Ladders of Opportunity
“We are true to our creed when a little girl born into the bleakest poverty knows that she has the same chance to succeed as anybody else, because she is an American; she is free, and she is equal, not just in the eyes of God but also in our own.”
– President Barack Obama, Inaugural Address,
January 21, 2013
Ladders of Opportunity
There’s a basic bargain in America. It says that no matter who you are or where you’re from, if you’re willing to work hard and play by the rules, you should be able to find a good job, feel secure in your community, and support a family. President Obama has fought for the middle class, and has made historic investments in making sure that there are ladders of opportunity for those working hard to make it to the middle class.
Creating Economic Opportunity
President Obama is building ladders of opportunity to the middle class for all families working hard to lift themselves up.
Learn More
Rewarding Hard Work by Raising the Minimum Wage
Providing High Quality Early Childhood Education
Increasing Access to Healthy Food
Community Revitalization
President Obama recognizes that interconnected challenges in distressed communities require interconnected solutions.
Learn More
The President's
2014 Budget
The President’s 2014 Budget demonstrates that we can make critical investments to strengthen the middle class, create jobs, and grow the economy while continuing to cut the deficit in a balanced way.
Raising the Minimum Wage
The President believes that no one who works full-time should have to raise their family in poverty. The President is calling on Congress to raise the Federal minimum wage to $9.00 and index it to inflation thereafter.
Early Childhood Education
The President is proposing to make a significant investment in early learning opportunities, because those years of a child’s life are critical for building the early foundation needed for success.
Download Reports
Read more about the policies and initiatives that the Obama Administration has taken to help strengthen our communities.
- Creating Pathways to Opportunity
- Promoting Responsible Fatherhood
- Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative
- Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness
- Partnership for Sustainable Communities
- Economic Importance of Nutrition Assistance