|
|
Distinguished Toastmaster
BUSINESS & BRANDING COACH . LIFE & LEADERSHIP STRATEGIST MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER SERVING ENTREPRENEURS & MAIN STREET |
|
|
- THE WHITE HOUSE EDUCATION . TECH . ARTS POLICY UPDATES & RELATED EVENTS
________________________________________
|
__________________
Capitol Hill Switchboard (202) 224 3121 _____________________ WRITE YOUR SENATOR(c) ___________________ |
FIGHT THEFT OF COPYRIGHTS
<> SUPPORT(c) POLITICAL ROCKSTARS
AGAINST IP & ID ABUSE BY TECHNOLOGY(c) |
FACT SHEET: U.S. Investment in Entrepreneurship
Remarks by the President on Launch of ConnectHome Initiative
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary For Immediate Release July 15, 2015 REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT ON LAUNCH OF CONNECTHOME INITIATIVE Durant High School Durant, Oklahoma 6:07 P.M. CDT THE PRESIDENT: Hello, Oklahoma! (Applause.) Halito! AUDIENCE: Halito! THE PRESIDENT: Everybody, please have a seat. Have a seat. It’s good to see you. How is everybody doing? (Applause.) First of all, Michelle says hi. (Laughter.) And I want to thank all of you for helping to build the terrific partnership that we share with the Choctaw Nation. AUDIENCE MEMBER: Love you! THE PRESIDENT: I love you, too. (Laughter.) So I want to first of all thank Chief Gary Batton and the many tribal leaders who are here today. (Applause.) I want to thank the extraordinary young people that I just had a chance to meet with. Give them a big round of applause. (Applause.) They were just exceptional, and gave me all kinds of interesting thoughts and ideas about how young people can lead and thrive, and reshape America. And I could not be prouder of them. As many of you know, we’ve held a Tribal Nations Conference each year that I’ve been President. And just last week, as part of what we call our Generation Indigenous initiative, focused on young people, we hosted our first-ever Tribal Youth Gathering with over 1,000 young leaders from 230 tribes -– including several Choctaw youth. (Applause.) You spend time with these young people from all across the country and they will blow you away. They are smart, and they’re passionate, and they are ready to seize the future. And Michelle and I believe we’ve got a special obligation to make sure that tribal youth have every opportunity to achieve their potential not just for the benefit of themselves and their communities, but for our entire nation; that all of you young people have a chance to succeed not by leaving your communities, but by coming back and investing in your communities, and that you have a whole range of options that can lift us all up. And so we are really excited about what you’re doing, and we’re really excited about some of the work that’s going to be done not just here but all across the country. That’s why I’m here today. When you step back and look at everything that we’ve done in the past six and a half years to rebuild our economy on a new foundation –- from retooling our industries to rethinking our schools, reforming our health care system –- all of it’s been in pursuit of one goal, and that’s creating opportunity for all people -- not just some, but everybody. (Applause.) And thanks to the hard work and the resilience of the American people, the work we’ve done is paying off. So our businesses have created 2.8 12.8 million new jobs over the past 64 months in a row. That’s the longest streak of private sector job growth on record. (Applause.) The housing market is stronger. The stock market recovered, so people’s 401(k)s and retirement accounts got replenished. More than 16 million Americans now have the financial security of having health insurance. (Applause.) We’ve invested in clean energy. We’ve made ourselves more independent of foreign oil. We’ve seen jumps in high school enrollment and college graduation rates. So across the board, there’s really no economic measure where we’re not doing better than we were when I came into office. That’s the good news. But I also made it clear when I came into office that even as we’re trying to make sure the entire economy recovers, we also have to pay attention to those communities that all too often have been neglected and fallen behind. And as part of that, I said we’re going to do better by our First Americans. We’re going to do better. (Applause.) Now, we can’t reverse centuries of history -- broken treaties, broken promises. But I did believe that we could come together as partners and forge a new path based on trust and respect. And that’s what we’ve tried to do. So we strengthened the sovereignty of tribal nations. We gave more power to tribal courts and police. We restored hundreds of thousands of acres of tribal trust lands. We expanded opportunity by permanently reauthorizing the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, and helping businesses, and building roads, and moving forward on renewable energy projects in Indian Country. We untied tribal hands when it came to dealing with domestic violence, which was really important. (Applause.) Here in Oklahoma, we designated the Choctaw Nation as one of America’s first Promise Zones -– areas where the federal government is partnering with local communities and businesses to jumpstart economic development and job creation, expand educational opportunities, and increase affordable housing, and improve public safety. And as a result, you’ve already received federal investments in Early Head Start, to make sure our young people are getting the best possible beginning in life; child care, job training, support for young entrepreneurs. And I’ve called on Congress to pass a Promise Zone tax credit to encourage employment and private sector investment in places like this. (Applause.) So we’ve made a lot of progress not just in Indian Country but in America as a whole. But we’ve got more work to do. We’ve got more work to do, especially because the economy around the globe is changing so fast. So today, I want to focus on one way we can prepare our kids and our workers for an increasingly competitive world, a way that we can help our entrepreneurs sell more goods here at home and overseas, a way where we can get every American ready to seize the opportunities of a 21st century economy. Today, we’re going to take another step to close the digital divide in America, and make sure everybody in America has access to high-speed broadband Internet. (Applause.) We’re taking some initiatives today to make that happen. Now, I don’t really have to tell you why this is important. Even old folks like me know it’s important. In this digital age, when you can apply for a job, take a course, pay your bills, order a pizza, even find a date -- (laughter) -- by tapping your phone, the Internet is not a luxury, it’s a necessity. You cannot connect with today’s economy without having access to the Internet. Now, that doesn’t mean I want folks on the Internet all the time. I always tell young people when I meet them, sometimes they just have the phone up, I’m standing right in front of them -- (laughter) -- and I got to tell them, young man, put down that phone. Shake the hand of your President. (Laughter.) And then after you shake my hand and look me in the eye, and told me your name, then you can maybe go back to taking pictures. (Laughter.) So there’s nothing wrong with every once in a while putting the technology aside and actually having a conversation. This is something I talk to Malia and Sasha about. We don’t let those phones at the dinner -- but that’s a whole other story. I went off track. But if you’re not connected today, then it’s very hard for you to understand what’s happening in our economy. Now, here’s the problem. While high-speed Internet access is a given, it’s assumed for millions of Americans, it’s still out of reach for too many people -- especially in low-income and rural communities. More than 90 percent of households headed by a college graduate use the Internet. Fewer than half of households with less than a high school education are plugged into the Internet. So, in other words, the people who could benefit the most from the latest technology are the least likely to have it. So if you’re a student and you don’t have Internet access at home, that means you could be struggling to type papers or do online homework assignments, or learn basic computer skills, or try to get help from your teacher. You may have to wait in long lines at public libraries or even in parking lots at the local McDonald’s just to try to get digital access. And what that means is you’re not learning the critical tech skills required to succeed in tomorrow’s economy. And this has consequences. A lot of you have heard about the achievement gap, how some kids in certain groups consistently lag behind, and the opportunity gap, where certain groups have a tougher time getting attached to the labor market. Well, this starts with a “homework gap” for a lot of young people, and an “access to learning” gap, which then can translate into a science gap or a math gap, and eventually becomes an economic gap for our country. And that’s not what America is about. America doesn’t guarantee you success. That’s never been the promise. But what America does stand for -- has to stand for -- is if you’re willing to work hard and take responsibility, then you can succeed -- (applause) -- no matter where you start off. That’s the essential American story. That’s why we admire stories like Abraham Lincoln’s. Starts off in a log cabin, teaches himself to read and write, and becomes our greatest President. That’s what America is supposed to be about. And in an increasingly competitive global economy, our whole country will fall behind unless we’re got everybody on the field playing. Obviously, as President, you travel around a lot, and you go to countries like South Korea where a higher percentage of the population has high-speed broadband -- and, by the way, they pay their teachers the way they pay their doctors -- (applause) -- and they consider education to be at the highest rung of the professions. Well, we will start falling behind those countries -- which is unthinkable when we invented the stuff. It’s American ingenuity that created the Internet, that created all these technologies. And the notion that now we’d leave some Americans behind in being able to use that, while other countries are raising ahead, that’s a recipe for disaster, and it offends our most deeply held values. A child’s ability to succeed should not be based on where she lives, how much money her parents make. That’s not who we are as a country. We’ve got a different standard. We’re a people who believe we should be able to go as far as our talents and hard work will take us. And just because you don’t have money in your household to buy fancy technology, that should not be an obstacle. We’ve been doing a lot to encourage coding and STEM education -- math and science and technology education. And unfortunately, for too many of our kids, that’s something that’s viewed as out of reach. Listen, people are not born coders. It’s not as if suddenly if you’re born in Silicon Valley you can figure out how to code a computer. That’s not -- what happens is kids get exposed to this stuff early, and they learn, they soak it up like sponges. And somewhere among the millions of young people who don’t have access to the digital world could be the next Mark Zuckerberg, the next Bill Gates. Some of them might be right here in the Choctaw Nation. (Applause.) But only if we make sure you have access and exposure. If we don’t give these young people the access to what they need to achieve their potential, then it’s our loss, it’s not just their loss. So that’s why my administration has made it a priority to connect more Americans to the Internet, and close that digital divide that people have been talking about for 20 years now. We’ve invested so far in more than 100,000 miles of network infrastructure; that’s enough to circle the globe four times. We’ve laid a lot of line. We’ve supported community broadband. We’ve championed net neutrality rules to make sure that the Internet providers treat all web traffic equally. And then we launched something called ConnectEd, and this was targeted at making sure that every school was connected and classrooms were connected. And we’re now well on our way to connecting 99 percent of students to high-speed broadband in their classrooms by 2018, and that includes here in Durant. (Applause.) So far, 29 million more students in 55,000 schools are on track to have access to high-speed broadband, and 20 million more have Wi-Fi in their classrooms. And last year, when I visited Standing Rock Nation in North Dakota, I announced that Verizon would connect 10 Native student dorms, Microsoft would donate more tablets to more Native students, including students right here in Oklahoma. So we’ve been making progress. We’re chipping away this thing. But today, we’re going to go further. I’m announcing a new initiative called ConnectHome. Now, ConnectEd, the idea was making sure the schools were connected and that you didn’t have a situation where in a classroom, even if it was connected to the Internet, you could only have one student at a time or a couple of computers at a time. So we had to make sure that the classroom was state of the art. ConnectHome is designed to make high-speed Internet more affordable to residents in low-income housing units across the country -- because young people today, they’re not just learning in the classroom, they’re learning outside the classroom as well. So my Department of Housing and Urban Development is going to work with 28 communities, from Boston to Durham, from Seattle to Durant. About 200,000 of our most vulnerable children and their families will soon be able to access affordable Internet in their home. (Applause.) Now, I want to give credit where credit is due. This is not something government does by itself. I’m proud to say that folks around the country are stepping up to do their part. So businesses like Cox are providing low-cost Internet and devices. Best Buy is committing free computer education and technical support so that folks learn how to make the most of the Internet. Organizations like the Boys & Girls Clubs will teach digital literacy so that kids in this community can be just as savvy as kids growing up in Silicon Valley. You’ve got non-profits like EveryoneOn and U.S. Ignite who are going to help make this work on the ground. So we’ve got some great businesses and some great non-for-profits who are partnering with us on this. But most importantly, it really requires all of us to be involved -- parents, principals, teachers, neighbors -- because we have to demand the best in our schools and for our kids. These investments are the right thing to do for our communities. They’re the smart thing to do for the national economy. And we can’t allow shortsighted cuts to the programs that are going to keep us competitive. So this is a smart investment. These are the kinds of investments we need to make. Sometimes there’s a debate going on in Washington about the size of government and what we should be spending on. And look, I’ve said before, there are programs in Washington that don’t work, and we don’t want taxpayer money wasted. But there are some investments that we make in future generations, there are investments we make in things that help all of us that we can’t do by ourselves. We’re not going to build a road by ourselves; we’ve got to do that together. We’re not going to invest in basic research to solve Alzheimer’s by ourselves. At least I don’t have enough money to do that. We’ve got to do that together. I’ll pay some tax dollars, we’ll pool our money, and then we all invest in the research because we all stand to benefit at some point. We don’t know when we might get sick, and it’s good for us to keep that cutting edge of science. Well, the same thing is true when it comes to schools and investing in our young people, making sure that they’ve got the tools they need to succeed. So this idea of ConnectHome, just like ConnectEd, this is going to make the difference for a dad who can now -- because it’s not just for the kids -- now he can learn a new skill and apply for a better job after work, because he’s working a tough shift to pay the rent, but he knows he wants to advance. He may be able to take an online course because he’s got access to the Internet -- and that could make all the difference in his family and his future. This will make a difference for the young entrepreneur -- got a great idea, wants to start a business. Can start it from her home. This will make a difference for the student who can now download the resources he needs to study for that exam that’s coming up, and then maybe come up with a new theory that’s going to make a difference in our understanding of the world. This will make a difference for young people like Kelsey Janway. Where’s Kelsey? There’s Kelsey, right here. (Applause.) Stand up, Kelsey, so everybody can see you. All right, Kelsey, I know this is embarrassing, so you can sit down for a second. (Laughter.) Kelsey is 16 years old, a proud member of the Choctaw Nation. This might be a game-changer for her. When she was younger, her family only got phone reception if they stood on a particular rock in their yard, or on the top window sill in their bathroom. Is that right? MS. JANWAY: Yeah. THE PRESIDENT: You remember the rock. MS. JANWAY: Yeah. THE PRESIDENT: It was this particular rock. So today she has spotty, slow Internet service at home. And at school, service is just as bad -- which makes it tough for students like Kelsey to learn the skills they need for success. Meanwhile, a high school nearby has much better technology; it gives those kids an advantage that she doesn’t have. Now, even though she’s seen many of her peers get caught up in trouble or lose motivation and maybe drop out of school, Kelsey is keeping on pushing. She works two jobs, belongs to 11 organizations. Now, we’re going to need to talk about that. That’s a lot of organizations. I don’t know where you’re finding that time. (Applause.) She’s leading a youth council where she helps guide some of her peers. And she says that even the slow Internet that she’s got -- probably that buffer and things coming up all the time is getting on her nerves. Nevertheless, that’s opened her mind and introduced her to views outside of her own. “I have a sense of a bigger world out there.” That’s what Kelsey says. And that glimpse of what’s possible, that can change everything. So last week, Kelsey represented Choctaw Nation at the White House Tribal Youth Gathering. Had a chance to hear from Michelle, right? And she plans to return to the White House one day -- as President. So I’m just keeping the seat warm for her until she gets there. (Laughter.) But I wanted to point out Kelsey having to stand on a rock trying to get phone service as an example of what we’re talking about here. There are amazing young people like Kelsey all across the country. I meet them every day. Talented, smart, capable; of every race, of every ethnicity, every faith, every background. They’ve got big dreams. They’re just poised to succeed, and they’re willing to work through all kinds of obstacles to make great things happen. But they’ve got big dreams -- we’ve got to have an interest in making sure that they can achieve those dreams. Kelsey, these young people, young people all across the country -- they deserve a country that believes in those dreams, and that invests in those dreams, and that loves them for their dreams. (Applause.) And ultimately, that’s what America is about. You know, I know sometimes folks get discouraged about Washington -- I know I do -- because the arguments between the parties are just so stark, and all the differences are exaggerated, and what attracts attention and gets on the news on TV is conflict and shouting and hollering. And as a consequence, everybody kind of goes into their corners and nobody agrees to anything, and nothing gets done, and everybody gets cynical and everybody gets frustrated. But the thing is that for all our disagreements, for all our debates, we are one family. And we may squabble just like families do, but we’re one family -- from the First Americans to the newest Americans. We’re one family. We’re in this together. We’re bound by a shared commitment to leave a better world for our children. We’re bound together by a commitment to make sure that that next generation has inherited all the blessings that we inherited from the previous generation. And that requires work on our part. It requires sacrifice. It requires compromise. And it requires that we invest in that future generation; that we’re thinking not just about taking care of our own kids -- because I know Malia and Sasha will be fine -- but I want to make sure Kelsey is fine. I want to make sure every one of these young people are fine. I want to make sure that some kid stuck in the inner city somewhere, that they’ve got a shot. I can’t do it for them, but I want to make sure at least that they’ve got a shot. I want to make sure that somebody down in some little border town in Texas, whose parents maybe never went to college, that they’ve got a dream and they’ve got a shot. And I’m willing to do something about that. And we all have to be. When we make those commitments to all of our children, the great thing about it is the blessings are returned back to us -- because you end up having a workforce that is better educated, which means suddenly companies want to locate, which means businesses start booming, which means businesses start hiring, which means everybody does better. So not only is it the right thing to do, it’s the smart thing to do. That’s our tradition. It’s not Democratic or Republican; it is the American tradition. And we forget that sometimes because we’re so caught up in our day-to-day politics, and we listen to a bunch of hooey on TV or talk radio -- (laughter) -- that doesn’t really tell the truth about what’s going on. (Applause.) So I’m proud of Kelsey. I’m proud of these young people. I’m proud of Choctaw Nation. And I surely am proud of these United States of America. Let’s get to work and make sure we’re leaving the kind of country we want for our kids. God bless you. God bless the United States of America. Thank you. (Applause.) President Obama Announces Smart Cities – Smart Growth Presidential Trade Mission to the People’s Republic of China
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 7, 2015 President Obama Announces Smart Cities – Smart Growth Presidential Trade Mission to the People’s Republic of China President Barack Obama today announced the designation of the Smart Cities – Smart Growth Business Development Mission as a Presidential Trade Mission to the People’s Republic of China. The Honorable Penny Pritzker, Secretary of Commerce, and The Honorable Ernest Moniz, Secretary of Energy, will lead the trade mission. Members of the Presidential Trade Mission: The Honorable Max Baucus, Ambassador of the United States of America to the People’s Republic of China, Department of State. Remarks by the President on TechHire -- Louisville, KY
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary For Immediate Release April 2, 2015 REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT ON TECH-HIRE INITIATIVE InDatus Solutions Louisville, Kentucky 6:15 P.M. EDT THE PRESIDENT: Hello, everybody! Hello! (Applause.) Please, please, have a seat. Have a seat. Well, first of all, sorry I'm late. (Laughter.) I had a couple things I had to do. (Laughter.) And obviously, when you're the President, you’ve got -- national security always take top priority. But I wanted to make sure that I still made it. And I'm so grateful that all of you were willing to come back and in welcoming me in this way. It is great to be back in Louisville. It is great to be here at InDatus. This is such a spiffy-looking company, I'm thinking about remodeling at the White House. (Laughter.) Everything is so hip and cool and guys with, like, cool beards are -- (laughter) -- typing stuff. And it just looks wonderful. But the reason I'm here is not just because it looks hip and cool, but because what’s happening here is essential to America, and we want to lift it up and we want people to see what’s possible in developing the kind of innovation and job creation here in the 21st century, knowing that we can succeed. This company and the network that's been developed here in Louisville are helping to prepare people of all ages for the higher-paying, in-demand jobs of the future. And we need to get more of that done. I want to thank David for the introduction and his graciousness in hosting us. There are other folks that I want to acknowledge because they have been great friends and are doing a tremendous job on behalf of their constituencies -- your outstanding Governor Steve Beshear is here. (Applause.) Congressman John Yarmuth is here. (Applause.) Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer, who not only gave me a Slugger, but also a really big suitcase full of bourbon. (Laughter and applause.) I mean, it's a really big case. (Laughter.) And the man who served as mayor before him who now works with me at the White House, doing outstanding work with mayors and governors and county officials all across the country -- my dear friend, Jerry Abramson. (Applause.) Where’s Jerry? There he is back there. (Applause.) So, over the past five years, our businesses have created 12 million new jobs -- over 12 million new jobs. Right now, America has more open jobs than at any point since 2001. And more than half a million openings are in tech -- nearly 2,000 here in Louisville alone. Tech jobs pay one-and-a-half times the average private sector wage. So they’re great pathways to the middle class. And what’s more, a highly trained workforce is vital for America’s long-term global economic leadership. It attracts more entrepreneurship; it attracts investors from overseas because they’re looking for an outstanding workforce. And that’s the idea behind a new initiative of ours that we're calling TechHire. It's a pretty simple concept. It brings employers and local governments together to support innovative job training programs -- like online classes, coding boot camps, community college courses designed by local employers. Eastern Kentucky is a TechHire Community. So is Louisville. More than 20 employers have joined it so far, including InDatus. You’re mentoring students at Code Louisville and you’ve pledged to hire their graduates. And that’s what smart training looks like -- faster, cheaper, innovative, providing new pathways -- less conventional pathways, in some cases -- for careers in tech. And my administration is proud to be investing in Code Louisville, because we want more places to follow Kentucky’s example. We should invest in what works -- apprenticeships that give on-the-job training, gives them industry credentials that let anybody who can do the job get the job, whether they’re self-taught or have a degree. And the budget that I sent to Congress includes these priorities. Today, we’re going to unveil workforce reforms that do the same. And just to give you a specific example -- I hope he doesn’t mind. Maybe he’s here, or maybe he’s still back somewhere. The reason I remember this guy is because his name is Ben Cool --which is a really cool name. (Laughter.) I mean, I kind of wish my name was Ben Cool. (Laughter.) Ben doesn’t have a college degree, but because of the work that's done is open-source, Ben essentially was able to teach himself. And because InDatus recognizes that not all talent goes through conventional pathways, it was able to set up a structure whereby Ben could show what he knew, how well he could do it, and InDatus was able to hire him and now they’ve got an outstanding coder and somebody who’s providing enormous value to the company -- which might have been missed had it not been for these kinds of different pathways. And then I just heard a story -- if I'm not mistaken, Ben, you had a friend who came here and started working in -- what -- customer service? BEN: Yes. THE PRESIDENT: Also didn’t have a degree in computer science or coding, but then he ended up taking an hour class a couple hours a week, teaching himself, getting trained, and now he’s doing coding as well. So that's the idea here, is that there are a lot of different pathways that we create so that more and more people can get trained in the jobs of the future, and we're not restricting ourselves to one narrow path. And we're making sure that everybody has opportunity and everybody has a shot. And we're investing in the job training and apprenticeships and on-the-job training and online training that it's going to take to make sure that anybody can access a good job if they’re willing to work hard and apply themselves and focus. Now, this doesn’t cost huge amounts of money, but it does cost some money to do it right and to do it well. And that's why it's reflected in my budget, for us to put more money into job training, apprenticeships, and these kinds of public-private partnerships that we're talking about. And there’s going to be a big debate coming up around the budget. Republicans in Congress have put forward their budget and it provides tax cuts to folks like me and folks who are doing pretty darn well, but it would cut right now job training for 2.2 million people, including 28,800 right here in Kentucky. And that's just not the right way for us to plan in terms of long-term growth and stability. Our economy has been growing. We've got momentum, but that momentum can stall. Because the economies in Europe are weak, the economies in Asia are weak, the dollar is becoming stronger because a lot of people want to park their money here. They think it's safer. They’re investing here more. But that makes our exports more expensive. And so we've got to stay hungry. We can't just sit back and assume that growth continues at the kind of pace that we need to give opportunity for all the young people of the future. And that's why this is so important. So we can't prioritize tax cuts for folks at the very top and sacrifice the kinds of job-training efforts and apprenticeships that our young people are going to need. (Applause.) So, in case you think I'm exaggerating, I mean, one of the laws that my friends on the other side of the aisle are trying to pass right now is a new, deficit-busting tax cut for a fraction of the top one-tenth of 1 percent -- that’s fewer than 50 people here in Kentucky who would, on average, get a couple million dollars in tax breaks. For that amount of money, we can provide thousands of people the kind of training they need. And that’s just not the way that we're going to build an economy that strengthens our middle class and provides ladders for people getting into the middle class. Our economy has grown since the crisis, but when you look at what’s happened, middle-class folks, their wages, their incomes just haven't gone up that much. And a lot of folks are still struggling to get by. And our economy works best when everybody has a stake and everybody is getting ahead. (Applause.) When that happens, we all do well. And by the way, when that happens, businesses do well, because they have more customers. And our economy grows best from the bottom up and the middle out, not from the top down. And we've got to keep that in mind as we go forward. But let me again just congratulate InDatus for the outstanding work that they’re doing. I want to congratulate the Mayor and the Governor, and all the folks who are participating in making sure that TechHire gets off the ground, not just here in Louisville but across the state and across the country. For all the young people who are -- especially the really young ones -- make sure to study math and science, because you guys are going to be our future. We're very, very proud of you. And once again, thanks for being so patient with me, despite the delays. Thank you very much. (Applause.) END 6:26 P.M. EDT FACT SHEET: Executive Order Blocking the Property of Certain Persons Engaging in Significant Malicious Cyber-Enabled Activities
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE APRIL 1, 2015 FACT SHEET: Executive Order Blocking the Property of Certain Persons Engaging in Significant Malicious Cyber-Enabled Activities The Administration has stated repeatedly that malicious cyber actors seeking to harm critical infrastructure, damage computer systems, and steal trade secrets or sensitive information pose a serious threat to the United States’ national security and economic competitiveness. Today, President Obama issued an Executive Order creating a new, targeted authority for the U.S. government to better respond to the most significant of these threats, particularly in situations where malicious cyber actors may operate beyond the reach of existing authorities. This Executive Order declares a national emergency with respect to the unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States posed by the increasing prevalence and severity of malicious cyber-enabled activities originating from, or directed by, persons located, in whole or in substantial part, outside the United States. This new Executive Order authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Attorney General and the Secretary of State, to impose sanctions on individuals or entities that engage in significant malicious cyber-enabled activities that are reasonably likely to result in, or have materially contributed to, a significant threat to the national security, foreign policy, or economic health or financial stability of the United States, and that have the purpose or effect of:
The new Executive Order further authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Attorney General and the Secretary of State, to impose sanctions on certain individuals or entities that:
This authority will be used in a targeted manner against the most significant cyber threats that we face, whether they are directed against our critical infrastructure, our companies, or our citizens. The United States will continue to employ all available means, including diplomatic and law enforcement mechanisms, to counter these threats. This Executive Order augments the U.S. government’s existing authorities to combat the growing threat posed by malicious cyber actors. Statement by the President on Executive Order “Blocking the Property of Certain Persons Engaging in Significant Malicious Cyber-Enabled Activities”
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE APRIL 1, 2015 Statement by the President on Executive Order “Blocking the Property of Certain Persons Engaging in Significant Malicious Cyber-Enabled Activities” Today, I issued an Executive Order that provides a new authority to respond to the threat posed by malicious cyber actors. Cyber threats pose one of the most serious economic and national security challenges to the United States, and my Administration is pursuing a comprehensive strategy to confront them. As we have seen in recent months, these threats can emanate from a range of sources and target our critical infrastructure, our companies, and our citizens. This Executive Order offers a targeted tool for countering the most significant cyber threats that we face. This Executive Order authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Attorney General and the Secretary of State, to impose sanctions on individuals or entities that engage in malicious cyber-enabled activities that create a significant threat to the national security, foreign policy, or economic health or financial stability of the United States. The malicious cyber-enabled activity must have the purpose or effect of significantly harming or compromising critical infrastructure; misappropriating funds or economic resources, trade secrets, personal identifiers, or financial information for commercial or competitive advantage or private financial gain; knowingly receiving or using trade secrets that were stolen by cyber-enabled means for commercial or competitive advantage or private financial gain; disrupting the availability of a computer or network of computers (for example, through a denial of service attack); and attempting, assisting or providing material support for any of the above activities. I intend to employ the authorities of my office and this Administration, including diplomatic engagement, trade policy tools, and law enforcement mechanisms, to counter the threat posed by malicious cyber actors. This Executive Order supports the Administration’s broader strategy by adding a new authority to combat the most serious malicious cyber threats that we face. THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary For Immediate Release April 1, 2015 EXECUTIVE ORDER - - - - - - - BLOCKING THE PROPERTY OF CERTAIN PERSONS ENGAGING IN SIGNIFICANT MALICIOUS CYBER-ENABLED ACTIVITIES By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) (IEEPA), the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.) (NEA), section 212(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 (8 U.S.C. 1182(f)), and section 301 of title 3, United States Code, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, find that the increasing prevalence and severity of malicious cyber-enabled activities originating from, or directed by persons located, in whole or in substantial part, outside the United States constitute an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States. I hereby declare a national emergency to deal Accordingly, I hereby order: Section 1. (a) All property and interests in property that are in the United States, that hereafter come within the United States, or that are or hereafter come within the possession or control of any United States person of the following persons are blocked and may not be transferred, paid, exported, withdrawn, or otherwise dealt in: (i) any person determined by the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Attorney General and the Secretary of State, to be responsible for or complicit in, or to have engaged in, directly or indirectly, cyber-enabled activities originating from, or directed by persons located, in whole or in substantial part, outside the United States that are reasonably likely to result in, or have materially contributed to, a significant threat to the national security, foreign policy, or economic health or financial stability of the United States and that have the purpose or effect of: (A) harming, or otherwise significantly compromising the provision of services by, a computer or network of computers that support one or more entities in a critical infrastructure 2 (B) significantly compromising the provision of services by one or more entities in a critical infrastructure sector; (C) causing a significant disruption to the availability of a computer or network of computers; or (D) causing a significant misappropriation of funds or economic resources, trade secrets, personal identifiers, or financial information for commercial or competitive advantage or private financial gain; or (ii) any person determined by the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Attorney General and the Secretary of State: (A) to be responsible for or complicit in, or to have engaged in, the receipt or use for commercial or competitive advantage or private financial gain, or by a commercial entity, outside the United States of trade secrets misappropriated through cyber-enabled means, knowing they have been misappropriated, where the misappropriation of such trade secrets is reasonably likely to result in, or has materially contributed to, a significant threat to the national security, foreign policy, or economic health or financial stability of the United (B) to have materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services in support of, any activity described in subsections (a)(i) or (a)(ii)(A) of this section or any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to this order; (C) to be owned or controlled by, or to have acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to this order; or (D) to have attempted to engage in any of the activities described in subsections (a)(i) and (a)(ii)(A)-(C) of this section. (b) The prohibitions in subsection (a) of this section apply except to the extent provided by statutes, or in regulations, orders, directives, or licenses that may be issued pursuant to this order, and notwithstanding any contract entered into or any license or permit granted prior to the effective Sec. 2. I hereby determine that the making of donations of the type of articles specified in section 203(b)(2) of IEEPA (50 U.S.C. 1702(b)(2)) by, to, or for the benefit of any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to 3 section 1 of this order would seriously impair my ability to deal with the national emergency declared in this order, and I hereby prohibit such donations as provided by section 1 of this Sec. 3. The prohibitions in section 1 of this order include but are not limited to: (a) the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to (b) the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services from any such person. Sec. 4. I hereby find that the unrestricted immigrant and nonimmigrant entry into the United States of aliens determined to meet one or more of the criteria in section 1(a) of this order would be detrimental to the interests of the United States, and I hereby suspend entry into the United States, as immigrants or nonimmigrants, of such persons. Such persons shall be treated as persons covered by section 1 of Proclamation 8693 of July 24, 2011 (Suspension of Entry of Aliens Subject to United Nations Security Council Travel Bans and International Emergency Economic Powers Act Sanctions). Sec. 5. (a) Any transaction that evades or avoids, has the purpose of evading or avoiding, causes a violation of, or attempts to violate any of the prohibitions set forth in this (b) Any conspiracy formed to violate any of the prohibitions set forth in this order is prohibited. Sec. 6. For the purposes of this order: (a) the term "person" means an individual or entity; (b) the term "entity" means a partnership, association, trust, joint venture, corporation, group, subgroup, or other (c) the term "United States person" means any United States citizen, permanent resident alien, entity organized under the laws of the United States or any jurisdiction within the United States (including foreign branches), or any person in the United States; (d) the term "critical infrastructure sector" means any of the designated critical infrastructure sectors identified in Presidential Policy Directive 21; and (e) the term "misappropriation" includes any taking or obtaining by improper means, without permission or consent, or Sec. 7. For those persons whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to this order who might have a constitutional presence in the United States, I find that because of the ability to transfer funds or other assets 4 instantaneously, prior notice to such persons of measures to be taken pursuant to this order would render those measures ineffectual. I therefore determine that for these measures to be effective in addressing the national emergency declared in this order, there need be no prior notice of a listing or determination made pursuant to section 1 of this order. Sec. 8. The Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Attorney General and the Secretary of State, is hereby authorized to take such actions, including the promulgation of rules and regulations, and to employ all powers granted to the President by IEEPA as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this order. The Secretary of the Treasury may redelegate any of these functions to other officers and agencies of the United States Government consistent with applicable law. All agencies of the United States Government are hereby directed to take all appropriate measures within their authority to carry out the provisions of this order. Sec. 9. The Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Attorney General and the Secretary of State, is hereby authorized to submit the recurring and final reports to the Congress on the national emergency declared in this order, consistent with section 401(c) of the NEA (50 U.S.C. 1641(c)) and section 204(c) of IEEPA (50 U.S.C. 1703(c)). Sec. 10. This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person. BARACK OBAMA Remarks by the President at White House Student Film Festival
President Obama Honors Outstanding Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentors
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 27, 2015 President Obama Honors Outstanding Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentors WASHINGTON, DC - President Obama today named fourteen individuals and one organization as the newest recipients of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring (PAESMEM). These mentors will receive their awards at a White House ceremony later this year. The Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring is awarded by the White House to individuals and organizations to recognize the crucial role that mentoring plays in the academic and personal development of students studying science and engineering—particularly those who belong to groups that are underrepresented in these fields. By offering their expertise and encouragement, mentors help prepare the next generation of scientists and engineers while ensuring that tomorrow’s innovators represent a diverse pool of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics talent throughout the United States. Candidates for the award are nominated by colleagues, administrators, and students in their home institutions or through professional affiliations. Candidates may also self-nominate. Their mentoring can involve students at any grade level from elementary through graduate school and professional development mentoring of early career scientists. In addition to being honored at the White House, recipients receive awards of $10,000 from the National Science Foundation. The mentors and organizations announced today represent the winners for 2012 and 2013. “These educators are helping to cultivate America’s future scientists, engineers and mathematicians,” President Obama said. “They open new worlds to their students, and give them the encouragement they need to learn, discover and innovate. That’s transforming those students’ futures, and our nation’s future, too.” The latest set of individuals and organizations receiving the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring are: • Sheila M. Humphreys, University of California, Berkeley • Raymond L. Johnson, University of Maryland, College Park • Murty S. Kambhampati, Southern University at New Orleans • Gary S. May, Dean, Georgia Institute of Technology • Elizabeth A. Parry, North Carolina State University • Tilak Ratnanather, The Johns Hopkins University • John Brooks Slaughter, University of Southern California • GeoFORCE Texas, Jackson School of Geosciences, University of Texas at Austin • Luis Colón, State University of New York at Buffalo • Anne E. Donnelly, University of Florida • Lorraine Fleming, Howard University • John Matsui, University of California, Berkeley • Beth Olivares, University of Rochester • Sandra Petersen, University of Massachusetts, Amherst • Julio Soto, San Jose State University Office of the Press Secretary
___________________________________________________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release March 20, 2015 REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT AT WHITE HOUSE STUDENT FILM FESTIVAL East Room 11:36 P.M. EDT THE PRESIDENT: Hello! (Applause.) Thank you so much, everybody! Have a seat. Well, hello, everybody, and welcome to the second annual White House Film Festival. (Applause.) It’s like the Sundance or Cannes of film festivals that are open to the public through a government website. (Laughter.) It may also be the only film festival where one of the entrants has his tooth loose. (Laughter.) And may pull it out right here at the ceremony. (Laughter.) Everybody looks wonderful, of course. You’ll be disappointed to know I will not be doing a musical number based on this year’s films. AUDIENCE: Awww -- THE PRESIDENT: That’s the job of your emcees, Kal Penn and Terrence J. Give them a big round of applause. (Applause.) I don’t know if they’ll be doing musical numbers either. (Laughter.) But I do want to thank the folks at the American Film Institute and Participant Media for partnering with us on this event. Thank you very much. Give them a big round of applause. (Applause.) I want to give a shout out to all the honorees’ dates tonight, which I assume are either parents or teachers, or somebody who’s supported these outstanding young people every step of the way. And of course, most importantly, let’s give it up to our outstanding young filmmakers! (Applause.) Yay! (Applause.) Yay! (Applause.) So I love this event. This is the second year that we’ve hosted the White House Student Film Festival, and it's a great example of what happens when we just unleash the skills and the imagination of America’s young people. In this country, if we give all of our kids the best opportunities and technology and resources, there’s no telling what they’ll create -- now and the years ahead. This year, we received more than 1,500 submissions that came from all across the country -- actually even came as far as Azerbaijan. Our theme was “The Impact of Giving Back.” And today, we are proud to honor our 15 official selections, because these aren’t just great films, but they’re great examples of how young people are making a difference all over the country. Today, we’re celebrating a 6-year-old in Montana. Is that you? (Applause.) He’s the guy without -- he’s missing teeth. (Laughter.) But he’s also challenging us to see conservation through a child’s eyes. We’re honoring a young man’s story of service to his family and our environment in his Navajo Nation, Navajo tradition. A teenager who started a wheelchair challenge and raised tens of thousands of dollars to make his school more accessible to folks with disabilities. A third-grade superhero who wears a cape as he delivers clothes and food to the homeless. You see even in indie film festivals, superhero movies are infiltrating. I'm going to have to see “Super Ewan 2” next summer. There’s going to be a sequel. And then there are two young women, Allyson Edwards and Madison Jaco, who adopted a highway to clean up the roads in their hometown of Hawkins, Texas. Where are these young ladies? Raise your hands. A little higher. There you go. (Applause.) So they decided they wanted to make an even bigger impact, so they reached out to young people all across the globe, and this is part of the power of the Internet. And now you’ve got groups in India, France, Nigeria, Benin, Argentina, all getting into the act -- cleaning up their schools and beaches and roads -- just because of these two young women. And as Allyson and Madison say in their film, “In today’s society, we’re often told how much we are different and how much divides us, but through our shared community service, we realized how much brings us together.” That’s a profound statement, guys. I don’t think I was that smart when I was your age. But that’s the idea that lies at the heart of service -- empathy, understanding, being able to make a connection. And as these young people are showing us, it’s a message that can be told powerfully through film, because that’s a media that connects us with people and stories we might otherwise never know. And it puts us in the shoes of people potentially on the other side of the world, or a neighborhood very different than the one we grew up in. And that’s true whether you’re a middle schooler with a GoPro, or a Hollywood director on a custom-made soundstage. Now, we know that if today’s middle schoolers are going to become those big-time directors -- and we’ve got some big-time folks here. Steve McQueen here, has filmed “12 Years a Slave.” It was a big Oscar winner last year and a profound film. And we appreciate his presence here today. (Applause.) So you guys could get some tips. (Laughter.) But the next Steve McQueen, or Scorsese, or Spielberg, or documentarian like Ken Burns -- if we’re going to make sure that these young people have those opportunities, then we’ve got to do our part to support them. That means we’ve got to give them a world-class education, access to science and technology, and engineering, and math, as well as the arts. It means that they’ve got to have access to the technology they need to learn and explore and grow. It's not optional to have access to that technology in today’s world. That’s one of the reasons I launched the ConnectED initiative, to connect 99 percent of our students to next-generation broadband and wireless -- because when we expect free WiFi with our coffee, then we should at least have it in our schools and our libraries, too. (Applause.) The good news is we’re making great progress. More than 1,800 school districts have pledged to bring high-speed broadband and digital learning to their students. Companies have committed billions of dollars in free technology for schools and libraries around the country. And it’s making a difference. Students in rural Alabama used software donated by Adobe to make a music video that won first place in a contest, and then earned their school $10,000 of new musical equipment. So we know this can make a difference. But we also know that it takes more than technology to help our kids thrive -- parents, teachers, people who love and inspire them, coaches, mentors to help guide their way. So today, as part of our “United We Serve” effort, I’m proud to announce that AFI and the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists are pairing up to give each of the young filmmakers here a mentor who can bring out the best of them in the months ahead. That’s pretty cool. (Applause.) And the organizations are also reaching beyond these young people; they’re going to pledge a million hours of educational and mentoring programs for young people across the country over the next three years -- (applause) -- which is a remarkable commitment, so we want to thank AFI and SAG-AFTRA for that wonderful contribution. We’ve seen how impactful these mentoring experiences can be. I’ll just take a minute to give you one example -- the story of a young woman who we honored here last year named Shelly Ortiz. And Shelly made this wonderful video -- is Shelly here? There you are. There’s Shelly. Good to see you. (Applause.) So I'm going to brag about you for a second. So Shelly made a great video about how technology in her classroom helped fuel her passion for filmmaking. But when Shelly came to the White House, she was still working on another project that meant a lot to her, which was a short documentary about how her father was abandoned by his mom as a child, and all the ramifications, what that meant. After the festival, AFI connected her with an accomplished documentarian, who served as her mentor, giving Shelly detailed notes and the confidence to take risks as a director. A few months later, Shelly’s documentary was featured at AFI’s International Documentary Festival. Pretty cool. And today, she says that the mentoring she received and the technology she’s been given didn’t just help her become a better filmmaker, it helped her become closer than ever with her dad. So that’s the power of what is being done here. Experiences like these aren’t just about a young person’s future career. They’re about helping them to connect in new and meaningful ways, whether it’s somebody as close as your parents, or somebody on an iPad halfway around the world who may share more in common with you than you think. And we don’t know what these new connections will produce down the road, but if these movies are any indication I know that these young people are going to make an even bigger impact for their communities and their country in the years ahead. So I'm proud of you. Keep up the great work. I can’t stay to watch them all, but I'm going to get them all, digitally. And I'm going to give them a big thumbs-up. All right. Thank you. I'm really proud of you guys. (Applause.) Now it’s time to begin our feature presentations. FACT SHEET: Next Steps in Delivering Fast, Affordable Broadband
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 23, 2015 FACT SHEET: Next Steps in Delivering Fast, Affordable Broadband “Twenty-first century businesses need 21st century infrastructure -- modern ports, and stronger bridges, faster trains and the fastest Internet…I intend to protect a free and open Internet, extend its reach to every classroom, and every community, and help folks build the fastest networks so that the next generation of digital innovators and entrepreneurs have the platform to keep reshaping our world.” -President Obama, State of the Union, 2015 In January, the President traveled to Cedar Falls, Iowa to announce his plan to promote “Broadband that Works,” a public-private effort to help more Americans, in more communities around the country, get access to fast and affordable broadband. Making good on the vision he outlined in his State of the Union Address means promoting investment and rewarding competition. Today, the Administration announced progress since January and new steps in that effort, including: Reaching the National Goal of Providing 98 Percent of Americans with Access to High-Speed, Mobile Broadband. In 2011, the President challenged the public and private sector to work together to expand wireless access and set the ambitious goal of providing 4th Generation (4G) mobile broadband to at least 98 percent of Americans. Today, based on newly released data from the U.S. Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), we are announcing that through significant private investment we have reached that goal — nearly two years ahead of schedule. The Obama Administration put in place policies that have helped drive progress toward this milestone, and will continue to promote robust investment in wireless broadband connectivity, including: · Initiating the Most Successful Mobile Spectrum Auction in American History. Setting in motion the highest-grossing auction of mobile spectrum in American history — raising more than $41 billion. Freeing up this spectrum for private investment will lead to better mobile connectivity while funding important priorities like a first-responders network and reducing the deficit. This success will keep the momentum for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)’s upcoming “incentive auction” of television broadcast spectrum slated for early 2016. · Continuing to Free Up Wireless Spectrum. Concerted government efforts to successfully free up wireless spectrum previously held by government agencies have, to date, formally recommended or otherwise identified 335 Mhz of Federal and non-Federal spectrum for potential reallocation. · Expanding Access to Broadband in Rural and Underserved Areas. Over $7 billion of Recovery Act funding went to increasing broadband connectivity, including to under-served areas, which is the foundation of high-speed wireless service. In all, these efforts have installed or upgraded over 174,000 miles of high-speed broadband infrastructure. The Administration will also continue to support the FCC’s Universal Service Fund (USF), which has invested over $25 billion since 2008, to encourage investment in high-cost and rural broadband, both fixed and mobile. Standing up the Broadband Opportunity Council. Today the President signed a new Presidential Memorandum making good on his promise in Cedar Falls to stand up a new Council singularly focused on increasing broadband investment and adoption. · The Council, co-chaired by the Secretaries of Commerce and Agriculture, includes over twenty-five different government agencies and components, all united around clear policy objectives to: - Engage with industry and other stakeholders to understand ways the government can better support the needs of communities seeking broadband investment; - Identify regulatory barriers unduly impeding broadband deployment or competition; - Survey and report back on existing programs that currently support or could be modified to support broadband competition, deployment or adoption; and - Take all necessary actions to remove these barriers and re-align existing programs to increase broadband competition, deployment, and adoption. · The Council will report back to the President, within 150 days, with the steps each agency will take to advance these goals, including specific regulatory actions or budget proposals. - These steps will build on and expand several actions agencies have already taken during this Administration, such as developing a common application form for wireless broadband providers to lease space for their rooftop antennas, sharing of best practices for “dig once” policies by state and municipal governments nationwide, and offering new online tools for finding and leasing federal assets available for broadband networks. Building on the FCC’s Landmark Decision to Promote Local Choice. The FCC last month independently decided to take action against two of the nineteen state laws that restrict communities from deciding what broadband solutions fit their needs. This step forward helped unserved and under-served communities, many of whom have no way to stay economically competitive absent a municipal provider of broadband. · As a result, communities in two states — Tennessee and North Carolina — will no longer be held back from setting up municipal networks like successful examples in Chattanooga and Wilson, where those networks affordably deliver broadband speeds around 100 times the national average. Continued Support to Communities & Competitors Expanding Broadband Offerings. The Administration continues to build on the momentum we began earlier this year with the standup of Commerce’s BroadbandUSA program. Later this year, the Department of Agriculture will reopen a revamped broadband loan program, which offers financing to eligible rural carriers that invest in bringing high-speed broadband to unserved and under-served rural areas. · Today the Department of Agriculture is announcing a total of $35 million in broadband infrastructure loans in Arkansas, New Mexico, and Iowa to deliver enhanced services to help attract and grow businesses, as well as to improve educational and health care services. Time and again, studies show that affordable broadband offers increased economic opportunities in rural areas, which is why Rural Development is committed to delivering high-speed Internet service to these communities. · Through the BroadbandUSA program, the Department of Commerce has followed through on its promise to support more communities seeking to learn from the experts on how to increase broadband investment and competition — including through municipal broadband. Since January, Commerce has provided ongoing one-on-one advice to communities across the U.S. including in Ohio, Kansas, Florida, California, and West Virginia; organized a regional summit in Jackson, Mississippi; and held a national webinar to introduce BroadbandUSA and present the new Guide to Public-Private Partnerships for Broadband Investment. Announcing the Community Broadband Summit. To carry forward the momentum, help communities leaders learn from one another, and report out the progress of our broadband initiatives, the White House will in June host the Community Broadband Summit. Details will follow soon at WhiteHouse.gov. Remarks by the President at White House Science Fair
Remarks by the President at White House Science FairInboxxWhite House Press Office via service.govdelivery.com 2:16 PM (7 hours ago)to me THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary For Immediate Release March 23, 2015 REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT AT WHITE HOUSE SCIENCE FAIR East Room 12:15 P.M. EDT THE PRESIDENT: Hello, everybody! (Applause.) Hello, hello! Thank you. Everybody have a seat. Thank you. Hello, scientists. (Laughter.) So this has got to be the most fun event of the year. (Laughter.) At least in the top three. And before I go any further, though, I need to lay down some rules. We had to put these in place based on the previous science fairs. First of all, no taking your robots or electric go-karts for a spin on the South Lawn. (Laughter.) You can't do that. Rule number two, if you’re going to explode something, you have to warn us first. (Laughter.) Actually, just don’t explode anything. (Laughter.) Number three, no using a marshmallow air cannon in the house -- (laughter) -- unless you let me shoot it first. (Laughter.) This is our fifth White House Science Fair. And every year, I walk out smarter than I walked in, because these young people have something to teach all of us -- not just about batteries, or attacking cancer cells, or how to build a working robot or a rocket. I will say, though, the robots I see keep getting smarter every year. We are keeping an eye on that, by the way. (Laughter.) You’re on notice, Skynet. But these young scientists and engineers teach us something beyond the specific topics that they’re exploring. They teach us how to question assumptions; to wonder why something is the way it is, and how we can make it better. And they remind us that there’s always something more to learn, and to try, and to discover, and to imagine -- and that it’s never too early, or too late to create or discover something new. That’s why we love science. It’s more than a school subject, or the periodic table, or the properties of waves. It is an approach to the world, a critical way to understand and explore and engage with the world, and then have the capacity to change that world, and to share this accumulated knowledge. It’s a mindset that says we that can use reason and logic and honest inquiry to reach new conclusions and solve big problems. And that’s what we are celebrating here today with these amazing young people. Now, first of all, I'm going to announce the people who are not that young -- although some of them are youngish. We’re joined by some of America’s top scientists and engineers -- starting with my Science Advisor, John Holdren. (Applause.) Yay, John. The Director of the National Institutes of Health, Francis Collins is here. (Applause.) The head of our Patent and Trademark Office -- so, young people, if you’ve got something fancy, talk to Michelle Lee right here. (Applause.) She’s ready to sign you up. The Acting Director of the U.S. Geological Survey, Suzette Kimball is here. (Applause.) And somebody who has one of the coolest jobs in town, the head of NASA, Charles Bolden is here. (Applause.) Where’s Charlie? If there are any aspiring astronauts here, he’s the man to impress. He’s been in space himself. We also have some outstanding guests who are here who’ve been participating in this on an ongoing basis. Bill Nye, the Science Guy, is here. (Applause.) Signature bowtie. So is Rush Holt, who’s one of the few scientists to serve in Congress. We could probably use some more. (Applause.) There you go. Rush is now the head of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. And just so you knew that athletes think science is cool, too, we've got Victor Cruz of the New York Giants here. (Applause.) He is a big fan of science. And he has to be -- as all-pro wide receiver, he’s got to figure out trajectories and angles and velocities and the physics of doing the salsa. (Laughter.) For those of you who don't know, he does a salsa every time he gets a touchdown, and he gets a lot of them. (Laughter.) Now, Victor has been here before to celebrate the New York Giants winning the Super Bowl. But as I’ve said many times before, we’ve got to celebrate the winners of our science fairs as much as we celebrate the winners of football or basketball or other athletic competitions, because young scientists, mathematicians, engineers, they’re critical to our future. You guys are the ones who are going to define the contours of the 21st century. And I just had a chance to meet some of these young people. And I fired a lot of questions at them, and they know their stuff. It is unbelievable what so many of these young people have accomplished at such an early age. And I wish I could talk about every single one of them because all of them were extraordinarily impressive. But I want to leave enough time for everybody else to explore some of their exhibits. John Holdren probably wants me to get some of their résumés in case we’re hiring. But let me just mention a few of the young people that I had a chance to talk to, to give you a sense of the scope and depth and quality of the work that they’re doing. So, first of all, we’ve got Sophia Sánchez-Maes who’s here from Las Cruces, New Mexico. Where’s Sophia? I just talked to her. Did she get in? There she is, right there. (Applause.) Sophia is a senior in high school and she is crazy about algae. (Laughter.) Now, to the non-science buffs here, you might say, what’s so great about algae? But Sophia knows that algae is fascinating, especially as a potential fuel source. So scientists are already working to turn algae into fuel. One of the hurdles is to make the process more efficient so less energy gets wasted along the way. Sophia saw that was a challenge. She asked why. She has created a more efficient method. She’s identified optimal algae to use in her method, and she’s helping to bring the world closer to using algae as a clean, renewable, and even inexhaustible energy source. And it’s already being tested in her hometown, the process that she’s developing. It is amazing. So let’s give Sophia a big round of applause. (Applause.) Harry Paul is here from Port Washington, New York. Where’s Harry? There’s Harry, right here. (Applause.) So Harry graduated and is now in his first year at Tufts. But listen to this story, because I think it gives you a sense of the quality of the young people we’ve got here. Harry was born with a condition called congenital scoliosis -- a curvature of the spine. So, growing up, Harry endured more than a dozen operations. Rather than feel sorry for himself, he thought there’s got to be a better way of doing this. So he designed a new type of spinal implant. Starting in his freshman year in high school, he started researching the processes that he himself had gone through -- his doctor was an expert on this -- and he decided, let’s see if I can come up with something better, an implant that can grow along with the growing child so it doesn’t have to be constantly replaced or adjusted, which means you don’t need as many intrusive operations. And Harry’s implant could reduce the number of surgeries that a child may need for more than a dozen to as few as five, which obviously would cut down medical costs, but more importantly, would save a lot of young people pain and time out from school and recovery time, and the potential complications of an operation. Unbelievable stuff. Give Harry a big round of applause. (Applause.) So Nikhil Behari is here from Pennsylvania. Where’s Nikhil. There’s Nikhil. (Applause.) He’s a freshman -- right? -- in high school, interested in how we can better protect ourselves against hackers and data thieves online. So scientists are already using biometrics to prove that each of us walk in our own distinct ways. And Nikhil wondered, what if we each type in a distinct ways? So he collected all kinds of data about how a person types -- their speed, how often they pause, how much pressure they use; built a special keyboard to test it. And he proved that his hypothesis was correct -- that even if somebody knows your password, they don’t necessarily punch it in exactly the way you do. And he asked why -- and made discoveries that now could help keep our online accounts more secure. So in the future, if keystroke-based authentication keeps your siblings from breaking into your Facebook account or your Instagram account, you will know who to thank. (Laughter.) It will be Nikhil. Congratulations. (Applause.) So those three are just samples of the extraordinary scientists that we’ve already -- and engineers -- that we’ve already got here. I should give special mention to our Girl Scouts from Oklahoma. Where are those Super Girls? (Applause.) They’re standing up, but you can’t really see them -- (laughter) -- because they’re in kindergarten and first grade. They are today’s youngest scientists at six years old. They built their device out of Legos. They realized that some people who might be paralyzed or arthritic might have trouble turning pages on a book so they invented this page turner. It was awesome. It was working so well, despite the fact, as they pointed out -- this is a quote, they said, “This is just a prototype.” (Laughter.) That’s what they said. I said, well, how’d you come up with the idea? They said, well, we had a brainstorming session. (Laughter.) And then one of them asked, “Mr. President, have you had brainstorming sessions?” (Laughter.) I said, yes, but I didn’t come up with something as cool as this -- (laughter) -- an automatic page turner. Unbelievable. Ruchi Pandya -- where’s Ruchi? There’s Ruchi. (Applause.) Found a way to use a single drop of blood to test a person’s heart function, much like a person with diabetes tests their blood sugar. Anvita Gupta -- where’s Anvita? There she is. (Applause.) Used artificial intelligence and biochemistry to identify potential treatments for cancer, tuberculosis, Ebola. What she’s done is she’s developed an algorithm that could potentially significantly speed up the process of finding drugs that might work against these diseases. Something smells like it’s burning there -- and I don’t think it’s an experiment. (Laughter.) I think it’s somebody’s camera. Do we have it under control? We don’t see any flames bursting. Yes? All right. Okay, it sounds like a little electrical short, but let’s keep monitoring that. (Laughter.) Exits will be -- (laughter) -- in that direction, should anything happen. The last time there was a fire here, the British were invading. (Laughter.) But Anvita’s algorithm has the potential of speeding up pathways to discovering what drugs would work on what diseases, and is consistent with some of the work that we announced around precision medicine that we are funding at a significant pace here at the White House. Now, I should point out that, like several of the young people here, Anvita and Ruchi are first-generation Americans. Their parents came here, in part, so their kids could develop their talents and make a difference in the world. And we’re really glad they did. So I want to congratulate all of you for your remarkable achievements. You’ve made a lot of people proud -- your parents, your teachers, your friends, your mentors. And as President, I’m proud of you, because America is going to be stronger and smarter and healthier, and a much more interesting place because of you. But it’s not enough for our country just to be proud of you. We’ve also got to support you. We’ve got to make sure that young people like you are going to keep on having what you need to discover and experiment and to innovate. So I’ve got three announcements to make that really were already kind of in the works before I met you guys, but it’s a pretty good occasion to announce them because you’re so inspiring. First -- four years ago, I set a national goal to provide 98 percent of Americans with high-speed wireless Internet so that any young scientist or entrepreneur could access the world’s information. Today, I can announce that we have achieved that goal, and we did it ahead of schedule. (Applause.) That’s a big deal. Second, to make sure that we keep expanding broadband across the country, I’m creating a new team called the Broadband Opportunity Council, made up of leaders across government, who will work with business and communities to invest in next-generation Internet nationwide. Because this not just going to be a key for your ability to learn and create; it’s also a key for America’s ability to compete and lead in the world. Number three -- no young person in America should miss out on the chance to excel in these fields just because they don’t have the resources. So, five years ago, we launched a campaign called “Educate to Innovate,” to help more of our students explore science, technology, engineering and math. Today, I’m pleased to announce $240 million in new contributions from businesses, from schools, from foundations across the country to help kids learn in these STEM fields. So we are very, very proud to make that announcement. (Applause.) Corporations have pledged to help expand high-quality science and technology education to more than 1.5 million students. More than 120 universities have pledged to help train 20,000 new engineers to tackle the toughest challenges of this century. Foundations like the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, and the Gates Foundation, and the Simons Foundation, will support scientists early in their careers with mentoring and funding. And, all told, these new commitments bring our grand total up to $1 billion in commitments to our kids since we first got this initiative started five years ago. And I was talking to some of the folks who are helping to finance our efforts, and one of the things that they’ve discovered is that it’s not enough just to talk about STEM. Part of what’s important to do is also to recognize that what you do in math and engineering and science has a purpose to it; that there are huge challenges that we have to solve in how we have clean energy, and how to we clean up our environment, and how do we solve crippling diseases like Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s. And when we give students the inspiration not just that math and science are inherently interesting, and technology and engineering are inherently interesting, but there’s actual problems to solve, it turns out that young people, they rise to the challenge. And that’s what’s so exciting about it. We don’t want to just increase the number of American students in STEM. We want to make sure everybody is involved. We want to increase the diversity of STEM programs, as well. And that’s been a theme of this science fair. We get the most out of all our nation’s talent -- and that means reaching out to boys and girls, men and women of all races and all backgrounds. Science is for all of us. And we want our classrooms and labs and workplaces and media to reflect that. And this is something that Megan Smith, our Chief Technology Officer, is really keen about. Part of the problem is we don’t tell the stories enough of the incredible scientists and inventors along the way who are women, or people of color, and as a consequence, people don’t see themselves as potential scientists. Except the good news is these young women and African American and Latino and Asian American folks, young people who are here today -- you guys certainly see yourselves as scientists. So you’re helping to inspire your classmates and kids who are coming up behind you to pursue these dreams as well. And that’s what’s so exciting. Because the United States has always been a place that loves science. We’ve always been obsessed with tinkering and discovering and inventing and pushing the very boundaries of what’s possible. That’s who we are. It’s in our DNA. Technological discovery helped us become the world’s greatest economic power. Scientific and medical breakthroughs helped us become the greatest source of hope around the world. And that’s not just our past, that’s also our future, because of amazing young people like this. So I want to thank you for inspiring me. You got me off to a good start today. Keep exploring. Keep dreaming. Keep asking why. Don’t settle for what you already know. Never stop believing in the power of your ideas, your imagination, your hard work to change the world. And to all the adults in the room, and to any members of Congress who might be listening, just think about all -- oh, Eddie Bernice Johnson is here, an outstanding member of Congress, who’s a big support of STEM education. Just remember, all these young people -- to continue to pursue the research that might bring about a new clean energy source, or might cure a disease, a lot of them are going to need the capacity to get research positions and fellowships and grants. And that, particularly when it comes to basic research, has typically been funded by the federal government. And my federal budget promotes a significant increase in the kinds of research that needs to happen. Unfortunately, some of the budgets coming out of Congress don’t make those same commitments. So it’s not enough for us to just lift up young people and say, great job, way to go. You also have to have labs to go to, and you’ve got to be able to support yourself while you’re doing this amazing research. And that involves us as a society making the kind of investments that are going to be necessary for us to continue to innovate for many, many years to come. So, congratulations. Give all these young people a big round of applause. (Applause.) Go take a look at their outstanding stuff. It’s really great. (Applause.) THE WHITE HOUSE AND THE AMERICAN FILM INSTITUTE
TO CELEBRATE YOUNG STORYTELLERS AT THE SECOND ANNUAL WHITE HOUSE STUDENT FILM FESTIVAL Two-Day DC Event in Collaboration with Participant Media Will Put Dreams on Display in the East Room, Showcasing Films on "The Impact of Giving Back" AFI and Participant Media To Present Additional Screenings and Filmmaker Workshops FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, March 11, 2015, Los Angeles, CA– The White House and the American Film Institute in collaboration with Participant Media's TEACH campaign announced today that the second annual White House Student Film Festival will be held March 20 and 21, 2015 in Washington, DC. Premiere screenings of 15 films selected from more than 1,700 submissions by K-12 filmmakers from across America will explore the theme of "The Impact of Giving Back." These inspiring shorts showcase the power of compassion, the importance of educators, the influence of service on our communities, the necessity of environmental preservation and the significance of mentoring as a means of positive guidance. The March 20 event inside the White House will be streamed live at WhiteHouse.Gov/Live. In addition to screening the 2015 Official Selections in the East Room on March 20, the festival will continue with an expansive second day at the Newseum on March 21 that will feature encore screenings of the selected films as well as additional finalists, break-out sessions with motion picture professionals, mentorship opportunities and workshops on various aspects of film production. "The American Film Institute was born in the White House Rose Garden with a mandate to nurture young men and women wishing to pursue the art form as their life's work," said Bob Gazzale, AFI President & CEO. "Fifty years later, we continue to look to the future, and we are proud to do so in partnership with the White House – as we encourage the next generation of storytellers to share their tales well told." Participant Media, a global entertainment company focused on inspiring social change, joins AFI's collaboration with the White House this year for the two day student film festival and workshop as part of its TEACH campaign, inspired by Davis Guggenheim's documentary film TEACH, which will be screening at the festival. The TEACH campaign encourages young students to give back by pursuing a career in teaching and highlights the positive impact our nation's teachers have on future generations. "We're honored to be a part of the White House Student Film Festival this year and to be collaborating with such an influential educational arts organization like the American Film Institute," said Jim Berk, CEO of Participant Media. "We're committed to supporting great teaching and aspiring educators. Teachers are not only mentors, they are innovators and through TEACH, we hope to inspire the next generation of teachers." Information about the public screenings and discussions on March 21 will be posted on AFI.com. More information about the White House Student Film Festival can be found at WhiteHouse.Gov/FilmFest. About Participant Media Participant Media (ParticipantMedia.com) is a global entertainment company founded in 2004 by Jeff Skoll to focus on feature film, television, publishing and digital content that inspires social change. Participant's more than 60 films include GOOD NIGHT, AND GOOD LUCK, SYRIANA, AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH, FOOD, INC., WAITING FOR "SUPERMAN," THE HELP, CONTAGION and LINCOLN. Participant launches campaigns that bring together government entities, foundations, schools, and others to raise awareness and drive people to take action on issues from each film or television show. Pivot (pivot.tv/), the company's television network, is available nationally in 47 million homes, with a diverse slate of talent and a mix of original series, acquired programming, films and documentaries. TakePart (TakePart.com) is Participant's digital news and lifestyle magazine and social action platform for the conscious consumer. Through its films, social action campaigns, digital network, and its television network, Participant seeks to entertain, encourage and empower every individual to take action. About the American Film Institute AFI is America's promise to preserve the heritage of the motion picture, to honor the artists and their work and to educate the next generation of storytellers. AFI programs include the AFI Catalog of Feature Films and the AFI Archive, which preserve film heritage for future generations; the AFI Life Achievement Award, the highest honor for a career in film; AFI AWARDS, honoring the most outstanding motion pictures and television programs of the year; AFI's 100 Years…100 Movies television events and movie reference lists, which have introduced and reintroduced classic American movies to millions of film lovers; year-round and special event exhibition through AFI FEST presented by Audi, AFI DOCS and the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center; and educating the next generation of storytellers at the world-renowned AFI Conservatory. For more information about AFI, visit AFI.com or connect with AFI at twitter.com/AmericanFilm, facebook.com/AmericanFilmInstitute and youtube.com/AFI THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 25, 2015 U.S.-India Joint Statement साँझा प्रयास - सबका विकास” – “Shared Effort; Progress for All” 1. The President of the United States of America, Barack Obama, accompanied by First Lady Michelle Obama, is visiting India from 25-27 January 2015. The President of India and the Prime Minister of India welcomed the U.S. President as the Chief Guest at India's 66th Republic Day celebrations, the first U.S. President to grace this historic event. 2. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Barack Obama assessed the extensive bilateral strategic and global partnership between their two countries and pledged to continue to enhance cooperation across the spectrum of human endeavor to better their citizens’ lives and that of the global community. 3. Noting that the multifaceted partnership between the United States and India is rooted in shared values of democracy and strong economic and people-to-people ties, President Obama and Prime Minister Modi elevated the bilateral relationship through their endorsement of a new India-U.S. Delhi Declaration of Friendship, which builds on their 30 September Vision Statement by articulating tangible principles to guide ongoing efforts to advance mutual prosperity, a clean and healthy environment, greater economic cooperation, regional peace, security and stability for the larger benefit of humankind. 4. Recognizing the important role that both countries play in promoting peace, prosperity, stability and security in the Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean Region, and noting that India’s ‘Act East Policy’ and the United States’ rebalance to Asia provide opportunities for India, the United States, and other Asia-Pacific countries to work closely to strengthen regional ties, the Leaders announced a Joint Strategic Vision to guide their engagement in the region. 5. The Prime Minister and the President acknowledged and expressed satisfaction at the qualitative reinvigoration of strategic ties and the intensity of substantive interactions since the Prime Minister's visit to Washington in September 2014. They appreciated the focused action and accomplishments by both sides on the decisions taken during the Summit in September and in this regard, they welcomed: · The 30 September 2014 signing of an implementing agreement between the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to conduct the joint NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mission. · The convening of the Defence Policy Group and its subgroups on 28-29 October 2014 to pursue stronger and expanded bilateral defence cooperation. · India’s ongoing facilitation of U.S. Department of Defense humanitarian missions in India, including a mission in October and November 2014, to recover the remains of fallen U.S. soldiers who served in World War II. · The signing of the India-U.S. Statement of Guiding Principles on Triangular Cooperation for Global Development on 3 November 2014, in furtherance of bilateral efforts to advance sustainable development in cooperation with partner countries around the world. · The breakthrough between India and the United States on issues relating to the implementation of the Bali Ministerial Decisions regarding public stockholding for food security purposes, the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement, and post Bali work. · Convening of the U.S.-India Joint Commission Meeting on Science and Technology Cooperation in New Delhi on 17 November 2014 to review, exchange views, and advance cooperation in diverse areas of science and technology and foster engagement in techno-entrepreneurship and innovation partnership for mutual benefit. · Convening of the India-U.S. Higher Education Dialogue in New Delhi on 17 November 2014 to further bilateral cooperation in this field, strengthen partnerships between Indian and U.S. universities and community colleges, improve student and scholar mobility, and promote faculty collaboration. · The signing of the MoU on 18 November 2014 between Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Ltd. and the Export-Import Bank of the United States, which would make available up to $1 billion in financing to facilitate expanded cooperation and enhance U.S. private sector investment in Indian clean energy projects. · Successful hosting of the bilateral India-U.S. Technology Summit on 18-19 November 2014 with the U.S. as a partner country for the first time. · Convening of the High Technology Cooperation Group on 20-21 November 2014 to shape a cooperative agenda on high technology goods, including export control-related trade in homeland security technologies, high technology manufacturing equipment including machine tools, defence trade, and fostering collaboration in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and health-related information technology. · Convening of the Smart Cities Conclave on 22 November 2014 organised by the U.S.-India Business Council in cooperation with the Ministry of Urban Development and the Mayors and Commissioners of Ajmer (Rajasthan), Allahabad (Uttar Pradesh) and Vishakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh) and the decision by the Government of India to constitute a high-level committee for each of the three Smart Cities comprising different departments of the Central Government, the state governments, local governments, and representatives of the U.S. industry. · Signing of three MoUs between the State Governments of Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan and the U.S. Trade and Development Agency on 25 January 2015 to develop Vishakhapatnam, Allahabad, and Ajmer as Smart Cities with the participation of U.S. industry, in furtherance of the commitment made by the Leaders in September 2014. · The convening of the Trade Policy Forum at the Ministerial level on 24-25 November 2014, in which India and the United States agreed to work towards resolving commercial impediments in both markets, to help realize the potential of bilateral trade in goods and services, and to promote investment and manufacturing. · Convening of the India-U.S. Political Military Dialogue on 4 December 2014 to exchange perspectives on bilateral strategic and regional issues. · Convening the sixth round of the India-U.S.-Japan trilateral discussions on 20 December 2014 to deepen regional engagement and to discuss ways to implement projects on the ground. · The launch of the Infrastructure Collaboration Platform in New Delhi on 13 January 2015 to promote enhanced market access and financing to increase U.S. industry participation in the growth and development of sectors that support Indian infrastructure. · The 12-15 January 2015 expert exchange on Counter-Improvised Explosive Device (C-IED) strategies and technologies and completion of a Joint Statement of Intent and a work plan for a programme of bilateral C-IED cooperation. · The signing of a framework on and inauguration of the India-U.S. Investment Initiative in Washington on 12-15 January 2015 to jointly cooperate on facilitating capital market development conducive to financing investment; creating an environment that encourages investment in various sectors in India; and working to overcome any obstacles to such investment. · The convening of the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Working Group in Washington on 14-15 January 2015 and the 23 January signing of the Joint Declaration of Intent to advance implementation of the Digital India programme and further bilateral commercial ICT cooperation. · Launching of a Knowledge Partnership in defence studies expressing a shared desire to pursue collaborative activities between the United States and Indian National Defence Universities. · Signing of the Statement of Cooperation for Supervisory Cooperation and Exchange of Supervisory Information between the Reserve Bank of India and Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), Federal Reserve System, and Office of the Comptroller of Currency (OCC). · Convening of Indian and U.S. CEOs who are committed to deepening bilateral economic ties by identifying current impediments to trade and investment and working with the two government to find solutions; and identifying emerging sectors where public-private partnership can unlock new collaborations between our two peoples. · The 13 January 2015 signing of the MoU between the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Ministry of Urban Development to enable USAID to share expertise, best practices, innovation and technologies in support of India's efforts to strengthen water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in urban areas. · India’s recent introduction of visa-on-arrival for U.S. citizens and the convening of the first technical discussions to advance India’s membership in the United States’ Global Entry Program, initiatives aimed at easing travel between India and the United States to further strengthen people-to-people ties. · Cooperation on scientific research collaboration on the Indian Monsoon Rainfall currently underway aboard the U.S. research vessel JOIDES Resolution in the Bay of Bengal. · The conclusion of the first of two project annexes between the Indian Department of Atomic Energy–Department of Science and Technology and the U.S. Department of Energy, which will enable discovery science cooperation in particle accelerator and high energy physics. · The 22 January signing of the MoU between the U.S. Department of Treasury and India’s Ministry of Finance to enhance cooperation to combat money laundering and the financing of terrorism. · The Completion of an MoU between the Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Department of Biotechnology, Indian Council of Medical Research, All Indian Institute of Medical Sciences, and the U.S National Institute of Health and National Cancer Institute. · The 23 January signing of the Joint Declaration of Intent between USAID and the Ministry of Human Resource Development for technical support to the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), starting with IIT Gandhinagar, to strengthen research and entrepreneurship capabilities. · The recent finalization of the 2015 Framework for the U.S.-India Defense Relationship, which will guide and expand the bilateral defence and strategic partnership over the next ten years. · The 22 January signing of the India-U.S. Research, Development, Testing and Evaluation (RDT&E) Agreement to facilitate cooperation in defence research and development. · Continuing bilateral engagement on the Defence Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI), including the 22 January 2015 agreement in principle to pursue co-production and co-development of four pathfinder projects, form a working group to explore aircraft carrier technology sharing and design, and explore possible cooperation on development of jet engine technology. 6. Prime Minister Modi and President Obama jointly appreciated the significant efforts undertaken by both sides in recent months to re-energize the strategic partnership, and affirmed expanding the substantive underpinnings of our diversified bilateral strategic partnership including through expanded strategic consultations, stronger defence, security, and economic cooperation. 7. President Obama also reiterated his support for Prime Minister Modi's vision to transform India, and recognized that India's focus on its development priorities presented substantial opportunities for forging stronger India-U.S. economic ties and greater people-to-people contacts. Reaffirming that India’s rise is also in the interest of the United States, regional and global stability, and global economic growth, President Obama reiterated the United States' readiness to partner with India in this transformation. The two leaders pledged to translate their commitment of "Chalein Saath Saath”: “Forward Together We Go" of September into action through "Sanjha Prayaas; Sab Ka Vikaas": "Shared Effort; Progress For All". Economic Growth 8. Prime Minister Modi and President Obama expressed confidence that continued bilateral collaboration will increase opportunities for investment, improve bilateral trade and investment ties and lead to the creation of jobs and prosperity in both economies. In this regard, the Leaders agreed to continue to strengthen their broad-based partnership for development through stronger trade, technology, manufacturing, and investment linkages between the two countries and triangular cooperation with partner countries, and that continued efforts to maintain labor standards as per domestic law and agreed international norms will make these linkages more durable. The two sides also committed to continuing to cooperate on the finalization of the Post-Bali Work Programme in the spirit of the Doha mandate. 9. The President and the Prime Minister affirmed their shared commitment to facilitating increased bilateral investment flows and fostering an open and predictable climate for investment. To this end, the Leaders instructed their officials to assess the prospects for moving forward with high-standard bilateral investment treaty discussions given their respective approaches. 10. The President and the Prime Minister also welcomed the fifth annual U.S.-India Economic and Financial Partnership Dialogue in February, in which the countries will deepen their dialogue on macroeconomic policy, financial sector regulation and development, infrastructure investment, tax policy, and efforts to combat money laundering and terrorist financing. 11. The two sides agreed to hold a discussion on the elements required in both countries to pursue an India-U.S. Totalisation Agreement. 12. President Obama commended Prime Minister Modi’s “Jan Dhan” scheme to prioritize financial inclusion for India’s poor. The Leaders noted India’s intent to join the Better Than Cash Alliance. 13. The Leaders committed to explore areas of collaboration in skill development ranging from establishing quality assurance systems for skilling certification standards, setting up of skill development centres, nurturing and promoting social entrepreneurship and strengthening the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem. 14. President Obama and Prime Minister Modi agreed to collaborate in the implementation of India's ambitious Digital India programme and expand commercial cooperation, including by encouraging investment engagement in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector. 15. In recognition of the importance of their ongoing commercial discussions, the two sides agreed to hold public-private discussions in early 2015 under the aegis of the India-U.S. Commercial Dialogue for a period of two years, until March 2016, on mutually agreed areas of cooperation. 16. Recognizing the progress made in constructive engagement on Intellectual Property under the last round of the India-U.S. Trade Policy Forum held in November, 2014, the Leaders also looked forward to enhancing engagement on Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) in 2015 under the High Level Working Group on Intellectual Property, to the mutual benefit of both the countries. 17. Acknowledging the potential for technological cooperation in the rail sector in augmenting and optimizing India's rail infrastructure, the Leaders agreed to facilitate U.S. Trade and Development Agency and Indian Railways technical cooperation that will assist Indian Railways’ efforts to modify its leasing and public-private partnership frameworks to attract private sector funding. 18. The Leaders recognized the robust public-private U.S.-India civil aviation partnership and agreed to continue working together to identify emerging technologies and build a larger commercial engagement agenda through key events such as the 2015 U.S.-India Aviation Summit and demonstration of advanced U.S. technologies. 19. Reaffirming their commitment to safety and security of civil aviation, the United States and India will continue consultations between the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the India Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to ensure international safety standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), with the aim of restoring Category I status at the earliest possible time. 20. Noting the importance of ongoing cooperation in higher education, the President and Prime Minister welcomed ongoing efforts to extend a knowledge partnership for supporting the Indian Institute of Technology at Gandhinagar through USAID. President Obama and Prime Minister Modi also pledged to collaborate through India's Global Initiative of Academic Networks (GIAN), to facilitate short-term teaching and research programs by up to 1000 visiting U.S. academics in Indian universities. 21. The Leaders emphasized the importance of strengthening international financial institutions, including the International Monetary Fund. The President also affirmed his commitment to enhancing India's voice and vote in international Financial Institutions and ensuring that resources are made available and used creatively through multilateral development banks for infrastructure financing. Prime Minister Modi appreciated the efforts of the U.S. Treasury for cooperating with the Ministry of Finance on the Task Force on Resolution Corporation set up in pursuance of the recommendations of the Financial Sector Legislative Reforms Commission. High Technology, Space and Health Cooperation 22. Prime Minister Modi and President Obama reaffirmed their commitment to ensure that partnerships in science, technology and innovation are a crucial component of the overall bilateral engagement in the 21st century. They also reaffirmed their support for the role that science, technology and innovation partnerships can play in addressing pressing challenges in areas such as food, water, energy, climate, and health and developing innovative solutions that are affordable, accessible and adaptable, meet the needs of the people of the two countries and benefit the global community. To this end, the Leaders agreed to continue to develop cooperative efforts in many areas of science, technology, and innovation, including studying the impacts of water, air pollution, sanitation and hygiene on human health and well-being. 23. The Leaders also agreed to continue U.S.-India collaboration in hydrology and water studies and monsoon modelling and noted the need to expeditiously work towards launching an Indo-U.S. Climate Fellowship to facilitate human capacity building. The Prime Minister and the President also reaffirmed the importance of ongoing efforts to strengthen women's participation in science, technology, engineering, and math through networking and mentoring programs. 24. The President and the Prime Minister welcome efforts, under the bilateral High Technology Cooperation Group, to seek timely resolution of the challenges to trade in High Technology goods, including the U.S. licensing requirements for trade in certain dual use items. 25. The Leaders reaffirmed the importance of providing transparent and predictable policy environments for fostering innovation. Both countries reiterated their interest in sharing information and best practices on IPR issues, and reaffirmed their commitment to stakeholders’ consultations on policy matters concerning intellectual property protection. 26. President Obama and Prime Minister Modi agreed to further promote cooperative and commercial relations between India and the United States in the field of space. The leaders noted the on-going interactions between their space agencies, including towards realizing a dual frequency radar imaging satellite for Earth Sciences, and exploring possibilities for cooperation in studying Mars. 27. The Leaders took note of ongoing U.S.-India space cooperation, including the first face-to-face meeting of the ISRO-NASA Mars Working Group from 29-31 January 2015 in Bangalore, in which the two sides will consider opportunities for enhanced cooperation in Mars exploration, including potential coordinated observations and analysis between ISRO’s Mars Orbiter Mission and NASA’s Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN mission (MAVEN). The Prime Minister and the President also welcomed continued progress toward enhanced space cooperation via the U.S.-India Civil Space Joint Working Group, which will meet later this year in India. 28. Under the umbrella of an implementing agreement between the U.S. Department of Energy and the Department of Atomic Energy of India, the Leaders welcomed expanded collaboration in basic physics research, and accelerator research and development. 29. The Leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) and announced specific actions at home and abroad to prevent the spread of infectious diseases, including a CDC-Ministry of Health Ebola and GHSA preparedness training, expansion of the India Epidemic Intelligence Service, and development of a roadmap to achieve the objectives of the GHSA within three years. 30. The Leaders also committed to multi-sectoral actions countering the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and cooperation in training of health workers in preparedness for infectious disease threats. The Leaders agreed to focus science and technology partnerships on countering antibiotic resistant bacteria and promoting the availability, efficacy and quality of therapeutics. 31. The Leaders welcomed further progress in promoting bilateral cooperation on cancer research, prevention, control, and management and agreed to continue to strengthen the engagement between the CDC and India’s National Centre for Disease Control. 32. The President and Prime Minister also welcomed the upcoming completion of an Environmental Health, Occupational Health and Injury Prevention and Control MoU between the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Indian Council for Medical Research to further collaborative efforts to improve the health and welfare of both countries’ citizens. 33. The Prime Minister and the President also agreed to expand the India-U.S. Health Initiative into a Healthcare Dialogue with relevant stakeholders to further strengthen bilateral collaboration in health sectors including through capacity building initiatives and by exploring new areas, including affordable healthcare, cost saving mechanisms, distribution barriers, patent quality, health services information technology, and complementary and traditional medicine. The President and the Prime Minister pledged to encourage dialogue between the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and its Indian counterparts on traditional medicine. The Leaders also pledged to strengthen collaboration, dialogue, and cooperation between the regulatory authorities of the two countries to ensure safety, efficacy, and quality of pharmaceuticals, including generic medicines. 34. The Leaders also agreed to accelerate joint leadership of the global Call to Action to end preventable deaths among mothers and children through a third meeting of the 24 participating countries in India in June 2015. As host, India will showcase the power of new partnerships, innovations and systems to more effectively deliver life-saving interventions. They also lauded the highly successful collaboration on a locally produced vaccine against rotavirus which will save the lives of an estimated 80,000 children each year in India alone, and pledged to strengthen the cooperation in health research and capacity building through a new phase of the India-U.S. Vaccine Action Programme. Defence and Homeland Security Cooperation 35. Prime Minister Modi and President Obama welcomed the efforts made by both sides to expand bilateral defence cooperation in areas of mutual interest and reaffirmed their commitment to continue to work towards deepening the bilateral defence relationship. The Leaders acknowledged bilateral military ties as the foundation of the defense relationship and encouraged their respective militaries to pursue additional opportunities for engagement through exercises, military personnel exchanges, and defense dialogues. 36. The Leaders also acknowledged the need for the two-way defence engagement to include technology cooperation and collaboration, co-production and co-development. To this end, the President and the Prime Minister emphasized the ongoing importance of the Defence Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI) in developing new areas of technology cooperation in the defence sector including through co-development and co-production and the Prime Minister welcomed the U.S. Defense Department’s establishment of a dedicated rapid reaction team focused exclusively on advancing DTTI. The Leaders expressed confidence that continued DTTI collaboration will yield additional joint projects in the near future. 37. The President also welcomed the Prime Minister's initiatives to liberalize the Foreign Direct Investment Policy regime in the defence sector and the Leaders agreed to cooperate on India's efforts to establish a defence industrial base in India, including through initiatives like ‘Make in India.’ 38. Prime Minister Modi and President Obama expressed satisfaction over the efforts made by both countries to deepen cooperation in the field of maritime security, as reflected in the 2015 Framework for the U.S.-India Defense Relationship. To this end, they agreed that the navies of both sides would continue discussions to identify specific areas for expanding maritime cooperation. They also reiterated their commitment to upgrading their bilateral naval exercise MALABAR. 39. The two sides also noted the growing cooperation between their law enforcement agencies, particularly in the areas of extradition and mutual legal assistance, to counter transnational criminal threats such as terrorism, narcotics, trafficking, financial and economic fraud, cybercrime, and transnational organized crime and pledged to enhance such cooperation further. The President and the Prime Minister also noted the serious risks to national and economic security from malicious cyber activity and agreed to cooperate on enhancing operational sharing of cyber threat information, examining how international law applies in cyberspace, and working together to build agreement on norms of responsible state behavior. 40. The Leaders committed to undertake efforts to make the U.S.-India partnership a defining counterterrorism relationship for the 21st Century by deepening collaboration to combat the full spectrum of terrorist threats and keep their respective homelands and citizens safe from attacks. The Leaders reiterated their strong condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations with ‘zero tolerance’ and reaffirmed their deep concern over the continued threat posed by transnational terrorism including by groups like Al Qaida and the ISIL, and called for eliminating terrorist safe havens and infrastructure, disrupting terrorist networks and their financing, and stopping cross-border movement of terrorists. 41. The Leaders reaffirmed the need for joint and concerted efforts to disrupt entities such as Lashkar-e-Tayyiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad, D Company and the Haqqani Network, and agreed to continue ongoing efforts through the Homeland Security Dialogue as well as the next round of the U.S.-India Joint Working Group on Counter Terrorism in late 2015 to develop actionable elements of bilateral engagement. The two sides noted the recent U.S. sanctions against three D Company affiliates. The President and the Prime Minister further agreed to continue to work toward an agreement to share information on known and suspected terrorists. They also agreed to enter discussions to deepen collaboration on UN terrorist designations, and reiterated their call for Pakistan to bring the perpetrators of the November 2008 terrorist attack in Mumbai to justice. 42. The President and the Prime Minister also noted the positive cooperative engagement between the Indian and the U.S. authorities with a view to working together to counter the threat of IEDs and to develop counterterrorism best practices. Energy and Climate Change 43. Noting that the Contact Group set up in September 2014 to advance implementation of bilateral civil nuclear cooperation has met three times in December and January, the Leaders welcomed the understandings reached on the issues of civil nuclear liability and administrative arrangements for civil nuclear cooperation, and looked forward to U.S.-built nuclear reactors contributing to India’s energy security at the earliest. Clean Energy Goal and Cooperation 44. President Obama and Prime Minister Modi emphasized the critical importance of expanding clean energy research, development, manufacturing and deployment, which increases energy access and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. The leaders announced actions to advance India's transition to low carbon economy. India intends to increase the share of use of renewable in electricity generation consistent with its intended goal to increase India's solar target to 100 gigawatts by 2022. The United States intends to support India's goal by enhancing cooperation on clean energy and climate change, to include: i. Expanding Partnership to Advance Clean Energy Research (PACE-R): A renewed commitment to PACE-R, including extending funding for three existing research tracks of solar energy, building energy efficiency, and biofuels for an additional five years and launching a new track on smart grid and grid storage. ii. Expanding Partnership to Advance Clean Energy Deployment (PACE-D): Both the countries intended to expand our current Partnership to Advance Clean Energy Deployment (PACE-D) through increased bilateral engagements and further joint initiatives to expand cooperation in support of India’s ambitious targets in renewable energy. iii. Accelerating Clean Energy Finance: Prime Minister Modi emphasized India's ongoing efforts to create a market environment that will promote trade and investment in this sector. President Obama welcomed India's ambitious solar energy goals and encouraged India to continue its efforts to increase trade and private investment in this sector. President Obama conveyed the potential availability of U.S. Government official financing in this area, consistent with its policies, to support private sector involvement for those entities in contributing to India’s clean energy requirements. iv. Launching Air Quality Cooperation: Implementing EPA’s AIR Now-International Program and megacities partnerships, focused on disseminating information to help the urban dwellers to reduce their exposure to harmful levels of air pollution, and enable urban policy planners to implement corrective strategies for improving Ambient Air Quality in the cities keeping in view health and climate change co-benefits of these strategies. v. Initiating Climate Resilience Tool Development: Jointly undertaking a partnership on climate resilience that will work to downscale international climate models for the Indian sub-continent to much higher resolution than currently available, assess climate risks at the sub-national level, work with local technical institutes on capacity building, and engage local decision-makers in the process of addressing climate information needs and informing planning and climate resilient sustainable development, including for India’s State Action Plans. vi. Demonstrating Clean Energy and Climate Initiatives on the Ground: Additional pilot programs and other collaborative projects in the areas of space cooling, super-efficient appliances, renewable energy storage, and smart grids. vii. Concluding MOU on Energy Security, Clean Energy and Climate Change: Both countries concluded negotiations on a five year MOU to carry this work forward, to be signed as early as possible at a mutually agreed upon date. Climate Change 45. The United States of America and the Republic of India recognize that global climate change is a profound threat to humanity and to the imperatives of sustainable development, growth and the eradication of poverty. President Obama and Prime Minister Modi share a deep concern regarding the climate challenge and understand that meeting it will require concerted action by their countries and the international community. They stressed the importance of enhancing their bilateral cooperation on adaptation measures, as well as joint research and development and technology innovation, adoption and diffusion for clean energy and efficiency solutions that will help achieve the goals of transitioning to a climate resilient and low carbon economy. They also stressed the importance of working together and with other countries to conclude an ambitious climate agreement in Paris in 2015. To this end, they plan to cooperate closely over the next year to achieve a successful agreement in Paris. The President and Prime Minister reaffirmed their prior understanding from September 2014 concerning the phase down of HFCs and agreed to cooperate on making concrete progress in the Montreal Protocol this year. Global Issues and Regional Consultations 46. The Leaders agreed to expand their efforts to assist other developing countries and address global development challenges for the benefit of the wider region and the world and they lauded ongoing triangular assistance, which may involve U.S.-India collaboration to address development challenges in third countries in areas including health, energy, food security, disaster management, and women’s empowerment. The two sides noted that this collaboration, which is active with Afghanistan, East and West Africa, may be expanded to additional third countries. 47. Further underscoring the importance of implementing infrastructure projects to enhance connectivity and enable freer flow of commerce and energy in the region, the Leaders agreed to develop additional areas in which both sides could work together, including on India's initiatives to enhance its connectivity with the South and South East Asian region. The President and the Prime Minister also stressed the importance of the economic and transport connectivity between Central and South Asia and the need to promote a secure, stable, and prosperous Afghanistan as part of a secure, stable, and prosperous region. Reaffirming the importance of their strategic partnerships with Afghanistan, the Leaders asserted the importance of a sustainable, inclusive, sovereign, and democratic political order in Afghanistan and they agreed to convene further high-level consultations on Afghanistan in the near future. 48. The President and the Prime Minister also welcomed the role of the leaders- led East Asia Summit (EAS) process in promoting open, balanced and inclusive security architecture in the region. Noting the discussions in the sixth round of the India-US-Japan Trilateral Dialogue, the President and the Prime Minister underlined the importance of the cooperation between the three countries through identification of projects of common interest and their early implementation, and they decided to explore holding the dialogue among their Foreign Ministers. 49. The President and Prime Minister pledged to strengthen their efforts to forge a partnership to lead global efforts for non-proliferation of WMDs, to reduce the salience of nuclear weapons in international affairs, and to promote universal, verifiable and non-discriminatory global nuclear disarmament. They supported negotiations on a fissile material cut-off Treaty on the basis of the Shannon Mandate in the Conference on Disarmament. 50. As active participants in the Nuclear Security Summit process, the United States and India welcomed progress towards reducing the risk of terrorists acquiring nuclear weapons or related materials, and noted their shared commitment to improving nuclear security nationally and globally. The Prime Minister welcomed the hosting of the 2016 Nuclear Security Summit by the United States. President Obama and Prime Minister Modi also welcomed the recent convening of the first bilateral nuclear security best practices exchange, under the auspices of the Global Center for Nuclear Energy Partnership, as an example of their cooperation on nuclear security. 51. In a further effort to strengthen global nonproliferation and export control regimes, the President and the Prime Minister committed to continue to work towards India’s phased entry into the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), the Wassenaar Arrangement, and the Australia Group. The President reaffirmed the United States’ position that India meets MTCR requirements and is ready for NSG membership and that it supports India’s early application and eventual membership in all four regimes. 52. The Leaders expressed concern over the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s (DPRK) nuclear and ballistic missile programmes, including its uranium enrichment activity. They urged the DPRK to take concrete steps toward denuclearization, as well as to comply fully with its international obligations, including relevant UN Security Council Resolutions, and to fulfill its commitments under the 2005 Joint Statement of the Six-Party talks. 53. The Leaders welcomed recent progress and noted the criticality of Iran taking steps to verifiably assure the international community of the exclusively peaceful nature of its nuclear programme, and agreed that this is an historic opportunity for Iran to resolve outstanding concerns related to its nuclear programme. 54. Highlighting the United States' and India’s shared democratic values and recognizing the important role of women in their societies, the Leaders looked forward to reconvening the Women Empowerment Dialogue as early as possible and reasserted their zero tolerance for violence against women. The Leaders also looked forward to the reconvening of the Global Issues Forum. 55. The President and the Prime Minister also reaffirmed their commitment to consult closely on global crises, including in Iraq and Syria. The Leaders agreed to exchange information on individuals returning from these conflict zones and to continue to cooperate in protecting and responding to the needs of civilians caught up in these conflicts. 56. President Obama reaffirmed his support for a reformed UN Security Council with India as a permanent member, and both leaders committed to ensuring that the Security Council continues to play an effective role in maintaining international peace and security as envisioned in the United Nations Charter. They also committed to accelerate their peacekeeping capacity-building efforts in third countries. 57. Both sides also acknowledged that the Internet was a central element of the information society and a powerful enabler of global economic and social progress. Both sides also noted that the growth of the Internet in the coming decade would be from developing countries, of which India would be a significant contributor, especially in the context of its “Digital India” programme. 58. The Leaders recognized that a digital divide persists between and within countries in terms of the availability, affordability and use of information and communications technologies, and they stressed the need to continue to bridge that divide, to ensure that the benefits of new technologies, especially information and communications technologies for development, are available to all people, including the poorest of the poor. 59. President Obama thanked Prime Minister Modi and the people of India for the extraordinary hospitality extended to him on his second presidential visit to India, and he congratulated the nation on the celebration of its 66th Republic Day. The Leaders reflected proudly on recent achievements and looked forward to continuing to work together to build a U.S.-India partnership that is transformative for their two peoples and for the world. WEEKLY ADDRESS: Middle-Class Economics
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary EMBARGOED UNTIL 6:00 AM ET, SATURDAY, January 24, 2015 WEEKLY ADDRESS: Middle-Class Economics WASHINGTON, DC — In this week’s address, the President shared his plan, outlined in his State of the Union address earlier this week, to give hardworking families the support they need to make ends meet by focusing on policies that benefit the middle class and those working to reach the middle class. Through common sense proposals like closing loopholes that benefit the wealthy and providing tax relief to the middle class, making two years of community college free for responsible students, strengthening paid leave policies and access to quality child care for working families, and raising the minimum wage, we can ensure that everyone benefits from, and contributes to, America’s success. Middle-class economics is working, and we have laid a new foundation, but there is still progress to be made, and the President said he is eager to get to work. The audio of the address and video of the address will be available online at www.whitehouse.gov at 6:00 a.m. ET, January 24, 2015. Remarks of President Barack Obama Weekly Address The White House January 24, 2015 Hi, everybody. This week, in my State of the Union Address, I talked about what we can do to make sure middle-class economics helps more Americans get ahead in the new economy. See, after some tough years, and thanks to some tough decisions we made, our economy is creating jobs at the fastest pace since 1999. Our deficits are shrinking. Our energy production is booming. Our troops are coming home. Thanks to the hard work and resilience of Americans like you, we’ve risen from recession freer to write our own future than any other nation on Earth. Now we have to choose what we want that future to look like. Will we accept an economy where only a few of us do spectacularly well? Or will we commit ourselves to an economy that generates rising incomes and rising chances for everyone who makes the effort? I believe the choice is clear. Today, thanks to a growing economy, the recovery is touching more and more lives. Wages are finally starting to rise again. Let’s keep that going – let’s do more to restore the link between hard work and growing opportunity for every American. That’s what middle-class economics is – the idea that this country does best when everyone gets their fair shot, everyone does their fair share, and everyone plays by the same set of rules. Middle-class economics means helping workers feel more secure in a world of constant change – making it easier to afford childcare, college, paid leave, health care, a home, and retirement. Middle-class economics means doing more to help Americans upgrade their skills through opportunities like apprenticeships and two years of free community college, so we can keep earning higher wages down the road. Middle-class economics means building the most competitive economy in the world, by building the best infrastructure, opening new markets so we can sell our products around the world, and investing in research – so that businesses keep creating good jobs right here. And we can afford to do these things by closing loopholes in our tax code that stack the decks for special interests and the superrich, and against responsible companies and the middle class. This is where we have to go if we’re going to succeed in the new economy. I know that there are Republicans in Congress who disagree with my approach, and I look forward to hearing their ideas for how we can pay for what the middle class needs to grow. But what we can’t do is simply pretend that things like child care or college aren’t important, or pretend there’s nothing we can do to help middle class families get ahead. Because we’ve got work to do. As a country, we have made it through some hard times. But we’ve laid a new foundation. We’ve got a new future to write. And I’m eager to get to work. Thanks, and have a great weekend. FACT SHEET: Helping All Working Families with Young Children Afford Child Care
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 22, 2015 FACT SHEET: Helping All Working Families with Young Children Afford Child Care “In today’s economy, when having both parents in the workforce is an economic necessity for many families, we need affordable, high-quality childcare more than ever. It’s not a nice-to-have -- it’s a must-have. So it’s time we stop treating childcare as a side issue, or as a women’s issue, and treat it like the national economic priority that it is for all of us.” – President Obama, State of the Union Address, January 20, 2015 Helping working Americans meet the needs of their jobs and their families is a key part of the President’s plan to bolster and expand the middle class. Access to high-quality child care and early education not only promotes a child’s development, but it also helps support parents who are struggling to balance work and family obligations. A safe, nurturing environment that enriches children’s development is critical to working families and is one of the best investments we can make in our economy. Yet today, a year of child care costs higher than a year of in-state tuition at most colleges – putting a significant strain on parents. Ensuring that children have access to high quality and affordable early childhood programs can help children prepare for school and succeed in later life while strengthening parents’ ability to go to work, advance their career, and increase their earning potential. Research shows that money spent on young children is an effective investment, yielding benefits immediately to parents and for many decades to come for the children. For example, the President’s Council of Economic Advisors’ report on the Economics of Early Childhood indicate that investments in high-quality early education generate economic returns of over $8 for every $1 spent. Today, President Obama outlined his plan to make affordable, quality child care available to every working and middle-class family with young children. His plan includes: · Making a landmark investment in the Child Care and Development Fund that helps every eligible family with young children afford high-quality child care. · Tripling the maximum child care tax credit to $3,000 per young child. · Creating a new innovation fund to help states design programs that better serve families that face unique challenges in finding quality care, such as those in rural areas or working non-traditional hours. Two years ago, the President called for a continuum of high-quality early learning for America’s children – including support for children and their parents beginning prenatally with evidence-based home visitation for young children and new and expecting parents and continuing through high-quality preschool for America’s 4-year olds. Over the past two years, the federal government, states, philanthropists, and business leaders have invested nearly $3 billion in high-quality preschool and early education. Today’s announcement builds on these continuing efforts to make high-quality early education and child care available for all. These investments to expand and strengthen child care and early education programs complement the Administration’s other efforts to help working families, including offering workers the opportunity to earn paid sick and family leave, a higher minimum wage, and equal pay for women. NEW INVESTMENTS IN CHILD CARE AFFORDABILITY, QUALITY, AND AVAILABILITY Parents who work in low-wage jobs can face real difficulties affording quality child care – in 2013, the average cost of full-time care for an infant at a child care center was about $10,000 per year – higher than the average cost of in-state tuition at a public 4-year college - and much higher in some locations. Without help, many families can face the untenable choice of not working or leaving their children in unsafe, unstable, or poor quality child care arrangements. Affordable, quality childcare can help parents so they can go to work to support their family. Learning begins at birth, and the earliest years of a child’s life are those most critical for building foundational cognitive skills, social and emotional skills, and patterns of engagement in school and learning. Studies show that children who attend high-quality early learning programs – including high-quality child care – are more likely to do well in school, find good jobs, have fewer interactions with the justice system, and have greater earnings as adults than those who don’t. Increasing the supply of high-quality, affordable child care can help parents balance work and family responsibilities while also investing in young children. That’s why this year the President proposes unprecedented investments in making quality child care affordable and available for working families by: · Expanding access to child care assistance for all eligible families with children under four years of age, within ten years. The federal Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) helps low- and moderate-income families with the cost of child care and increases the availability and quality of that care. States contribute matching resources for a portion of the CCDF funding they receive. But currently, federal and state funding for child care assistance falls well short of the need, and only a small share of young children receive federally-funded child care subsidies. The President’s proposal will ensure that all low- and moderate-income families (those with incomes below 200 percent of the poverty line, or approximately $40,000 for a family of three) with children age three and under have access to a subsidy to pay for quality child care so they can work or attend school or job training. By 2025, this investment will expand access to high-quality care to more than 1 million additional young children, reaching a total of more than 2.6 million children served monthly through the child care subsidy system. To qualify for this funding, states will be required to develop sound plans for how they will build the supply of quality care for infants and toddlers and ensure that the subsidies they provide (when combined with reasonable copayments families can afford) will cover the cost of quality care. · Cutting taxes for families paying child care with a credit of up to $3,000 per child. The President’s tax proposal would streamline child care tax benefits and triple the maximum child care tax credit for middle class families with young children, increasing it to $3,000 per child. The President’s child care tax proposals would benefit 5.1 million families, helping them cover child care costs for 6.7 million children (including 3.5 million children under five), through the following reforms: o Triple the maximum Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit (CDCTC) for families with children under five, increasing it to $3,000 per child. Families with young children face the highest child care costs. Under the President’s proposal, they could claim a 50 percent credit for up to $6,000 of expenses per child under five. o Make the full credit available to most middle-class families. Under current law, almost no families qualify for the maximum CDCTC. The President’s proposal would make the maximum credit – for young children, older children, and elderly or disabled dependents – available to families with incomes up to $120,000, meaning that most middle-class families could easily determine how much help they can get. o Eliminate complex child care flexible spending accounts and reinvest the savings in the improved CDCTC. The President’s proposal would replace the current system of complex and duplicative incentives with one generous and simple child care tax benefit. · Improving the quality of child care. Last year Congress acted on a bipartisan basis to pass child care legislation that includes much-needed reforms to improve the quality and safety in child care settings, including requiring training for providers to prevent sudden infant death syndrome, instituting annual inspections of child care facilities, and comprehensive background checks of all providers. This proposal would provide the resources to help states implement those important reforms and support the expansion of access to quality child care programs staffed by early educators that can provide developmentally appropriate services that promote the healthy development and school readiness of young children · Promoting Innovation in the Child Care Subsidy System. The President will also invest $100 million in new competitive grants to states, territories, tribes and communities to develop, implement and evaluate models of providing child care to address the unmet needs for families who face unique challenges to securing child care. These pilots could be used to develop promising practices for families in rural communities or have children with disabilities, parents who work non-traditional hours, and other families who struggle to find and use high-quality child care. A COMPREHENSIVE EARLY EDUCATION AGENDA In addition to the historic investment in helping every low-income and middle-class family afford child care, the President’s FY16 budget will make critical investments to expand access to high-quality early education, including: · Providing Preschool for All: In his 2013 State of the Union, the Obama Administration announced a proposal to provide high-quality preschool to every American child and the FY 2016 Budget will continue to support this historic public investment in early education and in the future of America’s children. This $75 billion partnership with states would extend federal funds to expand high-quality preschool to reach all low- and moderate-income four-year-olds from families at or below 200% of poverty. The proposal, financed through an increase in tobacco taxes which will discourage youth smoking and save lives, also encourages states to broaden participation to reach additional middle-income families and to expand the availability of full-day kindergarten. In December 2014, the President and Vice President hosted the White House Summit on Early Childhood Education, highlighting over $1 billion in investments dedicated to early childhood education and development, including new efforts to expand preschool across 18 states and in over 200 high-need communities, reaching an additional 33,000 children. · Supporting Infants and Toddlers through Early Head Start-Child Care Partnerships: This Administration has more than doubled the number of infants and toddlers in Early Head Start and, in 2014, created the new Early Head Start-Child Care Partnerships program – an effort to provide quality care to tens of thousands of additional infants and toddlers through a partnership between Early Head Start and child care providers that meet the highest standards of quality to serve children from birth through age three. The Obama Administration has invested $500 million to support communities and proposes additional funding as they improve and expand comprehensive early care and education through the Early Head Start-Child Care Partnerships program, reaching over 30,000 infants and toddlers this year. · Increasing the duration of Head Start to a full school day and year. Head Start is a key element of the Administration’s efforts to help all children meet their full potential. The Obama Administration has already taken dramatic steps to raise the bar on Head Start quality, including requiring low-performing programs to compete for continued funding, and is revising performance standards to reflect the best available science on early learning and development. The President’s Budget includes a new proposal to further increase the impact of Head Start – while also helping the working parents of Head Start children – by providing enough resources to make sure all children in Head Start benefit from a full school day and full school year (at least six hours a day, 170 days a year), which research shows leads to better outcomes for young children. · Investing in Voluntary, Evidence-Based Home Visiting: Established in 2010, the Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting program builds on research showing that home visits by a nurse, social worker, or other professional during pregnancy and in the earliest years of life has benefits to parents and to children. These programs have been shown to significantly improve maternal and child health, development, and learning. These effects have proven to be long-lasting, with one study showing improved language and math abilities at age 12. Additionally, these programs have led to increases in parental employment and reductions in child maltreatment. To date it has supported more than 1.4 million visits in over 700 communities. The President’s Budget would ensure the program does not end when funding is scheduled to expire in March 2015 and expand the program to reach additional families and communities. This proposal is also supported by the increased tobacco tax. Remarks of President Barack Obama's State of the Union Address - As Prepared for Delivery
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 20, 2015 Remarks of President Barack Obama – As Prepared for Delivery State of the Union Address The White House is making the full text of the State of the Union widely available on its Medium page. The text, as prepared for delivery, is now online HERE, along with tools that allow people to follow along with the speech as they watch in real time, to view charts and infographics on key areas, to tweet their favorite lines, and to leave notes to provide feedback. The full text of the State of the Union Address, as prepared for delivery, is posted now on Medium and can be viewed here: http://go.wh.gov/SOTUMedium There is a ritual on State of the Union night in Washington. A little before the address, the White House sends out an embargoed copy of the President’s speech to the press (embargoed means that the press can see the speech, but they can’t report on it until a designated time). The reporters then start sending it around town to folks on Capitol Hill to get their reaction, then those people send it to all their friends, and eventually everyone in Washington can read along, but the public remains in the dark. This year we change that. For the first time, the White House is making the full text of the speech available to citizens around the country online. On Medium, you can follow along with the speech as you watch in real time, view charts and infographics on key areas, tweet favorite lines, and leave notes. By making the text available to the public in advance, the White House is continuing efforts to reach a wide online audience and give people a range of ways to consume the speech. ----- Mr. Speaker, Mr. Vice President, Members of Congress, my fellow Americans: We are fifteen years into this new century. Fifteen years that dawned with terror touching our shores; that unfolded with a new generation fighting two long and costly wars; that saw a vicious recession spread across our nation and the world. It has been, and still is, a hard time for many. But tonight, we turn the page. Tonight, after a breakthrough year for America, our economy is growing and creating jobs at the fastest pace since 1999. Our unemployment rate is now lower than it was before the financial crisis. More of our kids are graduating than ever before; more of our people are insured than ever before; we are as free from the grip of foreign oil as we’ve been in almost 30 years. Tonight, for the first time since 9/11, our combat mission in Afghanistan is over. Six years ago, nearly 180,000 American troops served in Iraq and Afghanistan. Today, fewer than 15,000 remain. And we salute the courage and sacrifice of every man and woman in this 9/11 Generation who has served to keep us safe. We are humbled and grateful for your service. America, for all that we’ve endured; for all the grit and hard work required to come back; for all the tasks that lie ahead, know this: The shadow of crisis has passed, and the State of the Union is strong. At this moment – with a growing economy, shrinking deficits, bustling industry, and booming energy production – we have risen from recession freer to write our own future than any other nation on Earth. It’s now up to us to choose who we want to be over the next fifteen years, and for decades to come. Will we accept an economy where only a few of us do spectacularly well? Or will we commit ourselves to an economy that generates rising incomes and chances for everyone who makes the effort? Will we approach the world fearful and reactive, dragged into costly conflicts that strain our military and set back our standing? Or will we lead wisely, using all elements of our power to defeat new threats and protect our planet? Will we allow ourselves to be sorted into factions and turned against one another – or will we recapture the sense of common purpose that has always propelled America forward? In two weeks, I will send this Congress a budget filled with ideas that are practical, not partisan. And in the months ahead, I’ll crisscross the country making a case for those ideas. So tonight, I want to focus less on a checklist of proposals, and focus more on the values at stake in the choices before us. It begins with our economy. Seven years ago, Rebekah and Ben Erler of Minneapolis were newlyweds. She waited tables. He worked construction. Their first child, Jack, was on the way. They were young and in love in America, and it doesn’t get much better than that. “If only we had known,” Rebekah wrote to me last spring, “what was about to happen to the housing and construction market.” As the crisis worsened, Ben’s business dried up, so he took what jobs he could find, even if they kept him on the road for long stretches of time. Rebekah took out student loans, enrolled in community college, and retrained for a new career. They sacrificed for each other. And slowly, it paid off. They bought their first home. They had a second son, Henry. Rebekah got a better job, and then a raise. Ben is back in construction – and home for dinner every night. “It is amazing,” Rebekah wrote, “what you can bounce back from when you have to…we are a strong, tight-knit family who has made it through some very, very hard times.” We are a strong, tight-knit family who has made it through some very, very hard times. America, Rebekah and Ben’s story is our story. They represent the millions who have worked hard, and scrimped, and sacrificed, and retooled. You are the reason I ran for this office. You’re the people I was thinking of six years ago today, in the darkest months of the crisis, when I stood on the steps of this Capitol and promised we would rebuild our economy on a new foundation. And it’s been your effort and resilience that has made it possible for our country to emerge stronger. We believed we could reverse the tide of outsourcing, and draw new jobs to our shores. And over the past five years, our businesses have created more than 11 million new jobs. We believed we could reduce our dependence on foreign oil and protect our planet. And today, America is number one in oil and gas. America is number one in wind power. Every three weeks, we bring online as much solar power as we did in all of 2008. And thanks to lower gas prices and higher fuel standards, the typical family this year should save $750 at the pump. We believed we could prepare our kids for a more competitive world. And today, our younger students have earned the highest math and reading scores on record. Our high school graduation rate has hit an all-time high. And more Americans finish college than ever before. We believed that sensible regulations could prevent another crisis, shield families from ruin, and encourage fair competition. Today, we have new tools to stop taxpayer-funded bailouts, and a new consumer watchdog to protect us from predatory lending and abusive credit card practices. And in the past year alone, about ten million uninsured Americans finally gained the security of health coverage. At every step, we were told our goals were misguided or too ambitious; that we would crush jobs and explode deficits. Instead, we’ve seen the fastest economic growth in over a decade, our deficits cut by two-thirds, a stock market that has doubled, and health care inflation at its lowest rate in fifty years. So the verdict is clear. Middle-class economics works. Expanding opportunity works. And these policies will continue to work, as long as politics don’t get in the way. We can’t slow down businesses or put our economy at risk with government shutdowns or fiscal showdowns. We can’t put the security of families at risk by taking away their health insurance, or unraveling the new rules on Wall Street, or refighting past battles on immigration when we’ve got a system to fix. And if a bill comes to my desk that tries to do any of these things, it will earn my veto. Today, thanks to a growing economy, the recovery is touching more and more lives. Wages are finally starting to rise again. We know that more small business owners plan to raise their employees’ pay than at any time since 2007. But here’s the thing – those of us here tonight, we need to set our sights higher than just making sure government doesn’t halt the progress we’re making. We need to do more than just do no harm. Tonight, together, let’s do more to restore the link between hard work and growing opportunity for every American. Because families like Rebekah’s still need our help. She and Ben are working as hard as ever, but have to forego vacations and a new car so they can pay off student loans and save for retirement. Basic childcare for Jack and Henry costs more than their mortgage, and almost as much as a year at the University of Minnesota. Like millions of hardworking Americans, Rebekah isn’t asking for a handout, but she is asking that we look for more ways to help families get ahead. In fact, at every moment of economic change throughout our history, this country has taken bold action to adapt to new circumstances, and to make sure everyone gets a fair shot. We set up worker protections, Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid to protect ourselves from the harshest adversity. We gave our citizens schools and colleges, infrastructure and the internet – tools they needed to go as far as their effort will take them. That’s what middle-class economics is – the idea that this country does best when everyone gets their fair shot, everyone does their fair share, and everyone plays by the same set of rules. We don’t just want everyone to share in America’s success – we want everyone to contribute to our success. So what does middle-class economics require in our time? First – middle-class economics means helping working families feel more secure in a world of constant change. That means helping folks afford childcare, college, health care, a home, retirement – and my budget will address each of these issues, lowering the taxes of working families and putting thousands of dollars back into their pockets each year. Here’s one example. During World War II, when men like my grandfather went off to war, having women like my grandmother in the workforce was a national security priority – so this country provided universal childcare. In today’s economy, when having both parents in the workforce is an economic necessity for many families, we need affordable, high-quality childcare more than ever. It’s not a nice-to-have – it’s a must-have. It’s time we stop treating childcare as a side issue, or a women’s issue, and treat it like the national economic priority that it is for all of us. And that’s why my plan will make quality childcare more available, and more affordable, for every middle-class and low-income family with young children in America – by creating more slots and a new tax cut of up to $3,000 per child, per year. Here’s another example. Today, we’re the only advanced country on Earth that doesn’t guarantee paid sick leave or paid maternity leave to our workers. Forty-three million workers have no paid sick leave. Forty-three million. Think about that. And that forces too many parents to make the gut-wrenching choice between a paycheck and a sick kid at home. So I’ll be taking new action to help states adopt paid leave laws of their own. And since paid sick leave won where it was on the ballot last November, let’s put it to a vote right here in Washington. Send me a bill that gives every worker in America the opportunity to earn seven days of paid sick leave. It’s the right thing to do. Of course, nothing helps families make ends meet like higher wages. That’s why this Congress still needs to pass a law that makes sure a woman is paid the same as a man for doing the same work. Really. It’s 2015. It’s time. We still need to make sure employees get the overtime they’ve earned. And to everyone in this Congress who still refuses to raise the minimum wage, I say this: If you truly believe you could work full-time and support a family on less than $15,000 a year, go try it. If not, vote to give millions of the hardest-working people in America a raise. These ideas won’t make everybody rich, or relieve every hardship. That’s not the job of government. To give working families a fair shot, we’ll still need more employers to see beyond next quarter’s earnings and recognize that investing in their workforce is in their company’s long-term interest. We still need laws that strengthen rather than weaken unions, and give American workers a voice. But things like child care and sick leave and equal pay; things like lower mortgage premiums and a higher minimum wage – these ideas will make a meaningful difference in the lives of millions of families. That is a fact. And that’s what all of us – Republicans and Democrats alike – were sent here to do. Second, to make sure folks keep earning higher wages down the road, we have to do more to help Americans upgrade their skills. America thrived in the 20th century because we made high school free, sent a generation of GIs to college, and trained the best workforce in the world. But in a 21st century economy that rewards knowledge like never before, we need to do more. By the end of this decade, two in three job openings will require some higher education. Two in three. And yet, we still live in a country where too many bright, striving Americans are priced out of the education they need. It’s not fair to them, and it’s not smart for our future. That’s why I am sending this Congress a bold new plan to lower the cost of community college – to zero. Forty percent of our college students choose community college. Some are young and starting out. Some are older and looking for a better job. Some are veterans and single parents trying to transition back into the job market. Whoever you are, this plan is your chance to graduate ready for the new economy, without a load of debt. Understand, you’ve got to earn it – you’ve got to keep your grades up and graduate on time. Tennessee, a state with Republican leadership, and Chicago, a city with Democratic leadership, are showing that free community college is possible. I want to spread that idea all across America, so that two years of college becomes as free and universal in America as high school is today. And I want to work with this Congress, to make sure Americans already burdened with student loans can reduce their monthly payments, so that student debt doesn’t derail anyone’s dreams. Thanks to Vice President Biden’s great work to update our job training system, we’re connecting community colleges with local employers to train workers to fill high-paying jobs like coding, and nursing, and robotics. Tonight, I’m also asking more businesses to follow the lead of companies like CVS and UPS, and offer more educational benefits and paid apprenticeships – opportunities that give workers the chance to earn higher-paying jobs even if they don’t have a higher education. And as a new generation of veterans comes home, we owe them every opportunity to live the American Dream they helped defend. Already, we’ve made strides towards ensuring that every veteran has access to the highest quality care. We’re slashing the backlog that had too many veterans waiting years to get the benefits they need, and we’re making it easier for vets to translate their training and experience into civilian jobs. Joining Forces, the national campaign launched by Michelle and Jill Biden, has helped nearly 700,000 veterans and military spouses get new jobs. So to every CEO in America, let me repeat: If you want somebody who’s going to get the job done, hire a veteran. Finally, as we better train our workers, we need the new economy to keep churning out high-wage jobs for our workers to fill. Since 2010, America has put more people back to work than Europe, Japan, and all advanced economies combined. Our manufacturers have added almost 800,000 new jobs. Some of our bedrock sectors, like our auto industry, are booming. But there are also millions of Americans who work in jobs that didn’t even exist ten or twenty years ago – jobs at companies like Google, and eBay, and Tesla. So no one knows for certain which industries will generate the jobs of the future. But we do know we want them here in America. That’s why the third part of middle-class economics is about building the most competitive economy anywhere, the place where businesses want to locate and hire. 21st century businesses need 21st century infrastructure – modern ports, stronger bridges, faster trains and the fastest internet. Democrats and Republicans used to agree on this. So let’s set our sights higher than a single oil pipeline. Let’s pass a bipartisan infrastructure plan that could create more than thirty times as many jobs per year, and make this country stronger for decades to come. 21st century businesses, including small businesses, need to sell more American products overseas. Today, our businesses export more than ever, and exporters tend to pay their workers higher wages. But as we speak, China wants to write the rules for the world’s fastest-growing region. That would put our workers and businesses at a disadvantage. Why would we let that happen? We should write those rules. We should level the playing field. That’s why I’m asking both parties to give me trade promotion authority to protect American workers, with strong new trade deals from Asia to Europe that aren’t just free, but fair. Look, I’m the first one to admit that past trade deals haven’t always lived up to the hype, and that’s why we’ve gone after countries that break the rules at our expense. But ninety-five percent of the world’s customers live outside our borders, and we can’t close ourselves off from those opportunities. More than half of manufacturing executives have said they’re actively looking at bringing jobs back from China. Let’s give them one more reason to get it done. 21st century businesses will rely on American science, technology, research and development. I want the country that eliminated polio and mapped the human genome to lead a new era of medicine – one that delivers the right treatment at the right time. In some patients with cystic fibrosis, this approach has reversed a disease once thought unstoppable. Tonight, I’m launching a new Precision Medicine Initiative to bring us closer to curing diseases like cancer and diabetes – and to give all of us access to the personalized information we need to keep ourselves and our families healthier. I intend to protect a free and open internet, extend its reach to every classroom, and every community, and help folks build the fastest networks, so that the next generation of digital innovators and entrepreneurs have the platform to keep reshaping our world. I want Americans to win the race for the kinds of discoveries that unleash new jobs – converting sunlight into liquid fuel; creating revolutionary prosthetics, so that a veteran who gave his arms for his country can play catch with his kid; pushing out into the Solar System not just to visit, but to stay. Last month, we launched a new spacecraft as part of a re-energized space program that will send American astronauts to Mars. In two months, to prepare us for those missions, Scott Kelly will begin a year-long stay in space. Good luck, Captain – and make sure to Instagram it. Now, the truth is, when it comes to issues like infrastructure and basic research, I know there’s bipartisan support in this chamber. Members of both parties have told me so. Where we too often run onto the rocks is how to pay for these investments. As Americans, we don’t mind paying our fair share of taxes, as long as everybody else does, too. But for far too long, lobbyists have rigged the tax code with loopholes that let some corporations pay nothing while others pay full freight. They’ve riddled it with giveaways the superrich don’t need, denying a break to middle class families who do. This year, we have an opportunity to change that. Let’s close loopholes so we stop rewarding companies that keep profits abroad, and reward those that invest in America. Let’s use those savings to rebuild our infrastructure and make it more attractive for companies to bring jobs home. Let’s simplify the system and let a small business owner file based on her actual bank statement, instead of the number of accountants she can afford. And let’s close the loopholes that lead to inequality by allowing the top one percent to avoid paying taxes on their accumulated wealth. We can use that money to help more families pay for childcare and send their kids to college. We need a tax code that truly helps working Americans trying to get a leg up in the new economy, and we can achieve that together. Helping hardworking families make ends meet. Giving them the tools they need for good-paying jobs in this new economy. Maintaining the conditions for growth and competitiveness. This is where America needs to go. I believe it’s where the American people want to go. It will make our economy stronger a year from now, fifteen years from now, and deep into the century ahead. Of course, if there’s one thing this new century has taught us, it’s that we cannot separate our work at home from challenges beyond our shores. My first duty as Commander-in-Chief is to defend the United States of America. In doing so, the question is not whether America leads in the world, but how. When we make rash decisions, reacting to the headlines instead of using our heads; when the first response to a challenge is to send in our military – then we risk getting drawn into unnecessary conflicts, and neglect the broader strategy we need for a safer, more prosperous world. That’s what our enemies want us to do. I believe in a smarter kind of American leadership. We lead best when we combine military power with strong diplomacy; when we leverage our power with coalition building; when we don’t let our fears blind us to the opportunities that this new century presents. That’s exactly what we’re doing right now – and around the globe, it is making a difference. First, we stand united with people around the world who’ve been targeted by terrorists – from a school in Pakistan to the streets of Paris. We will continue to hunt down terrorists and dismantle their networks, and we reserve the right to act unilaterally, as we’ve done relentlessly since I took office to take out terrorists who pose a direct threat to us and our allies. At the same time, we’ve learned some costly lessons over the last thirteen years. Instead of Americans patrolling the valleys of Afghanistan, we’ve trained their security forces, who’ve now taken the lead, and we’ve honored our troops’ sacrifice by supporting that country’s first democratic transition. Instead of sending large ground forces overseas, we’re partnering with nations from South Asia to North Africa to deny safe haven to terrorists who threaten America. In Iraq and Syria, American leadership – including our military power – is stopping ISIL’s advance. Instead of getting dragged into another ground war in the Middle East, we are leading a broad coalition, including Arab nations, to degrade and ultimately destroy this terrorist group. We’re also supporting a moderate opposition in Syria that can help us in this effort, and assisting people everywhere who stand up to the bankrupt ideology of violent extremism. This effort will take time. It will require focus. But we will succeed. And tonight, I call on this Congress to show the world that we are united in this mission by passing a resolution to authorize the use of force against ISIL. Second, we are demonstrating the power of American strength and diplomacy. We’re upholding the principle that bigger nations can’t bully the small – by opposing Russian aggression, supporting Ukraine’s democracy, and reassuring our NATO allies. Last year, as we were doing the hard work of imposing sanctions along with our allies, some suggested that Mr. Putin’s aggression was a masterful display of strategy and strength. Well, today, it is America that stands strong and united with our allies, while Russia is isolated, with its economy in tatters. That’s how America leads – not with bluster, but with persistent, steady resolve. In Cuba, we are ending a policy that was long past its expiration date. When what you’re doing doesn’t work for fifty years, it’s time to try something new. Our shift in Cuba policy has the potential to end a legacy of mistrust in our hemisphere; removes a phony excuse for restrictions in Cuba; stands up for democratic values; and extends the hand of friendship to the Cuban people. And this year, Congress should begin the work of ending the embargo. As His Holiness, Pope Francis, has said, diplomacy is the work of “small steps.” These small steps have added up to new hope for the future in Cuba. And after years in prison, we’re overjoyed that Alan Gross is back where he belongs. Welcome home, Alan. Our diplomacy is at work with respect to Iran, where, for the first time in a decade, we’ve halted the progress of its nuclear program and reduced its stockpile of nuclear material. Between now and this spring, we have a chance to negotiate a comprehensive agreement that prevents a nuclear-armed Iran; secures America and our allies – including Israel; while avoiding yet another Middle East conflict. There are no guarantees that negotiations will succeed, and I keep all options on the table to prevent a nuclear Iran. But new sanctions passed by this Congress, at this moment in time, will all but guarantee that diplomacy fails – alienating America from its allies; and ensuring that Iran starts up its nuclear program again. It doesn’t make sense. That is why I will veto any new sanctions bill that threatens to undo this progress. The American people expect us to only go to war as a last resort, and I intend to stay true to that wisdom. Third, we’re looking beyond the issues that have consumed us in the past to shape the coming century. No foreign nation, no hacker, should be able to shut down our networks, steal our trade secrets, or invade the privacy of American families, especially our kids. We are making sure our government integrates intelligence to combat cyber threats, just as we have done to combat terrorism. And tonight, I urge this Congress to finally pass the legislation we need to better meet the evolving threat of cyber-attacks, combat identity theft, and protect our children’s information. If we don’t act, we’ll leave our nation and our economy vulnerable. If we do, we can continue to protect the technologies that have unleashed untold opportunities for people around the globe. In West Africa, our troops, our scientists, our doctors, our nurses and healthcare workers are rolling back Ebola – saving countless lives and stopping the spread of disease. I couldn’t be prouder of them, and I thank this Congress for your bipartisan support of their efforts. But the job is not yet done – and the world needs to use this lesson to build a more effective global effort to prevent the spread of future pandemics, invest in smart development, and eradicate extreme poverty. In the Asia Pacific, we are modernizing alliances while making sure that other nations play by the rules – in how they trade, how they resolve maritime disputes, and how they participate in meeting common international challenges like nonproliferation and disaster relief. And no challenge – no challenge – poses a greater threat to future generations than climate change. 2014 was the planet’s warmest year on record. Now, one year doesn’t make a trend, but this does – 14 of the 15 warmest years on record have all fallen in the first 15 years of this century. I’ve heard some folks try to dodge the evidence by saying they’re not scientists; that we don’t have enough information to act. Well, I’m not a scientist, either. But you know what – I know a lot of really good scientists at NASA, and NOAA, and at our major universities. The best scientists in the world are all telling us that our activities are changing the climate, and if we do not act forcefully, we’ll continue to see rising oceans, longer, hotter heat waves, dangerous droughts and floods, and massive disruptions that can trigger greater migration, conflict, and hunger around the globe. The Pentagon says that climate change poses immediate risks to our national security. We should act like it. That’s why, over the past six years, we’ve done more than ever before to combat climate change, from the way we produce energy, to the way we use it. That’s why we’ve set aside more public lands and waters than any administration in history. And that’s why I will not let this Congress endanger the health of our children by turning back the clock on our efforts. I am determined to make sure American leadership drives international action. In Beijing, we made an historic announcement – the United States will double the pace at which we cut carbon pollution, and China committed, for the first time, to limiting their emissions. And because the world’s two largest economies came together, other nations are now stepping up, and offering hope that, this year, the world will finally reach an agreement to protect the one planet we’ve got. There’s one last pillar to our leadership – and that’s the example of our values. As Americans, we respect human dignity, even when we’re threatened, which is why I’ve prohibited torture, and worked to make sure our use of new technology like drones is properly constrained. It’s why we speak out against the deplorable anti-Semitism that has resurfaced in certain parts of the world. It’s why we continue to reject offensive stereotypes of Muslims – the vast majority of whom share our commitment to peace. That’s why we defend free speech, and advocate for political prisoners, and condemn the persecution of women, or religious minorities, or people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender. We do these things not only because they’re right, but because they make us safer. As Americans, we have a profound commitment to justice – so it makes no sense to spend three million dollars per prisoner to keep open a prison that the world condemns and terrorists use to recruit. Since I’ve been President, we’ve worked responsibly to cut the population of GTMO in half. Now it’s time to finish the job. And I will not relent in my determination to shut it down. It’s not who we are. As Americans, we cherish our civil liberties – and we need to uphold that commitment if we want maximum cooperation from other countries and industry in our fight against terrorist networks. So while some have moved on from the debates over our surveillance programs, I haven’t. As promised, our intelligence agencies have worked hard, with the recommendations of privacy advocates, to increase transparency and build more safeguards against potential abuse. And next month, we’ll issue a report on how we’re keeping our promise to keep our country safe while strengthening privacy. Looking to the future instead of the past. Making sure we match our power with diplomacy, and use force wisely. Building coalitions to meet new challenges and opportunities. Leading – always – with the example of our values. That’s what makes us exceptional. That’s what keeps us strong. And that’s why we must keep striving to hold ourselves to the highest of standards – our own. You know, just over a decade ago, I gave a speech in Boston where I said there wasn’t a liberal America, or a conservative America; a black America or a white America – but a United States of America. I said this because I had seen it in my own life, in a nation that gave someone like me a chance; because I grew up in Hawaii, a melting pot of races and customs; because I made Illinois my home – a state of small towns, rich farmland, and one of the world’s great cities; a microcosm of the country where Democrats and Republicans and Independents, good people of every ethnicity and every faith, share certain bedrock values. Over the past six years, the pundits have pointed out more than once that my presidency hasn’t delivered on this vision. How ironic, they say, that our politics seems more divided than ever. It’s held up as proof not just of my own flaws – of which there are many – but also as proof that the vision itself is misguided, and naïve, and that there are too many people in this town who actually benefit from partisanship and gridlock for us to ever do anything about it. I know how tempting such cynicism may be. But I still think the cynics are wrong. I still believe that we are one people. I still believe that together, we can do great things, even when the odds are long. I believe this because over and over in my six years in office, I have seen America at its best. I’ve seen the hopeful faces of young graduates from New York to California; and our newest officers at West Point, Annapolis, Colorado Springs, and New London. I’ve mourned with grieving families in Tucson and Newtown; in Boston, West, Texas, and West Virginia. I’ve watched Americans beat back adversity from the Gulf Coast to the Great Plains; from Midwest assembly lines to the Mid-Atlantic seaboard. I’ve seen something like gay marriage go from a wedge issue used to drive us apart to a story of freedom across our country, a civil right now legal in states that seven in ten Americans call home. So I know the good, and optimistic, and big-hearted generosity of the American people who, every day, live the idea that we are our brother’s keeper, and our sister’s keeper. And I know they expect those of us who serve here to set a better example. So the question for those of us here tonight is how we, all of us, can better reflect America’s hopes. I’ve served in Congress with many of you. I know many of you well. There are a lot of good people here, on both sides of the aisle. And many of you have told me that this isn’t what you signed up for – arguing past each other on cable shows, the constant fundraising, always looking over your shoulder at how the base will react to every decision. Imagine if we broke out of these tired old patterns. Imagine if we did something different. Understand – a better politics isn’t one where Democrats abandon their agenda or Republicans simply embrace mine. A better politics is one where we appeal to each other’s basic decency instead of our basest fears. A better politics is one where we debate without demonizing each other; where we talk issues, and values, and principles, and facts, rather than “gotcha” moments, or trivial gaffes, or fake controversies that have nothing to do with people’s daily lives. A better politics is one where we spend less time drowning in dark money for ads that pull us into the gutter, and spend more time lifting young people up, with a sense of purpose and possibility, and asking them to join in the great mission of building America. If we’re going to have arguments, let’s have arguments – but let’s make them debates worthy of this body and worthy of this country. We still may not agree on a woman’s right to choose, but surely we can agree it’s a good thing that teen pregnancies and abortions are nearing all-time lows, and that every woman should have access to the health care she needs. Yes, passions still fly on immigration, but surely we can all see something of ourselves in the striving young student, and agree that no one benefits when a hardworking mom is taken from her child, and that it’s possible to shape a law that upholds our tradition as a nation of laws and a nation of immigrants. We may go at it in campaign season, but surely we can agree that the right to vote is sacred; that it’s being denied to too many; and that, on this 50th anniversary of the great march from Selma to Montgomery and the passage of the Voting Rights Act, we can come together, Democrats and Republicans, to make voting easier for every single American. We may have different takes on the events of Ferguson and New York. But surely we can understand a father who fears his son can’t walk home without being harassed. Surely we can understand the wife who won’t rest until the police officer she married walks through the front door at the end of his shift. Surely we can agree it’s a good thing that for the first time in 40 years, the crime rate and the incarceration rate have come down together, and use that as a starting point for Democrats and Republicans, community leaders and law enforcement, to reform America’s criminal justice system so that it protects and serves us all. That’s a better politics. That’s how we start rebuilding trust. That’s how we move this country forward. That’s what the American people want. That’s what they deserve. I have no more campaigns to run. My only agenda for the next two years is the same as the one I’ve had since the day I swore an oath on the steps of this Capitol – to do what I believe is best for America. If you share the broad vision I outlined tonight, join me in the work at hand. If you disagree with parts of it, I hope you’ll at least work with me where you do agree. And I commit to every Republican here tonight that I will not only seek out your ideas, I will seek to work with you to make this country stronger. Because I want this chamber, this city, to reflect the truth – that for all our blind spots and shortcomings, we are a people with the strength and generosity of spirit to bridge divides, to unite in common effort, and help our neighbors, whether down the street or on the other side of the world. I want our actions to tell every child, in every neighborhood: your life matters, and we are as committed to improving your life chances as we are for our own kids. I want future generations to know that we are a people who see our differences as a great gift, that we are a people who value the dignity and worth of every citizen – man and woman, young and old, black and white, Latino and Asian, immigrant and Native American, gay and straight, Americans with mental illness or physical disability. I want them to grow up in a country that shows the world what we still know to be true: that we are still more than a collection of red states and blue states; that we are the United States of America. I want them to grow up in a country where a young mom like Rebekah can sit down and write a letter to her President with a story to sum up these past six years: “It is amazing what you can bounce back from when you have to…we are a strong, tight-knit family who has made it through some very, very hard times.” My fellow Americans, we too are a strong, tight-knit family. We, too, have made it through some hard times. Fifteen years into this new century, we have picked ourselves up, dusted ourselves off, and begun again the work of remaking America. We’ve laid a new foundation. A brighter future is ours to write. Let’s begin this new chapter – together – and let’s start the work right now. Thank you, God bless you, and God bless this country we love. FACT SHEET: U.S.-United Kingdom Cybersecurity Cooperation
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 16, 2015 FACT SHEET: U.S.-United Kingdom Cybersecurity Cooperation The United States and the United Kingdom agree that the cyber threat is one of the most serious economic and national security challenges that our nations face. Every day foreign governments, criminals, and hackers are attempting to probe, intrude into, and attack government and private sector systems in both of our countries. President Obama and Prime Minister Cameron have both made clear that domestic cybersecurity requires cooperation between governments and the private sector. Both leaders additionally recognized that the inherently international nature of cyber threats requires that governments around the world work together to confront those threats. During their bilateral meetings in Washington, D.C. this week, President Obama and Prime Minister Cameron agreed to further strengthen and deepen the already extensive cybersecurity cooperation between the United States and the United Kingdom. Both leaders agreed to bolster efforts to enhance the cybersecurity of critical infrastructure in both countries, strengthen threat information sharing and intelligence cooperation on cyber issues, and support new educational exchanges between U.S. and British cybersecurity scholars and researchers. Improving Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity The United States and United Kingdom are committed to our ongoing efforts to improve the cybersecurity of our critical infrastructure and respond to cyber incidents. Both governments have agreed to bolster our efforts to increase threat information sharing and conduct joint cybersecurity and network defense exercises to enhance our combined ability to respond to malicious cyber activity. Our initial joint exercise will focus on the financial sector, with a program running over the coming year. Further, we will work with industry to promote and align our cybersecurity best practices and standards, to include the U.S. Cybersecurity Framework and the United Kingdom’s Cyber Essentials scheme. Strengthening Cooperation on Cyber Defense The United States and the United Kingdom work closely on a range of cybersecurity and cyber defense matters. For example, the U.S. Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT) and CERT-UK collaborate on computer network defense and sharing information to address cyber threats and manage cyber incidents. To deepen this collaboration in other areas, the United Kingdom’s Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) and Security Service (MI5) are working with their U.S. partners – the National Security Agency and the Federal Bureau of Investigation – to further strengthen U.S.-UK collaboration on cybersecurity by establishing a joint cyber cell, with an operating presence in each country. The cell, which will allow staff from each agency to be co-located, will focus on specific cyber defense topics and enable cyber threat information and data to be shared at pace and at greater scale. Supporting Academic Research on Cybersecurity Issues The governments of both the United States and the United Kingdom have agreed to provide funding to support a new Fulbright Cyber Security Award. This program will provide an opportunity for some of the brightest scholars in both countries to conduct cybersecurity research for up to six months. The first cohort is expected to start in the 2016-17 academic year, and the U.S.-UK Fulbright Commission will seek applications for this cohort later this year. In addition, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Computer Science & Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (located in Cambridge, MA) has invited the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom to take part in a “Cambridge vs. Cambridge” cybersecurity contest. This competition is intended to be the first of many international university cybersecurity competitions. The aim is to enhance cybersecurity research at the highest academic level within both countries to bolster our cyber defenses. Remarks by the President at the National Cybersecurity Communications Integration Center
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release January 13, 2015 REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT ON STRENGTHENING CYBERSECURITY WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR National Cybersecurity Communications Integration Center Arlington, Virginia 3:10 P.M. EST THE PRESIDENT: Good afternoon, everybody. I want to thank Secretary Johnson, Deputy Secretary Mayorkas, and the dedicated public servants of the Department of Homeland Security for welcoming me here today. I’ve kind of taken over your work space. I apologize for that, but just pretend that I’m not here. (Laughter.) I want you to keep working. I did ask who dressed up for this event, and apparently, a few were brave enough to admit it. But in advance of my State of the Union address next week, I’ve been rolling out my proposals for keeping our economy on track, keeping it growing, making sure we're creating jobs and opportunity for the American people. And that includes the extraordinary opportunities that exist in our digital economy. Yesterday, I announced new proposals to better protect Americans from identity theft and to ensure our privacy, including making sure that our kids are safe from digital marketing and intrusions on their privacy based on what they’re doing at school. Tomorrow in Iowa, I’ll talk about how we can give more families and communities faster, cheaper access to the broadband that allows them to successfully compete in this global economy. And on Thursday, the Vice President will be in Norfolk to highlight the need to continue to invest in the education and skills for our cybersecurity professionals. But today I am here at DHS to highlight how we can work with the private sector to better protect American companies against cyber threats. Shortly after I took office, I declared that cyber threats pose an enormous challenge for our country. It's one of the most serious economic and national security challenges we face as a nation. Foreign governments, criminals and hackers probe America’s computer networks every single day. We saw that again with the attack at Sony, which actually destroyed data and computer hardware that is going to be very costly for that company to clean up. Just yesterday, we saw the hack of a military Twitter account and You Tube channel. No military operations were impacted. So far, it appears that no classified information was released. But the investigation is ongoing, and it’s a reminder that cyber threats are an urgent and growing danger. Moreover, much of our critical infrastructure -- our financial systems, power grids, pipelines, health care systems --run on networks connected to the Internet. So this is a matter of public safety and of public health. And most of this infrastructure is owned and operated by the private sector. So neither government, nor the private sector can defend the nation alone. It’s going to have to be a shared mission -- government and industry working hand in hand, as partners. And that’s why I’ve said that protecting our digital infrastructure is a national security priority and a national economic priority. Over the past six years, we’ve pursued a comprehensive strategy, boosting our defenses in government, sharing more information with the private sector to help them defend themselves, working with industry through what we call the Cybersecurity Framework not just to respond to threats and recover from attacks but to prevent and disrupt them in the first place. And that’s where these good folks come in. We are currently at the National Cybersecurity Communications Integration Center -- also known as NCCIC. I just got a tour and a briefing. I want to thank everybody here, not just from DHS but from across government and the private sector, because, again, this is a shared responsibility. This center is one of the critical lines of America’s cyber defenses. These men and women work around the clock, 24/7, monitoring threats, issuing warnings, sharing information with the private sector, and keeping Americans safe. So, as a nation, we owe them thanks, and as a nation, we are making progress. We’re more prepared to defend against cyber attacks. But every day, our adversaries are getting more sophisticated and more determined, and more plentiful. So every day, we’ve got to keep upping our game at the same time. We’ve got to stay ahead of those who are trying to do us harm. The problem is that government and the private sector are still not always working as closely together as we should. Sometimes it’s still too hard for government to share threat information with companies. Sometimes it’s still too hard for companies to share information about cyber threats with the government. There are legal issues involved and liability issues. Sometimes, companies are reluctant to reveal their vulnerabilities or admit publicly that they have been hacked. At the same time, the American people have a legitimate interest in making sure that government is not potentially abusing information that it's received from the private sector. So all of us -- government and industry -- are going to have to keep doing better. The new legislation and proposals I put forward yesterday will help, especially for a strong, single national standard for notifying Americans when their information has been breached. Today, I want to announce some additional steps. First, we’re proposing new cybersecurity legislation to promote the greater information sharing we need between government and the private sector. This builds and improves upon legislation that we’ve put forward in the past. It reflects years of extensive discussions with industry. It includes liability protections for companies that share information on cyber threats. It includes essential safeguards to ensure that government protects privacy and civil liberties even as we're doing our job of safeguarding America’s critical information networks. I raised this issue again and the need for this legislation with congressional leaders this morning, including Speaker Boehner and Leader McConnell, and we all agree that this is a threat that has to be addressed, and I am confident that we should be able to craft bipartisan legislation soon to put these systems in place. We’re going to keep on working with Congress to get this done. And in the meantime, we’re going to do everything we can with our existing authorities to make sure industry gets the information it needs to better defend itself. Second, we’re proposing to update the authorities that law enforcement uses to go after cyber criminals. We want to be able to better prosecute those who are involved in cyber attacks, those who are involved in the sale of cyber weapons like botnets and spyware. We want to ensure that we’re able to prosecute insiders who steal corporate secrets or individuals’ private information. And we want to expand the authority of courts to shut down botnets and other malware. The bottom line, we want cyber criminals to feel the full force of American justice, because they are doing as much damage, if not more, these days as folks who are involved in more conventional crime. Finally, and since this is a challenge that we can only meet together, I’m announcing that next month we’ll convene a White House summit on cybersecurity and consumer protection. It’s a White House summit where we're not going to do it at the White House; we're going to go to Stanford University. And it’s going to bring everybody together -- industry, tech companies, law enforcement, consumer and privacy advocates, law professors who are specialists in the field, as well as students -- to make sure that we work through these issues in a public, transparent fashion. Because they’re hard and they’re complicated issues. But if we keep on working on them together, and focus on concrete and pragmatic steps that we can take to boost our cybersecurity and our privacy, I'm confident that both our privacy will be more secure and our information, our networks, public health, public safety will be more secure. We’re going to keep on at this as a government, but we're also going to be working with the private sector to detect, prevent, defend, deter against attacks, and to recover quickly from any disruptions or damage. And as long as I’m President, protecting America’s digital infrastructure is going to remain a top national security priority. In closing, I want to say one of the areas I’ll be working with Congress is to ensure that we don’t let any disagreements keep us from fulfilling our most basic responsibilities. Last week’s attack in Paris was a painful reminder that we have no greater duty than the security of the American people. And our national security should never be subject to partisan political games. Congress needs to fully fund our Department of Homeland Security, without delay, so that the dedicated public servants working here can operate with the certainty and confidence they need to keep the American people safe. And that's true across the board in the Department of Homeland Security. So, again, I want to thank Jeh and Deputy Secretary Mayorkas, and everybody here at NCCIC and DHS for the great job you are doing. You are helping to keep the nation safe and secure. And with that, we're going to get out of here so you can get back to work. Who knows what’s been happening while you’ve been paying attention to me? (Laughter.) All right? Thank you very much, everybody. (Applause.) THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 13, 2015 FACT SHEET: Broadband That Works: Promoting Competition & Local Choice In Next-Generation Connectivity Last November, the President outlined his plan to keep the Internet open to new competition and innovation by safeguarding net neutrality — which will help ensure no one company can act as a gatekeeper to digital content. But there is more work to do so that every American has access to a free and open internet. This is particularly true in areas where broadband competition is lacking, resulting in high prices and slow service. Building on his net neutrality plan, tomorrow in Cedar Falls, Iowa President Obama will announce steps he will discuss in the State of the Union to help more Americans, in more communities around the country, get access to fast and affordable broadband. Communities like Cedar Falls have banded together to commit to broadband that works by bringing in new competition, leveraging municipal investments, and forming new partnerships to bring world-class Internet to places like this small Iowa town. High-speed, low-cost broadband is paving the way for economic revitalization not just in Cedar Falls, but in places like Chattanooga, TN, Kansas City, MO, and Lafayette, LA — all of which have Internet speeds nearly 100 times faster than the national average and deliver it at an affordable price. To help more communities achieve these results, support economic growth, and promote a level playing field for all competitors, the Obama Administration is:
Today, too few Americans have affordable and competitive broadband choices, but some communities around the country are choosing to change that dynamic. As a result – as outlined in a new report being issued today – cities like Lafayette, Chattanooga, and Kansas City, have broadband that is nearly one hundred times faster than the national average, yet still available at a competitive price. By welcoming new competition or building next-generation networks, these communities are pioneers in broadband that works, and tomorrow in Cedar Falls, Iowa, the President is highlighting their remarkable success stories and providing municipal leadership and entrepreneurs new tools to help replicate this success across the nation. Americans in even our busiest cities often find only one or two providers offering broadband service, and often none providing them with fast, fiber-optic connections — despite the fact that many of cities are already equipped with fast fiber-optic broadband. At the same time, in too many places, residents do not have access to broadband in their home, or their speeds continue to lag while their monthly bills continue to grow. Both of these challenges are driven by the lack of broadband choice in many American markets. In fact, three out of four Americans have no competition or no service at speeds increasingly required for many online services. Rarely is the problem a lack of demand — too often, it is the capital costs of building out broadband infrastructure and a combination of laws that prevent communities from providing incentives to attract providers. Competitive markets translate to lower monthly prices, better products, and better customer service. In cities across the country, new competitors entering markets have provided consumers with new and often faster alternatives, spurring investment from incumbents and providing consumers with more choice. Many of the communities that have taken aggressive steps to improve their broadband have residential and business Internet speeds among the fastest in the world — faster, even, than in San Francisco, New York City, or Los Angeles: What sets these top-performing cities apart is that they have all taken dramatic steps to bring in more competitors, and enter into new partnerships to deliver top-quality broadband. Some specific examples of how creative thinking and partnerships are delivering faster, better broadband across the country include: Chattanooga, TN — After investing in a visionary 1 gigabit per second broadband network, the City of Chattanooga is transforming itself into a regional center for technology and innovation. Today, Chattanooga is attracting entrepreneurs and computer programmers from around the country and boasts new business incubators and state-of-the-art public facilities. Investors have responded in kind. Since 2009, Chattanooga has gone from hosting close to zero venture capital to at least five organized funds with investable capital of over $50 million. Wilson, NC — Through inspired leadership and the community mobilization, Wilson has been transformed from “the ‘World’s Greatest Tobacco Market’ to ‘North Carolina’s First Gigabit City,’ delivering speeds up to 100 times the national average, at a price North Carolinians can afford. Unanimously approved by the city council, Mayor Bruce Rose believes this infrastructure “is absolutely essential to improve the economy and quality of life.” Kansas City, MO — Kansas City was the first city to successfully compete for Google Fiber, the search giant’s entry into broadband service to homes and businesses, and today is being nationally recognized for attracting new start-ups, retaining existing business, and providing better municipal services and education as a result of this new and affordable broadband. The new report released today by the National Economic Council and Council of Economic Advisers examines these remarkable stories in greater depth. SECURING CYBERSPACE - President Obama Announces New Cybersecurity Legislative Proposal and other cybersecurity efforts
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 13, 2015 SECURING CYBERSPACE President Obama Announces New Cybersecurity Legislative Proposal and other cybersecurity efforts “In this interconnected, digital world, there are going to be opportunities for hackers to engage in cyber assaults both in the private sector and the public sector. Now, our first order of business is making sure that we do everything to harden sites and prevent those kinds of attacks from taking place...But even as we get better, the hackers are going to get better, too. Some of them are going to be state actors; some of them are going to be non-state actors. All of them are going to be sophisticated and many of them can do some damage. This is part of the reason why it’s going to be so important for Congress to work with us and get an actual bill passed that allows for the kind of information-sharing we need. Because if we don’t put in place the kind of architecture that can prevent these attacks from taking place, this is not just going to be affecting movies, this is going to be affecting our entire economy in ways that are extraordinarily significant.” – President Obama, December 19, 2014. Since the start of his Administration, when he issued the Cyberspace Policy Review — the first top-to-bottom, Administration-wide review of cybersecurity — President Obama has led efforts to better prepare our government, our economy, and our nation as a whole for the growing cyber threats we face. That’s why in 2011 he issued his Cybersecurity Legislative Proposal, calling on Congress to take urgent action to give the private sector and government the tools they need to combat cyber threats at home and abroad. It’s why he issued the International Strategy for Cyberspace to make clear to nations abroad the foreign policy priority cybersecurity issues have become. And when Congress failed to pass comprehensive cybersecurity legislation, the Administration pressed forward, issuing an Executive Order to protect critical infrastructure by establishing baseline cybersecurity standards that we developed collaboratively with industry. Today, at a time when public and private networks are facing an unprecedented threat from rogue hackers as well as organized crime and even state actors, the President is unveiling the next steps in his plan to defend the nation’s systems. These include a new legislative proposal, building on important work in Congress, to solve the challenges of information sharing that can cripple response to a cyberattack. They also include revisions to those provisions of our 2011 legislative proposal on which Congress has yet to take action, and along with them, the President is extending an invitation to work in a bipartisan, bicameral manner to advance this urgent priority for the American people. Specifically, today’s announcements include: Cybersecurity Legislative Proposal Enabling Cybersecurity Information Sharing: The Administration’s updated proposal promotes better cybersecurity information sharing between the private sector and government, and it enhances collaboration and information sharing amongst the private sector. Specifically, the proposal encourages the private sector to share appropriate cyber threat information with the Department of Homeland Security’s National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center (NCCIC), which will then share it in as close to real-time as practicable with relevant federal agencies and with private sector-developed and operated Information Sharing and Analysis Organizations (ISAOs) by providing targeted liability protection for companies that share information with these entities. The legislation also encourages the formation of these private-sector led Information Sharing and Analysis Organizations. The Administration’s proposal would also safeguard Americans’ personal privacy by requiring private entities to comply with certain privacy restrictions such as removing unnecessary personal information and taking measures to protect any personal information that must be shared in order to qualify for liability protection. The proposal further requires the Department of Homeland Security and the Attorney General, in consultation with the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board and others, to develop receipt, retention, use, and disclosure guidelines for the federal government. Finally, the Administration intends this proposal to complement and not to limit existing effective relationships between government and the private sector. These existing relationships between law enforcement and other federal agencies are critical to the cybersecurity mission. Modernizing Law Enforcement Authorities to Combat Cyber Crime: Law enforcement must have appropriate tools to investigate, disrupt and prosecute cyber crime. The Administration’s proposal contains provisions that would allow for the prosecution of the sale of botnets, would criminalize the overseas sale of stolen U.S. financial information like credit card and bank account numbers, would expand federal law enforcement authority to deter the sale of spyware used to stalk or commit ID theft, and would give courts the authority to shut down botnets engaged in distributed denial of service attacks and other criminal activity. It also reaffirms important components of 2011 proposals to update the Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), a key piece of law used to prosecute organized crime, so that it applies to cybercrimes, clarifies the penalties for computer crimes, and makes sure these penalties are in line with other similar non-cyber crimes. Finally, the proposal modernizes the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act by ensuring that insignificant conduct does not fall within the scope of the statute, while making clear that it can be used to prosecute insiders who abuse their ability to access information to use it for their own purposes. National Data Breach Reporting: As announced yesterday, the Administration has also updated its proposal on security breach reporting. State laws have helped consumers protect themselves against identity theft while also encouraging business to improve cybersecurity, helping to stem the tide of identity theft. These laws require businesses that have suffered an intrusion to notify consumers if consumers’ personal information has been compromised. The Administration’s updated proposal helps business and consumers by simplifying and standardizing the existing patchwork of 46 state laws (plus the District of Columbia and several territories) that contain these requirements into one federal statute, and puts in place a single clear and timely notice requirement to ensure that companies notify their employees and customers about security breaches. White House Summit on Cybersecurity and Consumer Protection On February 13, 2015, the White House will host a Summit on Cybersecurity and Consumer Protection at Stanford University, to help shape public and private sector efforts to protect American consumers and companies from growing threats to consumers and commercial networks. The Summit will bring together major stakeholders on cybersecurity and consumer financial protection issues – including senior leaders from the White House and across the federal government; CEOs from a wide range of industries including the financial services industry, technology and communications companies; computer security companies and the retail industry; as well as law enforcement officials, consumer advocates, technical experts, and students. Topics at the Summit will include increasing public-private partnerships and cybersecurity information sharing, creating and promoting improved cybersecurity practices and technologies, and improving adoption and use of more secure payment technologies. The Summit is also the next step in the President’s BuySecure Initiative, which was launched in November 2014, and will help advance national efforts the government has led over the last two years with executive orders on consumer financial protection and critical infrastructure cybersecurity. Through keynote speeches, panel discussions, and small group workshops, participants will build on efforts in the public and private sectors to further improve cybersecurity practices at a wide range of companies. Grants to Historically Black Colleges for Cybersecurity Education As the President stated in Executive Order 13532, “Promoting Excellence, Innovation, and Sustainability at Historically Black Colleges and Universities” in February 2010, historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) have made historic and ongoing contributions to the general welfare and prosperity of our country. Established by visionary leaders, America’s HBCUs, for over 150 years, have produced many of the Nation’s leaders in business, government, academia, and the military, and have provided generations of American men and women with hope and educational opportunity. Recognizing that HBCUs serve as engines of opportunity, innovation, and economic growth, Vice President Biden will travel to Norfolk, VA on Thursday to announce that the Department of Energy will provide $25 million in grants over the next five years to support a cybersecurity education consortium consisting of 13 HBCUs and two national labs. This program, part of the President’s jobs-driven training initiative, will help to fill the growing demand for skilled cybersecurity professionals in the U.S. job market at the same time that it helps to grow the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) curricula for HBCUs. The participating schools include two-year colleges, four-year colleges, and research institutions in seven states, plus the Virgin Islands. Remarks by the President at the Federal Trade Commission
President Obama to Deliver Remarks at the Federal Trade Commission
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 10, 2015 President Obama to Deliver Remarks at the Federal Trade Commission WASHINGTON, DC – On Monday, January 12, the President will deliver remarks at the Federal Trade Commission to lay out the next steps in his plan to improve confidence in technology by tackling identify theft and improving consumer and student privacy. The President will discuss the next steps in his BuySecure initiative on consumer financial protection and new efforts to bring more innovation to the classroom by bringing peace of mind to educators and parents. The President’s remarks are pooled for TV and still photographers, and open to pre-credentialed correspondents. Correspondents who wish to cover the President’s remarks must RSVP via the following link by Sunday, January 11 at 10:00 AM ET: http://www.whitehouse.gov/webform/media-rsvp-president-obama-deliver-remarks-federal-trade-commission-january-12-2015-0 . MONDAY, January 12, 2015 President Obama Delivers Remarks at Federal Trade Commission Constitution Center 400 7th Street, SW Washington, D.C. 20024 America’s Resurgence is Real
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary EMBARGOED UNTIL 6:00 AM ET, SATURDAY, January 10, 2015 WEEKLY ADDRESS: America’s Resurgence is Real WASHINGTON, DC —In this week’s address, President Obama discussed the economic gains we made in 2014, which was the strongest year for job growth since the 1990s. In the coming weeks, the President will continue to preview his State of the Union Address and the agenda he’ll put forward to build on that progress. The President will showcase ways he’s working to help every American get ahead in the new year, like plans he announced this week to make community college free for two years, make mortgages more affordable and accessible for creditworthy families, and support manufacturing. The audio of the address and video of the address will be available online at www.whitehouse.gov at 6:00 a.m. ET, January 10, 2015. Remarks of President Barack Obama Weekly Address The White House January 10, 2015 Hi, everybody. About a year ago, I promised that 2014 would be a breakthrough year for America. And this week, we got more evidence to back that up. In December, our businesses created 240,000 new jobs. The unemployment rate fell to 5.6%. That means that 2014 was the strongest year for job growth since the 1990s. In 2014, unemployment fell faster than it has in three decades. Over a 58-month streak, our businesses have created 11.2 million new jobs. After a decade of decline, American manufacturing is in its best stretch of job growth since the ‘90s. America is now the world’s number one producer of oil and gas, helping to save drivers about a buck-ten a gallon at the pump over this time last year. Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, about 10 million Americans have gained health insurance in the past year alone. We have cut our deficits by about two-thirds. And after 13 long years, our war in Afghanistan has come to a responsible end, and more of our brave troops have come home. It has been six years since the crisis. Those years have demanded hard work and sacrifice on everybody’s part. So as a country, we have every right to be proud of what we’ve got to show for it. America’s resurgence is real. And now that we’ve got some calmer waters, if we all do our part, if we all pitch in, we can make sure that tide starts lifting all boats again. We can make sure that the middle class is the engine that powers America’s prosperity for decades to come. That’ll be the focus of my State of the Union Address in a couple weeks – building on the progress we’ve made. But I figured, why wait – let’s get started right now. On Wednesday, I visited a Ford plant outside of Detroit – because the American auto industry and its home state are redefining the word “comeback.” On Thursday, I traveled to Arizona, a state that was hit among the hardest by the housing crisis, to announce a new plan that will put hundreds of dollars in new homeowners’ pockets, and help more new families buy their first home. And, I’m speaking with you today from Pellissippi State Community College in Tennessee, a state making big strides in education, to unveil my new plan to make two years of community college free for every responsible student. I’m also here to establish a new hub that will attract more good-paying, high-tech manufacturing jobs to our shores. Making homeownership easier. Bringing a higher education within reach. Creating more good jobs that pay good wages. These are just some of the ways we can help every American get ahead in the new economy. And there’s more to come. Because America is coming back. And I want to go full speed ahead. Thanks, everybody, and have a great weekend. ### ----- Unsubscribe The White House · 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW · Washington DC 20500 · 202-456-1111 Click here to Reply or Forward45.71 GB (45%) of 101 GB usedManage©2015 Google - Terms - Privacy Last account activity: 47 minutes agoDetails Remarks by the President on Announcing New Manufacturing Hub
S BY THE PRESIDENT AT ANNOUNCEMENT OF MANUFACTURING HUB
Techmer PM Clinton, Tennessee 4:00 P.M. EST THE PRESIDENT: Good afternoon, everybody. There’s no need to stand up. Thank you so much. First of all, it's wonderful being here in Clinton. And I want to thank Mayor Scott Burton and very much appreciate the hospitality. I want to thank John Manuck and the whole Techmer team for having me and the Vice President, as well as your own Senator, Bob Corker. I understand I am the first President -- sitting President -- to visit Clinton. You’d think Bill would have come down here. (Laughter.) THE VICE PRESIDENT: Missed opportunity. THE PRESIDENT: Missed opportunity. Let me tell you, if there’s an Obama, Tennessee -- (laughter) -- I'm going there. (Laughter.) But the reason we're here is because wherever Americans are doing big things that can help build our middle class and grow our economy and extend opportunity to everybody, I want to be here to lift it up and figure out how we can promote more of it. Last year, our economy created jobs faster than at any time since the 1990s. The key now is to make sure that that growing prosperity and resurgence is reaching everybody, not just some. And that means that that we’ve got to create more good jobs and we've got to train people for those jobs that are being created. And this is going to be the focus of my State of the Union address -- but we decided to get started a little early. This morning, I was over in Pellissippi State, where I announced my plan to make two years of community college free for students who are willing to work hard, keep their grades up and do the right thing. And we're here in Clinton because I’m taking actions, building on what we've been doing over the last four or five years, to attract more high-quality manufacturing jobs for workers to fill in the new economy. For decades, manufacturing was the essential ingredient in building our middle class. You punched in, you made something you were proud of -- Made in America, shipped everywhere around the world -- and as a consequence, you were able to take home a good paycheck, could support your family, had good benefits. And it was a bargain that involved more than just building things; it reflected the values that this country stood for. Over time, technology made some jobs obsolete. Globalization and additional foreign competition meant that some jobs went overseas. American manufacturing lost about one-third of its jobs in the last decade, and the middle class paid the price. So when I took office, I believed, and I know Joe believed, that if the last decade was characterized by outsourcing, I wanted to define this decade for insourcing, making sure that the United States was competitive and that businesses wanted to locate here, and that we had a dynamic manufacturing sector and research and development sector to support that manufacturing, so that we could reverse some of those trends. So we invested in clean energy, saved the auto industry, and today, factories are opening their doors at the fastest pace in almost two decades. Manufacturing is actually in its best stretch of job creation since the 1990s. It's added about 786,000 jobs over the past 58 months. Manufacturing is actually growing faster than the rest of the economy. Right here in Tennessee, manufacturing jobs have jumped by about 11 percent. And the question is, how do we keep that progress going? How do we build on it? That’s why we’re working to grow the jobs of tomorrow through a national network of manufacturing hubs. We’re launching these hubs around the country, and the concept is simple: We bring businesses, research universities, community colleges, state, local and federal governments together, and we figure out, where are some key opportunities for manufacturing in the future, how do we get out in front of the curve, how do we make sure everybody is working together. And as a consequence, we're potentially able to get cutting-edge research and design to market faster, and businesses are intimately involved in the process of figuring out how these things can be applied in ways that are really going to boost the economy and, in some cases, create entirely new industries. So these hubs are working on everything from 3D printing -- the idea that you can have some software and put in some materials and something pops out that actually works -- to flexible computer chips that can be woven into the fabric of your shirt. And today, we’re proud to announce our latest manufacturing hub, and it is right here in Tennessee. Led by the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, the hub will be home to 122 public and private partners who are teaming up to develop materials that are lighter and stronger than steel. So these are materials that would be ideal for fuel-efficient cars, or longer wind turbine blades that produce more energy, or materials that might go into our aviation sector. And of course, these advanced polymer composites are a sophisticated combination of materials like carbon fiber and tough plastics. We saw some samples during our tour here. Everybody knows that. That means they’re expensive to produce. So the idea here is for the partners to come together to see if we can not only come up with improved design, but also start driving down the cost and look at new applications. So Joe and I just watched how these folks develop the composites here at Techmer. That was cool. We lost Joe’s attention when we laid eyes on that 3D-printed sports car --(laughter) -- the carbon fiber Cobra. Biden started pulling out his aviator glasses -- (laughter) -- and we had to explain to him, you don’t get to drive on this trip. (Laughter.) But besides being a cool car, it’s a great example of how a hub like this operates. So Oak Ridge National Labs created the design and manufacturing processes. Techmer produced the composite materials. Another company called Tru-Design developed the surface finishing techniques. Undergrads from UT worked on the project, gaining skills that can help them get hired in the future. And a number of others partners chipped in as well. So these hubs just make sense. They work. They get people working together. They create an ecosystem for a particular type of manufacturing and a specialization that allows, then, where the hub is located, to be a magnet for others who want to participate in this particular industry. And this is why -- this is an area where Congress and I are working together. Bob Corker, myself, Governor Haslam, we’re all interested in making sure that advanced manufacturing is taking place here in the United States. Last month, I was glad to see members of Congress from both parties pass legislation that supports the progress we’ve made by creating a real national network of hubs. Senators Brown and Blunt and Representatives Kennedy and Reed deserve credit for working together to get this legislation over the finish line. I’m working to work with Congress this year to fully fund the network. Because places like this are who we are. We create. We innovate. We build. We do it together. When I was taking the tour and we had a chance to hear from John about how he got this company started, he started off as an engineer, worked for another big company, and then decided he could it better and struck out on his own. And that story of entrepreneurship and taking a chance, that’s what built this country. But at every step of the way throughout our history there have been instances where government can be a partner in that progress -- whether it’s creating infrastructure, whether it’s financing the basic research that generates new products. That’s a role we can play. We’ve got the most dynamic economy in the world and we’ve got the best business people in the world and the best universities in the world. Let’s put them all together and make sure they’re working to create more good jobs and more opportunity for the American people. So, congratulations to the new hub. Let’s get to work. And I look forward to hearing about all the great things that are coming out of Clinton and across Tennessee and across America. Appreciate you. (Applause.) Remarks by the President on America's College Promise
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary _________________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release January 9, 2015 REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT ON AMERICA’S COLLEGE PROMISE Pellissippi State Community College Knoxville, Tennessee 2:05 P.M. EST THE PRESIDENT: Hello, everybody! (Applause.) Hey! Thank you! (Applause.) Thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you, everybody. Thank you. Everybody, please have a seat. Please have a seat. Well, it is good to be back in Tennessee. I hope you guys aren’t getting tired of me. I’ve been coming around a lot lately, because there’s a lot of good stuff happening here. I want to begin by thanking Joe and Jill Biden. They’re not just good friends and good partners, but they really believe in the power of education and they really believe in creating those kinds of ladders of opportunity that gave all three of us and Michelle the chances, the incredible opportunities that we’ve had today. And they understand the promise of America’s community colleges. Well, Jill really understands it, and Joe -- (laughter) -- he doesn’t really have a choice. Before I get into the reason that I’m here today, I want to begin by saying just a few words about the tragic events that we’ve watched unfold in France over the last several hours and days. And because events have been fast-moving this morning, I wanted to make sure to comment on them. I just spoke to my counterterrorism advisor. We have been in close touch with the French government throughout this tragedy. The moment that the outrageous attack took place, we directed all of our law enforcement and counterintelligence operations to provide whatever support that our ally needs in confronting this challenge. We’re hopeful that the immediate threat is now resolved, thanks to the courage and professionalism of the French personnel on the ground. But the French government continues to face the threat of terrorism and has to remain vigilant. The situation is fluid. President Hollande has made it clear that they’re going to do whatever is necessary to protect their people. And I think it’s important for us to understand: France is our oldest ally. I want the people of France to know that the United States stands with you today, stands with you tomorrow. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families who have been directly impacted. We grieve with you. We fight alongside you to uphold our values, the values that we share -- universal values that bind us together as friends and as allies. And in the streets of Paris, the world has seen once again what terrorists stand for. They have nothing to offer but hatred and human suffering. And we stand for freedom and hope and the dignity of all human beings. And that’s what the city of Paris represents to the world, and that spirit will endure forever -- long after the scourge of terrorism is banished from this world. (Applause.) Now, I’m in Knoxville not only because I just like Knoxville, but I’m here today because one of my resolutions is to make sure that folks across this great country feel like they are coming back. And there is no doubt: Thanks to the steps we took early on to rescue our economy and to rebuild it on a new foundation, America is coming back. (Applause.) Now, I’m not running for office anymore, so let me just present the facts. I promised that 2014 would be a breakthrough year for America. This morning, we got more evidence to back that up. In December, our businesses created 240,000 new jobs. Our unemployment rate fell to 5.6 percent, which is the lowest in six and a half years. What that means is, 2014 was the strongest year for job growth since the 1990s. (Applause.) Unemployment fell in 2014 faster than any year since 1984. Now, think about that. It’s been 30 years since unemployment fell as fast as it did last year. And most importantly, we’re seeing faster job growth in industries that provide good-paying jobs, traditionally middle-class jobs, than anything else. Since 2010, the United States of America has create more jobs than Europe, Japan, and every other advanced economy combined. (Applause.) American manufacturing is in its best stretch of job growth since the 1990s. We’re actually seeing companies insourcing instead of outsourcing. They’re realizing, we want to be here with American workers making American products. America is now the world’s number-one producer in oil, gas. We’ve doubled the production of clean energy. And, by the way, you’re saving about a buck-ten a gallon at the pump over this time last year. (Applause.) Although I keep on reminding folks, gas prices, they go up and they come down and then they go up. (Laughter.) So I just want everybody to know that you should enjoy this. Take the money you’re saving, pay off the credit card or go get a new appliance, or buy a fuel-efficient car -- (laughter) -- so that when prices go back up, you’re still well-positioned. Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, about 10 million Americans have gained health insurance over the past year. (Applause.) And, by the way, we’ve done this while cutting our deficits by about two-thirds. Everybody thinks that -- (applause) -- they did a survey -- in every survey, they ask, is the deficit going up or going down? And 70 percent of Americans say that the deficit is going up. The deficit has come down by two-thirds since I took office. (Applause.) Meanwhile, thanks to the hard work of students and educators, dropout rates are down, graduation rates are up. And after 13 long years, our war in Afghanistan has come to a responsible end, and we’ve got more troops that were home this holiday season. (Applause.) So I say all this because these six years have demanded a lot of hard work and a lot of sacrifice on everybody’s part. And as a country, we’ve got every right to be proud of what we’ve got to show for it. America’s resurgence is real. And now that we’ve seen calmer waters economically, if we all do our part, if we all pitch in, then we can start making sure that all boats are actually lifted again, and wages and incomes start rising again. And we can make sure that the middle class is the engine that powers America’s prosperity just as it always has. So that’s going to be the focus of my State of the Union address in a couple weeks. I wanted to give you a little preview. Don’t tell anybody I said this. (Laughter.) I’m giving you the inside scoop. That’s going to be the essence of my message: How do we build on the progress that we’ve made? And I figured, why wait for the State of the Union? Why stand on formalities; let’s get the ball rolling right now. Two days ago, I visited Michigan, where workers have brought the auto industry roaring back. And we talked about what else we can do around advanced manufacturing. Yesterday, I was in Arizona, where I announced new actions to make the dream of homeownership a reality for more middle-class families. Later today, Joe and I are going to head to a company in Clinton to take action that will develop high-tech industry even further here in Tennessee. And right here, right now, at Pellissippi State, I’m going to announce one of my most important State of the Union proposals, and that’s helping every American afford a higher education. (Applause.) Now, part of the reason I wanted to come here was because Tennessee is at the forefront of doing some really smart stuff. (Applause.) And we’ve got some proud Tennesseans who can take some credit for the great work that’s been done. First, your Governor, Bill Haslam, who’s here. (Applause.) Your two very fine senators, -- you’ve got Bob Corker -- (applause) -- and your senior Senator, Lamar Alexander, who’s a former Secretary of Education himself, so he knows a little bit about this. (Applause.) You’ve got Congressman John Duncan. (Applause.) Your Mayor, Madeline Rogero. (Applause.) And we've got Pellissippi’s president, Anthony Wise. (Applause.) Hey! And we've got all of you. (Laughter.) Now, Joe and Jill both already touched on these themes, but let me just amplify them a little bit. Here in America we don't guarantee equal outcomes. Some folks work harder; some folks don't. Some folks take advantage of opportunities; some folks don't. Some people have good luck; some people have bad luck and things don't always work out where everything is perfectly equal. But we do expect that everybody gets an equal shot. We do expect everybody can go as far as their dreams and hard work will take them. We don't expect anybody to be bound by the circumstances of their birth. If they were, I wouldn't be here, and neither would Joe. Jill -- she’s so accomplished she would have succeeded no matter what. (Laughter.) But we expect everybody to get a fair shot. And in exchange, we do our fair share. That's the basic bargain at the heart of this country: If you work hard, you can get ahead. It shouldn’t matter what your last name is, or what we look like, or what family we were born into, or how we worship. What matters is effort and merit. That's the promise of America. And the way we deliver on that is making sure that our education system works on behalf of every person who lives here. America thrived in the 20th century in large part because we made high school the norm, and then we sent a generation to college on the GI Bill -- including my grandfather. Then we dedicated ourselves to cultivating the most educated workforce in the world and we invested in what’s one of the crown jewels of this country, and that's our higher education system. And dating back to Abraham Lincoln, we invested in land-grant colleges. We understood that this was a hallmark of America, this investment in education. But eventually, the world caught on and the world caught up. And that’s why we have to lead the world in education again. That’s why my administration is working to make high-quality early childhood education available to all of our kids. (Applause.) We know if we invest in them early, that it pays dividends on the backend. That's why we're working to bring high-speed broadband to 99 percent of America’s students within the next four years. We want to make sure every child is plugged in. That's why we're recruiting more highly trained math and science teachers. That's why we’re working to raise standards and invest more in our elementary and middle and high schools, so that every young person is prepared for a competitive world. And this work is not easy. Sometimes it's controversial. It's not going to be the same in every state. But in places like Tennessee, we're seeing incredible strides as a consequence of these efforts. Over the past few years, Tennessee students have improved their reading scores and math scores more than any other state in the country. (Applause.) That’s a credit to their hard work, their teachers’ hard work, to Governor Haslam’s hard work, leaders from both parties. It's been a bipartisan effort. Every Tennessean should be proud of that. And today, in a 21st century economy, where your most valuable asset is your knowledge, the single most important way to get ahead is not just to get a high school education, you’ve got to get some higher education. That’s why all of you are here. Now, the value of an education is not purely instrumental. Education helps us be better people. It helps us be better citizens. You came to college to learn about the world and to engage with new ideas and to discover the things you’re passionate about -- and maybe have a little fun. (Laughter.) And to expand your horizons. That’s terrific -- that’s a huge part of what college has to offer. But you’re also here, now more than ever, because a college degree is the surest ticket to the middle class. It is the key to getting a good job that pays a good income -- and to provide you the security where even if you don't have the same job for 30 years, you're so adaptable and you have a skill set and the capacity to learn new skills, it ensures you're always employable. And that is the key not just for individual Americans, that’s the key for this whole country’s ability to compete in the global economy. In the new economy, jobs and businesses will go wherever the most skilled, best-educated workforce resides. Because businesses are mobile now. Technology means they can locate anywhere. And where they have the most educated, most adaptable, most nimble workforce, that's where they’re going to locate. And I want them to look no further than the United States of America. I want them coming right here. I want those businesses here, and I want the American people to be able to get those businesses -- or get those jobs that those businesses create. So that’s why we’ve increased grants and took on a student loan system that was funneling billions of taxpayer dollars through big banks, and said let’s cut out the middleman, let’s give them directly to students instead, we can help more students. We’ve increased scholarships. We've cut taxes for people paying tuition. We've let students cap their federal student loan payments at 10 percent of income so that they can borrow with confidence, particularly if you're going into a job like nursing or teaching that may not pay a huge salary but that's where your passions are. We’re creating a new college ratings system that will give parents and students the kind of clear, concise information you need to shop around for a school with the best value for you -- and gives us the capacity to recognize schools that offer a great education at a reasonable price. On the flight over here, Lamar and I were talking about how we can do more to simplify the application process for federal student loans, which is still too complicated. (Applause.) So we've done a lot of good work over the last six years; we're going to keep at it. But today, I want to focus on a centerpiece of my education agenda -- and that’s the community colleges, like this one. For millions of Americans, community colleges are essential pathways to the middle class because they’re local, they’re flexible. They work for people who work full-time. They work for parents who have to raise kids full-time. They work for folks who have gone as far as their skills will take them and want to earn new ones, but don’t have the capacity to just suddenly go study for four years and not work. Community colleges work for veterans transitioning back into civilian life. Whether you’re the first in your family to go to college, or coming back to school after many years away, community colleges find a place for you. And you can get a great education. Now, Jill has been teaching English at community colleges for 20 years. She started when she was like 15. (Laughter.) And she’s still full-time today. And she sees -- I talk to her and she talks about her students, and she can see the excitement and the promise, and sometimes the fear of being a 32-year-old mom who’s going back to school and never finished the degree that she had started, and life got in the way and now she’s coming back and suddenly getting a whole new skills set and seeing a whole range of career options opening up to her. It’s exciting. And that’s what community colleges are all about -- the idea that no one with drive and discipline should be left out, should be locked out of opportunity, and certainly that nobody with that drive and discipline should be denied a college education just because they don’t have the money. Every American, whether they’re young or just young at heart, should be able to earn the skills and education necessary to compete and win in the 21st century economy. So today I’m announcing an ambitious new plan to bring down the cost of community college tuition in America. I want to bring it down to zero. (Applause.) We’re going to -- I want to make it free. (Applause.) I want to make it free. Community colleges should be free for those willing to work for it -- because in America, a quality education cannot be a privilege that is reserved for a few. I think it’s a right for everybody who’s willing to work for it. Now, the good news is, you already do something like this in Tennessee. You call it Tennessee Promise. (Applause.) So you call it Tennessee Promise, and we thought why not just build on what works. So we’re going to call it “America’s College Promise.” (Applause.) And the concept is simple: America’s College Promise will make two years of community college free to responsible students who are willing to work for it. Now, I want to underscore that last clause -- everybody who’s working hard for it. There are no free rides in America. You would have to earn it. Students would have to do their part by keeping their grades up. Colleges would have to do their part by offering high-quality academics and helping students actually graduate. States would have to do their part too. This isn’t a blank check. It’s not a free lunch. But for those willing to do the work, and for states and local communities that want to be a part of this, it can be a game-changer. Think about it: Students who started at community colleges during those two years, and then go on to a four-year institution, they essentially get the first half of their bachelor’s degree for free. People who enroll for skills training will graduate already ready to work, and they won’t have a pile of student debt. Two years of college will become as free and universal as high school is today. Now, we’re also taking another page out of Tennessee’s playbook and making investments to expand technical training programs at community colleges, much like you do through your 27 Colleges of Applied Technology. (Applause.) Joe did a terrific job running a task force that we put together just to look at the job training and technical training systems all around the country. And at a time when jobs are changing, and higher wages call for higher skills, we’ve got to make sure workers have a chance to get those skills. We want young people to graduate with real-world training that leads directly to good jobs, and we want older workers to get retrained so they can compete. And we want more women and minorities to get jobs in fields that traditionally they’ve been left out of, like science and technology, and engineering and math. And we want to connect community colleges with employers, because when that’s done right, these partnerships pay off for everybody: Students learn on the job, employers get access to talent, colleges get help designing courses that actually prepare people for the workplace, all of which creates better pathways to today’s middle class. So we’re going to find the programs that work and we’re going to help them grow. Now, in a few weeks, I’m going to send to Congress my plan for free community college. I hope that Congress will come together to support it, because opening the doors of higher education shouldn’t be a Democratic issue or a Republican issue. This is an American issue. (Applause.) Governor Haslam is a Republican. And thanks to his leadership, last year Democrats and Republicans came together and made Tennessee the first state in decades to offer free community college to its students. Meanwhile, up in my hometown of Chicago, Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who is a Democrat, is now offering free community college, and they’re pairing students with growing sectors of the economy so they graduate with good jobs. So if a state with Republican leadership is doing this and a city with Democratic leadership is doing this, then how about we all do it? Let’s do it for our future. (Applause.) And as I said before, there are a bunch of good bipartisan ideas out there. A few days ago, Senator Alexander joined forces with a Democratic Senator, Michael Bennet, to introduce the legislation that would make financial aid forms simpler. I noticed a lot of people applauded, because it’s been a while since I filled it out -- (laughter) -- but I understand there’s more than 100 questions on it. It just shouldn’t be that hard to apply for aid for college. And so I’ve committed to working with Senator Alexander. Let’s shrink it down. Let’s make life a little easier for millions of families. The point is, we’re not going to agree on everything. But simplifying that form, that’s something we should be able to agree on. Let’s get that done this year. (Applause.) Because in the end, nothing is more important to our country than you, our people. That’s our asset. We’ve got very nice real estate here. We’ve got this incredible bounty, the God-given resources that we enjoy in this country. But our greatest resources are people. And I want to say to the students here and the staff and faculty how proud I am of what you guys are doing. A lot of students here, I know you had to overcome some obstacles to get here. Many of you are the first in your families to go to college. Some of you are working full time while you’re going to school. But you’re making this investment in you, and by doing that, you’re making an investment in this country’s future. And I just want to use one person’s story as an example, Caitlin McLawhorn. Where’s Caitlin? Where is she? Is she here? I thought she was here a second ago, but I’m going to tell her story anyway. She was raised by a single mom. She helped make ends meet, getting her first job almost the minute she could, two days after her 16th birthday. When it came time for college, the money wasn’t there. But Caitlin lives in Tennessee, so she knew she had a great, free option. She completed two years at this institution. Now she’s a senior at Maryville College. She’s working full-time, just like she has since her first day of college. And Caitlin says, “A lot of people like me got discouraged. I get discouraged. But I can look back and say, you’ve made it so far. I’ve learned that things aren’t always what you want, but you can make them what you want.” That’s wisdom. “Things aren’t always what you want, but you can make them what you want.” That’s what America is about. We can make of our lives what we will. And there are going to be bumps, and there are going to be challenges. And we’ve come through some very hard times. Things aren’t always what we wanted, but we have overcome discouragement and we have overcome division and, sometimes, some discord. And we don’t give up. We get up, we fight back, we come back stronger than before. Thanks to the hard work of the American people, the United States of America is coming back. And I’ve never been as confident as -- in my entire life that we’re going to make of our future what we want of it thanks to you. Appreciate it, Tennessee. God bless you. God bless America. (Applause.) FACT SHEET: President Obama Announces New Manufacturing Innovation Hub in Knoxville, Tennessee
FACT SHEET: President Obama Announces New Manufacturing Innovation Hub in Knoxville, TennesseeInboxxWhite House Press Office via service.govdelivery.com Jan 9 (3 days ago)
to me THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 9, 2015 FACT SHEET: President Obama Announces New Manufacturing Innovation Hub in Knoxville, Tennessee A Knoxville-area based consortium of 122 companies, nonprofits, universities and research laboratories is partnering with the Department of Energy to create a more than $250 million manufacturing innovation institute focused on U.S. leadership in next-generation composite materials. Today, the President is announcing the latest in a series of partnerships aimed at boosting advanced manufacturing, fostering American innovation, and attracting well-paying jobs that will strengthen the middle class. After a decade of decline, American manufacturing is coming back, adding 786,000 new jobs since February 2010. Today’s new action is the kind of investment we need to build on this progress, creating the foundation needed for American manufacturing growth and competitiveness in the years to come. The Department of Energy and a consortium of 122 companies, nonprofits, and universities led by the University of Tennessee-Knoxville will invest more than $250 million - $70 million in federal funds and more than $180 million in non-federal funds – to launch a Manufacturing Innovation Institute for Advanced Composites. In addition to announcing the new hub, the President will applaud the recent passage of bipartisan legislation in Congress that takes a significant step toward creating a National Network for Manufacturing Innovation consistent with his vision to strengthen the resurgence of American manufacturing and help to create new, 21st century job opportunities for American workers in high-demand sectors. Building on the Success of the First NNMI Institute The new manufacturing innovation institute, the fifth institute to be awarded of the eight institute competitions launched, builds on the early successes of the first manufacturing innovation institute, America Makes in Youngstown, OH. America Makes in Youngstown, OH America Makes is focused on reducing the cost of 3D printing, connecting small businesses like rp+m and M7 with new opportunities, and training American workers to master these sophisticated technologies. Only in its third year of operations, the institute has research underway that will help accelerate the speed of 3D printing in metals by a factor of ten, is partnering to provide over 1,000 schools with access to 3D printers, and has launched new workforce training programs that have trained over 7,000 workers in the fundamentals of 3D printing. In addition to launching new products and filing new patents from the research underway, the institute is serving as a magnet for investment in the region. Last November, GE announced a $32 million investment in a new 3D printing research facility in the region, citing the advantages of locating near America Makes. As GE attests, “When you consider that manufacturing has become increasingly complex and technology-intensive, you quickly realize that all U.S. manufacturers, big and small, face common challenges that are best tackled by a diverse group of stakeholders from academia, government, and industry. These institutes have provided fertile ground to discuss the common challenges facing all of us to ensure that America has the cutting-edge technology and workforce expertise to lead the world in advanced manufacturing.” These institutes are an important part of revitalizing American manufacturing: · Strengthening U.S. Manufacturing’s Competitiveness with Leadership in Cutting-Edge Technologies - Each manufacturing institute serves as a regional hub, bridging the gap between applied research and product development by bringing together companies, universities and other academic and training institutions, and Federal agencies to co-invest in key emerging technology areas that can encourage investment and production in the U.S. · Preparing America’s Workers for Jobs in Manufacturing – Each institute, as a type of “teaching factory,” provides a unique opportunity for education and training of students and workers at all levels, while supporting the shared assets to help small manufacturers and other companies access the cutting-edge capabilities and equipment to design, test, and pilot new products and manufacturing processes. · Co-investing with the Private Sector - Proving the value of these technological advances to the competitiveness of industry, each institute is launched with a five year commitment of federal resources matched by that much or more invested from the private sector, with the intent that the institutes will become self-sustaining once mature. In a significant step forward in bringing together the manufacturing institutes into a National Network for Manufacturing Innovation, Congress passed the bipartisan Revitalize American Manufacturing and Innovation (RAMI) Act of 2014 in December as part of the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act of 2015, proving that strengthening American manufacturing is a goal on which we can all agree. · Realizing the President’s Vision for a National Network for Manufacturing Innovation. The bipartisan legislation builds on the progress made by the President through executive action, beginning in 2012 when the Department of Defense launched the first manufacturing institute, to create a network of institutes that together provide the foundation for American leadership in the manufacturing technologies that support our competitiveness for years to come. · Enacting Bipartisan Legislation to Establish that Network. The RAMI Act enables the institutes to come together as a network, to leverage shared expertise and common support services, and to create a governance structure across the institutes that can guide their success over the long term. · Demonstrating Significant Bipartisan Leadership in Congress. Introduced by Sens. Brown (D-OH) and Blunt (R-MO) in the Senate and Reps. Reed (R-NY) and Kennedy (D-MA) in the House, the RAMI Act attracted significant bipartisan support with 118 co-sponsors across the two chambers. Background on the Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation Institute: The new institute the Department of Energy is awarding today will focus on cutting-edge research on advanced composites – such as carbon fiber – materials that are three times as strong and twice as light as the lightest metals. · Advanced fiber-reinforced polymer composites, which combine strong fibers with tough plastics, are lighter and stronger than steel. Advanced composites are currently used for expensive applications like satellites and luxury cars. · Bringing these materials down the cost curve can enable their use for a broader range of products including lightweight vehicles with record-breaking fuel economy; lighter and longer wind turbine blades; high pressure tanks for natural gas-fueled cars; and lighter, more efficient industrial equipment. Advanced composites are especially important for progressing clean energy generation and improving the efficiency of the nation’s fleet. · In the wind energy industry, advances in low-cost composite materials will help manufacturers build longer, lighter and stronger blades to create more energy. · By doubling the length of a turbine blade these materials can help quadruple the amount of electricity generated. · In automotive applications, advanced composites could reduce the weight of a passenger car by 50 percent and improve its fuel efficiency by roughly 35 percent without compromising performance or safety – helping to save American families more than $5,000 in fuel costs over the car’s lifetime. The Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation will work to develop lower-cost, higher-speed, and more efficient manufacturing and recycling processes for advanced composites. · The Institute will focus on lowering the overall manufacturing costs of advanced composites by 50 percent, reducing the energy used to make composites by 75 percent and increasing the recyclability of composites to over 95 percent within the next decade. · The Institute has assembled a world-class team of organizations from across the industry, including leading manufacturers, material suppliers and software developers, government and academia, with both broad and deep experience in all aspects of the advanced composite product development process from design and prototyping to manufacturing at commercial scale. · The new institute pairs leading carbon fiber producers and suppliers – like Materials Innovation Technologies, Harper International, and Strongwell – with key end users like TPI for wind turbines and Ford for automobiles. · The new hub will also unite these manufacturers with top-flight research universities, such as the University of Tennessee with its pioneering 3D printed carbon fiber research, and the University of Kentucky with the largest U.S. open-access carbon-fiber chemistry laboratory. · The combined resources and expertise of the team will provide a leap forward in composite manufacturing and further enhance U.S. competitiveness in clean energy as the team cultivates additional new partnerships. The winning team, led by the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, has established a new not-for-profit organization headquartered in Knoxville, TN and includes the following 86 key partners and 36 additional consortia members: 57 Companies: A&P Technology, Inc.; Adherent Technologies, Inc.; Altair; Ashland Performance Materials; Assembly Guidance Systems, Inc.; BASF Company; Boeing Company; Celanese International; Continental Structural Plastics; Convergent Manufacturing Technologies; Cytec Engineered Materials; Dassault Systemes Americas Corp.; Dow Chemical Company; DowAksa; DuPont; ESI North America; Evonik Corporation; Faurecia US Holdings; Fives; Ford Motor Company; GE Water & Power; Graco Inc.; GrafTech International; Heil Trailer International; Herty Advanced Materials Development Center; Hills, Inc.; Honda R&D Americas, Inc.; Huntsman Polyurethanes; IN3 Applications; Johns Manville; LayStitch Technologies; LM Wind Power; Local Motors; Lockheed Martin; Materials Innovation Technologies; McWhinney Real Estate Services; Michelman Inc.; Milacron Plastics Technologies Group; Momentive; North Coast Tool & Mold Corp.; Owens Corning; Phoenix Integration; PolyNEW, Inc.; PolyOne Corporation; PPG Industries, Inc.; SABIC Innovative Plastics US; SAERTEX USA, LLC; Strongwell Inc.; Thogus Products Company; Toray Composites (America), Inc.; TPI Composites, Inc.; Vestas Americas; Volkswagen; Wetzel Engineering; Williams, White & Company; Wolf Robotics, LLC; and Xperion 15 Universities and Laboratories: The University of Tennessee, Knoxville; Colorado School of Mines; Colorado State University; Iowa State University; Michigan State University; Mississippi State University; National Renewable Energy Laboratory; Oak Ridge National Laboratory; Purdue University; The Ohio State University; University of Colorado-Boulder; University of Dayton Research Institute; University of Kentucky; University of Michigan; and Vanderbilt University 14 Other Entities: Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation (IACMI); Abaris Training Resources, Inc.; American Chemical Council; National Composites Center; Oak Ridge Carbon Fiber Composites Consortium; Polymer Ohio, Inc.; Southern Research Institute; Colorado Office of Economic Development & International Trade; Indiana Economic Development Corporation; Michigan Economic and Community Development; Ohio Development Services Agency; State of Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development; State of Tennessee; and University of Tennessee Research Foundation 36 Consortia Members: Alcoa Inc.; 3M Company; BioCycle, LLC; Braskem America; BST Nano Carbon; Chomarat North America; Cincinnati Incorporated; Concordia Fibers; Eaton Corporation; EWI; Fiber-Tech Industries, Inc.; FibrTech; Global Wind Network (GLWN); Harper International; Hexagon Lincoln; Ingersoll Machine Tools; Interlaken Technology; International Fibers, Ltd.; Johnson Controls, Inc; Koppers; Materia, Inc.; Mentis Sciences, Inc; Michigan Molecular Institute; Nexgen Composites; NONA Composites, LLC; Oerlikon Metco; OshKosh Corporation; Plasan Carbon Composites; PlastiComp; Quickstep Composites, LLC; Rocky Mountain Institute; The Magni Group; Techmer ES; Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.; United Technologies Research Center; and XG Sciences FACT SHEET - White House Unveils America’s College Promise Proposal: Tuition-Free Community College for Responsible Students
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 9, 2015 FACT SHEET: White House Unveils America’s College Promise Proposal: Tuition-Free Community College for Responsible Students Nearly a century ago, a movement that made high school widely available helped lead to rapid growth in the education and skills training of Americans, driving decades of economic growth and prosperity. America thrived in the 20th century in large part because we had the most educated workforce in the world. But other nations have matched or exceeded the secret to our success. Today, more than ever, Americans need more knowledge and skills to meet the demands of a growing global economy without having to take on decades of debt before they even embark on their career. Today the President is unveiling the America’s College Promise proposal to make two years of community college free for responsible students, letting students earn the first half of a bachelor’s degree and earn skills needed in the workforce at no cost. This proposal will require everyone to do their part: community colleges must strengthen their programs and increase the number of students who graduate, states must invest more in higher education and training, and students must take responsibility for their education, earn good grades, and stay on track to graduate. The program would be undertaken in partnership with states and is inspired by new programs in Tennessee and Chicago. If all states participate, an estimated 9 million students could benefit. A full-time community college student could save an average of $3,800 in tuition per year. In addition, today the President will propose a new American Technical Training Fund to expand innovative, high-quality technical training programs similar to Tennessee Tech Centers that meet employer needs and help prepare more Americans for better paying jobs. These proposals build on a number of historic investments the President has made in college affordability and quality since taking office, including a $1,000 increase in the maximum Pell Grant award to help working and middle class families, the creation of the $2,500 American Opportunity Tax Credit, reforming student loans to eliminate subsidies to banks to invest in making college more affordable and keeping student debt manageable, and making available over $2 billion in grants to connect community colleges with employers to develop programs that are designed to get hard-working students good jobs. The President’s Plan: Make Two Years of College as Free and Universal as High School By 2020, an estimated 35 percent of job openings will require at least a bachelor’s degree and 30 percent will require some college or an associate’s degree. Forty percent of college students are enrolled at one of America’s more than 1,100 community colleges, which offer students affordable tuition, open admission policies, and convenient locations. They are particularly important for students who are older, working, need remedial classes, or can only take classes part-time. For many students, they offer academic programs and an affordable route to a four-year college degree. They are also uniquely positioned to partner with employers to create tailored training programs to meet economic needs within their communities such as nursing, health information technology, and advanced manufacturing. The America’s College Promise proposal would create a new partnership with states to help them waive tuition in high-quality programs for responsible students, while promoting key reforms to help more students complete at least two years of college. Restructuring the community college experience, coupled with free tuition, can lead to gains in student enrollment, persistence, and completion transfer, and employment. Specifically, here is what the initiative will mean: Enhancing Student Responsibility and Cutting the Cost of College for All Americans: Students who attend at least half-time, maintain a 2.5 GPA while in college, and make steady progress toward completing their program will have their tuition eliminated. These students will be able to earn half of the academic credit they need for a four-year degree or earn a certificate or two-year degree to prepare them for a good job. Building High-Quality Community Colleges: Community colleges will be expected to offer programs that either (1) are academic programs that fully transfer to local public four-year colleges and universities, giving students a chance to earn half of the credit they need for a four-year degree, or (2) are occupational training programs with high graduation rates and that lead to degrees and certificates that are in demand among employers. Other types of programs will not be eligible for free tuition. Colleges must also adopt promising and evidence-based institutional reforms to improve student outcomes, such as the effective Accelerated Study in Associate Programs (ASAP) programs at the City University of New York which waive tuition, help students pay for books and transit costs, and provide academic advising and supportive scheduling programs to better meet the needs of participating students, resulting in greater gains in college persistence and degree completion. Ensuring Shared Responsibility with States: Federal funding will cover three-quarters of the average cost of community college. States that choose to participate will be expected to contribute the remaining funds necessary to eliminate community college tuition for eligible students. States that already invest more and charge students less can make smaller contributions, though all participating states will be required to put up some matching funds. States must also commit to continue existing investments in higher education; coordinate high schools, community colleges, and four-year institutions to reduce the need for remediation and repeated courses; and allocate a significant portion of funding based on performance, not enrollment alone. States will have flexibility to use some resources to expand quality community college offerings, improve affordability at four-year public universities, and improve college readiness, through outreach and early intervention. Expanding Technical Training for Middle Class Jobs. Additionally, in order to spread the availability of high-quality and innovative programs like those in Tennessee and Texas, which achieve better than average completion and employment outcomes, the President is also proposing the American Technical Training Fund. This fund will award programs that have strong employer partnerships and include work-based learning opportunities, provide accelerated training, and are scheduled to accommodate part-time work. Programs could be created within current community colleges or other training institutions. The focus of the discretionary budget proposal would be to help high-potential, low-wage workers gain the skills to work into growing fields with significant numbers of middle-class jobs that local employers are trying to fill such as energy, IT, and advanced manufacturing. This program will fund the start-up of 100 centers and scale those efforts in succeeding years. Smaller grants would help to bring together partners and start a pilot program. Larger grants would be used for expanding programs based on evidence of effectiveness, which could include past performance on graduation rates, job placement rates and placement wages. Building on the President’s community college initiative, known as the Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training Grants and for which 2014 was the final year of funding, these funds will help community colleges become more job-driven. Building on State and Local Programs. In the past year, Tennessee and the City of Chicago initiated free community college programs. In the first year of the Tennessee program, 57,000 students representing almost 90 percent of the state’s high school graduating class applied for the program. The scholarship is coupled with college counseling, mentorship, and community service that early evidence suggests supports greater enrollment, persistence and college completion. This is coupled with efforts to spur innovation and improvement by funding colleges using performance outcomes based on student success and an innovative approach to career and technical education through the Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology. These Tennessee Tech Centers have a graduation rate of 80 percent and a job placement rate of 85 percent. Building on a Record of Progress. Since taking office, President Obama has taken steps to expand federal support to help more students afford college, while calling for a shared responsibility in tackling rising college costs. Key achievements include: · Doubling the Investment in Pell Grants: The President has raised the maximum Pell Grant award to $5,730 for the 2014-15 award year — a nearly $1,000 increase since 2008. The number of Pell Grant recipients has expanded by 50 percent over that same time. · Expanding Education Tax Credits: President Obama established the American Opportunity Tax Credit in 2009 to assist families with the costs of college, providing up to $10,000 for four years of college tuition. · Pay-As-You-Earn Loans: All new borrowers can now cap loan payments at 10 percent of their incomes. The Department of Education has begun the process to amend its regulations and will make the new plan available on all direct loans by December 2015. We expect it to benefit up to 5 million borrowers. · First in the World Grants: In September, the Department of Education awarded $75 million to 24 colleges and universities under the new First in the World grant program to expand college access and improve student learning while reducing costs. · College Ratings Program: The Department of Education continues to develop a college ratings system by the 2015-2015 school year that will recognize institutions that excel at enrolling students from all backgrounds; focus on maintaining affordability; and succeed at helping all students graduate with a degree or certificate of value. · Job-Driven Training Grants: Through the Trade Adjustment Community College and Career Training program more than 1,000 institutions have received $2 billion in federal funding to design education and training programs, working closely with employers and industry that prepare workers for jobs in-demand in their regional economies, such as health care, information technology and energy. These programs have shown early success -- through the end of FY2013, among the nearly 164,000 individuals who had enrolled in these programs 88 percent either completed a program or continued the program into a second year. · White House Summit on Community Colleges: In October 2010, the President convened community college leaders, faculty and students; business leaders; philanthropic organizations; and other workforce development experts for the first White House summit dedicated to the role that community colleges play in our efforts to increase the number of college graduates and prepare those graduates to lead the 21st century workforce. · Center for the Analysis of Postsecondary Readiness: Last August, the Department of Education launched a new $10 million Institute for Education Sciences-funded Center for the Analysis of Postsecondary Readiness (CAPR) that is working to strengthen the research, evaluation, and support of college readiness efforts across the nation. CAPR is documenting current practices in developmental English and math education to identify innovative instructional practices that improve student success. · Call to Action on College Opportunity: Last December, the President, Vice President, and First Lady joined college presidents and leaders of non-profits, foundations, and other organizations to announce over 600 new commitments to produce more college graduates. Community colleges made commitments individually, and in partnership with neighboring school districts and four-year institutions, to build seamless transitions among institutions, develop clear educational and career pathways, implement strategies to increase student completion of STEM programs, and establish more accurate measures of student progress and success. Statement on the Third Estimate of GDP for the Third Quarter of 2014
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 23, 2014 Statement on the Third Estimate of GDP for the Third Quarter of 2014 WASHINGTON, DC – Jason Furman, Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers, issued the following statement today on the third estimate of GDP for the third quarter of 2014. You can view the statement HERE. Posted by Jason Furman on December 23, 2014 at 09:30 AM EST Today’s upward revision indicates that the economy grew in the third quarter at the fastest pace in over a decade. The strong GDP growth is consistent with a broad range of other indicators showing improvement in the labor market, increasing domestic energy security, and continued low health cost growth. The steps that we took early on to rescue our economy and rebuild it on a new foundation helped make 2014 already the strongest year for job growth since the 1990s. Indeed, 2014 was a breakthrough year for the United States across a wide range of metrics important to middle class families. Nevertheless, there is more work to be done to ensure that all Americans can share in the accelerating recovery. FIVE KEY POINTS IN TODAY’S REPORT FROM THE BUREAU OF ECONOMIC ANALYSIS 1. Real gross domestic product (GDP) grew 5.0 percent at an annual rate in the third quarter of 2014—the strongest single quarter since 2003—according to the third estimate from the Bureau of Economic Analysis. While quarterly growth reports are volatile, and some of the growth in Q3 reflected transitory factors, the recent robust growth data indicate a solid underlying trend of recovery. Indeed, the strong growth recorded in each of the last two quarters suggests that the economy has bounced back strongly from the first-quarter decline in GDP, which largely reflected transitory factors like unusually severe winter weather and a sharp slowdown in inventory investment. Consumer spending, business investment, and net exports all remained positive contributors this quarter. Real gross domestic income (GDI), an alternative measure of the overall size of the economy, was up 4.7 percent in Q3. 2. Third-quarter real GDP growth was revised up 1.1 percentage point from the second estimate released in November. Most of the upward revisions were in personal consumption and business investment, the most persistent and stable components of GDP. The contributions of consumer spending and business investment were revised up 0.7 and 0.2 percentage point, respectively, including increased contributions from health care and other services, nonresidential structures investment, and intellectual property investment. An upward revision to inventory investment also accounted for 0.1 percentage point of the revision. 3. In the third quarter, personal consumption expenditures rose 3.2 percent at an annual rate. With real wages rising for two years, consumer sentiment at its highest level since 2007, and households having substantially deleveraged, consumption growth continues to trend upward. Consumers cite improved employment and wage expectations—along with declining gasoline prices—as major drivers of improved economic optimism, according the Reuters/University of Michigan consumer sentiment survey. The improved optimism is borne out in broad-based consumption growth, with durable goods spending continuing its pattern of strong growth in the recovery, and nondurable goods and services consumption picking up from the previous quarter. But challenges remain for consumers, and we have more work to do to boost wages for middle class families. 4. The current account deficit remained near its lowest level since the late 1990s as the declining federal budget deficit has boosted domestic saving. The current account balance is a measure of net transactions between the United States and the rest of the world, including our trade balance and other income flows across our borders. When the current account is in deficit, as it has been for most of the past thirty years, the United States borrows from abroad to finance its spending. But our current account deficit has narrowed sharply since the crisis, in large part because of increased domestic saving including the fall of the Federal budget deficit from 9.8 percent of GDP in FY 2009 to 2.8 percent in FY 2014. The U.S. current account deficit now stands at 2.5 percent of GDP, down from more than 6 percent in the fourth quarter of 2005. The smaller deficit reduces our reliance on foreign borrowing, encouraging a more sustainable recovery. 5. Real private domestic final purchases (PDFP)—the sum of consumption and fixed investment—is up 3.3 percent over the last four quarters, a faster four-quarter growth rate than real GDP. Real PDFP growth is generally a more stable and forward-looking indicator than real GDP because it excludes highly volatile components like inventory investment and net exports. In the first and second quarters of this year, GDP growth fluctuated widely, but PDFP was positive in both quarters, showing a less sharp pattern of decline and rebound. In the third quarter, PDFP grew a bit more slowly than GDP, but on balance, it has risen faster over the past year and continued its historical pattern of more steady growth. As the Administration stresses every quarter, GDP figures can be volatile and are subject to substantial revision. Therefore, it is important not to read too much into any one single report and it is informative to consider each report in the context of other data that are becoming available. Year of Action: A Final Progress Report on The Obama Administration’s Actions to Help Create Opportunity for All Americans
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 22, 2014 YEAR OF ACTION: A Final Progress Report on The Obama Administration’s Actions to Help Create Opportunity for All Americans In last year’s final press conference, I said that 2014 would be a year of action and would be a breakthrough year for America. And it has been ... We have more work to do to make sure our economy, our justice system, and our government work not just for the few, but for the many. But there is no doubt that we can enter into the New Year with renewed confidence that America is making significant strides where it counts. – President Barack Obama, Year-End Press Conference, December 19, 2014 When President Obama vowed that 2014 would be a year of action in his State of the Union Address, he meant it. And he followed through, announcing more than 80 new executive actions that will help grow the economy, create jobs, address the threat of climate change, and strengthen the middle class. The President also pledged to convene leaders from businesses, nonprofits, education, and communities to expand opportunity for more American families, and in some key areas, his efforts have spurred broader action. Over the past year, President Obama successfully rallied support for raising the minimum wage in states and cities across the country, while signing an executive order to raise the minimum wage for workers on new federal contracts. And he’s offered 4 million undocumented immigrants a path out of the shadows while holding them accountable, all while doing everything in his power to attract and keep the most talented high-skill workers to our shores from around the world. He’s supported workplace flexibility and equal pay. He’s protected large, pristine swaths of our federal lands and oceans from degradation, while putting in place historic changes that will dramatically cut greenhouse gases. He’s laid the groundwork for ambitious expansions of high-speed broadband, so that students will have access to the world’s knowledge and personalized education in real-time in the palms of their hands. He’s also taken action to create new manufacturing jobs and to develop the next generation of breakthrough manufacturing innovation here at home. He’s expanded proven job-driven training models like apprenticeships and helped make student loan payments more affordable—all while protecting career college students from unwieldy debt burdens. The Year of Action Report highlights key areas where we have made significant progress due to the steps taken by the President through executive authority, a calendar of all 2014 executive actions and additional detail on some of these key executive actions. Click HERE to find a blog post by Jeff Zients, the Director of the National Economic Council and Cecilia Muñoz, the Director of the Domestic Policy Council, on this Year of Action and the progress that we’ve made. WEEKLY ADDRESS: America’s Resurgence is Real
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary EMBARGOED UNTIL 6:00 AM ET, SATURDAY, December 20, 2014 WEEKLY ADDRESS: America’s Resurgence is Real WASHINGTON, DC — In this week’s address, the President reflected on the significant progress made by this country in 2014, and in the nearly six years since he took office. This past year has been the strongest for job growth since the 1990s, contributing to the nearly 11 million jobs added by our businesses over a 57-month streak. America is leading the rest of the world, in containing the spread of Ebola, degrading and ultimately destroying ISIL, and addressing the threat posed by climate change. And earlier this week, the President announced the most significant changes to our policy towards Cuba in over 50 years. America’s resurgence is real, and the President expressed his commitment to working with Congress in the coming year to make sure Americans feel the benefits. The audio of the address and video of the address will be available online at www.whitehouse.gov at 6:00 a.m. ET, December 20, 2014. Remarks of President Barack Obama Weekly Address The White House December 20, 2014 Hi, everybody. As 2014 comes to an end, we can enter the New Year with new confidence that America is making significant strides where it counts. The steps we took nearly six years ago to rescue our economy and rebuild it on a new foundation helped make 2014 the strongest year for job growth since the 1990s. Over the past 57 months, our businesses have created nearly 11 million new jobs. And in a hopeful sign for middle-class families, wages are on the rise again. Our investments in American manufacturing have helped fuel its best stretch of job growth since the ‘90s. America is now the number one producer of oil and gas, saving drivers about 70 cents a gallon at the pump over last Christmas. The auto industry we rescued is on track for its strongest year since 2005. Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, about 10 million Americans have gained health insurance in the past year alone. And since I took office, we have cut our deficits by about two-thirds. Meanwhile, around the world, America is leading. We’re leading the coalition to degrade and ultimately destroy ISIL. We’re leading the global fight to combat the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. We’re leading global efforts to address climate change, including last month’s joint announcement with China. We’re turning a new page in our relationship with the Cuban people. And in less than two weeks, after more than 13 years, our combat mission in Afghanistan will be over, and our war there will come to a responsible end. Today, more of our troops are home for the holidays than at any time in over a decade. Still, many of our men and women in uniform will spend this Christmas in harm’s way. And as Commander-in-Chief, I want our troops to know: your country is united in our support and gratitude for you and your families. The six years since the financial crisis have demanded hard work and sacrifice on everyone’s part. But as a country, we have every right to be proud of what we’ve got to show for it. More jobs. More insured. A growing economy. Shrinking deficits. Bustling industry. Booming energy. Pick any metric you want – America’s resurgence is real. And we now have the chance to reverse the decades-long erosion of middle-class jobs and incomes. We just have to invest in the things that we know will secure even faster growth in higher-paying jobs for more Americans. We have to make sure our economy, our justice system, and our government work not only for a few, but for all of us. And I look forward to working together with the new Congress next year on these priorities. Sure, we’ll disagree on some things. We’ll have to compromise on others. I’ll act on my own when it’s necessary. But I will never stop trying to make life better for people like you. Because thanks to your efforts, a new foundation is laid. A new future is ready to be written. We have set the stage for a new American moment, and I’m going to spend every minute of my last two years making sure we seize it. On behalf of the Obama family, I wish all of you a very Merry Christmas. Thanks, and have a wonderful holiday season. Remarks by the President in Year-End Press Conference
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary For Immediate Release December 19, 2014 REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT IN YEAR-END PRESS CONFERENCE James S. Brady Press Briefing Room 1:53 P.M. EST THE PRESIDENT: Hello, everybody. We've really got a full house today, huh? Well, all I want for Christmas is to take your questions. (Laughter.) But first let me say a little bit about this year. In last year’s final press conference, I said that 2014 would be a year of action and would be a breakthrough year for America. And it has been. Yes, there were crises that we had to tackle around the world, many that were unanticipated. We have more work to do to make sure our economy, our justice system, and our government work not just for the few, but for the many. But there is no doubt that we can enter into the New Year with renewed confidence that America is making significant strides where it counts. The steps that we took early on to rescue our economy and rebuild it on a new foundation helped make 2014 the strongest year for job growth since the 1990s. All told, over a 57-month streak, our businesses have created nearly 11 million new jobs. Almost all the job growth that we’ve seen have been in full-time positions. Much of the recent pickup in job growth has been in higher-paying industries. And in a hopeful sign for middle-class families, wages are on the rise again. Our investments in American manufacturing have helped fuel its best stretch of job growth also since the 1990s. America is now the number-one producer of oil, the number-one producer of natural gas. We're saving drivers about 70 cents a gallon at the pump over last Christmas. And effectively today, our rescue of the auto industry is officially over. We've now repaid taxpayers every dime and more of what my administration committed, and the American auto industry is on track for its strongest year since 2005. And we've created about half a million new jobs in the auto industry alone. Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, about 10 million Americans have gained health insurance just this past year. Enrollment is beginning to pick up again during the open enrollment period. The uninsured rate is at a near record low. Since the law passed, the price of health care has risen at its slowest rate in about 50 years. And we’ve cut our deficits by about two-thirds since I took office, bringing them to below their 40-year average. Meanwhile, around the world, America is leading. We’re leading the coalition to degrade and ultimately destroy ISIL -- a coalition that includes Arab partners. We’re leading the international community to check Russian aggression in Ukraine. We are leading the global fight to combat Ebola in West Africa, and we are preventing an outbreak from taking place here at home. We’re leading efforts to address climate change, including last month’s joint announcement with China that’s already jumpstarting new progress in other countries. We’re writing a new chapter in our leadership here in the Americas by turning a new page on our relationship with the Cuban people. And in less than two weeks, after more than 13 years, our combat mission in Afghanistan will be over. Today, more of our troops are home for the holidays than any time in over a decade. Still, many of our men and women in uniform will spend Christmas in harm’s way. And they should know that the country is united in support of you and grateful not only to you but also to your families. The six years since the crisis have demanded hard work and sacrifice on everybody’s part. But as a country, we have every right to be proud of what we’ve accomplished -- more jobs; more people insured; a growing economy; shrinking deficits; bustling industry; booming energy. Pick any metric that you want -- America’s resurgence is real. We are better off. I’ve always said that recovering from the crisis of 2008 was our first order of business, and on that business, America has outperformed all of our other competitors. Over the past four years, we’ve put more people back to work than all other advanced economies combined. We’ve now come to a point where we have the chance to reverse an even deeper problem, the decades-long erosion of middle-class jobs and incomes, and to make sure that the middle class is the engine that powers our prosperity for decades to come. To do that, we're going to have to make some smart choices; we've got to make the right choices. We're going to have to invest in the things that secure even faster growth in higher-paying jobs for more Americans. And I’m being absolutely sincere when I say I want to work with this new Congress to get things done, to make those investments, to make sure the government is working better and smarter. We're going to disagree on some things, but there are going to be areas of agreement and we've got to be able to make that happen. And that's going to involve compromise every once in a while, and we saw during this lame duck period that perhaps that spirit of compromise may be coming to the fore. In terms of my own job, I'm energized, I'm excited about the prospects for the next couple of years, and I'm certainly not going to be stopping for a minute in the effort to make life better for ordinary Americans. Because, thanks to their efforts, we really do have a new foundation that's been laid. We are better positioned than we have been in a very long time. A new future is ready to be written. We've set the stage for this American moment. And I'm going to spend every minute of my last two years making sure that we seize it. My presidency is entering the fourth quarter; interesting stuff happens in the fourth quarter. And I'm looking forward to it. But going into the fourth quarter, you usually get a timeout. I'm now looking forward to a quiet timeout -- Christmas with my family. So I want to wish everybody a Merry Christmas, a Happy Hanukkah, a Happy New Year. I hope that all of you get some time to spend with your families as well, because one thing that we share is that we're away too much from them. And now, Josh has given me the “who’s been naughty and who’s been nice” list -- (laughter) -- and I'm going to use it to take some questions. And we're going to start with Carrie Budoff Brown of Politico. There you go, Carrie. Q Thank you, Mr. President. I’ll start on North Korea -- that seems to be the biggest topic today. What does a proportional response look like to the Sony hack? And did Sony make the right decision in pulling the movie? Or does that set a dangerous precedent when faced with this kind of situation? THE PRESIDENT: Well, let me address the second question first. Sony is a corporation. It suffered significant damage. There were threats against its employees. I am sympathetic to the concerns that they faced. Having said all that, yes, I think they made a mistake. In this interconnected, digital world, there are going to be opportunities for hackers to engage in cyber assaults both in the private sector and the public sector. Now, our first order of business is making sure that we do everything to harden sites and prevent those kinds of attacks from taking place. When I came into office, I stood up a cybersecurity interagency team to look at everything that we could at the government level to prevent these kinds of attacks. We’ve been coordinating with the private sector, but a lot more needs to be done. We’re not even close to where we need to be. And one of the things in the New Year that I hope Congress is prepared to work with us on is strong cybersecurity laws that allow for information-sharing across private sector platforms, as well as the public sector, so that we are incorporating best practices and preventing these attacks from happening in the first place. But even as we get better, the hackers are going to get better, too. Some of them are going to be state actors; some of them are going to be non-state actors. All of them are going to be sophisticated and many of them can do some damage. We cannot have a society in which some dictator someplace can start imposing censorship here in the United States. Because if somebody is able to intimidate folks out of releasing a satirical movie, imagine what they start doing when they see a documentary that they don’t like, or news reports that they don’t like. Or even worse, imagine if producers and distributors and others start engaging in self-censorship because they don’t want to offend the sensibilities of somebody whose sensibilities probably need to be offended. So that’s not who we are. That’s not what America is about. Again, I’m sympathetic that Sony as a private company was worried about liabilities, and this and that and the other. I wish they had spoken to me first. I would have told them, do not get into a pattern in which you’re intimidated by these kinds of criminal attacks. Imagine if, instead of it being a cyber-threat, somebody had broken into their offices and destroyed a bunch of computers and stolen disks. Is that what it takes for suddenly you to pull the plug on something? So we’ll engage with not just the film industry, but the news industry and the private sector around these issues. We already have. We will continue to do so. But I think all of us have to anticipate occasionally there are going to be breaches like this. They’re going to be costly. They’re going to be serious. We take them with the utmost seriousness. But we can’t start changing our patterns of behavior any more than we stop going to a football game because there might be the possibility of a terrorist attack; any more than Boston didn’t run its marathon this year because of the possibility that somebody might try to cause harm. So let’s not get into that way of doing business. Q Can you just say what the response would be to this attack? Wwould you consider taking some sort of symbolic step like watching the movie yourself or doing some sort of screening here that -- THE PRESIDENT: I’ve got a long list of movies I’m going to be watching. (Laughter.) Q Will this be one of them? THE PRESIDENT: I never release my full movie list. But let’s talk of the specifics of what we now know. The FBI announced today and we can confirm that North Korea engaged in this attack. I think it says something interesting about North Korea that they decided to have the state mount an all-out assault on a movie studio because of a satirical movie starring Seth Rogen and James Flacco [Franco]. (Laughter.) I love Seth and I love James, but the notion that that was a threat to them I think gives you some sense of the kind of regime we’re talking about here. They caused a lot of damage, and we will respond. We will respond proportionally, and we’ll respond in a place and time and manner that we choose. It’s not something that I will announce here today at a press conference. More broadly, though, this points to the need for us to work with the international community to start setting up some very clear rules of the road in terms of how the Internet and cyber operates. Right now, it’s sort of the Wild West. And part of the problem is, is you’ve got weak states that can engage in these kinds of attacks, you’ve got non-state actors that can do enormous damage. That’s part of what makes this issue of cybersecurity so urgent. Again, this is part of the reason why it’s going to be so important for Congress to work with us and get a actual bill passed that allows for the kind of information-sharing we need. Because if we don’t put in place the kind of architecture that can prevent these attacks from taking place, this is not just going to be affecting movies, this is going to be affecting our entire economy in ways that are extraordinarily significant. And, by the way, I hear you’re moving to Europe. Where you going to be? Q Brussels. THE PRESIDENT: Brussels. Q Yes. Helping Politico start a new publication. THE PRESIDENT: Well, congratulations. Q I’ve been covering you since the beginning. THE PRESIDENT: Well, I think -- Q It’s been a long road for the both of us. THE PRESIDENT: I think there’s no doubt that what Belgium needs is a version of Politico. (Laughter.) Q I’ll take that as an endorsement. THE PRESIDENT: The waffles are delicious there, by the way. Cheryl Bolen. You’ve been naughty. (Laughter.) Cheryl, go ahead. Q Thank you, Mr. President. Looking ahead to your work with Congress next year, you’ve mentioned as an area of possible compromise tax reform. And so I am wondering, do you see a Republican Congress as presenting a better opportunity for actually getting tax reform next year? Will you be putting out a new proposal? Are you willing to consider both individual and corporate side of the tax ledger there? And also, are you still concerned about corporate inversions? THE PRESIDENT: I think an all-Democratic Congress would have provided an even better opportunity for tax reform. But I think, talking to Speaker Boehner and Leader McConnell that they are serious about wanting to get some things done. The tax area is one area where we can get things done. And I think in the coming weeks leading up to the State of Union, there will be some conversations at the staff levels about what principles each side are looking at. I can tell you broadly what I’d like to see. I’d like to see more simplicity in the system. I’d like to see more fairness in the system. With respect to the corporate tax reform issue, we know that there are companies that are paying the full freight -- 35 percent -- higher than just about any other company on Earth, if you're paying 35 percent, and then there are other companies that are paying zero because they’ve got better accountants or lawyers. That's not fair. There are companies that are parking money outside the country because of tax avoidance. We think that it’s important that everybody pays something if, in fact, they are effectively headquartered in the United States. In terms of corporate inversion, those are situations where companies really are headquartered here but, on paper, switch their headquarters to see if they can avoid paying their fair share of taxes. I think that needs to be fixed. So, fairness, everybody paying their fair share, everybody taking responsibility I think is going to be very important. Some of those principles I’ve heard Republicans say they share. How we do that -- the devil is in the details. And I’ll be interested in seeing what they want to move forward. I’m going to make sure that we put forward some pretty specific proposals building on what we’ve already put forward. One other element of this that I think is important is -- and I’ve been on this hobby horse now for six years. (Audience member sneezes.) Bless you. We’ve got a lot of infrastructure we’ve got to rebuild in this country if we're going to be competitive -- roads, bridges, ports, airports, electrical grids, water systems, sewage systems. We are way behind. And early on we indicated that there is a way of us potentially doing corporate tax reform, lowering rates, eliminating loopholes so everybody is paying their fair share, and during that transition also providing a mechanism where we can get some infrastructure built. I’d like to see us work on that issue as well. Historically, obviously, infrastructure has not been a Democratic or a Republican issue, and I’d like to see if we can return to that tradition. Julie Pace. Q Thank you, Mr. President. I wanted to ask about Cuba. What would you say to dissidents or democracy advocates inside Cuba who fear that the policy changes you announced this week could give the Castro regime economic benefits without having to address human rights or their political system? When your administration was lifting sanctions on Myanmar you sought commitments of reform. Why not do the same with Cuba? And if I could just follow up on North Korea. Do you have any indication that North Korea was acting in conjunction with another country, perhaps China? THE PRESIDENT: We’ve got no indication that North Korea was acting in conjunction with another country. With respect to Cuba, we are glad that the Cuban government have released slightly over 50 dissidents; that they are going to be allowing the International Committee of the Red Cross and the United Nations human rights agencies to operate more freely inside of Cuba and monitor what is taking place. I share the concerns of dissidents there and human rights activists that this is still a regime that represses its people. And as I said when I made the announcement, I don’t anticipate overnight changes, but what I know deep in my bones is that if you’ve done the same thing for 50 years and nothing has changed, you should try something different if you want a different outcome. And this gives us an opportunity for a different outcome, because suddenly Cuba is open to the world in ways that it has not been before. It’s open to Americans traveling there in ways that it hasn’t been before. It’s open to church groups visiting their fellow believers inside of Cuba in ways they haven't been before. It offers the prospect of telecommunications and the Internet being more widely available in Cuba in ways that it hasn’t been before. And over time, that chips away at this hermetically sealed society, and I believe offers the best prospect then of leading to greater freedom, greater self-determination on the part of the Cuban people. I think it will happen in fits and starts. But through engagement, we have a better chance of bringing about change then we would have otherwise. Q Do you have a goal for where you see Cuba being at the end of your presidency? THE PRESIDENT: I think it would be unrealistic for me to map out exactly where Cuba will be. But change is going to come to Cuba. It has to. They’ve got an economy that doesn’t work. They’ve been reliant for years first on subsidies from the Soviet Union, then on subsidies from Venezuela. Those can’t be sustained. And the more the Cuban people see what’s possible, the more interested they are going to be in change. But how societies change is country-specific, it’s culturally specific. It could happen fast; it could happen slower than I’d like; but it’s going to happen. And I think this change in policy is going to advance that. Lesley Clark. Q Thank you, Mr. President. I had a number of questions on Cuba as well. Appreciate that. I wanted to -- THE PRESIDENT: Do I have to write all these down? How many are there? (Laughter.) “A number” sounded intimidating. Q As quick as I can. As quick as I can. I wanted to see if you got an assurances from the Cuban government that it would not revert to the same sort of -- sabotage the deal, as it has in the past when past Presidents had made similar overtures to the government. THE PRESIDENT: Meaning? Be specific. What do you mean? Q When the Clinton administration made some overtures, they shot down planes. They sort of had this pattern of doing provocative -- provocative events. THE PRESIDENT: Okay, so just general provocative activity. Q Provocative activities any time the U.S. has sort of reached out a hand to them. I wanted to see what is your knowledge of whether Fidel Castro -- did he have any role in the talks? When you talked to President Raul Castro, did Fidel Castro’s name come up? Or did you ask about him? How he’s doing? People haven't seen him in a while. Given the deep opposition from some Republicans in Congress to lifting the embargo, to an embassy, to any of the changes that you’re doing, are you going to personally get involved in terms of talking to them about efforts that they want to do to block money on a new embassy? THE PRESIDENT: All right, Lesley, I think I’m going to cut you off here. (Laughter.) This is taking up a lot of time. Q Okay, all right. THE PRESIDENT: All right. So, with respect to sabotage, I mean, my understanding of the history, for example, of the plane being shot down, it’s not clear that that was the Cuban government purposely trying to undermine overtures by the Clinton administration. It was a tragic circumstance that ended up collapsing talks that had begun to take place. I haven't seen a historical record that suggests that they shot the plane down specifically in order to undermine overtures by the Clinton government. I think it is not precedented for the President of the United States and the President of Cuba to make an announcement at the same time that they are moving towards normalizing relations. So there hasn’t been anything like this in the past. That doesn’t meant that over the next two years we can anticipate them taking certain actions that we may end up finding deeply troubling either inside of Cuba or with respect to their foreign policy. And that could put significant strains on the relationship. But that’s true of a lot of countries out there where we have an embassy. And the whole point of normalizing relations is that it gives us a greater opportunity to have influence with that government than not. So I would be surprised if the Cuban government purposely tries to undermine what is now effectively its own policy. I wouldn’t be surprised if they take at any given time actions that we think are a problem. And we will be in a position to respond to whatever actions they take the same way we do with a whole range of countries around the world when they do things we think are wrong. But the point is, is that we will be in a better position I think to actually have some influence, and there may be carrots as well as sticks that we can then apply. The only way that Fidel’s name came up -- I think I may have mentioned this in the Davie Muir article -- interview that I did -- was I delivered a fairly lengthy statement at the front end about how we’re looking forward to a new future in the relationship between our two countries, but that we are going to continue to press on issues of democracy and human rights, which we think are important. My opening remarks probably took about 15 minutes, which on the phone is a pretty long time. And at the end of that, he said, Mr. President, you’re still a young man. Perhaps you have the -- at the end of my remarks I apologized for taking such a long time, but I wanted to make sure that before we engaged in the conversation he was very clear about where I stood. He said, oh, don’t worry about it, Mr. President, you’re still a young man and you have still the chance to break Fidel’s record -- he once spoke seven hours straight. (Laughter.) And then, President Castro proceeded to deliver his own preliminary remarks that last at least twice as long as mine. (Laughter.) And then I was able to say, obviously it runs in the family. But that was the only discussion of Fidel Castro that we had. I sort of forgot all the other questions. (Laughter.) Q I have a few more if you’re -- how personally involved are you going to get in -- THE PRESIDENT: With respect to Congress? We cannot unilaterally bring down the embargo. That’s codified in the Libertad Act. And what I do think is going to happen, though, is there’s going to be a process where Congress digests it. There are bipartisan supporters of our new approach, there are bipartisan detractors of this new approach. People will see how the actions we take unfold. And I think there’s going to be a healthy debate inside of Congress. And I will certainly weigh in. I think that ultimately we need to go ahead and pull down the embargo, which I think has been self-defeating in advancing the aims that we’re interested in. But I don’t anticipate that that happens right away. I think people are going to want to see how does this move forward before there’s any serious debate about whether or not we would make major shifts in the embargo. Roberta Rampton. Q I want to follow on that by asking, under what conditions would you meet with President Castro in Havana? Would you have certain preconditions that you would want to see met before doing that? And on the hack, I know that you said that you’re not going to announce your response, but can you say whether you’re considering additional economic or financial sanctions on North Korea? Can you rule out the use of military force or some kind of cyber hit of your own? THE PRESIDENT: I think I’m going to leave it where I left it, which is we just confirmed that it was North Korea; we have been working up a range of options. They will be presented to me. I will make a decision on those based on what I believe is proportional and appropriate to the nature of this crime. With respect to Cuba, we’re not at a stage here where me visiting Cuba or President Castro coming to the United States is in the cards. I don’t know how this relationship will develop over the next several years. I’m a fairly young man so I imagine that at some point in my life I will have the opportunity to visit Cuba and enjoy interacting with the Cuban people. But there’s nothing specific where we're trying to target some sort of visit on my part. Colleen McCain Nelson. Q Thank you, Mr. President. THE PRESIDENT: There you are. Q You spoke earlier about 2014 being a breakthrough year, and you ended the year with executive actions on Cuba and immigration and climate change. But you didn't make much progress this year on your legislative agenda. And some Republican lawmakers have said they're less inclined to work with you if you pursue executive actions so aggressively. Are you going to continue to pursue executive actions if that creates more roadblocks for your legislative agenda? Or have you concluded that it’s not possible to break the fever in Washington and the partisan gridlock here? THE PRESIDENT: I think there are real opportunities to get things done in Congress. As I said before, I take Speaker Boehner and Mitch McConnell at their words that they want to get things done. I think the American people would like to see us get some things done. The question is going to be are we able to separate out those areas where we disagree and those areas where we agree. I think there are going to be some tough fights on areas where we disagree. If Republicans seek to take health care away from people who just got it, they will meet stiff resistance from me. If they try to water down consumer protections that we put in place in the aftermath of the financial crisis, I will say no. And I’m confident that I’ll be able to uphold vetoes of those types of provisions. But on increasing American exports, on simplifying our tax system, on rebuilding our infrastructure, my hope is that we can get some things done. I’ve never been persuaded by this argument that if it weren’t for the executive actions they would have been more productive. There’s no evidence of that. So I intend to continue to do what I’ve been doing, which is where I see a big problem and the opportunity to help the American people, and it is within my lawful authority to provide that help, I’m going to do it. And I will then, side-by-side, reach out to members of Congress, reach out to Republicans, and say, let’s work together; I’d rather do it with you. Immigration is the classic example. I was really happy when the Senate passed a bipartisan, comprehensive immigration bill. And I did everything I could for a year and a half to provide Republicans the space to act, and showed not only great patience, but flexibility, saying to them, look, if there are specific changes you’d like to see, we're willing to compromise, we're willing to be patient, we're willing to work with you. Ultimately it wasn’t forthcoming. And so the question is going to be I think if executive actions on areas like minimum wage, or equal pay, or having a more sensible immigration system are important to Republicans, if they care about those issues, and the executive actions are bothering them, there is a very simple solution, and that is: Pass bills. And work with me to make sure I’m willing to sign those bills. Because both sides are going to have to compromise. On most issues, in order for their initiatives to become law, I’m going to have sign off. And that means they have to take into account the issues that I care about, just as I’m going to have to take into account the issues that they care about. All right. I think this is going to be our last question. Juliet Eilperin. There you go. Q Thanks so much. So one of the first bills that Mitch McConnell said he will send to you is one that would authorize the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline. When you talked about this in the past, you’ve minimized the benefits and you highlighted some of the risks associated with that project. I’m wondering if you could tell us both what you would do when faced with that bill, given the Republican majority that we’ll have in both chambers. And also, what do you see as the benefits? And given the precipitous drop we’ve seen in oil prices recently, does that change the calculus in terms of how it will contribute to climate change, and whether you think it makes sense to go ahead with that project? THE PRESIDENT: Well, I don’t think I’ve minimized the benefits, I think I’ve described the benefits. At issue in Keystone is not American oil. It is Canadian oil that is drawn out of tar sands in Canada. That oil currently is being shipped out through rail or trucks, and it would save Canadian oil companies and the Canadian oil industry an enormous amount of money if they could simply pipe it all the way through the United States down to the Gulf. Once that oil gets to the Gulf, it is then entering into the world market, and it would be sold all around the world. So there’s no -- I won’t say “no” -- there is very little impact, nominal impact, on U.S. gas prices -- what the average American consumer cares about -- by having this pipeline come through. And sometimes the way this gets sold is, let’s get this oil and it’s going to come here. And the implication is, is that’s going to lower gas prices here in the United States. It’s not. There’s a global oil market. It’s very good for Canadian oil companies and it’s good for the Canadian oil industry, but it’s not going to be a huge benefit to U.S. consumers. It’s not even going to be a nominal benefit to U.S. consumers. Now, the construction of the pipeline itself will create probably a couple thousand jobs. Those are temporary jobs until the construction actually happens. There’s probably some additional jobs that can be created in the refining process down in the Gulf. Those aren’t completely insignificant -- it’s just like any other project. But when you consider what we could be doing if we were rebuilding our roads and bridges around the country -- something that Congress could authorize -- we could probably create hundreds of thousands of jobs, or a million jobs. So if that’s the argument, there are a lot more direct ways to create well-paying Americans construction jobs. And then, with respect to the cost, all I’ve said is that I want to make sure that if, in fact, this project goes forward, that it’s not adding to the problem of climate change, which I think is very serious and does impose serious costs on the American people -- some of them long term, but significant costs nonetheless. If we’ve got more flooding, more wildfires, more drought, there are direct economic impacts on that. And as we’re now rebuilding after Sandy, for example, we’re having to consider how do we increase preparedness in how we structure infrastructure and housing, and so forth, along the Jersey Shore. That’s an example of the kind of costs that are imposed, and you can put a dollar figure on it. So, in terms of process, you’ve got a Nebraska judge that’s still determining whether or not the new path for this pipeline is appropriate. Once that is resolved, then the State Department will have all the information it needs to make its decision. But I’ve just tried to give this perspective, because I think that there’s been this tendency to really hype this thing as some magic formula to what ails the U.S. economy, and it’s hard to see on paper where exactly they’re getting that information from. In terms of oil prices and how it impacts the decision, I think that it won’t have a significant impact except perhaps in the minds of folks -- when gas prices are lower, maybe they’re less susceptible to the argument that this is the answer to lowering gas prices. But it was never going to be the answer to lowering gas prices, because the oil that would be piped through the Keystone pipeline would go into the world market. And that’s what determines oil prices, ultimately. Q And in terms of Congress forcing your hand on this, is this something where you clearly say you’re not going to let Congress force your hand on whether to approve or disapprove of this? THE PRESIDENT: I’ll see what they do. We’ll take that up in the New Year. Q Any New Year’s resolutions? THE PRESIDENT: I’ll ask -- April, go ahead. Q Thank you, Mr. President. Last question, I guess. (Laughter.) Six years ago this month, I asked you what was the state of black America in the Oval Office, and you said it was the “the best of times and the worst of times.” You said it was the best of times in the sense that there was -- has never been more opportunity for African Americans to receive a good education, and the worst of times for unemployment and the lack of opportunity. We're ending 2014. What is the state of black America as we talk about those issues as well as racial issues in this country? THE PRESIDENT: Like the rest of America, black America in the aggregate is better off now than it was when I came into office. The jobs that have been created, the people who’ve gotten health insurance, the housing equity that’s been recovered, the 401 pensions that have been recovered -- a lot of those folks are African American. They’re better off than they were. The gap between income and wealth of white and black America persists. And we’ve got more work to do on that front. I’ve been consistent in saying that this is a legacy of a troubled racial past of Jim Crow and slavery. That’s not an excuse for black folks. And I think the overwhelming majority of black people understand it’s not an excuse. They’re working hard. They’re out there hustling and trying to get an education, trying to send their kids to college. But they’re starting behind, oftentimes, in the race. And what’s true for all Americans is we should be willing to provide people a hand up -- not a handout, but help folks get that good early childhood education, help them graduate from high school, help them afford college. If they do, they’re going to be able to succeed, and that’s going to be good for all of us. And we’ve seen some progress. The education reforms that we’ve initiated are showing measurable results. We have the highest high school graduation that we’ve seen in a very long time. We are seeing record numbers of young people attending college. In many states that have initiated reforms, you’re seeing progress in math scores and reading scores for African American and Latino students as well as the broader population. But we’ve still got more work to go. Now, obviously, how we’re thinking about race relations right now has been colored by Ferguson, the Garner case in New York, a growing awareness in the broader population of what I think many communities of color have understood for some time, and that is that there are specific instances at least where law enforcement doesn’t feel as if it’s being applied in a colorblind fashion. The task force that I formed is supposed to report back to me in 90 days -- not with a bunch of abstract musings about race relations, but some really concrete, practical things that police departments and law enforcement agencies can begin implementing right now to rebuild trust between communities of color and the police department. And my intention is to, as soon as I get those recommendations, to start implementing them. Some of them we’ll be able to do through executive action. Some of them will require congressional action. Some of them will require action on the part of states and local jurisdictions. But I actually think it’s been a healthy conversation that we’ve had. These are not new phenomenon. The fact that they’re now surfacing, in part because people are able to film what have just been, in the past, stories passed on around a kitchen table, allows people to make their own assessments and evaluations. And you’re not going to solve a problem if it’s not being talked about. In the meantime, we’ve been moving forward on criminal justice reform issues more broadly. One of the things I didn’t talk about in my opening statement is the fact that last year was the first time in 40 years where we had the federal prison population go down and the crime rate go down at the same time, which indicates the degree to which it’s possible for us to think smarter about who we’re incarcerating, how long we’re incarcerating, how are we dealing with nonviolent offenders, how are we dealing with drug offenses, diversion programs, drug courts. We can do a better job of -- and save money in the process by initiating some of these reforms. And I’ve been really pleased to see that we’ve had Republicans and Democrats in Congress who are interested in these issues as well. The one thing I will say -- and this is going to be the last thing I say -- is that one of the great things about this job is you get to know the American people. I mean, you meet folks from every walk of life and every region of the country, and every race and every faith. And what I don’t think is always captured in our political debates is the vast majority of people are just trying to do the right thing, and people are basically good and have good intentions. Sometimes our institutions and our systems don’t work as well as they should. Sometimes you've got a police department that has gotten into bad habits over a period of time and hasn’t maybe surfaced some hidden biases that we all carry around. But if you offer practical solutions, I think people want to fix these problems. It’s not -- this isn’t a situation where people feel good seeing somebody choked and dying. I think that troubles everybody. So there’s an opportunity of all of us to come together and to take a practical approach to these problems. And I guess that's my general theme for the end of the year -- which is we’ve gone through difficult times. It is your job, press corps, to report on all the mistakes that are made and all the bad things that happen and the crises that look like they're popping. And I understand that. But through persistent effort and faith in the American people, things get better. The economy has gotten better. Our ability to generate clean energy has gotten better. We know more about how to educate our kids. We solved problems. Ebola is a real crisis; you get a mistake in the first case because it’s not something that's been seen before -- we fix it. You have some unaccompanied children who spike at a border, and it may not get fixed in the time frame of the news cycle, but it gets fixed. And part of what I hope as we reflect on the New Year this should generate is some confidence. America knows how to solve problems. And when we work together, we can't be stopped. And now I’m going to go on vacation. Mele Kalikimaka, everybody. (Laughter.) Mahalo. Thank you, everybody. YEAR IN REVIEW: Creating Economic Opportunity for All Americans in 2014
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 18, 2014 YEAR IN REVIEW: Creating Economic Opportunity for All Americans in 2014 WASHINGTON, DC – President Obama took office in the depths of the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. Six years later, thanks to the grit and determination of the American people, and the decisive actions he took early on – to bring the economy back from the brink, to save the auto industry, and to build a new foundation for middle-class growth – we’ve made real progress. The economy grew at a combined 4.2% pace in the second and third quarters of this year, the strongest six-month period of growth in more than a decade. American businesses have added new jobs for 57 consecutive months, the longest streak of private-sector job creation on record, for a total of 10.9 million new jobs. The pickup in the pace of job growth this year has come in industries with higher wages. And wages across the economy are rising – a very welcome sign for millions of American families. The U.S. economic recovery took a major step forward in 2014, achieving a number of important milestones: · Jobs: By November, 2014 was already the best year of job growth since 1999. · Manufacturing: The manufacturing sector added 15,000 jobs per month, and the average workweek for those workers is the highest since World War II. · Education: The high school graduation rate is the highest on record, and more Americans are earning post-secondary degrees than ever before – the surest pathway to the middle class. · Energy: America is now the number one oil and gas producer in the world. For the first time in nearly two decades, we produce more oil than we buy from abroad. And we’ve put tens of thousands of Americans to work harnessing energy from the wind and the sun. Just last month, President Obama and President Xi jointly announced the two countries’ respective post-2020 climate targets in Beijing – a move that will spark investment and innovation in clean energy technology and represent a substantial opportunity for U.S. companies. · Housing: The continued rise in home prices has cut the number of underwater mortgages from a peak of 14 million to less than 4 million, and the share of mortgages in delinquency or foreclosure has been cut in half. · Health Care: Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, 10 million Americans have gained health insurance in the past year alone. Meanwhile, due in part to reforms in the law, the price of health care has been rising at the slowest rate in nearly 50 years. · The Deficit: Under the President's leadership, the deficit has been cut by nearly two-thirds as a share of the economy – putting America on a more sound financial footing for our kids and grandkids. The President pledged that 2014 would be a year of action and he has spent the last 12 months working with Congress where he could and taking action on his own where needed to revitalize the economy. He also worked closely with leaders from businesses, nonprofits, education, and communities to expand opportunity for more American families. These efforts have helped contribute to economic progress in a number of ways. Some critical efforts include: Supporting Job Creation Through Manufacturing and Exports Manufacturing job growth doubled this year – to about 15,000 jobs per month compared to 7,000 jobs per month last year. In total, since February 2010, the United States has directly added 764,000 manufacturing jobs, with the sector expanding employment at its fastest rate in nearly two decades. And the United States’ renewed competitiveness in manufacturing is bringing production back, with 54 percent of U.S.-based manufacturers surveyed by the Boston Consulting Group actively considering bringing production back from China to the United States, up from 37 percent only 18 months prior. The Administration has helped support these efforts by taking steps including:
Following President Obama’s call on Congress to raise the national minimum wage to $10.10, states, cities and counties, and business leaders have taken action on their own to increase wages across the country. And on February 12, President Obama signed Executive Order 13658, requiring that workers on new Federal contracts be paid $10.10 an hour.
Supporting Job Skills and Employment Opportunities Working with Congress, businesses, states and cities and non-profits, the President has taken action to make sure our job-training system is preparing and connecting Americans to the jobs that employers are looking to fill. From an across-the-board review of our job-training system to new grants that support apprenticeships and help connect the long-term unemployed to work, the President and his Administration have used every tool available to train Americans with the skills they need, and connect them with businesses that are looking for skilled workers.
Providing High-Quality Education to America’s Students Ensuring that all Americans are prepared for the jobs of the future and strengthening middle-class security, starts with a strong education system. The President has taken a number of steps over the past year to expand access to high-quality early childhood education, connect every student to high-speed Internet, and make college more affordable.
ConnectED to the Future: In June 2013, President Obama visited Mooresville, NC to announce the ConnectED Initiative, which aims to ensure 99% of American students will have access to next-generation broadband in the classroom by 2017, and called for private sector leaders and the FCC To help connect our students. Since that time, the FCC has taken steps to modernize the E-rate program to support high-speed connectivity for America’s schools and libraries, providing a $2 billion down payment and passing a proposal that provides recourses needed to meet the President’s ConnectED goals. Additionally, private-sector companies have committed more than $2 billion in resources to schools to supplement federal actions and help support cutting-edge technologies across a greater number of schools and homes. On November 19, 2014, The President hosted school leaders and educators to push this effort forward and make all schools “Future Ready”. More than 1,200 superintendents joined the Administrations Future Ready District Pledge to set a vision for digital learning across America. Combined, this pledge will already reach 10 million students across 16,000 schools. THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 16, 2014 WHITE HOUSE BLOG POST: The Economy in 2014 By Jason Furman, Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers To view the full blog post, click HERE . The U.S. economic recovery took a major step forward in 2014, achieving a number of important milestones. American businesses set a new record for the most consecutive months of job growth: now 57 straight months and counting. By November, the economy had already added more jobs than in any full calendar year since the 1990s. And crucially, the pickup in job growth during 2014 occurred primarily in higher-paying industries, while nearly all of the employment gains have been in full-time positions. At the same time, the unemployment rate fell below 6 percent for the first time since 2008. Despite this progress, it is still too hard for many families to get ahead. Further reductions in long-term unemployment and faster wage growth are still needed, but the data from 2014 show that trends are clearly moving in the right direction. The President’s policies have contributed to this progress in a number of ways, including setting the stage for the recovery in 2009 and taking further steps to accelerate several favorable underlying economic trends. Some critical policies include: · The Recovery Act and Subsequent Fiscal Measures: The United States has come further in its recovery than most other advanced economies around the world, in part because of the President’s aggressive policy response that included the Recovery Act, the payroll tax cut, and about a dozen additional fiscal measures. Indeed, since 2010 the increase in employment in the United States exceeds that in Europe, Japan, and every other advanced economy combined. · Response to the Financial Crisis: Even when it was not popular, the President took steps to rescue the auto industry, implement historic consumer protections, recapitalize the financial sector, and institute strict new rules for Wall Street. The President’s policies have also helped millions of families stay in their homes and weather the storm, and today we are seeing rising home prices lift millions back above water on their mortgages. · Affordable Care Act: Changes in the health care system, in part due to the Affordable Care Act, are creating major savings for households, businesses, and the Federal government. In 2014, employer health insurance premiums grew at a rate tied for the lowest on record, reflecting in part the lowest health care price inflation in nearly half a century. · All-of-the-Above Energy Strategy: The United States is leading the world in both oil and natural gas production, contributing to a roughly 40 percent drop in oil prices over the second half of 2014, which means lower gas prices for families. At the same time, solar energy is up tenfold since 2008, while wind energy is up threefold. In addition to this energy boom, the United States has also made great strides in energy efficiency, contributing to a 10 percent reduction in carbon emissions from 2007 to 2013—the largest absolute emissions reduction of any country in the world. These developments signal that the President’s All-of-the-Above energy strategy is having a key impact. · Catalyzing Technological Innovation: The United States is the most innovative economy in the world, and to continue this tradition into the 21st century, the President signed into law the most sweeping patent reform in decades, made significant investments in research and development, and will nearly double the amount of wireless spectrum available for mobile broadband. Indeed, we are currently seeing the most successful wireless spectrum auction ever, a sign of the tremendous potential that stands to be unleashed as a result of these steps. · Reducing the Deficit: The Budget Control Act, the Affordable Care Act, and returning to Clinton-era tax rates for upper-income households will contribute to nearly $4 trillion in deficit reduction over the next decade. Reflecting these policies, the additional revenues associated with an improving economy, and the aforementioned slowdown in health care costs, the deficit in fiscal year 2014 fell to 2.8 percent of GDP, below its average for the past forty years and down by about two-thirds from its peak. A shrinking deficit has boosted national saving and set the stage for more sustainable and balanced growth in the coming years. To build on this progress, the President will continue to push for steps that support further growth of middle-class jobs and reward those who work hard and play by the rules, including investments in infrastructure, reforms to the business tax code and immigration system, expanded overseas markets for America’s goods and services, and an increase in the minimum wage. Remarks by the First Lady at Girls' Education Conference
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the First Lady ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release December 12, 2014 REMARKS BY THE FIRST LADY AT GIRLS’ EDUCATION CONFERENCE Brookings Institute Washington, D.C. 1:14 P.M. EST MRS. OBAMA: Thank you. (Applause.) Thank you, everyone. Good afternoon. Thank you all. Rest yourselves. You’ve been doing a lot of wonderful work. I don’t want you to get tired giving me a round of applause. (Laughter.) Let me first begin by apologizing; I have a cold, so if I start to choke before you, don’t worry, I’m doing just fine. (Laughter.) But it is truly a pleasure to be here with you today at Brookings. And I want to thank you so much for having me. I want to start by, of course, thanking Strobe Talbott for that very kind introduction, but, more importantly, for his tremendous service to our country. And I also want to recognize Prime Minister Julia Gillard. It’s wonderful to see you. You are a tremendous example of breaking so many barriers for women, not just through your long career but the work that you’re doing on global education. So thank you so much for being here. And of course, I want to thank Rebecca Winthrop for organizing this amazing group of leaders on behalf of girls around the world. And finally, I want to thank all of you for the outstanding work that you all do on global girls’ education. Now, I know you know that in recent years, this issue has finally come into the national and international spotlight. Celebrities are tweeting about it. Major corporations are funding it. Books about girls’ education have become best-sellers. And really, all of that has happened for one simple reason, and it’s because of the passionate, relentless leaders’ efforts, your efforts, the advocates and all of the young people who are working on this issue across the globe. Long before I ever became interested in this issue as First Lady, you all were out there doing the hard work -- running schools in remote villages on shoestring budgets, taking on maddening bureaucracies, fighting year after year to change policies and laws. And you all were doing the painstaking research to show that educating girls is one of the most powerful things that we can do not just for girls and their families, but for their communities and for their countries. And because of the work that you are doing, as of 2012, every developing region in the world had achieved or was close to achieving gender parity in primary education. And in a little over a decade, we saw nearly 56 million more girls going to school. Now, that is a breathtaking amount of progress in a very short period of time, and you all should be incredibly proud of the work that you’ve been doing. But, as you know, when 62 million girls are still not in school, when in some countries, fewer than 10 percent of girls complete secondary school, then we know that our work is far from finished. In fact, in many ways, it’s only just beginning. Because the truth is –- and you all know this more than anyone -– we’re now coming to a new, more -- and important and challenging phase of this work. We are beginning to confront those “second generation” issues, especially as they apply to adolescent girls. We may have more girls in those classrooms, but now we’re stepping back and asking ourselves, are they truly learning what they need to know? Are we really doing everything we can to keep them safe? How can we ensure that they don’t just start school, but they actually stay in school through adolescence, and then transition to the workforce? Because we all know that this critical period -– when girls develop from children into women -– is when this issue truly starts to get hard. Because adolescence is often when a girl is first subject to the cultural values and practices that define what it means to be a woman in her society. And at that point, we really can’t take on the issue of girls’ education unless we are also willing to confront all of the complex issues that keep so many girls out of school –- issues like early and forced marriage, genital cutting, beliefs about women’s sexuality and their proper role in societies, and the very real economic disincentives that keep many parents from sending their daughters to school in the first place. Again, as you all well know, these issues can become even more complicated -- make issues that are seemingly straightforward even more complicated for these second-generation challenges. Just take the issue of safety. On the surface, the problem seems pretty obvious -- parents are afraid that their daughters will be attacked and sexually assaulted on their way to and from and even at school. Now, this is an understandable concern, one that any parent can relate to. But in many communities, parents aren’t just worried about horrific physical and emotional harm to their daughter, they’re also thinking about the harm to her honor. They’re worried that she’ll be considered damaged goods, unmarriageable, with no one to protect or provide for her, and then her entire future will be ruined. Those are the kind of stakes that we’re dealing with on this issue. And then there are the issues of quality and value, which are similarly complex. As you know, when deciding whether it’s worth sending their girls to school, parents aren’t just asking themselves, will this be a good experience for my daughter, they’re calculating what those school fees will mean for their family’s food budget, they’re contemplating the loss of household help that is critical to the survival of that family. So they want to see real evidence that their daughter is learning real, marketable skills –- things like literacy, numeracy, vocational skills that will help her provide for herself and, ultimately, her family. That’s the kind of bar that we need to clear as we move forward. Because in our work to educate girls, especially adolescent girls, we’re often asking families to do what seems to be in the exact opposite of their daughters’ and their families’ best interests. Often, we’re asking them to change or disregard some of their most strongly held values and traditions. So, yes, we need more infrastructure. We need more resources. And, yes, we need more good laws and policies -– those are absolutely the necessary building blocks for change. But we also need buy-in from those families and those communities. We need parents to actually believe that their daughters are as worthy of an education as their sons, and that sending girls to school is a good investment for their future. And that might take some real effort on the ground to actually understand people’s concerns, to gain their trust, to determine what resources they need to make the sacrifice of educating their daughters. So what we’re talking about are the hard things like countless conversations, community meetings. We're talking about hundreds of hours spent training and empowering local leaders on the ground. And we’re also talking about a shift in our own thinking so that we see families and communities less as a barrier to girls’ education, and more as the source of the solution. But if we really are going to be honest with ourselves –- and I’ve heard this from many of you -– while we often talk about the importance of community mobilization and local leadership, that’s not always the focus of our work. And there are good reasons for this. When you think about it, the truth is, it’s risky. When you’re new to a community, it’s often hard to know who to work with. And then once you find the right leaders and the partners, you might not always see eye to eye on how to move forward. And then you’ve got donor expectations -- they want a certain return on their investment, or you’ve got a reputation to uphold for your organization. So all this makes it not always so easy to go out on a limb and try something new. Mobilizing communities and empowering local leaders can also be very resource-intensive. It requires staff on the ground who are willing to lead from the side and take their cues from local folks. So you need a lot of patience to work through misunderstandings and miscommunications. And you need even more flexibility around deadlines and timelines. Now, this might not always feel like the most efficient approach, but every day, across the globe, so many of you are proving that programs that are developed and led by communities themselves can actually really transform girls’ lives. For example, there’s a Population Council program in Ethiopia that convenes community conversations about the impact of child marriage and provides families with financial incentives to delay marriage. And at the end of this program, girls were three times more likely to be in school. They were 90 percent less likely to be married. Some other wonderful examples -- a program -- organization called TOSTAN. TOSTAN brings together communities in Africa to assess barriers to girls’ education and other issues. And they work to develop their own plan of action, a plan that meets their needs and is in accordance with their values. As a result of this program, 7,000 communities have publicly announced that they are abandoning child-forced marriage and female genital cutting. And finally, back in 1995, there was a group of Peace Corps volunteers in Romania who came together with Romanian teachers to create GLOW camps for girls -- GLOW stands for Girls Leading Our World. And the camp focused on leadership and career and life-planning. And today, just 20 years later, there are GLOW camps in more than 60 countries, and last year alone they reached 30,000 young people. Now, we're fortunate that in a few minutes we're going to be hearing more about the Peace Corps’ work on this issue from a panel moderated by Glamour Magazine’s Cindi Leive. But these are just some of the wonderful examples of what works. But of course, for all of the successes like these, there are plenty of failures as well. But here’s the thing -- as I tell many young people, that’s okay. Failure is good. In fact, failure is necessary because we’re all in new territory here, especially when it comes to adolescent girls. And we’re still figuring out what works and what doesn’t work. So we need leaders like all of you out there experimenting and innovating. We need you out there conducting rigorous evaluations and learning not just from your triumphs, but from your mistakes. Now isn’t the time to be hesitant or risk-averse. Because as you know, so many girls across the globe are counting on us to be bold and creative and to give them all of the opportunities they deserve to fulfill their promise. And right now I’m thinking about one of those girls in particular who I met a few months ago, a young woman named Mireille Muhigwa from the Democratic Republic of Congo. When Mireille was just around nine years old, rebel forces entered her community and attacked her neighbors, murdering seven children and their father. Mireille’s family was spared. But on that day, she vowed that she would do everything in her power to finish school and fight for human rights for girls’ education. Over the years, Mireille watched many of her friends and classmates attacked, gunned down, raped. But she kept on studying. And she finished college last year, the only woman in her class to graduate with honors. Mireille came to Washington earlier this year as part of our Young African Leaders initiative, and she addressed the spouses of the Africa Leaders Summit. In her remarks, she said, simply -- and this is a quote from her -- she said, “Today, I ask you to join me without any fear, because,” she said, “fear is the little death.” She said, “This day I ask the girls all over the world to take out the fear, and to take up the pens and books.” So here’s what I think -- if Mireille could sustain her dreams amidst unspeakable violence, then surely we can sustain our focus on the fight for girls like her across the globe. If girls like Mireille can walk miles each day to reach their classrooms, and stay up for hours each night studying like their lives depended on it; if they can risk their lives just to go to school, like Malala did; if they can stand strong against all the voices that tell them they are undeserving of an education, then surely we can find a way to provide that education. We must. Surely we can give them a future worthy of their promise. Because in the end, when it’s all said and done, our challenges in doing that are nothing compared to the challenges these girls face. And if we can show just a fraction of their passion and courage and determination, then I’m confident that we can give all our girls the education they deserve. That's why I’m here. Because all of you are already well on your way in this work, and it’s wonderful. And I have learned so much from all of you, and I hope to learn more. I am inspired by you. Because of you, I am here. And I want you all to know that I am committed to this issue. I’m in. (Applause.) Yes, thank you. So clearly, we have a lot of work to do. But in the coming months and years, I’m going to be rolling up my sleeves. I’m going to be using my voice, my platform as First Lady to support your work and lift up this issue however I can, however many of you find fit for me to fit in. So this is just the beginning of our conversation. This is just the beginning of our work together. And I truly look forward to continued collaboration, continued inspiration and continued action in the next months and years ahead. So thank you all so much and good luck with the rest of today. And I look forward to seeing you soon. (Applause.) Remarks by the President at Meeting of the Export Council
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary _______________________________________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release December 11, 2014 REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT AT MEETING OF EXPORT COUNCIL Eisenhower Executive Office Building 11:30 A.M. EST THE PRESIDENT: Well, good morning, everybody. I just want to offer a few thoughts before you return to the meeting. Obviously we've seen some significant economic progress here in the United States over the last year. Our businesses have added almost 11 million jobs over the past 57 months. This year our economy has already created more jobs [than] in any year since the 1990s, with still a month to go. All told, since 2010, we've created more jobs here in the United States than Japan, Europe, and all advanced nations combined. And one of the reasons that we've been able to create so many jobs here in the United States is because our exports have been strong. Last year our businesses sold a record $2.3 trillion of Made in America goods and services. And these exports support more than 11 million American jobs -- typically, by the way, jobs that pay higher wages. And so this Council is designed to build on this progress. It is in part a factor in the progress that we've made. We've had some terrific suggestions from some of our leading businesses, but also some small businesses and medium-sized businesses who are starting to sell overseas. The recommendations that have been generated by the Council have been implemented by our various agencies, and we're here not to rest on our laurels but rather to continue to make a big push to sell even more overseas. I've said before I will go anywhere around the world to go to bat for American companies and American workers. We're going to keep on pushing trade agreements that benefit American companies and American workers and ensure that we've got a fair and even playing field, particularly in the fastest-growing markets. We're going to work with Congress to try to renew trade promotion authority and secure approval for a very ambitious TransPacific Partnership agreement, which would create a higher standard for trade in the fastest-growing, most populous and dynamic region in the world, the Asia Pacific region. We're also announcing -- because manufacturing has been a real bright spot in our growing economy -- some additional measures to boost manufacturing here in the United States so we can sell more manufacturing goods overseas. We're announcing today more than $290 million in new investments to launch two additional high-tech manufacturing hubs. One is going to be focusing on flexible computer chips that can be woven into everything from the gears in a helicopter to the fabric in your shirt. Another is going to focus on advance sensors that can dramatically cut energy costs for our factories. So far, we have launched eight of these hubs, and we intend to get 16 done, so we're more than half of the way there. And they’re helping us to compete for the next generation of manufacturing. One of the reasons that manufacturing has been growing faster here than the overall economy is because of real savings on the energy front, outstanding workers, but also because our companies have retooled and once again made that investment in innovation that has been the hallmark of American manufacturing for years. I also want to thank many of the folks around this room who’ve been working with us to find ways that we can increase and improve the pipeline for skilled workers going into the companies that ultimately end up exporting goods and services overseas. To make sure that our workers have those skills, today, my Secretary of Labor, Tom Perez, is announcing a $100 million competition to help expand apprenticeship programs across our country. Many of the companies around this table have helped design it or are already participating in these apprenticeship programs. They give talented, motivated young people the chance to get an outstanding career. They get a pathway, a door open to them that allows them to succeed and secure a position in the middle class, and it helps us recruit the kind of workers that are going to keep us competitive for years to come. Finally, we’ve got real opportunities to make some bipartisan progress this year on some areas that will make us more competitive in this global marketplace. For example, today our companies face the highest corporate tax rate in the world on paper. There are so many loopholes that some end up paying a much lower rate; some pay the full freight. It distorts our allocation of capital. It makes us less competitive relative to businesses that are headquartered overseas. We need to fix that. And I think that there’s genuine interest on both the Democratic and Republican side in making that happen. And so I just want to thank everybody on the Export Council for the outstanding work that you’ve already done. I’m looking forward to hearing about the recommendations that you have generated during the course of this meeting. And rest assured that I will be your partner for the remainder of my time in this office, making sure that we have the strongest, most competitive companies, the best workers, the best research and development, and the highest exports that we’ve ever seen in our history. Thank you very much. Thanks, pool. Thank you, pool. Q Mr. President, do you agree with John Brennan that the CIA’s interrogation techniques saved lives? THE PRESIDENT: We're talking about exports, Jon. Thank you. Q Mr. President, do you agree with John Brennan that the CIA’s interrogation program saved lives? THE PRESIDENT: We’re talking about exports, Jon. Thank you. MR. McNERNEY: Listen, thank you very much, Mr. President. If you look historically at the PEC, there has never been a time in its history where the administration, you personally, and the people on your Cabinet have supported this group to a greater extent. And we feel that engagement, and your presence here today once again makes that point. It energizes us, and I think it moves the agenda along. What we did today, we focused heavily on trade with Ambassador Froman. I’d like to maybe come back and get your perspective on how we’re going to move that forward. Everybody in the room is leaning forward in every kind of way to get that done. I think we reported out on the basis of six of our subcommittees’ recommendations we’re going to send to you, which you will get in due course. I think the other thing we talked about was a fact-finding trip we made to Turkey and Poland, which I think gave everybody in this group an on-the-ground understanding of the impact of the leadership of Penny and Mike and others on furthering things along. But I think if there were two things I would just sort of tee up -- and I know we have limited time with you -- one would be getting these things done. We all think it’s the right time, and you’ve suggested that to us at the BRT and some other places. Any comments you’d have for us to help you get it done. And then the other thing that came up is China. You’ve spent a lot of time with President Xi personally connecting. Penny is going to take the leadership role, starting in Chicago next week, JCCT. We’re trying to engage. But any comments on China would be -- those are sort of the themes that came out of the group this morning. THE PRESIDENT: Well, if you heard from Mike Froman, then you heard from -- MR. McNERNEY: The Oracle. (Laughter.) THE PRESIDENT: -- the guy who’s in the trenches on these trade negotiations. I’ll just give you a couple of quick top lines. First of all, I’m much more optimistic about us being able to close out an agreement with our TPP partners than I was last year. Doesn’t mean that it’s a done deal, but I think the odds of us being able to get a strong agreement are significantly higher than 50-50, whereas last year I think it was still sort of up for grabs. The question then becomes, assuming we are able to get the kind of agreement that is good for American workers and good for American businesses, how do we proceed in Congress. I think that despite the fact that we had an election I did not -- I wasn’t that happy with, the dynamics really don’t change in terms of the number of votes in the House and the Senate that are there to be gotten for a good trade deal. But we have to make the case. And I think we can make a very strong case that what we’re doing here is really setting a higher bar that will give us more access to markets, will give us greater IP protection, will make sure that U.S. companies both in goods and in services are less disadvantaged by non-tariff barriers and state support and procurement practices in these countries than they’ve been in the past. The pushback that we’re going to get domestically derives from a couple of sources. One is from not just labor -- not just organized labor, but a public perception generally that trade has resulted in an erosion of our manufacturing base as companies moved overseas in search of lower-wage labor. And my essential response to those arguments is not to deny that there have been some consequences to China’s ascension to the WTO and offshoring, but rather that that horse is out of the barn. We are now in the worst of all worlds where they have access to our markets, much of that shift in search of low-wage labor has already occurred, and yet, we don’t have access to those markets that are growing and no levers to force these other countries to increase their labor standards and their environmental standards. So instead of fighting the last war, what we need to be doing is looking forward. And there’s no doubt that what Mike is negotiating creates higher labor standards and greater access than the status quo. And that’s what we should be measuring against. I’ll give you just one very specific example, and that’s Vietnam. Vietnam is probably the most interesting country involved in these negotiations: A, it's still a one-party system that provides workers very few rights, if any, and yet, in order to be part of TPP, they’re having to make some pretty radical shifts in how they treat workers. They’re not going to suddenly have the same labor standards as Germany does, but there’s going to be an improvement. And by us establishing a baseline for labor rights even in a country that has traditionally had no labor rights we’re improving our position not deteriorating our position. The same is true for the other set of critics that we may receive and that is from the environmental community, although, there’s divisions between the large environmental groups. As I said at the BRT, I don’t know exactly what Malaysia’s environmental rules are, but I guarantee you they are lower than ours. (Laughter.) And for us to be able to include in a TPP agreement basic environmental standards is a win for us. It puts us not at a disadvantage; it puts us at more of an advantage. The final criticism -- not the final, but another criticism that we’re going to receive domestically is this issue of -- what’s the term in terms of lawsuits? Q (Inaudible.) THE PRESIDENT: Right. And we’ve looked at the facts and, generally speaking, I think the language that’s being used allows every country to maintain its public health and safety and welfare provisions. Really what we’re trying to get at here is making sure that foreign companies are not treated differently than domestic companies. That’s the primary concern, is a discriminatory application of rules in ways that are arbitrary. And I think that that’s something that all of us should agree on. The big bugaboo that’s lifted up there is tobacco companies suing poorer countries to make sure that anti-smoking legislation is banned, or at least tying them up with so much litigation that ultimately smaller countries cave. Those are issues that I think can be negotiated -- there are some areas of particular sensitivity or concern. But overall, the principle that we should make sure that U.S. companies, when they invest or export to other countries, are abiding with their safety rules but that those public health and safety rules are not being discriminatorily applied or a ruse in order to keep us out. That should be something everybody is in favor of. So in terms of timing, how TPP happens versus TPA, I think regardless of the sequence, we’re going to have to make the sale, and it’s going to be very important for business to be out there and championthis and show that this is ultimately good for you, for your suppliers, for your workers. And if you look at all the major exporters -- you take a Boeing, presumably in every congressional district you’ve got to find a bunch of suppliers who are making the case, and their workers are making the case. So it’s not just a bunch of CEOs calling but it’s people who understand that they’ve got a stake in it. So I think that’s on the labor front. On China, all of what we’re doing with TPP has a direct application to China. China is actually not that complicated. They will take whatever they can get. They will exploit every advantage that they have until they meet some resistance. But they have a great interest in the relationship with the United States and recognize the interdependence that has evolved between our two economies. And so the key with China I think is to continue to simply press them on those areas where trade is imbalanced, whether it’s on their currency practices, whether it’s on IP protection, whether it’s on their state-owned enterprises. The business investment treaty that they have shown an interest in negotiating could end up being a significant piece of business. We actually saw some movement during my last trip on issues surrounding technology. And I think that it’s indicative of their interest in trying to get this right. And by the way, there’s been some suggestion that by doing TPP we’re trying to contain or disadvantage China. We’re actually not. What we are trying to do is make sure that rather than a race to the bottom in the region there’s a reasonable bar within which we can operate. And we hope that then China actually joins us in not necessarily formally being a member of TPP but in adopting some of the best practices that ensure fairness in operations. And the climate change announcement that we made was very significant. For those of you who are impacted by the power plant rule that the EPA is initiating here, it’s good to know that one of the arguments that’s always been made about us dealing with climate change or environmental issues generally here in the United States is, well, it puts us at a disadvantage with China. Well, we’re trying to take away that excuse by making sure that China is also abiding by higher standards and in a verifiable way. So we’re going to be focused on that. MR. McNERNEY: Do you have time for one more question? THE PRESIDENT: One more question. MR. McNERNEY: I think one of the things we talked about this morning with Vice President Biden was Russia sanctions. And I think, by and large, the business community, while there’s some debate about exactly to what degree this, that, or the other thing, that these have been implemented very successfully and very methodically, worked well with the business community to maximize impact -- or minimize the impact to us. And so there was a pretty robust discussion that I think many of us in the room ended up saying, whether we’re in the third inning or the eighth inning, just keep moving. And then there’s a lot of support in the business community for what you’re doing -- keeping Europe lined up, which is our biggest concern. Merkel seems to be hanging in there. Anyway, the Vice President gave us a very robust discussion. Any views from you -- I know you’ve talked to a lot of your peers on the subject. THE PRESIDENT: Joe has been very close to this, so he probably gave you a pretty sound overview. I think you identified what’s been important in this process, and that is our ability to keep Europe in lockstep with us. There may be some movement out of Congress for us to get out ahead of Europe further. We have argued that that would be counterproductive. And we may need some help from the business community in making that argument to the soon-to-be Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and others. Putin does not have good cards, and he actually has not played them as well as sometimes the Western press seems to give him credit for. There’s been an improvisational quality to this whole process because the situation in Ukraine actually took Russia by surprise. And it’s working for him politically, domestically, but profoundly damaging in terms of their economy long term, not just short term. Where Putin will succeed is if it creates a rift in the transatlantic relationship. If you start seeing Europe divided from the United States that would be a strategic victory. And I’m intent on preventing that. And the way to prevent is making sure that we are taking into account the very real economic impact on Europe from these sanctions, being measured in terms of how we apply them, and having some strategic patience. The notion that we can simply ratchet up sanctions further and further and further, and then, ultimately, Putin changes his mind I think is a miscalculation. What will ultimately lead to Russia making a strategic decision is if they recognize that Europe is standing with us and will be in it for the long haul and we are, in fact, patient. And if they see that there aren’t any cracks in the coalition, then, over time, you could see them saying that the costs to their economy outweigh whatever strategic benefits that they get. So you’ve got, I’m sure, everything about Ukraine, soup to nuts, from Joe. I’ll just emphasize as a takeaway for the business community that we have been successful with sanctions precisely because we’ve been systematic about it and made sure there wasn’t a lot of daylight between us and the Europeans. That should continue. And even though sometimes it’s tempting for us to say we can go further, it won’t do us any good if it means suddenly Europe peels off and then are backfilling various things that U.S. companies are obliged to abide by. All right? MR. McNERNEY: Terrific. Thank you very much. THE PRESIDENT: Thank you for the great work you’re doing. Keep it up. (Applause.) FACT SHEET: President Obama Launches Competitions for New Manufacturing Innovation Hubs and American Apprenticeship Grants
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 11, 2014 FACT SHEET: President Obama Launches Competitions for New Manufacturing Innovation Hubs and American Apprenticeship Grants Today, at a meeting of the President’s Export Council (PEC), President Obama will announce nearly $400 million to help improve the competitiveness of American businesses and workers by spurring new manufacturing innovations and giving America workers additional opportunities to improve and expand their skill sets for middleclass jobs. To help support new advancements in manufacturing, the President will announce more than $290 million in public-private investment for two new Manufacturing Innovation Hub Competitions. Today’s announcement fulfills the President’s 2014 State of the Union pledge to launch four new institutes this year, for a total of eight institutes launched so far, and puts the Administration past the halfway mark on the President’s original goal of creating 15 manufacturing innovation institutes supported through executive action. In addition, the President will announce $100 million to expand apprenticeships for American workers - a proven training strategy for workers to learn the skills that employers need for American businesses to grow and thrive in a competitive global environment. Apprenticeships are also a path to the middle class – 87 percent of apprentices are employed after completing their programs and the average starting wage for apprenticeship graduates is over $50,000. During today’s meeting, President Obama will also highlight the continued need to reform and simplify our tax code and the importance of opening up new markets abroad for American-made goods and services through tough, fair new trade agreements. The PEC, chaired by Jim McNerney, President and CEO of Boeing and vice-chaired by Ursula Burns, Chairman and CEO of the Xerox Corporation, is the principal national advisory committee for exporting. The Council advises the President on government policies and programs that affect U.S. trade performance; promotes export expansion; and provides a forum for discussing and resolving trade-related problems among the business, industrial, agricultural, labor, and government sectors. New Actions to Grow America’s Competitiveness for Jobs, Exports, and Investment Ø Announcing More Than $290 Million in Public-Private Investment Through Two New Manufacturing Innovation Hub Competitions: President Obama will launch two new competitions for manufacturing innovation institutes today—one in smart manufacturing at the Department of Energy and one in flexible hybrid electronics at the Department of Defense. Each institute will receive $70 million or more of federal investment to be matched by at least $70 million from the private sector for a total of more than $290 million in new investment. Ø Launching the $100 Million American Apprenticeship Grants Competition: The President will also announce that the Department of Labor is opening a competition to spur partnerships between employers, labor, training providers, and local governments to expand apprenticeships into high-growth fields like advanced manufacturing and healthcare and scale models that work. Apprenticeships are a proven path to the middle-class, as 87 percent of apprentices are employed after completing their programs with an average starting wage of over $50,000. Exports Power American Jobs and Growth Our long-term competitiveness for jobs, exports, and investment depends on America’s ability to lead on the cutting-edge of technology and on the skills and talent of America’s workers. Last year, the United States exported $2.3 trillion dollars of goods and services, an all-time high, and today, exports support more than 11 million American jobs across 300,000 businesses. Manufacturing, in particular, is the engine behind our exports and innovation – contributing the majority of the nation’s exports and nearly three-quarters of its private-sector R&D. And American manufacturing is more competitive than it has been in decades, growing nearly twice as fast as the economy overall and adding 764,000 jobs since February 2010. At the same time, businesses looking to move production to the United States consistently cite the skills of America’s workers, the most productive workforce in the world, as the reason for rooting jobs and investment here. Today’s announcements build on that competitive strength by investing in manufacturing innovation and upgrading the skills of American workers through the proven model of apprenticeships. Two New Manufacturing Innovation Institute Competitions: Manufacturing institutes serve as a regional hub, bridging the gap between applied research and product development by bringing together companies, universities and other academic and training institutions, and Federal agencies to co-invest in key technology areas that encourage investment and production in the U.S. This type of “teaching factory” provides a unique opportunity for education and training of students and workers at all levels, while providing the shared assets to help small manufacturers and other companies access the cutting-edge capabilities and equipment to design, test, and pilot new products and manufacturing processes. Department of Defense-led Flexible Hybrid Electronics Manufacturing Innovation Institute The Department of Defense will lead a competition for a new public-private manufacturing innovation institute in flexible hybrid electronics, combining $75 million of federal investment with $75 million or more of private investment. The modern world is filled with electronics: computers, cell phones, sensors, and literally trillions of small devices that make American lives better, if somewhat busier. The vast majority of these electronic devices are made up of boxy, rigid circuit boards. But in the world around us, most things are not flat or boxy; our bodies, the environment, the vehicles that transport us all tend to reflect an organically derived shape with plenty of curves and flexibility. Flexible hybrid electronics combine advanced materials that flex with thinned silicon chips to produce the next generation of electronic products seamlessly integrated into the things around us. These include items as diverse as comfortable, wireless medical monitors, stretchable electronics for robotics and vehicles, and smart bridges capable of alerting engineers at the first signs of trouble. For the nation’s warfighters, these new technologies will make lifesaving advances and improve mission effectiveness. For example, intelligent bandages and smart clothing will alert soldiers to first signs of injury or exhaustion; structural integrity sensors will offer real-time damage assessment for helicopters or aircraft after engagement; and small, unattended sensors will give soldiers greater situational awareness. Department of Energy-led Smart Manufacturing Innovation Institute A third of the nation’s energy consumption goes into manufacturing. New smart manufacturing technologies – including advanced sensors and sophisticated process controls – can dramatically improve energy efficiency in manufacturing, saving manufacturers costs and conserving the nation’s energy. The Department of Energy will lead a competition for a new public-private manufacturing innovation institute focused on smart manufacturing, including advanced sensors, control, platforms, and models for manufacturing. By combining manufacturing, digital, and energy efficiency expertise, technologies developed by the institute will give American manufacturers unprecedented, real-time control of energy use across factories and companies to increase productivity and save on energy costs. For energy intensive industries – like chemical production, solar cell manufacturing, and steelmaking – these technologies can shave 10-20% off the cost of production. The new institute will receive a federal investment of $70 million that will be matched by at least $70 million in private investments and represents a critical step in the Administration’s effort to double U.S. energy efficiency by 2030. Interested applicants can find more information on the manufacturing innovation institute competitions at Manufacturing.gov $100 Million American Apprenticeship Grants Competition: Today, in conjunction with the launch of the American Apprenticeships Grants competition, Secretary of Labor Tom Perez will preside over a graduation at the Urban Technology Project, an apprenticeship program in Philadelphia, PA, whose graduates learn IT skills for careers as computer support specialists. The Department of Labor competition will use $100 million or more of H-1B funds to award approximately 25 grants to partnerships between employers, labor organizations, training providers, community colleges, local and state governments, the workforce system, non-profits and faith-based organizations that: · Launch apprenticeship models in new, high-growth fields: Many fast-growing occupations and industries with open positions such as in information technology, high-tech services, healthcare, and advanced manufacturing need the high-quality, on-the-job training provided in an apprenticeship to meet their workforce needs. · Align apprenticeships to pathways for further learning and career advancement: Apprenticeships that embed industry-recognized skills certifications or reward workplace learning with college credit provide an affordable educational pathway for those who need to earn while they learn, and apprenticeships linked to pre-apprenticeship programs can help more Americans access this training and get on an early pathway to a good career. · Scale apprenticeship models that work: Across the country, there are pockets of excellence in apprenticeship, but all too often these successful models are unknown in other regions or to other employers. These grants will build from strength and invest in innovations and strategies to scale apprenticeships – including to market the value of apprenticeships, make them more attractive to women and other Americans who have been underrepresented, increase the return on investment for workers and, or build national and regional partnerships to expand apprenticeships. Interested applicants can find more information on the American Apprenticeship Grants Competition, resources for launching new registered apprenticeships, and a toolkit on federal funds for apprenticeship at www.dol.gov/apprenticeship. In addition, Skills for America’s Future is launching an online collaboration space for apprenticeship providers and foundation funders to connect. And the Advanced Manufacturing Partnership Steering Committee, building on new apprenticeship programs launched by Dow, Siemens, and Alcoa, is launching a ‘How-to’ toolkit to help other employers launch apprenticeships. Remarks by the President At Early Education Summit
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release December 10, 2014 REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT AT EARLY EDUCATION SUMMIT South Court Auditorium 11:58 A.M. EST THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. (Applause.) Hey! Give Alajah a big round of applause. (Applause.) Thank you so much. Everybody have a seat. Now, Alajah clearly knows where power is. (Laughter.) She knows who has clout and who does not. You did a wonderful job. I’m so proud of you. Good job. MS. LANE: Thank you. THE PRESIDENT: You’re welcome. (Laughter.) In addition to Alajah, we have some important personages here. I want to thank, first of all, America’s Secretary of Education -- somebody who is so passionate about making sure every child gets a chance in this country -- Arne Duncan. Where’s Arne? (Applause.) We’ve got some of early education’s strongest supporters in Congress from both parties who are here. We’ve got Bob Casey from the great state of Pennsylvania. (Applause.) We’ve got representatives Richard Richard Hanna. Where’s Richard? There he is. (Applause.) Jared Polis. (Applause.) Bobby Scott. (Applause.) I want to thank the business leaders and philanthropists and mayors, all who came here from across America to make big new commitments to our kids. And I know we’ve got thousands of parents and teachers and alumni from Head Start and Early Head Start watching this live in New Orleans and Fort Lauderdale. So please give them a shout out, as well. Thank you, guys. (Applause.) Now, you may know that last week brought some good economic news, building on the momentum that we’ve seen over the past couple of years. Over the first 11 months of 2014, our economy has created more jobs than in any full year since the 1990s. So already -- we’ve still got a month to go -- we’ve already seen more jobs created this year than any time in over a decade. Over the last four years, America has put more people back to work than Europe, Japan, and every other advanced economy combined. Overall wages are rising again, which is a welcome sign for millions of families. So for all the work we have left to do, America is outpacing most of the world. And if we seize this moment, we have the chance to lead the next century just like we led the last one, and make sure that citizens in this country, our children, can have a better life than we did. But in order to reach our full potential, kids like Alajah need a chance to reach their full potential. Because what makes America exceptional isn’t just the size of our economy or our influence around the globe -- that is a byproduct of a more fundamental fact about America. The promise we make to our children; the idea that no matter who they are, what they look like, where they start, how much their parents earn, they can make it if they try. It’s the essential promise of America -– that where you start should not and will not determine how far you can go. And we’re here today because it’s never too early in a child’s life to begin delivering on that promise. I’m preaching to the choir now, but I’m going to go ahead and preach. Study after study shows that children who get a high-quality early education earn more over their lifetimes than peers who don’t. They’re more likely to finish school. They’re less likely to go to prison. They’re more likely to hold a job. They’re more likely to start a stable family of their own -- which means that you have a generational transmission of the early starts that kids can get. Early education is one of the best investments we can make not just in a child’s future, but in our country. It’s one of the best investments we can make. Today, my Council of Economic Advisers is putting out a report showing that for every dollar we invest now, we can save more than eight dollars later on, by boosting graduation rates, increasing earnings, reducing violent crime. And the study also shows that access to high-quality, affordable childcare means more employment and higher incomes for working parents, especially working moms. Not surprising there. I mean, men, we’re getting better, but we’re not where we need to be. And moms all too often are juggling between work and childcare. When we have good, high-quality early childhood education, then suddenly we’re freeing up everybody to be on the field. So early education is a win for everybody. It saves taxpayer dollars. It gives our children a better chance. And some states are proving that it’s possible to give every child that chance. For 16 years, every child in Oklahoma has been guaranteed a preschool education. Georgia is building on their successful preschool program by launching something called “Talk With Me Baby” -- which sounds like an Al Green song, but is actually -- (laughter) -- I’m not singing. But it’s actually a program to make sure make sure language learning begins at the very first weeks of a child’s life. Now, let’s face it -- Oklahoma and Georgia are not places where I do particularly well politically. They’re not known as wild-eyed liberal states. But it just goes to show you that this is an issue that’s bigger than politics. It’s not a red issue or a blue issue. It’s about doing what’s best for our kids, for our country, and that’s an American issue. And we’ve had some terrific Republican, as well as Democratic, governors and mayors who have really taken leadership on this issue because they recognize it’s a good investment. And that’s why, in my 2013 State of the Union Address, I laid out a plan to make sure our children have every opportunity they deserve from the moment they are born. And I asked Congress to work with me to make high-quality pre-K available to every four-year-old in America. Congress hasn’t gotten that done yet, but Democrats and Republicans came together to take some steps in the right direction, with new grants that will expand preschool for children across the country. And in the nearly two years since I called on Congress to take action, we’ve seen 34 states, along with cities and communities across our country, take action on their own. All told, they’ve invested more than a billion dollars in our children. In Michigan, a Republican governor signed the nation’s second-largest state budget increase for early education into law. Last month, voters in Denver approved a ballot measure to renew and expand their preschool program through 2026. In New York, Mayor de Blasio made pre-K for all a centerpiece of his campaign. And this year, more than 50,000 children are enrolled in New York City preschools -- more than twice as many as in 2013. (Applause.) There must be a New Yorker here. So we’re making progress. But here’s the thing: For all the progress we’ve made, for all the children who are on a better path, today fewer than 3 in 10 four-year-olds are enrolled in high-quality preschool. It’s not that working parents don’t want their kids to be in safe, high-quality learning environments every day. It’s that they can’t afford the costs of private preschool. And for poor children who need it most, the lack of access to a great preschool can affect their entire lives. We’ve got kids in this country who are every bit as talented as Malia and Sasha, but they’re starting out the race a step behind. And they deserve better. And the whole country will do better if we fix that. So that’s what this day is all about. I’m pleased to announce that my administration will award $750 million of new investment in our youngest Americans. Secretary Duncan is awarding $250 million in new Preschool Development Grants to 18 states. We’re giving tens of thousands more children the opportunity to go to high-quality preschool: almost 3,000 preschool students in Nevada, for example, will be able to attend full-day preschool, instead of a half-day program. Montana will create new high-quality preschool programs that will serve kids in 16 communities, including eight communities on Indian lands. And in order to create a full pipeline of learning programs, from birth all the way to the beginning of Kindergarten, Secretary Burwell is announcing the winners of a $500 million competition that will bring early care and education to more than 30,000 infants and toddlers next year. Our child care centers will partner with our Early Head Start Centers to help kids from virtually every state, from rural Virginia to my hometown of Chicago. So we’re stepping up, but as all of you I’m sure have already heard, investing in our kids is not just the job of the federal government -- it’s the job of all of us. So in my State of the Union Address this year, I promised to pull together a coalition of elected officials, and business leaders, and philanthropists who are willing to help more kids access the high-quality preschool that they need. And here you are. (Laughter.) Today, we are delivering on that promise with a new campaign called “Invest in Us.” I want to highlight a few of commitments folks in this room because I think it shows how much interest there is in this issue, how much evidence there is behind making the kinds of investments for our kids that we’re talking about. So first of all, you’re bringing entire communities together on behalf of children. In Northeast Ohio, for example, Cuyahoga County, the city of Cleveland, local schools, businesses, foundations, and child welfare agencies have all embraced a single plan to ensure that all three- and four-year olds have access to high-quality education. So today the Greater Cleveland Community is announcing $10.2 million in new investments in early childhood programs. And that’s going to make a difference. Susie Buffett is leading an effort that will invest $15 million in Omaha. That’s making a difference, bringing folks together. Second, as important as preschool is, you’re working to make sure a great education starts even earlier. The George Kaiser Family Foundation reaches out to new parents in Tulsa with a hospital visit before the baby even goes home. After that, they provide parenting classes and literacy programs all the way through a child’s third birthday, because they believe that every parent can be a teacher and every home can be a preschool. And as a consequence, they’re committing $25 million, in additional dollars, to help achieve that goal. Number three, you’re supporting early education programs that we already have. So the Foundation for Child Development is working with the New York City Department of Education to help train early-learning teachers. Disney is giving away $55 million worth of books and apps for young learners. And judging by trick or treating here at the White House this year, if Disney wanted to throw in some of those princess costumes from “Frozen,” that will make a difference. (Laughter.) I mean, there were a lot of Elsas. They just kept on coming, sort of nonstop. (Laughter.) And finally, you’re investing in new, innovative approaches that have the chance to transform the way we teach our children. So thanks to neuroscientists and psychologists and child development experts, we know more about how young minds work than ever before. So we’re got the Bezos Family Foundation announcing a $5 million commitment to turn these new insights into new tools for teachers and parents, so that our children get the most out of the time and money that we invest in them. And J.B. Pritzker and M.K. Pritzker, their family foundation is committing $25 million to build on cutting-edge research to help our most vulnerable children succeed. So all told, in addition to what we’re going to be doing at the federal level, organizations here today are making more than $330 million in new commitments. That’s worth applauding. (Applause.) And that’s pretty extraordinary, that’s real money, even in Washington, that’s real money. (Laughter.) But it’s also just the beginning. So I’m calling on all Americans across our country to make their own commitments to our children. And I’m asking our members of Congress for their commitment as well. Outside Washington, giving our children a fair shot from the earliest age is a priority that crosses party lines. So I hope that the new Congress next year will work with me to make pre-K available for all of our kids. It will not just grow the economy for everybody –- it will change young lives forever. Just ask Chuck Mills. Where is Chuck? Chuck is here. There’s Chuck, right there. Chuck was born in 1962, the youngest of six children, raised by a single mom. A lot of the kids in the neighborhoods where Chuck grew up did not finish school, and a lot of those young people ended up in prison. But in 1966, Chuck’s mom saw a flier at a church for a new program called “Project Head Start.” Chuck became part of just the second class of Head Start students -– and two years later, he had learned so much that he skipped kindergarten and went straight to first grade. And Chuck’s been overachieving ever since. (Laughter.) He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy. Captain Mills piloted Marine One for two different Presidents. That is something that you want the best people for. (Laughter.) Today, Chuck is the founder and CEO of not one, but two companies in Northern Virginia. “My life,” Chuck said, “can be summed up in the words, ‘Wasn’t supposed to.’” “Wasn’t supposed to.” Well, that’s not just Chuck’s story; that’s America’s story. America is a nation that “wasn’t supposed to.” Our entire story is improbable. All of us are here because this country gave someone in our family a chance to beat the odds. None of us were supposed to. Those of us lucky enough to share in this country’s promise now have a responsibility to ensure that for all the young people coming behind us who aren’t supposed to, that they have those same opportunities. There are a whole bunch of Chucks out there, all across the country. We have to invest in them. We have to invest in our communities. We have to invest in us. And if we do that, we give every child the same chance that we got, then America will remain the greatest nation on Earth. And I thank all of you for the extraordinary efforts you are making in fulfilling that promise. Thank you, God bless you. God bless America. (Applause.) FACT SHEET: Invest in US: The White House Summit on Early Childhood Education
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 10, 2014 FACT SHEET: Invest in US: The White House Summit on Early Childhood Education Last year, President Obama called upon Congress to expand access to high-quality preschool for every child in America, proposing investments that would support a continuum of early learning opportunity from birth through kindergarten entry. In January, he challenged more Americans – elected officials, business leaders, philanthropists, and the public – to help more children access the early education they need to succeed in school and in life. Over the course of the past year, significant progress has been made, and bipartisan cooperation has led to a substantial increase in federal investment in early education. Today, the President convenes state and local policymakers, mayors, school superintendents, corporate and community leaders, and advocates for the White House Summit on Early Education, highlighting collective leadership in support of early education for America’s children. Leaders will share best practices in building the public-private partnerships that are expanding early education in communities across the country. Participants will discuss effective strategies and programs that support and bring high-quality early childhood education to scale. Leading private and philanthropic organizations will commit to new actions at the White House Summit that spur greater access to high-quality preschool and early learning. Together with federal awards, this amounts to a collective investment of over $1 billion in the education and development of America’s youngest learners. It includes:
Since 2013, 34 states have increased funding for their preschool programs, amounting to over $1 billion in new state resources dedicated to early education. In November, voters approved pre-K ballot initiatives in San Francisco, Seattle, and Denver. Communities across the country have engaged public and private partners to establish new preschool programs, and push forward with a major expansions to become strong early learning communities. An analysis released today by the White House Council of Economic Advisers describes the economic returns to investments in early childhood education, including increased parental earnings and employment in the short-term, reduced need for remedial education and later public school expenditures, as well as long-term outcomes such as increased educational attainment, increased earnings, improved health, and decreased involvement with the criminal justice system.
Launch of “Invest in US”. Invest in US is an independent initiative organized by the First Five Years Fund and its partners in response to the President’s call for action. It challenges public and private partners, business leaders, philanthropists, advocates, elected officials, and individuals to build a better nation by expanding high-quality early childhood education. Invest in US will serve as a hub to aggregate momentum and support for early learning and provide resources to community leaders working to expand access to early childhood education. Over $330 million in new public-private actions in support of early childhood education, including commitments to America’s early learners from corporate, philanthropic and non-profit partners:
NEW FEDERAL ACTIONS $250 million from the U.S. Department of Education under the Preschool Development Grants program. Secretary Duncan will announce awards for 18 states to expand the reach of their high-quality preschool programs in over 200 high-need communities, to enroll over 33,000 additional children. Winning states include Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Vermont, and Virginia. Up to $500 million from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under the Early Head Start-Child Care Partnerships program. Secretary Burwell will announce 234 preliminary awards for hundreds of communities across 49 states, Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, and the Northern Mariana Islands. Together, these awards will support communities as they improve and expand comprehensive early care and education for over 30,000 infants and toddlers next year. Expanding Preschool for School Turnaround. The Obama Administration has proposed new regulations to establish high-quality preschool expansion as a core strategy for school turnaround in America’s lowest-performing elementary schools. These regulations, proposed under the School Improvement Grants program (SIG), will enable school leaders to pursue preschool expansion while also promoting full-day kindergarten and reform of teaching and learning in the early grades. Today, the U.S. Department of Education will release three case studies that highlight the progress SIG schools have made by focusing on early learning. The final SIG regulation will be released in 2015. New Investments in Pay for Success Transactions for Early Education. The Corporation for National and Community Service’s Social Innovation Fund (SIF) and the Institute for Child Success (ICS) will make new resources available to help states and municipalities launch evidence-based early childhood interventions, by providing coaches and advisors to assist communities in developing Pay for Success transactions for early childhood investments. ICS will launch a competition to select 12 jurisdictions interested in supporting and creating a cohort of experts in early childhood and Pay for Success. Curbing Preschool Suspension and Expulsion: Exclusionary discipline practices occur at high rates in early learning settings, and at even higher rates for young boys of color. As part of President Obama’s My Brother’s Keeper Initiative, Secretaries Duncan and Burwell will release a joint policy statement to address expulsion and suspension practices in early learning settings, encouraging states, early childhood programs, and families to prevent, reduce, and eliminate the expulsion and suspension of young children from child care and preschool programs. As part of this commitment, Secretary Burwell will dedicate $4 million toward early childhood mental health consultation services to prevent this troubling practice and to help all children thrive in early learning settings. PRESIDENT OBAMA’S PLAN FOR EARLY EDUCATION FOR ALL AMERICANS These efforts build on the President’s call in his 2013 State of the Union address to expand access to high-quality preschool for every child in America, through a series of new investments that establish a continuum of high-quality early learning for a child—beginning at birth and continuing to age 5.
BUILDING ON SUCCESS Since taking office, President Obama has committed to a comprehensive early learning agenda for America’s children that provides the support and services needed to set them on a path of success in school and in life: Launching the Race to the Top – Early Learning Challenge: President Obama has challenged states to close the school readiness gap through the Early Learning Challenge, a competitive fund that has enabled 20 states to increase the quality of their early education programs, to establish higher standards across programs and to provide critical links with health, nutrition, mental health, and family support for our neediest children. 20 states have been rewarded with grants totaling $1 billion provided under this program. Strengthening Head Start and Early Head Start: President Obama has invested over $2.1 billion in Head Start and Early Head Start to enroll an additional 61,000 children and provide them with the educational, health, nutrition, social and other services they need to grow up healthy and ready for school. The Administration has also implemented needed reforms in the program, identifying and requiring lower-performing providers to compete for funding in order to ensure that families and children receive the best services and support, while also pioneering innovative approaches to a full continuum of services for children from birth through school-entry. Reforming the Federal Child Care System: President Obama has taken consistent steps to improve the early care and education available to families through the Child Care and Development Fund, investing more than $2 billion to assist hundreds of thousands of children and families at the height of the recession. The CCDF helps nearly 900,000 families pay for child care for over 1.4 million children each month. In November, the President signed the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 2014, raising health and safety requirements for child care providers, outlining family-friendly eligibility policies, and ensuring that parents have information about the child care choices available to them. Offering Voluntary, Evidence-Based Home Visiting: Established in 2010, the Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting program supports voluntary, evidence-based home visiting services to parents with young children up to age five. The program builds on research showing that home visits by a nurse, social worker, or other professional during pregnancy and in the earliest years of life can significantly improve maternal and child health, child development, learning, and success. $1.9 billion has been committed by Congress for voluntary home visiting across all 50 states, supporting to date more than 1.4 million visits in over 700 communities. President Obama will pursue substantial investments to extend and expand this important program to reach additional families in need. FACT SHEET: New Commitments to Support Computer Science Education
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 8, 2014 FACT SHEET: New Commitments to Support Computer Science Education “I’m proud to join the students, teachers, businesses, and non-profit organizations taking big new steps to support computer science in America’s schools. Learning these skills isn’t just important for your future – it’s important for our country’s future. If we want America to stay on the cutting edge, we need young Americans like you to master the tools and technology that will change the way we do just about everything.” -- President Obama, December 2013, on Computer Science Education Week Last year, to kick off Computer Science Education Week, President Obama issued a call to action to students, teachers, businesses, foundations, and non-profit organizations to join the growing grassroots campaign to support computer science education in K-12 schools. The President encouraged Americans from all backgrounds to get involved in mastering the technology that is changing the way we do just about everything, and he encouraged millions of students to learn the skills that are becoming increasingly relevant to our economy. Today, the Administration is announcing new commitments that will help give millions of additional K-12 students access to computer science education. These include: · Commitments by more than 60 school districts, including the seven largest school districts in the country, to offer computer science courses to their students. Together, these districts reach over 4 million students in more than 1,000 high schools and middle schools. · Over $20 million in philanthropic contributions to train 10,000 teachers by fall 2015 and 25,000 teachers to teach computer science to in time for the school year beginning in fall 2016. · New partnerships by the National Science Foundation (NSF), including a new Advanced Placement (AP) Computer Science course by the College Board that emphasizes the creative aspects of computing and a focus on real-world applications. Leading partners, including Teach for America and the National Math and Science Initiative, will assist in implementation and scale-up of the course. · New steps to increase the participation of women and under-represented minorities in computer science, including a new computer-science classroom design prize and innovative outreach efforts. These commitments and leading organizations will be highlighted at an event today at the White House. In addition, the President released a new video message on computer science education and the President and the Vice President will jointly meet with a group of students participating in an Hour of Code. Background By 2020, more than 50 percent of STEM jobs are projected to be in computer science-related fields. If current trends continue, 1.4 million computer science-related jobs will be available over the next ten years, but only 400,000 computer science graduates will be added with the skills to apply for those jobs. Yet a large majority of K-12 schools do not offer any computer programming classes, and in 25 out of 50 states, computer science classes cannot count towards math and science high school graduation requirements. That is why as part of Computer Science Education Week last year, the President praised efforts to get more computer science into K-12 schools and issued a call to action to private sector leaders, technologists, schools leaders, and others to do more to give students access to these critical skills. Commitments Being Announced Today: Expanding Computer Science Offerings to Millions More Students There is a growing grassroots movement in the United States to bring computer science education to K-12 schools. With leadership from Code.org, the movement has already helped introduce more than 50 million students to computer science through the “Hour of Code,” with more than 40 percent of participants being girls, and through other projects and initiatives supporting computer science in more than 60,000 classrooms across the country. Today, responding to the President’s 2013 call to action, philanthropic organizations, cities, non-profits, and others are announcing a major expansion of this grassroots effort, including: · Commitments to offer computer science by more than 60 school districts, including the seven largest school districts in the country. The New York City (NY), Los Angeles Unified (CA), Chicago (IL), Miami-Dade County (FL), Clark County (NV), Broward County (FL), and Houston (TX) school districts, and many smaller districts, together reach more than 4 million students in more than 1,000 high schools and middle schools and serve nearly 15 percent of the African American and Hispanic American student population in the United States. Each of these districts is committing to offer introductory computer science courses at the high school or middle school grade levels and to market these courses to their students and their parents. Code.org will assist districts by providing teachers with curriculum, professional development, and year-round support. · Over $20 million in philanthropic contributions to train 25,000 teachers to teach computer science in time for the school year beginning in Fall 2016. With support from companies including Google, Microsoft, the Omidyar Network, and Salesforce.com, as well as philanthropists including Ballmer Family Giving, John and Anne Doerr, Bill Gates, Reid Hoffman, Drew Houston, Sean Parker, Ali and Hadi Partovi, Diane Tang and Ben Smith, and Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan, Code.org will host computer science instruction workshops for 1,000 elementary school teachers each month. Workshop participants will learn how to teach modules of computer science for grades K-5. Code.org also has committed to preparing at least 500 middle school teachers and 500 high school teachers each year to teach computer science. Furthermore, the National Science Foundation (NSF) is announcing major steps from its non-profit partners to support computer science education. These announcements build on nearly ten years of NSF investment and fall under NSF’s CS 10K Project, a nationwide effort to get engaging and rigorous academic computer science courses into 10,000 schools taught by 10,000 well-prepared teachers and a longer-term goal to include all schools across the nation. Over the past decade, NSF has invested in research into and development of curricula, course materials, pedagogy, scalable models of teacher preparation, and approaches to sustainable, ongoing teacher support. Today, NSF is highlighting this work by launching a new web portal that showcases the agency’s investments in computer science education. With leadership and key support from NSF, a number of leading education non-profits are announcing major expansions in their efforts to support computer science education: · The College Board is announcing the launch of AP Computer Science Principles, a new multidisciplinary course designed to help recruit many more students, including women and under-represented minorities into computing. The new course will be taught in secondary schools starting in the 2016-17 academic year with the first exam administered in May 2017. The course will draw more students into the discipline by focusing on foundational computing skills and the creative aspects of computing. The inherently multidisciplinary course teaches students to analyze problems, create computer programs, and collaborate to find solutions to real-world issues. AP Computer Science Principles aims to prepare a more diverse student population—including groups typically underrepresented in computing—for the demands of STEM and computing coursework and careers. The course was created with partial funding from NSF for the development of teacher support materials and assessments. A dedicated online teacher community will enable teachers to connect, discuss teaching strategies, and share resources with each other. Furthermore, AP STEM teachers will be invited to participate in a live webinar focused on computer science education during this year’s Computer Science Education Week. · Teach For America will begin a nationwide push to encourage partner schools to offer computer science. Building on an NSF-funded pilot project in New York City, AmeriCorps grantee Teach For America (TFA) is beginning a nationwide push to expand computer science course offerings in the schools they serve. By 2018-2019, TFA will recruit, place, and support a diverse group of at least 75 new teachers to implement the Exploring Computer Science course in high-needs schools. TFA will also advance the President’s STEM AmeriCorps initiative by promoting opportunities for their extensive, national network of educators to engage in after-school and out-of-school computer science teaching opportunities sponsored by partners. · The National Math and Science Initiative will expand its professional development offerings in computer science, reaching 25 states in the next two years. The National Math and Science Initiative (NMSI) is committing to broadening access to and achievement in rigorous computer science coursework through its College Readiness Program, a comprehensive approach to raising the academic bar in U.S. schools by working with teachers, students, and administrators to set and achieve aggressive performance goals. NMSI will broaden training and learning opportunities around AP Computer Science Principles, as well as Exploring Computer Science and equivalent courses, in 25 states by the end of 2016. · Project Lead the Way will continue to grow its computer science offerings. Project Lead the Way (PLTW) and Verizon will enable students in 12 underserved middle schools to explore the power of computational thinking and the connection of digital literacy to their lives. Verizon will supply PLTW with up to 35 tablets equipped with data plans for each school, allowing for a 1:1 student-to-tablet ratio in each of the 12 schools participating in PLTW’s Introduction to Computer Science course. Students will use MIT App Inventor to learn fundamental computer science concepts that apply to a range of disciplines, future studies, and careers. Student teams will work collaboratively and learn the impact of computing in society, and how to use the internet safely and responsibly. · NSF and Code.org announce a public-private partnership. NSF and Code.org are signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to encourage and facilitate cooperation on respective efforts to support and enable widespread computer science education throughout the United States. NSF and Code.org are already collaborating on projects such as Massachusetts Exploring Computer Science, the joint result of NSF and Code.org awards to the Massachusetts Computing Attainment Network (MassCAN) and the Massachusetts Exploring Computer Science Partnerships (MECSP). The new MOU will provide a structure through which NSF and Code.org can expand their work, and co-develop additional projects and programs. · Massachusetts continues to grow a unique public-private partnership to introduce computer science education in its K-12 schools. MassCAN is a multi-partner initiative in Massachusetts working cooperatively with projects funded by both NSF and Code.org to bring computer science to high schools across the state. The purpose of the partnership is to offer professional development to K-12 teachers based on a standard-based curriculum, with a goal of training 3,000 teachers over 3 years. Recently, Massachusetts enacted economic development legislation including $1.5 million to help fund the MassCAN during the program’s first year. Today, MassCAN is announcing that Massachusetts industries, led by the Massachusetts Competitive Partnership, the Massachusetts Business Roundtable, and the Massachusetts Technology Leadership Council, have committed to raise $300,000 in matching funds and are mobilizing to match the remainder of the State grant during 2015. · New York City will implement the College Board’s new AP Computer Science Principles course in 100 high schools and will expand computer science offerings overall. With support from NSF, 100 New York City (NYC) high schools will introduce University of California at Berkeley’s “Beauty and Joy of Computing” as a new AP Computer Science Principles course in 2015. This represents a significant expansion of NYC AP computer science course offerings and a dramatic increase in the number of students exposed to computer science curricula. NYC has already taken a number of steps to help advance computer science education, including: o The New York City Department of Education launched a Software Engineering Pilot designed to provide multi-year sequences of computer science classes at 18 middle and high schools citywide. Today, the program is in its second year and serves a diverse body of 2,600 students, 40 percent of whom are girls. o With support from the New York City Foundation for Computer Science, programs like TEALS, Bootstrap, ScriptEd, and Scalable Game Design are providing NYC schools with a wide range of opportunities to introduce computer science curriculum and learning activities into the regular school day for the first time. o With AT&T Aspire support, students from the Academy for Software Engineering, Bronx Academy of Software Engineering and the Software Engineering Pilot participate in cross-school community events such as hackathons and showcases of student work, as well as summer learning opportunities and internships with local companies. NYC has also begun introducing students to the Maker experience by offering 3D printing classes in select schools. Commitments Being Announced Today: Broadening Diversity in Computer Science Improving the participation and success of women and underrepresented minorities in computer science is critical. The number of women completing college degrees in these fields has decreased over the last two decades, and a smaller percentage of U.S. high school students take computer science courses than they did two decades ago. Today, less than 20 percent of students enrolled in AP computer science courses are women or girls, and less than 10 percent are Hispanic or African-American. Furthermore, less than 20 percent of college graduates in computer science are women. A number of leading organizations are taking new steps to address this challenge, including: · The USA Science and Engineering Festival will launch a prize for computer science classroom design. The USA Science and Engineering Festival is announcing a classroom-design prize competition that will launch on January 5, 2015. Research has shown that small changes in classroom design elements can dramatically affect the attractiveness of computer-science courses to girls. The competition will engage teams of high school students around the country to create cost-effective and innovative designs for K-12 computer science classrooms that encourage more young women to study computer science and pursue careers in STEM. The competition will run throughout spring 2015, and the most innovative ideas will be awarded with cash prizes. Some of the prize winners will be considered for further in-classroom testing and potential deployment in classrooms around the country. The entries for the competition will be student-driven, and the design of the competition was led by the Youth Advisory Board to the USA Science and Engineering Festival in partnership with the Dell Youth Innovation Advisors. · A new nationwide initiative to engage Latinas in technology careers. Latinas represent the fastest-growing female population in the U.S. Including their perspectives and talent in information technology is vital to growing our innovation economy. In collaboration with major Latino community influencers and organizations, the National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT) is launching a nationwide initiative to engage Latinas in computing and technology careers. NCWIT will leverage its research capabilities and national network of partners to design and launch a national media campaign and supporting program to give Latinas the inspiration to explore technology careers, the resources to engage in computer science, and connections to computer science support networks. Central to this initiative will be strategies to engage Latino parents, families, and influencers in supporting Latinas’ pursuit of technology education and careers. The project will launch on January 20, 2015 with a working roundtable of Latino leaders who will inform messaging and support the implementation of the campaign. · #YesWeCode expands efforts to more youth from under-represented communities into coding. #YesWeCode, a national initiative of Dream Corps Unlimited to support the movement to train 100,000 low opportunity youth to become high-level computer programmers, is announcing that it will host a series of 4-6 youth-focused hackathons in key cities in 2015 including in New Orleans, Detroit, and Oakland. At these hackathons, local youth will team up with professional developers, innovators, designers and mentors to create apps to benefit their communities. This will complement #YesWeCode’s efforts to incubate a national job-training pipeline in Oakland, in partnership with the public school district, major tech employers, independent grassroots coding education groups, and other major community stakeholders. The job-training three-step pipeline is designed to guide youth from introductory coding programs, to immersive job-training programs, and eventually into employment. Once fully realized in Oakland, the plan is to replicate nationally. Statement on The Employment Situation in November
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 5, 2014 Statement on The Employment Situation in November WASHINGTON, DC – Jason Furman, Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers, issued the following statement today on the employment situation in November. You can view the statement HERE. Job growth in November was strong, and the economy has now already added more jobs in 2014 than in any full calendar year since the late 1990s. To create an environment in which this progress can continue, it is critical that Congress take the basic steps needed to fund the government and avoid creating disruptive and counterproductive fiscal uncertainty. We have an opportunity to work together to support the continued growth of higher-paying jobs by investing in infrastructure, reforming the business tax code, expanding markets for America’s goods and services, making common sense reforms to the immigration system, and increasing the minimum wage. FIVE KEY POINTS IN TODAY’S REPORT FROM THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS 1. The private sector has added 10.9 million jobs over 57 straight months of job growth, extending the longest streak on record. Today we learned that total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 321,000 in November, mainly reflecting a 314,000 increase in private employment—the third strongest month for private payrolls over the past 57 months. Private-sector job growth was revised up for September and October by a combined 32,000, so that over the past three months, private-sector job growth has averaged 266,000 per month. Private employment has risen by at least 200,000 for ten consecutive months, the first time that has happened since the 1990s. In addition, the average workweek in the private sector rose to 34.6 hours in November, the highest since 2008. 2. Total employment has risen by 2.65 million in the eleven months this year, already totaling more jobs than in any full calendar year since the late 1990s. The pace of job growth has increased, averaging 241,000 per month so far in 2014, up from 194,000 per month last year. On a percentage basis, the economy is adding jobs at a rate of about 2 percent per year, also on pace for the largest percentage increase in any calendar year since the late 1990s. As discussed in greater detail below, this pickup in the average monthly rate of job growth from 2013 to 2014 has been seen in many sectors, including construction, manufacturing, health care and social assistance, and State and local government. 3. The pickup in the pace of job growth in 2014 has been in industries with higher wages. For instance, the pace of manufacturing job growth has more than doubled to 15,000 per month this year, from 7,000 per month last year, and average weekly earnings for manufacturing workers are about $170 higher than for all private-sector workers. Similarly, employment in the construction sector has risen by an average of 21,000 per month so far this year, up from 13,000 last year, and average weekly earnings for construction workers are about $200 higher than for all private-sector workers. In contrast, the industries that have seen slowdowns in job growth this year are lower-paying sectors on average like retail trade, leisure and hospitality, and temporary help services. While this recent improvement is encouraging, it is worth noting that the average wage for a given industry masks a substantial degree of variation in earnings for workers within the industry. Moreover, while average weekly earnings have been growing a bit faster than inflation, there is more work to be done to further boost wage growth and address longer-standing challenges around both the quality of jobs and the growth of wages. For this reason, the President remains focused on doing everything he can to strengthen the labor market and create good-paying jobs. 4. While many retailers add additional workers to accommodate heightened customer traffic during the holiday season, the magnitude of holiday hiring differs substantially across retail subsectors, and seasonally adjusted data give a more accurate picture of the economy’s performance. Overall, unadjusted retail employment totaled 15,906,000 in November. Controlling for the additional holiday hiring and other seasonal factors gives a seasonally adjusted estimate of 15,500,000. The difference between the unadjusted and seasonally adjusted numbers show that there is about a 3 percent seasonal bump to retail hiring in November, as shown in the chart below. This bump will likely grow to around 4 percent by December, based on last year’s data (with the bump defined as the ratio of the raw jobs number to the seasonally adjusted jobs number). Underlying this average is considerable variation across retail subsectors. The biggest holiday bump is in clothing stores and sporting goods, hobby, book and music stores—both categories see around 7 percent more jobs than on a seasonally adjusted basis. In contrast, building material and garden supply stores see 2 percent fewer jobs than would be expected without seasonal effects. While the unadjusted data can provide interesting insights into the patterns of our economy and society, the seasonally adjusted data are the best benchmark of the economy’s progress. And crucially, the seasonally adjusted data show that overall retail trade sector employment has continued to expand in recent months, with employment rising by an average of 41,000 per month over the last three months. 5. Many major sectors saw particularly strong job gains in November. Looking over the 57-month streak of private-sector job growth, November was one of the top ten strongest months for industries such as manufacturing, retail trade, transportation and warehousing, financial activities, and professional and business services. Specifically, manufacturing added 28,000 jobs, and has now added 764,000 jobs over the past 57 months, the strongest job growth in this sector since the 1990s. Across the 17 industries shown below, the correlation between the most recent one-month percent change and the average percent change over the last twelve months fell to 0.60, reflecting the noticeably strong performances in a number of sectors. As the Administration stresses every month, the monthly employment and unemployment figures can be volatile, and payroll employment estimates can be subject to substantial revision. Therefore, it is important not to read too much into any one monthly report and it is informative to consider each report in the context of other data that are becoming available. Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release December 5, 2014 CLOSING OF EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ON FRIDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2014 By the authority vested in me as President of the United States of America, by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, it is hereby ordered as follows: Section 1. All executive branch departments and agencies of the Federal Government shall be closed and their employees excused from duty on Friday, December 26, 2014, the day afterChristmas Day, except as provided in section 2 of this order. Sec. 2. The heads of executive branch departments and agencies may determine that certain offices and installations of their organizations, or parts thereof, must remain open and that certain employees must report for duty on December 26, 2014, for reasons of national security, defense, or other public need. Sec. 3. Friday, December 26, 2014, shall be considered as falling within the scope of Executive Order 11582 of February 11, 1971, and of 5 U.S.C. 5546 and 6103(b) and other similar statutes insofar as they relate to the pay and leave of employees of the United States. Sec. 4. The Director of the Office of Personnel Management shall take such actions as may be necessary to implement this Sec. 5. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect: (i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or (ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals. (b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of (c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person. December 5, 2014. REMARKS BY THE FIRST LADY
AT COLLEGE APPLICATION RALLY THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the First Lady ______________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release December 5, 2014 REMARKS BY THE FIRST LADY AT COLLEGE APPLICATION RALLY Capital City Public Charter School Washington, D.C. 1:12 P.M. EST MRS. OBAMA: Yes! (Applause.) You guys fired up? This is really exciting! (Applause.) Thank you, guys. You guys, sit down, rest yourselves. Wow. I don’t know about you, but I think this is a really cool day, don’t you guys? (Applause.) These are our seniors right here, right? I’m so proud of you all. But let me start by -- I want to thank Gerson for that wonderful introduction, and we’re so proud of him for sure. (Applause.) He represents everything we hope for all of you, so it’s been an honor to meet him. I’m thrilled to be here. I also want to recognize your outstanding head of schools, Karen Dresden -- yes, indeed. (Applause.) And your amazing high school principal, Belicia Reaves. (Applause.) And let me just thank everyone -- because you all are so lucky to have fantastic teachers, administrators, schools counselors, all the staff here. Let’s give them all a huge round of applause -- (applause) -- for just creating this great environment for you. And of course, I want to thank all of you, all you students for making me feel so welcome here at Capital City today. AUDIENCE MEMBER: You’re welcome! MRS. OBAMA: Thank you. (Applause.) Now, I don’t know, maybe some of you -- maybe even the younger kids are wondering, well, why is the First Lady here? Why are all those people back there with those cameras from the TV and the newspapers -- what’s going -- yes, wave to the people. (Laughter.) Your parents may be seeing you right now. Well, it’s good to know that you’re not shy. (Laughter.) Well, let me tell you why we’re all here. We’re here today for one simple reason -- and I want the younger kids to understand -- this is a big day. This is huge. This is what you’re working for. We’re here today because the seniors at your school have and will walk across this stage and drop their college applications off in the mail -- yes, that’s a big deal. That’s huge. (Applause.) It is worthy of all of this fanfare. That’s why I’m here. This is important, and I want you all to know that -- for the seniors, we are so incredibly proud of you all. We are. I know that it took a lot to get to this day, and there is still more to do, right? I know that you spent thousands of hours preparing for this very moment. You stayed up late doing homework, right? Let me get an “amen.” Yes! (Applause.) I know you all have been studying for those SAT, ACT, all that stuff -- oh, it’s happening in my house, too. I know you spent a lot of time rewriting your essays, making them just right. And I know that all of that hasn’t been easy. I know that you all probably had plenty of moments when you were tired, frustrated, you just wanted to just stop, play some video games, take a nap, right? But here’s the thing -- for all the younger students, this is where you want to be. All of these seniors, they stuck with it -- because you guys knew that you had big dreams for your futures. I hope that you know that you should have big dreams; that you know that here in America, no matter what you want to be –- whether it’s a doctor, a teacher, a chef, or President of the United States -- you all have got to continue your education past high school. It’s a must. It is not an option anymore. (Applause.) And there are many ways to get it done, there are many ways -- whether that’s going to a two-year college, a four-year college, going to a professional training school -- all of those options are available to you, and they are good and right. But I can also tell you that higher education isn’t just your ticket to a good job, look, it’s also one of the most fun, exciting, challenging experiences that you are ever going to have in your life. College is a good thing, and you all should be excited about it. And I know this from my own experience. See, I grew up like many of you. Neither of my parents and hardly many folks from the neighborhood I grew up in went to college. My family didn’t have a lot of money. But like you seniors here at Capital City, I worked my heart out. (Laughter.) Some other things too, but we got cameras here. (Laughter.) And I’m not going to lie, I did not love every class I took. I did not hit it off with every teacher I had. (Laughter.) Okay, just settle down. (Laughter.) But here’s the thing -- and all the younger kids -- what I did do was I did my best on every single assignment that I had from kindergarten all the way to the 12th grade. I took my education seriously. (Applause.) And because of that, I had a solid foundation of knowledge and skills so that when I got to go to college, I was ready. I was prepared to take any class I wanted -– classes like African American history, religion, English literature. And I tell my kids this all the time -- look, that’s the beauty of higher education. High school is -- sometimes it’s rough because there is so much that you have to do that you’re not even interested in. You’ve just got to do it. That’s what I struggle with my kids about -- you just got to do some stuff. But in college, you can study the subjects you love. You can focus on the things that you want to do. If you want to be a computer technician, you can spend all day studying computers. If you want to be a poet, you can take poetry-writing classes. That can be your life in college. If you don’t know what you want to be, you might just try a few different subjects. You can experiment in college. You can find your passion, your true passion. And many of you might get an associate’s degree and go to a community college, and then decide to get a degree at a four-year college as well. And the academics in college, that’s just the beginning. Listen up -- I know, ignore them. (Laughter.) This is what I want you guys to remember: College also has all kind of really wonderful extracurriculars -- sports, drama, singing, clubs -- everything you can imagine -- debate teams. They’ve got all kinds of campus jobs so you can earn some money to help pay for your tuition. College is a good thing. And in college and professional training programs, you really get to know your classmates. You’ll get to hang out with them at the student center, study with them in the library -- because you will be studying, right? And some of you can even live with students in a dorm setting. Then you’ll be able to just spend hours doing the things you -- talking and laughing and all that kind of stuff -- making new friends. So make no mistake about it, I want you all to be exicted about college. College is -- it is a rare opportunity for you to be a young person with other young people, learning and growing. And I want you to see college in that way. Don’t see it as a burden, see it as a privilege. And you guys are so lucky to go to a school that starts preparing you for higher education from the day you start pre-K. You guys go to a school where the goal isn’t just to finish 8th grade or 12th grade, or to have a cool boyfriend or girlfriend, or to wear the right shoes –- no, here at Capital City, every student is college material. That’s why I’m here -- every student. (Applause.) The goal here at your school is for all of you all to get the best education possible. And why we’re here is because we believe that this should be a reality. This should be the model for every school in this country. Every young person in this country should have a team of teachers and counselors and school leaders who are pushing them, supporting them like you all have here at Capital City, because -- yes, yes! (Applause.) That’s right. Because we all know the difference that this can make in a student’s life. And I got to meet one of your classmates just before I walked in, and I learned about his story -- Miguel Portillo, who’s a senior here at Capital City. (Applause.) He gave me one of your t-shirts with Obama on the back. (Applause.) I got a t-shirt. But one of my staff spent a lot of time with Miguel and learned about his story, which was compelling to all of us. I know Miguel is a representation of all of you. I could be up here telling all of your stories. But Miguel’s parents are immigrants from El Salvador, and they didn’t have the chance to continue their education after middle school. But Miguel, he’s got a 4.11 GPA -- (applause) -- which is -- for those of you who aren’t good at math, that’s literally higher than an A average. And he’s now on track to be your class valedictorian and to become the first in his family to graduate from high school and to go on to college. (Applause.) When we asked Miguel how he achieved so much, these were his words -- this is a quote, this is you talking -- he said, “Being a scholar at CCPCS makes you feel like you are part of a community that is always pushing you to go above and beyond.” He said, “If you have self-discipline and are self-motivated, you will be successful.” Was he right? AUDIENCE: Yes! MRS. OBAMA: Did he get that right? (Applause.) And that’s really the one message I have for you all today. I want you all to work -- all of the students here to work as hard as these seniors have worked. You hear that, younger students? I want you all to imagine yourselves up on this stage one day -- this is going to be you -- on your way to college or really great things. You all have so have so much to offer. And the education you’re getting here at Capital City, well, you have everything you need to follow every last one of your dreams. And I for one can’t wait to see everything you all are going to achieve in the years ahead. So I’m proud of you all. I’m happy to be a part of this day. I feel privileged to be here with you guys. I want to thank your teachers and your counselors and your parents, your families -- everyone who helped you reach this day. The work is just beginning, seniors, okay? It is about hard work. College will not be easy. It wasn’t easy for me. And it’s going to be scary, okay? But life is scary. And just remember, failure is a part of success. There is no one who has done anything great who hasn’t failed, and failed big -- including me and the President of the United States. So do not be afraid to fail. The challenge will be: What do you do after you fail -- do you get up? How resilient are you? How much grit do you have? How can you push through the hard times? That’s what’s going to separate you out. It’s not the A, it’s what’s in here, all right? I know you all can do this. If I can be here -- and I am you -- you can be me one day, easy. (Applause.) So with that, it is my pleasure to invite the rest of the senior class to come on up and mail their applications in. You guys, thank you so much. God bless you guys. Come on, seniors. Come on up. (Applause.) Remarks by the President at National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary For Immediate Release December 4, 2014 REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT AT NATIONAL CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY Ellipse 6:12 P.M. EST THE PRESIDENT: Merry Christmas, everybody! (Applause.) We saw this party going on out back and we thought we’d join you. I want to thank Secretary Jewell for not only the introduction but for all that you and everybody who is part of the Interior Department and the Park Service do to protect the magnificent outdoors for our children and for future generations. And I want to thank Jonathan Jarvis, Dan Wenk, and everybody at the National Park Service and the National Park Foundation for putting on this special event each and every holiday season. I want everybody to give it up for our charming Christmas hosts tonight, Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson. (Applause.) We have so enjoyed the incredible performers, including the one and only Patti LaBelle. (Applause.) And, finally, thanks to all of you who are here and watching at home for joining us to celebrate this wonderful holiday tradition. Back in 1923, school kids here in Washington wrote a letter to the White House asking if they could put a Christmas tree on the South Lawn. And more than 90 years and a few different evergreens later -- (laughter) -- the National Christmas Tree still stands as a symbol of hope and holiday spirit, and we still gather as a country each year to light it. We still have school kids involved, too. But this year, they’ve given all the state and territory trees surrounding the National Christmas Tree their first digital upgrade. Young women from all 50 states used their computers -- using their coding skills to control the colors and patterns of the lights on the trees. (Applause.) So thanks to those wonderful students. It is incredibly impressive. It’s actually one of the few things that Tom Hanks cannot do. (Laughter.) But while lighting the tree has entered into the 21st century, the story that we remember this season dates back more than 2,000 years. It’s the story of hope –- the birth of a singular child into the simplest of circumstances -– a child who would grow up to live a life of humility, and kindness, and compassion; who traveled with a message of empathy and understanding; who taught us to care for the poor, and the marginalized, and those who are different from ourselves. And more than two millennia later, the way he lived still compels us to do our best to build a more just and tolerant and decent world. It is a story dear to my family as Christians, but its meaning is one embraced by all peoples across our country and around the world, regardless of how they pray, or whether they pray at all. And that’s to love our neighbors as ourselves. To be one another’s keepers. To have faith in one another, and in something better around the bend. Not just at Christmastime, but all the time. And, finally, this Christmas, we count our blessings and we give thanks to the men and women of our military who help make those blessings possible. And as we hold our loved ones tight, let’s remember the military families whose loved ones are far from home. They are our heroes, and they deserve our heartfelt gratitude and our wholehearted support. (Applause.) So on behalf of Michelle, Malia, Sasha, mom-in-law -- (laughter) -- and our reindeer Bo and Sunny -- (laughter) -- I want to wish all of them and I want to wish all of you a very, very merry Christmas, and a holiday filled with joy. God bless you, and God bless the United States of America. The President and First Lady’s Call to Action on College Opportunity
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 4, 2014 The President and First Lady’s Call to Action on College Opportunity WASHINGTON, DC – Today, President Obama, Vice President Biden, and the First Lady will join college presidents and other education leaders from around the nation at the second White House College Opportunity Day of Action, where organizations will announce over 600 new actions to help more students prepare for and graduate from college. Today’s participants were challenged to commit to a new action in one of four areas: building networks of colleges focused on promoting completion, creating K-16 partnerships around college readiness, investing in high school counselors as part of the First Lady’s Reach Higher initiative, and increasing the number of college graduates in STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). Expanding opportunity for more students to enroll and succeed in college, especially low-income and underrepresented students, is vital to building a strong economy and a strong middle class. President Obama believes that the United States should lead the world in college attainment, as it did a generation ago. Because completing college is key to strengthening the middle class and should not be a luxury for the few, the President has increased Pell Grants by $1,000 a year, created the new American Opportunity Tax Credit worth up to $10,000 over four years of college, capped student loan payments to 10 percent of monthly income, and laid out an ambitious agenda to reduce college costs and promote innovation and competition in higher education. Together, the actions taken today by college and system presidents, education leaders and organizations will reach hundreds of thousands of students in the coming years. Impacts include: · Increasing the number of career-ready college graduates: New networks of colleges that are devoted to producing more college graduates who are career-ready are setting goals and defining plans to help hundreds of thousands of additional students complete a two- or four-year college degree or credential by 2025. · Enhancing college readiness: New partnerships among high schools, community colleges, and four-year colleges and universities are setting goals and pursuing collaborative strategies to help over 100,000 more students become college-ready by tying together academic expectations, student support systems, and community resources. · Improving access to highly-trained school counselors: Tens of thousands more students will gain access to high quality college advising by hiring more than 5,000 new school counselors and advisors in school districts and schools most in need of additional college access. · Strengthening STEM education: Tens of thousands more students will be on a pathway to obtain degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and more than 10,000 excellent K-12 teachers will complete college with expertise in STEM fields, marking progress towards the President’s goals to graduate an additional 1 million STEM graduates and prepare 100,000 excellent K-12 STEM teachers over a decade. The President will also announce new steps on how his Administration is helping to support these actions, including $10 million to help promote college completion and a $30 million AmeriCorps program that will improve low-income students’ access to college. Today’s event is the second College Opportunity Day of Action, and the White House also released a report summarizing the progress of participants in the first day of action, held on January 14, 2014. To view the list of Commitments to Action on College Opportunity, click HERE (http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/docs/college_opportunity_commitment_report.pdf). To view the Progress Report on January Commitments, click HERE (http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/docs/college_opportunity_progress_report.pdf). Actions Announced Today in Response to the President and First Lady’s Call to Action on College Opportunity As part of the President and First Lady’s national call to action on college opportunity, college presidents and leaders of non-profits, foundations and other organizations are announcing over 600 new commitments in the following key areas: Working Together to Produce More College Graduates. Across the nation, innovative higher education leaders have found ways to raise graduation rates while improving quality and maintaining affordability. Some of these initiatives involve cutting-edge technology; others ensure that academic credits transfer and provide additional support to at-risk students. Today, college leaders are coming together with a concrete goal to produce more college graduates who are career-ready and detailing the actions they will take to get there. These actions include using predictive analytics to keep students on track to graduate, adopting new technologies such as adaptive learning to meet individual student needs, and supplementing financial aid awards – with an overarching focus on working together to learn from and scale the most effective practices. Examples of commitments made today include: · 14 State College & University Systems Committing to More than 350,000 Additional Graduates by 2025: Fourteen state systems of colleges and universities, organized by the National Association of System Heads, intend to dramatically increase the number of graduates they produce by: using predictive analytics to help students select majors where they can be successful and stay on track to graduate with real prospects for rewarding careers; identifying best ways for academically underprepared students to succeed in developmental math and progress in their course of study; and identifying high-impact practices that go beyond the traditional classroom and lead to better college persistence and completion. These systems are forming cross-campus networks to identify and replicate key strategies, set clear definitions of success, and track progress towards key milestones set by the network. · 11 Public Universities Working Together to Produce 68,000 additional graduates by 2025: The University Innovation Alliance (UIA) – a group of 11 public research universities spanning the country – are making a new commitment to producing 68,000 additional college graduates and a total of 860,000 graduates by 2025. The UIA is working as an innovation cluster to identify and pilot new innovations to improve student success and scale proven innovations that significantly improve graduation rates across campuses. The Alliance will also share what works with the broader higher education community to create a playbook of proven innovations that help students from all backgrounds complete. · Leadership from Public Higher Education: Leadership from Public Higher Education: Nearly three-quarters of U.S. postsecondary students are enrolled in public institutions. The American Association of Community Colleges, the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, and the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities pledge to work together to facilitate efforts to produce more college degrees, with a focus that includes: seamless transitions among institutions through enhanced advising, transfer of credits, and innovative enrollment and financial aid policies; building clear educational and career pathways through better K-16 alignment, especially in STEM fields; and more accurate measurement of student progress and success. Promoting College Readiness through Partnerships: Collaborations of school districts, colleges and universities, community organizations, business, and philanthropy are setting ambitious goals and specific plans to dramatically improve college-going and success for low-income and under-represented students. Collectively, these community collaborations will generate 100,000 more college-ready students by strengthening connections among high schools, community colleges, and four-year colleges and universities and tying together academic expectations, student support systems, and community resources. Many partnerships are focusing on four key benchmarks: applying for financial aid through the FAFSA, completing two or more college applications, preparing for college-level work without remediation, and enrolling in college. By systematically gathering and sharing data on these indicators, communities can set quantitative goals for improvement, rally community support, develop focused strategies, and align systems, curricula, and resources around the goals. Examples of commitments made today include: · Transforming College Readiness, Access and Success: More than 40 organizations in the Rio Grande Valley in south Texas are committing to increase postsecondary degree completion by 43 percent, adding more than 4,000 postsecondary degrees by 2018-19. To achieve these goals, RGV FOCUS will aim to ensure that 20 percent more students enter college without the need for remediation, 20 percent more students complete at least one AP or dual credit course, and 19 percent more students complete a FAFSA. · Setting New Goals for FAFSA Completion and Avoiding Remediation: Riverside County/San Bernardino area leaders formed the Riverside County Education Collaboration in response to the President’s call to action. RCEC is the first strategic K-16 partnership in the history of this diverse and rapidly growing community which serves more than 420,000 K-12 students. The RCEC has set ambitious goals of increasing FAFSA completion by 30 percent, increasing students who do not need remediation by 18 percent, and additional increases above 10 percent in the areas of postsecondary enrollment and student applications to two or more colleges. · Promote College Access in New Haven: To increase college access and readiness for more than 21,000 New Haven students in the fastest-growing city in New England, Yale will more than double the institutional footprint of its Ambassador program in 2015 to a total of ten campuses. This academic and near-peer social support network employs New Haven Promise scholarship recipients to help students transition to freshman year. Yale will also add new parent engagement initiatives through its Pathways to Promise program, and by 2015, Yale and New Haven Promise will also develop 50 new commitments with nonprofit and faith-based champions to support college access and readiness in their communities. Leveling the Playing Field in College Advising. Over 85 percent of America’s high school students expect to attend college, but many lack the support and guidance they need to navigate the enrollment process and be academically prepared for success. With the goal of inspiring every young person to complete their education beyond high school, the First Lady’s Reach Higher initiative is shining light on the great potential for school counselors to help students reach college and career readiness – potential that is too often frustrated by not having sufficient training and information available to school counselors about college and career readiness, unrealistic student-counselor ratios of 471 to one and no counselor at all in one school in five, inappropriate assignments for counselors to perform non-counseling tasks, and a lack of comprehensive district strategies measured by college access, persistency and completion metrics. The First Lady believes that school counseling is a necessity, not a luxury. In recent months, Harvard’s Graduate School of Education and San Diego State University joined the Administration to bring together state officials, school district administrators, school counselors and college access leaders around the importance of addressing counselors’ training needs, ensuring that counselors can obtain credentials in college- and career-ready counseling, and the need for state, community and school districts to develop college- and career-ready strategies. Examples of commitments made today include: · $30 Million to Support 60,000 Low-Income Students: The Michael & Susan Dell Foundation is pledging $30 million over the next six years to increase the college enrollment and college graduation rates for low-income students through the Dell Scholars Program and the work of the National College Advising Corps, Blue Engine, iMentor, OneGoal, and others. · 15% Increase in College Enrollment for all Chicago Public School Students: Chicago Public Schools, in coordination with Thrive Chicago, is piloting a comprehensive professional development program to provide all school counselors and postsecondary advising staff with the necessary knowledge and tools to provide best practice advising. · Bring Together 13 States to Share Best Practices: The Southern Regional Education Board’s College and Career Counseling Initiative works to increase the knowledge and skills of professionals who advise students, especially low-income and first-generation college students, on reaching their postsecondary aspirations. Member states include Alabama, Arizona, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Utah. Improving STEM Learning and Degree Completion for Underrepresented Students. More than 110 individual colleges, universities, non-profit and philanthropic organizations are making new commitments to increase STEM degree access, preparation, and completion for students from low-income and underserved backgrounds, women, and minorities underrepresented in STEM fields. The commitments combine new goals with reforms like transitioning from lectures to active and inquiry-based learning, increasing student access to hands-on research in the first two years of college, providing mentors and internships to connect learning to career fields, and engaging future K-12 teachers in STEM courses so they are trained to prepare and inspire the next generation of STEM innovators. Examples of commitments made today include: · $10 million in funds to support nationally scalable efforts. Over the coming year, the Helmsley Charitable Trust expects to commit an additional $10 million in funds to support nationally scalable efforts, particularly among community colleges and institutions that serve less resourced communities of students to support STEM student success. · 10,000 excellent K-12 teachers trained in STEM fields. Eight individual initiatives or institutions – including SUNY, Uteach in partnership with the National Math and Science Initiative, CalTeach in the California State University System, Southern Connecticut State University, Westminster College, Stetson University, and Temple University – will prepare more than 10,000 excellent K-12 teachers with expertise in STEM fields to inspire the next generation of STEM innovators. This represents continued progress on the President’s goal to produce an additional 100,000 excellent K-12 STEM teachers over a decade. · Changing Teaching to Increase STEM Completion. Florida International University, which enrolls 11,000 STEM majors, 8,800 of whom are from underrepresented groups – commits to increasing overall STEM graduation rates by 10 percent through providing faculty with the time and funding to receive professional development in evidence-based teaching methods and integrating the culture of evidence-based instruction into faculty assignments, evaluation, tenure, and promotion processes. · Community College Partnerships to Graduate 200 Additional Engineers Per Year. Through its collaborative engineering program initiative with the University of Texas at Tyler, Houston Community College commits to increase the number of engineering college graduates by 200 students annually, particularly those from underrepresented groups including low-income students, women, and other minorities. The President’s Executive Actions on College Opportunity: To support these commitments, the President announced today that his Administration will: · Build the Evidence Base for What Works to Improve Quality and Completion: To build evidence of what works in higher education, the Department of Education will offer larger First in the World grants – the President’s signature initiative to promote innovation in higher education - to projects with more supporting evidence so that successful strategies can be implemented at greater scale, tested, and replicated. The Department will encourage evidence-based practices through the use of priorities in its 2015 discretionary grant programs. Finally, it will publish a literature review of postsecondary studies that have been reviewed by the Institution of Education Sciences’ What Works Clearinghouse. · Dedicate $10 Million to Research on College Completion: In 2015, the Institute of Education Sciences will sponsor research on steps states and postsecondary institutions can take to increase college completion rates college completion, inviting research on a range of interventions spanning curricular reforms, student service enhancements, financial aid interventions, and education technology tools. The Institute will prioritize projects that have the potential to be implemented on a large scale. The Institute will commit a minimum of $10 million over five years. · Expand College Access through the AmeriCorps Partnership Challenge: The Corporation for National and Community Service will increase the number of colleges and universities that are funding a year of service for students or offering more service opportunities for young people to help improve low-income students’ access to college. CNCS will encourage these collaborations through the $30 million AmeriCorps Partnership Challenge, which will provide education awards for AmeriCorps members through public private partnerships. · Launch Experimental Site for Dual Enrollment: The Department of Education will use its regulatory waiver authority to test the impact of making Pell grants available to high school students taking college courses. Emerging evidence indicates that students in dual enrollment programs are more engaged while in high school, better prepared when they begin college, and more likely to persist and complete, and dual enrollment also has the potential to reduce time to degree and result in lower costs and debt. · Expand the FAFSA Completion Initiative: The Department of Education will allow college access nonprofits to determine whether their students and clients have filed a FAFSA – while protecting private information – in order to help them raise FAFSA completion rates, similar to existing works with states and high schools. Annually over one million high school graduates have failed to file the FAFSA form leaving at a minimum two billion dollars in unclaimed federal Pell dollars. FAFSA remains the foundational document for determining state grants, as well as most private and institutional awards. · Equip Families and Communities to Increase College Opportunity: The White House Initiatives on Educational Excellence for Hispanics (WHIEEH) and Educational Excellence for African Americans (WHIEEAA) and the Center for Faith Based and Neighborhood Partnerships (CFBNP) all commit to producing new customized college access guides and resources for their respective communities. Focused on their particular audiences, these materials will help schools, families, and neighborhood organizations work together to support young people in their pursuit of college. · Research High-Impact Math Education Practices: Today, the National Science Foundation is releasing an open letter calling for proposals to pilot innovations for helping students learn the mathematics taught in the first two years of college and to plan and execute workshops in 2015 on using research to improve student success in mathematics in the first two years. Programs supporting this work in the Directorate for Education and Human Resources include Improving Undergraduate STEM Education, Advanced Technological Education, Historically Black Colleges and Universities Undergraduate Program, Tribal Colleges and Universities Program, Innovative Technology Experiences for Students and Teachers, and Discovery Research K-12. · Share Information on Work Going Forward: The American Council on Education commits to launch a web-based discussion and resources forum to help sustain the momentum generated by the Day of Action and enable participants to accelerate progress toward their goals in the completion, counseling, and STEM streams of work. The forum will allow organizations that participated in the Day of Action to share their expertise, information and resources as they work on their commitments and encourage a valuable exchange across institutions and organizations. The forum will be designed to meet the needs of participants and all participating organizations would be invited to use and contribute to it. ACE will host the forum, which will be inaugurated soon after the Day of Action to draw on the energy generated by the event. In addition, the Institute of Higher Education Policy will assist the Department of Education in establishing a structure for staying connected on K-16 strategies for college success. Progress on Existing Commitments to College Opportunity Since the first College Opportunity Day of Action on January 16, 2014, over 140 colleges and organizations have been hard at work implementing their pledges to improve college access and completion for low-income students. Examples of progress include: · Application Fee Waivers Available at More Than 2,000 Colleges. In January, with the help of their member higher education institutions, the College Board announced that every income-eligible student who takes the SAT would receive four fee waivers to apply to college for free. More than 2,000 cooperating colleges and universities have agreed to accept these application fee waivers. As of mid-October, nearly 42,000 students had accessed their college application fee waivers online via their account. · Over 3,000 Interventions to Help Students Stay in School at Georgia State: Georgia State University committed to develop and deploy a first-of-its-kind financial risk tracking system to increase completions, especially for low-income and underrepresented students. In the past, more than 1,000 students were dropped from their classes for non-payment of their university bills each semester, some with balances as low as $300. Now, the University is proactively reaching out to students and offering them micro-grants to cover their balances and to keep them in classes. Of the seniors who received a Panther Retention Grant last year, 70 percent graduated within two semesters of receiving the funding. · $267 Million in Financial Aid for Needy Families at Washington University: Washington University has raised $267 million in philanthropic support for financial aid for needy families, progressing more than halfway to its goal of $400 million by 2018. In addition, in one year, the University increased the number of Pell-eligible enrollees in its incoming freshman class from 6 percent to 8 percent, a trend the University will continue and accelerate. · More Effective Developmental Education at Colorado Community College System: The Colorado Community College System committed to reduce time to completion and the cost of the education for low income, at-risk students needing remedial coursework. Today, all of their thirteen colleges are offering revised developmental education programs, and for the first time since 2001 these students are retained at a higher rate than their peers who are not receiving remedial coursework. · 100 New STEM Posse Scholars: The Posse Foundation secured commitments from 10 top colleges and universities to join its STEM Posse initiative and provide $70 million in STEM scholarships to 500 Posse Scholars over the next five years. The participating Posse partner schools are: Brandeis University, Bryn Mawr College, Davidson College, Franklin & Marshall College, Georgetown University, Middlebury College, Pomona College, Smith College, Texas A&M, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Progress on Administration January 2014 Commitments At the January event, the Administration also made a number of commitments. Examples of progress on those commitments include: · Using FAFSA Completion Information to Support College Going: The Department of Education committed to help states receive and share data on Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) completion so that states and school districts could better identify which students have completed aid forms and target efforts to increase completion, modeled on efforts in Chicago, San Antonio and Detroit that raised FAFSA completion rates by more than 30 percent in some cases. On March 14, 2014 the Department invited states to execute new agreements that allow the LEA, secondary school, and others to identify students who should be completing a FAFSA, and on July 10, 2014, access to FAFSA filing information was further expanded to grantees under the Talent Search, Upward Bound, Student Support Services (TRIO Programs), Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Program (GEAR-UP) and certain American Indian and Alaskan Native educational organizations. · Testing the Best Approaches to College Advising and Matching Through Upward Bound: The Department of Education committed to develop and test a new professional development program for Upward Bound staff building on field strategies to promote college matching and in-person college advising. With support from the Council for Opportunity in Education, in 2014 the Department of Education recruited more than 200 Upward Bound projects to test "Find the Fit" college advising strategies. Professional development will begin in stages in 2015-16, and the first report on the effectiveness of “Find the Fit” is anticipated in late 2017. · Building the Evidence Base for Early Intervention through GEAR UP: The Department of Education committed to work with the National Council for Community and Education Partnerships (NCCEP) to support GEAR UP programs related to college fit and readiness. Meetings with researchers and state and local partnership grantees provided a springboard for the $82 million 2014 GEAR UP grant competition. Ten states and 31 partnerships were awarded GEAR UP grants, all but one under the competitive priority for projects proposing activities to improve college fit or college readiness, specifically through early identification of remedial needs. The Institute of Education Sciences is reviewing the 2014 grantees’ strategies to lay the foundation for evaluations of promising practices related to college readiness and fit. · Leveraging Work-Study Jobs to Support Near-Peer Mentoring: To build on promising evidence of the effectiveness of near-peer students as college advisers, the Department of Education promised to support institutions placing students into college counseling and mentoring jobs through the Federal Work-Study Program. In July 2014, the Department invited institutions to seek waivers of regulations that limit the Federal share of compensation paid to a student employed as a near-peer counselor under the program. Ten institutions of higher education have requested waivers; additional requests are welcome. Remarks by the First Lady at College Opportunity Summit
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the First Lady ______________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release December 4, 2014 REMARKS BY THE FIRST LADY AT THE COLLEGE OPPORTUNITY SUMMIT Ronald Reagan Building Washington, D.C. 2:36 P.M. EST MRS. OBAMA: Thank you. (Applause.) Thank you all so much. Thank you. Well, you guys rest yourselves. You’ve been very busy. (Laughter.) You’re being spoken to a lot. I hear my husband was here. (Laughter.) But it is truly a pleasure to be here with all of you today, and I want to thank you so much for joining us for this year’s College Opportunity Day of Action. You should be proud. We’re already proud of you, and this day has just already been a tremendous success. Of course I want to start by thanking Homero. I mean, he’s just an amazing story, an amazing person, and I’m grateful for that wonderful introduction. We have to give him another round of applause. (Applause.) A clear reminder of why we’re here today and what we’re working for. I also want to recognize the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation, as well as the Lumina Foundation, for helping to make this event possible. Let’s give them a round of applause as well. (Applause.) And of course, as we come together to talk about the importance of college counseling, I especially want to recognize all of the school counselors here today. Yes! (Applause.) You can raise the roof for yourselves. A little raising the roof. (Laughter.) But I think we can all agree that all of our counselors, all of you have one of the hardest, but most important jobs in our education system, yet too often you don’t get the resources, the support or the appreciation that you need and deserve. And that has serious consequences not just for our kids, but for our country. I mean, let’s be honest with ourselves –- when it comes to college counseling in our nation’s schools, there are two worlds. As many of you know, while the American School Counselor Association recommends no more than 250 students per counselor, the national average is one counselor for every 471 students. So too many of our kids go through high school with little, if any, real guidance on how to get into college. They don’t know what classes to take, or how to prepare for the SAT or the ACT. No one helps them decide which colleges to apply to. No one reviews their applications. And plenty of kids have no idea that they’re eligible for financial aid, so they assume they just can’t afford college, and they don’t even bother to apply. Now, that’s one world. The other world is much smaller –- it’s a world of schools where the question isn’t where students are going to college, but -- or whether they’re going to college, but where. Kids in this world start preparing for college long before they even start high school. And from the first day of freshman year, they’ve been shepherded through every step of the process. They’ve got SAT and ACT prep courses, they take those tests again and again to improve their scores. Counselors have much smaller caseloads, and they walk kids through every deadline, they edit every draft of their essays. Honestly, when Barack and I talk about this, we look at the kind of college counseling many of the kids are getting today and we wonder how we ever managed to get ourselves into college. So the fact is that right now, a small number of students are getting every advantage in the college admissions race, while millions of other students who are just as talented can’t even begin to compete. (Applause.) And as the college presidents here all know, the result is that colleges aren’t always getting all of the very best students. They’re getting the students who can best afford to succeed in this system. And we are leaving behind so many bright, hungry, promise-filled kids. We are depriving ourselves of so much human potential in this country –- from the scientific discoveries these kids might make, to the businesses that they might build, to the leadership that they might one day show in our communities. We’re missing all of that. We’re also losing all of that simply because we aren’t making the basic investment in their future today, and that’s a tragedy. It’s a tragedy for our country. It’s a tragedy for those kids and for their families, because we all know -- we know -- that if you want to secure a decent-paying job in today’s economy, a high school diploma simply isn’t enough. So unlike 40 or 50 years ago, higher education is no longer just for kids in the top quarter or the top half of the class, it has to be for everyone. So we are going to need a college-counseling system that reflects this new reality. (Applause.) Now, that’s easier said than done. We know that this isn’t going to happen overnight. We know that states and school systems are facing all kinds of budget challenges. But one of my core messages to students through my Reach Higher initiative is that no matter what is going on at their school or in their family, I’ve been trying to tell kids that no matter what resources they may have or not have, that they still need to take responsibility for their education. I tell them that they need to do the work to reach out to teachers who can help them. They need to research schools in their communities on their own. They need to find that FAFSA form online and fill it out. So my message to all of you is the same: We all need to step up and do what we can with the resources we have, especially when it comes to supporting our school counselors. And that is exactly what so many of you have done through the commitments you’ve made as part of this summit. Universities across the country have pledged to create college and career-readiness courses in their masters programs for school counselors. School districts are partnering with nonprofits and colleges to provide training for counselors once they’re in our schools. Nonprofits are stepping up to improve student-and-counselor ratios and bringing recent graduates into schools to serve as role models and mentors. And these are just the highlights. Altogether, these commitments represent tens of millions of dollars that will impact hundreds of schools and countless students. These are outstanding commitments, and we need more efforts like these all across this country. Every one of us has a role to play. So for the superintendents here today, I know you all are struggling with so many demands under such tight budgets, but can you do more to support your counselors? Can you find ways to -- (applause) -- yes -- shift some of that extra burden that falls in their lap, like substitute teaching, case management, exam proctoring? Can you give them more time to actually counsel students? To the college presidents here, can you do even more to make college counseling part of your mission to get the very best students to your schools? And can the foundations and nonprofit organizations help in that work? Can you rethink the college admissions process to find more of those students who’ve got what it takes to succeed but haven’t had the chance to develop their potential? Can you create college prep centers in your communities and ensure that test-prep classes are affordable for all of our kids? And for those of you who are concerned that perhaps this type of involvement might falsely raise hopes of admission to your school -- because I’ve heard that as well -- just consider the fact that while many of the kids you help might not be the right fit for your college or university, but they will be the right fit for another school, and maybe that other school will help prepare students for admission to your school. (Applause.) So this is really a collective effort, and everyone can benefit. And as you all step up to take on these issues, really, I really want to hear about what you’re doing. And that’s one of the reasons why I recently announced two new Reach Higher Commencement Challenges. I’m asking colleges to create videos showcasing your work to bring low-income and first-generation students to your campuses for peer mentoring, college immersion experiences and all kind of wonderful opportunities. And for the high schools, I want to see videos about what you’re doing to increase your FAFSA completion rates to help more students afford college. And for those schools with the winning videos, I just might pay a visit around commencement time, if you know what I mean -- (laughter) -- to let you know how impressed I am. So I hope that you all will go to ReachHigher.gov and get more information, because I’m eager to see what you all are doing. I know you’re going to do some great things. You see, I know that the smallest, most local efforts can make such a difference in the lives of our young people. And I’m thinking today of a school called La Cueva High School in Albuquerque, New Mexico. A few years ago, the college counseling staff at that school met with a young woman named Roberta Gutierrez during her sophomore year. Roberta was an excellent student, so they urged her to take the PSAT and come up with a list of colleges that she wanted to apply to. Now, while Roberta took the test, she never came up with that list -- and I’m sure you know why. But then, at the beginning of Roberta’s school year, her counselors learned that she had been named a National Merit Semi-Finalist with a PSAT score in the top 1 percent of the entire state. So the counselors -- yes, good stuff -- (applause) -- the counselors immediately informed Roberta that she would be eligible for thousands of dollars in scholarships. And Roberta, of course, she was shocked. She told them that she never made the list of colleges because her family lived from paycheck to paycheck, so she didn’t think she could afford tuition. She told them that just to pay the $15 fee to take the PSAT, she had to skip lunch for a week. And after meeting with Roberta, the counseling staff decided that no student at their school would ever again have to choose between eating and taking a test that opens the doors to college. So they now hold fundraisers -- yes. (Applause.) They hold fundraisers throughout the school year to ensure that low-income students can take the PSAT for free. And they go out of their way to tell every family about the financial aid resources that are available for college. And as for Roberta, she is now in her junior year on a full scholarship at the University of New Mexico, and she’s planning to get a PhD in psychology -- yes. (Applause.) You all know these stories. There are so many kids just like Roberta all across this country, and they’re bright. These kids are determined. These are the kids who have everything it takes to succeed if we would just give them that chance. And that’s what the counselors and leaders at La Cueva High School did for Roberta -- they gave her a shot at the future she deserved. And just think about the ripple effect that those counselors will have in transforming just one student’s life. Think about the difference Roberta can make when she gets that PhD. Think of all the patients she might treat, all the groundbreaking research she might do. Think of the role model that she will be -- she already is -- inspiring countless young people just like her to pursue their dreams. There are millions of young people like Roberta all across this country, and they are counting on us to step up for them. They’re counting on us to give them opportunities worthy of their promise. And that is exactly what all of you are doing every single day. That is the purpose of the commitments that you’ve made as part of this summit. That’s why I’m proud and honored to be here. And I want to close today simply by saying thank you, truly. Thank you. Thank you for your passion. Thank you for your dedication. Thank you for your tremendous contributions to this country. I look forward to continuing our work together. We got a lot more stuff to do. And I cannot wait to see all that you are going to achieve in the months and years ahead. So thank you so much. Keep it up. And let’s bring more people to the table. You all take care. Thanks so much. (Applause.) END 3:47 P.M. EST Remarks by the President at College Opportunity Summit
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release December 4, 2014 REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT AT COLLEGE OPPORTUNITY SUMMIT Ronald Reagan Building Washington, D.C. 12:17 P.M. EST THE PRESIDENT: Hello! Thank you so much. Thank you! (Applause.) Please, please have a seat. Thank you so much. First of all, can everybody please give Chionque a big round of applause for her great story? (Applause.) We are proud of what she has achieved and the spirit that she represents. When it comes to higher education, we spend a lot of time crunching numbers and statistics. But ultimately what matters -- and what has so many of you here today, many of you who have made this your life work -- is making sure that bright, motivated young people like Chionque, and all the students who are here, have the chance to go as far as their talents and their work ethic and their dreams can take them. That’s why we’re here today. In January, we held our first College Opportunity Summit with about 140 higher education leaders and organizations over in the White House. This time, we’ve got so many folks we had to move to a different building. That is a good sign. (Laughter.) You would have been a fire hazard over in EEOB. (Laughter.) And all we did was ask a simple question: What can we do, collectively, to create more success stories like Chionque’s? And you, collectively, have responded in a big way, with commitments to give more of our young people that chance. Private and community colleges, philanthropists and business leaders, heads of non-profits and heads of school districts. This did not require a single piece of legislation, a single new stream of funding. What it required was a sense of urgency and a sense of focus -- and a recognition this should not be a Democratic issue or a Republican issue. Making sure more of our young people have access to higher education and can succeed and complete their work and get their degree -- that has to be an American issue. An American issue. (Applause.) And this is especially important at a time when we face multiple challenges, both internationally and domestically -- challenges that are entirely solvable, but so often don't get solved because rather than having a sense of common good we focus on our differences. Rather than having a sense of national purpose, a common sense of opportunity, we give in to those forces that drive us apart. We think about what’s happened over the last year, two years, six years -- our economy keeps improving. More Americans are working. More Americans have health care. Manufacturing has grown. The deficit has shrunk. Foreign oil is down. Crime is down. Graduation rates are up. (Applause.) Clean energy is up. So, objectively speaking, America is outpacing most of the world. And when I travel overseas, people look at us with envy and are puzzled as to why there seems to be so much anxiety and frustration inside America. And my response is that when it comes to our economy, yes, our economy is growing, but we fine an increasing divergence between those who have the skills that today’s jobs require and those who don’t. So the economy becomes more stratified. When it comes to the cost of college, there’s a frustration in a middle class that feels like folks at the top can afford it, folks at the bottom get help; there’s nobody who’s looking out for folks in the middle. And given accelerating costs and the recognition that this is going to be the key ticket to the middle class, that elicits great frustration. When it comes, as we’ve seen, unfortunately, in recent days, to our criminal justice system, too many Americans feel deep unfairness when it comes to the gap between our professed ideals and how laws are applied on a day-to-day basis. (Applause.) I should mention, before I came here I had a chance to speak with Mayor de Blasio in New York, and I commended him for his words yesterday and for the way New Yorkers have been engaging in peaceful protests and being constructive. He was just in the White House with us on Monday, as we started taking some concrete steps to strengthen the relationship between law enforcement and communities of color, and I intend to take more steps with leaders like him in the months ahead. But beyond the specific issue that has to be addressed -- making sure that people have confidence that police and law enforcement and prosecutors are serving everybody equally -- there’s a larger question of restoring a sense of common purpose. And at the heart of the American ideal is this sense that we’re in it together, that nobody is guaranteed success but everybody has got access to the possibilities of success, and that we are willing to work not just to make sure our own children have pathways to success but that everybody does; that at some level, everybody is our kid, everybody is our responsibility. (Applause.) We are going to give back to everybody. And we do that because it’s the right thing to do, and we do it because, selfishly, that’s how this country is going to advance and everybody is going to be better off. And big challenges like these should galvanize our country. Big challenges like these should unite us around an opportunity agenda that brings us together, rather than pulling us apart. We are at our best when we rise to what the moment demands, whether it’s putting more people back to work, making sure those jobs pay a decent wage so that incomes and wages go up; whether it’s educating more of our kids for the 21st century; whether it’s fixing our broken immigration system; and to do what many of you have done and made as the cause of your life, and that is opening the doors of higher education to more of our fellow Americans. These are big challenges, but they are solvable as long as we feel a sense of urgency and we work together. And that’s why I was so heartened by the January meeting, and that’s why I’m even more encouraged by this meeting. Our higher education system is one of the things that makes America exceptional. There’s no place else that has the assets we do when it comes to higher education. People from all over the world aspire to come here and study here. And that is a good thing. America thrived in the 20th century because we made high school free. We sent a generation to college. We cultivated the most educated workforce in the world. Along with our innovation mentality, our risk-taking, our entrepreneurial spirit, it was that foundation that we laid -- broad-based, mass education -- that drove our economy and separated us from the rest of the world. Nothing was more important -- the skills of our people, the investment we made in human capital. We were ahead of the curve. But what’s happened is other countries figured it out. They took a look at our policies and they figured out the secret sauce. They set out to educate their own kids so they could out-compete ours, understanding that in today’s knowledge economy, jobs and businesses will go wherever you can find the most skilled, educated workers. I don’t want them -- I don’t want businesses to have to look anywhere other than the United States of America. I want to make sure we lead the world in education once again, not just because it’s right to help more young people chase their dreams, but because it’s critical to our economic future. Now, the reason we’re here is because we understand that although at the top end, our universities are doing unbelievable work and are still the envy of the world, for a lot of working families, for a lot of middle-class kids, a lot of folks who are trying to join that middle class, higher education increasingly feels out of reach. A lot of college quads may not look like they’ve changed much over the last century -- the people who attended them have. There are more minorities. There are more first-generation college-goers. Working adults are returning to get degrees so that they can reach for opportunities that right now are foreclosed to them. Students are more likely than in the past to study part time. They hold full-time jobs. They have families. We used to think of these as atypical students; today, they’re increasingly the norm. But too many students who take the crucial step of enrolling in college don’t actually finish, which means they leave with the burden of debt, without the earnings and the job benefits of a degree. So we’ve got to change that. All of us have a stake in changing that. On the one hand, we’ve got good news, which is 20, 30, 40, 50 years ago, college was still seen as a luxury; now, everybody understands some form of higher education is a necessity. And that’s a good thing, which means more folks are enrolling and more folks are seeking the skills that they’ll need to compete. But if they’re simply enrolling and not graduating, if they’re enrolling and not getting the skills that they need, then we’re not delivering on the promise. In fact, we’re adding another burden to these folks. And I get letters all the time seeing what that burden means, heartbreaking letters that I’ll get sometimes from kids who thought they were doing the right thing, have $50,000, $60,000, $70,000 worth of debt, now feel as if they made a bad mistake trying to get a higher education. Now, as a nation, we don’t promise equal outcomes, but we were founded on the idea everybody should have an equal opportunity to succeed. No matter who you are, what you look like, where you come from, you can make it. That’s an essential promise of America. Where you start should not determine where you end up. And so I’m glad that everybody wants to go to college. You are, too. But I want to make sure that it actually works for them. And what that means is that we're going to have to make sure that more students can make it all the way across the graduation stage, not with debt that might limit their choices, but with the skills that will prepare them for the workforce. That's going to be critical. (Applause.) It’s why we're going to have to help more families afford college. And that's why we’ve offered grants and tax credits that go farther than before. We’ve helped over 700 community college partners with over 1,000 employers to provide training for good jobs that need to be filled. We’ve reformed student loans so that more money goes to students rather than banks. (Applause.) And I took an executive action to give Americans the chance to cap their direct student loan payments at 10 percent of their monthly income so people can pursue careers that may not be wildly lucrative but are critically important to our society. One thing we certainly shouldn’t be doing is making it harder for more striving young kids to finish their education and depriving America of their talents and discoveries. And I bring this up because there’s a bill that Republican leadership in the House are voting -- have brought up that would force talented young people and productive workers and community leaders to leave our country. The immigration issue is, I recognize, one that generates a lot of passion, but it does not make sense for us to want to push talent out rather than make sure that they're staying here and contributing to society. (Applause.) Rather than deport students, and separate families, and make it harder for law enforcement to do its job, I just want Congress to work with us to pass a common-sense law to fix that broken immigration system. And there’s a lot that Congress could do to help more young people access and afford higher education. I’d like to see us spend more time on that. But in the meantime, there’s a lot that you and I can do together even if Congress doesn't act. So that’s why we convened the College Opportunity Summit in January, calling for action. We’ve already seen a lot of progress. More than 2,000 colleges are waiving application fees for low-income students. That's a big deal. (Applause.) Georgia State University, just to cite one example, is developing a new system to give small grants to students who might be a little behind on their bills. You got the Posse Foundation planning to provide over 500 STEM scholarships over the next five years. And what we heard from you is that in order to meet our goal of producing many more college graduates, we’ve got to draw on all of higher education -- which means community colleges, big public universities, small liberal arts colleges. Everybody has got to be a part of the solution. And so that’s what we did. Now hundreds of you have announced new commitments. I’m going to highlight a few of them in four different areas that we know are critical to students’ success. So you guys can pat yourselves on the back -- (laughter) -- as I mention some of the work that's been done as a consequence of this convening. First, you told us that colleges and universities want to work together on these challenges. So rather than settle for islands of excellence, we asked you to collaborate and build networks where you can share best practices, test them out, and get a greater collective impact. The National Association of System Heads, for example, has organized 11 state systems of colleges and universities behind one big goal, and that is to produce 350,000 more graduates by 2025. The University Innovation Alliance, which is a group of 11 public research universities from all over the country, has committed to producing 68,000 more college graduates by 2025. And so what’s happening is these groups are partnering to develop and test new ideas like improving remedial math classes for underprepared students, using data and technology to figure out when a student may not have chosen the right major or is having trouble making it to class regularly so that they can intervene early, guide that student back on track. Maybe they need text messages reminding them to go to class -- not a bad idea. (Laughter.) Maybe they need to be paired up with a peer tutor. My mom had an analog version of this. (Laughter.) She used to wake me up when I was living overseas before dawn and she’d make me study every morning and make sure I was keeping up with my English lessons -- and it worked. And so nagging works. (Laughter.) It does. Michelle and I are big believers in nagging. (Laughter.) Second, we know that the path to college begins long before students set on campus. We need our school leaders working with college presidents to make sure students are on track for college, that they’re taking the right courses, filling out the right financial aid forms, applying to more schools, making sure they’re prepared. That’s what drives many of your promising tutoring and mentoring organizations. And that’s why school districts and community organizations are partnering with colleges and universities to make sure that the pipeline is working, that low-income students are better prepared to succeed in college. So the Riverside County Education Collaboration in California has set a goal of increasing FAFSA completion by 30 percent, and they’re working to ensure that fewer students need remedial classes when they get to college. Third, we know that a lot of young people, especially low-income students, need a little more support and guidance as they prepare for and apply to college. This is something that Michelle is passionate about, because she knows firsthand the difference a good counselor can make for a kid who may be the first in her family to go to college. So Michelle is going to talk more about this and her Reach Higher initiative later today. I know that you will enjoy hearing her more than me. (Laughter.) That’s what happens. (Laughter.) But both of us, just to give you a little preview, want to make sure that every child gets the kind of support that Malia and Sasha get. And, finally, we know that many of the high-tech, high-wage jobs of the future are going to be in STEM -- science, technology, engineering, math. Many of you have committed to increasing the number of women and underrepresented minorities who pursue STEM studies. Some of you have pledged to prepare more K through 12 teachers in STEM so they can inspire our future innovators. Others are engaging middle, high school, and college students in hands-on math and science learning to spark an interest in STEM careers. So these are just a few examples, a small sample of the commitments that all of you have already announced, and we’re looking forward to seeing what comes out of the work that you engage in in the coming months. And in the meantime, my administration is going to keep doing our part to support your efforts. Today we’re announcing a handful of executive actions that we can take immediately to expand college opportunity, including prioritizing grants for evidence-based projects; sponsoring research on improving college completion; increasing the number of AmeriCorps service opportunities to help more low-income students access college. And our challenge going forward is to make sure your outstanding commitments mean something where it matters most -- in the lives of young people. That’s what Jeff Nelson, a former teacher who’s here today, wanted to do. Where’s Jeff? There he is, right here. I’m going to brag on Jeff for a second. (Laughter.) Seven years ago, he co-founded a nonprofit called OneGoal. And it had one goal -- (laughter) -- and so is aptly named -- to help more low-performing, low-income high school students not only get into college, but make sure they’ve got the continued support to succeed once they get to college. And one of their students is a young man from Chicago named Caleb Navarro. Is Caleb here, too? Couldn’t make it? Well, next time you got to bring him. (Laughter.) But he’ll hear about it, that I was talking about him? I’ll bet he will. (Laughter and applause.) So by the time Caleb was a sophomore, he wasn’t doing all that well in school. He wasn’t motivated to try harder; starting to give up on himself. The folks at OneGoal saw a spark of something that was special in Caleb. Once he joined their program, he started to believe that maybe he was capable of achieving more. Expert teachers helped him focus on academics and taught him how to stick with his studies, even when it was hard. Caleb started taking AP classes, something he wouldn’t have imagined for himself a couple years earlier. He gave up his lunch hour to take an extra class. Now, that’s serious -- giving up your lunch hour. He started out with a GPA of 2.4, ended up with a 3.8 GPA. Today, Caleb is a freshman at Dominican University, studying biochemistry, on track to graduate from college. Now, Caleb could have been on his way to becoming just another statistic. He was a good kid, so it might not have been that he completely crashed and burned. But what was likely, the trajectory was one in which he underestimated what was possible. He shortchanged himself. He lowered his expectations. And because of just some key interventions at a critical moment in his life, he’s now studying stuff that I don’t understand. (Laughter.) And if we can replicate Caleb’s story, if everybody who’s represented here, each of you are touching 10, 50, 100, 1,000 Calebs all across the country in a sustained way, figuring out what works, being honest when the evidence says something doesn’t work and trying something different, investing in these kids in a sustained way, teaching each other how to have an impact -- if we can replicate Caleb’s story across the country, imagine what discoveries he and students like him might make; what businesses they may start; what entire industries may be launched; what new sources of energy may be discovered; what lifesaving medicines might be produced -- what a set of Calebs can do to change the world. That’s the power, that’s the purpose of higher education -- to give everybody that chance. Because everybody has got that spark. Some know it earlier; others know it later. I happen to be an example of somebody who -- it came a little later. (Laughter.) But everybody has got a Caleb out there. And we’ve got to make sure that they have the chance not only to fulfill their potential, but by doing so, creating that chance for us to fulfill this country’s potential. We are coming out of this recession with the most diverse, most digitally fluent, in many ways, most sophisticated generation in American history. Anybody who’s interacting with young people today comes away impressed. But they’re also concerned, because these kids are growing up at a time when a lot of people have lost faith in institution, and are inherently skeptical about what’s possible. And I want to make sure young people with that spark never lose sense of what’s possible. If all of us work together -- teachers, parents, nonprofits, corporations, school districts, university system -- if we make sure they remain the best-educated generation in American history, there is no limit to what they can achieve, there’s no limit to what this country can achieve. So I want to thank you all for the important work you do. (Applause.) Stay at it. And I look forward to seeing you at the next summit. Thank you. God bless you. God bless America. THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release December 3, 2014 REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT TO THE BUSINESS ROUNDTABLE Business Roundtable Headquarters Washington, D.C. 11:21 A.M. EST THE PRESIDENT: Well, good morning, everybody. Happy holidays. I hope sales are good. (Laughter.) I want to spend most of my time, as I usually do, taking questions. I want to thank Randall and the rest of the executive committee for the opportunity to speak with you here today. Let me just give you a sense of where I think our economy currently is, what’s happening around the world and where I think it should be, and the chances for us here in Washington to accelerate rather than impede some of the progress that we've made. Around this time six years ago, America’s businesses were shedding about 800,000 jobs per month. Today, our businesses, including some of the most important businesses in the world that are represented here today, have created over 10.6 million new jobs; 56 months of uninterrupted job growth, which is the longest private sector job growth in our history. We just saw the best six-month period of economic growth in over a decade. For the first time in six years, the unemployment rate is under 6 percent. All told, the United States of America, over the last six years, has put more people back to work than Europe, Japan, and the rest of the advanced world combined. And that's a record for us to build on. At the same time, what we've been doing is working on restructuring and rebuilding our economy for sustained long-term growth. Manufacturing has grown. The auto industry has the strongest sales since 2007. Our deficits have shrunk by about two-thirds, something that very few people, I suspect, in the BRT would have anticipated in some of our conversations three or four years ago. When it comes to health care costs, premiums have gone up at the lowest pace on record, which means that a lot of the businesses here are saving money, as are a lot of consumers. On the education front, high school graduations are up, college enrollments are up, math and reading scores have improved. Internationally, our exports continue to hit record levels. On energy, we have seen a revolution that is changing not just the economy but also changing geopolitics. Not only is oil and natural gas production up -- in part because of technological changes that have taken place -- but we've also doubled our production of clean energy. And solar energy is up about tenfold; wind energy is up threefold. Unit costs for the production of clean energy are dropping down to where they’re getting close to being competitive to fossil fuels. And as a consequence, we've also been able to reduce carbon emissions that cause climate change faster than most of the other industrialized countries. So the bottom line is, is that America continues to lead. I was -- Andrew Liveris and I were talking -- I was with his people in Brisbane, Australia, and at the G20, what was striking was the degree of optimism that the world felt about the American economy -- an optimism that in some ways is greater than how Americans sometimes feel about the American economy. I think what you saw among world leaders was consistent with what we know from global surveys, which is when you ask people now, what is the number-one place to invest, it's the United States of America. It was China for quite some time. Now folks want to put money back into this country. And a lot of that has to do with the fact that we've got the best workers in the world, we've got the best university system, and research and development and innovation in the world, and we've got the best businesses in the world. And so a lot of you can, I think, take great credit for the kind of bounce-back that we've seen over the last six years. Having said all that, I think we recognize that we've got a lot more progress to make. And I put it in a couple of categories. There are some common-sense things that we should be doing that we're not doing, and the reason primarily is because of politics and ideological gridlock. But I suspect that if we surveyed folks here, regardless of your party affiliation, you’d say, let’s get this done. Infrastructure is one area where we need to go ahead and make some significant investments. Anybody who travels around the world and looks at what airports outside the United States now look like, and roads and trains and ports and airports now look like, recognize that it makes no sense for us to have a first-class economy but second-class information. And that would not only help accelerate growth right now, it would also lay the foundation for growth in the future. Tax reform -- an area which I know is of great interest to the Business Roundtable: I have consistently said that for us to have a system in which we have, on paper, one of the two or three highest tax rates in the world when it comes to corporate taxation, but in practice, there are so many loopholes that you get huge variations between what companies pay doesn’t make sense. And we should be able to smooth the system out, streamline it in such a way that allows us to lower rates, close loopholes, and make for a much more efficient system where folks aren't wasting a lot of time trying to hire accountants and lawyers to get out of paying taxes, but have some certainty and were able to raise just as much money on a much simpler system. That's something that I think we should be doing. Trade: In Asia, there is a great hunger for engagement with the United States of America, and the Trans-Pacific Partnership is moving forward. Michael Froman, who is here, has been working non-stop. I’ve promised his family that he will be home sometime soon. We are optimistic about being able to get a deal done and we are reinvigorating the negotiations with the Europeans on a transatlantic trade deal. If we can get that done, that's good for American businesses, it's good for American jobs, and it's actually good for labor and environmental interests around the world. Because what we're trying to do is raise standards so that everybody is on a higher, but level playing field. And I think that your help on that process can make an enormous difference. Immigration reform: I recognize that there’s been some controversy about the executive actions that I've taken. On the other hand, I think the BRT has been extraordinarily helpful in getting the country to recognize that this is the right thing to do for our economy. We know it will grow the economy faster. We know it will help us reduce the deficit. We know that it gives us the capacity to bring in high-skilled folks who we should want to gravitate towards the United States to start businesses and to create new products and new services, and to innovate, and to continue the tradition of economic dynamism that's the hallmark of the United States of America. I am still hopeful that we can get legislation done, because if we get legislation done, it actually supplants a lot of the executive actions that I've already taken -- which I've acknowledged are incomplete, allow us to make some progress, but they’re temporary, and we could be doing a lot better if we actually get legislation done. So the good news, despite the fact that obviously the midterm elections did not turn out exactly as I had hoped, is that there remains enormous areas of potential bipartisan action and progress. And I've already spoken to Speaker Boehner and Senator Mitch McConnell, and what I've said to them is that I am prepared to work with them on areas where we agree, recognizing there are going to be some areas where we just don't agree. And I think one of the habits that this town has to break is this notion that if you disagree on one thing, then suddenly everybody takes their ball home and they don’t play. I think that there’s got to be the capacity for us to say, here’s an area where we’re going to have some vigorous disagreement, but here are some areas where we have a common vision -- let’s go ahead and get that done, and build some momentum, start working those muscles to actually legislate, sign some legislation, give the American people some confidence that those of us who have this extraordinary privilege of being placed in leadership are able to actually deliver for the American people. One final point that I’ll make: I started off by talking about how generally optimistic I am about the economic trends. There are some concerns on the horizon -- obviously Japan being weak, Europe being weak, means that the United States, even as we chug along, could be pulled back by global weakness, not only in Europe and Japan but also the emerging markets. So we’re monitoring that and we’re working internationally to try to get Europe in particular to see stronger growth. But, domestically, the area where I have the deepest concern is the fact that although corporate profits are at the highest levels in 60 years, the stock market is up 150 percent, wages and incomes still haven’t gone up significantly, and certainly have not picked up the way they did in earlier generations. That’s part of what’s causing disquiet in the general public even though the aggregate numbers look good. And one thing I’d like to work with the BRT on is to ask some tricky questions, but important questions, about how we can make sure that prosperity is broad-based. I actually think when you look at the history of this country, when wages are good and consumers feel like they’ve got some money in their pocket, that ends up being good for business, not bad for business. I think most of you would agree to that. And we’ve got a lot of good corporate citizens in this room; unfortunately, the overall trend lines, though, have been, even as productivity and profits go up, wages and incomes as a shared overall GDP have shrunk. And that’s part of what is creating an undertow of pessimism despite generally good economic news. I think there are some concrete things we can do to address that, and I’m going to be looking forward to working with the BRT to see if we can make progress on those fronts as well. All right? So with that, let’s open it up for questions. Randall, do you want to call on folks, or do you want me to just go ahead and start? MR. STEPHENSON: If I could ask the first question and then we’ll do that. THE PRESIDENT: Please, go ahead. MR. STEPHENSON: Your comments, sir, have been consistent as it relates to tax reform. We have been over the last couple of days talking a lot about what are those things that are most critical for driving job growth -- middle-income job growth -- and it always for us comes back to investment. The more we invest, the more we hire, the more middle-income wages grow. And as we think about what are those things that will drive business investment and that kind of job growth -- you’ve touched on it and you have been consistent -- tax reform. And to us, there is no single factor that could be more important. And the question is, do you think it would be useful to have somebody within your administration that you appoint and say, this is a priority to me; we will work with the individual and Congress, and just see if this is a priority, if we could drive this through. There’s a time frame here, it seems like to us, where there’s something that could be done. Both sides of Congress seem receptive. And so we’d be really open to working with you, somebody specifically in your administration, to help you drive this through. THE PRESIDENT: Well, Jack Lew is here, our Treasury Secretary, and my understanding is, he doesn’t have enough to do. (Laughter.) So I’m thinking maybe we need to put him to work. Let me get a little more detailed about the prospects for tax reform. We put out a white paper, a general concept on corporate tax reform, several years ago when Tim Geithner was still Treasury Secretary. I think BRT has had an opportunity to take a look at what our basic principles have been. They’ve been consistent. The idea has been close loopholes, lower rates. We have discussed the possibility of being able to bring in some of the dollars that are trapped outside of the country right now, and in a one-time transaction, potentially use that to pay for some infrastructure improvements. I think there is some openness to that. And when you compare what we put forward with what Dave Camp, the current House Ways and Means Chairman, put out, his principles for tax reform, there’s a lot of overlap. There are some differences, but overall, conceptually, he also believes lower rates, close loopholes, a minimum tax globally that ensures that folks aren’t gaming the system but also allows you to be competitive with folks based in other countries that are operating on a territorial basis. So there is definitely a deal to be done. I think two big hurdles that we’re going to have to get over -- the first is the classic problem, which is people are in favor of tax reform in the abstract and sometimes more concerned with tax reform in the specifics. If we are, in fact, going to accomplish revenue-neutral corporate tax reform that substantially lowers the corporate rate, then we have to go after some deductions that people are very comfortable with. And there are going to be some winners and there are going to be some losers in the short term. Over the long term, there’s going to be less distortion in the economy, and capital will be allocated more sensibly. But in the short term, there are going to be some winners and losers -- including in this room. The question then becomes, are folks willing and ready to go ahead and make that move for the sake of a simpler, more streamlined, more sensible tax system. Because, if not, it’s not going to happen. All of you represented in this room have employees and businesses and plants all across the country in every congressional district, and if we don’t have consistency and unity coming out of our top companies, then we’re going to have -- I think the likelihood of us being able to get something done is low. The second problem is one that is solvable, but is tricky, and that is Paul Ryan, at least in the past, has stated that -- and I think Boehner has echoed this -- that they don’t want to just do corporate tax reform; they’re interested in also combining that with individual tax reform, in part because they’re concerned about pass-through corporations not being able to benefit the way larger companies do. And we are actually committed to providing simpler and lower tax rates for small businesses as well. But what we’re not willing to do is to structure a tax deal in which either it blows up the deficit -- essentially we can’t pay for the revenue that’s lost -- or, alternatively, that you get tax shifting from businesses to middle-class and working families. And so when you start introducing the individual side, it gets more complicated in terms of who’s benefitting, what are the rates, how is it restructured. My view is, is that if we start with the corporate side, it’s a more discrete problem, fewer variables, fewer moving parts. We may be able to get that done, and then we can potentially have a conversation about broader tax reform. That may not be how the Republicans view the situation, and so that -- and that could end up being a hang-up. One last point I would make -- and this relates to the issue of individual tax reform, but it also relates to one of the debates that was taking place during this lame-duck period, and that is about tax extenders. As a general rule, we are open to short-term extensions of many of those provisions to make sure that all of you are able to engage in basic tax planning at least for the next couple of years, and are not having to scramble during tax time, figuring out what exactly the rules are. But more broadly, we’d like to see if some of those tax extender provisions, including things that I strongly support like research and development, are incorporated into a broader, comprehensive tax reform package. In order to do that, though, I also want to make sure that some provisions that benefit working families are included in that package: The child tax credit -- hugely important for a lot of working families. The EITC, earned income tax credit -- hugely important for a lot of working families, something that has historically been supported on a bipartisan basis because it encourages work, but it says if you’re working full-time we’re going to try to do everything we can to make sure that you’re not in poverty when you’re doing the right thing and taking responsibility. There is a college tuition tax credit that benefits a lot of families -- sometimes families who get caught, they’re not quite poor enough to qualify for Pell grants, but they don’t have enough money to be able to really manage college costs. So there are going to be some working-class and middle-class and working-family provisions that have to be incorporated if we are to extend some of these other tax deductions and tax breaks as well. But that, hopefully, gives you a sense of optimism on my part, but cautious optimism. I think that there are going to be some real challenges, but we are absolutely committed to working with Speaker Boehner and Mitch McConnell, as well as the BRT and other interests in seeing if we can get this thing done. I think the time is right. And you're right, Randall, that the window is not going to be open too wide and it's going to start narrowing the closer we get into the next presidential election -- which always seems to start the day after the last election. Q Mr. President, Maggie Wilderotter with Frontier Communications. Thank you for being with us. And also thank you for explaining a little bit more what you’re thinking about for tax reform. I also want to just underline that the tax extenders, until there is some reform that takes place, is really important to all of us in this room. As Randall mentioned, it is about capital investment that really drives income growth for middle-class families. Our company serves 30,000 communities in rural America, so that is important to us. One of the other things that's important to us is the continuing resolution to keep the government going. THE PRESIDENT: Me, too. (Laughter.) Q Yes. Can you talk a little bit about how we make sure that we don't have fits and starts again on that subject? THE PRESIDENT: I've been encouraged by recent statements by Speaker Boehner and Leader McConnell about their interest in preventing another government shutdown and I take them at their word. The federal government budgeting process generally is -- how should I put it -- not ideal. Ideally, we would have longer time frames, greater certainty. We would be able to distinguish between capital investments that are going to have long-term payoffs and short-term operating expenses. Historically, that’s just not been how the budget process has been structured. And since the plane is constantly flying, it's hard to get in there -- maybe Jim has advice about how to switch up engines while the plane is in the air. So the tendency is just to kick the can down the road with a series of continuing resolutions. There’s been an effort to try to get back to regular procedures and to systematically look through these budgets. There was talk of an omnibus bill rather than a continuing resolution. And I think it will be useful for you to get directly from the Speaker what their intentions are at this point. But the one thing I can say for certain is that no one benefits by the government shutting down, and it is entirely unacceptable for us not to maintain the full faith and credit of the United States government. And we just cannot afford to engage in that kind of brinksmanship that we saw over the last couple years. Each time that happened, consumer sentiment plunged. It was a self-inflicted wound and we had to dig ourselves back out of a hole, despite all the efforts that had been made, simply because people’s confidence in the system overall was shaken. So my strong hope is, is that we don't repeat that. And part of the principle that can prevent that is what I already articulated. We have to be able to disagree on some things while going ahead and managing the people’s business and working on the things where we do agree. Democracy is messy, but it doesn’t have to be chaos. And I've been encouraged, as I said, so far by statements by Republican leadership. And if, in fact, we can get some certainty on the budget at least for the next year, that then gives us the window to work on tax reform. The good news is in all this is the incredible progress we've made on our short-term deficits. Nobody talks about them anymore. I will say that's one of the frustrating things about Washington, is people are really good about hollering about problems, and then when we solve them nobody talks about them. We have made extraordinary progress in reducing our short-term deficits. We still have some long-term liabilities that we've got to worry about, and some of those problems, though, have been addressed -- are being addressed by changes in the health care delivery system, which has been a huge driver of long-term federal debt. I think I mentioned earlier that health care inflation has gone up at the slowest rate in 50 years, far slower than had been projected by CBO or by the actuaries for Medicare. As a consequence, we’ve already been able to book about $188 billion in savings over the next 10 years in reduced health care outlays. And I actually think that we can get more done as some of the delivery system reforms that we talked about and are initiating through the Affordable Care Act are put in place. So there’s good news on the budget. But now what we’ve got to do is to create a framework in which not only do we keep our deficits low and we’re able to start driving down our debt, but we’re also able to make some core investments that I mentioned earlier -- in infrastructure; in education, and particularly early childhood education is an area where I think we can make a lot of progress; in basic research and science. I was out at NIH yesterday talking to a woman who had worked 10 years on the Ebola virus in great obscurity until suddenly everybody thought she was pretty interesting. And we’re in the process now of phase two trials on an Ebola vaccine. But that kind of basic research investment is part of what keeps us at the leading edge. So if we can create a budget structure that allows us to make those investments, keep deficits low, streamline our tax system, then I think the opportunities for American preeminence economically are very, very high. Yes, Doug. Q Mr. President, good morning. Welcome. Thank you for joining us. THE PRESIDENT: Good to see you. Q The four things you mentioned in your earlier comments -- infrastructure, immigration, tax and trade -- are sweet spots for this group. They’re our highest priorities. Any one, or any combination, or all of them would lead to economic growth, job creation. And everyone in here wants to grow and everyone wants to add jobs, and we all want to raise pay -- believe it or not. It’s what we want to do. THE PRESIDENT: Oh, I do believe it. Q We’d be interested in your comments on the priorities of those. As you look into ’15 -- new Congress, new faces, certainly a changed Senate -- what’s first, what’s second? Kind of what’s the lineup? THE PRESIDENT: I think it’s going to be very important for me to consult with Boehner and McConnell to find out how they want to sequence their efforts, because ultimately the challenges on most of this stuff has not been my administration’s unwillingness to engage or get it done, it’s been the complications of Congress and the challenges they have in their respected caucuses. My instinct, though, is to get a process started on tax reform early, because you need a pretty long runway for that. It takes some time. As I said, we’ve already got some overlap in the frameworks, which will help, but that’s probably a full six to nine months before we could really solidify something. So getting started on that early -- understanding there’s not going to be a vote any time soon and there’s going to be a lot of contentious debate -- I think would be helpful. With respect to trade, we hope to be able to not simply finalize an agreement with the various parties in the Trans-Pacific Partnership, but also to be able to explain it to the public, and to engage in all the stakeholders and to publicly engage with the critics, because I think some of the criticism of what we’ve been doing on the Trans-Pacific Partnership is groups fighting the last war as opposed to looking forward. And so that may be something discrete that we can get done if we’re able to have a good, solid debate and everybody feels like it’s been transparent and they understand exactly what it is that we’re trying to do. Infrastructure I think gets wrapped up in tax reform. The challenge for infrastructure has been that -- it’s not that I think my Republican friends don’t want infrastructure. I notice whenever we get a project going, they’re at the ribbon-cutting. I think it’s the pay-fors, how do you pay for it. And they’re very sensitive, as you know, to anything that might be construed as a tax. Of course, it’s hard to pay for things if you don’t have some sort of revenue stream. And I’ve been exploring -- I had a conversation with Larry Fink a while back, and Larry has been bringing together some people to see how we can do more in attracting private investment into infrastructure construction -- which is done fairly effectively in a lot of other countries, but that’s not been our tradition, so our tax structures and legal structures are not optimally designed to get private capital and infrastructure. But we’re working on that. But I do think that if we are successful with tax reform that may give us an avenue for a one-time big push on infrastructure. But it’s hard for me to envision this Congress being able to vote on a big infrastructure bill on its own, because I don’t know where they would get the money for it. I’ve got some proposals, but I don’t think they’re likely to adopt them. And finally, on immigration, I think that’s something that probably comes last. I suspect that temperatures need to cool a little bit in the wake of my executive action. Certainly, there will be pressure initially within Republican caucuses to try to reverse what I’ve done, despite the fact that what I’m doing I think is exactly the right thing to do. We have to prioritize how we allocate limited enforcement resources, and we should be focusing on felons; we should not be focusing on breaking up families who are our neighbors and our friends and whose kids go to school with us. It’s temporary, and as soon as Congress passes comprehensive legislation, it goes away. But I don’t think that that’s something that this Congress will be able to do right away. My suspicion is they’ll take a couple of stabs at rolling back what I’ve done, and then perhaps folks will step back and say, well, rather than just do something partial that we may not be completely satisfied with, let’s engage with the President to see if we can do something more comprehensive that addresses some of our concerns, but also addresses my concerns as well. So I think that’s probably the sequence -- get tax reform rolling. Make sure that everybody understands, from my perspective, it’s going to have to be balanced. We’re not going to leave EITC or the child tax credit behind and just do a corporate piece on its own. But if we can get that ball rolling and we can get trade done -- and then there’s some things that we haven’t really talked about. I mentioned, for example, patent reform. There’s still more work to do there. Cybersecurity, an area that is of great interest to a lot of people in this room. Some areas that shouldn’t be ideological at all, don’t require huge expenditures of money, do require that we reorganize ourselves to respond to new challenges and new threats. Then you could see an environment begin to emerge of productivity in Washington -- which would be exciting. I love signing bills. (Laughter.) David. Q Could you provide a global perspective for us? You were recently in China, and them now being the number-two economy in the world, us building peaceful commercial ties with them while not turning a blind eye to the things that we know are issues is important. And it feels like you made some progress there with greenhouse gases and other things. And then could you take a moment to talk about some of the trouble spots in the world and how you’re thinking about Russia and the Middle East and Korea and what we have to deal with there? THE PRESIDENT: Well, let me talk about economics and then I’ll talk about geopolitics. I’ve touched on earlier the economics, and many of you have great analysts, so I’m probably not telling you anything you don’t know or are not experiencing concretely in your businesses. The United States stands out as an economy that’s going strong at the moment. Japan is contracting in a way that has surprised many analysts and I know surprised Prime Minister Abe. He’s got new elections. There’s a delay in the consumption tax, the second phase of it, that was slated to go into effect. They’re pursuing fairly aggressive monetary policy. But I don’t know whether they’re going to be able to pull out of the current variation on what’s been a pretty long-term slump any time soon, and they’ve still got some debt overhang that they’ve got to address. In Europe, the debate has generally been framed as austerity and prudence promoted by the Germans, versus a desire for a looser set of fiscal policies among the southern countries. If you look, the truth is, is that Spain, France, to a lesser extent Italy -- most of the big countries in the south have been engaging in some pretty serious structural reforms. They haven’t done everything that they need to do in terms of providing labor flexibility, for example, but they are making strides in addressing many of those issues. But right now, what you’ve got is an environment in which the dangers of deflation and really weak demand in Europe chronically, over a long period of time, I think are more significant than dangers of overheating economies and inflation in the European Union. And we have -- I joke sometimes that I’m an honorary member of the European Commission -- and Jack certainly is, Tim Geithner before him -- we have spent a lot of time trying to manage through various crises that pop up in Europe. And my concern is, is, is that because there’s not a current financial crisis and the markets are relatively calm, that we’re not paying enough attention to just the overall weakness of the European economy. And we keep on poking and prodding, suggesting to them that -- in our own circumstances, for example, we were able to reduce our deficits in part because, yes, we raised some taxes, but in part because we grew faster. And if you’ve just got weaker demand chronically, then it’s actually harder to get out of a hole than if you had stronger investment and stronger demand there. The emerging markets I think have been slower than anticipated. China has a fairly good rationale for that. They’re trying to shift away from a model that was entirely export driven to a model that recognizes they need stronger demand inside of China. And they’ve got a nascent, but growing middle class start to have enough confidence to spend some money. But that requires a complete reorganization of their economy. They’ve got a real estate situation, in part because of state-sponsored spending, that is always at risk of overheating. And so the new normal that they’re anticipating means that they won’t be growing quite as fast as they had before. If they grow at 7 percent, we’d take it, but for them, that’s significantly slower. And that then has ramifications in terms of demand for commodities, which, in turn, affects a whole lot of emerging markets. India -- Modi has impressed me so far with his willingness to shake up the bureaucratic inertia inside of India. But that is a long-term project and we’ll have to see how successful he is. Brazil -- challenges, but they just completed an election and I think they recognize they need to grow faster. So I guess the overall global picture -- and, Jack, you can correct me if there’s anything that I’m saying that’s wrong -- is people continue to look to America for economic leadership. We need some other engines to be pulling the global economy along and we’re pursuing diplomatic policies and consultations to try to encourage that. On the geopolitics, my meeting with President Xi I thought was very productive and obviously we had some significant deliverables. He has consolidated power faster and more comprehensively than probably anybody since I think Deng Xiaoping. And everybody has been impressed by his clout inside of China after only a year and a half or two years. There are dangers in that -- on issues of human rights, on issues of clamping down on dissent. He taps into a nationalism that worries his neighbors and that we’ve seen manifest in these maritime disputes in the South China Sea as well as the Senkaku Islands. On the other hand, I think they have a very strong interest in maintaining good relations with the United States. And my visit was a demonstration of their interest in managing this relationship effectively. Our goal with China has been to say to them, we, too, want a constructive relationship. We've got an integrated world economy and the two largest economies in the world have to have an effective relationship together. It can be a win-win for both sides, but there are some things we need them to fix. And we are pressing them very hard on issues of cybersecurity and cyber theft, mostly in the commercial area. It is indisputable that they engage in it, and it is a problem. And we push them hard on it. One thing the BRT can do is to help us by speaking out when you're getting strong-armed about some of these issues. And I know it's sensitive because you don't want to be necessarily penalized in your operations in China, but that's an area that's important. Same thing with intellectual property. We are pushing them hard on that. One of the ancillary benefits of the Trans-Pacific Partnership is to create high standards in the region that then China has to adapt to, as opposed to a race to the bottom where there’s no IP protection, for example, and China is really setting the terms for how trade and investment should operate. President Xi is interested in a business investment treaty. That could be significant because it could help to change the environment in which you are able to invest in China without being discriminated against relative to domestic firms. We've got a lot of work to do on that, but that's a work stream that we've set up. So I think we have to be cautious and clear-eyed about our relationship with China, but there’s no reason why we should not be able to manage that relationship in a way that is productive for us and productive for the world. I'm less optimistic about Russia. I have a very direct, blunt and businesslike relationship with Putin. We had a very productive relationship when Medvedev was President, even though Putin was still the power behind the thrown. In part because I think the situation in Ukraine caught him by surprise, he has been improvising himself into a nationalist, backward-looking approach to Russian policy that is scaring the heck out of his neighbors and is badly damaging his economy. And sanctions are having a big bite on their economy. We continue to offer them a pathway to a diplomatic resolution of the problem. But the challenge is this is working for him politically inside of Russia, even though it is isolating Russia completely internationally. And I think people should take note of how unified we have been able to keep the Europeans on sanctions and penalizing Russia for its behavior, despite the fact that it's tough on the Russian economy -- or on the European economy. But people have recognized there’s a core principle at stake that helped to establish peace in Europe and prosperity in Europe that can't be ignored. But if you ask me, am I optimistic that Putin suddenly changes his mind-set, I don't think that will happen until the politics inside of Russia catch up to what’s happening in the economy inside of Russia -- which is part of the reason why we're going to continue to maintain that pressure. And finally, in the Middle East, you are going through a generational shift, a tectonic shift in the Middle East, and it is messy and it is dangerous. Part of it is sectarian schisms between Shia and Sunni, and conflicts between states that engage in proxy fights that are far more bloody and vicious and significant now than the conflict between Arabs and Jews. And you're seeing that primarily in Iraq and Syria. And I am confident about our ability to push ISIL back in Iraq. Syria I think is a broader and longer-term -- more difficult, long-term proposition, in part because the civil war has gotten so bad and the interests of outside parties are so conflicting that it may take time to let that thing settle down. But obviously we're very active not just militarily, but diplomatically. The longer-term problem in the Middle East is -- and this relates to the economy -- the whole region in some ways has gone down a blind alley where too often Islam is now equated with rejection of education, modernity, women’s participation -- all the things that allow you to thrive in a modern economy. And that's not uniformly true, but too often those forces inside of Islam have been elevated, and moderate voices and voices that recognize Islam should be compatible with science, education, tolerance, openness, global commerce, productivity -- too often those voices have been silenced. So the question now becomes are we able to strengthen some of those voices. That is a generational problem. And some of the things we’re doing, for example, are entrepreneurial summits for Muslim small business leaders, and that’s the kind of thing that we want to continue to promote and where we thing the BRT can be very helpful. But in the meantime, a big chunk of my job is just making sure that we help to contain the damage that’s being done inside of the Middle East and then hopefully, over time, build towards a better future there. That’s not a two-year project; that’s going to be a longer-term project. That was a long answer, but it was a big question. (Laughter.) He said he wanted to go around the world and I did that pretty fast. All right. In the back. Fred. Q Mr. President, you mentioned infrastructure in your opening remarks, and the BRT I think would echo the fact that our highways and bridges are deteriorating, and the lack of investment is creating congestion, which is retarding economic activity. THE PRESIDENT: I want my FedEx package moving smooth through our infrastructure. Q “60 Minutes” did a very good piece on this problem the other day. So the Highway Trust Fund, which provides the funding for all of these infrastructure improvements ran out of money in August and it was papered over with a patch based on some pension accounting. So now you have bipartisan bills in both the Senate from Senator Corker, a Republican, and Senator Murphy of Connecticut. You have, as of yesterday, a bipartisan bill in the House with Congressman Petri, a Republican, and Congressman Blumenauer, a Democrat, and you had the Chamber of Commerce and the head of the AFL-CIO jointly testify in Congress about the Highway Trust Fund, the gasoline and diesel tax, and you’ve got the entire industry supporting an increase in highway taxation to fund these infrastructure improvements. So why not, before the Congress goes home for December, just pass a bill that takes the two bipartisan bills that I just mentioned up and solves the problem? Because come May, it’s going to run out of money again because the patch is over. I would think that would be a great opportunity for you and the new Congress to show some bipartisan success here. THE PRESIDENT: I’ll tell you, Fred, if I were running Congress, I’d potentially take you up on that offer or suggestion. I think I probably already would have done it. In fairness to members of Congress, votes on gas tax are really tough. Gas prices are one of those things that really bug people. When they go up, they’re greatly attuned to them. When they do down, they don’t go down enough. And so, historically, I think there’s been great hesitance. So I guess what I’d do is separate out, Fred, a short-term problem and the long-term problem. Short term is we’ve got to replenish the Highway Trust Fund. And I will engage with Speaker Boehner and McConnell to see what they think they can get done to make sure that we’re not running out of money. Because we’ve got a whole bunch of construction projects that are in train right now that -- set aside the stuff that we need to do, just keeping going on the stuff that is currently operating would be endangered if we don’t replenish it. The question is going to be, is there a formula long term for us to get a dedicated revenue source for funding the infrastructure that we need that is not so politically frightening to members of Congress that it’s reliable. The gas tax hasn’t been increased for 20 years. There’s a reason for that. And if that’s your primary source of revenue when the population has -- I don’t know what it’s done, but it’s gone up X percent; GDP has gone up X percent -- we've got -- your business, Fred, has completely transformed over the last two decades, and yet we still have the same mechanism to try to keep up. It’s probably a good time for us to redesign and think through how do -- what is a sustainable way for us on a regular basis to make the investments we need. And this may be something that we can introduce into the tax reform agenda. It may end up being too complicated and we got to do something separate, but we’ve got to figure this out. We are falling behind. Dave, you were asking earlier about China. I do not take potential competition from China lightly, but I am absolutely confident we’ve got better cars than China does. And I’d much rather have our problems than China’s problems. That I’m confident about. On the other hand, the one thing I will say is that if they need to build some stuff, they can build it. And over time, that wears away our advantage competitively. It’s embarrassing -- you drive down the roads, and you look at what they’re able to do. The place that we stayed at for the APEC Summit was this lavish conference center, and it probably put most of the conference centers here to shame. They built it in a year. Now, you’ve got an authoritarian government that isn’t necessarily accountable. I understand we’re not going to do that. But if they’re able to build their ports, their airports, their smart grid, their air traffic control systems, their broadband systems with that rapidity and they’re highly superior to ours -- over time, that’s going to be a problem for us. So, Fred, I guess the answer is, I’m going to talk to McConnell and Boehner to see what we can do short term and to see whether these bipartisan bills have any legs. They’ll have a better sense of head counts. And I’ll have to talk to Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi as well. But even if we were able to get something done, it would not be the kind of 10-year solution that we need. The best I suspect they could do would be to stagger through another year. And we’ve got to have a better way of planning and executing on infrastructure investment. And I’ll be engaging with the BRT and you, hopefully, and others who are interested to see if we can come up with something. And I’ve got to check in with Larry to see if he’s figured out whether we can get all that global capital on the sidelines to start helping us fund some infrastructure projects here in the United States. Yes, Greg. Q So just to pivot back to immigration for a minute. It remains a top priority unequivocally of BRT. We are of the mind that the policy and the politics can still align sometime in 2015. We are steadfast and consistent in comprehensive or broad-based reform and all the components that come with that. We agree with you on timing -- maybe it’s for, whatever, second quarter, summer, whatever it ends up being, but there’s still an opportunity to do that. As we go down this path in what appears to be a piecemeal approach with multiple bills that can advance, I just wanted to make a comment. We all collectively need to be mindful of the sequencing and the packaging of those individual pieces of legislation and how they’re viewed so we don’t talk past each other. You know what I’m saying. THE PRESIDENT: I do. I mean, Greg, look, let’s be blunt. BRT has a great interest in the high-skill visa issue and H-1Bs, and making sure that STEM graduates are available to work and ultimately start businesses here in the United States. I’m for that as well. There was a limit to how much we could do on that front through executive action because something like H-1B visa numbers are clear, statutory, not subject to a lot of executive interpretation. But, for example, we could administratively make sure that folks who had been approved for green cards, that process was accelerated so that they weren’t stuck and their employers weren’t hobbled in terms of utilizing those personnel in a more efficient, effective way. So that’s component one, and I know that’s a preeminent interest to this room. There’s an agricultural component. There wasn’t a lot we could do administratively on the ag sector, but those whose businesses keep track and are related to what happens in agriculture understand that we should have a more efficient system for managing fairly, justly, agricultural workers who are vital to the economy. And, frankly, this is one of the few areas where it genuinely is true that it’s hard to find Americans to do those jobs. Sometimes that’s overstated. Sometimes the question is -- and I hope I’m not offending anybody here -- but sometimes when folks say, we can’t find anybody it’s because you don’t want to pay as much as you’d have to, to find some folks. But in the ag sector, that’s hard work, and it’s hard to find enough American-born workers to actually get it done. But we’ve got to treat them fairly and make sure that it’s good for workers, good for business. That we could not do much about through executive action. So those are two big components that are of interest to this group that need to get done. Border security -- the truth is, we’re already doing a lot. We’re going to be doing more as a consequence of the executive actions. There was a spike in concern about the borders because those kids had been coming up from Central America during the summer and it got two weeks of wall-to-wall coverage until everybody forgot about it. It does reflect real problems in Central America with their economies and violence, but also active marketing by smugglers to parents, saying that they could get kids in. We brought that back down so the numbers are now below what they were two years ago. Overall, the border is less porous than it's been any time since the 1970s. And we make huge investments down there. We can still do more, but the truth is, were working that part of it real hard. And then there’s the issue that I did deal with in executive actions, although not for everybody, and that is the 11 million people who are here undocumented but the vast majority who are law-abiding. And the one principle I guess, if, in fact, we can still get a comprehensive deal going forward, even if it's somewhat piecemeal, is I am not going to preside over a system in which we know these folks are in the kitchens of most restaurants in the country, are cleaning up most of the hotels that all of you stay in, that are doing the landscaping in most neighborhoods where you live, whose kids are going to school with our kids, and we tolerate it because it's good for us economically to have cheap labor and services, but we never give them a path to be part of this country in a more full and fair way. That’s just not who we are. That’s not how most of our forebears got to the point where we had the opportunities we’ve got today. So I’m not going to perpetuate a system of that sort. I’ve taken executive actions. What I’d like to see, and I’m happy to negotiate, is to see if we can solidify that into law. But it's going to be hard, I think, for me and for other Democrats to vote for a big package that says, all right, were going to still not deal with that and just deal with those aspects of it that are of core concern to the BRT. That doesn’t mean I can’t have that conversation, but I want to be honest about the complications of us doing something piecemeal. Q Well, and we support -- THE PRESIDENT: I know you do. Q The components. THE PRESIDENT: You guys are all there. You guys have been terrific on this. I have no complaints at all, and, in fact, I have only gratitude for the way that the BRT stepped up. I think everybody here sincerely understands what immigration has meant to the life of this country. And just in terms of macroeconomics. It's not a sexy argument to make to the public, but we are younger than our competitors. And that is entirely because of immigration. And when you look at the problems that China, Japan, Europe, Russia, are all going to have, a lot of it just has to do with they’re getting old. And we stay young because were constantly being replenished by these striving families from around the world. And we should want that to continue. All right. I’ll take two more, what the heck. Right back here and then right over here. Q Mr. President, almost everyone agrees that U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman is doing a herculean job of driving trade agreements around the world. It seems to be common sense that more access to global trade is good for the creation of U.S. jobs. How can we get TPA passed so that Michael can have the clear support that he needs to drive these agreements? THE PRESIDENT: Well, I’m going to be talking to McConnell and Boehner, Reid and Pelosi, and making a strong case on the merits as to why this has to get done. It is somewhat challenging because of a factor that I mentioned earlier, which is Americans feeling as if their wages and incomes have stagnated. And there’s a half-truth that is magnified I think in the discussions around trade that global competition has contributed to some of that wage stagnation. It's an appealing argument. I think when you look at the numbers, it's actually an incorrect argument that over time, growth, investment, exports all have increased the capacity for working families to improve their economic standing. But I say it's a half-truth because there’s no doubt that some manufacturing moved offshore in the wake of China entering the WTO and as a consequence of NAFTA. Now, more of those jobs were lost because of automation and capital investment, but there’s a narrative there that makes for some tough politics. We have to be able to talk directly to the public about why trade is good for America, good for American businesses and good for American workers. And we have to dispel some of the myths. Part of the argument that I’m making to Democrats is, don’t fight the last war -- you already have. If somebody is wanting to outsource, if any of the companies here wanted to locate in China, you’ve already done it. If you wanted to locate in a low-wage country with low labor standards and low environmental standards, there hasn’t been that much preventing you from doing so. And, ironically, if we are able to get Trans-Pacific Partnership done, then we’re actually forcing some countries to boost their labor standards, boost their environmental standards, boost transparency, reduce corruption, increase intellectual property protection. And so all that is good for us. Those who oppose these trade deals ironically are accepting a status quo that is more damaging to American workers. And I’m going to have to engage directly with our friends in labor and our environmental organizations and try to get from them why it is that they think that -- for example, Mike is in a conversation with Vietnam, one of the potential signatories to the TPP. Right now, there are no labor rights in Vietnam. I don’t know how it’s good for labor for us to tank a deal that would require Vietnam to improve its laws around labor organization and safety. I mean, we’re not punishing them somehow by leaving them out of something like this. Let’s bring them in. On the environmental front, I haven’t looked carefully at the environmental laws in Malaysia recently, but I suspect they’re not as strong as they are here. It’s not a bad thing for us to nudge them in a better direction, particularly since we now know that environmental problems somewhere else in the world are going to ultimately affect us. So I think that there are folks in my own party and in my own constituency that have legitimate complaints about some of the trend lines of inequality, but are barking up the wrong tree when it comes to opposing TPP, and I’m going to have to make that argument. But I will tell you, though, when you talk to Boehner and McConnell, that some of those same anti-trade impulses are more ascendant in the Republican Party than they might have been 20 years ago as well. And some of you may have encountered those in some of your conversations. And this was why it goes back to the point -- we’re not going to get trade done, we’re not going to get infrastructure done, we’re not going to get anything done in this town until we’re able to describe to the average American worker how at some level this is improving their wages, it’s giving them the ability to save for retirement, it’s improving their financial security. If people continue to feel like Democrats are looking after poor folks and Republicans are looking after rich folks and nobody is looking after me, then we don’t get a lot of stuff done. And the trend lines evidence the fact that folks have gotten squeezed. And obviously, 2007, 2008 really ripped open for people how vulnerable they were. Nick. Q Mr. President, thank you for being here today. We talked about many issues that are on the 2015 agenda for the Business Roundtable. One of the real pervasive issues that I know you’ve talked about before is the regulatory burden in this country, and still it remains the major issue that many of us deal with. In my industry, American Electric Power, we’re in the midst of a major transition in our industry. We have environmental rules, obviously, that we continue to advance and have done quite a good job of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and so forth. And I know that we’ve had billions being spend on mercury removal at the time when we’re now having greenhouse gas rules being put in place that even independent system operators say that there will be impacts on the reliability of the grid. And I know you’ve been seriously responsible and involved with the reliability implications for our grid due to Super Storm Sandy, from the cyber physical standpoint. And it really is interesting for us to see this transition occurring. We’ve got to be reasonable and rational. And it goes to the overall regulatory question: How do we continue to make progress -- and I’d like just your views on -- you’ve talked about this before -- how do you see the progress that’s been made and what you anticipate occurring in the next couple of years relative to removing some of this regulatory burden that makes us all uncompetitive? THE PRESIDENT: I think it’s a great question. It’s probably a good place to close because I think this is an area where I’d like to see us do more together. I’ve said before to my staff -- I haven’t said this publicly, so I’ve got to be careful here. You get a little looser in your last two years of office. (Laughter.) And this is a little tongue-in-cheek, but it will get to a point. The Republicans -- and maybe I’d throw the BRT in here -- are actually about 25 percent right when it comes to regulatory burden. Now, you say the numbers are different. But what I mean by that is nobody wants to be regulated, and there are some regulations that are burdensome on businesses. They’d rather not do them, but the common good that is served is sufficiently important, the benefits so outweigh the cost that, as a society, we should go ahead and do them. And we were talking about China earlier. I would just point to one simple example, and that is you would not want your kids growing up in Beijing right now, because they could not breathe. And the fact of the matter is that used to be true in Los Angeles -- as recently as 1970. And the reason it changed was because of the Clean Air Act. And in my hometown of Chicago, the Chicago River caught fire right around the same period, and because of the Clean Water Act, you now have folks paddling down the water and fishing. And the commercial renaissance of downtown Chicago is, in large part, driven by a really big, radical piece of environmental legislation that, at the time, people said would destroy our businesses and our competitiveness. So there’s an example of something that -- it’s inconvenient, it’s tough, but it’s the right thing to do. And, over time, I actually think it’s not only good for our quality of life, it’s actually good for our economy. Because we’ve got some really innovative companies here and you guys figure out how to adapt to those regulations. But remember what I said at the beginning -- you’re actually about 25 percent right. What is absolutely true is, is that as we comb through our regulatory structures, there are old regulations that have outlived their usefulness. You have regulations on railroads that don’t take into account GPS, so they have folks doing a whole bunch of stuff that doesn’t acknowledge technologies that have sprung up over the last 20 years. You have regulations that are poorly written. You’ve got regulations that are not properly synced up so that you have different agencies with different responsibilities and so compliance costs end up skyrocketing. You have regulations that squash innovation, because at times some of the agencies, the regulatory agencies treat every problem like a nail and only have a hammer, and aren’t engaging with industry enough to think, all right, here is the problem we’re trying to solve, is there’s a smarter way of solving it. So what we’ve tried to do is to set up a structure in which we can engage directly with various industries, explain here’s the goal we’re trying to accomplish, solicit as much feedback as possible, and then try to design systems that provide some flexibility, allow for creative adaptation, but still hit the mark, still hit the goal. And, for example, on the power plant rule, which obviously you’re having to spend a lot of time with, I recognize that this is a big expense for a lot of companies. On the other hand, I think Gina McCarthy has tried to have a sufficiently open process so that she’s working with not only industry, but on a state-by-state basis, recognizing not every state is the same, to figure out is there a smarter way for us to do this, but still meet the mark of reducing our overall carbon emissions. What I’d like to do in these last two years is figure out how we can improve the system to find that 25 percent -- and again, we may not always agree on what the 25 percent is -- and can we institutionalize it so that it outlives my administration. We already instituted a cost-benefit analysis system that -- or we inherited one that had been instituted. It was controversial for a while -- mostly criticism from Democrats. I actually believe in cost-benefit. I think it makes sense for us to engage in a vigorous review. And my essential rule has been we’re not going to promulgate new regulations unless you can show a significant benefit relative to costs. And we’ve been able to do that. We’ve been able to document it in the most rigorous way possible. But are there some other institutional things we can do to build the process so, for example, there’s more input on the front end rather than the rule gets promulgated, published, and then there’s this big, cumbersome, inefficient, unwieldy process of comments. Are there smarter ways of doing that? We’re spending a lot of time on the regulatory look-back process, digging back into old rules and seeing what don’t make sense. So what I’d like people to do, the BRT to do is, perhaps industry by industry, work with Jeff and let’s inventory what are the rules that bother you most. We’ll go through them. I’ll tell you, if it’s child labor laws, I’m probably going to hang to them. We’re going to keep that rule. If it’s some basic issues around environmental protection, I’m going to be -- want to preserve them. But in those instances where there are significant costs, I may say we’re not going to change the goal; do you think there’s a smarter way of doing this, because we’re willing to listen if you think there is. Less command and control, more market incentive -- we’re open to it. And on that list, I suspect there may be four or five regulations out of 20, 25 where you can persuade us, you know what, this actually should just be eliminated. It doesn’t make sense anymore. Or it should be replaced. And we will be open to doing that. The Job Council that we put together, that some of you participated in, gave us a list of recommendations, and some of them involve, for example, streamlining infrastructure projects. We adopted almost all those recommendations. And business was absolutely right -- it wasn’t that they minded having an environmental review; they didn’t like the idea of having permitting, environmental review, all this stuff go consecutively, and you end up with an eight-year time frame, when, if you put in on parallel tracks, you could compress it down to one year. So we are open to common sense. And what I have assigned Jeff to do and my entire Cabinet to do -- Penny Pritzker and Tom Perez and others -- is to sit down, listen to you, and if you can show us either that something is counterproductive and doesn’t work, or there’s a smarter way of meeting the goal, we will embrace it, happily. There are going to be times, though, where we just disagree on the goal. And I’m going to be -- workers’ safety -- my instruction to Tom Perez is I want our workers to be safe. And we now do have probably the safest workforce that we’ve ever had in history. Made huge strides on that, partly because of just continuous improvement that you’ve instituted in your own companies. This has been good for workers. It’s been good for business. But, frankly, if it hadn’t been for some initial laws to prod you, some of it just wouldn’t have happened. So we’re going to hang on to worker safety rules. The question then is going to be, is there a way, for example, for us to enforce it in a more efficient way and a less disruptive way, but continues to hold you accountable. That’s a conversation Tom Perez is going to be happy to have. All right? Happy holidays, everybody. It’s good to be in America. God bless us. Thank you. (Applause.) The White House Tribal Nations Conference
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary FACT SHEET: The White House Tribal Nations Conference On Wednesday, the White House will host the White House Tribal Nations Conference. Leaders from the 566 federally-recognized Native nations engaged with the President, Cabinet Officials, and the White House Council on Native American Affairs on key issues facing tribes including, respecting tribal sovereignty and upholding treaty and trust responsibilities, lack of access to capital and credit, and protecting Native women and youth. This year’s Conference builds on the President’s visit in June of this year to the Standing Rock Sioux Indian Reservation, where he reaffirmed his commitment to education and economic development. Nearly half of Native American people (42 percent) are under the age of 24; more than one-third of Native children live in poverty; and Native youth have the lowest high school graduation rate of students across all schools. As part of the Conference, the White House will release a new Native Youth Report that explores the challenges facing Native youth and makes recommendations for a path forward. For the first time in these Conferences, the voice of Native youth will be represented by 36 White House Youth Ambassadors, who will join tribal leaders in the breakout sessions and panels, and participating in leadership development programming. President Obama will also announce the launch of Generation Indigenous (Gen I), a Native youth initiative focused on removing the barriers that stand between Native youth and their opportunity to succeed. This initiative will take a comprehensive, culturally appropriate approach to help improve the lives and opportunities for Native youth and will include: · New Native Youth Community Projects, administered by the Department of Education (ED) through the existing Demonstration Grants Program to provide funding in a select number of Native communities to support culturally relevant coordinated strategies designed to improve the college-and-career readiness of Native children and youth. · New National Tribal Youth Network program in partnership with the Aspen Institute’s Center for Native American Youth. The Youth Network will support leadership development, provide peer support through an interactive online portal that links resources and tools, and empowers youth to become leaders within their communities. The White House, in cooperation with the Aspen Institute, will also host a high-level convening on challenges facing Native youth in February 2015. · The release of the White House Native Youth Report that acknowledges past failures of federal policy on the education of Native students, explores the breadth of the challenges facing Native children, and makes recommendations for a path forward. · The launch of the Cabinet Native Youth Listening Tour, which will begin next year as part of the President’s call to hear directly from Native youth on how to bolster federal policies to improve youth outcomes. In addition, the Administration will expand federal outreach on youth internships and employment opportunities across the federal agencies. · The first ever White House Tribal Youth Gathering to engage hundreds of Native youth in a day-long convening in the summer of 2015. This gathering builds on the November 2014 Native Youth Conference hosted by Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the tribal youth visit with President Obama. In addition to these efforts, the Department of the Interior (DOI) is making progress to transform the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE). Since Secretary Jewell's Secretarial Order (http://www.doi.gov/news/upload/BIEsecOrder.pdf) directing Indian Affairs to restructure the BIE to serve as a support network to schools rather than a direct education provider, DOI, along with ED has made steady progress towards implementing the Administration’s vision of high-achieving tribally-controlled schools. Below are additional announcements and commitments that support tribal nations: SUPPORTING THE ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT OF ALL NATIVE AMERICAN STUDENTS Promoting Educational Self-Determination for Tribal Nations through Sovereignty in Indian Education Enhancements. In October 2014, DOI took a critical step towards furthering tribal control over BIE-funded schools when it issued $1.2M to six tribes to research, assess and develop implementation plans to establish tribally managed school systems. Building tribal capacity through State Tribal Education Partnership (STEP) grants. The STEP grant program is designed to strengthen Tribal Education Agencies (TEAs), and improve partnerships between tribes, states, and school districts so they can work together more effectively to meet the academic, cultural, and social needs of Native students. EDs Office of Indian Education (OIE) published a Notice of Proposed Priorities (NPP) for the STEP program on October 31, 2014. Expanding Access to STEM Programs. In September 2014, ED entered into an agreement with the National Park Service at DOI, and the Hands on the Land program at the National Environmental Education Foundation, to develop a project around STEM skills at 17 Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) funded schools and one state funded school near 21st Century Community Learning Center programs. The project will introduce students to STEM activities focused on natural and cultural resources to improve the retention of students in STEM activities during their middle and high school years. Convening Native Languages Summit. Following the first Native Languages Summit in June 2014 which brought together 300 participants, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the National Science Foundation, and the Association of Tribal Archives, Libraries, and Museums have joined ED and the Departments of the Interior (DOI) and Health and Human Services, (HHS) to convene a second Native Languages Summit in the Fall of 2015. The Summit will discuss best practices in preserving and revitalizing Native languages. Improvements in ED’s Special Programs for Indian Children. On December 3, ED will publish a notice of proposed rulemaking that proposes changes to the Demonstration grants program to add the Native Youth Community Projects mentioned above. It also makes substantial improvements to the Professional Development program, which funds the training of new American Indian/Alaska Native teachers and administrators. BUILDING STRONGER TRIBAL BUSINESSES AND ECONOMIES Including Tribal Nations in Department of Labor (DOL) Grant Programs. DOL will announce that the agency will treat federally-recognized tribal governments the same way it treats state and local governments when determining eligibility for employment and training grants. Following this announcement, DOL will consult with tribes, develop model grant language, incorporate the language into all relevant Funding Opportunity Announcements, and inform tribal leaders of upcoming funding opportunities. Supporting the Hiring of Tribal Members by Federal Contractors. DOL’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs’ (OFCCP) Indian and Native American Employment Rights Program assists federal contractors that would like to use a tribal preference for work on or near tribal lands to do so consistent with existing law. OFCCP will sign an MOU with the Council on Tribal Employment Rights to formalize the agency’s working relationship with the Council. In turn, the Council will work closely with Tribal Employment Rights Offices (TEROs) to ensure contractors are able to hire tribal members. Supporting Native CDFIs' Sustainability and Impact. In October, the Department of Treasury announced a specialized training and technical assistance series to Native Community Development Financial Institutions (Native CDFIs) to foster their growth and sustainability, and enhance their ability to deliver financial services and financial products to Native American, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian nations, tribes, and communities. Improving Transportation and Infrastructure. As part of a set aside to the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) (http://flh.fhwa.dot.gov/programs/ttp/) Tribal Transportation Program (TTP), DOT awarded $8.5 million this year in Tribal Transportation Program Safety Funds to 183 tribal nations for 195 projects that address safety needs in tribally identified areas of planning, engineering, education, and emergency response and enforcement. Similarly, under the discretionary component of the Tribal Transit Program (TTP) (http://www.fta.dot.gov/grants/13094_3553.html), Federal Transportation Authority (FTA) funded 48 projects in 19 States totaling $5.04 million for Indian tribes to enhance and expand their transit services. Improving Tribal Water Infrastructure. This year, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) distributed $29 million to initiate the construction of 77 wastewater infrastructure projects for tribal nations to address the desperate need for basic sanitation services on tribal lands. Additionally, EPA distributed over $18 million for the construction of drinking water infrastructure projects for tribes to improve access to safe drinking water. IMPROVING TRIBAL JUSTICE Disseminating Reports and Recommendations on Tribal Justice. In November, the Department of Justice (DOJ) disseminated a report titled Ending Violence So Children Can Thrive (http://www.justice.gov/defendingchildhood/cev-rpt-full.pdf) that outlines policy and practice recommendations on the issue of children’s exposure to violence in Indian Country. The report is the culmination of the work of DOJ’s Task Force Advisory Committee on American Indian and Alaska Native Children Exposed to Violence, which conducted four public hearings and several listening sessions across the country to gather information on these important issues. Additionally, DOJ’s Office for Victims of Crime’s National Coordination Committee on American Indian/Alaska Native Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner-Sexual Assault Response Team released a report titled Improving Federal Agency Response to Sexual Violence in Tribal Nations: Issues and Recommendations. SUPPORTING HEALTHY, STRONG NATIVE AMERICAN COMMUNITIES Expanding Access to Health Care. HHS plans to announce the publication of a proposed rule for Medicare like rates for Indian Health Service (IHS) payments for purchased/referred care for non-hospital based and provider services. Additionally, HHS/CMS and Treasury/IRS have developed a new streamlined process for American Indian and Alaska Native citizens and family members who are eligible for health services from an Indian health-care provider to claim an exemption from the Affordable Care Act’s individual shared responsibility payment through the tax filing process. CMS also issued approximately $4 million for Connecting Kids to Coverage American Indian and Alaska Native Grants to increase participation in Medicaid and CHIP. In November, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) announced new flexibility concerning the participation of tribal employers that will make it easier for them to enroll their employees in the FEHB Program (http://www.opm.gov/healthcare-insurance/tribal-employers/). Improving Behavioral Health. In November, HHS’s SAMHSA hosted a Native Youth Conference focused on improving the health and well-being of Native youth. At the conference, youth shared their views on federal policies, programs, and activities; contributed to the national tribal behavioral health agenda; and learned about best practices supported by SAMHSA’s tribal grants. In August, SAMHSA also announced the creation of a new Office of Tribal Affairs and Policy (http://www.usetinc.org/news/samhsa-office-of-tribal-affairs-and-policy-otap/) to serve as the point of contact on behavioral health issues and to support policies and innovative practices. PROMOTING CLIMATE RESILIENCE AND LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES Technical Assistance for Tribal Renewable Energy Projects. Department of Energy’s Office of Indian Energy announced a new round of competition for the Alaska Strategic Technical Assistance Response Team Program (START), a technical assistance program that supports the development of clean energy, energy efficiency projects, capacity building and energy planning efforts for rural Alaska Native villages and corporations. ADVANCING THE GOVERNTMENT TO GOVERNMENT RELATIONSHIP Restoring Tribal Homelands in Trust for Tribes. DOI continues to prioritize placing tribal homelands in trust for tribes, and has placed more than 280,400 acres of land into trust since 2009. Interior Secretary Jewell’s goal for DOI is to place at least 500,000 acres of land into trust by the end of the Obama Administration. In May of this year, DOI issued a proposed rule that would allow the Department to consider fee-to-trust applications from tribes in Alaska. Additionally, under DOI’s Land Buy-Back Program (http://www.doi.gov/buybackprogram/index.cfm) for Tribal Nations, the Department is paying fair-market value to individuals who choose to sell fractional interests in trust or restricted land. Purchased interests are immediately transferred to tribal trust ownership, ensuring that land stays in trust. Resolving Longstanding Disputes. Since President Obama took office, the Administration has established a new relationship with Native nations, increasing consultation with tribes on matters across the federal government that affect their interests, and the fair and expeditious settlement of litigation. The Administration settled the protracted Cobell litigation, several significant water rights cases, and lawsuits or claims brought by 80 Indian tribes, over the management of monetary assets and natural resources held in trust by the United States, for a total of $2.5 billion. These settlements mark an important milestone in the Obama Administration’s commitment to upholding the federal trust responsibility and strengthening our partnerships with tribal nations. Remarks by Vice President Joe Biden to the Global Entrepreneurship Summit THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary For Immediate Release November 20, 2014 REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT AT NATIONAL MEDALS OF SCIENCE AND NATIONAL MEDALS OF TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION AWARDS CEREMONY East Room 11:30 A.M. EST THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, everybody. (Applause.) Please, please, have a seat. Well, hello, everybody. Welcome to the White House. If you’ve ever been in a situation where you’re a little self-conscious because you feel like maybe everybody in the room is a little smarter than you -- (laughter) -- today you are right. (Laughter.) That's how I'm feeling -- because today it’s my pleasure to welcome a truly extraordinary group of men and women -- some of the world’s greatest scientists and researchers -- and I've got the extraordinary honor of presenting them with our nation’s highest honor for scientific and technological achievement, the National Medals of Science and the National Medals of Technology and Innovation. Now, to join us in celebrating these innovators, I want to welcome the members of Congress who are here with us. We also have Interior Secretary Sally Jewell. We've got my Science Advisor, John Holdren; National Science Foundation Director France Cordova; Deputy Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Michelle Lee, whose work helps to oversee the granting of these awards; and our National Science and Technology Medals Foundation Chair, James Rathmann. Now, as many of you know, every year I host the White House Science Fair. These boys and girls are as young as 6 years old. Sometimes their projects are a little messy. (Laughter.) There was the cannon that fired the marshmallow into the White House wall -- (laughter) -- and left a little mark, which is still there. Earlier this year, I also hosted the first White House Maker Faire. The participants there were a little older. And I met a giant 17-foot-tall, 2,000-pound robotic talking giraffe. (Laughter.) We had a little chat and that was unique. (Laughter.) But the boys and girls, and all the makers and thinkers across the country who I welcome here are an inspiration. It's one of the favorite things that I have the pleasure of doing as President. They’re often at the beginning of a lifetime of asking questions, and pushing boundaries, and discovery things that hadn’t been discovered before, and innovating in ways that transform our world. And ultimately, that’s what America is about. That’s one of the things that makes America exceptional -- this sense that we push against limits and that we're not afraid to ask questions. And when that spirit, that sense of possibility, is truly unleashed, then you get the remarkable men and women that you see here today. Their achievements span disciplines, span industries -- there is a common thread, though, that runs through their stories. At a young age, an encouraging parent or captivating teacher was able to whet their appetite for the scientific process. Unmatched opportunities and generous funding at American universities drew some of them here from distant shores. Because the American scientific community empowers young researchers, some of today’s honorees -- at a very young age -- conducted their own experiments, ran their own labs, published their own findings. Our country’s diversity, its infrastructure, its universities, and our willingness to take risks on new ideas made America the place to start new business and new ventures. And the results of the work of the people we honor today have transformed our world. Because of these men and women, we can use a thumb drive to store a universe of information on a postage-sized gadget, unconnected to a power source, and have the data intact a century later. In fact, I got a little gift here. (Laughter.) Apparently this was for my library. I was told I could store all my documents on this thing. (Laughter.) So I'm keeping it in my pocket. We can manufacture better blood-clotting agents and water filtration systems, like those used in the aftermath of the Fukushima nuclear accident. Using breakthrough algorithms, we can model our planet’s future climate and the tiny valves in our own hearts. And we can treat cancer, strokes, macular degeneration. In short, because of these innovators, our lives are healthier, our economy is stronger, our futures brighter. Today’s honorees are also a reminder of the power of perseverance. They achieved their most meaningful gains when they were optimistic in the face of skepticism and doubt, when they crept out onto that farthest limb, and equipped with scientific reason to believe in their own theories -- and because they weren't afraid to fail once in a while, they figured that eventually they’d crack open some mystery that hadn’t been solved and the world would catch up. So one month after Neil Armstrong landed on the moon, Eli Harari came to America from Israel to study the effects of radiation on electronics in space. The physics he learned as a PhD student at Princeton led him to co-found SanDisk, and, eventually, to the creation and commercialization of flash storage technology. And today, his technology is in millions of portable electronic devices, which our lives would be completely different without. Certainly Malia and Sasha’s lives would be completely different without them. (Laughter.) At the time he invented it, though, his technology was too early for consumer goods, and SanDisk almost went out of business. But with patience, he drove costs down, opened large-scale markets. Describing his experience in America, he said, “We could not have done it anywhere else in the world.” Mary Shaw stumbled into computer science in high school, and as a college student she walked into a busy engineering building in search of the computer lab. And she says, “When I first showed up, they handed me a user manual and told me to go read it, and, silly me, I thought it was an invitation, so I did read it, and I came back.” (Laughter.) She applied to Carnegie Mellon the same year they formed a graduate degree program in computer science, and she’s been there ever since, pioneering new ways to educate students in computer science, and converting the emerging field into a curriculum, and also textbooks used all across the nation. Douglas Lowy and John Schiller have collaborated for nearly 30 years. And together they developed the technology that led to the vaccine to prevent the cancer-causing HPV virus. When they presented their research to drug companies, many told them that while their data looked good, a vaccine against this sexually transmitted disease just wasn’t going to work. But with the help of NIH research funding, they helped create one of the most successful preventive treatments in decades, potentially saving the lives of millions of young women and girls. So the story -- I'm just giving you a sample -- the story of these trailblazers reflect our larger American experience -- our story of constant transformation, pushing against limits. These folks represent the spirit that has always defined us, one of restless inquiry, searching for the right solution to any problem; an inclination to dream big and to tinker and to pull things apart and put them back together again; an insistence on making our dreams come true. As Thomas Kailath, one of our honorees today, says, “Scientists are intrinsically hopeful and believe in grand answers, and that if we work hard enough we can find some of them in our lifetime.” And that's a good phrase -- “intrinsically hopeful.” I'm intrinsically hopeful. (Laughter.) I am. (Applause.) That's who I am. That’s who we are as a people, as Americans, as a nation. We’ve had to fight to make stories like the ones here in this room not only possible, but sometimes likely. Now, that can’t happen when half of our nation’s high schools don’t offer calculus, and more than a third of our high schools don’t offer physics. So that’s why we're going to need more science classes on the course schedule. That's why we need teachers with math and science backgrounds -- educators who can show their students how chemistry and computer science can open the door to a whole new world. That’s why, five years ago, I launched my campaign to get more kids in STEM classes, and later set a goal of training 100,000 new STEM teachers over the course of the next decade -- not just to teach, but to teach math and science. And we've partnered with 200 organizations like the Carnegie foundation in New York and AT&T to pursue that goal. Today we’re announcing that our many partners will invest an additional $28 million toward increasing the number of STEM teachers in the classroom across the country. And that's worthy of applause. (Applause.) Four years ago, we called on business leaders from America’s leading companies to join us in this effort. And since then, this coalition has raised tens of millions of dollars to help strengthen many of our country’s most effective STEM education programs and get them broadened out across the country. And today, we can announce that over the next two years this coalition will help bring these programs to an additional one million students across America. So this is extraordinary work. Finally, part of preserving America’s scientific edge is making sure we continue to welcome the best and brightest minds from around the world. So, Thomas Kailath came to this country from India at the age of 22, with a research assistantship that took him to MIT, and then Stanford, where he made critical contributions in information theory and statistics, and mentored more than 100 scholars along the way. After he came here as a foreign student from Israel, Eli Harari co-founded SanDisk with two colleagues, one from India, another from China. Alexandre Chorin, whose accomplishments led to a sea change in the way a generations of mathematicians use computers, sums up his experience this way: “I came here as a foreigner on an American fellowship, received the opportunity to study at great schools and work at great universities, and have been treated as if I belonged.” Treated as if I belonged. You do belong -- because this is America and we welcome people from all around the world who have that same striving spirit. We're not defined by tribe or bloodlines. We're defined by a creed, idea. And we want that tradition to continue. But too often, we're losing talent because -- after the enormous investment we make in students and young researchers --we tell them to go home after they graduate. We tell them, take your talents and potential someplace else. So part of staying competitive in a global economy is making sure that we have an immigration system that doesn’t send away talent, but attracts it. (Applause.) We want them to initiate new discoveries and start businesses right here in the United States. (Applause.) So that's what I'll be talking about a little bit tonight. (Laughter.) Part of keeping America prosperous and keeping America strong. (Applause.) So I want to congratulate these extraordinary men and women for their accomplishments. I want to thank each of you for the contributions that you’ve made to our country and the world -- your passion, your persistence, your “intrinsic hopefulness.” And it is now my privilege to present the National Medals of Science and the National Medals of Technology and Innovation. So we're going to read some citations here. MILITARY AIDE: Bruce Alberts. National Medal of Science to Bruce Alberts, University of California, San Francisco, for intellectual leadership and experimental innovation in the field of DNA replication, and for unparalleled dedication to improving science education and promoting science-based public policy. NATO (Applause.) Robert Axelrod. National Medal of Science to Robert Axelrod, University of Michigan, for interdisciplinary work on the evolution of cooperation, complexity theory, and international security, and for the exploration of how social science models can be used to explain biological phenomena. (Applause.) May Berenbaum. National Medal of Science to May Berenbaum, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, for pioneering studies on chemical coevolution and the genetic basis of insect-plant interactions, and for enthusiastic commitment to public engagement that inspires others about the wonders of science. (Applause.) Alexandre J. Chorin. National Medal of Science to Alexandre J. Chorin, University of California, Berkeley, for the development of revolutionary methods for realistic fluid-flow simulation, now ubiquitous in the modeling and design of engines, aircraft wings, and heart valves, and in the analysis of natural flows. (Applause.) Thomas Kailath. National Medal of Science to Thomas Kailath, Stanford University, for transformative contributions to the fields of information and system science, for distinctive and sustained mentoring of young scholars, and for translation of scientific ideas into entrepreneurial ventures that have had a significant impact on industry. (Applause.) Judith P. Klinman. National Medal of Science to Judith P. Klinman, University of California, Berkeley, for her discoveries of fundamental chemical and physical principles underlying enzyme catalysis and her leadership in the community of scientists. (Applause.) Jerrold Meinwald. National Medal of Science to Jerrold Meinwald, Cornell University, for applying chemical principles and techniques to studies of plant and insect defense and communication, and for his seminal role in establishing chemical ecology as a core discipline important to agriculture, forestry, medicine, and environmental science. (Applause.) Burton Richter. National Medal of Science to Burton Richter, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory and Stanford University, for pioneering contributions to the development of electron accelerators, including circular and linear colliders, synchrotron light sources, and for discoveries in elementary particle physics and contributions to energy policy. (Applause.) Sean C. Solomon. National Medal of Science to Sean C. Solomon, Columbia University, for creative approaches and outstanding contributions to understanding the internal structure and evolution of the Earth, the Moon, and other terrestrial planets, and for his leadership and inspiration of new generations of scientists. (Applause.) Family members will accept on behalf of their father, David Blackwell. National Medal of Science to David Blackwell, University of California, Berkeley, for fundamental contributions to probability theory, mathematical statistics, information theory, mathematical logic, and Blackwell games, which have had a lasting impact on critical endeavors such as drug testing, computer communications, and manufacturing. (Applause.) Charles W. Bachman. National Medal of Technology and Innovation to Charles W. Bachman, for fundamental inventions in database management, transaction processing, and software engineering. (Applause.) Edith M. Flanigen. National Medal of Technology and Innovation to Edith M. Flanigen, UOP, LLC., a Honeywell Company, for innovations in the fields of silicate chemistry, the chemistry of zeolites, and molecular sieve materials. (Applause.) Thomas J. Fogarty. National Medal of Technology and Innovation to Thomas J. Fogarty, Fogarty Institute for Innovation, for innovations in minimally invasive medical devices. (Applause.) Eli Harari. National Medal of Technology and Innovation to Eli Harari, SanDisk Corporation, for invention and commercialization of Flash storage technology to enable ubiquitous data in consumer electronics, mobile computing, and enterprise storage. (Applause.) Arthur Levinson. National Medal of Technology and Innovation to Arthur Levinson, Calico, for pioneering contributions to the fields of biotechnology and personalized medicine, leading to the discovery and development of novel therapeutics for the treatment of cancer and other life-threatening diseases. (Applause.) Cherry A. Murray. National Medal of Technology and Innovation to Cherry A. Murray, Harvard University School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, for contributions to the advancement of devices telecommunications and the use of light for studying matter, and for leadership in the development of the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math -- STEM -- workforce in the United States. (Applause.) Mary Shaw. National Medal of Technology and Innovation to Mary Shaw, Carnegie Mellon University, for pioneering leadership in the development of innovative curricula in Computer Science. (Applause.) Douglas Lowy and John Schiller. National Medal of Technology and Innovation to Douglas Lowy and John Schiller, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, for developing the virus-like particles and related technologies that led to the generation of effective vaccines that specifically targeted HPV and related cancers. (Applause.) THE PRESIDENT: Let’s give a big round of applause to all our awardees. (Applause.) We couldn't be prouder of all of you. And I hope, for those who are watching or those who read stories or reports about this, that we're all reminded once again of the role of science and discovery and invention and reason in our lives. Sometimes -- we spend a lot of time lifting up sports heroes, and nobody is a bigger sports fan than I am. We extol the virtues of our singers and our movie stars, and I like entertainment, too. But we have to remind ourselves constantly that so much of what has set us apart economically, culturally, is our commitment to science. And we have to continue to broaden opportunities for young scientists, especially girls and minority students, to enter into the field, and we have to remind them of how exciting it is to be able to shape the world, unlock its secrets, make new stuff. That's who we are. So, hopefully, in addition to being able to highlight the extraordinary work of some extraordinary individuals, that we're going to go out there and remind ourselves once again about why science and discovery and invention is so important. All right? I hope all of you have a wonderful reception. I hear the food here is pretty good. (Laughter and applause.) Remarks by the President at National Medals of Science and National Medals of Technology and Innovation Award Ceremony
President Obama Presents the National Medals of Science & National Medals of Technology and InnovationTHE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 20, 2014 President Obama Presents the National Medals of Science & National Medals of Technology and Innovation Announces new commitments in support of his Educate to Innovate campaign Washington, D.C. – Today at a White House ceremony, President Obama will honor the newest recipients of the National Medal of Science and the National Medal of Technology and Innovation. These awards are the highest honors bestowed by the United States Government for achievements in science, technology, and innovation. President Obama said, “The story of these trailblazers reflect our bigger American story of constant transformation. They represent the spirit that has always defined the American people, one of restless searching for the right solution to any problem; an inclination to dream big dreams; and an insistence on making those dreams come true.” The President will also announce new commitments and progress updates on Educate to Innovate, his all-hands-on-deck campaign to help more girls and boys be inspired to excel in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) subjects. Marking Five Years of Progress in the President’s Educate to Innovate campaign Five years ago, President Obama launched Educate to Innovate, an all-hands-on-deck campaign to help more girls and boys be inspired to excel in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) subjects. The campaign reflects the President’s core conviction that far more needs to be done in giving students the critical skills needed to succeed in STEM fields, and that success required action not just from the Federal government, but the broader community of educational leaders, foundations, companies, non-profits, and science and technology professionals that have unique contributions they can make. Today, the Administration is announcing new commitments and progress updates that showcase the ongoing momentum of the campaign, including: · 100kin10, a network of more than 200 partners, is announcing that it has raised another $28 million in support of the goal of preparing 100,000 excellent STEM teachers over a decade. · Change the Equation, a coalition of leading CEOs, is committing to expanding high-quality STEM programs to more than 1 million students by 2016. · Discovery Communications will launch a new show next year to inspire students in STEM fields, highlighting “All-American Makers.” · Continued growth in students reached by range of companies, non-profits, Federal agencies and others participating in the President’s campaign, including National Math and Science Initiative, US2020, Time Warner Cable, Maker Education Initiative, Institute of Museum and Libraries Services, Corporation for National and Community Service, Underwater Dreams and others. Read the full fact sheet of announcements and progress updates here. Recognizing the Achievements of Our Innovators, Explorers, and Researchers The National Medal of Scientists honors individuals for their outstanding contributions in fields such as biology, physics, and math. The National Medal of Technology and Innovation honors the Nation’s visionary thinkers whose creativity and intellect have made a lasting impact on the United States and its workforce. Today’s recipients of the National Medal of Science are: Bruce Alberts University of California, San Francisco For intellectual leadership and experimental innovation in the field of DNA replication, and for unparalleled dedication to improving science education and promoting science-based public policy. Robert Axelrod University of Michigan For interdisciplinary work on the evolution of cooperation, complexity theory, and international security, and for the exploration of how social science models can be used to explain biological phenomena. May Berenbaum University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign For pioneering studies on chemical coevolution and the genetic basis of insect-plant interactions, and for enthusiastic commitment to public engagement that inspires others about the wonders of science. David Blackwell* University of California, Berkeley For fundamental contributions to probability theory, mathematical statistics, information theory, mathematical logic, and Blackwell games, which have had a lasting impact on critical endeavors such as drug testing, computer communications, and manufacturing. Alexandre J. Chorin University of California, Berkeley For the development of revolutionary methods for realistic fluid-flow simulation, now ubiquitous in the modeling and design of engines, aircraft wings, and heart valves, and in the analysis of natural flows. Thomas Kailath Stanford University For transformative contributions to the fields of information and system science, for distinctive and sustained mentoring of young scholars, and for translation of scientific ideas into entrepreneurial ventures that have had a significant impact on industry. Judith P. Klinman University of California, Berkeley For her discoveries of fundamental chemical and physical principles underlying enzyme catalysis and her leadership in the community of scientists. Jerrold Meinwald Cornell University For applying chemical principles and techniques to studies of plant and insect defense and communication, and for his seminal role in establishing chemical ecology as a core discipline important to agriculture, forestry, medicine, and environmental science. Burton Richter SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory and Stanford University For pioneering contributions to the development of electron accelerators, including circular and linear colliders, synchrotron light sources, and for discoveries in elementary particle physics and contributions to energy policy. Sean C. Solomon Columbia University For creative approaches and outstanding contributions to understanding the internal structure and evolution of the Earth, the Moon, and other terrestrial planets, and for his leadership and inspiration of new generations of scientists. *Awarded posthumously Today’s recipients of the National Medal of Technology and Innovation Charles W. Bachman For fundamental inventions in database management, transaction processing, and software engineering. Edith M. Flanigen UOP, LLC., a Honeywell Company For innovations in the fields of silicate chemistry, the chemistry of zeolites, and molecular sieve materials. Eli Harari SanDisk Corporation For invention and commercialization of Flash storage technology to enable ubiquitous data in consumer electronics, mobile computing, and enterprise storage. Thomas J. Fogarty Fogarty Institute for Innovation For innovations in minimally invasive medical devices. Arthur Levinson Calico Life Sciences, LLC For pioneering contributions to the fields of biotechnology and personalized medicine, leading to the discovery and development of novel therapeutics for the treatment of cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Cherry A. Murray Harvard University School of Engineering and Applied Sciences For contributions to the advancement of devices for telecommunications, the use of light for studying matter, and for leadership in the development of the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) workforce in the United States. Mary Shaw Carnegie Mellon University For pioneering leadership in the development of innovative curricula in Computer Science. Douglas Lowy and John Schiller National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health For developing the virus-like particles and related technologies that led to the generation of effective vaccines that specifically targeted HPV and related cancers. FACT SHEET: Global Entrepreneurship Summit
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 20, 2014 FACT SHEET Global Entrepreneurship Summit President Obama elevated entrepreneurship to the forefront of the United States’ engagement agenda during a historic speech in Cairo in 2009. The Administration has delivered on this commitment, greatly expanding support for entrepreneurship and economic opportunity around the world. Signature achievements in the past five years include: · The United States has played a prominent role in organizing five Global Entrepreneurship Summits (GES) that have elevated entrepreneurship on the global agenda and inspired new generations of innovators to choose entrepreneurship as a profession. These Summits have opened up new markets for products and encouraged policymakers to break down barriers to business, such as the draft law currently being developed by the Moroccan Government to create a legal status for startups. · The Administration has invested in over 1000 initiatives and programs promoting entrepreneurship around the world, many of which are focused on generating opportunities for women and youth and increasing access to capital for entrepreneurs. · The Unites States sends some of America’s top entrepreneurs abroad through the Presidential Ambassadors for Global Entrepreneurship. Begun earlier this year, the Ambassadors have already met with entrepreneurs and promoted entrepreneurship on four continents. · The United States’ Global Innovation through Science and Technology (GIST) Initiative has helped young scientists from throughout the Muslim world generate more than $80 million in revenue for their companies. · The Administration has committed roughly $3.2 billion to support micro, small, and medium sized enterprises and mobilized $80 million in private capital for startup accelerators in the developing world through development financing institutions and programs. This year’s GES in Marrakech, Morocco brings together nearly 4,000 entrepreneurs and business, government, and thought leaders. The United States’ delegation is led by Vice President Joe Biden and includes several cabinet members, heads of agencies, and senior U.S. Government officials. With a focus on technology, this year’s Summit gives participants the opportunity to discover some of the latest trends and tools driving the next wave of innovators. For the first time, the Summit has a day dedicated to the specific challenges and opportunities relevant to women entrepreneurs, as well as a day-long program for young entrepreneurs. Committing to a Bold New Goal to Spark Global Entrepreneurship Building on the past five years of enhanced support for entrepreneurship, today, the Vice President announced that the United States has committed to a bold new goal to expand economic opportunity for all, especially women and youth. Bringing together the U.S. Government’s most exceptional entrepreneurship programs, the United States will spark $1 billion in new private investments over the next three years for entrepreneurs worldwide, including social entrepreneurs. Half of these investments will be generated by women and young entrepreneurs. In addition, the United States is issuing a call to action to other organizations, companies, and countries to build on this goal. The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation already pledged its support to this effort, announcing today that the new Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN) would generate additional investments for entrepreneurs. One of the first GEN operations will be in Morocco. Expanding Entrepreneurship in the Middle East and North Africa To support Morocco’s demand-driven professional training strategy, the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) is expected to invest an estimated $50 million in public-private partnerships that provide students with the skills employers need. Starting in January, MCC and the Moroccan Government will solicit ideas from the private sector, government, and civil society to develop public-private training partnerships. Pending MCC Board approval and Congressional Notification, the program will be included as part of a new compact agreement that is expected to be signed in 2015. Through the Middle East and North Africa Investment Initiative, the U.S. government is launching new partnerships with the Shell Foundation in Iraq to provide financial and practical support to small and medium sized businesses run by entrepreneurs. In Lebanon, through a new partnership with Berytech, the U.S. government will provide early capital and advice for entrepreneurs, as well as mentoring, business networks, and other support as they grow and create even more jobs and economic activity. As announced by the Vice President today, the United States and Volvo are partnering to establish a training academy for entrepreneurs in Morocco. The academy will train 150 students each year from Morocco, Côte d’Ivoire, and Senegal, focusing on maintenance of industrial and commercial equipment. Training will also include technology and general business skills to prepare graduates to enter the modern workforce – either employed by local or multinational companies like Volvo, or as entrepreneurs running their own businesses. In partnership with Spain, the U.S. government is providing a $7 million credit guarantee to help finance a state-of-the-art cold storage facility at the Tanger-Med port in Morocco. The cold storage facility will fill a crucial gap in the agriculture value chain in Morocco, enabling increased agricultural exports to key markets and facilitating job creation across the sector. This effort supports the U.S.-Morocco Free Trade Agreement and Morocco’s agricultural modernization strategy. Enhancing Networking and Resources for Entrepreneurs To deepen engagement and networking among entrepreneurs, GIST has partnered with nine investment, entrepreneurial, education, and corporate organizations to create GIST Net (www.gistnetwork.org). This global, user-driven online platform will connect science and technology entrepreneurs in emerging economies and provide them with the ongoing resources and mentorship they need to collaborate, seek funding, and grow their businesses. GIST Net will keep science and technology innovators informed on the latest news, trends, and industry insights and enable them to connect with each other and experts around the globe. This public-private partnership gives science and technology entrepreneurs access to wide-ranging resources, such as interactive learning tools, mentors, potential financing, and advice, thanks to the intellectual and creative contributions of the U.S. Department of State, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, Founder Institute, Gust, NestGSV, NovoED, Ponscio, Stanford Technology Ventures Program, TechWadi, and VentureWell. Additionally, GIST and Global Entrepreneurship Week will expand the 1 Million Cups entrepreneurial education program globally. 1 Million Cups facilitates a weekly, in-person forum at which entrepreneurs present their startups to a diverse audience of mentors, advisors, and their peers and receive feedback in a safe environment, helping them to advance their businesses. Presidential Ambassador for Global Entrepreneurship and Coursera Co-Founder and CEO, Daphne Koller, has developed a new online series of courses for entrepreneurs. The Coursera Specialization in Entrepreneurship will focus on training entrepreneurs how to develop a business model, discover customer insights, enhance sales and marketing techniques, and pitch their venture. The entrepreneurship curriculum allows for students to generate an innovative new venture concept or enhance their existing concepts. At the end of the course, students will create an investor pitch. Through a competitive process, leading concepts will be evaluated for funding by experts and investors. The Specialization in Entrepreneurship was created in partnership with University of Maryland, College Park. Salman Khan, a Presidential Ambassador for Global Entrepreneurship, has launched a new set of free online tutorials through Khan Academy for creating and designing a website – a critical first step for most entrepreneurs in the 21st century. Launching the J. Christopher Stevens Virtual Exchange Initiative Increased connectivity is inspiring global citizenship, driving young people to seek connections with peers outside of their communities, and encouraging them to tackle local and global challenges. The United States is committed to cultivating a new generation of globally-minded youth, and announced today a major contribution to this effort. The J. Christopher Stevens Virtual Exchange Initiative, a multilateral public-private partnership, will strengthen engagement between young people in the Middle East and North Africa and in the United States as a lasting tribute to the legacy of Ambassador Chris Stevens. The J. Christopher Stevens Virtual Exchange Initiative will use technology and online tools to achieve the largest-ever increase in people-to-people educational exchanges between the United States and the broader Middle East. Through intensive, structured online engagements between youth at various education levels, the Initiative will equip more than one million youth with the skills and aptitudes they need to succeed in the 21st century and lessen the potential for global misunderstanding. A number of governments have expressed their intent to contribute to and partner with the United States on this Initiative. To date, the Kingdom of Morocco and the governments of Algeria, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates have joined the United States in making financial pledges totaling over $31 million over the next five years. In addition, the Initiative will involve foundations and private sector partners, including Microsoft and GoPro. The J. Christopher Stevens Virtual Exchange Initiative will be kicked off with a pilot project early next year in Morocco. Remarks by the President at Presentation of the Medal of Freedom
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary For Immediate Release November 24, 2014 REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT AT PRESENTATION OF THE MEDAL OF FREEDOM The East Room 2:22 P.M. EST THE PRESIDENT: Thank you so much. Everybody, have a seat. Well, welcome to the White House. This is one of my favorite events. Once a year, we set aside this event to celebrate people who have made America stronger, and wiser, and more humane, and more beautiful with our highest civilian honor –- the Presidential Medal of Freedom. This year we honor 18. Unfortunately, Stephen Sondheim could not be with us today. I’m going to be presenting him with this award at our 2015 ceremony. We give thanks to public servants who have devoted their lives to their fellow citizens. When Edward Roybal told Speaker Tip O’Neill that he was starting a Congressional Hispanic Caucus, there were so few Hispanics in Congress that Tip joked they could fit the whole caucus in a phone booth. But Edward saw beyond the times. As a congressman from Los Angeles for 30 years, he fought for bilingual education, bilingual proceedings in our judicial system, and to make sure Hispanic Americans counted -- literally. Thanks to him, the Census was revised to more accurately count Latinos. Although his roots in America went back hundreds of years, he championed the cause of immigrants, and spoke up for vulnerable communities, and was one of few in the early 1980s calling for more AIDS research. He left us nearly a decade ago, but Edward Roybal was and remains a hero to so many -– not just Latinos but all Americans. Every girl in Little League, every woman playing college sports, and every parent -– including Michelle and myself -– who watches their daughter on a field or in the classroom is forever grateful to the late Patsy Takemoto Mink. I am particularly grateful because she was my congresswoman for a long time. (Laughter.) Denied admission to medical school because she was a woman, Patsy went on to law school and to co-authored Title IX, banning gender discrimination in our schools. Patsy was many “firsts” -– including the first woman of color in Congress -– and to those of us in Hawaii, she represented the best of public service and the Aloha spirit. And if she was a first, she dedicated her life to making sure that she would not be the last. From championing civil rights to fighting for -– fighting against gender discrimination -- Patsy was a passionate advocate for opportunity, equality and realizing the full promise of the American Dream. When John Dingell’s father, a New Deal Democrat, passed away in 1955, John stepped up. And over the course of six decades -– a congressional career longer than any in history -– John built a peerless record of his own. He gaveled in the vote for Medicare, helped lead the fight for the Civil Rights Act. For more than half a century, in every single Congress, John introduced a bill for comprehensive health care. That is, until he didn’t have to do it anymore. (Laughter and applause.) I could not have been prouder to have John by my side when I signed the Affordable Care Act into law. John will retire at the end of this session, but at 88, he’s still going strong. And his life reminds us that change takes time; it takes courage and persistence. But if we push hard enough and long enough, change is possible. As a University of Chicago student, Abner Mikva stopped by the local Democratic headquarters and asked to volunteer. I love this story. A committeeman asked who sent you. And Ab said, nobody. And the committeeman said, we don’t want nobody nobody sent. (Laughter.) That’s Chicago for you. Despite that abrupt dismissal, Ab went on to devote his life to public service -- reformed Illinois’s criminal code, defended free speech and consumer rights; in 1993, struck down the Pentagon’s ban on gays in the military. He was overturned on that one -– but history proved him right. And he inspired the next generation, including me. After I graduated from law school, he offered me the chance to be his law clerk. I declined but was extraordinarily grateful, and he forgave me -– (laughter) -- for which I was also grateful. Ab transcends any single moment in recent political history. But he had a hand in shaping some of the best of it. So we’ve got some extraordinary public servants on this stage. We also give thanks for innovators who’ve changed our world. Mildred Dresselhaus’s high school yearbook contained commentary from her classmates. They printed a mathematical tribute: “Mildred equals brains plus fun. In math and science, she’s second to none.” (Laughter.) Growing up in New York during the Great Depression, this daughter of Polish immigrants had three clear paths open to her: teaching, nursing, and secretarial school. Somehow she had something else in mind. And she became an electrical engineer and a physicist, and rose in MIT’s ranks, performed groundbreaking experiments on carbon, became one of the world’s most celebrated scientists. And her influence is all around us -– in the cars we drive, the energy we generate, the electronic devices that power our lives. When she arrived at MIT in 1960, only 4 percent of students were women. Today, almost half are, a new generation walking the path that Millie blazed. Robert Solow’s father was a businessman who handled a lot of documents. And when Robert became an economist, his dad joked, we do the same thing: deliver papers. But Bob’s influence extends far beyond the page. More than just about any living economist, he has shaped economic policy, and with it, the lives of people everywhere. His insights into how technological progress drives growth transformed our thinking about how to build prosperity, leading to more investments in research and education –- in other words, more investments in people. When he won the Nobel Prize, a colleague wrote, “Economists’ faces lit up all over the world.” And this isn’t exactly an irrationally exuberant group, economists. (Laughter.) They don’t usually get real fired up. But Bob isn’t just admired by his peers; he is adored. And he continues to be a leading voice on the economic challenges of our times, especially when it comes to reversing income inequality and growing the economy for everybody –- always pushing our nation to do better for everybody, for all. So, we give thanks to public servants, we give thanks to innovators, and we give thanks to performers who have captivated our hearts and our minds. The Onion once ran this headline: “Court Rules Meryl Streep Unable to Be Tried by Jury As She Has No Peers.” (Laughter and applause.) I think this is like the third or fourth award Meryl’s gotten since I’ve been in office, and I’ve said it publicly: I love Meryl Streep. I love her. Her husband knows I love her. Michelle knows I love her. There’s nothing either of them can do about it. (Laughter.) But, she’s done it all for her craft. She’s sung Abba, which -- that's something. (Laughter.) She learned violin, wore a nun’s habit, faced down a charging lion, mastered every accent under the sun. She inhabits her characters so fully and compassionately, saying, “It’s the great gift of human beings that we have this power of empathy.” And off screen, as an advocate for women and girls, she uses that gift to help others write the life stories of their choosing, and to encourage greater empathy in the rest of us. So Meryl is truly one of America’s leading ladies. And then there’s Stevie. Don't get Michelle talking about Stevie Wonder now. (Laughter.) Early copies of Stevie Wonder’s classic album Talking Book had a simple message, written in Braille: “Here is my music. It is all I have to tell you how I feel. Know that your love keeps my love strong.” This is, by the way, the first album I ever bought with my own money. I was 10 years old, maybe 11, with my own cash. I didn't have a lot of it. And I listened to that -- that thing got so worn out, had all scratches. Young people, you won’t remember this, but you’d have albums. (Laughter.) And they’d get scratched. For more than 50 years, Stevie has channeled his “Innervisions” into messages of hope and healing, in becoming one of the most influential musicians in American history. A musical prodigy with an electrifying voice, Stevie’s blend of R&B, and jazz, and funk, and blues, and soul, and whatever else you've got, speaks of love and loss, justice and equality, war and peace. But what really defines Stevie’s music is the warmth and humanity that resonate in every note. Some of his songs helped us to fall in love. Others mended our hearts. Some motivated us on the campaign trail. (Laughter.) And thanks to Stevie, all of us have been moved to higher ground. Alvin Ailey was born during the Depression in small-town Texas. And by the time he was 27, he had founded a dance company of his own in New York City. It became a place where artists of all races had a home. All that mattered was talent. The dances he choreographed were a blend of ballet, modern, and jazz, and they used the blues and spirituals, as well. And through him, African-American history was told in a way that it had never been told before -– with passionate, virtuoso dance performances that transfixed audiences worldwide. Alvin said that, “Dance came from the people and that it should always be delivered back to the people.” Alvin Ailey delivered, both through his life and through the dance company that will forever bear his name. When Isabel Allende learned that her grandfather in Chile was dying, she started writing him a letter. Night after night, she returned to it –- until, she realized, she was actually writing her first novel. She’s never really stopped. Her novels and memoirs tell of families, magic, romance, oppression, violence, redemption -– all the big stuff. But in her hands, the big becomes graspable and familiar and human. And exiled from Chile by a military junta, she made the U.S. her home; today, the foundation she created to honor her late daughter helps families worldwide. She begins all her books on January 8th, the day she began that letter to her grandfather years ago. “Write to register history,” she says. “Write what should not be forgotten.” On the night that the Berlin Wall fell, only one American network anchor was there reporting live. A reporter remembers Ben Bradlee standing in the Post newsroom, watching Tom Brokaw at the Brandenburg Gate and wondering aloud, “How do we beat that?” (Laughter.) “Brokaw’s got this.” At pivotal moments, Tom got it. He reported on Watergate, snuck a camera into Tiananmen Square, sat down for the first one-on-one with Mikhail Gorbachev by an American TV reporter, covered every presidential election since 1968. We’ve welcomed him into our homes at dinnertime and Sunday mornings. We’ve trusted him to tell us what we needed to know and to ask the questions that needed asking. I know, because I’ve been on the receiving end of some of those questions. (Laughter.) Many of him know -- many know him as the chronicler of the Greatest Generation, and today, we celebrate him as one of our nation’s greatest journalists. We give thanks to trailblazers who bent the arc of our nation towards justice. In the 1950s, golfer Charlie Sifford won the Negro National Open –- five times in a row. But by the time he became the first African American to earn a PGA Tour card, most of his best golf was behind him. On the tour, Charlie was sometimes banned from clubhouse restaurants. Folks threatened him, shouted slurs from the gallery, kicked his ball into the rough. Charlie’s laughing about that -- my ball is always in the rough. (Laughter.) And because golf can be a solitary sport, Charlie didn’t have teammates to lean on. But he did have his lovely wife, Rose. And he had plenty of guts and grit and that trademark cigar. And Charlie won on the Tour twice, both after age 45. But it was never just about the wins. As Charlie says, “I wasn’t just trying to do this for me, I was trying to do it for the world.” Speaking of trailblazers, to some, Marlo Thomas will always be “That Girl,” who followed her dreams to New York City and kind of was running around Manhattan, having fun, on her own terms. To others, she’s the creative mind behind “Free to Be … You and Me,” whose songs taught a generation of kids that they were strong and beautiful, just the way they were. As a founder of the “Ms. Foundation,” Marlo helped turn women’s hopes and aspirations into concrete social and economic progress. And she’s helped build the hospital her father founded, St. Jude’s, into one of the premier pediatric hospitals in the world. She recalls her dad saying, “There are two types of people in the world: the givers and the takers. The takers sometimes eat better, but the givers always sleep better.” I love that saying. Marlo Thomas sleeps very well because she’s given so much. Raised on an Oklahoma reservation by a Cheyenne mother and a Hodulgee Muskogee father, Suzan Shown Harjo grew up to become one of the most effective advocates for Native American rights. And through her work in government and as the head of the National Congress of American Indians and the Morning Star Institute, she has helped preserve a million acres of Indian lands, helped develop laws preserving tribal sovereignty. She has repatriated sacred cultural items to tribes, while expanding museums that celebrate Native life. Because of Suzan, more young Native Americans are growing up with pride in their heritage, and with faith in their future. And she has taught all of us that Native values make America stronger. On June 21, 1964, three young men –- two white, one black –- set out to learn more about the burning of a church in Neshoba County, Mississippi: James Earl Chaney, 21 years old; Andrew Goodman, 20 years old; and Michael Henry Schwerner, 24 years old. Young men. And in that Freedom Summer, these three Americans refused to sit on the sidelines. Their brutal murder by a gang of Ku Klux Klan members shook the conscience of our nation. It took 44 days to find their bodies, 41 years to bring the lead perpetrator to justice. And while they are often remembered for how they died, we honor them today for how they lived -– with the idealism and the courage of youth. James, Andrew, and Michael could not have known the impact they would have on the Civil Rights Movement or on future generations. And here today, inspired by their sacrifice, we continue to fight for the ideals of equality and justice for which they gave their lives. Today we are honored to be joined by James’s daughter Angela, Andrew’s brother David, and Michael’s wife, Rita. And finally, we give thanks to a person whose love for her family is matched by her devotion to her nation. To most Americans, Ethel Kennedy is known as a wife, mother, and grandma. And in many ways, it’s through these roles that she’s made her mark on history. As Bobby Kennedy’s partner in life, she shared his commitment to justice. After his death, she continued their work through the center she created in his name, celebrating activists and journalists and educating people around the world about threats to human liberty. On urgent human rights issues of our time -– from juvenile justice to environmental destruction –- Ethel has been a force for change in her quiet, flashy -- unflashy, unstoppable way. As her family will tell you, and they basically occupy this half of the room -- (laughter) -- you don’t mess with Ethel. (Laughter.) She’s gone to extraordinary lengths to build support for the causes close to her heart -– including helping to raise money for ALS research this summer by pouring a bucket of ice water over her head. (Laughter.) As you may know, she nominated me to do it, too. And as you may know, I chose to write a check instead. (Laughter.) I grew up in Hawaii. I don't like pouring ice water on top of my head. (Laughter.) That is probably the only time I’ve said no to Ethel, by the way. (Laughter.) Ethel is the matriarch of a patriotic family, and with her encouragement, many of her children and grandchildren are carrying on the Kennedy tradition of public service. She is an emblem of enduring faith and enduring hope, even in the face of unimaginable loss and unimaginable grief. And she has touched the lives of countless people around the world with her generosity and her grace. It gives me great pleasure to present this award, which her brother-in-law, President Kennedy, re-established more than 50 years ago. Ladies and gentlemen, these are the recipients of the 2014 President Medal of Freedom. Let’s give them a big round of applause. (Applause.) Well, you don't just get applause. You actually get a medal. (Laughter.) So let’s read the citations. MILITARY AIDE: Robert Battle, receiving on behalf of Alvin Ailey. A visionary choreographer and dancer, Alvin Ailey transformed American dance through his groundbreaking exploration of the African American experience, weaving traditional songs and stories with ballet, jazz, and modern dance to create something entirely new. He founded and served as artistic director of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, renowned worldwide for its soulful, virtuoso performances, including the beloved American masterpiece Revelations. An advocate for the importance of art to the soul of our nation, Alvin Ailey's life and pioneering legacy remind us of our limitless potential for creative self-expression. MILITARY AIDE: Isabel Allende. A beloved daughter of Chile and the United States, Isabel Allende has transfixed readers worldwide with her extraordinary storytelling. Forced to flee Chile after the overthrow of her cousin, President Salvador Allende, she spent years abroad, filling her books with the stories, rhythms and flavors of home. She is now one of the most widely read and cherished Spanish-language authors in history. She also writes and speaks forcefully about the human rights of women and children, and her foundation supports vulnerable families in Chile and California. With creativity and conviction, Isabel Allende continues to move and delight the world. MILITARY AIDE: Thomas J. Brokaw. (Applause.) One of our Nation’s most admired journalists, Thomas J. Brokaw has helped Americans better understand the world and each other. From Today, to NBC Nightly News, to Meet the Press, Americans have relied on his authoritative reporting and keen analysis for decades. At moments of great consequence -– from the fall of the Berlin Wall to the terrorist attacks of 9/11 -– he was our nation’s eyes and ears at the scene. He has lent his voice to our Nation’s heroes, from The Greatest Generation to the latest generation of service members and their families. Thomas J. Brokaw’s work remains the model of responsible journalism, and his insights continue to enrich our public discourse. MILITARY AIDE: Angela Lewis, receiving on behalf of her father, James Earl Chaney; David Goodman, receiving on behalf of his brother Andrew Goodman; and Rita Schwerner Bender, receiving on behalf of her husband, Michael Henry Schwerner. (Applause.) In 1964, three young men sought to right one of the many wrongs of the Jim Crow era by joining hundreds of others to register black voters in Mississippi during “Freedom Summer.” The work was fraught with danger, yet their commitment to justice was so strong that they were willing to risk their lives for it. Their deaths shocked the nation, and their courage has never been forgotten. James Earl Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Henry Schwerner still inspire us. Their ideals have been written into the moral fabric of our nation, from the landmark civil rights legislation enacted days after their deaths to our continued pursuit of a more perfect union. MILITARY AIDE: The Honorable John D. Dingell, Jr. John D. Dingell, Jr.’s tenure surpasses that of any member of Congress in American history. A child of the House, he became its Dean, and his legacy is evident all around us: in cleaner air, safer water, stronger protections for workers, and greater respects for the civil rights of all Americans. He summoned his grit and determination for legislative battles over health care, from Medicare to the Affordable Care Act. Thanks to his efforts, millions more families across our Nation now have the peace of mind that comes with access to quality, affordable care. A grateful Nation honors John D. Dingell, Jr. for his lifetime of service, from World War II to nearly six decades in Congress. MILITARY AIDE: Mildred S. Dresselhaus. Mildred S. Dresselhaus has helped uncover the mysteries of our world. One of the most distinguished physicists, materials scientists, and electrical engineers of her generation, her experiments into the conductivity of semi-metals transformed our understanding of those materials, leading to breakthroughs in modern electronics. Her pioneering research on nanotubes has had implications across the economy, from electronics to energy storage to automotive parts. As a leader and mentor, she has inspired countless women to pursue opportunities in physics and engineering. Mildred S. Dresselhaus’s example is a testament to what we can achieve when we summon the courage to follow our curiosity and our dreams. MILITARY AIDE: Susan Shown Harjo. Suzan Shown Harjo is a poet, writer, curator, and advocate dedicated to the dignity of all people. A Cheyenne and Hodulgee Muscogee, and a citizen of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes, she has fought all her life for the human, civil, and treaty rights of Native peoples. As the head of the National Congress of American Indians, president of the Morning Star Institute, and a founding trustee of the National Museum of the American Indian, her tireless efforts have protected Native culture, returned Native lands, and improved Native lives. With bold resolve, Suzan Shown Harjo pushes us to always seek justice in our time. MILITARY AIDE: Ethel Kennedy. (Applause.) Ethel Kennedy’s life is a story of perseverance and generosity. A tireless advocate for the causes she holds dear, she founded the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights where she advances her husband’s vision and challenges us to imagine the world as it should be. Whether on gun control, environmental protection, human rights, or public health, she tackles difficult issues with a relentless drive and inspires those around her to do the same. In Ethel Kennedy, we find the strength, resilience, and passion that are at the heart of the American spirit. MILITARY AIDE: The Honorable Abner Mikva. (Applause.) One of the greatest jurists of his time, Abner Mikva built his career on reverence for the law, commitment to public service, and love for Chicago. As a Congressman, federal judge, and counsel to President Clinton, he helped shape the national debate on some of the most challenging issues of the day, always insisting that government live up to its responsibilities to citizens. He has imparted his sense of civic duty to a new generation, from shaping legal minds as a law professor to challenging young people to give back to their communities through public service. Thanks to Abner Mikva, our laws -– and our nation -– are more fair and equal. MILITARY AIDE: Wendy Mink, receiving on behalf of her mother, the Honorable Patsy Takemoto Mink. (Applause.) Patsy Takemoto Mink was ahead of her time. The first woman of color elected to Congress, she entered office determined to do all she could to ensure equal treatment for every American, regardless of race or sex. She co-authored Title IX of the Education Amendment of 1972, guaranteeing equal educational opportunities for women. She was a forceful advocate for civil rights legislation and for a sensible end to the Vietnam War. She served her beloved Hawaii with integrity and grace all her life. An American trailblazer, Patsy Takemoto Mink helped build a nation that lives up to its promise, and her example challenges us to make progress in our time. MILITARY AIDE: The Honorable Lucille Roybal Allard receiving on behalf of the Honorable Edward R. Roybal. (Applause.) Edward R. Roybal lived to serve. He served in the Civilian Conservation Corps, in the Army during World War II, and on the Los Angeles City Council. In 1962, he became the first Hispanic American elected to Congress from California in almost a century, and he served there for thirty years. He stood up for people who needed a champion, including veterans, the mentally ill, the elderly, and people living with HIV/AIDS. He founded the Congressional Hispanic Caucus to ensure that the voices of Hispanic Americans would always be heard. Edward R. Roybal believed that our nation is strongest when we harness the talents of all of our people. That belief, and his legacy, will always live on. MILITARY AIDE: Charles Sifford. Charles “Charlie” Sifford just wanted to play golf. At a time when the PGA adhered to a “Caucasians only” rule, he risked everything to affect change. In the face of death threats and stinging insults, he persistently challenged the discrimination that plagued his beloved sport while demonstrating his extraordinary skills on the course, winning six National Negro Opens before receiving his PGA Tour card. He went on to win PGA events, was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame, and received an honorary doctorate from St. Andrews University. Charlie Sifford leveled the fairway for generations of athletes of all races and inspired a community beyond the sport he loves. MILITARY AIDE: Robert M. Solow. (Applause.) A brilliant economist, Robert M. Solow transformed our fundamental understanding of how to build broad-based prosperity. His ground-breaking research illustrated the importance of technological advancement to long-term growth, upending conventional thinking and earning him a Nobel Prize. His conclusions emphasized the importance of investing in education, health, and scientific research, and millions of Americans have benefited from the economic progress that he helped to spark. Robert M. Solow’s contributions have molded public opinion and policy, and he continues to engage with the most pressing economic questions of the day with his incisive commentary on income inequality and economic mobility. MILITARY AIDE: Meryl Streep. (Applause.) One of our nation’s greatest actors, Meryl Streep has an unmatched ability to bring a character to life. Her performances have earned her the most Academy Award nominations of any actor in history and have given her audiences the chance to see the world through someone else’s eyes. Whether portraying a famous chef, a fashion editor, a Holocaust survivor, or a prime minister, she conveys her characters’ stories with empathy and dignity. Off screen, she brings that same humanity to her advocacy for women, education, and the arts. With depth, joy, and discipline, Meryl Streep invites us to explore the full range of the human experience, one story at a time. MILITARY AIDE: Marlo Thomas. (Applause.) For over half a century, Marlo Thomas has been challenging conventions and defying expectations. She broke barriers in television with her iconic role in That Girl, and lifted the voices of women as co-founder of the Ms. Foundation for Women. Through stories and songs, she reminds children that we are all “Free to be You and Me,” and her work with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital has helped it become one of the top children’s cancer hospitals in the nation. Through her words, deeds, and characters, Marlo Thomas has taught us to be true to ourselves and to lead our lives with confidence and compassion. MILITARY AIDE: Stevie Wonder. (Applause.) One of the world’s most gifted singer-songwriters, Stevland Morris, known to the world as Stevie Wonder, crafts songs about joy and loss, love and loneliness –- with a musical style entirely his own. He is celebrated for his exuberant creativity, his virtuosity on multiple instruments, and his mastery of a wide range of genres. The results have gained him millions of fans and 25 Grammy awards. Beyond his music, Stevie Wonder has impacted the world through his philanthropy and advocacy, especially his championing of people with disabilities. Creating music in the key of life, Stevie Wonder has brought greater harmony to our nation. THE PRESIDENT: Well, what an extraordinary group. Let’s give them all a big round of applause one more time. (Applause.) We thank all of them for the gifts they’ve given to us, the incredible performances, the incredible innovation, the incredible ideas, the incredible expressions of the human spirit. And not only have they made the world better, but by following their example, they make us a little bit better every single day. We are truly grateful to them. And on behalf of Michelle and myself, please enjoy the reception. And God bless you all. Thank you. (Applause.) Remarks by the President at ConnectED Superintendents Summit
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release November 19, 2014 REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT AT CONNECTED SUPERINTENDENTS SUMMIT East Room 11:24 A.M. EST THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, everybody. (Applause.) Everybody, have a seat. Well, thank you, Alberto, for that introduction and, more importantly, for your outstanding leadership of the Miami-Dade public schools. I thank all of you for joining us. We are here to take another step toward making sure that all of our kids get the education that they need in the 21st century. And it’s great to welcome so many committed educators to the White House. If you need, by the way, a note to excuse your absence -- (laughter) -- let me know. (Laughter.) You're all kind playing hooky today. (Laughter.) We’ve got superintendents here from more than 100 school districts -- as close as just across the river in Arlington, to across the continent in Alaska. And we are joining a lot of folks over the Internet, as well. In a few minutes, all of you are going to sign a pledge to make sure that your districts are doing what it takes to be ready for the future. And we’ve also got some people here who share your commitment to education, including members of Congress and our Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan. Where is Arne Duncan? Where is he? He’s gone! (Laughter.) He’s playing hooky, too! (Laughter.) No, I'm sure he’s got some very important thing -- (laughter.) Poor Arne, he’s being called out right now. (Laughter.) Look, as President, every decision I make is aimed at one goal, and that is to restore opportunity for everybody who’s willing to work hard in our society. Six years after the worst economic crisis of our lifetimes, our businesses have added over 10.6 million new jobs during the course of 56 months. For the first time in more than six years, the unemployment rate is below 6 percent. And we’ve made gains in education, thanks to the hard work of school leaders like you. Dropout rates are down. The graduation rate is the highest on record. More young people are earning college degrees than ever before. But in a 21st century economy where the most valuable skill you can sell is knowledge -- and the capacity to learn new knowledge -- we’ve got to do more to offer our children a world-class education. We’ve got to make high-quality pre-K available to every child, so that they get the benefit of early enrichment and they come to school prepared. We have to encourage more young people -- especially young women and minority students -- to study in the fields of the future, like math, technology, engineering, science. We need to keep working to redesign our high schools to offer more hands-on learning opportunities that can lead directly to jobs and careers -- and can engage students in different ways based on their interests and their learning styles. We need teachers who know how to make learning come alive, with personalized instruction and project-based learning. And we've got to do more to make sure that our teachers are supported and receive the kind of professional training and best practices -- and I personally think higher pay -- that's going to encourage the best and the brightest continue to be in the field. We've got to make sure that no striving young person is priced out of a college education. These are all critical ingredients to our effort at continuous improvement in education. And one of the things that we also need to do is to yank our schools into the 21st century when it comes to technology, and providing the tools and training that teachers need to use that technology to prepare all of our students for the competition that they’re going to face globally. Other countries are doing this. They are trying to out-educate us today so that they can out-compete us tomorrow. South Korea is replacing all of its textbooks with digital content, and training all of its teachers to use technology in the classroom. Singapore is equipping every school with broadband that’s over 40 times faster than the connection in the average American home. So we're going to have to step up our game if we’re going to make sure that every child in America can go as far as their dreams and talents will take them. And that’s why, last year, I launched an initiative called ConnectED -- it’s a five-year plan to close the technology gap in our schools and connect 99 percent of America’s students to high-speed Internet. And this is why it’s important. Right now, fewer than 40 percent of public schools have high-speed Internet in their classrooms -- less than half. That's not good, since we invented the Internet. (Laughter.) That's not good. It means that in most American schools, teachers cannot use the cutting-edge software and programs that are available today. They literally don’t have the bandwidth. And even in schools where there is high-speed Internet, so often there aren’t enough computers to go around, so only a small percentage of our classrooms have the one-to-one ratio of students to computers or tablets. And that means that, in too many schools, if a teacher wants to use the Internet for a lesson, then kids have to crowd around one desk to follow along, or they have to break up into groups and sequentially come in. I’ve said before, in a country where we expect free Wi-Fi with our coffee -- (laughter) -- the least we can do is expect that our schools are properly wired. And when many of us can’t go even an hour -- my staff, it's like every two minutes -- (laughter) -- without reaching for a tablet or a smartphone, we’ve got to make sure these devices are within reach of our students. Because outside of school they’re certainly understanding how to use technology. That's where they’re living. And if we aren't incorporating that into how they are learning in the classroom, then we're not doing our job. We've got to bring the world to every child’s fingertips, because they’re already more technologically savvy than we are, but if they think that the school is 20, 30 years behind, then they’re going to lose interest in school. So, earlier this year, I announced new steps toward making the vision of ConnectED a reality. The FCC decided to double its investment in broadband for schools, investing an additional $2 billion over two years -- that’s a step that will connect more than 15,000 schools and 20 million students to high-speed Internet. And that investment will help some of the school districts represented in this room. Then, just this week, FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler unveiled his plan to help us finish the job and reach our ultimate goal of connecting 99 percent of students within five years. But as I’ve said from the day that we launched this initiative, this is not just a role for government, or the federal government. We also asked some of America’s foremost tech companies to help bring our schools into the 21st century. And their response have been inspiring. So far, 10 companies have made commitments totaling more than $2 billion. So Apple, for example, has pledged $100 million, which is going to 114 schools across 29 states. Students will get iPads. Teachers will get McBooks -- or MacBooks, depending on how you say it. (Laughter.) Classrooms will get Apple TV. And that’s just one of many commitments. Students are using software from Adobe to design new animal species, software from Autodesk to create fuel-efficient cars. Teachers are using presentation software from Prezi to help kids understand how solar systems work. Other companies are providing hundreds of millions of dollars in software, eBooks, teacher training. And 100,000 high-need students will receive free wireless service. For students who spend hours on the bus every day, that means that they’re going to be able to keep working while they’re commuting -- in between texting their friends, of course. (Laughter.) Schools in all 50 states are already taking advantage of these commitments. And you can find out how your school district could benefit at WhiteHouse.gov/ConnectED. So, today, I’m proud to announce that two companies that provide online courses are getting on board. EdX has already offered its Advanced Placement-level courses for free. Now it’s making the certification for those courses free as well. So if you’re a student who’s mastered the material, but can’t afford the certification that proves it, EdX will provide it. They’re offering more than a dozen training courses to teachers nationwide for free. And for the next year, the company Coursera will offer free credentials for district-approved professional development courses to any teacher, anywhere in the country. Because all the wireless devices and fancy software in the world won’t make a difference unless we have great teachers in the classroom. And early on, when I was still in Chicago, as a senator, and I got interested in this issue -- sometimes you’d walk in the classroom, there would be brand new computers, but the students who were sitting at the computers, all they were doing were doing -- the same problem sets that they were getting on mimeograph or Xerox before now they were doing on the computer screen. There was no sense of how to use the tool in a powerful way. And that's why we very much appreciate the offerings by these companies, understanding that we want to make this as accessible as possible. So closing the technology gap is going to take more than fiber-optic cable, it's going to take more than portable hotspots and wireless projectors. It will take more than policymakers in Washington or even Silicon Valley CEOs. It’s going to take teachers, principals, superintendents who get it -- who understand the power of these tools when used creatively and who are willing to make changes and push reforms and test new ideas. And we want to help you do that. So today, we’re making two new tools available. First, because we know a lot of school districts aren’t sure what digital infrastructure to invest in, or how to pay for it, or what they’ll get out of it, we’ve put together an infrastructure guide to help you make the best decisions based on your resources and needs. Second, we’ve created a “learning tool-kit” with goals and checklists for teachers and principals, so they can turn these tools into better outcomes for students. And this is all based on best practices that have been collated from around the country. And over the next year, my administration will convene 12 regional summits for superintendents and principals nationwide to help more districts get ready for the future. So you’ve got the resources. We've got some of the money coming out of ConnectED. We've got the companies participating. Now we're going to work with you on a regional basis, state by state, so that we can start stitching all this together to actually deliver to kids in the classroom. Now, a lot of you are already doing this. Karen Tarasevich -- where is Karen? There she is. I'm glad she wasn’t with Arne somewhere playing hooky. (Laughter.) Karen is the superintendent in the West Warwick Public Schools in Rhode Island. It’s a city with higher than average unemployment, and a lot of students’ families don’t have computers at home. So they came up with a “One-to-One” initiative to help solve both problems. Every student gets a laptop to use at home and at school. And parents are encouraged to use the laptops, too, to take online job training courses. So there’s a booth set up at every parents’ night where moms and dads can sign up. And then you’ve got Mary Wegner, superintendent of the Sitka, Alaska School District. Where is Mary? She came a long way. There she is. (Applause.) Yes, give her a hand for coming from Alaska. I was wondering why it was so cold today. (Laughter.) Now, this is a remote place. You can only get to Sitka by plane or by boat. So how many transfers did you have to make to finally get here? MS. WEGNER: Three. THE PRESIDENT: Three -- that's not bad. (Laughter.) So six years ago, the technology in the schools was so outdated, only a few people could even print documents, and logging on to the Internet could take 20 minutes. Today, with the help of the Recovery Act, the whole district has WiFi. The ratio of computers to students is four-to-one and falling. Kids are Skyping in class with experts from all over the world on a whole range of subjects. And Sitka is now in the top tier of districts in the state. It's been transformative. Darryl Adams is the superintendent of the Coachella Valley Unified School District in California. Where is he? There you go. Good to see you. One of the poorest districts in the country. And a few years ago, Coachella started providing every student from pre-K to high school with a tablet of their own. Is that one of them that you -- yeah? (Laughter.) You didn’t take that from a student, did you? (Laughter.) They paid for it through a bond measure, which voters overwhelmingly approved. So the whole community is committed to their children’s education. Many students still don’t have Internet access at home, but the district found a solution for that, too. They’re putting WiFi routers on school buses and parking them across the district every night. This is really smart, right? So you’ve got under-utilized resources; buses in the evening -- you put the routers on, disperse them, and suddenly everybody is connected. Now it’s not just students who can get online -- it's their families, as well. So I know a lot of superintendents have stories like these. You’ve found innovative ways to reach your students and improve your schools. And today, the best news of all is you’re taking the next step -- along with 1,200 other superintendents nationwide -- by signing the “Future Ready District Pledge.” Don't sign yet. (Laughter.) Because we're all going to do it together and it will be fun. (Laughter.) It’s a vision for digital learning in classrooms across America -- helping schools and families make the leap to high-speed Internet; supporting teachers and principals who use technology in innovative ways; and helping every student gain access to digital devices and high-quality digital content. And it’s a promise to help other school districts do the same -- that’s key. This can’t stop with you. Every kid need every superintendent in America to sign this pledge -- and then follow through on the pledge. Our kids need every school district to make these commitments. Every child -- whether they live in a big city, quiet suburb, the furthest reaches of rural America, poor districts, rich districts -- every child deserves a shot at a world-class education. That’s the promise we make as a nation great. That's what makes our nation great -- this fundamental belief that no matter who you are, where you come from, what you look like, you can make it in this country if you work hard. You have access to the tools to achieve. If we keep working at this, that's a promise we can make real for this generation and generations to come. All right. So, with that, I think all the superintendents are ready to sign this pledge for our kids. Everybody get your tablets out. You ready? All right, go at it. (Laughter.) You're being tested. (Laughter.) You’ve got 10 more seconds. I see some people lagging behind. (Laughter.) All right, time. (Laughter.) Everybody get it? AUDIENCE: Yes. THE PRESIDENT: Okay. If you didn’t, if you're still figuring it out -- (laughter) -- I won't tell. But let me just close by saying this. We're so inundated, I think, with news of mayhem and mishap and war and disease. I think sometimes we forget how much good work is just being done day in and day out by a lot of good people who just care about their kids, care about their communities. In your districts, I know there are just extraordinary teachers and principals who are putting everything they’ve got into making sure our kids are getting a great education. And you’ve got parents who are stepping up and volunteering and helping to make those schools work. So as you disperse, one message I want you to deliver to all of them from the White House, from the President of the United States, is even if you're not getting a lot of attention, even if you're not making a lot of headlines, what you're doing every single day is making the biggest possible difference in the life of this country. And I couldn't be prouder of you. Thank you, everybody. (Applause.) FACT SHEET: ConnectED to the Future
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary For Immediate Release November 19, 2014 FACT SHEET: ConnectED to the Future Today, President Obama hosts school leaders and educators from across the country at the White House for “ConnectED to the Future,” a day-long convening to explore the potential of education technology and the innovations needed to bring America’s schools into the digital age. At the event, the President will launch his Administration’s effort to assist school leaders in their transition to digital learning, following his plan to connect 99 percent of America’s students high-speed broadband internet in their schools and libraries. The President will applaud superintendents across the country that will collaborate with students, educators, and parents to become “Future Ready.” More than 1,200 school superintendents will join the Obama Administration’s Future Ready District Pledge to set a vision for digital learning across America. These educational leaders will foster a culture of learning through technology across their schools; assist their students and families in the transition to high-speed connectivity; provide their learners greater access to high-quality digital devices and content; and provide teachers and principals the support needed to use technology in innovative ways. Together, they will reach approximately 10 million students across more than 16,000 schools across all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Preparing America’s students with the skills they need to get good jobs and compete in the global economy demands an interactive, personalized learning experience. According to the FCC, 68% of school districts report that not a single school in their district can meet high-speed connectivity goals. Too few American schools have the broadband connections necessary to support innovative teaching and learning and most lack the wireless connectivity to individualize instruction for students. In June 2013, President Obama visited Mooresville, NC to announce the ConnectED initiative, beginning with a call to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to enable the connectivity and high-speed broadband needed to spur 21st century learning for America’s students within five years. Since that time, the FCC has taken steps to modernize the E-rate program to support high-speed connectivity for America’s schools and libraries, providing a $2 billion down payment toward the President’s ConnectED goals. Additionally, private-sector companies have committed more than $2 billion to supplement federal actions and help support cutting-edge technologies across a greater number of schools and homes. On Monday, FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler announced plans to dramatically expand investments in the E-rate program, increasing the program by $1.5 billion annually. This proposal – scheduled for consideration by the FCC in December – constitutes an essential step to provide the resources needed to meet the goals the President outlined last June Today’s White House “ConnectED to the Future” convening will feature new commitments from private and non-profit partners and from the U.S. Department of Education to support educators as they transition to digital learning, including: · Support for State and Local Educational Leaders: In partnership with the Alliance for Excellent Education, the U.S. Department of Education will host 12 regional summits for Future Ready school districts, to assist local educational leaders as they develop and implement action plans to use technology to personalize learning across their school districts. Secretary Duncan will also issue guidance to state and local superintendents, to support technology and digital learning as an allowable use of more than $27 billion in federal funds under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. · Access to Virtual Learning for Teachers and Students: EdX has committed to provide free online coursework from top universities, including free course certificates to teachers and high-school students in high-need schools. All students will have free access to all Advanced Placement-level courses offered through EdX. In addition, Coursera will provide no-cost online professional development at every school district over the next two years, including opportunities for teachers to earn Coursera’s completion certificates which may be used for continuing education credits. The company is partnering with leading schools of education to further expand its teacher professional learning offerings. · Future Ready Technology Infrastructure Guide: The U.S. Department of Education will issue a new technical assistance guide that outlines specific and tangible examples that will help schools improve their technological infrastructure by getting high-speed broadband Internet connectivity to and throughout schools, choosing devices for learning and establishing policy and procedures for their use. · Future Ready Professional Learning Toolkit: The U.S. Department of Education will issue a new technical assistance toolkit that provides rubrics, checklists and examples to assist district teams as they develop, refine, and evaluate professional learning plans that align with their capacity, learning goals, and standards of professional learning. In particular, the toolkit focuses on how districts can use technology to connect educators and provide tailored professional learning experiences. THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 14, 2014 White House to Host ConnectED to the Future Event WASHINGTON, DC— On Wednesday, November 19, President Obama will host “ConnectED to the Future,” a convening with superintendents, and other educators from across the country, who will lead their schools and districts in the transition to digital learning. The event builds on the momentum of the ConnectED Initiative, a plan the President announced in 2013, to connect 99% of students to high speed internet and empower teachers with the technology they need to transform teaching and learning. An important part of this initiative is ensuring that digital connectivity supports innovation in America’s classrooms. That is why, this fall, the Administration launched the Future Ready Pledge to help school districts develop a culture where teachers harness the power of technology to personalize learning and provide quality digital content that fosters student inquiry and creativity. Through this pledge, superintendents from across the country are committing to lead a transition in their districts to innovative teaching using technology. Signatories will also work in partnership to share best practices with other school districts. During the event, President Obama will host a digital pledge signing ceremony with over one hundred superintendents to be joined virtually by hundreds more across the country. Since the President’s call to action in support of the ConnectED Initiative, more than $4 billion in public and private funding has been committed toward expanding high-speed Internet connectivity for America's schools and libraries. Additional details about the conference will be released at a later date. FACT SHEET: Promoting Prosperity, Security and Good Governance in Central America
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 14, 2014 FACT SHEET: Promoting Prosperity, Security and Good Governance in Central America To demonstrate the Administration’s commitment to working with Central American countries to address the root causes of the dangerous migration of unaccompanied children and families, the Vice President, Secretary of Commerce and other senior Administration officials participated in the Inter-American Development Bank-chaired conference on November 14 entitled “Investing in Central America: Unlocking Opportunities for Development.” This followed President Obama’s July 25 meeting with the leaders of El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras and the Vice President’s June 20 visit to Guatemala to meet with regional leaders, as we worked in partnership to address increased migration by Central American citizens, including thousands of unaccompanied children, to the United States. The President and Vice President expressed the commitment of the United States to work with the three countries to help them address the underlying factors contributing to increased migration and encouraged them to work together to develop a regional solution to their challenges. The United States seeks to contribute to the evolution of an economically-integrated Central America that provides greater economic opportunities to its people, with strong democratic institutions, with more accountable, transparent, and effective public institutions, and where citizens feel safe and can build their lives in peace and stability. This will require coordination with Central America, Mexico, Colombia, international financial institutions, the private sector, civil society, and other international partners to promote regional prosperity through a sustained, well-coordinated plan to address longstanding challenges to economic growth in the region. To that end, the United States will work closely with the governments of Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador, as well as with other international partners, as they implement the “Alliance for Prosperity” presented by the leaders of the three countries at the Inter-American Development Bank. Over the summer, we asked Congress for $300 million more in funding for Central America - nearly double what was available in 2014 – and we remain committed to working with Congress to provide additional resources. In fact, $76 million in security funding has already been retargeted to address urgent needs in the justice and law enforcement sectors. The United States developed a Central America strategy to complement the work undertaken by regional governments and multilateral development banks. The U.S. strategy focuses on three overarching lines of action: 1) Promoting prosperity and regional economic integration; 2) Enhancing security; and 3) Promoting improved governance. Prosperity and Regional Integration The United States will focus on promoting trade facilitation under existing trade agreements, promoting transport and customs/border integration, promoting more efficient and sustainable energy, workforce development, facilitating business development, linking Central American and North American Markets, and strengthening Central American regional institutions. Examples of current and planned activities include: · Trade capacity building assistance from the Office of the United States Trade Representative and other agencies to help the region with trade facilitation, trade capacity building and technical support to promote efficient movement of goods across borders in a safe and secure framework, support integration of regional value chains and strengthen competitiveness to grow trade and economic prosperity as the Dominican Republic -Central America/United States Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) market access provisions are fully implemented, and work to improve workers’ rights and conditions. The export of goods to the United States from CAFTA-DR countries increased 66.7 percent since 2005, totaling $30.1 billion in 2013. · The Overseas Private Investment Corporation has over $500 million invested to support development across the Northern Triangle and is standing by to provide investors and project developers with financing and risk mitigation tools to make investments in the Northern Triangle more attractive. The U.S. Trade and Development Agency, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy, is also supporting the planning and development of priority energy and transportation infrastructure projects in Central America. · The United States helps fund technical assistance to support electricity market integration, renewable energy development, establishment of solvent power sectors, and resource planning to improve Central American citizens’ access to clean, affordable, and reliable electricity and to attract private investment in clean energy infrastructure. · In September 2014, the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) signed a $277 million Compact with El Salvador, designed to enhance the country’s competitiveness and productivity in international commerce through a set of interrelated projects in investment climate (including regulatory and institutional improvements), education, and logistical infrastructure. · The United States supports improved educational access and quality for under-served populations, including rural indigenous girls and boys in 900 rural schools, and educational and vocational training opportunities. Enhanced Security El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras are plagued by violence as gangs and other organized criminal groups force many communities to live in fear. The United States will focus on promoting police reform, improving community security, continuing defense cooperation, and attacking organized crime. Examples of ongoing and future activities include: · Continuation of the Central America Regional Security Initiative (CARSI), providing for security projects such as model police precincts (MPPs) in Guatemala, El Salvador and most recently, in Honduras. MPP projects, which have shown success in targeted Central American neighborhoods, provide police training, facilitate community engagement, and prioritize the crimes of most concern to Central American citizens: gang extortion, robbery, and domestic violence. · Preventing violence through Municipal Crime Prevention Committees that identify crime “hot spots” and implement community-led plans to improve security; working with faith-based organizations to provide at-risk youth with life skills, job training, and recreation activities; supporting civic groups to reclaim gang-controlled public spaces and improve basic infrastructure, such as street lights; and providing services at domestic violence assistance centers. · Developing investigative and prosecutorial capacity to successfully prosecute cases through assessments, training, judicial cooperation and exchanges. The Department of Justice and other agencies are working with local counterparts to advance professional responsibility policies and procedures, and enhance collaboration among all parts of the criminal justice system, including police, courts and corrections. · Providing assistance through the Departments of Defense, State, Justice and Homeland Security to build partnerships that professionalize and improve the competency, capability, and accountability of security institutions, especially in the fight against transnational organized crime. This is accomplished through activities that include professional education, tactical and operational training and exercises, human rights programs and institutional reform activities. Improved Governance Strengthened institutions will enable governments to more effectively address the social, economic, political, and security problems they face. The United States will focus on helping Northern Triangle countries improve revenue collection and public sector fiscal management, increase the role and impact of civil society on governance, strengthen the efficiency, accountability, and independence of judicial institutions, reinforce democratic institutions, and target corruption. The following are examples of U.S. cooperation with Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras to improve governance capacity: · In 2013, MCC and the Government of Honduras signed a $15.6 million Threshold Program Agreement designed to promote good governance practices in Honduras. · MCC is currently in the final phases of development of a Threshold Program with Guatemala. The proposed program will focus on policy and institutional reforms to improve the quality of secondary education, including technical and vocational education and training. The program is expected to also help the government to mobilize additional revenues through more efficient tax administration and public-private partnerships. · A variety of U.S. agencies, including the Department of Agriculture, Treasury Department, the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of State and the Department of Justice, and the Inter-American Foundation, help national and local governments improve management of the judiciary, rule of law, and public funds and to increase local resilience to issues that can contribute to migration, especially stresses on rural agriculture. THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary For Immediate Release November 14, 2014
REMARKS BY PRESIDENT OBAMA AT YOUNG SOUTHEAST ASIAN LEADERS INITIATIVE TOWN HALL Yangon University Rangoon, Burma 3:43 P.M. MMT PRESIDENT OBAMA: Hello, everybody! AUDIENCE: Hi! PRESIDENT OBAMA: Myanmar Luu Ngae Myar Min Galarbar! (Applause.) It’s wonderful to be back in Myanmar. Everybody, please have a seat. Have a seat. Oh, we got some signs -- “Reform is fake.” “Change…” -- okay, well, you guys will have a chance to ask questions later. Yeah, you can put them away. That’s why we’re here -- for a town hall. See, that’s the thing, when you have a town hall, you don’t have a protest because you can just ask the questions directly. Two years ago, I was the first American President to visit this country, and I was deeply moved by the generous hospitality that greeted us here, and the sight of children waving the flags of both of our nations. And I was inspired by the incredible diversity and culture, and the various religious sites from different faiths and communities. And I was inspired again today, when I had the opportunity to visit the Secretariat -- the birthplace of modern Burma; the blueprint for democracy; a home to Burmese, Chinese, Indians, Buddhists, Muslims, Hindus, and Christians who lived together peacefully -- an incredible example of multicultural and multi-faith diversity and tolerance. And it’s a profound symbol of this country’s rich diversity and this region’s potential. Whenever I travel the world, from Europe to Africa, South America to Southeast Asia, one of the things I most enjoy doing is meeting young men and women like you. It’s more fun than being in a conference room. And it’s also more important -- because you are the young leaders who will determine the future of this country and this region. So I’m going to keep my remarks short at the top, because I want to take as many questions and comments from you. As President of the United States, I’ve made it a priority to deepen America’s ties with Southeast Asia -- in particular, with the young people of Southeast Asia. And I do this for reasons that go beyond the fact that I spent some of my childhood in Southeast Asia, in Indonesia. And that gives me a special attachment, a special feeling for Southeast Asia and this region. But I do it mainly because the 10 nations of ASEAN are home to about one in ten of the world’s citizens. About two-thirds of Southeast Asia’s population is under 35 years old. So this region -- a region of growing economies and emerging democracies, and a vibrant diversity that includes oceans and islands, and jungles and cities, and peoples of different races and religions and beliefs -- this region will shape the 21st century. And that’s why I launched the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative -- to deepen America’s engagement with the next generation of leaders in government and civil society, in education and in entrepreneurship. And more than 10,000 young leaders like you have joined this Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative network, working to solve the challenges and seize the opportunities of this dynamic region in a spirit of mutual cooperation and respect. So earlier this year, I held a town hall just like this one, in Malaysia. And today, I’d like to take our next steps together with you. When I took office nearly six years ago, I said the United States would extend our hand to any nation willing to unclench its fist. And here, after decades of authoritarian rule, we’ve begun to see significant progress in just a few years. There is more of a sense of hope in Myanmar, that was once so closed to the world, about the role that it can now play in the region and in the world. But we know that a journey to progress is not completed overnight. There are setbacks and false starts, and sometimes even reverses. And that was true in America during our 238-year history. It’s happened here in the past two or three years. We’ve seen some progress, and we should acknowledge that progress. We also know, though, that despite the fact that political prisoners have been released and people are more engaged in political dialogue, there’s a parliament and civil society is emerging -- despite all that, some reforms have not come quickly enough. There are still attacks against journalists and against ethnic minorities. America is still deeply concerned about the humanitarian situation in Rakhine state, and the treatment of minorities who endure discrimination and abuse. On this visit, I’ve met separately with President Thein Sein and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, as well as members of parliament, and civil society leaders. And we discussed key reforms that have to be made to ensure that human rights and freedoms are respected, and the people of this country can reach for their rightful place in the region and the world. And I was also proud to announce that the Peace Corps will come here, to Myanmar, to deepen the ties between our people. It gives an extraordinary opportunity for young Americans to interact with young people here in Myanmar. And that people-to-people exchange is often as important or more important as government-to-government exchanges. So progress is not inevitable. History does not always march forward. History can travel sideways and sometimes backwards. Building trust after years of conflict takes time. Being able to look past the scars of violence takes courage. Securing the gains of freedom and democracy requires good faith and strength of will, and tolerance and respect for diversity, and it requires vigilance from all citizens. The American people know well that rights and freedoms are not given; they have to be won through struggle and through discipline, and persistence and faith. And it’s often young people who have led these struggles; who have compelled us to slowly but surely perfect our own union in America over time. Now, I understand there's a Burmese saying. I've got to make sure that I say this right. Ngote mi thè daing -- help me out. Is that right? -- tet naing hpyar yauk. (Applause.) So for those Americans who don't speak Burmese as well as I do -- (laughter) -- that means, "Dive until you reach the sand, climb until you reach the top. Keep persevering." And America is committed to helping the young people of this nation and this region climb until you reach the top. We believe in this nation. That's why I've come and visited twice in the last few years, because we see a future where democratic institutions can be accountable and responsive; where political activists are free; where elections are fair; where journalists can pursue the truth; where ethnic minorities can live without fear. So we're betting on this country, but we're also betting on this region, because we see young people of different nations and religions and ethnicities who are eager to come together and address all the challenges that are out there: environmental protection; human rights; improving education; combating poverty; advocating for a greater role for women in business, in government and in society; increasing resilience in the face of natural disasters; spurring economic progress so more young people can follow in your footsteps and get a good education and have opportunity. We see young leaders who embrace the diversity of this region not as a weakness, but as a strength, and who realize that even though we are all individually different and come from different traditions and different communities, we're stronger when we work together. So the future of this region, your region, is not going to be determined by dictators or by armies, it's going to be determined by entrepreneurs and inventors and dreamers and people who are doing things in the community. And you're going to be the leaders who make that happen. Your generation has greater potential to shape society than any generation that's come before because you have the power to get knowledge from everywhere, and you have more sophistication and experiences than your parents or your grandparents. And you have now the chance to share knowledge and experiences with other young people all across this region and around the world. And that wasn't true 20 years ago or 50 years ago. La Min Oo uses his power to tell the story of his fellow Burmese. He studied at Gettysburg College in the United States. The transformation that he watched unfold through Facebook inspired him to return home and make an award-winning documentary about the plight of Burmese farmers. And he says, "My country has been closed so long, there are a lot of stories to be told." So you young people have the chance to say -- to tell those stories. You have the power to improve institutions that are very important for democratic governance, like civil society, and an impartial judicial, and a free press, and private enterprise. And there's so much to build here. In countries like this, it's critical that you get involved in that way. I'll give you an example. Ryan Louis Madrid dreamt of being a journalist. But as he stood surrounded by the wreckage of a typhoon in his beloved Philippines, he made himself into an instrument for his fellow citizens rebuilding. Today the organization he co-founded puts solar rooftops in developing and recovering communities. And he wants to use his skills to encourage other enterprising young people in developing countries to say in their countries and help their own people, to think globally and act locally. You have the power to remind us all that human dignity is not just a universal aspiration, but a human right. So Wai Wai Nu spent seven years of her youth behind bars as a political prisoner. And she called it her "university about life." Today she uses that hard-earned degree to advocate for tolerance and acceptance, saying, "We too sacrificed many things for the same cause, that that is democracy." You have the chance to overcome hatred and make sure that freedom rather than repression, hope rather than fear is governing your country. You have the power to set your own countries on a new and different path. And in all of this, America wants to be your partner. We want to help any way that we can to help you shape your future. We want you to have the tools and the connections and the resources that you need to change the world. So one way that we can do this, I'm announcing a significant expansion of the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative Fellowship, an exchange program that will bring 500 Southeast Asian leaders to the United States every year. And these fellows will have the chance to strengthen their professional leadership skills, network with one another, share experiences and ideas, and then come back home better prepared to lead your region and change the world. So some of these fellows will benefit from five-week instruction at some of the best universities in America on issues like entrepreneurship and environmental stewardship and civil society and human rights. Others will have the chance to work in professional fellowships at state and local governments and NGOs across the United States. And, by the way, through this program that I hope some of you will be able to take advantage of, when you spend time in the United States our people learn from you. So it's not just you learning from us. And when these fellows then return home with these new ideas and new experiences, our embassies and USAID missions will reach out and offer the support and resources to help make your dreams a reality. So today I'm proud to announce that America will convene a young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative Summit in this region every year, giving fellows the chance to share their successes with each other and strengthen their network to accomplish even more. So I hope some of you will take advantage of this. I expect many of you will take up the mantle of reform from student activists like Aung San Suu Kyi and Min Ko Naing; take your rightful place as leaders in a stable and prosperous and progressive Southeast Asia. And as you do, I promise you will have no better friend and partner than the United States of America. So thank you very much. Kyeizu tin ba de. I now want to take your questions. (Applause.) And I hope you don't mind, because it's a little warm in Myanmar, I'm going to take off my jacket. (Laughter.) Okay, so there should be -- I've got a microphone, and there should be mics in the audience. And I'll take as many questions as I can before I have to go to Australia. All right, who wants to go first? This young man right here. Q I'm (inaudible.) I'm a third-year student, majoring in English at Sittwe University, Rakhine state, or as you would say, Rakhine state. PRESIDENT OBAMA: I'm still working on my pronunciation. (Laughter.) Q I've experienced some sectarian and racial balance firsthand in my region. So the question I would like to ask you to answer is: How can I be part of educating my generation to promote tolerance and respect cultural differences, and most of all, eradicate extremism among different ethnic groups? PRESIDENT OBAMA: That's a great question. Thank you so much. I had a chance to meet with some civil society groups, and I had a press conference earlier today. Yesterday, I had a chance to meet with parliamentarians, including the speaker -- the two speakers, as well as Aung San Suu Kyi, and then spoke with the President. And to all of them, I said this: There is no example of a country that is successful if its people are divided based on religion or ethnicity. If you look at the Middle East right now and the chaos that’s taking place in a place like Syria, so much of that is based on religious differences. Even though they’re all Muslim, Shia and Sunni are fighting each other. If you look in Northern Ireland, then Catholics and Protestants fought for decades and only now have arrived at peace. So in this globalized world where people of different faiths and cultures and races are going to meet each other inevitably -- because nobody just lives in a village anymore; people are constantly getting information from different places and new ideas and meeting people who are different from them –- it is critical for any country to abide by the basic principle that all people are equal, all people are deserving of respect, all people are equal under the law, all people can participate in the life of their country, all people should be able to express their views without fear of being repressed. And those attitudes start with each of us individually. It’s important that government play a role in making sure that it applies laws fairly, not arbitrarily, not on the basis of preferring one group over another. But what’s also true is that each of us have to cultivate an attitude of tolerance and mutual respect. And for young people, we have to try to encourage each other to be tolerant and respectful. So in the United States, obviously one of the biggest problems historically has been the issue of racial discrimination. And part of our efforts to overcome racial discrimination involve passing laws like the Civil Rights Law and the Voting Rights Law, and that required marches and protests and Dr. King. But part of the effort was also people changing the hearts and minds, and realizing that just because somebody doesn’t look like me doesn’t mean that they’re not worthy of respect. And when you’re growing up and you saw a friend of yours call somebody by a derogatory name, a rude name because they were different, it’s your job to say to that person, actually, that’s not the right way to think. If you are Christian and you have a friend who says I hate Muslims, then it’s up to you to say to that friend, you know what, I don’t believe in that; I think that’s the wrong attitude, I think we have to be respectful of the Muslim population. If you’re Buddhist and you say -- you hear somebody in your group say I want to treat a Hindu differently, it’s your job to speak out. So the most important thing I think is for you to, in whatever circle of influence you have, speak out on behalf of tolerance and diversity and respect. If you are quiet, then the people who are intolerant, they’ll own the stage and they’ll set the terms of the debate. And one of the things that leadership requires is saying things even when it’s uncomfortable, even when it’s unpopular -- especially when it’s unpopular. So I hope that as you get more influence, you’ll continue to speak out on behalf of these values. All right, who’s next? Okay, I’m going to go –- now, the one thing I’m going to do is I’m going to go boy, girl, boy, girl to make sure that it’s fair, because one thing I didn’t say in my initial speech is societies that are most successful also treat their women and girls with respect. Otherwise, they won’t be successful. (Applause.) The young lady in the yellow, right there, who had her hand up. Okay, hold on so we can get a microphone. Q I am (inaudible). I am Kachin and Burmese. I would like to ask about the ASEAN affair. So my question is, there are different political system and different level of democratic freedom in ASEAN. Do you think those differences will cost challenges to ASEAN integration? And do you believe it is the right time to push for ASEAN integration? Thank you. PRESIDENT OBAMA: Of the 10 countries in ASEAN, I just had a chance to meet with all their leaders at the U.S.-ASEAN Summit. And the good news is that ASEAN has become more ambitious over the last several years in trying to promote integration, to work together on issues like disaster relief or public health or maritime security or improved education. And I think it’s inevitable that integration is going to happen more and more. And my hope is that by encouraging integration, that the countries who are doing better on issues like democracy and human rights have a positive influence in bringing up those countries that don’t have such a good record. And we’ve actually I think seen that happen. Listen, when I first came into office, Myanmar was still very much a dictatorship. And there was some controversy about me participating in an ASEAN Summit because there was still no freedom in Myanmar. And I think that President Thein Sein, because he was with leaders like SBY of Indonesia -- (applause) -- see there, all right, the Indonesians started cheering -- who had traveled the path of democracy, I think President Thein Sein began to see how more open societies were becoming more successful, and I think had a positive influence on -- I think his participation in ASEAN had a positive influence in providing an opening to begin the process of transition here in Myanmar. But it’s important I think that even as we engage with countries that are less open or less democratic, that we also continue to apply constructive criticism where they fall backwards, where they fall short. And sometimes that’s hard to do. I think a lot of the leaders of ASEAN don’t like to criticize each other because they think that it’s not respectful. And no country is perfect, so they worry that if we criticize one country then somebody will criticize us. But I think the goal should be for all of us to try to improve what we do on behalf of our people every single day. I’m very proud of the United States. I believe that the United States is a force for good around the world. But I wouldn’t be a good President if I don’t listen to criticism of our policies and stay open to what other countries say about us. Sometimes I think those criticisms are unfair. Sometimes I think people like to complain about the United States because we’re doing too much. Sometimes they complain because they’re doing too little. Every problem around the world, why isn’t the United States doing something about it. Sometimes there are countries that don’t take responsibility for themselves and they want us to fix it. And then when we do try to fix it, they say why are you meddling in our affairs. Yes, it’s kind of frustrating sometimes. But the fact that we are getting these criticisms means that we’re constantly thinking, okay, is this how we should apply this policy? Are we doing the right thing when we provide aid to a country, but the country is still ruled by a small elite and maybe it’s not getting down to the people? Are we doing the right thing when we engage in training a military to become more professional, but maybe the military is still engaging in repressive activity? If we’re not open to those criticisms, then we won’t get better, we won’t improve. And I think all of us should be interested in trying to get better, because none of us are perfect and no country is perfect. So I do think ASEAN has an opportunity to play a very important role. But integration is inevitable just because of the nature of economies today. There’s too much travel, there’s too much Internet, there are too many smartphones. When I was driving through here, everybody had a smartphone. I saw a bunch of people -- they didn’t have any shirt, but they had a smartphone. So what that means is -- and most manufacturing today of various products, the parts are made in, like, five different countries, and then they become integrated in some fashion. And then they’re sold all around the world. So integration is going to happen no matter what. The question is, do we integrate at a high level that improves freedom and improves opportunity, or are we integrating at a low level, where there’s less freedom and less opportunity. And I believe integrating at a high level, and I hope most members of ASEAN do also. All right, it’s a guy’s turn now. I don’t want to discriminate against the men. This gentleman right here. Yes, with the mustache and the beard. There you go. There’s a microphone coming right here. You can just stay where you are. Careful. Hold on to her, so she doesn’t fall. Q Hello, Mr. President Obama. My name is (inaudible) and I am studying law. My question is, now we are in the democratic transition, so our country is facing so many challenges in every sector. So if you were the President of Myanmar -- (laughter and applause) -- which sector you will focus on first? And how you will make our country develop? Thank you. (Applause.) PRESIDENT OBAMA: Well, let me just say, you’re always popular in somebody else’s country. (Laughter.) When you’re in your own country, everybody is complaining. I think you’re right, Myanmar has so many challenges. I think the most important challenge right now is completing the transition to democracy. And so my first focus is I think the focus that many people have already talked about. Number one, there needs to be an election next year. It shouldn’t be delayed. Number two, there should be constitutional amendments that ensure a transition over time to a fully civilian government. Number three, there needs to be laws put in place to protect freedom of the press, freedom of expression, freedom to politically organize. And I think that if that process is fixed and institutionalized and made permanent, and you now have the tools to deal with all the other challenges, and I think that inevitably what would happen if you had a genuine democracy in Myanmar is the focus next would then be on providing economic opportunity, because Myanmar is still a very poor country. And what we know in the 21st century is, is that the most important tools for economic opportunity are making sure that young people are getting a good education. And my understanding is, is that the education system in Myanmar is still under-developed. I think all of you represent the best of Myanmar’s students. But my understanding is there are many villages you go to where there’s really no schools, as a practical matter, and many of the schools still teach just how to memorize certain things rather than how to think critically about problems. And every country at this point, if it wants to succeed, needs to put in place free, compulsory education for its young people -- because they just can’t succeed unless they have some basic skills. They have to be able to read. They have to be able to do mathematics. They have to have some familiarity with computers. They have to be able to understand basic principles of science. If you don’t have those basic tools, then it’s very hard to find a decent job in today’s economy. Now, because Myanmar is still very agricultural, I think issues of land reform and trying to increase productivity in the agricultural sector is also a very immediate and urgent problem. This is true not just in Myanmar; this is true in many relatively poor countries. In Africa, for example, we initiated something called Feed the Future, and the whole goal is to improve the productivity of farmers. And farmers in many poor countries, they still use the same techniques that they used 200 years ago. They’re still using a buffalo or an ox, and waiting on the rains. And sometimes the new techniques, they're not necessarily expensive; it's just a matter of applying them scientifically. And if you double yields for a farm and double income for farmers in a country like Myanmar, suddenly you have increased wealth, which means that some people now can start businesses. Maybe now somebody can take some of the profits they made and invest in a tractor, or they can start processing the rice that they produce so that they can gain more value. Or they may be able to buy a smartphone so they know what the prices are in the market, and not get taken advantage of. So just small changes are really important. Now, my understanding, and I'm not expert, is that some of that will also require some reforms in terms of land ownership and leasing so that people can keep the products of their labor, as opposed to just being essentially what we call sharecroppers in the United States, where you're working the land, but you're giving it over to somebody else and never getting ahead. So those are just two examples of things that I think will happen naturally if you've got a democratic system in place. All right, it's a young lady's turn. So this young lady in the glasses right here. She's waving very hard, so she must have an excellent question. Q Good morning. My name is (inaudible). PRESIDENT OBAMA: It's afternoon, though. (Laughter.) Maybe you've been waiting here since morning. (Laughter.) But now it's the afternoon. Q But you can call me Amy (ph). I want to ask one question. My question is, now we are working on IT, so America is already doubled up in IT. So can you provide any development center of IT and job opportunity for youth? PRESIDENT OBAMA: Well, I was just talking to the civil society groups, and there was one person there who mentioned that Internet penetration in Myanmar is still only about 9 percent, which means there's enormous room for growth. The issue for IT in a country like Myanmar is, first of all, setting up the infrastructure -- whether it's wireless or other methods -- so that people can start communicating. And once the hardware is in place, then where the real development happens is in the software. And that's where it's really a matter of education, training, and developing a homegrown capacity. And so what we'll do is we'll work with both civil society groups, as well as the government, to find opportunities where we can promote the building of the infrastructure that's required. But what's really required is also making sure that young people are trained. And part of what's going to have to happen is, in the United States most of the IT development happened through the private sector. Government invested in research, and so the idea of the Internet was developed with the help of government funding. But what became then the World Wide Web and then all the applications and social media and all that was really developed through the private sector. So part of what has to happen once democracy is installed in Myanmar is then also looking at how are you structuring laws to encourage innovation and entrepreneurship. So, for example, one of the debates that we're having in trade negotiations with Asian countries in the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the big trade initiative that we're moving forward, is the need to protect intellectual property. If you invent a better tractor, then in the United States, you go to a patent office and you register your patent. You show that this is a new invention. And if anybody then wants to produce this new tractor, they have to pay you for using your idea. The same is true for intellectual property. If you come up with the idea of Facebook, then you need to be able to get a benefit from this idea. And one of the problems I think that you still have in many countries in Southeast Asia and around the world is weak intellectual property protections, which means that if you're an entrepreneur with a good idea, you don't want to start your business here, because next thing you know somebody steals your idea and they just start their business. So you'd rather start the idea in the United States where you know that it will be protected. And then maybe you will lease to other countries, but the jobs and the opportunities will have been created someplace else. So setting up regulatory structures, protections for intellectual property, all those things are also going to be very important in order to get a strong IT culture and an innovation culture here in Myanmar and throughout the region. Okay, it's a man's turn. Let's see. I'm going to go with this guy right here. Hold on a second. Now, you're not going to read that whole thing, are you? (Laughter.) Because -- Q I read you a question -- PRESIDENT OBAMA: I think you have to summarize it quickly because we don't want -- Q Yes, yes, just want to give you a kind of sheet, cheat sheet. PRESIDENT OBAMA: Yes, I'll take the sheet. (Laughter.) Q Okay. PRESIDENT OBAMA: There you go. All right. Q I have only one question. PRESIDENT OBAMA: There are like -- there are 20 questions on here. (Laughter.) Q Just want you to know -- PRESIDENT OBAMA: Why don't you just ask me one of them? I'll read the rest. Q My question, as you know -- may I know your opinion about like how to create national identity, or like Myanmar identity -- different, strong identity in our country? PRESIDENT OBAMA: Yes. That's a great question. Yes, I was talking about this with the civil society groups because we are very supportive of the efforts to get a ceasefire and a peace process with the ethnic groups that have been engaged in armed conflict for a long time. And we've already talked about some of the problems that the Muslim populations have faced in Rakhine state. But what I said to the civil society groups is, yes, it is important to protect specific ethnic groups from discrimination. And it is natural in a democracy that ethnic groups organize among themselves to be heard in the halls of power. So in the United States, for example, as its democracy developed, the Irish in big cities, they came together and they built organizations, and they were able to promote the interests of Irish Americans. And African Americans, when they were seeking their freedom, you had organizations like the NAACP that promoted the interests of African Americans. So there's nothing wrong with groups organizing around ethnic identity, or around economic interests, or around regional concerns. That's how a democracy naturally works. You get with people who agree with you or who are like you to make sure that your concerns are heard. But what I said is that it is important for a democracy that people's identities are also a national identity. If you walk down the streets of New York City, you will see people looking more different than this group right here. You'll see blue-eyed, blonde people. You'll see dark-skinned, black people. You'll see Asians. You'll see Muslims. You'll see -- but if you ask any of those people, “What are you?” -- I'm American. Now I may be an African American or an Asian American or an Irish American, but the first thing I'll say is, I'm an American. And if you don't have that sense of national unity, then it's very hard for a country to succeed -- particularly a small country like Myanmar. If people think in terms of ethnic identity before national identity, then I think over time the country will start breaking apart and democracy will not work. So there has to be a sense of common purpose. But that's not an excuse then for majority groups to say, don’t complain, to ethnic minorities -- because the ethnic minorities may have some real complaints. And part of what is important for the majority groups to do -- if, in fact, you have a national identity, that means that you've got to be concerned with a minority also because it reflects badly on your country if somebody from a minority group is not being treated fairly. America could not live up to its potential until it treated its black citizens fairly. That's just a fact, that that was a stain on America when an entire group of people couldn't vote, or didn't have legal protections. Because it made all the Declarations of Independence and Constitution and rule of law, it made that seem like an illusion. And so when the Civil Rights Movement happened in the United States, that wasn't just a victory for African Americans, that was a victory for America because what it showed was that the whole country was going to be concerned about everybody, not just about some people. And it was a victory for America's national identity that it was treating minorities fairly. And that's I think how every country in ASEAN, including Myanmar, needs to think about these problems. You need to respect people's differences. You need to be attentive to the grievances of minorities that may be discriminated against. But both the majority and the minority, the powerful and the powerless, also have to have a sense of national identity in order to be successful. I got time for two more questions. Two more. He said one, but I'm going to take two. See, it's going to be one of you three. What do you think? Who should -- out of the three of you, who should I call on? Are you friends? Okay, so why don't you decide? (Laughter.) What do you think? Okay, yes, rock, paper, scissors. Let's see. (Laughter.) Who won? Okay, go on. There you go. (Applause.) What did you win with? Were you scissors or rock? Were you rock or scissors or paper? Q Rock. PRESIDENT OBAMA: Rock. Q I rock! PRESIDENT OBAMA: You rock? Q Yes. PRESIDENT OBAMA: Yes. Q Mingalaba, Mr. President. I am from Burma from (inaudible) in American Center. Right now we're working on a documentary on Yangon University, Congregation Hall where you spoke the last time you came. PRESIDENT OBAMA: Yes, last time I was here. Q Yes. So as you know, Yangon University has reopened last year, 2013. So do think it is a good start to rebuild the higher education system in Burma? PRESIDENT OBAMA: Well, I think it's a great start. But I think -- as I said before, one of the biggest challenges Myanmar is going to face is rebuilding its education system. And I think it has to start early. It has to start from the youngest ages. One of the things that we've learned from science is that the most that you will ever learn in your entire life happens from the time you're born until you're three years old. Between your birth and the age of three, that's when your brain is developing the most. And what we've learned, for example, is that when you read -- when parents read to young children even before the children know how to read, the children are building a vocabulary that will put them in a strong position then to learn how to read later on because they've heard the words over and over again. And so I just make that point because it shows that if you're only worried about university education, but you're not worrying about what happens to children when they're three, four, five, six years old, then you're missing the foundation for a good education system. And this is true in the United States, as well. We've got the best university system in the world. Obviously I'm biased because I'm the President of the United States, so I think everything in the United States is the best in the world. But I think anybody objectively would say that we have a system of universities and colleges that is unequaled anyplace else. But we still have problems. And one of the things that I'm spending a lot of time on reform is the elementary, secondary school levels. And also, even earlier having what we call early childhood education to get children off to a good start so that by the time they go to school, they already know their alphabet and they can already start reading at an early age. And I hope that that ends up being a basic emphasis here in Myanmar. But I also think that from what I've heard, one of the reforms that will need to take place in universities here is to make sure that in all the departments there is the ability for universities and students to shape curriculums and to have access to information from everywhere around the world, and that it's not just a narrow process of indoctrination. Because the best universities are ones that teach you how to think not what to think, right? A good education is not just knowing facts, although you need to know facts. You need to know that two plus two is four; it's not five. That's an important fact. But you also need to know how to ask questions, and how to critically analyze a problem, and how to be able to distinguish between fact and opinion, and how to compare two different ideas. And I think there's a danger sometimes in countries that are -- don't have a long tradition of higher education to try to narrow the learning process, as opposed to open it up. And I think that that's something that I'm sure university students here in Myanmar will want to express during the course of this transition period and the reforms that are taking place. All right, I've got time for one more question. Wait, wait, wait. No point in yelling. First of all, all the women have to put their hands down because I told you it was going to be boy, girl, boy, girl. And the second thing is, how many students are there from countries other than Myanmar who are here? Okay, so I think that in the interest of ASEAN unity, and because this is a Young Southeast Asian Leaders Forum, I've got to ask -- Q (Inaudible.) PRESIDENT OBAMA: No, no, no, first of all, you can't -- I told you already that women aren't going to get a chance to ask the next question. Where are you from? Q (Inaudible.) PRESIDENT OBAMA: Well, you're still in Burma. All right. Where you from? (Laughter.) Sit down. Where you from? All right, let me -- I'm going to ask this guy, guy from the Philippines right here. Come on. (Applause.) You just started yelling. I didn't even call on you. (Laughter.) Q Good afternoon, Mr. President. My name is Ryan Louis Madrid. I'm from the Philippines. I'm one of the person you -- PRESIDENT OBAMA: I was just talking about you. Q Yes. And, yes, it gave me a little tear in my eyes. I thank you so much for putting us -- making me as, like, one of the models maybe for what youth can do for change. But my question really is, I just learned recently that the U.S. and ASEAN will be making a climate change statement. I'd like to know if you could tell us what this is all about, and how this would be different from the Kyoto Protocol and other climate change efforts in making real efforts towards curbing climate change. Thank you. (Applause.) PRESIDENT OBAMA: Good. So first of all, let's just establish the science and the facts. The planet is getting warmer. The reason the planet is getting warmer is because human activity is releasing greenhouse gases that is trapping heat and increasing temperatures. And because you start getting a negative feedback loop, as it gets hotter, ice melts. The permafrost in places like Siberia start releasing methane gases. Ice packs in Greenland start melting. That then makes it even warmer. And we're on a trajectory in which the temperatures could rise so high that it would have catastrophic impacts around the world because temperatures start changing, weather patterns shift. Traditional monsoon seasons might completely reverse themselves. Areas that once used to have arable land suddenly now have long droughts. Areas that used to be temperate suddenly get floods. We're seeing the impacts in developed countries. We see it in my own country. And we're seeing impacts in poor countries. And we're seeing impacts, obviously, in island nations where if the temperatures continue to rise, we'll end up with oceans that are two feet or three feet higher, and it could swallow up entire countries. So this is perhaps the central challenge, the most important challenge facing humanity in the 21st century, is getting control of this. Now, the good news is that we can begin to slow down that process so that the temperatures only go up a certain level, and although we'll have to make some adaptations, it doesn't become catastrophic. But in order to do that, we have to start transitioning our economies to clean energy rather than dirty energy. It means that we have to start developing wind power and solar power. It means that societies have to use energy more efficiently. It means that we have to find ways to use safe nuclear power because they don't -- that doesn’t emit greenhouse gases. So there's no single answer. There's a group of answers to the problem. And some of you may be aware that the United States and China are the two biggest emitters in the world. The United States had been the biggest emitter; China overtook us. In fairness to China, each individual Chinese person probably uses less energy and emits less greenhouse gases than an individual American. But there are a lot more Chinese than there are Americans. And if, as China continues to develop, they start matching the United States in how much carbon they release, we'll never survive. None of us. Same is true with India -- just because of the size of its population. And the same is true with Southeast Asia, which, as I said before, contains one out of every 10 people in the world. So all of us are going to have to be a part of this. And the United States and China -- in a meeting with President Xi -- we announced that we are both going to set bold targets for greenhouse gas reductions from 2020 forward. What we're encouraging ASEAN to do, individual ASEAN countries, is also to come up with goals for how they are going to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. And if all countries around the world put forward ambitious goals at a Paris conference that we're going to be having in 2015, then this can serve at the basis for collective action in reducing greenhouse gases. But although we know what we need to do, the transition will be difficult because -- just to give you one example -- Indonesia. AUDIENCE MEMBER: Yeah! PRESIDENT OBAMA: You might not want to cheer about this -- has been cutting down its forests at a very high rate in order to accommodate the palm oil industry. Now the palm oil industry is very lucrative, and you have some very big landholders and big companies who are making a lot of money from the palm oil industry. And they create some jobs. But when you just deforest entire sections of Sumatra or Borneo, that can end up having a devastating effect on the climate. There are countries in ASEAN that subsidize energy. Now, oftentimes this is with the best of intentions. The idea would be we want to make gasoline cheaper or electricity cheaper so that poor people can afford it. The problem is that when you subsidize energy, there's no incentive to use less energy. So typically when you have a lot of fuel subsidies, those economies are very inefficient in how they use energy, and they generate more pollution. The countries that are most efficient in energy use, not only do they not subsidize energy -- in fact, they tax energy use. So you look like -- in a country like Norway, which produces a lot of oil, but gasoline there is still $6 or $7 a gallon, which in liters -- who wants to do a liter conversion for me? Anyway, it's very expensive. So part of what we hope each country in ASEAN commits to is to take the steps that will be required to reduce or at least slow the growth of its carbon emissions, and then slowly start reducing them. And it doesn't have to be overnight, but the transition has to begin. So if you look at a country like Indonesia, making a commitment to reduce deforestation, reduce and eventually end fuel subsidies, those two things alone could probably help Indonesia meet a very bold carbon reduction goal. In the United States, I've instructed my Environmental Protection Agency to regulate the amount of greenhouse gases that power plants can send into the atmosphere. And we've doubled fuel-efficiency standards on cars. So in a few years, by the middle of the next century, by 2025, you won't be able to sell a car in the United States unless it is delivering twice as much mileage for every gallon of gas. And so you can build in transition times to get this done. But we have to start now. And this is probably a good place for me to end by just saying that the issue of climate change is a perfect example of why young people have to lead. Because old people, they've created a mess, and then they'll be gone. And then you -- (applause) -- you're the ones who have to deal with it. And also what happens is old people get set in their ways. So the older you get, the more likely you are to say, that's how it's always been so that's how I'm going to keep on doing it -- even if there's a better way to do things. Young people, they're asking, well, why do I have to do it that way? Let's try it this way. And that kind of willingness to accept challenges and try things in a new way, to not be stuck in the past, or to look towards the future, that's what all of you represent. So I'm hopeful that you have a chance to participate in our Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative Fellows Program. Maybe I'll see some of you in the United States. I'm sure all of you are going to do great things. And I hope all of you dream big and then work hard to achieve those dreams. Okay? Thank you very much, everybody. (Applause.) THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 11, 2014 FACT SHEET: Leading the Fight Against Corruption and Bribery Across the Asia-Pacific Region Today, President Obama and APEC Leaders agreed to elevate their efforts in fighting corruption and bribery across the Asia-Pacific region. Leaders encouraged APEC Member Economies to enhance cross-border cooperation in combating public corruption, business bribery, money laundering, and illicit trade. The creation of a new network of anticorruption authorities and law enforcement agencies (ACT-NET) will support these actions and reinforces APEC's overall efforts to spur economic growth and greater investment and trade across all economies. Anti-Bribery and Corporate Compliance APEC Leaders also adopted the APEC Principles on the Prevention of Bribery and Enforcement of Anti-Bribery Laws, and APEC General Elements of Effective Voluntary Corporate Compliance Programs. The new principles to prevent bribery and improve the enforcement of economies' domestic and foreign bribery laws will enhance APEC economies' compliance with their respective international commitments and help to level the playing field for U.S. companies engaged in international business. Adopting the APEC Principles will illustrate to our citizens and the world APEC's commitment to preventing, detecting and effectively prosecuting foreign bribery, and recovering the corrupt proceeds of such offenses. Similarly, adopting the APEC General Elements of Effective Voluntary Corporate Compliance Programs will reinforce the strong message to the business community that the private sector has an important role to play, and provide valuable guidance to our businesses on how to expose corruption. Business Ethics for Small and Medium Enterprises APEC Ministers have also endorsed three sets of APEC principles for voluntary codes of ethics in sectors where SMEs are the major stakeholders with a view towards their adoption across APEC economies. Corruption imposes a significant market access barrier and high costs particularly for SMEs, which can be disproportionately impacted by bribery and solicitation, resulting in a net drain on economic growth. The United States worked closely with APEC economies in developing the voluntary ethics principles and is now conducting a series of workshops with APEC trading partners to implement them. The first SME Business Ethics Forum was held in Nanjing, China in September 2014, to highlight accomplishments, including the adoption of 18 new industry association codes across 9 APEC member economies. Participants issued the Nanjing Declaration to Promote Ethical Business Environments in the Medical Device and Biopharmaceutical Sectors for SMEs which calls on APEC member economies to double the number of codes for the healthcare sector between 2012 and 2015. A similar event was held in September in Manila, with focus on the construction and engineering sector. U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act The Obama Administration, following long-standing U.S. efforts, takes a firm stand against public corruption within the United States and abroad with respect to American and other companies that engage in bribing foreign officials to obtain or retain business. Through the enforcement of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), and our Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative, the Attorney General of the U.S. Department of Justice and our other law enforcement and regulatory agencies have vigorously pursued bribe payers of all stripes: large corporations and small companies; powerful CEOs and frontline sales agents; U.S. and foreign companies; citizens and foreign nationals; direct payers and intermediaries. President Obama and the U.S. Government continue to drive a robust agenda to prevent and prosecute corruption around the world to hold accountable those who exploit the public's trust for private gain. Preventing corruption preserves funds for public revenue and thereby helps drive development and economic growth. By contrast, pervasive corruption siphons revenue away from the public budget and undermines the rule of law and the confidence of citizens in their governments. It also facilitates human rights abuses and organized crime, empowers kleptocracies, and can threaten the stability of entire regions. The United States views corruption as a growing threat to the national security of our country and allies around the world. International Cooperation in other Fora Through these and other longstanding efforts, the United States remains a global leader on anticorruption. The United States was a leader in developing fundamental international legal frameworks such as the United Nations Convention against Corruption, the Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions negotiated at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the global architecture for international legal cooperation in areas such as asset recovery and denial of entry. The United States continues to lead in providing funding for capacity building to fight corruption and promote good governance. THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 11, 2014 FACT SHEET: APEC Leaders Agree on Actions to Promote Regional Economic Integration and Trade Strengthening regional economic integration (REI) in the Asia-Pacific region by removing barriers to trade and investment remains the core mission of APEC and was one of the main themes for work in APEC in 2014. This year, APEC Leaders agreed on a series of outcomes that will help advance U.S. trade and investment interests, and build on APEC's successes in this area over the past several years. Most notable among these are the establishment of an APEC fund dedicated to helping economies overcome specific obstacles to implementation of APEC and WTO commitments on supply chain and trade facilitation and the groundbreaking APEC commitment to reduce tariffs on a list of environmental goods to 5 percent or less by the end of 2015. Environmental Goods- To ensure the full implementation of APEC's ground-breaking 2011 commitment to reduce applied tariffs on the 54 products in the APEC List of Environmental Goods to five percent or less by the end of 2015, economies agreed to submit implementation plans by the time of the Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting in spring of next year. APEC is also undertaking technical assistance that will help economies fully implement their commitments Good Regulatory Practices- APEC economies continue to strengthen the implementation of good regulatory practices. This year Leaders agreed to take steps to improve the conduct of public consultations through using information technology and the Internet. This new approach presents enormous opportunities for regulators in the region to consult more effectively with stakeholders, both foreign and domestic, and gain the best possible understanding of the possible economic impact of regulations. APEC Ministers encouraged economies to provide innovative capacity building approaches to the implementation of good regulatory practices and the use of regulatory tools. Electric Vehicles- To promote the widespread use of environmentally friendly, technologically-advanced electric vehicles, APEC economies agreed to several steps, including using international standards as the basis for regulations on electric vehicles; creating a priority list of international standards important for electric vehicles; working towards aligning regulations and avoiding regulatory divergences, particularly regarding electric vehicle charging; and establishing and APEC Electric Vehicles Interoperability and Research Center to help economies meet their regulatory alignment objectives. Through these steps, APEC will encourage greater electric vehicle production and use - and greater trade and investment opportunities - while advancing APEC's green growth, connectivity, regulatory coherence, and regional economic integration objectives. Supply Chain Performance- APEC Leaders agreed to accelerate technical assistance and capacity building to help economies improve supply chain performance, in support of the APEC-wide goal of a ten percent improvement in supply chain performance by the end of 2015. With a dedicated fund already in place, economies this year agreed to create a comprehensive capacity building plan for using the resources in this fund, and established a new body of public and private supply chain experts to advise the technical assistance and capacity building projects under the plan. THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 11, 2014 FACT SHEET: Fulfilling Leaders’ Instructions on Quality in Higher Education As the global financial crisis swept the APEC region and the world, APEC Leaders emphasized the importance of education and training as a major pillar of APEC’s inclusive growth strategy. APEC has since focused more explicitly on access to quality higher education and the role of postsecondary cross-border education mobility as an important part of APEC’s regional economic integration agenda. In 2012, APEC Leaders recognized that “increasing cross-border student flows will strengthen regional ties, build people to people exchanges, and promote economic development through knowledge and skills transfer. High quality cross-border education equips students with the 21st century competencies they need for their full participation in a globalized and knowledge based society.” Last year, APEC Leaders introduced a new Framework of Connectivity and cited postsecondary cross-border education as a major part of the people-to-people connectivity agenda. They committed to the setting of 2020 regional student mobility goals, as well as other education goals shared by all 21 APEC Economies, and in 2013 APEC Leaders endorsed the “target of 1 million intra-APEC university-level students by year 2020,” recognizing that access to quality higher education through student mobility helps developing economies enhance workforce capacity to ensure sustainable development. To better promote the Leaders’ Connectivity agenda through cross-border education cooperation that can stimulate growth in the region, the United States has been advancing the following initiatives in cooperation with APEC economies: APEC Scholarships and Internships Initiative The United States and other APEC members announced this week the APEC Scholarship and Internship initiative, which will provide new APEC-branded scholarship and internship opportunities and will also provide links to major websites on other existing scholarships in the APEC region. Responding directly to the commitments made by Leaders in 2012 and 2013 to promote cross-border education, the initiative aims to expand education and training opportunities for students and professionals. All three of the U.S. ABAC member companies—Caterpillar, Eli Lilly, and Microsoft— as well as GE, EMD (Merck) Serono, Colorado State University, the University of Colorado, and the University of Washington Evans School are partnering with APEC and the United States to offer more than thirty scholarships and paid internships for cross-border opportunities in the APEC region. Australia, China, Hong Kong, Republic of Korea, Chinese Taipei, the Philippines, and Singapore have also announced that they will make scholarship and internship opportunities available in their economies, totaling over 150 total cross-border opportunities announced through the APEC Scholarship and Internship initiative. Apart from this, through the Fulbright Program, the U.S. Government provides nearly $50 million each year alongside other partner governments to support the exchange of more than 2,000 students and scholars between the United States and APEC economies. The U.S. Government also offers EducationUSA advisory services in person and online in all APEC economies for students seeking accurate, current, and comprehensive information about opportunities to study at accredited U.S. colleges and universities. Data Collection In support of APEC’s student mobility target, the United States, with support from Australia, launched the first phase of a five-year project, APEC Education Mobility Data Collection Survey and Report, in July 2014. For each member economy, the survey responses will be compiled into economy-level reports that will 1) identify key stakeholders in international education mobility, 2) document domestic data collection methodologies and indicators, and 3) show current trends in in-bound and out-bound education mobility. Furthermore, the information collected will be used to establish a baseline of APEC economies’ current education data collection efforts, which could then inform potential capacity building efforts to support APEC economies in tracking mobility. Many economies have national data collection organizations, but the data collection process currently varies widely from economy to economy in terms of methodology, frequency of data collection, key definitions, and scope. By aligning regional data collection methodologies and practices, APEC members can utilize that foundation to identify gaps in student mobility and opportunities to further promote regional educational exchanges in the lead up to 2020. THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 11, 2014 FACT SHEET: APEC Breaks Down Barriers to Women’s Economic Participation President Barack Obama and other Leaders of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum made historic commitments today in Beijing to advance women’s economic participation. The UN estimates that the APEC region loses upwards of $89 billion in GDP a year due to laws, policies, and social norms that inhibit women from being able to fully participate in and benefit from the economy. In 2011 under U.S. leadership, APEC elevated and energized its focus on women’s economic empowerment. Since then, APEC Ministers and Leaders from all 21 economies collectively have agreed to take action to realize the full potential of women, focusing efforts on five key pillars impacting women’s economic empowerment, women’s access to markets, skills, capacity building and health, women’s leadership, and innovation and technology. APEC economies seek to support gender responsive programs and policies across all sectors and to identify potential areas of action or regulatory reform to advance women’s economic participation. To turn this vision into action, the United States and APEC Leaders agreed today in Beijing to launch, support, and expand five regional initiatives. APEC Women and the Economy Dashboard Since 2011, APEC Ministers have convened to identify barriers to women’s economic participation and recommended regional and domestic actions to realize progress. Increasingly across APEC fora, data is used to measure progress and underpin policy discussions, such as through APEC initiatives on the Ease of Doing Business and Supply Chain Performance. Likewise to advance women’s economic participation, data is needed to create a common baseline, to focus capacity building efforts, and to develop evidence-based policy recommendations. This is especially true as many economies still do not collect sex-disaggregated data. To fill this need, the United States has worked with the other member APEC economies to establish the Women and the Economy Dashboard, a framework built on 26 contributing factors, to track and measure APEC’s progress in improving women’s economic participation. The framework will help policy makers in APEC to prioritize collective efforts on policy and capacity building as well as inform each economy’s domestic goals. Measurements will include key indicators across the five core areas of: 1) access to capital, including financial inclusion; 2) access to trade and labor markets; 3) skills, capacity building and health, including policies related to domestic violence and discrimination against women; 4) leadership, including national identification; and 5) innovation and technology, including access to cell phones and the internet as well as (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) education. The APEC Women and the Economy Dashboard is a milestone achievement, which parallels and complements efforts being undertaken in the G20 on female labor force participation and in the post-2015 sustainable development goals process. Women’s Entrepreneurship in APEC (WE-APEC) Network In May, Ministers at the APEC Women and the Economy Forum called for the launch of an “Asia-Pacific regional women’s entrepreneurship network of networks to assist women entrepreneurs in all APEC economies in better connecting to each other, and expanding their channels and opportunities to engage in regional trade and economic cooperation.” Responding to this call, the United States with support from Australia has launched the development of a Women’s Entrepreneurship in APEC (WE-APEC) Network. WE-APEC, a cross-cutting regional network, will aim to identify and connect women’s entrepreneurship networks in each economy with public and private sector support services and global supply chains to ultimately expand economic opportunities and regional trade. The initial phase of the WE-APEC initiative aims to: 1) conduct a regional assessment of existing networks and public and private sector support services; 2) develop regional analysis on best practices and gaps within the APEC region regarding women’s entrepreneurship networks; and 3) launch an online platform that allows governments, entrepreneurs and the private sector to link to regional women’s entrepreneurship networks and provides a sustainable mechanism to link women entrepreneurs through the region and facilitates information sharing, best practices and opportunities. Healthy Women, Healthy Economies The Asia-Pacific region lags behind other global regions with respect to women's health and survival relative to that of men. Sustainable economic growth cannot be achieved if one-half of the workforce (women) is unable to fully participate in the economy due to health implications. Women must enjoy equal protection on the job and be free from domestic violence and other gender-specific health and social challenges that impact workplace productivity. Raising female labor force participation would raise GDP substantially – by as much as five percent in the United States and nine percent in Japan. To address this need, the United States launched the “Healthy Women, Healthy Economies” multi-year initiative in APEC to develop policy recommendations and actions that aim to enhance women’s economic participation by improving women’s health. In 2014, the initiative began with an APEC expert’s group focused on identifying health-related barriers preventing women from entering or remaining in the work force. The barriers identified included 1) lack of women- and family-friendly health services, workplace policies, and education, 2) lack of access to basic healthcare, and 3) health issues such as domestic and workplace violence. Women’s Leadership In 2014, APEC economies agreed to work towards establishing measurable, aspirational, and voluntary goals to increase women’s representation in leadership roles. They also agreed to support the development of research on gender diversity in public and private-sector leadership positions in the APEC region. To meet these goals, APEC economies agreed to identify and share private sector best practices that have resulted in increasing women’s representation in senior leadership positions within the last two to three years. The results were reported and published in a report launched this week in Beijing entitled 50 Leading Companies for Women in APEC. Seven U.S. companies were highlighted for their innovative practices which promote women in leadership, including Citi Bank’s Hong Kong Office, Proctor & Gamble, State Street, AT&T, Eli Lilly, Baxter, and Qualcomm. Women in Transportation The APEC Women in Transportation initiative, launched by the United States in 2012 within APEC’s Transportation Working Group, focuses on the linkages between increasing women’s economic participation and critical labor shortages in the transportation sector. In 2014, the WiT Task Force was established to lead efforts to address inequality and projected future labor shortages in the Asia-Pacific transportation sector by including more women in the workforce of APEC Economies. The WiT Task Force is the only industry-specific initiative seeking to translate the overarching policy objectives of the APEC Policy Partnership on Women and the Economy into demonstrable policy improvements with measurable impacts on gender equity in the transportation sector. Efforts will focus on education, access to jobs, retention, and leadership. THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 11, 2014 FACT SHEET: Key Infrastructure Initiatives Supporting U.S. Economic Priorities Work in the G20 and APEC Infrastructure investment is essential for achieving sustainable and inclusive economic growth. Having highly interconnected and dependable transportation networks, a reliable electric grid, and well-run and maintained water infrastructure means we can efficiently move goods to market, improve access to good jobs, and enhance the quality of life for our citizens. Infrastructure investment needs are huge and will require optimally leveraging existing financial resources, building government capacity to develop and execute investments under a coherent strategy, and improving coordination within government and with a full-range of stakeholders. In Cairns, G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors recognized that increasing investment, particularly in infrastructure, is critical to boosting demand and lifting growth. They outlined a multi-year agenda to promote greater knowledge-sharing and facilitate infrastructure investment in emerging and developing countries and provided support for significant measures underway through the multilateral development banks (MDBs). This broad agenda includes: • Creating the Global Infrastructure Initiative (GII), a global knowledge platform on infrastructure investment opportunities and best practices that will carry forward the G20 work on infrastructure over several years. The Initiative will work closely with governments, MDBs, and the private sector to disseminate best practices, address critical data gaps, and consolidate information on the pipeline of infrastructure projects around the world; • Supporting the World Bank Global Infrastructure Facility (GIF), a significant new initiative that will help improve the domestic investment climate in developing countries, increase the number of bankable infrastructure projects, and increase the volume of resources available for investment in infrastructure. The GIF is designed to be an upstream platform to facilitate development of large, complex infrastructure projects by coordinating the multiple stakeholders (including the World Bank) involved in project preparation and financing; and • Encouraging the World Bank and Asian Development Bank (ADB) to continue optimizing their balance sheets to increase the volume of resources available to finance infrastructure throughout the developing world. Reforms currently underway at these institutions will allow them to increase their lending capacities by 40-50 percent, or $11 billion in extra lending each year, much of which is likely to be devoted to the infrastructure sector. In Beijing, APEC Finance Ministers committed to advance long-standing APEC work on infrastructure investment and financing, in particular through promoting interested members’ capacity to engage in public-private partnerships (PPP).Well-designed PPP projects can lead to faster delivery and improved quality of infrastructure services, and provide value for tax payers by allocating risks and responsibilities to those who can most cost-effectively manage them. Specifically, Ministers: • Endorsed the Implementation Roadmap to Develop Successful Infrastructure PPP Projects in the APEC Region, to assist government officials of APEC member economies to better understand, prepare, structure and implement infrastructure PPP projects and appropriate financing arrangements. This work advances the Multi-Year Plan on Infrastructure Development and Investment, endorsed under Indonesia’s presidency of APEC in 2013; • Encouraged interested member economies to set up their own PPP centers; and • Welcomed the launch of the APEC PPP Experts Advisory Panel, which is an important resource to build the capacity of Indonesia’s pilot PPP Center and to facilitate regional sharing of knowledge with other member economies and private sector dialogues under the Asia-Pacific Infrastructure Partnership. THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 11, 2014 FACT SHEET: 22nd Annual APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting President Barack Obama met with Leaders of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum on the shores of Lake Yanqi in Beijing to adopt a set of ambitious initiatives under this year’s theme of “Shaping the Future through Asia-Pacific Partnership.” Now in its 25th year, the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum has contributed to a tremendous rise in economic prosperity that directly benefits the almost 40 percent of the global population that live in APEC economies. Since APEC’s establishment in 1989, members have seen a ten percent reduction in their average applied tariff rate, trade grow to $20 trillion, and their collective GDP rise to 58 percent of the global total. The United States worked at APEC this year to speed the flow of goods across borders, to promote structural reforms that support growth, and to develop policies that encourage investment in infrastructure. We have also worked with member economies to drive towards completion of the World Trade Organization’s Information Technology Agreement and advance the Environmental Goods Agreement, both of which emerged from APEC. Under the chairmanship of Chinese President Xi Jinping, APEC Leaders committed to a number of concrete actions under China's broad priorities of: 1) advancing regional economic integration; 2) promoting innovative development, economic reform, and growth; and 3) strengthening comprehensive connectivity and infrastructure development. The United States and APEC members support these goals through pursuing free and open trade, establishing regional scholarships, increasing capacity in disaster preparedness, and many other areas of cooperation. Advancing Regional Economic Integration APEC Leaders advanced trade and investment liberalization by: • Accelerating and bolstering economy-level capacity building and technical assistance to achieve the APEC-wide goal of a 10 percent improvement in supply chain performance by 2015 and assist economies with the implementation of their WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement commitments. • Affirming that APEC members will meet the ground-breaking APEC commitment to reduce tariffs to five percent or less by 2015 on the basis of the 54 products in the APEC List of Environmental Goods; submitting plans for how economies should implement that commitment by the time of the 2015 Ministers Responsible for Trade meeting in early spring; and launching new work to address non-tariff measures that impact trade in environmental goods and services. • Raising awareness about the negative economic consequences of localization barriers to trade, especially regarding their impact on global value chains (GVCs). • Fostering greater regulatory transparency by endorsing a set of actions and a capacity building program on conducting public consultations on proposed regulations through information technology and the Internet. • Promoting widespread use of environmentally-friendly electric vehicles (EVs) in the region through greater alignment of regulations concerning vehicle charging, using international standards as the basis for new regulations, establishing a EVs Interoperability and Research Center by the end of 2015. • Ensuring APEC remains a contributor to the realization of APEC’s long-term objective of realizing a Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific, and that APEC supports the participation of member economies in ongoing regional undertakings. • Raising awareness about the importance of trade secrets protection and enforcement to innovation, foreign direct investment, and commercialization of research and development. Building on this work in 2015. • Eliminating unnecessary export certification for wine by 2018 based on the recognition that wine is a low risk food product; • Reiterating, in recognition of the threat terrorism continues to pose in the Asia-Pacific region, their commitment to make regional commerce more secure, efficient, and resilient through capacity building initiatives that support secure supply chains, travel, finance and infrastructure. Promoting Innovative Development, Economic Reform, and Growth Recognizing that prosperity in the region depends on an environment that supports trade and investment, APEC Leaders agreed to: • Establish the APEC Women and the Economy Dashboard to monitor progress in APEC economies on key issues related to women’s economic empowerment, and to serve as a reference for future capacity building and evidence-based policy discussions. • Develop a region-wide ecosystem to empower women entrepreneurs to 1) start and grow businesses; 2) increase their access to global supply chains; and 3) link them to existing support services and associations ultimately creating a Women’s Entrepreneurship in APEC (WE-APEC) network. • Reducing wasteful consumption of fossil fuels by expanding the number of APEC economies volunteering to undergo fossil fuel subsidy peer reviews. Peru completed and New Zealand initiated reviews this year and the Philippines will undertake a review in 2015. • Establish an ambitious goal of doubling the share of renewable energy in the region’s energy mix by 2030 with collaborative projects to support this goal. • Continue work on reducing energy intensity by 45 percent by 2035 with the next tranche of collaborative projects to support progress toward this goal. • Address the pervasive problem of corruption in the region by adopting APEC Principles on the Prevention of Bribery and Enforcement of Anti-bribery Laws and the General Elements of Effective Voluntary Corporate Compliance Programs; enhancing cooperation across borders with the establishment of an APEC anti-corruption law enforcement network; and sharing best practices and case studies. • Improve food security by undertaking research and capacity building to reduce post-harvest loss. • Liberalize and facilitate agricultural trade and investment by recognizing the role of public-private partnerships in investment and reaffirm commitments against protectionism and export restrictions. • Improve food safety in the APEC region, through work on risk-based inspections, allergen management, laboratory capacity building, and regulatory cooperation the Food Safety Cooperation Forum (FSCF) and its Partnership Training Institute Network (PTIN). • Promote people’s health and well-being through the “Healthy APEC 2020” initiative by means of a comprehensive whole-of-society approach to health security, growth and development of the Asia-Pacific region. • Jointly tackle pandemic disease, including the ongoing Ebola outbreak. • Expand efforts to combat wildlife trafficking by reducing demand for illegally traded wildlife and wildlife products, strengthen law enforcement cooperation, and reaffirmed their commitment to treat wildlife-related crimes seriously. • Reduce mercury pollution by encouraging APEC economies to take the necessary domestic measures to meet the requirements of the Minamata Convention on Mercury. • Support effective public donations practices, efficient supply chain and relief operations, and speedier economic recovery in disaster-affected areas by adopting the APEC Guidelines for Appropriate Donations in Times of Disasters. • Operationalize a regional trade recovery communications mechanism for customs officials to utilize during large transportation disruptions. Strengthening Comprehensive Connectivity And Infrastructure Development The APEC Business Travel Card has long been touted as one of APEC’s major successes in connecting the region by facilitating business travel. This year, the United States began issuing APEC Business Travel Cards to eligible U.S. citizens, enabling them to access the priority immigration processing APEC lanes in airports of foreign participating APEC economies. In Beijing, Leaders took steps to increase connectivity across borders and to lay the groundwork for increased infrastructure development by: • Adopting the APEC Connectivity Blueprint, aimed at strengthening physical, institutional, and people-to-people connectivity by taking agreed actions and meeting agreed targets, with the objective of achieving a seamless and comprehensively connected Asia-Pacific. • Launching an APEC scholarship and internship initiative, to strengthen regional ties, build people-to-people ties, and promote economic development. • Promoting regional science and technology collaboration through the APEC Science Prize for Innovation, Research, and Education (ASPIRE) by recognizing talented, accomplished young scientists who cooperate with scientists from other APEC member economies. • Announcing the goal of doubling the number of tourists to 800 million among APEC members by 2025. • Developing greater capability among APEC economies to advance public-private partnerships in infrastructure investment, including through adoption of an Implementation Roadmap, in order to attract private sector capital and promote market-based investment. Extensive Economic Engagement APEC member economies account for approximately 40 percent of the world's population, approximately 58 percent of world GDP and about 44 percent of world trade. APEC economies represent a significant and growing market for U.S. goods and services. In 2013, U.S. goods and services trade with APEC economies totaled $2.5 trillion, accounting for 61.5% of overall U.S. exports in 2013. According to the Department of Commerce, U.S. goods exports supported an estimated 4.3 million jobs in 2013. The five largest U.S. export markets among APEC economies are: Canada ($301.6 billion), Mexico ($226.1 billion), China ($121.7 billion), Japan ($65.2 billion), and Hong Kong ($42.3 billion). The top categories of exports to APEC economies in 2013 were: Machinery ($139.6 billion), Electrical Machinery ($118.9 billion), Vehicles ($96.3 billion), Mineral Fuel (oil) ($70.7 billion), and Aircraft ($53.0 billion). U.S. exports of agricultural products to APEC economies totaled $104.7 billion in 2013. Leading categories include soybeans ($18.7 billion), pork and pork products ($5.6 billion), wheat ($5.5 billion), beef and beef products ($5.4 billion), and corn ($5.2 billion). U.S. trade in services with APEC economies totaled $376 billion in 2012 (latest data available). The U.S. services trade surplus with APEC countries was $114 billion in 2012. U.S. exports of private commercial services (i.e., excluding military and government) to APEC were $244.9 in 2012 (latest data available), up 6.9% ($15.7 billion) from 2011, and up 120% since 2002. The United States also has a strong investment relationship with APEC economies. U.S. foreign direct investment (FDI) in the APEC economies (stock) totaled $1.2 trillion in 2013, up 6.4% from 2012. U.S. direct investment in APEC economies is concentrated in the nonbank holding companies, manufacturing, and finance/insurance sectors. APEC economies’ FDI in the United States (stock) was $723.9 billion in 2013, up 10.8% from 2012. Direct investment by APEC economies in the U.S. is led by the manufacturing, wholesale trade, and finance/insurance sectors. Remarks by the First Lady at the Women Veterans Career Development Forum
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the First Lady _________________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release November 10, 2014 REMARKS BY THE FIRST LADY AT THE WOMEN VETERANS CAREER DEVELOPMENT FORUM Women in Military Service Memorial Arlington, Virginia 11:47 A.M. EST MRS. OBAMA: Thank you all so much. (Applause.) Thank you. You guys, rest yourselves. I hear you’re working hard so I don’t want you standing too much. But I am really thrilled to be here. I really am. I’m so happy that this day is here, and that so many of you are getting the support and guidance that you need. So I’m just delighted to be here. I want to start by thanking Trish for her incredible service to our country, and I want to thank her again for sharing her story with us today. I know it reflects so many of the stories that are here, and I’m so proud of Trish and all the women that I spoke to with Redbook. They’re just amazing. I also want to recognize Secretary McDonald from the VA, who I know spoke to you earlier, as well as all of the experts and leaders who are joining us here today for the Career Development Forum. But most of all, I want to thank all of you, the servicemembers and veterans who have stood up every time this country has called. And before I go any further, I want to say two words that I don’t think we can say enough, and is, thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you. (Applause.) Thank you for your service. Thank you for your sacrifice. Thank you for your unending commitment to our country. But I’m here today because I know that simply saying thank you isn’t always enough. We’re here because of women like Trish and like all of you -– women with distinguished records of service who still struggle to find jobs after they leave the military. As Trish mentioned, earlier this summer, I had a chance to sit down with her and four other amazing women veterans, and as Trish mentioned, we had a good time. We had some fun. And I know they were a little nervous at the start; they were getting their makeup all done up, snapping pictures for the White House in the White House for a magazine cover -- (laughter) -- see, they laugh. I know you all were nervous to start out. (Laughter.) But then we loosened up as we got beautiful. We sat down and chatted. And when we sat down to talk, they all really opened up. And it was clear to me that each of these women, they were incredibly skilled. They were professional, poised eloquent -- I loved them. And I could easily imagine any one of them successfully leading a team not just on land or sea, but in any company or any organization in America. That’s -- they blew me away. So it was incomprehensible to me that such a talented group of women struggled to find jobs when they left the military, or that they -- the limited opportunities available to them were often far beneath their skill level and pay grade. One woman named Kandy served in the Navy for nine years, gaining a wide variety of skills -– legal work, project management, logistics. But when she left the military, she could only find a retail job that barely paid the bills for her and her daughter. Another one of the women, Dawn, was in logistics operations in the Air Force for eight years. She had her bachelor’s degree and was working on her second master’s, but then she left the military and she couldn’t find a job that could support her and her four kids. She said she went to bed hungry a lot of the nights so that her kids would have enough to eat. And when she reached out to an employment agency for advice, they told her that since her skills were mostly in male-dominated industries, she should try using only the first initial in her first name on her resume so that employers wouldn’t know she was a woman. Now, unfortunately, these kinds of struggles are far too common. And I know all of you here heard -- know the statistics. But I want to go over them to make sure that folks across the country know them as well. Because while we’re proud that the overall veterans’ unemployment rate has continued to drop over the past few years, women’s -- women veterans are still having a harder time finding jobs than their male counterparts. And last month, the unemployment rate for women veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan was 11.2 percent –- five points higher than men who served in the same conflicts, and more than double the rate for civilian women. And that’s just wrong. After everything women like Trish, and Kandy, and Dawn -– and all of you -– have done for this country, the fact that any of you are worrying about where your next paycheck is going to come from, or struggling to put food on the table -- that should be appalling to all of us as Americans. And it doesn’t make sense from a business perspective either. Over the past few years, I’ve had so many CEOs tell me that hiring veterans like all of you isn’t just good for the country, it’s good for their bottom lines. They say you’re exactly the kinds of employees they want to have in their companies, and when you bring your military experience into their companies, it raises the bar for everybody. But unfortunately, that message hasn’t made it into every company or organization across the country. Not every hiring manager is going to know that a chief petty officer has been responsible for the lives of dozens of their peers. Not every HR director understands that a gunner’s mate is probably trained to do some of the most complex, high-tech analysis that you’ll find anywhere. So that’s where we all come in. We’ve got to do a better job of bridging that gap. We’ve got to do more to help show even more employers across the country all the incredible skills that you all have got. And that’s exactly what today is all about. So I want to thank Redbook, the Business and Professional Women’s Foundation, and TriWest Healthcare Alliance for bringing this forum together to help you all translate your amazing military experience into amazing resumes and interviews that will ultimately lead to the careers of your dreams. And we’ve got a wonderful group of folks here. We’ve got folks here to help you identify job openings in business and technology, health care and defense contracting, the federal government. We’ve got folks who can answer your questions about continuing your education, getting your professional credentials. I know my good friend Bobbi Brown is here to talk to you about how she’s achieved success in her career. And we have the wonderful folks from Ann Taylor who are here to give you some tips to how to look good -- (laughter) -- and boost your confidence as you prepare for a job interview -- because we can never underestimate the importance of looking good, right ladies? (Laughter.) So this event is about you. It’s about making your transition to fulfilling -- to a fulfilling and wonderful civilian career as seamless as possible. Because we know that leaving the military can feel like you’re stepping into a whole new world. And in the past few years, too many veterans have struggled during these crucial few months right after you hang up that uniform. And that’s why, as President, my husband has been working to smooth the transition process for every single one of our servicemembers. He’s overhauling and expanding the military’s entire transition process so that you’re getting better guidance and training for your next steps throughout your time in the military, and not just cramming all of it into the last couple of weeks of your time in the military. He’s helping you earn civilian credentials and licenses while you’re still in uniform. He challenged the private sector to hire 100,000 veterans, and they have responded by hiring or training more than half a million vets and military spouses through our Joining Forces initiative. Also, this administration created a groundbreaking new website called the Veterans Employment Center, which has been up and running since spring. Now, this website is revolutionizing the way veterans like all of you can find jobs in the public and private sectors. It’s a one-stop shop for you to build on your profile, create a resume, find a list of job openings that suit the skills you’ve learned in the military. And already there are more than a million job postings, and it features hundreds of employers that have committed to hiring our veterans. And on top of all that, this website also allows you to view all of your other earned benefits, things like career counseling, the GI Bill. So this is like your own personal transition toolbox right there for you on your computer. So I want to urge all of you here and every veteran and transitioning servicemember in the country to take advantage of this by going to ebenefits.va.gov just to get started. I also want to call on employers across the country to do the same thing, because this website will connect your business or organization to some of the most highly qualified, most dynamic people you will ever have the chance to hire. And I’m also excited to announce that we’ve got a new commitment that will make this an even more powerful tool for veterans across the country. As you all probably know, LinkedIn is one of the most popular ways for people to connect with employers and find jobs. There are more than a hundred million LinkedIn members in the United States, and with this new commitment, it’s going to be easier for veterans like you to stand out from that crowd. So starting today, if you fill out a profile on LinkedIn, or if you already have one, with just a few clicks, you can now import your profile directly onto the Veterans Employment Center website. That means it’s going to be easier than ever to access all those features on the Veterans Employment Center. Plus, LinkedIn continues to give veterans access to everything on their network -– from their training materials to a full year of “Premium Jobseeker” tools. And so for all of you here today, that means that you’ll be a featured applicant for employers, and you can contact anyone on the entire LinkedIn network. And here’s the kicker -- LinkedIn is doing it all for free. These tools are worth hundreds of dollars a year. So this commitment doesn’t just give you a leg up on your competition, it saves you money, and it saves your family some money, as well. And for those of you looking to diversify your skills or continue your education, we’ve got another announcement for you, as well. Coursera, which is an online educational platform, is stepping up to offer one free verified certificate to any veteran in a number of high-demand fields like data science or entrepreneurship. Once you complete the certificate, you can easily upload that information onto your LinkedIn profile. And if you don’t have internet access at home, or you want to meet up with other folks taking the same course, Coursera and the VA are teaming up to open 20 “Learning Hubs” all across the country. That means troops and vets like all of you can get together, get online, get the training you need for the jobs you dream of. So this is some good stuff -- really. (Applause.) That just shows you the kind of commitment, when people are asked. And that’s what I want you all to realize -- people love you guys, and they want to find ways to make this easier for you. And now we want you to take advantage. And that’s really what all this work is about -- it’s about making a real, concrete difference for you, your families, and your future. And while we hope that this forum and these commitments will make a big difference, we also know that we’ve got a lot more work to do. There are still far too many hurdles out there for our veterans, and we’re going to keep working until each and every one of you has a job –- and not just any job, but a good job, a job you can raise a family on -- yes. (Applause.) And I know that’s a big goal -- it is a big goal -- but you’ve got to reach high. And with partnerships like we’ve just announced today, I know that we can do this. This building we’re in right now reminds me that we can do this. (Applause.) Just think about all those women we honor here in this memorial, all the glass ceilings they shattered. For years, women couldn’t serve in an official role in the military at all. They were banned from leading other troops and giving orders to men. Even just six years ago -– six years –- we’d never had a woman four-star general, but now we’ve got three, including the first African American woman, who was promoted this summer. (Applause.) Absolutely. Woo woo! (Applause.) Today, women are serving in almost every capacity in the military, including the front lines. And perhaps most importantly, women like all of you are igniting a broader cultural shift. You’re refashioning the image we have of our veterans. You’re showing us that our troops are as diverse as the rest of our country. And in doing so, you all are carrying forward the legacy of those we honor at this museum. And for that, you should be very, very proud -- very proud. So as you set off into your job search, I want you all to stand tall. Don’t be afraid to go out there and sell yourselves. And I know that might be a little counterintuitive for many of you because that’s not what you’re used to doing in the military. You’re used to focusing on the mission and not yourself. But let me just share this one thing: I have worked in so many different professions –- from government to nonprofits to the corporate world -- and I can tell you from my own experience that if you want a job, you can’t be modest. You’ve got to show off a little bit. And believe me, you all have so much to show off. That’s the beauty of it -- those years in the military set you apart from so many other candidates. You know about real leadership. You know about team building. You know how to work in all sorts of different situations with all sorts of people. And more than anything else, you all know that no matter what it takes, you’re going to figure out how to complete whatever mission is in front of you. And so I want you to know that when other folks hear about the incredible experience you’ve gained while serving our country, they are going to respond. They are going to respond. That’s what happened for Trish, it’s what already happened for those two other wonderful women I spoke about earlier as well. Because after our meeting, when a community member found out that Kandy was a veteran looking for a job, he lined up an interview for her, and she knocked that interview right out the park –- they offered her a job the same day. And then Dawn -- yes, yes. (Applause.) And Dawn, with the help of BPW’s veteran mentoring program, she landed a job she loves as an auditor and she also started her own business, and is building a new home for her and her four kids. And all the while -- yes -- (applause) -- she managed to do all that and she kept her full name on her resume. (Laughter and applause.) So just like these women, just remember you might have your ups and downs, but I want you to know that this whole country believes in you, and we’ve got your backs. So we’re going to keep rallying this country to serve you as well as you’ve served us. We’re going to keep asking businesses to commit to hiring veterans and military spouses. We’re going to keep sharing your stories and reaching out to employers to make sure they understand the depth of your skill and experience. And we’re going to keep working to create more events like this one. So we want more organizations and businesses to do this. If you’re watching, come together around our veterans. We want these to happen in communities all across this country. This day needs to be replicated. So I’m not going to stop, I know my husband’s not going to stop until each and every one of you has the job you deserve and the respect and support you have earned. That’s our pledge to you. So again, thank you. Thank you for your service. Have a great day today. Good luck. And God bless you all. It’s been an honor working with you. (Applause.) THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 11, 2014 2014 Leaders' Declaration The 22nd APEC Economic Leaders’ Declaration - Beijing Agenda for an Integrated, Innovative and Interconnected Asia-Pacific 1. We, the APEC Leaders, gathered by Yanqi Lake in Beijing for the 22nd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting. Under the theme of “Shaping the Future through Asia-Pacific Partnership”, we held substantial discussions on the priorities of advancing regional economic integration, promoting innovative development, economic reform and growth, and strengthening comprehensive connectivity and infrastructure development with a view to expanding and deepening Asia-Pacific regional economic cooperation, and attaining peace, stability, development and common prosperity of the Asia-Pacific. 2.The Asia-Pacific region has experienced a quarter of a century’s growth and development. APEC has not only made significant contributions to the region’s economic development, social progress and improvement of people’s livelihoods, but has also epitomized the great changes and rising strategic position of the Asia-Pacific. Through its unique approach featuring voluntary action, consensus, flexibility and pragmatism, APEC has successfully established a sound regional economic cooperation framework among member economies with remarkable diversity and at different stages of development. Adhering to the spirit of unity, mutual respect and trust, mutual assistance and win-win cooperation, we have been working to narrow the development gap among ourselves and have consistently promoted the robust, sustainable, balanced, inclusive and secure growth in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond. 3.After years of rapid development, the Asia-Pacific has become the most dynamic region of the world, and has never been as important as it is today in the global landscape. At present, the Asia-Pacific maintains a strong momentum of growth; it possesses an enormous potential and has a bright future. Yet it is also faced with risks and challenges. 4.We are at an important historical moment of building on past achievements and striving for new progress. We are committed to working together to shape the future through Asia-Pacific partnership, building an open economy in the Asia-Pacific featuring innovative development, interconnected growth, and shared interests, and consolidating the leading role of the Asia-Pacific in the world economy, with a goal of opening up new prospects for future cooperation and achieving common prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region. 5.To achieve the above-mentioned goals, we pledge to take the following actions: I. Advancing Regional Economic Integration Pursuing Free and Open Trade and Investment 6.We reiterate the value, centrality and primacy of the multilateral trading system in promoting trade expansion, economic growth, job creation and sustainable development. We stand firmly together to strengthen the rules-based, transparent, non-discriminatory, open and inclusive multilateral trading system as embodied in the WTO. 7.We express our grave concern regarding the impasse in the implementation of the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) which has resulted in stalemate and uncertainties over other Bali decisions. These developments have affected the credibility of the WTO negotiating function. In finding solutions to the implementation of the Bali decisions, APEC will exert creative leadership and energy together with all WTO members in unlocking this impasse, putting all Bali decisions back on track, and proceeding with the formulation of Post-Bali Work Program, as a key stepping stone to concluding the Doha Round. 8.We reaffirm our pledges against all forms of protectionism. We extend our standstill commitment through the end of 2018 and reaffirm our commitment to roll back protectionist and trade-distorting measures. We remain committed to exercise maximum restraint in implementing measures that may be consistent with WTO provisions but have a significant protectionist effect, and to promptly rectifying such measures, where implemented. 9.We acknowledge that bilateral, regional and plurilateral trade agreements can play an important role in complementing global trade liberalization initiatives. We will continue to work together to ensure that they contribute to strengthening the multilateral trading system. We underscore the importance of the negotiations to expand the product coverage of the Information Technology Agreement (ITA). A final ITA expansion outcome should be commercially significant, credible, pragmatic, balanced, and reflective of the dynamic technological developments in the information technology sector over the last 17 years, and contribute to the multilateral trading system. We welcome APEC’s leadership in advancing the negotiations and call for swift resumption and conclusion of plurilateral negotiations in Geneva. We welcome the launch of negotiations on Environmental Goods Agreement (EGA) in July 2014 in Geneva. We encourage participants of the above initiatives to seek expanded memberships. 10.We welcome the significant progress made toward achieving the Bogor Goals. We will make every effort to achieve the Bogor Goals by 2020. We also welcome the biennial Bogor Goals review this year. We urge all economies, particularly developed ones to deeply consider the conclusions of the Report on APEC's 2010 Economies' Progress towards the Bogor Goals and the 2012 and 2014 Bogor Goals Progress Report, and to take more concrete actions towards attaining the Bogor Goals. 11.Recognizing APEC has a critical role to play in shaping and nurturing regional economic integration, we agree that APEC should make more important and meaningful contributions as an incubator to translate the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP) from a vision to reality. We reaffirm our commitment to the eventual FTAAP as a major instrument to further APEC's regional economic integration agenda. 12.In this regard, we decide to kick off and advance the process in a comprehensive and systematic manner towards the eventual realization of the FTAAP, and endorse the Beijing Roadmap for APEC’s Contribution to the Realization of the FTAAP (Annex A). Through the implementation of this Roadmap, we decide to accelerate our efforts on realizing the FTAAP on the basis of the conclusion of the ongoing pathways, and affirm our commitment to the eventual realization of the FTAAP as early as possible by building on ongoing regional undertakings, which will contribute significantly to regional economic integration, sustained growth and common prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region. We instruct Ministers and officials to undertake the specific actions and report the outcomes to track the achievements. 13.We welcome the establishment of a Committee on Trade and Investment (CTI) Friends of the Chair Group on Strengthening Regional Economic Integration (REI) and Advancing FTAAP, and urge the Friends of the Chair Group to continue its work. We agree to launch a collective strategic study on issues related to the realization of the FTAAP, and instruct officials to undertake the study, consult stakeholders and report the result by the end of 2016. 14.We endorse the establishment of an APEC Information Sharing Mechanism on RTAs/FTAs. We highly commend the work on the implementation of the Action Plan Framework on Capacity Building Needs Initiatives (CBNI), and endorse the Action Plan Framework of the 2nd CBNI. We instruct officials to design targeted and tailor-made capacity building activities to narrow the gap of the capacities of APEC economies to facilitate the eventual realization of the FTAAP. 15.In addition to the above, we reaffirm the role of APEC in addressing next generation trade and investment issues and sectoral initiatives, and agree to accelerate “at the border” trade liberalization and facilitation efforts, improve the business environment “behind the border”, and enhance regional connectivity “across the border” to accumulate more building blocks for the realization of the FTAAP. Therefore, we: --- reaffirm our commitment to reduce applied tariffs to five percent or less by the end of 2015 on the list of environmental goods that we endorsed in 2012 in Vladivostok. We call upon all economies to redouble their efforts in order to realize the economic and environmental benefits. We will instruct officials to report progress in achieving this ground-breaking commitment at our meeting next year in the Philippines. We welcome the work on capacity building on Environmental Goods (EGs) commitment implementation; --- welcome the inaugural meeting of the APEC Public Private Partnership on Environmental Goods and Services (PPEGS) on renewable and clean energy trade and investment, and endorse the APEC Statement on Promoting Renewable and Clean Energy (RCE) Trade and Investment; --- welcome the progress onexploring products which could contribute to sustainable and inclusive growth as part of our concrete commitment to rural development and poverty alleviation; --- endorse the Action Agenda on Promoting Infrastructure Investment through Public-Private Partnership (PPP) and instruct officials to take concrete actions to strengthen cooperation on PPP to promote more robust and sustainable infrastructure investment and development in the APEC region; --- welcome the Case Studies on Sustainable Investment in the APEC Region and encourage officials to consider and draw experience and good practices from the nominated cases to promote sustainable cross-border investment; --- endorse the APEC Cross Border E-Commerce Innovation and Development Initiative and encourage economies to designate or establish Research Centers of Cross-border E-commerce Innovation and Development on a voluntary basis; --- recognize that the effective protection and enforcement of IPR including trade secrets incentivizes and facilitates innovation and foreign direct investment and the dissemination of technology through licensing and partnerships; --- endorse the APEC Action Agenda on Advertising Standards and Practice Development to promote alignment of advertising standards and reduce the cost of doing business across the region; --- endorse the Asia-Pacific Region Automotive Industry Sustainable Development Declaration and welcome the outcomes of the 2014 APEC Regulatory Cooperation Advancement Mechanism (ARCAM) Dialogue on Electric Vehicle Standards. We welcome the APEC Actions to Promote the Widespread Usage of Electric Vehicles. Advancing Global Value Chain Development and Supply Chain Connectivity 16.Recognizing that Global Value Chains (GVCs) have become a dominant feature of the global economy and offer new prospects for growth, competitiveness and job creation for APEC economies at all levels of development, we endorse the APEC Strategic Blueprint for Promoting Global Value Chain Development and Cooperation (Annex B). We welcome the progress made in the measurement of Trade in Value Added (TiVA), services, SMEs and GVCs resilience, etc., and instruct officials to advance the work through the CTI Friends of the Chair Group on GVC to put forward new initiatives under the Strategic Blueprint in 2015 and beyond. 17.We endorse the Strategic Framework on Measurement of APEC TiVA under GVCs and the Action Plan on this Strategic Framework. We instruct the newly-formed technical group to work closely with the WTO, OECD, the World Bank, UNCTAD and other related international organizations, with an aim to complete the construction of the APEC TiVA Database by 2018. 18.We endorse the Terms of Reference of Promoting SME’s Integration into GVCs, and welcome the launch of the related activities. We instruct officials to make efforts in advancing this work. 19.We welcome the commitment of APEC economies to move forward with the implementation of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement, including the notification by many APEC developing economies of their category A TFA obligations. We welcome, as well, the progress this year in improving the performance of APEC supply chains through targeted, focused capacity building and technical assistance. In this regard, we applaud the establishment of the APEC Alliance for Supply Chain Connectivity, which will contribute to our goal in achieving a ten percent improvement of supply chain performance by the end of 2015 and our broader supply chain connectivity objectives. We encourage economies to increase the resources of the APEC Supply Chain Connectivity Sub-Fund to ensure that our capacity building and technical assistance projects succeed to meet our ten percent performance improvement goal and to further our trade facilitation objectives. 20.We agree to establish the Asia-Pacific Model E-port Network (APMEN) and welcome the first batch of APEC Model E-ports nominated by the APEC economies. We endorse the Terms of Reference of the APMEN and agree to set up the APMEN operational center in the Shanghai Model E-port, and instruct officials to make further efforts to contribute to regional trade facilitation and supply chain connectivity. 21.We positively value the APEC High-level Roundtable on Green Development and its declaration, and agree to establish the APEC Cooperation Network on Green Supply Chain. We endorse the establishment of the first pilot center of APEC Cooperation Network on Green Supply Chain in Tianjin, China, and encourage other economics to establish the pilot centers and advance related work actively. 22.We endorse the APEC Customs 3M (Mutual Recognition of Control, Mutual Assistance of Enforcement and Mutual Sharing of Information) Strategic Framework. We instruct officials to further simplify and coordinate APEC customs procedures based on the 3M Framework to facilitate the development of regional trade. We encourage APEC members’ customs authorities to continue strengthening cooperation and coordination in pursuit of the 3M vision, to push forward comprehensive connectivity and make greater contributions to the sustainable development of trade and regional economic integration in the Asia-Pacific region. 23.We recognize that the use of standardized codes will enable information about traded goods to be easily understood and shared by all parties. We therefore encourage APEC economies to work with the private sector to promote further cooperation on global data standards and their wider use by developing pilot projects. 24.We welcome the initiative on manufacturing related services in supply chains/value chains as a next generation trade and investment issue, and instruct officials to develop a plan of action in 2015. Strengthening Economic and Technical Cooperation 25.We endorse the APEC Strategic Plan on Capacity Building to Promote Trade and Investment Agenda which adopts a strategic, goal-oriented and multi-year approach. We instruct officials to take the Strategic Plan as a guide to develop and implement more tailor-made capacity building programs that contribute to the core trade and investment liberalization and facilitation agenda of APEC. 26.We encourage economies, particularly developed economies, to provide more contributions to ECOTECH and capacity building, to achieve our goal of bridging development gaps, and help member economies to meet their APEC commitments and their economic growth objectives. 27.We welcome the initiative to upgrade the Asia Pacific Finance and Development Center (AFDC) to the Asia Pacific Finance and Development Institute (AFDI). II. Promoting Innovative Development, Economic Reform and Growth 28.We realize that the prospects for the shared prosperity of APEC will depend on innovative development, economic reform and growth in the region, which are complementary and mutually reinforcing. We recognize that the Asia-Pacific region is at a crucial stage of economic transformation. We are committed to accelerating the pace of reform and innovation, and exploring new growth areas with the goal of bolstering the position of the Asia-Pacific as an engine for world economic growth. We agree to strengthen macroeconomic policy coordination with a view to forging policy synergy, and creating a sound policy environment for the robust, sustainable, balanced and inclusive economic growth in the region. 29.We endorse the APEC Accord on Innovative Development, Economic Reform and Growth (Annex C) which identifies Economic Reform, New Economy, Innovative Growth, Inclusive Support and Urbanization as the five pillars for promoting experience sharing, policy dialogue, capacity building and practical cooperation. Economic Reform 30.To advance APEC’s economic reform agenda, we agree to hold the 2nd Ministerial Meeting on Structural Reform in 2015. Recognizing that many APEC developing economies are facing the challenge of the Middle-Income Trap (MIT), we agree to incorporate the issue of overcoming the MIT into the work program of the APEC Economic Committee. 31.To meet our objective of strengthening the implementation of good regulatory practices, we will further enhance communication, exchanges, and sharing of experiences, and foster anopen and transparentregulatory environment in our economies, according to individual economies’ needs and circumstances. We will endeavor to take new actions through the use of information technology and the Internet to improve our conduct of public consultations on proposed regulations. 32.We recognize the role of internationally recognized private international law instruments such as the Hague Conventions in facilitating cross-border trade and investment, enhancing ease of doing business, and fostering effective enforcement of contracts and efficient settlement of business disputes. We encourage wider use of these instruments which would contribute to APEC’s regional integration, connectivity and structural reform agenda. New Economy 33.We recognize that New Economy represents the trend of economic growth and sustainable development in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond. We support the efforts to promote economic restructuring and upgrading in traditional industries, explore new and promising economic growth areas such as the Green Economy, the Blue Economy, and the Internet Economy, and promote green, circular, low-carbon and energy-efficient development. 34.We are encouraged by the progress of APEC's ocean-related cooperation and welcome the Xiamen Declaration issued at the 4th APEC Oceans Ministerial Meeting this year, and instruct our Ministers and officials to fully implement the Declaration. We acknowledge the Xiamen Declaration’s statement on the Blue Economy. We welcome the APEC Marine Sustainable Development Report. We encourage the Ocean and Fisheries Working Group to work with APEC fora to advance Blue Economy cooperation. 35.We recognize the role of the Internet Economy in promoting innovative development and empowering economic participation. We endorse the APEC Initiative of Cooperation to Promote the Internet Economy and instruct Ministers and officials to discuss the Internet Economy further, put forward proposals for actions, promote member economies’ cooperation on developing the Internet Economy and facilitate technological and policy exchanges among member economies, taking into account the need to bridge the digital divide. 36.We welcome the Beijing Declaration of the 2014 APEC Energy Ministerial Meeting. We welcome the establishment of the APEC Sustainable Energy Center in China. We recognize the importance of promoting diversified energy supplies, and market-based competition and pricing mechanisms that reflect demand and supply fundamentals as appropriate to each economy. We encourage member economies to take actions to eliminate trade protection and restrictive measures that may impede progress in renewable energy technologies and development of this sector, and we endorse the Energy Ministers’ aspirational goal to double the share of renewables including in power generation by 2030 in APEC’s energy mix. We affirm our commitment to rationalize and phase out inefficient fossil fuel subsidies that encourage wasteful consumption while still providing essential energy services. We acknowledge Peru and New Zealand for initiating voluntary peer reviews in 2014 of inefficient fossil fuel subsidies that cause wasteful consumption and sharing their best practices, and welcome the commitment from the Philippines to undergo a peer review in 2015. We encourage innovation, competition and cooperation to promote a sound and sustainable energy sector in the Asia-Pacific and to ensure its energy security, economic growth, poverty eradication and an appropriate response to climate change. 37.We emphasize the importance of efforts to ensure sustainable development in mining, including the development, processing, utilization, investment and trade in minerals, metals and related products and welcome Ministers' views recognizing the important role of the Minamata Convention on Mercury. 38.We will continue our efforts to protect forest resources, combat illegal logging and associated trade, promote sustainable forest management, and work with relevant organizations, including the Asia-Pacific Network on Sustainable Forest Management and Rehabilitation (APFNet), to ensure the achievement of the aspirational goal on forests in the Sydney Declaration. 39.We commit to continue our efforts in combating wildlife trafficking. We will take steps to combat wildlife trafficking by enhancing international cooperation through Wildlife Enforcement Networks (WENs) and other existing mechanisms, reducing the supply of and demand for illegally traded wildlife, increasing public awareness and education related to wildlife trafficking and its impacts, and treating wildlife trafficking crimes seriously. Innovative Growth 40.We recognize innovation as an important lever for economic growth and structural reform. We endorse the initiative on Toward Innovation-Driven Development. We commit to foster a pragmatic, efficient and vigorous partnership on science, technology and innovation. We agree to strengthen collaboration amongst government, academia, and private sector stakeholders to build science capacity, to promote an enabling environment for innovation and including by establishing training centers for the commercialization of research, and to enhance regional science and technology connectivity, with respect for intellectual property rights and trade secrets. 41.We welcome the Nanjing Declaration on Promoting SMEs Innovative Development. We commit to strengthen our support, and provide an enabling environment for SMEs in innovation activities. We welcome efforts to strengthen SMEs' cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region, involve SMEs in APEC production and supply chains, promote ethical business practices, as well as to empower their capacity to operate in an international market. We welcome member economies’ joint efforts and contribution to promote the APEC Accelerator Network and to invest in the early stage development of innovative SMEs. Inclusive support 42.We recognize that inclusive support is essential to maintain growth and to deal with risks and potential fallout of reform, with an aim to provide a solid foundation for economic growth and to address the needs of vulnerable groups. We welcome the outcomes of the 6th Human Resources Development Ministerial Meeting and the Action Plan (2015-2018) on Promoting Quality Employment and Strengthening People-to-People Connectivity through Human Resources Development. We encourage APEC economies to give priority to stabilizing and expanding employment, implementing macroeconomic policies in favor of job creation, and strengthening capacity building for human resources development, vocational skills development and skill training for youth. We commend the 10-year achievement of the APEC Digital Opportunity Center initiative through our joint efforts and cooperation in bridging digital divides, strengthening human resource development and creating digital opportunities throughout the APEC region. 43.We recognize the pivotal role of women in the development and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific, and are committed to taking concrete policies and innovative measures to further enhance women’s economic empowerment and their access to markets and ICT technology, eliminate all barriers that hinder women’s economic participation, and ensure women’s equal opportunities, participation and benefit in innovative development, economic reform and growth. We welcome the recommendations from the Women and the Economy Forum, and commit to promote women entrepreneurship. We recognize the importance of data to measure progress in reducing barriers to women’s economic participation, and we welcome the establishment of the APEC Women and the Economy Dashboard as a tool to inform policy discussions. We support women's leadership and recognize the importance of women’s entrepreneurship support services and networks. We encourage the formal development of an APEC-wide women’s entrepreneurship network to empower women entrepreneurs to start and grow businesses and increase their access to domestic and international markets. 44.We welcome recommendations from the 4th High Level Meeting on Health and the Economy and endorse the “Healthy Asia-Pacific 2020” initiative, which aims to achieve sustainable and high-performing health systems that will ensure people's health, including physical and mental well-being, through the whole life-course by means of a whole-of-government, and whole-of-society approach with the collaboration of the entire Asia-Pacific region. 45.We commit to jointly tackle pandemic diseases, terrorism, natural disasters, climate change and other global challenges. In confronting the current Ebola Virus Disease epidemic, we are determined to intensify our cooperation and work shoulder to shoulder with African nations to help them effectively end this epidemic and prevent, detect, manage and respond to future outbreaks. We will continue to assist people in affected areas to overcome this crisis and build back their economies so we can win the battle against the disease. 46.We endorse the Beijing Declaration on APEC Food Security issued at the Third APEC Ministerial Meeting on Food Security. We welcome APEC Action Plan for Reducing Food Loss and Waste, the APEC Food Security Business Plan (2014-2020), and the APEC Food Security Roadmap toward 2020 (2014 version) and the Action Plan to Enhance Connectivity of APEC Food Standards and Safety Assurance.We note the G20’s work on food security in 2014. We call on APEC economies to seek common ground to build an open, inclusive, mutually-beneficial and all-win partnership for the long-term food security of the Asia-Pacific region. We will strengthen APEC agricultural science and technology innovation and cooperation to advance sustainable agricultural development and support sustainable fisheries. 47.We commend the ongoing efforts of the APEC Food Safety Cooperation Forum (FSCF) and its Partnership Training Institute Network (PTIN), which will help ensure the safety of food produced and traded in the APEC region by improving food safety regulatory systems, encouraging harmonization with international science-based standards, building capacity in areas that will facilitate trade, and enhancing communication and collaboration between industry and regulators to address emerging food safety issues. We welcome the APEC Food Safety Beijing Statement of the 2014 APEC High-Level Regulator Industry Dialogue on Food Safety. 48.We commend the strong resolve shown in fighting corruption, including through effective anti-corruption measures. We support the Beijing Declaration on Fighting Corruption and welcome the APEC Principles on the Prevention of Bribery and Enforcement of Anti-Bribery Laws, and APEC General Elements of Effective Voluntary Corporate Compliance Programs. We commit to work together against corruption and deny safe haven for corrupt officials and their illicitly-acquired assets. We are committed to strengthening cooperation and coordination on repatriation or extradition of corrupt officials as well as confiscation and recovery of corruption proceeds, and where appropriate, through the use of anti-corruption mechanisms and platforms such as the APEC Network of Anti-Corruption and Law Enforcement Agencies (ACT-NET). 49.We encourage further cooperation of member economies in disaster preparedness, risk reduction, response and post-disaster recovery, and cooperation in search and rescue, including through more robust networking among disaster management departments; following the APEC Guidelines on Appropriate Donations; improving supply chain resiliency; operationalizing the Trade Recovery Programme, reducing barriers to the movement of emergency responders and humanitarian relief across borders; increased data sharing; and application of science and technologies. 50.We reiterate our resolve to create a secure and resilient environment for economic activities and connectivity in the APEC region and continue concerted efforts to implement the APEC Consolidated Counter-Terrorism and Secure Trade Strategy. Urbanization 51.We recognize that the Asia-Pacific is currently experiencing booming urbanization. We realize that sustained and healthy development of urbanization is conducive to promoting innovative growth and realizing robust, inclusive and sustainable development in the Asia-Pacific. 52.We commend the constructive work undertaken by APEC this year in promoting urbanization cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region, and endorse the APEC Cooperation Initiative for Jointly Establishing an Asia-Pacific Urbanization Partnership. 53.Recognizing the range of urbanization challenges and opportunities across APEC economies, we commit to collectively promote cooperation projects, and to further explore pathways to a new-type of urbanization and sustainable city development, featuring green, energy efficient, low-carbon and people-orientation. III. Strengthening Comprehensive Connectivity and Infrastructure Development 54.We recognize that strengthening comprehensive connectivity and infrastructure development will help open up new sources of economic growth, promote cooperation and mutual assistance, and advance prosperity and the spirit of community in the Asia-Pacific region. We commend the achievements already made by APEC in connectivity and infrastructure development cooperation. 55.We endorse the APEC Connectivity Blueprint for 2015-2025 (Annex D). We are committed to implementing the APEC Connectivity Blueprint and achieving the overarching goal of strengthening physical, institutional and people-to-people connectivity by taking agreed actions and meeting agreed targets by 2025, with the objective of achieving a seamless and comprehensively connected and integrated Asia Pacific. 56.We commit to solve the financing bottleneck of infrastructure development. We commend the work and progress accomplished under the APEC Finance Ministers' Process (FMP) in infrastructure investment and financing cooperation. We recognize, in particular, efforts in promoting PPP on Infrastructure, such as compiling demonstrative infrastructure PPP projects, advancing the work of the PPP Experts Advisory Panel, strengthening capacity building of Indonesia’s Pilot PPP Center, and carrying on capacity building project of PPP pilot demonstration and standard contract making. We welcome the Implementation Roadmap to Develop Successful Infrastructure PPP Projects in the APEC Region to guide APEC’s future work in this aspect. We welcome the establishment of the PPP Center in China as a center of excellence. 57. We encourage member economies to strengthen energy infrastructural development and connectivity, such as oil and natural gas pipelines and transmission networks, LNG terminals, smart grids and distributed energy systems on the basis of shared interest and mutual benefit. 58. We encourage all member economies to take effective measures to promote the mobility of business personnel, tourists, researchers, students and labor in the region. 59.We support initiatives and activities that further enhance the three dimensions of cross-border education cooperation found in the 2012 Leaders Declaration-- mobility of students, researchers, and providers. We applaud the work that has been accomplished this year, including the establishment of the APEC Higher Education Research Center (AHERC); contributions to the APEC scholarships and internships initiative, which will encourage people-to-people exchange in our region; and promotion of virtual academic mobility by leveraging internet-based resources and innovative learning practices. 60. We support the target set at the 8th APEC Tourism Ministers’ Meeting of making efforts to receive 800 million international tourist arrivals in APEC economies by 2025. 61. We appreciate the initiatives which will greatly improve connectivity and infrastructure in the Asia-Pacific region, help resolve the bottleneck of financing in this field, and promote regional economic integration and the common development of the Asia-Pacific. IV. Looking Forward 62.With joint efforts of member economies, the Asia-Pacific has become the most dynamic region of the world with enormous growth potential. Never before has the world been more in need of a harmonious, stable and prosperous Asia-Pacific. We commit to working together to shape the future through Asia-Pacific partnership in the spirit of mutual respect and trust, inclusiveness, and win-win cooperation, and making a contribution to the long-term development and common prosperity of the region. 63.We commit to carry forward APEC reform, improve its cooperation mechanisms, and implement ambitious goals and blueprints, with the aim of enabling APEC to play a more active coordinating and leading role in the Asia-Pacific. 64.We commend the constructive role of the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) in strengthening public-private partnership and promoting APEC cooperation in various fields. 65.We are committed to enhancing APEC synergy with other relevant international and regional cooperation organizations and fora through coordination and cooperation, as well as enabling APEC to play an increasingly important role in the global governance system. 66.We are satisfied with the positive, meaningful and fruitful achievements of this meeting and appreciate China’s tremendous and fruitful efforts to successfully host this meeting. 67.We are committed to supporting future hosts of APEC, including Peru, Viet Nam, Papua New Guinea, Chile, Malaysia, New Zealand and Thailand who are to host APEC in the years of 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 respectively 68.We look forward to convening again during the Philippines’ hosting of APEC in 2015. The White House
Office of the President FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 11, 2014 FACT SHEET: Supporting Economic Growth at Home and Abroad by Eliminating Trade Barriers on Information Technology Products At the APEC leaders meeting today, President Obama announced that the United States and the People’s Republic of China had reached an understanding on a bilateral agreement on expanding the scope of goods covered by the Information Technology Agreement (ITA). This agreement paves the way for the resumption and swift conclusion of the first major tariff-cutting deal at the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 17 years, and promises a major boost to U.S. technology exports and the jobs that support them. In remarks at the APEC plenary session today, President Obama praised the agreement as an important step in completing the final ITA agreement: “It was APEC's work that led to the Information Technology Agreement, which we are now negotiating to expand. So, it is fitting that we are here with our APEC colleagues to share the news that the United States and China have reached an understanding that we hope will contribute to a rapid conclusion of the broader negotiations in Geneva.” A successful ITA expansion would allow substantial expansion of "Made in America" ITA exports to growing markets without the imposition of burdensome tariffs, and support tens of thousands of well-paying U.S. manufacturing and technology jobs. The breakthrough came at APEC where Leaders and Ministers have repeatedly called for the "swift conclusion" of an ITA expansion agreement that is commercially significant, balanced, "and reflective of the dynamic technological developments in the information technology sector." Since their launch in 2012, negotiations to expand the ITA's product scope have grown to include 54 participants, which account for roughly 90 percent of global trade in products under negotiation. Eliminating Barriers to High-Tech Trade · Since the ITA went into force in 1997, global trade covered by the ITA has more than tripled, rising to more than $4 trillion in annual trade. Despite extensive advances in technology, however, the product scope of the agreement has never been expanded. · More than 200 tariff lines will be reduced to zero under an expanded ITA. · Medical equipment, GPS devices, video game consoles, computer software and next generation semiconductors are among the high-tech products that will see tariff elimination. Economic Boon at Home and Across the Globe Industry estimates have concluded that a successful expansion of the ITA agreement would: · Support up to 60,000 additional U.S. jobs. · Eliminate tariffs on roughly $1 trillion in annual global sales of information and communications technology products of which more than $100 billion now come from the United States. · Increase annual global GDP by an estimated $190 billion. · Boost productivity and growth across the global economy, particularly in developing countries. Background · An ITA agreement will unlock global economic opportunity at home and abroad. Industry estimates have concluded that a successful expansion of the ITA agreement would eliminate tariffs on roughly $1 trillion in annual global sales of information and communications technology (ICT) products and increase annual global GDP by an estimated $190 billion. Because the U.S. is a global leader in high-tech manufacturing and production, industry also estimates that an expanded ITA will support up to 60,000 additional U.S. jobs. In addition, an agreement will lower costs for downstream manufacturing and services industries that rely on ICT parts and components as inputs, increasing their competitiveness. · The U.S.-China breakthrough is key to completing the ITA expansion. ITA expansion talks have been stalemated since disagreements among the parties resulted in suspension of negotiations in November 2013. Since that time, China and the United States have been working to narrow their differences, but without a breakthrough sufficient to resume talks among all WTO members involved. A U.S.- China understanding has been widely viewed as a critical step toward completion of the agreement, with full talks now targeted for December in Geneva. · The U.S.-China breakthrough is the culmination of efforts coordinated across the Administration. The President has directly made ITA expansion a top economic priority since meeting with President Xi Jinping in Sunnylands in June 2013 and has regularly reiterated the importance of a mutually beneficial agreement. The Office of the United States Trade Representative led efforts across the Administration on negotiating an agreement with assistance from the Departments of the Treasury and Commerce as well as the White House. Negotiations have taken place in Beijing and Geneva as well as at important U.S.-China economic fora including at the JCCT, the S&ED, in addition to numerous discussions on the margins of APEC meetings. · Expanding ITA supports U.S. manufacturing and technology industries. Many of the products that would see tariff elimination under an expanded ITA are in key U.S. industries that support good jobs, including in the manufacturing and technology sectors. A sample of some of the impacted products and the size of the tariff reduction they would benefit from, include: o Next generation semiconductors – Tariffs up to 25 percent reduced to zero. o Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machines -- Tariffs up to 8 percent reduced to zero. o Computed Tomography (CT) scanners – Tariffs up to 8 percent reduced to zero. o Global Positioning System (GPS) devices - Tariffs up to 8 percent reduced to zero. o Printed matter/cards to download software and games – Tariffs up to 10 percent reduced to zero. o Printer ink cartridges – Tariffs up to 25 percent reduced to zero. o Static converters and inductors – Tariffs up to 10 percent reduced to zero. o Loudspeakers – Tariffs up to 30 percent reduced to zero. o Software media, such as solid state drives - Tariffs up to 30 percent reduced to zero. o Video game consoles – Tariffs up to 30 percent reduced to zero. o An expanded ITA would also eliminate import duties on a range of additional technology products including high-tech medical devices, video cameras, and an array of high-tech ICT testing instruments. THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release November 11, 2014 REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT AT APEC PLENARY SESSION ONE International Convention Center Yanqi Lake -- Beijing, China PRESIDENT OBAMA: (In progress) -- have shown us last night’s events were spectacular, and this is a extraordinary setting for our meeting. And I very much appreciate the work that you’ve done to develop a very productive agenda during this year’s APEC meeting. I’d like to say to all my colleagues who are assembled here -- it’s good to be back with you at APEC. This forum has been able to provide an extraordinarily important forum for generating ideas that boost regional and then global integration, and has helped to provide jobs and support growth in all of our economies. Our meeting comes at a very important time for the global trading system. Just one year ago we celebrated the conclusion of a historic trade facilitation agreement in Bali. As was just mentioned, that agreement has been breaking down over certain issues, although I’m actually confident that there’s an opportunity for us to resolve them fairly soon. But it does underscore how challenging it is to maintain and continue to grow our multilateral trading system. So we’re going to need to focus on restoring and rebuilding the WTO’s negotiating function. A strong multilateral trading system that holds us together and a common framework of rules has always been a bedrock of a healthy, global economy. Meanwhile, APEC continues to play a central role in promoting economic integration through regional and bilateral trade agreements. If these agreements are ambitious, they can be stepping stones to greater integration rather than stumbling blocks. APEC has been the incubator of ambitious trade agreements at the center of our agenda. This is where the trade facilitation agreement started. It was APEC’s work that led to the Information Technology Agreement -- the ITA -- which we are now negotiating to expand. So it’s fitting that we’re here with our APEC colleagues to share the news that the United States and China have reached an understanding on the ITA that we hope will contribute to a rapid conclusion of the broader negotiations in Geneva. We think that’s good news. And I very much thank President Xi’s efforts in that regard. APEC is often at its best and most effective on the more technologic -- the more technical cooperation to boost the flow of goods and services across our borders. This is the small details day to day that remove bottlenecks to trade and reduce the cost of transactions. In February, I signed an executive order establishing a single window, for example, to speed the processing of cargo flows in and out of the United States. We welcome APEC’s commitment to help all our economies streamline procedures and build capacity so we can meet our goals of reducing the time and the costs of border crossings by 10 percent by next year. I want to welcome APEC’s endorsement of ideas we discussed in Honolulu to create more transparent procedures for citizens and businesses to comment on proposed new regulations, which I think represents an important step forward for businesses that want to cooperate seamlessly across borders and jurisdictions. These efforts are not always large and public; they don’t always get a lot of attention. But they represent the important strides in bringing our people closer together and making our economies stronger. And finally, I want to commend China for focusing this year on what APEC can do to contribute to the realization of the Free Trade Area of the Asia Pacific. The goal of FTAAP was announced in 2006 and, as leaders noted, the many regional initiatives will contribute to the eventual realization. We see our engagement in the Trans-Pacific Partnership as a contribution towards that effort. I look forward to the day when all of our economies can be linked together in a high-standard, 21st century agreement. And I think that the work and the efforts of President Xi in setting this agenda here today will help facilitate that. So we thank you very much, Mr. President, for your extraordinary hospitality. President Obama Names Recipients Of The Presidential Medal Of Freedom
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretar FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 10, 2014 President Obama Names Recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom WASHINGTON – Today, President Barack Obama named nineteen recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the Nation’s highest civilian honor, presented to individuals who have made especially meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors. The awards will be presented at the White House on November 24th. President Obama said, “I look forward to presenting these nineteen bold, inspiring Americans with our Nation’s highest civilian honor. From activists who fought for change to artists who explored the furthest reaches of our imagination; from scientists who kept America on the cutting edge to public servants who help write new chapters in our American story, these citizens have made extraordinary contributions to our country and the world.” The following individuals will be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom: Alvin Ailey (posthumous) Ailey was a choreographer, dancer, and the founder of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, which is renowned for its inspiring performances in 71 countries on 6 continents since 1958. Ailey’s work was groundbreaking in its exploration of the African American experience and the enrichment of the modern dance tradition, including his beloved American masterpiece Revelations. The Ailey organization, based in New York City, carries on his pioneering legacy with performances, training, educational, and community programs for people of all backgrounds. Isabel Allende Isabel Allende is a highly acclaimed author of 21 books that have sold 65 million copies in 35 languages. She has been recognized with numerous awards internationally. She received the prestigious National Literary Award in Chile, her country of origin, and is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters. Tom Brokaw Tom Brokaw is one of America’s most trusted and respected journalists. Mr. Brokaw served as anchor of NBC Nightly News from 1982 to 2004, and is currently a Special Correspondent for NBC News. For decades, Mr. Brokaw has reached millions of Americans in living rooms across the country to provide depth and analysis to historic moments as they unfold, from the fall of the Berlin Wall to the terrorist attacks of 9-11. His reporting has been recognized by the Edward R. Murrow Lifetime Achievement Award, two Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Awards, eleven Emmys, and two Peabody awards. Mr. Brokaw previously served as anchor of NBC’s Today, and following the death of his close friend Tim Russert, Mr. Brokaw took over Meet the Press during the 2008 campaign season. He has written five books including The Greatest Generation, a title that gave name to those who served in World War II at home and abroad James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner (posthumous) James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner were civil rights activists and participants in “Freedom Summer,” an historic voter registration drive in 1964. As African Americans were systematically being blocked from voter rolls, Mr. Chaney, Mr. Goodman, and Mr. Schwerner joined hundreds of others working to register black voters in Mississippi. They were murdered at the outset of Freedom Summer. Their deaths shocked the nation and their efforts helped to inspire many of the landmark civil rights advancements that followed. Mildred Dresselhaus Mildred Dresselhaus is one of the most prominent physicists, materials scientists, and electrical engineers of her generation. A professor of physics and electrical engineering at MIT, she is best known for deepening our understanding of condensed matter systems and the atomic properties of carbon, which has contributed to major advances in electronics and materials research. John Dingell John Dingell is a lifelong public servant, the longest serving Member of Congress in American history, and one of the most influential legislators in history. Having represented Michigan in the House of Representatives since 1955, Mr. Dingell has fought for landmark pieces of legislation over the past six decades, from civil rights legislation in the 1960s, to legislation protecting our environment in the 1970s, to his persistent, determined fight for health care throughout his career, from Medicare to the Affordable Care Act. Mr. Dingell also served in the U.S. Army during World War II. Ethel Kennedy Ethel Kennedy has dedicated her life to advancing the cause of social justice, human rights, environmental protection, and poverty reduction by creating countless ripples of hope to effect change around the world. Over 45 years ago, she founded the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights, which is dedicated to realizing her husband’s dream of a more just and peaceful world. Ethel Kennedy was most recently honored for her longtime advocacy of environmental causes in neglected areas of Washington, D.C. with the dedication of the “Ethel Kennedy Bridge” over the Anacostia River. Suzan Harjo Suzan Harjo is a writer, curator, and activist who has advocated for improving the lives of Native peoples throughout her career. As a member of the Carter Administration and as current president of the Morning Star Institute, she has been a key figure in many important Indian legislative battles, including the passage of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act and the American Indian Religious Freedom Act. Dr. Harjo is Cheyenne and Hodulgee Muscogee, and a citizen of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes. Abner Mikva Abner Mikva is a dedicated public servant who has served with distinction in all three branches of government. He was a five-term Congressman from Illinois, Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit and White House Counsel for President Bill Clinton. He has also served as a law professor at Northwestern University, the University of Chicago, and the University of Illinois. Patsy Takemoto Mink Patsy Takemoto Mink was a Congresswoman from Hawai'i, serving a total of 12 terms. She was born and raised on Maui, became the first Japanese American female attorney in Hawai'i, and served in the Hawai'i territorial and state legislatures beginning in 1956. In 1964, she became the first woman of color elected to Congress. She is best known for co-authoring and championing Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. Edward Roybal (posthumous) Edward R. Roybal was the first Mexican-American to be elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from California in nearly a century. In 1976, he founded the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials, creating a national forum for Latino issues and opening doors for a new generation of Latino leaders. Charles Sifford Charles Sifford was a professional golfer who helped to desegregate the Professional Golfers’ Association, despite harassment and death threats. He started his life on the links as a caddy, and though he was formally excluded from the PGA for much of his career because of the color of his skin, he won six National Negro Opens. In 1960, he won his challenge over the PGA’s “Caucasian only” membership policy. He went on to win official PGA events and the PGA Seniors’ Championship. He was inducted in the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2004 and received an honorary doctor of laws degree from the University of St. Andrews in 2006. Robert Solow Robert Solow is one of the most widely respected economists of the past sixty years. His research in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s transformed the field, laying the groundwork for much of modern economics. He continues to influence policy makers, demonstrating how smart investments, especially in new technology, can build broad-based prosperity, and he continues to actively participate in contemporary debates about inequality and economic growth. He is a Nobel laureate, winning the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences in 1987. Stephen Sondheim Stephen Sondheim is one of the country’s most influential theater composers and lyricists. His work has helped define American theater with shows such as Company, Sweeney Todd, Sunday in the Park with George, and Into the Woods. Mr. Sondheim has won eight Grammy Awards, eight Tony Awards, an Academy Award, and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Meryl Streep Meryl Streep is one of the most widely known and acclaimed actors in history. Ms. Streep has captured our imaginations with her unparalleled ability to portray a wide range of roles and attract an audience that has only grown over time, portraying characters who embody the full range of the human experience. She holds the record for most Academy Award nominations of any actor in history Marlo Thomas Marlo Thomas is an award-winning actress, producer, best-selling author and social activist. Whether championing equality for girls and women, giving voice to the less fortunate, breaking barriers by portraying one of television’s first single working women on That Girl, or teaching children to be “Free to Be You and Me,” Thomas inspires us all to dream bigger and reach higher. Thomas serves as National Outreach Director for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, a pediatric treatment and research facility focused on pediatric cancer and children's catastrophic diseases. The hospital was founded by her father, Danny Thomas, in 1962. Stevie Wonder Stevie Wonder is one of the world’s most gifted singer-songwriters. Mr. Wonder has created a sound entirely his own, mixing rhythm and blues with genres ranging from rock and roll to reggae, and demonstrating his mastery of a range of instruments, styles, and themes. He is also a Kennedy Center Honoree, a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and winner of 25 Grammys and an Academy Award. THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the First Lady _________________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release November 10, 2014 REMARKS BY THE FIRST LADY AT “DOC MCSTUFFINS” SCREENING FOR MILITARY CHILDREN TO HONOR VETERANS DAY South Court Auditorium 3:40 P.M. EST MRS. OBAMA: Look who I have with me! (Applause.) I have Doc McStuffins with me! Everyone, isn’t it exciting? (Applause.) How are you guys doing out there? What’s going on? CHILD: Nothing! MRS. OBAMA: Nothing? Are you sure? (Laughter.) How many people love Doc McStuffins? (Applause.) Tell me, what are some of your favorite things that you like about Doc McStuffins? CHILD: That she fixes toys. MRS. OBAMA: That she fixes toys? What else? CHILD: That she’s kind. MRS. OBAMA: That she’s kind. CHILD: That she helps toys and fixes them better. MRS. OBAMA: She helps toys and fixes them better. CHILD: She makes sure they’re not sick. MRS. OBAMA: She makes sure they’re not sick. That’s so good. CHILD: She’s really nice. MRS. OBAMA: She’s really nice. CHILD: -- and she makes sure that none of the toys get sick, too. MRS. OBAMA: She makes sure that none of the toys gets sick, that’s right. Doc McStuffins is a really special young lady, isn’t she? (Applause.) Yay for Doc McStuffins. But you know one of the reasons why you guys are here? CHILD: Why? MRS. OBAMA: Because you guys are some pretty special boys and girls, did you know that? CHILD: Yes! MRS. OBAMA: Yes, you should know that. (Laughter.) You guys are pretty special, so we wanted to do something special for you guys on Veterans Day. How many people know that Veterans Day is coming up? And what do we celebrate on Veterans Day? CHILD: Daddy! MRS. OBAMA: Daddies. (Laughter.) That’s right. CHILD: And mamas. MRS. OBAMA: And mamas. On Veterans Day, we celebrate families like yours because your moms and dads, and maybe for some of you your grandparents, or aunts or uncles, or brothers and sisters are serving our country, and they’re making sure it’s safe for everybody in this country. And we’re so proud of them, but, more importantly, we’re proud of you all. Because you know what? You guys are heroes, too. Because your moms and dads couldn’t do what they do unless you were really smart, really kind, and really patient. Because you guys are sacrificing just as much as your moms and dads are, and we are so very, very proud of you. Do you know that? CHILD: Woo hoo! MRS. OBAMA: Yes, woo for you guys! (Laughter.) And Doc McStuffins came all the way here because she’s proud of you, too. Yes. She knows that you guys are heroes just like she’s a hero, all right? And I want you guys to remember that -- that we’re all so proud of you, and you’re so special. So we wanted to celebrate with you by showing you an episode of Doc McStuffins. (Applause.) So that’s what’s coming up next, okay? So is everybody ready to see the episode? CHILDREN: Yes! MRS. OBAMA: Wait, wait, I can’t hear -- I don’t know. I don’t know if you’re excited enough. Let’s hear it -- are you ready to see Doc McStuffins? (Applause.) Do you think that’s good enough, Doc Mcstuffins? Do you think we should show it to them? Yes! It’s time! All right. So without further ado, I give to you Doc McStuffins. Have fun. (Applause.) Bye! THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the First Lady _________________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release November 10, 2014 REMARKS BY THE FIRST LADY AT NATIONAL ARTS AND HUMANITIES YOUTH PROGRAM AWARDS East Room 2:34 P.M. EST MRS. OBAMA: Hello, everyone. (Applause.) Thank you so much. Please. Well, welcome to the White House. (Laughter.) You guys having fun? AUDIENCE: Yes! MRS. OBAMA: I am, too. Well, we’re back again for the 2014 winners of the National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Awards. Yay! (Applause.) It’s good stuff. I want to start, of course, by thanking everyone from the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities for sponsoring these awards and for their just amazing leadership. Let me just take a moment to just say how wonderful it is just to have such a wonderful team of people who are so passionate and so committed and so dedicated to this work. It has just been an honor working with you all. I’m so proud of you. I could go on and on and on, but -- I’m going to actually make you all stand up so that we can see -- come on -- will you guys stand up so that we can see who you are and really thank you, everyone. (Applause.) Thank you all. Thank you all so much. Great work, great work. (Applause.) But most of all, I want to thank everyone in this room, because we have here with us teachers, we have artists, mentors -- all of you are doing the hard work of creating these wonderful programs for our young people every single day. You’re out there in the trenches doing the really tough, important, wonderful work. And we’re just so grateful. And in this role as First Lady, I have the opportunity to meet with so many different people from industries throughout the country -- elected officials, entertainers, business leaders, so many others. And I always try to ask them one thing –- I want to know from them, what are they doing for our young people? I always want to know that no matter what I’m doing. I’m trying to figure out, how are we incorporating these young people? How are we creating the next generation of artists and entrepreneurs and leaders who are going to take our place? And the truth is, you guys are really answering that question in a very profound, wonderful way, because your work is the answer. It really is. Every day, you are lifting up young people across this country, inspiring them to dream bigger and bigger for themselves in ways that just touch my heart and makes this work really worthwhile. From the Mississippi Delta, to my hometown of Chicago, to Houston, you all are helping young people learn to play the blues -- we’re going to get a little taste of that later on. (Laughter.) You help them put on their own Shakespeare productions. You help them create their own go-karts and fashion designs. For example, in Aurora, California [Colorado], you’ve got a program called “Job Training in the Arts,” where students not only learn skills like woodworking and design, but they also learn what it’s like to have a J-O-B. (Laughter.) Yes, got to know about that, right -- (laughter) -- how to do things like show up on time -- we talk about that in my household all the time -- (laughter) -- how to meet deadlines, and to present your work as a finished product at a gallery. Great stuff. In Los Angeles, there’s this wonderful after-school dance program called “Everybody Dance!” And it’s making a difference for more than 600 children from underserved areas each year. And as one former student said -- these are her words -- she said, “I can’t tell you how much this program and everything it stands for means to me.” She said, “I learned to love, I learned to cope, I learned to express myself, and most importantly, I learned to be.” And she says, “I am infinitely grateful.” And that’s what we see time and again with your programs. You teach kids more than just skills in the arts and the humanities, but you light a fire in them. You help them grow emotionally and socially. You give kids a spring in their step when they get out of bed each morning. You give them something to look forward to after school each day. And as all of you know, that has an impact on our kids -- not just on their success in the arts and in the humanities, but on their success in school and in life. We talk about this every time we do these events -- you all know the statistics. Research shows that arts education leads to better scores in reading and in math -- we know this. Students who are highly involved in the arts stay in school longer than those who are not. So through these programs, students are learning critical lessons in grit and creativity, teamwork, attention to detail that’s going to serve them well whether they go on in careers in the arts, or whether they go into science, or business, or anything else. So to all the young people here -- I always have a message. You kind of aren’t in my line of sight -- but I just want you all to understand that these programs are important to change the trajectory of your lives. I hope you understand that -- that one of the reasons we bring you here is that this stuff is good for you. It is really, really good for you, and you are all so blessed to have these opportunities. Because through it, you’re going to meet the mentor of your dreams. Maybe you’ll meet another student who pushes you to be more than what you could be. You just never know who you’re going to run into and what it’s going to do for your life. So I want you to embrace these opportunities, and I want you to embrace them for the rest of your lives. I want you to be seeking these kinds of opportunities out everywhere you go. But I want you to also understand that no matter what you want to do in life, the most important thing for you to do is get an education, is really get a good education. You have to. That’s one of the reasons that we -- why we started Reach Higher, because we want to inspire all young people in this country to pursue their education beyond high school. Because it’s through that education that -- it’s going to give you the chance to have control over your future. And I can’t emphasize that enough to kids around this country. We can’t play with education. And through education, we need to expose them to the arts and to music, and to science and to -- but they’ve got to be in school. So I want you guys to take this message back to all the other young people who don’t have a chance to sit here in the White House, and to experience this wonderful, unique opportunity. But I want you to remember this one thing if nothing else from this day: that your education is critical. That’s why I’m standing here, that’s why most of the people in this room are here. Don’t play around with it. It’s the best investment that you’ll make, okay? You guys promise me that? Okay. (Applause.) And I also hope that events like this show our kids that they’ve got a lot of people behind them, right? There are just so many people around the world who have your backs. Sometimes it doesn’t feel that way, but look -- you’ve got all these folks who have your backs. You’ve got a President and First Lady -- (laughter) -- we’ve got your backs. We believe in you. We really do. (Applause.) So stay focused. Keep believing in yourselves. Keep working hard. Keep reaching higher -- remember that, reach higher, okay? And keep making us proud. And once again, to all of the folks who support these programs, who make this happen, we’re just grateful, and we just encourage you -- don’t get tired. (Laughter.) Yes, stay in there. We’re really appreciative. And I hope this afternoon, this time here at the White House is just a small way of us expressing our appreciation for the wonderful work you do. So thank you, on behalf of our nation. And with that, I’m going to turn it over to the co-chair of the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities, my dear friend, George Stevens Jr. (Applause.) * * * * * Wow! Would you ever expect that sound coming out of those little people? (Laughter.) Wow, you guys are awesome! (Applause.) Wow! Give me some of that. Oh, man! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh, my goodness! (Applause.) We need to have these guys back when we do our music series on the blues, that’s what we need to do. Well, that was the best way to end, I mean, right there. Because that’s what I always want to remind people -- it’s like, you just never know the power, the talent that is inside these kids. And just think, if these kids didn’t have an opportunity to express that -- that’s what’s at stake. We miss out on this. And there are millions of kids who are missing out on this. They have the same talent, the same drive, the same ability, the same passion, they just don’t have access to the programs that they need to get the support that they need, which is why these awards are so meaningful and special -- because they highlight to the world what the arts and humanities mean in the lives of so many kids across this country and around the world. So as usual, well done. Well done. It has been a great afternoon. We’re so proud of all of our awardees, all the young people who are here. Just remember that message and pay it forward. Find the next kids you guys are going to mentor, right? Because you’re never too young to mentor. And I want to thank all of you for all the work you do. It’s a wonderful way to spend some time in the White House, and I hope you guys had a great time. So there’s a reception to follow, I believe. You guys, enjoy yourselves. Don’t tear anything up. (Laughter.) We’re watching. (Laughter.) But thank you all again. Have a great afternoon. (Applause.) THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the First Lady ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release November 10, 2014 REMARKS BY THE FIRST LADY AT NATIONAL ARTS AND HUMANITIES YOUTH PROGRAM AWARDS East Room 2:34 P.M. EST MRS. OBAMA: Hello, everyone. (Applause.) Thank you so much. Please. Well, welcome to the White House. (Laughter.) You guys having fun? AUDIENCE: Yes! MRS. OBAMA: I am, too. Well, we’re back again for the 2014 winners of the National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Awards. Yay! (Applause.) It’s good stuff. I want to start, of course, by thanking everyone from the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities for sponsoring these awards and for their just amazing leadership. Let me just take a moment to just say how wonderful it is just to have such a wonderful team of people who are so passionate and so committed and so dedicated to this work. It has just been an honor working with you all. I’m so proud of you. I could go on and on and on, but -- I’m going to actually make you all stand up so that we can see -- come on -- will you guys stand up so that we can see who you are and really thank you, everyone. (Applause.) Thank you all. Thank you all so much. Great work, great work. (Applause.) But most of all, I want to thank everyone in this room, because we have here with us teachers, we have artists, mentors -- all of you are doing the hard work of creating these wonderful programs for our young people every single day. You’re out there in the trenches doing the really tough, important, wonderful work. And we’re just so grateful. And in this role as First Lady, I have the opportunity to meet with so many different people from industries throughout the country -- elected officials, entertainers, business leaders, so many others. And I always try to ask them one thing –- I want to know from them, what are they doing for our young people? I always want to know that no matter what I’m doing. I’m trying to figure out, how are we incorporating these young people? How are we creating the next generation of artists and entrepreneurs and leaders who are going to take our place? And the truth is, you guys are really answering that question in a very profound, wonderful way, because your work is the answer. It really is. Every day, you are lifting up young people across this country, inspiring them to dream bigger and bigger for themselves in ways that just touch my heart and makes this work really worthwhile. From the Mississippi Delta, to my hometown of Chicago, to Houston, you all are helping young people learn to play the blues -- we’re going to get a little taste of that later on. (Laughter.) You help them put on their own Shakespeare productions. You help them create their own go-karts and fashion designs. For example, in Aurora, California [Colorado], you’ve got a program called “Job Training in the Arts,” where students not only learn skills like woodworking and design, but they also learn what it’s like to have a J-O-B. (Laughter.) Yes, got to know about that, right -- (laughter) -- how to do things like show up on time -- we talk about that in my household all the time -- (laughter) -- how to meet deadlines, and to present your work as a finished product at a gallery. Great stuff. In Los Angeles, there’s this wonderful after-school dance program called “Everybody Dance!” And it’s making a difference for more than 600 children from underserved areas each year. And as one former student said -- these are her words -- she said, “I can’t tell you how much this program and everything it stands for means to me.” She said, “I learned to love, I learned to cope, I learned to express myself, and most importantly, I learned to be.” And she says, “I am infinitely grateful.” And that’s what we see time and again with your programs. You teach kids more than just skills in the arts and the humanities, but you light a fire in them. You help them grow emotionally and socially. You give kids a spring in their step when they get out of bed each morning. You give them something to look forward to after school each day. And as all of you know, that has an impact on our kids -- not just on their success in the arts and in the humanities, but on their success in school and in life. We talk about this every time we do these events -- you all know the statistics. Research shows that arts education leads to better scores in reading and in math -- we know this. Students who are highly involved in the arts stay in school longer than those who are not. So through these programs, students are learning critical lessons in grit and creativity, teamwork, attention to detail that’s going to serve them well whether they go on in careers in the arts, or whether they go into science, or business, or anything else. So to all the young people here -- I always have a message. You kind of aren’t in my line of sight -- but I just want you all to understand that these programs are important to change the trajectory of your lives. I hope you understand that -- that one of the reasons we bring you here is that this stuff is good for you. It is really, really good for you, and you are all so blessed to have these opportunities. Because through it, you’re going to meet the mentor of your dreams. Maybe you’ll meet another student who pushes you to be more than what you could be. You just never know who you’re going to run into and what it’s going to do for your life. So I want you to embrace these opportunities, and I want you to embrace them for the rest of your lives. I want you to be seeking these kinds of opportunities out everywhere you go. But I want you to also understand that no matter what you want to do in life, the most important thing for you to do is get an education, is really get a good education. You have to. That’s one of the reasons that we -- why we started Reach Higher, because we want to inspire all young people in this country to pursue their education beyond high school. Because it’s through that education that -- it’s going to give you the chance to have control over your future. And I can’t emphasize that enough to kids around this country. We can’t play with education. And through education, we need to expose them to the arts and to music, and to science and to -- but they’ve got to be in school. So I want you guys to take this message back to all the other young people who don’t have a chance to sit here in the White House, and to experience this wonderful, unique opportunity. But I want you to remember this one thing if nothing else from this day: that your education is critical. That’s why I’m standing here, that’s why most of the people in this room are here. Don’t play around with it. It’s the best investment that you’ll make, okay? You guys promise me that? Okay. (Applause.) And I also hope that events like this show our kids that they’ve got a lot of people behind them, right? There are just so many people around the world who have your backs. Sometimes it doesn’t feel that way, but look -- you’ve got all these folks who have your backs. You’ve got a President and First Lady -- (laughter) -- we’ve got your backs. We believe in you. We really do. (Applause.) So stay focused. Keep believing in yourselves. Keep working hard. Keep reaching higher -- remember that, reach higher, okay? And keep making us proud. And once again, to all of the folks who support these programs, who make this happen, we’re just grateful, and we just encourage you -- don’t get tired. (Laughter.) Yes, stay in there. We’re really appreciative. And I hope this afternoon, this time here at the White House is just a small way of us expressing our appreciation for the wonderful work you do. So thank you, on behalf of our nation. And with that, I’m going to turn it over to the co-chair of the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities, my dear friend, George Stevens Jr. (Applause.) * * * * * Wow! Would you ever expect that sound coming out of those little people? (Laughter.) Wow, you guys are awesome! (Applause.) Wow! Give me some of that. Oh, man! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh, my goodness! (Applause.) We need to have these guys back when we do our music series on the blues, that’s what we need to do. Well, that was the best way to end, I mean, right there. Because that’s what I always want to remind people -- it’s like, you just never know the power, the talent that is inside these kids. And just think, if these kids didn’t have an opportunity to express that -- that’s what’s at stake. We miss out on this. And there are millions of kids who are missing out on this. They have the same talent, the same drive, the same ability, the same passion, they just don’t have access to the programs that they need to get the support that they need, which is why these awards are so meaningful and special -- because they highlight to the world what the arts and humanities mean in the lives of so many kids across this country and around the world. So as usual, well done. Well done. It has been a great afternoon. We’re so proud of all of our awardees, all the young people who are here. Just remember that message and pay it forward. Find the next kids you guys are going to mentor, right? Because you’re never too young to mentor. And I want to thank all of you for all the work you do. It’s a wonderful way to spend some time in the White House, and I hope you guys had a great time. So there’s a reception to follow, I believe. You guys, enjoy yourselves. Don’t tear anything up. (Laughter.) We’re watching. (Laughter.) But thank you all again. Have a great afternoon. (Applause.) THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the First Lady _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release November 10, 2014 REMARKS BY THE FIRST LADY AT THE WOMEN VETERANS CAREER DEVELOPMENT FORUM Women in Military Service Memorial Arlington, Virginia 11:47 A.M. EST MRS. OBAMA: Thank you all so much. (Applause.) Thank you. You guys, rest yourselves. I hear you’re working hard so I don’t want you standing too much. But I am really thrilled to be here. I really am. I’m so happy that this day is here, and that so many of you are getting the support and guidance that you need. So I’m just delighted to be here. I want to start by thanking Trish for her incredible service to our country, and I want to thank her again for sharing her story with us today. I know it reflects so many of the stories that are here, and I’m so proud of Trish and all the women that I spoke to with Redbook. They’re just amazing. I also want to recognize Secretary McDonald from the VA, who I know spoke to you earlier, as well as all of the experts and leaders who are joining us here today for the Career Development Forum. But most of all, I want to thank all of you, the service members and veterans who have stood up every time this country has called. And before I go any further, I want to say two words that I don’t think we can say enough, and is, thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you. (Applause.) Thank you for your service. Thank you for your sacrifice. Thank you for your unending commitment to our country. But I’m here today because I know that simply saying thank you isn’t always enough. We’re here because of women like Trish and like all of you -– women with distinguished records of service who still struggle to find jobs after they leave the military. As Trish mentioned, earlier this summer, I had a chance to sit down with her and four other amazing women veterans, and as Trish mentioned, we had a good time. We had some fun. And I know they were a little nervous at the start; they were getting their makeup all done up, snapping pictures for the White House in the White House for a magazine cover -- (laughter) -- see, they laugh. I know you all were nervous to start out. (Laughter.) But then we loosened up as we got beautiful. We sat down and chatted. And when we sat down to talk, they all really opened up. And it was clear to me that each of these women, they were incredibly skilled. They were professional, poised eloquent -- I loved them. And I could easily imagine any one of them successfully leading a team not just on land or sea, but in any company or any organization in America. That’s -- they blew me away. So it was incomprehensible to me that such a talented group of women struggled to find jobs when they left the military, or that they -- the limited opportunities available to them were often far beneath their skill level and pay grade. One woman named Kandy served in the Navy for nine years, gaining a wide variety of skills -– legal work, project management, logistics. But when she left the military, she could only find a retail job that barely paid the bills for her and her daughter. Another one of the women, Dawn, was in logistics operations in the Air Force for eight years. She had her bachelor’s degree and was working on her second master’s, but then she left the military and she couldn’t find a job that could support her and her four kids. She said she went to bed hungry a lot of the nights so that her kids would have enough to eat. And when she reached out to an employment agency for advice, they told her that since her skills were mostly in male-dominated industries, she should try using only the first initial in her first name on her resume so that employers wouldn’t know she was a woman. Now, unfortunately, these kinds of struggles are far too common. And I know all of you here heard -- know the statistics. But I want to go over them to make sure that folks across the country know them as well. Because while we’re proud that the overall veterans’ unemployment rate has continued to drop over the past few years, women’s -- women veterans are still having a harder time finding jobs than their male counterparts. And last month, the unemployment rate for women veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan was 11.2 percent –- five points higher than men who served in the same conflicts, and more than double the rate for civilian women. And that’s just wrong. After everything women like Trish, and Kandy, and Dawn -– and all of you -– have done for this country, the fact that any of you are worrying about where your next paycheck is going to come from, or struggling to put food on the table -- that should be appalling to all of us as Americans. And it doesn’t make sense from a business perspective either. Over the past few years, I’ve had so many CEOs tell me that hiring veterans like all of you isn’t just good for the country, it’s good for their bottom lines. They say you’re exactly the kinds of employees they want to have in their companies, and when you bring your military experience into their companies, it raises the bar for everybody. But unfortunately, that message hasn’t made it into every company or organization across the country. Not every hiring manager is going to know that a chief petty officer has been responsible for the lives of dozens of their peers. Not every HR director understands that a gunner’s mate is probably trained to do some of the most complex, high-tech analysis that you’ll find anywhere. So that’s where we all come in. We’ve got to do a better job of bridging that gap. We’ve got to do more to help show even more employers across the country all the incredible skills that you all have got. And that’s exactly what today is all about. So I want to thank Redbook, the Business and Professional Women’s Foundation, and TriWest Healthcare Alliance for bringing this forum together to help you all translate your amazing military experience into amazing resumes and interviews that will ultimately lead to the careers of your dreams. And we’ve got a wonderful group of folks here. We’ve got folks here to help you identify job openings in business and technology, health care and defense contracting, the federal government. We’ve got folks who can answer your questions about continuing your education, getting your professional credentials. I know my good friend Bobbi Brown is here to talk to you about how she’s achieved success in her career. And we have the wonderful folks from Ann Taylor who are here to give you some tips to how to look good -- (laughter) -- and boost your confidence as you prepare for a job interview -- because we can never underestimate the importance of looking good, right ladies? (Laughter.) So this event is about you. It’s about making your transition to fulfilling -- to a fulfilling and wonderful civilian career as seamless as possible. Because we know that leaving the military can feel like you’re stepping into a whole new world. And in the past few years, too many veterans have struggled during these crucial few months right after you hang up that uniform. And that’s why, as President, my husband has been working to smooth the transition process for every single one of our servicemembers. He’s overhauling and expanding the military’s entire transition process so that you’re getting better guidance and training for your next steps throughout your time in the military, and not just cramming all of it into the last couple of weeks of your time in the military. He’s helping you earn civilian credentials and licenses while you’re still in uniform. He challenged the private sector to hire 100,000 veterans, and they have responded by hiring or training more than half a million vets and military spouses through our Joining Forces initiative. Also, this administration created a groundbreaking new website called the Veterans Employment Center, which has been up and running since spring. Now, this website is revolutionizing the way veterans like all of you can find jobs in the public and private sectors. It’s a one-stop shop for you to build on your profile, create a resume, find a list of job openings that suit the skills you’ve learned in the military. And already there are more than a million job postings, and it features hundreds of employers that have committed to hiring our veterans. And on top of all that, this website also allows you to view all of your other earned benefits, things like career counseling, the GI Bill. So this is like your own personal transition toolbox right there for you on your computer. So I want to urge all of you here and every veteran and transitioning servicemember in the country to take advantage of this by going to ebenefits.va.gov just to get started. I also want to call on employers across the country to do the same thing, because this website will connect your business or organization to some of the most highly qualified, most dynamic people you will ever have the chance to hire. And I’m also excited to announce that we’ve got a new commitment that will make this an even more powerful tool for veterans across the country. As you all probably know, LinkedIn is one of the most popular ways for people to connect with employers and find jobs. There are more than a hundred million LinkedIn members in the United States, and with this new commitment, it’s going to be easier for veterans like you to stand out from that crowd. So starting today, if you fill out a profile on LinkedIn, or if you already have one, with just a few clicks, you can now import your profile directly onto the Veterans Employment Center website. That means it’s going to be easier than ever to access all those features on the Veterans Employment Center. Plus, LinkedIn continues to give veterans access to everything on their network -– from their training materials to a full year of “Premium Jobseeker” tools. And so for all of you here today, that means that you’ll be a featured applicant for employers, and you can contact anyone on the entire LinkedIn network. And here’s the kicker -- LinkedIn is doing it all for free. These tools are worth hundreds of dollars a year. So this commitment doesn’t just give you a leg up on your competition, it saves you money, and it saves your family some money, as well. And for those of you looking to diversify your skills or continue your education, we’ve got another announcement for you, as well. Coursera, which is an online educational platform, is stepping up to offer one free verified certificate to any veteran in a number of high-demand fields like data science or entrepreneurship. Once you complete the certificate, you can easily upload that information onto your LinkedIn profile. And if you don’t have internet access at home, or you want to meet up with other folks taking the same course, Coursera and the VA are teaming up to open 20 “Learning Hubs” all across the country. That means troops and vets like all of you can get together, get online, get the training you need for the jobs you dream of. So this is some good stuff -- really. (Applause.) That just shows you the kind of commitment, when people are asked. And that’s what I want you all to realize -- people love you guys, and they want to find ways to make this easier for you. And now we want you to take advantage. And that’s really what all this work is about -- it’s about making a real, concrete difference for you, your families, and your future. And while we hope that this forum and these commitments will make a big difference, we also know that we’ve got a lot more work to do. There are still far too many hurdles out there for our veterans, and we’re going to keep working until each and every one of you has a job –- and not just any job, but a good job, a job you can raise a family on -- yes. (Applause.) And I know that’s a big goal -- it is a big goal -- but you’ve got to reach high. And with partnerships like we’ve just announced today, I know that we can do this. This building we’re in right now reminds me that we can do this. (Applause.) Just think about all those women we honor here in this memorial, all the glass ceilings they shattered. For years, women couldn’t serve in an official role in the military at all. They were banned from leading other troops and giving orders to men. Even just six years ago -– six years –- we’d never had a woman four-star general, but now we’ve got three, including the first African American woman, who was promoted this summer. (Applause.) Absolutely. Woo woo! (Applause.) Today, women are serving in almost every capacity in the military, including the front lines. And perhaps most importantly, women like all of you are igniting a broader cultural shift. You’re refashioning the image we have of our veterans. You’re showing us that our troops are as diverse as the rest of our country. And in doing so, you all are carrying forward the legacy of those we honor at this museum. And for that, you should be very, very proud -- very proud. So as you set off into your job search, I want you all to stand tall. Don’t be afraid to go out there and sell yourselves. And I know that might be a little counterintuitive for many of you because that’s not what you’re used to doing in the military. You’re used to focusing on the mission and not yourself. But let me just share this one thing: I have worked in so many different professions –- from government to nonprofits to the corporate world -- and I can tell you from my own experience that if you want a job, you can’t be modest. You’ve got to show off a little bit. And believe me, you all have so much to show off. That’s the beauty of it -- those years in the military set you apart from so many other candidates. You know about real leadership. You know about team building. You know how to work in all sorts of different situations with all sorts of people. And more than anything else, you all know that no matter what it takes, you’re going to figure out how to complete whatever mission is in front of you. And so I want you to know that when other folks hear about the incredible experience you’ve gained while serving our country, they are going to respond. They are going to respond. That’s what happened for Trish, it’s what already happened for those two other wonderful women I spoke about earlier as well. Because after our meeting, when a community member found out that Kandy was a veteran looking for a job, he lined up an interview for her, and she knocked that interview right out the park –- they offered her a job the same day. And then Dawn -- yes, yes. (Applause.) And Dawn, with the help of BPW’s veteran mentoring program, she landed a job she loves as an auditor and she also started her own business, and is building a new home for her and her four kids. And all the while -- yes -- (applause) -- she managed to do all that and she kept her full name on her resume. (Laughter and applause.) So just like these women, just remember you might have your ups and downs, but I want you to know that this whole country believes in you, and we’ve got your backs. So we’re going to keep rallying this country to serve you as well as you’ve served us. We’re going to keep asking businesses to commit to hiring veterans and military spouses. We’re going to keep sharing your stories and reaching out to employers to make sure they understand the depth of your skill and experience. And we’re going to keep working to create more events like this one. So we want more organizations and businesses to do this. If you’re watching, come together around our veterans. We want these to happen in communities all across this country. This day needs to be replicated. So I’m not going to stop, I know my husband’s not going to stop until each and every one of you has the job you deserve and the respect and support you have earned. That’s our pledge to you. So again, thank you. Thank you for your service. Have a great day today. Good luck. And God bless you all. It’s been an honor working with you. (Applause.) Statement by the President on Net Neutrality
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 10, 2014 Statement by the President on Net Neutrality Today, in a statement and video message posted online, President Obama announced his plan for a free and open internet. The text of the President’s statement is below, and an online version of his statement and video can both be found here . *** An open Internet is essential to the American economy, and increasingly to our very way of life. By lowering the cost of launching a new idea, igniting new political movements, and bringing communities closer together, it has been one of the most significant democratizing influences the world has ever known. “Net neutrality” has been built into the fabric of the Internet since its creation — but it is also a principle that we cannot take for granted. We cannot allow Internet service providers (ISPs) to restrict the best access or to pick winners and losers in the online marketplace for services and ideas. That is why today, I am asking the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to answer the call of almost 4 million public comments, and implement the strongest possible rules to protect net neutrality. When I was a candidate for this office, I made clear my commitment to a free and open Internet, and my commitment remains as strong as ever. Four years ago, the FCC tried to implement rules that would protect net neutrality with little to no impact on the telecommunications companies that make important investments in our economy. After the rules were challenged, the court reviewing the rules agreed with the FCC that net neutrality was essential for preserving an environment that encourages new investment in the network, new online services and content, and everything else that makes up the Internet as we now know it. Unfortunately, the court ultimately struck down the rules — not because it disagreed with the need to protect net neutrality, but because it believed the FCC had taken the wrong legal approach. The FCC is an independent agency, and ultimately this decision is theirs alone. I believe the FCC should create a new set of rules protecting net neutrality and ensuring that neither the cable company nor the phone company will be able to act as a gatekeeper, restricting what you can do or see online. The rules I am asking for are simple, common-sense steps that reflect the Internet you and I use every day, and that some ISPs already observe. These bright-line rules include: · No blocking. If a consumer requests access to a website or service, and the content is legal, your ISP should not be permitted to block it. That way, every player — not just those commercially affiliated with an ISP — gets a fair shot at your business. · No throttling. Nor should ISPs be able to intentionally slow down some content or speed up others — through a process often called “throttling” — based on the type of service or your ISP’s preferences. · Increased transparency. The connection between consumers and ISPs — the so-called “last mile” — is not the only place some sites might get special treatment. So, I am also asking the FCC to make full use of the transparency authorities the court recently upheld, and if necessary to apply net neutrality rules to points of interconnection between the ISP and the rest of the Internet. · No paid prioritization. Simply put: No service should be stuck in a “slow lane” because it does not pay a fee. That kind of gatekeeping would undermine the level playing field essential to the Internet’s growth. So, as I have before, I am asking for an explicit ban on paid prioritization and any other restriction that has a similar effect. If carefully designed, these rules should not create any undue burden for ISPs, and can have clear, monitored exceptions for reasonable network management and for specialized services such as dedicated, mission-critical networks serving a hospital. But combined, these rules mean everything for preserving the Internet’s openness. The rules also have to reflect the way people use the Internet today, which increasingly means on a mobile device. I believe the FCC should make these rules fully applicable to mobile broadband as well, while recognizing the special challenges that come with managing wireless networks. To be current, these rules must also build on the lessons of the past. For almost a century, our law has recognized that companies who connect you to the world have special obligations not to exploit the monopoly they enjoy over access in and out of your home or business. That is why a phone call from a customer of one phone company can reliably reach a customer of a different one, and why you will not be penalized solely for calling someone who is using another provider. It is common sense that the same philosophy should guide any service that is based on the transmission of information — whether a phone call, or a packet of data. So the time has come for the FCC to recognize that broadband service is of the same importance and must carry the same obligations as so many of the other vital services do. To do that, I believe the FCC should reclassify consumer broadband service under Title II of the Telecommunications Act — while at the same time forbearing from rate regulation and other provisions less relevant to broadband services. This is a basic acknowledgment of the services ISPs provide to American homes and businesses, and the straightforward obligations necessary to ensure the network works for everyone — not just one or two companies. Investment in wired and wireless networks has supported jobs and made America the center of a vibrant ecosystem of digital devices, apps, and platforms that fuel growth and expand opportunity. Importantly, network investment remained strong under the previous net neutrality regime, before it was struck down by the court; in fact, the court agreed that protecting net neutrality helps foster more investment and innovation. If the FCC appropriately forbears from the Title II regulations that are not needed to implement the principles above — principles that most ISPs have followed for years — it will help ensure new rules are consistent with incentives for further investment in the infrastructure of the Internet. The Internet has been one of the greatest gifts our economy — and our society — has ever known. The FCC was chartered to promote competition, innovation, and investment in our networks. In service of that mission, there is no higher calling than protecting an open, accessible, and free Internet. I thank the Commissioners for having served this cause with distinction and integrity, and I respectfully ask them to adopt the policies I have outlined here, to preserve this technology’s promise for today, and future generations to come. THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the First Lady _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release November 6, 2014 REMARKS BY THE FIRST LADY AT “SALUTE TO THE TROOPS” WORKSHOP East Room 11:07 A.M. EST MRS. OBAMA: Well, hello. AUDIENCE: Hi! MRS. OBAMA: What’s going on? Just hanging out at the White House, in the East Room. (Laughter.) We’re excited to have you guys here. Welcome, welcome. Well, this is our latest edition of our White House Music Series -- did they tell you that? That that’s why you’re here? (Laughter.) But today, with Veterans Day right around the corner, we’re saluting our troops. And during this workshop, we’re going to be talking about the role of music in national life, how it can move us and inspire us and bring us together. And we’ve got some really special guests here who are going to be part of this conversation. We have Willie Nelson, who is here. (Applause.) You guys may have heard of this guy, Common, who is up here. (Applause.) We have Christiana Ball, who won the Army’s Rising Star competition. (Applause.) We have Ted Peterson, who is a songwriter who served in the military for eight years. (Applause.) And to help lead the discussions, we have my dear friend, Bob Santelli, who’s here, as well. (Applause.) But our most special guests here today are all of you. We have got some wonderful young people here from Bel Air, Maryland, as well as from Quantico and Alexandria, Virginia -- we can hear it. Let’s hear it. (Applause.) You can whoop it up here. That’s good, that’s good. And one of the reasons why we wanted to bring this group together is that we have many military kids in the audience today. Can I just hear a round of applause for the folks who are military kids? (Applause.) And this was my request, because as we’re doing the big celebration in the tent, I wanted to make sure that we had an opportunity to highlight you guys here. Because I think that everyone in this country should know your stories. They really should. Because I’ve gotten to know them, and you guys are amazing. But the unfortunate thing is not everybody does. Not everybody knows what it’s like to be a military kid in this country. A lot of folks don’t understand what it’s like to grow up in a military family. Let me give you some statistics. They might not know that there are more than two million military kids across this country, or that every school district in America includes military-connected children and youth. They might not realize that, on average, military kids like many of you move between six to nine times by the time you graduate from high school. Now, for you guys, that sounds natural, right? That’s just the way life goes. But a lot of folks may not know that each of those moves means not just adjusting to a new house, but also to a new school, to a whole new neighborhood, a new set of friends -- every single time you move. You’re readjusting constantly. Maybe your school doesn’t have the AP classes that you need to take, so you’re scrambling to figure out how you’re going to readjust your work -- I see a lot of heads nodding. Maybe it’s tough to get playing time on your new team because you moved again, and you’re trying to start over. Maybe you’re going through all this -- this touches my heart because my daughter is a junior now and she’s studying for the ACTs, or the SATs or whatever that is -- (laughter) -- all that stuff you all have to do. And just imagine these kids who are moving and trying to adjust and still take their tests and prepare. They’re worried about the colleges they’re going to go to and whether colleges will understand or accept all of the different credits on your transcripts -- just imagine that, the whole college process being a little more muddled. And on top of all of that, many of you might be dealing with a mom or dad who’s deployed overseas, maybe for the fourth or fifth time. And that means they’re missing a lot of birthdays and games and practices and plays, and all the good stuff that many civilian parents take for granted. And while they’re gone, that means that many of you have to pick up the slack; that you have to be that rock for your younger siblings. Maybe you have to pick up some extra chores or just balance the emotions that are going on in your family. So many of you have to grow up a little faster and take on a little more responsibility than a lot of other kids your age. But here’s one of the many reasons why I love military kids and why I wanted to make sure you all got highlighted today as we celebrate: It’s because while you all go through all of this, you’re some of the most resilient young people that I have ever met. I mean, truly, the fact that you’re still managing to excel in your classes -- so many of you are at the top of your classes, so many of you are getting into the colleges of your choice, you’re dealing as leaders in your schools. Many of you are student leaders, many of you are still involved in community service, finding ways to volunteer even as you move from school to school to school. And you know how to roll with the punches, which -- a lot of people your age don’t even know what that means: inconvenience. You guys know how to handle this, how to handle things when they don’t go your way. And just imagine all the stuff you’ve been exposed to as you’ve traveled throughout the country -- many of you have traveled throughout the world -- that you’re exposed to so many different people and cultures and you’re learning how to adapt. You have a broader view of the nation and the world. So many of you will be the next leaders because of these experiences. And that’s what I want to make sure you all know: As tough as it is, this stuff makes you stronger and more resilient, and it’s going to make you successful. So it’s a badge of honor. And that’s why you all are heroes to me and to my husband -- because of what you all do. You manage to allow your families to continue to serve. I just know that many of your parents couldn’t do what they do if you all didn’t hold yourselves together the way you do. And for that, we are grateful. And that’s one of the things we’re trying to do with our Joining Forces initiative, is to really show military kids like you how grateful we are -- even little things. We’re helping to work with teachers to understand what you’re going through. We’re trying to make sure that you all have AP classes in your schools so that when you transfer, you have access to the best kind of courses that you need to pursue college. We’re trying to help you transition once you go to college. So to all of you who didn’t grow up in a military family, I mean, one of the things that I want to make sure is that you realize that there are kids around who have. And it’s incumbent upon all of us to step up on their behalf. So for the young people out there, if you see a new kid at your school, I want you to reach out to them. Ask them whether they’re from a military family. Find out whether there’s a way you can help ease their transition -- maybe invite them to be on your team, maybe check out bringing them into a club. You could ask them to do any number of things -- invite them to be part of your group. All of us have a role to play in making these kids know that they live in a grateful nation. There are so many ways to pitch in -- and sometimes that means just finding a new way to say thank you. That’s really what we try to do with Joining Forces -- just in a small way get this country to understand that these folks are sacrificing so much, and all they want from us is to know that their sacrifice is acknowledged and that it means something. So that’s what we’re doing today. It’s one of the things we’re doing today. We wanted to bring you all to the White House today to show you how much we appreciate everything you do for the country. And I know that all these folks up on stage feel the same way. So in a little bit, I’m going to turn it over to Bob to start the discussion, and I want you all to listen to what these folks have to say -- and not only about music, but also about life. They have so much to offer. Willie is one of the greatest country singers the world has ever known. Common grew up on the South Side of Chicago -- South Side! (Laughter.) Turned himself into one of the biggest names in hip-hop. And he does so much more than music. Christiana and Ted have served our country in uniform just like many of your parents. So they’ve got a lot of wisdom to impart. So I want you guys -- loosen up, make yourselves feel at home. Because the beauty of this experience for you is that you can relax into and enjoy it. And raise your hand and ask questions. I know it’s the White House, I know there are cameras. (Laughter.) But try to ignore all that and get as much as you can out of this experience and others. And then here’s the thing I always ask the young people we bring in, is that for every single one of you there’s someone who couldn’t be in those chairs. So the question I have for you all to think about is how are you going to pay this forward. What are you going to do to share this experience with other kids in your community who may not have had this opportunity? So think about that along the way. And I hope you have fun and I hope you enjoy your time here. And just don’t break anything. (Laughter.) It’s the only rule. So with that, I’m going to turn it over to Bob, who’s going to get the conversation started. You guys have a great time. I love you all. I’m very proud of you. (Applause.) THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release November 6, 2014 REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT AT “A SALUTE TO THE TROOPS: IN CONCERT AT THE WHITE HOUSE” South Lawn 7:36 P.M. EST THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, everybody. (Applause.) Please, have a seat, have a seat. Well, good evening everybody. On behalf of Michelle and myself, welcome to the White House. (Applause.) Tonight, as we near Veterans Day, we are continuing our White House music series with a salute to American patriots -- our extraordinary troops, our veterans, and their families. And to help us pay tribute to these remarkable individuals, our men and women in uniform, we’ve got some musical legends -- like Willie Nelson, John Fogerty. (Applause.) We’ve got Mary J. Blige in the house. (Applause.) We’ve got Romeo Santos. (Applause.) We have Common here. (Applause.) Hill Harper and Logan Lerman are here, as well, and we’re going to be joined by Daughtry, who’s playing at a big USO Show at Yokota Air Base in Japan. (Applause.) And we’ve got some of the finest musicians in our military. (Applause.) We’ve got Sergeant Christiana Ball, U.S. Army -- (applause) -- and Captain John Auer and Captain Matt Smith, United States Marine Corps. (Applause.) So between all of these folks, we’ve got a little bit of rock and roll, we’ve got a little bit of country, little bit of everything in between. And that’s fitting because here in America, no matter where you’re from, no matter what music you listen to, we’re all united in our respect and admiration for our brave men and women who wear our country’s uniform. (Applause.) So let’s give it up to -- let’s give it up for the servicemembers, the veterans, the families. We are so grateful to have you here tonight. One of my greatest privileges as Commander-in-Chief is the opportunity to spend time with all of you and your families. I’ve met young men who willingly chose to move toward grenades to save their friends. I’ve met heroes who ran into enemy fire and carry their comrades to safety. And I’ve seen their families, and the stress and strains that they go through, but nevertheless, they couldn’t be prouder to support those family members who serve. We’ve seen, obviously, families of the fallen who keep the spirit of their loved ones alive, and their strength then inspires the rest of us. And of course, we are inspired by our wounded warriors whose injuries are no match for the sheer force of will that they display every single day. And some of them are joining us here from Walter Reed tonight. We are especially proud of them. (Applause.) Just one story I want to tell, because I’ve gotten to know these folks pretty well. One of the wounded warriors here is Captain Luis Avila. I met Luis and his beautiful wife Claudia a few times, and their wonderful kids, and I want to just take a moment to share their story with you because I think it’s representative of what it means to serve the United States of America, to be a true patriot. Almost three years ago, just after Christmas, Luis was in his fifth deployment –- this time in Afghanistan -– when he was severely injured in an explosion. He lost his leg, fractured his spine, suffered two heart attacks and a traumatic brain injury. Two weeks after the explosion, he arrived in the United States in a coma and on life support. It was so dire that Claudia was forced to confront that agonizing question –- was it time for her to let him go, take him off life support? But if you have a chance to meet Claudia, she’s pretty strong and pretty stubborn. And she also had faith that Luis would recover. And as she prayed during those desperate days, she began praying -- some of Luis’s -- famous songs in the background: “Ode to Joy,” military marches, and some Beatles. At then he started twitching his facial muscles. And then he opened his mouth. And then he moved his tongue on command. And the whole time, Claudia was playing music day and night. And then finally, Luis woke up. He couldn’t see. He couldn’t eat. He couldn’t talk. But he’d heard those songs. And in the months and years that followed, he kept fighting back with the help of hundreds of hours of music therapy. And today, Luis can see again, he can eat again, he can speak again. He’s even playing, as I understand, a little bit of golf. (Laughter.) And every night, he still goes to sleep with music playing. So tonight we’re honored to be joined by heroes like Luis and loving families like Claudia and their three boys, Luis Jr., Miguel and José. And we honor them with the beauty of music –- music that has the power to inspire us and fill us with pride, and, yes, sometimes to help us heal. And once this concert is over, let’s pledge to carry that spirit back to our own communities and to do our part, as Americans, to always serve these men and women as well as they have served us. But for now, let’s have a little bit of fun. Please welcome the one and only Mr. Willie Nelson. (Applause.) THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 2, 2014 Statement by the President on the First-Annual International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists History shows that a free press remains a critical foundation for prosperous, open, and secure societies, allowing citizens to access information and hold their governments accountable. Indeed, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights reiterates the fundamental principle that every person has the right “to seek, receive, and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.” Each and every day, brave journalists make extraordinary risks to bring us stories we otherwise would not hear - exposing corruption, asking tough questions, or bearing witness to the dignity of innocent men, women and children suffering the horrors of war. In this service to humanity, hundreds of journalists have been killed in the past decade alone, while countless more have been harassed, threatened, imprisoned, and tortured. In the overwhelming majority of these cases, the perpetrators of these crimes against journalists go unpunished. All governments must protect the ability of journalists to write and speak freely. On this first-ever International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, the United States commends the priceless contributions by journalists to the freedom and security of us all, shining light into the darkness and giving voice to the voiceless. We honor the sacrifices so many journalists have made in their quest for the truth, and demand accountability for those who have committed crimes against journalists. WEEKLY ADDRESS: It’s Time to Help Women and Working Families
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ SATURDAY, November 1, 201 WEEKLY ADDRESS: It’s Time to Help Women and Working Families WASHINGTON, DC — In this week’s address, the President highlighted the progress our economy is making, and the commonsense policies that could make it even stronger by ensuring that everyone who works hard has the opportunity to get ahead, especially women and working families. This commitment has been a core part of the President’s Year of Action and a priority since the start of his administration, which is why he has put forth a range of policies that would help women and working families get ahead, from raising the minimum wage, to ensuring equal pay for equal work, to increasing access to high-quality child care and paid family leave. This week’s address follows remarks the President delivered on Friday at Rhode Island College, where he discussed the importance of harnessing our economy’s momentum by making policy choices that will help women and all working parents fully participate in and contribute to our economy. The audio of the address and video of the address will be available online at www.whitehouse.gov at 6:00 a.m. ET, November 1, 2014. WEEKLY ADDRESS: It’s Time to Help Women and Working Families Remarks of President Barack Obama Weekly Address The White House November 1, 2014 Hi, everybody. On Friday, I had a discussion with working women in Rhode Island about the economic challenges they face in their own lives – challenges shared by many of you. Thanks to the work we’ve all put in, our economy has come a long way these past six years. Over the past 55 months, our businesses have added 10.3 million new jobs. For the first time in six years, the unemployment rate is below 6 percent. And on Thursday, we learned that over the past six months, our economy has grown at its fastest pace since 2003. But the gains of a growing economy aren’t yet felt by everyone. So we’ve got to harness this momentum, and make the right choices so that everyone who works hard can get ahead. In recent weeks, I’ve talked about these choices, from raising the minimum wage to creating new jobs in construction and manufacturing. Today, I want to focus on what I discussed with those women – the choices we need to make to help more women get ahead in today’s economy. Right now, women make up almost half of our workers. More women are their family’s main breadwinner than ever before. So the simple truth is, when women succeed, America succeeds. And we should be choosing policies that benefit women – because that benefits all of us. Women deserve fair pay. Even though it’s 2014, there are women still earning less than men for doing the same work. We don’t have second-class citizens in this country – we shouldn’t in the workplace, either. So let’s make sure women earn equal pay for equal work, and have a fair shot at success. Women deserve to be able to take time off to care for a new baby, an ailing parent, or take a sick day for themselves without running into hardship. So let’s make sure all Americans have access to paid family leave. Pregnant workers deserve to be treated fairly. Even today, women can be fired for taking too many bathroom breaks, or forced on unpaid leave just for being pregnant. That’s wrong – and we have to choose policies that ensure pregnant workers are treated with dignity and respect. New parents deserve quality, affordable childcare. There’s nothing like the peace of mind that comes with knowing that your kids are safe while you’re at work. And the benefits that children get out of early enrichment can pay off for a lifetime. But in many states, sending your kid to daycare costs more than sending them to a public university. So let’s start demanding Pre-K for our kids And when most low-wage workers are women, but Congress hasn’t passed a minimum wage increase in seven years, it’s long past time that women deserve a raise. About 28 million workers would benefit from an increase in the minimum wage to ten dollars and ten cents an hour. And more than half of those workers are women. The local businesses where these workers spend their money would benefit, too. So let’s do this – let’s give America a raise. All of these policies are common sense. All of them are within our reach. We’ve just got to speak up and choose them. Because they’ll build a stronger America for all of us. Thanks, and have a great weekend. REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT ON WOMEN AND THE ECONOMY
