President Barack Obama is calling on the United States to live up to the spirit of July 4, 1776 and work toward a better future.

In his weekly address, Obama asked for support on domestic issues like education and health care reform.

He said it is time to revamp schools so that every U.S. student can achieve more than any worker in the world. He also said he wants to fix the health care system by this year and end the country's dependence on foreign oil.

"We are facing an array of challenges on a scale unseen in our time," said Obama. "We are waging two wars. We are battling a deep recession and our economy, and our nation itself, are endangered by festering problems we have kicked down the road for far too long."

Obama is spending the holiday at Camp David where he is celebrating both the nation's birthday and his daughter Malia's 11th birthday.

The president is also hosting more than 1,000 military families at a barbecue on the South Lawn of the White House.

Meanwhile, Vice President Joe Biden is spending the holiday in Iraq with American troops.

He greeted more than 200 soldiers who became U.S. citizens at a naturalization ceremony at the U.S. military headquarters.

In his public remarks, Biden stressed the United States is committed to Iraq's progress, but warned Iraqi leaders not to slip back into the cycle of sectarian violence that pushed the country to the brink of civil war.

"The president and I appreciate that Iraq has traveled a great distance over the past year, but there is a hard road ahead if Iraq is going to find lasting peace and stability," said Biden.

Biden is wrapping up a three-day trip just days after U.S. combat soldiers withdrew from Iraqi cities. It is his first trip to Iraq as vice president.