Melody Barnes

White House Profile

Melody Barnes

Former Domestic Policy Advisor

Melody Barnes is the Former President’s Domestic Policy Adviser and the Director of the Domestic Policy Council, which coordinates the domestic policy-making process in the White House. Before joining the White House, Barnes served as the Senior Domestic Policy Advisor to President Obama’s campaign.

Prior to joining the campaign, she was the Executive Vice President for Policy at the Center for American Progress. From 1995 to 2003, she served as Chief Counsel to Sen. Edward M. Kennedy on the Senate Judiciary Committee. In those capacities, and as Director of Legislative Affairs for the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and assistant counsel to the U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Subcommittee on Civil and Constitutional Rights, she worked extensively on civil rights and voting rights, women’s health, religious liberties, and commercial law.

Barnes received her bachelor's degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and received her law degree from the University of Michigan. She began her career as an attorney with Shearman & Sterling in New York City, and is a member of both the New York State Bar Association and the District of Columbia Bar Association."

Melody Barnes's Posts

Women

Why Young Americans Should Care About Equal Pay Day

April 12, 2011 at 10:07 AM EDT

Melody Barnes, Domestic Policy Adviser and the Director of the Domestic Policy Council, discusses the impacts of unequal pay for women, and President Obama's actions to get equal pay for women under the Paycheck Fairness Act.

READ THE REST
Education

Announcing the 2011 Race to the Top Commencement Challenge Finalists

April 8, 2011 at 1:32 PM EDT

Today, the White House announced the six finalists for the 2011 Race to the Top High School Commencement Challenge. White House staffers Lauren Paige and Gannet Tseggai called each of the six finalists to share the good news. Take a look at some of their enthusiastic responses.

READ THE REST
Energy and Environment

Helping American Families Make Good Choices and Cut Energy Bills

April 1, 2011 at 10:21 AM EDT

Melody Barnes, Director of the Domestic Policy Council, writes about how the President's Blueprint for a Secure Energy Future will help families with their energy costs.

READ THE REST
Education

What I Heard From Parents, Teachers and Students about Education Reform

March 22, 2011 at 6:14 PM EDT

As a part of the Advise the Advisor program, Melody Barnes asked for input from parents, teachers, and students on education. Several thousand people responded to her video and shared their thoughts, concerns and idea. In this post, Melody addresses these comments.

READ THE REST
Education

Deadline for the Race to the Top Commencement Challenge is March 11

February 16, 2011 at 10:39 AM EDT

The Race to the Top Commencement Challenge is back and we’re asking public high school students from across the country to tell us about ways their school is preparing them for college and a career. The deadline for applications is March 11, 2011.

READ THE REST
Service

White House Council for Community Solutions Kicks Off

February 4, 2011 at 1:57 PM EDT

The White House Council for Community Solutions will work to develop solutions for improving youth development, education, and employment.

READ THE REST
Education

Race to the Top Commencement Challenge: Winning the Future by Out-Educating the World

February 1, 2011 at 2:47 PM EDT

President Obama kicks off the 2011 Race to the Top Commencement Challenge! Watch the video and find out how your school can apply.

READ THE REST
Immigration

Immigration & Winning the Future

January 27, 2011 at 4:00 PM EDT

Winning the future will require a new approach to immigration policy. Melody Barnes spells out how the President plans to enforce our laws and improve our prosperity through comprehensive immigration reform.

READ THE REST
Health Care

Another Step Forward For Alzheimer’s Research and Services

January 5, 2011 at 7:57 PM EDT

The National Alzheimer's Project Act (NAPA), bipartisan legislation that will help individuals and families across the country whose lives are touched by Alzheimer’s disease, represents the next step in our strong, continued commitment to supporting Alzheimer’s research and health and long-term care services for affected individuals.

READ THE REST
State Fair Tour

Engaging Rural Communities Through State Fairs Across the Country

November 1, 2010 at 11:41 AM EDT

Melody Barnes, Director of the Domestic Policy Council, looks back at the Administration's visits to state fairs across the country, including an interactive map.

READ THE REST