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Today, President Obama met in the Oval Office with Americans who will benefit from today's opening of Health Insurance Marketplaces. Following the meeting, the President delivered a statement to the press where he discussed the continued implementation of the Affordable Care Act as well as the government shutdown that began today due to Congress's inability to act.
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Congress has two jobs to do: pass a budget and pay its bills. Yesterday, Congress failed to fulfill its responsibility to pass a budget and as a result, much of the Federal government will shut down.
Below, find an overview of some of the government services and operations that will be impacted until Congress passes a budget to fund them again. For detailed information about US government operations, you can learn more at whitehouse.gov/omb/contingency-plans.
- Vital services that ensure seniors and young children have access to healthy food and meals may not have sufficient Federal funds to serve all beneficiaries in an extended lapse.
- Call centers, hotlines and regional offices that help veterans understand their benefits will close to the public.
- And, veterans’ compensation, pension, education and other benefits could be cut off in the case of an extended shutdown.
- Every one of America’s national parks and monuments, from Yosemite to the Smithsonian to the Statue of Liberty, will be immediately closed.
- New applications for small business loans and loan guarantees will be immediately halted.
- Research into life-threatening diseases and other areas will stop and new patients won’t be accepted into clinical trials at the National Institutes of Health.
- Work to protect consumers, ranging from child product safety to financial security to the safety of hazardous waste facilities, will cease. The EPA will halt non-essential inspections of chemical facilities and drinking water systems.
- Permits and reviews for planned energy and transportations projects will stop, preventing companies from working on these projects.
- Loans to rural communities will be halted.
- Hundreds of thousands of Federal employees including many charged with protecting us from terrorist threats, defending our borders, inspecting our food, and keeping our skies safe will work without pay until the shutdown ends.
- Hundreds of thousands of additional Federal workers will be immediately and indefinitely furloughed without pay.
The following services that will continue during the government shut down:
- Social security beneficiaries will continue receiving checks.
- The U.S. Postal Service will keep delivering mail.
- Active military will continue serving.
- Air traffic controllers, prison guards and border patrol agents will remain on the job.
- NASA Mission Control will continue supporting astronauts serving on the Space Station.
For more information:
- Here's how a government shutdown affects the American people
- President Obama: Congress Needs to Keep Our Government Open
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Today, President Obama sent a letter to all federal employees, thanking them for the work they do everyday and pledging to do everything in his power to reopen the government as soon as possible. Read the full letter here or below:
Message from the President to U.S. Government Employees:
October 1, 2013
To the dedicated and hard-working employees of the United States Government:
The Federal Government is America’s largest employer, with more than 2 million civilian workers and 1.4 million active duty military who serve in all 50 States and around the world.
But Congress has failed to meet its responsibility to pass a budget before the fiscal year that begins today. And that means much of our Government must shut down effective today.
I want you to know that I will keep working to get Congress to reopen the Government, restart vital services that the American people depend on, and allow public servants who have been sent home to return to work. At my direction, your agencies should have reached out to you by now about what a shutdown means for you and your families.
Today, I wanted to take a moment to tell you what you mean to me—and to our country.
That begins by saying thank you for the work you do every day—work that is vitally important to our national security and to American families’ economic security. You defend our country overseas and ensure that our troops receive the benefits they deserve when they come home. You guard our borders and protect our civil rights. You help small businesses expand and gain new footholds in overseas markets. You guide hundreds of thousands of people each day through the glory of America’s national parks and monuments, from Yosemite to the Statue of Liberty. And much more.
You do all this in a political climate that, too often in recent years, has treated you like a punching bag. You have endured three years of a Federal pay freeze, harmful sequester cuts, and now, a shutdown of our Government. And yet, you persevere, continuing to serve the American people with passion, professionalism, and skill.
None of this is fair to you. And should it continue, it will make it more difficult to keep attracting the kind of driven, patriotic, idealistic Americans to public service that our citizens deserve and that our system of self-government demands.
Public service is noble. Public service is important. And by choosing public service, you carry on a proud tradition at the heart of some of this country’s greatest and most lasting achievements. In fact, more than 50 current or former Federal employees have received the Nobel Prize for their efforts. It was grants from the Department of Energy that helped businesses unlock new sources of renewable energy, and from the National Science Foundation that helped entrepreneurs like the founders of Google change the world. It is your efforts that will help this country meet the great challenge of our time—rebuilding an economy where all who work hard can get ahead.
So while the budget fights in Washington are too often partisan, your service to the country must never be. As one of my predecessors, President George H.W. Bush, once said, “There is nothing more fulfilling than to serve your country and your fellow citizens and to do it well. And that is what our system of self-government depends on.”
This shutdown was completely preventable. It should not have happened. And the House of Representatives can end it as soon as it follows the Senate’s lead, and funds your work in the United States Government without trying to attach highly controversial and partisan measures in the process.
Hopefully, we will resolve this quickly. In the meantime, I want you to know—whether you are a young person who just joined public service because you want to make a difference, or a career employee who has dedicated your life to that pursuit—you and your families remain at the front of my mind. Your agency leaders and I will continue to defend your work at a time when that work has rarely been more important. We will continue to work with your agencies to keep you and your families apprised and informed of what is happening. And I will continue to do everything in my power to get the House of Representatives to allow our Government to reopen as quickly as possible, and make sure you receive the pay that you have earned.
Thank you, again, for your service, your sacrifice, and everything you do every day for this country we love so much.
Sincerely,
President Obama
For more information:
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Ed. Note: This is cross-posted from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. You can see the original post here.
Today the Health Insurance Marketplace opened for business, creating a new and better way for Americans to shop for insurance. At the Marketplace, you can compare options, see if you qualify for lower costs, and select coverage that will begin as soon as January 1, 2014. You can compare private plans and choose coverage that fit your needs and budget.
Visit HealthCare.gov to shop for options today.
Over the next two weeks, we are going to be highlighting the stories of individual Americans who will benefit from the law.
Like Malik. Malik is an uninsured bartender in Philadelphia. He hurt his leg pretty badly and worked through the pain because he didn’t have insurance and couldn’t afford to see a doctor. He is young and healthy, and now he knows he’s not invincible. No one should have to work through an injury, and Malik is looking forward to finding affordable coverage through the Marketplace.
See Malik’s story here.
To get started, finding a health plan that fits your budget, visit HealthCare.gov or call 1-800-318-2596 (TTY 1-855-889-4325) to get started. To make the process even easier, every member of our call center staff has been trained to help answer your questions about applying. And if you need extra help, you can click here to find out if there is a real person right in your community to help.
Today marks an important step in fullfilling the promise of quality, affordable health insurance for millions of hard-working Americans. We are going to feature just a few of them. Help us share their story and share your own.
Click here to read the stories.
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If the United States government shuts down tonight and our economy takes a hit, it will be because House Republicans let it happen. Instead of allowing a simple yes or no vote on a bill that funds the government for a few more weeks, the government that these Republicans were elected to serve will close down.
And as a result, starting tomorrow, Americans across the country won’t be allowed to show up for work. Paychecks could be delayed, meaning some folks will have to cut back on groceries or maybe not even pay a few bills. Businesses will have fewer customers. Veterans won't get services they rely on -- and it will put benefits for seniors at risk.
Take a look at how this shutdown will affect millions of Americans, and then make sure you share it so others know too.
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President Barack Obama delivers remarks on the budget negotiations, in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House, Sept. 30, 2013. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
If Congress does not fulfill its responsibility to pass a budget today, much of the United States government will be forced to shut down tomorrow.
This afternoon, President Obama delivered remarks from the White House Press Briefing Room about what that shutdown would mean for the country.
While some services will continue -- social security checks, postal service, operations related to national security or public safety –- a number of changes would go into effect immediately.
Office buildings would close. Paychecks would be delayed. Vital services that seniors and veterans, women and children, businesses and our economy depend on would be hamstrung. Business owners would see delays in raising capital, seeking infrastructure permits, or rebuilding after Hurricane Sandy. Veterans who’ve sacrificed for their country will find their support centers unstaffed. Tourists will find every one of America’s national parks and monuments, from Yosemite to the Smithsonian to the Statue of Liberty, immediately closed. And of course, the communities and small businesses that rely on these national treasures for their livelihoods will be out of customers and out of luck.
A shutdown would also disrupt the economy, President Obama said. “It would throw a wrench into the gears of our economy at a time when those gears have gained some traction.”
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President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel hold a bilateral meeting in the Oval Office, Sept. 30, 2013.(Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
Today President Obama held a bilateral meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu.
President Obama commended the Prime Minister for entering into good-faith negotiations with the Palestinian Authority with the goal of two states living side-by-side in peace and security
“Both Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Abbas have assigned outstanding negotiators,” President Obama said. “They have been engaging in serious conversations. And our goal continues to be to help facilitate -- not dictate, but facilitate -- the kinds of genuine negotiations that will result in two states living side-by-side in peace and security.”
The two leaders also discussed the situation in Syria and the possibility of eliminating Syria’s chemical weapons stockpiles; their shared commitment to a constructive relationship with Egypt; and their agreement that Iran must not acquire a nuclear weapon.
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On October 1, millions of Americans will have a simple new way to get affordable health coverage: the Health Insurance Marketplace.
With one application, you'll be able to compare all your coverage options side-by-side, learn if you can get lower costs based on your income, and enroll in a plan that fits your needs and your budget.
In fact, the new application is so simple, it's 17 pages shorter than the current application you'd fill out to enroll in coverage in the individual market.
Visit HealthCare.gov now and learn how to sign up starting on October 1.
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In this week’s address, President Obama says that on October 1st, a big part of the Affordable Care Act will go live and give uninsured Americans the chance to buy the same quality, affordable health care as everyone else. It is also the day when some Republicans in Congress might shut down the government just because they don’t like the law. The President urged Congress to both pass a budget by Monday and raise the nation’s debt ceiling so that we can keep growing the economy. He also said that those without health insurance and those who buy it on the individual market should visit HealthCare.gov to find out how to get covered on Tuesday.
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September 27, 2013
06:16 PM EDTTalking Healthcare: While in New York on Tuesday, President Obama joined former President Bill Clinton at the Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting to discuss health care reform in America. “What we’re saying to people is, look, just go to the website yourself,” the President said. “Go to healthcare.gov; take a look at whether this is a good deal or not and make your own decision about whether this is good for you.” Check out their conversation here.
On Thursday, the President spoke at Prince George’s Community College in Largo, Maryland about why access to affordable health care is a cornerstone of middle-class security, and why he took on the work of fixing our broken health care system during his first term.
In the wealthiest nation on Earth, no one should go broke just because they get sick. In the United States of America, health care is not a privilege for the fortunate few -- it is a right. And I knew that if we didn’t do something about our unfair and inefficient health care system, it would keep driving up our deficits, it would keep burdening our businesses, it would keep hurting our families, and it would keep holding back economic growth.
Starting October 1, those without health insurance will be able to visit the Health Insurance Marketplace and find health coverage that fits their needs – and their budget. A new report released on Wednesday found that Marketplace premiums are lower than initially expected. This means you can get high-quality, affordable health care under the Affordable Care Act for less than your cell phone bill.
Make sure to watch the latest White House White Board to learn what the Affordable Care Act means for you.
United Nations General Assembly: On Monday and Tuesday, President Obama took part in the 68th session of the U.N. General Assembly. During his time there, the President held an event on supporting civil society, engaged in discussions with world leaders, and spoke in front of the General Assembly.
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Today, President Obama spoke with President Rouhani of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the first communication between an American and Iranian President since 1979.
The two leaders discussed ongoing efforts to reach an agreement over Iran’s nuclear program. In a statement this afternoon from the White House Briefing Room, President Obama said that while “success is by no means guaranteed, I believe we can reach a comprehensive solution.”
I’ve directed Secretary Kerry to continue pursuing this diplomatic effort with the Iranian government. We had constructive discussions yesterday in New York with our partners -- the European Union, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Russia and China -- together with the Iranian Foreign Minister. Going forward, President Rouhani and I have directed our teams to continue working expeditiously, in cooperation with the P5-plus-1, to pursue an agreement. And throughout this process, we’ll stay in close touch with our friends and allies in the region, including Israel.
“Resolving this issue, obviously, could also serve as a major step forward in a new relationship between the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran -- one based on mutual interests and mutual respect,” President Obama said. “It would also help facilitate a better relationship between Iran and the international community, as well as others in the region -- one that would help the Iranian people fulfill their extraordinary potential, but also help us to address other concerns that could bring greater peace and stability to the Middle East.”
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This week, I had the pleasure of welcoming a diverse coalition of leaders from the Southwest border to the White House – the group included elected officials, farmers, ranchers, business owners, law enforcement officials, faith leaders and community advocates from Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, and California.
We discussed what is working, and what we need to continue to work on, when it comes to increasing economic growth and strengthening public safety along the border.
The good news is that when it comes to our border communities, a lot is working. More than half a million people and a little less than a billion dollars in goods cross the border each day. And the U.S. border communities are also among America’s safest cities, with crime rates staying steady or dropping over the past decade.
But we also recognize that we can do more to improve efficiencies at U.S.-Mexico Ports of Entry and increase accountability of Federal enforcement officials in border states.
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In September 2009, the President announced that—for the first time in history—White House visitor records would be made available to the public on an ongoing basis. Today, the White House releases visitor records that were generated in June 2013. This release brings the total number of records made public by this White House to more than 3.36 million—all of which can be viewed in our Disclosures section.
Ed. note: For more information, check out Ethics.gov.
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The sun sets over Zion National Park in Utah. (Photo: Kim Hang Dessoliers)
Saturday marks the 20th annual National Public Lands Day, the largest single-day volunteer effort for public lands in the United States. At thousands of sites across the country, Americans from all stripes will come together tomorrow to lend their time and effort to the restoration of our country’s historic places and natural treasures.
As Secretary of the Interior, I will join hundreds of volunteers right here in Atlanta at the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site. We will be pulling weeds at the “I Have a Dream” International World Peace Rose Garden, removing invasive plants at Freedom Park, and cleaning the interior of Ebenezer Baptist Church, where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was baptized, ordained and served as a co-pastor until his tragic death in 1968.
It seems appropriate that we celebrate National Public Lands Day here in Atlanta at the birthplace of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a visionary leader who inspired so many Americans to go beyond themselves for a greater good. He fought for the notion that America might finally live up to its creed that all people are created equal and have a right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. That same spirit of service and volunteerism toward creating a better America is what motivates us yet today. I am confident that Dr. King would be pleased to see people giving of themselves at a national park established in his honor.
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This week, We the People, the White House petitions platform, turned two years old. And through the past 24 months, it's kept us pretty busy.
Since 2012, We the People has grown from 2.8 million users to more than 10.2 million -- a 360% growth rate. And those users have signed petitions a total of more than 15 million times (up from just 3.4 million last year).
We've already issued official responses to more than 200 petitions -- and we've got more on the way. Even those of us who thought this program would be successful weren't expecting this.
Ultimately, We the People has become an incredible way to hear from people about the issues that they care about -- something we've seen again and again in the last year.
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The Affordable Care Act - also known as Obamacare - means better coverage for those who already have health insurance, and more options for those who don’t, including a new way to shop for affordable, high-quality coverage.
Watch the latest White House White Board to learn more about what the law means for you.
For more information:
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Yesterday, I had the opportunity to join the Attorney General in opening the 3rd Annual National Forum on Youth Violence Prevention. Officially formed in 2010 at the direction of President Obama, by the Departments of Justice and Education, this Forum brings together a wide constituency -- mayors, Members of Congress, and individuals from across the United States -- to build a national conversation about youth and gang violence. The Forum is designed to increase awareness, drive action, and build local capacity to address the impact of violence on young people more effectively. It models a new kind of federal and local collaboration, encouraging its members to change the way they do business by sharing common challenges and promising strategies and engaging in comprehensive planning and coordinated action.
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Welcome to this week's West Wing Week. This week we take you from Pennsylvania Ave. to the heartland of America, from the Rocky Mountains, to the Big Apple and south of the border for a packed week of travel with the President and Vice President.
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Whether it's with an infographic or a White Board video, we're always looking for new ways to highlight the work President Obama is doing on behalf of the American people in a way that's interesting and easy to understand.
Earlier today, we released our latest feature in that effort: White House Shareables. Head over and take a look some of our favorite content in one easy-to-navigate page. You can sort by the issues important to you, or the type of content you'd like to see.
Check out the page -- and get sharing.
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President Barack Obama delivers remarks on the Affordable Care Act at Prince George's Community College in Largo, Md., Sept. 26, 2013. September 26, 2013. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)
With just five days to go until millions of uninsured Americans will be able to purchase quality, affordable coverage at healthcare.gov, President Obama headed out to Prince George’s Community College in Kettering, Maryland to deliver remarks on the Affordable Care Act.
Acknowledging the "antics" currently going on in Congress as Republicans threaten to shut down the government if the law isn't repealed, the President outlined for the American people exactly why he is going to make sure we see this reform through:
In the wealthiest nation on Earth, no one should go broke just because they get sick.
In the United States of America, health care is not a privilege for the fortunate few -- it is a right. And I knew that if we didn’t do something about our unfair and inefficient health care system, it would keep driving up our deficits, it would keep burdening our businesses, it would keep hurting our families, and it would keep holding back economic growth.
That's why we took on a broken health care system. That's why ... we got it through Congress. That’s why we’ve been implementing it. That’s why we are going to see it through. The Affordable Care Act is here.
