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April 21, 2010
11:50 AM EDTWhat a difference a year makes. Just about a year ago, the American auto industry was on the brink of collapse. Today, General Motors announced that it has repaid its $6.7 billion loan to the U.S. government in full five years ahead of schedule, and Chrysler announced that, after taking one-time charges last year associated with its restructuring, it produced an operating profit in the first quarter of 2010 for the first time since the economic crisis began. The prospect of a faster than anticipated exit from government involvement and a return of most of the taxpayers’ investment in these companies has materially improved.
This turnaround wasn’t an accident of history. It was the result of considered and politically difficult decisions made by President Obama to provide GM and Chrysler – and indeed the auto industry – a lifeline, if they could demonstrate the will to reshape their businesses and chart a path toward long-term viability without ongoing government assistance.
In a new White House report (pdf), we look back at the distance that these companies and this industry have traveled over the past year. The conclusion I found most striking: In 2008, the American auto industry lost over 400,000 jobs and analysts estimated that at least 1 million more jobs could have been lost had GM and Chrysler liquidated. That didn’t happen. Instead, over the past nine months since GM and Chrysler emerged from bankruptcy, the industry has actually added 45,000 jobs – the strongest pace of job growth in the auto industry in nearly a decade.
This industry and our economy have a long way yet to go to repair the damage from this recession and return to full health. But the distance these companies and the auto industry have traveled over the past year is a bright spot on the road to recovery.
Lawrence H. Summers is Director of the National Economic Council
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Earlier this evening, the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association announced its intention to have all the Blue Cross Blue Shield plans in the country voluntarily extend coverage of adult children in all cases where coverage is set to expire because of age or loss of student status. That’s great news for the thousands of young adults set to graduate from college over the next few weeks.
While the new law doesn’t require insurers to take this step until September, Blue Cross Blue Shield joins a growing list of insurers choosing to do the right thing and adopt the policy right away. Other companies stepping up include Wellpoint, United Health, Kaiser Permanente, and Humana.
Just yesterday, Secretary Sebelius sent a letter to health insurers across the country urging them to voluntarily provide this benefit to their eligible customers ahead of the September date. We’re gratified to see so many agreeing to do so – and we know that thousands of young adults and their families are, too. It’s the right thing to do.
Dan Pfeiffer is White House Communications Director
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[UPDATE: This event has now concluded.]
[UPDATE: The Earth Day live chat with Carol Browner will now take place at 12:30 PM EDT on Thursday, April 22.]
Ed. Note: Tomorrow, Vice President Biden will kick off five days of Administration events around the 40th anniversary of Earth Day. As one of these events, Carol Browner, Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change, will join us at 12:30PM EDT [updated to reflect time change] Thursday via WhiteHouse.gov/live or Facebook to discuss making President Obama’s energy and climate change vision into a reality.
It has been three months since the last time we had a chance to chat with you about clean energy and climate change. Since then, President Obama has made significant progress towards building the foundation for a new clean energy economy. You can visit our Earth Day website for examples of recent progress toward the President’s goal of a future economy powered by clean energy technology and a diverse energy portfolio that increases our energy independence while reducing carbon pollution.
We hope you join us on Earth Day for an opportunity to discuss these critical issues and how the Administration is working to improve the environment, transform American infrastructure for greater energy-efficiency, and build a clean energy economy that supports the jobs of the future.
Heather Zichal is Deputy Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change.
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Enacting Wall Street reform is something President Obama has worked on since long before he took office, and he is committed to signing a bill that holds Wall Street accountable, protects and empowers American consumers with the strongest consumer protections ever, and ends taxpayer bailouts once and for all. Since the legislation making its way through Congress includes these major reforms, we're of course seeing special interests and their lobbyists working furiously to weaken or kill it in order to maintain a status quo that benefits them and their bottom line.
Just today, we learned that payday lenders have spent over $2 million on lobbying efforts in an attempt to exclude themselves and their practices from some of the reforms contained within this bill. This is an industry where some companies offer struggling families a loan to get through to their next paycheck, only to charge enormous interest rates over 400 percent. And they do this without any oversight for American consumers.
We cannot accept loopholes or carve outs for payday lenders. The President will not allow for these kinds of loopholes. Passing this legislation means enacting the strongest consumer financial protections ever and forcing payday lenders--just like credit card companies and banks with overdraft plans--to provide clear, understandable information so that Americans can make financial decisions that work best for them. At the end of the day, every American consumer should have the peace of mind of knowing that they are going to be treated fairly and that they’re not going to be hit with surprise terms, fees or charges by companies that extend them credit. The President is willing to have this fight, because he believes there's a clear choice in this debate, and that's whether to be on the side of the American people or on the side of the status quo.
If some in this industry want to spend their money trying to preserve deceptive and predatory lending practices, that’s their choice
Jen Psaki is Deputy Communications Director
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April 20, 2010
05:39 PM EDTDownload Video: mp4 (72MB)For those of us who were living and working here in Haiti on January 12th, our lives forever changed the moment the earth began to move. Burned into our collective memories are a deep rumbling, metal creaking, walls moving, glass shattering, ceilings caving in, stairs collapsing, the ground rippling, fear gripping. Some of us barely made it out alive; some of us did not make it out in time. In the immediate aftermath, I was fortunate enough to be among the staff at the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince who made our way through the rubble, the streets lined with drunken houses and poles, the clouds of dust, the flames, the bodies, the masses of injured people, to begin the U.S. Government’s swift and steady response to the earthquake. We offered critical relief and saved countless lives in those first hours and days, and now, we continue to provide aid and support for longer-term recovery and reconstruction efforts. In anticipation of her visit, I shared with the First Lady’s office some of the stories of the many survivors, heroes, and walking miracles in our midst.
The visit of First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden to Haiti on April 13th left a lasting impression, lifting everyone’s spirits in a way that will last beyond the few hours spent on the ground. This trip helped tell the story of how Haiti is healing and moving forward beyond the devastation and destruction, from the rehabilitation of displaced children through art, music, and dance at Plastimoun, to the reconstruction of classrooms, chairs, and desks at College St. Pierre, where students and teachers returned to class this week. We are especially grateful that Mrs. Obama and Dr. Biden took the time to recognize and appreciate the incredible efforts and sacrifices of those involved in the relief efforts, both civilian and military here at the Embassy, as well as the local NGO and international communities at the UN. We were deeply touched by her presence, her acknowledgement, and the sympathy and encouragement she offered. Many of us, our Haitian colleagues in particular, were moved to tears by the once-in-a-lifetime encounter and experience.
Still, the needs in Haiti are overwhelming, and the road to recovery is long. The rainy season officially began last week, and hurricane season is soon to follow. Currently, the U.S. Government is assisting with a massive resettlement effort to move hundreds of thousands of people from tent cities in flood-prone areas to more suitable transitional shelter with access to basic services, such as water and sanitation -- things that so many of us take for granted. But let us not give up hope that Haiti can succeed in the face of these seemingly insurmountable challenges. Instead, as the First Lady said when she was here, let us be “inspired by the resilience and the faith of the Haitian people -- people who have lost everything, except their belief that tomorrow can be a little bit better than today.” Please continue to help us honor America’s commitment to Haiti. One way you can contribute is through the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund. In doing so, you help honor the memory of all those whom we lost, and help find a way towards a better tomorrow for Haiti.
Mesi anpil d’Ayiti cherie… pa bliye nou!
Sonia Kim is an Economic and Political Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince, Haiti
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The President joined the rest of the nation in mourning Dorothy Height:
Michelle and I were deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Dorothy Height - the godmother of the Civil Rights Movement and a hero to so many Americans. Ever since she was denied entrance to college because the incoming class had already met its quota of two African American women, Dr. Height devoted her life to those struggling for equality. She led the National Council of Negro Women for 40 years, and served as the only woman at the highest level of the Civil Rights Movement - witnessing every march and milestone along the way. And even in the final weeks of her life – a time when anyone else would have enjoyed their well-earned rest – Dr. Height continued her fight to make our nation a more open and inclusive place for people of every race, gender, background and faith. Michelle and I offer our condolences to all those who knew and loved Dr. Height – and all those whose lives she touched.
The President welcomed Dorothy Height to the Roosevelt Room of the White House for a meeting on Martin Luther King Jr. Day this year:
President Barack Obama kisses Dr. Dorothy Height during a meeting on Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the Roosevelt Room of the White House. President Obama met with a group of African American seniors and their grandchildren on the legacy of the civil rights movement January 18, 2010. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
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Ed. Note: On Thursday at 1:00PM EDT, AARP President Jennie Chin Hansen and other health experts from HHS will take your questions in a live online chat about how reform will benefit Seniors. Submit your questions to healthreform@hhs.gov. Watch live at www.hhs.gov/live.
Many young adults under the age of 26 have traditionally had a difficult time getting access to – and affording – health coverage. In fact, young adults between 19 and 29 make up nearly one-third of the uninsured population. But thanks to a provision in the new health reform law, many Americans under 26 years old now have the option of staying on their parents’ health insurance plan starting this fall.
And that’s not all. As a result of conversations between the Administration and health insurers, we’ve worked with some major insurers like WellPoint, United Healthcare and others who have voluntarily decided to bridge the coverage gap between now and the fall, when the new law becomes effective.
This means that more young adults can stay on their parents’ plan – giving greater peace of mind to millions of American families and to a group of young people who have traditionally forgone health insurance.
HHS also sent a letter to all the major insurance companies, offering to work with each of them to expand this opportunity even further. The letter talks about closing the gap in coverage for college graduates or young adults whose birthday in 2010 made them ineligible to continue on their parents’ plans.
The new provision in the health reform law gives many young adults the security and stability they need to make choices about their next step in life, without having to worry about falling through the cracks of our health insurance system.We are glad that some insurers have announced that adult children will receive this helpful benefit before this September deadline, and we hope that others will join them.
You can read a copy of the letter below:
April 19, 2010
Dear _______:I am writing to urge you to join leading insurance carriers and employers in providing seamless insurance coverage to those under 26 who have a right to maintain coverage under their parents' policies effective for plan years beginning on or after September 23, 2010.
As you know, the Affordable Care Act enables young adults to remain on their parents' policies until they turn 26. This essential provision of the Act will enable young, overwhelmingly healthy people to stay in the insurance pool and retain insurance coverage at an important moment as they begin their adult lives and launch their careers.
Under the terms of the new law, this provision does not take effect until September 23, 2010. In those states which do not already enable young adults to remain on their parents policies until the age of 26, college students could be dis-enrolled when they graduate from college in May of this year, even though the law would provide them the opportunity to re-enroll as early as September 23, 2010. Similarly, those under 26 who are not in college but who reach an age disqualifying them for coverage under their parents' policy could be dis-enrolled when they reach that age, even though they have the right to be re-enrolled as early as September 23, 2010.
Enabling young adults to remain on their parents' policies between May, 2010 and the new plan year beginning on or after September 23, 2010, rather than dis-enrolling them in May and then re-enrolling them in six or more months, has substantial benefits for all involved. This action would enable young, overwhelmingly healthy people, who will not engender large health care costs, to stay in the insurance pool and retain important insurance coverage. Taking this step will also save money for your companies by avoiding the administrative costs of dis-enrolling and then re-enrolling young adults. Avoiding this gap would also eliminate an unnecessary inconvenience and disruption in health insurance coverage for both young adults and their parents.
I have been encouraged by and appreciate the willingness of some leading insurance carriers and employers that have previously agreed to maintain coverage for young adults who could be dis-enrolled in May. Taking this step is good business and will offer relief to grateful families across the country.
I look forward to hearing your thoughts regarding this matter by April 26, 2010. I hope you agree that a public-private effort, including both insurers and employers, to enable young adults to maintain seamless coverage would produce substantial benefits for all concerned.
Sincerely,
Kathleen Sebelius
Kathleen Sebelius is Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services
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Once again, opponents of reform have teamed up with a friend of Wall Street in attempt to add economic credibility to their widely debunked effort to portray their opposition to Wall Street Reform as based on principled objections to fictional perpetual bailouts, and not on their long-held allegiance with Wall Street demonstrated most vividly by their “call to arms” with more than 100 Wall Street lobbyists a few months ago.
Larry Lindsey, a former Bush appointee and a former Enron consultant, put out a memo this weekend in conjunction with House Republicans that may sound familiar because it reads from the same Wall Street drafted talking points that we have heard for the last week. He even goes so far as to claim that the bill is being “rushed to the floor.” If more than a year of discussion, meetings and public debate about the best way for Wall Street reform to happen isn’t enough for Larry Lindsey, we may be waiting long enough for another crisis to hit before he is satisfied with the timeline. As Republican Senator Bob Corker said in lamenting the fact that his party had not supported bipartisan efforts to address Wall Street Reform, "this is an issue that almost every American wants to see passed."
For the meantime, so long as Republicans prefer to work with Wall Street to block reform rather than work with the President to pass it, we will need to continue to correct the record. So let’s take a quick look through their memo to debunk it piece by piece:
FICTION:
Lindsey Memo: “To date, public attention has focused on whether the bill is a “bailout” bill that will keep “too big to fail” alive. You be the judge. First, the bill contains a $50 billion fund for resolution of systemically risky institutions. “
FACT:
Nobody made that argument until Wall Street lobbyists decided that it was the best way to kill financial reform. The most important principle is that large financial firms – not the taxpayers – bear any costs associated with the failure of another large financial firm. Chairman Dodd’s bill meets that test. If a big financial firm fails, it is put into receivership, its shareholders are wiped out, its creditors are allowed to suffer losses, its management is fired. Taxpayers are completely protected.FICTION:
Lindsey Memo: “The bill allows a 2/3 vote of the Financial Stability Oversight Council to deem any firm (financial or non-financial) as coming under its rubric and then authorizes the FDIC and Treasury Secretary to treat each of the firm’s shareholders and creditors as they choose, without regard to bankruptcy law.”
FACT:
Wrong on all the facts. First, only large financial firms whose failure could pose a serious threat to the U.S. economy would be subject to the bill’s enhanced bankruptcy-like process. Second, similar to a standard bankruptcy, creditors' rights will be respected in accordance with their statutory priorities. But make no mistake, under the bill, failed financial firms will be sold off, broken apart, or otherwise liquidated; culpable management will be fired, creditors will be allowed to suffer losses, and shareholders will be wiped out. This is no bailout.FICTION:
Lindsey Memo: “Second, the bill gives the Treasury and the FDIC authority to grant an unlimited number of loan guarantees to systemically risky institutions. No Congressional authorization or appropriation is required.”
FACT:
Completely false. The bill restricts, not expands, the FDIC’s emergency guarantee authorities. The FDIC’s emergency authorities are restricted only to solvent firms and they are designed to keep the economy as a whole from collapsing in a financial panic. Those authorities can only be used during a financial crisis and after Congress has been given an opportunity to disapprove the use of the authority.FICTION:
Lindsey Memo: “Third, the bill gives the Fed the authority to fund any “program” to assist these institutions accepting as collateral anything it deems appropriate.“
FACT:
Just not true. The bill would restrict the Federal Reserve’s emergency lending authority, requiring prior written approval by the Treasury Secretary and robust Congressional reporting requirements. Second, the bill, in unequivocal terms, states that the Federal Reserve may not use its 13(3) lending authorities to “aid a failing financial company” and requires that the collateral received for any such emergency loans be of “sufficient quality to protect taxpayers from losses.”FICTION:
Lindsey Memo: “Needless to say, the large Wall Street firms aren’t complaining; they will permanently benefit from having lower borrowing costs thanks to these provisions, the same way Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac enjoyed implicit guarantees.”
FACT:
This criticism has it backward. Today, large financial firms benefit from the perception that they are “Too Big to Fail.” Because we lack the tools to shut down big, complex financial firms without putting the financial system at risk, the market assumes that the government will prop them up. And as a result, they have lower borrowing costs. This bill will put an end to that. Under this bill, the “implicit guarantee” that comes with being a large, complex financial firm goes away forever. And you don’t have to take our word for it: a recent Moody’s report acknowledged that the “greatest threat” to too-big-to-fail is “from pending legislative proposals that would allow the government to resolve failing but systemically important financial institutions.” This is serious reform.FICTION:
Lindsey Memo: “The soon-to-be-released Derivatives section requires virtually all derivatives trading to be channeled through exchanges. While appropriate for some contracts, a lot of Derivative contracts are fairly esoteric, and like highly specialized corporate bond issues, unlikely to face a liquid market. That is why they are traded over the counter. It is important to note that some over the counter derivatives transactions, like corporate bond transactions, can be cleared safely while others are appropriately done bilaterally.”
FACT:
This bill brings derivatives trading out of the dark. The unregulated OTC derivatives markets were at the center of the recent financial crisis. The Wall Street banks that dominate this market want to keep it unregulated so they can make money off regular firms. This bill will bring transparency to that market and reduce the risk to the larger financial system by requiring tough standards for all derivatives dealers and major market participants, requiring trading and clearing for standardized and liquid contracts, and giving full authority to prevent market manipulation, fraud, and abuse. At the same time, the bill protects the ability of commercial companies to manage the risks that naturally arise in their businesses through customized contracts.FICTION:
Lindsey Memo: ”The legislation mandates a six-month study of the Volcker rule by the Financial Stability Oversight Council followed by a nine-month period for the regulatory agencies to implement the results of the study. No Congressional review – the regulatory agencies’ interpretation of the committee findings are implemented directly through the Administrative Law process.”
FACT:
The bill will separate proprietary trading and hedge funds from deposit insurance and other services that are provided to banks to protect the important role of banking firms in the economy as providers of credit to businesses and consumers and to protect American families’ savings. The purpose of the study is to make sure the rule is implemented well. That's common sense.FICTION:
Lindsey Memo: “The Financial Regulation reform bill is being rushed to the Senate floor, possibly as early as next week. Formal bipartisan negotiations on a number of issues were ended, reportedly at the request of the White House, although informal conversations are still proceeding.”
FACT:
For more than a year the Administration and members of Congress has been involved in a bipartisan discussion and public debate about the best way to reform Wall Street. The Administration released a comprehensive policy proposal and detailed legislation in the spring and summer of 2009. The White House has been unwavering in its desire to move forward on a bipartisan basis to common sense reform that will restore accountability on Wall Street, end taxpayer bailouts, and place the financial system back on a sound foundation for growth and prosperity for all Americans. Only in Washington could people still argue for delay more than two years after the start of the worst financial crisis in generations.FICTION:
Lindsey Memo: “Labor gets ‘Proxy Access’ to bring its agenda items before shareholders as well as annual “say on pay” for executives.”
FACT:
These reforms would benefit every American whose savings, retirement account or pension fund is invested in the stock market. After a decade that began with Enron and Tyco, and closed with Lehman Brothers and AIG, it is difficult to believe that anyone would argue against giving shareholders a voice with respect to executive pay – or say that the SEC should not have the authority to let shareholders meeting reasonable ownership thresholds propose alternative board candidates. Shareholders are the owners. A basic principle is that they should have the ability to hold management and boards accountable. Giving shareholders a "say on pay" will help to ensure that compensation practices are aligned with the long-term interests of shareholders, not based on short-term profits that lead to irresponsible risk taking.FICTION:
Lindsey Memo: “Consumer activists get a brand new agency funded directly out of the seignorage the Fed earns. No oversight by the Federal Reserve Board or by the Congress on how the money is spent. This is the first known Congressional raid on Fed cash flow to fund projects without oversight.”
FACT:
The consumer financial protection agency would put consumers back in the driver’s seat by forcing big banks and credit card companies to provide clear, understandable information so that Americans can make financial decisions that work best for them. We already tried putting the bank regulators in charge of preventing unfair bank practices. That system failed, allowing the big banks, credit card companies, and auto lenders to take advantage of millions of consumers. We need an agency that is independent, with the sole job of protecting American families from abusive financial practices and writing and enforcing clear rules of the road. In addition to supervising financial firms, the agency will have a critical role in improving financial literacy, running a single consumer complaint center, and monitoring the marketplace for new consumer protection problems.The consumer agency will be subject to significant oversight, including annual audits and regular reports and testimony to Congress on its budget, rulewriting, and other activities. Its maximum budget will be capped, and the agency will be required to submit financial operating plans, quarterly financial statements, and forecasts to OMB.
Learn more about the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.
Jen Psaki is Deputy Communications Director
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Growing up on a ranch in the San Luis Valley of Colorado, my parents taught me the importance of hard work, getting an education, and protecting the natural resources that were the source of our livelihood. Because of their encouragement, my brothers and sisters and I– all eight of us - became first-generation college graduates.
Today, our youth face high unemployment rates, rising health risks such as childhood obesity, and less time spent in the great outdoors. The unemployment crisis facing today’s youth is particularly acute in the African-American and Hispanic communities.
This afternoon, I spoke at the National Capitol Forum on Hispanic Higher Education, hosted by the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU), about preparing our nation’s youth – particularly Hispanic youth - for the clean energy jobs of the future.
The Department of the Interior provides thousands of jobs protecting, conserving and restoring our nation’s natural resources and building a new foundation for the clean energy economy of tomorrow. And, over the next seven years, 40% of our Interior’s workforce will retire. This presents us with both a challenge and an opportunity. As youth face unprecedented unemployment rates, young Americans are in a unique position to find work in America’s Great Outdoors. The Department of Interior is leading the charge, putting thousands of young people to work, especially during the summer, when they need jobs the most.
But we need to do more than just provide young people with a job; we need to provide them with a career path. Under President Obama’s leadership, building the new clean energy economy will help provide these careers while making America more competitive in the global marketplace. Working with HACU member institutions, we are developing a Conservation Curriculum for colleges and universities that will build a pathway to green careers with a special emphasis on young Latinos and Latinas.
Partnerships like this one will help diversity the workforce for green agencies like Interior, but will also help diversity the clean energy workforce of the future.
Ken Salazar is Secretary of the Interior
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This afternoon before the press briefing with Press Secretary Gibbs, Vice President Biden discussed the news that Iraqi security forces and U.S. forces killed the two most senior leaders of al Qaeda Iraq during a series of joint security operations. The Vice President called this morning’s events an “extremely important development in Iraq.”
The former leaders of AQI are the ones who plotted, planned, and executed terrorist attacks against the Iraqis in recent past, as well as against Americans. Their deaths are potentially devastating blows to al Qaeda Iraq. But equally important, in my view, is this action demonstrates the improved security strength and capacity of Iraqi security forces. The Iraqis led this operation, and it was based on intelligence the Iraqi security forces themselves developed following their capture of a senior AQI leader last month.
In short, the Iraqis have taken the lead in securing Iraq and its citizens by taking out both of these individuals. This counterterrorism operation is the culmination of a lot of cooperation and very hard work by Iraqi and U.S. forces to degrade AQI over the past several months and years.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of the U.S. soldier who was killed while supporting this assault. I apologize. I hate to mention the death of an individual American without mentioning their name because I don’t want it to sound like it’s just a line. But the family has not been informed yet, and that’s the only reason I’m not releasing the name of this young hero.
Vice President Joe Biden gives a statement on the death of two Al Qaeda leaders in Iraq, in the press briefing room of the White House, April 19, 2010. (Official White House Photo by David Lienemann)
The Vice President thanked the troops and civilians who are serving in Iraq and reaffirmed that the U.S. remains “committed to end our combat mission in Iraq this summer.”
As we complete this security transition, we will continue to work to build a lasting partnership with the Iraqi people and their government based on the many shared interests we have that go beyond the military cooperation we’ve had of late, including the economy, education, cultural exchanges, and the development of a strong economy for Iraq.
For today, I want to mark this important milestone as the Iraqi people stand up to those who would deny them peace, freedom, as well as security. There will be more difficult days ahead, but this operation is evidence, in my view, that the future of Iraq will not be shaped by those who seek to destroy that country, but belong to those who are building a strong and unified Iraq as I’m confident the Iraqis will do.
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The guiding principle of health reform was simple: put American families and small businesses – not the health insurance companies – in charge of their own health care.
One of the immediate benefits of the health reform legislation signed by the President is a substantial tax credit for small businesses, designed to help them offer health insurance coverage for the first time or maintain coverage they already have. The tax credit takes effect this year, so we want to make sure word gets out to small business owners far and wide.
That’s why today the Internal Revenue Service today began mailing postcards to more than four million small businesses and tax-exempt organizations to make them aware of the tax credit.
Businesses aren’t required to provide coverage, but what we’ve heard over and over from small business owners is that they want to provide coverage but just can’t afford it – for them and their employees, this tax credit can be a tremendous help, but only if they know to take advantage of it!
The IRS postcard mailing is intended to get the attention of small employers and encourage them to find out more. We urge every small employer to take advantage of this credit if they qualify. In general, the credit is available to small employers that pay at least half the cost of single coverage for their employees in 2010. The credit is specifically targeted to help small businesses and tax-exempt organizations that primarily employ low- and moderate-income workers.
Of course, now that you’re here on WhiteHouse.gov, we encourage you to learn more, including who qualifies and for how much, from the small business page of our Health Reform section.
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Cross-posted from the DOT Blog.
This past weekend, I had the honor of visiting a Federal Aviation Administration team supporting Haiti's heroic redevelopment efforts.
It's been three months since a 7.0 magnitude earthquake devastated Haiti. While the emergency relief efforts may have subsided, and Haiti is no longer be front-page news in America, the Haitian people have a long road ahead.
I can't even begin to convey the scope of the work necessary. Rebuilding their infrastructure will take years.
So where we can, we must help.
That's why I am so proud of the crew I met in Haiti from the FAA. These men left their families behind shortly after the earthquake to install and man a portable air traffic control tower at Port Au Prince.
And three months later, they remain in-country, continuing to lend their critical expertise and assistance.
I want to thank the FAA team for showing me their quarters, a plywood structure next to the tower. I know the bunk beds the guys have been sleeping in are a far cry from their stateside homes, and I appreciate what they've given up to help keep supplies and rebuilding materials flying into Haiti.
Secretary LaHood touring the FAA bunkhouse in the shadow of the Port Au Prince portable control tower. April 19, 2010. (by Byron Black)
During my visit, I met with the U.S. Ambassador to Haiti, Kenneth Merten. Together, we met with Haitian transportation officials and discussed the transportation challenges they're facing as they work to rebuild their nation.So DOT will send aviation, maritime, and highway experts to help assess Haiti's transportation needs. I am hopeful those experts can be on their way to Haiti within 30 days.
Flying into Haiti over Port Au Prince, I could see the bright blue tarps of the tent cities people are living in because their homes were destroyed. It’s no surprise that Haitian President Rene Preval has said it may take three years just to remove the rubble from the destruction, and only then can the nation begin to rebuild in earnest. DOT will do what we can to support this difficult process.
As Eduardo Almeida, head of the Inter American Development Bank in Haiti, told CBS anchor Katie Couric, "We have to understand that each one of us, and each one of our institutions, are here to put a stone in the wall that's going to be built."
I'm grateful that the Obama Administration has the resources to put a stone or two into that wall.
Ray LaHood is the Secretary of Transportation
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On Friday the President issued a Proclamation deeming today National Day of Service and Remembrance for Victims and Survivors of Terrorism. The attack on Oklahoma City happened on April 19, 1995:
Presidential Proclamation- National Day of Service and Remembrance for Victims and Survivors of Terrorism
NATIONAL DAY OF SERVICE AND REMEMBRANCE FOR VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS OF TERRORISM, 2010
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATIONThere is no greater evil than willful violence against innocents. On this National Day of Service and Remembrance for Victims and Survivors of Terrorism, we pause to remember victims of terrorism at home and abroad, we honor the heroes who have supported them, and we redouble our efforts to build the kind of world that is worthy of their legacy.
Fifteen years ago, terrorists bombed the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, killing over 160 men, women, and children, and injuring hundreds more. Even before the dust settled, heroes had emerged. First responders, medical professionals, clergy, relief organizations, local leaders, and everyday citizens stepped forward to help victims and their families. Again, when terrorists struck on September 11, 2001, and thousands of Americans –- and scores of foreign nationals --perished in New York City, at the Pentagon, and in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, Americans made a historic effort to assist all those affected. The dignity of those who were attacked -- and the courage of those who came to their aid -- reaffirmed the strength of our Nation, and the human spirit.
Terrorists prey on the innocent and vulnerable, and have nothing to offer except hatred and destruction. No cause justifies their actions, yet they have claimed many victims around the world. Wherever they kidnap or kill, they reveal only their own bankrupt vision, and disrupt or destroy lives. Their actions impact not only their victims, but the families, friends, and fellow citizens of those who are targeted.
Survivors of terrorism and their families, though bound at first by anguish and loss, are united by extraordinary acts of courage, love, faith, and commitment. They have risen against terrorism in the aftermath of the Oklahoma City bombing, the September 11 attacks, and other incidents of violence around the world. They are giving a voice to victims, speaking out against violent and extremist ideologies, easing the suffering of survivors, and helping them heal and hope once more.
Today, let us honor the good works of this inspiring movement that shows us that hope is more powerful than fear, and recognize the sacrifice of extraordinary citizens worldwide who have shown fortitude in the face of unspeakable tragedy.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim April 19, 2010, as National Day of Service and Remembrance for Victims and Survivors of Terrorism. I call upon all departments, agencies, and instrumentalities of the United States to display the flag of the United States at half staff on this day in honor of the individuals who lost their lives as a result of terrorism. I invite the Governors of the United States and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and interested organizations and individuals to join in this observance. I encourage all Americans to observe this solemn day of remembrance with appropriate ceremonies, activities, and acts of community service in memory of the victims and survivors of terrorism worldwide.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this sixteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand ten, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fourth.
BARACK OBAMA
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The President releases a statement on his regret that he cannot make it to Poland:
I spoke with acting President Komorowski and told him that I regret that I will not be able to make it to Poland due to the volcanic ash that is disrupting air travel over Europe. Michelle and I continue to have the Polish people in our thoughts and prayers, and will support them in any way I can as they recover from this terrible tragedy. President Kaczynski was a patriot and close friend and ally of the United States, as were those who died alongside him, and the American people will never forget the lives they led.
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The strongest consumer protections ever. Bringing transparency to financial dealings. Closing loopholes to stop recklessness and irresponsibility. Holding Wall Street accountable and giving shareholders new power in the financial system. President Obama lays out what Wall Street Reform is about, and questions whether opposition from the Senate Republican Leader might have something to do with his recent meeting with Wall Street executives.