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release October 31, 2014 REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT ON WOMEN AND THE ECONOMY Rhode Island College Providence, Rhode Island 11:24 A.M. EDT THE PRESIDENT: Hello, everybody! (Applause.) Can everybody please give Lisbeth a big round of applause? That was a great introduction. (Applause.) Happy Halloween, everybody. I see a lot of you came as college students. (Applause.) AUDIENCE MEMBER: We love you! THE PRESIDENT: I love you, too. Those of you who have seats, feel free to sit down. Those of you who don’t, don’t. (Laughter.) I am not going to be too long. I’ve got to get back and trick-or-treat tonight with Michelle. Although, Malia and Sasha are a little old -- AUDIENCE: Aww -- THE PRESIDENT: It’s so sad. (Laughter.) I used to be able to -- we’d dress them up, and we still have the pictures. They’ll resent them later, but at the time they were fine with it. They were so cute. A good thing about being President is we never run out of Presidential M&Ms -- (laughter) -- so we’re going to be giving those out. AUDIENCE: (Inaudible.) (Laughter.) THE PRESIDENT: You want some? Is that what you said? Only to kids. (Laughter.) We’re so proud of Lisbeth, not just for the wonderful introduction but for being so determined about her education. And she’s a really remarkable young lady. I had a chance to speak to her before we came out. It turns out she went to school with my niece and nephew -- AUDIENCE MEMBER: Classical! THE PRESIDENT: That’s right. At Classical, is that right? So that was neat. I have also brought some Halloween characters with me: Our Secretary of Labor, Tom Perez. (Applause.) They are all dressed up as really outstanding public servants. (Laughter.) And Tom has just been doing extraordinary work. His lovely daughter is there, who’s a freshman at Brown. Your great senators, Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse. (Applause.) Your outstanding Congressman, David Cicilline, is here. (Applause.) Jim Langevin is here. (Applause.) And we’re proud of both of them. But despite how much I love all the folks I just mentioned, the people I really came to see is you. (Applause.) Because every decision I make every single day -- all the policies I pursue as President -- are all aimed at making sure we restore the promise of this country for your generation and for every generation that comes after. Now, the good news is we’ve made a lot of progress since the worst economic crisis of our lifetimes. So when I first came into office, the economy was in a freefall, the auto industry was in a freefall. Banks were frozen up. We were losing 800,000 jobs a month. Over the past 55 months, our businesses have now added 10.3 million new jobs. (Applause.) For the first time in more than six years, the unemployment rate is below 6 percent. Over the past six months, our economy has grown at its fastest pace in more than 10 years. And in education, dropout rates are down, the national graduation rate is the highest on record, more young people are earning their college degrees than ever before. (Applause.) Good job, young people. In energy, we’re less dependent on foreign oil than any time in nearly three decades. Manufacturing -- the quintessential producer of middle-class jobs, the heart of Rhode Island’s economy for decades -- manufacturing has now created 700,000 new jobs since early 2010. Ten million Americans have gained the peace of mind that comes with having health insurance. (Applause.) AUDIENCE MEMBER: Thank you! THE PRESIDENT: You’re welcome. Deficits have come down. Health care inflation has come down. There’s almost no economic measure by which we haven't made substantial progress over this period of time. We’re better off than we were. (Applause.) So, look, the progress has been hard. It’s sometimes been challenging in particular states. But it’s been steady and it’s been real. Now, the thing is, though, what’s also true is that millions of Americans don’t yet feel the benefits of a growing economy where it matters most -- and that’s in their own lives. There are still a lot of folks who are working hard, but having trouble making ends meet. I know that many of you are working while you go to school. Some of you are helping support your parents or siblings. Here in Rhode Island, and across the country, there are still too many people who are working too many hours and don’t have enough to show for it. And this isn’t just the hangover from the Great Recession; some of this has to do with trends that date back 20, 30 years. And I’ve always said that recovering from the crisis of 2008 was the first thing we had to do, but our economy won’t be healthy until we reverse some of these longer-term trends, this erosion of middle-class jobs and income. And here in Rhode Island, my administration recently announced a grant to help more long-term unemployed folks get the training and mentoring they need to get back to work. (Applause.) And all across the country, we’re taking similar actions, community by community, to keep making progress We’ve got to harness the momentum that we’re seeing in the broader economy and make sure the economy is working for every single American. We’ve got to keep making smart choices. And today, here at RIC, I want to focus on some common-sense steps we can take to help working families right now. In particular, I want to zero in on the choices we need to make to ensure that women are full and equal participants in the economy. (Applause.) Now, men, I don’t want you to feel neglected. I like men just fine. (Laughter.) But part of the reason that I want this focus is because I was raised by a single mom, and know what it was like for her to raise two kids and go to work at the same time, and try to piece things together without a lot of support. And my grandmother, who never graduated from college but worked her way up to become vice president of a bank, I know what it was like for her to hit the glass ceiling, and to see herself passed over for promotions by people that she had trained. And so some of this is personal, but some of it is also what we know about our economy, which is it’s changing in profound ways, and in many ways for the better because of the participation of women more fully in our economy. So earlier today, I met with a group of women business owners and working moms, and Lisbeth and your president here, and they were sharing stories that probably sound familiar to a lot of people -- studying for finals after working a full shift; searching for childcare when the babysitter cancels at the last minute; using every penny of their savings so they can afford to stay home with their new baby. And so I kept on hearing my own story. I kept on hearing about my mom struggling to put herself through school, or my grandmother hitting that glass ceiling. And I thought about Michelle, and I told some stories about when Michelle and I were younger and getting starting, and we were struggling to balance two careers while raising a family. And my job forced me to travel a lot, which made it harder on Michelle, and we would feel some of the guilt that so many people feel -- we’re working, we’re thinking about the kids, we’re wondering whether we’re bad parents, we’re wondering whether we were doing what we need to do on the job. And as the catch-22 of working parents, we wanted to spend time with our kids, but we also wanted to make sure that we gave them the opportunities that our hard work was providing. And then, of course, I think about my daughters. And the idea that my daughters wouldn’t have the same opportunities as somebody’s sons -- well, that’s unacceptable. That’s not acceptable. (Applause.) So I say all this because -- to the men here, we all have a stake in choosing policies that help women succeed. Women make up about half of America’s workforce. (Applause.) For more than two decades, women have earned over half of the higher education degrees awarded in this country. And you look at the RIC student body, almost 70 percent women. (Applause.) In colleges nationwide, there are more women graduating than men -- which means that for the first time, America’s highly educated workforce will be made up of more women than men. (Applause.) But here’s the challenge -- that’s all good news -- the challenge is, our economy and some of the laws and rules governing our workplaces haven’t caught up with that reality. A lot of workplaces haven’t caught up with that reality. So while many women are working hard to support themselves and their families, they’re still facing unfair choices, outdated workplace policies. That holds them back, but it also holds all of us back. We have to do better, because women deserve better. And, by the way, when women do well, everybody does well. (Applause.) So women deserve a day off to care for a sick child or sick parent without running into hardship. And Rhode Island has got the right idea. You’re one of just three states where paid family leave is the law of the land. (Applause.) More states should choose to follow your lead. It was interesting talking to some of the small business owners in the meeting. They were saying how the Rhode Island law actually helped them do a better job recruiting and retaining outstanding employees. And so that shows you something -- that this is not just a nice thing to do; it’s good policy. It’s good for business. It’s good for the economy. (Applause.) Without paid leave, when a baby arrives or an aging parent needs help, workers have to make painful decisions about whether they can afford to be there when their families need them most. Many women can’t even get a paid day off to give birth to their child. I mean, there are a lot of companies that still don’t provide maternity leave. Of course, dads should be there, too. So let’s make this happen for women and for men, and make our economy stronger. (Applause.) We’ve got to broaden our laws for family leave. Moms and dads deserve a great place to drop their kids off every day that doesn’t cost them an arm and a leg. We need better childcare, daycare, early childhood education policies. (Applause.) In many states, sending your child to daycare costs more than sending them to a public university. AUDIENCE MEMBER: True! THE PRESIDENT: True. (Laughter.) And too often, parents have no choice but to put their kids in cheaper daycare that maybe doesn’t have the kinds of programming that makes a big difference in a child’s development. And sometimes there may just not be any slots, or the best programs may be too far away. And sometimes, someone, usually mom, leaves the workplace to stay home with the kids, which then leaves her earning a lower wage for the rest of her life as a result. And that’s not a choice we want Americans to make. So let’s make this happen. By the end of this decade, let’s enroll 6 million children in high-quality preschool, and let’s make sure that we are making America stronger. That is good for families; it’s also good for the children, because we know investing in high-quality early childhood education makes all the difference in the world, and those kids will do better. So we need family leave, we need better child care policies, and we need to make sure that women get an honest day’s pay for an honest day’s work. (Applause.) About 28 million Americans would benefit if we raised the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour -- (applause) -- like Sheldon Whitehouse and Jack Reed support. And let me say this: Minimum wage -- those aren't just teenage jobs that are impacted. We're not just talking about young people. My first job was at Baskin Robbins. And I got paid the minimum wage and it was okay. Wearing that hat and the apron was -- (laughter) -- yeah. But the truth is, the average worker who would benefit from an increase in the minimum wage is 35 years old -- 35. A majority of low-wage workers are women. A lot of them have kids. Right now, somebody working full-time on the minimum wage makes $14,500 a year -- $14,500. If they’re a parent, that means they’re below the poverty line. Nobody who works full-time in America should be below the poverty line. (Applause.) They should not be raising their kids below the poverty line. I am not going to give up this fight. And we need Republicans in Congress to stop blocking a minimum wage increase and give America a raise. (Applause.) And if a woman is doing the same work as a man, she deserves to get paid just like the man does. (Applause.) Even though it’s 2014, there are women still earning less than men for doing the same work. And women of color face an even greater wage gap. (Applause.) And at a time when women are the primary breadwinners in more households than ever, that hurts the whole family if they’re not getting paid fairly. Again, men, I just want you to pay attention. When Michelle and I were starting off, there were stretches of time where Michelle was making more money than me, and I wanted to make sure she was making every dime that she deserved. (Laughter.) Right? I don't know how I benefit by her getting paid less than a man. Right? AUDIENCE: Right! THE PRESIDENT: Okay! Men, I just want you to be clear. (Laughter.) And it starts with recent college graduates. Women often start their careers with lower pay, and then the gap grows over time -- especially if they get passed over for promotions and then they get fewer raises, or they take time off to care for family members. So you get a situation where women are doing the same work as men, but the structure, the expectations somehow is, well, they’ll take time off for family, and once they take time off that means that it's okay to pay them a little bit less. And that builds up over time. And we've got to have a reversal of those kinds of policies and that kind of mindset. We've got to catch up to the 21st century. We need to pass a fair pay law, make our economy stronger. It will be good for America, and it will be good for our families and good for our kids. (Applause.) While we're on the topic, women deserve to make their own health care choices -- not politicians or insurance companies. (Applause.) And that’s why the Affordable Care Act is so important. (Applause.) Insurance plans -- because we passed the Affordable Care Act, insurance plans now have to cover the basics, including contraceptive care, and prenatal care, and maternity care. (Applause.) That means a working mom doesn’t have to put off the care she needs just so she can pay her bills on time. Tens of millions of women have new access to preventive care like mammograms with no co-pays, no out-of-pocket expenses. (Applause.) It means that a cash-strapped student doesn’t have to choose between the care that she needs and the cost of textbooks. (Applause.) And because of the Affordable Care Act, because of Obamacare -- (applause) -- because of that law, no insurance company can deny you coverage based on a preexisting condition like breast cancer, or charge you more for the same care just because you’re a woman. (Applause.) That's the right thing to do. So no matter how many times Republicans threaten to repeal this law, we're going to keep it in place -- because it's working. (Applause.) Not only is it covering more people, not only is it protecting women and people with preexisting conditions from discrimination, but it's actually been part of the trend that's lowering health care inflation. We're actually saving money because the system is getting smarter and there’s more preventive care instead of emergency care, and we're changing how health care is delivered. (Applause.) Which is why I’m pretty sure that in 10 years they're not going to call it Obamacare anymore. (Laughter.) Republicans will be like, oh, I was for that, yes. (Laughter.) That's how that works. AUDIENCE MEMBER: We’ll remember. THE PRESIDENT: You’ll remember though. You’ll remind them. (Applause.) Now, to really make sure that women are full and equal participants in our economy, we can do some of this administratively. But it requires not just changing laws; it requires changing attitudes. And more and more companies are changing attitudes. And this is really good news. JetBlue, for example, has a flexible work-from-home plan for its customer service reps. They’ve found it’s led to happier, more productive employees and lower costs. Google increased paid leave for new parents -- moms and dads -- to five months -- five months -- and that helped cut the rate of women leaving the company by half. And when I was having a conversation with some of the women business owners before I came out here, they were saying it’s really costly when you lose a good employee and you've got to train somebody all over again. It’s much more sensible from a business perspective to invest in them and make them feel like you've got their backs, and they’ll stay with you. And it’s not just these big corporations that are embracing these policies. So Cheryl Snead, who is the CEO of Banneker Industries -- where’s Cheryl? She was here just a second. There she is back there. So Banneker Industries, a supply chain management firm, is based in North Smithfield. And when Cheryl was in college, she studied mechanical engineering. At the time, there weren’t that many African American women in mechanical engineering. There still aren’t. (Laughter.) We're working to change that. Cheryl wants to do something about that. Her company has made it a priority to find talented young women and minority students, encourage them to study science and math in college, hire them once they graduate. (Applause.) And what Cheryl was explaining was that having a diverse workforce, having more women in the workforce, all that makes her a stronger company. And it’s not just good for the workers -- it’s good for business. So if large businesses like Google, small businesses like Cheryl’s all see the wisdom of this, let’s join them. Let’s encourage more women and more girls into fields like science and technology and engineering and math. And let’s work with those companies to ensure that family-friendly policies can support more women in that workforce. (Applause.) Ann-Marie Harrington -- where is Ann? Ann-Marie is right here. So Ann-Marie, she’s the president of a company called Embolden, based in Pawtucket. And it provides web services to community foundations and non-profits. A small business -- about 20 employees; 21 I think she said. She just hired somebody, must have been. (Laughter.) But she lets them work from home and keep a flexible schedule when they need to. And she says that’s increased her company’s productivity. So I’m taking a page from these companies’ playbooks. This summer I directed the federal agencies in the executive branch to put flexible workplace policies in wherever possible; make it clear that all federal employees have the right to request them. We want the best talent to serve our country, and that means making it a little bit easier for them to maintain that work-family balance. But these are issues that are too important to hinge on whether or not your boss is enlightened. We have to raise our voices to demand that women get paid fairly. We’ve got to raise our voices to make sure women can take time off to care for a loved one, and that moms and dads can spend time with a new baby. We’ve got to raise our voices to make sure that our women maintain and keep their own health care choices. We’ve got to raise our voices to basically do away with policies and politicians that belong in a “Mad Men” episode. “Mad Men” is a good show, but that's not who we want making decisions about our workplaces these days. When women succeed, America succeeds. And we need leaders who understand that. That’s what we need. (Applause.) So if you care about these policies, you got to keep pushing for them. This shouldn’t be partisan. Republicans and Democrats should be supportive of all these issues. I was talking to Tom Perez; he had just come back from Europe. He was talking to chambers of commerce and conservative politicians. They were all supportive of family leave, supportive of childcare, because they understood it actually made the economy more productive. This isn’t a liberal or conservative agenda. When I talk to women, like the ones I spoke to earlier, when I hear folks’ stories from across the country, and when I think about my own mom and how she made it all work, or my grandmother, nobody is looking at these issues through partisan lenses. We’re not Democrats first or Republicans first, we are Americans first. And as Americans, it’s up to us to protect and restore the ideals that made this country great. (Applause.) And that is, that in this country, no matter who you are, what you look like, where you come from, whether you are male or you are female -- here in America, you can make it if you try. That’s the promise of America. That’s the future I’m going to fight for. (Applause.) I want you to fight there with me. Thank you, everybody. God bless you. White House Report: Women’s Participation in Education and the Workforce
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 31, 2014 White House Report: Women’s Participation in Education and the Workforce Today, the Council of Economic Advisers released a report, Women’s Participation in Education and the Workforce, and fact sheet with Eleven Facts about American Families and Work, that highlight the top economic trends facing working families today, and how the administration’s policies would help ensure our long-term economic growth, maintain our economic competitiveness, improve the well-being of Americans and make full use of all of our talented workers. Later today, the President will visit Rhode Island College in Providence to continue his focus on our economy’s progress and his vision for continuing to build on that foundation by expanding opportunity for women and working families. Yesterday’s new GDP report was the latest indicator of this progress. In fact, in the last two quarters combined the economy grew at a 4.1 percent pace – the fastest six month period of growth in more than 10 years. All told, the U.S. has put more people back to work than Europe, Japan and every other advanced country combined. This broader data shows that our economy is headed in the right direction, but we have more work to do to continue to ensure that all of our workers can fully participate in our economy and continue its growth. That’s why doing everything we can to help women succeed has been a key part of the President’s agenda since day one of his Administration. This commitment has also been front and center of the President’s Year of Action, during which he has put forth a range of policies that would improve the lives of women and all working families – like raising the minimum wage, because women, who are the majority of low-wage workers, deserve a raise; ensuring equal pay for equal work, because women deserve that basic fairness; increasing access to high-quality child care and paid family leave, because women – and men – deserve to be able to take care of their families; encouraging flexible workplace policies, because they’re good for workers and business; and expanding women’s access to good jobs in technology and other high-growth fields, because women have been underrepresented in those fields for too long. And because he wants to work with all stakeholders, from lawmakers to companies to advocates, business schools and beyond, in June the President convened the first-ever White House Summit on Working Families to identify innovative solutions that would make today’s workplaces work for everyone. While the President has taken executive action where he is able and made clear his interest in working with Congress to make sure all Americans can benefit from these commonsense proposals, Republicans lawmakers continue to block many of these initiatives from even receiving a vote. While in Rhode Island, the President will again discuss how these policies could help working families right now and continue to grow our economy. He’ll participate in a roundtable with working parents, small business owners, students and faculty at Rhode Island College and then deliver remarks on campus. Consistent with national trends, Rhode Island College has a higher percentage of female students and is home to the Rhode Island Center of STEM, which supports STEM education for students from across the entire state. THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 30, 2014 Statement on the Advance Estimate of GDP for the Third Quarter of 2014 WASHINGTON, DC – Jason Furman, Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers, issued the following statement today on the advance estimate of GDP for the third quarter of 2014. You can view the statement HERE. Posted by Jason Furman on October 30, 2014 at 9:30 AM EDT Economic growth in the third quarter was strong, consistent with a broad range of other indicators showing improvement in the labor market, rising consumer sentiment, increasing domestic energy security, and continued low health cost growth. Since the financial crisis, the U.S. economy has bounced back more strongly than most others around the world, and the recent data highlight that the United States is continuing to lead the global recovery. Nevertheless, more must still be done to boost growth both in the United States and around the world by investing in infrastructure, manufacturing, and innovation; and to ensure that workers are feeling the benefits of that growth, by pushing to raise the minimum wage and supporting equal pay. FIVE KEY POINTS IN TODAY’S REPORT FROM THE BUREAU OF ECONOMIC ANALYSIS 1. Real gross domestic product (GDP) grew 3.5 percent at an annual rate in the third quarter of 2014, according to the advance estimate from the Bureau of Economic Analysis. The strong growth recorded in each of the last two quarters suggests that the economy has bounced back strongly from the first-quarter decline in GDP, which largely reflected transitory factors like unusually severe winter weather and a sharp slowdown in inventory investment. In the third quarter, net exports made a large positive contribution to growth, while consumer spending and business investment grew at a somewhat slower pace than the previous quarter. 2. Export growth has picked up slightly to a 4.6 percent pace over the last four quarters, despite the continued substantial slowdown in the GDP growth of our major trading partners since 2010. Over the four quarters ended 2014:Q2, the real GDP of our major trading partners (weighted by their purchases of U.S. exports) grew 2.4 percent, up slightly from the recent low seen in 2013, but still well below the 4.8 percent growth seen over the four quarters of 2010. This slowdown reflects not just challenges in the euro area, but also slower growth in several key emerging market economies like China, Mexico, and Brazil. U.S. export growth has largely mirrored this foreign growth, and so has rebounded from its lows in early 2013 but still remains below levels seen previously in the recovery. To boost exports, the President continues to encourage countries around the world to adopt pro-growth policies, but also to move ahead with trade and investment deals that will bring mutual benefits to both the United States and its trading partners. 3. Real State and local government spending edged up at a 1.3 percent annual rate in the third quarter, the sixth increase in the last seven quarters, despite facing more significant challenges in the current recovery than in other recent business cycles. On average during the four previous business cycles, real State and local government spending had risen nearly 11 percent from the business-cycle trough by this stage of the recovery. However, in the current recovery, real State and local government spending has fallen 5.7 percent since the business-cycle trough in 2009:Q2. If real State and local spending had increased at the same rate seen on average in the preceding four recoveries, overall real GDP would have grown nearly 0.4 percentage point faster per year in the current recovery. 4. The overall price index for GDP has risen 1.6 percent over the past four quarters, continuing a trend of subdued inflation since the end of the recession. Within the aggregate GDP index, the price index for personal consumption expenditures was up just 1.5 percent over the past four quarters, and an identical rate was observed for the “core” (excluding food and energy) components of personal consumption. The price indexes for a number of other components of GDP—including business equipment and State and local spending—also continue to grow at sub-2 percent year-over-year rates. One factor contributing to low inflation in recent years has been the marked slowdown in health care price inflation. Since mid-2010, the price index for health care services has risen at roughly the same pace as overall GDP prices, an unusual development since health care prices have tended to increase noticeably faster than GDP prices for much of the past 50 years. 5. Real private domestic final purchases (PDFP)—the sum of consumption and fixed investment—is up 2.8 percent over the last four quarters, a faster four-quarter growth rate than real GDP. Real PDFP growth is generally a more stable and forward-looking indicator than real GDP because it excludes highly volatile components like inventory investment and net exports. In the first and second quarters of this year, GDP growth fluctuated widely, but PDFP was positive in both quarters, showing a less sharp pattern of decline and rebound. In the third quarter, PDFP grew a bit more slowly than GDP, but on balance, it has risen faster over the past year and continued its historical pattern of more steady growth. As the Administration stresses every quarter, GDP figures can be volatile and are subject to substantial revision. Therefore, it is important not to read too much into any one single report and it is informative to consider each report in the context of other data that are becoming available. THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release October 17, 2014 REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT ON PROTECTING AMERICAN CONSUMERS Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Washington, D.C. 12:00 P.M. EDT THE PRESIDENT: Hello, everybody! (Applause.) Hello. Good job, everybody. Everybody, please have a seat. Well, it is good to be back at CFPB. AUDIENCE MEMBER: Woo! THE PRESIDENT: Yes, this is an enthusiastic and rowdy crowd, this group. (Laughter.) That’s what happens when you do good things -- you feel good. And this group is doing great work. I want to thank your director, Rich Cordray, for hosting me here today, and I want to thank all of you for doing a great job in looking out for the financial security of all Americans. Now, obviously, right now the news is dominated by Ebola, and we’ve got an all-hands-on-deck approach across government to make sure that we are keeping the American people safe. But even as we meet that particular challenge, it’s also important that we don’t lose sight of the other challenges that we face as a nation, especially the challenge of making sure that our economy works for every single American. And that includes the challenge that brings me here today: protecting Americans from financial fraud and identity theft. As President, I believe that America is stronger when our middle class can count on things like affordable health insurance, and Medicare and Social Security, where there are rules to protect our kids from dirty air or dirty water; rules to protect consumers from being taken advantage of. And I know you agree, those of you at CFPB, because that’s your mission. And that’s why part of the financial reform that we passed in the wake of the worse financial crisis since the Great Depression was the creation of this agency, to make sure that we are looking at every aspect of the financial system and ensuring that the American people have the basic protections that they should be able to count on. You have one mission: You’re a watchdog for consumers to make sure that the American people have somebody who’s got their backs. And because of the good work of many of the people who are here today, Americans have saved millions because they’ve been protected from predatory mortgage practices. You’ve protected folks from deceptive credit card practices. You’ve set up “Know Before You Owe” to help college be a little more affordable for young people and to make sure that they know the kind of debt that they’re accruing. You’ve simplified mortgage forms so homeowners don’t get tricked in the final print. But all this work, taken together, the reason it’s important is because it’s not an abstraction; it saves people money and time and heartache. And before you, Americans who had gotten taken advantage of often had no way of achieving some sort of compensation. Today, you’ve actually secured billions of dollars in relief for victims. You’ve helped to make people a little more whole after somebody engaged in fraudulent behavior. Some folks in Congress fought tooth and nail to keep this agency from getting off the ground. There are some, frankly, who are still fighting to undo the rules we put in place to protect consumers. But I refuse to back down and go back to the days when mortgage lenders or financial firms could take advantage of consumers, and consumers had no recourse. We’re moving forward. America is better because of this agency and because of the rules that we’ve put in place. And the good news is, is that we’ve got more work to do. And today, we’re building on the progress that’s already been made by announcing new measures to protect America from identity theft and fraud. Now, we’ve all experienced the benefits of new technologies that let us buy and sell things faster and more efficiently than ever before. But there are risks that come with these technologies as well. Last year, millions of Americans became victims of identity theft. Millions were victims of this kind of fraud. More than 100 million Americans had information that was compromised in data breaches in some of our largest companies. And identity theft is now America’s fastest-growing crime. These crimes don’t just cost companies and consumers billions of dollars every year, they also threaten the economic security of middle-class Americans who have worked really hard for a lifetime to build some sort of security. The idea that somebody halfway around the world could run up thousands of dollars in charges in your name just because they stole your number, or because you swiped your card at the wrong place in the wrong time, that’s infuriating. For victims, it’s heartbreaking. And as a country, we’ve got to do more to stop it. And that’s why today we are launching an initiative called “Buy Secure” -- because you should be able to buy the things that you need without risking your identity, your credit score, or your savings. First, starting next year, we’re going to begin making sure that credit cards and credit-card readers issued by the United States government come equipped with two new layers of protection: a microchip in the card that’s harder for thieves to clone than a magnetic strip, and a pin number you enter into the reader just as you do with an ATM. We know this technology works. When Britain switched to a chip-and-pin system, they cut fraud in stores by 70 percent. Seventy percent. Of course, no one security measure, no matter how powerful, can stop fraud on its own. So today, I’m also directing federal law enforcement to share more information with the private sector when they discover identity theft ring Folks here at the CFPB are working with banks to help make it easier for consumers to discover if fraudulent charges have been made to their account. The Federal Trade Commission will add new features to IdentityTheft.gov, and they’re going to work with credit bureaus to dramatically cut down on the time it takes for victims to recover their stolen identities. And in the coming months I’ll be bringing together industry leaders and consumer advocates for a cybersecurity summit focused on protecting consumers using the next generation of mobile payment systems and devices. And I’m happy to say that the private sector is already deeply engaged in this effort. Today, a group of retailers that include some of our largest -- Home Depot, Target, Walgreens, Walmart -- and representing more than 15,000 stores across the country, all of them are pledging to adopt chip-and-pin technology by the beginning of next year. American Express is pledging $10 million to replace outdated card readers at small businesses. MasterCard is pledging to provide its customers with free identity-theft monitoring and resolution support. And Citi is joining other financial institutions in making free FICO scores available to customers, because a sudden drop in your credit rating is one of the clearest signs that you’ve been hit by fraud. So I want to thank all the business leaders who are choosing to protect their companies and their customers from the kind of hacking that we saw too many times this past year. I want to encourage every retailer, every bank, and every credit card company to join them in this effort. And even though I’m taking action today without Congress, Congress needs to do its part, as well. Today, data breaches are handled by dozens of separate state laws, and it’s time to have one clear national standard that brings certainty to businesses and keeps consumers safe. Let me just close by saying this. Last week, I saw a survey that asked folks from all over the world what they thought of the idea that “success in life is pretty much determined by forces outside of our control.” Of all the advanced economies on Earth, Americans, as you might expect, were the least likely to agree with that. We think our fate is in our own hands. We think that if we work hard, that we can get ahead. For all the challenges of the 21st century, for all the tough, grueling work that's been required to rebuild this economy and people rebuilding their individual lives after a terrible recession, we still believe that our destiny is written by us -- not for us. We believe that this is a country where hard work should pay off and responsibility should be rewarded. That’s the principle all of you here at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau deeply believe in. That's what you're fighting for every single day. That's what I’m going to keep fighting for as long as I have the opportunity to be President. And the executive order I’m signing and the great work that the companies are doing who are participating here today is going to just be one more brick in that bridge that we provide to hopefully all Americans so that they can translate their dreams into reality. So good job, everybody. Let me sign this. (Applause.) (The executive order is signed.) THE PRESIDENT: Rich, I should mention, by the way, that I went to a restaurant up in New York when I was there during the General Assembly, and my credit card was rejected. (Laughter.) It turned out I guess I don't use it enough. So they thought there was some fraud going on. (Laughter.) Fortunately, Michelle had hers. And I was trying to explain to the waitress, no, I really think that I’ve been paying my bills. (Laughter.) Even I’m affected by this. Thank you very much, everybody. (Applause.) White House Announces Summit on Early Education
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 29, 2014 White House Announces Summit on Early Education WASHINGTON, DC – On Wednesday, December 10, President Obama will host a White House Summit on Early Education. The Summit will bring together a broad coalition of philanthropic, business, education, advocacy and elected leaders, as well as other stakeholders who are committed to expanding access to high-quality early education. This summit builds on the President’s call in his 2013 State of the Union address to expand access to high-quality early childhood education to every child in America. As part of that effort, the President proposed a series of new investments that will establish a continuum of high-quality early learning for a child—beginning at birth and continuing to age five. This proposal includes extending and expanding evidence-based, voluntary home visiting, growing the supply of effective early learning opportunities for young children through Early Head Start-Child Care Partnerships, and providing Preschool for All. Since the President’s call to action, more than 30 states and cities have established new programs or expanded access to preschool. Studies show that for every dollar we invest in early childhood education, we see a rate of return of $7 or more through a reduced need for spending on other services, such as remedial education, grade repetition, and special education, as well as increased productivity and earnings for these children as adults. During the summit, the President will announce the states and communities that will receive $250 million in Preschool Development Grants and $500 million in Early Head Start Child Care Partnership awards to enhance and expand preschool programs and to improve access to high-quality infant and toddler care in high-need communities. In addition to those grant announcements, the President will also highlight new private sector commitments to expand children’s early learning opportunities. Over the last several months, Senior Administration Officials have traveled across the country to hear from local officials, education experts, business leaders, and the philanthropic community about how to best advance the President’s agenda to expand access to high-quality early education for all Americans. Additional details about the summit will be released at a later date. President Obama Announces 2014 White House Tribal Nations Conference
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 20, 2014 President Obama Announces 2014 White House Tribal Nations Conference WASHINGTON, DC – On Wednesday, December 3, President Obama will host the 2014 White House Tribal Nations Conference at the Capital Hilton in Washington, DC. The conference will provide leaders from the 566 federally recognized tribes the opportunity to interact directly with the President and members of the White House Council on Native American Affairs. Each federally recognized tribe will be invited to send one representative to the conference. This will be the sixth White House Tribal Nations Conference for the Obama Administration, and continues to build upon the President’s commitment to strengthen the government-to-government relationship with Indian Country and to improve the lives of Native Americans. Additional details about the conference will be released at a later date. Executive Order --Improving the Security of Consumer Financial Transactions
The President signed an Executive Order signed today by the President, Improving the Security of Consumer Financial Transactions. Remarks by the First Lady at White House Kitchen Garden Harvest
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the First Lady __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release October 14, 2014 REMARKS BY THE FIRST LADY AT WHITE HOUSE KITCHEN GARDEN HARVEST Kitchen Garden 3:18 P.M. EDT MRS. OBAMA: Hey, kids, what’s happening? CHILDREN: Nothing. MRS. OBAMA: Are you ready to harvest the White House Garden? CHILDREN: Yes! MRS. OBAMA: Are you excited? CHILDREN: Yes! MRS. OBAMA: How excited are you? CHILDREN: Very! MRS. OBAMA: That's good, that's good. All right, I want to make sure everybody knows which schools are here, okay? So when I say your school, I want the students to give me the loudest yell, along with their teachers or parents, whoever are with you, the loudest shout. You got nothing. I got no gifts for you, but it will just be cool to hear it. We’ve got the STAR School from Flagstaff, Arizona. Where are you guys? CHILDREN: Yes! (Applause.) MRS. OBAMA: Come on, you guys can do better than that. Let me hear it. CHILDREN: Yes! (Applause.) MRS. OBAMA: Whoa, I think you all are sleepy. (Laughter.) You got an early start to get here, didn't you? (Laughter.) All right we have Willow Cove Elementary School from Pittsburg, California. Let’s hear you. CHILDREN: Yes! (Applause.) MRS. OBAMA: Welcome. (Laughter.) We have Greenview Upper Elementary School from Lyndhurst, Ohio. CHILDREN: Yes! (Applause.) MRS. OBAMA: Oh, wait, I think so far they're winning from Ohio on the screaming. But we have some hometown schools here, some of our partners who were here for every planting and every harvest. We have students from Harriet Tubman. CHILDREN: Yes! (Applause.) MRS. OBAMA: All right, that sounds like home. (Laughter.) Was that a little loud for you, too? That was a little loud. That was good. That was good. And of course, we’ve got Bancroft Elementary School. CHILDREN: Yes! (Applause.) MRS. OBAMA: It’s old hat for them. They're just -- it’s like, oh, whatever. So can you -- look at the garden. Look how amazing it looks over there. And it’s beautiful. It looks like a whole other place over there. And just imagine that everything was just dirt just a few months ago. And because the summer was so cool and wet and beautiful, everything is just bursting. And it’s just amazing over there. So I’m happy that you guys are here to help me because we couldn’t get this done without you. And when we finish harvesting, we're going to actually do some cooking with our chefs and some eating. So let’s get started. You guys have your assignments? CHILDREN: Yes. MRS. OBAMA: All right, let’s move. Let’s move. Let’s go WEEKLY ADDRESS: America Is a Place Where Hard Work Should Be Rewarded
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ WEEKLY ADDRESS: America Is a Place Where Hard Work Should Be Rewarded WASHINGTON, DC — In this week’s address, the President made the case for why it’s past time to raise the minimum wage. Increasing the national minimum wage to $10.10 an hour would benefit 28 million Americans, and make our economy stronger. While Republicans in Congress have blocked this commonsense proposal, a large and growing coalition of state and local leaders and owners of businesses large and small have answered the President’s call and raised wages for their residents and employees. This progress is important, but there is more than can be done. No American who works full time should have to raise a family in poverty. That’s why the President will continue to push Congress to take action and give America its well-deserved raise. The audio of the address and video of the address will be available online at www.whitehouse.gov at 6:00 a.m. ET, October 11, 2014. Remarks of President Barack Obama Weekly Address The White House October 11, 2014 Hi, everybody. For the first time in more than 6 years, the unemployment rate is below 6%. Over the past four and a half years, our businesses have created more than 10 million new jobs. That’s the longest uninterrupted stretch of private sector job creation in our history. But while our businesses are creating jobs at the fastest pace since the ‘90s, the typical family hasn’t seen a raise since the ‘90s also. Folks are feeling as squeezed as ever. That’s why I’m going to keep pushing policies that will create more jobs faster and raise wages faster – policies like rebuilding our infrastructure, making sure women are paid fairly, and making it easier for young people to pay off their student loans. But one of the simplest and fastest ways to start helping folks get ahead is by raising the minimum wage. Ask yourself: could you live on $14,500 a year? That’s what someone working full-time on the minimum wage makes. If they’re raising kids, that’s below the poverty line. And that’s not right. A hard day’s work deserves a fair day’s pay. Right now, a worker on the federal minimum wage earns $7.25 an hour. It’s time to raise that to $10.10 an hour. Raising the federal minimum wage to ten dollars and ten cents an hour, or ten-ten, would benefit 28 million American workers. 28 million. And these aren’t just high schoolers on their first job. The average worker who would benefit is 35 years old. Most low-wage workers are women. And that extra money would help them pay the bills and provide for their families. It also means they’ll have more money to spend at local businesses – which grows the economy for everyone. But Congress hasn’t voted to raise the minimum wage in seven years. Seven years. And when it got a vote earlier this year, Republicans flat-out voted “no.” That’s why, since the first time I asked Congress to give America a raise, 13 states, 21 cities and D.C. have gone around Congress to raise their workers’ wages. Five more states have minimum wage initiatives on the ballot next month. More companies are choosing to raise their workers’ wages. A recent survey shows that a majority of small business owners support a gradual increase to ten-ten an hour, too. And I’ve done what I can on my own by requiring federal contractors to pay their workers at least ten-ten an hour. On Friday, a coalition of citizens – including business leaders, working moms, labor unions, and more than 65 mayors – told Republicans in Congress to stop blocking a raise for millions of hard-working Americans. Because we believe that in America, nobody who works full-time should ever have to raise a family in poverty. And I’m going to keep up this fight until we win. Because America deserves a raise right now. And America should forever be a place where your hard work is rewarded. Thanks, and have a great weekend. First Lady Michelle Obama's Harvest Event
Tuesday, October 14, 2014 The White House * 3:30 PM – First Lady Michelle Obama will join school children and chefs for the annual fall harvest of the White House Kitchen Garden. In 2009, Mrs. Obama planted a vegetable garden on the South Lawn of the White House to initiate a national conversation around the health and wellbeing of our nation – a conversation that evolved into her Let’s Move! initiative to help kids and families lead healthier lives. In celebration of Farm to School Month, the First Lady has invited students from Arizona, California, and Ohio to participate in the fall harvest. These schools were selected because they are participating in farm to school programs that incorporate fresh, local food into their school meals, and they teach students about healthy eating through school gardens and nutrition education. The schools include: The STAR School – Flagstaff, Arizona The STAR (Service To All Relations) School is a charter elementary school near the Southwest corner of the Navajo Nation. Students at the school enjoy active instruction on native foods from the school’s garden. The school also partners with Navajo farmers to bring native foods into the school’s home economics class. Over the past year, the school has achieved great success in their farm to school project. They have conducted local squash soup and carrot salad taste tests with students and the community, harvested fresh produce from their school garden, including leaf lettuce and radishes, and increased the overall percentage of local products served in school meals. With the help of the Arizona Department of Education, the STAR School is now able to use the squash soup and carrot salad recipes in the school meals program. The STAR School estimates that 23% of their school food is produced locally, including produce from the USDA Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program. They are also working hard to develop a greenhouse program to grow more produce to bring in to the school cafeteria. Willow Cove Elementary School, Pittsburg Unified Schools – Pittsburg, California Willow Cove Elementary School exemplifies the strong impact a district farm to school program can have on a school community. Willow Cove established Pittsburg Unified School District’s flagship garden in 2013. The school garden has provided a great opportunity for the students to learn more about how food is grown. In addition to working in their own school garden, this past May, Willow Cove students had the opportunity to spend the day at a local farm for their first-ever farm field trip where students enjoyed a hands-on learning experience at a real working farm. This past summer, farm to school activities were also incorporated into Pittsburg Unified’s Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). SFSP participants had the opportunity to harvest the summer bounty at Willow Cove’s garden and incorporate it into their meals. Additionally, Willow Cove students receive nutrition and agriculture education from the local University of California Cooperative Extension and enjoy featured local products on their breakfast and lunch trays. Both students and parents have reported the positive impact that this education has had on their daily eating habits and because of these efforts, Willow Cove Elementary School has been awarded a Healthier US Schools Gold Award of Distinction. Greenview Upper Elementary School, South Euclid-Lyndhurst Schools – Lyndhurst, Ohio Greenview Upper Elementary School has the most active school garden program throughout the South Euclid-Lyndhurst District. The school’s large garden includes a robust composting program, a dedicated afterschool garden club, and staff passionate about gardening and helping the program succeed. Greenview Upper Elementary also incorporates nutrition education into their curriculum, increasing students’ awareness of healthy food options and teaching them how real food reaches their plate. The school is committed to its farm to school efforts, incorporating food from local farms into the meals served. Approximately 25% of South Euclid-Lyndhurst School District’s food is produced locally and goes to schools like Greenview Upper Elementary to provide the students with fresh, local options in their salad bar and throughout school meals. Students from Harriet Tubman Elementary and Bancroft Elementary in Washington, DC, who regularly help in the Kitchen Garden, will also join the First Lady at the harvest. Additionally, three chefs paired with three Kids’ “State Dinner” winners will also join this year’s fall harvest. Earlier this year during the 3rd Annual Kids’ “State Dinner,” the First Lady announced the Kids and Chefs Cook for Success collaboration. On Tuesday, Mrs. Obama will announce that all 54 winners of this year’s Kids’ “State Dinner” have been paired up with chefs in their communities to host free and healthy cooking demonstrations this fall. These cooking demos will help support efforts to build and teach basic cooking skills to kids and families in communities across the country. The following chefs and Kids’ “State Dinner” winners will be present at the garden: Maryland Chef Geoff Tracy Esther Matheny, 11, Chesapeake Fish Tacos, Lemon-Basil Sorbet, Chevy Chase New Jersey Chef Thomas Ciszak Jacob Cook, 10, Sweet Potato Crusted Turkey & Veggie Pizza, Alpine Georgia Chef Curtis Aikens Mira Solomon, 10, Grillin' Out Veggie Style, Atlanta Remarks by the President in a Town Hall on Innovation -- Los Angeles, CA
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary For Immediate Release October 9, 2014 REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT IN A TOWN HALL ON INNOVATION Cross Campus Los Angeles, California 3:01 P.M. PDT THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, everybody. Well, it’s good to see all of you. And this is really interesting stuff. I want to spend more time tooling around on there, and maybe buy an appliance. (Laughter.) But we’ve got limited time. I want to be able to have a conversation with all of you. This environment I think is reflective of what’s best in America, because it shows the kind of energy and entrepreneurship, the dynamism, the creativity and innovation that’s always been the hallmark of the American economy. There are a couple of people here who I want to acknowledge because they are encouraging this kind of startup culture here in the Los Angeles, which has really gotten going. We’ve got Mayor Eric Garcetti in the house. Where did he go? (Applause.) There is he. We’ve got the Mayor of Santa Monica, which sounds like a really good job -- Pam O’Connor is here. (Applause.) And I want to thank all the folks at Cross Campus who helped bring this together. So, Cross Campus folks, stand up. Where are you? (Applause.) So both Pam and Eric and a lot of folks I think are working hard to make L.A. a model for innovation here in California, but also a model for what we need to see all across the country. And just this week -- I want to acknowledge -- L.A. schools announced a plan to offer computer science classes to every K-12 student in the district, which is going to make a huge difference. It’s the kind of drive and creativity, but also the investment of hard dollars in our future that is going to be so important, and part of what brings me here today. I’m not going to give a long speech, because I want to basically have a conversation with all of you. But I do want you to consider a few things. Last month, our businesses added 236,000 new jobs. Over the past 55 months, we’ve added about 10.3 million new jobs across America. And what we’ve seen is the longest uninterrupted stretch of private sector job growth in our history. And that’s why, for the first time in more than six years, the unemployment rate has now dropped below 6 percent. And today, we’re on pace for the strongest job growth since the 1990s. Interesting statistic. All told, over these last six years, the United States has put more people back to work than Japan, Europe, and every advanced economy combined, which gives us a sense of the kind of momentum that we could be building. (Applause.) And beneath that, all kinds of good stuff is happening. I mean, we have cut our deficit by more than half. High school graduation rates are higher than ever. College attendance is higher than ever. On the energy front, we’re producing more traditional energy than ever before, but we’re also more energy-efficient than we’ve ever been before. We’re doubling fuel efficiency standards on cars, and in fact, car fuel efficiency is the highest it’s ever been on record. We’ve doubled the production of clean energy; increased solar energy by tenfold, wind energy by threefold -- all of which is giving a huge advantage to our manufacturers. And instead of seeing outsourcing, we’re now starting to see companies actually wanting to move manufacturing back from China here to the United States of America. Our manufacturing is growing faster than at any time since the ‘90s. And obviously our auto industry, which was barely hanging on when we first came into office, now is not only producing a lot of cars and hiring more folks than they have in two decades, but the cars are actually good, and you guys are actually buying them and driving them. And perhaps the best thing that’s happening is, is that we’ve got a rising generation of talented, striving, innovative young people. And I know that there’s a few of us here who are only young at heart, but a lot of you are part of the millennial generation that’s going to change how we do things. Today, more of our young people are earning a college degree than ever before. More and more children of low-income parents are enrolling in college and earning their shot at the American Dream. Along with higher education levels, millennials have a lower gender pay gap than other generations, and we’re working to close that gap even further. And what we’re seeing here is the way that technology is changing not just how you do business, not just how you buy products, but also how you interact, how you organize politically, how you get involved in the community and how you solve problems. And all of that can support millions of new jobs. So in some ways, entrepreneurship is in the DNA of this generation. And a lot of that is taking place all across the country. Obviously, California is an epicenter of it, and Silicon Valley is the crown jewel of our innovation economy, but it’s happening in Kansas City. It’s happening in places in Colorado. It’s happening in towns in Ohio. And everywhere you go, you see people turning great ideas into great companies. Today, my administration is putting out a report on what the economy is going to look like for millennials. A lot of you entered into the workforce during the worst financial crisis and then the worst recession since the Great Depression. And a lot of cynics have said, well, that makes many of you part of a lost generation. But I don’t buy that, because when I travel around the country, I see the kind of energy and hope and determination that so many of you are displaying here. We’re coming out of this recession with the best-educated, the most diverse, the most digitally fluent generation of adults in American history. And we also have, as I said before, a shift where more women are now getting college degrees, getting higher degrees, and that’s part of what’s closing not only the pay gap but also the entrepreneurship gap all across the country. I think we can do better, though, than we’re doing even right now. And that’s why we’ve expanded grants and tax credits and loans to help more families get to college. We’ve acted to give nearly 5 million Americans the chance to cap their student loan payments at 10 percent of their income, which means that they can afford to go out and take a risk. The Affordable Care Act means that if you’re a young entrepreneur, you don’t have to be locked into a job worrying that otherwise you won’t have health insurance because now you’re able to get an affordable plan through the marketplace exchanges that have been set up. And all of this creates, or at least provides a platform for some of the stuff that you guys are already doing. And I want to make this other point. When I took office, the deficit was nearly ten percent; today, it’s under three. That’s below the average deficit over the past 40 years. And the reason this is important is it means we can shore up America’s long-term finances without falling back into either mindless cuts on things like R&D and education, or suddenly seeing the deficit explode. We can manage the country’s finances while still investing in you. But -- and this is the last point I’m going to make, and then we’ll open up for questions -- the one area where we have not made progress is, even though the economy is growing, productivity is growing, wages and incomes have been flat. And so the gains in the economy not just over the last six years but really over the last 20, have more and more been going to the top of the economic pyramid, and the average middle-class person who’s working to get into the middle class, they have not seen any meaningful increase in their wages and incomes, their take-home pay. Part of that has to do with globalization and technology. It makes the world more competitive, and it gives workers less leverage. But part of it is also we haven’t been adjusting our policies to make sure that our economy and economic growth is broadly based. There are things we could do right now -- increasing the minimum wage, which hasn’t increased in seven years. (Applause.) Making sure that fair pay laws are strong enough so that women are no longer making 77 cents for every dollar that a man is making. (Applause.) Making sure that we’re investing in infrastructure -- not just roads and bridges, but a smart grid to make sure that we’re -- our entire system is using energy more efficiently. Making sure that we are in the next generation of broadband and wireless so that there’s penetration not just in a place like Los Angeles, but in small rural communities that right now still feel excluded from this revolution that’s taking place. Fixing up our airports -- if we changed our air traffic control system, it’s estimated that the airlines could save 30 percent on their fuel costs, just because they wouldn’t be circling -- and by the way, they’d be cutting time on delays, which means that customers get better service, ticket prices would be lower, and you wouldn’t be stuck paying exorbitant amounts of money for food at the kiosk that you really don’t need anyway. (Laughter.) So those are just examples of things that we know would help grow the economy faster, increase wages and incomes, give more opportunity to entrepreneurs like so many of you. The only reason we’re not doing it right now is because we’ve got a Congress that has been spending a little bit too much time worrying about the next election and not enough time worrying about the next generation. But the good news is, is that despite some of the gridlock in Washington, we’re making progress. And when I come to places like this, it inspires me and reminds me of why I am chronically optimistic about the future of America. Thanks very much. (Applause.) All right, so this is really informal. And what I’m going to do is I’m just going to call on anybody who’s got their hand up. But I am going to go boy, girl, boy, girl. (Laughter.) If you can stand up, introduce yourself before you ask the question. We’ve got folks with mics in the back. Wait for the microphone so we can hear you. And if you keep your question relatively short, then I will -- I can’t guarantee it, but I’ll try to keep my answers relatively short. Okay, we’ve got this gentleman in the white shirt right there. That’s it, you. Yes. Introduce yourself. Q My name is Ramin Bastani, my company is Healthvana. It’s an honor to be here. So the reforms that you did in health care have spurred innovation in companies like mine, where we can now help health care providers engage their patients at a clip of ten times better than the Mayo Clinic is doing, with the tools we’re using. So my question for you is, what kind of health and technology would you like for you and your family to help monitor and make your health better? THE PRESIDENT: Well, this is an area where there is going to be a revolution. It’s coming; sounds like you’re at the forefront of it. You can sit down, you don’t have to -- it doesn’t have to be too formal. (Laughter.) We have excellent health care in this country, but hugely inefficient health care in this country. So if you can access the Mayo Clinic or Cleveland Clinic, or some of the best hospitals in the world, you’re doing great. If you got good insurance, great. But if you don’t, all too often, we’ve got a system that is clunky, bureaucratic, spends too much money. We spend about 6 percent more than other advanced countries, and our outcomes are no better. And that’s what spurred my insistence that we were going to have to reform the system. That’s a massive part of our economy, it’s one-sixth of our economy. You’re talking trillions of dollars. And so it was going to be bumpy to get reform through. But what we’ve now seen is not only so far do we have 10 million people who have health insurance that didn’t have it before, but what’s also happened is, because of the delivery system reforms that we’re driving, we’ve seen health cost inflation slow to the lowest rate in 50 years. Now, that may not seem a big deal to you, but if you get health insurance from your employer, on average you’re paying about $1,600 less per family than you would have been paying if the pace of health care inflation had continued, which is like a $1,600 tax cut. Nobody notices it, but that’s what’s happened. At the federal budget level, we’re saving about $188 billion over the next 10 years in reduced cost for things like Medicare. So it helps us balance the books, it helps families reducing costs, it helps businesses. But we’ve still got huge amounts of waste, and you’re identifying part of the reason that there’s so much waste in the system. We’ve got a -- we don’t really have a health-care system, we have a sick-care system. So our system is built around treating illnesses; rarely is our system incentivizing people to stay healthy in the first place. And part of what technology is going to be able to do is to give each of us information that allows us to stay healthier. Now, some of it is as simple as a Fitbit and encouraging people to walk a certain number of steps. But part of what we’re now seeing is, not only ways to keep track of your health and how much exercise you’re getting and what you’re eating, what’s really going to be interesting over the next decade, two decades is precision medicine, or personalized medicine. Because of the work that’s been done on the human genome and the breakdown of -- and the ability to sequence your genetic makeup, and -- the costs are going down actually faster than Moore’s Law. They’re plummeting, so that pretty soon, you’re look at, for a hundred bucks or less, you can get your entire human genome sequenced. And what that means then is, at minimum, you’re going to know there’s certain diseases that you may be more prone to get. You’re going to know that you’re more predisposed to Alzheimer’s for example. And if you think about the power of the web, then giving you that information and then saying, here’s what we know about this particular disease and how you can reduce your risks, now suddenly each person is in a position to really do something about it and be proactive. Now, we’re going to have to change how we regulate some of this stuff. We don’t want bad information going out. We want to make sure that there’s not a lot of hucksterism in this whole process. We are still going to need doctors and hospitals to make sure when you’re thinking about actual interventions, like taking a certain drug, that that’s regulated. But the potential of this to really change how people think about their own health care is tremendous. And this is a change that we want to encourage -- in fact, I’ve been putting together sort of a working group, not just inside the White House but with all our various agencies, to start thinking about how do we create a platform for us to really take advantage of this, and how do we make sure that we’re giving entrepreneurs the ability, if we build an effective platform, to essentially develop apps that work off this new information. All right. Yes, right here. Sorry, there’s a light in my eye. Q Hi. THE PRESIDENT: Hi. Q I’m Kara Nortman, and my company is P.S. XO. And just quick background on my question -- I am the CEO of a tech startup, and also the mother of three daughters. THE PRESIDENT: There you go. Can’t beat daughters. Q Yes, daughters are wonderful. THE PRESIDENT: They are outstanding. (Laughter.) How old are your daughters? Q Six, four and one. THE PRESIDENT: Oh, you’re still in the busy stage. Q Yes, we’re in the -- THE PRESIDENT: I’m in the stage where they still love me but I’m boring. (Laughter.) Q I long for and lament getting to that stage. My question is -- an issue that I’m really passionate about is women in technology. And so as we see the outpaced growth of tech jobs and the impact those jobs have on the economy, what can we really do to accelerate moving women into more technology related jobs and fields? And I struggle to bring women into those roles in my companies, and I try very hard. THE PRESIDENT: Great question. This is something we’re spending a lot of time thinking about: How do we encourage more women but also minorities into STEM fields -- science, technology, engineering, math. On average, wages are about 33 percent higher than non-STEM occupations, and yet, women are not at all represented the way they should be in these fields -- neither are African Americans or Latinos. A lot of it starts early. And how do we teach math, and how do we teach science, and how are we encouraging girls to excel in these fields. And some of it is just socialization that has lingered for a long, long time. So we’ve got a whole bunch of different agencies thinking about this. We have an entire effort, through the Department of Education, giving grants and incentives to school districts to encourage traditionally underrepresented groups to get into STEM. We’re doing a lot of research and then trying to apply that research to think about how the best way to teach STEM is to girls. Because their learning patterns may be different. The classic tech nerd is this isolated person, right, sitting on -- I mean, that’s the stereotype. Well, it may turn out that girls, up to a certain age, want a more social environment, in which case, if you then have group learning and projects as a way of teaching math, science, then, suddenly, you may get more interest. So that’s sort of at the K-12 level, thinking about how are we teaching it more effectively; how are we encouraging young people to get into it; how are we publicizing women who are already in science, engineering, math, and publicizing that. Just an interesting example: Apparently, when you see an engineer or a tech person on a TV show or movies, something like 90 percent of them are male. So if you never see you in that position, it’s hard to imagine, well, that’s something I should be doing. And here’s how much just a change like that can make a difference. Apparently, when CSI starting coming out, there were a number of women who were in forensics, and the number of women who applied to get into forensics and started studying that field skyrocketed -- just from CSI. So we know that just these cultural cues that we send out can make an enormous difference. And then, the last part of this is working with schools of engineering. A lot of talented -- and this is a problem that is especially acute for women and minorities, but it’s actually true generally -- too many folks who have talent in math or science, when they get to college suddenly find themselves steered into finance because it looks as if that’s the path of least resistance and more lucrative. And there’s nothing wrong with folks obviously going into finance, but if our best talent for numbers are all ending up on Wall Street instead of ending up as engineers, then over time our economy is going to be out of balance. And that’s something that we’re going to spend a lot of time working on. And we’ve actually got a public-private initiative to get 100,000 more engineers. A lot of that then is trying to tap new talent, people who probably would make great engineers but right are ending up being diverted someplace else. Great question. All right, gentleman right here with the cool sweater. (Laughter.) Or jacket. Q I get a lot of compliments on this jacket. (Laughter.) THE PRESIDENT: Yeah, it’s cool. Q Thanks. So I run a company called RideAmigos. THE PRESIDENT: What’s your name? Q My name is Jeffrey Chernick. I’m the CEO of RideAmigos. And we have a transportation-mobility platform that we license to cities like Denver and San Diego and the Salt Lake City Chamber of Commerce, and different cities across the United States, and it helps people not drive alone. So it helps people find ways to commute without getting in the car alone -- like transit, carpooling, biking, walking, skateboarding, all of the above. And we do so with interesting technology in GIS and just tracking, and helping people find information that they don’t normally have access to. So my question is around, when it comes to the government stance on spending money on new transportation infrastructure, maintaining infrastructure and then actually investing in having people use the infrastructure we already have, just not drive alone, most of the programs that our company have, they’re all government -- federally funded. So what is your stance on the, I guess, the choices that we have as far as spending goes and what the priorities are? THE PRESIDENT: Well, I think it’s all of the above, right? America is a car nation, historically. We built the Interstate Highway System in the fifties and ever since, America has been synonymous with the open road and driving. It’s sort of in our DNA. And that’s not going to change overnight. You are starting to see different patterns with millennials, though, partly because they're more urbanized; where the notion of, I just want to get to where I want to go and I don't feel like I have to have my own car to do it, and there are a number of options that I may want to exercise depending on the day, is giving rise to a bunch of different opportunities. So when you think about infrastructure, we do have roads that are busted up and broken. Out here in California, it doesn't look as bad because you don't get snow and salt. But if you go colder climate areas, our roads in a lot of places are in bad shape. They need to be repaired. We should repair them partly because when you put folks back to work, it’s not just the hard hats that benefit from road construction, it’s also cement makers and manufacturers and engineers and so forth. You get a big ripple effect from infrastructure investment. And by the way, when I talk infrastructure, it’s also hidden infrastructure that we don't see: water mains, sewer systems, huge inefficiencies there. And I already mentioned the smart grid, where the amount of leakage that we have on energy is a real problem. We could make -- we could reduce carbon emissions, reduce pollution, reduce power consumption without changing our lifestyles just with a better, more resilient power grid. But what we also have to do is make sure that we’re investing in mass transit. And so every budget that I’ve put forward has tried to increase the amount of mass transit spending in our budget, rather than simply invest in the same existing mix that we’ve had. We are constantly working with municipalities like Los Angeles to figure out -- all right, you guys are thinking about bike lanes, you're thinking about this, you're thinking about that. Let’s put that in the mix. And so what we want is an all-of-the-above strategy that can take advantage of different preferences that this next generation may have in terms of how to move. And, by the way, we can afford all this without blowing up our deficits in some fashion. My budget basically said that if we close some corporate tax loopholes as part of an overall tax reform package to make the system more efficient, not only can we lower corporate tax rates, make capital allocations more efficient, but we can actually take some of that money that we save and put that into infrastructure spending. So the bottom line is -- as you might not be surprised to hear -- Congress has not done that yet. Hope springs eternal, though. Because traditionally this wasn’t a partisan issue. It didn't use to be that building stuff was a Democratic issue. The first Republican President was a guy named Lincoln, helped to get railroads across this continent. And Eisenhower, as I said, built the Interstate Highway System. So traditionally this is something that we should be able to get together and do. There are always politics in transportation funding and infrastructure funding, mainly because different states all want a little bit of their share. And some of the traditional players like the folks that pour concrete, they tend to have a little additional influence with Congress on that stuff. But there’s so much that we can do. And the kind of service that you're providing, when you combine it with some of the stuff that's happening in the share economy, means that we need to think 10, 15, 20 years ahead and anticipate how people are going to be living and how they want to travel, as opposed to just looking backwards and expecting that the same old patterns are going to be there for the next 20 years. Yes. Got a mic? You can always use mine, but you’ll get your own. (Laughter.) Q Hi, I’m Julianna Raye, and I have a company called Pop Go Zen. I train people in mindfulness meditation. And I also -- THE PRESIDENT: I need that. Q Huh? Yes. THE PRESIDENT: Yes. Q It’s fantastic. It’s preventative. THE PRESIDENT: Absolutely. Q Speaking about preventative health care. And I also have been a professional musician for about 20 years. So I want to speak to the issues that the little guy is facing in terms of their innovation being protected, and in terms of boot-strapping their entrepreneurial endeavor. I want to speak to net neutrality and to intellectual property rights protection. THE PRESIDENT: Yes, well, this is obviously an issue that we’ve been working on for a long time. It was something that I spoke about back in ‘08. And we’re continually trying to fine-tune it and stay focused on. On net neutrality, I made a commitment very early on that I am unequivocally committed to net neutrality. I think that it is what has -- (applause) -- I think it’s what has unleashed the power of the Internet, and we don't want to lose that or clog up the pipes. And so there are a lot of aspects to net neutrality. I know one of the things that people are most concerned about is paid prioritization, the notion that somehow some folks can pay a little more money and get better service, more exclusive access to customers through the Internet. That's something I’m opposed. I was opposed to it when I ran. I continue to be opposed to it now. Now, the FCC is an independent agency. They came out with some preliminary rules that I think the Netroots and a lot of folks in favor of net neutrality were concerned with. My appointee, Tom Wheeler, knows my position. I can't -- now that he’s there, I can't just call him up and tell him exactly what to do. But what I’ve been clear about, what the White House has been clear about is, is that we expect whatever final rules to emerge to make sure that we’re not creating two or three or four tiers of Internet. That ends up being a big priority of mine. When it comes to intellectual property protection, this is a trickier issue because you end up getting the tech community divided, people are on different sides of it. In some cases, the same company will be really concerned about protecting this aspect of their intellectual property, but feel free to want to stream somebody else’s intellectual property. And so trying to get the right balance is important. I think the basic concept is that you want to have sufficient IP, and -- whether patents or copyrights -- that you are continually encouraging and rewarding innovation and creativity. But you don't want those structures so tight, in terms of protecting that intellectual property, that that ends up being actually an inhibitor to people getting good information, folks coming up with new uses for existing information. And then one of the biggest problems that we’ve been working on is how do we deal with these folks who basically are filing phony patents and are costing some of our best innovators tons of money in court; or if they don't go to court, they end up having to pay them off even though they're making a bogus claim just because it’s not worth it for you to incur all the litigation costs. So we’ve made some progress on patent reform. We continue to work with Congress to do more. But if we can maintain net neutrality, get the balance right on patents and copyrights, then I’m confident that we’re going to continue to -- and, by the way, and then enforce intellectual property, because a lot of the theft of intellectual property that takes place isn’t happening here in the United States, it’s offshore. And that’s why we actually have to have an international system to deal with this. That's not always easy. I’ll be honest with you, that piracy ends up being a huge problem overseas, and that's an area where we’ve stepped up enforcement and tried to get some multilateral agreements to do something about it. All right, right here. Q Hi, my name is Blair Golson, and I’m a member of the management team here at Cross Campus. I’d like to know, what’s your vision for how the immigration code should be amended to encourage more immigrants with technical skills to be able to work legally in the United States? And given the political climate in Washington, what do you think the prospects are for getting some movement on that before you leave office? THE PRESIDENT: That's a great question. Well, as I think some of you know, Eric Garcetti certainly knows, this is an issue that I’ve been fighting for, for a long time now, dating back to when I was in the U.S. Senate. We are a nation of immigrants. Part of the reason America has always thrived has been because we attract talent from around the world -- strivers, folks who are full of new ideas, energy and are willing to take risks. And that continues to this day. We know that when it comes to tech, a huge percentage of some of our biggest startups, like Intel and Google, were started by first-generation Americans, immigrants. We know that about 25 percent of our Nobel Prize winners in the sciences are naturalized Americans. And so the idea that we would make it harder for talent to come here -- especially when so often that talent is coming to study here, going to school here, wants to stay here, wants to work here, wants to invest here -- makes no sense. The good news is that we were able to pass out of the Senate a comprehensive immigration reform bill that would simplify and make more efficient legal immigration by talented folks, and at the same time would deal with the millions of undocumented workers who live here -- California obviously has a huge number of them -- who oftentimes have been here for more than a decade, their kids have grown up here, for all practical purposes are Americans, but don’t have the right papers. And would also, by the way, then give us more resources to deal with the border. The House Republicans have refused to call that bill. So we are in a position now where we’re going to have to see what the Republicans are going to do after the election. In the meantime, though, I’m not waiting. So I already signed an executive order that allowed young people who had been brought here as children -- so-called DREAM kids -- to stay here without fear of deportation. And what I’ve committed to is, is that assuming Congress does not act, I will use all the executive authority that I legally have in order to make fixes in some of the system. And that includes potentially making the H1B system that is often used by tech companies and some of the other elements of our legal immigration system more efficient, so we can encourage more folks to stay here. But whatever I do through the executive branch will not be as effective as we could do through legislation. And it’s anybody’s guess how Republicans are thinking about this. If they were thinking long term politically, it is suicide for them not to do this. Because the demographics of the country are such where you are going to lose an entire generation of immigrants who are looking around and saying, you know what, that party does not seem to care much about me and my life. And I think the smarter Republicans understand this. Short term, though, they’ve got a problem, and the Tea Party and others who oftentimes express virulently anti-immigrant sentiment. And the politics of this got a little tougher during the summer when these unaccompanied children from Central America showed up. It was a small section of our border. We’ve gotten the numbers of them that were coming here down to a lower level than we saw last year. But that two or three weeks of publicity I think fanned concern about that situation. I’m confident, though, eventually -- and I think it will happen over the next two years -- this is going to get fixed and Congress will see the light. Because the logic of it is it’s too compelling. One of the biggest advantages that we have over our competitors around the world is we’re a younger population. China is aging. Japan is aging. Europe is aging. We are younger than them. And younger populations grow faster. You have more workers, fewer retirees. The reason we’re younger is because of immigration. Native-born Americans -- our pattern in terms of the number of kids is actually fairly similar to Europe’s. But because we attract all this new talent all the time, we’re constantly replenishing our economic energy. And so economists have looked at it and they’ve said, you know what, if you pass the immigration bill that passed out of the Senate, you can anticipate faster growth, lower deficits, a more dynamic economy, more startups. And my general theory is, if something makes a lot of sense, then we should go ahead and do it rather than not do it. But that’s just me. (Laughter.) So we’ll see. I’m going to keep on fighting on this. How are we doing on time, guys? I just want to make sure -- where’s my tall guy? Got time for one more? Oh, all the hands shoot up. You know what, what I’ll do is I will do two, all right? So we’re going to do two. I’ve been a little biased towards I think this side of the room. So I’ve got to turn here, and I think I’ll call on this young lady because it’s a young lady’s turn right here. All right, got a mic? Q So my name is “Z” Holly, and I’m Entrepreneur-in-Residence for the city of L.A., Mayor Garcetti. (Applause.) I don’t know why they let troublemakers like me into City Hall. So my question is, I’m actually focusing at the intersection of entrepreneurship and manufacturing. I’m real excited about the numbers that you’re stating about the growing jobs in manufacturing. And most people don’t know that L.A. actually is the largest manufacturing center in the country by a factor of two. We’re often ignored. So my question is really around -- things are changing so much with digital manufacturing, advanced manufacturing. The people in the companies that are going to really be at the forefront and pushing forward are not necessarily the same ones that are -- have been successful in the past. How do we bridge the gap? How do we make sure that the folks that have been manufacturing in the past can take advantage of this big wave? THE PRESIDENT: It’s a great question. So one of the great things about being President is you get to go to factories. (Laughter.) No, really. It’s really fun. You can pretty much go anywhere and see how something is made. And so I spend a lot of time doing this. You go to glass manufacturers, steel manufacturers, all kinds of gadgets, gizmos. And I put on a hard hat and I get my safety glasses, and then people will just explain to me all the cool stuff that’s taking place. And you take an example like the auto industry -- which obviously was the hub of the explosion of American manufacturing -- and you walk into a factory these days and it is not at all like what you pictured from the movies back in the ‘60s or the ‘70s. First of all, it’s really quiet. It’s really clean. And you might have a three-football-field-size factory, but where you might have 2,000 people 20, 30 years ago, now you have maybe 300 because everything has become so automated, and a lot of the jobs require the kind of technical training in STEM and computer fluency that we’ve been talking about. And I say all that because, even in the traditional industries, they’re making huge adjustments, and the nature of jobs in the traditional industries are changing. So we want both new companies that are creating new products and services, like some of the outstanding folks behind me, but you’re right -- we also want the traditional industries to be able to figure out, A, how do we upgrade what we do to make them more efficient, drive down costs, increase markets; and also, how do we get innovation inside those companies. And there are a couple things we can do. Number one, we’ve been promoting what we call “manufacturing hubs.” So far, we’ve got four. I actually want 20. Germany has 60. And the idea is real simple, and actually, folks here at Cross Campus probably can relate to it: The idea is, is that you can get some synergy if you connect universities and research labs with businesses, with government, and focus on where is a new set of technologies that we know is about to take off. So the one that I just announced last week is around photonics -- phototonics? I should have probably remembered this before I used this as an example. (Laughter.) But it’s basically new technologies around transmission of information through light and photons. We did one of these for 3D printing, which we know is going to be taking off. And so the idea is that what we want to do is create these ecosystems where a bunch of companies can use this as a platform to be talking to researchers, universities, engineers as something is being developed and start thinking about how do we apply this, how do we commercialize it faster, how do we get it to market faster. And that's one of the ways in which existing companies can now be plugged into some cutting-edge stuff. And they may end up seeing that a new technology can revolutionize the processes for the products that they're already making. Now, the good news about this is that there’s enormous interest and enormous hunger for this. But as I said, the bad news is, is that Germany, which is significantly smaller in population and size, has right now 15 times more of these things than we do. And this is an example of where we just need to make some investments. It’s not going to cost us a gazillion dollars. We just have to make some strategic investments. We’ve got the money to do it and we’ve to the model to make it work, but we’ve got to push. The other thing we're going to have to do is to train more folks to take advantage of these new jobs. As I said, if you want to work at an auto plant today, you’ve got to have some familiarity with computers. You got to have some familiarity with math. And if, in fact, we can start encouraging young people as early as high school to start looking at some of these jobs and give them some hands-on experience in these jobs, then they may end up going to the community college, getting a two-year degree. The program may have been designed by the manufacturer so that they know they’ve got a job when they go in, which means that their costs for college are going to be a lot lower. They're not going to be burdened with a bunch of debt, and they may end up making enormous amounts of money and having a good living. So what we’re trying to do is link up universities, community colleges, high schools, so we’re creating a pipeline of folks who have the kind of technical aptitude that's going to be required to get these new jobs for the future. All right, I promised I would take one more question. This is always the hardest part, you know? It’s like the last one. Everybody here looks very attractive. (Laughter.) And I like all of you, but I feel obliged to just call on one. So this gentleman, he’s got his laptop up. Go ahead. Here you go. I hope he was actually listening. (Laughter.) I mean, I should have checked actually to see if he was watching old episodes of “Sponge Bob” or something. (Laughter.) Q My name is Ariel Jalali, and I am the co-founder of Sensay here at Cross Campus. THE PRESIDENT: What does Sensay do? Q So we're the marketplace for help. We provide the ability for you to monetize your most valuable asset, which is your mind. And the question is really more in the form of an offer. I wanted to get a jump on the competition and offer you your next gig. It’s super rewarding. You get to help people. THE PRESIDENT: You're offering me a job? Q That's right. (Laughter and applause.) THE PRESIDENT: Wow, okay. Q That's right, that's right. And it’s -- you can help anyone from anywhere using nothing more than your brain and a smartphone. And you can do it anonymously. So what do you think? (Laughter.) THE PRESIDENT: Well, I’ve actually heard -- I don't know whether I was reading about Sensay, but I’ve heard of the -- I mean, this is part of what technology is enabling folks to do is to be able to essentially -- everybody can be an entrepreneur. Even if you’ve got a full-time job, you can essentially market yourself and services and skills and talents that you have in ways that somebody couldn’t do just a few years ago. And I must admit that it is an extraordinary privilege to be President. I think eight years is a good stretch of time to be President. And constitutionally I can't run again, and so the idea of still being able to dabble a little bit in the issues of the day while being in sweat pants and a baseball cap sounds pretty attractive. (Laughter.) But I think I’d have to check out your perks. I mean, I don't know -- (laughter and applause) -- do you have like a sushi bar at Sensay? (Laughter.) I’m teasing. But what I’m not teasing about is this is representative of what your generation is going to be confronted with. There are challenges and downsides, as well as opportunities. The upside I think everybody here understands and is taking advantage of, which is you have the opportunity in ways that previous generations did not have to create something yourself, to be your own boss, to have flexibility with respect to your hours, to pursue your dreams, to raise capital in creative ways, to bust down some of the barriers that -- and gatekeepers that traditionally existed in every industry. And that’s hugely exciting. But the challenge is that you have less of a safety net, because the tradition of getting one job, working your way up in a company knowing that you’re going to have regular benefits, knowing that you have a clear career path -- that’s what your parents’ generation, the generation before you, had. Part of my job, part of Congress’s job, part of your mayor’s job is to figure out how do we create platforms where we can duplicate some of the foundation that everybody needs. How do we make sure you’re getting the education you need to be able to compete in this economy? How are we making sure that we’ve got the infrastructure that you need, whether it’s cyber infrastructure or hard infrastructure, for you to be able to move services, move goods, move ideas not just around the country but globally? How do we make sure that our research engine continues to thrive here in the United States? How do we make sure that you’ve got health care if it’s not tied to a traditional nine-to-five job? How do we make sure that you have a platform for savings, for retirement if the traditional pension doesn’t work? Because statistically, I’m sure everybody here is going to succeed, but not everybody here is going to have an IPO and make a gazillion dollars, and you’re going to do really interesting, exciting work, but you’re still going to have to worry about, at some point, how do I pay for my kid’s college education and how do I make sure that I can retire with some security. So part of what we want to do is to build portability into the system, to build flexibility into the system, to duplicate in new ways and using new models the kind of baseline security that you had in previous generations. And that is something that we’re starting on. The Affordable Care Act was an example of that. Some of the proposals that we have for new ways of saving is an example of that. But we’re not quite there yet. And it’s going to be up to you, this generation, to come up with innovative, creative ideas, and then to help mobilize the passion and energy that you’re showing in the private sector and direct some of that into the public sector. That’s the one thing that I want to leave everybody here with, and that is: As clunky and as frustrating as government and politics can sometimes be, the fact of the matter is, is that it is still vital. It still makes a huge difference. It is going to help determine whether or not you’ve got the platform to succeed. It’s still going to be educating the vast majority of our kids. It’s still going to be the lion’s share of our research dollars. It’s still going to be what makes airports function. And even with new technologies and new models, it’s going to be the basis by which you’re able to get from A to B. And the decisions we make now will help determine how successful we are collectively and individually for years to come. So even as you’re doing all this neat, cool, interesting stuff, do pay attention to what’s not always as neat and cool, but really necessary, in Washington, D.C. and in your local communities. Thanks, everybody. It was great. (Applause.) FACT SHEET: President Obama’s Agenda for Creating Economic Opportunity for Millennials
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 9, 2014 FACT SHEET: President Obama’s Agenda for Creating Economic Opportunity for Millennials A copy of the related report released by the President’s Council of Economic Advisors is available online HERE. Last week, President Obama put forth his vision for continuing to build on the foundation we’ve laid for a strong, durable economy with secure middle class jobs. Thanks to the hard work and grit of the American people, we’re moving forward again and one generation in particular – Millennials – will shape our economy for decades to come. Millennials came of age during the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. In the face of these challenges, President Obama acted quickly to rebuild opportunity for all hardworking Americans, including Millennials. Together, we kept more teachers on the job to improve the quality of education for kids at our local schools. We cut subsidies to big banks so that we could make college more affordable by increasing Pell Grants. And we expanded health care coverage so that no one, including young people just getting their start, would go broke if they get sick. There are still challenges to meet, but no generation has been better equipped to overcome them than Millennials. They’re skilled with technology and more educated than any previous generation. Today’s White House report details some of the key characteristics of the Millennial Generation as well as the impact that the Administration’s policies have had on them. To build on this progress, there is also a path forward. Acting with Congress and on his own where he can, President Obama will continue to invest in our teachers and schools, cut student loan debt, build on our technology boom, expand health coverage and homeownership, and train every hardworking American with the skills they need to find a good job that pays good wages. Making Higher Education More Affordable for Millennials: While college is more important than ever before, it is also more expensive. President Obama has taken steps to make college more affordable and increase financial aid – while Republicans have called for rolling back these expansions of student aid and opposed efforts to allow students to refinance student loans. · Increasing federal financial support for higher education. Higher education can be a pathway to the middle class for many people, but we have to ensure that students are able to afford this investment. o Creating the American Opportunity Tax Credit worth up to $10,000 over four years of college. o Increasing Pell Grant scholarships by $1,000 a year, while reaching millions more students each year. o Eliminating wasteful bank subsidies and passing along those savings to help more Americans afford college. · Making student loan payments more affordable. President Obama created a new repayment plan allowing students to cap their student loan payments at 10 percent of their discretionary income. In June 2014, the President directed the Department of Education to make this plan available to every direct student loan borrower, benefiting nearly 5 million current and former students. The President has also supported Congressional efforts to allow student loan borrowers to refinance their loans, saving thousands in interest costs, which Republicans in Congress have blocked. Supporting Innovation: Millennials are more connected to technology than previous generations, both in school and in work, and their innovations in this area have the potential to impact all workers through our economy for years to come. The President’s policies have supported innovation that helps students learn and entrepreneurs create new businesses. · Digital Literacy for the Tech Generation. The President’s policies are creating new opportunity for a nation where life and livelihood will demand digital literacy. The ConnectED Initiative is transforming education by connecting every school to high-speed broadband and wireless, with over $4 billion in public and private funding announced since 2013. · Empowering Innovation: The President has been actively working to make sure that patent trolls, who use vague and misleading threats of lawsuits to extort money from young companies, do not strangle American technological innovation. He is driving an agenda that has reformed how and when the government issues patents to improve their quality, limited abuse of certain trade courts to hold up new innovations, and continues to call on Congress to pass comprehensive reform to curtail patent trolls. · Unlocking Consumer Choice: The President is also working to make sure that consumers have real flexibility when it comes to choosing technologies, and how they use them — like unlocking cell phones to use them with the mobile network that meets your needs. The Administration called last year to restore and safeguard this common-sense freedom, and this August, signed that bill into law. Creating Opportunity and Supporting Good-Paying Middle-Class Jobs: Upon taking office, President Obama immediately took action to put Americans back to work. But while the unemployment rate for workers ages 18 to 34 has come down 5.1 percentage points, there is still work to do. The unemployment rate remains elevated, and wage growth for young workers has not kept pace with the past. The President is committed to taking steps to support stronger growth today and a stronger economy going forward: · Supporting Equal Pay. The disparity in pay between women and men doesn’t just affect women’s financial well-being; it affects families and the nation’s overall economic health. The first bill President Obama signed into law in 2009 was the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. In 2014 he took executive actions to advance the cause of equal pay by requiring federal contractors to submit data on employee compensation, and to prohibit retaliation when an employee of a federal contractor reveals his or her pay. These are all commonsense steps that move us down the road toward economic equality, even as Congress continues to debate the Paycheck Fairness Act, which the President strongly supports. · Increasing the Minimum Wage: President Obama has called on Congress to raise the national minimum wage from $7.25 to $10.10 per hour, which would provide 28 million workers with a raise, benefiting millions of lower- and middle-class families. But while Republicans in Congress have blocked this effort, progress is being made across the country: 13 states and D.C. have raised their minimum wage since the beginning of 2013 – benefitting over 7 million workers – and cities and businesses are also taking action on their own to raise wages. The President also signed an executive order to raise the minimum wage to $10.10 for workers on federal contracts. · Expanding Tax Relief for Working Families: President Obama has expanded the Earned Income Tax Credit and the Child Tax Credit, benefitting 16 million families a year – and has proposed permanently extending these expansions. The President has also proposed expanding the EITC for workers without dependent children, including the 3.3 million young workers ages 21-24 who are currently ineligible for the credit. · Supporting Immigrants and Creating an Immigration System that Works: Millennials are more likely to be foreign-born than the previous two generations. The President has been fighting for a fair, effective and common sense immigration reform that lives up to our heritage as a nation of laws and a nation of immigrants. As that effort continues, the Administration is implementing Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) which has benefitted some 600,000 young people who were brought to this country as children by their parents, and for whom the United States is home. Though DACA is an exercise of enforcement authority that does not provide permanent status, it has enabled young people to work without fear of deportation, to get new jobs, open their first bank accounts, and obtain drivers licenses. · Investing in Infrastructure, Research and Manufacturing to Support Middle-Class Jobs: The President has proposed targeted investments in areas such as infrastructure, research and manufacturing that will both help create jobs today and lay the groundwork for stronger long-run growth. By contrast, the House Republican-passed budget would require deep cuts to early education, research, job training, clean energy and other areas that support a stronger economy. Connecting Students and Workers with the Skills They Need for College and Career: The Administration has worked to make sure that more Millennials get the training they need for today’s jobs, including by better linking secondary and post-secondary education with industry to determine skills needed and design curriculum. · Providing Every Child with a Complete and Competitive Education: As they begin planning families of their own, the Administration is committed to building the high-quality education system Millennials and their children deserve by incentivizing investment and improvement. With Race to the Top, the Administration has brought significant change to our education system by encouraging states to raise standards and aligning policies that promote college and career readiness, improve teacher effectiveness, use data effectively in the classroom, and adopt new strategies to help struggling schools. · Redesigning High Schools: Earlier this year, the Administration awarded $100 million in grants this year to redesign high schools to more fully prepare youth with the knowledge, skills, and industry-relevant education needed to get on the pathway to a successful career. · Better Training Students through Community Colleges and Connecting Job-Seekers to Work: To support the 7.7 million community college students across the country who represent 45 percent of all undergraduates, the Administration has awarded nearly $2 billion of competitive grants since 2011 to community colleges to partner with employers to expand and improve their ability to help job seekers get the skills they need for in-demand jobs. The Administration is also taking steps to connect the long-term unemployed to jobs, including by working with employers to spread best practices for recruiting and hiring the long-term unemployed. · Expanding Access to Apprenticeships: The Administration has also been encouraging the expansion of apprenticeships as pathways to help young adults get into middle-class jobs. The Department of Labor will also soon be releasing an application for $100 million to create apprenticeship opportunities in high-growth fields and that award college credit. · Working to “Upskill” Youth Early in Their Careers: To support youth who are starting out in their careers, the Administration has kicked off a new public-private effort – working with employers, educators, tech innovators, unions, training providers, cities, states, and non-profits – to help turn low-wage and entry-level jobs across the country into stepping stones to the middle class. Increasing Access to Affordable Health Care: In addition to the direct economic consequences of the Great Recession, millions of Millennials were at risk of poor health outcomes exacerbated by unaffordable or unattainable insurance. The Affordable Care Act expanded coverage, helping millions of Americans obtain quality insurance. Yet House Republicans have voted on dozens of occasions to gut the law. · Expanding Coverage to Age 26. Before the President signed the Affordable Care Act into law, most health plans kicked young people off when they turned 19 or graduated from college, leaving many college graduates and others with no insurance. Now, most health plans that cover children must make coverage available up to age 26, making it easier and more affordable for young adults to get coverage · Providing Preventive Care for Free. The Affordable Care Act requires most insurers to cover preventive care services without copays and deductibles. This means that, for the first time, important preventive services – including birth control – are available at no cost to millions of consumers who have private health insurance. · Providing Affordable Health Care Coverage. Young Americans often have the least access to employer sponsored health care plans, which previously left many without any reasonably priced insurance opportunities. The Health Insurance Marketplace lets consumers choose a private health insurance plan that fits their health needs and consumers can also qualify for financial assistance. In fact, most people who shop in the Marketplace pay an average of $69 per month for their coverage. Supporting Access to Credit for First-Time Homebuyers and Affordable Rental Housing and Putting in Place New Protections for Consumers: As the economy has recovered, the housing market has improved and more families are purchasing homes. But with Millennials becoming homeowners at lower rates than prior generations, the Administration is committed to taking steps to ensure more Americans have access to credit to buy a first home and the ability to find affordable rental housing. · Making It Easier For Americans to Obtain Affordable Mortgage Financing Payments through the Federal Housing Administration (FHA). Today, the credit score that the typical borrower needs to get a government-guaranteed loan is significantly higher than in the past – and higher than we would expect given economic fundamentals. This leaves many responsible borrowers unable to find lenders willing to give them a mortgage at an affordable rate. In response, the Administration has launched a “Quality Assurance” framework to provide mortgage lenders with greater confidence to lend, while reducing FHA premiums for homeowners who obtain housing counseling. The Administration is also exploring additional reforms to drive progress and strengthen our housing market today. · Supporting Affordable Rental Housing. In June, the U.S. Department of the Treasury announced an initiative to help provide low-cost financing to state and local housing finance agencies that provide multifamily mortgage loans insured by FHA. This will reduce interest rates for affordable housing, savings that will be passed on to renters. The Administration continues to explore administrative and legislative reforms to promote access to affordable rental housing for middle class families and those aspiring to be. · Protecting the Financial Well-Being of Consumers through Wall Street Reform. Through Wall Street Reform, the Administration has created the strongest consumer protections in history while reducing American taxpayer exposure to future crises. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has finalized rules and simplified disclosures to protect consumers from irresponsible mortgage lending, secured billions of dollars in relief for millions of consumers who were wronged, and launched a consumer response center to give people in need a place to turn. Efforts to undermine the CFPB by imposing structural or funding limitations – as supported by Republicans in Congress – would weaken important consumer protections and leave the economy more vulnerable to another devastating financial crisis. Remarks by the First Lady at Fashion Education Workshop
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the First Lady __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release October 8, 2014 REMARKS BY THE FIRST LADY AT FASHION EDUCATION WORKSHOP East Room 12:49 P.M. EDT MRS. OBAMA: Well, hello everyone. How are you doing? AUDIENCE: Great. MRS. OBAMA: Okay. All right, we’re just going to break this up one moment and just say, is this not cool? (Laughter.) I mean, come on. You’re in the White House. There are some of the most impressive people in fashion here to teach you all, and to reach out and to mentor you. And there’s food. (Laughter.) What more could you ask for. Well, welcome to the White House. And let me start by thanking Anna for that very kind introduction and for her tremendous passion and leadership in making this day a reality. We started cooking this up a little while ago, and it’s just been a thrill to be able to bring this vision to reality. So, Anna, thank you so much. I also want to thank everyone from the -- Parsons The New School for Design for helping us today, the Fashion Institute of Technology, the Pratt Institute of Technology, along with all of the incredible designers and entrepreneurs, the fashion journalists who have taken time out of their very busy days to be here with all of you. Let’s give them all a round of applause. (Applause.) And there are two groups that I want to give special recognition to. First, all of the students and faculty from Parsons who created the incredible décor that you see here on the tables in the East Room. Well done. (Applause.) Thank you, guys. Thank you so much. And second, I want to recognize the two winners of our design competition for this event. The dress that I am wearing today and the dress that you see here were designed by two students who are with us today. Chelsea Chen -- Chelsea, stand up, please. Chelsea designed this dress. (Applause.) Great job! (Laughter.) And Natalya Koval, please stand up. Natalya designed this dress. (Applause.) Well done. Oh, did it switch around? Natalya designed this dress, Chelsea designed that dress. Well done! (Laughter.) Good job! They’re both students at FIT. And Natalya and Chelsea, thank you. Thank you for your creativity, thank you for your passion. We’re very proud of you. I hope you had fun doing this. And I want to thank the designer mentors who helped them bring their ideas to life -- Phillip Lim and Lela Rose. Phillip and Lela, thank you both for working with Natalya and Chelsea today. In these dresses that you see and this room, we see the incredible promise that lies within our next generation. And that’s really what today is all about -– it’s about all of you young people who are here in this room with us, and all the young people who couldn’t be in this room, and your dreams. We really do focus on how you’re going to get where you’re going to go. And that’s what this is all about. I know that many of you are hoping to one day pursue a career in fashion, and that’s why we invited you here today -- because we want you to really understand what it’s going to take to be successful. And we want you to see firsthand that a solid education and the willingness to work hard is really at the core of what it’s going to take to achieve your goals: education and hard work. It’s that simple. Today’s workshop is one in a series of events that we have done over the past six years for young people across the country. We have been doing this since the day we entered the White House for young people. We want them to be in this house and experience the things that they’re passionate about. And this workshop is one of many -- whether it’s music or dance or poetry, our mission is always the same: to inspire you guys to dream bigger, to reach higher, and then, most importantly, to pull somebody else up with you along the way. Because your sitting in these seats makes you really special, but it doesn’t make you unique. Because you know for every kid that is sitting in this chair, you know probably 10 others who could be sitting in this chair. So that’s where the giveback comes in, because you’ve got to be thinking, “I was lucky and blessed to be here, so what am I going to do to share these gifts with somebody else?” Now, when it comes to the fashion industry, so often people think it’s all about catwalks and red carpets and “who wore it best,” and whether some famous person wore the right belt with the right shoes –- like I’d know what that’s like. (Laughter.) But the truth is that the clothes you see in the magazine covers are really just the finished product in what is a very long very complicated and very difficult process, as I’ve come to learn working with many designers. What most people don’t realize is that there are so many different aspects to this industry. Whether it’s business marketing or technology and manufacturing, even agriculture that produces the wool and the cotton that ultimately becomes our clothes, it’s a big, complicated industry. The industry is also a huge contributor to this economy. Last year alone, Americans spent more than $350 billion on clothing and footwear, and about 1.4 million American workers are employed annually by retailers and others in the fashion industry -- so a lot of jobs, a lot of income that is generated by many of the people who are sitting in this room. But for so many of you –- whether you’re already in the industry or aspiring to be there some day -– I know that in the end, fashion is really about passion and creativity. Just like music or dance or poetry, it’s what drives you. It’s what gets you out of bed each morning. It’s what you write about in essays in school and what you read about in the news. It occupies every ounce of your daily lives. I know this because with creative people, that’s what their passion does -- it makes everything else worthwhile. Fashion is about so much more than just a pretty pair of pumps or the perfect hemline. For so many people across the country, it is a calling, it is a career, and it’s a way they feed their families. So that’s why we thought it was important to bring the industry to the White House, and to share it with all of you who are coming up in the next generation. Today, in your breakout sessions, you all have had a chance to see all the different aspects of the industry -- and there are many, many more aspects, we just didn’t have the time. But you learned the business sense that you need to strike out on your own. There’s a very entrepreneurial aspect to this industry. You learned the writing and verbal skills that you need to communicate your inspiration with others -- because the bottom line is that if you can’t share your thoughts and ideas, no one will hear them. There’s no mindreading in fashion design; you have to be able to articulate what you want. So you have to be a reader, a writer, a thinker, a communicator. You learned the highly specialized construction skills that you all can only learn through hours and years of education and practice and technical training. This doesn’t just come out of just talent, sheer creativity. You have to practice it. You have to learn it. You have to study it. And those are the kind of concrete skills that you all will need to succeed. And it’s important for you all to know that there’s a concreteness to this work. And it’s easy to lose sight of that, because it’s easy for us to look at the accomplished people in this room and think, well, it must have been easy being Jason Wu -- Jason’s like, not so much -- (laughter) -- that the style and the creativity have just flowed from these people since the day they were born. It’s easy to think that it’s easy. But these folks will tell you that that’s never really the case. What they have learned over the course of their illustrious careers is that the path to success is rarely ever easy or obvious. Instead, they know that in order to exceed, they know that you have to be prepared, that you’ve got to hone your skills in college or design school. You’ve got to be willing to take some risks, and you also have to be prepared to fail -- a lot. All of these things are essential for the journey. And that’s true for fashion, but it’s true for everything else. Risks, failure, is a part of being great. So embrace that, don’t fear it. And the most important thing you’ve got to do is work and work and work and work and work and work. That’s it. It’s hard work -- sorry -- (laughter) -- years and even decades before you can achieve your goals. Just take Sara Blakely, for example. After she graduated from college, Sara worked at Disney World, buckling in people into their seats for the rides -- dag, Sara. (Laughter.) Sara did that for a while, and then she went on to sell fax machines for an office supply company. And then she got this idea, and she took a risk -- she devoted her entire savings, $5,000, to start her own company. She spent two years planning and researching her new business ideas in the nights while she was still selling fax machines. She pitched her idea to factories and mills, asking them to help her make the product a reality, and of course, she was turned down again and again and again. But finally, a manager at a factory liked her idea, and today, 14 years later, Sara’s idea, Spanx, is a multibillion-dollar company with products selling in more than 50 countries. (Applause.) And we all wear them with pride. (Laughter.) And then there’s my friend Maria Cornejo, who grew up in Chile knitting and sewing clothes for her dolls. When she was 11, her family fled to England as political refugees. And Maria didn’t speak a word of English, and she says she always felt like an outsider. But then she realized that she could make a career out of fashion. So she went to design school, and she studied fashion and textiles, and she started her own business. And today, Maria’s got a company based in New York. She won a National Design Award for fashion. She is one of my favorite designers. She’s earned fans all around the world. And she is probably one of the sweetest, most gracious people that I’ve met over the course of these years. So to all of you guys in this room, I want those stories -- the stories of Sara and Maria, and I’m sure there are many, many others as you talk to people at your tables -- I want those stories to show you that there’s no magic to being successful in fashion or in anything else. What is required is a willingness to work long nights, to suffer through rejection and failure, to rise above all of that -- all the doubts and the fears and the anxieties -– whether you come from the city, the suburbs, no matter who you are, where you come from, all those feelings are natural. It’s a natural part of life. Maybe you do feel like an outsider. Maybe you’ve been told that your ideas aren’t any good. Or maybe your family doesn’t have much money. Maybe you’re the first one in your family to go to college, and you’re wondering whether you’re even going to make it. Whoever you are, wherever you come from, I want you -- again, know that those worries and doubts are natural. It’s okay. Every single person in this room -- including me -- everyone who has been successful at anything has doubted themselves, and has had someone else doubt them. But what successful people don’t do is let their doubts and fears shut them down. That’s what you cannot do. They brush off the doubters, they brush off the haters. They reach out for help, which is key. They use those emotions to inspire them to work even harder to create their own futures. So today, I want you all of you to know that you belong here. You belong right here in the White House -- yes, yes. (Laughter.) So, look, you belong right here next to Jason Wu and Anna Wintour and Narciso -- and I could go on. You belong here. This is your home, so own it, okay? Because if you can sit at these tables and spend this day here and meet with all these great people, then you can do anything -- but you have to know that, and you have to tell yourselves that every single day. Remember this moment, and remember that the First Lady of the United States told you that you can do anything you want to. And we’re counting on you. We are proud of you. Your President is proud of you. He knows this is going on, he’s just a little busy. (Laughter.) So I want you to take advantage of this day. I want you to network with each other. I want you to continue working hard, and know that failure is a part of the growth that you will need to be great. So we are so pleased to have you here. And if you feel like this day was special, it’s because we think you all are special, and you all are worthy of the efforts that we’ve put in to making this day special for you. So thank you, guys. Thank you so much. (Applause.) Remarks by the First Lady at the Conclusion of Fashion Education Workshop
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the First Lady _________________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release October 8, 2014 REMARKS BY THE FIRST LADY AT THE CONCLUSION OF FASHION EDUCATION WORKSHOP East Room 2:15 P.M. EDT MRS. OBAMA: Thank you all so much. Let’s give our panelists another round of applause. Lilliana, thank you. You did a great job. (Applause.) Well, I don’t know about you but that was pretty fascinating. I mean, I am not interested in developing a career in fashion and I found it riveting, so I hope you all did, too. Now, let me just say one thing: If I were you, you all -- students sitting in here -- I would be either writing somebody in this room, I’d be getting a card. I would get my personal notes together right now, because my letter would be addressed to whoever -- I was one of the students that was at the White House panel, I attended this workshop, we sat in the lunch, I mentioned something that they heard or a quote. And I’d say I was -- you know, now is the time to get -- this is an opportunity. This is a door. And so all of you, you’re competing with each other. And now you’ve got to think about, how are you going to use this opportunity? Just don’t sit here and eat the lunch and take a nap and go to the next workshop, but figure out how you’re going to turn this into the next thing that you want to do. You guys have the easiest step into a lot of these internships. Because my guess is that they’re going to remember you, right? PANELIST: And don’t be shy. MRS. OBAMA: And don’t be shy. Networking is the key. The people who are successful are the people who are willing to reach out and say, hi, my name is X, you met me here, let me tell you something about myself. Look a person in the eye, speak clearly. That’s what’s going to get you to the next step. So the question -- now you’re next challenge is, what are you going to do after today? What are you going to do with this opportunity? And if you’re not going to do anything with it, then give it to somebody else. Give it to somebody else -- somebody in your class, somebody in your school, a sister, but don’t waste it. This is really special, so make the most of it. It won’t be the last door that you have access to, but this door is real different. And you have to think, when is the next time I’m going to be invited to the White House? Because I think about that all the time. (Laughter.) I tell my kids, take a look around now, because you may never get invited back here again. (Laughter and applause.) But I want to thank everyone here for making this dream -- this was really a dream of mine in so many ways, to have this industry and all those who have supported me, who do so much for people to make us feel beautiful and ready to get out there. Let me tell you, fashion plays an important role in my confidence. My ability to do my job is really linked to how I feel about what I’m wearing. So this is some big stuff. So I’m grateful to all of you for everything you’ve done for me, everything you’ve been willing to do for these young people. And let’s keep thinking about what more we can do. That’s always -- what’s the next step. So I am grateful to you all. I hope you guys have enjoyed the day. FIRST LADY's Fashion Workshop Pool Report
"First stop was the Diplomatic Room. Approximately 24 students were seated at four tables. There was a cream-colored strapless gown on a dress form in the corner flashing colored stripes of light. This was only overt evidence of clothing in this room which was all about wearable technology. Rebeccah Pailes-Friedman, a professor from Pratt, was leading the session on stitching a circuit and LED lights to what resembled a small hockey puck personalized with drawings. One of the helpers was wearing a little helmet covered in flashing white lights for reasons that went unexplained. Indeed, much went unexplained. As Rebeccah toured the tables she cajoled: "Did you guys program yours? What are you waiting for?" Flotus arrives in what appears to be a navy sleeveless dress with a full skirt and a racer style front. It was designed by a student from FIT who won a design competition . Her name is Natalia Covalt (this a phonetic guess as no one seemed to have the correct spelling but I am promised it will be spelled correctly in the release of Flotus remarks.) Her arrival brings "ooh!" And "oh my goodness" from the students. Rebeccah prepared the students for a demo: "Now that you've sewn on your circuit and your LEd" they're supposed to tap the micro processor to the iPad and the iPad will control the flashing lights. (As best as I can understand.) Little circles with unique designs light up at different speeds. And no, there was no explanation of what the practical applications might be. Stop 2: the State Dining Room for a session on Construction. More people and a much more obviously design centric room. There are little dress forms on all the tables. The designers have brought in giant mood boards and examples of their own work. Here, my friends, is a fashion scene - old school. Flotus arrives and stops at the table - one of eight in total - led by Zac Posen: "That looks like something I would wear!" Flotus exclaims. It was unclear if she was talking about a sort of one shoulder bronze metallic gown or a Black tulle skirt. Over at a table led by Lela Rose. "We're making journals. ...I was stressing how really important it is to record your ideas. ...This a neat group. We're having fun and hopefully learning something." Zac Posen, in a gray suit, warns a student, "don't ever put (pins) in your mouth. It's a bad habit." Other designers included Naeem Khan , who got a big hug from Flotus. He brought along quite the glittery trunk show, including a Cocktail dress with a silver spangled bodice and cream feathered skirt. The Marchesa designers - Georgina Chapman and Keren Craig- held down the back corner surrounded by their huge mood board. Also running tables: Maria Cornejo, Azede Jean -Pierre, Alexis Bittar and an un identified designer from the Gap. LIST OF REGULATORS
The White House passes on this list of financial regulators who met with POTUS this morning. Meeting was photojournalist spray. Participants in today’s meeting included: · Janet Yellen, Chair of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System · Mary Jo White, Chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission · Martin Gruenberg, Chair of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation · Mel Watt, Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency · Richard Cordray, Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau · Timothy Massad, Chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission · Thomas Curry, Comptroller of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency · Debbie Matz, Chairman of the National Credit Union Administration White House and Administration Participants: · Jack Lew, Secretary of the Treasury · Shaun Donovan, Director of the Office of Management and Budget · Jason Furman, Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers · Jeff Zients, Director of the National Economic Council and Assistant to the President for Economic Policy · Brian Deese, Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget · Neil Eggleston, White House Counsel · Sarah Bloom Raskin, Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Treasury · Seth Wheeler, Special Assistant to the President for Economic Policy Remarks by the President in Town Hall on Manufacturing
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release October 3, 2014 REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT AT TOWN HALL ON MANUFACTURING Millennium Steel Princeton, Indiana 2:17 P.M. CDT THE PRESIDENT: Hello, everybody! Hello, Indiana! It’s good to be back close to home. Everybody have a seat, have a seat. Well, first of all, let me thank Henry and everybody for extending such a warm welcome. It's good to be back in Indiana. A couple people I just want to acknowledge very quickly: Your Mayor, Bob Hurst. Where did Mayor Hurst go? (Applause.) He was here just a second -- there he is right there. Give him a big round of applause. (Applause.) We’ve got your former Congressman, Brad Ellsworth, in the house. Say hi to Brad. (Applause.) It is great to be back in Indiana. It’s great to be in Princeton. And I want to thank Millennium Steel for hosting us here today. I'm here because you might have heard that today is National Manufacturing Day. You don't get the day off on National Manufacturing Day. (Laughter.) But factories like this one, all over the country, are opening their doors to give young people a chance to understand what opportunities exist in manufacturing in 21st century in the United States of America. So I figured, what better place to celebrate Manufacturing Day than with a manufacturer? And instead of giving a long speech, what I want to do today is just have a conversation with folks about what’s happening in the American economy, what’s happening in your lives, what’s happening in manufacturing, and to talk a little bit about how we can continue to build an economy that works for everybody, that gives everybody who’s willing to work hard a chance. And I wanted to do that here because, in some ways, American manufacturing is powering the American recovery. This morning, we learned that last month, our businesses added more than 236,000 jobs. (Applause.) The unemployment rate fell from 6.1 percent to 5.9 percent. (Applause.) What that means is that the unemployment rate is below 6 percent for the first time in six years. (Applause.) And we’re on pace for the strongest job growth since the 1990s -- strongest job growth since the 1990s. Over the past 55 months, our businesses have now created 10.3 million new jobs. (Applause.) Now, that happens to be the longest uninterrupted stretch of job growth in the private sector in American history. And all told, the United States has put more folks back to work than Europe, Japan, and all other advanced economies combined. All combined, we put more folks back to work right here in the United States of America. (Applause.) So this progress that we've been making, it's been hard, it goes in fits and starts, it's not always been perfectly smooth or as fast as we want, but it is real and it is steady and it is happening. And it's making a difference in economies all across the country. And it's the direct result of the best workers in the world, the drive and determination of the American people, the resilience of the American people bouncing back from what was the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression -- and it's also got a little bit to do with some decisions we made pretty early on in my administration. So, just to take an example, many of you know that the auto industry was really in a bad spot when I came into office. And we decided to help our automakers to rebuild, to retool, and they’re now selling new cars at the fastest rate in about eight years. And they’re great cars, too. (Applause.) And that's helped a lot of communities all across the Midwest. And that's just one example of what’s been happening to American manufacturing generally. About 10, 15 years ago, everybody said American manufacturing is going downhill, everything is moving to China or other countries. And the Midwest got hit a lot harder than a lot of places because we were the backbone of American manufacturing. But because folks invested in new plants and new technologies, and there were hubs that were created between businesses and universities and community colleges so that workers could master and get trained in some of these new technologies, what we've now seen is manufacturing driving economic growth in a way we haven't seen in about 20-25 years. Because of the efforts that we've made, manufacturing as a whole has added about 700,000 new jobs. It’s growing twice as fast as the rest of the economy. New factories are opening their doors. More than half of manufacturing executives have said they’re actively looking to bring jobs back from China. Our businesses are selling more goods overseas than any time in our history. And the reason this is important is not just because of some abstract statistic. Manufacturing jobs have good pay and good benefits. And they create a ripple effect to the whole economy because everybody who’s working here at Millennium Steel, because you're getting paid well, because you've got decent benefits, that means that the restaurants in the neighborhood are doing better. It means you can afford to make your mortgage payments and buy a new car yourself, and buy some new appliances. And you get a virtuous cycle in which all businesses are doing better. To most middle-class folks, the last decade was defined by those jobs going overseas. But if we keep up these investments, then we can define this decade as a period, instead of outsourcing, insourcing -- bringing jobs back to America. And when you ask business executives around the world, what’s the number-one place to invest their money right now, for a long time it was China. Today they say, the best place to invest money is here in the United States of America. Here in the United States of America. (Applause.) So there is a lot of good stuff happening in the economy right now. But what we all know is, is that there’s still some challenges -- there’s still some challenges -- because there are still a lot of families where somebody in the family is out of work, or isn't getting as many hours as they want. There are still a lot of folks who, at the end of the month, are having trouble paying the bills. And wages and incomes have not moved up as fast as all the gains we're making in jobs and productivity. Too much of the growth in income and wealth is going to the very top; not enough of it is being spread to the ordinary worker. And that means that we've still got some more work to do to put in place policies that make sure that the economy works not just for the few, but it works for everybody; and that if you work hard you're going to be able to pay the bills, you're going to be able to retire with some dignity and some respect, you can send your kids to school without having to worry about it. That's what we've got to be working on -- making sure that no matter who you are, where you started, you can make it here in America. That's what the American Dream is all about. (Applause.) Now, let me just close by saying a couple of things that I know would make a difference if we were doing them right now to make the economy grow even faster, to bring the unemployment rate down even faster, and if employers are hiring more workers and the labor market gets a little bit tighter, then employers end up paying a little bit more and wages go up a little bit more, and that means people have a little more money in their pockets, and then they’re spending more of it on businesses’ products and services, which means that even more workers get hired. There are some things we could do right now that would make a difference. We should be investing in roads and bridges and ports and infrastructure all across the country. We've got a lot of stuff that was built back in the ‘40s and the ‘50s that needs to be updated. And if we're putting construction workers back to work, that means they also need some steel. They also need some concrete. It means you need engineers doing the work, and you need suppliers. And all that would give a huge boost to the economy and make it easier for businesses to deliver their products and services around the world. It would be good for our economy. That's something that we should be doing right now. And I've been putting proposals forward in front of Congress to say let’s go ahead and just start rebuilding all kinds of parts of America that need rebuilding. And nobody disagrees that they need to be rebuilt. The only thing that's holding us up right now is politics. We should be raising the minimum wage to make sure that more workers -- (applause) -- who have been working full-time shouldn’t be living in poverty. And we've got legislation going on right now that would call for a minimum wage of $10.10 an hour, which would mean that if you work full-time you're not living in poverty, you can raise a family. And the good news is, is about 13 states and a bunch of cities around the country have gone ahead and done it without Congress. But it would sure help if Congress went ahead and did it as well. Because right now, since I, two years ago, called for a hike in the minimum wage, about 7 million people have seen their incomes go up, but there are still about 21 million people who would stand to benefit if we had a national minimum wage. And by the way, when you hear folks saying, well, if you raise the minimum wage that's going to be fewer jobs -- it turns out the states that have raised the minimum wage have had faster job growth than the states that haven’t raised the minimum wage. So this is something that would benefit families, but again, if folks have more money in their pockets, they’re working hard, they go out and spend it. And that ends up being good for business, not just for the workers involved. We should be making sure that women are getting paid the same as men for doing the same work. (Applause.) That's something, by the way, that should be a no-brainer for men, too, because -- (laughter) -- I remember when Michelle and I were both working, I was always happy if she got a raise. I wanted to make sure that she was getting paid fairly because it's all one household, and the more women that get into the workforce, the more families are reliant on two incomes in order to make ends meet. Plus it's just fair and it's the right thing to do. (Applause.) So there are a number of steps that we can take to make unemployment go down faster, to make sure that wages are rising faster, and that would benefit everybody. And I'll just close with this comment. If you look at American history, the times we grow fastest and do best is when we're growing the economy from the middle out. When middle-class families are growing, when working folks can get their way into the middle class, that's when the whole economy does well. When you have an economy where just a few are doing well, and a lot of other folks are left, no matter how hard they work, still just scraping to get by, the economy doesn’t get the same kind of momentum. And if you think about what America is about, what the American Dream is about, it's always been that everybody should have opportunity. It shouldn’t matter how you started out if you're willing to work hard, if you have good values, if you take responsibility. And that's the kind of economy that we want to build. And we can build it, and manufacturing is going to be right smack dab in the middle of that effort, we've got to continue to build on the success we have. We're not going to rest on our laurels. We're going to keep on going until every single person who wants to find a good job out there can get a good job, and that America is competing against everybody else, so that 21st century is the American Century, just like the 20th century was. All right? (Applause.) Here is how we're going to do this. I'm going to just grab this mic. Anybody who wants to ask a question or make a comment just raise your hand. There are probably some folks with mics in the audience. Wait for the mic so everybody can hear you. Stand up, introduce yourself. Try to make your questions kind of short, and I'll try to make my answers kind of short. That way we can get more folks in. All right? All right. Who wants to go first? Oh, and I'll go boy, girl, boy, girl -- to make sure everybody -- (laughter) -- it's kind of fair, kind of even. All right. This young man right here. Q Thank you for coming out today, President Obama. I'm with the University of Southern Indiana Manufacturing Club out here -- THE PRESIDENT: Excellent. Q And my question for you is, can you share some specifics about the Rebuild America Act? I know you talked a little bit about that. THE PRESIDENT: Well, we have about $2 trillion in deferred maintenance. I don't have to tell you because some of you have probably hit some potholes and tried to figure out what the heck is going on, why aren't we fixing that road? But it's not just the traditional roads and bridges. It's also the infrastructure we don't see -- sewer systems, water systems. A lot of them are breaking down. Gas lines that we've been seeing in some big cities -- those things start wearing out, suddenly they actually pose a threat if they explode because they’re just not in good shape. There’s a whole bunch of new infrastructure that we should be building. So I'll give you a good example is our electricity grid. The way we transmit power -- if we've got old electricity grids, what happens is a lot of the electricity leaks, a lot of the power leaks in the transmission from the power plant to, let’s say, a factory like this one. And the more it leaks, the more that's driving up prices, because it's not as efficient as it should be and it's more vulnerable to blackouts. And in fact, if we built a smarter power grid -- that's called a smart grid -- means that not only is it not leaking power, but it's also sending power in efficient ways during peak times, so that we end up using less energy, which drives down consumer prices and is good for the environment. I'll give you one other example that I know everybody here will appreciate. We have an old, archaic air traffic control system. Some of you heard about what happened in Chicago -- some guy got mad he was being transferred to Hawaii. Now, let me tell you, I've been to Hawaii. I don't know why he was mad about that. (Laughter.) He sets fire to some of the facilities there, and suddenly folks couldn't get in and out of Chicago for a couple of days. In fact, I was in Chicago yesterday -- day before yesterday. I had to land in Gary because O’Hare was still somewhat restricted. But even setting aside that, it turns out that if we revamped our whole air traffic control system, we could reduce the number of delayed flights by about 30 percent. We could reduce the amount of fuel that airlines use by about 30 percent, which means we could lower ticket prices by a whole bunch. It means that you wouldn't have two-hour waits in the airport. And if you're flying for business, that's going to save you time and money. If you're just trying to get home to see your family, it means time spent with family instead of sitting in an airport, buying stuff that's really expensive. (Laughter.) The whole economy would be more efficient if we do it. So the good news is it's the best time for us to rebuild our infrastructure because there are still a lot of construction workers out of work, a lot of contractors -- it's not like they’ve got so much business, which means they can do the work on time, under budget. Interest rates are low. If we spent, let’s say, the next 10 years just saying we're just going to rebuild all across America, old infrastructure and new infrastructure, then not only would we give the economy a boost right now, but what we’d also do is lay the foundation for even more economic growth in the future. It's a smart investment, and we should be doing it. So what I've proposed is let’s close some tax loopholes that exist right now that in some cases are incentivizing companies to send money overseas and profits overseas instead of investing here in the United States of America. Let’s close those loopholes that aren't good for creating jobs here. Let’s take some of that money, let’s use that to rebuild our infrastructure. Makes good sense. But Congress hasn’t done it yet -- not because it's not a good idea. Infrastructure is not partisan. That's not Democratic or Republican, that's just a common-sense thing. Eisenhower built the Interstate Highway System. Lincoln -- first Republican President -- helped build the Transcontinental Railroad. Traditionally, everybody has been in favor of infrastructure because it powers our economy. It's part of what made us an economic superpower. We've got to get back to that kind of mentality. All right. Young lady right here. Q Mr. President, you mentioned an increase to the minimum wage. How do you counter an opinion that increasing employee wages would ultimately increase the selling price of goods and services, thus negating any increase to the employee’s standard of living? THE PRESIDENT: No, it's a good question. It's interesting that if you look at the studies that have been done -- first of all, most employers pay more than the minimum wage already. Typically, minimum wage are in certain sectors of the economy. They’re disproportionately women who are getting paid the minimum wage. But unlike what people think, the majority of folks getting paid the minimum wage are adults, many of them supporting families. The average age of somebody getting paid the minimum wage is 35 years old. They’re not 16. So in those states or where you’ve had one state pass a hike in the minimum wage and the state right next door doesn’t, and you kind of look at what’s happening along the border where you think that people would be kind of influenced -- maybe they shop where the prices are cheaper, or businesses would move over to the place where there isn't a minimum wage -- it turns out that actually it doesn’t have that much of an impact. It has an impact on the families. It generally does not have a huge impact in terms of prices, and it doesn’t have -- another argument that's made is folks will hire fewer people because salaries are higher. Well, it turns out actually that's not generally what happens. It’s just that if everybody has to raise the minimum wage, then everybody adjusts. And in some cases, because of competition, they’re not going to be able to raise their prices. But you're getting to a larger point that I think has plagued the American economy for some time, and that is that business has learned how to be really profitable and produce a lot of goods with fewer and fewer workers, partly through automation. And sometimes that does drive down prices. The problem is it also drives down wages. And it's driven wages down faster, in many cases, than prices. I mean, if what you're worried about most is low prices, then presumably we could have everything made in low-wage countries overseas. They’d get shipped back here, but it doesn’t do you any good if a pair of sneakers is really cheap and you don't have a job. So I think the goal here should be prioritizing -- number one, making sure people have work, number two, making sure that that work pays well. And if people have good jobs and they’re getting paid a decent wage, then businesses are the ones who have to compete for your business. They’re still going to have to keep prices down relatively low because they’re going to have to compete against other businesses. If they raise their prices too much, somebody is going to come in and offer a better deal. And consumers have gotten better, partly because of the Internet. They know what prices are there. So there’s never been greater competition out there. The problem is right now that all that competition is on the back of workers. Businesses’ profits are through the roof. There was a report this week that showed that corporate balance sheets in America are as strong as they’ve been in history. It's part of the reason why the stock market is doing great. So it's not as if companies don't have some room to pay their workers more. They’re just not doing it. And a greater and greater share has been going to the corporate balance sheet, and less and less of a share is going to workers. So don't let folks tell you that companies right now can't afford to provide their workers a raise. The reason they’re not giving their workers a raise is because, frankly, they don't have to -- because the labor market is still somewhat soft, and people are afraid that if I leave this job I may not find something. The good news is, as the unemployment rate comes down, there are fewer workers looking for jobs, and that means companies have to start bidding up wages a little bit. The market will take care of some of this. But having a minimum wage that is a little bit higher, that's also going to help. Last example I'll give, by the way, Costco --I assume some folks here shopped at Costco before. Costco has the best prices around, right? Starting salary for a cash register operator -- $11.50, maybe it's $11.35. Starting wage. And by the way, even before the Affordable Care Act, Costco gave everybody health care. But they’ve been growing just as fast as folks who don't pay the minimum wage and don't provide health care benefits. Their stock has done great. The difference is they’re spreading more of the profits to their workers, which is good for the economy as a whole. And by the way, when you walk into Costco, everybody is pretty cheerful because they’re feeling like they’re getting a fair deal and that the company cares about them. All right? Yes. Q I'm the general manager at Millennium Steel. We're very honored to have you. One of the questions I had is about the health care costs. We are seeing almost a double-digit increase in health care costs every year. So do you think that trend is going to go down? And what can we do to control that trend? THE PRESIDENT: I think that's really interesting. You're going to have to talk to Henry because -- (laughter) -- no, no, no, this is serious. The question is whether you guys are shopping effectively enough. Because it turns out that this year, and in fact over the course of the last four years, premiums have gone up at the slowest rate in 50 years. So health care premiums have actually slowed down significantly. And it is having an effect both on businesses and families and the federal debt. Because most of the federal deficit and the federal debt, when folks talk about we've got to drive down the debt, we've got to do something about the debt -- it turns out that most of the federal deficit and the federal debt over the last decade has come from health care costs going up so high, which means Medicare and Medicaid costs start going up. And that's gobbled up a bigger and bigger share of the federal budget. Because health care costs are going up much more slowly than expected, so far we anticipate we're going to save about $188 billion over the next 10 years and reduce health care costs. So the issue now is what can we do to make sure that you at Millennium are shopping and seeing more competition. Because the only problem with the health care market is sometimes it's different in different pockets of the country, depending on how many carriers there are. And what we're trying to do is to make sure that there’s more competition driving down cost when it comes to both the businesses who are trying to buy health care for their employees, but also folks who don't get health care on the job and are just having to buy it on their own. That's part of what the Affordable Care Act is all about. Now, some of you -- Affordable Care Act, by the way, is also known as Obamacare. (Applause.) For a while, everybody was saying -- sort of using that as kind of an insult. I'm feeling pretty good about it being called Obamacare. I suspect that about five years from now when everybody agrees that it's working, then they won't call it Obamacare anymore. (Laughter.) That's okay. But part of what we did there is we set up what’s called these marketplaces, these exchanges, where individuals can go online and shop. And as you know, the website was really bad for the first three months. It's now in really good shape. We've signed up 10 million people to get health coverage many times for the first time. And we're giving them tax credits to help lower the cost even more. But we're also setting up a network for businesses to be able to shop for health insurance. And what’s happened -- I talked about this yesterday -- right now on average across America -- so it may not be true in every single market, but across America, on average, premiums have -- if it had not been for this drop in health care inflation, premiums would probably be about $1,800 higher per family than they actually have turned out to be. Now, you think about that -- $1,800, that's money that's in your pocket that otherwise would be going to you paying for your health care premiums. That's like an $1,800 tax cut for every family that's got health insurance. And that's good news. But we've got to make sure everybody takes advantage of it. So I'm going to make sure -- are you in charge of buying health care? You are? All right, so what I'm going to do is I'm going to make sure that you talk to some of our health care market folks. I bet we can get you a better deal. All right? We'll see if we can save you a little money. (Applause.) All right. Young lady right here in the jacket. Q Good afternoon. My name is Conner Perry (ph). I'm in the 8th grade at the Lexington School in Lexington, Kentucky. THE PRESIDENT: Well, it's so nice to meet you. Q Thank you. THE PRESIDENT: How old are you -- you're in 8th grade, so you're just tall and pretty, just like Malia and Sasha. There you go. Q I was wondering, what are some actions we could take to put people in rural America to work? THE PRESIDENT: That's a great question. You know, the rural economy has actually done extremely well compared to the rest of the economy over the last couple of years. The main reason for it -- first of all, we've got the best farmers in the world and we're the most productive agricultural system in the world. So we just -- our crops are really good and we produce a lot. And the weather has been pretty decent. I just talked to my friend -- where is Scates? There he is. Good buddy of mine -- the Scates farm over on Illinois side. He said best crops he’s seen in a while -- right? Ever. So that's the good news. But what’s also helped is that we have increased our agricultural exports, sending our outstanding products overseas at a record pace. And I should introduce, by the way, Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker is right here. That's Penny. (Applause.) And one of Penny’s most important jobs is going around the world and trying to open up new markets for agricultural goods. One of our biggest exports. And so we've got to keep on making sure that if we have the best crops, the best products at the lowest price that we can get into these markets. A lot of countries protect their markets and their farmers from competition by closing their markets -- even though they’re selling stuff to us. And my general attitude about trade, I'm a big believer in trade, but my attitude is it's got to be two-way. If we're going to buy your cars, or we're going to buy your TV sets, or whatever else you're selling, then you’ve got to be able to buy American wheat and corn and beans. And Penny has done a terrific job. And that's part of the reason why we've seen record exports. And that helps the agricultural economy. That's number one. But number two, we've also got to diversify the rural economy so it's not just dependent on agriculture. And that means, for example, investing in things like biofuels and clean energy. We are at the threshold of being able to create new energy sources out of not just crops that we grow -- corn and ethanol -- but also stuff that we usually throw away, like the corn stalks instead of the corn. And the more we invest in biofuels, clean energy, that can make a big difference in the rural economy. So that's another area where we can make progress. And then the rural economy should -- just like here in Princeton, we've got to make sure that we are offering up opportunities for manufacturers to come back in to look at some of these rural sites, where you know the people there work hard and quality of life is high, but oftentimes international investors don't know about some of these rural communities. And so Penny has been helping to advertise. We've got a whole program called SelectUSA where we go around and we help towns, mayors, county chairmen, local chambers of commerce invite investors from Japan and Singapore and Germany -- come invest here in the United States of America. Because what you want is an economy that isn't just relying on one thing, but it has a bunch of different components to it, so that if, say, you have a bad crop one year the whole economy of that area doesn’t just collapse. And that can make a big difference. But if we're going to be able to attract investment into rural America, there are at least two things that have to happen. Number one, we've got to invest in education to make sure that the young people in rural America have the skills for today’s jobs. And that includes not just K through 12, but also community colleges -- which are really a crown jewel -- community colleges can be so powerful in just training folks -- they may not go to a four-year college, but if they can get some technical training they’re suddenly ready for that job. And that is really attractive to investors. If they know they’ve got good workers in a site, that's one of the most important things they’re looking for. And the second thing is the thing I talked about earlier, which is infrastructure. Part of the problem with rural communities is they’re a little more isolated. All the more important, then, that our rail, our roads, our airports, that they all work, and that they’ve got broadband connections and Internet connections in order to make sure that they can access international markets. All right? Great question. All right, it’s a gentleman’s turn. Right here. Right here in front. Q Hello, Mr. President. Thank you for coming. I hope I've got this right -- it is your wedding anniversary today? THE PRESIDENT: That is correct. Q So happy anniversary to you and Michelle. THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, sir. Thank you. (Applause.) Thank you. Twenty-two years she’s been putting up with me. (Laughter.) I had a young man, a friend of mine just got married. And I told the bride -- wonderful young lady -- I said it takes about 10 years to train a man properly. (Laughter.) So you’ve got to be patient with him. Because he'll screw up a bunch, but eventually we learn. It's just it takes us a little longer. We're not as smart. So Michelle has been very patient with me. Thank you very much. That's very kind of you. (Applause.) Young lady right here. Q Hi, President Obama. I'm from Indiana State University. Right here. (Applause.) Representing. THE PRESIDENT: Yay, Indiana State! Q I just had a question. Recently on the media, we have been hearing a lot about the EPA system and the war on coal. What are your feelings on that? THE PRESIDENT: Some of that is -- some of it’s hype and politics. And that’s sort of the nature of our politics these days. But there’s a real issue involved. Less and less of our power is coming from coal. Now, a lot of people think that's because of environmental regulations. And the truth of the matter is, is that there’s some environmental regulations that have had an impact mainly because what it’s said to the power plant operators is you’ve got to be more efficient and you can't send as much pollution into the air. So if you’re using coal, you’ve got to figure out how can we get smart coal -- smart coal technologies that capture some of the pollution that's being sent up, put it underground, store it. Some of that technology is developing, but it’s not quite there yet. But actually the main reason that power plants in America are using less coal is because natural gas is so cheap. So the real war on coal is natural gas, which, because of new technologies, we are now extracting at a rate that is unbelievable. There’s about a hundred years’ supply of natural gas underground here in America. We are now the number-one natural gas producer in the world. And by the way, we’re also producing more oil than we import for the first time in almost two decades. (Applause.) Some people don't realize -- you know who the number-one oil producer in the world is? It’s us, the United States of America. So we’re producing more oil than ever. We’re producing more natural gas than ever. And natural gas, we’re producing so much that when new power plants get built, it’s cheaper for them to run on natural gas than it is on coal. So that obviously causes some hardship in communities that traditionally relied on coal. There are two things we need to do. Number one is -- and my administration has been hugely supportive -- we’ve put a lot of money into developing these new technologies to make sure we can burn coal cleaner than we have. And the second thing that we need to do is make sure that some of the new opportunities in clean energy and in natural gas and other energy-related industries that they locate in places that used to have coal, or used to be primarily coal country. Because the trend lines are going to be inevitable. Because if you burn coal in a dirty way, that's going to cause more and more pollution, including pollution that causes climate change. You’re going to see more and more restrictions on the use of coal not just here in the United States, but around the world, which means that we’ve got to get out in front of that and make sure that we’ve got the technologies to use coal cheaply. And we’ve got to be able to send those technologies to other counties that are still burning coal. Because there are going to be counties like China and India and others that still use coal for years to come. They're poor, and they're building a lot of power plants quickly. They don't have as much natural gas as us, so they're going to be interested in figuring how can they use their coal supplies and how can they import our coal. But if we’re doing a good job giving them technologies that allow them to burn it cleanly, then it’s a win-win for us. Not only are we able to then sell coal to them, but we’re also selling the technology to help them burn it in the cleanest way possible. We’ve been making those investments, and we’ve got to keep on making those investments in order for us to get ahead of the curve. Great question. Gentleman back there in the tie. There aren’t that many ties in here, so there you go. Q Hi, Mr. President. I’m with the Fabricators and Manufacturers Association. We’re one of the founding partners of Manufacturing Day, so thank you for your support. (Applause.) THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. Q I’d like to ask you about R&D. U.S. manufacturers do more R&D than any county in the world. It makes us productive. It makes us innovative. Could you talk about policies and ideas to continue to support R&D activities to promote and accelerate manufacturing? Thank you. THE PRESIDENT: When we think about manufacturing, we always think about the traditional guy with the hard hat and the glasses, and there are sparks flying and it’s noisy. These days you go into a manufacturing plant like this one, first of all, it’s clean, it’s quiet, and so much of it is running on computers and automation and new systems. So if we’re going to stay competitive in manufacturing, we’ve got some terrific advantages. Energy, by the way, is one of our biggest advantages because we have some of the cheapest energy in the world. That's part of why a lot of companies want to relocate here in the United States. But we’ve also got to stay ahead of the curve in the new technologies for the new kinds of manufacturing. Every budget I’ve submitted has called for an increase in our R&D budget -- our research and development budget. And we’ve specifically been interested in putting more money into research and development in manufacturing. So, in fact, today I announced the fifth -- the proposal for the fifth manufacturing hub that we’re creating. We want to actually create about 15 more of them after this. And what it’s doing is it’s linking manufacturers with universities and researchers to start developing some of the new technologies that we know are going to be key to the future. So, for example, we already created a manufacturing hub around 3D printing. Everybody know what 3D printing is? It’s actually pretty interesting. So basically the idea is, is that using software you can manufacture just about anything from a remote location just by you send the program to some site and then the machine builds whatever it is that you designed on the computer from scratch. And we know that over time this is going to be more and more incorporated in the manufacturing process. But we want to make sure that all that stuff is done right here in the United States of America. So we created a hub for that. Today, I’m announcing a $100 million competition to create a new hub around photonics -- I had to ask Penny to make sure I pronounced it right. But this is basically the science, the technology around light which is used to transmit data and information, and also is used in the manufacturing process for everything from lasers to some of the stuff that the Department of Defense is doing. And what these hubs allow us to do is instead of having a slower process where somebody in some lab coat somewhere figures something out and then writes a report on it, and then maybe five years later, some manufacturer says, huh, I wonder if I could tinker around with that and use that in my manufacturing process, you have a system where the businesses and the researchers are working on it at the same time, which speeds up the discovery process and means we’re moving from discovery to application a lot faster. Now, Germany has about 60 of these manufacturing hubs, and so far I’ve been able to create five of them -- or four of them. This is going to be the fifth. And as I said, I want us to make sure we’re doing a lot more than that. So that's just one example of why our investment in manufacturing research and development is going to be so critically important. It allows us to keep our lead because America has always been the top innovator in the world. That's the reason why our economy historically has done so well, is because we invent stuff faster and better than anybody else. And if we lose that lead, we’re going to be in trouble. Can I just say one last thing about -- because I appreciate you working on this National Manufacturers Day. For the young people here, and anybody who is listening, the reason we set up this National Manufacturing Day is because too many young people do not understand the opportunities that exist in manufacturing. Because so many plants were shut down, and so much offshoring was taking place, I think a lot of people just kind of gave up on the idea of working in manufacturing. The problem is that for a lot of young people, manufacturing offers great opportunities. I was in Wisconsin, somebody told me an amazing statistic, which is the average age of a skilled tool and die operator in Wisconsin is 59 years old. Now, these folks are making 25, 30 bucks an hour, benefits. You are solidly middle class if you have one of these jobs. And the workforce is getting older and older in that area, and the young people aren’t coming to replace them. So the idea behind National Manufacturing Day, we got 50,000 young people going into factories all across the county and learning about -- look at all the jobs that you can get in manufacturing. Engineering jobs, but also jobs on the line, technical jobs. All of them require some skills. All of them require some higher level learning. But not all of them require a four-year degree. You could make a good living. So that's part of what we’re trying to encourage getting young people to reorient. And we’re actually also talking to high schools, saying to them, try to encourage young people to think about manufacturing as a career option. Because not everybody wants to sit behind a desk, pushing paper all day long. And different people have different aptitudes and different talents and different interests. And if we can set up a situation where high schools are starting to connect to manufacturing, then a lot of young people can start getting apprenticeships early -- realize how interesting some of that work is. Then they have a better idea, if they do end up going to college, it’s a little more focused around the things that they're actually going to need in order to succeed in manufacturing. So thank you for participating in that. It’s really important. We’ve got -- how much more time do we have? I just want to make sure. We’ll make it two. We’ll make it two. All right, young lady right there. Yes, right -- you, yes. All right, hold on, let’s make sure we got the microphone here. Q Hi. I am a secondary English education student at USI. And I just want to say thank you for coming here today. It’s such an honor to hear you speak. Being in the job force in the next couple of years, I am worried about equal pay as a woman. So you’ve talked a little bit about that. How can we get there? What can we do to get equal pay for women? THE PRESIDENT: Well, it’s a great question. Here are the statistics, first of all. Women on average make 77 cents for every dollar a man makes. Now, what folks will tell you sometimes is you can't really compare the situation because a lot of women by choice end up working less when they have kids, and decide to stay home, and so it’s not the same thing. But here’s the problem. It turns out that actually in a lot of companies sometimes it’s still the case that women are getting paid less than men for doing the exact same job. And so one of the first bills I signed was called the Lilly Ledbetter bill. And Lilly, who is a friend of mine, she was doing a job for 25 years and about 20 years into it just happened to find out that for that whole time she had been getting paid less for doing the exact same job that a man had been doing. And when she tried to sue to get her back pay, the court said, well, it’s too late now because the statute of limitations had run out. She said, well, I just found out. That doesn't matter. So we changed that law, and that was the first thing that we did. And what we’ve also done is through executive action what I’ve said is any federal contractor who does business with the federal government, you’ve got to allow people to compare their salaries so that they can get information about whether they're getting paid fairly or not. There is a fair pay bill that is before Congress, but so far it’s been blocked by the House Republicans. It hasn’t come up for a vote. We need to keep putting pressure on them to get this done. This is just a matter of basic fairness. I don't think my daughters should be treated any different than somebody else’s sons if they're doing a good job. They should get paid the same. But it’s also a matter of economics, as I said before. More and more women are the key breadwinner in their family, and if they're getting paid less, that whole family suffers. So this is something that we have to take care. I do want to mention, though, going back to the first argument, people saying that women make different choices when they have children -- well, part of the reason they have to make different choices is because we don't have a good child care system. (Applause.) It’s because we don't have a good family leave policy. A child gets sick; you need to take care of a sick child. You can get unpaid leave under the Family Medical Leave Act. But what if you can't afford to give up that paycheck that day? Or you’ve got an ailing parent -- they have to go to the doctor one day. They don't drive. You need to drive them. You need a day off. But if you take the day off, now you can't pay your rent. So there are family-friendly policies that we could put in place -- and some states are doing so -- improving child care, especially early childhood education, by the way, which we know every dollar we invest in that makes our kids do better in school the whole way. (Applause.) So it’s good for our education system, but it’s also just good for parents. Somebody mentioned my wedding anniversary. I can tell you the toughest time when we were married was when our kids were still small and I was working and Michelle was working. And sometimes I’d be out of town, and the babysitter doesn't show up, and suddenly Michelle is having scramble. And I promise you when I get home, it’s rough. (Laughter.) But we were actually -- we were professionals. We were both lawyers. We were in a better position to get help than most families, but it was still hard. So the more we do on early childhood education, high quality day care, making it affordable for families, family leave, those family-friendly policies that will help make sure that women are able to take care of their families and pursue their professional careers and bring home the kind of paycheck that they deserve -- we need to do both. It’s not a choice between one or the other. We have to do all those things. I got time for one more question. Gentleman, right here in the blue. Q Mr. President, I would like to thank you also for visiting. My name is Randy Perry, this young lady’s father. I do have a small manufacturing company in rural America. But how do you speak to us small manufacturers that want to raise the minimum wage but we have to compete? THE PRESIDENT: Well, as I said before, the first thing we need to do is to make sure that the economy as a whole is strong because, remember what I said, when the economy is strong as a whole, there is more demand for workers. That gives workers more leverage to get pay raises. The same is true for businesses. When demand is high for whatever product you’re producing, then you can afford to charge a little bit more. And the truth of the matter is, is that for a lot of small businesses, there’s going to be more pressure than large businesses when it comes to wages because you just don't have as much margin for error. But overall, our economy is going to do better, and small businesses do better when there is greater demand out there for products and services. And there’s greater demand for products and services if people have money in their pockets. And one of the biggest problems we have in our economy right now -- and this includes one of the biggest problems for small businesses -- is that when a bigger and bigger share goes to folks at the top, a lot of that money, they just don't spend. I had lunch with Bill Gates the other day. Now, Bill Gates has ot a lot of money. (Laughter.) And he’s doing great things with it, by the way, doing great charitable work. But the truth of the matter is, is that if Bill Gates gets an extra million dollars, it’s not like he’s going to spend more money on food or go and buy an extra car, or buy a new refrigerator, because he’s already got everything he needs. But if somebody who is a low-wage worker gets a raise, first thing they're going to do is they're going to spend it -- maybe on a new backpack for the kids, or finally trade in that old beater, or a new car. And that drives the economy. It picks it up. It boosts it. And when that happens, then more demand exists for services and goods. And that means that all businesses are going to do better, including small businesses. And that, then, gives you the higher profits, which then allows you to pay your workers a little bit more. You get in this virtuous cycle. And this is part of the argument that I’ve been having with my good friends in the Republican Party for quite some time. If you look at the policies we’ve been pursuing and proposing -- investing in research and development, rebuilding our infrastructure, making sure that college is more affordable, improving child care, fair pay legislation, increase the minimum wage -- I can point to evidence that shows that that's going to put more money in the pockets of middle-class families. That's going to increase growth at a faster pace, and the economy, as a whole is going to do better. And their main response to me typically is two things. One is they’ll say we got to get rid of regulations. Except the problem is, for example, the last big crisis we had was precisely because we didn't have enough regulations on Wall Street, and folks were selling a bunch of junk on the market and doing reckless things that ended up costing everybody something. And then the second argument that they make is we need more tax cuts for folks like me who make a pretty good living, folks at the top. And I’ve got to tell you, there’s no evidence that that's going to help middle-class families. There’s no evidence for this trickle-down theory that somehow another tax cut for folks who are already making out like bandits over the last 20 years is going to somehow improve the prospects for ordinary families. It just doesn't exist. They keep on repeating it, but they don't show that that's actually going to help the economy. That's not going to help you. It’s not going to help you. And it’s not going to help Millennium. And it’s not going to help your business. I made a speech yesterday at Northwestern, and what I just said is just look at the facts. Since I’ve been President, unemployment has gone from -- is down from 10 percent down to now 5.9. The deficit has been cut by more than half. Our energy production is higher than it’s ever been. Our health care costs are slowing. More people have insurance. High school dropout rate has gone down. Graduation rate has gone up. College attendance rate has gone up. Our production of clean energy has doubled. Solar energy has gone up tenfold. Wind energy has gone up threefold. Exports -- we export more than we ever have in history. Corporate balance sheets are doing great. Stock market, all-time highs. Housing market beginning to recover. There’s almost no economic measure by which the economy as a whole isn’t doing significantly better than it was when I came into office. (Applause.) Now, those are just facts. You can look them up. I’m not making it up. That's one thing about being President -- if I stand here and say it, all these folks are filming me so they’ll go and check. (Laughter.) So that's the truth. But what is also true is that wages and incomes have continued to be flat even though the economy is growing and businesses are making more money. So what that tells me is the one thing that's holding things back, the one thing that people are still concerned about and the one thing that if we could change would really give more confidence to the economy and boost it is if wages and incomes start going up a little bit. If all the productivity and profits, if we start sharing that a little bit more with more folks, and ordinary families start feeling like they got a little bit of a cushion, that will be good for everybody. Because that's the one thing that really we haven’t seen as much improvement on as we need. And so what everybody should be asking is how do we increase wages, how do we increase incomes. Because if we do that, things are going to better. And there are pretty much just a handful of ways to do it. Number one, you make the economy grow even faster so the labor market gets tighter. Number two, you pursue policies like a higher minimum wage, or making sure that families are able to get child care, you’re driving down health care costs, the kinds of things that affect people’s pocketbooks directly. Those are the things that I’ve been pursuing since I’ve been President. And those are the things I’ll continue to pursue as long as I have this great privilege of bring President. Thank you so much, everybody. God bless you. Appreciate you. (Applause.) President Obama Honors Nation’s Top Scientists and Innovators
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 3, 2014 President Obama Honors Nation’s Top Scientists and Innovators President Obama today announced a new class of recipients of the National Medal of Science and National Medal of Technology and Innovation—our Nation’s highest honors for achievement and leadership in advancing the fields of science and technology. The new awardees will receive their medals at a White House ceremony later this year. “These scholars and innovators have expanded our understanding of the world, made invaluable contributions to their fields, and helped improve countless lives,” President Obama said. “Our nation has been enriched by their achievements, and by all the scientists and technologists across America dedicated to discovery, inquiry, and invention.” The National Medal of Science was created by statute in 1959 and is administered for the White House by the National Science Foundation. Awarded annually, the Medal recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to science and engineering. The President receives nominations from a committee of Presidential appointees based on their extraordinary knowledge in and contributions to chemistry, engineering, computing, mathematics, and the biological, behavioral/social, and physical sciences. The National Medal of Technology and Innovation was created by statute in 1980 and is administered for the White House by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Patent and Trademark Office. The award recognizes those who have made lasting contributions to America’s competitiveness and quality of life and helped strengthen the Nation’s technological workforce. A distinguished independent committee representing the private and public sectors submits recommendations to the President. The new recipients are listed below. National Medal of Science · Bruce Alberts, University of California, San Francisco, CA · Robert Axelrod, University of Michigan, MI · May Berenbaum, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL · Alexandre J. Chorin, University of California, Berkeley, CA · Thomas Kailath, Stanford University, CA · Judith P. Klinman, University of California, Berkeley, CA · Jerrold Meinwald, Cornell University, NY · Burton Richter, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory and Stanford University, CA · Sean C. Solomon, Columbia University, NY And a posthumous Medal to: · David Blackwell, University of California, Berkeley, CA National Medal of Technology and Innovation · Charles W. Bachman, MA · Edith M. Flanigen, UOP, LLC., a Honeywell Company, NY · Eli Harari, SanDisk Corporation, CA · Thomas Fogarty, Fogarty Institute for Innovation, CA · Arthur D. Levinson, Calico, CA · Cherry A. Murray, Harvard University School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, MA · Mary Shaw, Carnegie Mellon University, PA · Douglas Lowy and John Schiller, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, MD Statement on the Employment Situation in September
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 3, 2014 Statement on the Employment Situation in September WASHINGTON, DC – Jason Furman, Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers, issued the following statement today on the employment situation in September. You can view the statement HERE. Posted by Jason Furman on October 3, 2014 at 09:30 AM EDT With today’s report, America’s businesses extended the longest streak of private-sector job gains on record. The data underscore that six years after the Great Recession—thanks to the hard work of the American people and in part to the policies the President has pursued—our economy has bounced back more strongly than most others around the world. But even as we take stock of the progress that has been made, too many Americans do not yet feel enough of the benefits. Yesterday, the President set out his vision for steps that can lay a new foundation for stronger growth, rising wages, and expanded economic opportunity. FIVE KEY POINTS IN TODAY’S REPORT FROM THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS 1. The private sector has added 10.3 million jobs over 55 straight months of job growth, extending the longest streak on record. Today we learned that total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 248,000 in September, mainly reflecting a 236,000 increase in private employment. Private-sector job growth was revised up for July and August, so that over the past twelve months, private employment has risen by 2.6 million. So far this year, private employment has risen by nearly 2 million, on pace for the strongest year of private-sector job growth since 1998. 2. The overall unemployment rate fell to 5.9 percent in September, the lowest since July 2008, and is down 1.3 percentage point over the last year. Notably, the 1.3 percentage point decline in the unemployment rate is nearly the largest drop in any one-year period since 1984 (behind only the 1.4 percentage point drop from June 2013 to June 2014). Of this drop, about 60 percent is due to declining long-term unemployment, even though the long-term unemployed represent about one-third of the jobless. The magnitude of the drop in the overall unemployment rate since last September has been matched or exceeded by the declines in the broader measures of labor underutilization also published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. These measures include varying combinations of persons who have withdrawn from the labor force or who are working part-time for economic reasons. Reflecting the large measure of progress that has been made in the recovery, the measures of labor underutilization shown below are between 67 and 87 percent of the way back to their pre-recession averages. The broadest alternative measure of labor underutilization—the U-6 rate—still exhibits the greatest degree of elevation relative to its pre-recession average, but it is falling faster than the other measures, down 1.8 percentage point over the last year. 3. Total job growth in August was revised up by 38,000, continuing a pattern seen over the past several years of substantial upward revisions to the initial August report. From 2010-2012, the first estimate of job growth in August was revised up by an average of 84,000 at the time of the third estimate. Notably, the initial August 2011 estimate of no change in employment was subsequently revised to a gain of more than 100,000. While the average first-to-third estimate revision for August has been larger than for any other month, by the time of the annual benchmark revision, other months have been revised up as much or more. One reason that the August jobs number may be particularly susceptible to revision is that there tend to be large seasonal employment flows during the month, as many school districts begin instruction, temporary summer jobs come to an end, and autoworkers return from the yearly July shutdown for plant retooling. 4. On the occasion of Manufacturing Day, we take stock of the major gains in the manufacturing sector seen over the course of the economic recovery—including more than 700,000 jobs added and an increase in the average workweek to levels not seen since World War II. The job growth in manufacturing since February 2010 includes 212,000 jobs added in motor vehicles and parts, 203,000 jobs in fabricated metal products, and 155,000 jobs in machinery. In addition, the average workweek for production and nonsupervisory workers in the manufacturing sector ticked up to 42.1 hours in September, near its highest level in over sixty years. Prior to last year, the average workweek in manufacturing had not reached 42 hours since World War II. 5. The pattern of job growth across industries in September was generally in line with recent trends. Some of the industries that had above-average performances include professional and business services, which had one of its strongest months of the recovery, and retail trade, which added 35,000 jobs, roughly offsetting last month’s below-trend performance in this industry. Furthermore, state and local governments combined posted a net gain of 14,000 jobs, double the average over the last twelve months. Across the 17 industries shown below, the correlation between the most recent one-month percent change and the average percent change over the last twelve months was 0.74, suggesting that the pattern of job growth across industries in September was broadly in line with recent trends. As the Administration stresses every month, the monthly employment and unemployment figures can be volatile, and payroll employment estimates can be subject to substantial revision. Therefore, it is important not to read too much into any one monthly report and it is informative to consider each report in the context of other data that are becoming available. Remarks by the President at Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute Gala THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary For Immediate Release October 2, 2014 REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT AT CONGRESSIONAL HISPANIC CAUCUS INSTITUTE GALA Walter E. Washington Convention Center Washington, D.C. 7:54 P.M. EDT THE PRESIDENT: Good evening! (Applause.) Thank you to Senator Menendez, Congressman Hinojosa, and the entire CHC for inviting me. Everybody, you can have a seat, take a load off. (Laughter.) I want to congratulate tonight’s outstanding honorees -- Jose Diaz-Balart -- (applause) -- Eliseo Medina -- (applause) -- and Juliet Garcia. (Applause.) I want to thank all the other members of Congress who are here tonight, including the outstanding Nancy Pelosi. (Applause.) Although I have to say Nancy Pelosi was really talking mostly about the San Francisco Giants -- in a Nationals town. So that just shows her courage. (Laughter.) I want to give a special thanks to two young men who rode over with me from the White House tonight. Luis and Victor are CHCI interns and fellows. (Applause.) They are also DREAMers, living and working in the country they call home, and making it a better place for all of us. Their stories are inspiring. And along with the other CHCI fellows, they give me great hope for the future. They make me optimistic about what America is all about. Six years ago, I came here as a candidate for this office and I said if we worked together, we could do more than just win an election -- we could rebuild America so that everybody, no matter what you look like, no matter what your last name is, no matter what God you worship, no matter who you love -- everybody is free to pursue their dreams. (Applause.) And that’s exactly what we set out to do. And today, there is progress that we should be proud of. I gave a long speech this afternoon about it because sometimes we don't focus on what has happened over these last six years. Over the past four and a half years, our businesses have created 10 million new jobs -- the longest uninterrupted stretch of job creation in our history. (Applause.) In the spring, our economy grew faster than any time since 2006, and there are more job openings today than at any time since 2001. (Applause.) And we are going to keep working as hard as we can to help create good, middle-class jobs even faster. Six years ago, I told you we would confront the crisis of overcrowded classrooms and underfunded schools, and help more families afford higher education. And since 2000, we have cut the Latino dropout rate by more than half. (Applause.) Because dropouts are down, today our high school graduation rate is the highest on record. And since 2008, the rate of college enrollment among young Latinos has risen by 45 percent. (Applause.) Six years ago, I said we’d take on a broken health care system that left one out of three Hispanics uninsured. Today, millions more Americans have quality, affordable health insurance that they can count on. (Applause.) Over the last year alone, about 10 million Americans gained health insurance. And that includes millions of Latinos. (Applause.) Six years ago, I told you we’d restore the idea at the heart of America that we're in this together, that I am my brother’s keeper, and my sister’s keeper. Last year, poverty among Latinos fell, and incomes rose. And this week, I launched the My Brother’s Keeper Community Challenge, asking every community in our country to publicly commit to strategies that will help put our young people on the path to success, from cradle to career. (Applause.) So the point I want to make is the progress we’ve made has been hard, sometimes it's been slower than we want, but that progress has been steady and it has been real. We have done big things together, and we're going to do more. And tonight, I want to make something clear: Fixing our broken immigration system is one more, big thing that we have to do and that we will do. (Applause.) Now, I know there’s deep frustration in many communities around the country right now. And I understand that frustration because I share it. I know the pain of families torn apart because we live with a system that’s broken. But if anybody wants to know where my heart is or whether I want to have this fight, let me put those questions to rest right now. I am not going to give up this fight until it gets done. (Applause.) As Bob mentioned, I’ve taken so far actions -- (audience interruption) -- I'm about to get to that. About to get to it. (Applause.) The actions that we've taken so far -- (audience interruption) -- you're going to want to hear it, you’ll want to hear what I say, rather than just -- the actions that we've taken so far are why more than 600,000 young people can live and work without fear of deportation. (Applause.) That's because of the actions I took and the administration took. (Applause.) Because of the coalition that we built together, business and labor, faith and law enforcement, Democrats and Republicans -- created a bipartisan bill and got it through the Senate last year. When states like Alabama and Arizona passed some of the harshest immigration laws in history, my Attorney General took them on in court and we won. (Applause.) So you know what we’ve done together. You know that we’ve done it despite what is possibly the most uncooperative House of Representatives in history. (Applause.) If House Republicans brought the Senate bill up for a vote today, it would pass today; I would sign it today. And they know it. (Applause.) But instead, they’ve been sitting on it for more than a year. They voted to strip DREAMers of new protections and make them eligible for deportation -- not once, but twice they voted that way. And this summer, when a wave of unaccompanied minors crossed part of our southwest border, my administration matched compassion for kids with a firm message to families. Today, fewer parents are sending their children on that perilous journey than they were at this time last year, and we’re working to give more kids the chance to apply for asylum in their home countries and avoid that journey altogether. (Applause.) But while we worked to deal with an urgent humanitarian problem, while we actually did something about the problem, Republicans exploited the situation for political gain. And in June, as all this was going on, Speaker Boehner told me he would continue to block a vote on immigration reform for at least the remainder of this year. AUDIENCE: Booo -- THE PRESIDENT: Now, don't boo, vote. (Applause.) I’ve said before that if Congress failed to live up to its responsibilities to solve this problem, I would act to fix as much of our immigration system as I can on my own, and I meant what I said. So this is not a question of if, but when. Because the moment I act -- and it will be taking place between the November elections and the end of the year -- opponents of reform will roll out the same old scare tactics. They’ll use whatever excuse they have to try to block any attempt at immigration reform at all. And we have to be realistic: For any action to last, for it to be effective and extend beyond my administration -- because I'm only here two more years -- we're going to have to build more support of the American people so that it is sustainable and lasting. And so I am going to be spending the next month, month and a half, six weeks, eight weeks -- I'm going to be spending that time not just talking about what we've done for the economy, but explaining why immigration reform is good for our economy, and why it's good for everybody. (Applause.) And when opponents are out there saying who knows what, I'm going to need you to have my back. I'm going to need you to have my back. I'm going to need you to keep putting pressure on Congress, because the fact of the matter is no matter how bold I am, nothing I can do will be as comprehensive or lasting as the Senate bill. Anything I can do can be reversed by the next President. To move beyond what I can do in a limited way, we are going to need legislation. And if we want that legislation to happen sooner rather than later, then there’s one more thing I need you to do -- I've got to have you talk to your constituents and your communities, and you’ve got to get them out to vote. (Applause.) You already know how powerful the Latino vote can be. (Applause.) In 2012, Latinos voted in record numbers. The next day, even Sean Hannity changed his mind and decided immigration reform was a good idea. (Laughter.) But despite that record-breaking turnout, only 48 percent of Hispanic voters turned out. Fewer than half. Fewer than half. So the clearest path to change is to change that number. Si, se puede … si votamos. Yes we can … if we vote. (Applause.) You know, earlier this year, I had the chance to host a screening of the film Cesar Chavez at the White House, and I was reminded that Cesar organized for nearly 20 years before his first major victory. He never saw that time as a failure. Looking back, he said, “I remember… the families who joined our movement and paid dues long before there was any hope of winning contracts… I remember thinking then that with spirit like that… no force on Earth could stop us.” That’s the promise of America then, and that's the promise of America now -- people who love this country can change it. America isn’t Congress. America isn’t Washington. America is the striving immigrant who starts a business, or the mom who works two low-wage jobs to give her kid a better life. America is the union leader and the CEO who put aside their differences to make the economy stronger. America is the student who defies the odds to become the first in a family to go to college -- (applause) -- the citizen who defies the cynics and goes out there and votes -- (applause) -- the young person who comes out of the shadows to demand the right to dream. That's what America is about. (Applause.) And six years ago, I asked you to believe. And tonight, I ask you to keep believing -- not just in my ability to bring about change, but in your ability to bring about change. Because in the end, “dreamer” is more than just a title -- it’s a pretty good description of what it means to be an American. (Applause.) Each of us is called on to stand proudly for the values we believe in and the future we seek. All of us have the chance to reach out and pull this country that we call home a little closer to its founding ideals. That’s the spirit that's alive in this room. That's the spirit I saw in Luis and Victor, and all the young people here tonight. That spirit is alive in America today. And with that spirit, no force on Earth can stop us. Thank you, everybody. God bless you. God bless America. (Applause.) FACT SHEET: President Obama Announces New Manufacturing Innovation Institute Competition
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 3, 2014 FACT SHEET: President Obama Announces New Manufacturing Innovation Institute Competition On National Manufacturing Day, The President and His Cabinet Will Visit Manufacturers Across the Country U.S. manufacturing is central to the foundation of our economy, and the U.S. manufacturing sector is as competitive as it has been in decades for new jobs and investment. As the President said in his remarks at Northwestern University, “…with dedicated, persistent effort, we have been laying the cornerstones of this new foundation for growth and prosperity. The first cornerstone is new investments in the energy and technologies that make America a magnet for good, middle-class jobs”. As part of the effort to build on the progress made and highlight the need for continued investment in American manufacturing, the President is announcing today a new competition to award more than $200 million in public and private investment to create an Integrated Photonics Manufacturing Institute, led by the Department of Defense, and the second of four new institute competitions to be launched this year. Tomorrow, the President will travel to Princeton, Indiana where he will tour Millennium Steel and discuss the importance of continuing to invest in American manufacturing. Members of his Cabinet are also traveling across the country to take part in National Manufacturing Day as more than 1,600 U.S. manufacturers open their factories to members of the public. Supported by the Department of Commerce and manufacturing industry associations, the third annual Manufacturing Day will be the largest to date. Working with schools, local governments, and communities, manufacturers are welcoming more than 50,000 people into American factories to experience the strong future of American manufacturing and to excite young people about the promising careers in manufacturing and engineering. Since February 2010, American manufacturing has added 700,000 jobs, the fastest pace of job growth since the 1990s. The sector has grown at nearly twice the rate of the economy overall, the longest period of outpacing the economy since the 1960s. While we’ve made considerable progress in bolstering American manufacturing since the Great Recession, the President continues to believe there is still more we can do to support middle class jobs and help businesses expand in this vital sector. In order to continue strengthening American manufacturing, the President has called for investments that directly support innovations in manufacturing, like investments in research and development, but also investments in education and worker training that will continue to ensure America’s manufacturing sector is fueled by the best-trained, most highly skilled workforce in the world. To further these goals, he is announcing new resources and tools to spur growth in the American manufacturing sector, create jobs, and support opportunities for the middle class. Strengthening U.S. Manufacturing and Laying the Foundations for Lasting Competitiveness “When our manufacturing base is strong, our entire economy is strong. Today, we continue our work to bolster the industry at the heart of our Nation. With grit and resolve, we can create new jobs and widen the circle of opportunity for more Americans.” – President Barack Obama, National Manufacturing Day Proclamation Ø Launching a New Manufacturing Innovation Institute Competition: The President is announcing a new competition, led by the Department of Defense, to award more than $200 million in public and private investment to create an Integrated Photonics Manufacturing Institute, the second of four new institute competitions to be launched this year. Ø Releasing a “Digital Tour of American Manufacturing”: The White House and the Department of Commerce are releasing a new digital report that highlights the central role of manufacturing in laying the foundation for a new American economy. Ø Helping Manufacturers Choose to Locate in the United States: The Department of Commerce is releasing a new resource for manufacturers to help them locate in the United States by better evaluating and avoiding the hidden costs of off-shoring. The new inventory costs tool will be used across Commerce’s manufacturing extension centers, which already support more than 30,000 small and medium manufacturers each year. A Competition for the Integrated Photonics Manufacturing Institute The Department of Defense is launching a competition to award more than $100 million in federal investment matched by $100 million or more in private investment to the winning consortia to build a new Institute for Manufacturing Innovation (IMI) focused on Integrated Photonics. This Institute will focus on developing an end-to-end photonics ‘ecosystem’ in the U.S., including domestic foundry access, integrated design tools, automated packaging, assembly and test, and workforce development. Each manufacturing innovation institute serves as a regional hub, bridging the gap between applied research and product development by bringing together companies, universities and other academic and training institutions, and Federal agencies to co-invest in key technology areas that encourage investment and production in the U.S. This type of “teaching factory” provides a unique opportunity for education and training of students and workers at all levels, while providing the shared assets to help companies, most importantly small manufacturers, access the cutting-edge capabilities and equipment to design, test, and pilot new products and manufacturing processes. Photonics, the use of light for applications as diverse as lasers and telecommunications, powers the Internet as we know it today. Integrated Photonics manufacturing, the next generation of this extremely important technology, has the potential to revolutionize the carrying capacity of internet networks and to transport information at far greater densities and much lower costs than can be attained today. Beyond the Internet and telecommunications, integrated photonics can revolutionize medical technology – from the development of “needleless” technologies for monitoring diabetics’ blood sugar levels to tiny cameras smaller than pills that can travel within arteries. Integrated Photonics are expected to bring the sequencing of human genomes rapidly down the cost curve, making genome sequencing possible for less than $1,000 as compared to $5,000 today. And in national defense, the potential applications of integrated photonics range from improving battlefield imaging to dramatic advances in radar. The Integrated Photonics Manufacturing Institute - with over $200 million in public and private resources - is expected to comprise the largest Federal investment to date, reflecting the complexity of this technology, its importance to national security, and its revolutionary potential. See Manufacturing.gov for more information. A “Digital Tour of American Manufacturing” The White House and the Department of Commerce are releasing a Digital Tour of American Manufacturing, highlighting how our manufacturing sector is central to making America a magnet for good, middle-class jobs and for generating durable economic growth, both today and tomorrow: · If U.S. manufacturing were its own country, it would be the ninth largest economy in the world, as big as Russia and bigger than Italy and Spain. · Manufacturing fuels American innovation, accounting for three-quarters of private sector R&D and the vast majority of all patents issued. · Manufacturing supports more than more than 17 million U.S. jobs in manufacturing and its supply chains, more than 1 in 7 private sector jobs. · Manufacturing creates good, middle-class jobs – incumbent manufacturing workers earn 22 percent more than similar workers in other sectors, and new hires in manufacturing earn 38 percent more than new hires in other sectors. Thanks to the determined work of communities and business, combined with the decisions made by the Administration, U.S. manufacturing is more competitive than it has been in decades. · Due to the productivity of American workers, abundant and low-cost energy, and unparalleled access to innovation, it is more competitive to manufacture in the United States than in any other advanced economy. And we have seen the results - last year the United States global share of exports grew faster than that of any country in the world except for China. · In 2012, 37 percent of manufacturing executives said they were actively considering relocating production from China to the U.S. By 2013, that figure had grown to 54 percent. · American manufacturing is doing better than it has in decades – we have added over 700,000 new jobs, the first period of sustained job growth since the 1990s. · Manufacturing wages and manufacturing exports are up, growing twice as fast today as they were last decade, and we are opening new factories at the fastest rate in over twenty years. Helping Manufacturers Choose to Locate in the United States The Department of Commerce and its partners are announcing new resources to help more manufacturers quantify the advantages of locating in America. Through the Assess Costs Everywhere portal manufacturers can access a comprehensive set of resources to evaluate the advantages of locating in the United States. And, with the new inventory costs calculator introduced this week and developed in partnership with experts at Lausanne University, manufacturers can directly quantify the often hidden costs of lengthy, overseas supply chains. Using this tool, many manufacturers will find that the long times to transport a product from overseas to the United States, can increase their costs by 20-30 percent compared to manufacturing in the United States. Oct 3rd National Manufacturing Day On National Manufacturing Day, over 1,600 manufacturers and affiliates spread across all fifty states will host tours and events for students and families in their communities to showcase careers and opportunities in 21st century manufacturing. U.S. manufacturing is on the rise and manufacturing jobs present promising pathways into the middle class for millions of Americans. But too few workers and youth recognize what modern manufacturing can mean for them. Organized by the Department of Commerce’s Manufacturing Extension Partnership and its industry partners, this year National Manufacturing Day will nearly double the number of manufacturers compared to last year holding tours for the future generation of manufacturing workers and their communities. Manufacturers across the country are going to considerable lengths to inspire youth to pursue careers in manufacturing. For instance, Alcoa and the Alcoa Foundation , in addition to hosting events at four of its factories including a tour for more than 1,000 students at the factory in Davenport, IA that builds the wings for Air Force One, have teamed up with Discovery Education to host “Manufacture Your Future” a live virtual field trip of Alcoa’s factories. Caterpillar, whose giant trucks and construction equipment capture the imaginations of America’s children, is hosting community tours at 200 different locations across the country. Manufacturers in Portland, Oregon are hosting a School to Work Manufacturing Bus Tour taking students to thirteen small and medium sized manufacturers across the city. And Maker spaces across the country, including The Forge Maker’s Space in North Carolina, are open up their shops for students. EMBARGOED UNTIL DELIVERY: Remarks of President Barack Obama
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary October 2, 2014 Remarks of President Barack Obama The New Foundation Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois October 2, 2014 As Prepared for Delivery Hello, Northwestern! Go ‘Cats! Thank you to your president, Morty Schapiro, and the dean of Kellogg Business School, Sally Blount, for having me. I brought some guests along – your Governor Pat Quinn; your Senator, Dick Durbin; your Congresswoman, Jan Schakowsky; and some of the folks who represent Chicagoland in Congress – Danny Davis, Robin Kelly, Mike Quigley, and Brad Schneider. We’ve also got your mayor, Elizabeth Tisdahl; and one of my great friends and former chief of staff – the mild-mannered Mayor of Chicago, Rahm Emanuel It is great to be back at NU. Back when I was a senator, I had the honor of delivering the commencement address for the class of 2006. And as it turns out, I have a bunch of staff who graduated from here. So earlier this year, I popped in via video to help kick off Dance Marathon. But I figured this time, I’d come in person. Not only because it’s nice to be so close to home, but because this is a university that’s brimming with the possibilities of the new economy – research and technology, ideas and innovation; the training of doctors and educators, scientists and entrepreneurs. You cannot visit a campus like this without feeling the promise of the future. That’s why I’m here – because it is young people like you, and universities like this, that will shape America’s economy and set the conditions for middle-class growth in the 21st century. Obviously, recent months have seen their fair share of turmoil around the globe. But one thing has emerged crystal clear: American leadership is the one constant in an uncertain world. It is America – our troops and diplomats – that leads the fight to degrade and destroy the terrorist group known as ISIL. It is America – our doctors, our scientists, our know-how – that leads the fight to contain and combat the Ebola epidemic in West Africa. It is America – our colleges, our graduate schools, our unrivaled private sector – that attracts so many people to our shores to study and start businesses and solve problems. When alarms go off somewhere in the world, whether the disaster is natural or man-made; where an idea or invention can make a difference; the world calls America. Not Moscow. Not Beijing. But us. The United States of America. And we welcome that responsibility. That’s who we are. That’s how we roll. But what supports our leadership role in the world is the strength of our economy at home. And today, I want to step back from the rush of global events to take a clear-eyed look at our economy, its successes and shortcomings, and what we still need to build for your generation. As Americans, we can and should be proud of the progress our country has made these past six years. Here are the facts: when I took office, businesses were laying off 800,000 Americans a month. Today, our businesses are hiring 200,000 Americans a month. The unemployment rate has come down from a high of 10% in 2009, to 6.1% today. Over the past four and a half years, our businesses have created 10 million new jobs – the longest uninterrupted stretch of private sector job creation in our history. Right now, there are more job openings than at any time since 2001. All told, the United States has put more people back to work than Europe, Japan, and every other advanced economy combined. This progress has been hard, but it has been steady, and it is real. It is a direct result of the American people’s drive and determination, and the decisions made by my administration. So it is indisputable that our economy is stronger today than it was when I took office. At the same time, it is also indisputable that millions of Americans don’t yet feel enough of the benefits of a growing economy where it matters most – in their own lives. These truths aren’t incompatible. Our broader economy has come a long way, but the gains of recovery aren’t yet broadly shared. We can see that homes in our communities are selling for more money, and that the stock market has doubled, and maybe the neighbors have new health care or a car fresh off an American assembly line. And those are good things. But the stress that families feel – that’s real, too. It’s still harder than it should be to pay the bills and put some money away. Even when you’re working your tail off; it’s harder than it should be to get ahead. This isn’t just a hangover from the great recession, either. I have always said that recovering from the crisis of 2008 was our first order of business, but our economy won’t be truly healthy until we reverse the much longer and profound erosion of middle-class jobs and incomes. Here’s our challenge. We’re creating more jobs at a steady pace. We’ve got a recovering housing market and a revitalized manufacturing sector – two things critical to middle-class success. We’ve also begun to see some modest wage growth in recent months. And all of that has gotten the economy rolling again. As Americans, though, we measure our success by something more than our GDP, or a jobs report. We measure it by whether our jobs provide meaningful work that gives us a sense of purpose; whether they let us take care of our families. And too many families still work too many hours with too little to show for it. Job growth could be so much faster, which would drive up wages. So our task now is to harness the momentum we’ve got and make sure that as the economy grows, and jobs grow, wages grow too. When the typical family isn’t bringing home any more than it did in 1997, that means it’s harder for middle-class Americans to climb the ladder of success. That means it’s harder for poor Americans to grab hold of the ladder at all. And that’s not what America is supposed to be about. It offends the very essence of who we are – a people who believe that even if we’re born into nothing, with hard work, we can change our lives, and our kids’ lives, too. But this is about more than fairness. When middle-class families can’t afford to buy the goods and services our businesses sell, it actually makes it harder for our economy to grow. Our economy cannot truly succeed in a winner-take-all system where a shrinking few do very well while a growing many struggle to get by. Our economic greatness rests on a simple principle: when the middle class thrives, America thrives. When it doesn’t, we don’t. This is the defining challenge of our time. We have to make our economy work for every working American. And every policy I pursue as President is aimed at answering that challenge. Over the last decade, we learned the hard way that it wasn’t sustainable to have an economy where too much of our growth was based on inflated home prices and bubbles that burst; where the recklessness of a few could threaten us all; where incomes at the top skyrocketed while working families saw theirs decline. We needed an economy that’s built on a rock – one that’s durable, and competitive, and a steady source of good, middle-class jobs. That’s why, the day I took office, I said we would rebuild our economy on a new foundation for growth and prosperity. And with dedicated, persistent effort, we have been laying the cornerstones of this new foundation every day since. The first cornerstone is new investments in the energy and technologies that make America a magnet for good, middle-class jobs. We upped our investments in American energy to reduce our dependence on foreign oil and strengthen our own energy security. Today, the number one oil and gas producer in the world is no longer Russia or Saudi Arabia; it’s America. For the first time in nearly two decades, we now produce more oil than we buy from other countries. We’re doing it so fast that two years ago, I set a goal to cut our oil imports in half by 2020 – and we will meet that goal this year. At the same time, we’ve helped put tens of thousands of people to work manufacturing wind turbines, and installing solar panels on homes and businesses. We’ve tripled the electricity we harness from the wind, and increased tenfold what we generate from the sun. We have brought enough clean energy online to power every home and business in Illinois and Wisconsin, 24/7. That’s progress we can be proud of. And I know that here at Northwestern, your researchers are working to convert sunlight into liquid fuel. Which sounds impossible. Or at least really hard. But if you need to get the hard or the impossible done, America is a pretty good place to do it. Meanwhile, our 100-year supply of natural gas is a big factor in drawing jobs back to our shores. Many are in manufacturing – the quintessential middle-class job. During the last decade, it was widely accepted that American manufacturing was in irreversible decline. And just six years ago, its crown jewel, the American auto industry, could not survive on its own. We helped our automakers restructure and retool, and today, they’re building and selling new cars at the fastest rate in eight years. We invested in new plants, new technologies, and new high-tech hubs like the Digital Manufacturing and Design Institute that Northwestern has partnered with in Chicago. And today, American manufacturing has added more than 700,000 new jobs. It’s growing almost twice as fast as the rest of the economy. And more than half of all manufacturing executives have said they’re actively looking at bringing jobs back from China. To many in the middle class, the last decade was defined by outsourcing good jobs overseas. If we keep up these investments, we can define this decade by what’s known as “insourcing” – with new factories now opening their doors here in America at the fastest pace in decades. And we’ve worked to grow American exports, open new markets, and knock down barriers to trade, because businesses that export tend to have better-paying jobs. Today, our businesses sell more goods and services Made in America to the rest of the world than we ever have before. That’s progress we can be proud of. But we also know that many of these manufacturing jobs have changed. You’re not just punching in and pounding rivets anymore; you’re coding computers, and guiding robots, and mastering 3D printing. These jobs require some higher education or technical training. That’s why the second cornerstone of this new foundation is preparing our children and our workers to fill the jobs of the future. America thrived in the 20th century because we made high school free, and sent a generation to college, and cultivated the most educated workforce in the world. But other countries caught on to the secret of our success. They set out to out-educate their kids, so they could out-compete ours. We have to lead the world in education once again. That’s why we launched a Race to the Top in our schools, trained thousands of math and science teachers, and supported states that raised standards for learning. And today, teachers in 48 states and D.C. are teaching our kids the knowledge and skills they need to compete and win in the global economy. Working with parents and educators, we’ve turned around some of the country’s lowest-performing schools. We’re on our way to connecting 99% of students to high-speed internet, and making sure every kid, at every seat, has the best technology for learning. These changes are hard, and we have a long way to go. But public education in America is actually improving. Last year, our elementary and middle school students had the highest math and reading scores on record. The dropout rates for Latinos and African-Americans are down, and the high school graduation rate is up – it’s now above 80% for the first time in history. We’ve invested in more than 700 community colleges – gateways to the middle class – and we’re connecting them with employers to train high school graduates for good jobs in fast-growing fields like high-tech manufacturing, energy, I.T. and cybersecurity. Here in Chicago, Mayor Emanuel just announced that the city will pay community college tuition for more striving high school graduates. We’ve helped more students afford college with grants, tax credits, and loans, and today, more young people are graduating than ever. We’ve sent more veterans to college on the Post-9/11 GI Bill – including several veterans here at Northwestern, and a few here with us today in this hall. Thank you for your service. Of course, even if you have the right education, for decades, one thing that made it harder for families to make ends meet and businesses to grow was the high cost of health care. And so the third cornerstone had to be health care reform. In the decade before the Affordable Care Act, double-digit premium increases were common. CEOs called them one of the biggest challenges to their competitiveness. And if your employer didn’t drop your coverage to avoid these costs, they might take them out of your wages. Today, we’ve seen a dramatic slowdown in the rising cost of health care. If your family gets your health care through your employer, premiums are rising at a rate tied for the lowest on record. What this means for the economy is staggering. If we hadn’t taken this on, and premiums had kept growing at the rate they did in the last decade, the average premium for family coverage today would be $1,800 higher than they are. That’s $1,800 you don’t have to pay out of our pocket or see vanish from your paycheck. That’s like a $1,800 tax cut. And because the insurance marketplaces we created encourage insurers to compete for your business, in many of the cities that have announced next year’s premiums, something important is happening – premiums are actually falling. One expert said it’s like “defying the law of physics.” But we’re getting it done. That’s progress we can be proud of. We’re covering more people, too. In just the last year, we’ve reduced the share of uninsured Americans by 26%. That means one in four uninsured Americans – about 10 million people – have gained the financial security of health insurance in less than one year. And for young entrepreneurs like many of you here today, the fact that you can compare and buy affordable plans in the marketplaces frees you up to strike out on your own and chase that new idea – something I hope will unleash new ideas and new enterprises across the country. Meanwhile, partly because health care prices have been growing at the slowest rate in nearly half a century, the growth in what health care costs the government is down, too. The independent, nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office recently reported that in 2020, Medicare and Medicaid will cost us $188 billion less than projected just four years ago. Here’s what that means in layman’s terms. Health care has long been the single biggest driver of America’s future deficits. Health care is now the single biggest factor driving those deficits down. It’s a game-changer for the fourth cornerstone of this new foundation: getting our fiscal house in order for the long run, so we can afford to make investments that grow the middle class. Between a growing economy, spending cuts, health reform, and asking the wealthiest Americans to pay a little more, over the past five years, we have cut our deficits by more than half. When I took office, the deficit was nearly 10% of our economy. Today, it’s approaching 3%. In other words, we can shore up America’s long-term finances without falling back into the mindless austerity or manufactured crises that dominated Washington budget debates for too long. Finally, we put in place financial reform to protect consumers and prevent a crisis on Wall Street from hammering Main Street ever again. We have new tools to prevent “too big to fail,” stop taxpayer-funded bailouts, and we made it illegal for big banks to gamble with your money. We established the first-ever consumer watchdog to protect consumers from irresponsible lending or credit card practices, and secured billions of dollars in relief for consumers who get taken advantage of. Now, an argument you’ll hear is that the way to grow the economy is to just get rid of regulations. And we’ve scrubbed the books and identified hundreds that are outdated, don’t help the economy, or don’t make sense, and we’re saving businesses billions by gradually eliminating them. But rules that discourage a casino-style mentality on Wall Street, that protect workers, that safeguard the air our children breathe – those don’t just have economic benefits; they have benefits in lives saved, and families protected, and those I’ll always stand up for. Here’s the bottom line. For all the work that remains, for all the citizens we still need to reach, what I want people to know is that there are some really good things happening in America. That’s because this new foundation is now in place: new investments in the energy and technologies that create new jobs and new industries; new investments in education that will make our workforce more skilled and competitive; new reforms to health care that cut costs for families and businesses; new reforms to our federal budget that will promote smart investments and a stronger economy for future generations; new rules for our financial system to protect consumers and prevent the kind of crisis we endured from happening again. Add it all up, and it’s no surprise that for the first time in more than a decade, business leaders from around the world have said that the world’s most attractive place to invest isn’t India, or China, but the United States of America. And because the financial sector is healthier; because manufacturing is healthier; because the housing market is healthier; because health care inflation is at 50-year lows, and our energy boom is at new highs – our economy isn’t just primed for steadier, more sustained growth. America is better poised to lead and succeed in the 21st century than any other nation on Earth. I will not allow anyone to dismantle this foundation. Because for the first time, we can see real, tangible evidence of what the contours of the new economy will look like. It’s an economy teeming with new industry and commerce; humming with new energy and new technologies; bustling with highly-skilled, higher-wage workers. It’s an America where a student graduating from college has the chance to advance through a vibrant job market; where an entrepreneur can start a new business and succeed; where an older worker can retool for that new job. To fully realize this vision requires steady, relentless investment in these areas. We can’t let up, or grow complacent. We have to be hungry as a nation. We have to compete. And if we do – if we take the necessary steps to build on this foundation – then I promise you this: over the next ten years, we will build an economy where wage growth is stronger than it was over the past three decades. Let’s talk about some of those steps. First, we’ve got to realize that the trends that have battered the middle class for so long aren’t ones we’re going to reverse overnight. The facts I just laid out don’t mean much for someone at home who’s underpaid, underemployed, or out of work for too long. And there are no silver bullets for job creation or faster wage growth. Anyone who tells you otherwise isn’t telling you the truth. But there are policies that would grow jobs and wages faster now and in the long run. If we rebuild roads and bridges, we won’t just put construction workers and engineers on the job; we’ll revitalize communities, connect people to jobs, and make it easier for businesses to ship goods around the world. And we can pay for it with tax reform that cuts rates on businesses, and closes wasteful loopholes, making it even more attractive for companies to invest and create jobs here at home. Let’s do this and make our economy stronger. If we make it easier for first-time homebuyers to get a loan, we won’t just create even more construction jobs and speed up the housing recovery; we’ll speed up your efforts to grow a nest egg, start a new company, and send your own kids to college or graduate school someday. Let’s do this – let’s help more young families buy that first home, and make our economy stronger If we keep investing in clean energy technology, we won’t just put people to work assembling, raising, and pounding into place the zero-carbon components of a clean energy age; we’ll reduce our carbon emissions and prevent the worst costs of climate change down the road. Let’s do this – let’s invest in new American energy, and make our economy stronger. If we make high-quality preschool available to every child, we won’t just give our kids a safe place to learn and grow while parents go to work; we’ll give them the start they need to succeed in school, earn higher wages, and form more stable families of their own. In fact, today, I’ll set a new goal – by the end of this decade, let’s enroll six million children in high-quality preschool. If we redesign our high schools, we’ll graduate more kids with the real world skills that lead directly to a good job in the new economy. If we invest more in job training and apprenticeships, we’ll help more workers fill more good jobs that are coming back to this country. If we make it easier for students to pay off their college loans, we’ll help a whole lot of young people breathe easier and feel freer to take the jobs they really want. Let’s do this – let’s keep reforming our education system to ensure that every kid has a shot at success like you do here at Northwestern. If we fix our broken immigration system, we won’t just prevent some of the challenges like the one we saw at part of the border this summer; we’ll encourage the best and brightest from around the world to study here, stay here, and create jobs here. Independent economists say that the bipartisan immigration reform bill that the House has blocked for over a year would grow our economy, shrink our deficits, and secure our borders. Let’s pass that bill, and make America stronger If we want to make and sell the best products, we have to invest in the best ideas, just like you do at Northwestern. Your nanotechnology institute doesn’t just conduct groundbreaking research; that research has spun off 20 startups and more than 1,800 products, and that means jobs. Here’s another example. Over a decade ago, America led the international effort to sequence the human genome, and one study found that every dollar we invested returned $140 to our economy. I don’t have an MBA, but that’s a pretty serious return on investment. Today, though, the world’s largest genomics center is in China. That doesn’t mean America is slipping. That means America isn’t investing. We can’t let other countries discover the products and businesses that will shape the century. Let’s invest more in the kind of basic research that led to Google and GPS, and make our economy stronger. If we raise the minimum wage, we won’t just put more money in workers’ pockets; they’ll spend it at local businesses, who’ll hire more people. In the two years since I first asked Congress to raise the minimum wage, 13 states and D.C. have raised theirs. More business owners are joining them. And it’s on the ballot in five states this November, including Illinois. Recent surveys show that a majority of small business owners support a gradual increase to $10.10 an hour. A survey just last week showed that nearly two-thirds of employers thought the minimum wage should go up in their state – and more than half of them think it should be at least $10. So let’s do this. Let’s agree that nobody who works full-time in America should ever have to raise a family in poverty. Let’s give America a raise, and make our economy stronger If we make sure a woman is paid equal to her efforts, it won’t just give women a boost; it’ll give their families and the entire economy a boost. Women now outpace men in college degrees, and graduate degrees, but they often start their careers with lower pay, and that gap grows over time. Let’s inspire and support more women in growing fields of science, technology, engineering and math. Let’s catch up to 2014, pass a fair pay law, and make our economy stronger. And while we’re at it, let’s get rid of the barriers that keep more moms who want to work from entering the workforce. Let’s do what Dean Blount here at Kellogg has been working with us on at the White House – let’s help business and political leaders who recognize that flexibility in the workplace and paid maternity leave are good for business. Let’s offer that deal to new fathers, too, and make sure work pays for parents raising young kids. California adopted paid leave, which boosted work and earnings for moms with young kids. Let’s follow their lead and make our economy stronger. Now, none of these policies on their own will get us where we need to be. But if we do these things systematically, the cumulative impact will be huge. Unemployment will drop a little faster, workers will gain a little more leverage when it comes to wages and salaries, families will be able to spend a little more and save a little more. Our economy will grow stronger, and that growth will be shared. More people will feel this recovery, rather than reading about it in stats on a page. That’s the truth. I’m going to keep making the argument for these policies, because they are right for America. They are supported by the facts. And I’m always willing to work with anyone, Democrat or Republican, to get things done. Every once in a while, we actually get to sign a bill together, and I say, “See, how fun was that? Let’s do it again.” But if gridlock prevails; if cooperation and compromise are no longer valued, but vilified; then I will keep doing everything I can on my own if it will make a difference for working Americans. I will keep teaming up with governors, mayors, CEOs, and philanthropists who want to help. Here’s an example. There are 28 million Americans who would benefit from a minimum wage increase. 28 million. Over the past two years, because we teamed up with cities, states, and businesses and went around Congress, seven million of them have gotten a raise. And until Congress chooses to step up and help all of them, I will keep fighting for this. I am not on the ballot this fall. Michelle’s pretty happy about that. But make no mistake: these policies are on the ballot. Every single one of them. This isn’t a political speech, and I’m not going to tell you who to vote for – even though I suppose it is kind of implied. But I have laid out my ideas to create more jobs and grow more wages. A true opposition party should have the courage to lay out theirs. There’s a reason fewer Republicans are preaching doom on deficits – because they’re now manageable. There’s a reason fewer are running against Obamacare – because while good, affordable health care might still be a fanged threat to freedom on Fox News, it’s working pretty well in the real world. But when push came to shove this year, and Republicans in Congress actually had to take a stand on policies that would help the middle class and working Americans – raising the minimum wage, enacting fair pay, refinancing student loans, extending insurance for the unemployed – the answer was “no.” One thing they did vote “yes” on was another massive tax cut for the wealthiest Americans. In fact, just last month, at least one top Republican in Congress said that tax cuts for those at the top are – and I quote – “even more pressing now” than they were 30 years ago. When nearly all the gains of the recovery have gone to the top 1%, I find that a little hard to swallow. If there were any credibility to the argument that says when those at the top do well, eventually everyone else will do well, it would have borne itself out by now. America’s economic greatness has never trickled from the top down – it grows from a rising, thriving middle class. Those are the two starkly different visions for this country. And I believe, with every bone in my body, that there’s one distinct choice. This is our moment to define what the next decade and beyond will look like. This is our chance to set the conditions for middle-class growth in the 21st century. And the decisions we make this year, and over the next few years, will determine whether or not we set the stage for America’s greatness in this new century like we did in the last; whether or not we restore the link between harder work and higher wages; whether or not we continue to invest in a skilled, educated citizenry; whether or not we rebuild an economy where everyone who works hard can get ahead. Some of that depends on you. There’s a reason I came to a business school instead of a school of government. I believe that capitalism is the greatest force for prosperity and opportunity the world has ever known. I believe that private enterprise – not government, but the innovators and risk-takers and makers and doers – should be the driving force of job creation. But I also believe in a higher principle: we’re all in this together. That’s the spirit that made the American economy not just the world’s greatest wealth creator, but the world’s greatest opportunity generator. You are America’s future business leaders, and civic leaders, and in many ways, that makes you the stewards of America’s single greatest asset: our people. So as you engage in the pursuit of profit, as you should, I challenge you to do it with a sense of purpose. As you chase your own success, as we want you to do, I challenge you to cultivate ways to help more Americans chase theirs. It is the American people who have made the progress of the last six years possible. It is the American people who will make our future progress possible. And the story of America is a story of progress. However halting, however incomplete, however harshly challenged at each point on our journey – the story of America is a story of progress. It has been six long years since our economy nearly collapsed. And despite that shock; through the pain so many of us have felt; for all the gritty, grueling work required to come back and all the work that’s left to be done – a new foundation is laid. A new future is yet to be written. And I am as confident as ever that it will be led by the United States of America. Thank you, God bless you, and God bless America. FACT SHEET: Announcing New U.S. Open Government Commitments on the Third Anniversary of the Open Government Partnership
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 24, 2014 FACT SHEET: Announcing New U.S. Open Government Commitments on the Third Anniversary of the Open Government Partnership Three years ago, President Obama joined with the leaders of seven other nations to launch the Open Government Partnership (OGP), an international partnership between governments and civil society to promote transparency, fight corruption, energize civic engagement, and leverage new technologies to open up governments worldwide. The United States and other founding countries pledged to transform the way that governments serve their citizens in the 21st century. Today, as heads of state of OGP participating countries gather at the UN General Assembly, this partnership has grown from 8 to 65 nations and hundreds of civil society organizations around the world. These countries are embracing the challenge by taking steps in partnership with civil society to increase the ability of citizens to engage their governments, access government data to fuel entrepreneurship and innovation, and promote accountability. In just three years, the OGP has generated over 2,000 new national commitments to improve government for more than 2 billion people around the world. OGP national commitments range from passing or modernizing freedom of information laws, implementing measures to prevent corruption in the public and private sectors, and developing mechanisms to facilitate dialogue with civil society. It is a testament to how truly global the open government movement has become that OGP’s leadership and membership now represent most of the world’s regions. As part of their OGP national action plans, governments are committing to institute anticorruption measures, publish better and timelier information on how governments spend taxpayer dollars, and broaden citizen participation in the public policy-making process. · From South Africa to the Philippines, citizens are organizing through their local governments to make their voices heard and get the public services they need. From Indonesia to Albania to Macedonia, governments are partnering with civil society to develop new tools to report on corruption and promote transparency, and more governments are taking steps to bring transparency into the energy sector. From Mexico to Bulgaria, governments at all levels are putting more and better quality information online, allowing citizens to hold them accountable for how they spend taxpayer dollars. From Brazil to Paraguay, Ireland, and Sierra Leone, civil society organizations are working with government reformers to draft and reform freedom of information laws. And from Georgia to Ghana, governments are establishing systems to ensure civil society participation in the public policy-making process. The United States will continue to engage with and support OGP countries as they commit to policy and regulatory reforms designed to promote open government. One reason that this international partnership is so important is it allows us to learn from each other. For example, the United States has been inspired by the British government’s approach to digital services. We have engaged with Brazil, Canada, France, Mexico, the Philippines and Sierra Leone to share lessons learned in implementing open government initiatives, to promote extractives industry transparency, improve federal government records management, and modernize our Freedom of Information Act, among other things. U.S. assistance has helped Sierra Leone to develop its first OGP National Action Plan with robust citizen engagement; Tunisia to become eligible to join OGP on the third anniversary of its revolution in January; and other countries to implement their OGP commitments to transparency, accountability and citizen engagement. The United States is also working with several private sector partners and associations to help build capacity to implement open data policies, develop legal and regulatory reforms, and improve accountability and public service delivery in OGP member countries. The United States is committed to continuing to lead by example in OGP. Since assuming office, President Obama has prioritized making government more open and accountable and has taken substantial steps to increase citizen participation, collaboration with civil society, and transparency in government. The United States will remain a global leader of international efforts to promote transparency, stem corruption and hold to account those who exploit the public’s trust for private gain. Yesterday, President Obama announced several steps the United States is taking to deepen our support for civil society globally. Today, to mark the third anniversary of OGP, President Obama is announcing four new and expanded open government initiatives that will advance our efforts through the end of 2015. 1. Promote Open Education to Increase Awareness and Engagement Open education is the open sharing of digital learning materials, tools, and practices that ensures free access to and legal adoption of learning resources. The United States is committed to open education and will: · Raise open education awareness and identify new partnerships. The U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Department of Education, and the Office of Science and Technology Policy will jointly host a workshop on challenges and opportunities in open education internationally with stakeholders from academia, industry, and government.
