As a former recipient of these services I can honestly say that the overwhelming majority of TANF recipients are hard-working Americans who are down on their luck and just want an opportunity to better their lives and those of their family through work and access to education.

Americans are a decade behind Canada when it comes to sex education and understanding their bodies.

Well we lost a lot of our independence already. We are dependent on China for credit. We are dependent on Middle Eastern countries for energy supplies. And many Americans are dependent on the government for their income health care education of their children food stamps.

Financial literacy is an issue that should command our attention because many Americans are not adequately organizing finances for their education healthcare and retirement.

You can choose a future where more Americans have the chance to gain the skills they need to compete no matter how old they are or how much money they have. Education was the gateway to opportunity for me. It was the gateway for Michelle. And now more than ever it is the gateway to a middle-class life.

In my childhood America was like a religion. Then real-life Americans abruptly entered my life - in jeeps - and upset all my dreams.

Our theme for this year's festivities Dreams and Challenges of Asian Pacific Americans speaks to the many generations of Asian Pacific Americans who worked hard to overcome economic hardship racism and other barriers in their pursuit of the American dream.

We must stop talking about the American dream and start listening to the dreams of Americans.

Mitt Romney will stop the attacks on job creators encourage entrepreneurs to chase their dreams and bring good jobs and a better future to all Americans.

My experience as a school nurse taught me that we need to make a concerted effort all of us to increase physical fitness activity among our children and to encourage all Americans to adopt a healthier diet that includes fruits and vegetables but there is more.