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This is a big day. Later this morning, I'll be at the United Nations in New York, joining Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, US Ambassador to the UN Susan Rice, and Russian Ambassador to the UN Vitaly Churkin in launching a Global Call to Action on Ending Distracted Driving.
You know, 65 years ago, delegates from 50 countries pledged that they would join together to promote the safety and security of all people.
In so doing, they established a remarkable institution, the UN.
And in that same spirit, Secretary General Ban, Ambassadors Rice and Churkin, and I are joining forces and issuing this global call. We'll be joined by FocusDriven founder and President Jennifer Smith who brings with her today Jacy Good, an extraordinary advocate on this issue.
Why are we coming together on this issue? Why now?
Because, during the last few years, distracted driving has evolved from a dangerous practice to a deadly epidemic. In the United States, it’s an epidemic because everyone has a mobile device--and everyone thinks they can use it safely behind the wheel.
Well, we’ve learned. They can’t.
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The Wall Street Journal published an op-ed today charging that the Affordable Care Act will prevent people from keeping their current health plan and limit their choices. However, this ignores the realities of health reform.
First, the 150 million Americans with employer-sponsored health insurance—who make up the vast majority of those with private health insurance today—will not see major changes to their coverage. For this group, the Act does include some important protections and enhancements, such as coverage for young adults up to age 26 and the elimination of annual limits on covered health costs. However, at the end of the day, employer-sponsored insurance will be improved but still look much the same as it does now.
Second, I agree with the WSJ op-ed that the Affordable Care Act’s biggest changes will be for the individual market, but with the opposite conclusion. The fact of the matter is that the individual market does not work well now—it features high prices and not enough choice, and too many Americans are left with poor or no health insurance because of this. The Affordable Care Act establishes minimum standards for health plans; creates transparent and competitive markets from which consumers can buy insurance; and helps those who can’t afford insurance coverage to purchase it.
A key point to remember is that while the Act makes many changes to the individual market, it specifically allows those who want to keep their current insurance to do so. Most of the Act’s protections apply only to new policies, allowing people to stick with their current plan if they prefer. It is true that a few protections apply to all plans, both new and old, but these protections—like limiting the share of premiums that insurers can devote to administrative costs—are designed to help consumers and cut health care costs.
The bottom line is that the Act allows people to keep the insurance they have, while also providing more and better options for all.
Stephanie Cutter is Assistant to the President for Special Projects
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This afternoon the President visited Youngstown, Ohio to tour V&M Star Steel, a company that’s adding hundreds of jobs in part due to investments form the Recovery Act. As Congressman Tim Ryan, who represents the area, explained earlier, Youngstown has had some tough times like a lot of America, but also like a lot of America has started to see some rays of hope.
President Barack Obama tours V&M Star, a manufacturer of steel products, in Youngstown, Ohio, May 18, 2010. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)
Speaking to Youngstown workers afterwards, the President took a moment to look back at a tough year and the actions that had to be taken to turn the economy around from losing 750,000 jobs the month he came into office to gaining 250,000 last month. And to Republicans who to this day “look for the cloud around every silver lining,” the President gave them no congratulations for having sat on the sidelines while Americans struggled:
So we had to make a choice: We could sit back, do nothing, make a bunch of excuses, play politics, and watch America’s decline -- or we could stand up and fight for our future.
And I ran for President, Youngstown, because I believe that we’re at a defining moment in our history. And if we’re going to keep the American Dream alive -- not just for us, but for the next generation -- then we couldn’t just sit back and put off solving these big problems. We had to tackle them head on.
Job one was rescuing our economy. And that required some steps that were, frankly, unpopular -- steps like stabilizing a financial system that was on the brink of collapse, and intervening in an auto industry that was on the brink of extinction. I knew those steps would be unpopular. Even in Ohio, even in Michigan, even in auto-making states, if you polled, people said, don’t do anything about the auto companies. And I knew politics being what it is, that some people would try to score political points off our decisions.
But I think it’s fair to say -- any fair-minded person would say that if we hadn’t acted, more people in the Valley, more people in Ohio, more people across America would be out of work today. I mean, I can just give you a very concrete example -- the GM plant over in Lordstown would not be there. Because GM would have liquidated.
Instead, GM is paying back its debts, turned a profit for the first time in three years, and a third shift is about to come back to work in Lordstown, putting that plant at maximum capacity. (Applause.) Right next door. (Applause.) And by the way, it was in part because of the decisions that these three guys made in Congress. That’s not easy. They’ve been knocked -- they’ve got bumps all over the backs of their heads -- some on top. (Laughter.) But it was the right thing to do.
