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Read all posts from June 2013
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Today was a truly historic day in our nation’s history, as the Supreme Court struck down the Defense of Marriage Act. As President Obama stated, “this ruling is a victory for couples who have long fought for equal treatment under the law; for children whose parents’ marriages will now be recognized, rightly, as legitimate; for families that, at long last, will get the respect and protection they deserve; and for friends and supporters who have wanted nothing more than to see their loved ones treated fairly and have worked hard to persuade their nation to change for the better.”
I also want to congratulate the plaintiffs in the Proposition 8 case, as the Court today declined to overrule a lower court’s decision that Prop 8 is unconstitutional and unenforceable.
It is fitting that these two decisions came during LGBT Pride Month, when we remember the contributions of LGBT individuals, while looking ahead in the fight for greater equality.
Valerie Jarrett recognizes Brigadier General Tammy Smith and her wife Tracey Hepner during a speech at the Pentagon on June 25, 2013. (Official Photo by Department of Defense)
In fact, just yesterday, I had the privilege of speaking at an event celebrating LGBT Pride Month at the Pentagon.
Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, Acting Secretary of the Air Force, Eric Fanning, and I spoke at the event commemorating the contributions that lesbian and gay service members have made in defending our country and its citizens.
When I look back over the last four and a half years since President Obama took office, nothing better exemplifies that kind of profound, meaningful, historic change than the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” It is one of the most significant civil rights accomplishments of President Obama's career.
Last September, on the first anniversary of the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” I once again invited a small group of gay and lesbian service members – officers, and enlisted personnel from every service, some of whom brought their partners– to the White House— this time, to share stories about how their lives had changed since the repeal.
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Yesterday, at Georgetown University, President Obama laid out his Administration’s broad-based plan to cut carbon pollution and meet the climate change challenge.
It’s a plan that starts with responsibility. While no single step can reverse the effects of climate change, President Obama believes we have a moral obligation to future generations to do what we can. After all, this is no longer a distant threat – we are already feeling the impacts now.
The 12 hottest years on record have all come in the last 15 years. Asthma rates have doubled in the past 30 years and our children will suffer more asthma attacks as air pollution gets worse. And increasing floods, heat waves, and droughts have taken a toll on our nation’s farmers, which is raising food prices. These changes come with far-reaching consequences and real economic costs. Last year alone, there were more than 11 different weather and climate disaster events with estimated losses exceeding $1 billion each across the United States.
During President Obama’s first term, we took a number of important steps to reduce carbon pollution and spark innovation in cleaner forms of energy. For example, we doubled our use of renewable electricity from wind, solar, and geothermal sources and set the toughest fuel efficiency standards in American history. Thanks in part to these actions, in 2012, U.S. carbon pollution from the energy sector fell to the lowest level in nearly 20 years. To build on this progress, the President’s Climate Action Plan has three pillars: cut carbon pollution in America; prepare the United States for climate impacts; and lead international efforts to combat global climate change.
Now, we’re already seeing many Republicans and some of the nation’s biggest polluters attack the President’s plan. And they’re recycling the same tired and empty arguments that we’ve heard time and time again. To separate fact from fiction, let’s dig a little deeper and compare their rhetoric with the reality.
Claim #1:
Reducing carbon pollution will hurt the economy and cost jobs.
FACT:
Over the last four decades, we have reduced common pollutants by more than half and have doubled economic output.
Our own history shows us that we can protect our environment, reduce harmful pollution, and promote economic growth all at the same time. And the numbers speak for themselves: between 1970 and 2011, aggregate emissions of common air pollutants dropped 68 percent, while the U.S. gross domestic product grew 212 percent. Private sector jobs increased by 88 percent during the same period.
What’s even worse about this claim is that it suggests a lack of faith in American businesses to innovate. When we banned cancer-causing chemicals in our toys, and leaded fuel in our cars, it didn’t end the plastics industry or the oil industry; American chemists came up with better, cheaper substitutes. When we phased out chlorofluorocarbons – the gases that depleted the ozone layer – it didn’t kill off refrigerators and air conditioners; American workers built better ones.
