U.S. President Barack Obama pauses while speaking in the South Court Auditorium of the Eisenhower Executive Building next to the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2013. Obama stepped up pressure on Congress to avert &#39;brutal&#39; automatic $1.2 trillion in budget cuts set to kick in March 1, saying it would harm the economy and curtail vital services. Photographer: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty Images