Tag Archives: Congress

White House Christmas / Kennedy Center Honors / Art Behind Bars

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Have a very Merry Christmas and see how the White House is celebrating the holiday this year. The Kennedy Center Honors celebrate those who “the power to inspire.” Young African business people are learning through a chamber of commerce exchange program. America has its first Bangladeshi-American member of the Congress. And, finally, creativity can still thrive behind bars.

Christmas at the White House
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Merry Christmas from America.gov! Explore the White House’s “Holidays at the White House” page, where you can tour the decorations, send “Season’s Greetings” messages to troops abroad, and watch behind-the-scenes videos. Each year a theme is selected for Christmas at the White House, a tradition started by First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy in 1961. This year’s theme is Simple Gifts, a celebration of friends and family, hearth and home, and the simple things that bring joy at Christmas time.

“The Power to Inspire”
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A Kennedy Center Honor recognizes lifetime accomplishment by American performing artists and those from other nations who have achieved prominence in the United States. “The arts have always had the power to challenge and the power to inspire — to help us celebrate in times of joy and find hope in times of trouble,” says President Obama. The Kennedy Center Honors will be aired on CBS Television on December 28.

Africa’s “Rising Stars”
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Upendo Minja of Tanzania and Patricia Kafoe of Sierra Leone were exposed to new ideas on business and community development that they hope to implement in their African organizations during Chamber of Commerce board meetings in the United States. The two participated in a five week program designed to provide young “rising star” employees of chambers of commerce and business associations overseas with leadership skills and professional development in the United States.

Mr. Clarke Goes to Washington
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Hansen Hashem Clarke of Michigan will become the first Bangladeshi-American member of the U.S. Congress when the new congressional session begins in January. Clarke’s road to Capitol Hill mirrors the complex ethnic and social diversity of the United States in the 21st century.

Art Behind Bars
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The nonprofit Prison Creative Arts Project, founded by William Alexander in 1990, fosters the creation of original artwork in Michigan prisons and juvenile facilities. This creative expression is helping prisoners and at-risk youth examine and sometimes transform their lives. According to Alexander, all people have the capacity to create art — and to benefit from it. Left, a painting by incarcerated artist Maurice Scott which evokes the prison experience.

Obama: “Good Deal for the American People”

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President Obama spoke to the press today about the new tax-cut plan he negotiated with members of Congress, including Republicans.  He defended a policy that is being criticized by some lawmakers and segments of the American public, most notably members of his own party who are accusing the president of giving in to the wishes of Congressional Republicans.

A little history:  With tax cuts enacted by former President George W. Bush set to expire on January 1, lawmakers were divided as to how the country should proceed.  In general, Republicans in Congress wanted all of the tax cuts to be extended, while a majority of Congressional Democrats wanted only tax cuts for Americans making less than $250,000 to continue with wealthier Americans seeing their tax rates return to where they were before Mr. Bush’s cuts.  Republicans in the Senate had threatened to block any legislation that would increase taxes on the wealthy, a move that would have resulted in higher taxes for all Americans.

Speaking to the press, President Obama called the tax plan a “good deal for the American people.”  He said the compromise will ensure the middle class – many of whom have been hit hard by the recession – does not see a tax increase next year.

The compromise plan also includes an extension of unemployment benefits for the long-term unemployed.  Those benefits were scheduled to end this month.  Republicans said they would not support extending the benefits, while Mr. Obama insisted that they should continue.

During the press conference Mr. Obama said:

“I’m not here to play games with the American people or the health of our economy.  My job is to do whatever I can to get this economy moving. My job is to do whatever I can to spur job creation. My job is to look out for middle-class families who are struggling right now to get by, and Americans who are out of work through no fault of their own.”

Congress will now have to vote on the proposal.  It is unclear whether or not there are enough votes to pass the measure as is.

President Obama Meets with Congressional Leaders

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President Barack Obama and Vice President Biden met with a bipartisan gathering of Congressional leaders this morning for the first time since the midterm elections. Republicans and Democrats sat down in the Roosevelt Room of the White House to discuss the tough issues facing the country.

The meeting’s participants discussed strategies for reducing the federal debt, the START treaty with Russia, and whether or not to extend tax cuts that are set to expire at the end of this year.

After the meeting, President Obama said he plans to hold more talks with Congressional leaders in the future. He also stressed his belief in the need for cooperation. He said:

“The American people did not vote for gridlock. They did not vote for unyielding partisanship. They’re demanding cooperation and they’re demanding progress. And they’ll hold all of us — and I mean all of us — accountable for it.”

Encouraging Women to Run for Office

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I got an e-mail this week from the Center for American Women and Politics with this discouraging headline:  “Women Suffer First Decline in Congress in Over 30 Years.”

