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The President expressed his appreciation for Senator Ted Kennedy above all today. Lamenting that the senator could not be there for the signing of Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, he called it "change that's been decades in the making." By all accounts, it is the strongest measure protecting children from the dangers of smoking to date – read the fact sheet for all of the details.He recounted the all-too-familiar statistics: that more than 400,000 Americans now die of tobacco-related illnesses each year; that more than 8 million Americans suffer from at least one serious illness caused by smoking; and that almost 90% of all smokers began at or before their 18th birthday.He spoke on his personal experience:I know – I was one of these teenagers, and so I know how difficult it can be to break this habit when it's been with you for a long time. And I also know that kids today don't just start smoking for no reason. They're aggressively targeted as customers by the tobacco industry. They're exposed to a constant and insidious barrage of advertising where they live, where they learn, and where they play. Most insidiously, they are offered products with flavorings that mask the taste of tobacco and make it even more tempting.We've known about this for decades, but despite the best efforts and good progress made by so many leaders and advocates with us today, the tobacco industry and its special interest lobbying have generally won the day up on the Hill. When Henry Waxman first brought tobacco CEOs before Congress in 1994, they famously denied that tobacco was deadly, nicotine was addictive, or that their companies marketed to children. And they spent millions upon millions in lobbying and advertising to fight back every attempt to expose these denials as lies.Fifteen years later, their campaign has finally failed. Today, thanks to the work of Democrats and Republicans, health care and consumer advocates, the decades-long effort to protect our children from the harmful effects of tobacco has emerged victorious. Today, change has come to Washington.This legislation will not ban all tobacco products, and it will allow adults to make their own choices. But it will also ban tobacco advertising within a thousand feet of schools and playgrounds. It will curb the ability of tobacco companies to market products to our children by using appealing flavors. It will force these companies to more clearly and publicly acknowledge the harmful and deadly effects of the products they sell. And it will allow the scientists at the FDA to take other common-sense steps to reduce the harmful effects of smoking.This legislation is a victory for bipartisanship, and it was passed overwhelmingly in both Houses of Congress. It's a victory for health care reform, as it will reduce some of the billions we spend on tobacco-related health care costs in this country. It's a law that will reduce the number of American children who pick up a cigarette and become adult smokers. And most importantly, it is a law that will save American lives and make Americans healthier.Making clear that this legislation does not represent the end of the road on fighting back the health risks of smoking, the President nonetheless described it as another very significant sign of change in Washington:Despite the influence of the credit card industry, we passed a law to protect consumers from unfair rate hikes and abusive fees. Despite the influence of banks and lenders, we passed a law to protect homeowners from mortgage fraud. Despite the influence of the defense industry, we passed a law to protect taxpayers from waste and abuse in defense contracting. And today, despite decades of lobbying and advertising by the tobacco industry, we've passed a law to help protect the next generation of Americans from growing up with a deadly habit that so many of our generation have lived with.As always, get more information on tobacco and your health from HHS and the FDA, including new widgets out today. -
June 22, 2009
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Today, the President announced a landmark agreement with pharmaceutical companies, who pledged $80 billion in prescription drug discounts over the next 10 years. This compromise is the latest step towards a new consensus amongst health care stakeholders to help reduce costs and provide quality care for all Americans – last month a coalition of health care industry leaders agreed to $2 trillion in savings over 10 years.The President was joined by Senators Max Baucus and Chris Dodd, and introduced by AARP President Barry Rand, who called the plan a "new opportunity" for those who have been burdened by the costs of prescription drugs.
