Today, more than a dozen new members of the President’s Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for Hispanics were announced at the White House and later sworn-in at an official ceremony with U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor at the Smithsonian Institution Castle. These historic events mark the next step in improving the academic achievement of Latino students and the lives of all Hispanics nationwide.

Hispanic success in education and the labor market is important to America’s economy. At more than 54 million strong – including nearly 4 million in Puerto Rico--Hispanics are both the largest and fastest-growing minority group, yet they have the lowest education attainment levels of any group in the country. In addition, Hispanics are the largest minority group in the public education system, with more than 1 in 5 students in our elementary, middle and high schools; however, it this group that has the lowest education attainment levels overall, according to the report recently released by our office.

This two-day inaugural meeting brings together a group of well-respected individuals from the education, philanthropic, business, nonprofit and high-tech sectors; they also represent various Latino subgroups and regions of the U.S. The primary goal of these meetings is to provide a platform for the Commission to think through the many ways in which it can meet the duties under its charter. They will work in tandem with our office to create a strategy that is bold and innovative and that enables this Nation to meet the President’s 2020 Goal of having the most graduates in the world. 

Through its work, the Commission will provide advice toPresident Obama and EducationSecretary Arne Duncan. In remarks given during our executive order signing ceremony last October, the President introduced Eduardo Padron, president of Miami-Dade College, as the chair of the Commission. As chair, Padron works with White House Initiative Executive Director Juan Sepúlveda and Deputy Director Jose Rico to convene regular Commission meetings, determine its agenda, and direct its work.

In addition, more than 400 people will be attending the Commissioner’s swearing-in ceremony Thursday evening. The program, co-hosted by the Smithsonian Latino Center with unscripted remarks by Smithsonian Secretary Wayne Clough, Congressional Hispanic Caucus Vice-Chair Rep. Ruben Hinojosa, White House Director of Intergovernmental Affairs Cecilia Munoz and Commissioner Chair Eduardo Padron, will be held at the historic Smithsonian Institution Castle and Enid A. Haupt Gardens. The highlight of the program will be U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor’s congratulatory remarks and the swearing-in of the Commissioners.

I hope you can watch the webcast of the meetings at 1 p.m. ET/Noon CT, today, and 9 a.m. ET/8 a.m. CT, tomorrow at www.WhiteHouse.gov/live. You can also watch the swearing-in ceremony at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/education-department. When you do, let us know what you think:  What should the Commission do to increase the education attainment levels of Latinos?

To keep up with the activities of the White House Initiative, follow them at Ed.gov or on Facebook or whitehouse.gov/hispanic. 

To strengthen our economy, save drivers money at the gas pump and reduce harmful pollution in the air we breathe, President Obama has made cleaner, innovative and more fuel efficient vehicles a priority for this administration. Today, we’re taking another step to help put more fuel efficient cars on our streets and highways.

To match a new generation of vehicles rolling off the lines in American auto plants, we’re releasing a new generation of fuel economy labels to help consumers decide which vehicle is right for them and their families. These new labels represent the most significant redesign of fuel economy labels in 35 years – and one of the most powerful tools car buyers have ever had to find a vehicle that will meet their needs and save them money.

The new fuel economy labels will still provide the familiar, and important, information about city and highway mileage for new vehicles. But they will also cover new categories to help car buyers who are comparing a wide variety of different vehicles on the market.

It is hard to imagine that just 50 years ago, a young and vibrant President challenged a worried nation to reach for the seemingly impossible goal of landing humans on the moon and returning them safely to Earth. I was a teenager when President John F. Kennedy delivered his charge to Congress and the American people, but those words sparked my imagination, as they did for the millions of others who watched.

We recently completed the construction of the International Space Station and today we stand at the door to closing the incredible 30 year Space Shuttle Era – a great adventure of unprecedented international cooperation in low Earth orbit. The words of President John Kennedy 50 years ago today are at this time so appropriate: “…the impact of this adventure on the minds of men everywhere, who are attempting to make a determination of which road they should take.”

Editor’s Note: Champions of Change is a weekly initiative to highlight Americans who are making an impact in their communities and help our country rise to the many challenges of the 21st century.

Recently I was honored to join the “Champions of Change” discussion at the White House during National Transportation Week.  We were asked to focus on transportation workforce issues, a very timely topic, and I am pleased to have this opportunity to provide further thoughts.

I am proud to be part of the transportation construction industry because we put people to work, improve the nation’s quality of life and enable our economy to be more competitive.

Several participants in the White House meeting mentioned the importance of reauthorizing the federal surface transportation and aviation programs.  If we really want to put Americans to work, there is no better way than by passing long-term, well-funded versions of these important measures.  The long-term certainty of federal transportation investment will give the industry a much clearer view of our future market opportunities.  That will enable us to make additional investments in human capital, as well as equipment and supplies that will put even more Americans to work.

Each year, the Small Business Administration recognizes a Small Business Person of the Year from every state, as well as several U.S. territories. Many of this year’s winners visited the White House last week, as part of our Champions of Change program. On Friday, I attended a lunch honoring all of the 2011 award winners, and got the chance to thank some of the incredible entrepreneurs who are helping us win the future.

The men and women who came to DC for the event represented the full breadth of the small business experience in the United States – everything from baking to business consulting, from marine observation to medical-equipment rental. No matter what industry they come from, or what business model they pursue, their companies, and others like them, are making crucially important contributions to our country. As President Obama has often said, small businesses are, “the backbone of our economy and the cornerstones of America’s promise.”

In fact, small businesses and entrepreneurs employ half of America’s workers, and create two out of every three new jobs. And of course, iconic American companies, from McDonald’s and Microsoft to Ford and Facebook, began as small businesses. As we recover from the worst recession since the Great Depression, entrepreneurship is one of our most powerful economic engines.

Chair Sutley, Administrator Johnson and Secretary Chu view a new Chevrolet VOLT electric vehicle (Photo Credit GSA)

Today, U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu, U.S. General Services Administrator Martha Johnson and White House Council on Environmental Quality Chair Nancy Sutley came together to announce another major step in leading by example and reducing our dependence on oil by boosting clean energy technologies in our Federal fleet.  President Obama today issued a Presidential Memorandum that will implement new Federal fleet management practices to further the Administration's goals to cut oil imports by one-third by 2025 and to put one million advanced vehicles on the road by 2015.  In tandem, building on the doubling of the Federal hybrid fleet last year, GSA launched a historic Electric Vehicle Pilot program that will put the President’s plan into action and place alternative fueled vehicles into cities across the country.

Check out the video below to watch Secretary Chu, Administrator Johnson, and Chair Sutley announce the President's Memorandum and launch the government's first Electric Vehicle Pilot program:

    
 
The response has already been overwhelmingly positive.  See some statements of support below from various business leaders, advocacy groups and Members of Congress:

Brian Wynne, President, the Electric Drive Transportation Association
"The Electric Drive Transportation Association (EDTA) applauds the vital work being done in bringing electric drive vehicles to federal fleets. Their commitment will help accelerate private sector investment in the advanced technologies that will fuel our sustainable transportation future."

Greg Martin, Director of Policy and Washington Communications, General Motors
"Electric vehicles represent a leap forward toward a more clean and secure America. The technology that powers electric vehicles is essential to building our Nation's long term, global competitive strength and lessening our dependence on foreign energy sources. The federal fleet provides a good proving ground for these advanced vehicles and can help spur greater market interest. In this regard, the GSA Pilot program is leading the way."

Joe Mendelson, Director of Policy, Climate & Energy Program, National Wildlife Federation
"Jump starting the electrification of our federal fleet is a great deal for taxpayers and the environment. It leads the way toward a future that avoids high prices at the gas pump, reduces carbon pollution, and invests in made-in-America technology." 

Lizabeth Ardisana, Director of Sales, Service and Distribution, THINK
"Government involvement is critical to support and sustain the growing U.S. EV industry and direct government purchases of electric vehicles is the next logical step in supporting the policy to reduce America’s reliance on imported petroleum by one-third," said Lizabeth Ardisana, THINK Director of Sales, Service and Distribution. "Additionally, the loans and grants that manufacturers and local governments have received to support the commercialization of EV technology and related infrastructure have laid the groundwork to create a wealth of new job opportunities in the U.S."

Senator Tom Carper, U.S. Senator for Delaware
"The price at the gas pump is putting a big dent in the pocketbooks of millions of families and businesses across our nation. The impact of high gas prices on the federal government's fuel bill is no different. The hundreds of thousands of vehicles in the federal government's fleet cost taxpayers millions in fuel costs every year, at a time when the federal government is trying to get the most out of every dollar we spend. High fuel costs present yet another significant challenge for the federal government as we work to curb federal spending, but as Albert Einstein once said 'in adversity lies opportunity,' and this challenge certainly provides an opportunity for the federal government to rethink how we fuel our vehicle fleet. 

