The White House Blog: The First Lady
Joining Forces for Caregivers
Posted by on January 30, 2012 at 2:40 PM EDT
First Lady Michelle Obama delivers remarks at the U.S. Department of Labor on new rules proposed to help caregivers of wounded, ill and injured service members and veterans, in Washington, D.C. Jan. 30, 2012. Mrs. Obama was joined on stage by Ms. RyAnne Noss, wife and caregiver of SFC Scot Noss, and Department of Labor Secretary Hilda Solis. (Official White House Photo by Sonya N. Hebert)
Earlier today, I had the great privilege of joining First Lady Michelle Obama and many of the nation’s leaders in announcing proposed changes to the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) that recognize the unique circumstances faced by the caregivers of our country’s wounded, ill and injured service members and veterans.
The Joining Forces announcement reflects a collaborative, public-private effort between the Departments of Defense, Labor and Veterans Affairs, along with private sector business and non-profit organizations. Joining the First Lady were Secretaries from the Departments of Labor, Defense and Veterans Affairs; Secretaries of the Army, Navy and Air Force, as well as the Joint Chiefs Chairman, and all of the members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
The proposal announced today by Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis continues this Administration’s commitment to our wounded warriors and their caregivers. The new language would extend the entitlement of military caregiver leave to qualifying family members of veterans who are dealing with a serious injury or illness for up to five years after leaving the military. At this time, the law only covers family members of “currently serving” service members. Additionally, the proposal expands the military family leave provisions of the FMLA by extending qualifying leave to employees whose family members serve in the regular armed forces. Currently, the law only covers families of National Guard members and reservists. These changes will ensure that our military families have peace of mind knowing that they won’t have to choose between keeping their jobs and caring for their loved ones.
First Lady Michelle Obama Strikes a Pose for Instagram
Posted by on January 27, 2012 at 1:12 PM EDTA bit of photo fun was inevitable when the First Lady met Mike Krieger, co-founder of the photo sharing site Instagram, in the Blue Room of the White House earlier this week. Mike was one of the extraordinary Americans who exemplify the themes and ideals laid out in the 2012 State of the Union Address that were invited to join Mrs. Obama in her viewing box on Tuesday.
Check out a video of their Instagram shoot and see the results:
Video: Meet Some of the People Who Joined Michelle Obama for the State of the Union
Posted by on January 26, 2012 at 5:40 PM EDTBack in December, thousands of Americans shared their stories about the impact that losing $40 per paycheck would have on them, and on their families, if Congress did not pass the payroll tax cut.
Responses poured in from across the country, and these stories made a difference: Congress passed and President Obama signed a two-month extension of the payroll tax cut for middle class families before it expired at the end of 2011.
Amber Morris from Virginia Beach, Virginia was one of the people who wrote in to say what losing $40 per paycheck would mean to her, and on Tuesday night she joined First Lady Michelle Obama for the President’s State of the Union Address. Amber was selected to represent the tens of thousands of Americans who made their voices heard during the debate.
Interactive Feature: Who's in the First Lady’s Box, State of the Union Address 2012?
Posted by on January 24, 2012 at 7:20 PM EDTFor nearly three decades, extraordinary Americans who exemplify the themes and ideals laid out in the State of the Union Address have been invited to join the First Lady in her viewing box. From teachers to small business owners and innovators, to health care reform beneficiaries and those serving in our armed forces – use the interactive feature below to learn more about the remarkable individuals who will join First Lady Michelle Obama tonight for the 2012 State of the Union Address.
Check out WhiteHouse.gov/sotu for an enhanced viewing experience of President Obama's State of the Union address and for opportunities to engage online with White House officials and even President Obama himself.
Read the full press release here.
Learn more about the 2012 State of the Union:
- Watch the enhanced version of the 2012 State of the Union Address
- Read President Obama’s Blueprint for an America Built to Last
- Take a deep dive into the data behind the President’s plan
- Video: Go behind the scenes as the President prepared his speech
- Find out how you can talk to Obama Administration officials about the President’s plan
- Photo Gallery: Scenes from the State of the Union
America's First Tourists
Posted by on January 19, 2012 at 12:49 PM EDTAcacia State Park, Maine
President Barack Obama and his family hike on Cadillac Mountain at Acadia National Park in Maine, July 16, 2010. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
Grand Canyon, Arizona
President Barack Obama looks at the Grand Canyon in Arizona on Aug. 16, 2009. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
The President and First Lady Welcome the St. Louis Cardinals to the White House
Posted by on January 17, 2012 at 10:26 PM EDT
First Lady Michelle Obama reacts to a joke by President Barack Obama as the President and Mrs. Obama welcome the 2011 World Series Champion St. Louis Cardinals to the White House to honor the team and their 2011 World Series victory, in the East Room, Jan. 17, 2012. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)
Today, the President and First Lady hosted the St. Louis Cardinals at the White House to congratulate the team on its World Series win last year.
The Cardinals, who President Obama called “the greatest comeback team in the history of baseball,” made the playoffs after rallying from a ten and a half game deficit with just 31 games left in the regular season. At one point, the team had less than a 4 percent chance of even making the playoffs.
The Series itself was an unforgettable one, the President said:
Of course, the most memorable moment was Game Six of the World Series. I’ve got to say, that has to be one of the best baseball games of all time. Unbelievable game. I will tell you guys, I had a bunch of early-morning stuff the next day, and you kept me up. It was painful waking up the next morning. But what an incredible game.