The Administration is committed to serving the American people more effectively and efficiently through smarter IT delivery. The newly launched U.S. Digital Service will work to remove barriers to digital service delivery and remake the experience that people and businesses have with their government. To improve delivery of Federal services, information, and benefits, the Administration will: · Expand digital service delivery expertise in government. Throughout 2015, the Administration will continue recruiting top digital talent from the private and public sectors to expand services across the government. These individuals —who have expertise in technology, procurement, human resources, and financing —will serve as digital professionals in a number of capacities in the Federal government, including the new U.S. Digital Service and 18F digital delivery team within the U.S. General Services Administration, as well as within Federal agencies. These teams will take best practices from the public and private sectors and scale them across agencies with a focus on the customer experience. · Build digital services in the open. The Administration will expand its efforts to build digital services in the open. This includes using open and transparent processes intended to better understand user needs, testing pilot digital projects, and designing and developing digital services at scale. In addition, building on the recently published Digital Services Playbook, the Administration will continue to openly publish best practices on collaborative websites that enable the public to suggest improvements. · Adopt an open source software policy. Using and contributing back to open source software can fuel innovation, lower costs, and benefit the public. No later than December 31, 2015, the Administration will work through the Federal agencies to develop an open source software policy that, together with the Digital Services Playbook, will support improved access to custom software code developed for the Federal government. 3. Increase Transparency in Spending The Administration has made an increasing amount of Federal spending data publicly available and searchable, allowing nationwide stakeholders to perform analysis of Federal spending. The Administration will build on these efforts by committing to: · Improve USAspending.gov. In 2015, the Administration will launch a refreshed USAspending.gov website that will improve the site’s design and user experience, including better enabling users to explore the data using interactive maps and improving the search functionality and application programming interface. · Improve accessibility and reusability of Federal financial data. In 2015, as part of implementation of the DATA Act,[2] the Administration will work to improve the accessibility and reusability of Federal financial data by issuing data element definition standards and standards for exchanging financial data. The Administration, through the Office of Management and Budget, will leverage industry data exchange standards to the extent practicable to maximize the sharing and utilization of Federal financial data. · Explore options for visualization and publication of additional Federal financial data. The Administration, through the Treasury Department, will use small-scale pilots to help explore options for visualizing and publishing Federal financial data from across the government as required by the DATA Act. · Continue to engage stakeholders. The Administration will continue to engage with a broad group of stakeholders to seek input on Federal financial transparency initiatives including DATA Act implementation, by hosting town hall meetings, conducting interactive workshops, and seeking input via open innovation collaboration tools. 4. Use Big Data to Support Greater Openness and Accountability President Obama has recognized the growing importance of “big data” technologies for our economy and the advancement of public good in areas such as education, energy conservation, and healthcare. The Administration is taking action to ensure responsible uses of big data to promote greater openness and accountability across a range of areas and sectors. As part of the work it is doing in this area, the Administration has committed to: · Enhance sharing of best practices on data privacy for state and local law enforcement. Federal agencies with expertise in law enforcement, privacy, and data practices will seek to enhance collaboration and information sharing about privacy best practices among state and local law enforcement agencies receiving Federal grants. · Ensure privacy protection for big data analyses in health. Big data introduces new opportunities to advance medicine and science, improve health care, and support better public health. To ensure that individual privacy is protected while capitalizing on new technologies and data, the Administration, led by the Department of Health and Human Services, will: (1) consult with stakeholders to assess how Federal laws and regulations can best accommodate big data analyses that promise to advance medical science and reduce health care costs; and (2) develop recommendations for ways to promote and facilitate research through access to data while safeguarding patient privacy and autonomy. · Expand technical expertise in government to stop discrimination. U.S. Government departments and agencies will work to expand their technical expertise to identify outcomes facilitated by big data analytics that may have a discriminatory impact on protected classes. [2] Digital Accountability and Transparency Act of 2013, P.L. 113-101, www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/PLAW-113publ101/pdf/PLAW-113publ101.pdf THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary
_________________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release September 25, 2014 STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT AND ATTORNEY GENERAL ERIC HOLDER State Dining Room 4:30 P.M. EDT THE PRESIDENT: Hello, everybody. Please have a seat. Bobby Kennedy once said, “On this generation of Americans falls the full burden of proving to the world that we really mean it when we say all men are created free and equal before the law.” As one of the longest-serving Attorney Generals in American history, Eric Holder has borne that burden. And over the summer, he came to me and he said he thought six years was a pretty good run -- I imagine his family agrees. Like me, Eric married up. He and his wife, Dr. Sharon Malone, a nationally-renowned OBGYN, have been great friends to Michelle and me for years. And I know Brooke and Maya and Buddy are excited to get their dad back for a while. So this is bittersweet. But with his typical dedication, Eric has agreed to stay on as Attorney General until I nominate his successor and that successor is confirmed by the Senate. Which means he’ll have a chance to add to a proud career of public service -- one that began nearly 40 years ago as a young prosecutor in the Department that he now runs. He was there for 12 years, taking on political corruption until President Reagan named him to the bench as a judge. Later, President Clinton called him back. So all told, Eric has served at the Justice Department under six Presidents of both parties -- including a several-day stint as acting Attorney General at the start of George W. Bush’s first term. And through it all, he’s shown a deep and abiding fidelity to one of our most cherished ideals as a people, and that is equal justice under the law. As younger men, Eric and I both studied law. And I chose him to serve as Attorney General because he believes, as I do, that justice is not just an abstract theory. It’s a living and breathing principle. It’s about how our laws interact with our daily lives. It’s about whether we can make an honest living, whether we can provide for our families; whether we feel safe in our own communities and welcomed in our own country; whether the words that the Founders set to paper 238 years ago apply to every single one of us and not just some. That’s why I made him America’s lawyer, the people’s lawyer. That comes with a big portfolio -- from counterterrorism to civil rights, public corruption to white-collar crime. And alongside the incredible men and women of the Justice Department -– men and women that I promise you he is proud of and will deeply miss -– Eric has done a superb job. He’s worked side by side with our intelligence community and the Department of Homeland Security to keep us safe from terrorist attacks and to counter violent extremism. On his watch, federal courts have successfully prosecuted hundreds of terror cases, proving that the world’s finest justice system is fully capable of delivering justice for the world’s most-wanted terrorists. He’s rooted out corruption and fought violent crime. Under his watch, a few years ago, the FBI successfully carried out the largest mafia takedown in American history. He’s worked closely with state and local law enforcement officers to make sure that they’ve got the resources to get the job done. And he’s managed funds under the Recovery Act to make sure that when budgets took a hit, thousands of cops were able to stay on the beat nationwide. He’s helped safeguard our markets from manipulation, and consumers from financial fraud. Since 2009, the Justice Department has brought more than 60 cases against financial institutions, and won some of the largest settlements in history for practices related to the financial crisis, recovering $85 billion –- much of it returned to ordinary Americans who were badly hurt. He’s worked passionately to make sure our criminal justice system remains the best in the world. He knows that too many outdated policies, no matter how well-intentioned, perpetuate a destructive cycle in too many communities. So Eric addressed unfair sentencing disparities, reworked mandatory minimums, and promoted alternatives to incarceration. And thanks to his efforts, since I took office, the overall crime rate and the overall incarceration rate have gone down by about 10 percent. That’s the first time that they’ve declined together, at the same tim, in more than 40 years. Eric’s proudest achievement, though, might be reinvigorating and restoring the core mission to what he calls “the conscience of the building” -- and that’s the Civil Rights Division. He has been relentless against attacks on the Voting Rights Act –- because no citizen, including our servicemembers, should have to jump through hoops to exercise their most fundamental right. He’s challenged discriminatory state immigration laws that not only risked harassment of citizens and legal immigrants, but actually made it harder for law enforcement to do its job. Under his watch, the Department has brought a record number of prosecutions for human trafficking, and for hate crimes -- because no one in America should be afraid to walk down the street because of the color of their skin, the love in their heart, the faith they practice, or the disabilities that they live with. He’s dramatically advanced the cause of justice for Native Americans, working closely with their communities. And several years ago, he recommended that our government stop defending the Defense of Marriage Act -- a decision that was vindicated by the Supreme Court, and opened the door to federal recognition of same-sex marriage, and federal benefits for same-sex couples. It’s a pretty good track record. Eric’s father was an immigrant who served in the Army in World War II only to be refused service at lunch counters in the nation he defended. But he and his wife raised their son to believe that this country’s promise was real, and that son grew up to become Attorney General of the United States. And that’s something. And that’s why Eric has worked so hard -- not just in my administration, but for decades -- to open up the promise of this country to more striving, dreaming kids like him. To make sure those words -- life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness -- are made real for all of us. Soon, Eric, Sharon, and their kids will be a bit freer to pursue a little more happiness of their own. And thanks to Eric’s efforts, so will more Americans -- regardless of race or religion, gender or creed, sexual orientation or disability, who will receive fair and equal treatment under the law. So I just want to say thank you, Eric. Thank you to the men and women of the Justice Department who work day in and out for the American people. And we could not be more grateful for everything that you’ve done not just for me and the administration, but for our country. (Applause.) ATTORNEY GENERAL HOLDER: I come to this moment with very mixed emotions: proud of what the men and women of the Department of Justice have accomplished over the last six years, and at the same time, very sad that I will not be a formal part -- a formal part -- of the great things that this Department and this President will accomplish over the next two. I want to thank you, Mr. President, for the opportunity that you gave me to serve and for giving me the greatest honor of my professional life. We have been great colleagues, but the bonds between us are much deeper than that. In good times and in bad, in things personal and in things professional, you have been there for me. I’m proud to call you my friend. I’m also grateful for the support you have given me and the Department as we have made real the visions that you and I have always shared. I often think of those early talks between us, about our belief that we might help to craft a more perfect union. Work remains to be done, but our list of accomplishments is real. Over the last six years, our administration -- your administration -- has made historic gains in realizing the principles of the founding documents and fought to protect the most sacred of American rights, the right to vote. We have begun to realize the promise of equality for our LGBT brothers and sisters and their families. We have begun to significantly reform our criminal justice system and reconnect those who bravely serve in law enforcement with the communities that they protect. We have kept faith with our belief in the power of the greatest judicial system the world has ever known to fairly and effectively adjudicate any cases that are brought before it, including those that involve the security of the nation that we both love so dearly. We have taken steps to protect the environment and make more fair the rules by which our commercial enterprises operate. And we have held accountable those who would harm the American people -- either through violent means or the misuse of economic or political power. I have loved the Department of Justice ever since as a young boy I watched Robert Kennedy prove during the Civil Rights Movement how the Department can and must always be a force for that which is right. I hope that I have done honor to the faith that you have placed in me, Mr. President, and to the legacy of all those who have served before me. I would also like to thank the Vice President, who I have known for so many years, and in whom I have found great wisdom, unwavering support, and a shared vision of what America can and should be. I want to recognize my good friend Valerie Jarrett, whom I’ve been fortunate to work with from the beginning of what started as an improbable, idealistic effort by a young senator from Illinois, who we were both right to believe would achieve greatness. I’ve had the opportunity to serve in your distinguished Cabinet and worked with a White House Chief of Staff -- a White House staff ably led by Denis McDonough that has done much to make real the promise of our democracy. And each of the men and women who I have come to know will be lifelong friends. Whatever my accomplishments, they could not have been achieved without the love, support and guidance of two people who are not here with me today. My parents, Eric and Miriam Holder, nurtured me and my accomplished brother, William, and made us believe in the value of individual effort and the greatness of this nation. My time in public service, which now comes to an end, would not have been possible without the sacrifices too often unfair made by the best three kids a father could ask for. Thank you, Maya. Thank you, Brooke. And thank you, Buddy. And finally, I want to thank the woman who sacrificed the most and allowed me to follow my dreams. She is the foundation of all that our family is, and the basis of all that I have become. My wife, Sharon, is the unsung hero. And she is my life partner. Thank you for all that you have done. I love you. In the months ahead, I will leave the Department of Justice, but I will never -- I will never -- leave the work. I will continue to serve and try to find ways to make our nation even more true to its founding ideals. I want to thank the dedicated public servants who form the backbone of the United States Department of Justice for their tireless work over the past six years, for the efforts they will continue, and for the progress that they made and that will outlast us all. And I want to thank you all for joining me on a journey that now moves in another direction, but that will always be guided by the pursuit of justice and aimed at the North Star. Thank you. (Applause.) President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, President Barack Obama announced his intent to appoint the following individuals to key Administration posts: · Jill Appell – Member, Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations · C. Fred Bergsten – Member, Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations · Bill Frenzel – Member, Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations · Leo W. Gerard – Member, Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations · Joseph T. Hansen – Member, Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations · James P. Hoffa – Member, Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations · Sandra Kennedy – Member, Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations · David H. Long – Member, Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations · Wade Randlett – Member, Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations · Matthew Rubel – Member, Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations · David H. Segura – Member, Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations · Bryan Lourd – General Trustee, Board of Trustees of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts · Barbara Goodman Manilow – General Trustee, Board of Trustees of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts · Bryan Traubert – General Trustee, Board of Trustees of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts · Lieutenant General Susan J. Helms, USAF (Ret) – Member, Board of Trustees of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars · Liza Gilbert – Member, Commission of Fine Arts President Obama said, “These men and women have demonstrated knowledge and dedication throughout their careers. I am grateful they have chosen to take on these important roles, and I look forward to working with them in the months and years to come.” President Obama announced his intent to appoint the following individuals to key Administration posts: Jill Appell, Appointee for Member, Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations Jill Appell is a past President of the National Pork Producers Council and the Illinois Pork Producers Association. She was first appointed to the Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations in 2010. Ms. Appell is a member of Illinois Attorney General’s Advisory Committee and has served on task forces for the Illinois Farm Bureau. Ms. Appell is currently a member of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (U.S.D.A.) Farm Service Agency Illinois State Technical Committee and the U.S.D.A. Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee for Trade of Animals and Animal Products. She previously served as Illinois State Director for Rural Development for the U.S.D.A. C. Fred Bergsten, Appointee for Member, Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations C. Fred Bergsten is a senior fellow and director emeritus of the Peterson Institute for International Economics. He was first appointed to the Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations in 2010. Mr. Bergsten was the Peterson Institute’s Founding Director from 1981 through 2012. He served as Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for International Affairs from 1977 until 1981, and Assistant for International Economic Affairs to the National Security Council from 1969 to 1971. Previously, Dr. Bergsten was Chairman of the Competitiveness Policy Council and the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum’s Eminent Persons Group. Dr. Bergsten received a B.A. from Central Methodist University, and an M.A., an M.A.L.D., and a Ph.D. from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University. Bill Frenzel, Appointee for Member, Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations Bill Frenzel is a Guest Scholar at the Brookings Institution, a position he has held since 1991. He was first appointed to the Advisory Committee on Trade Policy and Negotiations in 2002 and served as its Chairman from 2002 to 2011. Previously, Mr. Frenzel served in the U.S. House of Representatives representing the state of Minnesota from 1971 to 1991. While in Congress, he served as the ranking Republican on the House Budget Committee and a member of the Ways and Means Committee. In 1993, Mr. Frenzel was appointed to serve as a Special Advisor to President Clinton, and then appointed to the President’s Social Security Commission in 2001. He was appointed to the President’s Advisory Panel on Federal Tax Reform in 2005. Mr. Frenzel is Co-Chairman of the Center for Strategic Tax Reform, the Bretton Woods Committee, and the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. He is Chairman Emeritus of the Ripon Society. Mr. Frenzel received a B.A. and an M.B.A. from Dartmouth College. Leo W. Gerard, Appointee for Member, Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations Leo W. Gerard is International President of United Steelworkers. He was first appointed to the Advisory Council on Trade Policy and Negotiations in 2010. He is a member of the AFL-CIO’s Executive Committee and chairs its Public Policy Committee. Mr. Gerard is co-chairman of the BlueGreen Alliance and a founder of Apollo Alliance. He serves on the boards of Campaign for America’s Future and the Economic Policy Institute, and is a member of the executive committees of the IndustriALL. Joseph T. Hansen, Appointee for Member, Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations Joseph T. Hansen is President of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW). He was first appointed to the Advisory Committee for Trade Policy & Negotiations in 2010. Mr. Hansen was elected to serve as UFCW Secretary-Treasurer in 1997 and as President in 2004 and 2008. He became President of Union Network International in 2003 and was reelected as President in 2005. He is an AFL-CIO Vice President and Chair of the AFL-CIO International Affairs Committee. James P. Hoffa, Appointee for Member, Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations James P. Hoffa is the General President of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, a position he has held since 1999. He was appointed to the Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations in 2010. Mr. Hoffa served as an attorney for the Teamsters from 1968 to 1993. In 2002, he was appointed to the President’s Council on the 21st Century Workforce and has also served on the Secretary of Energy’s Advisory Board. Mr. Hoffa received a B.S. from Michigan State University and a J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School. Sandra Kennedy, Appointee for Member, Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations Sandra Kennedy is President of the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA), a position she has held since December 2002. She was first appointed to the Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations in 2010. Prior to joining RILA, Ms. Kennedy served as Director of the Leadership Dialogue Series for Accenture. From 1993 to 2000, she was Senior Vice President of membership services for the National Retail Federation. Ms. Kennedy received a B.A. from the University of Iowa. David H. Long, Appointee for Member, Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations David H. Long is CEO and Chairman of Liberty Mutual Group, Inc., a position he has held since 2013. Previously, he was President and CEO of Liberty Mutual Group, Inc. from 2011 to 2013. Since joining Liberty Mutual in 1985, Mr. Long has held a number of positions within the company’s International Operations, Commercial Markets, Underwriting and Financial, and Mergers and Acquisitions divisions. He is a member of the Business Roundtable, a Director of Massachusetts General Hospital’s President’s Council, and a Board Member of Tamarack Technologies. Mr. Long received a B.A. from Hartwick College and an M.S. from Boston College. Wade Randlett, Appointee for Member, Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations Wade Randlett is CEO of the transportation fuels division of General Biofuels, a position he has held since 2013. He was first appointed to the Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations in 2010. Mr. Randlett is the President of the governing council of Alice Fong Yu Elementary School in San Francisco, is the Founder of Bay Area Democrats, and a co-founder of Technology Network. He served as a member of the Obama for America National Finance Committee. Mr. Randlett received a B.S. from Princeton University and a J.D. from the University of San Francisco. Matthew Rubel, Appointee for Member, Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations Matthew Rubel is a Senior Advisor at TPG Capital. He was first appointed to the Advisory Committee on Trade Policy and Negotiations in 2010. Previously, he was Chairman, President, and CEO of Collective Brands, Inc. from 2005 to 2011. Mr. Rubel was CEO of Cole Haan from 1999 to 2005, and was Executive Vice President of J. Crew Group and CEO of Popular Club Plan from 2004 to 2009. Mr. Rubel is active in several industry and civic organizations, including the Jay H. Baker Initiative at the Wharton School, the Young Presidents’ Organization, and serves as Chairman of the Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America. He is a member of the Board of Trustees of the International Council of Shopping Centers and the University of Miami, and serves on the Board of Directors of Supervalu, Hudson Bay Corporation, and Home Shopping Network. Mr. Rubel received a B.S. from Ohio University and an M.B.A. from the University of Miami. David H. Segura, Appointee for Member, Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations David H. Segura is CEO of VisionIT, an information technology firm he founded in 1997. He was first appointed to the Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations in 2010. Mr. Segura is a member of the Information Technology Senior Management Forum and was a founding architect and former Vice Chair of the Hispanic IT Executive Council. In 2010, he was selected by President Obama as one of 50 CEOs to participate in a White House Forum on Modernizing U.S. Government. Mr. Segura received a B.S. from the University of Michigan–Dearborn. Bryan Lourd, Appointee for General Trustee, Board of Trustees of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Bryan Lourd is a partner and managing director of Creative Artists Agency, an entertainment and sports talent agency based in Los Angeles. Mr. Lourd was appointed to the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities in 2009. He is a member of the boards of InterActiveCorp, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and J/P Haitian Relief Organization, and is a Trustee of the American Film Institute. Mr. Lourd received a B.A. from the University of Southern California. Barbara Goodman Manilow, Appointee for General Trustee, Board of Trustees of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Barbara Goodman Manilow is Chairman of the Board of Crown Family Philanthropies in Chicago, an organization supporting the arts, civic affairs, education, conservation, health and human services, service projects, and Jewish Causes. She is a founding member and director of the Covenant Foundation, and is a member of the board of the Chicago Children’s Museum and the Francis W. Parker School. Ms. Goodman Manilow received a B.A. from Colorado College and an M.A. from the University of Chicago Dr. Bryan Traubert, Appointee for General Trustee, Board of Trustees of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Dr. Bryan Traubert is a founder and former partner at Eye Physicians and Surgeons of Chicago, a position he held from 1986 to 2013. He is President of the Pritzker Traubert Family Foundation and the Chicago Park District, and is a member of the boards of Chicago Public Radio, National Park Foundation, and Partnership for a Healthier America. Dr. Traubert previously served as President of Marwen and on the boards of the Renaissance Society at the University of Chicago, National Public Radio Foundation, and Chicago Lighthouse for the Blind. He served on the President’s Commission on White House Fellowships from 2009 to 2013. Dr. Traubert received a B.S. from The Citadel and an M.D. from the University of Illinois. Lieutenant General Susan J. Helms, USAF (Ret), Appointee for Member, Board of Trustees of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars Lieutenant General Susan J. Helms, USAF (Ret), retired from the United States Air Force in 2014 after 34 years of service. She was also a NASA astronaut from 1990 to 2012. She was Commander, 14th Air Force (Air Forces Strategic), and Commander, Joint Functional Component Command for Space at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. Lieutenant General Helms was a crew member on five Space Shuttle missions and was a resident of the International Space Station for over five months in 2001. Her awards include the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal and the NASA Distinguished Service Medal. In 2011, she was inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame. Lieutenant General Helms received a B.S. in Aeronautical Engineering from the U.S. Air Force Academy and an M.S. in Aeronautics and Astronautics from Stanford University. Liza Gilbert, Appointee for Member, Commission of Fine Arts Liza Gilbert is a freelance landscape designer. She has been a board member of the Dumbarton Oaks Park Conservancy in Washington, D.C. since 2012 and is also Chair of its Signature Project Committee. Previously, she was a Project Designer and Construction Supervisor at the New York firms of Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates from 2006 to 2010 and at Judith Heintz Landscape Architecture from 1997 to 2002. Earlier in her career, she was a Project Assistant at Giannini & Vagnetti Architetti in Rome, Italy from 1989 to 1990. She served on the board of Dancing in the Streets from 2003 to 2007. Ms. Gilbert received a B.A. from Barnard College and an M.L.A. from the Graduate School of Design at Harvard University. THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the First Lady _________________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release September 18, 2014 REMARKS BY THE FIRST LADY TO WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP FUND CONFERENCE Marriott Marquis Hotel Washington, D.C. 4:12 P.M. EDT MRS. OBAMA: Are you guys fired up? (Applause.) You have to be. You really do have to be. But let me just thank you so much. It is really a pleasure to be here with so many fabulous women -- and I see a few brave men, too. (Laughter.) Some of my favorites are back there. And speaking of fabulous women, let me by start by thanking my dear friend, Dr. Jill Biden, not just for her wonderful introduction, but she is a passionate, dedicated partner in so much that we do together, particularly our work to support military families. And so let’s give Jill another round of applause. We have some Blue Star moms, some family members here. We love you guys. Jill, thank you so much. And while she wasn’t able to join us today, I also want to recognize another fabulous woman –- our extraordinary DNC Chair, Congressman Debbie Wasserman Shultz. Yay! (Applause.) And I also have to give a shoutout to our terrific CEO, Amy Dacey, who is doing such an amazing job. (Applause.) She’s been traveling around -- there you go, Amy. How are you? My partner in crime. She’s heard me ranting on many an occasion. Thanks, Amy, for the great work that you’re doing. But most of all, I want to thank all of you. I definitely see many old friends here today –- AUDIENCE MEMBER: Georgia. MRS. OBAMA: From Georgia specifically. (Laughter.) And Georgia, we need you. Georgia, you’ve got to do it all in Georgia. (Laughter.) But I see folks who’ve been with us from the very beginning -- (applause) -- yes, back when we were out in Iowa and New Hampshire, talking about hope and change and getting folks fired up and ready to go -- remember all that? (Applause.) And then you all were with us when Barack first took office, and took a look at the mess he’d been handed and wondered what on Earth he had gotten himself into. (Laughter.) Let me just take you back to how bad things were back then. We were in full-blown crisis mode -- do you remember that? Our economy was literally on the brink of collapse. Wall Street banks were folding. Businesses were losing 800,000 jobs a month. Folks on TV were panicking about whether we were headed for another Great Depression -– and that wasn’t just talk, that was a real possibility. This is what Barack walked into on day one as President. I could go on. Now, think about how things look today, less than six years later. (Applause.) Our businesses have created 10 million new jobs. The long-term unemployment rate has dropped by more than half over the past four years. We’ve now had the longest period of job growth since World War II. (Applause.) And as folks across the country have gone back to work, overall unemployment is the lowest it’s been in nearly six years. We’ve cut our deficit by more than half. We’re sending more kids to college. (Applause.) And after -- yes, indeed. And here’s my favorite -- after decades of trying to pass health reform, today, millions of Americans finally have health insurance because of the Affordable Care Act. And then just think about how different our country looks to children growing up today. Think about how our kids take for granted that a black person or a woman can be President of the United States. (Applause.) They take it for granted that for the first time in history, there are three brilliant women serving on our Supreme Court. (Applause.) They take for granted that their President will end hurtful policies like don’t ask, don’t tell,” they’ll speak out for gay marriage. So today, when folks ask me whether I still believe everything we said about change and hope back in 2008, I tell them that I believe it more strongly now than ever before, because, look, I’ve seen it with my own eyes. I’ve seen veterans finding jobs as our nation proudly supports their transition to civilian life. I’ve seen children getting better nutrition and growing up healthier. I’ve seen young people from the most underserved areas reaching higher and going back to college, and reaching back to serve their communities. So while we still have plenty of work to do, we have truly made so much of that change we were talking about. But here’s the thing I want you to remember, is that Barack didn’t do all this just sitting alone in the Oval Office. AUDIENCE MEMBER: You were there. (Laughter.) MRS. OBAMA: I was there. But remember the Recovery Act that helped rescue our economy? Remember the legislation that helped save the auto industry? And the Affordable Care Act that gave all those folks health insurance? Those bills were passed by a Democratic Congress back in 2008, 2009 and 2010. And it’s so easy to lose sight of that reality. Too often, we forget what we learned back in civics class in middle school about how we have a separation of powers between three branches of government. I can’t tell you how many folks have asked me, well, the President passed health care, why can’t he just fix the infrastructure yet? Why can’t he just raise the minimum wage? And I have to tell them that infrastructure is a budget issue; minimum wage is a legislative issue. And we all know who has the final say on all of that -- it’s Congress. It’s Congress. So the truth is, if we want to keep making that change we all believe in, then we need a President who will fight for that change, but we also need a Congress who will pass it, and leaders at our state level who will support it. (Applause.) So make no mistake about it, Barack’s last campaign was not in 2012. Barack’s last campaign is this year, 2014 -- (applause) -- because that election in 2012 wasn’t the change we sought, it was only the chance to make that change. And frankly, if we lose these midterm elections, it’s going to be a whole lot harder to finish what we’ve started. Because things will be even worse here in Washington. We will see more conflict, more obstruction, more lawsuits and talk about impeachment, more votes to repeal the Affordable Care Act or even shut down the government -- behavior that just wastes time and wastes our money. In fact, it’s gotten so bad, they’ve even tried to block the work I do on child obesity -- and that’s really saying something. I mean, for most folks in this country, making sure our kids get decent nutrition isn’t all that controversial -- it shouldn’t be. (Child falls.) Because as parents, there is nothing we wouldn’t do for our kids, even when they’re falling over tired. (Laughter.) He’s just done. But we still love him! This is all for you! We always put our kids’ interests first. We wake up every morning, we go to bed every night worrying about their health, their happiness, their futures. So we deserve leaders across the country who will do the same. We deserve leaders who will believe like we do that no matter how our kids start out in life, if they’re willing to work for it, they should have every opportunity to fulfill their boundless promise. They should have every opportunity to get a good education, build a decent life for themselves and an even better life for their own kids. That is the American Dream we all believe in. And that’s what this midterm election -- these elections are all about. And here’s the thing that we know -- that we can win these elections. No, no, no, we can really win these elections. And I want you to understand just how easily we can win. Right now, we are just 17 seats away from taking back the House. Now, also understand we’re just six seats away from losing the Senate –- just six seats. And we have tight governors’ races and legislative races in states all across the country, races that are won or lost by just a few thousand, or even a few hundred, or even a few dozen votes. So here’s the good news I was talking about: We have all the votes we need right now to win so many of these races if we get folks registered and if we get them out to vote in November. So here are some of the numbers. In some of our Senate for example, in Iowa, if just 70 percent of the folks who voted for Barack in 2012 show up and vote for Bruce Braley, Congressman Braley will be the next Senator from Iowa. (Applause.) If just -- now, these are our votes. If just 69 percent of Obama voters show up in Colorado and just 63 percent show up in North Carolina, then Senator Udall and Senator Hagan will win reelection. (Applause.) These are our people. We don’t have to convince anybody about anything except just voting. So let’s be clear: This is on us. That’s the thing -- it’s on us. We can’t wait around for anybody else to do this for us. Now, it’s true that there is too much money in politics -- that’s true. And it’s true that special interests have too much influence. But let me tell you something, they had plenty of money and influence back in 2008 and 2012 –- and we won those elections. (Applause.) And you want to know why we won? Because we showed up and we voted. And at the end of the day, we have to remember that the folks running those special interest groups, the folks pouring millions of dollars into those elections, they each have just one vote. And so do each of us. And ultimately, the only thing that counts are those votes. That’s what decides elections in the United States of America. And that’s why Barack Obama is President right now –- he’s President because a whole bunch of folks who never voted before showed up to vote in 2008 and 2012. (Applause.) And you remember, a lot of people were shocked when Barack won because they were counting on folks like us to stay home. They were counting on it. And we proved them wrong. Barack won because record numbers of women and minorities and young people showed up to vote. But here’s where we fall short -- when the midterms come along, too many of our people just tune out. And that’s what folks on the other side are counting on this year, because when we stay home, they win. So they’re assuming that we won’t care. They’re hoping, they’re assuming that we won’t be organized and energized. And only we can prove them wrong. And that’s where all of you come in -- all my lady friends. (Applause.) This is the crew. You all have already made such generous contributions to the DNC, and we are grateful. And because of you, right now, campaign offices around the country are open. Because of you, ads are running. Because of you, our candidates are getting their message out and doing their thing all across the country. So tonight, for once, I’m not going to ask you for more money -- not tonight. I reserve the right to do that later on, but not tonight. (Laughter.) But I am going to ask for your help in getting folks organized and out to the polls on November the 4th. Because I know that you all have networks -- you all have people, lots of people -- and when you ask folks to do something, they listen to you. That’s why you’re here. And that’s what we need you to do –- we need you to make those calls. You all -- we all know how to do this. We’ve done this. We need you to knock on those doors and get people registered and then out to vote on Election Day. And you can start by going to Commit2Vote.com –- that’s Commit2Vote.com. This is a new website from the DNC where you can commit to casting your vote, and then you can reach out to your friends and family and neighbors and get them to commit as well. Everyone you sign up through this website will receive reminders to vote -- so this is really good, this is a good tool -- and they’ll be sent all the information they need about early voting -- which you know how key that is, because that was the ticket in the presidential elections -- early voting. They’ll receive information about the location of their polling place, and so much more. And I want you all to send everybody you know to this website –- Commit2Vote.com -– and don’t wait another minute to get started on this. Because we’ve got less than two months until Election Day, and we need you to be as passionate and as hungry for these midterm elections as we all were back in 2008 and 2012. In fact, we need you to be even more passionate and more hungry, because these midterm elections will be even harder and even closer than those presidential elections. And they’re just as important. You all know that. The stakes this year simply could not be higher. Because if we don’t show up at the polls this November, if we don’t elect leaders in Congress and across America who will put people first instead of fighting for special interests, then we know exactly what will happen. We will see more folks interfering in women’s private decisions about our health care. We’ll see more folks denying that climate change even exists. We’ll see more votes against immigration reform and raising the minimum wage for hardworking folks. So I want to be very clear: If you think people who work 40 or 50 hours a week shouldn’t have to live in poverty in the wealthiest nation on Earth; if you don’t want women’s bosses making decisions about their birth control; if you think women should get equal pay for equal work, and you believe that women in this country, when we succeed, America succeeds; if you want your kids to have quality preschool and the college education they need to fulfill every last bit of their God-given potential -- then you need to step up and get everyone you know out to vote this November. (Applause.) That’s what’s at stake in this election -– the kind of country we want to leave behind for our kids and our grandkids. And here’s the thing -- those kids are counting on us to stand up for them. They’re kids like Lawrence Lawson, who I met earlier this year -- wonderful kid, but he’s got a tough story. Lawrence’s father died when he was just eight years old. Then, at the age of nine, Lawrence suffered a major seizure and had to learn to read and walk and speak again. Then, when he was 12, his mother passed, and Lawrence was then moved to an aunt in Atlanta, and then to a sister in Baltimore. But no matter where he was, Lawrence, this kid did his best in school. He joined the marching band. He interned at Johns Hopkins hospital. And he graduated as the valedictorian of his high school class. And as I travel across this country, I meet so many kids like Lawrence -- kids who are doing everything they’re supposed to do. Kids who wake up early and take the long route to school to avoid the gangs. Kids who juggle afterschool jobs to support their families, stay up late to get their homework done. Kids whose parents don’t speak a word of English, but who are fighting every day to realize their dream of a better life. These kids have every reason to give up, but they are so hungry -- you know these kids. They are so desperate to lift themselves up, and that’s why we’re here today –- because if those kids never give up, then neither can we. Between now and November, we need to be energized for them. We need to be inspired for them. We need to pour everything we have into these elections so that they can have the opportunities they need to build the future they deserve. And if we all do that, if we all keep stepping up and bringing others along with us -- it is so simple -- then I know that we can keep making that change we believe in, and I know we can keep moving this country forward. And I know that together, that we can build a future worthy of all our children. So we need you. Did I make that clear? (Applause.) You all understand? These elections are in our hands. Women -- we don’t turn out for midterms. Minorities -- we don’t turn out. We don’t have to convince anybody new; we just have to find us and get us registered. So we should be able to do this, right? (Applause.) We should be able to do this. And I fully expect that we will do this. We are going to get this done, and we are going to keep making change and making our country stronger. Thank you all so much. God bless you. Love you so much. (Applause.) THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the First Lady
_________________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release September 18, 2014 REMARKS BY THE FIRST LADY AT NATIONAL STUDENT POET READING Blue Room 10:55 A.M. EDT MRS. OBAMA: Good morning, you guys. Please, rest. (Laughter.) Welcome to the White House. Yes! Let’s stand back, take it in. (Laughter.) This is for you. Look around, we’re in the Blue Room. It’s good. You guys are winners, champs. I want to start by thanking everyone from the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities, the Alliance for Young Artists and Writers, and the Institute of Museum and Library Sciences for everything that all of these folks are doing to lift up young people like these and a program like this one. We’re so proud of you guys. I especially want to recognize Olivia -- right there. (Applause.) Her happy dance. You’ve done such a tremendous job in leading this program and launching it three years ago. It’s good, and we’re going to make it bigger and bigger and bigger. You’ve done such a terrific job. We’re so proud of you and proud of what you’re doing for young people and for the arts. So thank you so much. And of course, Richard Blanco, our friend who is here. And carrying on -- we’re going to keep pulling you in. (Laughter.) So thank you for being here and thank you for your work. But most of all, it’s my honor to introduce the third class of National Student Poets. We have Weston Clark, from Zionsville, Indiana. (Applause.) No, no, I’m just giving you your time. I’m going to give you your moment. (Laughter.) They’re listening to instructions. I’m going to get you guys loosened up and -- realize that there’s -- silliness abounds in the White House, so you can relax. Madeleine LeCesne from New Orleans, Louisiana. (Applause.) Ashley Gong from Sandy Hook, Connecticut. (Applause.) Cameron Messinides from Camden, South Carolina. (Applause.) And Julia Falkner, from Louisville, Colorado. (Applause.) Yay. (Laughter.) And their parents -- you guys, stand up. Families. (Applause.) You should be so proud. Aren’t you proud? This is pretty cool. You could never say they never did anything for you. (Laughter.) They got you to the White House. Now, we started this program because we wanted to nurture the passion and creativity of our young people. And we wanted to help them engage with their communities, and we wanted to do our part to share the gifts and wonders that poetry offers with a new generation. As my favorite poet, Maya Angelou, once said, nothing is so frightening as writing, but nothing so satisfies me. So what these young people are doing doesn’t just take talent, it doesn’t just take hard work, it actually takes a lot of courage. It takes courage to open your soul to the whole world. It takes courage to think hard and feel deeply, and then turn those thoughts and feelings into something that you’re willing to share with others. And that’s exactly what these young people are doing every day with their works, which is why it’s just so phenomenal. Young people at this age tend to close down, shut down. And through your words, you’re just sort of letting it all go. In one of her poems, Julia says, she used to write what she called “passive aggressive prose poems” -- (laughter) -- because, as she says -- she said, “I did not know how to scream in a three-dimensional world.” Really powerful. So today, we celebrate not just the wonderful, finished poems that you will hear in a moment from these gifted young people, but we’re also here to celebrate the journey that these young people took to get where they are today -– the endless drafts, the late-night struggles with writer’s block, and all those moments, I’m sure, of fear and doubt. And make no mistake about it, the process for these young people isn’t just about how they create great works of poetry. It’s what we have said time and time again -- it’s the key to success, period, in school and in life. And that’s why it’s so critical that every child in this country has access to the arts in schools. We can’t say it enough. We know this is the right thing to do for our kids. We know it’s a must. It’s as essential as what they eat, what they drink, what they breathe in. Our kids deserve and need this. Because whether it’s poetry or band or drama or painting, access to the arts gives kids a reason to get out of bed, and a reason to get up and go to school, and some of the other stuff that sometimes isn’t so fun. (Laughter.) It gives them that chance for self-expression, and gives them the skills and the experiences they’ll need to realize their boundless potential, and to reach higher, and to write their own story in the years ahead. And so I am thrilled to have the chance to showcase that potential and celebrate those stories. This is something that we talked about after last year’s event. I said, let’s hear from them. Let’s take it to the next level. So you guys represent the next level. (Laughter.) Because we want to really hear your voices, and give you the opportunity to stand in the White House and to recite your words. So I really do want you guys to be relaxed about this. I know that’s hard to say. (Laughter.) But you know, treat this as a gift. There’s no pressure. Forget those guys back there. (Laughter.) It’s us; we are all family. We’ve all read your stuff and it’s amazing. That’s why you’re here. The President actually read it, too; he loves poetry. He could not be here, but he is amazed by what you do. So this is really a gift. This is fun. So relax. There’s no right or wrong. This is the brave part of it -- actually sharing your stuff with the world. And forget that you’re in the Blue Room of the White House. (Laughter.) The historic significance, the -- I don’t want that to add any pressure to you at all. But we’re very excited to hear from you. And, Weston, you’re first. That’s why he was coming to the -- okay, we’ll all sit and join you. You’re up first. Do your thing, guy. (Applause.) Statement by the President THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 22, 2014 Statement by the President America’s businesses have created 10 million jobs over the last 54 months – the longest stretch of uninterrupted private sector job growth in our nation’s history – and we should do everything we can as a country to build on that progress. That’s why I’ve called on Congress to lower our corporate tax rate, close wasteful loopholes, and simplify the tax code for everyone. While there’s no substitute for Congressional action, my Administration will act wherever we can to protect the progress the American people have worked so hard to bring about. As part of this effort, Secretary Lew briefed me today on the first steps the Treasury Department is taking to discourage companies from taking advantage of corporate inversions – moving their tax residence overseas on paper to avoid paying their fair share in taxes here at home. We’ve recently seen a few large corporations announce plans to exploit this loophole, undercutting businesses that act responsibly and leaving the middle class to pay the bill, and I’m glad that Secretary Lew is exploring additional actions to help reverse this trend. I believe America does better when hard work pays off, responsibility is rewarded, and everyone plays by the same set of rules. In the weeks and months ahead we should do even more to bring fairness to our tax code, help our businesses create more American jobs, and expand opportunity for all. FACT SHEET: The Equal Futures Partnership - Commitments and Progress to Expand Women’s Economic and Political Participation
THE WHITE HOUSEnOffice of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 22, 2014 FACT SHEET: The Equal Futures Partnership - Commitments and Progress to Expand Women’s Economic and Political Participation THE PROMISE OF EQUAL FUTURES In response to President Obama’s challenge to other heads of state to break down barriers to women’s economic and political participation, former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Valerie Jarrett launched the Equal Futures Partnership on behalf of the United States in September 2012. The Equal Futures Partnership is an innovative multilateral initiative that encourages member countries to empower women politically and economically. Equal Futures partner countries commit to taking actions including legal, regulatory, and policy reforms to ensure women lead and benefit from inclusive economic growth, and that they fully participate in public life. Equal Futures partners include Australia, Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Chile, Croatia, Denmark, the European Union, Finland, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Latvia, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Peru, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Switzerland, Thailand, Timor Leste, Tunisia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Multilateral stakeholders including UN Women and the World Bank and leading businesses and non-profit institutions also support the Partnership. Commitments to Action Each country participating in the Equal Futures Partnership works closely with key stakeholders in their countries, including civil society, to identify policy and program priorities. They then set achievable goals as commitments within the Partnership, exchange best practices and lessons learned, and report on progress. This year, Chile, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom have joined the Partnership. Highlights from new member commitments include the United Kingdom’s efforts to accelerate its work to tackle the gender pay gap, address the problem of workplace discrimination, promote female entrepreneurship, and increase the number of women in leadership positions both in the corporate world and in other important decision making positions. They will also work to give women the opportunity to talk directly to policymakers to make their concerns heard. Partners continue to advance in the implementation of their commitments – for more information on progress visit here. Support from Multilateral Partners To advance the goals of the Equal Futures Partnership, we collaborate with multilateral partners to help countries strengthen and implement their efforts. The World Bank Group, host of the second high-level Equal Futures meeting, will continue to work with Equal Futures partners to identify opportunities for collaboration in the advancement of women’s rights in each country and to support implementation of country commitments, through technical assistance, advisory services, and financing, where appropriate. The Bank will disseminate lessons learned on effective programs and initiatives, drawn from impact evaluations, the gender innovation labs, and other bank led partnerships, which can inform the efforts of Equal Futures partners. UN Women will work with the Equal Futures Partnership in the areas of economic and political empowerment and ending violence against women through technical advice, knowledge and capacity development, facilitating and sharing of best practices, and supporting implementation of commitments at the country level. UN Women will use its Knowledge Gateway to disseminate experience coming from the Partnership. JOINING THE PARTNERSHIP Countries committed to promoting women’s political and economic participation are welcome to join the Equal Futures Partnership. Government representatives and other interested stakeholders may email EqualFutures@state.gov for more information. THE PRESIDENT: Hello, everybody! (Applause.) It is a perfect night for a picnic. (Applause.) I’m thrilled that everybody is here. I took off my tie -- I noticed some of you didn’t get the memo. (Laughter.) But I know that a lot of you are coming straight from work. I’m not going to make a long speech. I want to shake as many hands as possible. I hope you guys are having a wonderful time. I want to start off by saying thank you to House members -- Republican and Democrat -- who came together today to pass an important component on our strategy for dealing with this terrible terrorist organization known as ISIL. And I want to in particular thank Speaker Boehner and Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi for showing us that when it comes to America’s national security, America is united. So I very much appreciate all of you in the efforts that you made there. (Applause.) And that brings up this more general point. Look, we’ve gone through just in the last decade and a half, the worst attack on our homeland in our history, the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression, we continue to face significant challenges. But I came from Tampa, where we have the Central Command and talked to our troops this morning. And in talking to them and seeing the dedication and the effort and professionalism that they make, I was reminded once again, as I’m reminded every time I travel around the country, that the American people are good and they are strong and they are resilient. And because of them, we bounce back from anything. (Applause.) And America is now positioned better than we could have ever imagined if we continue to act in the interests of all of us, and if every once in a while we’re willing to set aside politics and try to get something done. There’s no doubt that we can make sure our schools work better. There’s no doubt that we can make sure that our roads and our bridges and our infrastructure works the way it should. There’s no doubt that, since we still have the most innovative companies in the world, that we can succeed and that we can continue to put money into research and development and cure diseases, and continue to lead the world when it comes to not just security but also dealing with issues like Ebola and making sure that more people are safe and well-housed and well-fed, and children and girls are getting the kind of education they deserve. All these things we can do. And so, hopefully, a picnic like this just reminds us of the fact that there are a lot of people all across the country counting on us to be able to work together. That doesn’t mean we don’t have strong passions and strong arguments, but it also means that every once in a while we’ve got to set those aside, embrace compromise, and try to get some stuff done -- that’s what people are looking for and today, I think on national security at least, we showed that we could. The only other thing I want to say is thank you to the families. (Applause.) Michelle was traveling to St. Jude’s today to be with the amazing kids there and the doctors and staff who help families going through really tough diseases, but she would be the first one to testify that being married to a politician is not easy. (Laughter.) And being the partner of a politician, being the child of a politician -- it’s hard. And sometimes you see your loved one attacked, and sometimes you seem not appreciated, and they’re away too much and you’re having to shoulder some of the burdens of a family. And so to all the spouses, all the children, everybody who helps support our public servants and our members of Congress, I just want to say thank you to you as well for the great job that you do. We really, really appreciate it. (Applause.) And finally, please try to eat more because we always have leftovers after this thing. (Laughter.) I am going to swing down the ropeline. I want to shake as many hands as I can. I will tell you in advance that selfies are a little tough just because if I’m doing 2,000 selfies then we won’t be done until 10 in the evening. I will make exceptions for little people, but you have to actually be little. (Laughter.) And I mean young, I don’t mean short. (Laughter.) Thank you very much, everybody. Have a great time. God bless you. God bless America. Thank you. (Applause.) Booker T. Washington High School Atlanta, Georgia
2:07 P.M. EDT MRS. OBAMA: Hey! (Applause.) What’s going on? Okay, they’re trying to make me dance some more. I’m not going to dance anymore. (Laughter.) I can only dance because my children aren’t here. When I dance with them, I’m embarrassing to them. (Laughter.) How are you guys doing? (Applause.) Oh, my goodness! I am so thrilled to be here in Atlanta with all of you. Let’s go, Bulldogs! (Applause.) You guys feeling good? (Applause.) I am, too. Let me start -- I want to start by thanking a few people first. I want to start by thanking Alexandria for that very wonderful introduction. She did a good job, didn’t she? (Applause.) And your classmate Tauja, as well, for her remarks. She introduced Secretary Duncan -- she did a great job. (Applause.) And we’ve got Sway Calloway here from MTV, he’s backstage. (Applause.) I don’t know if you’ve met our Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Julian Castro, he’s here. (Applause.) And your First Lady of Georgia is here, Mrs. Sandra Deal, who has been doing some phenomenal work in education. (Applause.) I am so grateful to her for the work she’s doing on behalf of the children of this state. Thank you for taking the time. We also have Mrs. Sarah-Elizabeth Reed, the First Lady of your city of Atlanta, who is here as well. (Applause.) And of course, Secretary Duncan, who is my partner in crime. I couldn’t be more excited to be here to help Secretary Duncan kick off his back-to-school bus tour. And when we were thinking about where to go for the kickoff, we thought we’d come to Booker T. Washington High School because -- (applause) -- yes -- we heard you all are doing some pretty good things -- yes, you’re excited, pretty excited. (Laughter.) But we heard you all are doing some great things here for all the students -- and I also heard you all could make a little noise, too. So that helps. Now, I know you all have been back at school for a few weeks now, right? You’re settling into the routine, right? STUDENTS: Yes. MRS. OBAMA: Classes, activities, team practices, band practice, right? You guys are all into that. (Applause.) You’ve had a few games. Is your football team playing? (Applause.) You guys having a good season? STUDENTS: No! MRS. OBAMA: Oh, well, nevermind. (Laughter.) But you’ve got heart! You’ve got spirit! (Applause.) You’re probably getting a lot more homework; maybe you’re starting to have your first quizzes and your paper is already due, right? Well, I’m here today because all of that that I just mentioned -– all those tests, all the papers, the extracurricular activities –- here -- and I want you all to listen to this -- all of that stuff isn’t just important to get you through the day or even this year. Everything you are doing in school right now is critical to the rest of your life. That’s why I’m here -- because I want you all to succeed. And I want you to understand how people like me go from being kids like you to standing here as First Lady of the United States. (Applause.) That’s my message to all of you and to all the students across the country who may be watching this today --that your time in school is extremely important. And what you do here each and every day will set you up to achieve so many of the dreams that I know you have for yourselves in the years ahead. You have to understand that completing high school is not the end but the beginning of your life’s journey. It’s just the beginning. In today’s world, in order to compete in an ever-globalizing economy, you’ve got to continue your education after you graduate from high school. And fortunately, there are many paths that you can take –- whether that’s a professional training program, a four-year school like Georgia State or Emory or Clark Atlanta, or a community college like Atlanta Metro State College. But no matter where you go, the important thing is that you go somewhere. Because no matter who you are or where you come from, higher education is absolutely the best way you can take charge of your future. And there’s a lot you need to be doing right now to prepare yourself for those next steps. And that’s why this isn’t just any ordinary pep rally, this is why we’re calling this a prep rally -- you get it? It’s a prep rally. Because if you want to succeed in the years ahead, you’ve got to know how to prepare yourself today, and you’ve got to know how to rally when you get knocked down along the way -- because it’s going to happen. And that’s what we’re going to talk about. So first, the prep part. And one of the reasons why we’re here at Washington High is because you all already have a great head start. You have got teachers and counselors who are doing everything they can to help you get to college. Your school offers classes that give you college credit. And you’ve got access to special programs that will prepare you for careers in health sciences, business, finance. So the first thing that you can do to prepare yourself for the future is to take advantage of all the resources that are right here for you. And to do that, you have to show up to school every day. Yes, attendance matters. You are not going to learn or get the support that you need if you’re not here. And then once you’re here, you have to completely commit to learning all that you can –- in other words, when you’re here, you have to challenge yourself. You just can’t -- you can’t be hanging out. You can’t just coast through. You can’t just take the easy classes. You’ve got to stretch yourself. Because here’s the thing -- studies show that when you’re working hard and stretching yourself, when you’re struggling to solve a problem or read a book or write an essay, you’re actually making new connections in your brain. The brain is just like a muscle -- it needs exercise. And remember -- I want you all to remember, nobody is born smart. You become smart by thinking hard and challenging yourself. And that’s how you’re going to prepare your brain not just for college, but for the rest of the challenges that you’re going to face in life. And that doesn’t happen right away. It takes time, it takes effort, it takes planning -- and let me tell you, it takes a whole lot of courage. And I know this from my own experience. I grew up on the South Side of Chicago. Neither of my parents went to college. But I set a goal for myself: I wanted to go to Princeton University. So I sketched out a plan to get there –- which classes I needed to take, when I needed to take my SATs, when I needed to apply for financial aid. And I worked incredibly hard to execute that plan. My school was halfway across the city, so I had to get up at 4:00 or 5:00 in the morning just to get to school, to study in the morning. Had to stay up late at night doing my homework because it took me forever to get home. And when I didn’t understand something, I had to drum up the courage to ask for help, and believe me, there was a lot I didn’t understand going to high school. In other words, I had to take control of my education, had to set my own course for my future. And here’s the thing that I do know, which is why I am here and I’m not anywhere else in this country -- I am here because I know that every single one of you can do that, too. I know that. If I can do it, you can do it. There is absolutely no excuse. You are no better or no different than me. I didn’t have money growing up. I didn’t grow up in a nice neighborhood. But I am here. So if you are a freshman or a sophomore, start making your plan. Talk to your parents, your teachers, your counselors -- whoever -- about different colleges and careers that you might want to pursue. Get a plan in your head, and then figure out what it’s going to take for you to get where you want to go. To the juniors and seniors, you all should be working hard to execute your plans. You should be studying for the SATs and ACTs. Let me tell you, my daughter, who is a junior, is studying for her tests right now. She studies every weekend, on the weekdays, in addition to her homework. I’m just telling you what one kid is doing, but I know that every kid in her school is doing the same thing. Got to fill out that FAFSA form, look for those scholarships and those grants that are out there just waiting for you. Got to start working on those college applications and essays starting now. And all of you should be pushing yourselves and challenging yourselves right now every day to be the absolute best students and the best people that you can be. And you can just use the resources here -- I know you just had a college fair earlier today. So going to the college fair is important, but don’t stop there. If you can, go visit some of those schools. I was just talking to some of the kids who were with me at the college fair. It’s so important for you, if you get an opportunity, to spend some time on a college campus. I didn’t do that. I didn’t have the money. But you all live near so many colleges, there’s no reason for you not to spend a weekend or a week seeing what it’s like being on a college campus, getting that vision of what it means to be in college, getting excited about it. And ask questions. Ask them about the cost and the kinds of financial aid that are available to you. You’ve got to figure this stuff out. And the Internet is an incredibly useful resource. You can find all sorts of information online at websites like StudentAid.gov -- we’ll make sure your counselors have that information. KhanAcademy.org -- if you haven’t heard of Khan Academy, it is a free, online educational resource, and they’ve created this new platform to help young people like many of you prepare for college. They’ve got all sorts of videos, checklists to help you plan your high school classes and activities; to search for schools that fit your needs; to fill out your college scholarships and applications. So thanks to websites like these, it’s easier than ever to before to take the steps to prepare yourself for the future. But here’s the thing –- even if you’re working hard and doing everything right, there will still be times when things don’t go according to plan. That ever happen to you all? STUDENTS: Yes. MRS. OBAMA: Stuff just doesn’t work out. Maybe something goes wrong in your family or with one of your friends. Maybe you don’t do as well as you wanted on the SATs or the ACTs. Maybe you fall behind in classes. And when things like that happen, it’s easy to get down on yourself. It’s tempting to just give up. But trust me, that’s just not the answer. And that’s what the second part of this prep rally is about –- it’s about rallying when things go wrong. She’s okay? It’s okay, that happens to a lot of people who have to stand up for a long time. We need one of our medics here. We’ve got a young girl who fainted. But it happens all the time. She’s going to be okay. Sometimes standing up -- if anybody is starting to feel tired standing up, bend your knees -- and eat your breakfast and lunch. (Laughter.) You okay? Make sure she’s okay, too, right here. Right here. Everybody else feeling okay? STUDENTS: Yes! MRS. OBAMA: Are you all still fired up and ready to -- are you listening to me? STUDENTS: Yes! MRS. OBAMA: Do you hear what I’m telling you? STUDENTS: Yes! MRS. OBAMA: Because I’m giving you some insights that a lot of rich kids all over the country -- they know this stuff, and I want you to know it, too. Because you have got to go and get your education. You’ve got to. And there are going to be plenty of times, you guys -- have you dealt with situations where you just feel like you want to give up? Like it’s just too hard? Like everything is going wrong, you don’t have the support you need; that every time you try, you get something right, something else happens -- right? You think that’s never happened to me? You think somebody like me has never had any problems? Well, let me tell you, I still remember how one of my high school counselors told me that I shouldn’t apply to Princeton. They told me I would never make it there, that I was setting my sights too high -- can you believe that? She told me, don’t bother. But let me tell you something -- that stuck with me. It made me a little uncertain, it did. It threw me off a little bit. But let me tell you, it made me mad, too. But I didn’t let those emotions get the best of me. Instead, I focused on getting good grades. I focused on signing up for activities, lining up my recommendations from teachers and mentors. And in the end, I ended up showing that counselor just how wrong she was -- because look at where I am right now. (Applause.) And then I had trouble at home. My dad, my father had Multiple Sclerosis. My dad grew up -- I grew up with him with MS, which meant it was a disease that made it hard for him to walk. And let me tell you, my father was my hero. He was our family’s rock. And seeing my father in pain, seeing him struggle to get himself out of bed every morning, to get dressed, to get to work just to support us -- let me tell you, watching that every day, it broke my heart. But as hard as that was, I knew that the best thing I could do for my father was to take care of myself and to handle my business, and to make him proud. He taught me to keep myself out of trouble, so that’s what I did. He told me that he expected me to go to college, so I worked hard to live up to that expectation. And years later, when I got that degree he’d always dreamed for me, I knew I was doing right by my father. Now, I know that many of you are dealing with even tougher challenges than I ever faced. You might live in a neighborhood where you have to watch your back even -- every time you leave the house. You might have friends who make fun of you because you’re trying to get good grades. Or maybe your parents aren’t around; maybe your folks are struggling just to pay the bills. Maybe you’ve lost somebody to guns or drugs. I don’t know -- all of that is tough stuff for anyone to deal with, especially when you are still trying to grow up. So how do you rally from something like that? How do you pick yourself up when you feel like somebody keeps knocking you down over and over and over again? You can start by listening to the words of the man this school is named after. Booker T. Washington once said, he said, “Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed.” In other words, you have got to have something called grit -- have you all ever heard of grit? It’s a kind of fierce determination that means you won’t stop at anything, you won’t let anything get in your way until you reach your goal. That’s grit. And let me tell you something, here is the secret to what you all have that a lot of other kids don’t -- a lot of you already have that kind of grit, because all the challenges you’re facing right now at home, in your neighborhood, those experiences are making you tougher. They’re making you stronger. Those are advantages. They’re not disadvantages. And now that -- you’ve got to just learn how to use that grit to help you get to and through college. It’s the same determination -- you already have it. So if there is anybody telling you that you’re not college material -- anyone -- I want you to brush them off. Prove them wrong. If you’re having trouble with math or struggling to write a paper, don’t get discouraged -- work harder. And most importantly, don’t be afraid to ask for help. You know, our kids -- we don’t ask for help because we think it’s weak. We think it’s -- we’re scared to ask for help. But I want you all to ask for help. Ask your teachers, your counselors, your coaches, your friends –- I don’t care who it is. But here’s the thing about asking for help -- you can’t do it just one time. You’ve got to keep asking again and again and again until you get what you need. You keep asking. Do you understand me? You don’t take no for an answer. You keep going back in. That’s how you rally back from adversity. And if you ever begin to feel like you can’t make it, I want you to think about the story of a young man who walked these same halls 70 years ago. You all had better know who I’m talking about. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. rode a bus across town every day to get to this very school. This is your legacy. This was back during the days of Jim Crow -- (applause) -- so even when there weren’t any white folks on the bus, he still had to stand in the aisle at the back looking out over empty seats in the front. As Dr. King later wrote, he said “every time I got on that bus,” he said, I left my mind on that front row. And he said, “I said to myself, ‘One of these days, I’m going to put my body up there where my mind is.’” And so Dr. King studied hard while he was here at this school. Then he reached higher and went on to college at Morehouse, and then went onto graduate school. And that education prepared him to lead a movement that tore down those Jim Crow laws and gave millions of folks across the country the rights they deserved. Dr. King, Booker T. Washington, so many others worked and marched and risked their lives so that young people like you would have the chances that you have today –- the chance to go to a good school that cares about your future, the chance go on to college in America, the chance to build better lives for yourselves and for your families. So now, my Washington Bulldogs, it is your responsibility to go on to achieve those dreams. It’s your responsibility to carry out that legacy. Those are big responsibilities, but I want you to know that you’re not doing this alone. That’s why we’re here. You’ve got so many people cheering for you, so many folks who have your back -– from your family, to the folks at this school, to your President and all the folks at the White House, including me. That’s what my Reach Higher initiative is all about -– it’s about the White House working with leaders across the country to help kids like you complete your education past high school. So let me tell you, we are going to be there for you. But you have got to be there for yourself. You have got to prep, and then you have got to rally. So let me ask this one final question, after all this is said and done: Are you ready to do that? STUDENTS: Yes! MRS. OBAMA: Are you ready to take on that challenge and own that responsibility, live up to that legacy? Can you all do that? Can you Bulldogs do what you need to do to get your education and own your future? Are your ready to reach higher? STUDENTS: Yes! MRS. OBAMA: All right. I want to hear it -- are you all ready to reach higher? STUDENTS: Yes! MRS. OBAMA: All right. Well, I’m looking forward to everything you all do in the years to come. I love you all. God bless. Keep working hard. I’m going to come down there and shake some hands. (Applause.) FACT SHEET: Improving and Simplifying Digital Services
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary For Immediate Release August 11, 2014 FACT SHEET: Improving and Simplifying Digital Services “I want us to ask ourselves every day, how are we using technology to make a real difference in people’s lives.” — President Barack Obama Late last year, a team of digital and technology experts helped to turn-around HealthCare.gov. Today, building on the same proven strategic approach that ultimately enabled millions of Americans to sign up for health insurance, the Administration is launching the U.S. Digital Service. This small team of America’s best digital experts will work in collaboration with other government agencies to make websites more consumer friendly, to identify and fix problems, and to help upgrade the government’s technology infrastructure. Mikey Dickerson, a top private-sector engineer who was part of the team that helped fix HealthCare.gov will serve as the new Administrator of the U.S. Digital Service and Deputy Federal Chief Information Officer.
The team has one core mission: to improve and simplify the digital experience that people and businesses have with their government by: · Establishing standards to bring the government’s digital services in line with the best private sector services; · Identifying common technology patterns that will help us scale services effectively; · Collaborating with agencies to identify and address gaps in their capacity to design, develop, deploy and operate excellent citizen-facing services; and · Providing accountability to ensure agencies see results. With today’s announcement, the Administration is also releasing for public comment two crucial components in our growing IT toolkit that will enable agencies to do their best work– the Digital Service Playbook and the TechFAR Handbook. Leveraging Best Practices with the Digital Services Playbook. To help the Digital Service achieve its mission, today the Administration is releasing the initial version of a Digital Services Playbook that lays out best practices for effective digital service delivery and that will serve as a guide for agencies across government. To increase the success of government digital service projects, this playbook outlines 13 key “plays” drawn from private and public-sector best practices that, if followed together, will help Federal agencies deliver services that work well for users and require less time and money to develop and operate. Using Agile Processes to Procure Digital Services with the TechFAR Handbook. Too often, the lack of guidance encouraging agency use of innovative contracting practices results in narrow and overly rigid interpretations of federal acquisition rules that complicates the government’s ability to adopt smarter ways of acquiring high-quality digital services. To ensure government has the right tech tools to do its job, and can be more agile and flexible to meet rapidly changing needs, the Administration is also today launching the TechFAR Handbook, a guide that explains how agencies can execute key plays in the Playbook in ways consistent with the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), which governs how the government must buy goods and services from the private sector. This document will help agencies take advantage of existing authorities to procure development services in new ways that more closely match the modern software development techniques used in the private sector. White House Appoints 2014-2015 Class of White House Fellows
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 25, 2014 White House Appoints 2014-2015 Class of White House Fellows WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the President’s Commission on White House Fellowships announced the appointment of the 2014-2015 Class of White House Fellows. The Fellows come from diverse backgrounds, varied professions, and have demonstrated a strong commitment to public service and leadership. The 2014-2015 Class of Fellows and their biographies are included in the following pages. The White House Fellows program was created in 1964 by President Lyndon B. Johnson to give promising American leaders “first hand, high-level experience with the workings of the Federal government, and to increase their sense of participation in national affairs.” This unique opportunity to work within our nation’s government is designed to encourage active citizenship and a lifelong commitment to service. The Fellows take part in an education program designed to broaden their knowledge of leadership, policy formulation, and current affairs. Community service is another essential element of the program, and Fellows participate in service projects throughout their year in Washington, D.C. Selection as a White House Fellow is highly competitive and based on a record of professional achievement, evidence of leadership potential, and a proven commitment to public service. Each Fellow must possess the knowledge and skills necessary to contribute meaningfully at senior levels in the Federal government. Throughout its history, the program has fostered leaders in many fields, including leaders in government, business, law, media, medicine, education, diplomacy, and the military. Additional information about the White House Fellows program is available at www.whitehouse.gov/fellows. 2014-2015 Class of White House Fellows: Andrew C. Buher, New York, NY, served as Chief Operating Officer of the New York City Department of Education, an organization with a $25 billion annual operating budget and a workforce of 135,000 employees. In 2013, Andrew turned a $250 million deficit into a $2 million surplus and developed and scaled innovative public-private partnerships with non-profit organizations including City Year, iMentor, College Bound Initiative, and Citizen Schools that impacted over 25,000 students. Prior to his appointment as Chief Operating Officer, he served as Chief of Staff to Chancellor Dennis Walcott. He began his career in the non-profit sector promoting college access for low-income, first-generation students. Andrew has been active in his community, where he coached youth basketball and mentored graduate students. Additionally, he served on the Alumni Advisory Board of Rider University and the Alumni Council of the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University. He earned an M.P.A. from the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University and his B.A. from Rider University, where he was selected as a Presidential Fellow at the Center for the Study of the Presidency. Megan E. Carroll, San Diego, CA, led the United Nations Development Programme’s Democracy and Participation portfolio in South Sudan, the world’s newest country. As the first person to hold this role, she served as the focal point for the constitutional review process and elections. Prior to this, she was Acting Director/Deputy Director of The Carter Center’s Democracy Program in South Sudan and Sudan; Democracy and Governance Advisor to USAID/South Sudan at a critical juncture when the mission transitioned from a US Consulate to Embassy in a newly-independent South Sudan; and an international observer in rural insecure areas for South Sudan's referendum on independence. Throughout her work, Megan developed and maintained key relationships with host government representatives, international and national NGOs, civil society, and donors. She has work experience on five continents, including managing Harvard’s Scholars at Risk Program and teaching in Japan through the JET Program. She was a Humanity in Action Fellow, Sauvé Scholar, and was named an International Young Leader by McGill University. Megan holds a Master in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School, where she was a recipient of a John F. Kennedy Fellowship and Cultural Bridge Fellowship, and a B.A. in Political Science magna cum laude from Amherst College. Jacob E. Donnelly, San Francisco, CA, was a Senior Vice President at New Island Capital. He was responsible for private equity investments in companies that generate meaningful social, environmental, and community benefits alongside financial returns. Previously, Jacob was the Co-Founder of Farm Builders, a mission-driven company helping farmers replant tree crops in Liberia. He helped raise the seed capital, including fellowships from Echoing Green and the Rainer Arnhold Foundations, and launched Farm Builders following an internship in the Office of the President, H.E. President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. From 2005-2007, Jacob was the Co-Founder and Director of The Freedom Campaign, a non-profit grassroots effort to raise awareness of human rights abuses in Burma. He began his career as a management consultant and served on the Board of Directors of IDinsight, a non-profit organization that helps leaders in developing countries use evidence to improve their social impact. Jacob received his undergraduate degree from Babson College, where he earned the Roger Babson Award. He holds a Master in Public Administration/International Development from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government and a Master of Business Administration from the Harvard Business School. Jonathan M. Dorsey, Woodside, CA, is a social entrepreneur and recently served as Co-Founder and Director of the Impact Careers Initiative, an Aspen Institute program researching how to recruit talent to public-impact work. He also worked as an advisor to the Franklin Project, a bipartisan campaign for national service. Previously, Jonny co-founded and served as Executive Director of Global Health Corps, which places emerging global leaders with high-impact non-profits to build health systems around the world. Jonny was inspired to launch Global Health Corps by his experience co-founding and leading FACE AIDS, a nonprofit that mobilized students in the fight against AIDS. Jonny was named an Echoing Green Fellow, a Draper Richards Social Entrepreneur, and received the Next Generation Award from the Millennium Challenge Corporation. Jonny also served on the Harvard College National Advisory Board for Public Service, the Riekes Center Board of Directors, and as a Trustee of Partners in Health. He is a graduate of Stanford University, where he received the Deans' Award for Academic Achievement and was President of the student body. He received his M.B.A. from Stanford Graduate School of Business and M.P.A. from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. Kari M. Fleming, Naperville, IL, is a Major in the United States Air Force. She served as a Special Action Officer to the Commander, Air Mobility Command, where she developed professional development courses and prepared the Commander for strategic engagements. As a Special Operations Instructor Pilot and Aircraft Commander in the C-17A, Globemaster III, Kari amassed over 1900 flying hours, including over 380 combat flying hours. She has commanded worldwide counter-narcotics, medical evacuation, and POTUS support missions and has flown in operations including ENDURING FREEDOM, IRAQI FREEDOM, NEW DAWN, and UNIFIED RESPONSE. She has deployed three times to Southwest Asia and was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, three Air Medals, and two Air Force Commendation Medals. She served in a combined and a global air and space operations center and was recognized as an Air Expeditionary Force Outstanding Performer. Kari graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy where she earned a B.S. in Management, with the award of Athletic Distinction. She earned a M.S. from Trident University International in Executive Management and has continued her military education at Air University. As a member of Zonta International, Kari has supported local violence prevention centers and the advancement of women worldwide. Scott P. Handler, Miami, FL, a Major in the United States Army, was second-in-command of the 782nd Military Intelligence (Cyber) Battalion, which conducts full-spectrum cyberspace operations in support of joint force commanders. Previously, he was an assistant professor of international relations at West Point, where he published three edited volumes on international politics, U.S. foreign policy, and financial planning for service members. Tactically, Scott commanded a military intelligence company, led an infantry scout platoon inside the DMZ as part of the U.N. Command Security Battalion-Joint Security Area, Panmunjom, and was the primary and assistant intelligence officer in two light infantry battalions. Operationally, Scott served as Special Assistant to two Commanding Generals of the Multi-National Security Transition Command-Iraq and the NATO Training Mission-Iraq, which included facilitating an assessment of the Afghan Security Forces. Strategically, Scott served as Special Assistant to the Senior Leadership Team that created U.S. Cyber Command. His awards include the Bronze Star, two Meritorious Service Medals, and the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal for his support to the community. Scott received a Ph.D. from Stanford University, a M.U.R.P. from the University of Hawaii as an East-West Center Degree Fellow, and a B.S., as a distinguished graduate, from the U.S. Military Academy. Kate F. Higgins-Bloom, Norfolk, VA, is a Lieutenant Commander in the United States Coast Guard. She commanded a Coast Guard ship in the Middle East in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and led search and rescue operations off the coast of New England. In addition to coordinating federal, state, and local security operations in the Port of Boston, she conducted extensive counter-narcotics and anti-human trafficking work in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific. Kate also received numerous awards for rapidly building effective response teams and resolving complex interagency challenges during deployments to major oil spills and large scale incidents such as Hurricane Katrina. Most recently, she served as a member of the Transition Team for the 25th Commandant of the Coast Guard and as the Acting Chief of Staff for the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Legislative Affairs, where she supported strategic planning and external engagement for the service’s most senior leaders. She was a founding member of the Harvard Women in Defense, Diplomacy & Development Alumni Group and the Women’s Leadership Initiative at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. Kate received an M.P.A. from the Harvard University Kennedy School of Government and a B.S. in Civil Engineering from the United States Coast Guard Academy. Wrendon P. Hunt, Midland, MI, was the Associate Commercial Director for Dow Solar at Dow Chemical Company. He was responsible for strategy development, marketing, and sales in the business to business, government contract, insurance company, and college and university markets. Prior to that, he was Dow’s North America Senior Product Manager for Caustic Soda where he managed the profit and loss of the largest caustic producer in North America. Preceding his employment with Dow, Wrendon served as a Surface Warfare Officer in the United States Navy. He completed two Western Pacific Deployments in support of Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom and led the pre-deployment preparations for two ships as a Training Liaison Officer for Afloat Training Group San Diego. Outside of the office, Wrendon served as Dow’s Focal Point for the 100K Veteran’s Job Mission, on the Advisory Board for the Children’s Ministry in his local church, and as a regular volunteer at the Juvenile Correction Center and Humane Society. Wrendon received a Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School and a Bachelor of Science from the United States Military Academy at West Point, where he graduated in the top 10% of his class. Marguerite Rose S. Jiménez, Missoula, MT, was a postdoctoral fellow at American University’s School of Public Affairs. She taught public policy, worked with undergraduate students in the global health program, and was a faculty adviser for the graduate student research journal. Since coming to American University in 2005, Marguerite has directed study abroad programs in Cuba, contributed to the creation of AU’s Center for Latin American and Latino Studies, served as co-director of the Latino Youth Conference, and worked to increase resources and support for minority and first-generation students on campus. She has also worked for the Council on Foreign Relations and the Institute for Policy Studies. Marguerite’s research focused on international health cooperation and expanding access to public health innovations such as vaccines in lower and middle-income countries. Her doctoral dissertation provided a comprehensive history of polio eradication in the Western Hemisphere, and she has spent the past several years working on a biography of Dr. Albert Sabin, developer of the live oral polio vaccine. Marguerite studied vocal performance at Berklee College of Music before discovering a passion for public policy. She has an M.A. in International Service and a Ph.D. in Political Science with a focus on global health policy. Francisco J. Leija, Los Angeles, CA, began his Army career as a private with only a high school degree. He is currently a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army. He conducted operations in the Global War on Terrorism as a Military Strategist and as a Commander of Troops in both Iraq and Afghanistan. His last deployment was in the Afghan Surge, assigned within the Zharay District of Kandahar Province serving under the famed 10th Mountain and 82nd Airborne Divisions. His previous military assignments include being an assistant professor at West Point, being an exchange officer with the U.S. Marine Corps, and service to the 4th, 6th and 1st Infantry Divisions. His last post was with the Joint Staff. His military certifications include Airborne, Ranger, Rappel Master and multiple Mountaineering courses. His military awards include two Bronze Stars and the Purple Heart. His athletic achievements have included representing multiple divisions as a competitive runner at the Army Ten-miler and a silver medal in the Kansas Cycling State Championship as a competitive cyclist. His volunteer work has extended to the Boys and Girls Club and the Wounded Warrior Program. Francisco received an M.A. in Strategy Formulation from the School of Advanced Military Studies (SAMS) and holds an M.A. in Diplomacy from Norwich University and a B.A. in Social Sciences from Kansas State University. Tiffany S. McNair, Voorhees, NJ, is an obstetrician-gynecologist and preventive medicine physician. She completed a residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB/Gyn) followed by General Preventive Medicine at Johns Hopkins. Combining her dual areas of expertise, she practiced OB/Gyn in the Greater Baltimore area, while also applying skills in public health and policy analysis at local, state, and federal health agencies. She received an Outstanding Resident Award during her OB/Gyn training, and has since been an invited speaker on women’s health issues. Tiffany’s research focuses on women’s reproductive and sexual health in minority, urban, and other vulnerable populations. She has spoken nationally on these topics and published in the peer-reviewed literature. Actively engaged in professional and community advocacy, Tiffany has held leadership positions in the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), served on the Maryland Maternal Mortality Review Committee, and volunteered with local organizations to educate Baltimore youth on women’s health and careers in healthcare. Her vocational impact and service have been recognized by her selection to the Harvey Fellows Program and ACOG’s National Leadership Institute. Tiffany graduated magna cum laude from Harvard College with an A.B. in History and Science and Citation in Spanish. She received her M.D. from Harvard Medical School and MPH from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Marisa L. Porges, Penn Valley, PA, was a research fellow at Harvard’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs. Her work focused on terrorism and counterterrorism, particularly strategies to combat radicalization, and included extensive fieldwork in Yemen, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan, interviewing former extremists and senior security officials. Prior to that, she was an international affairs fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations. Marisa previously served as a policy adviser in the U.S. Department of the Treasury, crafting strategies to combat terrorist financing and corruption, and in the Office of the Secretary of Defense for Policy, where she handled detention issues. Marisa began her career on active duty in the U.S. Navy, as a Naval Flight Officer flying the carrier-based EA-6B Prowler and supporting Operation Unified Assistance, the humanitarian response after a tsunami struck Indonesia. She has also served as a Trustee at the Baldwin School, a girls’ school outside of Philadelphia. Marisa received an A.B. with honors in geophysics from Harvard, an M.Sc. with distinction from the London School of Economics, and recently defended her Ph.D. at King’s College London. Her analysis has been published widely, including in Foreign Affairs, the New York Times, and the Wall Street Journal. Mario Luis Ramirez, McAllen, TX, is an emergency medicine physician who most recently served in the United States Air Force as a Major and led a Critical Care Air Transport Team based at Bagram, Afghanistan from 2012-2013. He and his crew were credited with evacuating over 50 gravely ill and injured service members and were recognized with several medals and citations. Prior to his Air Force commission, he served on the teaching faculty at Vanderbilt University, and was a special instructor at the Nashville Police Academy where he helped to develop an innovative first aid program credited with improving medical care for police officers. He has published several scientific papers, edited a textbook on pre-hospital preparedness, and privately consulted to municipal special operations police units. Mario is board certified in emergency medicine and completed a residency and EMS fellowship at Vanderbilt University. He received his B.S. in biology from Stanford University, M.D. from Harvard Medical School, and a Masters in Public Policy from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, where his area of focus was chemical weapons policy in the Middle East. Lindsay L. Rodman, Kent, CT, is a Captain in the United States Marine Corps, a judge advocate and a foreign area officer (Latin America). She most recently served as Deputy Legal Counsel in the Office of the Legal Counsel to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, where her portfolio included military justice, space law, and human rights law issues. Before moving to the Joint Staff, Lindsay was assigned to Judge Advocate Division, Headquarters Marine Corps. From 2010-2011, she was deployed to Afghanistan as an operational law attorney. She previously served as a defense counsel and legal assistance attorney in Okinawa, Japan. Before joining the Marine Corps, Lindsay worked as an associate at Arnold & Porter LLP in Washington, DC. In early 2014, prior to being selected as a White House Fellow, Lindsay was selected as a Center for New American Security Next Generation National Security Leader. She has been a member of the Warlord Loop and a term member at the Council on Foreign Relations. In her spare time, she has volunteered at the DC Rape Crisis Center. Lindsay graduated in 2003 from Duke University with an A.B. in Mathematics and in 2007 from Harvard Law School with a J.D. and the Kennedy School of Government with a Masters in Public Policy. Edward Sheen, Irvine, CA, is an internist and was a Clinical Fellow in Liver and Digestive Diseases at Stanford University and the Executive Chair/Senior Partner of the Stanford Healthcare Consulting Group and Course Director of Leadership/Strategies for Healthcare Delivery Innovation. In the California State Assembly, Edward served on the Health Committee staff, where he authored and coordinated Medicaid legislation and supported oversight of health reform implementation, including Covered California. Previously, Edward was President of Stanford GSB’s Public Management Program, Trustee of the California Medical Association, Chair of AMA national committees and health access task forces, and research fellow at the Kaiser Family Foundation and Stanford GSB’s Program in Healthcare Innovation. He advised senior leadership at Genzyme, Blue Shield, startup companies, and the Office of Management and Budget. Edward established the first statewide (now annual) Medical Student Leadership Conference and has been a mentor for Stanford’s Medical Youth Science Program, a motivational speaker for the National Youth Leadership Forum, and volunteer primary care physician at RotaCare Free Clinic. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa/magna cum laude from Brown and received his M.D. from University of California-San Francisco, M.B.A. from Stanford, and M.P.H. from Harvard (Zuckerman Fellowship). Edward is conversational in Spanish and fluent in Mandarin and Taiwanese. THE WHITE HOUSE
EMBARGOED: WEEKLY ADDRESS: The Export-Import Bank Office of the Press Secretary ______________________________________________________________________________ EMBARGOED UNTIL 6:00 AM ET, SATURDAY, August 23, 2014 WEEKLY ADDRESS: The Export-Import Bank WASHINGTON, DC — In this week’s address, the President highlighted the progress made towards rebuilding our economy, including the creation of nearly 10 million new private sector jobs in the past 53 months and the rise in the number of American exports to an all-time high. That growth is in part thanks to the actions of the U.S. Export-Import Bank, an organization that creates American jobs by helping to take American businesses global. The charter of the Export-Import Bank is slated to expire next month, unless Members of Congress renew it, as has happened 16 times in the past with support from Democrats and Republicans. The President asked business owners and employees to reach out to their representatives, who are home this month, and let them know how important it is that the Export-Import Bank continue its work so that American businesses can continue to grow. The audio of the address and video of the address will be available online at www.whitehouse.gov at 6:00 a.m. ET, August 23, 2014. Video Remarks of President Barack Obama Weekly Address The White House Saturday, August 23, 2014 Hi, everybody. Nearly six years after the worst financial crisis of our lifetimes, our businesses have added nearly 10 million new jobs over the past 53 months. That’s the longest streak of private-sector job creation in our history. And we’re in a six-month streak with our economy creating at least 200,000 new jobs each month – the first time that’s happened since 1997. Thanks to the decisions we made to rescue and rebuild our economy, and your hard work and resilience, America is leading again. Areas like manufacturing, energy, technology, and autos are all booming. And here’s the thing: we’re selling more goods Made in America to the rest of the world than ever before. American exports are at an all-time high. Over the past five years, we’ve worked hard to open new markets for our businesses, and to help them compete on a level playing field in those markets. And we’ve broken records for exports four years running. Last year, our exports supported more than 11 million American jobs – about 1.6 million more than when I took office. They’re good jobs that typically pay about 15% more than the national average. And more small businesses are selling their goods abroad than ever before – nearly 300,000 last year alone. We should be doing everything we can to accelerate this progress, not stall it. One place to start is by supporting something called the U.S. Export-Import Bank. Its sole mission is to create American jobs. That’s it. It helps many American entrepreneurs take that next step and take their small business global. But next month, its charter will expire – unless Members of Congress do their job and reauthorize it. Now, past Congresses have done this 16 times, always with support from both parties. Republican and Democratic Presidents have supported the bank, too. This time around shouldn’t be any different. Because the bank works. It’s independent. It pays for itself. But if Congress fails to act, thousands of businesses, large and small, that sell their products abroad will take a completely unnecessary hit. Small business owners have had to overcome a lot these past several years. We all saw local businesses close their doors during the crisis. And in the past few years, we’ve seen more and more open their doors and do their part to help lead America’s comeback. At the very least, they deserve a Congress that doesn’t stand in the way of their success. Your members of Congress are home this month. If you’re a small business owner or employee of a large business that depends on financing to tackle new markets and create new jobs, tell them to quit treating your business like it’s expendable, and start treating it for what it is: vital to America’s success. Tell them to do their jobs – keep America’s exports growing, and keep America’s recovery going. Thanks, and have a great weekend. Statement by the President on the Passing of Robin Williams
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary For Immediate Release August 11, 2014 Statement by the President on the Passing of Robin Williams Robin Williams was an airman, a doctor, a genie, a nanny, a president, a professor, a bangarang Peter Pan, and everything in between. But he was one of a kind. He arrived in our lives as an alien – but he ended up touching every element of the human spirit. He made us laugh. He made us cry. He gave his immeasurable talent freely and generously to those who needed it most – from our troops stationed abroad to the marginalized on our own streets. The Obama family offers our condolences to Robin’s family, his friends, and everyone who found their voice and their verse thanks to Robin Williams FLOTUS Press Pool #4
The Pooler wrote "Following a rousing performance by the Soul Children of Chicago, who managed to get every First Lady on their feet during their performance, CNN International's Isha Sesay moderated the "Public Private Partnerships: Fostering Women's Economic Participation and Promoting Healthy Lives Through Technology and Training" panel as a part of U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama and former First Lady Laura Bush's second First Ladies' Summit. Opening remarks were delivered by Cherie Blair, who is the founder of her eponymous foundation for women, who made the audience laugh when she said, "I was the wife of the British Prime Minister. Actually, I'm still am Tony Blair's wife." Blair then continued, "In my 10 years that my husband was [there], I learned myself what a significant platform being married to the prime minister was, and during that time, I learned that there wasn't just pressing needs in our own country, but the world. "And during that time, I met with many first ladies from Africa, and I'm always inspired and impressed by the work that they do. I've been supporting and sometimes initiating great work in their country. I want to commend my dear friend Laura Bush and the Bush Center for all they are doing to foster and network first ladies, working to advance education, good health, and economic opportunity for women and children in Africa. "But to be truly effective, first ladies cannot do it on their own. We need to foster and to grow public-private partnerships and that's what this conference is about. Effective partnerships are the best way to effect change." The featured panelists for the event were Noa Gimelli of ExxonMobil, Neha Misra of Solar Sister, Kay Kuenker of Dow AgroSciences, Damaris Odeny of the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, Deb Elam of the GE Foundation, and Dr. Bernard Olayo of the Center for Public Health and Development. Sesay began the panel by saying, "I am a proud African woman, so this issue is close to my heart. Africa is Rising, and we need to get more girls in school and we need to make sure that Africa's growth is inclusive so everyone can benefit from the rise. And Africa is moving in the right direction and this panel is going to give you an upclose look at public-private partnerships." Misra went on to explain why energy and power -- and her company's ability to address these issues with solar power -- is a women's issue, "Solar Sister is a women's issue, because energy poverty affects women. For example, energy poverty is a woman taking in two packs of cigarettes a day while she cooks in her kitchen. Energy povery is a girl who can't study at night, because of lack of power. Energy poverty is a midwife trying to give birth in the dark." Odeny, a scientist and farmer, spoke to what should be the chief concern of governments and economies throughout Africa's development, "What is key is that [policies must] revolve around the women farmer. The women farmer knows exactly what she wants to achieve. It's really important that [future] programs engage the women farmer at all levels." In addition to the panel presentation, announcements were made by Walmart, Caterpillar, the U.S. State Department, and the Children's Investment Fund who all renewed their commitment to Africa and African women. The Vice President of International Corporate Affairs of the Walmart Foundation Maggie Sans pledged $100 million to empowering women. The President of the Caterpillar Foundation and Global Director of Corporate Social Innovation Michele Sullivan partnered with the state department to offer $1 million for opening the first-ever training center for African women's entrepreneurship, and the U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Heather Higginbottom and announced that they are doubling the amount of children receiving antiretroviral drugs and giving $200 million to the Accelerated Children's HIV/AIDS Treatment Initiative (ACT), $150 million to PEPFAR and another $50 million. Finally, the Executive Chair of the Children's Investment Fund Foundation Jamie Cooper-Hohn also announced that they would double within two years the number of children receiving treatment for HIV/AIDS as well. This panel is part of the First Ladies' "Investing in Our Future" Summit and is the second event to the initial First Ladies' Summit, entitled "Investing in Women: Strengthening Africa," which occurred in July 2013 in Tanzania during President Barack Obama's three-nation tour. Award-winning U.S. singer Anthony Hamilton then performed three songs to close out the event." Pool report #3 from first ladies Africa Summit Event
The pooler wrote "George W. Bush posed for photos on stage with the first lady of Ethiopia, Roman Tesfaye, and the first lady of Namibia, Penehupifo Pohamba. He had, by then, announced the expansion to those countries of Pink Ribbon Red Ribbon, a program aimed at curbing cervical and breast cancer. Bush left the auditorium. Tesfaye then spoke. “We have to work hard alongside healthcare providers to make sure that anyone who needs cancer care can access it,” she said. Challenges, she said, include a low level of awareness of treatment options that include radiation and chemotherapy. Pohamba then spoke. She expressed gratitude for the PRRR effort and noted that Namibian doctors and nurses have already received important training in screening and HPV vaccination. “The good news is that cervical cancer is an avoidable disease and we can stop the disease,” she said. Jill Biden, gave brief remarks. She recalled a recent visit to a school in Zambia. Students had posted notes saying what profession they aspired to – doctor, teacher, etc. “Every dream posted on the board had a common purpose—a desire to give back… That is the spirit of the next generation in Africa. To make this possible it means making sure that all students, boys and girls have access to quality education,” Dr. Biden said. The audience then heard from a couple of Mandela Washington Fellows. Mireille Muhigwa from Dem Republic of Congo gave an especially moving talk. Rebels slaughtered the family that lived next door to hers one night in 1998, she recalled. “They killed all the 7 children and their father.… We are hearing the screams and tears of our friends.” They barged into her home next and told the family to line up. “I was 9 years old and I didn’t feel afraid. I was looking at their commander … he pushed me and said young girl don’t you know I can finish you in a second…I said I know that you can kill us” but she said, she wasn’t afraid. “He say I have killed many people. I have killed girls and boys but … I won’t kill your family. But I want you to move away from here.” Since then, she said, she has fought for human rights and for girls’ education. She ended up graduating with honors, the only girl in her class to do so. “I saw many of my classmates killed.” The Kennedy Center audience rose to its feet at her conclusion: “Take out the fear and take out the pens and books” so kids can go to school. Up next, the first lady of Ghana, Lordina Mahama. “If there were more women in decision making roles around the world we would create fairer and better societies,” she said. Then came a panel discussion on education, led by Catherine Russell, U.S. ambassador-at-large for Global Women’s Issues. Aicha Bah Diallo from Foundation for African Women Educationalists (FAWE), noted that Africa has 30 million children who don’t attend school. “We have to do something. We cannot just sit and wait.” Her organization “is working for gender equity and equality, in particular girls.” Like other panelists, she emphasized the need to reach fathers and male heads of families, not just mothers who tend to already support the idea of girls’ education. “You have to tell them and explain to them the value of education, the benefits of educating girls. … Today men are supporting girls’ education,” she said. She noted that in 2011, 20 percent of Africa’s 1 billion people were youth. By 2015, half will be youth. “Africa will have to invest in its youth if you want the continent to be a dynamic, productive economy,” she said. In traditional African families, men make the decisions. So, she said, it’s important to talk with both men and women because otherwise, for a family on a tight budget, it’s much more likely that only sons will get to go to school. Dr. Sara Ruto of an organization called Uwezo echoed the point. In East Africa, she said, girls aren’t kept out of school because their mothers want them out of school. “Who has the power, where does the power reside, who is the decisionmaker? … For a long time we have focused on the victims. One has to understand who is the decisionmaker, where does the power lie.” The good news, she said, is that people are seeing the light. “norms shift.” Ann Cotton of Camfed International, which promotes education of girls, said choices for girls are especially constrained in rural areas, because “that’s where poverty is deepest.” Girls are most likely to dropout as they reach secondary school. To the surprise of some, she said, traditional leaders often are among the best advocates of education for girls. She quoted one such leader in Zimbabwe who once referred to girls as refugees within their own families, at times… “We are seeing significant improvements.” But she said, girls who graduate from secondary schools still face challenges. Often girls have trouble finding jobs, and they face pressure to marry. Those who move to cities in search of opportunity can be vulnerable. Shelly Esque of the Intel Foundation, another panelist, said technology companies are working on the issue. “What we’re trying to do is create this ecosystem of people who really care about this gender issue,” she said. After the panel discussion, Reeta Roy, president and CEO of the MasterCard Foundation, spoke for a few minutes. She discussed a $500 million initiative that will educate 15,000 young people, nearly all from Africa, through secondary school and college, begun two years ago. 6,000 girls and boys will be enrolled this year and ¾ will be female, from 30 counties. “We are preparing them for a bright future, to lead change in their communities.” The program will include anything from books and school fees to sanitary napkins for girls, she said. The goal is to nurture these students to employment or entrepreneurship. They will be Africa’s business leaders, agronomists, mathematicians and teachers.” A Conversation Between First Lady Michelle Obama and Mrs. Laura Bush Moderated by Cokie Roberts at "Investing in our Future," a Symposium for Spouses on Advancements for Women and Girls in Africa
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the First Lady ______________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release August 6, 2014 A CONVERSATION BETWEEN FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA AND MRS. LAURA BUSH MODERATED BY COKIE ROBERTS AT “INVESTING IN OUR FUTURE,” A SYMPOSIUM FOR SPOUSES ON ADVANCEMENTS FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS IN AFRICA The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Washington, D.C. 10:17 A.M. EDT MS. ROBERTS: Well, I am so excited that we get to do this again. MRS. BUSH: We did this last summer in Dar es Salaam. MS. ROBERTS: In Tanzania. And thank you so much for that. It was a wonderful, wonderful experience for all of us to be there with you. So thank you for hosting us last year. And thank you for hosting us this year. So here we are. MRS. OBAMA: It’s my pleasure. MS. ROBERTS: But it is -- I remember, as I recall, when were -- last year you were still getting blowback about your bangs. (Laughter.) MRS. OBAMA: Yes, that’s over. MRS. BUSH: That’s an important issue. (Laughter.) MRS. OBAMA: Let’s see what they say about this one. MS. ROBERTS: But the program -- you have bangs in the program, I just have to -- (laughter) -- and since then, your daughter has turned 16. MRS. OBAMA: Yes, I know. (Laughter.) MS. ROBERTS: I know, but I have to tell you, I am envious to anybody who’s had a daughter turn 16, as envious to have it happen in the White House where you kind of can keep an eye on her. MRS. OBAMA: We can share the experience with the world. (Laughter.) All the pain and pleasure that goes along with it. MS. ROBERTS: I remember Lucy Johnson, President Johnson’s daughter, saying when she turned 16 in the White House and got a driver’s license, she said, it was permission to drive a motor vehicle. That’s all it was. (Laughter.) For most people, a driver’s license is freedom. MRS. OBAMA: That’s right. That’s right. MS. ROBERTS: But you’re experiencing it well, right? MRS. OBAMA: The girls are growing up. And as Laura and the President know, that it is a true testament to the parents to raise wonderful young people through this experience. And we have had some terrific role models -- Jenna and Barbara are just amazing young women who are doing extraordinary things, not just in this country, but around the globe. And once again, they’re setting a high bar. But the girls are doing great. I’m very proud of them. MS. ROBERTS: And you have a grand-baby, a girl. MRS. BUSH: That’s right. We have our first grand-baby. Yes, exactly. (Applause.) Our darling little Mila. George and I are just gaga over our baby. MRS. OBAMA: How old is she now? MRS. BUSH: She’s 16 months. MRS. OBAMA: Oh, she’s doing real things. MS. ROBERTS: Also 16. MRS. BUSH: Yes, exactly -- 16 months. She’s doing great. MS. ROBERTS: So we just saw that very important video. And, Mrs. Obama, you spoke last week to the Young African leaders, and you were very strong in your statements about the need for educating girls and treating women and girls with dignity and equality. Why did you choose to do that? MRS. OBAMA: Well, so often what we find in our positions is that you can -- you have to change attitudes before you can change behaviors. And one of the things I said to the young people, that we can talk about the need for more resources as it comes -- when it concerns girls’ education, the need for school fees and the need to improve transportation. But the bottom line is that until men, leaders, women, until we value women and girls, we won’t tackle those other problems. Until we prioritize our girls and understand that they are as important and their education is as important as the education of our sons, then we will have lots of work to do. And I wanted to just implant that notion in the minds of these young leaders, because they have to approach their work with a whole new attitude. And one of the things I asked the young men is that you have to be introspective and ask yourselves whether you truly believe that women can be your equal. And in sharing my story, just understanding the power of having men in my life who valued me and put me first and treated me with respect and didn’t abuse me, and didn’t talk down to me -- I want young men around the world to understand that they have a role to play alongside women who are fighting for these rights, and I want our young men to understand this at an early age. (Applause.) MS. ROBERTS: Mrs. Bush, you have been working on this issue for a long time, particularly with women of Afghanistan. And are you still doing that? Tell us about where -- MRS. BUSH: Yes, we’re still working on that. After September 11th, when the spotlight turned to Afghanistan and we in the United States looked at the way women in Afghanistan were treated, many, many people, women and men in the U.S., were concerned. And that’s when I first started working with women in Afghanistan. And Mrs. Obama is right -- in fact, one person said to me one time, why are you working with women, it’s men who have the problem. (Laughter.) And I think we do need to make sure worldwide that all humans are valued -- that women and men are valued, that girls and boys are valued, and that human life is valued. I think that’s really the most important thing we can do, all of us can do, is try to increase that knowledge worldwide that every life is precious. MS. ROBERTS: And of course on this question, the question of girls’ education and women’s health and all that, we have so much data now that shows that if you educate a girl, you save a country. So are you finding that you’re able to keep working on that, that that’s something you’re able -- because one of the questions I got last year after you all finished talking and I stayed for a couple of days from these wonderful women was, how do you keep it going? MRS. BUSH: Well, one of the things we’ve done, George and I have done -- obviously when you live in the White House you have a platform. But former First Ladies and former Presidents continue to have a platform and a convening power, and we’ve tried to do that with the First Ladies Initiative that we started last summer with the first conference in Dar es Salaam, and that is to bring together First Ladies really from around the world. We started with African First Ladies but we’re interested in engaging women from every -- First Ladies from every country to talk about the very unique platform that the spouses of world leaders have to help the women in their countries, to make sure that everyone is paying attention to the education of boys and girls in their country, and that we’re making sure that women have the opportunity to be involved in the economic life of their country. Because only countries where all people are involved can be successful. When we look around the world and we see countries where half of the population is marginalized or left out, then we usually see countries that are failing. So it’s important to keep talking about that. MRS. OBAMA: And it’s important, as I said in my opening remarks, to make room for the next generation of leaders. Because one of the things that the young people said to me, as I mentioned, is that they asked me to ask the first spouses to make room for them because they’re looking for a place at the table. And they specifically said that when you meet with the spouses of our country, tell that we want to help, that we want a voice, and that we’re looking to them. They’re looking to all of us to provide that seat. And that’s where that platform that Mrs. Bush speaks of, why it’s so important. Because these young people, they believe that we -- they get their inspiration from us. They’re looking to us. They still don’t quite know that they have the expertise and the skills already, they think we know more. MS. ROBERTS: We actually do. (Laughter.) MRS. OBAMA: We do, we do. But when you listen to just the opening speakers, when you think about social media -- I mean, just listening to the hashtags and the Twitter accounts -- I mean, that was a little nutty. (Laughter.) But it’s how you continue the conversation. MS. ROBERTS: And globalize it. MRS. OBAMA: And globalize it. And young people are just more adept at that. And they can -- as I tease my kids, I tell them I want them to use Instagram to take a picture of something really important rather than their food. (Laughter.) But young people can be a support to us. I mean, no one really cares what you had for lunch. (Laughter.) MS. ROBERTS: Well, you both talked last year when we were having this conversation about shining a light on an issue, and that you -- in this unique position, that you have the opportunity to shine the light. At some point, people stop looking at what you’re wearing and see what you’re aiming at. One of the questions I get all the time is, how do you choose? How do you choose what issue to shine a light on? Now, you knew when you came in that you wanted to do something about military families, but it was kind of inchoate, right? You expected to do something about early childhood education and cognition, and of course, September 11th changed all of that. How do you put it together to decide exactly what you’re going to do? MRS. BUSH: Well, I think you look at yourself and see what your expertise is. When I came to the White House, I was a -- had been a librarian. I loved to read. I had been a teacher. And so, education and literacy were very, very obvious interests of mine and expertise of mine, so what’s I started with. But then, also you look at what appears, and are there ways you can take advantage of different things that happen to go in another way. I got a phone call, for instance, from the head of the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute here in Washington and she said, did you know that heart disease is the leading cause of death among American women? And I didn’t know that. I just had assumed cancer was the leading cause of death among American women. So I knew if I didn’t know that heart disease was the leading cause of death, that many American women didn’t know that either. And so I was presented with the opportunity to talk about The Heart Truth and to get the word out to American women that heart disease was the leading cause of death so that they could start doing things, because heart disease is often preventable. But also, if you know that you might have a heart attack, it wouldn’t just be your husband that had a heart attack, then you can rush to the hospital yourself and get the kind of treatment that you would demand for your husband but you might not realize you would need it yourself. So I think there are both ways, both look to your own expertise and then just take advantage of other interests that come up and see if you can make a difference in your countries. MRS. OBAMA: Also, where your passions lie. Because I’ve found that I’ve been most effective when I am uniquely authentic, there’s an authenticity to what I say. So that means I have to really believe passionately in the causes that I take on. And that lends itself to more power, more effectiveness. It just makes you a better advocate, because this is something you care deeply about. This was true when it came to the issue of educating our young people. I just started an initiative this year, Reach Higher, because one of the things I’m deeply passionate about is the role that education has to play in the lives of our young people. And my story is the story that I try to share with young people to motivate them. There is nothing in my life that would indicate that I would be sitting here on this stage with a former First Lady and one of the most renowned journalists and every first spouse in Africa. (Laughter.) Nothing in my life indicated that. But my parents believed in the value of education, even though they were not educated themselves. And they pushed my brother and I to do the best that we could do. So what I want young people in America to understand is that we are blessed in this country to have public education, to have opportunities that many girls around the world are putting their lives at risk to achieve. So it’s incumbent upon us here in America to take advantage of every opportunity. And young people have to own their education. I can do that because I believe it. It is my story. It is why I’m sitting here. And my hope is that I can start a national conversation about reigniting that hunger for education in our young people and using that to talk about the issues that our girls around the world are facing with 60 million girls today not in school, 30 million of those in Sub-Saharan Africa. I want our young people across the globe to be talking about how do we fix that. So that's just an example. I’m clearly passionate about that. (Laughter.) MS. ROBERTS: But one of the things that we’re going to do today in the various panels is how-to, essentially. And you all have done the how-to. And part of that is private-public partnerships. And on all of your initiatives it seems to me that you’ve both done that; that you’ve brought in universities, companies, foundations, whatever combination of things works. Can you talk about it, for instance, with Helping America’s Youth? MRS. BUSH: Sure. Helping America’s Youth was one of my initiatives. And I traveled around the country and had summits, actually conferences in many parts of the United States with all of the youth-serving agencies, types of agencies -- from individual foundations that people had to individuals themselves; two men, for instance, who used sports to teach character building in Seattle and worked with sports groups because they knew they could attract boys, and then they attracted their mothers there because their mothers would bring the boys to their sports practices. So they would talk about sportsmanship in a way that really talked about life, and the way that people can use all the characteristics of a good sport to also be a good person. But what they discovered, then, was that their mothers were, in many cases, single mothers. They didn't have a community really of their own. And so they started -- after the sports games, they would have barbecues so the mothers could meet each other and be with each other. And really, they were out to help the boys, but found out they helped the whole family with this one agency -- or one foundation that these two men started. And that's just one example of many, many others that were part of Helping America’s Youth. MS. ROBERTS: And helping people get off of drugs or not get into drugs. MRS. BUSH: That's right. MS. ROBERTS: And it seems to me in some ways you’ve built on that with Let's Move. It is being preventatively healthy all along. So talk to us a little bit about how you’ve put that together. MRS. OBAMA: For those of you who don't know, Let's Move is my initiative to end childhood obesity in a generation. And we have really relied greatly on public-private partnerships because what we all have to understand is government has limits -- limited resources, a limited base of power. People look to government and think that government can do everything, but many of the solutions that we’re trying to achieve require the involvement of the nonprofit sector and the private sector. So we’ve really enlisted companies to market food differently to kids so that they are not marketing unhealthy products. We’ve enlisted sports organizations to get kids up and moving, try to invest in more sports in communities that are underserved. Whether it’s the U.S. Tennis Association or the NBA or what have you, many of these private players have been very eager to step up and partner with us to achieve this goal, because we all have an interest in making sure that the next generation is as healthy as possible. We spend billions of dollars in covering obesity-related illnesses, and all of these illnesses are completely preventable with good diet and nutrition, exercise. So what we have said to many of our partners is that we all have an interest in this, and there’s a way that we can all do well by doing good. We can -- companies can still be profitable by creating foods and educating parents and families to help them make better choices about what they feed their kids. MS. ROBERTS: I must say, with teenage daughters, though, it must be -- I would suspect that sometimes they say to you, let’s move, mom. (Laughter.) MRS. OBAMA: Yes, you’ve been sitting at our dining room table, Cokie? (Laughter.) Well, you know, every teenager has a little smart aleck in them, it’s true. But one of the things we’ve found in our household is that kids listen. They take on these new messages even when we don’t think they’re paying attention. And that’s one of the things that we try to tell parents, is that they don’t -- you don’t know that they’re listening, but I see how my children make different decisions about what they eat now as teenagers now that they have control because they have the information about how food affects their overall health and their ability to perform. But it’s our job to empower parents and families to make the choices that are best for them. MS. ROBERTS: You’ve gotten some blowback for it, which to some ways -- MRS. OBAMA: Surprising. (Laughter.) Blowback, right? MS. ROBERTS: Don’t worry, that was -- MRS. OBAMA: I don’t know. MRS. BUSH: No good deed goes -- MRS. OBAMA: Right. (Laughter.) MS. ROBERTS: That was just where I was headed. I know that you both get into these things and you’re doing them for the good of the country, and suddenly you get criticized for it. And it must just be such a shock in a way. MRS. BUSH: Well, I was not that shocked. (Laughter.) Remember, we had somebody that lived in the White House that we watched very closely that we loved -- President Bush and Barbara Bush. And so I was very aware when George ran for President that you’re always going to be characterized in a way that you aren’t, really. And so I don’t think it was any big surprise to me. That doesn’t make it any less hurtful. But on the other hand, I think anyone who’s in a leadership position of any sort knows that you’re going to be criticized and a target, really, for criticism. MRS. OBAMA: That’s absolutely true. And that’s really the role of leadership. It’s not about amassing power; it’s taking some of those hits and continuing to do the work, even when it’s painful and sometimes unappreciated. But that’s why it’s important for all of us to have a vision as first spouses. Because if you have your vision and you know what you’re passionate about, and you know what direction you’re going in, then all of the arrows and the spears and the criticisms, they just -- they bounce off of you because you keep doing the work every day. MS. ROBERTS: They might pinch a little. MRS. OBAMA: They might pinch a little bit. You might get shot in the eye. You just sort of go to the doctor, patch yourself up and get back in the game. MS. ROBERTS: Well, I think that’s an important message for people to hear, because it’s hard to do what you all are doing. And you talked about “it’s not about amassing power” -- it’s certainly not for the spouses. It’s not being in that role, and still, you get the criticism. So it’s important to say that you’ve lived through it. (Laughter.) MRS. OBAMA: Well, and everyone comes to these positions with different temperaments. And watching Mrs. Bush, she has been able to traverse all of this with a level of grace and kindness and compassion. Just seeing how our transition worked -- and we talked about this in Tanzania -- that people are who they are. I said this in my convention speech about the President -- being President doesn’t change who you are, it reveals who you are. And that’s true for first spouses as well. You come to this with a temperament. Some people are shy and never want the limelight; other people are much more outgoing and maybe a bit more aggressive and able to withstand the heat of the spotlight that shines on us. But I think that all of us, we have to bring what is uniquely us to the table and work within that. And that’s sometimes what people around the world don’t understand. First spouses, we don’t choose this position, we just happen to be in it, and we do the -- MRS. BUSH: We’re elected by one man. (Laughter.) MRS. OBAMA: Right, right. MS. ROBERTS: And you can’t be fired. MRS. OBAMA: Can’t be fired. MRS. BUSH: We certainly hope not. (Laughter.) MRS. OBAMA: I guess we’ll see. (Laughter.) MS. ROBERTS: Well, one of the things that is unique is your voice as women, and you both talked about that last year. I went back and looked at -- you were both quite eloquent about how important it is for women to use to your voices and your power. And I think, Mrs. Obama, you said, we’re not complicated, but we’re complex. And I think that’s a good way of putting it. But again, Mrs. Bush, why is it important for women’s voices in this particular position to be heard? MRS. BUSH: For the First Lady, well, I think it’s important because the First Lady has an opportunity really to talk about what is most interesting to her and what she thinks she can help -- the ways she thinks she can help her country and the people in her country the best. I love to quote Lady Bird Johnson, who said, the First Lady has a podium and she intended to use it -- and she did. She was another Texas First Lady, and I admired her from a distance. I didn’t know her then, but got to know her later when George was governor and we lived in Austin. But she really did, she used what she loved. And she happened to love native flowers and the natural beauty of our country. And she made a huge difference. MS. ROBERTS: Well, and Head Start. MRS. BUSH: The daffodils that you see blooming here along the George Washington Parkway were planted because of Lady Bird Johnson. But, yes, she used education and civil rights. And she was a southern First Lady, so it was very important for her to speak out about civil rights, and she did. She campaigned all across the South for the civil rights laws that were passed and signed during President Johnson’s administration. MRS. OBAMA: Once again, I always go back to young people. We meet -- I know I do -- we meet thousands of just wonderful young people in our countries and around the world. And to have a seven year old or a 12 year old walk up to you or send you a letter and tell them thank you for what you do, I look up to you, you inspire me. That reminds us all that whether we like it or not, we are role models. And as women, we have -- the young girls in our worlds, in our countries, they’re looking to us. They’re looking to us for how we should be, how we should think, how to use our voices. And as a result, we have a responsibility to show them the way in whatever way we can. And that may be something as simple as embracing a child on the line and telling them that they’re beautiful and that you’re proud of them, and that you know that they’re important and they’re valued. I think about that, because every time I meet a child I think, who knows what’s going on in her life, whether she was just bullied or whether she had a bad day at school or whether she lost a parent -- that interaction that we have with that individual, that child for that moment, could change their life. So we can’t waste this spotlight. It is temporary and life is short, and change is needed. And women are smarter than men. (Laughter and applause.) MS. ROBERTS: That just goes without saying. (Laughter.) MRS. OBAMA: And the men can’t complain, because you’re outnumbered today. (Laughter.) MS. ROBERTS: But Mrs. Bush, you’ve talked about that before, too, that it’s a temporary spotlight. But you are now working hard to carry it on. And I think that sense of continuity is very important, so you have the George W. Bush First Ladies Initiative, you have the Global Women’s Initiative, the women for Afghanistan -- you’re keeping going. MRS. BUSH: We are continuing to work, both George and I are, through the George Bush Institute, which is in Dallas now at the Bush Library and Museum. And it gives both of us a chance to keep working on the issues that were the most important to us. Pink Ribbon Red Ribbon is our global health initiative. Many of you already know about that. We’ve launched in three countries in Africa, and we’re going to hear about some more in a few minutes. Because PEPFAR was started while George was President, the President’s emergency plan for AIDS relief, we wanted to be able to continue a global health initiative that builds on PEPFAR. And when we looked at the cancer numbers across Africa, and really across the world, and saw that cervical cancer -- which is preventable -- is the leading cause of cancer death among African women, we figured out there was a way we could use the PEPFAR platform that’s already established and add the testing and treatment for cervical and breast cancer to PEPFAR. And so, that’s our global health initiative. It’s given us a way to keep building. And we have a number of terrific partners who are in the room, so thank you all to all the partners, and thanks to the First Ladies in the countries where we’ve already launched and where we’re getting ready to launch. MS. ROBERTS: I just thought that was such a smart initiative, because it really does combine so many elements that are just sensible, which is another thing women are good at. But the fact is, is that you had the PEPFAR clinics, so the women were already coming in, but you needed -- since breast cancer isn’t caused by the same diseases, you needed to get somebody else in so you got Susan G. Komen and the pharmaceutical companies in. And it’s really now turned out to be a total women’s health platform. MRS. BUSH: It is, really. And it’s partnering, obviously, with the U.S. government as well, using the -- U.S. State Department is our partner, because we are using the PEPFAR platform to add. And the great news is that cervical cancer really can be treated -- not when it’s advanced, which is why it’s so important that women come to be screened early on and then be treated. And then, the vaccination programs with the HPV vaccination is important. And I think many African First Ladies are trying now to manage these vaccination programs, so that we really won’t even have to worry about cervical cancer when these girls who are vaccinated grow up. Q And do you think about that, Mrs. Obama? I know you’re still right in the middle of it. MRS. BUSH: I hope you’re not thinking about that, yet. MRS. OBAMA: Oh, no, not at all. Not at all. (Laughter.) MS. ROBERTS: But about how you can carry on some of these -- and talk about some of your other initiatives too while you’re doing it, because you have done these private-public partnerships, particularly around the military families. MRS. OBAMA: Well, Dr. Biden and I, we started Joining Forces, which is a nationwide effort to provide the support, respect to our men and women in uniform and their families. We have worked with private companies to create jobs as these men and women transition to civilian life, working on making sure they get the education benefits, all the support that they should expect having put their lives on the line and their families’ lives on hold. MS. ROBERTS: And the medical schools -- you’re working with medical schools too? MRS. OBAMA: Well, nurses are becoming trained to be able to identify and support men and women who may have post-traumatic stress disorder; just educating the entire country on what PTSD means, trying to de-stigmatize it so that these men and women feel like they can seek help when they need it. All of that has been -- it is a passion for both Jill and I. Jill is a Blue Star Mom, and she proudly says that. She has grandchildren who she has seen grow up while her son Beau was deployed, so it’s truly a passion for her. And for me, this is something that I’m going to do long after we leave the White House, because these needs will always be there. And as I’ve been able to see through former first spouses and former Presidents, that the platform is -- it continues. And that's something that I would encourage all of you to think about as well, is how do you sort of lay the foundation for the legacy that you want to create for yourselves. And I think as women, we shouldn’t be afraid to talk about our legacies, what we want to leave behind in the work that we do. Yes, there are so many important, symbolic responsibilities that we have in our roles, but there is nothing wrong with thinking about legacy and what we want to leave for the world. But that takes planning. It takes coordination. It takes partnerships. And I don’t think that we should be afraid as women to have those conversations. It’s too soon for me to do it now -- (laughter) -- but the time will come and I will embrace that, because what I’ve seen from the Bush family is that there is a level of freedom that also comes after you’re out of the spotlight; it’s a new spotlight, it’s a different spotlight. But I think that there is more that you’re able to do outside of office oftentimes than you can do when you’re in office. MS. ROBERTS: Except you don’t have the same -- I remember you saying at one point, Mrs. Bush, you could pick up the phone and call a member of Congress and get something done. (Laughter.) MRS. BUSH: Yes, exactly. (Laughter.) MS. ROBERTS: But I also just want to come back because we are at an African summit and both of you have exhibited such a strong interest in Africa, and I think you have very much helped to shine a spotlight on the continent and caused us all to learn a great deal more about the good news that’s going on in Africa. But I’m kind of wondering how you got there. I mean, Mrs. Bush, I know you were in 75 countries when you were First Lady, which is a lot, but why Africa? MRS. BUSH: Well, obviously, it started with PEPFAR. When George launched PEPFAR in 2003, remember what it was like -- people were dying every single day all across Africa. It was a huge pandemic that was going to leave a continent of orphans if no one did anything about it. And so George saw that it was really important for the United States to be actively involved in helping in Africa. It was so important for us, as the wealthiest country in the world, both because we could, but also because we should morally try to save as many lives as possible. So I went on that trip with George in 2003 when PEPFAR was launched. And our daughter Barbara was with us as well, and she has really made her life choices because of that trip. She is now the head of Global Health Corps, she engages young people from every part of the world. MS. ROBERTS: She created it, right? MRS. BUSH: She created Global Health Corps, founded it to engage young people to work in the health field. And she has Global Health Corps fellows in Africa and also here in the United States. But I think because of that first trip and because of PEPFAR, we just got a huge interest in Africa and traveled there many times, and of course have traveled there many times since we’ve been home. We just had a wonderful trip this last March -- a private trip, not a business trip -- to Ethiopia to visit the Christian sites in Ethiopia. So Africa has become a very important continent to us, partly because of that, because of PEPFAR, but just also because of our experiences there. MRS. OBAMA: And Africa is an important continent to the rest of the world. Its success is integral to the success of this nation, the United States and the world. And it is an under-valued, under-appreciated continent. So it is incumbent upon the world to have a better understanding of what Africa has to offer. The importance of Africa is very personal to me because, as the President said last night in his toast, Africa is home for us. His family is there. We have relatives there. We have visited the continent on several occasions. We have taken our daughters back to his grandfather’s village and they have seen a part of themselves. So the partnership with this continent means a great deal to us. And we've seen the power, the potential -- I mean, to meet these young leaders and to see how hungry they are to take their countries to a new level, that kind of passion is infectious, and it's something that young people here should know and understand. We want people from America to travel to Africa, to understand its languages and its different cultures, and not to see it as a monolith, and to truly see the investment opportunities -- which is one of the reasons why this summit has been so important, because it hasn’t just been a conversation with world leaders, but some of the nation’s most powerful businesses are here; some of the most prestigious non-profits are here. That's why today’s session is so important, because our success as a nation is directly tied to the success of Africa. And now it is time for the United States as a whole to embrace that reality. So this is the beginning of a lot of work that needs to be done, but it is -- we are encouraged and we are optimistic. MS. ROBERTS: Well, I think this week has been very instructive for the whole country. I really do. It was wonderful to be in Africa, but to have African leaders here in the United States is educating the country about what is going on there. But I am going to end where we began, which is that as good as the news is coming out of much of Africa, it won't be as good as it can be until we do more about the girls. MRS. BUSH: That's right. MS. ROBERTS: And if you all want to just say a finishing word on that subject, and then we will conclude. MRS. BUSH: Well, let me just thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you, Michelle, and thank you to President Obama for hosting the African Leaders Summit here. And thank you for inviting the Bush Institute to be a part of the First Lady’s initiative. Thank you for coming to our First Lady’s Conference last summer as well. And thanks to all the First Ladies who have joined us. Thank you for the great work you're already doing in your countries, which we'll hear about in a few minutes. And thank you for all the good work you will do. Thanks, Cokie. (Applause.) MRS. OBAMA: Well, thank you. Back at you. (Laughter.) But, Laura, no, absolutely. We are here today because of the example that was set in Tanzania through the summit that the Bush Institute organized. And as my Chief of Staff stated, that when this summit was being organized, we jumped at the chance to do something similar and to continue this conversation and to come together as first spouses, and to continue to be inspired by each other. What I would say just in closing is that we have to fight for our girls. There should never be a girl in this world who has to fear getting educated. That should be something that is intolerable to all of us. I can only think of my own girls, and I think we all have to see our daughters in these young girls. We want the best for our daughters. We want them to be smart and empowered and loved. We want them to be healthy. We want them to be mentally sound. And if it's good enough for our girls, it's good enough for every single girl in the world. But it's going to take leadership like us, women like us speaking up in our countries and making sure that young girls are not subject to abuse, and that they are loved and valued. And until we do that, we will not solve these problems. Investing in our women -- the people who raise our children, the people who take care of families -- they have to be healthy and whole. And that is the most important work that we do. Whether we talk about clean energy or economic empowerment, until we start to value women and girls, we will continue to struggle on this planet. But I have high hopes when I look around this room that we won’t tolerate that, not anywhere on the planet. And if we continue to work together and continue to lift up our young people who we’re fighting for a better future, then I think we will see some progress on these issues. So I look forward to working with all of you in the years ahead. So thank you all, and I hope you enjoy the rest of the conference. Cokie, thank you. Thank you, as well. MRS. BUSH: Thank you. (Applause.) MS. ROBERTS: Thank you both so much for the work you’re doing, first of all, for coming together. I keep saying you’ve set such a good example for the men. (Laughter.) But also for allowing me to participate in this conversation. Thank you very, very much. (Applause.) pool report #2 from first ladies summit/George W. Bush
The pooler wrote "Kennedy Center/first ladies event George W. Bush encouraged the first spouses to join the effort. “If you’re worried about your husbands’ political future, taking care of women is good politics,” he said, drawing applause. Laura Bush and Michelle Obama sat in the front row, after a conversation moderated by Cokie Roberts. With two daughters of his own, and “the world’s smartest granddaughter,” George Bush said, “I’m more concerned about the future, not less” when it comes to freedom, economic empowerment and health of girls and women around the world. He spoke of the PEPFAR effort he launched as president. “A generation on the verge of being lost has been found” thanks to that and other anti-AIDS efforts, he said. But stigma, intolerance and ignorance still make it impossible to fully combat HIV, he said. “This fatal link between HPV and cervical cancer can be broken. It is our job to break it,” Bush said. “One of the best ways to help children is to help their mothers live to raise them….People living with AIDS should not be dying from treatable and preventable diseases.” He announced the expansion of the Pink Ribbon Red Ribbon, a program aimed at curbing cervical and breast cancer. The effort is adding two new countries, Ethiopia and Namibia. The campaign is a health partnership founded by the Bush institute in Dallas, along with the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), Susan G. Komen, and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). Pink Ribbon Ribbon has helped screen more than 100,000 women for cervical cancer – the top cancer killer of women in sub-Saharan Africa -- in Botswana, Tanzania, and Zambia in the last three years. HIV-positive women are four to five times more likely to contract cervical cancer. The effort has attracted $2 million from drug maker GlaxoSmithKline and $200,000 from the Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation. Bush said the summit was one of the few good reasons he would have to return to Washington, along with the chance to dine with daughter Barbara as he did last night. He called her a “fabulous young woman making a big difference in global health. I love you, baby.” “It takes a lot to get me to leave Dallas,” Bush said. The event was held in an auditorium at the Kennedy Center. First ladies from Algeria, Chad, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Mali, Morocco, Namibia, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and other nations filled the first two rows. The first ladies of Namibia and Ethiopia joined Bush on stage. They posed for photos, and then each spoke briefly about the Pink Ribbon Red Ribbon effort. George W. Bush left the auditorium as the program continued, with Mrs. Bush and Mrs. Obama remaining in the front row." FLOTUS, US Africa Summit. Pool Report #1
The pooler wrote " FLOTUS, US Africa Summit. Pool Report #1 Michelle Obama arrived onstage at the spousal program at the US-Africa Leaders Summit at 10:06 AM and introduced herself. “My name is Michelle Obama and I am an African American woman,” she said playing off the theme of a video about women in Africa that rolled before her entrance. The video concluded with several women – young and old -- saying their names and announcing, “I am an African woman.” FLOTUS, who was later joined by former FLOTUS Laura Bush, is part of the team hosting a day long symposium for spouses of the African heads of state in town for the US Africa Summit. Officially, the event -- which is being held at the Kennedy Center -- is sponsored by The Office of First Lady Michelle Obama, the George W. Bush Institute, and the U.S. Department of State. The program in the Kennedy Center’s Terrace Theater included remarks by FLOTUS and a conversation between FLOTUS and Mrs. Bush moderated by Cokie Roberts. You will recall that Michelle Obama and Laura Bush had a similar discussion (also moderated by Roberts) last year in Tanzania at a program sponsored by the Bush Institute, a think-tank that is a part of the former president's library center. The lights were dim as 27 African spouses took their seats in the first two rows of the theater and shuffled to their seats. All the spouses present are women. Former president George W. Bush was introduced after the African first ladies along with Jill Biden. Officials from the White House and Bush center made clear that they worked collaboratively on the day’s program, which kicked off with a video about the importance of education for girls in Africa, noting that there are many jobs that girls are not able to apply for. “With the power the first lady has she can change lives because they have the whole nation, the whole continent, the whole world looking at them,” said the video’s narrator, Agnes, a young from the continent. Here are a few quotes from FLOTUS' opening remarks, which ran about six minutes ... She noted, as has been said this week, that “the summit is the largest gathering of African leaders ever hosted by an American president in the United States. She also spoke of the importance of first ladies engaging with young people and referenced remarks she made last week to young leaders from Africa on fellowship in the U.S. “We need to spend a lot of time with them,” Obama said. “More time listening and I mean really listening to their challenges and their views. … We need to learn from their experiences and from their expertise.” Obama said first ladies should also ask themselves how best governments can learn from young people and follow their lead. “Can we embrace their ideas and incorporate them into policies and strategies?” she asked. “In our work as first ladies, first spouses, can we work with them?” She mentioned the important work first ladies in Africa are doing to support microfinance and fighting cervical cancer and HIV. She introduced Laura Bush as “a first lady who has long been an inspiration to me.” And said Bush “set a high bar for me during her time in the White House.” Obama also said she considers Bush a role model and a friend. Obama then introduced Roberts. All three women took seats and Roberts mentioned that they were continuing on last year’s conversations and joked that at that time many people were still talking about Obama’s bangs. Obama, whose hair was slicked back into a bun Wednesday, laughed. She wore black and white polka dots, top and skirt. Bush wore a blue dress. They spoke for nearly an hour, starting off by taking about their daughters and Bush’s granddaughter. “George and I are just gaga over her,” Bush said of the 16-month-old baby. Please see transcript for Roberts’s questions. “So often what we find in our positions is you have to change attitudes before you can change behaviors,” Obama said of the need to value women and girls as highly as men and boys. “One of the things we’ve done -- George and I have done – is obviously when you live in the White House you have a platform. But former presidents and former first ladies continue to have a platform with convening power,” Bush said, speaking of her continuing work with the first ladies initiative. “We started with African first ladies but we are interested in engaging first ladies from every country.” Responding to a question about how she chose which subjects to focus on Bush said, “You look at yourself and see what your expertise is. Then you also look at what appears. There are ways you can take advantage of different things that happen and go in another way.” She said that when she realized that heart disease was the leading cause of death of American women and she began helping to raise awareness about it. Obama said, “I have found that I’ve been most effective when I am uniquely authentic. That means I have to really believe passionately in the causes I take on. This was true when it came to educating our young people,” she said discussing her Reach Higher initiative. “There is nothing in my life that would indicate I would be sitting on this stage with a former first lady and one of the most renowned journalists in this country and the first spouses of Africa,” she said referring to the importance of education in her life story. Roberts asked the first ladies about blowback they have received for the work they are doing. Obama made a joke about this as if she has gotten no blowback. (see transcript) Bush: “I was not that shocked. We had someone who lived in the White House that we loved -- President Bush and Barbara Bush. … I wasn’t surprised. That doesn’t make it any less hurtful. Anyone who is a position of leadership knows that you’re going to be criticized.” Obama said that leadership is “not about amassing power. It’s about taking those hits.” … “If you have a vision that you’re passionate about all of those arrows and the spears they just sort of bounce off you.” “We’re elected by one man,” Laura Bush interjected amid the cross talk, which drew laughs. Both first ladies spoke about how they have built their initiatives and programs with public and private partnerships. “So we can’t waste the spotlight. Time is short. Change is needed,” Obama said at one point. “And women are smarter than men.” (The crowd laughed). “And the men can’t complain because they are outnumbered today.” (Again Please check against transcript and note the event is also being live streamed : http://www.whitehouse.gov/us-africa-leaders-summit andhttp://www.bushcenter.org/live.) Others spotted in the audience, Rep. Barbara Lee. (Cherie Blair is also scheduled to speak later in the program.) President Bush seemed to indicate his daughter Barbara was present but your pool did not spot her. " REMARKS BY FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA AT “INVESTING IN OUR FUTURE,” A SYMPOSIUM FOR SPOUSES ON ADVANCEMENT FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS IN AFRICA
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the First Lady ______________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release August 6, 2014 REMARKS BY FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA AT “INVESTING IN OUR FUTURE” A SYMPOSIUM FOR SPOUSES ON ADVANCEMENT FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS IN AFRICA The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Washington, D.C. 10:09 A.M. EDT MRS. OBAMA: Good morning. (Applause.) Thank you so much. Thank you so much, everyone. Well, my name is Michelle Obama, and I am an African American woman. (Applause.) On behalf of myself and my husband, it is truly a pleasure and an honor to welcome you all here to Washington. We have so many distinguished leaders here with us today. Of course, we have President Bush and Mrs. Bush who are here today, and I want to thank them both and the Bush Institute for their passionate leadership on the issues that we’re going to be discussing today. I also want to recognize my dear friend, Dr. Jill Biden, who is here as well. She has been a tremendous partner over the past five and a half years, and I’m thrilled that she is here with us today. And of course, most of all, I want to thank all of you for joining us at this event. We have a fabulous program lined up for you today, as you’ve heard. We’ll be discussing important issues, we’ll be hearing from renowned experts, and we’re going to be making some really exciting announcements about new initiatives across Africa. So this is going to be a really big day. This has been a day that’s been a part of a big week that’s been a part of a big couple of months, actually. As you may know, the summit that your husbands are attending this week is the largest gathering of African leaders ever hosted by an American president. And about six weeks ago, 500 young leaders from across Africa arrived here in the United States to take part in the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders. And I have to tell you that these young men and women are truly extraordinary. Many of them are barely half my age –- I don’t want to say that, but they’re young -- (laughter) -- and they’ve already founded NGOs, they’ve started their own businesses, they’ve risen to senior levels of their governments. And as part of the Mandela Fellowship, they have undertaken intensive academic coursework and leadership training at universities across America. And the passion, the intelligence, the dedication of these young leaders has inspired all of us here in the U.S. who have had the pleasure of spending any time with them. I had the privilege of speaking with these fellows last week, and I met with a group of them who share my interest in girls’ education. And two of the fellows from that meeting will be doing a presentation today about their stories and their ideas. And I’m not going to steal any of their thunder, because they are remarkable individuals. But I can tell you this -- that while we talked about a range of issues, there was one theme we kept returning to. Again and again, these young people emphasized how important it is for them to have support from leaders in their governments. And this is the very same message that I hear so often from the young American leaders that I meet with. These young people are working so hard in their communities. They’re facing so many challenges and obstacles. And they’re looking to all of us for inspiration. They’re looking to us to champion the issues they care about. And most of all, they’re looking to us to empower them to be part of the solution. And that means that we all are going to need to do everything in our power to bring these young people to the table. We need to spend a lot of time with them, more time listening -– and I mean really listening –- to their voices, to their views so that we can understand the challenges that they’re facing through their eyes. And we need to learn from their experiences and from their expertise. You see, these young people are developing all kinds of new technologies and social media strategies to address problems that our generation hasn’t yet solved. Whether it’s an app to fight cervical cancer or a new approach to clean energy, they’re coming up with solutions that we never could have dreamed of. So the question is, can we and our governments learn from them and follow their lead? Can we embrace their ideas and incorporate them into policies and strategies? And in our work as First Ladies, First Spouses, can we find new ways to be more inclusive of these young people and show them that we truly value their voices? And so many of you are already embracing the young leaders in your countries through your work –- whether it’s improving girls’ education, or fighting cervical cancer or HIV, or supporting microfinance. You all have the potential to inspire millions across the globe. So it is my hope that today, we will rededicate ourselves to these efforts and commit to new efforts to lift up our young people. And I hope that you all will have a chance today to really connect with each other, and learn from each other, and hopefully be inspired by each other. And with that, it is now my pleasure to begin a conversation with a First Lady who has long been an inspiration to me. Laura Bush set a high bar for me during her time in the White House, and she has continued to do outstanding work around the world since she and her husband left Washington. And I consider her not just a role model, but also a friend. And I’m thrilled that our conversation today will be moderated by another woman who I greatly respect and admire, one of America’s leading journalists, our friend, Cokie Roberts. And with that, I will have them come out to the stage so that we can begin our conversation. Thank you so much for joining us. Enjoy the rest of the day. (Applause.) END 10:16 A.M. EDT First Lady Michelle Obama's Open Letter on Seventeen.com THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the First Lady _______________________________________________________________________________________ FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 6, 2014 The following open letter by First Lady Michelle Obama appeared this morning on Seventeen.com. http://www.seventeen.com/college/advice/michelle-obama-africa-leaders-summit-open-letter-education-disparities Additionally, the symposium for spouses hosted by First Lady Michelle Obama and Mrs. Laura Bush is being livestreamed today at http://www.whitehouse.gov/us-africa-leaders-summit. Did you know that right now, 62 million girls around the world are not in school, and in some countries, fewer than ten percent of girls complete high school (as compared to 85 percent in the U.S.)? Did you know that when girls are educated, they go on to earn higher wages, get married later, and have healthier children who are more likely to attend school themselves? So you might be wondering: why on earth are so many girls worldwide not in school? There are many answers to this question. Sometimes, families simply can’t afford to send their daughters to school (some countries don’t have free public education, and families have to pay school fees); or girls live in rural areas, far from schools, and have no means of transportation; or girls can’t afford to buy sanitary pads, so they’re unable to attend school during their periods, and they wind up falling behind and dropping out. But often, the problem isn’t just about resources, it’s also about attitudes and beliefs. In some places, girls are viewed as less worthy of an education than boys, so when a family has limited funds, they’ll educate their sons instead of their daughters. In some parts of the world, girls are forced to get married young – sometimes before they even reach puberty – to men who might be three or four times their age, and instead of attending school, they wind up having children at a young age. And often, even when girls do have the chance to attend school, they do so at great risk. For example, in some countries, there are terrorist organizations who view educated girls as a serious threat and do everything in their power to keep girls from going to school. We saw this in Pakistan when Taliban terrorists boarded a school bus and shot a 15 year-old girl named Malala Yousafzai because she had spoken out for girls’ education. We saw it in Nigeria when men from a terrorist organization called Boko Haram kidnapped more than 200 girls from their school dormitory in the middle of the night. These girls were well aware of the risks they were taking – they had been receiving threats for months – but they insisted on showing up for school because they were determined to pursue their dreams and make their families and communities proud. Knowing the heartbreaking challenges so many girls in the world are facing, think about all the girls you know who don’t take their education seriously – girls who skip class, or don’t do their homework, or even drop out because they don’t see the point of school. To any girl – or any young person – who might be thinking this way, I have a simple message: you can do better – for yourself, your family and your country. I know that your school might not be as good as it should be, or you might be facing challenges in your family that make it hard for you to focus in class. But if girls across the globe can walk hours each day from their villages to attend school, or work two or three jobs to pay their school fees, or even risk their lives to attend school, then I know you can overcome any obstacles you face. Maybe that means talking to a teacher or a counselor to get some help, or committing yourself to concrete goals each week, like showing up on time for class and getting your homework done each night. Whatever you do, I urge you to take your education seriously, because no matter what you want to do with your life, I guarantee that you will need a high school diploma and some higher education, like a two-year or four-year college degree or a professional certificate. And as you get yourself on track for higher education, I hope you’ll work to give girls around the world opportunities to attend school too. Get involved with an organization that focuses on girls’ education; form a club at your school to raise money and awareness; use social media to educate everyone you know about this issue. So many girls around the world would give anything to get the kind of education that so many girls take for granted in the U.S. And I hope you will show just a fraction of their courage and determination in getting your own education and helping them get theirs. FACT SHEET: The Doing Business in Africa Campaign
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 5, 2014 FACT SHEET: The Doing Business in Africa Campaign Through the Doing Business in Africa (DBIA) Campaign, the U.S. government is strengthening its commercial relationship with the continent of Africa, a diverse region that offers substantial trade and investment opportunities across national and regional markets. With a 5.4 percent growth rate predicted for 2014, Africa is outpacing global growth. U.S. goods and services exports to Africa reached a record high of $50.2 billion in 2013, up 40 percent since 2009. These exports supported 250,000 U.S. jobs. New Commitments to Significantly Expand the DBIA Campaign At today’s U.S.-Africa Business Forum, President Obama announced $7 billion in new financing to promote U.S. exports to and investments in Africa under the DBIA Campaign. U.S. companies announced new deals in clean energy, aviation, banking, and construction worth more than $14 billion, in addition to $12 billion in new commitments under the President’s Power Africa initiative from private sector partners, the World Bank, and the government of Sweden. Taken together, these new commitments amount to more than $33 billion, supporting economic growth across Africa and tens of thousands of U.S. jobs. The DBIA Campaign encourages U.S. commercial engagement in Africa by harnessing the resources of the U.S. government to assist businesses in identifying and seizing opportunities and to engage with members of the African Diaspora in the United States. The DBIA Campaign, which was launched in November 2012, has four main objectives: · Connect American Businesses with African Partners · Support Existing and New American Investment in Africa · Expand Access for American Businesses to Finance Their Exports to Africa · Reduce Barriers to Trade and Investment in Africa The U.S. government’s newly announced two-year commitments to support the DBIA Campaign are provided below. An Executive Order to Create a President’s Advisory Council on Doing Business in Africa Today the President signed an Executive Order (E.O.) to promote broad-based economic growth in the United States and in Africa by encouraging U.S. companies to trade with and invest in Africa. The E.O. directs the Secretary of Commerce to establish a President’s Advisory Council on Doing Business in Africa that will be comprised of not more than 15 members from the private sector, including small business. The Advisory Council will provide information, analysis, and recommendations to the President, through the Secretary of Commerce, including on developing strategies for creating jobs in the United States and Africa through trade and investment; developing strategies by which the U.S. private sector can identify and take advantage of trade and investment opportunities in Africa; and building lasting commercial partnerships between the U.S. and African private sectors. New U.S. Government Resources to Support U.S. Exports and Investment in Africa Interagency Initiatives · The Principals of the Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank), the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) will mobilize private capital for Africa’s infrastructure through a series of at least three outcome-oriented roundtables in Africa that will advance project- and sector-specific investment opportunities and needed regulatory reforms. These agencies will implement the initiative in coordination with DBIA Campaign agencies, African governments, and the U.S. and African private sectors. · The U.S. Department of Commerce and USTDA launched the 20x20 Initiative to support a total of 20 trade and reverse trade missions by 2020, to promote U.S. industry engagement in Africa. Working with federal, state, and local government partners, these missions will foster U.S. business partnerships with key African stakeholders. · The Small Business Administration (SBA) and Ex-Im Bank will collectively support 50 DBIA Campaign-themed activities and outreach sessions over the next two years to facilitate U.S. trade finance, provide counseling and training on their programs, and conduct business development to support U.S. exporters, particularly small- and medium-sized enterprises. U.S. Export-Import Bank · Ex-Im Bank will commit up to $3 billion in financing to support U.S. exports to Africa over the next two years. This is in addition to Ex-Im Bank’s existing commitments of $5 billion for Power Africa and a planned commitment of $1 billion to support U.S. exports in connection with new and ongoing Angolan infrastructure projects (through the Angolan Ministry of Finance). · Ex-Im Bank will commit $563 million in financing to support the sale of General Electric locomotives to Transnet, South Africa’s largest integrated freight transport company. Major components of the locomotives will be manufactured at GE’s facilities in Erie, PA and Grove City, PA supporting an estimated 2,500 American jobs. Millennium Challenge Corporation · MCC will commit up to $2 billion in funding for new compacts in Africa that facilitate private sector-led economic growth and poverty reduction, creating potential opportunities for U.S. companies. This commitment includes $498 million over the next five years to support the turnaround of Ghana’s electricity sector and stimulate private investment. This Compact represents an example of the catalytic impact of Power Africa interventions which will help create the enabling environment to catalyze billions of dollars of private investment in Ghana. · MCC will also lead its first ever investment mission to Africa to introduce U.S. businesses to the opportunities for investing in and around its Compacts. In addition, MCC will hold at least eight Procurement Promotion sessions with U.S. companies to promote Compact contracting opportunities and developing five Trade and Investment Prospectuses, one for each new Compact in Africa, that outline the specific business opportunities that are expected to arise from MCC’s investments. Overseas Private Investment Corporation · OPIC will commit up to $1 billion in financing and insurance support to catalyze private sector investments in Africa. This is in addition to OPIC’s existing $1.5 billion Power Africa commitment. OPIC reaffirmed its plan to place personnel on the ground in sub-Saharan Africa to help facilitate increased U.S. trade and investment and will support an investment mission to the region, with a focus on the power sector. · OPIC will coordinate approximately a dozen U.S. government meetings on August 6, 2014, for U.S. and African private sector investors and project developers to discuss discrete transactions for financing support consideration to OPIC, as well as other DBIA investment agencies. U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) · USTDA, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Energy and U.S. Department of Transportation, hosted two African Leaders Visits in association with the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit. These reverse trade missions highlighted the United States’ experience fostering economic growth through strategic infrastructure investments in the energy and transportation sectors. · USTDA announced it will partner with the Air Traffic and Navigation Services Company of South Africa to evaluate satellite-based automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast across the African continent, the implementation of which will improve air traffic safety and create over $100 million in U.S. export opportunities. · USTDA reaffirmed its plan to have local representation in Nigeria for the first time. U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) USDA’s Commodity Credit Corporation will make available up to $1 billion in financing guarantees available for agricultural exports to Africa over the next two years. USDA also will conduct outreach seminars to Africa in 2015 to promote the use of its credit guarantee program for the export of U.S. agricultural products. U.S. Department of State · The U.S. Department of State intends to commit $10 million toward the expansion of the U.S.-Africa Clean Energy Finance Initiative (US-ACEF), which aligns USTDA’s project planning expertise and OPIC’s financing and risk mitigation tools in new ways, to support private sector investment and increase support for U.S. businesses and exports in sub-Saharan Africa’s clean energy sector. · The U.S. Department of State will sponsor a medical technology trade mission to sub-Saharan Africa led by a senior State Department official. U.S. Department of Commerce · The U.S. Department of Commerce reiterated its commitment to double its presence in sub-Saharan Africa by opening new offices in Angola, Tanzania, Ethiopia, and Mozambique, while expanding its operations in Ghana, and re-establishing a position at the African Development Bank. · The U.S. Department of Commerce will host its next Trade Winds Conference and Mission in Africa in 2015. The Trade Winds program brings hundreds of U.S. companies to a region to hear about opportunities, meet one-on-one with Africa businesses, and get counseling from U.S. Commercial Service officers. Past Trade Winds have been held in Asia and Latin America and resulted in over $100 million in deals at each event. · The U.S. Department of Commerce launched a One-Stop-Shop website (www.trade.gov/DBIA) to offer American businesses and entrepreneurs a convenient instant access to critical African market information, financing tools available to them, projects to consider, key contacts, and much more. · To celebrate the second anniversary of the DBIA Campaign, the U.S. Department of Commerce will host a “Discover Sub-Saharan Africa” conference in Atlanta on November 4-6, 2014. Its Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) will join the Constituency for Africa in hosting a “Doing Business in Africa” workshop in October to promote business and trade opportunities in Africa and resources for reaching the African marketplace. MBDA also committed to host a U.S.-Africa Investors Forum on August 6, 2014, in association with the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit. · Through its Global City Teams Program, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, in partnership with the U.S. private sector, will target at least 25 African metropolitan areas to join their counterparts worldwide in an interactive platform to accelerate smart city and smart grid goals. U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) · USAID will commit to a bond guarantee through its Development Credit Authority that will allow Dakar, Senegal, to issue the first ever non-sovereign backed municipal bond in sub-Saharan Africa outside of South Africa (with technical assistance support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation). The guarantee will enable the city to raise $41.8 million on the regional stock exchange. In addition, USAID guaranteed transactions are expected to mobilize $381 million in new private sector lending to small and medium enterprises across the continent. · USAID will launch the Africa Private Capital Group – a platform in South Africa to mobilize U.S., South African, and international private sector investment in key sectors to development, including agriculture, energy, trade, infrastructure, and health. · USAID will upgrade its existing African Trade Hubs into “U.S.-African Trade and Investment Hubs” that will now create new opportunities for U.S. investment in and exports to Africa. These hubs are located in Accra, Ghana, Nairobi, Kenya, and Gabarone, Botswana, and cover the West Africa, East Africa, and Southern Africa regions, respectively. · USAID will roll out its Benchmarking the Business of Agriculture (BBA) project this fall, to assesses the ease of doing business and investing in Africa’s agriculture. The BBA provides businesses worldwide with objective information on a country’s ease of doing business in agriculture. U.S. Department of Transportation · The U.S. Department of Transportation announced that Secretary Anthony Foxx will lead a transportation mission to Africa in early 2015, to discuss opportunities for improving regional connectivity, promoting safety and efficiency, and sharing best practices on increasing investment in transportation infrastructure. · The U.S. Department of Transportation launched its Tomorrow’s Transportation Leaders initiative, which will include up to five workshops over the next two years to engage 100 young African transportation professionals on adopting U.S. best practices. The workshops will address transportation policies and regulatory framework, transportation investment planning, and the efficient management of transportation systems. · The U.S. Department of Transportation intends to direct $1 million toward strengthening civil aviation safety through the Safe Skies for Africa program. U.S. Department of Energy · The U.S. Department of Energy will support the “Clean Energy Solutions Center,” a multilateral initiative of the Clean Energy Ministerial to connect policymakers in Africa with clean energy experts and best practice resources. The Clean Energy Solutions Center is a web-based resource that draws on knowledge from global experts to help governments design and adopt policies and programs that support the deployment of clean energy technologies. Through the partnership, the Solutions Center will provide expert policy consultations free of charge to Power Africa countries in response to requests received. Office of the United States Trade Representative · On August 5, USTR signed at its headquarters a new Trade and Investment Framework Agreement with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to provide a coordinated mechanism for engaging on trade and investment issues with the 15 West African countries that are part of ECOWAS. FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA AND FORMER FIRST LADY LAURA BUSH HOST SYMPOSIUM WITH SPOUSES ON ADVANCEMENTS FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS IN AFRICA
FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA AND FORMER FIRST LADY LAURA BUSH HOST SYMPOSIUM WITH SPOUSES ON ADVANCEMENTS FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS IN AFRICA On August 6, 2014, the Office of First Lady Michelle Obama, the George W. Bush Institute, and the U.S. Department of State will host Investing in Our Future at the U.S. - Africa Leaders Summit. The day-long symposium will bring together First Lady Michelle Obama, Mrs. Laura Bush, African first spouses from nearly 30 countries, leaders from non-governmental and non-profit organizations, private sector partners, and other leading experts. The symposium will highlight the important role first spouses play and will focus on the impact of investments in education, health, and economic development through public-private partnerships. This collaboration builds on the Bush Institute’s 2013 African First Ladies Summit, Investing in Women: Strengthening Africa, held in Tanzania. Coinciding with President Obama’s U.S. - Africa Leaders Summit, the symposium will feature the following panels and U.S. speakers: · Welcome remarks by First Lady Michelle Obama; · A conversation between Mrs. Obama and Mrs. Laura Bush moderated by Cokie Roberts; · Remarks by President George W. Bush announcing the expansion of the Pink Ribbon Red Ribbon® initiative and the important role of national leadership, including that of a first spouse, in galvanizing a country to fight against women’s cancers; · Remarks by Dr. Jill Biden introducing a presentation and panel discussion focusing on the transformative benefits of investing in girls’ education; · A second panel discussion highlighting how key stakeholders - including the private, public, and non-profit sectors in technology, agriculture, and health – are improving the lives of women through entrepreneurship to advance Africa’s development. The pooled press portions of the program will be livestreamed at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/us-africa-leaders-summit and http://www.bushcenter.org/live. In addition, throughout the day, organizations will announce commitments to new initiatives and partnerships dedicated to empowering and benefitting women in Africa. Anthony Hamilton and the Soul Children of Chicago will provide musical performances. The day-long symposium will conclude with a marketplace and networking reception to showcase a select group of organizations and companies supporting women and girls in Africa. Additional program participants include: Ambassador Cathy Russell, U.S. Department of State; Shelly Esque, Intel Foundation; Ann Cotton, Camfed International; Dr. Sara Ruto, Uwezo; Reeta Roy, The MasterCard Foundation; Madame Aicha Bah Diallo, Foundation for African Women Educationalists (FAWE); Isha Sesay, CNN International; Noa Gimelli, ExxonMobil; Neha Misra, Solar Sister; Kay Kuenker, DowAgroSciences; Damaris Achieng Odeny, International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT); Deb Elam, GE Foundation; Bernard Olayo, M.D., Center for Public Health and Development; and Maggie Sans, Walmart Foundation # # # About the Bush Institute: The mission of the Bush Institute at the George W. Bush Presidential Center is advancing freedom by expanding opportunities for individuals at home and across the globe. The Bush Institute is a non-partisan public policy institute committed to serious, independent research aimed at generating practical solutions to important public policy issues in the areas of education reform, human freedom, economic growth, and global health. Built on principles that guided President and Mrs. Bush in public life, the Bush Institute seeks to improve America’s public schools; foster the spread of democracy; save lives through global health programs; and promote free markets and economic growth. The Women’s Initiative works to improve access to education, health care, and economic opportunity for women and children around the world, and the Military Service Initiative honors our servicemen and servicewomen and helps them transition to civilian life. About the First Ladies Initiative: The First Ladies Initiative is a program of the Bush Institute’s Women’s Initiative, which helps prepare First Ladies’ senior advisors and staff with training sessions on effective governance, strategic planning, and communication, and also fosters public-private partnerships by connecting First Ladies with funding partners, corporations, and NGOs. These efforts help First Ladies effectively use their unique platforms to promote issues and programs that improve the lives of women and children in their countries, with an initial focus on Africa. About Pink Ribbon Red Ribbon: Pink Ribbon Red Ribbon® is the leading public-private partnership aimed at catalyzing the global community to reduce deaths from cervical and breast cancer in sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America by raising awareness of these diseases and increasing access to quality services to detect and treat them. Its activities integrate prevention—including increased access to vaccination against the human papillomavirus (HPV)—screenings, and treatment into existing healthcare programs. Organizing members of the partnership include the George W. Bush Institute, the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), Susan G. Komen®, and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). Corporate and foundation members include Becton, Dickinson and Company; the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; the Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation; the Caris Foundation; GlaxoSmithKline; IBM; Merck; and QIAGEN. About the Young African Leaders Initiative: The Mandela Washington Fellowship is the flagship exchange program of the President’s Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) and embodies President Obama’s commitment to invest in the future of Africa. The first class of Mandela Washington Fellows arrived in June 2014 for six weeks of intensive executive leadership training, networking, and skills building, followed by a Presidential Summit in Washington, DC. Regional Leadership Centers in Africa, seed funding, mentoring, and a vast array of virtual resources will provide sustained support to the Fellows upon their return to the continent. The YALI Network provides online and on the ground platforms, programs, and resources for tens of thousands of young African entrepreneurs, activists, and public officials. Through YALI, young African leaders gain the skills, connections, and investments they need to accelerate their initiatives and contribute more robustly to strengthening democratic institutions, spurring economic growth, and enhancing peace and security in Africa. Fact Sheet: Shared Investment in Youth
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 4, 2014 FACT SHEET: Shared Investment in Youth Africa has the youngest population in the world, with approximately 200 million people between the ages of 15 and 24 – a number expected to increase to 330 million by 2034. Africa also has the fastest growing population in the world. In fewer than three generations, 41 percent of the world’s youth will be African. By 2050, over a quarter of the world’s labor force will be African. Between 2010 and 2020, Africa will add 163 million people to its potential labor force. In the 21st century, Africa will be the only continent whose youth population will continue to significantly expand. There is a shared understanding between the United States and African partners that the future success of African nations will depend on the leadership, skills, and ingenuity of the continent’s youth. U.S. Commitments to Increase Investment in the Next Generation In a town hall meeting with 500 young African leaders on July 28, President Obama announced the expansion of his Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), which was launched in 2010. Through YALI, the United States is investing in the next generation of African leaders, and has committed significant resources to enhance leadership skills, bolster entrepreneurship, and connect young African leaders with one another, with the United States, and with the American people. These new investments will include the development of four Regional Leadership Centers in Africa, a vast array of online classes and resources, and seed funding, training, and networking opportunities for young entrepreneurs. The President also renamed his flagship program the Mandela Washington Fellowship, in honor of former South African President Nelson Mandela, and announced that the Fellowship will reach 1,000 young leaders each year by 2016. African Governments’ Commitments to Increase Investment in the Next Generation Many African Governments have been involved in supporting opportunities for youth. Some made commitments to new activities in the course of the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit, while others have ongoing initiatives in place. Below is a sampling of African commitments made in connection with the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit. · The African Union Commission committed to redoubling its efforts to advance educational opportunities through the Pan-African University; to carry forward the African Youth Charter by urging Member States to consider the African Youth Decade Plan of Action as a road map for implementation; and to propose for adoption by Member States a Declaration and Plan of Action on Employment, Poverty Eradication, and Inclusive Development with a primary focus on youth and women, at the upcoming Extraordinary Summit of Heads of State and Governments of the African Union in Ouagadougou in September 2014. · Benin, drawing on its successful Business Promotion Centers, has set up two business-type incubators which have already supported more than 2,500 young professional farmers in agricultural entrepreneurship. In addition, Benin has committed to recruiting 15,000 youth in 2015 to fill civil servant positions and dedicated 20 percent of the national budget to agriculture to help address youth unemployment. · Burkina Faso has just announced a youth investment project involving 46,800 young men and women offered an opportunity to find sustainable jobs in the labor market. The five-year “Youth Employment and Skills Development Project” (PEJDC) is entirely financed by the World Bank. · Burundi recently established the Youth Employment Agency, which has helped about 250 high school graduates obtain permanent positions or internships within the public and private sectors during the last three years. Burundi’s Ministry of Youth has also helped some 3,700 young Burundians obtain credit for business start-ups during this period. Over the past year, Burundi has organized several sector and cross-sector meetings and workshops on youth affairs. · Cabo Verde will expand its current 20 youth centers to open one at each city and on every island in the country, and to expand the framework of their charters to include information on good health practices and initiatives. · Republic of the Congo has instituted the “Corps of Young Volunteers and Civil Service Trainees” (Chantiers Jeunesse et Service Civique) which offers its volunteers an opportunity to do community service and participate in civic education activities while building their professional experiences as volunteer teachers, nurses, and famers. The corps will be run out of the Youth Centers (“Maison de la Jeunesse”) that are being built in each of Congo’s regions. · Cote d’Ivoire has declared 2014 a Year of Employment with special initiatives focused on youth, including a Young Entrepreneurs Competition and an “Alassane Ouattara Award for the Young Emerging Entrepreneur.” · Gabon has supported the creation of the Central African Economic and Monetary Community’s (CAEMC) “Train my Generation” Fund, which aims to support the training and employment of young people in key economic sectors. · Guinea, in partnership with Peace Child International, will host “The Guinea World Youth Congress” from December 2-12, 2014. The forum will focus on youth unemployment, job creation and eco-business innovations. · Senegal, as part of its government's continued commitment to youth engagement, brought two of its exceptional young leaders to the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit as part of its delegation and will include young leaders in Senegal's delegation to the upcoming G-20 meeting as well. Senegal also announced an increase in vocational and skills training programs aimed at providing opportunities to youth. · Seychelles is committed to unlock the potential of its youth through its Seychelles National Youth Council, and a newly set-up fund to support young entrepreneurs to boost youth employment. Seychellois Youth have also joined the SIDS Youth AIMS Hub (SYAH), an inter-island non-governmental organization based in Mauritius and led by a group of youth from the AIMS region – Atlantic, Indian Ocean, Mediterranean and South China Sea - to motivate young people to learn and be concerned about sustainable development. Seychelles has set up a Young Leadership Programme under the University of Seychelles which aims to provide aspiring young professionals both from the public and private sector with a Masters in strategic leadership while also engaging them in community projects. · Somalia will launch a youth empowerment framework with key initiatives in job creation and youth representation in the government. · Tanzania intends to announce the establishment of a "State House Fellows" program, modeled on the long-standing White House Fellows program in the United States, to identify, train, and provide high-level experience to the next generation of Tanzanian leaders. This new initiative complements the decades-long Tanzania National Service program, through which thousands of young people have served two year assignments in a wide range of social and economic development fields. Pool Report
The Pooler wrote "POTUS signed S. 517, Unlocking Consumer Choice and Wireless Competition Act, into law at about 4:10 in the Oval Office. Print pool was not allowed inside. There was a stills only pool spray. Photographers report that POTUS was alone and said nothing." Statement by the Press Secretary on H.R. 1528, S. 517
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 1, 2014 Statement by the Press Secretary on H.R. 1528, S. 517 On Friday, August 1, 2014, the President signed into law: H.R. 1528, the "Veterinary Medicine Mobility Act of 2014," which clarifies that veterinarians may transport and dispense controlled substances in the usual course of veterinary practice at sites other than their principal place of business as long as any such site is in a State where the veterinarian is licensed to practice veterinary medicine; and S. 517, the “Unlocking Consumer Choice and Wireless Competition Act,” which extends to purchasers of cell phones after January 26, 2013, the exemption under Library of Congress regulations from the prohibition against circumventing the software that prevents the phone from being used on another carrier's network when the consumer chooses to change networks. DAILY GUIDANCE AND PRESS SCHEDULE FOR FRIDAY, AUGUST 1, 2014
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 31, 2014 DAILY GUIDANCE AND PRESS SCHEDULE FOR FRIDAY, AUGUST 1, 2014 In the afternoon, the President will sign S. 517, Unlocking Consumer Choice and Wireless Competition Act, into law. There will be a stills only pool spray of this signing in the Oval Office. Statement on the Employment Situation in July
In the afternoon, the President will sign S. 517, Unlocking Consumer Choice and Wireless Competition Act, into law. There will be a stills only pool spray of this signing in the Oval Office. WHITE HOUSE POOL
Pool was ushered into the State Dining Room at around 9pm for Katy Perry's concert. Before she performed, Timothy Shriver, chairman of the Special Olympics, came on stage with seven Special Olympians. Shriver thanked Obama for "bringing change to America" and noted that his mother, Eunice Shriver, stood in Chicago some 40 years ago and fought for change too, by starting the Special Olympics. Each of the athletes onstage shared stories about how the Special Olympics helped them to thrive, and some told heartbreaking stories about being bullied, being told they were "too stupid to understand" anything and being told they would never amount to anything. Loretta Claiborne, for one, said she grew up being told she belonged in an institution and her "only redemption was to use my fists and live a lonely world." But then she got involved with the Special Olympics, and since then, she's learned to speak four languages, has run 26 marathons and feels part of a "unified generation" -- a phrase all of the athletes said they are a part of. Perry soon emerged on stage, in a gorgeous blue sequins dress and with her hair pulled back, and played one song, "Roar," before the press was led out. She dedicated the song to "the unified generation" and said the Special Olympians in the room are the people "who inspire me." During the performance, POTUS and FLOTUS sat in the front row, alongside Gayle King, co-anchor of CBS This Morning and Oprah's BFF. It was hard to see them from the back of the room, but FLOTUS was clapping and grooving. Pool was led out at about 10:15 as the concert continued. Perry was introducing her next song as something about "unconditional love." Remarks by the President at Special Olympics Dinner Celebration
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary For Immediate Release July 31, 2014 REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT AT SPECIAL OLYMPICS DINNER CELEBRATION East Room 8:02 P.M. EDT THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, everybody. Please have a seat. (Applause.) Good evening, everybody, and welcome to the White House. Everybody looks wonderful. This is a truly special evening. And we are delighted to celebrate it with so many people from so many different walks of life. It is not often that you get Dikembe Mutombo, Steve Case, Stevie Wonder all in the same room. (Laughter.) In fact, that may be the first time that they were ever in the same sentence. (Applause.) We have just one of my favorite people performing tonight -- Katy Perry. We are so grateful to her. (Applause.) I love Katy Perry. She is just a wonderful person. I’ve just met her mom and now I know why she is such a wonderful person, but I just want everybody to know she is on tour right now and so for her to take time out to do this is really special and so we really want to say thank you to her for doing this. (Applause.) The fact that so many accomplished, wonderful people are here is a testament to the impact that the Special Olympics has had on our nation and has had on our world. This organization has touched so many lives. And tonight, Michelle and I are thrilled that we get a chance to say thank you to everyone who’s been a part of it. When Eunice Kennedy Shriver began what would become the Special Olympics in her backyard over 50 years ago, it’s not clear whether she could imagine how far and how fast it would end up going. Of course, knowing her, she probably did have a sense of where it was going to go -- that’s the kind of visionary that she was. I want to recognize all the members of the Shriver family who are here tonight and who continue to carry on the family’s incredible tradition of service. Thank you. (Applause.) Today, in more than 170 countries, Special Olympians are athletes of all kinds -- skiers and speed skaters, sailors, cyclists, equestrians and judo masters. They make extraordinary contributions to their communities. And I’m proud to highlight a few of them here tonight. Loretta Claiborne didn’t just finish with the top 100 women runners in the Boston Marathon twice –- she was also the first Special Olympian to speak to world leaders during the United Nations General Assembly. So we’re very proud of Loretta. Where’s Loretta -- right here. There she is. Yay, Loretta. (Applause.) And by the way, during the receiving line, Loretta and Michelle compared arms. (Laughter.) MRS. OBAMA: Hers were better. (Laughter.) THE PRESIDENT: Yes, they were. (Laughter.) Tim Harris is a Special Olympian in basketball, poly hockey, volleyball, golf, and track and field. So he has all four seasons covered. (Laughter.) Now he has a restaurant in Albuquerque called Tim’s Place. The most popular item is the hug Tim gives his customers –- and so far, more than 42,000 have been served. Where’s Tim? There he is right there. Yay, Tim. (Applause.) Tim is fired up. (Applause.) Tim is fired up, although, Tim, I didn’t get a hug. (Laughter.) Come on, man. Oh, here we go. All right, come on -- come on, man. (Applause.) (Mr. Harris and the President hug.) MR. HARRIS: I love you, Obama. THE PRESIDENT: I love you back. (Applause.) You know, Presidents need some encouragement once in a while, too. (Laughter.) That felt really good. That was nice. Thank you, Tim. (Laughter.) Brina Kei Maxino represented the Asia-Pacific region at the Special Olympics Global Youth Activation Summit when she was 16 years old. She was the first Filipina and the first teenager with Down syndrome to do that so let’s give Brina a big round of applause. Yay, Brina. (Applause.) And Deon Namiseb was a captain of Namibia’s soccer team when they won silver in the 2007 World Games. Now he’s a coach, he mentors orphans, he advocates for the rights of Namibians with intellectual disabilities. We are very proud of Deon. Here he is, right here -- Deon. (Applause.) Dustin Plunkett competed at the 2007 World Games, too. He shared the stage with Yao Ming. He says, “Special Olympics saved my life.” And now he’s recruiting coaches so that the Special Olympics can keep growing. Dustin, where are you? (Applause.) There he is. Thank you, Dustin. Proud of you. (Applause.) And Ricardo Thornton, Sr., is here with his wife, Donna. He is an international ambassador for Special Olympics, a long-time employee of the Martin Luther King Memorial Library here in Washington, a proud father, a proud grandfather. I recently appointed him to the President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities. A wonderful man, please give Ricardo a big round of applause. (Applause.) And Frank Stephens is a Special Olympian from Virginia. And he is proud to be a Global Messenger -- once spoke before a crowd of 10,000, writes eloquently about the pain and exclusion that comes when others don’t accept you or treat you with the respect every human being deserves. “I am very lucky,” Frank has written. “Even though I was born with this intellectual disability, I do pretty well and have a good life. I live and work in the community. I count as friends the people I went to school with and the people I met in my job. Every day I get closer to living a life like yours.” “Being compared to people like me,” he once wrote, “should be considered a badge of honor. No one overcomes more than we do and still loves life so much.” Give Frank a big round of applause. (Applause.) So what Frank wrote, what all these people represent, is what the Special Olympics is all about -- overcoming obstacles with love, and kindness, and generosity, and healthy competition. It’s about pride, and it’s about teamwork, and it’s about friendship. And it’s about treating everybody with dignity, and giving everybody a chance. So those values are values that everybody could use. Those are values that the Special Olympics can teach all of us. And so it makes a lot of sense that the Special Olympics began here in America –- a nation founded on the principle of human equality, on the promise of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for everybody, not just for some. A few organizations exemplify that principle and that promise better than this one so I want to thank all of you for being a part of the Special Olympics. We are getting excited for the World Games in L.A. next year, and we hope you have a wonderful evening tonight. Thank you very much, everybody. Thank you. Eat up! WH Special Olympics reception -- notable guests, color
At about 7pm, the pool was ushered into the East Room for Obama's remarks ahead of a dinner and concert (note: word is Katy Perry is performing) in celebration of the Special Olympics. The East Room has an intimate feel, despite there being at least 150 people here. The chandeliers are glowing a dark pink and about 20 tables are adorned with giant flower displays. Guests mingled for about an hour before settling at their tables, where each dinner setting has four glasses (water, wine, champagne and...?). Your pooler spotted a number of notable athletes, politicians and musicians. Among them: Andy Roddick, Scott Hamilton, Dikembe Mutombo (had to Google that one), Doc Rivers, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, David Axelrod, HHS Secretary Sylvia Burwell, Rep. Rosa DeLauro, Rep. Peter King, Rep. Xavier Becerra, Sen. Tom Harkin and Gavin Newsom. Stevie Wonder is also here and, amazingly, per one attendee, he walked into the White House entrance as the U.S. Marine Band was playing a Stevie Wonder song. More coming after Obama speaks. Things appear a bit behind schedule. Remarks by the President at the Signing of Fair Pay and Safe Workplace Executive Order
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release July 31, 2014 REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT AT SIGING OF THE FAIR PAY AND SAFE WORKPLACE EXECUTIVE ORDER South Court Auditorium 1:40 P.M. EDT THE PRESIDENT: Hello, everybody, hello! (Applause.) Thank you so much. Everybody, please have a seat. Welcome to the White House. The executive order I’ll sign in a few minutes is one that’s good for workers, it's good for responsible employers, and it's good for the middle class. That explains the folks who are standing up on stage with me, including Secretary of Labor Tom Perez, who’s done a great job on this. (Applause.) Yesterday, we learned that the springtime was a strong time for economic growth. Companies are investing. Consumers are spending. Our energy, our technology, our auto industries are all booming, with workers making and selling goods all around the world. Our businesses have created nearly 10 million new jobs over the past 52 months, and the unemployment rate is at its lowest point since 2008. 401(k)s have recovered their value. Home prices are rising. Millions more families have the peace of mind that comes with having affordable, quality health care. And because of the incredible hard work and resilience of the American people, we’ve recovered faster, we've come farther than any other advanced country since the onset of the Great Recession. (Applause.) Things are getting better. Steadily, things are getting better. But we all know there’s more work to do. And the decisions we make now are going to have an impact on whether or not this economy works for everybody or just folks at the top; whether we've got a growing economy that fuels rising incomes and creates a thriving middle class and ladders into the middle class. That’s what’s at stake -- making sure our economy works for every hardworking American, and if you work hard and you're responsible, you can get ahead. That's what we want. We want to make sure the young dad on the factory floor has a shot to make it into the corner suite -- or at least see his daughter make it there some day. That’s why I ran for office. That’s what has driven every policy that we've initiated this year and since the advent of my presidency. Policies that create more jobs rebuilding America. Policies to ease the student loan burden. Policies to raise wages for workers, and make sure that women are being paid fairly on the job, and creating opportunities for paid leave for working families, and support for child care. These are all policies that have two things in common. Number one, they’d all help working families. And, frankly, number two, they’re being blocked or ignored by Republicans in Congress. So I’ve said to my team, look, any time Congress wants to do work with me to help working families, I'm right there. The door is always open. More than that, I'll go to them; I'll wash their car -- (laughter) -- walk their dog. (Laughter.) I mean, I'm ready to work with them any time that they want to pursue policies that help working families. But where they’re doing so little or nothing at all to help working families, then we've got to find ways, as an administration, to take action that's going to help. And so far this year, we’ve made sure that more women have the protection they need to fight for fair pay in the workplace -- because I believe when women succeed, America succeeds. (Applause.) We’ve acted to give millions of Americans the chance to cap their student loan payments at 10 percent of their income. I don’t want young people to be so saddled with debt that they can't get started in life. (Applause.) We’ve acted on our own to make sure federal contractors can’t discriminate based on sexual orientation or gender identity -- because you shouldn’t be fired because of who you love. (Applause.) If you’re doing the job, you should be treated fairly and judged on your own merits. (Applause.) We acted to require federal contractors to pay their workers a fair wage of $10.10 an hour. (Applause.) And we’ve gone out and we’ve worked with states and cities and business owners to join us on our $10.10 campaign, and more and more are joining us -- because folks agree that if you work full-time in this country, you shouldn’t be raising your family in poverty. That’s a pretty simple principle that we all believe in. (Applause.) So the American people are doing their job. I’ve been traveling around the country meeting them. They’re working hard. They’re meeting their responsibilities. Here in the executive branch, we’re doing our job, trying to find ways in which we can help working families. Think about how much further along we’d be if Congress would do its job. Instead, the big event last night -- it wasn’t the vote on the minimum wage. (Laughter.) It wasn’t a vote on immigration reform, strengthening the borders. It wasn’t a vote on family leave. What did they have a vote on? (Laughter.) They got together in the House of Representatives, the Republicans, and voted to sue me for taking the actions that we are doing to help families. (Laughter.) One of the main objections that’s the basis of this suit is us making a temporary modification to the health care law that they said needed to be modified. (Laughter.) So they criticized a provision; we modify it to make it easier for business to transition; and that’s the basis for their suit. Now, you could say that, all right, this is a harmless political stunt -- except it wastes America’s time. You guys are all paying for it as taxpayers. It’s not very productive. But it’s not going to stop me from doing what I think needs to be done in order to help families all across this country. (Applause.) So we’ve got too much work to do. (Applause.) And I said to Speaker Boehner, tell your caucus the best way to avoid me acting on my own is work with me to actually do something. Then you don’t have to worry about it. We’re not going to stop, and if they’re not going to lift a finger to help working Americans then I’m going to work twice as hard to help working Americans. (Applause.) They can join me if they want. I hope they do. But at least they should stop standing in the way of America’s success. We’ve got too much to do. (Applause.) So, today, I’m taking another action, one that protects workers and taxpayers alike. Every year, our government signs contracts with private companies for everything from fighter jets to flapjacks, computers to pencils. And we expect our tax dollars to be spent wisely on these contracts; to get what we pay for on-time, on budget. And when companies that receive federal contracts employ about 28 million Americans –- about one in five workers in America work for a company that has a federal contract -– we also expect that our tax dollars are being used to ensure that these jobs are good jobs. Our tax dollars shouldn’t go to companies that violate workplace laws. (Applause.) They shouldn’t go to companies that violate worker rights. (Applause.) If a company is going to receive taxpayer money, it should have safe workplaces. (Applause.) It should pay its workers the wages they’ve earned. It should provide the medical leave workers are entitled to. It should not discriminate against workers. (Applause.) But one study found that more than one in four companies that have poor records on these areas also still get contracts from the federal government. And another study found that the worst violators are also the ones who end up missing performance or cost or schedule targets –- or even overbilled the government, ripping off the taxpayers altogether -- which makes sense. I mean, if you think about it, if you got a company that isn’t treating its workers with integrity, isn’t taking safety measures seriously, isn’t taking overtime laws seriously, then they're probably cutting corners in other areas, too. And I want to be clear, the vast majority of the companies that contract with our government, they play by the rules. They live up to the right workplace standards. But some don’t. And I don't want those who don't to be getting a contract and getting a competitive advantage over the folks who are doing the right thing, right? That's not fair. (Applause.) Because the ones that don't play by the rules, they're not just failing their workers, they’re failing all of us. It’s a bad deal for taxpayers when we’ve got to pay for poor performance or sloppy work. Responsible companies that follow the law are likelier to have workers and workplaces that provide a better return for our tax dollar. They should not have to compete on an unfair playing field with companies that undercut them by breaking the law. In a race to the bottom, nobody wins. (Applause.) So over the past few years, my administration has taken steps to make the contracting process smarter. But many of the people who award contracts don’t always have the information that they need to make sure contracts go to responsible companies. So the executive order I’m signing today is going to do a few things. Number one, it will hold corporations accountable by requiring potential contractors to disclose labor law violations from the past three years before they can receive a contract. It’s going to crack down on the worst violators by giving agencies better tools to evaluate egregious or repeated offenses. It will give workers better and clearer information on their paychecks, so they can be sure they’re getting paid what they’re owed. It will give more workers who may have been sexually assaulted or had their civil rights violated their day in court. It will ease compliance burdens for business owners around the country by streamlining all types of reporting requirements across the federal government. So this is a first step in a series of actions to make it easier for companies, including small businesses, to do business with the government. So we’re going to protect responsible companies that play by the rules -- make it easier for them, try to reduce the paperwork, the burdens that they have. They’ll basically check a box that says they don’t have these violations. We want to make it easier for good corporate citizens to do business with us. (Applause.) And, by the way, for companies that have violations, our emphasis is not going to be on punishments. It is to give them a chance to follow good workplace practices and come into compliance with the law. If you want to do business with the United States of America, you’ve got to respect our workers, you’ve got to respect our taxpayers. And we’ll spend a lot of time working with and listening to business owners, so we can implement this thoughtfully and make it manageable for everybody. But the goal here is to make sure this action raises standards across the economy; encourages contractors to adopt better practices for all their employees, not just those working on federal contracts; give responsible businesses that play by the rules a fairer shot to compete for business; streamline the process; improve wages and working conditions for folks who work hard every single day to provide for their families and contribute to our country. And even though it is an executive action, I want to acknowledge and thank the members of Congress who support it and who always stand up for America’s workers. And most of them are stuck at Capitol Hill, but I just want to mention their names anyway -- Tom Harkin; Rosa DeLauro; Keith Ellison is here; Raul Grijalva; Eleanor Holmes Norton. They’ve all been working on these issues, so I want to thank those members of Congress. (Applause.) The executive order I sign today, like all the other actions I’ve taken, are not going to fix everything immediately. If I had the power to raise the federal minimum wage on my own, or enact fair pay and paid leave for every worker on my own, or make college more affordable on my own, I would have done so already. If I could do all that, I would have gotten everything done in like my first two years. (Laughter.) Because these policies make sense. But even though I can’t do all of it, that shouldn’t stop us from doing what we can. That’s what these policies will do. And I’m going to keep on trying, not just working with Democrats, but also reach out to Republicans to get things moving faster for the middle class. We can do a lot more. We need a Congress that’s willing to get things done. We don’t have that right now. In the meantime, I’m going to do whatever I can, wherever I can, whenever I can, to keep this country’s promise alive for more and more of the American people. So, thank you all. We’re going to just keep on at this thing, chipping away. And I’m confident that when we look back, we’ll see that these kinds of executive actions build some of the momentum and give people the confidence and the hope that ultimately leads to broad-based changes that we need to make sure that this economy works for everybody. Thank you so much. I’m going to sign this executive order. (Applause.) FACT SHEET: Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces Executive Order
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 31, 2014 FACT SHEET: Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces Executive Order While the vast majority of federal contractors play by the rules, every year tens of thousands of American workers are denied overtime wages, not hired or paid fairly because of their gender or age, or have their health and safety put at risk by corporations contracting with the federal government that cut corners. Taxpayer dollars should not reward corporations that break the law, so today President Obama is cracking down on federal contractors who put workers’ safety and hard-earned pay at risk. As part of this Year of Action, the President will sign an Executive Order that will require prospective federal contractors to disclose labor law violations and will give agencies more guidance on how to consider labor violations when awarding federal contracts. Although many contractors already play by the rules, and federal contracting offers already must assess a contractor’s record of integrity, these officers still may not necessarily know about companies’ workplace violations. The new process is also structured to encourage companies to settle existing disputes, like paying back wages. And finally, the Executive Order also ensures that workers are given the necessary information each pay period to verify the accuracy of their paycheck and workers who may have been sexually assaulted or had their civil rights violated get their day in court by putting an end to mandatory arbitration agreements at corporations with large federal contracts. By cracking down on federal contractors who break the law, the President is helping ensure that all hardworking Americans get the fair pay and safe workplaces they deserve. v Key Provisions of the Executive Order v The Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces Executive Order will govern new federal procurement contracts valued at more than $500,000, providing information on companies’ compliance with federal labor laws for agencies. We expect the Executive Order to be implemented on new contracts in stages, on a prioritized basis, during 2016. The Department of Labor estimates that there are roughly 24,000 businesses with federal contracts, employing about 28 million workers. 1. Hold Corporations Accountable: Under the terms of the Executive Order, agencies will require prospective contractors to disclose labor law violations from the past three years before they can get a contract. The 14 covered Federal statutes and equivalent state laws include those addressing wage and hour, safety and health, collective bargaining, family and medical leave, and civil rights protections. Agencies will also require contractors to collect similar information from many of their subcontractors. 2. Crack Down on Repeat Violators: Contracting officers will take into account only the most egregious violations, and each agency will designate a senior official as a Labor Compliance Advisor to provide consistent guidance on whether contractors’ actions rise to the level of a lack of integrity or business ethics. This advisor will support individual contracting officers in reviewing disclosures and consult with the Department of Labor. The Executive Order will ensure that the worst actors, who repeatedly violate the rights of their workers and put them in danger, don’t get contracts and thus can’t delay important projects and waste taxpayer money. 3. Promote Efficient Federal Contracting: Federal agencies risk poor performance by awarding contracts to companies with a history of labor law violations. In 2010, the Government Accountability Office issued a report finding that almost two-thirds of the 50 largest wage-and-hour violations and almost 40 percent of the 50 largest workplace health-and-safety penalties issued between FY 2005 and FY 2009 were at companies that went on to receive new government contracts. Last year, Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee Chairman Tom Harkin issued a report revealing that dozens of contractors with significant health, safety, and wage and hour violations were continuing to be awarded federal contacts. Another study detailed that 28 of the companies with the top workplace violations from FY 2005 to FY 2009 subsequently received federal contracts, and a quarter of those companies eventually had significant performance problems as well—suggesting a strong relationship between contractors with a history of labor law violations and those that cannot deliver adequate performance for the taxpayer dollars they receive. Because the companies with workplace violations are more likely to encounter performance problems, today’s action will also improve the efficiency of federal contracting and result in greater returns on federal tax dollars. 4. Protect Responsible Contractors: The vast majority of federal contractors have clean records. The Department of Labor estimates that the overwhelming majority of companies with federal contracts have no federal workplace violations in the past three years. Contractors who invest in their workers’ safety and maintain a fair and equitable workplace shouldn’t have to compete with contractors who offer low-ball bids—based on savings from skirting the law—and then ultimately deliver poorer performance to taxpayers. The Executive Order builds on the existing procurement system, so it will be familiar to contractors and will fit into established contracting practices. Responsible businesses will check a single box on a bid form indicating that they don’t have a history of labor law violations. The Federal contracting community and other interested parties will be invited to participate in listening sessions with OMB, DOL, and senior White House officials to share views on how to ensure implementing policies and practices are both fair and effective. DOL and other enforcement agencies along with the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council will consider this input as they draft regulations and guidance, which will be published for public comment before being finalized. 5. Focus on Helping Companies Improve: The goal of the process created by the Executive Order is to help more contractors come into compliance with workplace protections, not to deny contracts to contractors. Companies with labor law violations will be offered the opportunity to receive early guidance on whether those violations are potentially problematic and remedy any problems. Contracting officers will take these steps into account before awarding a contract and ensure the contractor is living up to the terms of its agreement. 6. Give Employees a Day in Court: The Executive Order directs companies with federal contracts of $1 million or more not to require their employees to enter into predispute arbitration agreements for disputes arising out of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act or from torts related to sexual assault or harassment (except when valid contracts already exist). This builds on a policy already passed by Congress and successfully implemented at the Department of Defense, the largest federal contracting agency, and will help improve contractors’ compliance with labor laws. 7. Give Employees Information About their Paychecks: As a normal part of doing business, most employers give their workers a pay stub with basic information about their hours and wages. To be sure that all workers get this basic information, the Executive Order requires contractors to give their employees information concerning their hours worked, overtime hours, pay, and any additions to or deductions made from their pay, so workers can be sure they’re getting paid what they’re owed. 8. Streamline Implementation and Overall Contractor Reporting: The Executive Order directs the General Services Administration to develop a single website for contractors to meet their reporting requirements—for this order and for other contractor reporting. Contractors will only have to provide information to one location, even if they hold multiple contracts across different agencies. The desire to “report once in one place” is a key theme in the feedback received from current and potential contractors. This step is one in a series of actions to make the federal marketplace more attractive to the best contractors, more accessible to small businesses and other new entrants, and more affordable to taxpayers. Part of the basic American bargain is that if you take responsibility, work hard and play by the rules, workers can count on fair wages, freedom from discrimination on the job, and safe and equitable workplaces. Taxpayer dollars shouldn’t be used by unscrupulous employers to drive down living standards for our families, neighbors, and communities. By creating incentives for better compliance and a process for helping contractors come into compliance with basic workplace protection laws, the Executive Order is basic good government that will increase efficiency in federal contracting and will help strengthen our workforce and our economy. DAILY GUIDANCE AND PRESS SCHEDULE FOR THURSDAY, JULY 31, 2014
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 30, 2014 DAILY GUIDANCE AND PRESS SCHEDULE FOR THURSDAY, JULY 31, 2014 In the morning, the President and the Vice President will receive the Presidential Daily Briefing in the Oval Office. This meeting is closed press. Afterward, the President and the Vice President will meet with Members of Congress on foreign policy. There will be a photojournalist spray of this meeting in the Cabinet Room. In the afternoon, the President and the Vice President will meet for lunch in the Private Dining Room. This lunch is closed press. Afterward, the President will sign an Executive Order titled “Fair Pay and Safe Workplace” that will ensure that all hardworking Americans get the fair pay and safe workplaces they deserve. Specifically, the new order will require prospective federal contractors to disclose labor law violations and give federal agencies more guidance on how to consider labor violations when awarding federal contracts. This event in South Court Auditorium is open press. Later in the afternoon, the President will deliver remarks at the Department of Housing and Urban Development. There will be expanded pool coverage of the President’s remarks. In the evening, the President and First Lady will host “A Celebration of Special Olympics and A Unified Generation” at the White House to mark the anniversary of the Special Olympics. The President will deliver remarks in the East Room, and the President and the First Lady will attend a concert commemorating the Special Olympics in the State Dining Room. There will be pooled press coverage of this event. 1:20PM THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks and signs an Executive Order South Court Auditorium Open Press (Final Gather 12:40PM – Stakeout Location) 3:40PM THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks The Department of Housing and Urban Development Expanded Pool (In-Town Travel Pool Final Gather 2:50PM – North Doors of the Palm Room) 7:25PM THE PRESIDENT and FIRST LADT host “A Celebration of Special Olympics and A Unified Generation”; THE PRESIDENT deliver remarks East Room Pooled Press (Pre-set 5:30PM; Final Gather 7:00PM – North Doors of the Palm Room) 8:25PM THE PRESIDENT and FIRST LADY attend a concert commemorating the Special Olympics State Dining Room Pool Coverage at the Top (Final Gather 8:05PM – North Doors of the Palm Room) WHITE HOUSE POOL
POTUS touched down on the South Lawn at 4:49 pm et on Marine One. Partly cloudy, unseasonably mild temps. The president emerged in a dark suit and waved to a small crowd of guests that included members of the Manchester United soccer team, which defeated Inter Milan on penalties the night before in a Guinness Cup game at Fed Ex Field. Players were on the lower balcony of the White House. Many wielded cameras, but not Juan Mata, who stared straight ahead, apparently too cool to play tourist. POTUS was followed out of the chopper by WH photog Pete Souza, then dep. chief of staff Anita Decker Breckenridge and political advisor Dan Pfeiffer. Also in tow was Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall, NSC staffer and nominee to be, and Deputy Secretary of Energy David Agnew, Director of Intergovernmental Affairs. POTUS disappeared into the West Wing, took no questions # Remarks by the First Lady Before a Roundtable with Young African Leaders
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the First Lady ______________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release July 30, 2014 REMARKS BY THE FIRST LADY BEFORE A ROUNDTABLE WITH YOUNG AFRICAN LEADERS The Omni Shoreham Hotel Washington, D.C. 11:41 A.M. EDT MRS. OBAMA: I don’t want to do too much talking because I just talked in there. You heard my thoughts. But I’m really interested in hearing from you. As I’ve said -- as you’ve heard, as Tina has shared with you -- we are really focusing on education broadly in the United States, and girls’ education internationally. And this isn’t just something that I care about now in my role as First Lady. This is an issue that we’re going to have to continue to work on until I take my last breath. And so that means that you all are going to be carrying a lot of this stuff that we begin over the finish line. And it’s so important to hear your voices and understand directly from you how these issues impact your life, how do you think somebody in my position can utilize my platform and my resources, again, not just in my role as First Lady, but as the years go forward. So I really want to hear from you. And as you heard in my speech, I want us to speak as honestly and as openly as possible. Because I think that’s the only way we’re going to begin to chip away at some of these barriers and to really get a better, clear understanding of what the challenges really are if we’re going to solve this problem. So with that, I’m going to stop talking. And I understand that a few of you have some specific presentations, but I also want to know that -- as the press clears out, which they will -- that we can also -- because I know you haven’t had an opportunity to talk to us one-on-one; you talked to the President -- but if there are any questions that you have, I’d be happy, happy to take some time to talk to you, as well. But let me just say I’m so proud of you all. I really am. And we’re really going to need your insight and your focus and your expertise. So be bold, and be brave, and don’t be shy. WHITE HOUSE POOL
A handful of amused coffee shop patrons watched as the pool filed into the back of Parkville Coffee, a small shop with exposed stone walls lined by framed art for sale. As the president spoke to three people on a bench out front, jotting something on a card as a woman spoke to him intently, one man turned to the press. "Come back here. It's a beautiful town," he said bemused. When Mr. Obama walked in, the talk quickly turned to last night's dinner at Arthur Bryant's. Hard for the pooler to hear, but patrons seemed to be advising the president on what to eat. "I am an experienced rib eater," he assured them. "I did share some fries," he added. "What's been going on? What's Parkville been doing?" he asked them, looking out the front windows toward the street. Across the street -- Main Street, in fact -- the storefronts filled with people watching and waving. He waved back at one point. The menu included many coffee drinks, but for purists, they had brewed, pour over, and French press. The president offered to pay for all of the patrons' drinks, and eventually they took him up on it -- five refills and a chai tea -- after much pressing: "It's not that often the president buys you a cup of coffee," Mr. Obama said. When the president ordered an iced tea, an employee offered him one with lavender. "I'm not confident enough to order that," Mr. Obama said. He tested coffee and tea from small cups and talked to one employee about roasting, then about the handful of employees' educational and job backgrounds as the pool was ushered out at about 12:27 p.m. Every once in a while a train passed, crossing the end of the street with its horns blaring, near where a crowd had gathered. He walked out a bit later, shook more hands, and entered the place next door: a memorabilia shop called Cool Vintage Watches, pooler is told. Then, carrying a small iced tea in a plastic cup in one hand, shaking hands with the other, he has proceeded up the street. Pool is watching nearby.... .... The president's next stop in Parkville was Peddlers Wagon, a quilt and gift shop. Mr. Obama walked in at 12:53 p.m. Central. "Smells kind of good in here. Got some candles burning, huh?" he said. He greeted the employees and others inside, including one man wearing a button-down with American flags on it, who identified himself as the owner of Parkville Jewelers. The employees explained to the president that they only make models of quilts and sell the patterns (including "Blessed Event" and "Mad for Plaid," among others) and fabrics there; they don't actually sell the quilts. They walked him through the purchasing process as the pool was ushered out at 12:55 p.m. He then walked another rope line before heading on. The president's next stop in Parkville was Peddlers Wagon, a quilt and gift shop. Mr. Obama walked in at 12:53 p.m. Central. "Smells kind of good in here. Got some candles burning, huh?" he said. He greeted the employees and others inside, including one man wearing a button-down with American flags on it, who identified himself as the owner of Parkville Jewelers. The employees explained to the president that they only make models of quilts and sell the patterns (including "Blessed Event" and "Mad for Plaid," among others) and fabrics there; they don't actually sell the quilts. They walked him through the purchasing process as the pool was ushered out at 12:55 p.m. He then walked another rope line before heading on. Remarks by the President on the Economy -- Kansas, City, MO
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary ________________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release July 30, 2014 REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT ON THE ECONOMY Uptown Theater Kansas City, Missouri 11:06 A.M. CDT THE PRESIDENT: Hello, Kansas City! (Applause.) Well, it is good to be back in Kansas City, back in the Midwest. (Applause.) And I have to say, I love these old theaters. I mean, they are unbelievable. This is just gorgeous. It is good to see Governor Jay Nixon here today. (Applause.) Congressman Emanuel Cleaver is here. (Applause.) Congressman Lacy Clay is here. (Applause.) Mayor Sly James is here. (Applause.) And you’re here! All of you are here. (Applause.) Now, if you have a seat, feel free to sit down, because I don’t want everybody starting to fall out. (Laughter.) If you don’t have a seat, don’t sit down. But bend your knees a little bit. It’s always good to spend a little time in Kansas City. Last night, I had a chance to get some barbecue at Arthur Bryant’s. (Applause.) Now, they had run out of coleslaw, which I asked -- I said, did you save some coleslaw for me? They said, no, they hadn’t saved any. AUDIENCE MEMBER: (Inaudible.) THE PRESIDENT: I’m sorry, what are you hollering about? AUDIENCE MEMBER: (Inaudible) to God -- THE PRESIDENT: I believe in God. Thanks for the prayer. Amen. Thank you. (Applause.) AUDIENCE: We love you! We love you! THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. I just want to be on record, though, because people have been asking me this question. I deal with a lot of tough issues -- I am not going to decide who makes the best barbecue in Kansas City. (Laughter.) Bryant’s barbecue was tasty. And Victor is right, I did plow through it pretty good. (Laughter.) But I have not had enough samples to make a definitive judgment, so I’m going to have to try some other barbecue the next time I come in. I have to say, by the way, Victor was not shy about eating either. (Laughter.) So I just want to be clear. But I had a chance -- I went there for the barbecue, but also I went there because I wanted to have a chance to talk to Victor and three other people from the area who took the time to sit down with me and talk, because they had written letters to me. Some of you may know -- AUDIENCE MEMBER: I wrote you, too! (Laughter.) THE PRESIDENT: Well, you know what, if I had known, I would have had you over for dinner, too. (Laughter.) But what happens is, every night I read 10 letters that we receive. We get 40,000 correspondence. And then our correspondence office chooses 10, sort of a sample for me to take a look at. And it gives me a chance to hear directly from the people I serve. And folks tell me their stories -- they tell me their worries and their hopes and their hardships, their successes. Some say I’m doing a good job. (Applause.) But other people say, “You’re an idiot.” AUDIENCE: No! THE PRESIDENT: No, no, I mean, this is how I know that I’m getting a good sample of letters. (Laughter.) Last week, a young girl wrote to ask me why aren’t there any women on our currency, and then she gave me like a long list of possible women to put on our dollar bills and quarters and stuff -- which I thought was a pretty good idea. Now, Victor wrote to me to tell me about his life in Butler, and he told me that he has been unemployed for a while after he and his wife had had their first child. But he refused to quit. He earned his degree, found a full-time job. He now helps folks with disabilities live independently. And he’s just a good-hearted man. (Applause.) And you can tell, really, he’s doing great stuff. And Victor described how he got through some tough times because of his Christian faith and his determination -- which are things that government programs and policies can’t replace. You got to have that sense of purpose and perseverance. That has to come from inside; you can’t legislate that. But he also said that he was able to afford health insurance because of the Affordable Care Act. (Applause.) And he also said that because of the income-based repayment plan that we had put in place, where you only have to pay 10 percent of your income maximum in repaying your loans each month, that was what allowed him and his family to keep a roof over their heads and support themselves. And so I’m here because Victor is the sort of person I'm working for every single day -- (applause) -- somebody who never quits, somebody who is doing everything right, somebody who believes in the American Dream. Somebody who just wants a chance to build a decent life for himself and his family. And that's the vast majority of Americans. That's who I'm fighting for right here in Kansas City and all across this country. (Applause.) That's why I ran for President in the first place, to fight for folks like that. (Applause.) Now, we all know it hasn’t always been easy. The crisis that hit near the end of my campaign back in 2008, it would end up costing millions of Americans their jobs, their homes, their sense of security. But we have fought back. We have got back off our feet, we have dusted ourselves off. Today, our businesses have added nearly 10 million new jobs over the past 52 months. (Applause.) Construction is up. Manufacturing is back. Our energy, our technology, our auto industries, they’re all booming. The unemployment rate is at its lowest point since September of 2008. (Applause.) It's dropped faster than any time in 30 years. This morning, we found out that in the second quarter of this year our economy grew at a strong pace, and businesses are investing, workers are building new homes, consumers are spending, America is exporting goods around the world. So the decisions that we made -- to rescue our economy, to rescue the auto industry, to rebuild the economy on a new foundation, to invest in research and infrastructure, education -- all those things are starting to pay off. The world’s number-one oil and gas producer -- that's not Saudi Arabia; that's not Russia -- it's the United States of America. (Applause.) We've tripled the amount of electricity we get from wind. (Applause.) We've increased by 10 times the amount of electricity we get from the sun. And all that is creating tens of thousands of jobs across the country. Our high school graduation rate is at a record high. More young people are earning their college degrees than ever before. (Applause.) 401(k)s have recovered their value. Home prices are rising. And, yes, millions of families now have the peace of mind, just like Victor’s family does, of getting quality, affordable health care when you need it. It makes a difference in people’s lives. (Applause.) And, look, Kansas City, none of this is an accident. It’s thanks to the resilience and resolve of the American people. It's also thanks to some decisions that we made early on. And now America has recovered faster and come farther than just about any other advanced country on Earth. And for the first time in more than a decade, if you ask business leaders around the world what’s the number-one place to invest, they don't say China anymore. They say the United States of America. (Applause.) And our lead is growing. So sometimes you wouldn’t know it if you were watching the news, but there are a lot of good reasons to be optimistic about America. We hold the best cards. Things are getting better. The decisions we make now can make things even better than that. In fact, the decisions we make now will determine whether the economic gains that we’re generating are broad based, whether they just go to a few at the top or whether we got an economy in which the middle class is growing and folks who are trying to get into the middle class have more rungs on the ladder; whether ordinary folks are benefiting from growth. And that’s what’s at stake right now -- making sure our economy works for every American. See, I’m glad that GDP is growing, and I’m glad that corporate profits are high, and I’m glad that the stock market is booming. But what really I want to see is a guy working nine to five, and then working some overtime, I want that guy making more than the minimum wage. (Applause.) And what I really want is somebody who has worked for 20, 30 years being able to retire with some dignity and some respect. (Applause.) What I really want is a family that they have the capacity to save so that when their child is ready to go to college, they know they can help and that it’s affordable, and that that child is not going to be burdened down with debt. That’s the measure of whether the economy is working; not just how well it’s doing overall, but is it doing well for ordinary folks who are working hard every single day and aren’t always getting a fair shot. That’s what we’re fighting for. That’s why I ran for President. That’s what I’m focused on every day. (Applause.) And that’s what sometimes Washington forgets. Your lives and what you’re going through day to day -- the struggles, but also the opportunities and the hopes and the good things, but sometimes the rough things that happen -- that’s more important than some of the phony scandals or the fleeting stories that you see. This is the challenge of our time -- how do we make sure we’ve got an economy that is working for everybody? Now, all of you are doing your part to help bring America back. You’re doing your job. Imagine how much further along we’d be, how much stronger our economy would be, if Congress was doing its job, too. (Applause.) We’d be doing great. Every time I meet some of these folks who have written me letters, we sit down and talk, and they say, what’s going on in Washington? Why -- What they tell me is, if Congress had the same priorities that ordinary families did, if they felt the same sense of urgency about things like the cost of college or the need for increases in the minimum wage, or how we’re making child care more affordable and improving early childhood education -- if that’s what they were thinking about, we could help a lot more families. A lot more people would be getting ahead. The economy would be doing better. We could help a lot more families, and we should. We should be relentlessly focused on what I call an opportunity agenda, one that creates more jobs by investing in what’s always made our economy strong: making sure that we’re on the cutting edge when it comes to clean energy; making sure that we’re rebuilding our infrastructure -- our roads, our bridges, our ports, our airports, our locks, our dams. (Applause.) Making sure that advanced manufacturing is happening right here in the United States so we can start bringing manufacturing jobs back to the Midwest and all across the country, jobs that pay a good wage. (Applause.) Investing in research and science that leads to new American industries. Training our workers -- really making a job-training program and using our community colleges in ways that allow people to constantly retrain for the new opportunities that are out there and to prepare our kids for the global competition that they’re going to face. Making sure that hard work pays off with higher wages and higher incomes. If we do all these things, we’re going to strengthen the middle class, we’ll help more people get into the middle class. Businesses, by the way, will do better. If folks have more money in their pocket, then businesses have more customers. (Applause.) If businesses have more customers, they hire more workers. If you hire more workers, they spend more money. You spend more money, businesses have more customers -- they hire even more workers. You start moving in the right direction. (Applause.) But it starts not from the top down, it starts from the middle out, the bottom up. Now, so far this year, Republicans in Congress keep blocking or voting down just about every idea that would have some of the biggest impact on middle-class and working-class families. They’ve said no to raising the minimum wage. They’ve said no to fair pay, making sure that women have the ability to make sure that they’re getting paid the same as men for doing the same job. They’ve said no for fixing our broken immigration system. Rather than investing in education, they actually voted to give another massive tax cut to the wealthiest Americans. And they’ve been pushing to gut the rules that we put in place after the financial crisis to make sure big banks and credit card companies wouldn’t take advantage of consumers or cause another crisis. So they haven’t been that helpful. (Laughter.) They have not been as constructive as I would have hoped. (Laughter.) And these actions, they come with a cost. When you block policies that would help millions of Americans right now, not only are those families hurt, but the whole economy is hurt. So that’s why this year, my administration, what we’ve said was we want to work with Congress, we want to work with Republicans and Democrats to get things going, but we can’t wait. So if they’re not going to do anything, we’ll do what we can on our own. And we’ve taken more than 40 actions aimed at helping hardworking families like yours. (Applause.) That’s when we act -- when your Congress won’t. So when Congress failed to pass equal pay legislation, I made sure that women got more protection in their fight for fair pay in the workplace, because I think that when women succeed, everybody succeeds. (Applause.) I want my daughters paid the same as your sons for doing the same job. (Applause.) Congress had the chance to pass a law that would help lower interest rates on student loans. They didn’t pass it. I acted on my own to give millions of Americans a chance to cap their payments, the program that Victor has taken advantage of. I don’t want our young people just saddled with debt before they’ve even gotten started in life. (Applause.) When it comes to the minimum wage, last week marked five years since the last time the minimum wage went up. Now, you know the cost of living went up. The minimum wage didn’t go up. So I went ahead on my own. When it came to federal contractors, I said, if you want to get a federal contract, you’ve got to pay your workers at least $10.10 an hour. (Applause.) And I’ve been trying to work with governors and mayors, and in some cases with business owners, just calling them up directly. How about giving your folks a raise? And some of them have done it. And since I had first asked Congress to raise the minimum wage, businesses like the Gap -- you’ve got 13 states and D.C. -- they’ve gone ahead and raised their minimum wage. It makes a difference in people’s lives. (Applause.) And, by the way, here’s something interesting: The states that have increased their minimum wages this year, they’ve seen higher job growth than the states that didn’t increase their minimum wage. (Applause.) So remember, you give them a little bit more money, businesses have more customers. They got more customers, they make more profit. They make more profit, what do they do? They hire more workers. America deserves a raise, and it’s good for everybody. So some of the things we’re doing without Congress are making a difference, but we could do so much more if Congress would just come on and help out a little bit. (Applause.) Just come on. Come on and help out a little bit. Stop being mad all the time. (Applause.) Stop just hating all the time. Come on. (Applause.) Let’s get some work done together. (Applause.) They did pass this workforce training act, and it was bipartisan. There were Republicans and Democrats, and everybody was all pleased. They came, we had a bill signing, and they were all in their suits. I said, doesn’t this feel good? (Laughter.) We’re doing something. It’s like, useful. Nobody is shouting at each other. (Laughter.) It was really nice. I said, let’s do this again. Let’s do it more often. (Applause.) I know they’re not that happy that I’m President, but that’s okay. (Laughter.) Come on. I’ve only got a couple of years left. Come on, let’s get some work done. Then you can be mad at the next President. Look, we’ve got just today and tomorrow until Congress leaves town for a month. And we’ve still got some serious work to do. We’ve still got a chance to -- we got to put people to work rebuilding roads and bridges. And the Highway Trust Fund is running out of money; we got to get that done. We’ve got to get some resources to fight wildfires out West. That’s a serious situation. We need more resources to deal with the situation in the southern part of the border with some of those kids. We got to be able to deal with that in a proper way. (Applause.) So there’s a bunch of stuff that needs to get done. Unfortunately, I think the main vote -- correct me if I’m wrong here, Congressman -- the main vote that they’ve scheduled for today is whether or not they decide to sue me for doing my job. AUDIENCE: Booo -- THE PRESIDENT: No, no, no -- first of all, here’s something I always say -- do not boo, vote. Booing doesn’t help. Voting helps. (Applause.) But think about this -- they have announced that they’re going to sue me for taking executive actions to help people. So they’re mad because I’m doing my job. And, by the way, I’ve told them -- I said, I’d be happy to do it with you. So the only reason I’m doing it on my own is because you don’t do anything. (Applause.) But if you want, let’s work together. I mean, everybody recognizes this is a political stunt, but it’s worse than that, because every vote they’re taking like that means a vote they’re not taking to actually help you. When they have taken 50 votes to repeal the Affordable Care Act, that was time that could have been spent working constructively to help you on some things. (Applause.) And, by the way, you know who is paying for this suit they’re going to file? You. AUDIENCE MEMBER: No! THE PRESIDENT: No, no -- you’re paying for it. And it’s estimated that by the time the thing was done, I would have already left office. So it’s not a productive thing to do. But here’s what I want people to remember. Every single day, as depressing sometimes as what goes on in Washington may be, I see the inherent goodness and generosity of the American people. I see it every day. I see it in all of you. I saw it in the four people that I had dinner with last night. In addition to Victor, one guy who joined us was a guy named Mark Turner. He works with high schools dropouts to help get them back on track. He used to be a successful corporate executive, decided he wanted to give something back. (Applause.) You got Valerie McCaw. Valerie is a single mom, engineer, owns a small business. She’s doing great things. Even though sometimes it’s a struggle making sure she keeps her business afloat, she’s persevered and is helping her son get his college education. Then you got Becky Forrest. She’s a fireplug. She’s president of the Town Fork Creek Neighborhood Association. She’s got so many things going on -- after-school programs and mentoring programs, and basketball leagues, and all kinds of things at a community center -- I couldn’t keep track of all of them. (Laughter.) And to listen to them talk, it made you optimistic. It reminded you there are good people out here. Everybody is out there trying to do their best, trying to look after their families, trying to raise their kids, trying to give something back -- working with their church, working with their synagogues, working with their places of faith. Just trying to give something back and give some meaning to their lives. And they’re responsible. And we all make mistakes and we all have regrets, but generally speaking, people are decent. And so the question is, how can we do a better job at capturing that spirit in Washington, in our government? The American people are working harder than ever to support families, to strengthen communities. And so instead of suing me for doing my job, let’s -- I want Congress to do its job and make life a little better for the Americans who sent them there in the first place. (Applause.) Stop posturing. And, by the way, there’s one place to start. I talked about this last week, but I want to talk about this a little more. Right now, there’s a loophole in the tax code that lets a small but growing group of corporations leave the country; they declare themselves no longer American companies just to get out of paying their fair share of taxes -- even though most of their operations are here, they’ve always been American companies, they took advantage of all the benefits of being an American company, but now their accountant has convinced them maybe they can get out of paying some taxes. They’re renouncing their citizenship even though they’re keeping most of their business here. I mean, it’s just an accounting trick, but it hurts our country’s finances, and it adds to the deficit and sticks you with the tab -- because if they’re not paying their share and stashing their money offshore, you don’t have that option. It ain’t right. Not only is it not right, it ain’t right. (Laughter and applause.) It ain’t right. I hope everybody is clear on the distinction. There are some things are not right. And then there’s some things that just ain’t right. (Laughter and applause.) And this ain’t right. (Laughter.) I mean, you don’t have accountants figuring all this stuff out for you, trying to game the system. These companies shouldn’t either. And they shouldn’t turn their back on the country that made their success possible. And, by the way, this can be fixed. For the last two years I’ve put forward plans to cut corporate taxes, close loopholes, make it more reliable, make it clearer. And to Republicans, I say, join with me. Let’s work to close this unpatriotic tax loophole for good. Let’s use the savings that we get from closing the loophole to invest in things like education that are good for everybody. Don’t double down on top-down economics. Let’s really fight to make sure that everybody gets a chance and, by the way, that everybody plays by the same rules. (Applause.) We could do so much more if we got that kind of economic patriotism that says we rise or fall as one nation and as one people. And that’s what Victor believes. When Victor wrote me his letter, he said, “I believe, regardless of political party, we can all do something to help our citizens to have a chance at a job, have food in their stomachs, have access to great education and health care.” That’s what economic patriotism is. (Applause.) That’s what we should all be working on. Instead of tax breaks for folks who don’t need them, let’s give tax breaks to working families to help them pay for child care and college. Don't reward companies shipping jobs overseas; let’s give tax breaks to companies investing right here in Missouri, right here in the Midwest. (Applause.) Let’s give every citizen access to preschool and college and affordable health care. And let’s make sure women get a fair wage. (Applause.) Let’s make sure anybody who is working full-time isn't living in poverty. (Applause.) These are not un-American ideas; these are patriotic ideas. This is how we built America. (Applause.) So just remember this: The hardest thing to do is to bring about real change. It's hard. You’ve got a stubborn status quo. And folks in Washington, sometimes they’re focused on everything but your concerns. And there are special interests and there are lobbyists, and they’re paid to maintain the status quo that's working for somebody. And they’re counting on you getting cynical, so you don’t vote and you don’t get involved, and people just say, you know what, none of this is going to make a difference. And the more you do that, then the more power the special interests have, and the more entrenched the status quo becomes. You can't afford to be cynical. Cynicism is fashionable sometimes. You see it all over our culture, all over TV; everybody likes just putting stuff down and being cynical and being negative, and that shows somehow that you're sophisticated and you're cool. You know what -- cynicism didn’t put a man on the moon. Cynicism didn’t win women the right to vote. Cynicism did not get a Civil Rights Act signed. Cynicism has never won a war. Cynicism has never cured a disease. Cynicism has never started a business. Cynicism has never fed a young mind. (Applause.) I do not believe in a cynical America; I believe in an optimistic America that is making progress. (Applause.) And I believe despite unyielding opposition, there are workers right now who have jobs who didn’t have them before because of what we've done; and folks who got health care who didn’t have it because of the work that we've done; and students who are going to college who couldn’t afford it before; and troops who’ve come home after tour after tour of duty because of what we've done. (Applause.) You don't have time to be cynical. Hope is a better choice. (Applause.) That's what I need you for. Thank you very much, everybody. God bless you. (Applause.) WHITE HOUSE POOL Mrs. Obama
Focusing on the importance of having a substantive conversation about girls' education in Africa Wednesday afternoon, First Lady Michelle Obama spoke with an audience of 500 participants in President Barack Obama's Mandela Fellowship for Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) summit before meeting with a select group during a roundtable. Wearing a green and white dress, Mrs. Obama entered the Regency Ballroom to a standing ovation, after John Ilima from Uganda introduced her with a message that pushed the issue of girls' education to the fore. Just before picking up from where Ilima left off, the First Lady praised the attending group, saying, "Many of you are barely half my age, yet you have already founded businesses and NGOs. You've served as leaders in your government. You've earned countless degrees. You know dozens of languages, so you all represent the talent, energy, and diversity that is Africa's life blood, and it is an honor to host you here." From the outset, the First Lady set the stage on the predicament of millions of girls around the world, "One of the issues I care deeply about is girls' education, and across the globe, the statistics on this issue is heartbreaking. Right now, 62 million girls worldwide are not in school including 30 million girls in sub-Saharan Africa, and as we saw with Malala Yousafzai was shot in the head by the Taliban gunmen, and in Nigeria where more than 200 girls were kidnapped from their school dormitory by Boko Haram terrorists, even when girls do attend school, they often do so at great risk." To applause, Mrs. Obama honed in on the goal of her speech, emphasizing that rather than having a conversation that needlessly focuses on the lack of resources needed in Africa and throughout the world to facilitate better schooling, the only concrete dialogue to have about the issue concerns the attitudes parents and societies have about girls and women and the limitations and resources that are invested in them. "In recent years, there's been a lot of talk about how to address this issue, and how we need more schools and teachers, and how we need more money for uniforms, transportation, -- and all of those things are critically important, and I could give you a perfectly fine speech today about increasing investments in girls' education around the world, but I said I wanted to be honest. "And if I do that, then we all know the problem isn't only about resources. It's also about attitudes and beliefs. It's about whether Fathers and Mothers think their daughters are as worthy for education as their sons. It's about whether society's claim to outdated laws and traditions oppress and exclude women. Or whether they view women as real citizens with fundamental rights. So the truth is, I don't think it's really productive to talk about issues about girls' education unless we are willing to have a much bigger, bolder conversation about how women are viewed and treated in the world." And while many are familiar with Mrs. Obama's upbringing, she made a point to temporarily switch gears by explaining who share a great responsibility for her success in life: the men, "I am who I am today because of the people in my family, particularly the men in my family. They told me I was smart and strong and beautiful. And as I grew up, set a high bar for the type of man I allowed in my life." Many agree that Africa's time is now, and the First Lady made sure to underscore many of the positive developments that are occurring throughout; however, issues, such as child marriage, Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), human trafficking, and domestic violence continue to persevere, causing Mrs. Obama to challenge the men in the room to rise to the challenge of raising the girls and women in their lives up, "So to all the men, my brothers here to do, I have a simple message: We need you to shake these things up. Too often women are fighting these issues alone. I challenge the men here to do something. Men need to look in to their hearts and souls and ask the question, "Do you treat women like your equal." As Mrs. Obama closed, YALI participants stood on their feet, clearly inspired by the impactful message she delivered. Afterward, she had a closed meeting with 40 youth leaders in a roundtable. Mrs. Obama will also be presenting during the U.S. Africa Summit. WHITE HOUSE POOL
A handful of amused coffee shop patrons watched as the pool filed into the back of Parkville Coffee, a small shop with exposed stone walls lined by framed art for sale. As the president spoke to three people on a bench out front, jotting something on a card as a woman spoke to him intently, one man turned to the press. "Come back here. It's a beautiful town," he said bemused. When Mr. Obama walked in, the talk quickly turned to last night's dinner at Arthur Bryant's. Hard for the pooler to hear, but patrons seemed to be advising the president on what to eat. "I am an experienced rib eater," he assured them. "I did share some fries," he added. "What's been going on? What's Parkville been doing?" he asked them, looking out the front windows toward the street. Across the street -- Main Street, in fact -- the storefronts filled with people watching and waving. He waved back at one point. The menu included many coffee drinks, but for purists, they had brewed, pour over, and French press. The president offered to pay for all of the patrons' drinks, and eventually they took him up on it -- five refills and a chai tea -- after much pressing: "It's not that often the president buys you a cup of coffee," Mr. Obama said. When the president ordered an iced tea, an employee offered him one with lavender. "I'm not confident enough to order that," Mr. Obama said. He tested coffee and tea from small cups and talked to one employee about roasting, then about the handful of employees' educational and job backgrounds as the pool was ushered out at about 12:27 p.m. Every once in a while a train passed, crossing the end of the street with its horns blaring, near where a crowd had gathered. He walked out a bit later, shook more hands, and entered the place next door: a memorabilia shop called Cool Vintage Watches, pooler is told. Then, carrying a small iced tea in a plastic cup in one hand, shaking hands with the other, he has proceeded up the street. Pool is watching nearby..... Remarks by the President on the Economy -- Kansas, City, MO
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary ________________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release July 30, 2014 REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT ON THE ECONOMY Uptown Theater Kansas City, Missouri 11:06 A.M. CDT THE PRESIDENT: Hello, Kansas City! (Applause.) Well, it is good to be back in Kansas City, back in the Midwest. (Applause.) And I have to say, I love these old theaters. I mean, they are unbelievable. This is just gorgeous. It is good to see Governor Jay Nixon here today. (Applause.) Congressman Emanuel Cleaver is here. (Applause.) Congressman Lacy Clay is here. (Applause.) Mayor Sly James is here. (Applause.) And you’re here! All of you are here. (Applause.) Now, if you have a seat, feel free to sit down, because I don’t want everybody starting to fall out. (Laughter.) If you don’t have a seat, don’t sit down. But bend your knees a little bit. It’s always good to spend a little time in Kansas City. Last night, I had a chance to get some barbecue at Arthur Bryant’s. (Applause.) Now, they had run out of coleslaw, which I asked -- I said, did you save some coleslaw for me? They said, no, they hadn’t saved any. AUDIENCE MEMBER: (Inaudible.) THE PRESIDENT: I’m sorry, what are you hollering about? AUDIENCE MEMBER: (Inaudible) to God -- THE PRESIDENT: I believe in God. Thanks for the prayer. Amen. Thank you. (Applause.) AUDIENCE: We love you! We love you! THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. I just want to be on record, though, because people have been asking me this question. I deal with a lot of tough issues -- I am not going to decide who makes the best barbecue in Kansas City. (Laughter.) Bryant’s barbecue was tasty. And Victor is right, I did plow through it pretty good. (Laughter.) But I have not had enough samples to make a definitive judgment, so I’m going to have to try some other barbecue the next time I come in. I have to say, by the way, Victor was not shy about eating either. (Laughter.) So I just want to be clear. But I had a chance -- I went there for the barbecue, but also I went there because I wanted to have a chance to talk to Victor and three other people from the area who took the time to sit down with me and talk, because they had written letters to me. Some of you may know -- AUDIENCE MEMBER: I wrote you, too! (Laughter.) THE PRESIDENT: Well, you know what, if I had known, I would have had you over for dinner, too. (Laughter.) But what happens is, every night I read 10 letters that we receive. We get 40,000 correspondence. And then our correspondence office chooses 10, sort of a sample for me to take a look at. And it gives me a chance to hear directly from the people I serve. And folks tell me their stories -- they tell me their worries and their hopes and their hardships, their successes. Some say I’m doing a good job. (Applause.) But other people say, “You’re an idiot.” AUDIENCE: No! THE PRESIDENT: No, no, I mean, this is how I know that I’m getting a good sample of letters. (Laughter.) Last week, a young girl wrote to ask me why aren’t there any women on our currency, and then she gave me like a long list of possible women to put on our dollar bills and quarters and stuff -- which I thought was a pretty good idea. Now, Victor wrote to me to tell me about his life in Butler, and he told me that he has been unemployed for a while after he and his wife had had their first child. But he refused to quit. He earned his degree, found a full-time job. He now helps folks with disabilities live independently. And he’s just a good-hearted man. (Applause.) And you can tell, really, he’s doing great stuff. And Victor described how he got through some tough times because of his Christian faith and his determination -- which are things that government programs and policies can’t replace. You got to have that sense of purpose and perseverance. That has to come from inside; you can’t legislate that. But he also said that he was able to afford health insurance because of the Affordable Care Act. (Applause.) And he also said that because of the income-based repayment plan that we had put in place, where you only have to pay 10 percent of your income maximum in repaying your loans each month, that was what allowed him and his family to keep a roof over their heads and support themselves. And so I’m here because Victor is the sort of person I'm working for every single day -- (applause) -- somebody who never quits, somebody who is doing everything right, somebody who believes in the American Dream. Somebody who just wants a chance to build a decent life for himself and his family. And that's the vast majority of Americans. That's who I'm fighting for right here in Kansas City and all across this country. (Applause.) That's why I ran for President in the first place, to fight for folks like that. (Applause.) Now, we all know it hasn’t always been easy. The crisis that hit near the end of my campaign back in 2008, it would end up costing millions of Americans their jobs, their homes, their sense of security. But we have fought back. We have got back off our feet, we have dusted ourselves off. Today, our businesses have added nearly 10 million new jobs over the past 52 months. (Applause.) Construction is up. Manufacturing is back. Our energy, our technology, our auto industries, they’re all booming. The unemployment rate is at its lowest point since September of 2008. (Applause.) It's dropped faster than any time in 30 years. This morning, we found out that in the second quarter of this year our economy grew at a strong pace, and businesses are investing, workers are building new homes, consumers are spending, America is exporting goods around the world. So the decisions that we made -- to rescue our economy, to rescue the auto industry, to rebuild the economy on a new foundation, to invest in research and infrastructure, education -- all those things are starting to pay off. The world’s number-one oil and gas producer -- that's not Saudi Arabia; that's not Russia -- it's the United States of America. (Applause.) We've tripled the amount of electricity we get from wind. (Applause.) We've increased by 10 times the amount of electricity we get from the sun. And all that is creating tens of thousands of jobs across the country. Our high school graduation rate is at a record high. More young people are earning their college degrees than ever before. (Applause.) 401(k)s have recovered their value. Home prices are rising. And, yes, millions of families now have the peace of mind, just like Victor’s family does, of getting quality, affordable health care when you need it. It makes a difference in people’s lives. (Applause.) And, look, Kansas City, none of this is an accident. It’s thanks to the resilience and resolve of the American people. It's also thanks to some decisions that we made early on. And now America has recovered faster and come farther than just about any other advanced country on Earth. And for the first time in more than a decade, if you ask business leaders around the world what’s the number-one place to invest, they don't say China anymore. They say the United States of America. (Applause.) And our lead is growing. So sometimes you wouldn’t know it if you were watching the news, but there are a lot of good reasons to be optimistic about America. We hold the best cards. Things are getting better. The decisions we make now can make things even better than that. In fact, the decisions we make now will determine whether the economic gains that we’re generating are broad based, whether they just go to a few at the top or whether we got an economy in which the middle class is growing and folks who are trying to get into the middle class have more rungs on the ladder; whether ordinary folks are benefiting from growth. And that’s what’s at stake right now -- making sure our economy works for every American. See, I’m glad that GDP is growing, and I’m glad that corporate profits are high, and I’m glad that the stock market is booming. But what really I want to see is a guy working nine to five, and then working some overtime, I want that guy making more than the minimum wage. (Applause.) And what I really want is somebody who has worked for 20, 30 years being able to retire with some dignity and some respect. (Applause.) What I really want is a family that they have the capacity to save so that when their child is ready to go to college, they know they can help and that it’s affordable, and that that child is not going to be burdened down with debt. That’s the measure of whether the economy is working; not just how well it’s doing overall, but is it doing well for ordinary folks who are working hard every single day and aren’t always getting a fair shot. That’s what we’re fighting for. That’s why I ran for President. That’s what I’m focused on every day. (Applause.) And that’s what sometimes Washington forgets. Your lives and what you’re going through day to day -- the struggles, but also the opportunities and the hopes and the good things, but sometimes the rough things that happen -- that’s more important than some of the phony scandals or the fleeting stories that you see. This is the challenge of our time -- how do we make sure we’ve got an economy that is working for everybody? Now, all of you are doing your part to help bring America back. You’re doing your job. Imagine how much further along we’d be, how much stronger our economy would be, if Congress was doing its job, too. (Applause.) We’d be doing great. Every time I meet some of these folks who have written me letters, we sit down and talk, and they say, what’s going on in Washington? Why -- What they tell me is, if Congress had the same priorities that ordinary families did, if they felt the same sense of urgency about things like the cost of college or the need for increases in the minimum wage, or how we’re making child care more affordable and improving early childhood education -- if that’s what they were thinking about, we could help a lot more families. A lot more people would be getting ahead. The economy would be doing better. We could help a lot more families, and we should. We should be relentlessly focused on what I call an opportunity agenda, one that creates more jobs by investing in what’s always made our economy strong: making sure that we’re on the cutting edge when it comes to clean energy; making sure that we’re rebuilding our infrastructure -- our roads, our bridges, our ports, our airports, our locks, our dams. (Applause.) Making sure that advanced manufacturing is happening right here in the United States so we can start bringing manufacturing jobs back to the Midwest and all across the country, jobs that pay a good wage. (Applause.) Investing in research and science that leads to new American industries. Training our workers -- really making a job-training program and using our community colleges in ways that allow people to constantly retrain for the new opportunities that are out there and to prepare our kids for the global competition that they’re going to face. Making sure that hard work pays off with higher wages and higher incomes. If we do all these things, we’re going to strengthen the middle class, we’ll help more people get into the middle class. Businesses, by the way, will do better. If folks have more money in their pocket, then businesses have more customers. (Applause.) If businesses have more customers, they hire more workers. If you hire more workers, they spend more money. You spend more money, businesses have more customers -- they hire even more workers. You start moving in the right direction. (Applause.) But it starts not from the top down, it starts from the middle out, the bottom up. Now, so far this year, Republicans in Congress keep blocking or voting down just about every idea that would have some of the biggest impact on middle-class and working-class families. They’ve said no to raising the minimum wage. They’ve said no to fair pay, making sure that women have the ability to make sure that they’re getting paid the same as men for doing the same job. They’ve said no for fixing our broken immigration system. Rather than investing in education, they actually voted to give another massive tax cut to the wealthiest Americans. And they’ve been pushing to gut the rules that we put in place after the financial crisis to make sure big banks and credit card companies wouldn’t take advantage of consumers or cause another crisis. So they haven’t been that helpful. (Laughter.) They have not been as constructive as I would have hoped. (Laughter.) And these actions, they come with a cost. When you block policies that would help millions of Americans right now, not only are those families hurt, but the whole economy is hurt. So that’s why this year, my administration, what we’ve said was we want to work with Congress, we want to work with Republicans and Democrats to get things going, but we can’t wait. So if they’re not going to do anything, we’ll do what we can on our own. And we’ve taken more than 40 actions aimed at helping hardworking families like yours. (Applause.) That’s when we act -- when your Congress won’t. So when Congress failed to pass equal pay legislation, I made sure that women got more protection in their fight for fair pay in the workplace, because I think that when women succeed, everybody succeeds. (Applause.) I want my daughters paid the same as your sons for doing the same job. (Applause.) Congress had the chance to pass a law that would help lower interest rates on student loans. They didn’t pass it. I acted on my own to give millions of Americans a chance to cap their payments, the program that Victor has taken advantage of. I don’t want our young people just saddled with debt before they’ve even gotten started in life. (Applause.) When it comes to the minimum wage, last week marked five years since the last time the minimum wage went up. Now, you know the cost of living went up. The minimum wage didn’t go up. So I went ahead on my own. When it came to federal contractors, I said, if you want to get a federal contract, you’ve got to pay your workers at least $10.10 an hour. (Applause.) And I’ve been trying to work with governors and mayors, and in some cases with business owners, just calling them up directly. How about giving your folks a raise? And some of them have done it. And since I had first asked Congress to raise the minimum wage, businesses like the Gap -- you’ve got 13 states and D.C. -- they’ve gone ahead and raised their minimum wage. It makes a difference in people’s lives. (Applause.) And, by the way, here’s something interesting: The states that have increased their minimum wages this year, they’ve seen higher job growth than the states that didn’t increase their minimum wage. (Applause.) So remember, you give them a little bit more money, businesses have more customers. They got more customers, they make more profit. They make more profit, what do they do? They hire more workers. America deserves a raise, and it’s good for everybody. So some of the things we’re doing without Congress are making a difference, but we could do so much more if Congress would just come on and help out a little bit. (Applause.) Just come on. Come on and help out a little bit. Stop being mad all the time. (Applause.) Stop just hating all the time. Come on. (Applause.) Let’s get some work done together. (Applause.) They did pass this workforce training act, and it was bipartisan. There were Republicans and Democrats, and everybody was all pleased. They came, we had a bill signing, and they were all in their suits. I said, doesn’t this feel good? (Laughter.) We’re doing something. It’s like, useful. Nobody is shouting at each other. (Laughter.) It was really nice. I said, let’s do this again. Let’s do it more often. (Applause.) I know they’re not that happy that I’m President, but that’s okay. (Laughter.) Come on. I’ve only got a couple of years left. Come on, let’s get some work done. Then you can be mad at the next President. Look, we’ve got just today and tomorrow until Congress leaves town for a month. And we’ve still got some serious work to do. We’ve still got a chance to -- we got to put people to work rebuilding roads and bridges. And the Highway Trust Fund is running out of money; we got to get that done. We’ve got to get some resources to fight wildfires out West. That’s a serious situation. We need more resources to deal with the situation in the southern part of the border with some of those kids. We got to be able to deal with that in a proper way. (Applause.) So there’s a bunch of stuff that needs to get done. Unfortunately, I think the main vote -- correct me if I’m wrong here, Congressman -- the main vote that they’ve scheduled for today is whether or not they decide to sue me for doing my job. AUDIENCE: Booo -- THE PRESIDENT: No, no, no -- first of all, here’s something I always say -- do not boo, vote. Booing doesn’t help. Voting helps. (Applause.) But think about this -- they have announced that they’re going to sue me for taking executive actions to help people. So they’re mad because I’m doing my job. And, by the way, I’ve told them -- I said, I’d be happy to do it with you. So the only reason I’m doing it on my own is because you don’t do anything. (Applause.) But if you want, let’s work together. I mean, everybody recognizes this is a political stunt, but it’s worse than that, because every vote they’re taking like that means a vote they’re not taking to actually help you. When they have taken 50 votes to repeal the Affordable Care Act, that was time that could have been spent working constructively to help you on some things. (Applause.) And, by the way, you know who is paying for this suit they’re going to file? You. AUDIENCE MEMBER: No! THE PRESIDENT: No, no -- you’re paying for it. And it’s estimated that by the time the thing was done, I would have already left office. So it’s not a productive thing to do. But here’s what I want people to remember. Every single day, as depressing sometimes as what goes on in Washington may be, I see the inherent goodness and generosity of the American people. I see it every day. I see it in all of you. I saw it in the four people that I had dinner with last night. In addition to Victor, one guy who joined us was a guy named Mark Turner. He works with high schools dropouts to help get them back on track. He used to be a successful corporate executive, decided he wanted to give something back. (Applause.) You got Valerie McCaw. Valerie is a single mom, engineer, owns a small business. She’s doing great things. Even though sometimes it’s a struggle making sure she keeps her business afloat, she’s persevered and is helping her son get his college education. Then you got Becky Forrest. She’s a fireplug. She’s president of the Town Fork Creek Neighborhood Association. She’s got so many things going on -- after-school programs and mentoring programs, and basketball leagues, and all kinds of things at a community center -- I couldn’t keep track of all of them. (Laughter.) And to listen to them talk, it made you optimistic. It reminded you there are good people out here. Everybody is out there trying to do their best, trying to look after their families, trying to raise their kids, trying to give something back -- working with their church, working with their synagogues, working with their places of faith. Just trying to give something back and give some meaning to their lives. And they’re responsible. And we all make mistakes and we all have regrets, but generally speaking, people are decent. And so the question is, how can we do a better job at capturing that spirit in Washington, in our government? The American people are working harder than ever to support families, to strengthen communities. And so instead of suing me for doing my job, let’s -- I want Congress to do its job and make life a little better for the Americans who sent them there in the first place. (Applause.) Stop posturing. And, by the way, there’s one place to start. I talked about this last week, but I want to talk about this a little more. Right now, there’s a loophole in the tax code that lets a small but growing group of corporations leave the country; they declare themselves no longer American companies just to get out of paying their fair share of taxes -- even though most of their operations are here, they’ve always been American companies, they took advantage of all the benefits of being an American company, but now their accountant has convinced them maybe they can get out of paying some taxes. They’re renouncing their citizenship even though they’re keeping most of their business here. I mean, it’s just an accounting trick, but it hurts our country’s finances, and it adds to the deficit and sticks you with the tab -- because if they’re not paying their share and stashing their money offshore, you don’t have that option. It ain’t right. Not only is it not right, it ain’t right. (Laughter and applause.) It ain’t right. I hope everybody is clear on the distinction. There are some things are not right. And then there’s some things that just ain’t right. (Laughter and applause.) And this ain’t right. (Laughter.) I mean, you don’t have accountants figuring all this stuff out for you, trying to game the system. These companies shouldn’t either. And they shouldn’t turn their back on the country that made their success possible. And, by the way, this can be fixed. For the last two years I’ve put forward plans to cut corporate taxes, close loopholes, make it more reliable, make it clearer. And to Republicans, I say, join with me. Let’s work to close this unpatriotic tax loophole for good. Let’s use the savings that we get from closing the loophole to invest in things like education that are good for everybody. Don’t double down on top-down economics. Let’s really fight to make sure that everybody gets a chance and, by the way, that everybody plays by the same rules. (Applause.) We could do so much more if we got that kind of economic patriotism that says we rise or fall as one nation and as one people. And that’s what Victor believes. When Victor wrote me his letter, he said, “I believe, regardless of political party, we can all do something to help our citizens to have a chance at a job, have food in their stomachs, have access to great education and health care.” That’s what economic patriotism is. (Applause.) That’s what we should all be working on. Instead of tax breaks for folks who don’t need them, let’s give tax breaks to working families to help them pay for child care and college. Don't reward companies shipping jobs overseas; let’s give tax breaks to companies investing right here in Missouri, right here in the Midwest. (Applause.) Let’s give every citizen access to preschool and college and affordable health care. And let’s make sure women get a fair wage. (Applause.) Let’s make sure anybody who is working full-time isn't living in poverty. (Applause.) These are not un-American ideas; these are patriotic ideas. This is how we built America. (Applause.) So just remember this: The hardest thing to do is to bring about real change. It's hard. You’ve got a stubborn status quo. And folks in Washington, sometimes they’re focused on everything but your concerns. And there are special interests and there are lobbyists, and they’re paid to maintain the status quo that's working for somebody. And they’re counting on you getting cynical, so you don’t vote and you don’t get involved, and people just say, you know what, none of this is going to make a difference. And the more you do that, then the more power the special interests have, and the more entrenched the status quo becomes. You can't afford to be cynical. Cynicism is fashionable sometimes. You see it all over our culture, all over TV; everybody likes just putting stuff down and being cynical and being negative, and that shows somehow that you're sophisticated and you're cool. You know what -- cynicism didn’t put a man on the moon. Cynicism didn’t win women the right to vote. Cynicism did not get a Civil Rights Act signed. Cynicism has never won a war. Cynicism has never cured a disease. Cynicism has never started a business. Cynicism has never fed a young mind. (Applause.) I do not believe in a cynical America; I believe in an optimistic America that is making progress. (Applause.) And I believe despite unyielding opposition, there are workers right now who have jobs who didn’t have them before because of what we've done; and folks who got health care who didn’t have it because of the work that we've done; and students who are going to college who couldn’t afford it before; and troops who’ve come home after tour after tour of duty because of what we've done. (Applause.) You don't have time to be cynical. Hope is a better choice. (Applause.) That's what I need you for. Thank you very much, everybody. God bless you. (Applause.) Remarks by the First Lady at the Summit of the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the First Lady ______________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release July 30, 2014 REMARKS BY THE FIRST LADY AT THE SUMMIT OF THE MANDELA WASHINGTON FELLOWSHIP FOR YOUNG AFRICAN LEADERS The Omni Shoreham Hotel Washington, D.C. 11:01 A.M. EDT MRS. OBAMA: Oh, my goodness. Look at you all! (Applause.) Oh, please sit, sit. Rest. (Laughter.) How has everything been? Exciting? So you’ve talked to a lot of important people -- my husband, he was here. (Applause.) That’s good. And a few other people? You’ve been traveling around the country doing great things. It is such a pleasure, and such an honor and a joy to join you here today for this wonderful summit. Let me start by thanking John for that beautiful introduction, but more importantly, for his outstanding leadership for young people -- in particular, young girls -- in Uganda. And I want to take a moment to thank all of you for being part of the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders. Yes. (Applause.) We have been so excited about your presence here in this country. We have been so excited. Now, I’ve had the opportunity to read through your bios, and I have to tell you that I am truly in awe of what you all have achieved. Many of you are barely half my age, yet you already have founded businesses and NGOs, you’ve served as leaders in your government, you’ve earned countless degrees, you know dozens of languages. So you all truly represent the talent, the energy and the diversity that is Africa’s lifeblood, and it is an honor to host you here in the United States. (Applause.) We’re so proud. Now, from what I’ve heard, you all have been making good use of this time here. You’ve been learning new skills, questioning old assumptions, and having some frank conversations with experts and with each other about the challenges and opportunities in your countries. And I want to use our time together today to continue that dialogue. Today, I want us to talk -– and I mean really talk. I want to speak as openly and honestly as possible about the issues we care about and what it means to be a leader not just in Africa but in the world today. Now, one of the issues that I care deeply about is, as John alluded to, girls’ education. And across the globe, the statistic on this issue are heartbreaking. Right now, 62 million girls worldwide are not in school, including nearly 30 million girls in Sub-Saharan Africa. And as we saw in Pakistan, where Malala Yousafzai was shot in the head by Taliban gunmen, and in Nigeria where more than 200 girls were kidnapped from their school dormitory by Boko Haram terrorists, even when girls do attend school, they often do so at great risk. And as my husband said earlier this week, we know that when girls aren’t educated, that doesn’t just limit their prospects, leaving them more vulnerable to poverty, violence and disease, it limits the prospects of their families and their countries as well. Now, in recent years, there’s been a lot of talk about how to address this issue, and how we need more schools and teachers, more money for toilets and uniforms, transportation, school fees. And of course, all of these issues are critically important, and I could give a perfectly fine speech today about increasing investments in girls’ education around the world. But I said I wanted to be honest. And if I do that, we all know that the problem here isn’t only about resources, it’s also about attitudes and beliefs. It’s about whether fathers and mothers think their daughters are as worthy of an education as their sons. It’s about whether societies cling to outdated laws and traditions that oppress and exclude women, or whether they view women as full citizens entitled to fundamental rights. So the truth is, I don’t think it’s really productive to talk about issues like girls’ education unless we’re willing to have a much bigger, bolder conversation about how women are viewed and treated in the world today. (Applause.) And we need to be having this conversation on every continent and in every country on this planet. And that’s what I want to do today with all of you, because so many of you are already leading the charge for progress in Africa. Now, as an African American woman, this conversation is deeply personal to me. The roots of my family tree are in Africa. As you know, my husband’s father was born and raised in Kenya -- (applause) -- and members of our extended family still live there. I have had the pleasure of traveling to Africa a number of times over the years, including four trips as First Lady, and I have brought my mother and my daughters along with me whenever I can. So believe me, the blood of Africa runs through my veins, and I care deeply about Africa’s future. (Applause.) Now, the status of women in Africa is also personal to me as a woman. See, what I want you all to understand is that I am who I am today because of the people in my family -– particularly the men in my family -– who valued me and invested in me from the day I was born. I had a father, a brother, uncles, grandfathers who encouraged me and challenged me, protected me, and told me that I was smart and strong and beautiful. (Applause.) And as I grew up, the men who raised me set a high bar for the type of men I’d allow into my life -- (applause) -- which is why I went on to marry a man who had the good sense to fall in love with a woman who was his equal -- (applause) -- and to treat me as such; a man who supports and reveres me, and who supports and reveres our daughters, as well. (Applause.) And throughout my life -- understand this -- every opportunity I’ve had, every achievement I’m proud of has stemmed from this solid foundation of love and respect. So given these experiences, it saddens and confuses me to see that too often, women in some parts of Africa are still denied the rights and opportunities they deserve to realize their potential. Now, let’s be very clear: In many countries in Africa, women have made tremendous strides. More girls are attending school. More women are starting businesses. Maternal mortality has plummeted. And more women are serving in parliaments than ever before. In fact, in some countries, more than 30 percent of legislators are women. In Rwanda, it’s over 50 percent -- which, by the way, is more than double the percentage of women in the U.S. Congress. Yes. (Applause.) Now, these achievements represent remarkable progress. But at the same time, when girls in some places are still being married off as children, sometimes before they even reach puberty; when female genital mutilation still continues in some countries; when human trafficking, rape and domestic abuse are still too common, and perpetrators are often facing no consequences for their crimes -- then we still have some serious work to do in Africa and across the globe. And while I have great respect for cultural differences, I think we can all agree that practices like genital cutting, forced child marriage, domestic violence are not legitimate cultural practices, they are serious human rights violations and have no place in any country on this Earth. (Applause.) These practices have no place in our shared future, because we all know that our future lies in our people -– in their talent, their ambition, their drive. And no country can ever truly flourish if it stifles the potential of its women and deprives itself of the contributions of half of its citizens. And I know this firsthand from the history of my own country. A century ago, women in America weren’t allowed to vote. Decades ago, it was perfectly legal for employers to refuse to hire women. Domestic violence was viewed not as a crime, but as a private family matter between a man and his wife. But in each generation, people of conscience stood up and rejected these unjust practices. They chained themselves to the White House gates, waged hunger strikes in prison to win the right to vote. They took their bosses to court. They spoke out about rape and fought to prosecute rapists, despite the stigma and shame. They left their abusive husbands, even when that meant winding up on the streets with their children. (Applause.) And today in America, we see the results of those hard-fought battles: 60 percent of college students today are women. Women are now more than half the workforce. And in recent decades, women’s employment has added nearly $2 trillion to the U.S. economy -– yes, trillion. (Applause.) Now, are we anywhere near full economic, political, and domestic equality in the United States? Absolutely not. We still struggle every day with serious issues like violence against women, unequal pay. Women are still woefully underrepresented in our government and in the senior ranks of our corporations. But slowly, generation after generation, we’ve been moving in the right direction because of brave individuals who were willing to risk their jobs, their reputations, and even their lives to achieve equality. And it wasn’t just brave women who made these sacrifices. It was also brave men, too -- (applause) -- men who hired women, men who passed laws to empower women, men who prosecuted other men who abused women. So to all the men, my brothers here today, I have a simple message: We need you to shake things up. (Applause.) Too often, women are fighting these battles alone, but men like you, progressive men who are already ahead of the curve on women’s issues, you all are critically important to solving this problem. And that starts by doing a little introspection. And I say this not just to the 250 of you who are in the room today, but to men around the world. Men in every country need to look into their hearts and souls and ask themselves whether they truly view and treat women as their equals. (Applause.) And then when you all encounter men in your lives who answer no to that question, then you need to take them to task. You need to tell them that any man who uses his strength to oppress women is a coward, and he is holding back the progress of his family and his country. (Applause.) Tell them that a truly strong, powerful man isn’t threatened by a strong, powerful woman. (Applause.) Instead, he is challenged by her, he is inspired by her, he is pleased to relate to her as an equal. And I want you to keep modeling that behavior yourselves by promoting women in your companies, passing laws to empower women in your countries, and holding the same ambitious dreams for your daughters as you do for your sons. And to the women here, my sisters -- AUDIENCE MEMBER: We love you! MRS. OBAMA: And I love you. I do. (Applause.) Which is why I want us as women to understand that oppression is not a one-way street. See, too often, without even realizing it, we as women internalize the oppression we face in our societies by believing harmful messages about how we should look and act, particularly as women of color –- messages that tell us that we’re ugly or irrelevant, that we don’t deserve full control over our bodies, that we should keep our mouths shut and just do as we’re told. And then, too often, we turn around and impose those same beliefs on other women and girls in our lives, including our own daughters. For example, in countries across the globe, there are women who still support and carry out the practice of genital cutting. There are women who are still insisting on marrying off their young daughters or keeping them home from school to help with the housework. And then there are the more subtle harms that we afflict -- inflict on each other -- the harm of spurning our sisters who don’t conform to traditions because we’re jealous or suspicious of their courage and their freedom; the harm of turning a blind eye when a woman in our community is being abused because we don’t want to cause conflict with our neighbors by speaking up. And I imagine that for some of you here today, getting your degree might have meant disobeying or disappointing your families. Maybe while you’ve been acing your studies and thriving in your career, you have a grandmother who has been wringing her hands because you’re not yet married. (Laughter and applause.) But, my sisters, you all are here today because you have found a way to overcome these challenges, and you have blossomed into powerful, accomplished women. And we need you all to help others do the same. All of us, men and women on every continent, we all need to identify these problems in ourselves and in our communities, and then commit to solving them. And I say this to you not just as lawyers and activists and business leaders, but as current and future parents. Because as a mother myself, I can tell you that this is where change truly happens. With the behavior we model, with our actions and inactions, every day, we as parents shape the values of the next generation. For example, my parents never had the chance to attend university, but they had the courage and foresight to push me to get the best education I could. And they weren’t threatened by the prospect of me having more opportunities than they had -- just the opposite. They were thrilled. And that’s what should drive us all: The hope of raising the next generation to be stronger, smarter and bolder than our generation. (Applause.) And that is exactly the kind of work that so many of you are already doing in your families and your communities, which is why I’m so proud of you. I could name all of you, but there are a few of you that I will remark on. Mahamadou Camara from Mali. (Applause.) He is working to educate women about micro-credit and accounting so that they can run their own businesses and build better lives for their children. In Liberia, Patrice Juah. (Applause.) She founded Miss Education Awareness Pageant to inspire girls to pursue higher education and have opportunities their parents never dreamed of. And in Burundi, Fikiri Nzoyisenga. (Applause.) He created a youth coalition to fight violence against women because he doesn’t want anything to hold them back from pursuing their dreams. This is where Africa’s future lies –- with those women-run businesses, with those girls attending university, and with leaders like you who are making those dreams possible. And the question today is how all of you and young people like you will steer Africa’s course to embrace that future. Because ultimately, that’s what leadership is really about. It’s not just about holding degrees or holding elected office. And it’s not about preserving our own power or continuing traditions that oppress and exclude. Leadership is about creating new traditions that honor the dignity and humanity of every individual. Leadership is about empowering all of our people –- men, women, boys and girls –- to fulfill every last bit of their God-given potential. And when we commit to that kind of leadership across the globe, that is when we truly start making progress on girls’ education. Because that’s when families in small villages around the world will demand equal opportunities for their daughters. They won’t wait. That’s when countries will willingly and generously invest in sending their girls to school, because they’ll know how important it is. And we all know the ripple effects we can have when we give our girls a chance to learn. We all know that girls who are educated earn higher wages. They’re more likely to stand up to discrimination and abuse. They have healthier children who are more likely to attend school themselves. So no matter where you all work, no matter what issue you focus on -- whether it’s health or microfinance, human rights or clean energy -- women’s equality must be a central part of your work. It must. (Applause.) Because make no mistake about it, the work of transforming attitudes about women, it now falls on your shoulders. And it’s up to you all to embrace the future, and then drag your parents and grandparents along with you. (Laughter.) And I know this won’t be easy. I know that you will face all kinds of obstacles and resistance -- you already have. But when you get tired or frustrated, when things seem hopeless and you start thinking about giving up, I want you to remember the words of the man whom your fellowship is now named -- and I know these words have been spoken many times. As Madiba once said, “It always seems impossible until it is done.” And I, oh, I know the truth of those words from my own history and from the history of my country. My ancestors came here in chains. My parents and grandparents knew the sting of segregation and discrimination. Yet I attended some of the best universities in this country. I had career opportunities beyond my wildest dreams. And today, I live in the White House, a building -- (applause) -- but we must remember, we live in a home that was constructed by slaves. Today, I watch my daughters –- two beautiful African American girls -– walking our dogs in the shadow of the Oval Office. And today, I have the privilege of serving and representing the United States of America across the globe. So my story and the story of my country is the story of the impossible getting done. And I know that can be your story and that can be Africa’s story too. (Applause.) But it will take new energy, it will take new ideas, new leadership from young people like you. That is why we brought you here today. We’ve done this because we believe in Africa, and we believe in all of you. And understand we are filled with so much hope and so many expectations for what you will achieve. You hold the future of your continent in your hands, and I cannot wait to see everything you will continue to accomplish in the years ahead. Thank you. God bless. (Applause.) WHITE HOUSE POOL
Motorcade arrived at the Uptown Theater in Kansas City shortly before 10:40 a.m. Central. Along the way there were the usual small groups of people watching with camera phones, including two boys waving small American flags at one intersection. As the motorcade approached the theater, a man in a white T-shirt could be seen holding a poster with "Cease-Fire Gaza-Israel Stop Killing" written on it, his other hand in a peace sign. That proved to be only a preview of what was waiting about a minute later outside the theater. A sizable crowd was waiting across the street, many holding signs about several issues — Gaza, immigration, Russia, and health care seemed to be the primary subjects of concern. Here's a sampling of the signs: "Free Gaza" (on a small piece of neon pink poster board, held by a man holding aloft his camera phone in the other hand) "OBAMA — Our HOPE was CHANGE of policy that favored Financial & War CRIMINIALS" "Obomba [sic — written on drawing of what looked like a rocket] — STOP funding Zionist murderers and their apartheid state! STOP your drone murder program and prosecution of whistleblowers exposing crimes!" "Jobs For Taxpayers Not Drug Cartels" "Bus Illegals Home" (by a woman holding an American flag in the other hand) "Nobama He's Not My President" "Cannabis Saves Lives" There were also at least a couple Israeli flags. As of 10:58 a.m., we're waiting for the president's remarks inside the theater, an old former movie palace with painted stucco walls. ...Via the White House, there are approximately 1,500 people in the theater for the president's speech, according to Harry Magee of the Kansas City Fire Prevention Division. ... .... Victor Fugate, who was one of the letter-writers with whom the president dined last night, introduced the president at the theater. He had this to say of the ribs the president ate for dinner: "If the First Lady is watching, it was a beautiful salad." Once more, here's the information the White House provided on Victor last night before their dinner at Arthur Bryant's: In January of 2012, Victor sent the President a letter to thank you for the student loan help he received from the Income Based Repayment Plan. Currently, Victor works for the Missouri Department of Mental Health and sees firsthand how the ACA is impacting people’s lives. He has also personally benefited from the ACA, using an exchange to get health care when we was laid off from his job as a financial counselor. Victory is married and has a four year old daughter. Victor: "I am thankful for the Affordable Care Act. That's probably the biggest reason that I wrote a letter to the president."... .... A woman in the balcony continued to stand and call out to the president as the crowd quieted down. Eventually, he paused to see what she was saying. "Jesus is the God of Israel. He is fully God," she called out. "I believe in God. Thanks for the prayer," he responded as the woman was escorted out...... ... Missouri Governor Jay Nixon Mayor of Kansas City, MO Sly James Jackson County Executive Mike Sanders Mayor of Kansas City, KS Mark Holland Congressmen Lacy Clay and Emanuel Cleaver.... WHITE HOUSE POOL (all Pool writings are shared with other journalists recipient of the emails that are distributed through the White House Press Handlers)
Wheels down at Kansas City International Airport at 7:02 p.m. Central. President Obama emerged at 7:14 p.m. to a pleasantly cool evening and was greeted on the runway by Mayor Sly James of Kansas City and Representative Emanuel Clever. They shook hands and spoke for a few moments at the bottom of the stairs before the president headed toward a crowd gathered to shake hands. "Hello, everybody," he said as he walked up, commenting at one point on the nice weather. "Hey, buddy, give me a high five!" he said at one point to "a small, blonde cherub," as described by NPR's Tamara Keith. The boy obliged.... people gathered in sporadic clumps along the highway, often with camera phones in hand and some with young children on their shoulders. Workers gathered outside Toyota and Harley Davidson dealerships to watch, many clad in their red and orange work shirts, respectively. Not all of the onlookers were on foot. On the opposite side of the highway, some cars pulled over to the shoulder, phones extended out the window. Traffic even slowed in one spot as drivers watched the motorcade pass, with at least one woman waving out her open, driver's side window as she drove. Just arrived at an unannounced stop: Arthur Bryant's Barbeque..... ...... President Obama, sans his jacket, walked into Arthur Bryant's Barbeque at 7:52 p.m. Central. He started unbuttoning his cuffs just before walking in. Pool is holding outside. In the meantime, here's some background from the White House about what's happening: Tonight, the President is having dinner with four Kansas City residents who have written letters to him about their personal stories of working hard to get ahead in America – both their successes and their struggles. These letters remind the President and his staff who we are working for and underscore the importance of his agenda for using all of the tools at his disposal to continue to expand opportunity for all Americans. Yesterday, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest, a Kansas City native, called each of these letter writers to invite them to dinner with the President this evening. Victor Fugate In January of 2012, Victor sent you a letter to thank you for the student loan help he received from the Income Based Repayment Plan. Currently, Victor works for the Missouri Department of Mental Health and sees firsthand how the ACA is impacting people’s lives. He has also personally benefited from the ACA, using an exchange to get health care when we was laid off from his job as a financial counselor. Victory is married and has a four year old daughter. Valerie McCaw Last week, Valerie sent you an email to voice her frustration about how hard it is to make a living. As a single mom and a small business owner, she works seven days a week and still struggles to pay her bills. Valerie is a small business owner and engineer. She started her firm, VSM Engineering, 11 years ago and has four part-time employees. Her son is in college out of state and his tuition is almost 40,000 a year. Mark Turner In June, Mark wrote to you about teaching a GED program and trying to make a difference in the lives of young people. Mark works for the Full Employment Council, a non-profit that helps those who are unemployed and under employed. The Full Employment Council, along with the city of Kansas City, recently received a $1 million grant from DOL to fund Face Forward KC an initiative to provide educational services, job training and placement services, mentoring services, and legal assistance to juvenile offenders and at-risk youth. Mark has married for 34 years and has two children, three grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Since he wrote the letter he has taken on an additional role of teaching a GED program named Project Rise. He is still employed by the Full Employment Council but wanted to highlight this additional role. Becky Forrest In August of 2013, Becky wrote to you about the work that was being done through her neighborhood association. Becky has been the President of the Town Fork Creek Neighborhood Association for 11 years and said she has learned so much in this role. She said that she wanted you to know that people in her community were working hard to improve their neighborhood and positively impact the lives of those around them. ..... ....Pool was allowed into Arthur Bryant's, a popular BBQ joint, as the president ordered at the back of the restaurant, looking up at the menu on a large placard as he asked for a half slab, a bottle of water, and a Bud Light — pooler got visual confirmation on the water but not the beer. Mr. Obama also ordered coleslaw, only to be told they don't have any. "You've got to have some coleslaw around here, don't you?" he said. "You're out of it? You didn't save any for me?" "Come on, man, I thought you were going to hook me up," he added, as the workers grinned. At the cash register, he pulled out a wallet and some cash, with a $50 bill visible on top. "I want to pay for everybody," he told the woman at the register, likely referring to the guests who wrote him letters. After ordering, he headed into another room with black-and-white photos of baseball players lining the walls, where he greeted smiling diners (and the pool tried not to fall into anyone's laps in the slightly cramped quarters). A fast-pitch softball team of 16-year-old girls called the Titans (hometown of Glenview, Illinois) sat in spots throughout the restaurant, finishing up their meals in navy blue uniforms. The president learned they are playing in the "World Series" (which is reportedly taking place in Independence, Missouri), and said he would cheer for them. A woman with blonde hair and glasses rose to shake his hand from another table. "He's so handsome, oh my God!" she exclaimed. "I'm paying for her food," he said after hugging her. "You're so handsome," she continued. "The First Lady is so lucky." She became choked up as she shook his hand a final time, and he continued, sitting down with the four letter-writers — see details in the last pool report — around a table in the corner by the front window with, at that point, only large cups set out. They began to talk, and the pool was ushered out. Pool is now holding outside as a crowd gathers next to the restaurant. Again, thanks to NPR's Tamara Keith for many of the president's quotes.... ..... President Obama exited the restaurant at 8:57 p.m. Central, still in his shirt sleeves, to greet a crowd that had formed in the lot next to it. A few women cheered as he walked out. "Oh my God!" one woman cried out when she saw him. He held a small girl with pigtails for a moment, then a very young infant. The crowd called out "bye!" in unison as the president finished shaking hands. Motorcade rolling at 9:01 p.m..... UPCOMING GUIDANCE FOR FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the First Lady FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 29, 2014 Reminder to RSVP: UPCOMING GUIDANCE FOR FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA Wednesday, July 30, 2014 Washington, DC * 11:00 AM – On Wednesday, the First Lady will deliver remarks at the Summit of the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders. The First Lady’s remarks will take place at the Omni Shoreham Hotel, and will be livestreamed HERE. The First Lady’s remarks will be open press. Members of the media who wish to cover this event must RSVP online HERE by Tuesday, July 29, 2014 at 5:00 PM ET. For further questions on covering the YALI Summit, please email YALISummitMedia@state.gov. Washington, DC * 11:30 AM – Following the First Lady’s remarks, Mrs. Obama will participate in a roundtable discussion focused on the importance of girls’ education in Africa with several of the young African leaders. Remarks by the President in Town Hall with the Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary For Immediate Release July 28, 2014 REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT AT THE WASHINGTON FELLOWSHIP FOR YOUNG AFRICAN LEADERS PRESIDENTIAL SUMMIT TOWN HALL Omni Shoreham Hotel Washington, D.C. 11:10 A.M. EDT THE PRESIDENT: Hello, everybody! (Applause.) Hello, everybody. Thank you. (Applause.) Thank you so much. Everybody, please have a seat. Have a seat. We're just getting started here. Well, hello, everybody. (Applause.) Welcome to Washington. I know most of you are visiting our country for the first time. So on behalf of the American people, welcome to the United States of America. (Applause.) We are thrilled to have you here. And to everybody who’s watching online across Africa, or at watch parties, or following through social media -- you are a part of this, too, and we’re very glad that you’re with us. And can everybody please give Faith a big round of applause for the great introduction. (Applause.) I have to say Faith didn’t seem very intimidated by the -- (applause) -- she seemed not lacking in confidence. (Laughter.) And she’s doing great work in South Africa to empower young people and young entrepreneurs, especially women. Now, I’m not here to give a big speech. The whole idea of a town hall is for me to be able to hear from you. But first, I want to speak briefly about why I believe so strongly in all of you being here today. Next week, I’ll host a truly historic event -- the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit, where nearly 50 Presidents and Prime Ministers attend from just about all of your countries. It will be the largest gathering any American President has ever hosted with African heads of state and government. And the summit reflects a principle that has guided my approach to Africa ever since I became President -- that the security and prosperity and justice that we seek in the world cannot be achieved without a strong and prosperous and self-reliant Africa. And even as we deal with crises and challenges in other parts of the world that often dominate our headlines, even as we acknowledge the real hardships that so many Africans face every day, we have to make sure that we’re seizing the extraordinary potential of today’s Africa, which is the youngest and fastest-growing of the continents. So next week’s summit will focus on how we can continue to build a new model of partnership between America and Africa -- a partnership of equals that focuses on your capacity to expand opportunity and strengthen democracy and promote security and peace. But this can’t be achieved by government alone. It demands the active engagement of citizens, especially young people. And so that’s why, four years ago, I launched the Young African Leaders Initiative to make sure that we’re tapping into the incredible talent and creativity of young Africans like you. (Applause.) Since then, we’ve partnered with thousands of young people across the continent -- empowering them with the skills and the training and technology they need to start new businesses, to spark change in their communities, to promote education and health care and good governance. And last year in South Africa, at a town hall like this in Soweto -- some of you were there -— I announced the next step, which was the Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders. The objective was to give young Africans the opportunity to come to the United States and develop their skills as the next generation of leaders in civil society and business and government. And the response was overwhelming. Across the continent, young men and women set out on a journey. In remote villages with no phones and Internet, they navigated the back roads, and they traveled by bus and train to reach larger towns and cities -— just to get an online application for the program. One young woman from rural Zimbabwe took a five-hour bus ride, then another six-hour bus ride, then another seven-hour bus ride -- a two-day journey -— just to get her interview. And ultimately, some 50,000 extraordinary young Africans applied. And today they’re at the heart of what we’re calling our YALI Network, the online community across Africa that’s sharing their ideas and forging new collaborations to realize the change that they seek. And I want everybody out there in the YALI Network to know that you’re the foundation of our partnership with Africa’s youth. So today, we’re thrilled to welcome you, our Washington Fellows, to an exchange program unlike any other that America has ever had with Africa. And among your ranks is that young woman from Zimbabwe who endured all those bus rides. So we want to welcome Abbigal Muleya. (Applause.) Where’s Abbigal? Where’s Abbigal? Where is she? There’s Abbigal. (Applause.) That's a lot of bus rides. (Laughter.) Now, I do have a first item of business. As I said, I launched this fellowship in Soweto, not far from the original home of Nelson Mandela. And the spirit of this program reflects Madiba’s optimism, his idealism, his belief in what he called “the endless heroism of youth.” And so today, with the blessing of the Mandela family, to whom we’re so grateful, we are proud to announce that the new name of this program is the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders. (Applause.) So you’re the first class of Mandela Washington Fellows. (Applause.) Now, I know all of you have been busy -- all of you have been busy at some of America’s top colleges and universities. You’ve been learning how to build a grassroots organization, and how to run a business, and how to manage an institution. As one of you said, “My brain has been bubbling with all sorts of ideas.” And I know you’ve also been developing your own ideas for meeting the challenges that we’ll address at next week’s summit. And I wanted you to know I’ve read some of the recommendations that were produced at each university and college, and I thought they were outstanding pieces of work. And that’s what I want you to hear today -— your ideas, your vision for Africa. Here at this summit, you’re going to engage with some of our nation’s leading voices, including someone who I know you can’t wait to see, which is Michelle Obama, because -- (applause.) But many members of Congress, who are strong supporters of this program, are also here. Where are the members of Congress? I know that we’ve got a few. There you are. (Applause.) So some outstanding members of Congress are here. You’ll get a chance to meet some of them. And I know some of you are headed off to internships in some of our nation’s leading companies and organizations. One of you said, “I will take what I’ve learned here and put it into practice back home.” And that’s the whole idea. And I want to say, by the way -- I took some pictures with some of the university officials who had hosted all of you, and uniformly they said they could not have been more impressed with all of you, and what a great job you did in engaging and taking advantage of the program. So, thank you. (Applause.) I know you’ve also been experiencing America as well, the places that make us who we are, including my hometown of Chicago. (Applause.) You’ve experienced some of our traditions, like a block party. (Laughter.) You’ve experienced some of our food -- Faith said she ate a lot of Texas barbeque when she was in Austin. AUDIENCE MEMBERS: Wooo! THE PRESIDENT: You really liked that barbeque, huh? (Laughter.) So you got the whole Longhorn thing going on and all that? (Laughter.) And Americans have been learning from you as well, because every interaction is a chance for Americans to see the Africa that so often is overlooked in the media -- the Africa that is innovative and growing and dynamic. And a new generation, all of you, on Facebook and Twitter, and creating new ways to connect -- like Yookos and MXit. I see some of you tweeting this town hall -- (laughter) -- although mostly I see these guys shifting into the seat over and over again so everybody can get a picture. (Laughter.) Don’t think I didn’t notice. (Laughter.) You all just -- you need to stay in your chairs. (Laughter.) Everybody thinks they’re slick. (Applause.) So the point is, our young leaders -- our Young African Leaders initiative is a long-term investment in all of you and in Africa and the future that we can build together. And today, I want to announce some next steps that I think are important. First, given the extraordinary demand for this fellows program, we’re going to double it so that in two years, we’ll welcome a thousand Mandela Washington fellows to the United States every year. (Applause.) So that’s good news. Second, we’ll do even more to support young entrepreneurs with new grants to help you start a business or a nonprofit, and training thousands of aspiring entrepreneurs in smaller towns and rural areas. And given the success for our annual Global Entrepreneurship Summit, I can announce that next year’s summit will be hosted for the first time in Sub-Saharan Africa, which I think is going to be terrific. (Applause.) Third, we’re launching a whole new set of tools to empower young African through our YALI network -- new online courses and mentoring, new ways to meet up and network across Africa and around the world, new training sessions and meetings with experts on how to launch startups. And it all begins today. And to get started, all you have to do is to go to Yali.state.gov -- Yali.state.gov -- and that will give you information about how you can access all these resources going forward. And finally, we’re creating new regional leadership centers across Africa. So we’re joining with American universities, African institutions, and private sector partners like Microsoft and MasterCard Foundation -- we want to thank the two of them; they’re really helping to finance this. So give Microsoft and MasterCard Foundation a round of applause. (Applause.) Starting next year, young Africans can come to these centers to network and access the latest technology, and get training in management and entrepreneurship. And we’re starting in Senegal, Ghana, South Africa and Kenya. (Applause.) And we aim to help tens of thousands of young Africans access the skills and resources they need to put their ideas into action. So the point of all of this is we believe in you. I believe in you. I believe in every one of you who are doing just extraordinary things -- like Adepeuju Jaiyeoba. (Applause.) In Nigeria -- there’s Adepeuju. In Nigeria, she saw a close friend die during childbirth. She now helps train birth attendants, and delivers kits with sterile supplies, and helping to save the lives of countless mothers and their babies. So we want to thank Adepeuju. (Applause.) We want her to save even more lives. Or, to give you another example, Robert Nkwangu from Uganda. (Applause.) There’s Robert. So Robert is deaf, but even though he can’t hear, he can see that the stigma and discrimination against people with disabilities must end. (Applause.) He’s been their champion. He’s standing up for the rights in schools and on the job. (Applause.) So thank you, Robert. We want to be your partner in standing up for the universal rights of all people. I believe in Mame Bousso Ndiaye. (Applause.) So in Senegal, she’s taking a stand against the human trafficking that condemns too many women and girls to forced labor and sexual slavery. She runs an academy that gives them education and skills to find a job and start new lives. And so, we are so proud of you. Thank you for the good work that you’re doing. (Applause.) We want to help you help these young women and girls to the kind of future of dignity that we want for every woman all across the continent and all around the world. And I believe in Hastings Mkandawire. Where’s Hastings? (Applause.) In rural Malawi, he saw towns in darkness, without electricity. So now he gathers scrap metal, builds generators on his porch, takes them down to the stream for power, delivers electricity so farmers can irrigate their crops and children can study at night. Hastings, thank you. (Applause.) We want to help you power Africa. (Applause.) And everybody here has a story, and we believe in all of you. We see what’s possible. And we see the vision that all of you have -- not because of what you’ve seen here in America, but because what you’ve already done back home, what you see in each other and what you see in yourself. Sobel Ngom, from Senegal. (Applause.) Sobel has a wonderful quote. He has a wonderful quote. He said, “Here, I have met Africa, the [Africa] I have always believed in. She’s beautiful. She’s young. She’s full of talent and motivation and ambition.” And that’s a good description. (Applause.) And being here with all of you, and learning together and working together and dreaming together has only strengthened his determination, he says, to realize “my aspirations for my country and my continent.” So to Sobel and to all of you, and to everyone across Africa who joins our Young Leaders Initiative, I want to thank you for inspiring us with your talent and your motivation and your ambition. You’ve got great aspirations for your countries and your continent. And as you build that brighter future that you imagine, I want to make sure that the United States of America is going to be your friend and partner every step of the way. So thank you very much, everybody. Let’s get a few questions and comments in this town hall. (Applause.) So, okay, I know this is kind of a rowdy crowd. (Laughter.) First of all, I want everybody to sit down. Sit down. Now, I’m not going to be able to call on everybody, so just a couple of rules. Number one, don’t start standing up and waving or shouting. Just raise your hand and I will try to select from the audience, and I’ll try to take as many questions as possible. So let’s keep the questions -- or comments relatively brief, and I will try to give a brief answer -- although if you ask me what are we going to do about ending war, then that may require a longer answer. So we’ll see how it goes. So that’s rule number one. Rule number two, we should have microphones in the audience, and so wait -- when I call on you, wait until the microphone comes. The attendant will hold it in front of you. You can answer. Please introduce yourself, tell us what country you’re from, and ask your question or make your remark. Number two, just to make sure it’s fair, we’re going to go boy, girl, boy, girl. (Laughter.) In fact, you know what -- in fact, we’re going to go girl, boy, girl, boy. (Laughter.) That’s what we’re going to do. Because one of the things we want to teach about Africa is how strong the women are and how we’ve got to empower women. (Applause.) All right? So let’s see who we’re going to call on first. This young lady right here. Right here. So wait until the mic is there. Here, there’s somebody right behind you who’s got the microphone. Introduce yourself and -- welcome. Q Thank you, Mr. President. I’m from South Africa. And my question is, previously Nelson Mandela had inspired the foundation of the South Africa Fund for Enterprises. It has run for two decades, and it has since been stopped. Is there any chance to develop another fund for enterprises in Africa? THE PRESIDENT: Well, it’s a great question. One of the things that’s been interesting in not only some of the platforms that you developed at your universities, but also during my trips to Africa is the degree to which young Africans are less interested in aid and more interested in how can they create opportunity through business and entrepreneurship and trade. Not to say that we do not need to deal with very serious challenges in terms of poverty. We need to make sure that we are continuing to work on behalf of the least of these. But what I think everybody recognizes is that if you want sustained development and sustained opportunity and sustained self-determination, then the key is to own what is produced, and to be able to create jobs and opportunity organically and indigenously, and then be able to meet the world on equal terms. So part of the challenge in entrepreneurship is financing. And for so many individuals across the continent, it’s just very difficult to get that initial startup money. And the truth is, is that in many communities around Africa it’s not that you need so much, but you need something, that little seed capital. And so what we’d like to do is to work with programs that are already existing, to find out where are the gaps in terms of financing, and then to make sure that we are utilizing the resources that we have in the most intelligent way possible to target young entrepreneurs to create small- and medium-sized businesses all across the continent that hopefully grow into large businesses. And if we’re supplementing that kind of financing with the training and networking that may be available through YALI, then we could see the blossoming of all kinds of entrepreneurial activities all across the continent that eventually grow into larger businesses. And so we are very interested in this. This will be a primary focus of the summit that we have with the African leaders next week -- how do we make sure that financing is available, and, by the way, how do we make sure that the financing does not just go to those who are already at the top; how do we make sure that it filters down. You shouldn’t have to be the son of somebody or the daughter of somebody -- (applause) -- you should be able to get -- if you’ve got a good idea, you should be able to test that idea and be judged on your own merits. And that's where I think we can help bypass what oftentimes is in, sadly, too many countries a system in which you have to know somebody in order to be able to finance your ideas. One thing I do want to say, though -- keep in mind, even in the United States, if you're starting a business, it's always hard getting financing. So there are a lot of U.S. entrepreneurs and small business people, when they’re starting off, they’re borrowing from their brothers and their sisters, and begging and scratching and taking credit cards and they’re running up debt. Inherently, there is risk involved. And so I don't want to give you anybody the illusion who is out there starting a business or wanting to launch a business that it's going to be easy. It will not be. But there are ways where we can make a difference. And oftentimes, particularly in rural areas of Africa, you don't need a lot of capital to get started, right? So you may be able -- if you buy one piece of equipment that can increase yields for a whole bunch of farmers in that community, and then the additional profits that they make now allows you to buy two pieces of equipment, and then four, and then eight, you can grow fairly rapidly because the baseline of capital in that community may be relatively low. So you don't necessarily have huge barriers of entry. You just have to make sure that you have that initial capital. But of course, in communities like that, even a small amount of capital can be hard to come by. And that's why making sure that this is a top priority of our efforts is something that we'll really emphasize. Okay? All right, let’s see -- it's a gentleman’s turn. I'm going to call on this guy just because he’s so tall. (Laughter.) I always like -- I like height. (Laughter.) There you go. All right, go ahead. Q Thank you, Mr. President. I'm from Senegal. President Obama is the first President of the United States of Africa. (Applause.) I would like to know can you share the two important issues you will discuss as the first President of the United Nation of Africa? THE PRESIDENT: I'm sorry, I'm the first African American President of the United States. I wasn’t sure of -- heads of state? What are the top two issues that I'm going to be discussing when we're in the summit tomorrow? Q If Africa becomes the United States of Africa -- THE PRESIDENT: Oh, I see. Q -- and you get the chance to meet the first president. THE PRESIDENT: I see, okay. All right, so this is sort of like a -- it's kind of an intellectual exercise. If I were to discuss -- no, no, now I understand your question. Q It's clear? THE PRESIDENT: It’s an interesting question. The idea is if somehow Africa unified into a United States of Africa, what would be something that I would say to him or her -- Q Yes. (Laughter.) THE PRESIDENT: You know, I think the thing that I would emphasize first and foremost is the issue of governance. Now, sometimes this is an issue that raises some sensitivities because I think people feel like who’s the United States to tell us how to govern. We have different systems. We have different traditions. What may work for the United States may not work for us. Oh, and by the way, the United States, we don't see that Congress is always cooperating so well and your system is not perfect. I understand all that. So let’s acknowledge all that. What I will say is this, that regardless of the resources a country possesses, regardless of how talented the people are, if you do not have a basic system of rule of law, of respect for civil rights and human rights, if you do not give people a credible, legitimate way to work through the political process to express their aspirations, if you don't respect basic freedom of speech and freedom of assembly, if there are not laws in place in which everybody is equal under the law so that there’s not one set of rules for the well-connected and another set of rules for ordinary people, if you do not have an economic system that is transparent and accountable so that people trust that if they work hard they will be rewarded for their work and corruption is rooted out -- if you don't have those basic mechanisms, it is very rare for a country to succeed. I will go further than that: That country will not succeed over the long term. It may succeed over the short term because it may have natural resources that it can extract, and it can generate enough money to then distribute and create patronage networks. But over time, that country will decline. And if you look at examples around the world, you’ll have a country like Singapore which has nothing -- it’s a small, tiny, city-state with not a lot of -- it has no real natural resources, and yet it’s taken off. And you have other countries, which I won’t mention -- (laughter) -- that have incredible resources, but because there’s not a basic system of rule of law that people have confidence in, it never takes off and businesses never take root. And so what I would emphasize is governance as a starting point. It’s not alone sufficient. You then also have to have over time infrastructure. And you also have to have an education system that's in place. And there are all kinds of other elements that are necessary. But if you don't have the basic premise that ordinary citizens can succeed based on their individual efforts, that they don't have to pay a bribe in order to start a business or even get a telephone, that they won’t be shaken down when they're driving down the street because the police officers aren’t getting paid enough, and this is the accepted way to supplement their income -- if you don't have those things in place, then over time there’s no trust in the society. People don't have confidence that things are working the way that they should. And so then everybody starts trying to figure out, okay, what’s my angle? How am I going to get my thing? And it creates a culture in which you can’t really take off. Look, you’re never going to eliminate 100 percent of corruption. Here in the United States, occasionally we have to throw people in jail for taking money for contracts or having done favors for politicians. All that’s true. But the difference here in the United States -- and it’s true in many of the more developed, industrialized countries -- is that’s more the aberration rather than the norm. I mean, the truth is here in the United States, if you want to start a business, you go ahead and you file papers, you can incorporate. You might have to pay a fee of $50 or $100 or whatever it ends up being, and that’s it. You’ve got your business. Now, the business might not be making any money at that point, you still got to do a whole bunch of stuff to succeed -- but the point is, is that basically rule of law is observed. That’s the norm. That’s what happens 95 percent of the time. And that’s I think where you have to start. And that’s where young people I think have to have high expectations for their leadership. And don’t be fooled by this notion that, well, we have a different way, an African way. Well, no. (Laughter.) The African way is not that you suddenly have a -- you’ve been in office and then, suddenly, you have a Swiss bank account of $2 billion. That’s not the African way. (Applause.) And part of rule of law, by the way, is also that leaders eventually give up power over time. It doesn’t have to be the same way all the time. But if you have entrenched leadership forever, then what happens over time is it just -- you don’t get new ideas and new blood. And it is inevitable I think sometimes that rule of law becomes less and less observed because people start being more concerned, about keeping their positions than doing the right thing. Okay, great question, even though it took me a while to understand it. (Laughter.) So it’s a young lady’s turn. Let me make sure that I’m not restricting myself to -- how about that young lady right there. Yes, you. (Laughter.) Hold on a second, the microphone is coming. Q Good morning, Mr. President. I’m from Botswana. I just wanted to find out how committed is the U.S. to assisting Africa in closing gender inequalities, which are contributing to gender-based violence, which it threatens the achievement of many Millennium Development goals, such as access to universal education, eradicating HIV and AIDS. THE PRESIDENT: Well, listen, you will not find anybody more committed than I am to this issue, and let me tell you why. First of all, I was mentioning earlier, if you look comparatively at countries around the world, what societies succeed, which ones don’t, one of the single-best measures of whether a country succeeds or not is how it treats its women. (Applause.) And if you think about it, it makes sense, because, first of all, women are half your population. So if you have a team -- we just finished the World Cup, right -- if you have a soccer team -- what you all call a football team -- and you go out and the other side has a full team and you send out half your team, how are you going to do? You will not do as well. If you are not empowering half of your population that means you have half as few possible scientists, half as few possible engineers. You are crippling your own development unnecessarily. So that’s point number one. Point number two is if you educate and empower and respect a mother, then you are educating the children, right? So with a man, you educate him, yeah, it’s okay. (Laughter.) A woman, you educate her, and suddenly you’ve got an entire village, an entire region, an entire country suddenly is becoming educated. So this is an absolute priority for us. And we’ll be discussing this with the heads of state and government that we see next week. And we’ve seen some progress on some fronts, but this is where sometimes traditions can get in the way. And as many of you know, my father was from Kenya, and -- (applause) -- that’s the Kenyan contingent. (Laughter.) But I think what applies to Kenya is true and applies to many of the countries in Africa -- and this is not unique to Africa, we see this in other parts of the world -- some of the old ways of gender relations might have made sense in a particular setting. So in Kenya, for example, in the Luo tribe, polygamy existed. It was based on the idea that women had their own compounds, they had their own land, and so they were empowered in that area to be self-sufficient. And then urbanization happened; suddenly the men may be traveling to the city and suddenly there is another family in the city and the women who were left back in the villages may not be empowered in the same way. So what worked then might not work today -- in fact, does not work today. And if you seek to -- if you try to duplicate traditions that were based on an entirely different economy and an entirely different society and entirely different expectations, well, that’s going to break down. It’s not going to work. So as a continent, you have to update and create new traditions. And that’s where young people come in. You don’t have to accept what’s the old ways of doing things. You can respect the past and respect traditions while while recognizing they have to be adapted to a new age. Now, I have to say there are some traditions that just have to be gotten rid of and there’s no excuse for them. Female genital mutilation -- I’m sorry, I don’t consider that a tradition worth hanging on to. (Applause.) I think that’s a tradition that is barbaric and should be eliminated. Violence towards women -- I don’t care for that tradition. I’m not interested in it. It needs to be eliminated. (Applause.) So part of the task is to find what traditions are worth hanging on to and what traditions you got to get rid of. I mean, there was a tradition in medicine that if you were sick, they would bleed you. That’s a bad tradition. And we discovered, let’s try other things -- like medicine. (Laughter.) So we don’t have to cling on to things that just don’t work. And subjugating women does not work, and the society will fail as a consequence. (Applause.) So everything we do, every program that we have -- any education program that we have, any health program that we have, any small business or economic development program that we have, we will write into it a gender equality component to it. This is not just going to be some side note. This will be part of everything that we do. And the last point I’m going to make -- in order for this to be successful, all the men here have to be just as committed to empowering women as the women are. (Applause.) That’s important. So don’t think that this is just a job for women, to worry about women’s issues. The men have to worry about it. And if you’re a strong man, you should not feel threatened by strong women. (Applause.) All right. So we’ve got gentleman’s turn. This gentleman in this bright tie right here. Go ahead. Q Thank you, Your Excellency. I’m coming from Kenya. THE PRESIDENT: Hey, habari? Q Mzuri sana. (Applause.) Asante sana (Swahili) opportunity. Africa is losing her people to starvation and diseases, which are otherwise curable. And this is largely because our governments are establishing very huge debts to the G8 countries. As a global leader in the family of nations, when will the U.S. lead the other G8 countries in forgiving Africa these debts so that our governments can be in a position to deliver and provide essential services, like social, health care, and the infrastructural development services to our people? (Applause.) Thank you. THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. Well, let me make a couple of points on this. First of all, I think it’s important to recognize on issues of health the significant progress that has been made -- because I think sometimes we are so properly focused on the challenges that we forget to remind ourselves how far we’ve come. And when you know how far you’ve come, it gives you confidence about how much further you can go. So over the last 20 years, HIV occurrence has been cut in half in Africa -- half. Tuberculosis and malaria deaths have been reduced by 40 percent and 30 percent respectively; 50 percent fewer women die giving birth; 50 million children’s lives have been spared. And most importantly, now what we’re doing is not just providing assistance through programs like PEPFAR, but we’re also empowering governments themselves to begin to set up public health infrastructure and networks, and training nurses and clinicians and specialists so that it becomes self-sufficient. So we’re making progress. Now, I think there is a legitimate discussion to be had around debt forgiveness. And in meetings with what now is the G7, I just want to let you know -- (laughter) -- but that's a whole other topic that -- (laughter) -- we don't want to get too far afield -- I think there’s genuine openness to how can we help make sure that countries are not saddled with debts that may have been squandered by past leaders, but now hamstrung countries -- are making countries unable to get out from under the yoke of those debts. The only thing I will do, though, is I will challenge the notion that the primary reason that there’s been a failure of service delivery is because of onerous debt imposed by the West. Let me say something that may be somewhat controversial. And I’m older than all of you -- that I know. (Laughter.) By definition, if you’re my age you’re not supposed to be in this program. (Laughter.) You lied about your age. (Laughter.) When I was a college student, issues of dependency and terms of trade and the legacy of colonialism, those were all topics of great, fervent discussion. And there is no doubt that, dating back to the colonial era, you can trace many of the problems that have plagued the continent -- whether it’s how lines were drawn without regard to natural boundaries and tribal and ethnic relationships; whether you look at all the resources that were extracted and the wealth that was extracted without any real return to the nature of trade as it developed in the ‘60s and the ‘70s, so that value was never actually produced in country, but was sent somewhere else. There are all kinds of legitimate arguments you can look at in terms of history that impeded African development. But at some point, we have to stop looking somewhere else for solutions, and you have to start looking for solutions, internally. And as powerful as history is and you need to know that history, at some point, you have to look to the future and say, okay, we didn't get a good deal then, but let’s make sure that we’re not making excuses for not going forward. And the truth is, is that there’s not a single country in Africa -- and by the way, this is true for the United States as well -- that with the resources it had could not be doing better. So there are a lot of countries that are generating a lot of wealth. I’m not going to name any, but you can guess. This is a well-educated crowd. There are a lot of countries that are generating a lot of income, have a lot of natural resources, but aren’t putting that money back into villages to educate children. There are a lot of countries where the leaders have a lot of resources, but the money is not going back to provide health clinics for young mothers. So, yes, I think it’s important for Western countries and advanced countries to look at past practices -- if loans have been made to countries that weren’t put into productive enterprises by those leaders at that time, those leaders may be long gone but countries are still unable to dig themselves out from under those debts -- can we strategically in pin-point fashion find ways to assist and provide some relief. That’s a legitimate discussion. But do not think that that is the main impediment at this point to why we have not seen greater progress in many countries, because there’s enough resources there in-country, even if debts are being serviced, to do better than we’re doing in many cases. Okay, so it’s a young lady’s turn. I haven’t gotten anybody way back in the back there. So how about that young lady right there with the glasses. Q Thank you, Mr. President. My name is Zu (ph). THE PRESIDENT: Zu? (ph). I like that name. Q Yes, from Madagascar. THE PRESIDENT: From? Q Madagascar. THE PRESIDENT: Madagascar. Q It’s a great honor for me, Mr. President, to thank you on behalf of the Malagasy people to reintegrate Madagascar last month in the AGOA. And my question is, at it will end on 2015, we want to have your confirmation right here what will happen after 2015. We all know that the AGOA was a great way to decrease youth unemployment in our country, so what will happen after this, the end? Thank you, Mr. President. THE PRESIDENT: So AGOA, for those of you -- I think everybody here is probably aware -- this is one of the primary tools we have to promote trade between the United States and many African countries. It’s set to expire. There’s a negotiation process taking place as we speak. More progress will be made next week. I think that we’ve learned some lessons about what works and what doesn’t through the first stage of AGOA. In some cases, what we’ve discovered is, is that many countries can’t -- even if they have no tariff barriers that they’re experiencing, they still have problems in terms of getting their goods to market. And so part of what we’re trying to do is to find ways in which we can lower some of the other barriers to export for African countries -- not just the tariffs issue, but how can we make sure that there is greater transportation networks; how can we make sure that trade financing is in place; what are the other mechanisms that may inhibit exports from African countries. So that’s the first thing. On a separate track, part of what we’re also trying to figure out is how can we promote inter-African trade. Because so often -- and this does relate to a legacy of the past and colonialism -- you have strong infrastructure to send flowers from Kenya to Paris, but it’s very hard to send tea from Kenya down to Tanzania -- much closer, but the infrastructure is not built. And so part of what we have to do is to try to find ways to integrate Africa. Much of that is a question of infrastructure. Some of it has to do with coordinating regulatory systems between countries. We’re embarking on some experiments starting in East Africa to see if we can get Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania -- see, you guys know all of them. (Laughter.) We’re starting to work with these countries to see can we get some blocks of effective trading taking place. Because, look, obviously there’s going to be a certain market for certain goods -- I mentioned flowers from Kenya. The market -- that’s primarily going to be in some of the wealthier countries. But there are going to be some goods that it’s going to be much easier to sell. If I’m a Kenyan businessman, it’s going to be easier for me to sell my goods to a Tanzanian or a Ugandan than it is for me to try to compete with Nike or Apple in the United States. Right? And historically, when you look at how trade develops -- if you look at Asia, for example, which obviously has grown extraordinarily fast -- a huge volume of that trade is within the region first, and then over time that becomes a launching pad from which to trade globally. So this is an area where I think we can also provide some assistance and help. But just to answer directly your question, we are very strongly committed to making sure that AGOA is reauthorized. And obviously, we’ve got a bunch of members of Congress here who care about this deeply, as well. How much time do we have, by the way? I just want to make sure -- he said, one hour. (Laughter.) Okay, I think we’ve got time for two more questions. AUDIENCE: Awww -- THE PRESIDENT: Well, I’m sorry, but -- (laughter.) So it’s a gentleman’s turn. Let me see -- this gentleman in the white right here. That guy right there. Hold on one second, let’s get a microphone on him. Q Hi, I’m from Liberia. It is a pleasure meeting you, Mr. President. My question has to do with the issue of antitrust law. You will be meeting our leaders next week. Will you discuss the issue of antitrust law that will protect young entrepreneurs in Africa? If not, are you willing to include it on your agenda, please, to solve our problems back home? Thank you. THE PRESIDENT: Well, obviously, each country is different, and I’ll be honest with you, I’m not familiar with the antitrust laws in every country. But what I would certainly commit to do is to talk about antitrust in the broader context of what I said at the beginning after maybe the first question, and that is the issue of rule of law and how it interacts with the economy. If you have monopolies or collusion between a few companies that create artificial barriers to new entrants, then economic theory will tell you that invariably that is inefficient. It means consumers are going to pay more for worse products. It means those companies can concentrate more and more wealth without actually improving what they produce. And over time, the economy stagnates. And here in the United States we had a history of huge, big, corporations controlling huge sectors of the economy. And over time, we put in laws to break up those monopolies and to create laws to guard against artificial monopolies that prevented competition. So antitrust is one element of a broader set of laws and principles that every country should be adopting with the basic notion that, look, if you’re successful -- if you are a company like Apple that innovated, or a company like Microsoft that came up with a new concept -- you should be able to get big and you should be able to be successful, and those who founded it, like Bill Gates, should be wealthy. But what you also want to make sure of is the next generation -- the Googles or the Facebooks -- that they can be successful, too, in that space. And that means that you have to make sure that those who got there first aren’t closing the door behind them, which all too often I think happens in many countries, not just in African countries. So you make an excellent point, and we’ll make sure that that’s incorporated into the broader discussion. Okay, this young lady right here. Yes, because she looks so nice. (Laughter.) Q Thank you very much. I’m from Kenyan. THE PRESIDENT: We got a Maasai sister right here. (Laughter.) That’s it. Go ahead. Q Thank you for this great initiative for the young people, and thank you for believing in the young people. The upcoming summit of the Presidents, I know you’re going to ask them on engagement of the young people back in our countries. And my concern will be, how will you be able to engage them to commit to their promises? Because I know they’re going to promise you that. Thank you. (Applause.) THE PRESIDENT: All right, don’t get carried away here. (Laughter.) Well, look, part of what we’ve done here by building this YALI network that we’re going to be doubling over the next couple of years is we’re going directly to the young people and creating these networks and these opportunities. And what we’re already seeing, I think, is many countries are excited by this. They’re saying, you know what, this is something that can be an empowering tool for us, so let’s take advantage of it. There are going to be some that may feel somewhat threatened by it -- there’s no doubt about that. But the good thing is we will be creating this network -- there are a whole bunch of people who are following this online, who are following it on social media. We’ll have these regional centers. You will help to make sure that some of these promises are observed, because the whole continent of young people is going to be paying attention, and we’ll be able to see which countries are really embracing this opportunity to get new young people involved, and which ones are ignoring its promise. And so I will say to every one of these leaders, you need to take advantage of the most important resource you have, and that’s the amazing youth in these countries. (Applause.) But you’re going to have to also help to hold them accountable collectively across countries, and that’s part of why this network can be so important. So I know this is sad, but I have to go. AUDIENCE: Awww -- THE PRESIDENT: I have other work to do. (Laughter.) The good news is you’ve got all these really amazing people who are still going to be meeting with you and talking with you. And, most importantly, what an amazing opportunity it is for all of you to get to know each other, and to talk and to compare ideas and share concepts going forward. The main message I want to leave you with is that, in the same way I’m inspired by you, you should be inspired by each other; that Africa has enormous challenges -- the world has enormous challenges, but I tell the young people that intern in the White House -- and I usually meet with them at the end of their internship after six months -- I always tell them, despite all the bad news that you read about or you see on television, despite all the terrible things that happen in places around the world, if you had to choose a time in world history in which to be born, and you didn’t know who you were or what your status or position would be, you’d choose today. Because for all the difficulties, the world has made progress and Africa is making progress. And it’s growing. And there are fewer conflicts and there’s less war. And there’s more opportunity, and there’s greater democracy, and there’s greater observance of human rights. And progress sometimes can be slow, and it can be frustrating. And sometimes, you take two steps forward, and then you take one step back. But the great thing about being young is you are not bound by the past, and you can shape the future. And if all of you work hard and work together, and remain confident in your possibilities, and aren’t deterred when you suffer a setback, but you get back up, and you dust yourself off, and you go back at it, I have no doubt that you’re going to leave behind for the next generation and the generation after that an Africa that is strong and vibrant and prosperous, and is ascendant on the world stage. So I can't wait to see what all of you do. Good luck. (Applause.) WHITE HOUSE POOL
We are rolling at 10:40 am to the Omni Shoreham for a town hall event at the summit of the Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, where President Obama will address the 500 fellows. He is expected to announce a doubling of the program to 1,000 fellows next year, when it will be renamed for Nelson Mandela. The fellowship program is a part of the Young African Leaders Initiative, the creation of which POTUS announced last year during his visit to South Africa. Today, he is also expected to announce an expansion of the initiative, including the establishment of four regional leadership centers in Africa Motorcade arrived at the Omni Shoreham at 10:51 a.m. for POTUS' address to the Washington Fellowship of Young African Leaders. Did not catch a glimpse of the President as we were herded into the room where the 500 fellows are assembled. Flags of African nations and the United States line two sides of the room BACKGROUND & FACT SHEET: The President’s Young Africa Leaders Initiative (YALI)
On background from a White House Official: This morning, the President will participate in a town hall with 500 exceptional young people who participated in the inaugural Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, an initiative he announced in 2013 as part of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI). President Obama first launched YALI in 2010 to support an emerging generation of African leaders as they work to drive economic growth, enhance democratic governance, and strengthen the civil society structures that will help the continent grow and prosper. The President announced the creation of this Fellowship, which connects young African leaders to leadership training opportunities at some of America’s top universities to expand their leadership skills and knowledge, during his 2013 trip to South Africa. During the town hall, the President will deliver remarks to announce that the Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders program will be renamed in honor of former South African President Nelson Mandela. The President will also announce new public-private partnerships to create a continuum of programs, platforms, and support for young African leaders. These new investments will include the development of four Regional Leadership Centers in Africa, a vast array of online classes and resources, along with seed funding, mentoring, and networking opportunities. A Fact Sheet detailing these announcements is below. For more information on the Fellowship, click HERE. The YALI Summit serves as the lead-up event to next week’s inaugural U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit, the largest gathering any U.S. President has held with African heads of state and government, which will strengthen ties between the United States and one of the world’s most dynamic and fastest growing regions. With 60 percent of Africa’s population under 35, the future success of African nations will depend on the leadership, skills, and ingenuity of this emerging generation of leaders and this public-private partnership is vital to helping better the continent for years to come. THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 28, 2014 FACT SHEET: The President’s Young Africa Leaders Initiative (YALI) Today, during a town hall with 500 young African leaders, President Obama will announce the expansion of his Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) which was launched in 2010. Through YALI, the United States is investing in the next generation of African leaders, and has committed significant resources to enhance leadership skills, bolster entrepreneurship, and connect young African leaders with one another, the United States, and the American people. Signature aspects of this expansion include: · The creation of four Regional Leadership Centers in Ghana, Kenya, Senegal, and South Africa. · The Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders will be renamed as the “Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders” and will be doubled in size to reach 1,000 participants each year by 2016. · New virtual resources and vibrant physical spaces for the YALI Network. · Hundreds of new entrepreneurship grants and mobile incubators, and the Global Entrepreneurship Summit will be held in sub-Saharan Africa in 2015. Deepening Our Reach on the Continent: Regional Leadership Centers Today, President Obama will announce the creation of four Regional Leadership Centers in Ghana, Kenya, Senegal, and South Africa. Beginning in 2015, these Centers will improve the availability and quality of leadership training programs and professional development opportunities for young African leaders. Each will be run as a public-private partnership, capitalizing on the energy and dynamism of the private sector, the knowledge of African and American institutions, and the programmatic and educational resources of the U.S. Government. The Centers will focus on engaging young leaders from a wide range of organizations and backgrounds and with a diversity of experiences. The Regional Leadership Centers will: · Provide Quality Leadership Training: Centers will provide both long and short courses on leadership and issues across multiple sectors. · Support Entrepreneurship: Centers will provide entrepreneurship support services, including mentoring, technology, and access to capital. · Enhance Professional Networking: Centers will offer young leaders the opportunity to connect with each other, American professionals, and experts from across the region. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) will provide $38 million for the creation of and programs in the Regional Leadership Centers. American and African companies and foundations have more than matched these funds, providing principal capital for the startup costs, equipment, and technology for the Centers. The MasterCard Foundation will provide financial support over five years to develop the Centers. With financial and in-kind contributions from Microsoft, Dow Chemical Company, Intel Corporation, and Cisco Systems, the U.S. Government will be able to establish and maintain the Centers, and provide business software and hardware, mentoring, and information technology training through them. With in-kind support from Proctor & Gamble, General Electric, Atlas Mara, and McKinsey & Company, the U.S. and its partners will be able to provide leadership training, technical support, and access to capital for young entrepreneurs. The U.S. Government has joined with the following partners to establish and deliver high quality training, support, and networking through the Centers. In collaboration with USAID, host institutions in Africa will provide instruction and collaboration space, expert training, and coursework for the Centers. · The Center in Ghana will be supported by a consortium of civil and private sector organizations including Africa 2.0, Africa Capacity Building Foundation, Ghana Private Enterprise Federation, and the Center for Policy Analysis, led by the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration. · The Center in Kenya will have a robust training curriculum with direction from a partnership that brings together Deloitte’s global management and strategy skills, the established curriculum and capacity of Kenyatta University, the public administration training of the Kenya School of Government, and Africa Nazarene University’s youth engagement and outreach. · The Center in South Africa will benefit from an education alliance led by the University of South Africa, with support from the University of Pretoria, which brings expertise in governance training, and Innovation Hub, which provides entrepreneurship support. · The Center in Senegal will assist young entrepreneurs through the African Center for Advanced Studies in Management’s experience in professional management studies, the West African Research Center’s youth leadership training experience, and the Synapse Center’s support to young leaders. Expanding the Flagship Program: The Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders Today, in front of 500 Fellows, the President will announce that the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders will reach 1,000 participants each year by 2016. The Fellowship currently brings 500 of Africa’s most dynamic young leaders to the United States each year for six weeks of leadership training, networking, and mentoring at top U.S. universities. Training and mentorship are focused on three areas: business and entrepreneurship, civic engagement, and public administration. Upon returning home, the Fellows will have access to professional development opportunities, mentoring, networking, training, and seed funding to support their ideas, businesses, and organizations. Providing the Tools, Training, and Technology to Promote Leadership: The YALI Network The YALI Network provides virtual resources and vibrant physical spaces to equip young African leaders with the skills and connections they need to improve their communities and their countries. Established by President Obama in April 2014, the Network already includes more than 68,000 members. Using yali.state.gov and social media, the United States provides online courses and materials, and connects members with global leaders in their field. Over the next year, President Obama will continue to engage the YALI Network. Virtual training, tools, and technology for the YALI Network. YALI Network members will have access to an array of online courses and training materials, along with virtual mentoring and networking opportunities. · Over 20 Curated MOOCs and 60 facilitated MOOC Camps: YALI Network members are able to access more than 20 Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) and will be offered 60 facilitated courses in MOOC Camps in YALI Spaces across the continent over the coming year. Additional courses, including on vocational education, will come online in the months ahead. · Tailored web training videos: The YALI Network platform will also provide access to tailor-made training videos on leadership, business and entrepreneurship, civic leadership, and public management featuring U.S. university professors and experts in their field. · Meetups – the ability to connect at home and in person: The YALI Network website will provide members with a “Meetup” option, which enables members to connect, network and even collaborate on new initiatives. Creation of state-of-the-art YALI Spaces. Over the next year, American Corners in Cote d’Ivoire, Zimbabwe, and South Africa will be outfitted to provide YALI Network members opportunities to meet, learn, and incubate their ideas; spaces in seven additional countries will be renovated over the next two years. YALI staff will facilitate online courses and provide advice on everything from business start-ups to opportunities for study abroad. Meeting rooms, collaboration spaces, and business tools will allow YALI Network members to work together to create social ventures, community service projects, and new business start-ups. Building on a tradition of engagement. All of our embassies in Africa have significant, sustained engagements with young leaders. Currently, 43 embassies have youth councils that provide input into U.S. policies and contribute to the design and execution of U.S. Government programs. Since 2010, the State Department has held 15 exchanges specifically for young African leaders and brought more than 1,600 sub-Saharan young leaders to the United States, through its educational and cultural affairs programs, including Fulbright. In just the past year, embassies have organized over 800 events across the continent to support Africa’s young civic, government, and business leaders. Supporting Young Entrepreneurs In addition to the announcements made by President Obama today, the U.S. Government is expanding support to entrepreneurs by connecting them to investors, advisors, and distribution networks. In 2015, the Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES) will be hosted in sub-Saharan Africa for the first time. Morocco is hosting this year. YALI Network members will have the opportunity to present at and participate in both summits. Over the next year, the State Department will lead three partnership opportunity delegations of entrepreneurs and investors to Tanzania, Ethiopia, and Ghana. In addition, the State Department and the U.S. Africa Development Foundation (USADF) will support selected YALI entrepreneurs to attend and participate in the DEMO Africa 2014 conference, to be held in Lagos, Nigeria, on September 25 - 26. DEMO Africa is a platform for top African companies to launch their products and announce to Africa and the world what they have developed. The United States will continue to provide young Africans access to resources they can use to put their skills to work in service of their communities. · Hundreds of new entrepreneurship grants. USADF is partnering with the State Department to offer $2.5 million in seed funding to members of the YALI Network over the next three years in the form of 250 small entrepreneurship grants. These grants will support start-ups and expansion of businesses and social ventures in six countries in 2015 – Ghana, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, and Rwanda. · Mobile incubators will reach at least 5,000 aspiring entrepreneurs in 2015. U.S. embassies in Africa will build entrepreneurial capacity beyond the capital cities by training and helping to incubate the businesses of at least 5,000 aspiring entrepreneurs from the Network in provincial cities and rural areas during 2015. StartUp Weekend and other experts will accompany a mobile incubator, equipped with the tools and technology to get a business off the ground. Conducted in collaboration with local governments, institutions, and NGOs, the workshops and equipment are designed to walk aspiring entrepreneurs through the basic precepts of starting a business, including writing a business plan, leveraging online resources, raising capital, and expanding market share. DAILY GUIDANCE AND PRESS SCHEDULE FOR MONDAY, JULY 28, 2014
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 27, 2014 DAILY GUIDANCE AND PRESS SCHEDULE FOR MONDAY, JULY 28, 2014 In the morning, the President will participate in a town hall at the Summit of the Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders. The three-day Summit will cap off the Washington Fellowship, the flagship program of the President’s Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), and give 500 of sub-Saharan Africa’s most prominent young leaders the opportunity to engage with U.S. government officials, entrepreneurs and civil society representatives as well as leaders in international development. This event at the Omni Shoreham Hotel is open to pre-credentialed media. In the afternoon, the President will award the 2013 National Medal of Arts and National Humanities Medal at the White House. The First Lady will also attend. This ceremony in the East Room will be open press. The recipients of the 2013 National Medal of Arts and National Humanities Medal can be found here. ADVISORY: President Obama to Award 2013 National Medal of Arts and National Humanities Medal WASHINGTON, DC – On Monday afternoon, July 28, 2014, President Obama will award the 2013 National Medal of Arts and the National Humanities Medal to distinguished recipients in the East Room. The First Lady will also attend. The National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities were established by the Congress in 1965 as independent agencies of the Federal Government. To date, the NEA has awarded more than $5 billion to support artistic excellence, creativity, and innovation for the benefit of individuals and communities. The NEA extends its work through partnerships with State arts agencies, local leaders, other Federal agencies, and the philanthropic sector. The National Endowment for the Humanities supports research and learning in history, literature, philosophy, and other areas of the humanities by funding selected, peer-reviewed proposals from around the Nation. The Endowment brings high-quality historical and cultural experiences to large and diverse audiences in all 50 States, the District of Columbia, and five territories. At next week’s event, the President will deliver remarks and present the awards to the following individuals and organizations: 2013 National Medal of Arts
Julia Alvarez for her extraordinary storytelling. In poetry and in prose, Ms. Alvarez explores themes of identity, family, and cultural divides. She illustrates the complexity of navigating two worlds and reveals the human capacity for strength in the face of oppression. Brooklyn Academy of Music for innovative contributions to the performing and visual arts. For over 150 years, BAM has showcased the works of both established visionaries and emerging artists who take risks and push boundaries. Joan Harris for supporting creative expression in Chicago and across our country. Her decades of leadership and generosity have enriched our cultural life and helped countless artists, dancers, singers, and musicians bring their talents to center stage. Bill T. Jones for his contributions as a dancer and choreographer. Renowned for provocative performances that blend an eclectic mix of modern and traditional dance, Mr. Jones creates works that challenge us to confront tough subjects and inspire us to greater heights. John Kander for his contributions as a composer. For more than half a century, Mr. Kander has enlivened Broadway, television, and film through songs that evoke romanticism and wonder and capture moral dilemmas that persist across generations. Jeffrey Katzenberg for lighting up our screens and opening our hearts through animation and cinema. Mr. Katzenberg has embraced new technology to develop the art of storytelling and transform the way we experience film. Maxine Hong Kingston for her contributions as a writer. Her novels and non-fiction have examined how the past influences our present, and her voice has strengthened our understanding of Asian American identity, helping shape our national conversation about culture, gender, and race. Albert Maysles for rethinking and remaking documentary film in America. One of the pioneers of direct cinema, he has offered authentic depictions of people and communities across the globe for nearly 60 years. By capturing raw emotions and representations, his work reflects the unfiltered truths of our shared humanity. Linda Ronstadt for her one-of-a-kind voice and her decades of remarkable music. Drawing from a broad range of influences, Ms. Ronstadt defied expectations to conquer American radio waves and help pave the way for generations of women artists. Billie Tsien and Tod Williams for their contributions to architecture and arts education. Whether public or private, their deliberate and inspired designs have a profound effect on the lives of those who interact with them, and their teaching and spirit of service have inspired young people to pursue their passions. James Turrell for his groundbreaking visual art. Capturing the powers of light and space, Mr. Turrell builds experiences that force us to question reality, challenging our perceptions not only of art, but also of the world around us. Below are the 2013 National Humanities Medal Citations which will be read at the ceremony: M. H. Abrams, literary critic, for expanding our perceptions of the Romantic tradition and broadening the study of literature. As a professor, writer, and critic, Dr. Abrams has traced the modern concept of artistic self-expression in Western culture, and his work has influenced generations of students. David Brion Davis, historian, for reshaping our understanding of history. A World War II veteran, Dr. Davis has shed light on the contradiction of a free Nation built by forced labor, and his examinations of slavery and abolitionism drive us to keep making moral progress in our time. Darlene Clark Hine, historian, for enriching our understanding of the African American experience. Through prolific scholarship and leadership, Dr. Hine has examined race, class, and gender and shown how the struggles and successes of African American women shaped the Nation we share today. Anne Firor Scott, historian, for pioneering the study of southern women. Through groundbreaking research spanning ideology, race, and class, Dr. Scott’s uncharted exploration into the lives of southern women has established women’s history as vital to our understanding of the American South. William Theodore De Bary, East Asian Studies scholar, for broadening our understanding of the world. Dr. de Bary’s efforts to foster a global conversation have underscored how the common values and experiences shared by Eastern and Western cultures can be used to bridge our differences and build trust. Johnpaul Jones, architect, for honoring the natural world and indigenous traditions in architecture. A force behind diverse and cherished institutions, Mr. Jones has fostered awareness through design and created spaces worthy of the cultures they reflect, the communities they serve, and the environments they inhabit. Stanley Nelson, producer and director, for documenting the story of African Americans through film. By turning a camera on both the well-known and unknown narratives of African Americans, Mr. Nelson has exposed injustice and triumph while revealing new depths of our Nation’s history. Diane Rehm, radio host, for illuminating the people and stories behind the headlines. In probing interviews with pundits, poets, and Presidents, Ms. Rehm’s incisive, confident, and curious voice has deepened our understanding of our communities and our culture. Krista Tippett, radio host and author, for thoughtfully delving into the mysteries of human existence. On the air and in print, Ms. Tippett avoids easy answers, embracing complexity and inviting people of all faiths, no faith, and every background to join the conversation. American Antiquarian Society, historical organization, for safeguarding the American story. Through more than two centuries, the Society has amassed an unparalleled collection of historic American documents, served as a research center to scholars and students alike, and connected generations of Americans to their cultural heritage. Statement by the Press Secretary on H.R. 255, H.R. 272, H.R. 291, H.R.330, H.R.356, H.R. 507, H.R. 697, H.R 876, H.R. 1158, H.R. 1216, H.R. 1376, H.R. 1813, H.R. 2337, H.R. 3110
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 25, 2014 Statement by the Press Secretary on H.R. 255, H.R. 272, H.R. 291, H.R.330, H.R.356, H.R. 507, H.R. 697, H.R 876, H.R. 1158, H.R. 1216, H.R. 1376, H.R. 1813, H.R. 2337, H.R. 3110 On Friday, July 25, 2014, the President signed into law: H.R. 255, which amends certain definitions in the Provo River Project Transfer Act; H.R. 272, which designates the Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense joint outpatient clinic to be constructed in Marina, California, as the "Major General William H. Gourley VA‑DOD Outpatient Clinic"; H.R. 291, the "Black Hills Cemetery Act," which directs the Secretary of Agriculture to convey specified parcels of National Forest System land in South Dakota to local communities; H.R. 330, the "Distinguished Flying Cross National Memorial Act," which designates a memorial located in Riverside, California, as the Distinguished Flying Cross National Memorial; H.R. 356, the "Hill Creek Cultural Preservation and Energy Development Act," which authorizes a subsurface mineral land exchange in the State of Utah; H.R. 507, the "Pascua Yaqui Tribe Trust Land Act," which requires, subject to certain conditions and valid existing rights, that specified land be held in trust for the benefit of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe; H.R. 697, the "Three Kids Mine Remediation and Reclamation Act," which provides for the conveyance of 948 acres of Federal land in Clark County, Nevada, and for the remediation and reclamation of the Three Kids Mine site; H.R 876, the "Idaho Wilderness Water Resources Protection Act," which authorizes the continued use of certain water diversion facilities located in specified wilderness areas within National Forest System land in the State of Idaho; H.R. 1158, the "North Cascades National Park Service Complex Fish Stocking Act," which requires the Secretary of the Interior to continue stocking fish in certain lakes within the North Cascades National Park Service Complex in Washington State; H.R. 1216, which designates the Department of Veterans Affairs Vet Center in Prescott, Arizona, as the Dr. Cameron McKinley Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Center; H.R. 1376, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service in Jersey City, New Jersey, as the Judge Shirley A. Tolentino Post Office Building; H.R. 1813, which redesignates the facility of the United States Postal Service in Tallmadge, Ohio, as the Lance Corporal Daniel Nathan Deyarmin, Jr., Post Office Building; H.R. 2337, the "Lake Hill Administrative Site Affordable Housing Act," which provides for the conveyance of about 40 acres of National Forest System land to Summit County, Colorado; and H.R. 3110, the "Huna Tlingit Traditional Gull Egg Use Act," which authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to allow members of the Hoonah Indian Association to collect the eggs of glaucous-winged gulls within Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska. Statement from the President on Unlocking Consumer Choice and Wireless Competition Act
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 25, 2014 Statement from the President on Unlocking Consumer Choice and Wireless Competition Act I applaud Members of Congress for passing the Unlocking Consumer Choice and Wireless Competition Act. Last year, in response to a “We the People” petition from consumers across our country, my Administration called for allowing Americans to use their phones or mobile devices on any network they choose. We laid out steps the FCC, industry, and Congress should take to ensure copyright law does not undermine wireless competition, and worked with wireless carriers to reach a voluntary agreement that helps restore this basic consumer freedom. The bill Congress passed today is another step toward giving ordinary Americans more flexibility and choice, so that they can find a cell phone carrier that meets their needs and their budget. I commend Chairmen Leahy and Goodlatte, and Ranking Members Grassley and Conyers for their leadership on this important consumer issue and look forward to signing this bill into law. Presidential Memorandum -- Proposed Amendment to the 1958 Agreement Between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 18, 2014 Attached and signed today is a memorandum from the President on the proposed amendment to the 1958 agreement between the government of the United States of America and the government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland for cooperation on the uses of atomic energy for mutual defense purposes. Statement of Administration Policy on H.R. 3393 – Student and Family Tax Simplification Act
http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/legislative/sap/113/saphr3393h_20140724.pdf EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET WASHINGTON, D.C. 20503 July 24, 2014 (House) STATEMENT OF ADMINISTRATION POLICY H.R. 3393 – Student and Family Tax Simplification Act (Rep. Black, R-Tennessee, and Rep. Davis, D-Illinois) The Administration supports making permanent the American Opportunity Tax Credit and looks forward to working with Congress to ensure that students and working families have ongoing access to this and other important middle class tax benefits that are also scheduled to expire in just a few years. However, the Administration opposes H.R 3393 because it is part of a broader effort to pass permanent, unpaid-for extensions of traditional tax extenders that, taken together, would add approximately $800 billion to the deficit. FLOTUS Pool Report 1, Chicago fundraiser
First Lady Michelle Obama spoke to more than 100 people in the fifth floor ballroom of the Waldorf Astoria Chicago, where she repeatedly urged supporters to “dig deep” in their contributions to Democrats to help make a better future for children, including those in neighborhoods fraught by gun violence in Chicago. Returning to her hometown, FLOTUS spoke for about 20 minutes. She noted the attendance of Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn and promised him her vote as she urged others to help him across “the finish line.” She also noted that Reggie Love, former longtime personal aide to the president, was in the audience. Speaking from a Teleprompter on a makeshift stage, the First Lady said, “When folks ask me whether I still believe everything we said about hope and change back in 2008, I tell them that I believe it more strongly than ever before.” But, she said, “While we still have plenty of work to do, we have truly made so much of that change we’ve been talking about. But remember, Barack didn’t do all that just sitting alone in the Oval Office. Remember that recovery act that helped rescue our economy. Remember the legislation that helped save the auto industry, the Affordable Care Act that gave folks insurance. Those bills were all passed by a Democratic Congress back in 2008, 2009 and 2010.” At that point, an infant—among several children in the audience—began wailing. “I know, she’s stood in a photo line. So sick of her mom and dad right now. I understand,” Mrs. Obama said. “If we want to make that change we all believe in, we need a president who will fight for that change and we need a Congress to pass it and leaders in our states who will support it. So make no mistake about it, Barack’s last campaign was not in 2012. Barack’s last campaign is this year, 2014, because the election in 2012 wasn’t the change that we sought. It was only a chance to make that change. And frankly, if we lose these mid-term elections, it’s going to be a whole lot harder to finish what we started. It will be more of the same in Washington. More obstruction. More lawsuits and talk about impeachment. More votes to repeal the Affordable Care Act or even shut down the government,” she said. As an example of Republican obstruction, Mrs. Obama said: “In fact, it’s gotten so bad, they’re even trying to block the work that I do on childhood obesity and that’s really saying something. I mean, for most folks in this country, making sure our kids get decent nutrition shouldn’t be that controversial.” She used that to segue into how voting and funding Democratic candidates would help children. “As parents, there is nothing we wouldn’t do for our children. Nothing. We always put our kids’ interests first,” she said. “We deserve leaders across this country who are going to do the same. We deserve leaders who believe like we do that no matter how our kids start in life, if they’re willing to work for it, they should have every opportunity to fulfill their boundless promise, they should have every opportunity to get a good education, build a decent life for themselves and an even better life for their own kids. That’s the American dream we all believe in and that’s what these midterm elections are all about,” she said. “So yeah, there’s too much money in politics. There’s special interests that have too much influence. But they had all that money and all that influence back in 2008 and 2012 and we still won those elections,” she said, adding that supportive voters have to “be even more passionate and more hungry because these mid-term elections will be even more closer than the presidential elections.” At that point, Mrs. Obama said the best way to help is to write big checks. “We need to be engaged right from the beginning and that’s where all of you come in. Because there is something you can do right now today to make a difference and that is to write a big fat check. I kid you not. I’m going to be honest with you. That’s what we need you to do right now. We need you to write the biggest fattest check that you can possibly write,” she said. “Writing those checks is the single most impactful thing you can do right now,” she said. “When you dig deep, when you max out, that translates into staff hired and offices opened and ads running where they need to run.” She said electing Democrats would help move issues such as immigration reform, an increase in the minimum wage, infrastructure improvement and help protect women’s reproductive rights. “I want to be really clear with my friends, if you think 40 or 50 hours a week shouldn’t have to live in poverty in the wealthiest nation on earth. If you believe in science and you care about the planet that you’re leaving for your kids and grandkids, if you don’t want women’s bosses making decisions about their birth control…then you need to step up. You need to dig deep and you need to get everyone you know out to vote this November,” she said. Without mentioning any specific instances or victims, Mrs. Obama talked about the toll gun violence had taken on children in Chicago. “There are kids like the kids here in Chicago who are confronting outrageous levels of violence, kid. Kids who are losing their lives day after day. Shootings that devastate our communities and break our hearts and rob this country of so much talent and promise. Those kids deserve so much better than this,” she said. Citing her travels across the country, Mrs. Obama said children should be the country’s motivation. “Kids who wake up early, take a long route to school to avoid the gangs. Kids who juggle after school jobs to support their families and stay up late to get their homework done. Kids whose parents don’t speak a word of English but who are fighting every day for a better life. These kids have every reason to give up but they are so hungry to succeed, they are so desperate to lift themselves up despite us. And that’s why we’re here today. Because those kids never give up and neither can we,” she said. Tickets for the event started at $500 per person and scaled upward to special donations of $10,000 and $20,000 per couple. A DNC official, speaking on background, said approximately 150 people attended. This is the sole pooled event in Chicago. No details on the duration or rest of her stay were provided. Remarks by the President on the Economy -- Los Angeles, CA
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release July 24, 2014 REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT ON THE ECONOMY Los Angeles Trade-Technical College Los Angeles, California 1:15 P.M. PDT THE PRESIDENT: Hello, L.A.! (Applause.) Good to see you! Hello, Los Angeles! (Applause.) Thank you. Thank you so much. Thank you, everybody. Now, if you’ve got a seat, sit down. I know that a couple people have been getting overheated. A tip for you -- if you’ve got some water, then drink. Standing in the sun is rough. Bend your knees a little bit. And I'm going to try to be fast. AUDIENCE MEMBER: God Almighty, Jesus Christ -- (inaudible.) THE PRESIDENT: That’s okay. AUDIENCE: Obama! Obama! Obama! THE PRESIDENT: All right. (Applause.) Thank you. Now, I have to admit that I've actually met that guy before. (Laughter.) That's a couple of years ago and he had the same line. He needs to update his material. All right, everybody, settle down for a second. First of all, I'd like everybody to say thank you to Katrice not only for the great introduction, but for the great work she’s doing helping to train people to get the kinds of jobs that we want and opportunity for people that don't have it. So, Katrice, thank you so much. (Applause.) We're proud of you. My understanding -- we understand we also have -- Congresswoman Karen Bass is here. Where’s Karen? (Applause.) We love Karen. There’s Karen Bass. We've got -- America’s Secretary of Labor, Tom Perez, is here. Give Tom a big round of applause. (Applause.) And we want to thank L.A. Trade Technical College for your hospitality. (Applause.) This is a school that does good work helping the unemployed retrain for new careers. And that’s one of the things I want to talk about today. AUDIENCE MEMBER: I love you! THE PRESIDENT: I love you back. (Applause.) I always love being in California. I spent a couple good years here in college myself. AUDIENCE MEMBER: Occi Tigers! THE PRESIDENT: Occi -- that's right, Occi Tigers. Earlier today, I sat down at Canter’s with Katrice and a few Californians who wrote to me. I get letters from folks all across the country and I read them every night. And folks tell me their stories -- about their worries and their hopes and hardships and successes. Some say I’m doing a good job. Some say I'm an idiot -- which let’s me know that I’m getting a representative sample. (Laughter.) But in addition to Katrice, a young woman named Kati Koster was there, and she told me about her life. She grew up in a working-class neighborhood in Wisconsin. Her parents taught her to value education, that that was going to be the ticket to the middle class. First in her family to go to college; moved on to get her master’s degree from Pepperdine, stayed out in California. (Applause.) And she wrote to tell me that she’s always played by the rules, valued education, worked hard but she felt “trapped” because no matter how hard she worked it seemed like she couldn't get ahead. And she said, “If earning an education doesn’t open doors for someone like me to rise above my socioeconomic class...what does that say about our country?” “What does it say about our values,” she asked. She said, “I try not to be cynical, but one shouldn’t have to be rich or from a wealthy family in order to pay their bills, save some money, have fun, enjoy life.” She said, “I didn’t write this letter to complain. I wrote because I don’t know what else to do, and as the President of my country I hoped you would listen to my story.” So, L.A., I’m here because I am listening to Kati’s story. I’m listening to Americans all across the country, everybody who works their tail off, is doing the right thing, who believes in the American Dream, just wants a chance to build a decent life for themselves and their family. You are why I ran for President in the first place. And I am always going to be listening to you. (Applause.) Now, the crisis that hit near the end of that campaign back in 2008 cost millions of Americans their jobs, their homes, their sense of security. But today, our businesses have added nearly 10 million new jobs over the past 52 months. The unemployment rate is at its lowest point since September of 2008. (Applause.) And this past year, we saw one of the fastest drops in nearly 30 years in the unemployment rate. (Applause.) The decisions we made not only to rescue the economy, rescue the auto industry, but to rebuild it on a new foundation -- those decisions are paying off. We’re more energy independent. The world’s number-one oil and gas producer is not Russia, it's not Saudi Arabia -- it’s the United States of America. (Applause.) We’ve reduced our carbon pollution over the past eight years more than any country on Earth. You saw an L.A. Times headline the other day that said “2014 off to the hottest start on record for California.” That's why we have to worry about climate change. We’ve tripled the electricity we're getting from wind power, generating enough last year to power every home in California. We now generate 10 times the solar electricity, creating tens of thousands of jobs across the country. California is so far ahead of the rest of the country in solar that earlier this year, solar power met 18 percent of your total power demand one day. That's the kind of progress, kind of leadership we need. (Applause.) But it's not just the energy sector. In education, our high school graduation rate is at a record high. The Latino dropout rate has been cut in half since 2008. (Applause.) More young people are earning their college degrees than ever before. Meanwhile, 401(k)s have restored their value. Fewer homes are underwater. Millions more families have the peace of mind of affordable health care when you need it because we did pass the Affordable Care Act. (Applause.) None of this was an accident. We made some good decisions, but we also saw the resilience and the resolve of the American people. And because of that, we've recovered faster, we've gone farther than almost any country on Earth since the economic crisis. For the first time in more than a decade, business leaders around the world have declared that the number-one place to invest is not China; it’s the United States of America. And our lead is growing. (Applause.) So -- USA! AUDIENCE: USA! USA! USA! THE PRESIDENT: So there are reasons -- we've got every reason to be optimistic about America. We hold all the best cards. We’ve got the best hand. But the decisions we make now are going to determine whether or not working Americans like Kati continue to feel trapped, or whether they get ahead; whether the economic gains that we make just go to a few at the top, or they help to grow an economy and grow incomes and growing middle-opportunities for everybody. And that’s what’s at stake right now -- making sure our economy works for every working American. That's why I ran for President. That's what I’m focused on every day. (Applause.) This is the challenge of our time. We can't be distracted. And if you’re in public office, and you don’t have an answer for somebody like Kati, if you're not thinking about her and folks who are working hard but still struggling every day, why are you in public service? (Applause.) So today, I’m here to focus on one thing that we should be doing, which is training more Americans to fill the jobs we’re creating. Right now, there are more job openings in America than any time since 2007. That doesn’t always make headlines, it's not sexy so the news doesn’t report it, but it’s a big deal. And the job training programs can help folks who fell on hard times in the recession, help them find a solid path back to the middle class. And I’m always impressed by people who have the courage to go back to school, especially later in life. (Applause.) Last month, in Minnesota, I met a woman named Rebekah, a wonderful young woman. A few years ago, she was waiting tables. She enrolled in a community college, retrained for a new career; today, she loves her job as an accountant. Joe Biden’s wife, Jill Biden, teaches at a community college. A lot of her students are in their 30s. One of the women I met with this morning, Joan Waddell, wrote me to say she’s ready to get back in the game at age 60, after caring for a sick husband, but older workers like her need a little support. And she wrote, “We are a great investment and we want to be part of the workforce.” And if you’d met Joan you’d want to hire her because she is sharp. So Americans are the best workers in the world -- if we're given a chance. If we work together, we can help more of our fellow citizens learn the skills that growing fields require -- in high-tech manufacturing, in clean energy, in information technology, and in health care. Now, the good news is, earlier this week, I signed a bipartisan bill into law that would help communities update and invest in job training programs like these. And I got to say I had so much fun actually signing a bipartisan bill from Congress -- I said, why don't you all do it more often? (Laughter and applause.) Why don't you focus on getting some stuff done for the American people? It feels good. (Applause.) So my administration has taken some steps on our own. We’ve rallied employers to give the long-term unemployed a fair shot at a job. We’re offering grants to community colleges that work with companies to expand apprenticeships. We’re helping cities identify fields with job openings, and custom-tailor programs to help workers earn the skills employers are looking for right now, whether it’s welding metal or coding computers. If your job has been stamped “obsolete” and shipped overseas, or displaced by new technology, your country should help train you to land an even better job in the future. And that's something we can do if we work together. (Applause.) So this is just some of what we should be doing to help strengthen the middle class and help Americans who are working to join the middle class. And what I keep hearing from folks across the country is that if Congress had the same priorities most Americans did, if they felt the same urgency that you feel in your own lives, we’d be helping a lot more families right now. I mean, think about what Congress hasn’t done, despite the fact that I've been pushing them to do it. Congress won’t act to make sure a woman gets fair pay. Why not? I went ahead and made sure more women have the protections they need to fight for fair pay in the workplace -- because I believe equal pay shouldn’t mean equal work -- (applause.) And when women succeed, America succeeds. Why isn't Congress doing something? AUDIENCE MEMBER: (Inaudible.) THE PRESIDENT: Well, I get you, I understand that. Congress won’t act to help more young people like Kati manage their student loan debt. I acted to give nearly five million Americans the chance to cap their payments at 10 percent of their income. I don’t want future leaders saddled with debt they can't pay before they’ve even started off in life. Why don't we see House Republicans working with Democrats who’ve already said, we're behind making student loans more affordable? (Applause.) Today marks exactly five years since the last time the minimum wage went up in this country. That’s too long between raises for a lot of Americans. I’ve done what I can by requiring federal contractors to pay their employees a fair wage of $10.10 an hour. And since the first time I asked Congress to raise the minimum wage, 13 states and D.C. have gone ahead and raised theirs. (Applause.) And here is something interesting -- states that have increased the minimum wages this year have seen higher job growth than those who didn’t raise the minimum wage. (Applause.) America deserves a raise. It will be good for those workers and good for business. So I'm not going to stop trying to work with Democrats and Republicans to make a difference in your lives. But I've got to call things as they are. What’s really going on is that Republicans in Congress are directly blocking policies that would help millions of Americans. They are promoting policies that millions of Americans. Just this year, on the other hand, they voted to give another massive tax cut to the wealthiest Americans. AUDIENCE: Booo -- THE PRESIDENT: Just last week, they actually voted to gut the rules we put in place to make sure big banks and credit card companies couldn’t hurt consumers and cause another crisis. They’re going in the wrong direction. Our economy does not grow from the top down; it grows from the middle class out. We do better when middle-class families and folks who are working hard to get into the middle class have a chance. (Applause.) So just in case some Republicans are listening, let me give you an example of a place where Democrats and Republicans should be able to work together to make a difference. I want everybody to pay attention to this. Right now, our businesses are creating jobs, more companies are choosing to bring jobs back to America. But there’s another trend that is a threat to us. Even as corporate profits are higher than ever, there’s a small but growing group of big corporations that are fleeing the country to get out of paying taxes. AUDIENCE: Booo -- THE PRESIDENT: Well, hold on a second. I want you -- I say fleeing the country, but they’re not actually do that. They’re not actually going anywhere. They’re keeping most of their business here. They’re keeping usually their headquarters here in the U.S. They don’t want to give up the best universities and the best military, and all the advantages of operating in the United States. They just don’t want to pay for it. So they’re technically renouncing their U.S. citizenship. They’re declaring they’re based someplace else even though most of their operations are here. Some people are calling these companies “corporate deserters.” And it's only a few big corporations so far. The vast majority of American businesses play by the rules. But these companies are cherry-picking the rules. And it damages the country’s finances. It adds to the deficit. It makes it harder to invest in things like job training that help keep America growing. It sticks you with the tab to make up for what they’re stashing offshore through their evasive tax policies. Now, the problem is this loophole they’re using in our tax laws is actually legal. It’s so simple and so lucrative, one corporate attorney said it's almost like “the Holy Grail” of tax avoidance schemes. My attitude is I don’t care if it’s legal -- it’s wrong. (Applause.) And my attitude is, is that nobody begrudges our companies from turning a profit -- we want them to be profitable. And in a global economy, there’s nothing wrong with companies expanding to foreign markets. But you don’t get to pick the tax rate you pay. Folks, if you're a secretary or you're a construction worker, you don't say, you know what, I feel like paying a little less, so let me do that. You don't get a chance to do that. These companies shouldn’t either. And the practice they’re engaging is the same kind of behavior that keeps middle-class and working-class families working harder and harder just to keep up. So the good news is there’s a way to change this. We could end this through tax reform that lowers the corporate rate, closes wasteful loopholes, simplifies the tax code so people can't game it. And over the past two years, I’ve put forward plans that would have cut corporate taxes and made our tax system more competitive -- but Congress hasn’t done anything -- as usual. Now, some members of Congress, in both parties, have been working together on responsible corporate tax reform so we don’t have to keep playing whack-a-mole, trying to chase folks around, we’d finally start dealing with these special interest tax loopholes. But that's going to take some time. And in the meantime, we need to stop companies from renouncing their citizenship just to get out of paying their fair share of taxes. We can’t wait for that. You shouldn’t get to call yourself an American company only when you want a handout from American taxpayers. (Applause.) That’s why, in my budget earlier this year, I proposed closing this unpatriotic tax loophole for good. Democrats in Congress have advanced a proposal that would do the same thing. A couple of Republicans have said they want to address it, too. Let’s everybody get together, Democrats and Republicans, to deter companies from rushing to take advantage of this tax loophole. And let’s make sure that we're rewarding companies that are investing and paying their fair share here in the United States. And this is not a partisan issue. Just 10 years ago, a Republican-led Congress cracked down on corporations moving to offshore tax havens like the Cayman Islands. We should do it again. I’m not interested in punishing these companies. But I am interested in economic patriotism. Instead of doubling down on top-down economics, I want an economic patriotism that says we rise or fall together, as one nation, and as one people. (Applause.) Economic patriotism says it's a good thing when we close wasteful tax loopholes and invest in education, and invest in job training that helps the economy for everybody. Instead of tax breaks for millionaires, let’s give tax breaks to families to help on child care or college. (Applause.) Let’s stop rewarding companies that ship jobs overseas; give tax breaks to companies that are bringing jobs back to the United States. (Applause.) Let’s put America back to work rebuilding roads and bridges and airports. Let’s make sure the next generation of good manufacturing is happening right here in Los Angeles, and in Wisconsin, and in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Economic patriotism says it’s a good thing when our fellow citizens have access to preschool, and college, and, yes, health care that is affordable. (Applause.) It’s a good thing when women earn the same as men for doing the same work. It’s a good thing when nobody who’s working full-time has to raise a family in poverty. (Applause.) That's not un-American. It’s how we built America -- together. That’s what economic patriotism is. So let me just close by saying this. The hardest thing in politics is to change a stubborn status quo. It’s even harder when Washington seems focused on everything but the concerns of you. There are plenty of folks out there who count on you being cynical and say you're not going to vote, you're not going to get involved. And that just gives more power to the special interests who already benefit from the status quo. Cynicism is fashionable these days. But I got to tell you, cynicism didn’t put a man on the moon. Cynicism did not create the opportunity for all our citizens to vote. Cynicism has never won a war, or cured a disease, or started a business, or fed young minds. I believe in optimism. I believe in hope. AUDIENCE: Yes! THE PRESIDENT: I believe in America making progress. And despite unyielding opposition, there are workers with jobs who didn’t have them before because of what we've done. There are families who have health insurance because of what we've done. There are students who are going to college who weren’t going before because of what we've done. There are troops who have finally come home after serving tour after tour overseas because of what we've done. (Applause.) Don’t let the cynics get you down. Cynicism is a choice -- and hope is a better choice. And if we can work together, I promise you there’s no holding America back. Thank you, Los Angeles. I love you. God bless you. God bless America. (Applause.) UPCOMING GUIDANCE FOR FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the First Lady FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 24, 2014 UPCOMING GUIDANCE FOR FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA Monday, July 28, 2014 Washington, D.C. – On Monday, First Lady Michelle Obama will participate in a DNC roundtable. This event is closed press. Wednesday, July 30, 2014 Washington, DC * 11:00 AM – On Wednesday, First Lady Michelle Obama will deliver remarks at the Summit of the Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders. The three-day Summit will cap off the Washington Fellowship, the flagship program of the President’s Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), and give 500 of sub-Saharan Africa’s most prominent young leaders the opportunity to engage with U.S. government officials, entrepreneurs, civil society representatives, as well as leaders in international development. The First Lady’s remarks will take place at the Omni Shoreham Hotel. The First Lady’s remarks will be livestreamed HERE. Washington, DC * 11:30 AM – Following the First Lady’s remarks, Mrs. Obama will participate in a roundtable discussion focused on the importance of girls’ education in Africa with several of the young African leaders participating in the Washington Fellowship. There will be a pooled camera spray at the top of the roundtable. Note: In August, President Obama will welcome leaders from across the African continent to the Nation’s Capital for a historic three-day U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit. As part of the Summit on August 6, the Office of the First Lady, the George W. Bush Institute, and the U.S. Department of State are hosting “Investing in Our Future at the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit,” a day-long spouses forum at the Kennedy Center. The forum will bring together First Lady Michelle Obama, Mrs. Laura Bush, African First Spouses from more than 30 countries, leaders from non-governmental organizations and non-profits, private sector partners, and other leading experts. The forum will highlight the critical role first spouses play and focus on the impact of investments in education, health, and public-private partnerships. For more information, please click HERE. Thursday, July 31, 2014 Washington, DC * 12:45 PM – On Thursday, as part of the Joining Forces initiative, First Lady Michelle Obama will address the 2014 National Conference on Ending Homelessness at the Renaissance Washington, DC Hotel. The conference will be attended by over 1,600 people, including federal and local officials, as well as others working towards ending homelessness throughout the country. Mrs. Obama will speak to the Administration’s efforts on the issue, including the Mayors Challenge to End Veteran Homelessness. WH travel pool report #4 OTR at diner
Obama made an OTR stop at a diner and chatted w people Color to come in next report: from the White House: Prior to his remarks at Los Angeles Trade Technical College, the President is meeting for lunch at Canter’s Deli – a family-owned LA landmark since 1931 – with four Americans who took the time to write him letters. Today’s lunch continues the President’s efforts to meet with folks from across the country to listen to their stories, struggles, and successes, as well as the issues in their lives that matter most. Participants: Katrice Mubiru (Katrice will also introduce the President at Los Angeles Trade Technical College) In January of 2012, Katrice, a career-technical education teacher for the Los Angeles unified school district, sent a note encouraging the President to support adult and career technical education. Katrice is a Los Angeles native who graduated from California State University Long Beach. She is married and has a nine year old daughter and a seven year old son. Aaron Anderson In March, Aaron wrote to the President to share his story as a recent UC Irvine graduate in anticipation of the President’s commencement address at his alma mater. Aaron joined the Green Berets after 9/11 and was wounded in Afghanistan. After returning home he founded the Green Beret Foundation to provide resources for special forces veterans affected by their service. Today he is working at a bond trading company. He is married and has a two-year-old baby. The President recognized Aaron’s service and shared his story in his UC Irvine commencement remarks. Joan Waddell In April, Joan wrote to the President about the need to make grants or funds available for vocational training for older workers. At 60 years old, Joan is beginning anew and would like to become a certified nurse assistant, but is having trouble affording the certification program. Joan is a mother of three -- a 24-year-old daughter and two sons, 26 and 22. Kati Koster In March, Kati wrote to the President about the challenges she and many other young professionals face trying to build a career. Kati has a Master of Public Policy Degree from Pepperdine University, but has had to make large sacrifices to balance her student loans, rent and monthly bills. As the first in her family to graduate college let alone earn a master's degree, Kati believes that someone who works hard and plays by rules should be able to find more opportunities to get ahead. The President agrees. Obama walked into the old-style, traditional Jewish deli, which brags on its sign that it's "open all night." He walked in, shaking hands w a line of cooks before moving into the dining area where he greeted several w a folksy, "Hey guys. At the first booth, Obama stopped to talk to two older gentlemen, who asked him about his basketball game. "My shot's broke," Obama said holding up his arm like he was shooting a free throw. "It's my elbow," he went on moving his elbow to the side. "It's my age. I get the chicken wing" He told them he makes 8 out of 10 shots -- "but not in a game." Diner Allison Powell of Camarillo, CA watched from across the room as Obama greeted other diners. Powell, a 46-year-old stay at home mom, said she was excited to see the president but described herself as "mixed" when asked if she was a supporter. "I like some of his stuff, I don't like other parts. I've been disillusioned with politics for a long time." Powell said she was particularly concerned about Russia and the Ukraine. "I think he needs to do a little more on foreign policy." she said. "But I know he's got a lot on his plate." Diners working on their breakfasts held up phones to shoot pictures of the president He Shook hands w the aforementioned group before settling into a horseshoe shaped booth to talk Glasses of water and coffee cups and condiments: ketchup mustard and hot sauce were on the table, no food Pool is holding in vans outside the diner which is in the Fairfax district of LA Thanks to co-Pooler Kathleen Hennessey for her assistance w color and quotes Motorcade left the diner at noon, driving Fairfax, past the Farmers Market at the Grove. A large crowd had gathered outside Canter's and cheered as Obama emerged from the diner. Photogs said he waved to the crowd and got into the car. Obama remarks were open press, but in case viewers could not tell, it was a rowdy crowd, starting w a heckler who appeared to yell something about "Jesus Christ, creator of heaven and the universe." And something like "you will be destroyed." Obama paused briefly as the protester was escorted out and said he "actually met the guy" before and "he needs to update his material" You could hear loud shouts from the crowd, At one point crowd chanted USA USA The audience was outside in a school courtyard Obama was introduced by Katrice Mubiru: In January of 2012, Katrice, a career-technical education teacher for the Los Angeles unified school district, sent a note encouraging the President to support adult and career technical education. Katrice is a Los Angeles native who graduated from California State University Long Beach. She is married and has a nine year old daughter and a seven year old son. Per the WH: 2000 Bert Aponte Fire Inspector Los Angeles Fire Department 213 978 3665 At 2:23 pm, motorcade is ready to roll for helos and ride to LAX AF1 is ready to roll toward liftoff at 3:03 p.m. and back to DC after a helo ride -- and 3 days, 2 states, 6 fundraisers, 4 helicopter lifts, many motorcades and a speech. Obama landed on Marine 1 at 3 pm, waved to small crowd and walked up steps, waving again before he walked in the door. Much Thanks to co-poolers Kathleen Hennessey and Isaac Dovere for all their assistance. President Obama to Deliver Remarks at Young African Leaders Presidential Summit
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 24, 2014 President Obama to Deliver Remarks at Young African Leaders Presidential Summit WASHINGTON, DC – On Monday, July 28, President Obama will deliver remarks at the Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders Presidential Summit in Washington, DC. The President’s remarks are open to pre-credentialed media, but closed to the public. NOTE: Members of the media who wish to cover the President’s remarks must register through the credential application located HERE. The deadline to apply is Saturday, July 26. FOR PLANNING PURPOSES ONLY, NOT FOR REPORTING MONDAY, July 28, 2014 All times are Eastern Daylight Time President Obama Delivers Remarks at the Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders Presidential Summit Omni Shoreham Hotel Regency Ballroom 2500 Calvert Street Northwest Washington, DC 20008 WH travel pool
Sent w technical assistance from the very generous Matthew Fleming: Motorcade arrived at 9:45 am and is holding in vans, w/ spotty cell service Motorcade zipped down Sunset Blvd, climbed into Palisades area, past tony LA neighborhoods and signs hawking, "Hot Stars Maps" The Los Angeles Times reports fundraiser is at home of LiveNation CEO and president Michael Rapino. WH travel pool
Obama took the stage to applause, congratulating a "nice looking crowd, you all got dressed up." After some joking around (see below), he segued into his traditional fundraising remarks, saying the US has made "remarkable progress" in the economy and socially, with end of Don't Ask, Don't Tell and other LGBT issues. But, he added, people across the country "still feel anxious." He attributed it to wages "flatlining" over the past few decades and said the American dream seems out of range for some. He again cited foreign crisies as a reason: "Obviously people are concerned w some of the turmoil around the world." But he said "the conflict that probably makes people most discouraged is the conflict they see in Washington." "No offenses, Scandal's a great show, but it's not necessarily something we want to be living out." He said the reason DC isn't working isn't because both parties are wrong, but that "the Republican Party has been taken over by people who just don't believe in government." He said Republicans "obfuscate and they bamboozle and sometimes don't say what's true -- that was a euphemism," he said, to laughter He said most folks don't have time to sort out the intricacies over "Benghazi" or Obamacare. He said the audience "can't afford to be cynical." He called for more spending on roads and bridges. "We know what to do, the problem is there's no political will to get it done." He noted that some may have gotten so excited in 2008, that "you thought ok, we elect Barack and that's it." He reiterated his lament that during midterms, "people don't even know there's an election," and noted that Republicans tend to vote in greater numbers than Democrats, resulting in "lo and behold were surprised when John Boehner is Speaker of the House." "What happened to Nancy Pelosi? what happened is ya'll didn't vote," he said."and that's when all kinds of .... Stuff happened. That's what it was, stuff." "Sometimes in life as well as in politics, we don't get 100 percent of what we want right away," he said, adding he doesn't tell his daughters when they hit an obstacle, "you should quit." He recalled the Civil War and how long it took to get the Civil Rights Act. "At each juncture someone could've said, 'this is too hard,' " he said, adding nothing gets accomplished "by the cynics and the naysayers" "It's those who are filled w hope that gets things done," he said. "I've got 2 years left in this presidency, I want to get a whole bunch of stuff done." Obama spoke on a stage lined w US + Calif flags and band instruments Rimes did the intro for Obama:" he's been doing his job like a boss." Scandal star Kerry Washington introduced Shonda Rimes, as "my boss." Obama said "there were few people who worked harder" on his campaign than Washington. "She showed me her baby pictures, that is one cute baby," Obama said. He gave a giant shout out to singer Janelle Monae, joking she's played so often at the WH there should be a room named for her. He also joked w her about her having a video of him trying to keep up with Usher on the dance floor. He said "she can blackmail me at any time," he said of the video. "I did not drop and split, but I did bust a move," he said We arrived shortly after 5 pm Event is in the backyard w white umbrellas shading attendees from the bright Calif sun. They're sitting on folding wooden chairs by a pool and cabana and a citrus tree Spotted: DC celeb Debbie Wasserman schultz Thanks to Isaac Dovere of Politico for some quote snagging THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary EMBARGOED FOR 12:00 AM EDT THURSDAY, JULY 24 FACT SHEET: Increasing Investment in Rural America WASHINGTON, DC – This week, the White House Rural Council will host the inaugural Rural Opportunity Investment Conference (ROI) to promote potential investment opportunities that exist throughout rural America. Top leaders from the business community and financial institutions, senior government officials, rural economic development experts and others from across the country, will come together to discuss ways to develop partnerships that create jobs, grow small businesses, and invest in critical rural infrastructure. In conjunction with this event, the White House Rural Council is announcing a $10 billion dollar investment fund to promote rural economic development. This fund will continue to grow the rural economy by increasing access to capital for rural infrastructure projects and speeding up the process of rural infrastructure improvements. The fund is immediately open for business and more investors can now add to the initial $10 billion in available capital. The ROI conference and the new investment fund are part of the Obama Administration's ongoing efforts to promote investment in rural America, strengthen the nation’s infrastructure, and grow the U.S. economy. Since the creation of the White House Rural Council in 2011, the President has made historic investments in rural America designed to drive job growth, invest in rural education, provide emergency services, and address health disparities. Public-Partnerships at Work
