The White House Blog
President Obama Announces New Members of his National Security Team
Posted by on April 28, 2011 at 5:06 PM EDTAs the President announced several new members of his national security team this afternoon, he took a moment to speak to those families in Alabama and throughout the South who are suffering as a result of the devastating storms that just passed through:
Learn more about DefenseKnowing Where We Stand to Save Money, Improve Efficiency, Reduce Pollution, and Eliminate Waste
Posted by on April 28, 2011 at 12:00 PM EDTLast week, Federal agencies released, for the first time, their scorecards on energy and environmental performance. This marked an important milestone towards achieving the President's sustainability goals under Executive Order 13514 on Federal Leadership in Environmental, Energy and Economic Performance. By establishing benchmarks, these scorecards help guide agencies' 2011 sustainability plans to save energy, improve the environment, and save money. Today, we mark the next milestone in this process by releasing the first-ever comprehensive Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Inventory for the Federal Government, which accounts for the GHG emissions associated with the Federal Government’s operations in 2010.
Learn more about Energy & EnvironmentThe President on Devastation in Alabama
Posted by on April 28, 2011 at 9:31 AM EDTThe President released the statement below last night:
Michelle and I extend our deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives because of the tornadoes that have swept through Alabama and the southeastern United States. Our hearts go out to all those who have been affected by this devastation, and we commend the heroic efforts of those who have been working tirelessly to respond to this disaster. I just spoke to Governor Bentley and told him that I have ordered the Federal Government to move quickly in our response and informed him that I approved his request for emergency Federal assistance, including search and rescue assets. While we may not know the extent of the damage for days, we will continue to monitor these severe storms across the country and stand ready to continue to help the people of Alabama and all citizens affected by these storms.
Learn more about Homeland SecurityAdvance Estimate of GDP for the First Quarter of 2011
Posted by on April 28, 2011 at 9:12 AM EDTToday’s report shows that the economy posted the seventh straight quarter of positive growth, as real GDP, the total amount of goods and services produced in the country, grew at a 1.8 percent annual rate in the first quarter of this year. While the continued expansion is encouraging, clearly, faster growth is needed to replace the jobs lost in the downturn.
Some key components of GDP continued to expand in the first quarter. Consumer spending rose 2.7 percent at an annual rate, boosted by a 2.9 percent increase in real disposable income that was due in part to the cut in payroll taxes. Equipment and software investment increased 11.6 percent. Spending components that subtracted from GDP included construction of nonresidential structures (-21.7 percent), federal spending (-7.9 percent), and state and local government spending (-3.3 percent). On the production side, goods production rose at a 9.3 percent, roughly consistent with the previously-reported 9.1 percent increase in manufacturing industrial production.
These data indicate that the measures put in place by this Administration – such as the payroll tax cut and business incentives for investment – are helping to foster growth. We will continue to work with Congress to find ways to reduce spending, so that we can live within our means and focus on the investments that are most likely to help grow our economy and create jobs – investments in education, infrastructure, and clean energy.
Austan Goolsbee is Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers
Learn more about EconomyNo Comparison
Posted by on April 27, 2011 at 5:40 PM EDTEarlier this week, Speaker John Boehner said Rep. Ryan’s plan to privatize Medicare “transforms Medicare into a plan that's very similar to the President's own health care bill.” This comparison is deeply flawed. Here’s why:
No Guaranteed Coverage
The Congressional Republican plan privatizes Medicare, ending the program as we know it. Insurance companies would be under no obligation to offer insurance to seniors, so many older Americans could be left with no insurance at all.
The Affordable Care Act preserves Medicare and improves it by making prevention and prescription drugs more affordable, lowering its costs, and improving the quality of care. And health reform extends the life of the Medicare Trust Fund and helps ensure Medicare will continue to provide coverage to seniors in the decades to come.
Get Older, Pay More
The Republican plan repeals Medicare’s current policy where seniors are not charged more because of their age. Under the Republican plan, seniors could be forced to pay more for their health care every year, simply because they’ve grown older.