Watch: First Lady Michelle Obama Previews her "iCarly" Special
Posted by on January 16, 2012 at 5:49 PM EDTFirst Lady Michelle Obama was at the Hayfield Secondary School in Alexandria, Virginia on Friday to preview her special appearance on the hit TV show "iCarly". The White House joined forces with the Nickelodeon team to teach kids how important friendship and support are to military kids whose parents are deployed for long periods. The show's lead character, Carly Shay (played by Miranda Cosgrove), is the daughter of an Air Force Colonel currently serving overseas in the military, and two of the cast members grew up in military families.
The debut of "iMeet the First Lady" on Monday January 16 was preceded by a special dedication from the iCarly cast and Mrs. Obama to military families. Immediately following the premiere, Nickelodeon debuted a PSA that features ways kids can show their thanks and support. For more information, visit www.thebighelp.com.
First Lady Michelle Obama Celebrates Maya Angelo at BET Honors
Posted by on January 16, 2012 at 5:30 PM EDT
First Lady Michelle Obama applauds poet Maya Angelou who receives the Literary Arts Award at the BET Honors ceremony at the Warner Theatre in Washington, D.C., Jan. 14, 2012. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)
Michelle Obama was at the BET Honors Saturday night in Washington D.C. to present the Literary Arts award to Maya Angelou, who the First Lady said was one of her "she-roes." Angelou, who received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Obama in 2010, is as well known for her work as a civil rights activist as she is an artist, whose prolific body of work includes writing poetry, memoirs, novels and plays. She has also been a producer, actress, historian and filmmaker.
Mrs Obama, who told the audience at the historic Warner Theatre that she had been "spellbound" when reading her stories, asked the crowd to honor Angelou's contributions by following her example:
Maya Angelou teaches us that it’s not enough merely to seek greatness for ourselves. We must help others discover the greatness within themselves. We need to reach down…and reach out…and give back…and lift up others the way Maya has lifted us.
That is how we can most truly honor our friend Maya Angelou – by how we live our lives…by striving every day to embody the wisdom, and generosity, and radiant love with which she has graced our world.
Related: Read the poem Maya Angelou wrote for the dedication of the Martin Luther King Memorial
First and Second Families Participate in a National Day of Service
Posted by on January 16, 2012 at 4:10 PM EDT
President Barack Obama delivers remarks at Browne Education Campus in Washington, D.C., before participating in a Martin Luther King, Jr. Day service event with First Lady Michelle Obama and daughter Malia, Jan. 16, 2012. January 16, 2012. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
Today, President Obama, the First Lady, and Malia Obama volunteered at a local elementary school as part of a national day of service in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr. King, who devoted his life to helping others, once said that “everybody can be great, because everybody can serve.”
Before pitching in to help clean, paint, and organize the school’s library, the President spoke to other volunteers from Big Brothers, Big Sisters and Greater DC Cares gathered for the event:
There’s nobody who can’t serve. Nobody who can’t help somebody else. And whether you’re seven or six or whether you’re 76, then you can find opportunities to make an enormous difference in your community.
The Vice President and Dr. Jill Biden also joined the millions of Americans participating in service events around the country. They traveled to Philadelphia to take part in the 17th annual Greater Philadelphia Martin Luther King Day of Service, the largest Martin Luther King Jr. Day event in the nation.
Vice President Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden attend the 17th Annual Martin Luther King Day of Service at Girard College in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, January 16, 2012. January 16, 2012. (Official White House Photo by David Lienemann)
New Commitments Will Improve Health Care for our Heroes
Posted by on January 11, 2012 at 7:49 PM EDT
First Lady Michelle Obama shakes hands with veterans and medical personnel during a Joining Forces event at Virginia Commonwealth University AAMC-Medical Center in Richmond, Va., January 11, 2012. Mrs. Obama announced a major commitment by the country’s top medical colleges and universities to create a new generation of doctors, medical schools, and research facilities to ensure that veterans, service men and women receive the medical care that they deserve. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)
After more than 10 years of war, nearly 50,000 of our military members have been wounded, many of them severely. These are the visible wounds of war. But the invisible wounds which are the signature injuries of our wars in Iraq and Afghanistan -- Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) -- have impacted roughly 1 in 6 of our veterans.
Though the Department of Defense and the Veterans Administration continue their strong efforts to address PTSD and TBI, we know that more than half of today's Iraq and Afghanistan veterans seek care from health care providers that are outside of the VA system. We have veterans in every corner of this country and if we are going to fully understand the issues these heroes face, we've got to meet our veterans where they live. And that means that health care providers throughout this country need to have some fundamental understanding about PTSD and TBI so they can recognize the conditions and then positively impact the health care outcome for our veterans.
We can’t wait to help our heroes. We must act now to ensure the nation's current and future health care providers are familiar with issues impacting our veterans and families. Because those impacted are young -- almost all in their 20's and 30's -- this is a long term issue for this nation.
Today, First Lady Michelle Obama announced the largest coordinated commitment from America's medical colleges to support our veterans and military families. Led by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) and the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM), 130 of the nation's medical and osteopathic colleges -- 105 medical colleges and 25 osteopathic colleges – have committed to train students in treating brain injuries, PTSD and other mental-health issues affecting returning service members.
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