The bottom line is that we don’t have to choose between the health of our children and the health of our economy. Those goals go hand in hand. And by taking action to reduce carbon pollution, we can spark new jobs and industries building cleaner and more efficient American-made energy technologies.
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Today, the Supreme Court struck down Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act. In a statement released shortly after the Court’s ruling was announced, President Obama applauded the decision.
This was discrimination enshrined in law. It treated loving, committed gay and lesbian couples as a separate and lesser class of people. The Supreme Court has righted that wrong, and our country is better off for it. We are a people who declared that we are all created equal – and the love we commit to one another must be equal as well.
This ruling is a victory for couples who have long fought for equal treatment under the law; for children whose parents’ marriages will now be recognized, rightly, as legitimate; for families that, at long last, will get the respect and protection they deserve; and for friends and supporters who have wanted nothing more than to see their loved ones treated fairly and have worked hard to persuade their nation to change for the better.
So we welcome today’s decision, and I’ve directed the Attorney General to work with other members of my Cabinet to review all relevant federal statutes to ensure this decision, including its implications for Federal benefits and obligations, is implemented swiftly and smoothly.
On an issue as sensitive as this, knowing that Americans hold a wide range of views based on deeply held beliefs, maintaining our nation’s commitment to religious freedom is also vital. How religious institutions define and consecrate marriage has always been up to those institutions. Nothing about this decision – which applies only to civil marriages – changes that.
The laws of our land are catching up to the fundamental truth that millions of Americans hold in our hearts: when all Americans are treated as equal, no matter who they are or whom they love, we are all more free.
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We are proud that President Obama is committed to giving Americans an unfiltered look at life inside the White House, but you can't always go #nofilter. This morning, the White House posted its first photo on Instagram, an image of the First Family taking off on Marine One for their trip to Senegal, South Africa, and Tanzania.
Follow @WhiteHouse and @MichelleObama from your phone or computer to experience the White House in photos and be sure to stay tuned for upcoming chances to engage.
And over the next few days, folks on Instagram will be able to follow the President and First Lady on their trip to Africa—you won’t want to miss it.
(The First Family takes off for a three-country trip across Africa captured in Earlybird)
Check out some of the other ways to engage with the White House.
- View the White House Photo Office Flickr Account
- Follow the White House on Facebook and Twitter
- Visit the White House on Tumblr
- View our Virtual Pinboards on Pinterst
- Watch Official White House Videos on YouTube
For many more ways to engage with the White House, visit WhiteHouse.gov/engage.
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Ed. note: Find state-by-state reports about the impacts of extreme weather and carbon pollution here.
On Tuesday, President Obama laid out his comprehensive plan to cut carbon pollution, prepare our country for the impacts of climate change, and lead global efforts to fight it.
Climate change impacts -- ranging from more frequent and severe storms, floods, heat waves, and wildfires, to increased risk of asthma attacks and longer allergy seasons -- are already affecting our security, our economy, and our communities. In 2012 alone, the cost of weather disasters exceeded $110 billion in the United States, and climate change will only increase the frequency and intensity of these events. Today, we already set limits for arsenic, mercury and lead, but we impose no limits on how much carbon pollution our power plants release-- despite the fact carbon pollution is one of the largest drivers of climate change.
As the President explained yesterday, we have a moral obligation to leave our children a planet that’s not polluted or damaged, and by taking an all-of-the-above approach to develop homegrown energy and steady, responsible steps to cut carbon pollution, we can begin to slow the effects of climate change so we leave a cleaner, more stable environment for future generations. The President’s plan is a comprehensive approach to cutting the pollution that causes climate change and threatens public health, setting us on a path to make our communities healthier, safer, and more resilient.
The state-by-state reports below detail some of the impacts of extreme weather and pollution across the country, and underscore the importance of acting now to cut carbon pollution and protect the health of our communities.
