georgia and the beautiful city of Atlanta. I am pleased to be joined by our tireless Secretary of the V.A. Bob McDonald. I know he spoke to you yesterday. He is working hard, hard, every single day to transform the V.A. to serve our veterans better. He still gives out his cell phone number and his e-mail. Not many people know this but so far he's received more than 45,000 calls, e-mails and texts. And you know I don't know what his phone bill is looking like. I hope he has a good plan. But Bob and his team work to deal with each one of those texts or e-mails or phone calls he receives because every single veteran matters and he knows that. So thank you Bob for the great work you're doing. So it's good to be back with the Disabled American Vets. And what a journey that we've had together. It's great to be here. You know we worked together back when I was a Senator; you were one of the first veteran's organizations I called when I ran for president. I welcomed you to the White House as a partner. I came to your convention in my first term and my second, along with Michelle. And so it is fitting that my final major address to our nation's veterans as president is here at the DAV. And as I reflect on these past eight years, some of the most unforgettable experiences that I've had have been moments I've spent with you, America's veterans and your families. We stood together at Arlington to honor Corporal Frank Buckles, 110 years old, our last veteran from the First World War as he was laid to rest. I ordered our flags to be flown at half-staff because even after 100 years, we will never stop saluting those who served in our name. We stood together in Normandy to thank an entire generation, among them my grandfather who was in Patton's army, a generation that literally saved the world. It was Harry Kokwicz (ph) who returned to the beaches he helped liberate and told he could have anything he wanted said with the humility of a soldier, a hamburger will do just fine. I think of Luta McGrath, this past Veteran's Day, just before her 108th birthday, then the oldest known female veteran of World War II which was a reminder that women have always served to keep America strong and free. We've stood together at the memorial to our Korean War veterans and recalled how a soldier marching through the snow had a tiny pair of baby booties hanging from his rifle, a reminder of his unborn child. A story that had been lost to history. But we tracked him down. We found him. We shared the story of Korean War veteran Dick Shank (ph) who made it home to that baby boy and lived out his life at 84 years old he was still roller skating because no war should ever be forgotten and no veteran should ever be overlooked.OBAMA: We stood together at the Wall and remembered the lessons of Vietnam: that even when Americans may disagree about a war, we have to stand united in support of our troops. (APPLAUSE) And that for mothers like Sarah Chin (ph) who honored her missing son for more than four years, we will never stop working to bring home our prisoners of war and our missing in action. We leave nobody behind. No one. (APPLAUSE) And we've come together to welcome our newest veterans into your ranks. From Desert Storm, the Balkans, Afghanistan and Iraq, our proud 9/11 generation. This is a time of transition. When I came into office we had nearly 180,000 American troops in Afghanistan and Iraq. today, that number is less than 15,000. most of our troops have come home. (APPLAUSE) So all of you who served in Afghanistan, you can take enormous pride of the progress you helped achieve; driving Al Qaida out its camps, toppling the Taliban, delivering justice to Osama bin Laden, helping Afghans improve their lives. There are millions of boys and girls in school and democratic elections in a democratic government. Training Afghan forces to take responsibility for their own security so that we are no longer engaged in a major ground war in Afghanistan. That is your legacy. And today we salute our forces serving there on a more limited mission, supporting Afghan forces, going after terrorists because we must never allow Afghanistan to be used as a safe haven for terrorists to attack our nation again. To all of you... (APPLAUSE) To all of you who served in Iraq, we saw your heroism in pushing out a dictators whose brutality must be condemned, never praised and defeating an insurgency and giving the Iraqi people a chance. And no matter what has happened since, you're valor in the deserts in fierce urban combat will be honored in the notes (ph) of military history. And let me say something else about this generation. As commander in chief, I'm pretty tired of some folk's trash talking America's military and troops. (APPLAUSE) Our military is somewhat smaller after two major ground wars come to a close, that's natural. And we're going to keep them doing everything we need to do to improve readiness and modernize our forces. But lets get some facts straight. America's army is the best trained, best equipped land force on the planet. (APPLAUSE) Our Navy is the largest and most lethal in the world. (APPLAUSE) The precision of and reach of our Air Force is unmatched. (APPLAUSE) Our Marines are the world's only truly expeditionary force. (APPLAUSE) We have the world's finest Coast Guard. We have the most capable fighting force in history and we're going to keep it that way. (APPLAUSE) And no ally or adversary should ever doubt our strength and our resolve (ph) and we will keep pounding ISIL and taking out their leaders and pushing them back on the ground. And united with a global coalition, we will destroy this barbaric terrorist group. They will be destroyed. (APPLAUSE) In the face of Russian aggression, we're not gonna turn our back to our allies in Europe. We're going to stay united in NATO which is the world's strongest alliance. (APPLAUSE) From the Asia-Pacific, to Africa, to the Americas, the United States and our armed forced will remain the greatest force for freedom and security and peace that the world has ever known. That is your legacy, that is what we have to protect and that is what we have to defend. (APPLAUSE) And let me -- let me say this. No one -- no one has given more for our freedom and our security than our Gold Star families.(APPLAUSE) OBAMA: Michelle and I have spent countless hours with them. We have grieved with them. There was a reason why last week in Philadelphia, I was humbled to be introduced by Sharon Belkofer from Ohio, a Gold Star mom whose son Tom, a lieutenant colonel in the Army gave his life in Afghanistan. I requested Sharon to introduce me, because I understood that our Gold Star families have made a sacrifice that most of us cannot even begin to imagine. (APPLAUSE) They represent the very best of our country. They continue to inspire us every day, every moment. They serve as a powerful reminder of the true strength of America. And we have to do everything we can for those families and honor them, and be humbled by them. DAV, I know that your service is also be defined by another battle. This is a group that understands sacrifice. (APPLAUSE) You have been defined by the battle here at home -- you have been defined by the battle here at home to persevere through wounds and disabilities. I think of a veteran from Iraq who lost her arm, but who said she decided to focus, "Not only on what I had lost, but on what I still have." I see -- I see that same spirit in you. Maybe it was there in the hospital bed fighting your life, you learned what it really means to have faith. Maybe it was during rehab, learning without -- how to live without a leg or both, you learned what it really means to persevere. About a month ago, I went to Walter Reed. I do this periodically, and was in the rehab unit watching some of these folks work out. And I decided to -- you might have seen this, I was doing some push ups with them, and trying to keep up with them. And I was sweating and getting all tired. They took it easy on me. (LAUGHTER) But it gave me a sense of -- just a small sense of what perseverance really means. Maybe it was during the night when the memories came rushing back, and you summoned the courage to reach out, and get help and stay strong. I was proud to help recognize your patriotism and resilience in the heart of our nation's capital, when we dedicated the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial. (APPLAUSE) So, this organization shows us, shows this nation what it means to be strong. But as strong as you are -- and nobody is stronger than our disabled vets -- I know you didn't make this journey alone. You are here because of love and support of your families, and your caregivers, and your neighbors, and your communities and your fellow veterans. (APPLAUSE) They were the shoulder you leaned on, who carried you when you couldn't walk. Who picked you up when you stumbled. Who celebrated your victories with you, and sometimes, just made you laugh and reminded you how good life can be. And that brings me to what I want to talk about here today. For more than two centuries, this country that we love hasn't just endured; we have thrived, we have overcome challenges that would have broken a lesser nation. And not thanks to any one person or one group of people, but because -- like you learned in the military, we are all one team. We believe in taking care of each other, and in lifting each other up and leaving no one behind. And in meeting in the collective responsibilities that we can only meet together; the security of our nation, the education of our children, dignity for our seniors, equal rights for all our citizens, health care -- which is now a right for everybody -- and the care and wellbeing of our veterans and your families. That is a responsibility for all of us, not just a few. We all have to do our part. And as I've said before, America's commitment to our veterans is not just lines in a budget. And it can't be about politics. It's -- it's not even really about policy; our commitment to our veterans is a sacred covenant. And I don't use those words lightly.(APPLAUSE) OBAMA: It is sacred, because there's no more solemn request than to ask someone to risk their life, to be ready to give their life on our behalf. It's a covenant because both sides have responsibilities. Those who put on the uniform, you took an oath to protect and defend us. While the rest of us, the citizens you kept safe, we pledge to take care of you and your families when you come home. That's a sacred covenant. (APPLAUSE) That's a solemn promise that we make to each other, and it is binding. And upholding it is a moral imperative. And at times our -- our nation has not always upheld this covenant. Our Vietnam vets, they -- they sure know this. (APPLAUSE) You know. When -- when you came home, you deserved better. (APPLAUSE) Veterans who at times have struggled to get care at the V.A., you -- you deserve better, too. If there's ever a breach in the covenant, then leaders in this country have to work hard to regain trust. That's what Bob and so many hard working people at the V.A. are doing. But upholding this covenant has to be the work of all us. It's not just the V.A.'s job; it's everybody's job. Government has to deliver the care, and benefits and support that you have earned. Veteran service organizations have to hold us accountable and be our partners, like the 1.3 million members of the DAV are doing every day. And citizens have to step up too, which is why Michelle and Dr. Jill Biden, through joining forces have rallied the American people to honor and support our military families and our veterans. Now, we've got a lot more work to do. But working together over these past eight years, we've delivered real progress for our veterans, and we can't let up. It's not a reason for complacency, but we should understand that when we really put our -- our sweat and tears, and put our shoulder to the wheel, we can make things better. About 200,000 service members are becoming veterans every single year. And America's going to have to be there for you for a lifetime in five important ways. Number one, we have to keep fighting for the resources you need. Now since I took office, we've made historic increases in veteran's funding; the biggest boost in decades. (APPLAUSE) That's a fact. And I've proposed another increase for next year. (APPLAUSE) So, all together -- all together during my presidency, we will have increased funding for veterans by more than 85 percent. (APPLAUSE) With advanced appropriations, we're protecting veteran's health care from the annual Washington budget battles. But I do have to point this out. Republicans in Congress have proposed cutting my V.A. budget. And when they return in the fall, they should pass the budget our veterans need, and fund it fully. Don't just talk about standing with veterans, don't just talk about me. Do something to support our veterans. That's what you need to do. (APPLAUSE) Number two, we've got to keep fighting to deliver the health care you've been promised. Today, more of our Vietnam vets are getting your disability benefits, because of your exposure to Agent Orange, that's a change that we made. So, too, for our Desert Storm veterans, because the illness is tied to the Gulf War. Those are changes we made. All together, we've made V.A. benefits available to more than two million veterans who didn't have them before. (APPLAUSE) Sometimes -- let's face it, sometimes folks don't know that, but it's a fact. And I have to say thanks to the Affordable Care Act, Obamacare... (APPLAUSE) Veterans -- veterans not covered by the V.A. now have access to quality, affordable health care, and insurance companies can't discriminate against you because of preexisting conditions like post- traumatic stress. And more veterans are gaining access to health insurance.OBAMA: So we need to keep making it easier to access care. That's why we recruited some of the best talent from Silicon Valley and the private sector. In one of their very first innovations, veterans can now finally apply for V.A. health care anytime, anywhere, from any device, including your smartphone, simple, easy, in as little as 20 minutes. Just go to vets.gov. The day (ph) they had to wait in line at the V.A. office or mailing it in, those days are over. We're finally moving into the 21st century when it comes to helping our veterans. It's about time. We're reaching more veterans, including rural veterans with telemedicine. So you can see someone at the V.A. without leaving your home. We now have a designated women's health provider at all V.A. clinics to make sure our women's veterans get the tailored care and the dignity and the respect that you deserve. And for our disabled vets, we have increased funds for prosthetics, eliminating co-pays if you're catastrophically disabled. Made progress on concurrent receipt (ph), so more severely disabled retirees can now receive your military retired pay and your V.A. disability benefits. And we're doing more than ever to make sure your devoted families and caregivers get the skills and support they need to stay strong as well. And here, I want to thank veterans across our country for being part of another mission. Our precision medicine initiative, to revolutionize health care with treatments that are tailored for each patient. As of today, more than 500,000 veterans, maybe some of you, have stepped forward and donated your health and genetic data for research, which brings us halfway to our goal of 1 million veterans that are doing so (ph). And what this does is it gives us a better understanding of genetics, which will allow us to improve treatment for things like traumatic brain injuries and post traumatic stress and diabetes and cancer. And that won't just help veterans. It will help all Americans, and it's just one more example of how our veterans keep serving our country even after they've come home. We need to keep improving mental health care. Now I'll never forget the soldiers I met at Fort Bliss. They were proud of their service, but they were struggling with issues like post traumatic stress. So for veterans with PTS, we made it easier for you to qualify for the V.A. care that you need, no matter when you served. We've increased funding for veterans mental health care by more than 75 percent, billions more dollars. More awareness and outreach, because we have to end any shame or stigma that comes with going and getting help. We put in place more clinicians, more counselors, more peer support, veterans helping veterans, more research, $100 million for new approaches to PTS and TBI. And today, we're delivering more mental health care to more veterans than ever. We are saving lives. But, when too many veterans still aren't getting the care that they need, we all have to be outreach (ph). We all have to do better. And when 20 veterans a day are taking their own lives, that is a national tragedy. We all have to do better. Most of those 20 vets taking their lives each day are not in the V.A., but we know that when vets do get V.A. care, they're more likely to survive, so we need to get more vets connected to the V.A. When you have an urgent need for mental health care, you shouldn't have to wait days, you shouldn't have to wait weeks. You should get those services the very same day. And Congress -- Congress can help by providing the funding and flexibility we need to hire highly qualified mental health professionals. And medical schools can help us recruit and train more psychiatrists. And every American, military and civilian, can help as well by learning those five signs that somebody's hurting.OBAMA: We can reach out and help our veterans stay strong. We're on team, one American family. When any member of our family is suffering, we've got to be there for each other. Now, we also need to keep fixing the problems that came to light: long wait times, veterans denied care, people manipulating the books. Inexcusable. I know Bob gave you an update. I want to repeat, we've hired thousands more doctors, nurses, staff, opened more clinical space. And with the Choice Program we're helping more veterans get care outside of the V.A. It all adds up to millions more appointments, delivering more benefits to more veterans to ever before. That is progress. But even as we improve access more veterans than ever are seeking care. So we're putting more and more resources in but we got more and more demand for care at the same time. And this surge in demand means there are now more veterans waiting for appointments even though we've done a lot more. So I know I'm not satisfied. Bob's still not satisfied. And we will not let up. Bob and his new leadership team are going to keep pushing to transform the V.A. and he will keep holding people accountable. This is somebody who cares deeply about our veterans getting what they deserve and what they have earned. And when whistleblowers expose misconduct they will need to be protected, not punished. We need Congress to make it easier for the V.A. to help veterans get care in their communities. But I have to say, here's one thing I need to be very clear about. Here's one thing we will not do, we cannot outsource and privatize health care for American's veterans. You know there are folks who keep pushing this. They don't always come out and say the word privatize, but you read what they say, that's what they mean. And these radical proposals would begin to dismantle the V.A. health care system that millions of veterans depend on every day. And that would hurt veterans. Study after study shows that in many areas like mental health, the quality of care is often better than in private care. So let's listen to our veterans who are telling us, don't destroy V.A. health care. Fix it and make it work. But don't break our covenant with our veterans. This brings me to the third area where we have to stay focused. We have to keep cutting the disability claims backlog. Now from its peak we've slashed that backlog from almost 90 percent. My chief of staff and I, there was a chunk of time when that backlog was high when every day, no matter what else was going on around the world, he and I, we'd take these walks around the South Lawn, just to keep our exercise, keep our steps up. And every day we talked about how are we going to get that backlog down? And each week we'd look and see what kind of progress we were making. That's how we reduced it by 90 percent. The backlog is now lower than when I came into office even though there are a lot more people who are eligible for claims. And claims decisions are more accurate, the first time. And on both these fronts we're keeping at it. But as we all know, when veterans appeal a decision, you're put into an appeals system that right now is broken. And you shouldn't have to fight for years to get a straight answer. We've proposed major reforms and I want to thank the DAV and all the other veterans groups for raising your voice on this. We've got to keep up the pressure. Congress needs to pass comprehensive reform of the claims appeals process because if we don't fix the appeals process even when we get the backlog down on the original claim, too many folks are waiting on the back end. We've got to fix it. And we can. But we're going to have to fix Congress. And I don't know if you've noticed, that's hard.OBAMA: We've got to keep fighting for the dignity of every veteran. And that includes ending the tragedy, the travesty of veteran's homelessness. Now this is something that within my administration this is all hands on deck across government. Everybody's got to be involved in this. And with -- with Joining Forces, Michelle and Jill have helped galvanize hundreds of mayors in communities across the country. Two states, Virginia and Connecticut, as well as 27 cities and towns across the country have effectively veterans' homelessness. (APPLAUSE) So today, today, I can announce that nationally, we have now reduced the number of homeless veterans by 47 percent, nearly half. (APPLAUSE) We have just about cut veterans' homelessness in half. We've helped bring tens of thousands of veterans off the streets. But we're not -- we're not slowing down. We are going to keep up the momentum. This fall, Michelle will bring our partners from across the country to gather at the White House to share best practices, to figure out what has worked, what hasn't worked, because we will not stop until every veteran who fought for America has a home in America. This is something that we got to get done. (APPLAUSE) And finally, we've got to keep fighting to give our troops, and veterans and your families every opportunity to live the American dream that you helped defend. With our overhaul of the Transition Assistance Program, hundreds of thousands of departing service member and their spouses have received training to plan their next career and find a job, or start a business. We expanded the Post 9/11 G.I. Bill to reservists, and National Guard members and families, including Gold Star spouses and children. And then we expanded it to vocational training and apprenticeships. We've empowered veterans with new tools to find the schools that are right for you, or to get the support you need to succeed on campus, to make sure you don't get ripped off, to cap your student loans, to make sure you and your families get in-state tuition, which is true now in all 50 states. (APPLAUSE) And so far, we have helped more than 1.6 million veterans and their families realize their dream of an education. An investment in you and America that will keep us strong and keep paying off for generations to come. And we're doing more to help you find jobs worthy of your incredible talents, because if you could lead a team, and run logistics, and manage a budget or save a life in a war zone, you sure as heck could do it right back here at home. (APPLAUSE) I called for states to recognize the training and skills of veterans when issuing credentials for civilian jobs licensing. Now all 50 states do it. Before, less than half the states made it easy for military spouses to get credentials and licenses. Today, all 50 states do it. (APPLAUSE) Starting this fall, we will close loopholes to protect our troops and military families from predatory pay-day lenders. (APPLAUSE) So today, all across America, more veterans are at work, on the job, beginning the next chapter of your service to our country. Veterans who are physicians and nurses have been hired by community health centers. Cities and towns are hiring veterans as teachers and police officers, firefighters and first responders, because we made it a priority in the federal government, hiring hundreds of thousands of veterans, including disabled veterans. Nearly one in three federal workers is now a veteran. (APPLAUSE) I challenged America's companies to hire veterans. And then, in case they weren't listening to me, I'd sic Jill and Michelle on them through Joining Forces, and companies now have hired or trained more than 1.2 million veterans and military spouses. So all told, we've cut veterans' unemployment by more than half, down to 4.2 percent, which is already lower than already low national average. And it's way down for post-9/11 veterans too. (APPLAUSE) It's one of the reasons we have been able to help more than 3.6 million veterans buy or refinance a home of their own. So I'm going to keep saying to every company in America, if you want talent, if you want dedication, if you want to get the job done, then hire a vet.(APPLAUSE) OBAMA: Hire a military spouse. They know how to get the job done. They don't fool around. So DAV, we've made a lot of progress. It's not always focused on, because understandably, the news a lot of times focuses on what's still not working. That's OK. That keeps us on our toes, keeps us working. But every once in a while its good to remember the progress we've made, because that tells us when we focus on it, we can do right by our veterans. And -- and as this new generation of veterans joins your ranks, we've got to keep on stepping up our game, giving veterans the resources you need, transforming the V.A., delivering the health care you've earned, reducing the backlog, reforming appeals, standing up for your dignity and helping you share the American dream. And I now we can, because over the past eight years, I've seen the spirit of America, and I've seen time and time and time again the strength of our veterans, the unbreakable will of our disabled vets. You teach us, better than anybody, that we may take a hit sometimes, we may get knocked down, but we get back up. We carry on. (APPLAUSE) And when we take care of each other and uphold that sacred convent, there's nothing we cannot do. Like that soldier I told you before, Army Ranger Veteran Cory Remsburg, nearly killed in Afghanistan, who learned to talk again and walk again, and who recently stood up and walked in the oval office and shook my hand. (APPLAUSE) We all have to keep on rising, like Medal of Honor recipient Staff Sergeant Ty Carter, who struggled with post-dramatic stress and who's now helping others stay strong. Troops, veterans, civilians, we all have to keep on healing. Like the wounded warriors and disabled vets who are out there running, and jumping, and swimming, and biking and climbing. Including Marine Corps veteran Charlie Linville, who just became the first combat amputee to reach the top of Mount Everest. (APPLAUSE) We all have to keep on striving. Like the veterans taking care of each other, including here at the DAV, Army veteran Oscar Olguin, Navy Reserve veteran Charity Edgar (ph), Marine Corps veteran Carmen McGinnis, who says, "Helping veterans gives me a sense of purpose." That's -- that's something we all have to recognize, we all have to keep on serving. Like -- like Air Force Technical Sergeant Jason Miller, who considered taking his own life, but who wrote me a letter. And after I put him in touch with Team Rubicon, went to work rebuilding communities after disasters, found a new purpose in life. Well, we all have to keep building this country we love. And like the ranks of our military and our veterans, whether they are black or white or Latino or Asian or Native American, or they are young or old, whether they are gay or straight, whatever their faith, men, woman, Americans with disabilities, we have to keep on uniting as one team, as one people, as one nation. (APPLAUSE) That's what you have taught us. That's what you are an example of, the disabled veterans of America know what it means to be one team. We draw inspiration from you. I am grateful for everything that you have done for this country, I am grateful for having had the opportunity to work with you. God bless you. (APPLAUSE) Thank you for your service, thank you for your sacrifice, thank you for your patriotism. We honor and appreciate you. God bless our veterans, and God bless the United States of America. (APPLAUSE) Thank you very much. Thank you. (APPLAUSE) END

Aerial establishing shot of the Center City skyline from over Schuylkill River in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on a cloudy sunset in Fall.

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, DAV! (Applause.) Thank you so much. Thank you. Please, everybody, have a seat. What an honor to be with you today. (Applause.) Thank you. And thanks to Bobby. I'll never forget the time Bobby came to the Oval Office -- carrying a baseball bat. (Laughter.) Secret Service got a little nervous. (Laughter.) But it was a genuine Louisville Slugger -- a thank-you for going to bat for our veterans. And I want to thank Bobby for your devotion to our veterans, especially your fellow Vietnam vets. Thank you. Give Bobby a big round of applause. (Applause.) AUDIENCE MEMBER: I love you! THE PRESIDENT: I love you back. (Applause.) I do! I want to thank our outstanding leadership team for welcoming me today, including National Commander Moses McIntosh. (Applause.) Senior Vice Commander Dave Riley. (Applause.) National Adjutant Mark Burgess. (Applause.) Executive Director Barry Jesinoski. (Applause.) Your voice in Washington, Garry Augustine. (Applause.) And, don't forget, Pat Kemper and all the spouses and families of the DAV Auxiliary. Thank you. (Applause.) I also want to acknowledge Mayor Kasim Reed and County Chairman John Eaves for welcoming us to the great state of Georgia and the beautiful city of Atlanta. (Applause.) I am pleased to be joined by our tireless Secretary of the VA, Bob McDonald. (Applause.) I know he spoke to you yesterday. He is working hard -- hard -- every single day to transform the VA to serve our veterans better. He still gives out his cellphone number and his email. Not many people know this, but, so far, he's received more than 45,000 calls, emails and texts. (Laughter.) And I don't know what his phone bill is looking like -- (laughter) -- I hope he has a good plan. (Laughter.) But Bob and his team work to deal with each one of those texts or emails or phone calls he receives because every single veteran matters. And he knows that. So, thank you, Bob, for the great work you're doing. (Applause.) So it's good to be back with the Disabled American Veterans. What a journey that we've had together. AUDIENCE MEMBER: Glad to have you! THE PRESIDENT: It's great to be here. We worked together back when I was a senator. You were one of the first veterans' organizations I called when I ran for President. I welcomed you to the White House as a partner. I came to your convention in my first term, and my second, along with Michelle. And so it is fitting that my final major address to our nation's veterans as President is here at the DAV. (Applause.) And as I reflect on these past eight years, some of the most unforgettable experiences that I've had have been moments I've spent with you -- America's veterans and your families. We stood together at Arlington to honor Corporal Frank Buckles, 110 years old -- our last veteran from the First World War -- as he was laid to rest. I ordered our flags to be flown at half-staff because, even after 100 years, we will never stop saluting those who served in our name. (Applause.) We stood together at Normandy to thank an entire generation -- among them, my grandfather, who was in Patton's Army -- a generation that literally saved the world. There was Harry Kulkowitz, who returned to the beaches he helped liberate -- and told he could have anything he wanted, said with the humility of a soldier, a hamburger will do just fine. (Laughter.) I think of Luta McGrath -- this past Veterans Day, just before her 108th birthday, then the oldest known female veteran of World War II, which was a reminder that women have always served to keep America strong and free. (Applause.) We've stood together at the memorial to our Korean War veterans and recalled how a soldier, marching through the snow, had a tiny pair of baby booties hanging from his rifle -- a reminder of his unborn child -- a story that had been lost to history. But we tracked him down. We found him. And we shared the story of Korean War veteran Dick Shank, who made it home to that baby boy, and lived out his life -- at 84 years old, he was still roller skating -- because no war should ever be forgotten and no veteran should ever be overlooked. (Applause.) We've stood together at the Wall and remembered the lessons of Vietnam -- that even when Americans may disagree about a war, we have to stand united in support of our troops. (Applause.) And that for mothers like Sarah Shay, who honored her missing son for more than 40 years, we will never stop working to bring home our prisoners of war and our missing in action. We leave nobody behind. No one. (Applause.) And we've come together to welcome our newest veterans into your ranks -- from Desert Storm, the Balkans, Afghanistan, and Iraq -- our proud 9/11 Generation. This is a time of transition. When I came into office, we had nearly 180,000 American troops in Afghanistan and Iraq. Today, that number is less than 15,000. Most of our troops have come home. (Applause.) To all of you who served in Afghanistan, you can take enormous pride in the progress you helped achieve: Driving al Qaeda out of its camps. Toppling the Taliban. Delivering justice to Osama bin Laden. Helping Afghans improve their lives. There are millions of boys and girls in school, and democratic elections and a democratic government. Training Afghan forces to take responsibility for their own security so that we are no longer engaged in a major ground war in Afghanistan. That is your legacy. And today we salute our forces serving there on a more limited mission -- supporting Afghan forces, going after terrorists -- because we must never allow Afghanistan to be used as a safe haven for terrorists to attack our nation again. (Applause.) To all of you who served in Iraq, we saw your heroism in pushing out a dictator whose brutality must be condemned, never praised. In defeating an insurgency. In giving the Iraqi people a chance. And no matter what has happened since, your valor in the deserts, in fierce urban combat, will be honored in the annals of military history. Let me say something else about this generation. As Commander-in-Chief, I'm pretty tired of some folks trash-talking America's military and troops. (Applause.) Our military is somewhat smaller -- after two major ground wars come to a close, that's natural. And we're going to keep doing everything we need to do to improve readiness and modernize our forces. But let's get some facts straight. America's Army is the best-trained, best-equipped land force on the planet. (Applause.) Our Navy is the largest and most lethal in the world. (Applause.) The precision of, and reach of, our Air Force is unmatched. (Applause.) Our Marines are the world's only truly expeditionary force. (Applause.) We have the world's finest Coast Guard. (Applause.) We have the most capable fighting force in history -- and we're going to keep it that way. (Applause.) And no ally or adversary should ever doubt our strength and our resolve. And we will keep pounding ISIL and taking out their leaders, and pushing them back on the ground. And united with a global coalition, we will destroy this barbaric terrorist group. They will be destroyed. (Applause.) In the face of Russian aggression, we're not going to turn our back to our allies in Europe. We're going to stay united in NATO, which is the world's strongest alliance. (Applause.) From the Asia Pacific to Africa to the Americas, the United States and our armed forces will remain the greatest force for freedom and security and peace that the world has ever known. That is your legacy. That is what we have to protect, and that is what we have to defend. (Applause.) And let me say this: No one -- no one -- has given more for our freedom and our security than our Gold Star families. (Applause.) Michelle and I have spent countless hours with them. We have grieved with them. There's a reason why, last week in Philadelphia, I was humbled to be introduced by Sharon Belkofer from Ohio, a Gold Star mom whose son, Tom, a lieutenant colonel in the Army, gave his life in Afghanistan. I requested Sharon to introduce me, because I understood that our Gold Star families have made a sacrifice that most of us cannot even begin to imagine. They represent the very best of our country. (Applause.) They continue to inspire us every day, every moment. They serve as a powerful reminder of the true strength of America. We have to do everything we can for those families, and honor them, and be humbled by them. DAV, I know that your service has also been defined by another battle. This is a group that understands sacrifice. (Applause.) You've been defined by the battle here at home to persevere through wounds and disabilities. I think of a veteran from Iraq who lost her arm but who said she decided to focus "not on what I had lost, but on what I still had." I see that same spirit in you. Maybe it was there in the hospital bed, fighting for your life, you learned what it really means to have faith. Maybe it was during rehab, learning how to live without a leg, or both, you learned what it really means to persevere. About a month ago, I went to Walter Reed -- I do this periodically -- and was in the rehab unit watching some of these folks work out. And I decided -- you might have seen this -- I was doing some pushups with them and -- (laughter) -- trying to keep up with them. And I was sweating and getting all tired. (Laughter.) They took it easy on me. (Laughter.) But it gave me a sense of -- just a small sense of what perseverance really means. Maybe it was during the night when the memories came rushing back -- and you summoned the courage to reach out and get help and stay strong. And I was proud to help recognize your patriotism and resilience in the heart of our nation's capital when we dedicated the American Veterans Disabled For Life Memorial. (Applause.) This organization shows us, shows this nation, what it means to be strong. But as strong as you are -- and nobody is stronger than our disabled vets -- I know you didn't make this journey alone. You're here because of the love and support of your families and your caregivers and your neighbors and your communities and your fellow veterans. (Applause.) They were the shoulder you leaned on, who carried you when you couldn't walk, who picked you up when you stumbled, who celebrated your victories with you, who sometimes just made you laugh and reminded you how good life can be. And that brings me to what I want to talk about here today. For more than two centuries, this country that we love hasn't just endured; we have thrived. We have overcome challenges that would have broken a lesser nation. And not thanks to any one person or one group of people, but because, like you learned in the military, we're all one team. We believe in taking care of each other, and in lifting each other up, and leaving no one behind, and in meeting the collective responsibilities that we can only meet together: The security of our nation. The education for our children. Dignity for our seniors. Equal rights for all of our citizens. Health care -- which is now a right for everybody. And the care and well-being of our veterans and your families. That is a responsibility for all of us, not just a few. We all have to do our part. And as I've said before, America's commitment to our veterans is not just lines in a budget. And it can't be about politics. It's not even really about policy. Our commitment to our veterans is a sacred covenant. And I don't use those words lightly. (Applause.) It is sacred because there's no more solemn request than to ask someone to risk their life, to be ready to give their life on our behalf. It's a covenant because both sides have responsibilities. Those who put on the uniform, you took an oath to protect and defend us. While the rest of us, the citizens you kept safe, we pledged to take care of you and your families when you come home. That's a sacred covenant. That's a solemn promise that we make to each other. And it is binding. And upholding it is a moral imperative. (Applause.) And at times, our nation has not always upheld this covenant. Our Vietnam vets, they sure know this. AUDIENCE MEMBERS: Yes! THE PRESIDENT: When you came home, you deserved better. (Applause.) Veterans who at times have struggled to get care at the VA, you deserve better, too. (Applause.) If there's ever a breach in the covenant, then leaders in this country have to work hard to regain trust. That's what Bob and so many hardworking people at the VA are doing. But upholding this covenant has to be the work of all of us. It's not just the VA's job. It's everybody's job. Government has to deliver the care and benefits and support that you have earned. Veteran service organizations have to hold us accountable and be our partners, like the 1.3 million members of the DAV are doing every day. And citizens have to step up, too -- which is why Michelle and Dr. Jill Biden, through Joining Forces, have rallied the American people to honor and support our military families and our veterans. Now, we've got a lot more work to do. But working together over these past eight years, we've delivered real progress for our veterans. And we can't let up. It's not a reason for complacency, but we should understand that when we really put our sweat and tears and put our shoulder to the wheel, we can make things better. About 200,000 servicemembers are becoming veterans every single year. And America is going to have to be there for you for a lifetime in five important ways. Number one, we have to keep fighting for the resources you need. Now, since I took office, we've made historic increases in veterans funding -- the biggest boost in decades. That's a fact. (Applause.) And I've proposed another increase for next year. (Applause.) So altogether, during my presidency, we will have increased funding for veterans by more than 85 percent. (Applause.) With advance appropriations, we're protecting veterans' health care from the annual Washington budget battles. But I do have to point this out -- Republicans in Congress have proposed cutting my VA budget. And when they return in the fall, they should pass the budget our veterans need -- and fund it, fully. Don't just talk about standing with veterans. Don't just talk about me. (Laughter.) Do something to support our veterans. That's what you need to do. (Applause.) Number two, we've got to keep fighting to deliver the health care you've been promised. Today, more of our Vietnam vets are getting your disability benefits because of your exposure to Agent Orange. That's a change that we made. So, too, for our Desert Storm veterans, because of the illnesses tied to the Gulf War. Those are changes we made. Altogether, we've made VA benefits available to more than 2 million veterans who didn't have them before. (Applause.) Let's face it, sometimes folks don't know that, but it's a fact. And I have to say, thanks to the Affordable Care Act -- Obamacare -- (applause) -- veterans not covered by the VA now have access to quality, affordable health care. And insurance companies can't discriminate against you because of preexisting conditions like post-traumatic stress. (Applause.) And more veterans are gaining access to health insurance. So we need to keep making it easier to access care. That's why we recruited some of the best talent from Silicon Valley and the private sector. And in one of their first innovations, veterans can now finally apply for VA health care anytime, anywhere, from any device, including your smartphone -- simple, easy, in as little as 20 minutes. Just go to Vets.gov. The days of having to wait in line at a VA office, or mailing it in -- those days are over. (Applause.) We're finally moving into the 21st century when it comes to helping our veterans. It's about time. (Applause.) We're reaching more veterans, including rural veterans, with telemedicine -- so you can see someone at the VA without leaving your home. We now have a designated women's health provider at all VA clinics -- (applause) -- to make sure our women's veterans get the tailored care, and the dignity and the respect that you deserve. (Applause.) And for our disabled vets, we have increased funds for prosthetics, eliminated co-pays if you're catastrophically disabled, made progress on concurrent receipt so more severely disabled retirees can now receive your military retired pay and your VA disability benefits. (Applause.) And we're doing more than ever to make sure your devoted families and caregivers get the skills and support they need to stay strong as well. And here, I want to thank veterans across our country for being part of another mission -- our precision medicine initiative to revolutionize health care with treatments that are tailored for each patient. As of today, more than 500,000 veterans -- maybe some of you -- have stepped forward and donated your health and genetic data for research, which brings us halfway to our goal of one million veterans that are doing so. And what this does is it gives us a better understanding of genetics, which will allow us to improve treatments for things like traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress, and diabetes, and cancer. And that won't just help veterans. It will help all Americans. And it's just one more example of how our veterans keep serving our country even after they come home. (Applause.) We need to keep improving mental health care. I'll never forget the soldiers I met at Fort Bliss. They were proud of their service, but they were struggling with issues like post-traumatic stress. So, for veterans with PTS, we made it easier for you to qualify for the VA care that you need -- no matter when you served. We've increased funding for veterans mental health care by more than 75 percent -- billions more dollars. More awareness and outreach -- because we have to end any shame or stigma that comes with going and getting help. (Applause.) We've put in place more clinicians, more counselors, more peer support -- veterans helping veterans. More research -- $100 million for new approaches to PTS and TBI. And today, we're delivering more mental health care to more veterans than ever. We are saving lives. (Applause.) But when too many veterans still aren't getting the care that they need, we all have to be outraged. We all have to do better. And when 20 veterans a day are taking their own lives -- that is a national tragedy. We all have to do better. Most of those 20 vets taking their lives each day are not in the VA. But we know that when vets do get VA care, they're more likely to survive. So we need to get more vets connected to the VA. And when you have an urgent need for mental health care, you shouldn't have to wait days, you shouldn't have to wait weeks -- you should get those services the very same day. (Applause.) And Congress can help by providing the funding and flexibility we need to hire highly qualified mental health professionals. And medical schools can help us recruit and train more psychiatrists. And every American, military and civilian, can help, as well, by learning those Five Signs that somebody is hurting, so we can reach out and help our veterans stay strong. We're one team. One American family. When any member of our family is suffering, we've got to be there for each other. Now, we also need to keep fixing the problems that came to light -- long wait times, veterans denied care, people manipulating the books -- inexcusable. I know Bob gave you an update, but I want to repeat -- we've hired thousands more doctors, nurses, staff; opened more clinical space. And, with the Choice program, we're helping more veterans get care outside of the VA. It all adds up to millions more appointments, delivering more benefits to more veterans than ever before. That is progress. But even as we improve access, more veterans than ever are seeking care. So we're putting more and more resources in, but you've got more and more demand for care at the same time. And this surge in demand means there are now more veterans waiting for appointments, even though we've done a lot more. So I know I'm not satisfied. Bob is still not satisfied. And we will not let up. Bob and his new leadership team are going to keep pushing to transform the VA, and he will keep holding people accountable. (Applause.) This is somebody who cares deeply about our veterans getting what they deserve and what they have earned. (Applause.) And when whistleblowers expose misconduct, they need to be protected, not punished. (Applause.) We need Congress to make it easier for the VA to help veterans get care in your communities. But I have to say -- here's one thing I want to be very clear about -- here's one thing we will not do: We cannot outsource and privatize health care for America's veterans. (Applause.) Now, there are folks who keep pushing this. They don't always come out and say the word "privatize," but you read what they say, that's what they mean. And these radical proposals would begin to dismantle the VA health care system that millions of veterans depend on every day. And that would hurt veterans. Study after study shows that in many areas, like mental health, the quality of care at the VA is often better than in private care. So let's listen to our veterans, who are telling us: Don't destroy VA health care. Fix it and make it work, but don't break our covenant with our veterans. (Applause.) This brings me to the third area where we have to stay focused. We have to keep cutting the disability claims backlog. Now, from its peak, we've slashed that backlog by nearly 90 percent. My Chief of Staff and I -- there was a chunk of time when that backlog was high where, every day, no matter what else was happening around the world, he and I, we'd take these walks around the South Lawn just to keep our exercise, keep our steps up. And every day, we talked about, how are we going to get that backlog down. And each week, we'd look and see what kind of progress we're making. That's how we reduced it by 90 percent. The backlog is now lower than when I came into office, even though there are a lot more people who are eligible for claims. And claims decisions are more accurate the first time. (Applause.) And on both these fronts, we're keeping at it. But as we all know, when veterans appeal a decision, you're put into an appeals system that right now is broken. (Applause.) And you shouldn't have to fight for years to get a straight answer. Now, we've proposed major reforms, and I want to thank the DAV and all the other veterans' groups for raising your voice on this. We've got to keep up the pressure. Congress needs to pass comprehensive reform of the claims appeals process -- (applause) -- because if we don't fix the appeals process, even when we get the backlog down on the original claim, too many folks are waiting on the backend. We've got to fix it. And we can. But we're going to have to push Congress. And I don't know if you've noticed, that's hard. (Laughter.) Fourth, we've got to keep fighting for the dignity of every veteran. And that includes ending the tragedy, the travesty of veterans' homelessness. (Applause.) This is something that, within my administration, we've said this is all hands on deck, across government. Everybody