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This afternoon, before beginning a meeting with the President Economic Recovery Advisory Board, President Obama described the coming debate over Wall Street Reform in stark terms. The President said, "I hope that we can pass a bipartisan bill. Bipartisanship cannot mean simply allowing lobbyist-driven loopholes that put American taxpayers at risk." Leaving no doubt that he was serious, when asked whether he would veto legislation that did not reign in derivatives and other risky ventures that massive banks gamble with, he answered, "I will veto legislation that does not bring the derivatives market under control and some sort of regulatory framework that assures that we don’t have the same kind of crises that we’ve seen in the past."
He explained that the time is over when big banks can bend government to their will:
We can’t allow history to repeat itself. Never again should American taxpayers be forced to step in and pay the price for the responsibility of speculators on Wall Street who made risky bets with the expectation that taxpayers would be there to break their fall. And we can’t leave in place a tattered set of rules that will allow another crisis to develop without the tools to deal with it. And that’s why I expect that we are going to have a strong reform proposal that demands new accountability from Wall Street and provides new protections for consumers.
This is reform that will force banks and financial institutions to pay for bad decisions that they make, and not have taxpayers pay for those bad decisions. And that means no more bailouts.
This reform would also bring new transparency and accountability to the derivatives market, and this is something that Paul Volcker spoke publicly about just the other week. The derivatives market is where a lot of the big, risky financial bets by companies like AIG took place. There are literally trillions of dollars sloshing around this market that basically changes hands under the cover of darkness. When things go wrong, as they did in AIG, they can bring down the entire economy, and that’s why we’ve got to bring more transparency and oversight when it comes to derivatives and bring them into a framework in which everybody knows exactly what’s going on, because we can’t afford another AIG.
Now, let’s be honest. Some in the industry are not happy with the prospect of these reforms. We’ve seen the usual army of lobbyists dispatched up on Capitol Hill. They have found some willing allies on the other side of the aisle in Congress who have been trying to carve out a lot of exceptions and special loopholes so that folks on Wall Street can keep making these risky bets without any oversight.
I hope that we can pass a bipartisan bill. Bipartisanship cannot mean simply allowing lobbyist-driven loopholes that put American taxpayers at risk. That would not be real reform.
So in the coming weeks, every member of Congress is going to have to make a decision: Are they going to side with the special interests and the status quo, or are they going to side with the American people? And anyone who opposes this reform is going to be leaving taxpayers on the hook if a crisis like the one that we’ve just seen ever happens again. And I consider that unacceptable.
President Barack Obama listens the discussion during a meeting with the President's Economic Recovery Advisory Board in the Roosevelt Room of the White House. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke is seated at left and Paul Volcker, Chair of the President's Economic Recovery Advisory Board, is at right. April 16, 2010. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
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President Obama signed a Presidential Memorandum launching the America’s Great Outdoors Initiative today, which focuses on promoting community-level efforts to conserve outdoor spaces. As part of the initiative, members of the administration will host regional sessions with groups and individuals across the country to discuss ideas on how to protect America’s natural landscape and form a 21st century strategy conservation agenda.
The President said that the initiative is not a “big federal agenda being driven out of Washington,” but an effort to collect the best ideas on conservation that local communities support and reconnect Americans to the outdoors. He explained that the initiative will build on successful conservation efforts being lead by local and state governments, tribes, and private groups, while helping farmers, ranchers, and property owners to protect their lands. The outdoors initiative will also help families spend more time outdoors by building on the First Lady’s Let’s Move initiative.
America’s Great Outdoors Initiative will be lead by the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Chair of the Council of Environmental Quality. They will work in coordination with the Departments of Defense, Commerce, Housing and Urban Development, Health and Human Services, Labor, Transportation, Education, and the Office of Management and Budget.
President Barack Obama signs a presidential memorandum at the America's Great Outdoors Conference at the Department of the Interior in Washington, D.C. Watching, from left, are Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality Nancy Sutley, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa P. Jackson, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, Assistant Secretary of the Army Jo-Ellen Darcy, Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere Jane Lubchenco, and Deputy Undersecretary of Defense Dr. Dorothy Robyn. April 16, 2010. (Official White House Photo by Samantha Appleton)
The initiative follows a public lands bill that the President signed into law last year that designated 2 acres of wilderness, over 1,000 miles of wild and scenic rivers, and three national parks, marking the most significant lands bill in decades.
The President reflected on Theodore Roosevelt’s commitment to the outdoors and “legacy of conservation that still enhances our lives.”
[W]e are working faithfully to carry on the legacy of Teddy Roosevelt in the 21st century. But we also know that we must adapt our strategies to meet the new challenges of our time. Over the last century, our population grew from about 90 million to 300 million people, and as it did, we lost more and more of our natural landscape to development. Meanwhile, a host of other factors –- from a changing climate to new sources of pollution -– have put a growing strain on our wildlife and our waters and our lands.
So rising to meet these challenges is a task and an obligation, but it’s one that government cannot and should not meet alone. There are roughly 1,600 privately run land trusts in this country that have protected over 10 million acres through voluntary efforts. And by working with farmers and ranchers and landowners, the Department of Agriculture’s Conservation Reserve Program has protected over 30 million acres, and its Natural Resource Conservation Service -– a service that is 75 years old this year –- has protected almost 3 million more. So together, we are conserving our working lands in a way that preserves the environment and protects local communities.
President Obama followed in Roosevelt's footsteps on a trip to Yellowstone National Park last summer, a longtime tradition of American Presidents. Watch footage of the First Family's visit to Yellowstone.
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The President gives his support to those rallying to give voting representation to residents of the Nation's Capital:
On this occasion, we remember the day in 1862 when President Lincoln freed the enslaved people of Washington, DC – nine months before he issued the Emancipation Proclamation. I am proud that an original copy of that document now hangs in the Oval Office, and we remain forever grateful as a nation for the struggles and sacrifices of those Americans who made that emancipation possible.
Americans from all walks of life are gathering in Washington today to remind members of Congress that although DC residents pay federal taxes and serve honorably in our armed services, they do not have a vote in Congress or full autonomy over local issues. And so I urge Congress to finally pass legislation that provides DC residents with voting representation and to take steps to improve the Home Rule Charter.