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Today, my husband, President Obama, and I, along with our daughters, are heading to Africa – to Senegal, South Africa, and Tanzania – and we want young people all across America to join us!
This is such an important trip because Africa is such an important partner to the United States on so many of the issues facing our world today – from climate change and terrorism, to poverty and disease, to the challenge of creating jobs in our global economy. And more than ever before, our success here in the U.S. is tied to the success of other countries around the world – in so many ways, we will all rise or fall together. So it’s critical that young people like you develop a global perspective as citizens of the world – it’s critical that you follow not just what’s happening in the news here in the U.S., but what’s happening all around the world, including the international travels and policies of our President. Because when it comes to the issues our countries face, young people like you – both here in the United States and across Africa – will have to work together to lead the way. In the coming years, you all will be building the businesses, and making the scientific discoveries, and drafting the laws and policies that will move our countries – and our world – forward for decades to come.
That’s why, when I visited Africa back in 2011, I spent most of my time with passionate, dynamic, inspiring young people, listening to their stories and sharing my own. I also had the privilege of meeting one of the greatest heroes that Africa – and the world – has ever known: former President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela. President Mandela is in the hospital right now, and he is very much in our thoughts and prayers. I’ll be writing more about President Mandela’s extraordinary contributions to history – and what we can all do in our own lives to live up to his legacy – in future blog posts.
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Today, President Obama laid out his comprehensive plan to reduce carbon pollution, prepare our country for the impacts of climate change, and lead global efforts to fight it.
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Ed. note: This is the final post in a series of five. Each post features statements from state and local officials across the country explaining why they support comprehensive immigration reform.Read the others on the White House Blog, or find links to each one below.
Throughout this week, we’ve heard from state and local officials from Southwest, Northeast, Midwest and Southern United States. Today, officials in the West wrap up our series by sharing what bringing our legal immigration system into the 21st century would mean to them.
“In the Anchorage Community and throughout the State of Alaska, there are many immigrants who own businesses and contribute to the local economy. They also have children within our school system who are legal citizens. We need resources from the Federal government to help local communities fix the broken immigration system. Congress and the Administration must act now and approve a comprehensive bill that will strengthen illegal border entry, establish an earned path to citizenship, and provide financial and technical assistance that will alleviate the local impact of new immigrants.”
Anchorage, Alaska Assembly member Elvi Gray-Jackson
"As the Mayor of the most diverse city in Oregon, I can attest to the value of welcoming others to our nation. One out of four of our residents were not born in the US. The children in our schools have more than 90 languages or dialects spoken in their homes. This leads to a better Beaverton. It's about time to get our immigration system fixed. We'll all be better for it. "
Beaverton, Oregon Mayor Denny Doyle
“We have a historic opportunity to get reform right, and it is vital that we do not fail. Legislation must include a clear pathway to earned citizenship for the 11 million undocumented individuals currently living in the shadows. That path should be a fair process, not a punishment. Our immigration policies should reward those who work hard and play by the rules. Legal immigration should be efficient and acknowledge the merits of bright minds and the importance of reunifying families.”
Los Angeles, California Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa
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June 25, 2013
03:00 PM EDTIn his State of the Union, President Obama laid out a simple principle: “in the wealthiest nation on Earth, no one who works full-time should have to live in poverty.” Today, we came together with Vice President Biden to commemorate an important milestone in upholding that principle – the 75th anniversary of the Fair Labor Standards Act – while making clear what we still need to do to make it a reality.
We can thank the Fair Labor Standards Act, signed into law by President Franklin Roosevelt, for several of the most important protections in place for workers today. The FLSA created the minimum wage, put in place restrictions on child labor, and required that when employees work more than a standard workweek, they get paid overtime.
But a look back at history also serves as a call to action. Over the past three decades, the minimum wage has failed to keep pace with inflation – eroding its value for working families. A full-time worker making the minimum wage now earns only $14,500 a year – leaving a family with two kids below the poverty line even once tax credits are taken into account. That’s why in February, President Obama called on Congress to raise the minimum wage – including for tipped workers – bring it back to the value it had at the beginning of the Reagan Administration, and permanently index it to inflation.
Today, we heard from workers making the minimum wage from across the country – from a call center worker from Indiana to a valet attendant from Denver – who spoke about how important a minimum wage increase can be for their families. As President Obama has said, for these families, a minimum wage increase “could mean the difference between groceries or the food bank; rent or eviction; scraping by or finally getting ahead.” Indeed, for a typical working family making $20,000 to $30,000 a year, a minimum wage increase could provide enough to cover six months of housing or their entire budget for groceries in a year. What we also heard from these workers is that they are proud of their work – and they want the dignity that comes with supporting their families with their work.
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June 24, 2013
07:49 PM EDTEd. note: This event has concluded. Watch the full hangout below.
Geeks have had a lasting positive impact on the lives of millions of people in the developing world—from the innovations and insights that fueled the Green Revolution, to the historic scientific achievements that have marked the “Beginning of the End of AIDS.” Today, geeks are playing a central role in building technologies, making discoveries, building businesses, and engineering solutions that benefit people and communities around the world.
As President Obama and the First Lady travel to Africa this week, the White House will host a “We The Geeks” Google+ Hangout this Thursday, June 27 at 1:00 pm EST to discuss innovation for global good with some of the creative minds making it happen. These individuals are harnessing their science, engineering, and entrepreneurial skills to answer the President’s call to eradicate extreme poverty in the next two decades. The Hangout will be moderated by the Office of Science and Technology Policy’s Deputy Director for Technology and Innovation, Tom Kalil. Speakers include:
- Nikhil Jaisinghani and Brian Shaad, Co-founders, Mera Gao Power (MGP);
- Vineet Bewtra, Director of Investments, Omidyar Network;
- Maura O’Neill, Chief Innovation Officer and Senior Counselor, U.S. Agency for International Development; and
- Alix Zwane, Executive Director, Evidence Action.
Hangout participants will hear from leaders within and outside government, who are working together to spur game-changing innovations in global development. USAID’s Development Innovation Ventures (DIV) program, for example, is seeding, testing, and scaling the next generation of powerful innovations in development from geeks the world over.
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Ask President Obama About Student Loans: Text PREZ to 38383
Have a question for President Obama about student loans? Now’s your chance to ask him.
Text PREZ to 38383, and submit your question. Each day this week, the President will pick one question to answer, and text back with his response. Here's more about how it works.
President Obama is committed to keeping college within reach for all Americans, which is why he’s already made historic investments in college affordability, including expanding Pell grants and creating a tax credit worth up to $10,000 to help families cover the cost of college.
But, unless Congress acts soon, interest rates on new subsidized student loans are set to go up on July 1. Higher interest rates will leave millions of students who rely on loans to finance their education with higher loan payments as they work to graduate, begin their careers, or buy a house.
President Obama has put forward a plan that would keep interest rates from doubling in July, cut rates on nearly all new student loans, and make sure all students have access to affordable loan repayment options.
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President Barack Obama meets with business owners and entrepreneurs to discuss immigration reform, in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, June 24, 2013. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
This afternoon, the President met with CEOs, business owners and entrepreneurs to discuss the economic benefits of fixing our broken immigration system. The President and business representatives discussed their shared belief that achieving immigration reform holds meaningful economic promise for the United States, creating a fair playing field for employers and workers alike.
“All of these business leaders recognize the degree to which immigration is a contributor to growth, a contributor to expansion, a creator of jobs,” President Obama said, “but they also recognize that the immigration system that we currently have is broken.”
We have a system in which we bring outstanding young people from all across the world to educate them here, and unfortunately, too often, we send them right back so that they can start companies or help to grow companies somewhere else instead of here.