"President Obama's memorandum and the General Services Administration's announcement on new government-wide fleet management practices is a welcome step in the right direction to cut those significant vehicle fuel costs and help strengthen the American economy. It also comes on the heels of the release of a recent Government Accountability Office report that detailed how federal agencies are struggling with some of the vehicle mandates that have been placed on them. Moving to alternative fuel vehicles will help us reach the President's goal of a 30 percent reduction in petroleum use by 2015. This action underscores the Obama Administration's willingness to lead the way in increasing energy efficiency, and it will also allow us to leverage the enormous buying power of the federal government to make these vehicles more affordable for every American family and business. I am also encouraged that as part of this effort, the President is asking agencies to figure out their optimal fleet size and composition. Given the enormous budget deficits we face, we need to take a harder look at every dollar we spend to determine that it is both essential and as cost-effective an expenditure as possible. My subcommittee plans on following up with agencies about their work to determine their fleet's size and cost in the coming months." 

Mindy Lubber, President, Ceres
"Today's announcement to clean up the federal fleet and invest in our advanced vehicle industry isn't just smart government and environmental policy, it's good economic policy," said Mindy Lubber, President of the nationwide business and investor coalition Ceres. "America needs to lead in clean transportation. Government action like this shows that we can in fact achieve our clean energy goals, even as it primes the pump for key American industries to grab a competitive edge."

Roy Durham, Corp. /Govt. Fleet Director, RP Automotive
"RP Automotive is honored to be working with the GSA in their role to provide alternative fuel vehicles to the federal fleet in an effort to reduce both petroleum usage and harmful greenhouse gasses. We are proud to be a part of our government's plans to utilize zero and near-zero emission vehicles that will have measurable and positive effects for all of us."

Leaders of the Sustainable Energy & Environment Coalition, U.S. House of Representatives
The Sustainable Energy & Environment Coalition is co-chaired by Reps. Jay Inslee (D-WA) and Steve Israel (D-NY).
"The Sustainable Energy & Environment Coalition commends the Obama Administration and all participating federal agencies for their efforts to deploy electric and alternative fuel vehicles. As the operator of the nation’s largest vehicle fleet, the federal government's purchasing power can drive the widespread adoption of these vehicles, which will reduce America’s oil addiction and fuel costs, and decrease greenhouse gas and other air pollution, all the while growing American jobs and our economy by increasing domestic production of the vehicles of the twenty-first century.

"Just as importantly, the Electric Vehicle Pilot Program and related efforts will save Americans money in two different ways: By reducing the federal government’s fuel costs – a direct saving for taxpayers that promises to grow with the success of this program; and by reducing America’s oil demand, which is one of the chief drivers of climbing gasoline prices. SEEC commends the Obama Administration for its continued work to break the oil addiction that is so costly to Americans and jeopardizes our national security."

Sahar Wali is the Director of Communications at the White House Council on Environmental Quality

Twenty business leaders from Mexico, Missouri, joined me at the Mid America Brick plant recently for the first White House Business Council Roundtable meeting in Missouri.  President Obama asked me, along with other senior Administration officials, to facilitate a discussion to seek their input on ways the federal government can improve economic conditions and help them create jobs.

When you think of “bricks and mortar” for cementing economic development, there is no better place than the heartland of America at a brick plant for a setting.  Mexico, Missouri, was once known as the brick capital of the world, but its biggest factory shut down in 2002.  An energetic entrepreneur, Frank Cordie, CEO of Mid America Brick, is bringing it back to life.  Mr. Cordie graciously hosted and assisted with inviting key business leaders from the region.  His company is using USDA funding, as well as other financing, to restore this icon of the local business community, which at one time was the main employer in this rural town.  A tour of the plant made me believe he is well on the way to success.  I have never found a more committed group of leaders to their community.

This roundtable was one of many the Obama administration is holding to get feedback on ways we can help businesses expand, create jobs and improve the economic base in their area.  The goal was to hear what the Federal government should do more of -- and what we need to do less of – to help them jumpstart the economy.  We discussed what resources the government needs to provide, and how we sometimes need just to get out of the way.

Ed. Note: You can help people affected by disasters like the recent floods, tornadoes and wildfires, as well as countless other crises at home and around the world, through American Red Cross Disaster Relief.  If you are in the affected areas, you can also register as "Safe and Well" to let your friends and family know you are OK.