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As we noted earlier this week, the attacks from some quarters that the President’s Wall Street Reform proposal somehow opens the door to perpetual bailouts comes straight out of a now-infamous polling memo on how to defeat reform by pretending it doesn’t go far enough. A column from Paul Krugman in the New York Times today explains why this not only empty poll-driven rhetoric, but an absurd case of up-is-downism:
On Tuesday, Mitch McConnell, the Senate minority leader, called for the abolition of municipal fire departments.
Firefighters, he declared, “won’t solve the problems that led to recent fires. They will make them worse.” The existence of fire departments, he went on, “not only allows for taxpayer-funded bailouts of burning buildings; it institutionalizes them.” He concluded, “The way to solve this problem is to let the people who make the mistakes that lead to fires pay for them. We won’t solve this problem until the biggest buildings are allowed to burn.”
O.K., I fibbed a bit. Mr. McConnell said almost everything I attributed to him, but he was talking about financial reform, not fire reform. In particular, he was objecting not to the existence of fire departments, but to legislation that would give the government the power to seize and restructure failing financial institutions.
But it amounts to the same thing.
If there is a position that supports perpetual bailouts, it is protecting the status quo, where without reform government will be forced to make the awful choice between helping banks and letting the economy collapse over and over again. That's what led financial reporter John Harwood to say that "Senator McConnell’s argument is a little silly when you look at the text of the bill." So let's do exactly that and leave no doubt about who is really fighting to prevent the need for any more bailouts:
1) “This bill not only allows for taxpayer-funded bailouts of Wall Street banks; it institutionalizes them.”
Incorrect: Under Chairman Dodd’s bill major failed financial firms will be sold off, broken apart, or otherwise liquidated; management will be fired, creditors will suffer losses, and shareholders will be wiped out. Wall Street, not taxpayers, will pay for any losses.
Chairman Dodd’s bill specifically prohibits the use of any funds for “bailing out” financial institutions. Under Chairman Dodd’s proposed resolution authority, large, interconnected financial firms facing insolvency would be sold off, broken apart, or otherwise liquidated over a limited time period. In that process, culpable management would be replaced, shareholders would suffer losses, and there will be clear authority to impose losses on unsecured creditors in accordance with the priority of claim provisions in the bill. . In addition, by requiring post-resolution assessments on the financial industry to recoup any losses, Chairman Dodd’s bill makes it absolutely clear that large financial firms – not taxpayers – would bear any costs associated with the resolution of a failed financial firm.
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Must liquidate. Section 210(a)(1)(D) of the bill passed by the Senate Banking Committee (page 145, as modified by the Manager’s Amendment on page 54, line 16).
The Corporation shall, as receiver for a covered financial company, and subject to all legally enforceable and perfected security interests and all legally enforceable security entitlements in respect of assets held by the covered financial company, liquidate, and wind-up the affairs of a covered financial company, including taking steps to realize upon the assets of the covered financial company, in such manner as the Corporation deems appropriate, including through the sale of assets, the transfer of assets to a bridge financial company established under subsection (h), or the exercise of any other rights or privileges granted to the receiver under this section.
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Mandatory terms and conditions--wipe out shareholders, fire management, creditors suffer losses; Section 206; Page 140, lines 3-19.
“In taking action under this title, the Corporation shall—
(1) determine that such action is necessary for purposes of the financial stability of the United States, and not for the purpose of preserving the covered financial company;
(2) ensure that the shareholders of a covered financial company do not receive payment until after all other claims and the Fund are fully paid;
(3) ensure that unsecured creditors bear losses in accordance with the priority of claim provisions in section 210; and
(4) ensure that management responsible for the failed condition of the covered financial company is removed (if such management has not already been removed at the time at which the Corporation is appointed receiver).”
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Financial industry held responsible for any losses; subparagraph (C) of Section 210(o)(1); Page 280, line 8 to Page 281, line 2.
“(C) Additional Assessments. The Corporation shall charge one or more risk-based assessments in accordance with the provisions of subparagraph (E), if—
(i) the Fund falls below the target size after the initial capitalization period, in order to restore the Fund to the target size over a period of time determined by the Corporation;
(ii) the Corporation is appointed receiver for a covered financial company and the Fund incurs a loss during the initial capitalization period with respect to that covered financial company; or
(iii) such assessments are necessary to pay in full the obligations issued by the Corporation to the Secretary within 60 months of the date of issuance of such obligations.
2) “The bill gives the Federal Reserve enhanced emergency lending authority that is far too open to abuse.”
Incorrect: The Federal Reserve’s emergency lending authorities are restricted, not expanded, under Chairman Dodd’s bill.
Chairman Dodd’s bill eliminates the ability of the Federal Reserve to provide firm-specific assistance, requires prior approval from Treasury of any emergency lending program, and imposes strict congressional reporting requirements. Under Chairman Dodd’s bill, the Federal Reserve may not use its emergency authorities to aid failing financial firms, and those authorities will be subject to new approvals and significant reporting to Congress.
Chairman Dodd’s bill, in unequivocal terms, states that the Federal Reserve may not use its 13(3) lending authorities to “aid a failing financial company” and requires that the collateral received for any such emergency loans be of “sufficient quality to protect taxpayers from losses.” Failing firms will receive no protection from the emergency lending authorities of the Federal Reserve.
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No aid to a failing financial firm; Section 1151; Page 1304, lines 1-8. “Such policies and procedures shall be designed to ensure that any emergency lending program or facility is for the purpose of providing liquidity to the financial system, and not to aid a failing financial company, and that the collateral for emergency loans is of sufficient quality to protect taxpayers from losses.”
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Treasury approval prior to using emergency authorities; Section 1151; Page 1304, line 9-12. “The Board may not establish any program or facility under this paragraph without the prior approval of the Secretary of the Treasury.”
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Enhanced congressional reporting requirements; Section 1151; Pages 1304, line 12 to 1308, line 17.