We have a situation in which millions of individuals are in the shadow economy, oftentimes exploited at lower wages, and that hurts those companies that are following the rules, because they end up being at a disadvantage to some of these less scrupulous companies.
And so, all of us I think recognize that now is the time to get comprehensive immigration reform done.
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June 24, 2013
04:14 PM EDTWe are thrilled to welcome 43 incredible Americans as new Presidential Innovation Fellows (PIFs), here to serve 6- to 12-month intensive “tours of duty” in the US Government, where they will work hand-in-hand with top government innovators to develop solutions that can save lives, save taxpayer money, and help fuel private-sector job creation.
The PIF program was created in 2012 to tackle five inaugural projects—each focused on making a part of the Federal Government work better for the American people. In keeping with the “lean startup” philosophy of the PIF program, the 18 individuals who were selected from around the Nation to take on those challenges produced significant results in a matter of months, not years.
A case in point is RFP-EZ, a new system created by one of the inaugural PIF teams that simplifies how the Federal Government asks for bids on services like building websites. Before RFP-EZ, most such Requests for Proposals contained highly specialized language that only seasoned government contractors understood, and companies seeking to bid on projects were asked to fulfill a myriad of bureaucratic requirements before even being considered. By removing these obstacles, RFP-EZ has opened up the bidding process to hundreds of small businesses offering services at significantly lower prices. RFP-EZ has yielded very promising results and is already saving taxpayer dollars, with prospects for even more savings going forward.
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Ed. note: This post is the fourth in a series of five. Check back on the White House Blog throughout the week for more statements from leaders around the country.
Last week, we heard from state and local officials from across the South, Northeast, and Midwest United States about why they support immigration reform and how it will help their communities. Today, officials in the Southwest explain why the time is now to fix the broken immigration system.
"Federal immigration policies have a direct impact on Denver’s residents and Denver’s economy. We need long-overdue reforms that keep our communities strong, keep families together, ensure an adequate labor force for a growing economy and maintain the safety of all of our residents. I applaud President Obama for moving forward with fortitude and pushing Washington to rise above partisan gridlock and craft reasonable, sensible changes."
Denver, Colorado Mayor Michael Hancock
"I thank the President for starting the formal consideration of immigration reform by laying out his vision and principles. This is an important economic and social issue that has languished unresolved for too long. Now is the time for Washington to come together and take action."
Mesa, Arizona Mayor Scott Smith
“Congress must pass comprehensive immigration reform. It is both a practical and a human necessity. In Santa Fe, New Mexico hard-working immigrant families make important contributions to our community every day. They are business owners, workers, students, artists, musicians, parents, police officers and members of our Armed Services. I want all immigrant family members in Santa Fe and across our country to have their basic rights and be able to become full participants in our communities. They need a legal path to citizenship. It will make my town and our country stronger.”
Santa Fe, New Mexico Mayor David Coss
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June 24, 2013
12:30 PM EDTEd. note: This is cross-posted from Energy.gov. See the original post here.
A group of fourth graders in Durham, North Carolina, are showing America the way to a clean energy future.
After learning all about solar and other energy sources, Aaron Sebens -- a teacher at Central Park School for Children -- and his fourth grade class came up with a bold idea: make their classroom solar-powered.
The video above documents the students’ journey from idea to reality -- leading up to a celebratory party where Aaron and his students officially “flip-the-switch” on their solar-powered classroom. To fund the project, Aaron’s class launched a crowd-funding campaign that garnered support across America and around the world. The students originally hoped to raise $800 but significantly beat expectations -- raising more than $5,000.
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Update: Learn more about the President Obama's climate change action plan.
On Tuesday afternoon, President Obama will speak at Georgetown University and lay out his vision for the steps we need to take to prepare our country for the impacts of climate change and lead the global effort to fight it. In the video below, he describes why this is the time to take action. Watch it, then share the video with your friends.
SHARE ON FACEBOOK | SHARE ON TWITTER
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President Obama discusses the bipartisan legislation in the United States Senate that would take important steps towards fixing our broken immigration system, while growing our economy and reducing the deficit.