Today my administration is announcing a landmark agreement to help dozens of communities like Youngstown revitalize and redevelop old, shuttered GM facilities, preparing them for new industries, new jobs, and new opportunity.
These steps were the right thing to do. And it was the right thing to do to give tax relief to small businesses and working families right in the middle of this enormous recession -- 4.5 million working families in Ohio alone got tax breaks. Most of you guys didn’t know it, didn’t notice it in your paycheck. We didn’t go around advertising it. But each paycheck was a little bit bigger because of the steps that we took, and that meant that you could recirculate that money into the economy and keep demand up, which helped avert a depression. That was the right thing to do.
It was the right thing to do to give loans to small businesses to keep their doors open -- more than 2,400 right here in Ohio got small business loans, because of the Recovery Act, because of the work that these guys did.
It was the right thing to do to extend unemployment benefits and make COBRA cheaper for people caught up in the recession until they could get back on their feet. There’s probably not a single person here who doesn’t know somebody who either got unemployment benefits or used COBRA to make sure they could keep health insurance for their families when they lost their job. That was the right thing to do.
It was the right thing to do to help governors like Ted avoid massive cuts to Medicaid and layoffs to teachers and police officers.
And it was the right thing to do to invest in this town’s infrastructure. We put all of that stuff in the recovery package because it was the right thing to do.
President Barack Obama delivers remarks on jobs and the economy to workers at V&M Star, a manufacturer of steel products, in Youngstown, Ohio, May 18, 2010. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)
The President went on to talk about what would have happened if the "just say no" crowd had succeeded inblocking all these efforts:
The steady progress we’re beginning to see across America would not exist. And neither would the plant that you’re about to build. So I invite anybody who thinks we shouldn’t have taken those actions that we took last year, or made those investments, to come to Youngstown and explain to us why that plant shouldn’t be built. (Applause.)
Come talk to Ted Strickland and the mayor. Come tell us why companies like this in towns like Youngstown shouldn’t be given every chance to expand and add new jobs. Tell us why small businesses shouldn’t receive tax credits so they can help purchase health insurance for their employees. Explain why seniors shouldn’t get help paying for their medications when they hit that gap called the doughnut hole. Explain why we should tell families that children with preexisting conditions aren’t going to be able to get health insurance because we decided that insurance companies should be able to do whatever they want.
They need to explain why they would be nothing to make -- doing nothing to solve some of these problems that have been plaguing America for years now, decades.
So I’m here to say, that’s not how we deal with crises. That’s not what America is about. We did not become the greatest economic power that the world has ever known by avoiding problems. The United States of America does not play for second place. We step up. We face our challenges. We compete. And we win. And that’s something we should all agree on. (Applause.)
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May 18, 2010
11:22 AM EDTIn my work with the Partnership for a Healthier America, I recognize the great task that we have taken on – to mobilize broad-based support for efforts to solve the childhood obesity challenge and facilitate commitments toward the First Lady’s national target of solving childhood obesity within a generation, the goal of her Let's Move! campaign. Yesterday, we announced an agreement with the Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation (HWCF) that takes an important first step toward this goal.
Through this agreement, HWCF manufacturing companies have pledged to take action to reduce 1.5 trillion product calories by 2015, and will seek to reduce 1 trillion by 2012 alone. HWCF manufacturers will pursue these calorie-reduction goals by developing lower-calorie options, changing recipes where possible to lower the calorie content of current products, and reducing portion sizes of existing single-serve products. For children and families, this is great news. All of these changes are aimed to help Americans reduce their calorie intake, improve their overall nutrition, and close the “energy gap,” an imbalance in the number of calories consumed versus calories expended.
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May 18, 2010
10:45 AM EDTEd. Note: With the President travelling to Youngstown, OH today, we invited Congressman Tim Ryan who represents the area to give us some local perspective ahead of the trip.
For those of us living in Northeastern Ohio, we take pride in our history and plan for a bright future. Today, I have the pleasure of joining Governor Ted Strickland and Senator Sherrod Brown in Youngstown to tour V&M Star Steel with President Obama and speak to the hard-working men and women employed there. One of the area’s largest employers, V&M is currently undergoing a $650 million project to construct a new steel pipe mill at its existing facility. This private investment would have never have been possible if not for a $20 million infrastructure investment delivered by the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act. This expansion will create hundreds of construction-related jobs and about 350 full-time, permanent jobs.
The last time President Obama came to our area, it was to visit the GM Lordstown Complex, where a third shift had been added in order to manufacture the Chevy Cruze, a fuel-efficient vehicle that will be distributed across the country. GM invested $350 million in the Lordstown facility to make way for an additional 1,200 jobs – good paying jobs that are expected to provide an additional $47 million in payroll, generate $470,000 in local income taxes and $1.4 million in state income taxes.
These two projects represent just a small portion of nearly $1.5 billion in investments generated recently in Ohio’s 17th District – strategic investments that will create over 5,000 local jobs and retain thousands more. From Revere Data moving jobs from India to downtown Youngstown, to the new Bridgestone-Firestone Tech Center in Akron and the Kent Central Gateway in Portage County, to the opportunities presented by our region’s close proximity to the extensive Marcellus Shale field – it is clear that our local economic development strategy is working.
As I join the President for his visit today, I can’t help but think about how far our District has come in the past few years, what our friends and family have been through, and how the hard work of this Administration and our local elected officials and business leaders is making our region an economic “comeback kid”.
Tim Ryan Represents Ohio's 17th Congressional District
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Earlier today, Nancy-Ann DeParle, the Director of the White House Office of Health Reform answered some questions via the @WhiteHouse account on Twitter that were posed by a popular blogger, Heather Armstrong (aka @Dooce). During the interview, Nancy-Ann also answered a question from someone else who chimed in.The interview covered pre-existing conditions, high-risk pools, health care tax credits for businesses and other important parts of the health care law. To learn even more, check out what health care reform means to you.
Here's a play by play of the questions:
Nancy-Ann DeParle is going to use @whitehouse to answer some of @dooce's #healthreform questions - ready now: http://twitpic.com/1op05q
The White House
whitehouse -
First Lady Michelle Obama stands on stage during the George Washington University commencement ceremony on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. May 16, 2010. (Official White House Photo by Samantha Appleton)
In the fall, the First Lady issued a challenge to George Washington University students, faculty, staff and trustees to perform 100,000 hours of community service, promising she’d speak at their graduation if they rose to it. They did and, as a woman of her word, Mrs. Obama delivered the commencement address to the Class of 2010 on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
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May 17, 2010
05:18 PM EDTThis afternoon, President Obama welcomed UConn’s Women’s Basketball Team into the White House and congratulated the Huskies on their second straight NCAA championship as well as their second straight undefeated season. Also in the room were Senators Chris Dodd and Joe Lieberman, and Congressmen John Larson and Joe Courtney, all of who are UConn fans.
Pointing out that the women’s basketball team hadn’t lost a game since he was elected into office, President Obama reflected back to last year when the team visited the White House and they played a quick game of "PIG" on the White House court: “I’m not going to say who won...” He commended the team on their outstanding achievements, including seven NCAA titles, six regular undefeated seasons, and four undefeated championship seasons.
[L]ast year, Coach Auriemma promised you guys would go 40-0 this year. It’s not your fault that he can't do math very well -- there were only 39 games. So, Coach, you can't win 40 if there are only 39 games. But 39-0 is pretty good. These women beat their own NCAA record to become the first women’s basketball team in history to win 78 games in a row over the past two years -- which is just a staggering achievement.
And I was telling them Michelle and I work out in the morning -- we've got a little gym here in the White House. And we’d just watch Sports Center. I know you’ll be surprised that we don't watch the news shows. But this is really true. During the entire season, I just kept on repeating, and I truly believed this was the best team in all of sports, any sport, any gender, by far. And that's just something that made us all very proud.
The President also noted that Coach Auriemma’s teams have a 100 percent graduation rate, commending them for working as hard in the classroom as they do in their games. He praised them for setting excellent examples on and off the court, recognizing their service work in elementary schools and with cancer patients.
Whether it’s winning a national championship, balancing practice with schoolwork, or serving others, these young women made it all look easy, despite the fact that we all know they put in enormous amounts of work. It’s that perseverance and dedication and that will to succeed that makes them so special.
And that’s why every single one of these young women sets a terrific example for girls and women today -- as athletes, as scholars and as leaders. And I think, Coach, you have just been an extraordinary leader, and I think all of us are extremely proud of the example that you’ve set.
President Barack Obama is presented with a team jersey by Tina Charles, center, and Maya Moore, center- left, during a ceremony where he honored the 2010 NCAA champion University of Connecticut women's basketball team in the East Room of the White House. At left is head coach Geno Auriemma. May 17, 2010. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
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We haven't updated the Flickr site with behind-the-scenes pictures in a while, so we thought we'd upload a new set from both March and April. They include many pictures of President Obama from private meetings in which I am the only photographer present, but also pictures from unusual angles during more public events. Lawrence Jackson has such a photo taken from the roof of the West Wing during a naturalization ceremony in the Rose Garden. Samantha Appleton has some really nice pictures of the First Lady from her visit to Haiti last month. And Chuck Kennedy has some fun pictures of Bo, the first family's dog, which I'm sure will garner the most number of page views.