Before starting the day in London, President Obama took a moment to discuss the devastation in Missouri, Minnesota and across the Midwest. On Sunday, the President will travel to Missouri to talk with people who’ve been affected and local officials about response efforts to offer his assurance that the entire country is behind them. “The American people are by your side," President Obama said, "We’re going to stay there until every home is repaired, until every neighborhood is rebuilt, until every business is back on its feet. That's my commitment, and that's the American people’s commitment.”

Here are President Obama’s remarks:

Like all Americans, we have been monitoring what’s been taking place very closely and have been heartbroken by the images that we've seen in Joplin, Missouri, in particular.  The devastation is comparable and may end up exceeding some of the devastation that we saw in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, just a few weeks ago. 

So far we know that over 100 people lost their lives.  Others remain missing, and hundreds more are injured.  And obviously, our thoughts and prayers are with the families who are suffering at this moment.  And all we can do is let them know that all of America cares deeply about them and that we are going to do absolutely everything we can to make sure that they recover.

These storms often strike without warning, as we saw a little further south over the last couple of weeks.  And it’s going to be important for us to make sure that we are sustaining our efforts at rebuilding after the news cameras leave.  We can make sure that the families and communities upended by these storms have everything they need to pull through.  And in that regard, Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano as well as I have spoken with Missouri Governor Jay Nixon.  We’ve offered him not only our condolences, but we’ve told him that we will give him every ounce of resources the federal government may have that we can bring to bear on this situation.

At my direction, FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate and Deputy Administrator Rich Serino have traveled to Missouri to make sure our federal government is working hand in hand with state and local officials to give them the help that they need.  And on Sunday, I myself will travel to Missouri to talk with folks who’ve been affected, to talk to local officials about our response effort and hopefully to pray with folks and give them whatever assurance and comfort I can that the entire country is going to be behind them.

Now, these storms that came this weekend obviously compounded what has already been an extraordinary storm season throughout the Midwest and in the South.  We understand that there are more storms that are forecast today, so the thing I think I want to emphasize more than anything else, it is critical that Americans in affected areas heed storm warnings and take the lead of your local officials.

I know that a lot of people are wondering how they’ll get through the coming days or months or even years, but I want everybody in Joplin, everybody in Missouri, everybody in Minnesota, everybody across the Midwest to know that we are here for you.  The American people are by your side.  We’re going to stay there until every home is repaired, until every neighborhood is rebuilt, until every business is back on its feet.  That's my commitment, and that's the American people’s commitment.

We came in to West Point under cloudy grey skies for the First Lady's speech to the Class of 2011. In fact, we found out that it had been pouring rain for the last five days!  But as the plane touched down, the last of the showers swept through, the clouds parted, and beautiful blue skies greeted Mrs. Obama as she came onto campus. Similarly warm greetings came through from the community, from people waving to the motorcade as it drove by to the thunderous applause that greeted her as she entered Washington Hall for the Class Banquet.  Lieutenant General David Huntoon Jr., the Superintendent of the United States Military Academy (USMA), noted that West Point and the First Lady shared a similar ethos that emphasized values and service.

In her remarks, the First Lady emphasized how important family had been and would continue to be in the lives of these new officers, reminding them:

Our force is a force of families...They’re military spouses who pursue a career, raise their kids alone, and still find time for night school.  They’re children who move from town to town, constantly adjusting to new schools and making new friends.  They’re Blue Star moms who wake up every morning and pray and pray that their child comes home safely.  They’re Gold Star families who honor the memory of their loved ones while channeling their strength into serving others.

But the First Lady was also empathic that those families would not bear the burden alone.  She reminded the class that an entire country stood behind them, and that through efforts like the Joining Forces initiative, the combined efforts of diverse organizations from government and business to faith-based organizations and school districts would be backing them up. She ended the speech with a stirring promise:

I want you to remember that this country and all of its citizens stand ready to serve you and your families.  And I want you to remember that as long as we all do our duty, as long as we all serve with honor, then the fate of this country will never be in doubt.

First Lady Michelle Obama shakes hands with a young girls as she enters the West Point Graduation Banquet at the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York, May 20, 2011. Mrs. Obama is escorted by Lt. Gen. David Huntoon, superintendent at the U.S. Military Academy. (Official White House Photo by Samantha Appleton)

First Lady Michelle Obama poses for a photo while attending the West Point Graduation Banquet at the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York, May 20, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Samantha Appleton)