After she lost her daughter, Suzann Wilson of Jonesboro, Arkansas, came here to the White House with a powerful plea.  She said “Please, please for the sake of your children, lock up your guns.  Don’t let what happened in Jonesboro, happen in your town.”

It’s a message she is passionately advocating every day.  Suzann is here with us tonight, with the first lady.  I would like to thank her for her courage and her commitment.

In memory of all the children who lost their lives to school violence, I ask you to strengthen the Safe And Drug Free School Act, to pass legislation to require child trigger locks, to do everything possible to keep our children safe.

Today, we’re—­excuse me—­a century ago, President Theodore Roosevelt defined our great central task as leaving this land even a better land for our descendants than it is for us.  Today, we’re restoring the Florida Everglades, saving Yellowstone, preserving the red rock canyons of Utah, protecting California’s redwoods, and our precious coasts.

But our most fateful new challenge is the threat of global warming.  Nineteen ninety-eight was the warmest year ever recorded.  Last year’s heat waves, floods and storm are but a hint of what future generations may endure if we do not act now.

Tonight, I propose a new clean air fund to help communities reduce greenhouse and other pollutions, and tax incentives and investment to spur clean energy technologies.  And I want to work with members of Congress in both parties to reward companies that take early, voluntary action to reduce greenhouse gases.

Now, all our communities face a preservation challenge as they grow, and green space shrinks.  Seven thousand acres of farmland and open space are lost every day.  In response, I propose two major initiatives.  First, a $1 billion livability agenda to help communities save open space, ease traffic congestion, and grow in ways that enhance every citizen’s quality of life.  And second, a $1 billion lands legacy initiative to preserve places of natural beauty all across America, from the most remote wilderness to the nearest city park.

These are truly landmark initiatives, which could not have been developed without the visionary leadership of the vice president and I want to thank him very much for his commitment here.  Thank you.

Now, to get the most out of your community, you have to give something back.  That’s why we created AmeriCorps, our national service program that gives today’s generation a chance to serve their communities and earn money for college.

So far, in just four years, 100,000 young Americans have built low-income homes with Habitat for Humanity, helped tutor children with churches, work with FEMA to ease the burden of natural disasters and performed countless other acts of service that has made America better.  I ask Congress to give more young Americans the chance to follow their lead and serve America in AmeriCorps.