(President Barack Obama speaks about the agreement to lower drug costs for seniors, Monday, June 22, 2009, in the Diplomatic Reception Room of the White House. With the President are, from left, CEO of AARP Barry Rand, Senator Max Bachaus (D-MT) and Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT). Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)The agreement, which was reached between Sen. Baucus, Administration officials, and the nation’s pharmaceutical companies, will ultimately reduce the price of prescription drugs by half for millions of America’s seniors. As part of the upcoming health care reform legislation, drug manufacturers that participate in Medicare Part D will either pay a rebate to Medicare or offer a substantial discount of at least 50 percent on prescription drugs to seniors who fall within the infamous "doughnut hole"— payments between $2700 and $6153.75 not covered by Medicare. The deal will help close this unfair gap in coverage, providing relief for millions of seniors who have been burdened by these out-of-pocket expenses, making it easier for them to get the prescriptions that they need.In addition to providing half-price discounts, the pharmaceutical companies will offer other discounts and savings to total an $80 billion reduction in costs. The President said this historic compromise marks a turning point in the journey towards health care reform that will lower costs for all Americans:So as part of the health care reform I expect Congress to enact this year, Medicare beneficiaries whose spending falls within this gap will now receive a discount on prescription drugs of at least 50 percent from the negotiated price their plan pays. It's a reform that will make prescription drugs more affordable for millions of seniors, and restore a measure of fairness to Medicare Part D. It's a reflection of the importance of this single step for America's seniors that it has earned the support of AARP, which has been fighting for years to address this anomaly in the system on behalf of older Americans. AARP is committed, as I am, to achieving health care reform by the end of this year. And I'm committed to continuing to work with AARP to ensure that any reforms we pursue are carried out in a way that protects America's seniors, who know as well as anyone what's wrong with our health care system and why it's badly in need of reform.Our goal – our imperative – is to reduce the punishing inflation in health care costs while improving patient care. And to do that we're going to have to work together to root out waste and inefficiencies that may pad the bottom line of the insurance industry, but add nothing to the health of our nation. To that end, the pharmaceutical industry has committed to reduce its draw on the health care system by $80 billion over the next 10 years as part of overall health care reform. -
June 22, 2009
12:55 PM EDTLast week, when President Obama announced United We Serve – he called on all Americans to volunteer this summer and do our part to rebuild our communities.When he said "all," he meant it.Today to kick off United We Serve, First Lady Michelle Obama, Cabinet Secretaries, and Senior Administration officials have fanned out across the country to participate in service projects.The First Lady is rolling up her sleeves alongside the First Lady of California Maria Shriver and Corporation of National and Community Service acting CEO Nicky Goren to help build a public playground at Bret Harte Public Elementary School in San Francisco. Defense Secretary Gates is spending time with our veterans at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and Commerce Secretary Locke is reading to children at La Mesita Homeless Shelter in Mesa, Arizona. Just to name a few.It's going to take all of us working together to build a new foundation for America and it will happen one community at a time. Watch this special message from the First Lady to learn how you can do your part:Viewing this video requires Adobe Flash Player 8 or higher. Download the free player.download .mp4 (30.3 MB)
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The Office of Public Engagement blog give us a little more backstory on the famous and exceptional fathers who came to the White House for the "Responsible Fatherhood" event on Friday.
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On the 100th anniversary of Father's Day, the President writes a piece on fatherhood in Parade Magazine talking about his own life and highlighting the responsibilities all fathers must step up to:In many ways, I came to understand the importance of fatherhood through its absence — both in my life and in the lives of others. I came to understand that the hole a man leaves when he abandons his responsibility to his children is one that no government can fill. We can do everything possible to provide good jobs and good schools and safe streets for our kids, but it will never be enough to fully make up the difference.That is why we need fathers to step up, to realize that their job does not end at conception; that what makes you a man is not the ability to have a child but the courage to raise one.On Friday the President hosted some well-known fathers and everyday dads from across the country to discuss what fathers are doing to strengthen themselves, their families and their communities. One of the guests at that event was Chief Quartermaster John Lehnen, who adds his thoughts to the President's in this video:Viewing this video requires Adobe Flash Player 8 or higher. Download the free player.
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Chief Lehnen is a devoted husband and father of four special needs children, and with over 10 years of service, he has shown extraordinary dedication to his family and country. That dedication has been honored with multiple awards including the Sailor of the Quarter and Navy-Corps Achievement and Commendation Medals and the 2009 Military Fatherhood Award from National Fatherhood Initiative. Chief Lehnen also cares deeply about his fellow sailors and their families, encouraging sailors to participate in the United Through Reading campaign and family readiness groups. -
Today, President Obama made the following statement concerning Iran:The Iranian government must understand that the world is watching. We mourn each and every innocent life that is lost. We call on the Iranian government to stop all violent and unjust actions against its own people. The universal rights to assembly and free speech must be respected, and the United States stands with all who seek to exercise those rights.As I said in Cairo, suppressing ideas never succeeds in making them go away. The Iranian people will ultimately judge the actions of their own government. If the Iranian government seeks the respect of the international community, it must respect the dignity of its own people and govern through consent, not coercion.Martin Luther King once said – "The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice." I believe that. The international community believes that. And right now, we are bearing witness to the Iranian peoples’ belief in that truth, and we will continue to bear witness.The President also addressed the situation with Iran in an interview yesterday with CBS's Harry Smith (video available on CBS's website).
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June 20, 2009
01:15 PM EDTI played point guard for my high school basketball team at National Cathedral School in Washington (I also played tennis and softball). What I learned from my coaches and teammates extended well beyond the basketball court. Being part of the basketball team taught me some valuable life lessons and helped shape me as a person. I learned how to be a team player, how great it feels to win, how tough it can be to lose – and how difficult it is to do so gracefully.As the United States Ambassador to the United Nations — I’m often reminded that in basketball as in diplomacy, you have to know when to throw elbows, and when to show finesse.
So, as the 37th anniversary approaches, I’m grateful for Title IX and what it means to young women across America. The White House will be celebrating the anniversary on Tuesday, submit your photos of your own Title IX days and they’ll feature some of them on WhiteHouse.gov to honor all of America’s great women athletes.Susan Rice is the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations -
The President explains his plan to address one of the major causes of the current economic crisis – the breakdown of oversight leading to widespread abuses in the financial world. The new Consumer Financial Protection Agency will have the sole job of looking out for the financial interests of ordinary Americans by banning unfair practices and enforcing the rules. This is a cornerstone in America’s new economic foundation.Viewing this video requires Adobe Flash Player 8 or higher. Download the free player.