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June 21, 2013
06:18 PM EDTWatch the West Wing Week here.
Indiana Fever: The 2012 WNBA champion Indiana Fever was in Washington, D.C., on Friday to visit the White House. President Obama congratulated the team on their winning season and thanked them for their service to communities across the country.
Father’s Day: President Obama celebrated an early Father’s Day last Friday with high school students from Chicago’s Becoming a Man program. During a lunch in the East Room of the White House, the President spoke of the importance of fatherhood and mentorship. President Obama met with students in the program, which is based in low-income public schools, earlier this year to reaffirm the importance of education.
Moving Toward Peace: After crossing the Atlantic Ocean Sunday night, President Obama spoke to the people of Northern Ireland from the Belfast waterfront on Monday, praising them for their efforts toward peace and encouraging them to continue to persist.
From the start, no one was naïve enough to believe that peace would be anything but a long journey. Yeats once wrote ‘Peace comes dropping slow.’ But that doesn’t mean our efforts to forge a real and lasting peace should come dropping slow. This work is as urgent now as it has ever been, because there’s more to lose now than there has ever been.
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June 21, 2013
03:30 PM EDT
"On a weekend trip to Acadia National Park in Maine, the President showed his daughters, Malia and Sasha, how to skip stones during a hike in the park." (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
The U.S. Department of the Interior manages some of America’s most breathtaking national parks, national wildlife refuges and other public lands. That is why I am excited to invite you to join our new photo project, Summer in America’s Great Outdoors.
Our goal is to create a large photo collection of all the fun and exciting things people can do on America’s public lands this summer, and you are our greatest advocates in making this a reality. Many people do not know about all the amazing places across the country they can enjoy – places that belong to all Americans. With your help, we’ll help people better understand the great opportunities for fun this summer in their own backyards and across the country.
Take a look at the photos already submitted on our Summer in America’s Great Outdoors Flickr group, where we will be highlighting these photos all summer -- and send us your hiking, camping, fishing, biking, sightseeing, and other outdoor recreation photos by email. Please include a short description of the location, so we can properly identify all the great public lands across the country.
We look forward to sharing your great photos!
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Ed. note: This post is the third in a series of five. Check back on the White House Blog throughout the week for more statements from leaders around the country.
This week, we’ve heard the views of state and local officials in the South and Midwest who know that we need to fix the broken immigration system. Today, we hear from officials in the Northeast who explain how commonsense immigration reform is consistent with our heritage as a nation of laws and a nation of immigrants.
"A fair, sensible immigration policy made our country great, and has repeatedly renewed and enriched the City of Burlington throughout its history. One of the most inspiring experiences I've had as an elected official has been participating in a naturalization ceremony. Our immigrants serve our community as professors and farmers, skilled laborers and doctors; they are our neighbors, our students, our friends. Today's broken immigration system is out of step with the welcoming and supportive character our country should strive to demonstrate. By passing comprehensive immigration reform, we will strengthen America's economy, communities, and spirit."
Burlington, Vermont Mayor Miro Weinberger
“In the City of Hartford, reforming immigration laws could increase foreign professionals and skilled workers, immigrant populations could serve as conduits to export goods and services, and ultimately it could increase our tax base. Passing comprehensive immigration is right thing to do for our country's future and it's a decision our children and generations to come will be proud of."
Hartford, Connecticut Mayor Pedro Segarra
“I encourage Congress to enact bipartisan, comprehensive immigration reform. America’s current immigration system is broken, harms our economy, and does not reflect our values as a nation. For years, the federal government has failed to address the issue and left our communities and states to deal with the effects. Now is the time to reform our nation’s immigration system to benefit all Americans, so that we can prosper as a nation. Managing the immigration process is a federal responsibility that requires a federal solution. I applaud the President for offering a comprehensive immigration plan and I hope that Congress will now work across party lines to find workable solutions.”
Delaware Governor Jack Markell
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