This week, the President announced that 7.1 million Americans got covered, and the First Lady worked with students to plant the Kitchen Garden. Plus, 2014 U.S. Olympians and Paralympians visited the White House. Check out what else you may have missed in this week's wrap up.
The numbers don't lie -- the Affordable Care Act is working. By the end of open enrollment on March 31, 7.1 million Americans had signed up for coverage.
FACT: More than 7 million Americans have signed up for private health plans thanks to the #ACA. #7MillionAndCounting pic.twitter.com/upyKHaBvi3
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) April 1, 2014
In a Rose Garden speech, President Obama celebrated the news: "the bottom line is this: under this law, the share of Americans with insurance is up and the growth of health care costs is down, and that’s good for our middle class and that’s good for our fiscal future."
Spring is definitely here as the White House Kitchen Garden is growing again. First Lady Michelle Obama invited local students to join her for the sixth-annual planting of the garden earlier this week, making sure the White House will have a fresh crop of healthy fruits and vegetables in the months ahead.
#LetsMove gives two green thumbs up for the 6th annual @WhiteHouse Kitchen Garden planting → http://t.co/EMlxAE9J02 pic.twitter.com/Gmoo88pgj8
— Let's Move! (@letsmove) April 3, 2014
The First Lady started planting the garden in 2009 to start a nationwide conversation on healthy eating and, according to a report released by the National Gardening Association, 2 million more households are engaging in community gardening now than were in 2008 -- a 200 percent increase.
The President traveled to Ann Arbor, Michigan on Wednesday to speak to a crowd filled with University of Michigan Wolverines about his March Madness bracket, a famous local deli named Zingerman's, and, of course, the importance of raising the national minimum wage.
"Nobody who works full-time should be raising their family in poverty, right? If you're working, if you're responsible, you should be able to pay the rent, pay the bills," said President Obama. "But... all across the country you can work full-time on the minimum wage and still be in poverty."
U.S. Olympians and Paralympians who competed in Sochi earlier this year visited the White House this week, spending time touring the grounds, playing with Bo and Sunny, and hearing from the President and First Lady.
. @FLOTUS addresses #TeamUSA: "I really don't know how you do it." #WHTeamUSA pic.twitter.com/Tbet9X5Czt
— US Olympic Team (@USOlympic) April 3, 2014
Read on to watch the President and First Lady's remarks to the athletes and to see some of Team USA's tweets and Instagram posts.
Are you a social butterfly? Do you have kids ages 5-13? Want to visit the White House? The 136th annual White House Easter Egg Roll is just around the corner, and you are invited.
Love Easter, eggs, bunnies & the @Whitehouse? Apply to attend the WH #EasterEggRoll Social→ http://t.co/qATL2ToZMS pic.twitter.com/pqHstHm1pr
— Erin Lindsay (@Erin44) April 4, 2014
Sign up for your chance to hop around on the South Lawn and join in the fun.
As always, to see even more of this week's events, watch the latest episode of West Wing Week below: