U.S. President Barack Obama says after more than a decade of war in Afghanistan, it is time to "focus on nation building here at home."
Obama said in his weekly address that Americans must ask themselves what kind of country the troops are returning to. He said the country had to "secure the care and benefits" the veterans have earned, so that "we serve them as well as they have served us."
The president said his grandfather was able to go to college on the GI Bill after World War II when "the basic American promise" was if you work hard, you could do well enough to raise a family, own a home and send your kids to college." President Obama said "keeping that promise alive is the defining issue of our time."
President Obama said recovering from "the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression" is a "work in progress."
The president said the country needs to invest in jobs, education, clean energy, medical research, and faster transportation and communication networks. He said the nation's priorities should not include more tax cuts for millionaires.
U.S. Senator Bob Corker, of Tennessee, said in the Republican weekly address that the spending and debt in Washington is "literally robbing" the next generation of the opportunity to "live their own American dream."
Corker said this year's presidential budget would "actually decrease" economic growth over the next decade.
The Tennessee senator said "growing the private sector," instead of the government would "ensure that we remain the strongest country in the world."
Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.
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