has got to be involved in this. And with Joining Forces, Michelle and Jill have helped galvanize hundreds of mayors and communities across the country. Two states, Virginia and Connecticut, as well as 27 cities and towns across the country have effectively ended veteran homelessness. (Applause.) So, today, I can announce that, nationally, we have now reduced the number of homeless veterans by 47 percent -- nearly half. (Applause.) We have just about cut veterans' homelessness in half. We've helped bring tens of thousands of veterans off the streets. But we're not slowing down. We're going to keep up the momentum. This fall, Michelle will bring our partners from across the country together at the White House to share best practices to figure out what has worked, what hasn't worked. Because we will not stop until every veteran who fought for America has a home in America. This is something we've got to get done. (Applause.) And finally, we've got to keep fighting to give our troops and veterans and your families every opportunity to live the American Dream that you helped defend. With our overhaul of the transition assistance program, hundreds of thousands of departing servicemembers and their spouses have received training to plan their next career, and find a job or start a business. We expanded the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill to reservists and National Guard members and families, including Gold Star spouses and children. And then we expanded it to vocational training and apprenticeships. We've empowered veterans with new tools to find the schools that are right for you, or to get the support you need to succeed on campus; to make sure you don't get ripped off; to cap your student loans; to make sure you and your families get in-state tuition-now, which is true now in all 50 states. (Applause.) And so far, we have helped more than 1.6 million veterans and their families realize their dream of an education, an investment in you and America that will help keep us strong and keep paying off for generations to come. (Applause.) So we're doing more to help you find jobs worthy of your incredible talents. Because if you could lead a team, and run logistics and manage a budget, or save a life in a warzone, you can sure as heck can do it right back here at home. (Applause.) I called for states to recognize the training and skills of veterans when issuing credentials for civilian jobs, licensing. Now all 50 states do it. Before, less than half the states made it easy for military spouses to get credentials and licenses. Today, all 50 states do it. (Applause.) Starting this fall, we'll close loopholes to protect our troops and military families from predatory pay-day lenders. (Applause.) So, today, all across America, more veterans are at work, on the job, beginning the next chapter of your service to our country. Veterans who are physicians and nurses have been hired by community health centers. Cities and towns are hiring veterans as teachers and police officers, firefighters and first responders. Because we made it a priority in the federal government -- hiring hundreds of thousands of veterans, including disabled veterans -- nearly one in three federal workers is now a veteran. I challenged America's companies to hire veterans. And then, in case they weren't listening to me, I sicced Jill and Michelle on them -- (laughter and applause) -- through Joining Forces, and companies now have hired or trained more than 1.2 million veterans and military spouses. (Applause.) So, all told, we've cut veterans unemployment by more than half, down to 4.2 percent, which is actually lower than the already low national average. (Applause.) And it's way down for Post-9/11 veterans, too. (Applause.) It's one of the reasons we've been able to help more than 3.6 million veterans buy or refinance a home of their own. So I'm going to keep saying to every company in America, if you want talent, if you want dedication, if you want to get the job done, then hire a vet! (Applause.) Hire a military spouse! (Applause.) They know how to get the job done. They don't fool around! (Applause.) So, DAV, we've made a lot of progress. It's not always focused on -- because, understandably, the news a lot of the time focuses on what's still not working. That's okay. That keeps us on our toes, keeps us working. But every once in a while, it's good to remember the progress we've made, because that tells us when we focus on it, we can do right by our veterans. And as this new generation of veterans joins your ranks, we've got to keep on stepping up our game, giving veterans the resources you need, transforming the VA, delivering the health care you've earned, reducing the backlog, reforming appeals, standing up for your dignity, and helping you share the American dream. And I know we can -- because over the past eight years, I've seen the spirit of America, and I have seen time and time and time again the strength of our veterans, the unbreakable will of our disabled vets. You teach us better than anybody that we may take a hit sometimes, we may get knocked down, but we get back up. We carry on. (Applause.) And when we take care of each other and uphold that sacred covenant, there is nothing we cannot do. Like that soldier I've told you before -- Army Ranger Veteran Cory Remsburg, nearly killed in Afghanistan, who learned to talk again and walk again, and who recently stood up and walked into the Oval Office and shook my hand. (Applause.) We all have to keep on rising. Like Medal of Honor Recipient Staff Sergeant Ty Carter, who struggled with post-traumatic stress, and who's now helping others stay strong. Troops, veterans, civilians -- we all have to keep on healing. Like the wounded warriors and disabled vets who are out there running and jumping and swimming and biking and climbing, including Marine Corps Veteran Charlie Linville, who just became the first combat amputee to reach the top of Mount Everest. We all have to keep striving. (Applause.) Like the veterans taking care of each other, including here at the DAV -- Army Veteran Oscar Olguin; Navy Reserve Veteran Charity Edgar; Marine Corps Veteran Carmen McGinnis -- who says helping veterans "gives me a sense of purpose." That's something we all have to recognize. We all have to keep on serving. Like Air Force Technical Sergeant Jason Miller, who considered taking his own life, but who wrote me a letter -- and after I put him in touch with Team Rubicon, went to work rebuilding communities after disasters, found a new purpose in life -- well, we all have to keep building this country we love. And like the ranks of our military and our veterans -- whether they are black or white, or Latino or Asian or Native American, or they are young or old, whether they are gay or straight, whatever their faith, men, women, Americans with disabilities -- we have to keep on uniting as one team. As one people. As one nation. (Applause.) That's what you have taught us. That's what you are an example of. The Disabled Veterans of America know what it means to be one team. We draw inspiration from you. I am grateful for everything that you have done for this country. I am grateful for having had the opportunity to work with you. God bless you. Thank you for your service. (Applause.) Thank you for your sacrifice. Thank you for your patriotism. We honor and appreciate you. God bless our veterans and God bless the United States of America. Thank you very much. (Applause.)