Pete Souza is Chief Official White House Photographer.
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Today, President Obama signed the Daniel Pearl Freedom of the Press Act into law, a bill that reinforces the nation’s commitment to ensure freedom of the press, including bloggers, around the world. The President described the act as upholding our “core values” and sending a strong signal to the world about journalistic rights.
The President was joined by members of the murdered journalist Daniel Pearl’s family, including his son Adam and his widow, Mariane. He thanked the Pearl family for their courage in ensuring that Pearl’s legacy of holding governments accountable lives on. The bill directs the State Department to record how press freedom operates in conjunction with our human rights assessment, and hold countries that facilitate press repression to world opinion. He explained that the bill sends a strong message from the U.S. government and State Department to other countries that America is paying attention to how press is operating around the world.
All around the world there are enormously courageous journalists and bloggers who, at great risk to themselves, are trying to shine a light on the critical issues that the people of their country face; who are the frontlines against tyranny and oppression. And obviously the loss of Daniel Pearl was one of those moments that captured the world’s imagination because it reminded us of how valuable a free press is, and it reminded us that there are those who would go to any length in order to silence journalists around the world.
What this act does is it sends a strong message from the United States government and from the State Department that we are paying attention to how other governments are operating when it comes to the press. It has the State Department each year chronicling how press freedom is operating as one component of our human rights assessment, but it also looks at countries that are -- governments that are specifically condoning or facilitating this kind of press repression, singles them out and subjects them to the gaze of world opinion in ways that I think are extraordinarily important.
President Barack Obama talks with Adam Pearl, son of murdered journalist Daniel Pearl, before signing the Daniel Pearl Freedom of Press Act in the Oval Office. The President was joined by members of Pearl’s family, including Pearl's widow, Mariane, for the signing of the act that expands efforts to identify countries where press freedom is being violated. The law is named after Pearl, a Wall Street Journal reporter who was killed by militants in Pakistan in 2002. May 17, 2010. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
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May 17, 2010
02:45 PM EDTToday, the President and Vice President released their 2009 financial disclosure reports.
The Ethics in Government Act of 1978 requires high-level federal officials to publicly disclose their personal financial interests. The public filing system serves to prevent financial conflicts of interest by providing for a systematic review of the finances of government officials. Those finances are set forth in annual disclosures which are reviewed and certified by ethics officials, including the independent Office of Government Ethics. Neither the President nor the Vice President have any conflicts of interest, and their reports have been so certified by OGE.
Most of the information on both the President’s and the Vice President’s forms updates information that was disclosed on last year's forms, which were made publicly available in May 2009. We are continuing this Administration's practice, begun last year, of affirmatively posting these forms online here in the interests of transparency:
- View the President's 2009 financial disclosure report (pdf)
- View the Vice President's 2009 financial disclosure report (pdf)
White House staff are also completing their forms and we anticipate they will be available here next month, also in electronic form.
Norm Eisen is Special Counsel to the President for Ethics and Government Reform
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Asked about unfair attacks on Solicitor General Elena Kagan and her nomination for the Supreme Court, Ken Starr said “I think is not serving the Court well and therefore I don’t think it serves the country well.” Nevertheless, some have opted against engaging in an honest discussion of her qualifications and chosen instead to pursue smears and attacks that are frankly beneath the dignity of the Supreme Court.
Most prominently, a handful of Republican Senators and conservative commentators have attempted to portray Kagan as “anti-military” due to her opposition to “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” during her tenure as Dean of Harvard Law School, citing her continuation of Harvard’s non-discrimination policy that required employers using the recruiting services provided by the Office of Career Services to agree not to discriminate based on sexual orientation or other criteria. Of course Kagan’s opposition to the policy was in no way anti-military -- just as opposition today from figures such as General Colin Powell or Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Admiral Mike Mullen is rooted in admiration for all those who serve, so too was Kagan’s. Indeed, Brigadier General Patrick Finnegan, dean of the academic board at West Point, described such characterizations of Kagan as “ludicrous.”
A common claim from these critics is that the military was “banned” from the campus altogether during Kagan’s tenure as Dean – in fact, not only was the military allowed to continue to recruit in classrooms on campus and through the Harvard Law Students Veterans Association, a review of the recruitment figures has shown that recruitment kept completely on pace with previous years during Kagan’s time. Even more absurdly, some have claimed that Kagan’s upholding of Harvard’s nondiscrimination policy somehow violated the law – in fact, there has never been a law requiring that campuses allow military recruiters, only that the government was empowered to deny federal funds if military recruiters were not given access, so this claim is preposterous on its face. As the New York Times reported, “Her management of the recruiting dispute shows her to have been, above all, a pragmatist, asserting her principles but all the while following the law.”
