Obama called for " modest " reforms to Medicare in his speech , continued his push for Congress to act on immigration reform and proposed a paycheck fairness act intended to make it easier for women to fight salary discrimination without losing their jobs , the development of new alternative energy hubs in the country , and to help people refinance their mortgages at today 's lower interest rates . With respect to Medicare he argued that the United States ca n't just cut its way to prosperity . On climate change , Obama promised executive action if Congress failed to address what he called a litany of evidence that the nation and the world face such as more frequent and powerful storms , wildfires and drought : " If Congress wo n't act soon to protect future generations , I will , " he said . " I will direct my Cabinet to come up with executive actions we can take , now and in the future , to reduce pollution , prepare our communities for the consequences of climate change , and speed the transition to more sustainable sources of energy . " Obama thus advocated a transition to more sustainable and environment-friendly sources of energy , such as wind and solar , in order to reduce America 's dependence on oil . Obama also proposed the creation of an Energy Security Trust dedicated to shifting the country 's cars and trucks off oil . " We can choose to believe that Superstorm Sandy , and the most severe drought in decades , and the worst wildfires some states have ever seen were all just a freak coincidence . Or we can choose to believe in the overwhelming judgment of science and act before it 's too late . " " It is our unfinished task to restore the basic bargain that built this country -- the idea that if you work hard and meet your responsibilities , you can get ahead , " the president said . " It is our unfinished task to make sure that this government works on behalf of the many , and not just the few . " Obama said that deficit reduction alone is not an economic plan . " A growing economy that creates good , middle-class jobs -- that must be the North Star that guides our efforts . " Obama 's State of the Union address included a call to " set party interests aside , and work to pass a budget that replaces reckless cuts with smart savings and wise investments in our future . " " And let 's do it without the brinksmanship that stresses consumers and scares off investors , " he continued to applause , mainly from Democrats . " The greatest nation on Earth can not keep conducting its business by drifting from one manufactured crisis to the next . We ca n't do it . Let 's agree , right here , right now , to keep the people 's government open , and pay our bills on time , and always uphold the full faith and credit of the United States of America . " " Nothing I 'm proposing tonight should increase our deficit by a single dime . " Obama said . " It 's not a bigger government we need , but a smarter government that sets priorities and invests in broad-based growth . " On foreign policy Obama announced in the context of the Withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan that he would bring home half of all U.S. troops by February 2013 and end the war there the following year . Barack Obama called for a free trade agreement between the United States and the European Union and announced his intent to complete negotiations on a " Trans-Pacific partnership " . He also addressed drone oversight , the 2013 North Korean nuclear test , Iran 's nuclear program and the Middle East in the context of the Syrian Civil War . Obama warned the North Korea ’s reclusive government that it faced further isolation , swift retaliation and a United States bent on improving its own missile defense systems . He spoke about the reduction of nuclear stockpiles in cooperation with Russia : " We 'll engage Russia to seek further reductions in our nuclear arsenals and continue leading the global effort to secure nuclear materials that could fall into the wrong hands . " " In defense of freedom , we 'll remain the anchor of strong alliances , from the Americas to Africa , from Europe to Asia . In the Middle East , we will stand with citizens as they demand their universal rights , and support stable transitions to democracy . " Obama called for lawmakers to work together to be more effective by successfully solving problems regardless of party divisions : " The American people do n't expect government to solve every problem . They do n't expect those of us in this chamber to agree on every issue . But they do expect us to put the nation 's interests before party . " Obama closed his speech with a reference to his second inaugural address ending by saying that all Americans share the same title : " We are citizens . It 's a word that does n't just describe our nationality or legal status . It describes the way we 're made . It describes what we believe . It captures the enduring idea that this country only works when we accept certain obligations to one another and to future generations ; that our rights are wrapped up in the rights of others ; and that well into our third century as a nation , it remains the task of us all , as citizens of these United States , to be the authors of the next great chapter in our American story . " Senator Marco Rubio a Republican of Florida , delivered the official Republican response to the 2013 State of the Union Address . Kentucky Republican Senator Rand Paul delivered the Tea Party 's rebuttal to Obama 's 2013 State of the Union Address . The BBC reported reactions from US newspapers such as the '' New York Times '' and the '' Washington Post '' . Additional reactions from US newspapers was gathered by the website al.com
2013 North Korean nuclear test
2013 North Korean nuclear test
2013 State of the Union Address