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June 19, 2009
07:39 PM EDTThis morning the President hosted a Young Mens Barbeque at the White House for students from local schools to discuss the importance of fatherhood and taking personal responsibility:Viewing this video requires Adobe Flash Player 8 or higher. Download the free player.download .mp4 (159.8 MB) | read the transcript
The President kicked off a national conversation about the importance of fatherhood today at a White House town hall meeting afterwards. The President was joined in the discussion by well-known fathers from across the country, national and community organizations, young students, as well as five outstanding fathers from diverse backgrounds. These men shared their stories of their commitment to fatherhood and personal responsibility, covering everything from the struggles of balancing work and family to the importance of family dinners.Following their stories, the President discussed the vital role of fathers in their families and their communities. He said he hopes this conversation will spark a national dialogue about fatherhood in America, which will inspire participants to fulfill their obligations and become positive role models in their own communities.The message was clear – fathers can make a world of difference in the lives of our children. The President explained that while government can do a lot to help people, it simply cannot take the place of a father in a child’s life:And when fathers are absent – when they abandon their responsibilities to their children – we know the damage that that does to our families. Some of you know the statistics: Children who grow up without fathers are more likely to drop out of school and wind up in prison. They’re more likely to have substance abuse problems, run away from home, and become teenage parents themselves.And I say this as someone who grew up without a father in my own life. I had a heroic mom and wonderful grandparents who helped raise me and my sister, and it's because of them that I'm able to stand here today. But despite all their extraordinary love and attention, that doesn’t mean that I didn’t feel my father's absence. That's something that leaves a hole in a child’s heart that a government can't fill.That's why it is time for all men to step up and be responsible fathers. The President went on to explain that while you don’t have to be a perfect father, you always need to try. He emphasized that sometimes the smallest moments are the most important. He discussed how his father gave him his first basketball and took him to his first jazz concert. Although his father was not a large part of his life, these little moments had a lasting impact. The President said his own father’s absence helped teach him to take responsibility and be a better father himself:If we want our children to succeed in life, we need fathers to step up. We need fathers to understand that their work doesn’t end with conception – that what truly makes a man a father is the ability to raise a child and invest in that child.We need fathers to be involved in their kids’ lives not just when it’s easy – not just during the afternoons in the park or at the zoo, when it’s all fun and games – but when it’s hard, when young people are struggling, and there aren’t any quick fixes or easy answers, and that's when young people need compassion and patience, as well as a little bit of tough love.Now, this is a challenge even in good times. And it can be especially tough during times like these, when parents have a lot on their minds – they're worrying about keeping their jobs, or keeping their homes or their health care, paying their bills, trying to give their children the same opportunities that they had. And so it's understandable that parents get concerned, some fathers who feel they can't support their families, get distracted. And even those who are more fortunate may be physically present, but emotionally absent.I know that some of the young men who are here today might have their own concerns one day about being a dad. Some of you might be worried that if you didn’t have a father, then you don't know how to be one when your turn comes. Some of you might even use that as an excuse, and say, "Well, if my dad wasn’t around, why should I be?"Let’s be clear: Just because your own father wasn’t there for you, that’s not an excuse for you to be absent also – it’s all the more reason for you to be present. There’s no rule that says that you have to repeat your father’s mistakes. Just the opposite – you have an obligation to break the cycle and to learn from those mistakes, and to rise up where your own fathers fell short and to do better than they did with your own children.That’s what I’ve tried to do in my life. When my daughters were born, I made a pledge to them, and to myself, that I would do everything I could to give them some things I didn’t have. And I decided that if I could be one thing in life, it would be to be a good father.The White House plans on continuing this conversation in a series of regional town halls on the importance of fatherhood and personal responsibility. The goal is to find and emphasize what works to address these challenges, and how we can work together to strengthen our efforts as families, communities, and as a nation. -
Speaking to Harry Smith of CBS News, the President explains his thinking on Iran:Q Let's move on to the news of the day. The Ayatollah Khamenei gave his speech today, gave his sermon. He said that the election in Iran was, in fact, legitimate. He said, "The street demonstrations are unacceptable." Do you have a message for those people in the street?THE PRESIDENT: I absolutely do. First of all, let's understand that this notion that somehow these hundreds of thousands of people who are pouring into the streets in Iran are somehow responding to the West or the United States, that's an old distraction that I think has been trotted out periodically. And that's just not going to fly.What you're seeing in Iran are hundreds of thousands of people who believe their voices were not heard and who are peacefully protesting and seeking justice. And the world is watching. And we stand behind those who are seeking justice in a peaceful way. Already we've seen violence out there. I've said this throughout the week, I want to repeat it, that we stand with those who would look to peaceful resolution of conflict and we believe that the voices of people have to be heard, that that's a universal value that the American people stand for and this administration stands for. And I'm very concerned, based on some of the tenor and tone of the statements that have been made, that the government of Iran recognize that the world is watching. And how they approach and deal with people who are – through peaceful means – trying to be heard will I think send a pretty clear signal to the international community about what Iran is and is not.But the last point I want to make on this – this is not an issue of the United States or the West versus Iran; this is an issue of the Iranian people. The fact that they are on the streets, under pretty severe duress, at great risk to themselves, is a sign that there's something in that society that wants to open up. And, you know, we respect Iran's sovereignty and we respect the fact that ultimately the Iranian people have to make these decisions.But I hope that the world understands that this is not something that has to do with the outside world; this has to do with what's happening in Iran. And I think ultimately the Iranian people will obtain justice.Q People in this country say you haven't said enough, that you haven't been forceful enough in your support for those people on the street – to which you say?THE PRESIDENT: To which I say, the last thing that I want to do is to have the United States be a foil for those forces inside Iran who would love nothing better than to make this an argument about the United States. That's what they do. That's what we're already seeing. We shouldn't be playing into that. There should be no distractions from the fact that the Iranian people are seeking to let their voices be heard.What we can do is bear witness and say to the world that the incredible demonstrations that we've seen is a testimony to I think what Dr. King called the "arc of the moral universal." It's long but it bends towards justice.
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On Tuesday, June 23rd,Vice President Biden and the Middle Class Task Force go to Perrysburg, Ohio to promote one of our economy’s key sectors: manufacturing. They will be visiting a solar plant that’s making solid inroads into the new, clean economy, where the Vice President will host a discussion on the present challenges and future opportunities facing the sector.The discussion will include both experts and the public, and will focus on the state of manufacturing today, and how the administration is supporting manufacturing communities during tough economic times. As the President continues to develop and lay out his vision for an American economy fit to lead the world through the 21st Century, the Vice President will talk about the integral role manufacturing will continue to play. Joining Vice President Biden will be Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke, Ohio Governor Ted Strickland, and Ed Montgomery, who has been touring the Midwest and working with some of the hardest hit workers, as Director of Recovery for Auto Communities and Workers.
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June 19, 2009
03:02 PM EDTThe 21st Century poses challenges of unprecedented complexity. No single person, department, agency, or government can single-handedly end climate change or revive the global economy. We must work together to effectively and efficiently solve the toughest problems.Take just one example – green jobs. Green jobs promise to strengthen the middle class, decrease energy costs, and preserve the environment for future generations. But, driving a smart green jobs agenda demands the expertise of a broad range of federal agencies, including the Department of Energy (future of energy technologies), Department of Labor (training a green workforce), Department of Education (preparing today’s students to grow a green economy), and many more. Moreover, delivering those opportunities to Americans in towns and cities across the country requires intense coordination with state and local governments. Recognizing the critical importance of collaboration on this issue, the Vice President has convened top-level administration policy makers from across government in the Middle Class Task Force. As a result of this collaboration, Energy, Labor and Education worked to reconfigure workforce development using tools to connect skilled workers to jobs created. Housing and Urban Development and Labor established pathways to jobs for public housing residents, and Housing and Urban Development and Energy signed an MOU designed to cut through red tape and make weatherization assistance programs readily accessible, saving energy and creating jobs. The Vice President’s work demonstrates the power and potential of breaking down the walls that separate agencies and the silos that limit effectiveness.On this front – and many others – the success of our policy will turn on effective collaboration and coordination. We know that many of you face a similar challenge – fast-growing companies, not-for-profit communities, and state and local governments. We want to hear from you about your experiences that might inform the processes, policies and tools government needs to reap the benefits of greater collaboration.What We Learned in Phase IMany of you shared initial ideas with us during the Phase I Open Government Brainstorm. Some suggested creating a government-wide intranet and social networking tool to share contact information, resources, and otherwise facilitate collaboration. Others looked to flexible, third-party Web 2.0 tools, such as Wordpress, Wikimedia, Ning, and Drupal to strengthen collaboration. Still others recommended the use of Strategy Markup Language (StratML) to enable potential partners to more easily discover each other based upon common missions, visions, values, goals, objectives, and stakeholders. You can find a more complete summary in the Collaboration Wrap-up. You can also see examples of Collaboration in the Open Government Innovation Gallery.How You Can HelpAs we seek to identify immediate actions that will strengthen collaboration within and across government, we need to know from you:- What are examples of successful collaboration in government and the private sector? What was the key to their success? For example, what tools and practices do the most successful companies use to collaborate across departments?
- What are the strengths and weaknesses of various technology platforms recommended to strengthen collaboration efforts? Are there other approaches or tools that should be considered?
- What governance structures and/or processes might be needed to ensure consistent collaboration and communication across related projects and programs? What functions could be centralized or standardized to facilitate collaboration?
- How do we build and sustain a culture of collaboration?
- How can we measure success?
Thank you for your thoughts and ideas. As always, you can share them on the OSTP blog.Michele Heffner is Director of the Interagency Policy and Management Division in the Office of Governmentwide Policy of the General Services Administration. Ms. Heffner joined the Open Government Initiative in the Office of Science and Technology Policy in February-May 2009. -
This morning the President addressed the Esperanza National Hispanic Prayer Breakfast and Conference. He spoke at length of the role faith has played in America’s history, and the role it will play in America’s future. He spoke of the role prayer played in Abraham Lincoln’s life, adding, "But prayer is more than a last resort. Prayer helps us search for meaning in our own lives, and it helps us find the vision and the strength to see the world that we want to build."The President went on to discuss immigration, which he described as another fundamental element of America’s character:The American people – the American people believe in immigration, but they also believe that we can't tolerate a situation where people come to the United States in violation of the law, nor can we tolerate employers who exploit undocumented workers in order to drive down wages. That's why we're taking steps to strengthen border security, and we must build on those efforts. We must also clarify the status of millions who are here illegally, many who have put down roots. For those who wish to become citizens, we should require them to pay a penalty and pay taxes, learn English, go to the back of the line behind those who played by the rules. That is the fair, practical, and promising way forward, and that's what I'm committed to passing as President of the United States. (Applause.)We must never forget that time and again, the promise of America has been renewed by immigrants who make their story part of the American story. We see it in every state of our country. We see it in our families and in our neighborhoods. As President, I've been honored to see it demonstrated by the men and women who wear the uniform of the United States.Last month, I had the honor of welcoming a group of our service members as citizens for the very first time. In that crowd, there were faces from every corner of the world. And one man from Nicaragua – Jeonathan Zapata – had waited his whole life to serve our country even though he was not yet a citizen. "By serving in the military," he said, "I can also give back to the United States." He's done so in Afghanistan, and he even helped man the 400,000th aircraft landing aboard the USS Kitty Hawk.And Jeonathan's story is not unique either. He's part of a proud legacy of service. For generations, Hispanic Americans have served with great commitment and valor, and there are now nearly 150,000 Hispanic Americans serving under our flag. And today we are proud – (applause) – today we are proud to welcome several of them who are wounded warriors recovering at Walter Reed. Please join me in honoring their service, and in keeping them and all of our troops in our thoughts and prayers – please. (Applause.)
(President Barack Obama gives remarks to the Esperanza National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C., Friday, June 19, 2009. Official White House Photographer Samantha Appleton.) -
All your Bo-wishes are fulfilled.
(The official portrait of the Obama family dog, "Bo," a Portuguese water dog, on the South Lawn of the White House. Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy) -
Have a look behind the scenes as the President makes his bold, resolute, and yes, decisive decision to order Stephen Colbert's hair removed:Viewing this video requires Adobe Flash Player 8 or higher. Download the free player.
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[UPDATE: This event has now concluded, check back with WhiteHouse.gov for similar events in the future.]Since the White House Forum on Health Reform way back in the beginning of March, the White House has been bringing working Americans and health care leaders into the process. There have been regional forums across the country, and the White House has held "Stakeholder Discussions" here in the White House on a broad variety of topics. Every one of those meetings has been streamed live in line with the President’s commitment to transparency.We are going to experiment with something different around this afternoon’s Stakeholder Meeting with Physicians, which will have a particular focus on prevention and wellness. Over at Facebook we have a unique application that will embed our live stream and allow you to comment, question, and chat about the meeting. An aide from the White House Office of Health Reform will also be keeping track of the chat and letting the participants in the meeting know what people are talking about. Alternatively, you can of course watch the meeting on our site, and we will have a comment form you can use to let us know your thoughts and questions that way too..
- Go to White House Live Facebook application
- Watch and comment through our site
- As always, learn more at HealthReform.gov.
UPDATE: Rebecca Adelman of HHS is also at the meeting, and is helping us keep a written record:4:10: Zeke Emanuel is wrapping up the meeting now. Jennifer Cannistra just announced to the group that we received over 1,000 comments on Facebook and through WhiteHouse.gov during this meeting. She closes with a comment from Facebook on the obstacle poverty can be to focusing on prevention and wellness for your family, and ties the comment to initiatives in the President's "United We Serve" program and Serve.gov.4:05: Dr. Alice Chen, Executive Director of Doctors for America, is reading from a sizable binder full of comments sent to her from physicians across the country. One physician told her, "the best prevention is providing people with health insurance."4:00: We are now hearing final comments from each physician to close the meeting. Notably, one doctor is saying we can talk about health care reform and prevention until we are blue in the face, but we won't have the primary care workforce we need to truly change the system unless we talk about medical education and changing the incentives that deter many new doctors from entering the primary care field.3:41: Dr. Vivek Murthy, President and Co-founder of Doctors for America, is urging that medical education be changed so that medical students are trained in prevention. During his time in medical school, he says he spent six weeks on cell biology, but the only training offered for preventative care came in the form of an evening, optional, elective which he says was sparsely attended. "That culture has to change," he said.3:35: Dr. Omega C. Logan Silva is suggesting that the only way to treat obesity is to prevent obesity. Her idea is to enlist the support of retired physicians to speak directly to young children to educate them about nutrition and health with the eventual goal of changing national attitudes about food.3:25: Reversing obesity trends is a critical focus of many of the physicians in the room. Some are suggesting mandatory physical education and nutritional education be implemented in schools, and one expert on the subject here is Secretary Joe Thompson from Arkansas who has been collecting Body Mass Index information in his state for six years and has engaged in an effort to make Health part of every policy decision in the state. Secretary Thompson says "we did everything we could think of" to curb obesity trends, including changing the foods served in cafeterias, increasing physical and nutritional education, and he says he believes they have halted the increase in obesity in his state.3:00: Leading the discussion today along side Mike Hash is Dr. Dora Hughes from HHS, Dr. Bob Kocher and Dr. Zeke Emanuel, Dr. Kavita Patel, and HHS's Dr. Meena Seshamani. Zeke Emanuel is asking the physicians for "actionable ideas" as we now are in the thick of health care reform. One physician answers the first question from Facebook by suggesting employers allot a certain number of hours for regular preventative check-ups.2:50: Jennifer Cannistra from the Office of Health Reform reads the first question submitted on Facebook: for those people working 12-14 hours a day, how can we make it easier to focus on prevention?2:45: We're just kicking off the third physicians stakeholders discussion in the Old Executive Office Building. Mike Hash from the White House Office of Health Reform is welcoming both the group of 25 doctors present in the room and the viewers watching this discussion streamed online. During today's discussion we will take questions submitted on www.facebook.com to involve even more people in the conversation. For this third stakeholder discussion with physicians, the plan is to focus the conversation on how to use prevention and wellness initiatives to cut health care costs and improve quality of care. -
June 18, 2009
01:03 PM EDTA few days ago, I discussed the White House’s comprehensive report on potential climate change impacts on the United States. After the release of the report, the White House solicited questions via Twitter. One of the questions we received which seemed particularly worth addressing was: "Is attention turning to adaptation rather than mitigation?"Thanks for this question. The bottom line is that we need both. The more we are able to limit the magnitude of climate change through mitigation measures (such as energy efficiency initiatives, or switching to energy sources that do not use fossil fuel, or that use less of it), the more likely is that adapting to the impacts of climate change will be more feasible and less costly. However, because we are already seeing some of the impacts of climate change, as the report "Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States" outlines, we know that some adaptation is already necessary and more will be needed. So the report highlights both the need for rapid and aggressive action if we want to avoid some of the more severe impacts, and it also illustrates some adaptation examples that we know are already being applied. What the report also says, in its recommendations section, is that we need a more focused effort to enhance understanding of how society can adapt to climate change. We currently have relatively limited knowledge regarding the best approaches to adaptation in the United States, and so in addition to the focus on reducing the climate change through mitigations measures, a clear need for more focus on adaptation is also emerging. Thanks again for the question.
Dr. Anne Waple is with the US Global Change Research Program -
Viewing this video requires Adobe Flash Player 8 or higher. Download the free player.download .mp4 (42.8 MB) | read the transcriptThis evening the President signed a memorandum expanding federal benefits for the same-sex partners of Foreign Service and executive branch government employees. In his remarks before signing the memorandum, he said that this was a first step: "We've got more work to do to ensure that government treats all its citizens equally; to fight injustice and intolerance in all its forms; and to bring about that more perfect union. I'm committed to these efforts, and I pledge to work tirelessly on behalf of these issues in the months and years to come."The official statement released along with the memorandum itself told the sort of story that moved him to sign it, and also announced his support for the Domestic Partners Benefits and Obligations Act of 2009:STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT ON THE PRESIDENTIAL MEMORANDUM ON FEDERAL BENEFITS AND NON-DISCRIMINATION, AND SUPPORT OF THE LIEBERMAN-BALDWIN BENEFITS LEGISLATIONIn 2007, Michael Guest, the first openly gay Ambassador confirmed by the United States Senate, resigned from the Foreign Service. He loved his career, but he had to leave it in the end -- because he believed that the country he served was failing to implement the principles of equality it espoused abroad. His partner was ineligible for training provided to Ambassadorial spouses; he bore the costs of his partner's transportation to his placements abroad; and his partner did not receive the overseas benefits and allowances given to spouses of Ambassadors.It is too late to prevent Ambassador Guest from having to make the choice he made, but today I am proud to issue a Presidential Memorandum that will go a long way toward achieving equality for many of the hard-working, dedicated, and patriotic LGBT Americans serving in our Federal Government -- Americans like Ambassador Guest. In consultation with Secretary Clinton, who in her role as Secretary of State oversees our foreign service employees, and Office of Personnel Management Director John Berry, who oversees human resource management for our civil service employees, my Administration has identified a number of areas in which greater equality can be achieved under existing law by extending to the same-sex partners of Federal employees many of the same benefits already available to the spouses of heterosexual Federal employees. I am therefore requesting the Secretary of State and the Director of the Office of Personnel Management to extend the benefits they have identified to the same-sex partners of Federal employees where doing so can be achieved consistent with Federal law. I am also requesting the heads of all other executive departments and agencies to conduct a review of the benefits they administer to determine which may legally be extended to same-sex partners.But this Presidential Memorandum is just a start. Unfortunately, my Administration is not authorized by existing Federal law to provide same-sex couples with the full range of benefits enjoyed by heterosexual married couples. That's why I stand by my long-standing commitment to work with Congress to repeal the so-called Defense of Marriage Act. It's discriminatory, it interferes with States' rights, and it's time we overturned it.I am also proud to announce my support for an important piece of legislation introduced in both Houses of Congress last month -- the Domestic Partners Benefits and Obligations Act of 2009. This legislation will extend to the same-sex partners of Federal employees the same benefits already enjoyed by the opposite-sex spouses of Federal employees. The legislation has a number of co-sponsors in both Houses of Congress, but among those many sponsors, I want to recognize one in particular -- Representative Tammy Baldwin, who has been a real leader on this issue, and more broadly on the LGBT struggle for equality. Representative Baldwin, I look forward to working with you to achieve the important objectives set out in this bill as it moves through the legislative process. I also look forward to working with the bill's Senate champions, Senators Lieberman and Collins; I know that they will approach this process with the same spirit of cooperation in pursuit of our shared goals that they bring to all of their work in the Senate.Extending equal benefits to the same-sex partners of Federal employees is the right thing to do. It is also sound economic policy. Many top employers in the private sector already offer benefits to the same-sex partners of their employees; those companies recognize that offering partner benefits helps them compete for and retain the brightest and most talented employees. The Federal Government is at a disadvantage on that score right now, and change is long overdue.As Americans, we are all affected when our promises of equality go unfulfilled. Through measures like the Presidential Memorandum I am issuing today and the Domestic Partners Benefits and Obligations Act of 2009, we will advance the principles upon which our Nation was founded and continue to perfect our Union.
(President Barack Obama signs an executive order granting Federal employees with same sex partners more benefits in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, June 17, 2009. Official White House Photographer Lawrence Jackson) -
June 17, 2009
06:34 PM EDTViewing this video requires Adobe Flash Player 8 or higher. Download the free player.download .mp4 (159.8 MB) | read the transcriptThe First Lady hosted a harvest party in the White House kitchen garden today with the students from Bancroft Elementary to celebrate their hard work. As you may remember, the 5th graders helped start the organic kitchen garden back in March. Today, with help from the First Lady, they got to prepare a healthy meal with produce fresh from the garden. The kids harvested lettuce and sugar snap peas then cooked a delicious lunch consisting of salad, baked chicken and brown rice. And once kids finished their salads, they were rewarded with a cupcake topped with fresh garden berries. This was not only a culmination of their efforts, but it was also the realization of a small dream for the First Lady. She explained that planting an organic garden was one of the first things she wanted to do at the White House because of the severity of health issues facing America’s children:But I also thought that this would be a fun and interesting way to talk to kids about healthy eating and nutrition. The President and Congress are going to begin to address health care reform, and these issues of nutrition and wellness and preventative care is going to be the focus of a lot of conversation coming up in the weeks and months to come. And these are issues that I care deeply about, especially when they affect America's children.Obesity, diabetes, heart disease, high-blood pressure are all diet-related health issues that cost this country more than $120 billion each year. That's a lot of money. While the dollar figure is shocking in and of itself, the effect on our children's health is even more profound. Nearly a third of the children in this country are either overweight or obese, and a third will suffer from diabetes at some point in their lifetime. In Hispanic and African American communities, those numbers climb even higher so that nearly half of the children in those communities will suffer the same fate. Those numbers are unacceptable.
(First Lady Michelle Obama hosts the Bancroft Elementary School for the garden harvest of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, June 16, 2009. Offical White House Photographer Samantha Appleton)With children not exercising and not eating right, childhood obesity has become an epidemic in America that threatens to cause younger generations to have a shorter life span than their parents. So how do we get our kids to eat healthier? The First Lady stated that if the food tastes good, they’ll eat it:Well, I've learned that if it's fresh and grown locally, it's probably going to taste better. That's what I learned. And that's how I've been able to get my children to try different things, and in particular fruits and vegetables. By making this small change in our family's diet and adding more fresh produce for my family, Barack, the girls, me, we all started to notice over a very short period of time that we felt much better and we had more energy, right? And so I wanted to share this little piece of experience that I had with the rest of the nation, a wider audience, which is what brings us here today.This gorgeous and bountiful garden that you saw over there has given us the chance to not just have some fun, which we've had a lot of it, but to shed some light on the important -- on the important food and nutrition issues that we're going to need to address as a nation. We have to deal with these issues.More than 90 pounds of produce has been harvested so far. Some of it has been used for meals at the White House, but much of it has gone to area soup kitchens. While fresh fruits and vegetables are delicious, unfortunately they are not easily accessible to everyone, especially those in low-income areas. As the First Lady explained, for those Americans who live in areas where healthy food is out of reach, a healthy future is also out of reach. This is why community gardens are so exciting. They provide the opportunity to make healthy, affordable food readily available while bringing communities together. People are learning the benefits of community gardening -- over 1 million community gardens are flourishing right now, many in underserved urban communities. These gardens are bringing neighbors together to create a healthier community and a healthier future for the kids.
(First Lady Michelle Obama hosts the Bancroft Elementary School for the garden harvest of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, June 16, 2009. Offical White House Photographer Samantha Appleton)However, the First Lady explained that the government must also take a role in ensuring our kids have access to healthy and nutritious food. The USDA’s National School Lunch Program serves 30 million meals a year in low-income schools. The school meals serve as a main source of nourishment for these kids, so it is essential that they are healthy. Additionally, the Child Nutrition Act, which regulates federal nutrition programs, is up for reauthorization later this year. By making our children’s nutrition a top priority, we can help assure a healthier future. -
June 17, 2009
04:16 PM EDTThe First Lady addressed the Greater DC Cares Annual Business and Non-profit Philanthropy Summit yesterday, where she thanked community leaders for their hard work, but let them know that their work is far from over. Earlier today, the President announced United We Serve, a call to action for all Americans to volunteer this summer, and in these challenging times, help rebuild the foundation of America.The First Lady explained that in facing these challenges, we have an unprecedented opportunity to spark volunteerism as Americans are eager to do their part to rebuild their communities:As has been the case throughout our history, communities are built and rebuilt by regular people: folks working in businesses, philanthropists, foundations, and volunteers, all of them coming together to find solutions to these types of challenges. And during this time we are going to need everyone, and that -- everyone to rededicate themselves to this type of community-building, and we're going to need people to basically take hold of this kind of ethic of service and make a personal commitment to helping get this country back on the right direction.And I believe that we're in a unique moment in history. Maybe you're seeing the same thing. I'm feeling it as I'm traveling not just around D.C. but around the country. But people really want to get involved. They really want to. They're looking for a way to turn their frustration, excitement, anxiety into action. And the recent passage of the Serve America Act -- the federal government is tripling its contribution to volunteerism, and people are responding to that investment. Applications, as we're seeing for service opportunities, are up by record numbers, and that's a very good thing.And with the knowledge that, as Barack said throughout his campaign and throughout his presidency, that ordinary people can do some extraordinary things if they're given the proper tools and support, my husband is asking us to come together to help lay a new foundation for growth.Greater DC Cares is the largest and leading coordinator of volunteerism and service in the DC area. The First Lady told the crowd of 500 civic leaders that she understands the challenges associated with non-profit work through her own first-hand experience running an organization in Chicago:When I look over this room, I think about my days when I worked at Public Allies. I headed that program in Chicago before I moved into the university, and that organization allowed me to work with more than 30 Chicago organizations every single year, placing AmeriCorps members with them so that they could expand their services. We placed young people with organizations working on education and youth development groups, environmental groups, neighborhood, economic development groups, all types of groups all throughout the city of Chicago. And I saw first-hand through that work the variety of neighborhood and community needs that exist out there, and how hard it is for these groups to meet that need with the resources that they have. So they were excited to get these young people. However naïve and untrained they were, they ate these Allies up.And we recruited some of the best kids across the city of Chicago. For every young person that we recruited at a great institution like Northwestern, DePaul or the University of Chicago -- we even recruited kids from Harvard Law School -- we also recruited someone from Cabrini Green or from Little Village or North Lawndale. And through my work with Public Allies I realized that the next generation of leaders was just as likely to come from poor and working-class neighborhoods as they were to come from some of the top colleges around the country.She explained that Public Allies also taught her that all communities are filled with assets that should be recognized and mobilized by bringing together young people from diverse backgrounds. Working together to realize the needs of communities gives young people the ability to build relationships no matter what community they’re in, an essential life skill. "These are the gifts we can give people through service," the First Lady said.The First Lady concluded her remarks by telling community leaders to support one another, and to capitalize on Americans’ desire for engagement by providing meaningful volunteer opportunities that can not only change the way the nation views service, but also how the world views us:We need foundations and philanthropists to provide the integral support for our community organizations. But we also need those community organizations to provide support for all these volunteers we're recruiting now. We need to harness this amazing amount of goodwill that we're generating through this administration in a way that ensures that we serve all Americans to the best of our ability.So once again, we're going to need you. As tired as you may be, we're going to need you. So that's why I'm here -- (laughter) -- to say thank you, because we're going to be tapping you more and more. (Applause.) Now is the time that we have to connect with one another and share good ideas and hold each other up and give each other that private counsel when the dollars are running short and hope is a little harder to find.
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