Learn more about Health CareImproving Latino Education to Win the Future
Posted by on April 27, 2011 at 3:53 PM EDT
April 27, 2011. (by Carlos Llano, Official Miami-Dade College Photos)
Today at a community conversation at Miami-Dade College, the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics and the U.S. Department of Education released the report Winning the Future: Improving Education for the Latino Community. The President will be delivering a commencement address at Miami-Dade College Friday evening. To view the report, click HERE.
The report shows that Hispanic success in education and in the labor market is of immediate and long‐term importance to America’s economy. It also shows that Hispanics have the lowest education attainment level overall of any group in the U.S. Hispanics are by far the largest minority group in today’s American public education system, numbering more than 12.4 million in the country’s elementary, middle and high schools. Nearly 22 percent, or slightly more than 1 in 5, of all pre‐K-12 students enrolled in America’s public schools is Hispanic, but they face persistent obstacles to educational attainment. Less than half are enrolled in any early learning program. Only about half earn their high school diploma on time; those who do complete high school are only half as likely as their peers to be prepared for college and only 4 percent have completed graduate or professional degree programs.
As part of the community conversation in Miami today, Senior Obama Administration officials met with dozens of educators and community leaders, to exchange ideas and outline strategies to meet President Obama’s goal for the nation to have the best-educated workforce in the world by 2020.
April 27, 2011. (by Carlos Llano, Official Miami-Dade College Photos)
Alejandra Campoverdi is the Deputy Director of Hispanic Media.
A Clear Commitment to Clean Water for America
Posted by on April 27, 2011 at 2:59 PM EDTClean water is the foundation of healthy communities. It is vital to everyone, from families who want safe drinking water, to fishermen and women who want to know their catch is safe to eat, to farmers who rely on it to grow their crops, and everyone in between. We understand the importance of clean water and healthy watersheds to our economy, to our environment and to our families.
Clean water has been a priority for this Administration from day one. Through an extensive set of policies and initiatives, we are working across Federal agencies, across governments and across sectors to use every tool in our toolbox to make sure Americans have the clean and healthy waters they need and deserve.
Today, we released a national clean water framework that affirms the Obama Administration’s comprehensive commitment to ensuring clean water and healthy waterways for American families, American communities, and the American economy. We're taking strong action to reduce contaminants in our drinking water by using the latest science to update drinking water standards, and by better protecting drinking water sources from pollution. We’re giving farmers incentives to reduce pollution, and giving landowners incentives to open up their lands for fishing, swimming, and other activities that promote public stewardship of our waters. We're working with states to make sure rural communities have affordable and modern clean water systems.
Learn more about Energy & EnvironmentChampions of Change: Chefs Move to Schools
Posted by on April 27, 2011 at 2:57 PM EDTEditor’s Note: Champions of Change is a weekly initiative to highlight Americans who are making an impact in their communities and help our country rise to the many challenges of the 21st century.
It is an honor to be named a Champion of Change by the White House for my work with school nutrition programs in the Pacific Northwest. Last Friday I joined a roundtable meeting with Administration officials and five other chefs from around the nation to discuss best practices for working with schools and teachers through the Chefs Move to Schools program.
We have an extraordinary opportunity in this country to influence a lifetime of healthy eating habits beginning with children and teens. Schools provide a perfect setting, both in the classroom and in the cafeteria. Chef volunteers with Chefs Move to Schools are ready to share their expertise to get kids excited about tasty, healthy foods.
In the classroom chefs can teach students through demonstration or hands-on cooking experiences. It could be something as simple as seasonal produce show-tell-and-taste, or a hands-on activity to build cooking confidence. Chefs in the classroom can also collaborate with the cafeteria to promote new healthy school menu items.
Joining Forces to Put Military Families First
Posted by on April 27, 2011 at 11:15 AM EDTOver the last two weeks, First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden have been traveling the country to publicize the launch of their Joining Forces initiative. From North Carolina and Virginia to Colorado and California, the First Lady and Dr. Biden have taken part in events that highlight the amazing work everyday Americans are doing to help America's military families.
This weekend, PARADE magazine interviewed them about Joining Forces. They talked about why they chose to focus on military families, and what their goals are for getting Americans involved:
PARADE: If Americans rally around our military families, what do you think this new connectiveness could do for us as a country?
JILL BIDEN: It would create a lot of patriotism, you know, that feeling I had as a child. We just need to say to America, “Wake up. You need to support these families and we need to lift them up and really value them.”
MICHELLE OBAMA: And the truth is, I think that’s how most Americans feel.
Be sure to read the whole interview and find out more.
As the school year comes closer to an end, and the days get longer and warmer, it can be even easier to find some time to help a military family in your area. It can be as simple as watching the kids for a night, or as big as organizing a cookout for veterans, servicemembers, and their families. Every kindness counts.
Three Days Left to Rate the Commencement Challenge Finalists
Posted by on April 27, 2011 at 11:07 AM EDTHave you rated the six finalists in the Race to the Top Commencement Challenge yet?
Thousands of Americans have already weighed in, but if you haven’t yet, head over to WhiteHouse.gov/Commencement now to tell us what you think. Each school produced a short video with help from the Get Schooled Foundation and wrote an essay explaining why their school should win.
Check out some highlights from the videos then submit your ratings for each school.
As part of the Commencement Challenge, public high schools around the country submitted an application earlier this year that described how their school is preparing students for college and a career. We’ve narrowed down the schools to six finalists and now it’s your turn to weigh in. You can review and rate each school on a scale of 1-5 (5 being the highest) before Friday April 29 at 11:59 p.m. EDT. Your ratings will help us narrow down the pool to three finalists and President Obama will select the winning school from one of these three.
Learn more about EducationPresident Obama's Long Form Birth Certificate
Posted by on April 27, 2011 at 8:57 AM EDTEd. Note: Read the transcript of the President's remarks following this release or watch the video below:
Viewing this video requires Adobe Flash Player 8 or higher. Download the free player.In 2008, in response to media inquiries, the President’s campaign requested his birth certificate from the state of Hawaii. The state sent the campaign the President’s birth certificate, the same legal documentation provided to all Hawaiians as proof of birth in state, and the campaign immediately posted it on the internet. That birth certificate can be seen here (PDF).
When any citizen born in Hawaii requests their birth certificate, they receive exactly what the President received. In fact, the document posted on the campaign website is what Hawaiians use to get a driver’s license from the state and the document recognized by the Federal Government and the courts for all legal purposes. That’s because it is the birth certificate. This is not and should not be an open question.
The President believed the distraction over his birth certificate wasn’t good for the country. It may have been good politics and good TV, but it was bad for the American people and distracting from the many challenges we face as a country. Therefore, the President directed his counsel to review the legal authority for seeking access to the long form certificate and to request on that basis that the Hawaii State Department of Health make an exception to release a copy of his long form birth certificate. They granted that exception in part because of the tremendous volume of requests they had been getting. President Barack Obama's long form birth certificate can be seen here (PDF):
Correspondence with the Hawaii State Department of Health can be seen here (PDF).
At a time of great consequence for this country – when we should be debating how we win the future, reduce our deficit, deal with high gas prices, and bring stability to the Middle East, Washington, DC, was once again distracted by a fake issue. The President’s hope is that with this step, we can move on to debating the bigger issues that matter to the American people and the future of the country.
Spotlight on Community Colleges Vying for Prize
Posted by on April 26, 2011 at 8:28 PM EDTLast October, at the first-ever White House Summit on Community Colleges, President Obama announced the $1 million Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, a new, privately-funded prize to recognize, reward, and inspire outstanding outcomes in community colleges nationwide.
Yesterday, Dr. Jill Biden and Secretary Arne Duncan congratulated the 120 community colleges that – due to exceptional student outcomes – were selected by the Aspen Institute to compete for the inaugural $1 million purse. In Round Two, the Aspen Institute will invite these 120 eligible institutions to submit applications containing additional detailed data on completion rates, labor market outcomes (employment and earnings), and student learning outcomes. Eight to ten finalists will be named in September and – following campus visits by Aspen in the Fall - prize winners will be announced in December.
Excellence in community colleges is critical to reaching President Obama’s goal that the U.S. lead the world in college graduates by 2020 and to preparing the American workforce to compete in the global economy.
Learn more about EducationPhotos & Videos: The 2011 White House Easter Egg Roll
Posted by on April 26, 2011 at 7:45 PM EDTDownload Video: mp4 (17MB)Yesterday, the First Family hosted a record number of people on the South Lawn in their backyard for the 133rd White House Easter Egg Roll. 30,000 people from around the country embraced this year's theme "Get Up Go!" -- a part of the First Lady's Let's Move! initiative to raise a healthier generation of kids. Highlighted by blue skies, amazing performances, healthy activities and eating -- the event was a huge success!
Check out all of the action and fun from this year's event:
Opening the 2011 White House Easter Egg Roll
RELATED VIDEOS
President Barack Obama cheers on kids taking part in the Easter Egg Roll on the South Lawn of the White House, April 25, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
President Barack Obama hits a tennis ball during a sports clinic set up as part of the Easter Egg Roll activities on the South Lawn of the White House, April 25, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
First Lady Michelle Obama participates in the "Play With Your Food" station with Jacque Pepin,right, Kelly Ripa, left, and Al Roker, second from left, at the annual Easter Egg Roll on the South Lawn of the White House, April 25, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Samantha Appleton)
Many thanks from the White House Visitors Office to all of the volunteers and everyone that attended to help make this one of the best Easter Egg Rolls ever!
Learn more about , FamilyCultivating the Seeds of Knowledge; Growing a Greener Future for our Nation
Posted by on April 26, 2011 at 5:50 PM EDT
EPA Administrator Jackson, CEQ Chair Sutley and Secretary of Education Duncan plant a Texas Live Oak Tree outside of the U.S. Department of Education (Photo by Eric Vance, US EPA)
As the bitter chill of winter retreats, the vibrancy of spring beckons us outdoors reminding us of the inextricable link between the natural world and our daily lives. In striving to meet the President's challenge to win the future by out-educating the rest of the world, we must cultivate the environmental health of our learning spaces and our students’ understanding of their environment to enable them to meet the challenges of the future. Today, the Department of Education, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the White House Council on Environmental Quality came together to launch the Green Ribbon Schools Program. This program plants the seeds to move toward educational excellence for the future by recognizing schools that are creating healthy and sustainable learning environments - both inside and outside the classroom, teaching environmental literacy, and increasing environmental health by reducing their environmental footprint.
Led by the Department of Education, in close partnership with the EPA and CEQ, the Green Ribbon Schools program will incentivize and reward schools that help to ensure that our students receive an education second to none by improving the health and environmental footprint of nation’s schools. To prepare our children for the clean energy economy of the future, Green Ribbon schools will be those that incorporate science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), and environmental stewardship into their curricula.
Learn more about Energy & EnvironmentJoining Forces: Travels with First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden
Posted by on April 26, 2011 at 5:14 PM EDTFollowing the launch of Joining Forces, First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden traveled throughout the country, celebrating the service of military families and the communities, businesses and non-profits working to support them every day. The initiative aims to educate, challenge, and spark action from all sectors of our society to ensure military families have the support they have earned. At each stop, the First Lady and Dr. Biden encouraged Americans to get involved in any way they can.
Visit www.joiningforces.gov to find opportunities to support military families in you own community.
President Obama to Congress: "I Hope We Can All Agree That, Instead of Continuing to Subsidize Yesterday's Energy Sources, We Need to Invest in Tomorrow's"
Posted by on April 26, 2011 at 1:06 PM EDTThis afternoon the President wrote a letter to leaders of both parties in Congress on the subject of tax breaks for oil companies. The President's letter comes a day after Speaker of the House John Boehner said that eliminating those tax breaks is "certainly something we should be looking at," adding that, "We're in a time when the federal government's short on revenues. They ought to be paying their fair share." It comes a few weeks after the President included the proposal as part of his Blueprint for a Secure Energy Future.
The full text of the President's letter is below:
Dear Speaker Boehner, Senator Reid, Senator McConnell, and Representative Pelosi:
I am writing to urge you to take immediate action to eliminate unwarranted tax breaks for the oil and gas industry, and to use those dollars to invest in clean energy to reduce our dependence on foreign oil.
Learn more about Economy, Energy & EnvironmentPhotostream: Behind the Scenes in Early April
Posted by on April 25, 2011 at 4:06 PM EDTThe White House Photo Office just released their latest batch of behind-the-scenes photos, this time following the President from town halls across the country to the Situation Room to a moment alone reading on the patio outside the Oval Office. As always, they've come up with some never-before-seen angles to help document this time for history. See a thumbnail gallery below or check out the full-size gallery at our White House Flickr photostream.
Meeting the Needs of People with Autism
Posted by on April 25, 2011 at 12:27 PM EDTHelping every American with autism achieve their full potential is one of this administration’s top priorities. At the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, we continue to strive to meet the complex needs of all people with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and their families. While there is no cure, early intervention is critical and can greatly improve a child’s development.
Perhaps the biggest step we’ve taken to support those affected by autism and their families happened over a year ago, with the signing of the Affordable Care Act. Now, new insurance plans are required to cover autism screening and developmental assessments for children at no cost to parents. Insurers will also no longer be allowed to deny children coverage for a pre-existing condition such as ASD or to set arbitrary lifetime or annual limits on benefits.
Learn more about Disabilities, Health CarePartners in Sustainability
Posted by on April 25, 2011 at 11:22 AM EDTLast week I had the opportunity to meet with representatives from Seattle area businesses and discuss ways we can work together to strengthen our nations clean energy economy. With the General Service Administration’s portfolio of nearly 10,000 federal buildings and influence over 400,000 federal vehicles we are uniquely positioned to move our government towards this goal. But we can’t do this alone -- that’s why GSA is working to facilitate conversations with private sector leaders that foster an exchange of ideas.
On my first stop in Seattle, I took part in a roundtable conversation with representatives from business, construction and design and academia to discuss the business case for green building. With GSA’s 370 million square feet of facility space it is imperative for us to invest in innovative clean energy technologies that make our buildings more cost and energy efficient for the American taxpayer. Conversations like this roundtable allow GSA to work with the private sector and share best practices so we can make informed decisions on implementing innovative building technologies.
While in the Puget Sound area I also had the opportunity to speak to building managers, urban planners and local government officials at the Bellevue City Hall for a workshop on electric vehicle charging stations. I spoke with attendees who are leading remarkable initiatives to create and support infrastructure for plug-in vehicles. As part of our efforts to make the federal fleet more efficient, GSA will be launching an EV pilot program to purchase 100 plug-in electric vehicles. To make electric vehicles an integral part of our federal fleet we must take steps to ensure the necessary infrastructure exists, including charging stations. The workshop attendees I met with are ensuring we are on track to meet President Obama’s goal of having one million electric vehicles on the road by 2015.
I’d like to thank my hosts in and around Seattle, and I look forward to continuing the conversation with our partners in sustainability.
Learn more about Energy & EnvironmentWatch Live: The 2011 White House Easter Egg Roll
Posted by on April 25, 2011 at 6:00 AM EDTThe 2011 White House Easter Egg Roll is here, and you’re invited! Today, the Obama’s will host 30,000 people from all 50 states in their backyard for an Easter Egg Hunt and the traditional Easter Egg Rolling, as well as live musical performances, storytime readings, healthy cooking demos, sports and more. This year's theme “Get Up and Go!” focuses on promoting health and wellness, a central part of the First Lady’s Let’s Move! initiative to raise a healthier generation of kids.
Join the First Family and people from around the country for the 133rd White House Easter Egg Roll on WhiteHouse.gov/live.
View the full live stream schedule below:
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