Women’s share of political power in the U.S. Congress (just 16.8 percent at the beginning of 2010) is slated to decline with the most recent elections – a blow to all who would like to see women taking a more active role in the nation’s decision-making process.

According to Jessica Grounds, associate director with Running Start, an organization that educates young women about the importance of politics, “women’s perspectives are crucial in the policy making process because women bring their own experiences to their office and it is critical that our representatives reflect the diversity of people they govern.”

Although women have more freedom than ever before in history to run for political office, not enough of them seem ready to take on the challenges.  Ms. Grounds suggests women have to confront widespread public perceptions that they are less credible and less capable of making challenging political decisions.  Campaigning takes a lot of money and time – things that some women might not want to give up in order to run for office.  And in some circles, the rough and tumble fight for election is considered “un-lady like.” But with all the challenges facing women who want to break into electoral politics, the biggest one seems to be self confidence.

The Obama administration has been working hard to empower women, both in the United States and around the world.  But do you think women can be truly empowered if the United States and the world doesn’t see a significant number of them in elected office?

Clinton in New Zealand / Help for Haiti / The World’s Small Farms

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Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton continues her Asia Pacific trip, stopping in New Zealand. The U.S. is helping Haiti deal with nature’s latest onslaught. We’ve got two reports on the U.S. congressional elections, one looking at the balance of power in the Senate and another at its impact on President Obama’s agenda. On the eve of President Obama’s trip to India, there is a call for a renewed U.S.-India partnership. Indonesia has become a test bed for entrepreneurship. And finally, in agriculture, there is a focus on small farms.

U.S., New Zealand Sign Accord
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Murray Stuart McCully signed The Wellington Declaration to enhance the partnership between the nations. The agreement is designed to address a variety of issues including nuclear nonproliferation, counterterrorism and climate change. “This Wellington Declaration makes it clear that we want to cooperate across the board in every aspect of our civilian efforts and our military as well,” says Clinton.

U.S. to Provide Storm Relief in Haiti
The United States has supported the Haitian government’s response to Tropical Storm Tomas by prepositioning relief supplies for 125,000. An official said U.S. relief supplies are stockpiled in several areas of the country and they are able to get these supplies out quickly to those in need.

Democrats Keep Senate Gavel
The results of U.S. midterm elections will shift the composition of the Senate a bit to the right as Republicans gain seats, but Democrats will retain control of the chamber when the next Congress convenes. The Democrats will control at least 53 of the Senate’s 100 seats, with the outcome of the race in Alaska yet to be determined.

After Election, No Shift in U.S. Foreign Policy
Republican gains in the November 2 congressional elections will present new challenges for President Obama and his legislative agenda, but his foreign policy objectives are not expected to change.

McCain: Expand U.S.-India Ties
Senator John McCain says the U.S.-India strategic partnership, substantial though it is, should be expanded greatly in coming years for the benefit of both countries and the Asia-Pacific region. “The potential to expand our partnership is immense,” McCain said on the eve of President Obama’s state visit to India.

Indonesia’s Entrepreneurs
As Indonesia gets ready to welcome President Obama November 9, the country already has become a test bed for his administration’s efforts to promote entrepreneurship. Indonesian entrepreneurs have formed the Global Enterprise Program Indonesia, which launches in Jakarta in mid-November as part of Global Entrepreneurship Week.

New Tools Boost Small Farms
Agribusinesses are designing tools to help smallholder farmers in countries seeking to produce more food. Such measures may slow down a predicted food shortage in years ahead, as the world’s population continues to grow, especially in regions like Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. At right, an Indian farmer heads to work on a tractor designed for use on small plots.

Recapping the U.S. Election / Clinton’s Day in Asia / A Month to Honor American Indians

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The Republicans make big gains in U.S. midterm elections and President Obama offers his assessment. Secretary Clinton’s Asian travels take her to Malaysia and Papua New Guinea. Catch up with Brad Pitt and his effort to bring green housing to New Orleans. Learn about ArtsLink, a program that brings artists from around the world to the United States. Tajikistan is getting an energy boost. A 1,000-year-old Iranian poem is the inspiration for some awesome illustrations. And, it’s American Indian Heritage Month in America.

Election Gains for Republicans
Republicans gain at least 60 seats in the House of Representatives in U.S. elections November 2, more than enough to wrest control of the chamber from the Democrats. This means a divided government for at least the next two years, as Democratic President Obama shares power with Republicans in the House. Democrats retain control of the Senate, but with a reduced majority.

Obama: The Economy Hurt Democrats
The American electorate demonstrated its frustration with the state of the economy when it stripped Democrats of their majority in the House of Representatives and trimmed their majority in the Senate, President Obama says.

Clinton Praises Malaysia’s Religious Tolerance
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is praising Malaysia’s commitment to religious tolerance during her visit to the Muslim-majority country. “Extremism is not a path to building sustainable prosperity, peace, stability or democracy – it only promotes conflicts and hardens hearts,” she says. 

Human Rights in Papua New Guinea
During a visit to Papua New Guinea, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton encouraged the country to address its human rights conditions and to strengthen anti-corruption efforts. Clinton also offered to help the government set up a sovereign wealth fund to manage resource revenue from oil and natural gas fields, in order to translate “natural resources into widespread prosperity.”

Green Homes Make it Right
Make It Right, a foundation created by actor and film producer Brad Pitt, builds energy-efficient, green homes to replace housing destroyed in New Orleans by Hurricane Katrina. In three years, the foundation has completed 50 homes in New Orleans’ Lower 9th Ward. Another 30 are under construction.

ArtsLink Fellows Come to America
Visual artists, photographers, filmmakers and arts managers from 14 countries are currently enjoying five-week residencies in the United States under awards offered by U.S.-based international arts organization, CEC ArtsLink.

Green Energy for Tajikistan
The U.S. embassy in Dushanbe, Tajik government agencies and international partners, are working together to bring alternative energy solutions to Central Asia. The projects include the use of solar, water and wind power to provide energy to remote locations.

Shahnameh on Display
The Smithsonian Institution is celebrating the Shahnameh’s 1,000 years with an exhibition of some of the best illustrations ever created for Iran’s greatest epic poem. The Shahnameh’s stories cover the reigns of 50 kings, real and imagined, from the creation of the world up to the Arab conquest of Iran in the 7th century.

American Indian Heritage Month
November is National American Indian Heritage Month, which celebrates the heritage and contributions of American Indians and Alaska Natives — the first Americans — to the history and culture of the United States. Right, members of the Alabama-Coushatta Indian tribe from Livingston, Texas, wait to perform at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival in April 2010.

Intern Week: OK, You Can Sing and Dance, But Can You Talk Politics?

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[guest name="Stefano Rivolta" biography="Stefano Rivolta is a student-intern in the International Information Programs for the U.S. State Department in Washington, D.C. He loves to travel, and weather permitting, he’s out doors long-boarding, playing basketball, or hiking. When it’s raining, he’s either strumming his guitar, reading, or attempting to cook ethnic foods."]

Young people from all over the United States (and the world!) come to Washington to gain valuable experience working for Congress, the federal government, law offices, lobbying firms, international organizations and non-profits. America.gov had its own group of summer interns, and we thought it would be fun to feature their thoughts on democracy here on By the People:

All my life, I sort of viewed politics as a bone-dry topic for boring grownups to talk about during their get-togethers. Now, at 21, I have a totally different take on it. Perhaps it’s because this past election was one of the most celebrated, star-studded, hot political events ever.

When it comes to politics, everyone has something to say. This past U.S. presidential election was my very first chance to vote legally as an American and I, of course, wanted to be able to say something too. So, I began surfing the net, watching news coverage and listening to the radio to learn more about the candidates, Senators John McCain and Barack Obama. In doing so, I also learned about the U.S. government’s structure, its history, the difference in political parties, and election procedures.

I saw a lot of celebrity involvement. This was a bit weird for me: It felt like a fusion of the cool, teen and young adult world mashing up with the calm, big-word-filled world of maturity.

When you see one of your favorite musicians who’s been off the radar for about a decade suddenly reappear on television you’re thinking: comeback?! You turn up the volume only to find out he’s talking about the same stuff your parents did back when you were buying his CDs. This is strange; you’re used to listening to your favorite musician sing about emotion and expression, topics that make him cool! Now he’s discussing energy and the economy, topics that make him … a grown-up.

My question is this: Is it appropriate for celebrities to become a political voice during election times?

Also, do celebrities get involved in politics in your country? Would you still buy a celebrity’s movies, records, or books after you find out he or she is against whatever issue you might favor?

Faith in Institutions

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“Africa doesn’t need strongmen, it needs strong institutions,” President Obama said in a speech earlier this month in Ghana. Countries need strong, independent police forces, judiciaries and press among others, Obama said.

A Gallup poll taken in June examines Americans’ faith in the institutions that make up its democratic society.

At the top of the list is the military, which 82 percent of Americans say they have confidence in. Other institutions Americans have great confidence in include small businesses and the police. About half of Americans have strong faith in the presidency.  At the bottom of the list? Congress and big businesses.

What institutions in your country do you have confidence in? And which ones need strengthening?