Senator Urges President To Make Foreclosure Relief A Priorty

The President's annual State of the Union address is one of the most viewed speeches in American politics, and marks a time when our country seeks to identify both its short- and long-term goals.

Due to the importance of the event, Senator Jeff Merkley said that President Barack Obama should devote some of his speech to assessing the current foreclosure crisis, which has left millions of Americans without homes and in financial turmoil.

"A record one million families lost their home to foreclosure last year," Merkley wrote, according to a report by The Huffington Post. "Next week, Mr. President, you will have the attention of the nation. I urge you to use this opportunity to renew efforts to tackle the national foreclosure crisis."

Merkley, a Democratic Senator from Oregon, said the administration's current anti-foreclosure programs have largely failed at their goal to keep Americans in their homes, the news source says.

While the speech is set for next week, the President has not yet outlined any of the points he will make. However, it is likely he will address the millions of Americans who are struggling with debt, foreclosure and other fiscal problems.