But again, these false talking points obscure the broader truth that throughout her career Kagan has been known for her admiration and support of those who serve our country. This view has been echoed by those who have met her even briefly, such as Republican Senator Scott Brown, as well as those who have known her for years such conservative Harvard Professor Robert C. Clark. See for yourself:
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Today, the Treasury Department is releasing more details on the ways small businesses will benefit from health insurance reform. Rising health care costs have been the biggest concern for small businesses for decades. But as a result of the Affordable Care Act, we are already putting in motion steps that will reform the health insurance system so it works for small businesses, rather than strap them with continually rising costs.
One of the many ways the new law is helping small businesses is through tax credits starting this year. These credits will help small business owners provide health insurance to their workers – by giving back up to 35 percent of the employee premiums they pay starting this year. Just as important, today’s announcement made clear that small businesses may receive state health care tax credits and still qualify for a federal tax credit. In addition, today’s announcement clarifies that dental and vision coverage qualify for the credit.
With this announcement today, I’m reminded of a woman small business owner I met in New Jersey last summer. She said to me that the day she was able to provide health insurance for her staff was the day she knew she was a success. But rising costs forced her to cut back on the coverage and even put her at risk of not being able to provide coverage at all for her employees. That’s why these tax credits are so important. It will mean she and countless other small business owners across the country can do what she thinks is best for her employees and for her business.
An estimated 4 million small businesses may qualify for a credit, which will provide about $40 billion in tax relief over the next 10 years. Already, the IRS has sent out millions of postcards to small business owners connecting them with tools to help them to determine their eligibility for a federal tax credits this year.
In 2014, the maximum tax credit will increase from 35 to 50 percent and small business owners will also have the chance to access affordable plans through health insurance exchanges. These exchanges will be a marketplace where small businesses can pool their risk together and spread it more broadly, while reducing their administrative costs.
It’s important to note that the Affordable Care Act also will help small businesses in other ways.
For example, rules will prohibit insurance companies from dramatically increasing premiums for a small business just because one worker gets sick. Also, by outlawing discrimination based on pre-existing conditions, the Affordable Care Act will make it easier for small businesses to compete for quality workers, as well as allow more Americans to break out of “job lock” and start their own business. Read more benefits of the Affordable Care Act for small businesses here.
Overall, the Affordable Care Act will provide entrepreneurs and small business owners with lower costs and more tools to provide health insurance for their employees, whom they often think of as members of their own family. We owe them nothing less as they work to grow, create jobs, and lead us toward full economic recovery.
Karen Mills is Administrator of the Small Business Administration
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The President explains how Wall Street Reform will not only end bailouts and bring accountability for big banks, but empower consumers, shareholders and community banks.
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I believe that when you set out to look for a home, you aren’t just looking for a house, but you are also looking for a community. You are thinking about access to quality schools and safe streets for your children. You are thinking about transportation to work and school. It’s important for you to have access to good jobs, grocery stores and transportation. When you choose a home, you choose a community and all that is has to offer. As a father, I understand how important it is to spend less time commuting and more time with family.
Through HUD’s Office of Sustainable Housing and Communities we are working with the Department of Transportation and the Environmental Protection Agency to create those sustainable communities. Guided by six “Livability Principles,” our Interagency Partnership is working to break down silos that traditionally exist in the federal government and help local communities across the country improve access to affordable housing, more transportation options, and lower transportation costs, while protecting our environment. It will help communities build more livable, walkable, environmentally sustainable regions by connecting housing to jobs, fostering and encouraging local innovation, and by building a clean energy economy.
Today, I had the opportunity to travel to the great state of Colorado, which has been leading the effort on all things “green” and sustainable. The City of Denver has started building more than 100 miles of new light rail, commuter rail, and bus rapid transit lanes, linking the 32 communities surrounding the city. And it doesn’t stop there.
Along with representatives from the Denver Housing Authority, Mayor John Hickenlooper, Congressman Ed Perlmutter, and I toured Benedict Park Place (BPP). Located near Denver’s central business district in Downtown Denver, BPP is a 15-acre sustainable mixed-income, mixed-used redevelopment project. Within walking distance to a Transit Oriented Development (TOD)-light rail line, bus stop, bike share station, grocery store, parks, charter school and downtown job center, BPP is a model for the type of sustainable communities that we are developing across the country. It has 580 mixed-income units with over 100 homeownership units planned with a total cost of approximately $130 million. The last phase, which broke ground this spring, will deliver 89 mixed-income rental units (30 public housing, 32 Low Income Housing Tax Credits and 27 market rate units) currently scoring as LEED Platinum under the LEED for Homes Pilot Program. It will contain various renewable energy components, including a 42 bore wells geothermal system and a 100kw Solar Photovoltaic System that will reduce the building’s operating costs by over 50% on an annual basis and save as much as $43,000 in HUD utility subsidies a year. And thanks to $5.6 million in HUD Recovery Act funding, the Denver Housing Authority was able to create quality construction jobs for 50 workers as a result of this project, some of whom I was able to meet during my tour today.
Representative Ed Perlmutter, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Shaun Donovan, and Denvery Mayor John Hickenlooper at Benedict Park Place housing development in Denver, Colorado. May 14, 2010.
Not only is it important for our big cities and urban communities to have access to sustainable development resources, but for our small towns and rural communities as well. They face unique challenges when it comes to accessing health care, grocery stores, and adult education opportunities, among other things. As I mentioned in testimony before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development last week, as part of our new Sustainable Communities Planning Grant Program, we are creating a separate, special funding category specifically for small towns and rural places. The program will include a funding set-aside for communities and towns with a population of less than 200,000 people, as well as for those with a population between 200,000 and 500,000. This will ensure that small towns and rural places are not overlooked in this competition.
While in Colorado, I also traveled about an hour north of Denver to the City of Greely (population 95,000). In Greely, I participated in a panel discussion with Congresswoman Betsy Markey, Governor Bill Ritter, and Greely Mayor Tom Norton where we focused on developing more sustainable, walkable, energy efficient housing and communities in America’s small and rural towns.
Whether it’s our rural communities and small towns or our big cities and urban communities, President Obama and I are committed to ensuring that we tie the quality and location of housing to broader opportunities. This includes access to good jobs, quality schools and safe streets. This also means helping communities that face common problems start sharing solutions and becoming partners to create sustainable development.
Shaun Donovan is the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.
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This morning the President met with members of his Cabinet to get another comprehensive update on the ongoing Administration-wide response to the disastrous BP oil spill in the Gulf region. The President made clear his frustration with BP and the other parties involved in the spill, committed once again to ensuring they are held accountable for picking up the tab, and recapped the Administration’s efforts to tighten up the regulation of offshore drilling sites.
He began with the top priorities, however:
The potential devastation to the Gulf Coast, its economy, and its people require us to continue our relentless efforts to stop the leak and contain the damage. There’s already been a loss of life, damage to our coastline, to fish and wildlife, and to the livelihoods of everyone from fishermen to restaurant and hotel owners. I saw firsthand the anger and frustration felt by our neighbors in the Gulf. And let me tell you, it is an anger and frustration that I share as President. And I’m not going to rest or be satisfied until the leak is stopped at the source, the oil in the Gulf is contained and cleaned up, and the people of the Gulf are able to go back to their lives and their livelihoods.
Now, the most important order of business is to stop the leak. I know there have been varying reports over the last few days about how large the leak is, but since no one can get down there in person, we know there is a level of uncertainty. But as Admiral Thad Allen said today, our mobilization and response efforts have always been geared toward the possibility of a catastrophic event. And what really matters is this: There’s oil leaking and we need to stop it –- and we need to stop it as soon as possible. With that source being 5,000 feet under the ocean’s surface, this has been extremely difficult. But scientists and engineers are currently using the best, most advanced technology that exists to try to stop the flow of oil as quickly as possible.
Our second task has been to contain the spill and protect the Gulf Coast and the people who live there. We are using every available resource to stop the oil from coming ashore. Over one million feet of barrier boom have been deployed to hold the oil back. Hundreds of thousands of gallons of dispersant have helped to break up the oil, and about four million gallons of oily water have been recovered; 13,000 people have been mobilized to protect the shoreline and its wildlife, as has the National Guard.
The President also discussed the draft legislation sent to Congress this week to ensure that the government can respond as needed, and talked about accountability:
I know BP has committed to pay for the response effort, and we will hold them to their obligation. I have to say, though, I did not appreciate what I considered to be a ridiculous spectacle during the congressional hearings into this matter. You had executives of BP and Transocean and Halliburton falling over each other to point the finger of blame at somebody else. The American people could not have been impressed with that display, and I certainly wasn’t.
I understand that there are legal and financial issues involved, and a full investigation will tell us exactly what happened. But it is pretty clear that the system failed, and it failed badly. And for that, there is enough responsibility to go around. And all parties should be willing to accept it.
That includes, by the way, the federal government. For too long, for a decade or more, there has been a cozy relationship between the oil companies and the federal agency that permits them to drill. It seems as if permits were too often issued based on little more than assurances of safety from the oil companies. That cannot and will not happen anymore. To borrow an old phrase, we will trust but we will verify.
Now, from the day he took office as Interior Secretary, Ken Salazar has recognized these problems and he’s worked to solve them. Oftentimes he has been slammed by the industry, suggesting that somehow these necessary reforms would impede economic growth. Well, as I just told Ken, we are going to keep on going to do what needs to be done.
And so I’ve asked Secretary Salazar to conduct a top-to-bottom reform of the Minerals Management Service. This week, he announced that the part of the agency which permits oil and gas drilling and collects royalties will be separated from the part of the agency in charge of inspecting the safety of oil rigs and platforms and enforcing the law. That way, there’s no conflict of interest, real or perceived.
He closed on a note of concern for those most affected:
The people of the Gulf Coast need our help, and they deserve nothing less than for us to stand up and do whatever is necessary to stop this spill, prevent further damage, and compensate all those who’ve been harmed already. That’s our job.
It’s also our job to make sure this kind of mess doesn’t happen again. It’s a job we’ve been doing. It’s a job we will keep doing until the well is capped and the spill is cleaned up, and all claims are paid.
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This morning, President Obama honored the 2010 National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO) TOP COPS award winners at a ceremony in the Rose Garden. The President was joined by Attorney General Eric Holder and President of NAPO Tom Nee.
The President commended the TOP COPS as “men and women who stand as shining examples of the bravery, persistence and good judgment that so many members of out law enforcement community display each and every day.” He congratulated them for their extraordinary service in the face of great challenges:
I think it’s fair to say that the folks behind me never imagined they would be here today. If you asked them, these officers would say they were just professionals doing their jobs as best they could. And they’ll tell you that there are thousands of law enforcement officers in every corner of this nation who are just as brave, just as dedicated and just as capable as they are -– and who would do the same thing if given the opportunity.
And that’s all true. But that’s exactly what makes these officers –- and all of our men and women in uniform -– real heroes. It’s the ability to put on a badge and go to work knowing that danger could be waiting right around the corner. It’s the understanding that the next call could be the one that changes everything. And it’s the knowledge that, at any moment, they could be called upon to stop a robbery, to participate in a high-speed chase, or to save a life.
President Barack Obama, center, with Attorney General Eric Holder, right, and National Association of Police Organizations President Thomas J. Nee, left, delivers remarks at a ceremony honoring the Top Cops award winners in the Rose Garden of the White House, May 14, 2010. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)
The President recognized that honoring TOP COPS means more than simply thanking them but also supporting the entire law enforcement community, “because we’ve seen the results of that work.” He talked about ways the Administration is working to give state and local law enforcement the resources they need, including $3.5 billion from the Recovery Act and $1 billion for the COPS program alone.
[W]e are incredibly proud of the courage that all of you have shown in the conditions that we can only imagine. It’s a distinction that none of you asked for, but all of you accepted. And I promise that we will stand by you, and everyone who wears the badge, as you continue to keep us safe.
President Barack Obama talks with Sgt. Kimberly Munley, Directorate of Emergency Services, Ft. Hood Police Dept., after delivering remarks at a ceremony honoring the Top Cops award winners in the Rose Garden of the White House, May 14, 2010. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)
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Cross-posted from the DOT Blog.
Are Japanese bullet trains coming to the US? This is a question I've seen being asked more than once in the media this week.
Now, to be fair, I may have started this buzz by riding a couple of Japan's lightning fast trains while visiting that country earlier in the week. And I have to say, those trains are fast. Very fast.
I'm also looking forward to riding to the Shanghai airport later today on China's maglev train.
My short answer to the question? No, Japanese and Chinese trains are not coming to the US.
BUT, Japanese and Chinese high-speed rail technology and expertise may be on its way. And, when an American high-speed rail system is up and running--thanks to President Obama's initial $8 billion down-payment and future rail grants authorized by Congress--those familiar with Japan's Shinkansen or Spain's AVE or Germany's ICE or Russia's Sapsan may find similar designs and components.
Secretary LaHood talks to Japanese media about his high-speed train ride.
I think that makes sense. After all, rail companies in Asia and Europe have high-speed experience that American rail companies just haven't had yet. Do I look forward to the day when American companies have that experience? You bet.
In the meantime, if we do end up benefiting from foreign expertise, whether it's Japanese or Chinese or Canadian or European, another thing you can bet on is those trains and their components will be made by skilled American workers.
How do I know this? Because last December we received assurances from over 30 companies in the rail business that high-speed rail will contribute to US rail manufacturing should they be awarded contracts.
Sure, those of us who saw the Japanese trains are impressed with the railroad system in Japan. And we do look forward to opportunities to partner in America with experienced rail companies from abroad. But we're only interested in partnerships that use American workers in American facilities.
I have now ridden several of the world's fastest trains, and I have seen how effectively they deliver passengers from city to city. And I am looking forward to the day when we secure those partnerships and create those jobs and revitalize an American rail manufacturing industry. And build those trains.
Ray LaHood is the Secretary of Transportation.
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With the passage of the Affordable Care Act, President Obama and his team have turned to the next big task: implementing the new law, making reform a reality and ensuring consumers have control of their health care, not big insurance companies. We’ll be doing this through providing better choices for consumers, lowering costs for everyone, and holding insurance companies accountable. Earlier this week, Secretary Sebelius sent a letter to Congressional leaders about our efforts to implement the new law, but we want to ensure you know about the work we’re doing, so in addition to our usual efforts to answer your questions and pass on important information, we will be providing regular updates here on the White House blog.
Some of the highlights of our work include:
Coverage for Young Adults
This week we released new regulations that will allow young adults who don’t get insurance at work to stay on their parents’ health insurance plan until they turn 26. This policy goes into effect in September, but our Administration has called on leading insurance companies to implement the new law and begin covering young adults now. We’re pleased that more than 65 of the nation’s leading insurance companies have agreed to do just that, along with a host of large employers across the nation. Learn more about this policy and how you and your family can get covered here.Supporting Early Retirees
Earlier this month, the Department of Health and Human Services issued rules for the new early retiree reinsurance program. This program offers $5 billion to employers so they can more easily give benefits to their retired workers who are not eligible for Medicare health benefits. High health care costs have made it increasingly difficult for employers to offer benefits to their retirees and Americans who retire early and aren’t eligible for Medicare often pay high prices for coverage or simply go uninsured. Now, this program will make it easier for employers to honor their commitments to the workers that helped their businesses succeed. We’re especially pleased that this program will get started early. The law calls for this program to be established by June 21, but we have worked to ensure the benefits of this program kick in on June 1. You can learn more about the program here.Fighting Fraud
The Affordable Care Act includes significant new tools that will help fight fraud and protect taxpayer dollars. On Thursday, Secretary Sebelius and Attorney General Holder discussed our Administration’s work to fight fraud using the tools provided by the Affordable Care Act. Sebelius and Holder also released the annual Health Care Fraud and Abuse Control Program (HCFAC) Report, which found that in fiscal year 2009, our work to crack down on fraud brought $2.51 billion to the Medicare Trust Fund, a $569 million, or 29 percent, increase over FY 2008. You can watch the announcement and learn more here.Lowering Premiums
The President’s team has also continued to fight high health insurance premium increases. Months ago, the Administration spoke out when Anthem BlueCross, a WellPoint company proposed raising rates by as much as 39 percent. Now, after an investigation found that the company’s justification for those increases was based on “miscalculations,” HHS Secretary Sebelius has called on states to examine other WellPoint rate increases to see if they were also based on flawed data. Several states are investigating.We’re also working closely with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) to implement new rules that require insurance companies to be more efficient and spend more of your premium dollars on medical care, not overhead, CEO salaries and other expenses. We’ve asked the NAIC to complete its work on the “medical loss ratio” policy by June 1, rather than the December deadline included in the law and we’ll continue to monitor insurance companies and speak out if they try to force unjustified rate increases on their customers.
Be sure to check the blog regularly for more information about how the Affordable Care Act is being implemented and strengthening the health care system for all Americans.
Stephanie Cutter is Assistant to the President for Special Projects
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Thanks for checking out the West Wing Week, your guide to everything that's happening at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. This week, walk step by step with the President as he speaks to the nation about job numbers, monitors the oil leak in the gulf of Mexico, says goodbye to the spring interns, gives the commencement address at Hampton University, swears in his Intelligence Advisory Board, welcomes the President of Afghanistan, congratulates PM David Cameron, visits Buffalo NY and much more.
Friday, May 7th
Sunday, May 9th
Monday, May 10th
- The President announces Solicitor General Elena Kagan as his nominee for Supreme Court Justice
- The President meets with Cabinet members to review BP efforts to stop the oil leak
Wednesday, May 12th
Thursday, May 13th
Arun Chaudhary is the official White House videographer
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