美國總統歐巴馬（Barack Obama）2月24日晚間在國會聯席會議會議（joint session of Congress）進行就任後的第一次演說，獲得包括民主黨及共和黨議員一致起立鼓掌。他的演說針對潔淨能源、健康照護、教育等3個主要議題，也提及包羅萬象的經濟復甦議題。
歐巴馬指出：「事實上，我們的經濟並不是在一個晚上就陷入衰退的情況，我們的問題也不是在房市崩潰或是股市沈淪時才開始。數十年來我們一直都明白我們的生存之道仰賴獲取新能源，然而今天我們卻比過去進口更多石油」。
他表示：「現在是勇敢明智行動的時候了，不但是要拯救我們的經濟，也是要建構一個永續繁榮的新基礎。現在是重新啟動製造工作機會，重新開始借貸行為，以及投資在預期能夠使經濟成長的能源、健康照護及教育等項目上，即使我們因此必須做出一些困難的決定來降低我們的赤字。」
歐巴馬對國會議員們通過7890憶美元的「美國復甦與再投資法案（American Recovery and Reinvestment Act）」表達他的感謝之意，他也在2月17日將這個法案簽署立法。
歐巴馬重申：「在未來2年內，這個計畫將拯救或創造350萬個工作，這些工作中有90%會在產生在私部門，包括：重建我們的道路橋樑、建設風力發電機及太陽能板、鋪設寬頻線路及擴充高運量運輸系統。」
歐巴馬指出，那些從這個復甦刺激組合獲得資助者必須對他們所挹注的花費負責任。他表示：「這次，企業裡的高級主管將不能用納稅人的錢來支付他們的薪資，買奢侈品，或是花在私人飛機上，那種日子已經結束了。」
歐巴馬在過去的一個星期持續與州長及市長團體會面，並且告訴他們必須對其官方所花的每一塊錢負責。他已經責成副總統拜登（Joe Biden）來領導這個「艱難、史無前例的監督任務」，因為他告訴國會說：「沒有人可以敷衍喬（副總統）」。
此外，歐巴馬已經指派德凡尼（Earl Devaney）擔任新成立的「復甦法案透明化與責任委員會（Recovery Act Transparency and Accountability Board）」主委。德凡尼從1999年即擔任美國內政部監察長（Inspector General of the Department of the Interior），他在任內揭發阿不拉莫夫醜聞（Abramoff scandals）以及布希政府官員與國會議員之間的貪腐文化。歐巴馬表示：「我已經指派一位經得起考驗並且積極的檢察長來監察出任何及所有浪費及欺騙的事件，我們也建立一個名為recovery.gov的網站，讓任何一位美國人民都能明白他們的錢如何被使用，以及用在哪裡。」
In his first address to a joint session of Congress Tuesday night, President Barack Obama earned repeated standing ovations from both Democrats and Republicans. He focused on three issues - clean energy, health care and education - and an overarching fourth issue - economic recovery.
"The fact is, our economy did not fall into decline overnight. Nor did all of our problems begin when the housing market collapsed or the stock market sank," said the President. "We have known for decades that our survival depends on finding new sources of energy. Yet we import more oil today than ever before."
"Now is the time to act boldly and wisely," he said, "to not only revive this economy, but to build a new foundation for lasting prosperity. Now is the time to jumpstart job creation, re-start lending, and invest in areas like energy, health care, and education that will grow our economy, even as we make hard choices to bring our deficit down."
Obama expressed his gratitude to the members of Congress who passed the $789 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which he signed into law on February 17.
"Over the next two years, this plan will save or create 3.5 million jobs," Obama reiterated. "More than 90 percent of these jobs will be in the private sector - jobs rebuilding our roads and bridges; constructing wind turbines and solar panels; laying broadband and expanding mass transit."
Those who receive funds from the recovery stimulus package must account for their expenditures, said Obama, adding, "This time, CEOs won't be able to use taxpayer money to pad their paychecks or buy fancy drapes or disappear on a private jet. Those days are over."
Obama met with groups of governors and mayors during the past week and told them that they will be held accountable "for every dollar they spend."
He has asked Vice President Joe Biden to lead a "tough, unprecedented oversight effort," because, he told Congress, "Nobody messes with Joe."
In addition, as chairman of the new Recovery Act Transparency and Accountability Board, the President has appointed Earl Devaney, who has served as Inspector General of the Department of the Interior since 1999. In that position, he exposed the Abramoff scandals and a culture of corruption among Bush officials and appointees.
"I have appointed a proven and aggressive Inspector General to ferret out any and all cases of waste and fraud," said Obama. "And we have created a new website called recovery.gov so that every American can find out how and where their money is being spent."
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In my healing journey and learning to attain the breath awareness, I become aware of the reality that all the creatures of the world are breathing the same breath. Take action, here and now. From my physical being to the every corner of this out of balance's planet.
