Every day, we get thousands of letters

and emails at the White House from Americans across

the country - and every night, I read ten of them.

They tell me about their hopes and their worries,

their hardships and successes.

They're the Americans I'm working for every day -

and this year, several of these letter writers will

join me at the Capitol when I deliver my annual

State of the Union Address on Tuesday night.

Carolyn Reed wrote to me from Colorado to tell

me she was able to expand her business, thanks

to a loan from the Small Business Administration.

Today, she and her husband own seven

Silver Mine Sub Shops - and last year,

they raised wages for all their hourly employees.

Victor Fugate, from Butler, Missouri, wrote

to tell me that he was unemployed for a while

a few years ago, but today he's earned his degree

and found a full-time job.

Victor said that he and his wife were able

to afford their student loans because our country

offered millions of Americans the chance

to cap their monthly payments as a percentage of their

income - and, because of the Affordable Care Act,

they now have the security and peace of mind

of affordable health insurance.

While serving in Afghanistan, Jason Gibson

was gravely wounded-he lost both his legs.

When I first met him in the hospital, he was

just beginning his long, difficult road

to recovery.

But last year, Sergeant Gibson wrote to tell

me that with the help of our extraordinary doctors and

nurses, he's making extraordinary progress.

He just moved into a new home,

and he and his wife just had a baby girl.

Stories like these give us reason to start

the new year with confidence.

2014 was the fastest year for

job growth since the 1990s.

Unemployment fell faster than any year since 1984.

Our combat mission in Afghanistan has come

to a responsible end, and more of our

heroes are coming home.

America's resurgence is real.

Our job now is to make sure that every American

feels that they're a part of our country's comeback.

That's what I'll focus on in my State of the Union -

how to build on our momentum, with rising

wages, growing incomes, and a stronger middle class.

And I'll call on this new Congress to join

me in putting aside the political games and

finding areas where we agree so we can deliver

for the American people.

The last six years have demanded resilience and

sacrifice from all of us.

All of us have a right to be proud of the progress

America has made.

And I hope you'll tune in on Tuesday to hear about

the steps we can take to build on this progress,

and to seize this moment together.

Thanks everybody, and have a great weekend.