Today, the Bureau of Economic Analysis released an advanced estimate showing the GDP increased at an annual rate of 5.7% in the fourth quarter of 2009:

Economists react to the fastest GDP growth in six years:

Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody's Economy.com:

I think stimulus was key to the 4th quarter. It was really critical to business fixed investment because there was a tax bonus depreciation in the stimulus that expired in December and juiced up fixed investment. And also, it was very critical to housing and residential investment because of the housing tax credit. And the decline in government spending would have been measurably greater without the money from the stimulus. So the stimulus was very, very important in the 4th quarter.

Bernard Baumohl, chief global economist at the Economic Outlook Group:

I’m very impressed with what I’ve seen. The skeptics of the economic recovery are going to have some explaining to do.

Jack Ablin, chief investment officer at Harris Private Bank in Chicago:

Wow, great number. It’s very solid and gives us a running start into the second half of the year when we can’t rely on government stimulus. That’s part of the plan, to get us moving as fast as possible so when life support is removed we’ll have a pulse.

Bruce Kasman, chief economist at JPMorgan Chase & Co:

We are getting on to something that is pretty sustainable. Both consumers and businesses are beginning to increase spending. To get validation, we need to see a return in hiring, which we think we are going to get over the next few months.

Mark Gertler, New York University economist:

We can be a bit more optimistic that a sustainable recovery is indeed underway.

Speaker Pelosi on the news:

Today's GDP numbers are a sign of economic progress, marking another step forward on the road to recovery and job creation, clear evidence that our efforts to revitalize the economy are starting to pay off.

From the first days of the 111th Congress, we have worked to create and save jobs, help small businesses, restore opportunity and economic security to the middle class, and lay a stronger foundation for the future. Economists of every stripe agree that our actions helped avert even greater economic catastrophe — from the Recovery Act and Cash for Clunkers to the first-time homebuyer tax credit.

Despite today's good news, millions of Americans remain out of work and still struggle to make ends meet. Moving forward, we will continue to place jobs and our middle class at the center of our agenda — by completing work on initiatives that help small businesses start hiring, invest in infrastructure, create 4 million new jobs with affordable health care, create clean energy jobs, and protect Main Street from the recklessness of Wall Street.

This morning, Speaker Pelosi held her weekly press conference at the Capitol and discussed moving forward with comprehensive health insurance reform concluding, “we are going to get health care reform passed”:

We must pass health care reform. The problem is still there. The financial aspects of it, the cost to individuals, to their families, to small businesses, to big businesses, to all businesses, to our deficit, to our federal budget and to our economy are huge. We cannot sustain financially the current system; we, as I say, families, businesses or the federal government. So this has to take place.

The fact is also that, as long as people are discriminated against because they have a pre-existing condition or their policies are canceled because they get sick or their procedure is denied on the way to the operating room with rescissions, as long as people go bankrupt if they have a diagnosis, we must pass this legislation. And we must take whatever time it takes to do it.

Some things we can do on the side which may not fit into a bigger plan. That doesn’t mean that is a substitute for doing comprehensive. It means we will move on many fronts, any front we can. As I said to some friends yesterday in the press, we will go through the gate. If the gate is closed, we will go over the fence. If the fence is too high, we will pole vault in. If that doesn’t work, we will parachute in. But we are going to get health care reform passed for the American people for their own personal health and economic security and for the important role that it will play in reducing the deficit.

Tonight, President Obama presented a vision to the American people of a stronger union, a new foundation for prosperity, and a thriving middle class. Working together, we will adopt a bold agenda for our economic growth — founded on good-paying jobs, strong schools, quality, affordable health insurance, and critical investments in small businesses and our clean energy future.

President Obama also presented a comprehensive approach to our first responsibility as public servants: to keep the American people safe. This Congress remains fully committed to working with the President for the security of our nation.

Despite signs of progress in our economy, too many Americans are out of work and struggling to make ends meet. To put people back to work, we will assist small businesses and invest in infrastructure and clean energy jobs. To ensure a competitive workforce, we will improve the way we educate our next generation.

In the wake of a crisis borne out of taking risks with taxpayers' money, we will protect Main Street from the excess of Wall Street and restore accountability to the financial sector.

Addressing a critical challenge for our economy and millions of households, Congress will pass health insurance reform that lowers costs for American families and small businesses, creates jobs, and ends the insurance companies' worst practices.

Every step along the way, Democrats will demand fiscal discipline — examining unnecessary spending across-the-board, empowering a bipartisan commission to recommend a sustainable fiscal path, and making the pay-as-you-go principles that have been the rule of the House the law of the land.

President Obama spoke tonight about the long overdue need to repeal 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' and acknowledged the many lesbian and gay service members who serve honorably in our military, and wish to do so openly. We look forward to working with him on this issue of fundamental fairness and supporting the patriotic Americans who serve — and wish to serve — our country in uniform.

With his powerful words tonight, the President demanded that we fulfill our promise to fight for the interests of America's families, rebuild the keystones of progress, and restore opportunity to every family. Working together, we can realize a vision of growth, security, and economic success for all Americans.

Tonight at 9:00pm EST, President Obama will deliver his first State of the Union address to a Joint Session of Congress–sharing his vision for addressing the many critical challenges our country faces at home and internationally. Watch live here: