The White House Blog
Celebrating the Work of America's Public Servants
Posted byon May 3, 2011 at 9:00 AM EDTEd. note: First Lady Michelle Obama sent a video message to public servants as part of the White House's observance of Public Service Recognition Week.
What do you know about public servants? Probably more than you think. And during Public Service Recognition Week, you have the opportunity to learn even more.
John Berry is the Director of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management
Learn more about Service, Additional IssuesMuch More Than WhiteHouse.gov
Posted byon May 2, 2011 at 8:28 PM EDTTwo years ago, the White House launched official profiles on Facebook, Twitter and MySpace. Since then we’ve grown quite a bit, both in terms of the number of connections we’ve made through these sites, as well as other places on the web that now feature an official White House presence.
As I wrote then, technology continues to change how and where Americans get information and discuss important issues online. It’s also means that any organization, including the White House, must recognize that its website is only one part of an effective online platform.
Learn more about Ethics, TechnologyPresident Obama Presents Medal of Honor: "We're Reminded That We Are Fortunate to Have Americans Who Dedicate Their Lives to Protecting Ours"
Posted byon May 2, 2011 at 2:27 PM EDTThe event to award the Medal of Honor to Anthony T. Kaho’ohanohano and Henry Svehla, two heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice during the Korean War, was long scheduled, but the timing made for a meaningful coincidence on a day when America is beaming with pride over those who serve today.
The President began his remarks on that note:
I think we can all agree this is a good day for America. Our country has kept its commitment to see that justice is done. The world is safer; it is a better place because of the death of Osama bin Laden.
Today, we are reminded that, as a nation, there’s nothing we can’t do —- when we put our shoulders to the wheel, when we work together, when we remember the sense of unity that defines us as Americans. And we’ve seen that spirit -— that patriotism -— in the crowds that have gathered, here outside the White House, at Ground Zero in New York, and across the country -- people holding candles, waving the flag, singing the National Anthem -- people proud to live in the United States of America.
And we’re reminded that we are fortunate to have Americans who dedicate their lives to protecting ours. They volunteer. They train. They endure separation from their families. They take extraordinary risks so that we can be safe. They get the job done. We may not always know their names. We may not always know their stories. But they are there, every day, on the front lines of freedom, and we are truly blessed.
The President read a poem on the enduring legacy of those who serve, and welcomed the families of those being honored today:
The Results Are In
Posted byon May 2, 2011 at 1:00 PM EDTDrum roll please…
The results of the public rating period are in, and today we’re excited to announce the top three schools in the 2011 Race to the Top Commencement Challenge!
Watch this video from Domestic Policy Director Melody Barnes to find out which schools made the top three:
Later this week, President Obama will select the winning school from one of the top three. Over the past week, nearly 100,000 people from across the country submitted almost 300,000 ratings.
We want to thank all of the schools who participated in this year’s Commencement Challenge, especially our six finalists. These schools represent the very best American public education has to offer. We are so proud of the all the teachers, students, administrators, parents and communities who are working together to help meet President Obama’s goal of having the highest proportion of college graduates by 2020.
Learn more about EducationCommunity Conversations, New Website, and New Report on Hispanics and Winning the Future
Posted byon May 2, 2011 at 11:59 AM EDTOn a conference call today, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis, White House Senior Advisor David Plouffe and White House Director of Intergovernmental Affairs Cecilia Muñoz announced a series of community conversations around the country on the critical role Hispanics play in the President’s vision for America to win the future.
In his State of the Union address, the President made it clear that the most important contest we face today is not between Democrats and Republicans, but rather America’s contest with competitors across the globe for the jobs and industries of the future. During the call, the Administration officials also introduced the report “Winning the Future: President Obama’s Agenda and the Hispanic Community,” which can be found on the new site whitehouse.gov/hispanic.
Luis Miranda is White House Director of Hispanic Media
Watch Live: National Science Bowl - Starting At 9:30 AM ET
Posted byon May 2, 2011 at 10:05 AM EDTEd. note: This was cross-posted on the Department of Energy blog.
Throughout the weekend, 110 regional championship science bowl teams have competed round robin and double elimination matches to determine the top 2 middle school and top 3 high school teams in the country.
Start watching the livestream below at 9:30 AM today to see the final championship matches of America's best science students in 2011 National Science Bowl.
A little after 12:30 PM, U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu will speak at the award ceremony.
(The stream works best in IE, Safari and Firefox browsers.)
Ginny Simmons is a new media specialist with the Department of Energy.
Learn more about Education, Energy & EnvironmentPublic Service Recognition Week
Posted byon May 2, 2011 at 8:59 AM EDTSunday was the start of Public Service Recognition Week. It’s a time to thank professional public servants - the people behind the scenes. Wherever you live, they are the people who pick up the phone when you call 911, and the police and firefighters who come to your door; the teachers in your schools and the people who maintain your local parks.
Federal public servants may not always be as visible, but they are in every state as well. They focus on national security and law enforcement tasks like protecting our borders; they pursue criminals who cross state lines and care for our veterans. Others make sure our roads and rails are designed and built safely and that our food and water supply is clean.
Public servants do a million things you may take for granted every day. Since 1985, we’ve taken this week to learn more about what public servants do and show our appreciation. First Lady Michelle Obama wanted to be the first to thank Federal employees. Click below to hear what she has to say.
Learn more about ServiceOsama Bin Laden Dead
Posted byon May 2, 2011 at 12:16 AM EDTTonight, President Obama addressed the Nation to announce that the United States has killed Osama bin Laden, the leader of al Qaeda. Watch or read his full remarks below, and learn more from the transcript of the White House briefing call afterwards.
Remarks by the President on Osama Bin Laden
East Room11:35 P.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: Good evening. Tonight, I can report to the American people and to the world that the United States has conducted an operation that killed Osama bin Laden, the leader of al Qaeda, and a terrorist who’s responsible for the murder of thousands of innocent men, women, and children.
It was nearly 10 years ago that a bright September day was darkened by the worst attack on the American people in our history. The images of 9/11 are seared into our national memory -- hijacked planes cutting through a cloudless September sky; the Twin Towers collapsing to the ground; black smoke billowing up from the Pentagon; the wreckage of Flight 93 in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, where the actions of heroic citizens saved even more heartbreak and destruction.
And yet we know that the worst images are those that were unseen to the world. The empty seat at the dinner table. Children who were forced to grow up without their mother or their father. Parents who would never know the feeling of their child’s embrace. Nearly 3,000 citizens taken from us, leaving a gaping hole in our hearts.
On September 11, 2001, in our time of grief, the American people came together. We offered our neighbors a hand, and we offered the wounded our blood. We reaffirmed our ties to each other, and our love of community and country. On that day, no matter where we came from, what God we prayed to, or what race or ethnicity we were, we were united as one American family.
We were also united in our resolve to protect our nation and to bring those who committed this vicious attack to justice. We quickly learned that the 9/11 attacks were carried out by al Qaeda -- an organization headed by Osama bin Laden, which had openly declared war on the United States and was committed to killing innocents in our country and around the globe. And so we went to war against al Qaeda to protect our citizens, our friends, and our allies.
Over the last 10 years, thanks to the tireless and heroic work of our military and our counterterrorism professionals, we’ve made great strides in that effort. We’ve disrupted terrorist attacks and strengthened our homeland defense. In Afghanistan, we removed the Taliban government, which had given bin Laden and al Qaeda safe haven and support. And around the globe, we worked with our friends and allies to capture or kill scores of al Qaeda terrorists, including several who were a part of the 9/11 plot.
Yet Osama bin Laden avoided capture and escaped across the Afghan border into Pakistan. Meanwhile, al Qaeda continued to operate from along that border and operate through its affiliates across the world.
And so shortly after taking office, I directed Leon Panetta, the director of the CIA, to make the killing or capture of bin Laden the top priority of our war against al Qaeda, even as we continued our broader efforts to disrupt, dismantle, and defeat his network.
Then, last August, after years of painstaking work by our intelligence community, I was briefed on a possible lead to bin Laden. It was far from certain, and it took many months to run this thread to ground. I met repeatedly with my national security team as we developed more information about the possibility that we had located bin Laden hiding within a compound deep inside of Pakistan. And finally, last week, I determined that we had enough intelligence to take action, and authorized an operation to get Osama bin Laden and bring him to justice.
Today, at my direction, the United States launched a targeted operation against that compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. A small team of Americans carried out the operation with extraordinary courage and capability. No Americans were harmed. They took care to avoid civilian casualties. After a firefight, they killed Osama bin Laden and took custody of his body.
For over two decades, bin Laden has been al Qaeda’s leader and symbol, and has continued to plot attacks against our country and our friends and allies. The death of bin Laden marks the most significant achievement to date in our nation’s effort to defeat al Qaeda.
Yet his death does not mark the end of our effort. There’s no doubt that al Qaeda will continue to pursue attacks against us. We must –- and we will -- remain vigilant at home and abroad.
As we do, we must also reaffirm that the United States is not –- and never will be -– at war with Islam. I’ve made clear, just as President Bush did shortly after 9/11, that our war is not against Islam. Bin Laden was not a Muslim leader; he was a mass murderer of Muslims. Indeed, al Qaeda has slaughtered scores of Muslims in many countries, including our own. So his demise should be welcomed by all who believe in peace and human dignity.
Over the years, I’ve repeatedly made clear that we would take action within Pakistan if we knew where bin Laden was. That is what we’ve done. But it’s important to note that our counterterrorism cooperation with Pakistan helped lead us to bin Laden and the compound where he was hiding. Indeed, bin Laden had declared war against Pakistan as well, and ordered attacks against the Pakistani people.
Tonight, I called President Zardari, and my team has also spoken with their Pakistani counterparts. They agree that this is a good and historic day for both of our nations. And going forward, it is essential that Pakistan continue to join us in the fight against al Qaeda and its affiliates.
The American people did not choose this fight. It came to our shores, and started with the senseless slaughter of our citizens. After nearly 10 years of service, struggle, and sacrifice, we know well the costs of war. These efforts weigh on me every time I, as Commander-in-Chief, have to sign a letter to a family that has lost a loved one, or look into the eyes of a service member who’s been gravely wounded.
So Americans understand the costs of war. Yet as a country, we will never tolerate our security being threatened, nor stand idly by when our people have been killed. We will be relentless in defense of our citizens and our friends and allies. We will be true to the values that make us who we are. And on nights like this one, we can say to those families who have lost loved ones to al Qaeda’s terror: Justice has been done.
Tonight, we give thanks to the countless intelligence and counterterrorism professionals who’ve worked tirelessly to achieve this outcome. The American people do not see their work, nor know their names. But tonight, they feel the satisfaction of their work and the result of their pursuit of justice.
We give thanks for the men who carried out this operation, for they exemplify the professionalism, patriotism, and unparalleled courage of those who serve our country. And they are part of a generation that has borne the heaviest share of the burden since that September day.
Finally, let me say to the families who lost loved ones on 9/11 that we have never forgotten your loss, nor wavered in our commitment to see that we do whatever it takes to prevent another attack on our shores.
And tonight, let us think back to the sense of unity that prevailed on 9/11. I know that it has, at times, frayed. Yet today’s achievement is a testament to the greatness of our country and the determination of the American people.
The cause of securing our country is not complete. But tonight, we are once again reminded that America can do whatever we set our mind to. That is the story of our history, whether it’s the pursuit of prosperity for our people, or the struggle for equality for all our citizens; our commitment to stand up for our values abroad, and our sacrifices to make the world a safer place.
Let us remember that we can do these things not just because of wealth or power, but because of who we are: one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
Thank you. May God bless you. And may God bless the United States of America.
END 11:44 P.M. EDTLearn more about Foreign Policy, Homeland Security“The President’s Speech” at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner
Posted byon May 1, 2011 at 12:07 PM EDTFull video of the President's remarks will be posted soon.
Last night, President Obama spoke at the 2011 White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner. At the annual event, the President joked about the year in politics, but also in the movies -- sharing that there is a sequel to the film the King’s Speech in the works that touches close to home. President Obama offered a sneak peak of the parody:
Closing on a serious note, the President spoke about the devastation in Alabama and the service and contributions of journalists:
We also need to remember our neighbors in Alabama and across the South that have been devastated by terrible storms from last week. (Applause.) Michelle and I were down there yesterday, and we’ve spent a lot of time with some of the folks who have been affected. The devastation is unimaginable and is heartbreaking and it’s going to be a long road back. And so we need to keep those Americans in our thoughts and in our prayers. But we also need to stand with them in the hard months and perhaps years to come.
Learn more about Additional IssuesWeekly Address: Ending Taxpayer Subsidies for Oil Companies
Posted byon April 30, 2011 at 5:30 AM EDTAt a time of high gas prices and massive oil industry profits, the President renews his call to end the $4 billion-per-year subsidies for oil and gas companies and invest in clean energy.
Read the Transcript | Download Video (mp4) | Download Audio (mp3)
Learn more about Economy, Energy & EnvironmentSupporting Stem Cell Research
Posted byon April 29, 2011 at 9:20 PM EDTToday, millions of Americans suffer from conditions like Alzheimer’s Parkinson’s and heart disease. And while we don’t know exactly what stem cell research will yield, scientists tell us that this research has the potential to help treat or cure these and many other diseases and conditions.
That’s why President Obama supports responsible stem cell research and it’s why we’re pleased with a court decision that paves the way for stem cell research to continue. Earlier today, a court ruled that a lawsuit challenging the federal government’s ability to support stem cell research was unlikely to succeed and allowed federally supported stem cell research to continue.
The ruling was a victory for scientists and the patients who will benefit from their work. And the ruling will help ensure our nation remains at the forefront of scientific and medical research and innovation. As President Obama said tonight to the students of Miami Dade College at their commencement
, “America will only be as strong as our pursuit of scientific research and our leadership in technology and innovation.”Stem cell research has the potential to cure diseases that have touched virtually every American family. We’re committed to realizing this potential and supporting responsible research that could develop new treatments, improve public health and deliver relief to patients in America and around the world.
Learn more about TechnologyWeekly Wrap Up: Egg Roll 2011
Posted byon April 29, 2011 at 5:58 PM EDTYour quick look at the week that was on WhiteHouse.gov.
Eggs, Actors, and Athletes: The First Family celebrated Easter by hosting the 133rd White House Easter Egg Roll on Monday. 30,000 people from all 50 states and the District of Columbia got to attend, and were welcomed by a day chock full of special events and activities. This year's theme was "Get Up and Go," in keeping with the First Lady's Let's Move! initiative.
Helping Storm Victims in the South: Violent storms struck a number of southern states this week, leaving hundreds dead and thousands more with devastated homes and communities. The President directed recovery efforts from the White House, and traveled to Alabama with the First Lady to meet with families and recovery leaders. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano was in St. Louis to survey the damage done to the airport and city. FEMA posted online resources for helping recovery workers and victims.
Learn more about Economy, Education, Energy & Environment, Family, Homeland Security, Rural, Technology, Urban Policy, Additional IssuesLive at 6:55: The President at Miami Dade College Commencement
Posted byon April 29, 2011 at 4:52 PM EDTWatch live beginning at 6:55 p.m. EDT as President Obama delivers the commencement address at Miami Dade College.
UPDATE: This event has now concluded.
Learn more about EducationThe President in Alabama: “We’re Going to Make Sure that You’re Not Forgotten”
Posted byon April 29, 2011 at 3:29 PM EDTEd. Note: Visit the FEMA blog to find ways to get assistance if you were affected by the recent storms.
The President stood with Alabama officials this afternoon to discuss what was clearly a sobering tour of Tuscaloosa (watch video from the tour):
Well, Michelle and I want to express, first of all, our deepest condolences to not just the city of Tuscaloosa but the state of Alabama and all the other states that have been affected by this unbelievable storm. We just took a tour, and I’ve got to say I’ve never seen devastation like this. It is heartbreaking. We were just talking to some residents here who were lucky enough to escape alive, but have lost everything. They mentioned that their neighbors had lost two of their grandchildren in the process.
There were stories like that not only all over town, but across the state and even the region, and the President praised the “resilience” of the people he had met even as they were surrounded by tragedy. He commended all the Alabama officials who have been working with the federal government and pledged that the work would continue well after the swarms of television cameras left:
Learn more about Homeland SecurityOver 1.25 Million White House Visitor Records Online
Posted byon April 29, 2011 at 3:25 PM EDTIn September 2009, the President announced that – for the first time in history – the White House would routinely release visitor records. Today, the White House releases visitor records that were generated in January 2011. Today’s release also includes several visitor records generated prior to September 16, 2009 that were requested by members of the public in March 2011 pursuant to the White House voluntary disclosure policy. This release brings the grand total of records that this White House has released to over 1.25 million records. You can view them all in our Disclosures section.
Learn more about EthicsJust a Few Hours Left to Weigh In on the Commencement Challenge
Posted byon April 29, 2011 at 2:25 PM EDTRating for the Race to the Top Commencement Challenge finalists will close TODAY at 11:59 p.m. EDT.
Visit WhiteHouse.gov/Commencement now to watch the finalists’ videos, read their essays, and give each finalist a rating on a scale of 1-5 (5 being the best). Your ratings will help us narrow down the pool to the top three finalists and President Obama will pick the winning school from the top three finalists.
Head over to WhiteHouse.gov/Commencement to submit your ratings now and be sure to check back on Monday, May 2 to find out which schools made the top three.
Learn more about EducationAn Historic Meeting at the White House with Memphis Sanitation Workers
Posted byon April 29, 2011 at 2:04 PM EDTCivil rights, economic and social justice, the rights of workers to bargain collectively...the air here at the White House was thick with these sentiments today.
They were brought to us by eight of the surviving members of the 1968 Memphis Sanitation Strike, who came to the White House today for the first time in their lives.
If that long-ago strike sticks out in your mind, it’s because Dr. Martin Luther King went to Memphis to support the almost entirely African-American sanitation workforce as they struck for union recognition, better pay, safer working conditions, and, fundamentally, respect.
It was there, on April 3, that Dr. King delivered his “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” speech.
And it was there, on April 4, when that amazing man was taken from us.
Please, if you do nothing else today, read (or reread) that speech. Read it to yourself, to your partner, to your parents and to your kids. You would be hard-pressed to find another document that so perfectly weaves together the beautiful yet all too fragile fabric of the historical struggle for basic human rights.
Secretary Napolitano Tours Storm Damage in St. Louis
Posted byon April 29, 2011 at 1:51 PM EDTEditor's Note: This was originally posted on The Department of Homeland Security blog.
The devastating storms and tornadoes that have swept across Missouri, Alabama and other parts of our nation this week are a vivid reminder that disasters of all kinds can strike at any time, and it is vital that all of us, including members of our nation's emergency management team and the American public, are prepared to act.
Yesterday, I traveled to St. Louis to tour the Lambert-St. Louis International Airport, which suffered severe damage when tornadoes struck the region last weekend. During my visit, I had the opportunity to meet with some of the heroic TSA workers who were on duty during the tornadoes and played a key role in helping the airport re-open quickly. Additionally, FEMA teams were already on-site to assess the damage and assist with the process of getting the airport fully functional again. At my direction, FEMA also has deployed personnel to the state’s emergency operation center to help coordinate assistance and work side-by-side with its state and local partners.
While in St. Louis, I also joined Secretary Arne Duncan and Missouri Governor Jay Nixon at Carnahan High School of the Future to participate in the Great Central U.S. ShakeOut--the largest-ever, multi-state earthquake drill to be held in the United States, and the first major drill to take place along the New Madrid Seismic Zone, which was the site of one of the worst earthquakes in U.S. history nearly 200 years ago. In total, 2,644 K-12 schools and 117 colleges participated in the ShakeOut, along with businesses, local, state and federal government agencies, child care centers, and many other organizations. The exercise will go a long way in helping us be prepared in the event of a major earthquake.
Learn more about Homeland SecurityWest Wing Week: "Final Adjustments"
Posted byon April 29, 2011 at 12:00 AM EDTWelcome to the West Wing Week, your guide to everything that's happening at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. This week, while the White House celebrated Easter, holding the traditional egg roll on the South Lawn, President Obama kept his focus on the nation's finances, working on short term and long term ways to get away from high gas prices. He also pledged support for Alabama and other states in the South hit by devastating storms and announced new key members of his National Security team.
Learn more about Civil Rights, Defense, Economy, Education, Energy & Environment, Family, Fiscal Responsibility, Foreign Policy, Immigration, Seniors & Social Security, Taxes, Additional IssuesTake Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day
Posted byon April 28, 2011 at 6:31 PM EDTToday is Take our Daughters and Sons to Work Day. The Executive Office of the President celebrated by encouraging staff to bring their children to work with them at the White House. Over 150 children took part in a program designed to encourage young people to explore the different paths they can take to create their own future. The theme for this year’s event was Invent Your Future: A Day at the White House for Tomorrow’s Leaders.
The day began with the children taking the same Oath of Office their parents took on their first day in the EOP. They were then treated to a slideshow presentation from the White House Photo Office, showing the President and Vice President at work in Washington, DC and around the country. The children also learned first-hand what it is like to work for the United States Secret Service, the National Park Service, the White House Pastry Chef, and the Office of Science and Technology Policy. The highlight of the event was a question and answer session with First Lady Michelle Obama, where the children asked about her job as First Lady, and First Mom. Some of the great questions included: What is her favorite sport (tennis); what is her first favorite book (Song of Solomon); and what is Bo’s favorite activity (walking the White House grounds or cuddling with the First Lady).
A special thanks to all those who helped the children of the EOP take another step toward inventing their future.
Hilary Alley is the Associate Director of the White House Office of Management and Administration.
Learn more about Family
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