Obama calls energy, healthcare pivotal

WASHINGTON, May 15 (UPI) -- U.S. President Barack Obama said Saturday that the U.S. economic recovery's foundation is clean energy and healthcare reforms.

In his weekly radio address, Obama said he has noticed a willingness in Washington to work cooperatively on the issues.

"While there remains a great deal of difficult work ahead, I am heartened by what we have seen these past few days: a willingness of those with different points of view and disparate interests to come together around common goals -- to embrace a shared sense of responsibility and make historic progress," Obama said.

He said Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and other lawmakers had brought together stakeholders to reach an "historic agreement" on comprehensive energy legislation.

"It's another promising sign of progress, as longtime opponents are sitting together, at the same table, to help solve one of America's most serious challenges," Obama said.

On healthcare, Obama said reforms are pivotal to the nation's economic viability.

"Our families, our economy, and our nation itself will not succeed in the 21st century if we continue to be held down by the weight of rapidly rising health care costs and a broken health care system," he said.