“The Board shall provide to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Financial Services of the House of Representatives—
(i) not later than 7 days after providing any loan or other financial assistance under this paragraph, a report that includes—
(I) the justification for the exercise of authority to provide such assistance;
(II) the identity of the recipients of such assistance, subject to subparagraph (D);
(III) the date and amount of the assistance, and form in which the assistance was provided; and
(IV) the material terms of the assistance, including—(aa) duration;
(bb) collateral pledged and the value thereof;
(cc) all interest, fees, and other revenue or items of value to be received in exchange for the assistance;
(dd) any requirements imposed on the recipient with respect to employee compensation,
19 distribution of dividends, or any other corporate decision in exchange for the assistance; and
(ee) the expected costs to the taxpayers of such assistance; and(ii) once every 30 days, with respect to any outstanding loan or other financial assistance under this paragraph, written updates on—
(I) the value of collateral;
(II) the amount of interest, fees, and other revenue or items of value received in exchange for the assistance; and
(III) the expected or final cost to the taxpayers of such assistance.(D)(i) The Board shall disclose, not later than 1 year after the date on which assistance was first received under the facility, unless the Board determines that such disclosure likely would reduce the effectiveness of the program or facility in addressing or mitigating the financial market disruptions, financial market conditions, or other unusual and exigent circumstances sought to be addressed or mitigated by the program or facility, or would otherwise have a significant effect on the economic or financial market conditions—
(I) the identity of the participants in an emergency lending program or facility commenced under this paragraph after the date of enactment of the Restoring American Financial Stability Act of 2010;
(II) the amounts borrowed by each participant in any such program or facility and
(III) identifying details concerning the assets or collateral held by, under, or in connection with such a program or facility within 1 year of the date on which assistance was first received under the program or facility.(ii) If the Board determines not to make the disclosures required in clause (i) within 1 year of the date on which a participant first received under a program or facility, then the Board shall—
‘‘(I) provide to the Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs and the Committee on Financial Services a written report explaining the reasons for delaying the disclosures about such program or facility within 30 days of making such a determination; and
‘(II) provide to the Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs and the Committee on Financial Services each year thereafter a written report explaining the reasons for continuing to delay disclosure, until the disclosures are complete.(iii) The disclosures required in clause (i) shall be made not later than 12 months after the effective date of the termination of the facility by the Board.
(iv) If the Board determines not to make the disclosures required in clause (i), then the Comptroller General shall issue a report to the Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs and the Committee on Financial Services evaluating whether that determination is reasonable.’’
3. “…the mere existence of this fund will ensure that it gets used. And one it’s used up, taxpayers will be asked to cover the balance. This is precisely the wrong approach.”
Incorrect. Under Chairman Dodd’s bill, FDIC and Treasury may only use the resolution authorities to protect the U.S. taxpayer from a financial crisis in connection with the failure of a major financial firm; and they have no authority to use the Orderly Liquidation Fund for any other purpose.
First, the bill provides no authority whatsoever for Treasury or the FDIC to expend funds from the Orderly Liquidation Fund, other than in exercising the resolution authority established in Title II of the bill – that is, only in connection with the resolution of a failed financial firm. There would be no reason and no authority to “use” the funds other than for their intended purpose.
Second, the bill mandates that financial firms be assessed fees to establish a $50 billion resolution fund. And the bill mandates that, if the costs of resolving a financial firm exceed that amount, the additional costs will be paid by additional fees assessed on the largest financial institutions so that Wall Street, not taxpayers, will pay the price of financial failure.
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Use of Orderly Liquidation Fund is limited to winding down failed firms; Section 210(n)(1); Page 272, line 21 to Page 273, line 6.
“There is established in the Treasury of the United States a separate fund to be known as the ‘‘Orderly Liquidation Fund’’, which shall be available to the Corporation to carry out the authorities contained in this title, for the cost of actions authorized by this title, including the orderly liquidation of covered financial companies, payment of administrative expenses, the payment of principal and interest by the Corporation on obligations issued under paragraph (9), and the exercise of the authorities of the Corporation under this title.”
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Fund amounts not needed for resolution can only be invested in U.S. Government securities; Section 210(n)(8); Page 274, line 21 to Page 275, line 4.
“(8) Investments.—At the request of the Corporation, the Secretary may invest such portion of amounts held in the Fund that are not, in the judgment of the Corporation, required to meet the current needs of the Corporation, in obligations of the United States having suitable maturities, as determined by the Corporation. The interest on and the proceeds from the sale or redemption of such obligations shall be credited to the Fund.”
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Financial industry held responsible for the initial fund and any losses; subparagraphs (C) and (D) of Section 210(o)(1); Page 280, line 8 to page 281, line 2.
“(C) Additional Assessments. The Corporation shall charge one or more risk-based assessments in accordance with the provisions of subparagraph (E), if—
(i) the Fund falls below the target size after the initial capitalization period, in order to restore the Fund to the target size over a period of time determined by the Corporation;
(ii) the Corporation is appointed receiver for a covered financial company and the Fund incurs a loss during the initial capitalization period with respect to that covered financial company; or
(iii) such assessments are necessary to pay in full the obligations issued by the Corporation to the Secretary within 60 months of the date of issuance of such obligations.
Jen Psaki is Deputy Communications Director
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Ed. Note: Bumped to the top of the blog.
All morning the White House and Department of the Interior will be hosting the America’s Great Outdoors Conference, addressing the challenges, opportunities and innovations surrounding modern-day land conservation and the importance of reconnecting Americans and American families to the outdoors.
The conference will feature remarks from President Obama, CEQ Chair Nancy Sutley, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, and EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson.
Conference Schedule:
9:00 AM – Opening Remarks
- Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar
- Council on Environmental Quality Chair Nancy Sutley
- Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack
- Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson
10:10 AM - Remarks by President Obama
11:15 AM – Panel Discussion: Conserving working lands for the benefit of all Americans
- Secretary Tom Vilsack, Moderator: A conversation about innovative partnerships that conserves and restore working lands to benefit landowners, water resources, and both rural and urban communities and that create opportunities for Americans to reconnect with farms, ranches, and working forests.
12:30 PM: Panel Discussion: Connecting people to our lands, water and wildlife
- Secretary Ken Salazar, Moderator: A discussion about locally-driven strategies and partnerships to conserve our public lands, historic and cultural places, wildlife habitat, and urban parks and about how to connect the next generation with the outdoors.
1:30 PM – Closing Remarks by Secretary Salazar
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