Today's announcements build on three years of sustained work by the White House Rural Council to expand opportunity in all corners of rural America. The Rural Council has over twenty policy accomplishments supporting rural America in four priority areas: quality of life, innovation, economic opportunity, and conservation. These advancements will help ensure the development of a rural economy built to last. These actions include: Increasing Capital Access for Rural Small Businesses USDA and SBA committed to providing $175 million in microloans to small businesses in rural areas for Fiscal Years 2013 and 2014, in addition to new business training and counseling opportunities. To date the two agencies have supported over $85 million to rural small businesses. Accelerating Broadband Infrastructure Deployment On June 14, 2012 President Obama signed an Executive Order to make broadband construction along Federal roadways and properties up to 90 percent cheaper and more efficient. U.S agencies that manage Federal properties and roads are partnering to offer carriers a single approach to leasing Federal assets for broadband deployment. Providing a uniform approach for broadband carriers to build networks is speeding the delivery of connectivity to communities, business, and schools in rural America. In order to further expand the nation’s broadband service, more than 25 cities and 60 national research universities are partnering to form "US Ignite." US Ignite is creating a new wave of services that will extend programmable broadband networks to 100 times the speed of today's internet. To further leverage private-sector involvement, a three-day Application Summit was conducted this June at the headquarters of Juniper Networks in Silicon Valley. This session made numerous connections that will strengthen rural and urban communities through innovative broadband applications. In total, this partnership will improve services to Americans and drive job creation, promote innovation, and create new markets for American business. U.S Department of Education Investing in Rural Schools Through the national broadband plan, the Obama Administration is leveraging the power of technology to overcome distance and increase collaboration to accelerate student achievement in rural schools. The White House Rural Council partnered with the U.S Department of Education to deliver a new online community of practice groups for rural schools. This online tool is creating virtual communities of practice for educators to connect to resources, tools, colleagues, experts, and learned activities both within and beyond schools. As part of the push for broadband in public schools, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is investing $2 billion over the next two years to dramatically expand high-speed Internet connectivity for America's schools and libraries — connecting 20 million more students to next-generation broadband and wireless. Private-sector companies have also committed more than $2 billion to deliver cutting-edge technologies to classrooms. The Administration is using technology to break down geographic barriers and address rural isolation in education. Local Food, Local Places Recognizing the role local food systems can play in regional economic development, the Administration launched Local Food, Local Places in June, 2014. This effort, a partnership between the US Department of Agriculture, the US Department of Transportation, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Appalachian Regional Commission and the Delta Regional Commission, provides direct technical assistance to twenty communities integrating local food production into their civic planning process. Small Business Administration Investing in Rural Small Businesses The Administration extended more than $400 million in FY 2011 of investments in rural America through the Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) Impact Investment Program, at no cost to taxpayers. Nearly $2 billion in additional funding will be invested by the end of fiscal year 2016. These investments will continue to help finance, grow, expand, and modernize rural small business operations around the country. Promoting a Bioeconomy through BioPreferred To support the Administration's "Blueprint for a Bioeconomy," the President is utilizing the purchasing power of the Federal government by directing Federal agencies to take additional steps to significantly increase the purchase of biobased products over the next two years, which will create thousands of new rural jobs and drive innovation where biobased products are grown and manufactured. Utilizing the existing BioPreferred program, the Federal government will use its procurement power to increase the purchasing and use of biobased products, promoting rural economic development, creating new jobs, and providing new markets for farm commodities. Biobased products include items like paints, soaps and detergents and are developed from plants, rather than chemicals or petroleum bases. The biobased products sector marries the two most important economic engines for rural America: agriculture and manufacturing. Rural Jobs Accelerator The "Rural Jobs Accelerator" links Federal programs to facilitate job creation and economic development in rural communities by utilizing regional development strategies. The "Rural Jobs Accelerator" allows multiple agencies to coordinate technical assistance and grant/loan programs so that a consortium of public and private rural entities can have a single access point within the Federal government, creating improved access, streamlining of programs, and better leveraging of resources. USDA, EDA, Delta Regional Authority, and Appalachian Regional Commission have leveraged approximately $9 million in funding, with additional technical support from various Federal agencies including Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Department of Education. Commercial Aviation Biofuels Partnership The Navy, the Department of Energy, and USDA have joined forces to spur the creation of an advanced biofuels industry that will support commercial aviation, with a pledge of $510 million, over three years, under the Defense Production Act of 1950. Unprecedented Investments in Rural America U.S. Department of Agriculture The White House Rural Council is chaired by Secretary Vilsack, who in his role as Secretary of the Department of Agriculture has made unprecedented state-by-state investments in rural America. The U.S. Department of Agriculture works with thousands of farmers, ranchers and others living in rural communities every day and knows that there is no limit to the economic potential of rural America. Over the past five years, USDA has made significant investments to support those in rural America who drive the rural economy forward, carry out record conservation efforts, facilitate groundbreaking research, promote new markets for rural products, and provide a safe, affordable and nutritious food supply for American families. Secretary Vilsack invites the private sector to continue building innovative partnerships that drive investments, economic growth, and prosperity. FACT SHEET: Increasing Investment in Rural America
4:30 PM TODAY: White House Officials to Host Embargoed Press Call to Preview Announcement Surrounding the Rural Opportunity Investment Conference
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary EMBARGOED FOR 12:00 AM EDT THURSDAY, JULY 24 4:30 PM TODAY: White House Officials to Host Embargoed Press Call to Preview Announcement Surrounding the Rural Opportunity Investment Conference WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Wednesday, July 23, at 4:30 PM EDT, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and CoBank CEO Robert Engel will hold an embargoed on-the-record press conference call to preview the announcement of a major new private fund that will invest in infrastructure projects across the country. Vilsack and Engel will make the formal announcement on the new fund at the Rural Opportunity Investment Conference taking place in Washington this week. State-by-state information on investments in rural communities will also be provided to call participants. The Rural Opportunity Investment Conference is part of the Administration's ongoing efforts, through the White House Rural Council, to promote investment in rural America, strengthen the nation's infrastructure, and grow the U.S. economy. As part of this conference this week, top leaders from the business community and financial institutions, senior government officials, rural economic development experts and others from across the country are coming together to discuss potential investments in rural business and infrastructure projects in rural communities. Additional information about the Rural Opportunity Investment Conference is located here. This call will be on-the-record and embargoed until 12:00 AM EDT on Thursday, July 24, 2014. WHO: Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack CoBank CEO Robert B. Engel WHAT: Embargoed background press call to preview the announcement of a major new private fund that will invest in infrastructure projects across the country. OFFICIAL RELEASE: Statement of Administration Policy on S. 2569 – Bring Jobs Home Act
http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/legislative/sap/113/saps2569s_20140723.pdf EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET WASHINGTON, D.C. 20503 July 23, 2014 (Senate) STATEMENT OF ADMINISTRATION POLICY S. 2569 – Bring Jobs Home Act (Sen. Walsh, D-Montana, and 24 cosponsors) The Administration strongly supports Senate passage of S. 2569, a bill that would encourage companies to invest in the United States and bring jobs back while preventing companies from receiving tax breaks for shipping jobs overseas. The Nation's tax code does too little to encourage job creation and investment in the United States while allowing firms to benefit from incentives to locate production and jobs overseas. This bill can help attract and keep jobs in the United States by providing a 20 percent general business tax credit for eligible expenditures associated with bringing jobs back, which is paid for by preventing firms from receiving tax breaks for deducting expenses associated with outsourcing. Senate passage of this bill is consistent with the Administration's commitment to support economic growth, job creation, and business investment in the United States, and serves to discourage outsourcing in all sectors of the economy, but particularly in the Nation's manufacturing sector. Following a decade in which the United States lost over five million manufacturing jobs, the Nation has begun to make progress. Since February 2010, the U.S. manufacturing sector has added more than 650,000 new jobs, the fastest pace of manufacturing job growth since the mid-1990s. Instead of rewarding firms for shifting production and jobs overseas, the tax code should strengthen the domestic manufacturing sector, support job growth and innovation, and encourage companies from all sectors of the economy to invest in the United States. The Administration looks forward to working with the Congress to encourage companies to invest in America and bring jobs home. OFFICIAL RELEASE: Statement of Administration Policy on H.R. 4984 – Empowering Students Through Enhanced Financial Counseling Act
EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET WASHINGTON, D.C. 20503 July 22, 2014 (House Rules) STATEMENT OF ADMINISTRATION POLICY H.R. 4984 – Empowering Students Through Enhanced Financial Counseling Act (Representative Guthrie, R-Kentucky, and 17 cosponsors) The Administration supports passage of H.R. 4984, Empowering Students Through Enhanced Financial Counseling Act, which strengthens financial counseling requirements for students receiving federal student aid. This legislation would help students get the information they need to make responsible decisions about how to pay for higher education. While the bill offers a modest step in the right direction, it does not provide any new resources for these purposes. This legislation is not a substitute for much needed and more comprehensive action to tackle the rising cost of a college education. The Administration urges the Congress to do more to ensure that college is affordable for American families. This is particularly important today, when a college education is critical to ensuring that our workforce has the skills needed to meet the demands of the Nation's growing economy. The Administration looks forward to working with the Congress to improve this legislation. OFFICIAL RELEASE: Statement of Administration Policy on H.R. 3136 – Advancing Competency-Based Education Demonstration Project Act of 2014
EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET WASHINGTON, D.C. 20503 July 22, 2014 (House Rules) STATEMENT OF ADMINISTRATION POLICY H.R. 3136 – Advancing Competency-Based Education Demonstration Project Act of 2014 (Representative Salmon, R-Arizona, and 10 cosponsors) The Administration supports passage of H.R. 3136, Advancing Competency-Based Education Demonstration Project Act of 2014, which promotes innovative higher education approaches that would help Americans obtain the education and skills that are needed in today's economy. This legislation would build on the work announced by the President last August to promote better innovation and competition in our higher education system, and help ensure that more Americans have access to high-quality, flexible higher education opportunities that meet their needs, particularly for adult learners who may be struggling to manage work and family responsibilities along with their educational pursuits. While the bill provides a modest step forward to help students access new higher education models, it does not provide any additional financial resources. The Administration urges the Congress to do more to ensure that college is affordable for American families. This is particularly important today, when a college education is critical to ensuring that our workforce has the skills needed to meet the demands of the Nation's growing economy. The Administration looks forward to working with Congress to improve the legislation. Remarks by the First Lady at a "Drink Up" Event
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the First Lady _________________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release July 22, 2014 REMARKS BY THE FIRST LADY AT A “DRINK UP” EVENT State Dining Room 3:37 P.M. EDT MRS. OBAMA: Well, hello, everyone. (Applause.) You guys, sit. You never know how long to clap for the First Lady in her house, do you? (Laughter.) Well, welcome to the White House. I want to start by thanking Annalisa for that very kind introduction, and I want to thank her and Larry for their outstanding leadership. We are so grateful to the California Endowment and PHA for helping families across America lead healthier lives. And of course, I want to thank all of you for your tremendous support of the Drink Up campaign. We’re here today because of your passion -- mine, too -- your dedication and creativity. And I’m so appreciative of everything you’ve done to make Drink Up such a success. Now, as we all know, Drink Up is based on a very simple fact –- that water is good for you. Right, you two? We have little people in the press. (Laughter.) We have many young people in our press pool. I love that. Do you know that water is good for you? It’s good. (Laughter.) So when the Drink Up campaign was launched last year, it had one simple goal: To get kids and families excited about drinking water. Pretty cool. To each -- to achieve that goal, the campaign brought together folks from every part of the water community –- tap water, filtered water, bottled water. It was like the “who’s who” of water all here to help with Drink Up. And you all reached out to some of the brightest minds in advertising and research, and some of the biggest media and Internet companies as well as celebrities and elected officials from across the country who helped out on this campaign. And together, they launched a nationwide marketing campaign for water, a campaign featuring public service announcements, branded re-useable water bottles, social media and so much more. And as a result of this effort, today, I am thrilled to announce that less than one year after Drink Up was launched, bottled water sales went up three percent among folks who saw these ads. And overall water consumption has jumped nearly three percent as well. Now, this is pretty major. It’s an important step forward. Because we’re talking about people all across this country who are drinking more water every single day, which was one of our goals. So make no mistake about it, when we make a real effort to promote healthy products, when we put as much energy and creativity into marketing healthy products as we do for junk food, then kids actually get excited about these products, and families actually buy them and consume them. And as we’ve seen with the success of Drink Up, when folks start making these healthy choices, that’s not just good for families, it’s good for our companies’ bottom lines. Because when people get educated about the food and beverages they buy, the demand for healthy products rises, and that’s really what we want to see happen. And often, when businesses step up to meet that demand, their profits rise too, and everyone wins. And that’s why I am so thrilled about the additional commitments being announced today by Brita, the California Endowment, First 5 Santa Clara County, Haws, Nalgene, the Santa Clara Valley Water District, and S’Well Bottle Company. They’re giving grants to community groups. They’re distributing reusable water bottles and donating hydration stations to schools and communities, all of which are branded with the Drink Up logo. And they’re doing a whole lot more. So I’m confident that in the coming months and years, we’re going to see people across this country drinking more and more water. And here’s the thing: If we can achieve that kind of success in marketing something as simple as water, then I know we can do the exact same thing for any healthy product -- whether that’s fruits and veggies, or whole grains, or lean meats and dairy products, we can get kids to enjoy these things, too. And let’s be clear: What I’m talking about today doesn’t just apply to the companies who make these products. Any organization or institution can get creative about promoting healthy products. And that’s particularly true when we’re talking about our kids. Just take the example of our school lunch program. Ninety percent of our schools are now successfully serving healthier lunches to our kids all over this country. And in a survey released just this week by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, it showed that a strong majority of school nutrition directors report that their programs are running smoothly, and that kids –- particularly elementary school kids, the youngest kids -– are truly enjoying these new healthy lunches. Go figure. And in a number of school districts, participation in the lunch program has actually risen. And there’s a simple reason for that: It’s because those districts actually put some effort into marketing the new meals to the kids. They didn’t just sit back and say, well, the kids like junk food so let’s just give them junk food. Instead, they embraced higher standards and more nutritious options, and they worked hard to get the kids excited about them. They did taste tests. They came up with new recipes. They did everything they could to make healthy eating fun. And today, we’re seeing the results, especially among younger kids. Guess what they’re doing. They’re adapting. They’re adapting. They’re getting used to healthier food, and they’re developing healthy habits early on that will stay with them for the rest of their lives. And that’s our job as adults. Being the adult in the room means we make responsible decisions for our kids even when it’s hard, and then we stick with it. We stick with it. Because in the end, we’re in charge -- even if it doesn’t always feel that way. (Laughter.) And no matter what, we don’t give up on our kids. And we don’t give up on their health and their futures. And when we stand firm, the grownups, when we get creative and innovative with the folks behind Drink Up, we know we can get kids to enjoy food and beverages that are good for them. As First Lady, I’ve seen this happen in schools and communities across the country. And as a mother, I’ve seen it happen at my own kitchen table. So that’s why I know that we can do this. And I know that many of you have seen it, too. So we need to keep moving forward on these issues. We need to keep pushing to market healthy products to children and families. We need to keep working together within industries and across industries to help our kids lead healthier lives. And if we do all that, then I am confident -- I continue to be confident that we can give our kids the bright, healthy futures they deserve. Right, guys? So with that, now we’re going to have a little fun. The work is over. We’re going to -- first of all, thank you all again for everything you’ve done for Drink Up. And I want to invite you guys to head out to the South Lawn, because we’ve got a group of really tremendous kids who have worked on a pretty neat surprise that they would like to show to you. So with that, I’m going to step out and you guys are going to meet me outside. Gentlemen, you may want to take off your jackets because it’s hot outside. (Laughter.) You may do that. The First Lady has given you permission. (Laughter.) But congratulations on all the success. I look forward to working with you all in the months and years ahead. We’re going to keep moving forward on this issue and we’re going to slowly see some real changes in our kids, and they’re going to thank us for it when they’re old like us, right? All right, thank you all. (Applause.) FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA ANNOUNCES SEVEN ORGANIZATIONS JOIN DRINK UP EFFORT TO ENCOURAGE AMERICANS TO DRINK MORE WATER, MORE OFTEN
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the First Lady FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 22, 2014 FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA ANNOUNCES SEVEN ORGANIZATIONS JOIN DRINK UP EFFORT TO ENCOURAGE AMERICANS TO DRINK MORE WATER, MORE OFTEN Brita®, First 5 Santa Clara County, Haws Corporation™, Nalgene® Outdoor Products, S’well Bottle, Santa Clara Valley Water District and The California Endowment will support Drink Up through products and marketing efforts WASHINGTON, DC –Today, First Lady Michelle Obama joined the Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA) to announce that seven organizations have joined or renewed their support for the Drink Up effort, which encourages people across the country to drink more water, more often. Brita®, First 5 Santa Clara County, Haws Corporation™, Nalgene® Outdoor Products, S’well Bottle, Santa Clara Valley Water District and The California Endowment will support Drink Up by promoting its messages on water filtration systems, re-usable water bottles, drinking fountains or other products and programs. The First Lady also highlighted a new study from Nielsen Catalina Solutions (NCS), which found that a recent online ad campaign for Drink Up fueled a 3 percent lift in incremental sales of bottled water among those exposed to the campaign. “When the Drink Up campaign was launched last year, it had one simple goal – to get kids and families excited about drinking water,” said First Lady Michelle Obama. “And today, less than a year later, we know that water sales jumped nearly three percent among people who saw Drink Up ads. So I am thrilled about the additional commitments to continue this effort that are being announced today by Brita, First 5 Santa Clara County, Haws, Nalgene, the Santa Clara Valley Water District, S’WELL Bottle Company and The California Endowment. And I am confident that in the coming months and years, we’re going to see people across this country drinking more and more water.” “As Drink Up encourages more people to drink more water, we also want to help make choosing water an easy choice. The efforts announced today – along with our current supporters’ efforts – will help us show more people that you are what you drink, and when you drink water you Drink Up,” said PHA CEO Lawrence A. Soler. “We applaud the efforts of each of these supporters toward helping us take another step closer to providing access to water for more people wherever they are, whenever they want it, however they want it – be it tap, filtered or bottled.” For complete information about this PHA commitment, visit AHealthierAmerica.org and YouAreWhatYouDrink.org. UPDATED GUIDANCE FOR FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the First Lady FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 18, 2014 UPDATED GUIDANCE FOR FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA Tuesday, July 22, 2014 Washington D.C. * 3:30 PM ET – First Lady Michelle Obama and the Partnership for a Healthier America, of which Mrs. Obama is honorary chair, will announce several new supporters who have joined the Drink Up effort. The First Lady will also announce new data findings since the launch of Drink Up. The First Lady’s remarks will take place in the State Dining Room. Following the announcement, the First Lady will join children from local YMCA and National Recreation and Parks Association centers on the South Lawn for a large-scale activity related to Drink Up. Note: Following the First Lady’s remarks in the State Dining Room, press will be escorted directly to the outdoor activity on the South Lawn. Press will have the opportunity to preset for both the First Lady’s remarks and/or the South Lawn activity. Photographers are encouraged to bring ladders to the South Lawn; a riser will also be in place. Remarks by the President at My Brother's Keeper Town Hall
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary For Immediate Release July 21, 2014 REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT AT MY BROTHER’S KEEPER TOWN HALL Walker Jones Education Campus Washington, D.C. 12:00 P.M. EDT THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, everybody. (Applause.) Give it up for Chris Paul. (Applause.) Everybody have a seat. Chris was saying he was going to be nervous, but I'd seen all those State Farm ads, so I knew he could perform. (Laughter.) Not to mention how he performs on the court. And I've gotten a chance to know Chris over the last several years, and his family, and he is just the kind of person that you want in a leadership position. We are very, very proud of him. And I'm so grateful that he agreed to participate in this. Hello, everybody. AUDIENCE: Hello! THE PRESIDENT: How you all doing today? AUDIENCE: Good. THE PRESIDENT: Doing good? It is good to be at Walker Jones. I want to thank all of you for being here. I want to thank the school for hosting us. I want to thank the outstanding members of Congress who are here. And I want you all to know that I'm here for a simple reason, and that is I want to hear from many of you, the young people who are here today. I just had a chance to meet with a group of young people who are being mentored through a new program we started at the White House. In a few minutes, I'm going to have a chance to take some questions from some of the young people here today, give me a chance to hear from you about what your concerns are, what your dreams and hopes are, what your fears are, and how you think we may be able to help. And the reason it's important for me to be here is because when I look out at some of the young men who are here, you're where I was 40 -- 35 years ago. (Laughter.) I was trying to do the math in my head. I'm not that old yet. And I've had a chance to talk to some young people in the past, and I always say that I see myself in the young men who are coming up now. When I was in my teens, I didn’t have a father in the house. It took me a while to realize that I was angry about that, and I acted out in some ways. I was raised by a single mom. We didn’t have a lot in terms of wealth, although we had a lot of love in the house and my grandparents helped out. But despite their best efforts, sometimes I made some bad choices. I didn’t always take school as serious as I should have. I made excuses sometimes for misbehavior. The only difference between me and extraordinarily talented young men that I see all across the country is I was living in a pretty forgiving environment. So if I made a mistake, I often had a second chance, or I often had a third chance. And some of the costs of making mistakes, they weren’t deadly. I wasn’t going to end up shot. I wasn’t going to end up in jail. And as a consequence, for the last five, six, ten years, I've constantly been thinking about how can I make sure that I'm evening out the odds a little bit for other young men who could end up being a doctor or a lawyer or a senator or an attorney general or a secretary of education. What is it that we can do to create structures that give them support, that help them make better choices, and that, when you do make a mistake, give you a hand up so you can recover and go ahead and move on to the next phase of your lives? So that's why, earlier this year, we launched what we call My Brother’s Keeper. My Brother’s Keeper isn't some new, big government program. It's actually a team effort. It’s all about a whole bunch of folks -- educators, business leaders, faith leaders, foundations, government -- all working together to give boys and young men of color the tools that they need to succeed and make sure that every young person can reach their potential. And so the reason that we’re here today is to announce some of the pledges that have already been made, some of the commitments that have already been made by a series of institutions that just give you a sense of the kind of progress and excitement that we’ve seen since we launched this initiative. Chris Paul was a hint of one of these big commitments. The NBA and its Players Association are joining others to recruit 25,000 new mentors and to work directly with educators and schools all across our country. We are very proud of what the NBA is doing. And Adam Silver, the commissioner is here, as well as Chris, the Players Association president, and we want to thank them for their extraordinary involvement that they’ve made. (Applause.) But it’s not just the NBA that’s already stepping up. Today, we’ve got 60 of the country’s largest school districts who are here today announcing new efforts to help boys and young men like you succeed. The Council of Great City Schools -- these are some big city schools superintendents -- have done an extraordinary thing, pledging, making commitments to each other as well as their school districts and to their students and to parents that this is going to be a major focus for them. And we want to thank them for the great commitment that they are making. (Applause.) We’ve got leaders from Silicon Valley and the Emerson Collective who are today launching a $50 million competition to redesign high schools so that young people can learn in classrooms built for the 21st century, so that you know that the models that are out there of high schools that can help translate skills into successful careers, that we’re going to be rebuilding those in some cases from the ground up. So we want to thank those leaders and Emerson Collective for the great work that they’re doing. Give them a big round of applause. (Applause.) We’ve got a bipartisan group of mayors today who are going to bring the ideas behind My Brother’s Keeper to their cities. We’ve got the National Congress of American Indians who are going to do the same for young Native American boys and men. So we want to thank them for the outstanding work that they’re doing. (Applause.) And we’ve got organizations and companies like The College Board and AT&T, UBS, JPMorgan, City Foundation, and Discovery Communications who are making big commitments of their own to help young people like you get ahead. So these are just a few of the businesses and organizations and cities that are stepping up today. I’m confident that more and more are going to be joining. One of the things that we’ve discovered -- a pleasant surprise -- has been how invested and excited the folks who we’ve talked to have been about this initiative. People recognize that America will succeed if we are investing in our young people. And we also know that we’ve got to make sure that boys and young men of color are part of that success. We will not succeed unless you succeed. And we are so proud of the commitments that have already been made, but we’re also very confident that we’re going to see a lot more commitments in the weeks and months to come. So thank you, everybody. And right now I want to take some questions. But first of all, give all the folks who are participating -- give them one last big round of applause. (Applause.) Let’s see if this mic is working. Testing, one, two three. Does that work? All right. And somebody is going to bring out my tea so that I don’t get hoarse. Big Marvin. (Laughter.) Thank you. Marvin has the height for the NBA, but not the vertical. (Laughter.) But he can hit a golf ball a long way. So who wants to start off? What young person has got a question or a comment? What I really want to do is just have a conversation, because part of what we want the mayors who are here and the business leaders who are here -- we want to give them a chance to hear directly from you. And I know it’s kind of a public event and everybody is looking all serious, but try to pretend like there are no cameras here and that I’m not the President. (Laughter.) Yes, sir, this young man right here. But what we wanted you to do is stand up. We’re going to bring a mic. I want you to introduce yourself, tell me where you’re from, and then make your question or your comment. Q Hello. Good afternoon. I’m Jamal. My question is did you set goals for yourself when you were younger? THE PRESIDENT: Well, did everybody hear the question -- did I set goals for myself when I was younger. Let me say, first of all, that I actually didn’t set a lot of goals for myself when I was very young. When I got to be about your age, a lot of my goals revolved around basketball -- which were probably misplaced goals because I did not have Chris Paul’s talent. But as I got older -- so by the time I got to be a junior or senior in high school, I realized that I did need to go to college, and that required me to buckle down a little bit. And then, when I got to college, my first two years I was still kind of enjoying myself a little bit too much and was still a little bit too casual about my studies. And it wasn’t probably until I was about 20 that something happened inside me where I really said, you know, if I want to be serious, if I want to make a contribution, if I want to be proud of myself looking back on my life, then I’m going to have to change how I do things. And sometimes -- initially, I didn’t know how to do that. But that’s where the goal-setting came in. Because you’d start small. I’d say to myself, all right, my goal is to read a certain number of books a month, or my goal is to boost my GPA in college this much, or my goal is to interact with my peers a little differently than I had been doing in terms of how often I went out. So it could just be simple goals initially, and over time, those goals became more ambitious. And the truth is I still set goals every day. Every morning, I’ve got a checklist of here are the things that I need to get done. And it starts off with big goals -- so let’s just take My Brother’s Keeper. My goals is to make sure that every young person in America, if they’re putting in the effort, they can succeed, and they’ve got ladders of opportunity to take them where they want to go regardless of what their talents or interests are. So that’s a big goal. That’s a 40,000-foot goal. But if I just stay there, I’m not going to get it done, right? So then I’ve got to break it down into, well, what are the component parts of that? Well, number one, I’ve got to make sure the school system works well. So then I’m going to talk to my Secretary of Education and I’m going to say, what are our goals this year in terms of improving whether it’s early childhood education, or making sure that young people can read at grade level by the time they’re in 3rd grade, or what have you. But then it’s also there’s a criminal justice component to it, because I’m trying to figure out how do we get more young men into college and fewer of them into jail, which means that I’ve then got to talk to the Attorney General, Eric Holder, and I’ve got to say, what are our goals for trying to revamp how we think about the interaction between law enforcement and young men of color. So I’ll break it down into those parts. But that’s still not at the best level, because now I’ve got to say, what’s our specific plan to do it and what am I going to be doing this week, what am I going to be doing this month, and what am I going to be doing this year to get that done. And so you keep on breaking it down from the very general down to the specific. And ideally, what I’m producing then is every day when I wake up I’ve got a checklist of here are the specific things I’m going to do today to achieve my goal. But you don’t get there right away. So you can’t -- if you decide -- what do you want to be? You want to be a lawyer, okay. And what year are you in now in school? You’re a senior this -- so you’re a rising senior. Okay, so your first goal is you got to go to college to be a lawyer. So that means right now your focus should just be on what do I need to do to get into the best college with the least debt when I graduate from college as possible. Right? That’s going to be your top priority. (Applause.) But then you can start breaking into different goals. You can start saying what lawyers do I know where I could maybe have a summer internship at a law firm, and how do I talk to that -- how do I meet somebody who’s a lawyer who can give me a sense of what it’s like to be a lawyer. And I’ve got to think about what kind of law do I want to practice, and what kind of classes should I take once I get to college to prepare me for law school. So there are a whole range of things that you can start breaking down into their component parts. But if you don’t set a target, it’s just like -- I’ll probably end up using a lot of NBA analogies here today just because I’ve got a lot of ballers here. You can’t make a shot if you don’t aim. I mean, that’s pretty straightforward. The first goal is to know where it is that you’re trying to put the ball. And if you don’t have a clear sense of direction, a clear objective, then it doesn’t matter how much talent you have, you’re not going to get there. It’s a great question, though. All right, who else? Young man -- who already tried to invite himself to Camp David. (Laughter.) We were talking -- we were doing this mentorship program, and he said, well, when am I going to get to come to Camp David? (Laughter.) That’s a good goal. It’s a little unrealistic right now. (Laughter.) But who knows -- you keep on working on it. Go ahead. Q You said when you were younger your father always wasn’t around. How did you learn how to become a good father? THE PRESIDENT: Well, that’s a good question. It wasn’t just that my father wasn’t always around. I only met him for a month my entire life. He wasn’t there otherwise. So I didn’t know him at all until I was 10. He came for a month, and then I never saw him again. But I had this mom who just loved me a lot, and I had grandparents who loved me a lot. And to all the heroic single moms out there, we appreciate you for what you accomplish and what you do. (Applause.) Because she was going to school and she was working and having to raise me and my sister, and my grandparents gave us a lot of help, but it was hard. It was hard on her. And she was young when she had me; she was 18. And now I -- the other day I was in Minnesota and I saw a group of young teenage moms -- AUDIENCE MEMBER: Yay! THE PRESIDENT: That was the Minnesota superintendent of schools who just -- (laughter.) And I just looked at them and I thought, well, you’re just children. And I thought about my mother and how she ever managed that. It’s unbelievable. But to your question, I think that two things happened. One is the values my mother taught me, I thought to myself, well, those are values that any parent should have. So it doesn’t matter whether you’re the dad or the mom -- loving your child, being responsible for your child, teaching them how to be honest and how to be responsible themselves, and how to treat other people with kindness and how to respect themselves but respect others, how to work hard -- those weren’t values that were just for moms to teach, those were values for dads to teach as well, right? So some of it is me trying to remember what did my mom do for me and how can I do that for my daughters. And the second thing was just a commitment to being there -- which is part of the reason why this mentorship program is so important. Some of you have dads in your lives even if your parents are divorced, and that's great, because it's hard to replace a dad, and fathers can make this unbelievable contribution. For those who don't have that, having an adult in your life -- and then for boys, especially, an adult male in their lives -- just to talk to and to have an interaction with and to kind of model off of, even if sometimes it's not that explicit but you're kind of watching folks and seeing, all right, how do they carry themselves, how do they treat other people -- that makes a difference. For me, though, it was just really important to be there. And one of the things you discover being a father is you get out of it at least as much as you are putting into it. When I talk to young people who are thinking about parenthood or thinking about families, I try to describe, there is no greater joy than being in your children’s lives and then seeing them turn out well, seeing them happy and succeeding and focused and just being good people. It's the single most important thing you do in your life. And I was lucky -- I think precisely because I didn’t have that -- to say to myself I'm going to make sure that I experience that. It also helps marrying a good women. I should add that. (Laughter and applause.) So that always helps. All right, who else? Just because that green is something, I've got to call on you. (Laughter.) Just because that's an outfit right there. That looks sharp. (Laughter.) What’s your name? Q My name is Gray Smith (ph) and I'm from D.C. And my question is how do cope with judgment and how people see you? THE PRESIDENT: Well, that's an interesting question. Because people do have a lot of judgment about me, don't they? (Laughter.) That's a great question. When you grow up, when you're young it is natural to care about what your peers think of you. That's just human. And there’s nothing wrong with that. That's part of how young people get socialized, is they are looking at how people are responding to them and taking it in. And when they get positive reinforcement, they do more of that. When they get negative reinforcement, they do less of that. And that's just how we are. We're social animals. But I do think that as you get older part of what you have to determine is what’s important to you -- who are you, how do you want to live, what are the principles that you abide by, what are the kind of fixed foundations, what’s the North Star that steers you -- so that when things happen that aren't always according to plan, and when you have tough times and when you are struggling, what is it that's going to keep you going and keep your bearings. And I think through trial and error and mistakes and self-reflection, over time I've sort of figured out who I am and what’s important to me and what I care about. And I try to stay focused on that. And that can come about in a lot of different ways. Some people come at it through their faith and God centers them. And some people come at it through their work and they determine, this is what I think is important in terms of my work. There are different paths to it, but at some point, to be a man or a woman, to be an adult, to be a full-grown person, you have to move beyond just what other people think and you have to make a determination about what do you believe in. Not just what’s your opinion are any given day -- because folks have opinions about everything, and I change my mind about issues. There are times where I think one way, and then I get more evidence, new information comes in, and I say, oh, maybe I wasn’t right about that, let me rethink this. So there’s nothing wrong with changing your mind. But that's different from losing your sense of who you are and what’s important, or just changing your mind because it's easier or expedient. And what I try to do is be open-minded to new facts but stay pretty fixed in terms of what I think is important. I think, for example, it is really -- this sounds corny, but I think it's really important to treat other people with kindness. So that's a basic principle that I've got. Now, I've got to translate that sometimes in very abstract ways. All right, well, what does that mean if you’ve got suffering children halfway across the world -- what are my responsibilities to them and how does that translate into policy? And sometimes I've got tough choices because, on the one hand, I may want to help those children; on the other hand, I've got a bunch of young people I need to help here. And if I want to help those children I may need to, then, deal with bad people who are hurting those kids, but that may involve the United States in the kind of conflicts that ultimately hurt some of our young men and women who I might have to send there. So there are complexities to it. It’s hard. But I don’t lose track of the fact that I think treating somebody with kindness, that’s a core value of mine. And then I just don’t watch TV. That’s the other thing. (Laughter and applause.) That also helps. That’s not entirely true, I was teasing about that. But I do think that one of the things, as you grow up you start trying to figure out, is who gives you constructive criticism because they’re invested in the same things you are but maybe can see some things you can’t, versus folks who are just -- what did somebody say -- hating, somebody just hating, just haters -- I won’t go there, but -- (laughter) -- but people who maybe are providing less constructive criticism where I can’t really use it because no matter what I do, there may be something else that they’re criticizing. The object of it is not to advance a goal. And so one thing you should learn is if somebody is being constructive in their criticism, usually they’re not criticizing you, they’re criticizing your actions and what you do, and are giving you something specific. So if a coach is coaching Chris and just says, you’re a buster, you can’t play -- that’s not constructive criticism. If they say, Chris, right now you’re dribbling too much and you need to move the ball around because then five guys are going to touch it and we’ll have more motion -- that becomes constructive criticism. Well, that’s true in your lives as well. So you can usually tell -- if somebody is being constructive, they’re telling you something specific that you can change, that you can test to see if it’s going to make things better. And if they can’t, if all they’re saying is you’re not worth nothing, then that’s probably not something that you want to pay a lot of attention to. Does that make sense? All right. Young man right here. Q Hi. My name is Wayne Welker (ph) and I’m assistant crew leader and PowerCorps PHL and I’m from Philadelphia. And my question is I heard about the Iftar that you had at the White House. Any of our members -- all of our members, we’ve got some of our members who are working in the sun and they’re fasting, and they’re pushing through one of the initiatives to make the city greener. We wanted to know if -- I wanted to know if we could come out, if we were invited to the Iftar at the White House. THE PRESIDENT: Well, maybe next year. I only do it once a year. But we appreciate you. What we try to do -- for those of you who aren’t familiar, the Iftar is the breaking of fast during the month of Ramadan, which is a holy time for those of the Muslim faith. In the same way that we do Christmas celebrations and Hanukkah celebrations, every faith, what we try to do is to recognize that what makes this country great is we may have different faiths but we all come together as one American family. And so we hosted a dinner just -- was it last week? It was last week. I lost track of time these days because this is what happens when you get older, young men, so -- (laughter.) But next year, we’ll see if we can have somebody from your organization. It was a wonderful dinner. The only problem is, is that in most areas where the Muslim faith evolved, sunset is a lot earlier. When you start getting up north, these poor folks, it’s nine o’clock, they’re starving. (Laughter.) So it gets dark late. Yes, young man right here. Yes. Q I’m from the great state of Montana. THE PRESIDENT: It’s a beautiful state. Q My question for you, Mr. President, is how is the United States government helping American Indian people revitalize their language and culture? Because so many of our young men and boys don’t know who they are because they’ve lost their culture and language, and the United States government has tried so hard for the past 200 years to destroy that. THE PRESIDENT: Look, it’s a great question. As you may be aware, I was at an Indian reservation in South Dakota recently. And I met with a group of young people -- this is young men and women -- wonderful young men and women. Just extraordinary. And I won’t share with you exactly what they told me about their lives because it was private and they really opened up. But I can tell you that it was heartbreaking to hear some of the stories, in part because you got a sense of what the history of the interaction between the United States government and Native American peoples had done to the culture. The Bible says without vision a people will perish. And what happens when you start losing your language and you start losing your culture and you don’t have a sense of connections to ancestors and those memories that date back generations is you start feeling adrift. And if you’re living in a society that devalues that, then you start maybe devaluing yourself and internalizing some of those doubts. Now, the good news is what we started seeing -- for example, at the pow-wow that existed at the reservation, there was a Lakota language school for little kids, starting very early. They were learning math and science and all the subjects, but they were also in an immersion school, essentially, in their own language to empower them. And part of what I’ve been talking to Secretary Duncan about and Sally Jewell, who is the head of the Department of Interior, about is how do we incorporate more effectively into the school curriculums, into social programs, et cetera, a recognition of the distinct cultures of these native peoples. Because if young people come up proud of their past, then they’ll have a more powerful sense of direction going forward. Now, one thing I have to just say about all this, though, is the world is what it is. It is a global world. We live in the 21st century. When I was up at the reservation everybody had a cellphone. Everybody wanted to take selfies, like they always do. People were texting. And so you can’t ignore what’s happened. You can’t just live in the past; you also have to look to the future -- which means that all the young Native Americans are also going to have to learn math, science, computer sciences, engineering. There has to be an adaption to what is increasingly a world culture, even as you are also then connecting it back to your roots. And sometimes that’s hard. And part of what’s great about America is the way that we all take these different cultures and we make one culture out of it. And we shouldn’t lose that. That is -- we’re not just a collection of Jews and Irish and Native Americans and black -- we’re also Americans, so we have a common culture that binds us together. There’s no contradiction between knowing your culture -- the traditional cultures out of which your families come, but also being part of the larger culture. And I think that one of the things -- this is true not just for Native Americans, but it’s also true for African Americans. Sometimes African Americans, in communities where I’ve worked, there’s been the notion of “acting white” -- which sometimes is overstated, but there’s an element of truth to it, where, okay, if boys are reading too much, then, well, why are you doing that? Or why are you speaking so properly? And the notion that there’s some authentic way of being black, that if you’re going to be black you have to act a certain way and wear a certain kind of clothes, that has to go. (Applause.) Because there are a whole bunch of different ways for African American men to be authentic. If you look at Michele, she grew up South Side. And her mom still lives in a neighborhood where gunshots go off, and it can be rough where Michelle grew up. But she’ll talk proper when she needs to. Now, you also don’t want to get on her wrong side, because she can translate that into a different vernacular. (Laughter.) But my point is, is that you don’t have to act a certain way to be authentic. You just have to be who you are -- and to go back to the values that you care about -- are you kind, are you responsible, do you work hard, can you delay gratification. Well, the same is true in the Native American context. We want to get past the idea that there’s a certain way of being Native American. You need to know your culture, but you can also be part of this larger world. And there are some cultures, frankly, who’ve done this better than others. I do think, for example, Jewish culture has been very powerful. If you look in our society, the ability to transmit traditions through synagogues and the Torah and bar mitzvahs and bat mitzvahs, so that people have a sense of 2,000 years of history, but everybody is still part of today and America and the world. In many Asian American cultures, when they are part of -- first-generation immigrant, they might have a whole separate set of classes on weekends or after school where they’re learning their native tongues, the mother tongue, but they’re still focused, when you’re in school this is how you’re doing things. So I think this is something that we have to spend some time thinking about -- making sure that we understand there’s a way of knowing your history, knowing your culture, being proud of it, using it as a strength, but not thinking that there’s just one way of you then having to act. I think that’s very important. Let me take a look here. How many more questions can I take, by the way? We got one or two? All right, one or two. Let’s see -- I’m just looking around. You all look good, everybody looks good. I just want to make sure that everybody gets a chance. This young man in the corner here with the glasses. Q Hi. I’m representing the Asian American League today. And my question, what is your opinion on D.C. statehood? THE PRESIDENT: On D.C. statehood? Q Yes. THE PRESIDENT: Well, that’s -- I’m in D.C., so I’m for it. (Laughter and applause.) No, look, I think I’ve long believed that D.C. pays -- folks in D.C. pay taxes like everybody else. They contribute to the overall well-being of the country like everybody else. They should be represented like everybody else. And it’s not as if Washington, D.C. is not big enough compared to other states. There has been a long movement to get D.C. statehood and I’ve been for it for quite some time. The politics of it end up being difficult to get it through Congress, but I think it’s absolutely the right thing to do. All right, that was an easy one. Who else has got something? Let’s see here. See, I know that -- it’s tempting for me to call on a young woman. You know what, I’m going to call on -- maybe she has a perspective that nobody else has. This young lady right here. Didn’t you have your hand up? Okay, I wanted to make sure. Go ahead. Q My name is Jakesha Gray (ph) and my question was -- THE PRESIDENT: Why don’t you give her the mic because it’s hard for her to reach -- but you’re promising you’ll give it up. Q I promise. (Laughter.) THE PRESIDENT: Okay. Q Because you don’t have any biological sons, what is the likelihood of you mentoring one of the young men in the program? THE PRESIDENT: Well, it’s not just one of the young men -- we’ve got a whole mentor program that we’re bringing -- I’m going to be spending time with all of them because I’m going to spread myself a little thin with all of them. The problem for just me taking one is obviously then all the other guys who are part of the program would be like, man, how did you get the President? (Laughter.) So that would not be fair. So I’m going to be spending time with all the guys who are mentoring in the White House. These have both been short questions so I’m going to take a couple more. This young man in the blue shirt right here. This is one of our soon-to-be mentees at the White House. Q My name is Jonathan. I’m from Burke, Virginia. My question is, what advice can you give us so that we can achieve our goals? THE PRESIDENT: Well, I’m going to be giving you a whole bunch of advice so this won’t be an exhaustive list, but I’ll just start with a couple of things. Number one is: Work. It’s a pretty simple concept. There is nothing worthwhile where it just falls in your lap. I mean, maybe once in a while somebody wins the lottery, but for the most part, everything you do that’s worthwhile requires work. We’ve got -- you guys are all too young to remember, but we’ve got -- Otis Birdsong here used to have one of the best jumpers in the NBA. He looks like he could still play. Otis, how many shots, when you were playing, how many shots would you take just, I don’t know -- thousands of shots, right? I mean, if you talk to Chris or Steph Curry or Ray Allen or any great shooter, they are taking thousands of shots a day, so that when the time comes to make a big shot, it is just muscle memory. It’s all burned in. They have talent already, but they’ve worked. It’s interesting -- you talk to young people about basketball and they kind of understand that. They get that when it comes to sports. But for some reason, you think the same doesn’t apply to school. There is no reason why you should think that you will be a good reader if you don’t read a lot, and read books that are hard, as opposed to just books that are easy. There is no reason to think that you will be good at mathematics if you are not doing math problems, and pushing yourself and trying math problems that are hard, not just ones that are easy. (Applause.) There’s no reason why you should think that you’ll be well-informed about world events if you aren’t actually taking the time to read a newspaper once in a while and study what’s happening around the world. So nothing you will do, if it’s going to be worthwhile, doesn’t involve some work. And that includes, by the way, being good parents. Because I’ve got some friends who have still got young kids, and I’d forgotten -- I was watching -- my brother in law has got a -- my nephew -- a two-year-old and a five-year-old. We call him Chairman of the Old Dads Club. He started again. And I’m watching them run around and it’s just exhausting. (Laughter.) No, small children are tiring. And being loving and attentive and staying focused on what’s good for them, and disciplining them when necessary, that’s hard work. So work is number one. Number two is figure out what it is that you care about passionately, something that you think is important to you. Because if nothing is important to you, you’re not going to put in the work. Now, everybody has got different talents and everybody has got different passions. And sometimes -- part of the goal of My Brother’s Keeper is to expose you to more things so that you don’t think that the only thing you can be passionate about is what you’re seeing on TV. And part of the problem with young men of color is oftentimes the only thing they see to be passionate about is basketball or rap. And we want to make sure you get exposed to graphic design, or you’re exposed to engineering, or you’re exposed to being a lawyer, so that maybe you will be passionate about that. But the point is those two things go hand in hand. If you find something you really care about, then that’s also what you’re going to really be willing to put a lot of work into and that’s what you’ll end up being good at. So that’s goal number two. And goal number three -- or third thing -- and I’ve got a longer list, but here’s the third thing that’s pretty important -- understand that you will not achieve by yourself, which means that you’ve got to be able to invest in relationships with other people who you can learn from, who will support you, who you will support in turn. And if you learn how to be somebody who is a good teammate, who is connected and is thinking not just about yourself but about others as well, and they then respond to that by wanting to help you because you’ve shown yourself to be reliable or trustworthy or having somebody else’s back, you then build a network for yourself. And that increases your capacity to get things done. There are a handful of people who can do things on their own. But even geniuses, even folks who are the best of the best at whatever they do, generally speaking, when you look at it you find out there’s a whole bunch of people behind them that have allowed them to succeed the way that they have. And that’s part of what My Brother’s Keeper needs to be -- is just one more tool that you have to expand your network of people who can support your, give you ideas, buck you up when you’re down, open doors for you. Of course, the flip side is, though, you can’t just take -- you’ve also got to give. So you’ve got to show enthusiasm. You’ve got to want to be involved. You’ve got to be curious. You’re going to have to ask questions. If you have a mentor, you’ve got to show up on time. If somebody is putting time into you, you’ve got to show appreciation for it and do your hardest to achieve. Same thing with teachers. I don’t care how bad your school is, there’s a teacher in there somewhere who, if you went up to her or him and said, I really want to learn, can you help me, that teacher would snatch you up in a second, because they want to feel like they’re doing a good job. (Applause.) But if you’re just sitting in the back of the class slouching and complaining about how bad the school is, well, then you may be right to be angry that you don’t have enough school supplies, or the building is bad, or what have you, but it’s not going to help you. You’re not going to learn. So you’ve got to be able to give as well as to take. And if you learn that, those three things -- work, have a passion about something, and learn how to give and take with people so that you’re part of a broader team -- that’s a good place to start. Then I’ll give you the other 20 things that you’ve got to do. (Laughter.) Everybody, I’ve got to get going. I want to say to everybody who’s been involved -- the school administrators who are here, the mayors who are here, the NBA, the companies, the mentors and businesses who have already set up mentorship programs, and most of all, the young people -- I am very excited about this. I am proud of this. This is not something that is just a one-off that’s going to happen one time and then we’re done. This is a movement that we’re trying to build over the next year, five years, ten years, so that we can look back and say we were part of something that reversed some trends that we don’t want to see. We want fewer young men in jail; we want more of them in college. We want fewer young men on the streets; we want more in the boardrooms. We want everybody to have a chance to succeed in America. (Applause.) And it’s possible if we’ve got the kind of team that we set up today. Thank you, everybody. God bless you. God bless America. (Applause.) c NEW DIAL-IN: 4:15PM TODAY: White House Officials to Host Embargoed Press Call to Preview New Skill Report
NEW DIAL-IN: Please note the new dial-in number for this call: (800) 230-1766 and ask for the “White House Call.” No passcode necessary. THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary EMBARGOED FOR 6AM EDT TUESDAY, JULY 22 4:15PM TODAY: White House Officials to Host Embargoed Press Call to Preview New Skills Report WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Monday, July 21, at 4:15 PM EDT, Senior White House Officials will hold an embargoed press conference call to discuss a new report that will be released tomorrow by Vice President Joe Biden on America's job training programs. In his 2014 State of the Union address, the President announced that the Vice President would lead a review of America's training programs to make sure they have one mission: train Americans with the skills employers need, and match them to good jobs that need to be filled right now. The report details the Vice President's review and highlights specific actions the Administration will take to ensure America's training programs in states across the country are focused on providing workers with the tools they need for good, competitive jobs. This call will be on background and embargoed until 6:00 AM EDT on Tuesday, July 22, 2014. WHO: Senior White House Officials WHAT: Embargoed background press call to preview a new report on ensuring workers have the skills they need for good jobs Executive Order -- Further Amendments to Executive Order 11478, Equal Employment Opportunity in the Federal Government, and Executive Order 11246, Equal Employment Opportunity
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 21, 2014 Attached for release is an Executive Order signed today by the President regarding further amendments to Executive Order 11478, Equal Employment Opportunity in the Federal Government, and Executive Order 11246, Equal Employment Opportunity. ADVISORY: President Obama to Award 2013 National Medal of Arts and National Humanities Medal
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 22, 2014 ADVISORY: President Obama to Award 2013 National Medal of Arts and National Humanities Medal WASHINGTON, DC – On Monday afternoon, July 28, 2014, President Obama will award the 2013 National Medal of Arts and the National Humanities Medal to distinguished recipients in the East Room. The First Lady will also attend. The National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities were established by the Congress in 1965 as independent agencies of the Federal Government. To date, the NEA has awarded more than $5 billion to support artistic excellence, creativity, and innovation for the benefit of individuals and communities. The NEA extends its work through partnerships with State arts agencies, local leaders, other Federal agencies, and the philanthropic sector. The National Endowment for the Humanities supports research and learning in history, literature, philosophy, and other areas of the humanities by funding selected, peer-reviewed proposals from around the Nation. The Endowment brings high-quality historical and cultural experiences to large and diverse audiences in all 50 States, the District of Columbia, and five territories. MEDIA REGISTRATION: This event will be open press, but space is limited. Members of the media who wish to cover the President’s remarks must RSVP by 12:00 PM ET on Friday, July 25. Press holding White House hard passes must send their name, media outlet, and email to media_affairs@who.eop.gov with the subject line “Medal of Arts and Humanities Medal.” Press not holding White House hard passes must include their full legal name (including middle name), date of birth, Social Security number, gender, country of citizenship, and current city and state of residence. All press will enter the White House via the northwest gate. If we are able to accommodate your request for credentials, you will receive a confirmation after the deadline to RSVP has passed with further instructions and logistical details. At next week’s event, the President will deliver remarks and present the awards to the following individuals and organizations: 2013 National Medal of Arts · Julia Alvarez, Novelist, Poet, and Essayist, Weybridge, VT · Brooklyn Academy of Music, Presenter, Brooklyn, NY · Joan Harris, Arts Patron, Chicago, IL · Bill T. Jones, Dancer and Choreographer, Valley Cottage, NY · John Kander, Musical Theater Composer, New York, NY · Jeffrey Katzenberg, Director and CEO of DreamWorks, Beverly Hills, CA · Maxine Hong Kingston, Writer, Oakland, CA · Albert Maysles, Documentary Filmmaker, New York, NY · Linda Ronstadt, Musician, San Francisco, CA · Billie Tsien and Tod Williams (receiving individual medals), Architects, New York, NY · James Turrell, Visual Artist, Flagstaff, AZ 2013 National Humanities Medal
Below are the 2013 National Medal of Arts Citations which will be read at the ceremony: Julia Alvarez for her extraordinary storytelling. In poetry and in prose, Ms. Alvarez explores themes of identity, family, and cultural divides. She illustrates the complexity of navigating two worlds and reveals the human capacity for strength in the face of oppression. Brooklyn Academy of Music for innovative contributions to the performing and visual arts. For over 150 years, BAM has showcased the works of both established visionaries and emerging artists who take risks and push boundaries. Joan Harris for supporting creative expression in Chicago and across our country. Her decades of leadership and generosity have enriched our cultural life and helped countless artists, dancers, singers, and musicians bring their talents to center stage. Bill T. Jones for his contributions as a dancer and choreographer. Renowned for provocative performances that blend an eclectic mix of modern and traditional dance, Mr. Jones creates works that challenge us to confront tough subjects and inspire us to greater heights. John Kander for his contributions as a composer. For more than half a century, Mr. Kander has enlivened Broadway, television, and film through songs that evoke romanticism and wonder and capture moral dilemmas that persist across generations. Jeffrey Katzenberg for lighting up our screens and opening our hearts through animation and cinema. Mr. Katzenberg has embraced new technology to develop the art of storytelling and transform the way we experience film. Maxine Hong Kingston for her contributions as a writer. Her novels and non-fiction have examined how the past influences our present, and her voice has strengthened our understanding of Asian American identity, helping shape our national conversation about culture, gender, and race. Albert Maysles for rethinking and remaking documentary film in America. One of the pioneers of direct cinema, he has offered authentic depictions of people and communities across the globe for nearly 60 years. By capturing raw emotions and representations, his work reflects the unfiltered truths of our shared humanity. Linda Ronstadt for her one-of-a-kind voice and her decades of remarkable music. Drawing from a broad range of influences, Ms. Ronstadt defied expectations to conquer American radio waves and help pave the way for generations of women artists. Billie Tsien and Tod Williams for their contributions to architecture and arts education. Whether public or private, their deliberate and inspired designs have a profound effect on the lives of those who interact with them, and their teaching and spirit of service have inspired young people to pursue their passions. James Turrell for his groundbreaking visual art. Capturing the powers of light and space, Mr. Turrell builds experiences that force us to question reality, challenging our perceptions not only of art, but also of the world around us. Below are the 2013 National Humanities Medal Citations which will be read at the ceremony: M. H. Abrams, literary critic, for expanding our perceptions of the Romantic tradition and broadening the study of literature. As a professor, writer, and critic, Dr. Abrams has traced the modern concept of artistic self-expression in Western culture, and his work has influenced generations of students. David Brion Davis, historian, for reshaping our understanding of history. A World War II veteran, Dr. Davis has shed light on the contradiction of a free Nation built by forced labor, and his examinations of slavery and abolitionism drive us to keep making moral progress in our time. Darlene Clark Hine, historian, for enriching our understanding of the African American experience. Through prolific scholarship and leadership, Dr. Hine has examined race, class, and gender and shown how the struggles and successes of African American women shaped the Nation we share today. Anne Firor Scott, historian, for pioneering the study of southern women. Through groundbreaking research spanning ideology, race, and class, Dr. Scott’s uncharted exploration into the lives of southern women has established women’s history as vital to our understanding of the American South. William Theodore De Bary, East Asian Studies scholar, for broadening our understanding of the world. Dr. de Bary’s efforts to foster a global conversation have underscored how the common values and experiences shared by Eastern and Western cultures can be used to bridge our differences and build trust. Johnpaul Jones, architect, for honoring the natural world and indigenous traditions in architecture. A force behind diverse and cherished institutions, Mr. Jones has fostered awareness through design and created spaces worthy of the cultures they reflect, the communities they serve, and the environments they inhabit. Stanley Nelson, producer and director, for documenting the story of African Americans through film. By turning a camera on both the well-known and unknown narratives of African Americans, Mr. Nelson has exposed injustice and triumph while revealing new depths of our Nation’s history. Diane Rehm, radio host, for illuminating the people and stories behind the headlines. In probing interviews with pundits, poets, and Presidents, Ms. Rehm’s incisive, confident, and curious voice has deepened our understanding of our communities and our culture. Krista Tippett, radio host and author, for thoughtfully delving into the mysteries of human existence. On the air and in print, Ms. Tippett avoids easy answers, embracing complexity and inviting people of all faiths, no faith, and every background to join the conversation. American Antiquarian Society, historical organization, for safeguarding the American story. Through more than two centuries, the Society has amassed an unparalleled collection of historic American documents, served as a research center to scholars and students alike, and connected generations of Americans to their cultural heritage. Remarks by the President and Vice President at Bill Signing of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release July 22, 2014 REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT AND THE VICE PRESIDENT AT BILL SIGNING OF THE WORKFORCE INNOVATION AND OPPORTUNITY ACT 12:18 P.M. EDT THE VICE PRESIDENT: Good afternoon, everyone. It’s great to be here. (Applause.) Please, thank you very much. Thank you, distinguished members of Congress and members of labor and business, and the community. Today, as the President signs the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, we’re using this occasion also to present to the President a roadmap he asked -- requested in the State of the Union message, how to keep and maintain the highest-skilled workforce in the world. And this is a perfect build-on as to what the bipartisan consensus that Congress recently reached. I had the best partners in preparing this report that I could ask for -- Tom Perez at Labor, Penny Pritzker at Commerce and Arne Duncan at the Department of Education. I talked to governors, mayors, industry leaders, presidents of community colleges and colleges, and unions, and a lot of members of Congress, many of whom are here. And I have to acknowledge at the out front -- at the outset, my wife, Jill, has been an incredible advocate for community colleges and the role they play in training the workforce. But most importantly, I spoke with an awful lot of Americans who are -- as all of you have, particularly members of Congress, who were hit exceedingly hard by the Great Recession, but are doing everything they possibly can to find a job -- willing to learn new skills in order to have a decent, middle-class job. One thing I hope that’s been put to rest -- and I know we all share this view -- Americans want to work. They want to work. They’re willing to do anything that they need to do to get a good and decent job. And they show us that our single greatest resource is not -- and it’s not hyperbole -- remains the American people. They’re the most highly-skilled workers in the world and the most capable people in the world. And they’re in the best position to learn the new skills of the 21st century that the workforce requires. There’s that phrase -- all has changed, changed utterly. Well, all has changed. It’s a different world in which people are competing in order to get the kind of jobs they need, whether it’s in advanced manufacturing or clean energy or information technology or health care -- all areas that are booming, all areas where America is back. So the core question that we set out to answer -- and I’m sure my colleagues did as well -- was how do you connect? How do you connect these workers who desperately want a job, who will do all they need to do to qualify, how do you connect them with jobs? How do Americans know what skills employers need? It sounds like a silly question, but how do they know? And how do they get these skills once they know what skills are needed for the job? And where, where do they go to get those jobs? This report is designed to help answer those extremely practical questions. It includes 50 actions that the federal government and our outside partners are taking now to help fill this skills gap. There is this new strategy that we think will lead directly to more middle-class jobs. These actions are going to help promote partnerships between educational institutions and workforce institutions. They’re going to increase apprenticeships, which will allow folks to learn -- and earn while they learn. And it will empower job seekers and employers with better data on what jobs are available and what skills are needed to fill those jobs. Let me tell you a story why all this matters. And I’ve been all over the country and invited by many of you into your districts and states in order to look at programs you have that are similar to what we’re proposing today. But I was recently -- and I could talk about many of them, but I was recently in Detroit just last week. And I met with an incredible group of women at a local community college. Now, all of these women came from hardscrabble neighborhoods in Detroit. They happened to be all women, it was coincidence, but they all made it through high school. They ranged in age I’m guessing somewhere from 25 to their mid-50s. But they all got a high school education, and they were absolutely determined to do more to be able to provide for themselves and their family. Through word of mouth, Tom, they heard about a coding boot camp, computer coding -- a coding boot camp. And it’s called [Step] IT Up America. And it was a partnership between Wayne County Community College and a company called UST Global. Now, it’s an intensive, four-month -- just four months, but intensive eight-hour day -- I think it’s almost the whole day -- don’t hold me to the exact number of hours, but intensive training program where these women happen to be, as I said, there were about a dozen and a half women learn IT skills needed to fill jobs at UST Global. UST Global represents a lot of other IT companies as well. Knowing vacancies exist -- they estimate over a thousand vacancies just in the greater Detroit area. And upon completion of this program, UST Global hires the students, and the lowest starting job is at $45,000 a year and the highest is $70,000 a year. These are coders, computer programmers. But there’s a key point: UST Global doesn’t train these women out of some altruistic sense of charity. They do it because it’s a very, very smart business decision. There’s an overwhelming need for more computer coders -— as does not just UST Global, but the entire industry. By 2020, our research shows there will be 1.4 million new IT jobs all across this country. And the pay is in the $70,000 range. I was so proud of these women. As I said, my wife teaches in a community college. Her average class age of people in her class is 28 to 30 years old. Just think of yourself, what courage it takes. You’re out of high school. You’re graduated. You’ve been bumping along in a job trying to make it. You’ve been out, two, five, 10, 15 years. And someone says, there’s this opportunity to take this program to learn Java, to learn a new language, to learn how to operate a computer in a way that you can code it. It takes a lot of courage to step up. It takes a willingness to be ready to fail. These women were remarkable, but not just these women. They write code, so they look -- they weren’t out there. They were -- they knew someone who had gotten a job because of the program, and they thought they could do it. So they learned an entire new language, and they displayed an initiative that was remarkable to see. They showed up. They worked hard because they want a good-paying job. They want to make a decent living. They want to take care of themselves and their families. Folks, that's what -- as I know all of my colleagues believe -- that's what this is all about. It’s not just information technology. Manufacturing -- 100,000 high-tech manufacturing jobs available today in the United States because the employers cannot find workers with the right skills. That number of highly skilled manufacturing jobs is going to grow to 875,000 by 2020. And, folks, I was recently up in Michigan. And Dow Kokam has a plant there that's -- they couldn’t find anybody with photovoltaic technology, didn't know how to run the machines. So the community college and the business, they roll the machines right into the community college because of the help you all have provided in Congress, the funding. And it’s like an assembly line. These are good-paying jobs. And in energy: 26 percent more jobs for petroleum engineers, average salary 130,000 bucks a year; 25 percent more jobs for solar panel installers, $38,000 a year; 20 percent more jobs needed -- more electricians are needed, earning $50,000 a year -— all now and in the near term. These are real jobs. These are real jobs. Health care: There are 20 percent more jobs -— or 526,000 more that are needed in the health care industry -— registered nurses, jobs that pay 65,000 bucks a year. There’s training programs in all of your states and districts, where you go out there, and while you’re a practical nurse, you can still be working and be essentially apprentice, while you are learning how to become -- and taking courses to be a registered nurse. Physician assistants -- badly needed as the call for health care increases. What’s the number, Tom, 130,000 a year roughly? These are jobs all within the grasp of the American people if we give them the shot, if we show them the way, let them know how they can possibly pay for it while they are raising a family, and they’ll do the rest. To maintain our place in the world we need to keep the world’s most skilled workforce right here in America, and to give a whole lot more hardworking Americans a chance at a good, middle-class job they can raise a family on. But we also know the actions in this report are only a beginning, and as is the legislation. The fact of the matter is that so many people over the last two decades have fallen out of the middle class, and so many in the upcoming generation need to find a path back. Well, there is a path back if we all do our jobs -- from industry, to education, to union leaders, to governors, to Congress, to the federal government. And the mission is very simple. It goes back to the central economic vision that has guided most of us -- I can speak for the President and I -- from the first day we got here. The mission is to widen the aperture to be able to get into the middle class by expanding opportunity. No guarantees, just expanding opportunity to American men and women who represent the backbone of the most dynamic, thriving economy in the world. That's a fact. We are the most dynamic, thriving economy in the world. But in order to thrive, their education and training has to be as just as dynamic and adaptable as our economy is. So, folks, America is back. We’re better positioned today than we ever have been. According to A.T. Kearney, we are the most attractive place in the world for foreign investments by a long shot, of every other country in the world. Since this survey has been kept, the gap between number one and number two is wider than it ever has been. Manufacturing is back, folks. They're coming home. Instead of hearing -- my kids, instead of hearing about outsourcing, what are you hearing now? You’re hearing about insourcing. Companies are coming back. We’re in the midst of -- we take no direct credit for it -- we’re in the midst of an energy boom. North America will be the epicenter of energy in the 21st century -- the United States of America, Mexico, and Canada. We remain the leader in innovation. We have the greatest research universities in the world. We have the most adaptive financing systems in the world, to go out and take chances on new startups. And American workers are the most productive in the world. They want to work. But to seize this moment, we need to keep the world’s most skilled workforce here in America. And I think today in this bipartisan group -- we’re ready. The American people are ready. And I know the man I’m about to introduce is ready. He wakes up every morning trying to figure out how do we give ordinary Americans an opportunity. This is just about opportunity, man. Simple opportunity -- how do we give them -- because they -- an opportunity because they are so exceptional. Ladies and Gentlemen, I think everyone in this room shares that goal -- providing for opportunity. And the man I’m about to introduce, that's all he talks about, it seems to me when he talks to me. Ladies and gentlemen, the President of the United States, Barack Obama. (Applause.) THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. (Applause.) Thank you so much. Everybody, please be seated. Thank you. Well, welcome to the White House, everybody. And I want to thank Joe for the generous introduction, but more importantly, for everything he does, day in, day out, on behalf of American workers. And I want to thank the members of Congress who are here from both parties who led the effort to reauthorize the Workforce Investment Act. When President Clinton signed the original Workforce Investment Act back in 1998, he said it was, “a big step forward in making sure that every adult can keep on learning for a lifetime.” And he was right -- the law became a pillar of American job training programs. It’s helped millions of Americans earn the skills they need to find a new job or get a better-paying job. But even back then, even in 1998, our economy was changing. The notion that a high school education could get you a good job and that you’d keep that job until retirement wasn’t a reality for the majority of people. Advances in technology made some jobs obsolete. Global competition sent other jobs overseas. And then, as we were coming into office, the Great Recession pulled the rug out from under millions of hardworking families. Now, the good news is, today, nearly six years after the financial crisis, our businesses have added nearly 10 million new jobs over the past 52 months. Manufacturing is adding jobs for the first time since the 1990s. The unemployment rate is at its lowest point since September of 2008 -– by the way, the fastest one-year drop in nearly 30 years. There are now more job openings than at any time since 2007, pre-recession. For the first time in a decade, as Joe mentioned, business leaders around the world have declared that the number-one place to do business, the number-one place to invest isn’t China, it’s the United States of America. So thanks to the hard work of the American people and some decent policies, our economy has recovered faster and it has gone farther than most other advanced nations. As Joe said, we are well-positioned. We’ve got the best cards. So we have the opportunity right now to extend the lead we already have -– to encourage more companies to join the trend and bring jobs home; to make sure that the gains aren’t just for folks at the very top, but that the economy works for every single American. If you’re working hard, you should be able to get a job, that job should pay well, and you should be able to move forward, look after your family. Opportunity for all. And that means that even as we’re creating new jobs in this new economy, we have to make sure that every American has the skills to fill those jobs. And keep in mind, not every job that’s a good job out there needs a four-year degree, but the ones that don’t need a college degree generally need some sort of specialized training. Last month, I met just a wonderful young woman named Rebekah in Minnesota. A few years ago, she was waiting tables. Her husband lost his job, he was a carpenter doing construction work. He had to figure out how to scramble and get a new job that paid less. She chose to take out student loans, she enrolled in a community college, she retrained for a new career. Today, not only has her husband been able to get back into construction but she loves her job as an accountant -- started a whole new career. And the question then is how do we give more workers that chance to adapt, to revamp, retool, so that they can move forward in this new economy. In 2011, I called on Congress to reauthorize the Workforce Investment Act, update it for the 21st century. And I want to thank every single lawmaker who is here -- lawmakers from both parties -- who answered that call. It took some compromising, but, you know what, it turns out compromise sometimes is okay. Folks in Congress got past their differences and they got a bill to my desk. So this is not a win for Democrats or Republicans. It is a win for American workers. It’s a win for the middle class. And it’s a win for everybody who is fighting to earn their way into the middle class. So the bill I’m about to sign will give communities more certainty to invest in job-training programs for the long run. It will help us bring those programs into the 21st century by building on what we know works based on evidence, based on tracking what actually delivers on behalf of folks who enroll in these programs -– more partnerships with employers, more tools to measure performance, more flexibilities for states and cities to innovate and to run their workforce programs in ways that are best suited for their particular demographic and their particular industries. And as we approach the 24th anniversary of the ADA, this bill takes new steps to support Americans with disabilities who want to live and work independently. So there’s a lot of good stuff in here. Of course, as Joe said, there is still more that we can do. And that’s why we’ve rallied employers to give long-term unemployed a fair shot. It’s why we’re using $600 million in federal grants to encourage companies to offer apprenticeships and work directly with community colleges. It’s why, in my State of Union address this year, I asked Joe to lead an across-the-board review of America’s training programs to make sure that they have one mission: Train Americans with the skills employers actually need, then match them to good jobs that need to be filled right now. So today, I’m directing my Cabinet -- even as we’re signing the bill -- to implement some of Joe’s recommendations. First, we’re going to use the funds and programs we already have in a smarter way. Federal agencies will award grants that move away from what our Secretary of Labor, Tom Perez, who has been working very hard on this, what he calls a “train and pray” approach, and I’ll bet a lot of you who have dealt with folks who are unemployed know what that means. They enroll, they get trained for something, they’re not even sure whether the job is out there, and if the job isn’t out there, all they’re doing is saddling themselves with debt, oftentimes putting themselves in a worse position. What we want to do is make sure where you train your workers first based on what employers are telling you they’re hiring for. Help business design the training programs so that we’re creating a pipeline into jobs that are actually out there. Number two, training programs that use federal money will be required to make public how many of its graduates find jobs and how much they earn. And that means workers, as they’re shopping around for what’s available, they’ll know in advance if they can expect a good return on their investment. Every job seeker should have all the tools they need to take their career into their own hands, and we’re going to help make sure they can do that. And finally, we’re going to keep investing in new strategies and innovations that help keep pace with a rapidly changing economy -- from testing new, faster ways of teaching skills like coding and cybersecurity and welding, to giving at-risk youth the chance to learn on the job, we will keep making sure that Americans have the chance to build their careers throughout a lifetime of hard work. So the bill I’m signing today and the actions I’m taking today will connect more ready-to-work Americans with ready-to-be-filled jobs. Of course, there is so much more that we can still do. And I’m looking forward to engaging all the members of Congress and all the businesses and not-for-profits who worked on this issue. I’m really interested in engaging them, see what else we can get going. I’ll give you a couple of examples. Our high school graduation rate is the highest on record. More young people are earning their college degrees than ever before. But we still have work to do to make college more affordable and lift the burden of student loan debt. I acted to give nearly five million Americans the opportunity to cap their student loan payments at 10 percent of their income -- particularly important for those who were choosing careers that aren’t as lucrative. But Congress could help millions more, and I’d like to work with you on that. Minimum wage. This week marks five years since the last increase in the minimum wage. More and more states and business owners are raising their workers’ wages. I did the same thing for federal contractors. I’d like to work with Congress to see if we can do the same for about 28 million Americans -- give Americans a raise right now. Fair pay. Let’s make sure the next generation of women are getting a fair deal. Let’s make sure the next generation of good manufacturing jobs are made in America. Let’s make it easier, not harder, for companies to bring those jobs back home. Tomorrow, senators will get to vote on the Bring Jobs Home Act. Instead of rewarding companies for shipping jobs overseas or rewarding companies that are moving profits offshore, let’s create jobs right here in America and let’s encourage those companies. So let’s build on what both parties have already done on many of these issues. Let’s see if we can come together and, while we’re at it, let’s fix an immigration system that is currently broken in a way that strengthens our borders and that we know will be good for business, we know will increase our GDP, we know will drive down our deficit. So I want to thank all the Democrats and Republicans here today for getting this bill done. This is a big piece of work. You can see, it’s a big bill. (Laughter.) But I’m also inviting you back. Let’s do this more often. It’s so much fun. (Laughter and applause.) Let’s pass more bills to help create more good jobs, strengthen the middle class. Look at everybody -- everybody is smiling, everybody feels good. (Laughter.) We could be doing this all the time. (Laughter.) Our work can make a real difference in the lives of real Americans. That’s why we’re here. We’ll have more job satisfaction. (Laughter.) The American people, our customers, they’ll feel better about the product we produce. And back in 1998, when President Clinton signed the original Workforce Investment Act into law, he was introduced by a man named Jim Antosy from Reading, Pennsylvania. And Jim spoke about how he had been laid off in 1995 at age 49, two kids, no college degree. With the help of job training programs, he earned his bachelor’s degree in computer science, found a new job in his field. Today, Jim and his wife, Barb, still live in Reading. Over the past 16 years, he’s been steadily employed as a programmer, working his way up from contractor to full-time employee. In just a few months, Jim now is planning to retire after a lifetime of hard work. A job training program made a difference in his life. And one thing he’s thinking about doing in his retirement is teaching computer science at the local community college, so he can help a new generation of Americans earn skills that lead directly to a job, just like he had the opportunity to do. Well, I ran for President because I believe even in a changing economy, even in a changing world, stories like Jim aren’t just possible, they should be the norm. Joe believes the same thing. Many of you believe the same thing. I believe America is -- I don’t just believe, I know America is full of men and women who work very hard and live up to their responsibilities, and all they want in return is to see their hard work pay off, that responsibility rewarded. They’re not greedy. They’re not looking for the moon. They just want to be able to know that if they work hard, they can find a job, they can look after their families, they can retire with dignity, they’re not going to go bankrupt when they get sick, maybe take a vacation once in a while -- nothing fancy. That’s what they’re looking for, because they know that ultimately what’s important is family and community and relationships. And that’s possible. That’s what America is supposed to be about. That’s what I’m fighting for every single day as President. This bill will help move us along that path. We need to do it more. Let’s get together, work together, restore opportunity for every single American. So with that, I’d like to invite up some of the outstanding folks who are sitting in the audience who helped make this happen. And I’m going to sign this bill with all those pens. Thank you very much, everybody. (Applause.) Statement by the Press Secretary on H.R. 803
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 22, 2014 Statement by the Press Secretary on H.R. 803 On Tuesday, July 22, 2014, the President signed into law: H.R. 803, the "Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act," which reauthorizes and reforms core workforce development programs administered by the Departments of Education and Labor and transfers from the Department of Education to the Department of Health and Human Services certain disability and independent living program functions. FACT SHEET: Ready to Work At a Glance: Job-Driven Training and American Opportunity
FACT SHEET: Ready to Work At a Glance: Job-Driven Training and American OpportunityInboxxWhite House Press Office via service.govdelivery.com Jul 22 (3 days ago) to me THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 22, 2014 FACT SHEET: Ready to Work At a Glance: Job-Driven Training and American Opportunity New Actions to Expand Job-Driven Training and Broaden the Pathway to the Middle Class “So tonight, I've asked Vice President Biden to lead an across-the-board reform of America's training programs to make sure they have one mission: train Americans with the skills employers need, and match them to good jobs that need to be filled right now. That means more on-the-job training, and more apprenticeships that set a young worker on an upward trajectory for life. It means connecting companies to community colleges that can help design training to fill their specific needs. And if Congress wants to help, you can concentrate funding on proven programs that connect more ready-to-work Americans with ready-to-be-filled jobs.” — President Obama, State of the Union, January 28, 2014 Across the country, federal job training programs help hard-working Americans find good jobs and careers, employers recruit and hire the skilled workers they need to compete, and American communities build the skilled workforces they need to attract business investment and create jobs. In order to continue to grow the economy, expand opportunity, and widen the pathway to the middle class, the President and Vice President are committed to improving training opportunities for Americans by replicating strategies that work. In his 2014 State of the Union Address, and as part of his plan to make 2014 a Year of Action, the President announced that he was asking the Vice President to lead a review of federal training programs in order to identify and implement steps to make these programs more “job-driven”: to be responsive to the needs of employers in order to effectively place ready-to-work Americans in jobs that are available now or train them in the skills needed for better jobs. Today, the President and Vice President will announce the results of the review, including new actions by the federal government and the private sector. The Vice President will release a new report that details these actions and highlights successful job-driven strategies. The President will also sign the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, which will help improve business engagement and accountability across federally-funded training programs. In the months ahead, the Administration will continue to work with business and union leaders, school administrators, workforce experts, and state and local elected officials to replicate successful training strategies in communities throughout the United States. For additional details, click HERE. Engaging Employers in Partnerships to Define Needed Skills, Offer Apprenticeships, and Hire Graduates Matching ready-to-work Americans to in-demand jobs works best when employers engage to define needed skills, shape training programs, and invest in apprenticeships and on-the-job training. · Competitive grants to launch hundreds of job-driven industry partnerships across the country. $950 million in job-driven grants have already been launched and will have been awarded to over 100 job-driven industry partnerships by this fall. Starting October 1, all applicants for 25 annual competitive grant programs across federal agencies must follow the job-driven checklist, meaning that over $1.4 billion in existing job training funds for youth, displaced workers, long-term unemployed, and others will be awarded to hundreds of community organizations and education and training institutions in partnership with employers. · Expanding American Apprenticeships. In addition to making $100 million available for the American Apprenticeship Grants to expand apprenticeships to more Americans, the Administration has engaged high-growth industries and is today announcing new resources to help employers start or expand apprenticeships. · Using a job-driven checklist to ensure $15 billion in job training funds are more effective. Agencies boiled down what makes training programs successful and created a Job-Driven Checklist that will be used to drive successful practices like employer engagement and apprenticeship into all training programs. Information to Help Job Seekers, States, and Communities Make Smart Choices In-demand skills and job opportunities evolve as our economy and technology changes. Making data-driven tools available at all levels allows individuals, employers, and taxpayers to realize higher returns on training investments. · Ensure all federal programs track employment outcomes. Employment measures will be added to any program without them, including programs serving Americans with disabilities and veterans. · Mobilizing America’s innovators. Following a White House Data Jam for Job Seekers, Glassdoor, Apploi and others are committing to make personalized guidance on job search and training freely available. · Give states and localities information and incentives to tailor job-driven strategies locally. Agencies will provide states guidance and flexibility to tailor job-driven strategies, offering grants for implementation. Innovation and Promoting More Effective Strategies We will enable agencies to pilot promising job-driven training strategies and learn how best to scale them. · High-impact innovations in higher education. The Department of Education will waive particular federal student aid rules to enable the testing of innovative education models awarding degrees based on demonstrated skills rather than seat time, and the Department of Labor will award $25 million to create an online skills academy designed to prepare adult learners for in-demand careers. · Testing effective strategies for adult learners. The Department of Agriculture will award $200 million for up to 10 pilot projects to rigorously test employment and training programs. A partnership of employers, foundations, and non-profits is launching a national competition to crowd source for the best technologies to upskill this population. · Testing strategies for disconnected youth. The Administration will allow up to 10 state and local pilot programs to blend funds from multiple federal programs to test new models for serving disconnected youth, and the Department of Labor will use Job Corps’ demonstration authority to experiment with new models to improve outcomes for youth under age 20. In-town pool
At 10:38am POTUS was greeted to loud cheers and a standing ovation by a packed East Room before he made a speech announcing an executive order that prohibits federal contractors from discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. The president was joined on stage by Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe, Deputy Secretary of Labor Chris Lu, Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs Director Pat Shiu, Rev. Delman Coates, Rabbi David Saperstein and LGBT workplace equality advocates Kylar Broadus, Michael Carney, Anne Vonhof, and Faith Cheltenham. "Thanks to your passion and advocacy and the irrefutable rightness of your cause, our government -- the government of the people by the people and for the people -- will become just a little bit fairer," the president said. To which someone in the crowd shouted "Amen!" He then signed the legislation, flanked by 2 blue screens that read "OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL" and have a pen to each person on stage. FACT SHEET: President Obama Applauds New Commitments in Support of the My Brother’s Keeper Initiative
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 21, 2014 FACT SHEET: President Obama Applauds New Commitments in Support of the My Brother’s Keeper Initiative “That’s what ‘My Brother’s Keeper’ is all about. Helping more of our young people stay on track. Providing the support they need to think more broadly about their future. Building on what works – when it works, in those critical life-changing moments.” - President Barack Obama, February 27, 2014 In February, as part of his plan to make 2014 a year of action focused on expanding opportunity for all Americans, the President unveiled the “My Brother’s Keeper” initiative to address persistent opportunity gaps faced by boys and young men of color and ensure that all young people can reach their full potential. As part of the initiative’s launch, the President also established the My Brother’s Keeper Task Force to review public and private sector programs, policies, and strategies and determine ways the Federal Government can better support these efforts, and how to better involve State and local officials, the private sector, and the philanthropic community. Today, the President will announce new commitments in support of the My Brother’s Keeper initiative at the Walker Jones Education Center in Washington, DC. Following the announcement, the President will hold a town hall session where he will take questions from the group of DC-area youth who will attend the event. During the session, the President will highlight how the My Brother’s Keeper initiative and the Administration continue to work to build ladders of opportunity for all young people across the country. In attendance at the event will be leaders from 60-plus school districts across the country with the Council of the Great City Schools, parents, business leaders, athletes, mayors and members of Congress. Today, Magic Johnson Enterprises’ Earvin “Magic” Johnson and Deloitte CEO Joe Echevarria launched the National Convening Council ("NCC"), an independent private sector initiative bringing together leaders from business, philanthropy and the faith, youth and nonprofit communities. Over the next several months, the NCC will travel the country, lifting up examples of cross-sector efforts that are having a positive impact on boys and young men of color. Creating Opportunity for All For decades, opportunity has lagged for boys and young men of color. But across the country, communities are adopting approaches to help put these boys and young men on the path to success. And the President, joined by foundations, businesses, and many other leaders, wants to build on that success to ensure that all young people, including boys and young men of color, who are willing to work hard have an opportunity to get ahead and reach their full potential. The My Brother’s Keeper initiative encourages the use of proven tools that expand opportunity for young people, including access to basic health, nutrition, mentorship, high-quality early education and early introductions into the workforce, as well as partnering with communities and police to reduce violence and make our classrooms and streets safer. On May 30th, the My Brother’s Keeper Task Force released its 90-day report. This report includes key indicators that will provide a comprehensive view of the environments and outcomes for boys and young men of color and their peers. It also contains recommendations on steps our society can take to begin to expand opportunity for all in areas including: o Entering school ready to learn; o Reading at grade level by third grade; o Graduating from high school ready for college and career; o Completing post-secondary education or training; o Entering the workforce; and o Reducing violence and providing a second chance. The Administration is doing its part by identifying programs and policies that work, and recommending action that will help all our young people succeed. Since the launch of My Brother’s Keeper, the President’s Task Force has met with and heard from thousands of Americans, through online and in-person listening sessions, who are already taking action. New Commitments Today, leading private sector organizations announced independent commitments that further the goals of the My Brother’s Keeper initiative and directly address some of the key recommendations in the Task Force Report. Reducing High School Dropout Rates, Improving the Worst Performing Schools and Actively Recruiting High Quality and Sustained Mentors: · The NBA, the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) and the National Basketball Retired Players Association (NBRPA) announced a five-year commitment in partnership with MENTOR: The National Mentoring Partnership, Team Turnaround and the Council of the Great City Schools (CGCS). o Through the partnership, these organizations will support a public service announcement campaign designed to recruit 25,000 new mentors, with a specific emphasis on recruiting men of color. o The NBA and its teams will work with educators in at-risk schools across many of their franchise cities to provide incentive programs that increase attendance and improve overall school performance. Current and former NBA players will also participate in a series of grassroots, "lessons in leadership and teamwork" workshops in schools and after-school organizations that will inspire boys and young men of color to take charge of their lives, make good decisions, and be successful in their pursuit of education. · AT&T announced an $18 million commitment this year to support mentoring and other education programs with a mentoring component as part of the company’s Aspire initiative - a $350 million commitment focused on high school success and workforce readiness for students at risk of dropping out of school. o AT&T is launching the Aspire Mentoring Academy Corps, powered by AmeriCorps, AT&T and MENTOR: The National Mentoring Partnership to support AmeriCorps members in regions around the country and engage thousands of at-risk youth in mentoring activities. o AT&T will expand the engagement of its employees through the Aspire Mentoring Academy with a goal to provide students who are at risk of dropping out of high school with 1 million hours of mentoring by the end of 2016. o AT&T is using technology to scale its efforts through online mentoring, developing a mentoring app and piloting a program that mentors students through the CISCO IT certification process, thus developing critical Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) skills. Creating High Schools for the New Economy · With a commitment of $50 million, the Emerson Collective, founded by Laurene Powell Jobs, along with partners from Silicon Valley and elsewhere, will collaborate with districts and educators to launch a competition to find and develop the best designs for next generation high schools. o Efforts will include connecting some of Silicon Valley’s best innovators and design thinkers with some of the country’s most effective and inventive educators and students to create schools for the new economy and provide models that can be adopted by other schools in the future. o This school redesign initiative aims to use the best in design thinking, education research and practice and technology to create new school environments to dramatically increase the engagement and success of currently underserved students enabling them to achieve and compete at the highest levels and provide the supports, tools and resources educators need to be and feel engaged, effective and supported. Encouraging and Supporting Comprehensive Cradle-to-College-and-Career Community Solutions for Youth: · Today, the leaders of 60 of the largest school systems in the country, which collectively educate nearly three million of America’s male students of color, have joined in an unprecedented pledge to change life outcomes of boys and young men of color by better serving these students at every stage of their education. o Through an eleven-point plan that stretches from early childhood to graduation, these school districts will better support boys and young men of color by focusing on strategies with proven results. These include expanding access to high quality preschool, implementing or scaling early warning systems to prevent grade retention, establishing programs to reduce suspensions and expulsions, increasing access to advanced and rigorous coursework and ensuring increased FAFSA completion. Expanding Access to Advanced Placement (AP) Courses and Rigorous College Prep: · The College Board is investing over $1.5 million for “All In”, a national College Board program to ensure that 100% of African American, Latino, and Native American students with strong AP potential enroll in at least one matched AP class before graduation. o As part of their “All In” commitment, the College Board is partnering with all 60 school superintendents who have signed on to the CGCS pledge to identify and reach out to young men of color who have demonstrated the potential to succeed in AP classes. Creating Entry-Level Job, Mentorship and Apprenticeship Opportunities for Youth: · Citi Foundation is making a three year, $10 million commitment to create ServiceWorks, a groundbreaking, national program that uses volunteer services to help 25,000 young people in ten cities across the United States develop the skills they need to prepare for college and careers. o The program, which will deploy 225 AmeriCorps members over three years, will engage youth, age 16-24, in service and build a large-scale volunteer response to the crisis of low college and career attainment. The young people – in Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Newark, San Francisco, St. Louis and Washington, D.C. – will receive training in critical 21st century leadership and workplace skills, the chance to build their networks and connections to their communities, and the opportunity to use their new skills by participating in and leading volunteer service projects. o Thousands of professionals – including Citi employees – will participate as volunteer mentors and trainers. Disproving the Negative Narrative: · Discovery Communications will invest more than $1 million to create an original independent special programming event to educate the public about issues related to boys and men of color and address negative public perceptions of them. o The program will show specific youth stories and the interventions that made a difference in their lives as an illustration of ways to impact the future of boys and men of color. This 1-hour program will air across Discovery networks and is scheduled to air in 2015. o Discovery Education will also host a series of screenings and town halls in partnership with community based non-profits to discuss "My Brother’s Keeper" stories of intervention and ways that communities can get involved and help address this important issue facing our Nation. Building on Successful Evidence Based Programs that Recruit High Quality and Sustained Mentors: · Becoming A Man (B.A.M.) and Match tutoring programs announced $10 million in new funding. o The funding will support the expansion of B.A.M. and Match tutoring programs, in addition to supporting a large-scale study on the programs’ long-term effects conducted by the University of Chicago Crime Lab and Urban Education Lab. B.A.M. is a mentoring and cognitive behavioral therapy program developed by the nonprofit organization Youth Guidance. Match is an intensive, individualized math tutoring intervention developed by Match Education. o The commitment is made possible by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development of the National Institutes of Health, and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the Chicago Public Schools. o With this announcement, B.A.M. and Match are also committing to expand to 3-5 new cities over the next three years. MBK Task Force Commitments Through the MBK Task Force, a federal interagency working group created by Presidential Memorandum, the Departments of Justice (DOJ) and Agriculture (USDA), along with the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) announced today two new youth corps programs to expand opportunities for youth. Both programs directly address recommendations in the Task Force Report. The programs are intended to help young people successfully enter the workforce as well as create additional job opportunities and increase entry-level job, mentorship and apprenticeship options for all young people, including boys and young men of color. Supporting Disconnected Youth Through Service and Engagement: · CNCS and the DOJ’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) today announced a jointly funded AmeriCorps program called Youth Opportunity AmeriCorps. o The program, which totals up to $10 million over three years, will enroll disconnected youth in national service programs as AmeriCorps members over the next 3 years. It includes a mentorship component, in which grantees will provide mentoring support to the AmeriCorps members. Providing Opportunities that Build Early Career Skills: · USDA and AmeriCorps today announced a landmark new partnership between AmeriCorps and the USDA’s Forest Service, which connects youth with service opportunities to restore the nation’s forests and grasslands. o The $3.8 million joint funding will provide resources for both AmeriCorps grantees and member organizations of the 21st Century Conservation Service Corps (21CSC), and will also provide for 300 new AmeriCorps members serving in U.S. Forests. Previous Private Sector Commitments · In June 2014, eleven of the nation's leading philanthropies announced a $194 million investment in initiatives to expand opportunity for boys and young men of color. · In June 2014, UBS America announced a five-year, $10 million commitment to establish a new education platform for improving college success among under-resourced populations. Commencing in three markets — New York, New Jersey and Connecticut — with an intensive program focused on young men of color, UBS NextGen Leaders aims to empower students with the skills, knowledge and experience needed to succeed in college and compete in the global marketplace. · In June 2014, JPMorgan Chase & Co. launched the expansion of “The Fellowship Initiative: Expanding the Horizons of Young Men of Color,” to provide boys and young men of color with long-term fellowships and pathways to jobs. The program involves a $10 million commitment to expand the effort to three cities serving nearly 200 youth. EMBARGOED: WEEKLY ADDRESS: Equipping Workers with Skills Employers Need Now and for the Future
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary ______________________________________________________________________________ EMBARGOED UNTIL 6:00 AM ET, SATURDAY, July 19, 2014 WEEKLY ADDRESS: Equipping Workers with Skills Employers Need Now and for the Future WASHINGTON, DC —In this week’s address, the President discussed the importance of ensuring that the economic progress we’ve made is shared by all hardworking Americans. Through his opportunity agenda, the President is focused on creating more jobs, educating more kids, and working to make sure hard work pays off with higher wages and better benefits. This week, the President will visit a community college in Los Angeles to highlight the need to equip our workers with the skills employers are looking for now and for the good jobs of the future, and he will continue looking for the best way to grow the economy and expand opportunity for more hardworking Americans. The audio of the address and video of the address will be available online at www.whitehouse.gov at 6:00 a.m. ET, July 19, 2014. Remarks of President Barack Obama Weekly Address The White House July 19, 2014 Hi, everybody. Over the past 52 months, our businesses have created nearly 10 million new jobs. The unemployment rate has fallen to its lowest point since 2008. Across lots of areas – energy, manufacturing, technology – our businesses and workers are leading again. In fact, for the first time in over a decade, business leaders worldwide have declared that China is no longer the world’s best place to invest – America is. None of this is an accident. It’s thanks to your resilience, resolve, and hard work that America has recovered faster and come farther than almost any other advanced country on Earth. Now we have the opportunity to ensure that this growth is broadly shared. Our economy grows best not from the top-down, but from the middle-out. We do better when the middle class does better. So we have to make sure that we’re not just creating more jobs, but raising middle-class wages and incomes. We have to make sure our economy works for every working American. My opportunity agenda does that. It’s built on creating more jobs, training more workers, educating all our kids, and making sure your hard work pays off with higher wages and better benefits. On Thursday, I traveled to Delaware to highlight how we’re trying to create more good, middle-class jobs rebuilding America: rebuilding roads and bridges, ports and airports, high-speed rail and internet. This week, Vice President Biden will release a report he’s been working on to reform our job training system into a job-driven training system. And I’ll visit a community college in L.A. that’s retraining workers for careers in the fast-growing health care sector. Because every worker deserves to know that if you lose your job, your country will help you train for an even better one. In recent days, both parties in Congress have taken some good steps in these areas. But we can do so much more for the middle class, and for folks working to join the middle class. We should raise the minimum wage so that no one who works full-time has to live in poverty. We should fight for fair pay and paid family leave. We should pass commonsense immigration reform that strengthens our borders and our businesses, and includes a chance for long-time residents to earn their citizenship. I want to work with Democrats and Republicans on all of these priorities. But I will do whatever I can, whenever I can, to help families like yours. Because nothing's more important to me than you – your hopes, your concerns, and making sure this country remains the place where everyone who works hard can make it if you try. Thanks so much, and have a great weekend. UPCOMING GUIDANCE FOR FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the First Lady FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 18, 2014 UPCOMING GUIDANCE FOR FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA Tuesday, July 22, 2014 Washington D.C. – First Lady Michelle Obama and the Partnership for a Healthier America, of which she is honorary chair, will announce several new supporters who have joined the Drink Up effort. The announcement will take place in the State Dining Room. Following the announcement, the First Lady will join children from local YMCA and National Recreation and Parks Association centers on the South Lawn for a large-scale activity related to Drink Up. Presidential Memorandum -- Proposed Amendment to the 1958 Agreement Between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 18, 2014 Attached and signed today is a memorandum from the President on the proposed amendment to the 1958 agreement between the government of the United States of America and the government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland for cooperation on the uses of atomic energy for mutual defense purposes. Remarks by the President and the First Lady at the Kids State Dinner
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release July 18, 2014 REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT AND THE FIRST LADY AT KIDS STATE DINNER East Room 12:17 P.M. EDT MRS. OBAMA: Okay, Braeden. (Laughter.) All right, it’s going to be hard. All right, mister, you’re not supposed to make the First Lady cry. (Laughter.) Thanks so much. You guys, let’s give Braeden a big round of applause. (Applause.) Well done, young man. Well done. And thank you so much, Christy. Thank you. Okay, this is cool, right? You guys having a good time? AUDIENCE: Yes. MRS. OBAMA: Yes? Has it been exciting from beginning to end? AUDIENCE: Yes. MRS. OBAMA: What’s been the best part so far? AUDIENCE: You. MRS. OBAMA: This? All right, I didn't cue them on that one. (Laughter.) That was a natural response. Well, I am just delighted to have you guys. You guys look amazing. You have dressed so appropriately for the event. Doesn't the room look beautiful? They do such a great job. And all this stuff was picked out especially for you guys. It is really an honor to be here. And I want to start by thanking Tanya and all the folks from Epicurious, the entire team, for, year after year, making this event possible. It is truly the highlight of our lives, and I know that everyone involved really, really gets inspired from this event. And I’m also thrilled about the new Kids and Chefs Cook for Success program that you guys are launching. And with this effort, you guys are going to take this whole thing to another level. So I love the fact that, Epicurious, you’re finding ways to step this up every single year. So thank you, guys, and a big round of applause. (Applause.) And, of course, to our Delta Airlines team for flying everybody here. Oh, let’s all go! Yay! (Applause.) How many people was it your first trip on an airplane? Or is everybody old flying pros? You’ve been flown before, huh? You haven’t flown before? Well, that's awesome. So did Delta Airlines treat you well? AUDIENCE: Yes. (Applause.) MRS. OBAMA: All right, there you go. Bob was a little nervous on that question. (Laughter.) And I want to join Tanya in also thanking all of the family members, the parents, the moms, the dads. I know we have an aunt or two here, as well. Thank you all so much for supporting your kids in this passion, and for cooking with them and for putting up with those endless messes in the kitchen. Who’s a messy cook here? (Laughter.) Me, too. Me, too. (Laughter.) But I hope you all know that their success is because of your love and your constant encouragement for their creativity. So we’re just so grateful to all of you grownups who are here with us today, and I hope you’re having a good time, too. But, of course, most of all, I want to recognize our guest of honor, our 54 Healthy Lunchtime Challenge winners! (Applause.) Congratulations. (Applause.) Yes, whoop it up. Party in the White House. It’s exciting. I am so proud of you. The President is so proud of you. Oh, look at the room out there. I missed the balloons. (Laughter.) We have been working so hard to make this event special for you. But these kids have been selected. There were more than 1,500 kids that submitted their recipes for this year’s challenge, and it was not easy to choose just one winner from each state, so this was a competitive experience. You had to claw your way to the finish line. (Laughter.) I hope you didn't push and shove anyone on the way up to the top. But you made it. But you’re all here because a panel of distinguished judges agreed that your recipes were the very best. And I want to thank all the judges. Sam was one of those judges. (Applause.) There’s a lot of eating. Did you taste all 1,500 recipes? MR. KASS: 110 dishes. MRS. OBAMA: 110 dishes. MR. KASS: That's a lot. MRS. OBAMA: Thank you, Sam. (Laughter.) Well done. But yours were the most nutritious and the most delicious, all right? So healthy and good, too, right? And you guys took very different paths to get here. Some of you started cooking as a way to bond with your families -- and that was true for Genene Wedd. Hey, Genene, how are you? From California. He said, “I love cooking with my mom. It is fun spending time with her and talking about my day.” And for some of you, cooking is how you celebrate your culture or other cultures you’re interested in. Lucy Hickerson -- where’s Lucy? I know I saw Lucy. Where are you, Lucy? Lucy is from Kentucky, and she made a pocket with sweet potatoes and kale. And she describes her dish as a combination of an Indian samosa, a Spanish empanada and an Asian spring roll. And what Lucy says, “It’s like going around the world in one bite.” (Laughter.) And some of you like to cook because you’re good at it and hope to make it a career. That’s why Hannah Foley from Pennsylvania right here -– as she said -- she said, “I love to cook and hope to one day be a chef with my own show on the Food Network.” (Laughter.) Wait, she’s got a title. (Laughter.) It’s called, “H to the F to the Hannah Foley Chef.” (Laughter.) Yes, that's been in my head for many days. (Laughter.) That's why I knew it. H to the F -- okay. But no matter how you got to the White House today, you’re all here for one simple reason. And I think Adrianna Nelson from West Virginia -- Adrianna, where are you? Hi, you. This is what she said. She said, “I love to create healthy recipes because I feel great when I eat healthy.” That's why you’re here. Like Adrianna, you all know that what you eat affects how you feel, and how much energy you have, and how well you do at school. And that’s really why I started Let's Move. I did it because I care deeply about the kids in this country. I really do. Not just as First Lady, but I’m a mom, I’ve got two kids. I love them, and I love you all just as much. So it’s important for me to make sure that the things I do for my girls are the same things that every kid in this country has access to. And that’s why we’ve been working so hard to help families cook healthy meals at home, and to get more grocery stores into our communities, and to get companies to market healthier foods to kids. And most of all, that’s why we’ve been fighting so hard for our new healthy school lunches. And I have to tell you, and I said this to some of you in the photo line that you all are my inspiration. Kids like you really do inspire me. You all represent 54 reasons why we know that we can do so much better by our kids when it comes to eating healthy because the truth is, is that if 8-, 9- and 10-year-old kids can cook and happily eat a healthy, tasty meal, then there is absolutely no reason why we can’t get nutritious food into every school in this country that kids will actually enjoy. You guys remind me of that every single day. Now, I know that some of you might have friends who want to bring back the junk food in the schools, right? Because there’s always those kids. They're like, give me my junk food back. (Laughter.) And I know that in recent months, we’ve even seen grownups, including folks in Congress, trying to undo some of the progress that we’ve made to get healthier food into our schools. And while the vast majority of the schools are doing just fine with these new standards, those few complaining voices happen to be the loudest voices and they’re getting the most attention right now. So here’s what I’m going to ask you to do for this year. I need you guys to make your voices heard, too. It’s important. And don’t be shy. I want you to speak up, talk to your classmates and your teachers. Share with them what you’ve learned about healthy eating and cooking, about how to craft interesting things. Like, Braeden, you might even get your school to test your recipe in the lunchroom for other kids. Teach them what you know about healthy eating. And also, to the parents, parents play a really important role in what happens on the ground. And in many instances, parents are way more powerful than people like us in the White House. So I urge you guys to speak up as well, and to continue speaking up. Go to those PTA meetings and those school board meetings and tell them what you know and what you’re learning, to make sure that they're listening to all the voices on this issue. There’s a lot of money involved in feeding our kids at school. We are currently spending $10 billion a year -- did you hear that, $10 billion a year -- on our school lunch programs. So it’s not surprising that there are certain interests that are resisting change and trying to take us back to the old ways of doing business, because for them there’s a lot of money is on the line. But you all have a right to expect that your hard-earned tax dollars will be spent on food that meets basic nutrition standards. It’s as simple as that. Because when you are working so hard to prepare nutritious foods at home, I know that you don’t want all that work undone when you send your kids off to school and they’re eating in the lunchroom. So we can’t afford to stay silent on this issue, because if we do we’re going to wind up right back where we started. And that’s not acceptable. Because I know that everyone in this room, at least, and many people around the country know that the food our kids are eating today will affect their health for decades. We are laying an imprint on our kids with everything they put into their bodies today. We know so much more about how nutrition and exercise impacts our children’s ability to focus and succeed both in school and in life. And that’s why you guys, as parents, are so passionately supporting your kids on this issue -- you know that this is real, this isn’t a joke. So what I don’t want to have happen is that 20 years from now I don’t want us to be looking back and saying to ourselves, man, we were almost there, we were right on the brink of transforming our kids’ health, but then things got tough and expensive, and then we didn’t stand up and we didn’t speak up, and we gave up too soon. Our kids deserve better than that. And they don’t know, but we know -- we know better. All of you kids, like kids across this country, deserve everything that we adults can muster up for you. I have to tell my kids that every day -- I still know more than they do. (Laughter.) So when we know better, we have to do better for you. So I hope that you all will serve as ambassadors, okay? And think about, as Braeden did, how you will pay this forward. And there are many, many ways you’re going to pay it forward. There’s no one right answer on how you’re going to do it. But when you get a chance to do something this special and to come to the White House, and have all this press and all these special things going on, I know for me when I think about my advantages, I think, I have to give that back to somebody else. That is my obligation. That’s the price I pay for standing here and hanging out. So I want you to think about what you’re going to do. I want you to keep talking to other kids about eating healthy. Help them learn. Help them try new things. And you’re going to run into bumps and bruises -- I know, Braeden, it must have been hard work starting your new non-profit organization. I’m sure it wasn’t easy every step of the way, but it was so worth it, right, for the thanks that you get and knowing that you impact the lives of others. So I know each of you can do that in your own special way. And we’re going to do this again next year, so I hope that one of you will be standing here like Braeden, being able to share all the great things that you’ve done over the course of the year. I can’t wait to see what you guys accomplish. You all are pretty amazing young people. So I think with that, it’s time to eat, don’t you think? I’m a little hungry. I just had fruit for breakfast so I’m really ready to try all these dishes. (Applause.) You guys, have a great time. And I will see you after lunch. Enjoy. (Applause.) Wait, wait. We have a special guest -- Braeden knew about this -- but another person who likes this event just as much as me, who never gets invited to sit down is the President of the United States. (Applause.) THE PRESIDENT: Hello, everybody! I am not going to hold up the meal -- everybody sit down. (Laughter.) I just wanted to come by because I love the event. First of all, we have a lot of state dinners around here. MRS. OBAMA: We do. THE PRESIDENT: They’re not always as cheerful and fun as this. (Laughter.) First of all, everybody is older and a little stodgier. But this is a much hipper crowd. More colorful outfits -- so I like that. But I also just love seeing young people who are doing wonderful things. We are so proud of you. To see the kind of leadership you’re taking and the way that you’ve really thrown yourselves into these projects is just really inspiring. And sometimes people ask me, you know, Mr. President, you have this really tough job and there is always stuff happening all around the world, and how do you keep up with all of it and how do you keep your spirits up? And my answer is, because I meet young people every day who I know are energetic and are full of great ideas and are going to be continuing to make this country better. This is one way to do it. You guys are leaders in your schools and in your communities, and you’re helping to teach folks the importance of good nutrition, the importance of putting good fuel in your bodies so that you’re living healthy, active lives. And by the way, one thing -- maybe I shouldn’t say this, but it’s not like our family -- including me -- don’t have some snacks once in a while -- (laughter) -- that may not be on the perfect nutrition chart. MRS. OBAMA: It’s true. (Laughter.) THE PRESIDENT: Each of us have our weaknesses, so I’m going to reveal some right now. Malia, ice cream. I mean, basically, it’s very hard for her to turn down ice cream. But she has learned to kind of control herself when it comes to ice cream. MRS. OBAMA: It’s hard. THE PRESIDENT: It’s hard, but she still has fun when she does have ice cream. In fact, the fact that she doesn’t have ice cream every day means when she has it -- MRS. OBAMA: It’s very special. THE PRESIDENT: -- it’s like, hallelujah. She starts -- she is so happy. (Laughter.) Sasha -- what would you say is Sasha’s pig-out indulgence food? MRS. OBAMA: She likes sushi. THE PRESIDENT: Oh, no. (Laughter.) MRS. OBAMA: It’s what she’s into. THE PRESIDENT: She is kind of into sushi right now. She’s a little -- I love sushi, so maybe I had some influence there. But let’s say -- her pies. She pretty much takes dessert whenever she can. MRS. OBAMA: Pie. THE PRESIDENT: Pie. She’s like me. My big thing -- chips and guacamole. (Laughter.) Basically, if there is a bowl of good chips and guacamole -- MRS. OBAMA: He loses it. THE PRESIDENT: -- I lose my mind. (Laughter.) I lose my mind. And the First Lady -- French fries. (Laughter.) MRS. OBAMA: But I’m going to say this. I’m making a vow -- I’m going to take a break from French fries. THE PRESIDENT: Really? MRS. OBAMA: Yes. THE PRESIDENT: Wow, that’s big. (Laughter and applause.) Now, the reason I make this point is that the question is not can you never have anything -- it’s, on a day-to-day basis, at lunches, at breakfast, at dinner, is your basic nutrition something that’s going to make you strong and make you healthy? And if it is, then having fun food that may not be perfect for you, that’s okay, too. But we’re just all trying to develop good habits. And the one thing I know about all these young people is they’ve got great work habits, because, otherwise, they wouldn’t have been able to do everything that they’ve done. They’ve got great habits of caring about other people, because they’re out there spreading the word about what they’re doing. And as a consequence, I’m really optimistic about what all these great young leaders are going to achieve in the future. So good luck. Have a great Kids State Dinner -- even though it’s technically lunch. (Laughter.) Calling it a state lunch -- there was a debate about this and we thought -- MRS. OBAMA: It doesn’t work. THE PRESIDENT: -- it doesn’t make sense, because we have state dinners. So it’s a Kids State Dinner, even though it’s noon. And parents, good job, everybody. You’ve got great kids. (Applause.) In-town pool
Pool moved unexpectedly at 12:17 p.m. to the East Room for the First Lady's Kids State Dinner event. Kids and parents seated at round tables while FLOTUS spoke from a podium with a 'farm stand' backdrop: baskets of colorful fruits and vegetables. First Lady praised the 54 healthy lunchtime challenge winners. Please see transcript for remarks. President Obama showed up at 12:29 p.m., minutes after his remarks in the press briefing room about the downed airline in Ukraine and the situation in Gaza. Obama praised the kids for their leadership and what they've accomplished. Said he keeps his spirits up by meeting young people. Turning to Michelle, he said it's not like their family doesn't eat snacks. Said Malia likes ice-cream and Sasha likes sushi, but also pie. Obama said he loves chips and guacamole. The First Lady likes french fries. Kept remarks light and short- ended at 12:34 p.m. Remarks by the President on the Economy -- Wilmington, DE
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary ________________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release July 17, 2014 REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT ON THE ECONOMY Port of Wilmington Wilmington, Delaware 2:10 P.M. THE PRESIDENT: Hello, everybody! (Applause.) Everybody, please have a seat. Please have a seat. It is wonderful to be back in Delaware. Before I begin, obviously the world is watching reports of a downed passenger jet near the Russia-Ukraine border. And it looks like it may be a terrible tragedy. Right now, we’re working to determine whether there were American citizens onboard. That is our first priority. And I’ve directed my national security team to stay in close contact with the Ukrainian government. The United States will offer any assistance we can to help determine what happened and why. And as a country, our thoughts and prayers are with all the families of the passengers, wherever they call home. I want to thank Jeremie for that introduction. Give Jeremie a big round of applause. (Applause.) It is great to be in the state that gave us Joe Biden. (Applause.) We’ve got actually some better-looking Bidens with us here today. (Laughter.) We've got Beau and his wife, Hallie, are here. Give them a big round of applause. We love them. (Applause.) We've got Governor Jack Markell. (Applause.) Senator Chris Coons, Congressman John Carney, County Executive Tom Gordon, and the Mayor of Wilmington, Dennis Williams. (Applause.) We've also got two terrific members of my Cabinet -- Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx is here -- (applause) -- and Treasury Secretary Jack Lew is here. (Applause.) Jack Lew’s signature is actually on your money. (Laughter.) Although it's kind of illegible. We teased him when he first became Treasury Secretary that he was going to have to fix his signature a little bit because it looked just like a caterpillar running along the bottom. (Laughter.) Now, the bridge behind me used to carry 90,000 cars every day -- 90,000. Since last month, it’s been closed for repairs. Once workers are done repairing it, this bridge will be safer, it will be more reliable for commuters and for commerce. And thanks to a competitive grant program called TIGER -- a program, by the way, that was part of the Recovery Act that we initiated when I first came into office and Joe Biden helped to manage -- this port is rebuilding a wharf that will finally let Wilmington compete with other ports for the biggest cargo ships. (Applause.) For the biggest cargo ships. So far, TIGER grants have given a boost to 270 infrastructure projects and thousands of jobs all across 50 states. And that’s what I’m here to talk about today -- and I've been talking about this all week -- creating more good jobs rebuilding America, and the opportunity that we have to seize to rebuild the American middle class. After the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, in part because of the actions we took, primarily because of the strength and determination of the American people, our businesses have now added nearly 10 million new jobs over the past 52 months. (Applause.) Construction and housing are rebounding. The auto industry is booming -- it was in a tailspin when we came in. Manufacturing is adding jobs for the first time since the 1990s. The unemployment rate is at its lowest point since September of 2008 -- which is one of the fastest one-year drops in nearly 30 years. (Applause.) And the decisions we made -- not only to rescue our economy, but to start rebuilding it on a firmer foundation -- those decisions are starting to pay off. We are more energy independent. For the first time in nearly 20 years, we produce more oil here in the United States than we buy from abroad. First time in 20 years we're doing that. (Applause.) At the same time, we’re actually reducing our carbon pollution, and we're creating new jobs in clean and renewable energies -- three times as much wind power; 10 times as much solar power. In education, our high school graduation rate is at a record high. More young people are earning college degrees than ever before. 401(k)s are growing. Fewer homes are underwater. Millions more now have the peace of mind of having quality, affordable health care if they need it. And the deficit is coming down to boot, been cut more than half. (Applause.) So by almost every economic measure, we're doing a whole lot better now than we were when I came into office. And as I said, most of it is thanks to you, the resilience and the resolve of the American people. Because of that we've recovered faster and come farther than almost any other advanced country on Earth. And business leaders, for the first time in a decade, around the world are saying that China is not the best place to invest; the United States of America is the most promising place to invest. So we’ve got this huge opportunity to keep this momentum going, to keep growing the economy, but also to make sure that growth is broadly shared. We got to make sure we’re creating not just more jobs, but also raising middle-class wages and incomes, and making it easier for folks, if they’re working hard and doing the right thing, to raise a family. We got to make sure that we’re not just graduating more kids, we’ve got to also train more workers and make college more affordable. We got to make sure our economy works for every American. That’s why I ran for President. That’s what I’m focused on every day. And this is more than just some fleeting political story or made-up scandal; this is the challenge of our times -- making sure that if you work hard and you’re responsible, anybody can get ahead in this country. That’s what America is about. And we can achieve that if we just see a few changes in Washington’s priorities. So, today, I’m here to talk about just one example: creating good jobs of the sort that Jeremie just talked about -- good jobs rebuilding America. We know that in the 21st century economy, businesses are going to set up shop wherever they find the best roads, the best bridges, the fastest Internet connection, the fastest rail lines, the smartest airports, the best power grid. First-class infrastructure attracts investment and it creates first-class jobs. Unfortunately, right now, our investment in transportation lags behind a lot of other countries. China is doing more. Germany is doing more. They’re putting money back into building the infrastructure we need to grow over the long term. And if Washington were working the way it was supposed to, Congress would be creating jobs right now, jobs just like Jeremie talked about -- jobs like these guys in the hard hats are doing right now rebuilding bridges and roads and airports and ports all across the country. (Applause.) It helps us now and it helps up create jobs tomorrow. That’s what we should be doing. But instead of creating jobs rebuilding our infrastructure in a predictable, sustainable way, the debate in Washington lately has been about something called the Highway Trust Fund. It’s how America is supposed to support states on transportation projects. Congress has to keep it funded, otherwise states have to put projects on hold, put construction workers back on the unemployment line. The good news is, Democrats and Republicans are about to pass a short-term fix that will keep funding going for about another nine or ten months. And I support that. I mean, the least we can do is just support the jobs that are already there, keep Americans on the job. But if that’s all Congress does, then we’re going to have the same kind of funding crisis nine months from now. And that’s not how normally you fund infrastructure, because you got to plan it and you got to think about how are we helping folks and how are we helping states and cities and municipalities create plans for the future and make sure that the funding streams are level. We don’t need unhelpful and unnecessary deadlines that crunch a few months from now. And we shouldn't have been this close to the deadline in the first place. As your governor has pointed, even smaller transportation projects can take years to design and plan and build. A few months of funding doesn’t cut it. And so Jack said, “To call this a Band-Aid is an insult to a Band-Aid.” That's a pretty good line. (Laughter.) I’m going to have to try that out. (Applause.) So Congress shouldn’t be too proud. It shouldn’t pat itself on the back for kicking the can down the road every few months. Instead of barely paying our bills in the present, we should be planning and investing in our future. That’s how the economy grows for everybody. The American people work hard every single day, and your efforts shouldn't be threatened every few months by a manufactured crisis in Washington. Everything doesn't have to be done at the last minute every time. So what I’ve done is earlier this year put forward a plan to rebuild our transportation infrastructure in a long-term responsible way, a plan that would support millions of jobs, would give cities and states and private investors the certainty they need to hire more workers faster. It would help small businesses ship their goods faster. It would help parents get home from their commute faster so they can see their kids. And it wouldn’t add to what is already a rapidly shrinking deficit because we pay for it in part by closing loopholes for companies that are shipping profits overseas and are avoiding paying their fair share of taxes. So that's what we need, a broad-based plan. We got $2 trillion worth of deferred maintenance in this country in roads and bridges and sewer systems and water mains. And we could put a lot of people back to work right now getting that done. And we’re going to have to do it eventually anyway. But so far, Congress has refused to act on the idea -- which is strange because infrastructure should not be a partisan issue. If you think about it, it was a Republican, Dwight Eisenhower, who built the Interstate Highway System. Lincoln built the Transcontinental Railroad. Both parties historically have understood that investing in this country for the long run pays off. When we invest in infrastructure we’re making sure that the economy is growing not just for the next five years, but for another century. That's what right now Republicans in Congress don't seem to be focused on. But until they do get focused on it, I’m going to do whatever I can to create jobs rebuilding America on my own. (Applause.) So today, we’re launching what we call the Build America Investment Initiative. And as part of it, we’re creating a one-stop shop for cities and states looking to partner with the private sector to fund infrastructure projects. There are lots of investors who want to back infrastructure projects because, when it’s done right, they then get a steady, long-term investment. They get a steady return. And lots of states and local governments would welcome more private investment, but they need a partner in the federal government to help do some matchmaking and work through some of the complexities of private financing of infrastructure. So my administration is going to help states and cities apply for federal loans, get more public-private partnerships up and running, get more investment flowing into communities like Wilmington. And this builds on other actions we’ve taken to speed up the permitting process for big projects, and attract new manufacturing jobs to America, and raise more workers’ wages, help women fight for fair pay, ease loan burdens for millions of students. We’re taking steps on our own, still hoping that Congress at some point actually does something. (Applause.) I keep hearing from folks all across the country who tell me if members of Congress have the same priorities that most Americans do, if they felt the same sense of urgency that you feel in your own lives, we could help a lot of families right now. Instead of playing politics, we should be creating jobs by investing in what makes our economy strong -– infrastructure and manufacturing and energy, and research and development, and education. All these things lead to new industries. We should be training our workers to fill new jobs. We should be preparing our kids to face global competition. We should be making sure that hard work pays off with a higher minimum wage. We should be seizing these opportunities. And there’s a simple principle behind it. When the middle class does good, and when people have ladders into the middle class if they work hard, everybody does better. You have more customers for businesses. Folks at the very top do better. America grows best from the middle out, not from the top down. That's when we succeed. So I’m going to keep on looking for areas where Republicans and Democrats agree to move this country forward. But I’m not going to stand by when politics and inaction are holding us back. (Applause.) Wherever and whenever I have a chance to help families like yours I’m going to do it. When I have a chance to help communities like Wilmington, I’m going to do it. That’s when my administration takes these executive actions, when Congress won’t act. And so far, the only response we’ve gotten from the Republicans is a lawsuit. (Laughter.) They're suing me for doing my job, instead of going ahead and doing their job. That's disappointing. It’s a political stunt. And, by the way, they're using taxpayer money to do it. It’s your money that they're wasting on this, which no serious lawyers think makes any sense. It’s just a political stunt. We could be spending the time, energy, and effort and money to help your families. And maybe the folks behind this think it will help them politically. I guarantee you, it’s not helping you. We could do so much more if we rally around a sense of patriotism that says we can disagree on issues once in a while, but come on, let’s focus on our country, let’s focus on our people -- a sense of common purpose, the understanding we rise or fall as one nation and as one people. That’s how we built this country together. And that’s what Washington has to remember. And the one thing I know for certain -- if we work together, if we believe in one another, then we’re going to keep on rebuilding our middle class. We’re going to restore the American Dream for the next generation. We will continue to make sure that America is the place where no matter what you look like, or where you come from, or how you started, you can make it if you try. You’ve shown it here in Delaware. We can show it all across the country. We just need a little more focus in Washington. So keep the pressure on everybody. (Applause.) Thank you. God bless you. Let’s build some bridges. Let’s build some roads. God bless America. Presidential Memorandum -- Expanding Public-Private Collaboration on Infrastructure Development and Financing
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 17, 2014 Attached and signed today is a memorandum from the President for the heads of executive departments and agencies expanding public-private collaboration on infrastructure development and financing. Pool report #4: Lunch at the Charcoal Pit
At approximately 12:50 pm, the motorcade stopped at the Charcoal Pit, a popular, established restaurant just north of Wilmington, Del. Known for its burgers and sundaes. Obama shook hands and mingled with many of the diners, stopping at one point to pick up seven-month old Jaidyn Oates, and pose for a photo. He invoked Vice Presiident Biden’s name a few names, noting to some diners, “Me and Joe, we share shakes all the time,” and to others, “Biden told me the burgers are pretty good.” Just before hugging another young girl, whose mother lifted her across the booth to hug the president, Obama asked, “Do you give good hugs?” At 1:01 pm Obama declared, “I’m starving!” He sat down to eat with Tanei Benjamin (details below), who wrote the president a year ago. The president ordered a 4-ounce “Pit special,” which is burger with fries. He asked for it to be done medium well, and to have lettuce and tomato. He also asked for a water with lemon. Background from the White House: The President is meeting with Tanei Benjamin at the Charcoal Pit – a Delaware staple for more than 50 years. Tanei wrote to the President in July of 2013 about her struggle as a single, working mother of one daughter who is now six years old. After reading Tanei’s story, the President sent her letter to his senior staff with a note at the bottom. The President wrote: “This is the person we are working for.” Obama spoke at the Port of Wilmington before a few hundred people, in front of several large containers used to ship goods. A couple of dozen construction workers wearing hard hats stood behind him, and there were cranes visible in the distance. The president spoke about how a section of I-495 that used to carry 90,000 cars a day was closed for repairs, and how due to a federal TIGER grant through the Transportation Department to improve the port so it can “compete with other ports for the biggest cargo ships.” Below are several quotes, please check them against the transcript Noting that the economy has begun to recover, Obama said, “Most of it is thanks to you, the resolve of the American people…. So we’ve got this huge opportunity to keep this momentum going.” “We’ve got to make sure we’re not just creating more jobs, but increasing middle-class wages and incomes,” he said. “This is the challenge of our times. And we can achieve that if we see a few changes in Washington’s priorities.” Obama repeated the same theme he had during Tuesday’ infrastructure speech, saying, “First-class infrastructure attracts investment, and it attracts first-class jobs.” “And if Washington was working the way it’s supposed to, it would be creating jobs,” he said. While he said he would sign the stop-gap spending bill to keep the Highway Trust Fund solvent, he criticized it for not being long-term. “We don’t need unnecessary and unhelpful deadlines that crunch a few months from now,” Obama said. “A few months of funding doesn’t cut it.” “Your efforts shouldn’t be threatened every few months by a manufactured crisis in Washington,” he added. Referring to the center he was creating to spur private investment in public infrastructure, he said, “But I’m not going to stand by when politics and inaction are holding us back.” “So keep the pressure on everybody,” he said. “Let’s build some bridges, let’s build some roads.” At 2:34 pm, the motorcade departed the port for the New Castle airport, where Obama will fly to New York City. OFFICIAL RELEASE: Statement of Administration Policy on H.R. 4719 - America Gives More Act of 2014
http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/legislative/sap/113/saphr4719h_20140717.pdf EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET WASHINGTON, D.C. 20503 July 17, 2014 (House) STATEMENT OF ADMINISTRATION POLICY H.R. 4719 - America Gives More Act of 2014 (Rep. Reed, R-New York, and 9 cosponsors) The Administration supports measures that enhance non-profits, philanthropic organizations, and faith-based and other community organizations in their many roles, including as a safety net for those most in need, an economic engine for job creation, a tool for environmental conservation that encourages land protections for current and future generations, and an incubator of innovation to foster solutions to some of the Nation’s toughest challenges. The President's Budget includes a number of proposals that would enhance and simplify charitable giving incentives for many individuals. However, the Administration strongly opposes House passage of H.R. 4719, which would permanently extend three current provisions that offer enhanced tax breaks for certain donations and add another two similar provisions without offsetting the cost. If this same, unprecedented approach of making certain traditional tax extenders permanent without offsets were followed for the other traditional tax extenders, it would add $500 billion or more to deficits over the next ten years, wiping out most of the deficit reduction achieved through the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2013. Just two months ago, House Republicans themselves passed a budget resolution that required offsetting any tax extenders that were made permanent with other revenue measures. As with other similar proposals, Republicans are imposing a double standard by adding to the deficit to continue and create tax breaks that primarily benefit higher-income individuals, while insisting on offsetting the proposed extension of emergency unemployment benefits and the discretionary funding increases for defense and non-defense priorities such as research and development in the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013. House Republicans also are making clear their priorities by rushing to make these tax cuts permanent without offsets even as the House Republican budget resolution calls for raising taxes on 26 million working families and students by letting important improvements to the Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, and education tax credits expire. The Administration wants to work with Congress to make progress on measures that strengthen America’s social sector. However, H.R. 4719 represents the wrong approach. If the President were presented with H.R. 4719, his senior advisors would recommend that he veto the bill. FACT SHEET: Building a 21st Century Infrastructure: Increasing Public and Private Collaboration with the Build America Investment Initiative
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 17, 2014 FACT SHEET: Building a 21st Century Infrastructure: Increasing Public and Private Collaboration with the Build America Investment Initiative Today, the President will deliver remarks at the Port of Wilmington in front of the I-495 Bridge in Delaware. With 90,000 cars moving over it per day before repairs began, this bridge is a key example of the importance of infrastructure, which keeps the economy moving, spurs innovation, and bolsters our national competitiveness. At the port – and in this Year of Action – the President will announce a new executive action to create the Build America Investment Initiative, a government-wide initiative to increase infrastructure investment and economic growth. As part of the Initiative, the Administration is launching the Build America Transportation Investment Center – housed at the Department of Transportation – to serve as a one-stop shop for cities and states seeking to use innovative financing and partnerships with the private sector to support transportation infrastructure. The President’s visit and announcement today are a part of the Administration’s continued push to highlight the importance of investing in our nation’s infrastructure so that we can build on the progress our economy is making by creating jobs and expanding opportunity for all hardworking Americans. The steps announced today continue the momentum the President has made using his executive authority – his pen and phone – to invest in modernizing our infrastructure, including speeding up the permitting process for major infrastructure projects to create more jobs. The President supports the steps that Congress is taking in the short-term to avoid a lapse in the Highway Trust Fund, and he will continue to push for long-term solutions for our nation’s infrastructure and the American economy. *** Investing in a 21st century American infrastructure is an important part of the President’s plan to build on the progress our economy is making by creating jobs and expanding opportunity for all hardworking Americans. Modern and efficient infrastructure – whether moving goods to our harbors and ports or connecting people to services or gigabits to our offices and homes – helps small businesses to expand, manufacturers to export, investors to bring jobs to our shores, and lowers prices for goods and services for American families. The President has been very clear that we need to do more to improve our infrastructure in order to create jobs, provide certainty to states and communities, help American businesses, and grow our economy. He has put forth a long-term proposal that would do just that and pay for it by closing unfair tax loopholes and making commonsense reforms to our business tax system, while providing the certainty of reliable federal funding to states and communities. And while the President is encouraged that Congress is heeding these calls by taking action in the short-term to prevent transportation projects across the country from grinding to a halt, the President will continue to act on his own to promote American economic growth where there is need or opportunity. And right now, there is a real opportunity to put private capital to work in revitalizing U.S. infrastructure. That is why today, the President will sign a Presidential Memorandum to launch the Build America Investment Initiative, a government-wide initiative to increase infrastructure investment and economic growth by engaging with state and local governments and private sector investors to encourage collaboration, expand the market for public-private partnerships (PPPs) and put federal credit programs to greater use. Starting with the transportation sector, this initiative will harness the potential of private capital to complement government funding. Ø As part of the Initiative, the Administration is launching the Build America Transportation Investment Center: Housed at the Department of Transportation, this center will serve as a one-stop shop for state and local governments, public and private developers and investors seeking to utilize innovative financing strategies for transportation infrastructure projects. Additional details are below. Ø Build America Interagency Working Group: To expand and increase private investment and collaboration in infrastructure beyond the transportation sector, a federal inter-agency working group, co-chaired by Cabinet Secretaries Lew and Foxx, will do a focused review with the best and the brightest from the public and private sector. This group will work with state and local governments, project developers, investors and others to address barriers to private investments and partnerships in areas including municipal water, ports, harbors, broadband, and the electrical grid. The effort will include a particular focus on improving coordination to accelerate financing and completion of projects of regional and national significance, particularly those that cross state boundaries. Ø Infrastructure Investment Summit: As part of the drive toward innovative infrastructure solutions and to highlight the opportunities for infrastructure investment, the Treasury Department will host a summit on Infrastructure Investment in the U.S. on September 9, 2014. This session will bring together leading project developers and institutional investors with state and local officials and their Federal counterparts, and will focus on innovative financing approaches to infrastructure, and highlight other resources that support project development. *** Build America Transportation Investment Center: Housed at the Department of Transportation, this center will serve as a one-stop shop for state and local governments, public and private developers and investors seeking to utilize innovative financing strategies for transportation infrastructure projects. This center will provide: Ø ‘Navigator Service’ for the Public and Private Sector: Through hands-on support, advice and expertise, the center will make DOT credit programs more understandable and accessible to states and local governments and leverage both public and private funding to support ambitious projects. The center will also provide private sector developers and infrastructure investors with tools and resources to identify and execute successful PPPs. Ø Improved Access to DOT Credit Programs: The center will encourage awareness and efficient use of existing resources at the Department, including the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) program. TIFIA provides long-term, flexible financing to highway and transit projects that feature dedicated revenue sources. Each dollar of Federal TIFIA funding can support about $10 in loans, loan guarantees or lines of credit. In many cases, the lower cost of capital and flexible terms offered by TIFIA are critical factors in determining whether a PPP is a viable and cost-effective option for a project. The center will also focus on the use of key DOT programs including the Private Activity Bond program (PABs), and the Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing Program (RRIF). Ø Technical Assistance: The center will share best practices from states that are leading the way on private investment to states that have not yet adopted innovative financing strategies, encouraging a more robust national market. Today, the top six states for PPPs have nearly two-thirds the value of all U.S. PPP projects. Twenty states have no PPPs in transportation at all. The center will provide technical assistance to help remove barriers to ensure the public and private sector can come together to complete projects that make sense. Through a website and on-demand technical assistance, the center will provide information about DOT credit programs, case studies of successful projects and examples of deal structures, standard operating procedures for PPP projects and analytical toolkits. It will also help interested investors better understand how DOT credit and grant programs can be used together to support project development. Ø Information to Reduce Uncertainty and Delays: The center will work in partnership with the interagency Infrastructure Permitting Improvement center to provide visibility for local and state governments, project sponsors and investors on the permitting process. Case Studies and Additional Background The Build America Investment Initiative taps into the opportunity to increase the pipeline of effective public-private-partnerships and other innovative financing mechanisms: Ø High Demand: Institutional investors, both domestic and international, recognize the strength of our economy and want to invest in America. In 2013, the U.S. was the top destination for foreign direct investment with over $230 billion. The global investment community has over $83 trillion dollars with a growing appetite for infrastructure. That is potentially hundreds of billions of dollars to fund the building of U.S. public-private infrastructure. Ø Proven Approaches: Some states and communities have established successful PPPs and have developed strong institutional knowledge of how these projects are best structured and managed. Expanding that know-how to other states has the potential to increase the flow of capital by tens of billions of dollars over the next few years. Today, for example, the top five states in PPPs have nearly twice the per-capita value of projects as the next 20 best states – and if those states caught up, it could mean up to $30 billion worth of infrastructure projects. Building on Models of Success: Some states and localities across the country have developed successful track records utilizing PPPs and other innovative financing approaches for infrastructure projects. The Build America Transportation Investment center will use the lessons-learned from these leaders to help other communities and private project sponsors understand and better use federal financing programs and to structure deals that incorporate best practices and avoid pitfalls. Case Study: Colorado FasTracks Project Denver, Colorado is a community that has shown how transformative, multi-modal public infrastructure projects can be brought to fruition by integrating multiple financing sources. Denver was able to utilize a PPP as part of the FasTracks development – combining light rail, bus rapid transit, development of Denver Union Station, parking, and other improvements – alongside state and federal funding. The FasTracks Eagle project in Denver is a $2.2 billion public-private partnership to construct two new commuter rail lines. The project combined several DOT funding and financing mechanisms – Federal Transit Administration’s New Starts, Private Activity Bonds, and a TIFIA loan – in addition to other Federal, State, and local resources and private investment. The Eagle project is using a “design-build-finance-operate-maintain” contract under a 34-year concession. Denver will retain ownership of the assets, set fares and fare policies, and keep all project revenues. Denver will make payments to the private investor and operator (“concessionaire”) based on performance metrics. Case Study: Florida Florida has been leading the way on PPPs since 2001. In 2007, the State of Florida established the Office of Public-Private Partnerships; since then the state has completed over $6 billion in innovative projects. Florida is now using a public-private partnership to complete the $1.1 billion Port of Miami Tunnel Project that will link the Port of Miami with the MacArthur Causeway and I-395 on the mainland. The project, like many PPPs around the country, took advantage of DOT’s TIFIA loan program for a $340 million loan, which in turn leveraged private dollars – a great example of the kinds of partnerships that the new Build America Transportation Investment center will bolster. THE GROW AMERICA ACT The Highway Trust Fund – which funds a significant portion of the construction and capital repairs of our surface transportation system – is projected to be insolvent by the end of the summer barring Congressional action. In addition to preventing the Trust Fund from expiring in the short term, the President has clear that we need long-term action and predictable funding to provide certainty to states and communities, help American businesses, and grow our economy. Ø In spring 2014, President Obama transmitted to Congress his vision for a long-term solution. The GROW AMERICA Act, a $302 billion, four-year transportation reauthorization proposal provides increased and stable funding for our nation’s highways, bridges, transit, and rail systems, ends the cycle of short-term, manufactured funding crises and builds confidence in the public and private sector. Ø The Administration’s proposal is funded by supplementing current revenues with $150 billion in one-time transition revenue from pro-growth business tax reform. In other words, the President’s proposal is fully paid for without increasing the deficit. The President’s proposal will also keep the Trust Fund solvent for four years and increase investments to meet the transportation priorities and economic needs of communities across the country. Ø The proposal also contains a series of legislative proposals to improve the return on transportation spending and improve safety, including a title on improving project delivery, and the federal permitting and regulatory review process. DAILY GUIDANCE FOR THE VICE PRESIDENT
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Vice President FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 15, 2014 DAILY GUIDANCE FOR THE VICE PRESIDENT WEDNESDAY, JULY 16, 2014 In the morning, the Vice President will attend the Presidential Daily Briefing in the Oval Office. At 12:45 PM, the Vice President will deliver remarks at Generation Progress’s 2014 Make Progress National Summit in Washington, DC. The Vice President’s remarks at the J.W. Marriot will be open press. Later in the afternoon, the Vice President will attend the President’s meeting with members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building. In the evening, the Vice President will attend the President’s meeting with House Democrats on the State Floor. Remarks by the President on the Economy -- McLean, VA
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release July 15, 2014 REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT ON THE ECONOMY Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center McLean, Virginia 11:50 A.M. EDT THE PRESIDENT: Hello, everybody! (Applause.) Everybody have a seat, have a seat, have a seat. Good afternoon. Thank you, Secretary Foxx, for that introduction. I just got a tour of a lab where automakers and government researchers team up to create new technologies that help cars communicate with the world around them and with each other. They can tell you if an oncoming vehicle is about to run a red light, or if a car is coming around a blind corner, or if a detour would help you save time and gas. And I got to test all this in a simulator. It was sort of like Knight Rider. (Laughter.) I have to say, though, it was a little disorienting -- I haven't driven in about six years. And I'm going down the highway and I think I had a little bit of a lead foot -- I was starting to hit 90. (Laughter.) And then like right next to me, the press pool is standing there, and they’re kind of traveling with me at 90 miles an hour, and it got me a little queasy. (Laughter.) But I've recovered. Now, as the father of a daughter who just turned 16, any new technology that makes driving safer is important to me. And new technology that makes driving smarter is good for the economy. One study shows that Americans spend 5.5 billion hours stuck in traffic each year, which costs us $120 billion in wasted time and gas -- that's 800 bucks per commuter. Then you’ve got outdated roads and bridges that mean businesses pay an extra $27 billion in freight costs, which are then passed on to consumers. So, all told, transportation eats up more of the typical family’s household budget than anything except the rent or a mortgage -- which means that the cutting-edge research that all of you are doing here helps save lives and save money, and leads to new jobs and new technologies and new industries. And that’s why America has to invest more in the kind of job-creating research and development that you’re doing right here at the Highway Research Center. (Applause.) I’m also here today to talk about why America has got to invest more in rebuilding the infrastructure that these cars will drive on -- because it will create better jobs and better position America for the future. We know that in a 21st century economy businesses will set up shop wherever they find the best roads and bridges, and the fastest rail and Internet, the smartest airports, the smartest power grids. First-class infrastructure attracts first-class jobs. And right now, our investments in transportation are lagging the rest of the world. If Washington were working the way it’s supposed to, Congress would be fixing that. We’d be investing in the things that help America bring more good jobs to our shores. Instead, here’s what’s going on in Washington. There’s something called the Highway Trust Fund -- I suspect this crew is familiar with it. It helps states support transportation projects. If Congress fails to fund it, it runs out of money. That could put nearly 700,000 jobs at risk, including more than 17,000 right here in Virginia. More than 100,000 active projects across the country -- projects where workers as we speak are paving roads and rebuilding bridges and modernizing our transit systems -- those projects would be slowed or stopped. And some states have already had to put some projects on hold because they don’t trust Congress to get its act together. So remember that the next time you see a job site sitting idle. Now, the good news is there are bipartisan bills in both the House and the Senate that would help with a short-term fix. And I support that. At the very least, Congress should be keeping people on the job who are already there right now. But all this does is set us up for the same crisis a few months from now. So Congress shouldn’t pat itself on the back for averting disaster for a few months, kicking the can down the road for a few months, careening from crisis to crisis when it comes to something as basic as our infrastructure. Instead of barely paying our bills in the present, we should be investing in the future. We should have a plan for how we’re going to make sure that our roads, our bridges, our airports, our power grid, our water systems -- how all those things are going to be funded, and do it in a responsible way so that people can start planning. That also means we can save more money -- because we’re not doing it in stopgap measures. So that’s why earlier this year I put forward a plan to rebuild our transportation infrastructure in a more responsible way. It would support millions of jobs. It would give cities and states, and private investors the certainty they need to plan ahead and hire more workers. It would help small businesses ship their goods faster. It would help parents get home to their kids faster. It would mean less wear and tear on your car. It would mean less money on gas. It would save people money. It would support cutting-edge research like the work that you’re doing here, which could end up cutting back on the number of traffic fatalities. And my plan would not add to what is already a rapidly shrinking deficit. We’ve cut our deficit, by the way, by more than half since I came into office. (Applause.) And we wouldn’t be adding to the deficit, because we’d pay for this transportation project in part by closing tax loopholes for companies that ship jobs overseas and avoid paying their fair share of taxes. So far, House Republicans have refused to act on this idea -- and they haven’t presented their own idea. And I think that’s wrong. We shouldn’t be protecting tax loopholes for a few companies that shift massive profits overseas; we should be creating jobs rebuilding the roads and bridges that help every business right here in the United States. That is a question of priorities. And what I keep hearing from folks all across the country is that if Congress would just shift its priorities a little closer to working Americans’ priorities, we could help a lot of families right now. This is not an abstract issue. And it shouldn’t be even a partisan issue. Republicans, Democrats, independents -- everybody uses our roads. After this last winter, you got potholes everywhere wrecking your car. I mean, how many people here have had the experience of you’re driving along and suddenly your car is wrecked? And you pay for that out of pocket. When you are in traffic congestion -- because of poor planning and bad infrastructure -- when you could be at home reading to your kid or catching their ballgame, that's a cost to you. Everybody cares about that. It doesn't matter what your political persuasion is. After the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, our businesses have created nearly 10 million new jobs over the past 52 months. The unemployment rate is at its lowest point since September of 2008. We’ve made huge strides in energy independence. For the first time in more than a decade, business leaders around the world are saying the best place to invest isn’t China, the best place to invest is the United States of America. But you’ve still got a lot of middle-class families all across the country who are working harder than ever just to get ahead. They need a break. They need some help. And having better roads and less delays -- that helps. And meanwhile, Republicans in Congress keep blocking or voting down some of the ideas that would have the biggest impact on middle-class and working families. Not just creating more new construction jobs -- they’ve said no to raising the minimum wage, to equal pay, to fixing our broken immigration system. Now, I want to work with everybody -- Republicans and Democrats -- to move this country forward. But I can't just stand by while politics threatens all the hard work of millions of Americans because we’ve just got gridlock in Washington. So what I’ve tried to do is take a range of actions this year to help working Americans with my own legal authorities -- from speeding up big infrastructure projects to raising wages. I’m waiting for Congress to act, but in the meantime I’ve got to go ahead and do what I can do. And in response, their plan so far has not been to join me and say, all right, Mr. President, you’re right, we do need to rebuild our roads; we do need to spruce up our airports. Instead their big idea has been to sue me. That’s what they’re spending time on -- a political stunt that wastes America’s time and taxpayer dollars. Keep in mind it’s your money that they're going to be spending on these ridiculous pursuits instead of just getting some work done. And I’m not interested in playing political games. I’m interested in making sure the economy grows and we’re creating more jobs, and we’re helping more middle-class families get ahead. We need to invest in America’s infrastructure. You guys are helping to show us how to do it in a really smart way. We need to invest in American innovation and research and development. We need to invest in American manufacturing. We should be training more of our workers for new and better jobs. We should be preparing every child for a world-class education. We should be making sure that hard work pays off with higher wages, and greater workplace flexibility, and health care and child care. All these things would make a difference in people’s day-to-today lives. And the point is we could do so much more if we just rallied around a sense of economic patriotism that says, you know what, the parties compete, but every once in a while, we got to actually do some work, instead of worrying about elections, or trying to score points on cable TV. And we can start by investing in our country. Because historically -- it was Eisenhower who built the Interstate Highway System, working with Democrats and Republicans. This isn’t a partisan issue. And when we treat some basic investments as something that we do as Americans, when we rise or fall together as one nation and as one people, things work and nobody can beat us. And that’s the spirit that all of you show here. That’s what I’m going to keep on fighting for every single day. So I’m proud of you. I want you to keep on doing what you’re doing. We’re going to try to make sure Congress actually does as good of a job at what they’re supposed to be doing as you guys are doing on yours. If we do, then you’re going to have some parents who are getting home a little earlier. You’re going to have folks who aren’t going to have to go to the body shop quite as often. You’re going to be seeing millions of people across the country saving money at the pump. We’re going to see airline delays reduced, so when you plan that Thanksgiving trip, you’re not spending the whole time in the airport. All that can make a huge difference. But the American people have to demand that folks in Washington do their job. Do something: That’s my big motto for Congress right now. Just do something. And if they don’t like the transportation plan that I put forward, at least come up with your own plan. And then we can compromise. But don’t just sit there and do nothing. We don’t have time. America is on the move. And part of it’s on the move, thanks to all of you. I really appreciate it. God bless you. God bless America. (Applause.) Readout of the Obama Administration’s Meeting with Members of Congress and their Constituents on Promoting Exports
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 15, 2014 Readout of the Obama Administration’s Meeting with Members of Congress and their Constituents on Promoting Exports Today, senior Administration officials met with Members of Congress and their constituents to discuss policies, Administrative initiatives, and legislative efforts to help businesses increase exports and create jobs in their districts. The Members and their constituents shared some of the best practices that business owners in their communities have put forward to increase their own exports, and Administration officials, Members, and their constituents discussed how the Administration can best partner with Members and businesses moving forward. Participants also discussed the critical importance of reauthorizing the Export-Import Bank and securing trade agreements to help American businesses grow their markets abroad. Members of Congress who attended the meeting included · Senator Maria Cantwell of Washington · Representative Elizabeth Esty of Connecticut · Representative Denny Heck of Washington · Representative Scott Peters of California Senior Administration officials who attended the meeting included: · Secretary Penny Pritzker, Department of Commerce · Ambassador Michael Froman, United States Trade Representative · Anne Wall, Deputy Assistant to the President for Legislative Affairs and Senate Liaison Remarks by the First Lady at Grammy Museum's Jane Ortner Education Award Luncheon
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the First Lady ________________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release July 16, 2014 REMARKS BY THE FIRST LADY AT GRAMMY MUSEUM’S JANE ORTNER EDUCATION AWARD LUNCHEON Grammy Museum Los Angeles, California 12:32 P.M. PDT MRS. OBAMA: Thank you so much. (Applause.) Well, hello, everyone! How are you guys doing? AUDIENCE: Good! MRS. OBAMA: It’s really exciting, huh? AUDIENCE: Yeah! MRS. OBAMA: Well, it is a pleasure for me to be here for the inaugural Jane Ortner Education Award Luncheon. I want to start by thanking Bob for that very kind introduction and for his visionary leadership of the Grammy Museum, and for sharing that story. And in response, yes, we did hear. (Laughter.) We heard everything. We can hear everything that goes on on the State floor upstairs. But as Bob noted, it was a beautiful sound. It was the sound of growth and victory and happiness, and it filled the White House just as Barack and I had imagined. So we were grateful for that night and so many, many wonderful nights shared with this organization. I want to thank Chuck Ortner and his family for their tremendous generosity in making this luncheon possible. Yes. (Applause.) And I want to give a special thank-you to your fabulous mayor, Mayor Garcetti. We’re just thrilled that he could join us today, and we are grateful for his leadership. (Applause.) And I’d like to thank and congratulate today’s honorees -- my dear, dear friend, Janelle Monae, as well as Sunshine Cavalluzzi, who I will get to meet. (Applause.) Sunshine -- I’m going to see Sunshine soon. We are so inspired by the both of you and so grateful for everything you do for our children. And of course, I want to thank everyone here today for your support to bring arts education to young people across this country. Your work has been at the heart of our vision for the White House right from the very beginning, as Bob shared. Now, traditionally, when it comes to hosting cultural events, the White House has always brought in the most renowned performers in the world. And in the past, the audiences for these performances were usually a lot of pretty fancy people -- politicians, business leaders, celebrities -- the kind of folks who get invited to the White House all the time. But when Barack and I first came to Washington, we decided that it was time to shake things up a little bit. We wanted to do everything we could to make the White House the “People’s House.” We wanted to open it up to as many people in this country as possible, especially our young people. So when we started inviting performers to the White House, as Bob mentioned, we told everyone that we also expected them to spend some time with young people, doing workshops and these wonderful mentoring sessions. And that’s where all of you came in. Thanks to your generosity, the Grammy Museum has flown nearly 1,000 students to Washington to visit the White House and take part in these programs, and thousands more have participated by video. These young people have had so many once-in-a-lifetime experiences. They’ve explored soul music with Janelle Monae, Melissa Etheridge, Patti LaBelle -- that was good. (Laughter.) They’ve learned about country music with Lyle Lovett, Darius Rucker, Kris Kristofferson. As you heard, they talked about Motown with Smokey Robinson and John Legend. I could go on and on. These sessions are amazing. And I have to tell you, these are some of my favorite events at the White House. They’re these truly intimate moments when the artists and the kids are sitting around in the State Dining Room. Very special. I make sure they know they’re sitting where we host kings and queens and leaders from all over the world. And in that room, they’re pouring their hearts out to each other. They get really close. They’re not just talking about music -- they’re talking about their hopes and dreams and their fears. They’re talking about the value of hard work, things like staying true to yourself, picking yourself up when you fall. That’s one thing I always say to the students -- failure is your only guarantee in life. So you got to figure that out. And let me tell you, so many of the young people who’ve had these experiences, they walk away transformed -- how can you help but not be transformed -- with a new sense of purpose and hope. Just take the example of a young woman named Trina Vargas who attended a workshop -- she attended that first workshop on the music of the civil rights, back in 2010, that Bob talked about. Now, Trina was raised by a single mother, much like many of the artists who perform and we have known and love. She’s from Guatemala. Her mother never had a chance to go to college herself. And while Trina worked hard in school, she wasn’t always sure that hard work would really pay off. But her trip to the White House opened her eyes, and as she put it -- and these are just a few of her words -- she said, “I saw for the first time how education and hard work could open doors I never dreamed possible.” And she said, even though it isn’t easy to -- and “it’s easy to feel discouraged at times,” she said, “I won’t stop chasing my dreams.” Well today, four years later, Trina has graduated Summa Cum Laude from SUNY Albany, and she’s now working her way towards law school. (Applause.) And I’m sure I could share hundreds of stories just like that. So make no mistake about it, programs like this aren’t just about taking a fun field trip to Washington, and they shouldn’t just be luxuries for kids who can afford it. Because we know that engagement in the arts can unlock a world of possibilities for our young people, especially when it comes to their education. Studies show that kids who are involved in the arts have higher grades, higher graduation rates, higher college enrollment rates. And when you think about it, that’s not really surprising. Because for many young people, arts education is the only reason they get out of bed in the morning. Just like Janelle, they go to school each day because there’s an instrument they want to play, a musical they want to perform in, a painting they are dying to finish. See, and then once they arrive in those classrooms, that’s when we can teach them something else, like math and writing and science. That is the power of the arts for so many of our young people. But today, as we honor your work to promote arts education and we recognize leaders like Sunshine and Janelle, we also need to be thinking about all the young people who will never have these opportunities in this country. We need to be thinking about the six million children in this country who don’t have a single art or music class in their schools. (Applause.) So for every Janelle Monae, there are so many young people with so much promise [that] they never have the chance to develop. And think about how that must feel for a kid to have so much talent, so much that they want to express, but it’s all bottled up inside because no one ever puts a paintbrush or an instrument or a script into their hand. Think about what that means for our communities, that frustration bottled up. Think about the neighborhoods where so many of our kids live -- neighborhoods torn apart by poverty and violence. Those kids have no good outlets or opportunities, so for them everything that’s bottled up -- all that despair and anger and fear -- it comes out in all the wrong places. It comes out through guns and gangs and drugs, and the cycle just continues. But the arts are a way to channel that pain and frustration into something meaningful and productive and beautiful. And every human being needs that, particularly our kids. And when they don’t have that outlet, that is such a tremendous loss, not just for our kids, but for our nation. And that’s why the work you all are doing is so important. But we can’t stop here. Yes, you all have an abundance of riches here in Los Angeles. And yes, we do have a pretty big platform at the White House; people do tend to accept our invitations to perform and interact with young people. We’ve got a little leverage. But let’s not forget that there are theaters and symphonies and museums in cities and towns all across this country. And with every exhibit and performance they put on, these folks should be asking themselves, “How can we get some kids in here? How can we get these artists and performers to connect with young people in those communities?” In other words, every arts organization in this country should be embracing the mission of the Grammy Museum. Because we cannot be satisfied until every child in America has some kind of exposure to the arts -- every child. Every child. (Applause.) And to all the young people here today, I just want to urge you all to take the fullest advantage of these opportunities when you get them. Try as many new art forms as you can, and take some risks. Don’t be afraid to express yourself. And most importantly, take the lessons you learn through arts and apply them at school, and bring that same passion and dedication to getting the education you need to fulfill your dreams. And so many of you are already doing that, and I am incredibly proud of you all. But today, I want to urge you to dream even bigger, work even harder, and don’t ever give up, no matter what challenges you face. Because if you do that, there is no limit to what you can achieve. And remember, there are so many people who believe in you. I believe in you. Your President believes in you. And all of these people here today believe in you. So go out there and make us proud. And more importantly, make yourselves proud. Yes. (Applause.) And to all of you here today who are doing so much to support these amazing young people, I want to end as I started by once again saying thank you. Thank you for your commitment to their future, to our country’s future. And I do look forward to continuing our work together in the months and years ahead. Thank you all so much. (Applause.) Thank you. I have one more wonderful task here today. You know that little fireplug of a woman that just stood here today? Well, I’m going to introduce her, because she’s going to come out here and do her thing. But let me just say something about this young, beautiful, talented woman. First of all, I am honored to be the first Electric Lady. (Laughter.) I got my letter in the mail -- I framed it; it’s up. But when you listen to Janelle, when you hear her speak -- I love to hear her perform. And yes, she was on a table in the White House. And that’s our little secret. (Laughter.) But I love to hear her perform, but I love to hear her talk. I love Janelle’s message. I love that she is one of the young artists here who is making music that means something. She has a message. She has a voice. She has a power in her. And she understands the responsibility she has within her grasp to take these opportunities and just take off with them. She serves as a role model and an inspiration to so many young people. And I am happy to call her my friend. I am so proud of her. It is my pleasure to introduce the one, the only -- Janelle Monae. (Applause.) Readout of the President’s Meeting with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 16, 2014 Readout of the President’s Meeting with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus This afternoon, the President and Vice President met with members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building. The President heard from members of the Caucus about ideas for actions to improve our immigration system. The President reaffirmed that he is focused on fixing as much of our broken immigration system as he can within the confines of the law, and has asked Secretary Johnson and the Attorney General to conduct a thorough review that produces recommendations before the end of the summer. The President made clear that regardless of the steps he takes through administrative action, nothing replaces the need for Congress to pass commonsense immigration reform, and he will continue to make the case for swift action by Congress on a comprehensive bill. The President also emphasized the urgency for Congress to approve supplemental funding to aid the government response to the influx of migrants at the Rio Grande Valley. The supplemental request represents a balanced approach to increasing our law enforcement capacity, ensuring we have resources to offer migrants due process as required by law, and also helping our Central American partners deal with some of the challenges they face back home. The situation in the Rio Grande Valley underscores how our immigration system is broken, and Republicans need to stop blocking comprehensive immigration reform so we can fix the system now. In the absence of Republican action, the President has mounted a significant effort to deal with this urgent humanitarian situation. The Administration is focused on addressing these immediate and pressing challenges to make sure we are responding in an efficient and timely way and confronting the root of the problem with top-level diplomatic efforts in Central America. The President thanked the Members for their leadership and major accomplishments for the Latino community, including improvements in education, access to health care, and economic growth. Remarks by the First Lady at the Unite for Veterans Summit
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the First Lady ________________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release July 16, 2014 REMARKS BY THE FIRST LADY AT THE UNITE FOR VETERANS SUMMIT Hyatt Regency Los Angeles, California 11:37 A.M. PDT MRS. OBAMA: Thank you all. (Applause.) Rest yourselves. I just heard the charge. You’re going to need your energy, so I want you all well rested. Please sit. It is truly a pleasure to be with you here in Los Angeles on this terrific occasion. I want to start by thanking your amazing mayor, Mayor Garcetti, not just for that kind introduction, but for his tremendous leadership for this city, and for our veterans, and for his service to this country in the Navy Reserve. And I also want to throw in a thank-you to his partner, Amy, because I know that her support is going to be critical in making sure you all reach this ambitious goal. So I want to thank her for all the work that she has done in her role as first lady, for our veterans, for our servicemembers. Let’s give them both another round of applause. (Applause.) And, of course, I want to thank Matthew for his powerful story, for sharing his journey with us, and for all the work that he is doing to support other veterans in this city. That is truly the amazing power of what our veterans do. They keep giving. That’s why we need to make sure that we give them all the resources they need to be the best Americans that they can be. We are so proud of you, Matthew -- we really are. (Applause.) And to Elise for her remarks and leadership, we would not be here if it weren’t for the dedication and hard work of people like you. We are so grateful. As well as everyone from United Way of Greater Los Angeles, the Federal Reserve Bank, the University of Southern California -- all of you, thank you for hosting this summit. Thank you for your leadership, your work. I am confident in what you are going to be doing, and grateful, just so incredibly grateful for taking this on. And most importantly, I want to thank all of you for coming here today to show our veterans and their families that after all they have done for our country, that we have got their backs. I have had a number of incredible opportunities as First Lady, and right at the top of the list is the time I’ve spent with our servicemembers and veterans and their families. Over the last few years, as I’ve visited with these men and women at the White House or on bases and in communities around the country, I have been blown away by their stories. I’ve been blown away by their courage, and dedication, and their unwavering commitment to excellence. There’s the Army Ranger that I had the fortune of sitting next to at my husband’s State of the Union Address. Remember the young man who had nearly been killed by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan, but fought back to speak again, and stand again, and walk again. There’s the soldier that we met just a month ago who was caught in a firefight in Afghanistan when a live grenade landed just feet away from him and his best friend. He responded by jumping onto that grenade to save his friend’s life. And then there are the stories of the talent and skills these men and women display every day. They are mastering cutting-edge technologies. They’re leading dozens of their peers in the most dangerous missions on the planet. They’re doing everything from handing out humanitarian aid, responding to incoming fire, building relationships with local leaders -- sometimes all in one day. And I’ve seen their excellence firsthand at the White House. We have folks on our policy teams, our military aides, our Navy Mess staff. They are some of the sharpest, most dynamic, and most effective people I have ever had the pleasure of working with. So when these men and women come home, they have got the skills that any company in America should want, and they’re more than prepared to succeed in any career or at any school they choose. But too often, that transition back to civilian life presents all kinds of challenges and obstacles. Just try putting yourselves in their shoes for just a moment. After spending your entire life in service to your country on a military base or in combat, you come home to a very different way of life. The friends who have been by your side every minute are suddenly spread out all across the country, and there’s nobody around who understands what you’ve been through. The missions that drove you every day are gone. The skills you’ve spent years developing are not valued or understood in the civilian world. I met a man, young man, who served five years in the Navy, managing a team of sailors and dealing with complicated data and equipment. But in the two years -- two and a half years after he came home, he went through dozens of rejections before UPS recognized his management skills and gave him a job. Then there are even tougher stories. A couple of months ago, I met a young woman who’d had experiences during her time in Afghanistan that she struggled to recover from once she returned home. Her life unraveled. She lost her job, got into drugs, ended up living out of her car before she got the therapy and employment she needed to get back on track. Now, I want to be clear -- just a tiny percentage of veterans end up homeless. And the majority of these men and women transition back in good health and good spirits and go on to build successful careers and strong families. But after everything they have done for us, the idea that any of our veterans are spending months, or even years, struggling to find a job is unacceptable. (Applause.) It’s unacceptable. And the image of even one of these heroes sleeping out in the cold, huddled up next to an overpass -- that should horrify all of us. Because that’s not who we are. And the truth is, we know that there are simple steps that we can take -- whether that’s in business or government or in our communities -- to prevent and solve these kinds of problems. My husband has led the way to developing and devoting historic levels of funding and resources to helping our vets transition back to civilian life. On employment, we’ve started new programs to help veterans get civilian licenses for jobs they did in the military. Through our Joining Forces initiative, we have rallied businesses to hire or train more than half a million veterans and military spouses. And we’ve launched a one-stop website to connect veterans to employers looking to hire them. And any business or organization here today or out there listening that wants to hire vets should sign up at eBenefits.VA.gov. And when it comes to veteran homelessness, my husband vowed, as the mayor said, not just to address this issue, but to end it once and for all. So the administration is cutting red tape across agencies. We’re starting new programs and strengthening old ones to get veterans into homes right away. And over the past few years, these efforts have brought tens of thousands of veterans out of homelessness. They have helped prevent over 100,000 more [from] falling into homelessness in the first place. And even in the face of difficult economic times, we have seen the rate of homeless veterans in our country fall by 24 percent under this President. (Applause.) So we are making some real progress. But we know that government can’t do this alone. If we’re going to make a difference on this issue, issues like employment and homelessness, we have got to get communities across the country engaged at every level. That means businesses, government and foundations. It means nonprofits. It means our schools, our hospitals. It means neighbors from down the street. And that’s why I am so excited about this conference, why I really want to be here today -- because that’s exactly what you’re doing right here in Los Angeles. With your 10,000 Strong initiative -- I almost said 100,000. Sorry, Mayor. (Laughter.) Ten thousand is really good. (Laughter.) You’ve secured commitments from nearly 150 businesses and public sector organizations to hire 10,000 veterans by 2017. And I really, really want to commend you for doing this the right way -- because you’re not just talking about hiring these veterans; you’re talking about retaining them and giving them a chance to grow in the years ahead. (Applause.) Yes, you’re doing it the right way. (Applause.) You’re recruiting volunteers to work with veterans on their résumés, holding mock interviews. You’re focusing on good jobs -- jobs in health care and entertainment, jobs in engineering, finance, and so much more. So I want to applaud Mayor Garcetti’s office and the United Way of Greater Los Angeles for heading this charge. And as if hiring 10,000 veterans wasn’t enough, this community is also tackling a problem that this country has tacitly accepted for far too long, and that is homelessness among our veterans. So when I heard that this mayor was joining the Mayors Challenge to End Veteran Homelessness by the end of 2015, I couldn’t have been more excited. I really couldn’t have been more excited. Because we can’t end homelessness without all of you. More than one out of every 10 homeless veterans in America lives right here in Los Angeles, as the mayor said. And that’s more than any other community in the country -- more than 6,000 veterans in total. And I know that’s a big number -- and make no mistake, it is an aggressive goal. But we’ve seen time and time again that if you break these numbers down, if you work on the ground with landlords to find open apartments, with developers to build new housing; if you rally community groups, and congregations, and businesses around this issue -- then this problem becomes eminently solvable. That’s what they realized in Phoenix, Salt Lake City, where they’ve already effectively ended chronic homelessness among their veterans. And down in New Orleans they’ve committed to end all veteran homelessness in the next six months -- and they are on track to do it today. And here in LA, the United Way, the Chamber of Commerce have brought public and private partners together for this incredible program called Home for Good. And together, you have housed more than 9,000 veterans since 2011. And on top of that, I want to applaud voters and legislators here in the state for voting to authorize $600 million toward housing for veteran families -- (applause) -- which is the largest state-funded effort in this country. Well done. So you’ve already laid much of the groundwork to reach this goal. And now, as your leader, your mayor said, you just got to finish the job. And I know that’s not going to be easy, but I also want you to know that you won’t have to do this alone. We will be with you every step of the way –- folks from the White House, the VA, the Interagency Council on Homelessness, we will all be there to support you, to connect you with other leaders across the country who can share their best practices on homelessness or employment. Because we are all in this together, and we have got to remember that this work isn’t just about paying back the debt we owe these men and women, it’s about investing in their future and the future of this country. Take the story of a man I had a chance to meet backstage, Jim Zenner. I met Jim and his wife and his young son. Jim served as an Army intelligence analyst during the Iraq War. And when he first came back home, he was mostly OK. His father was a Vietnam vet, and Jim could always turn to him when he needed to talk to someone. But a few months later, Jim’s father died unexpectedly. And that’s when, as Jim says, “Things, they just kind of fell apart.” He became easily irritated, and got into shouting matches with his wife. And one night, it got so bad that Jim had to move out of the house. He spent the night sleeping in his car -- and then he asked for help. He reached out to the VA, and they connected him with Volunteers of America, which used the VA Grant and Per Diem Program to help Jim pay for an apartment for him and his oldest son. So for seven months, Jim had a place to call home as he got his life back on track and went to school to get his master’s in social work. He got the therapy he needed through the VA. He saved up enough money to eventually buy a place of his own. And during that time, Volunteers of America was so impressed with Jim that they asked him to open the new Hollywood Veterans Center -- a 48-bed readjustment facility for Iraq and Afghanistan vets. And in the four years since it opened, the center has given shelter, counseling, and job training to nearly 350 veterans. And Jim also keeps paying it forward when he hires for his staff positions. Jim manages about 12 staffers, and seven of them are post-9/11 veterans. So because this city was there for Jim, because the VA had those grants, because doctors cared for Jim and helped save his marriage, because an organization on the ground housed him and then hired him -- Jim is able to keep giving back to the country he loves. That’s all our veterans want to do. See, that’s what so many of them do -- they keep on serving for the rest of their lives, because that is who they are. And now it’s time for us to show who we are. It’s time to match their service with service of our own. And that’s especially important now -- because with our war in Iraq over and a war in Afghanistan drawing to a close, thousands of men and women who risked their lives for this country are transitioning back home. And we cannot make the same mistakes for this generation that we made in the past. (Applause.) So the work we all do together is for all of our veterans. Whether they served in Vietnam or the Gulf War or Afghanistan or any other time in our history, we want to show them that we don’t leave any veteran behind. And all we have to do is show just a fraction of the courage and commitment that our veterans have shown to all of us. We don’t have to do much -- we don’t have to dodge bullets, we don’t have to jump on grenades. We just have to keep veterans in mind when we’re hiring for that next open spot. We just have to make sure they have a place to call home. And that’s why all of you are here today -- because you believe like I do that we can do this. I heard you. (Laughter.) And I want you to know that when you reach this goal -- yes, “when,” not “if” -- when -- you will be a model for the entire country. And I am not exaggerating. You’ll be starting a movement that can spread across America -- folks in Houston, and Chicago, and New York will want to follow your lead. Folks in small towns and mid-size cities will think, “Well, if they can house 6,000 veterans in Los Angeles, then surely we can house a couple hundred. If they can hire 10,000 veterans, then surely our businesses can hire a quarter of that number.” That’s the impact you all can have -- an impact that would be felt by millions of veterans across the country, starting here So I want to once again thank you -- thank you for everything you’ve done, everything that you will do in the years ahead to serve our veterans as well as they’ve served this country. This is a great day today. And I look forward to coming back and celebrating you reaching that goal. Thank you all. God bless. (Applause.) In-town pool
On the first stop, POTUS came to a room with several research center employees. Dressed in shirtsleeves and a tie, Obama spoke enthusiastically with them about their research. "Looks like a bunch of smart folks here, I can tell," Obama said, after greeting each one individually. "What are we looking at here on this table, other than a bunch of stuff?" One researcher explained the room was full of technology aimed at helping them " tackle congestion." POTUS asked how much time the average American spends commuting. "Five and-a-half trillion hours," one researcher replied. That figure refers to the cumulative time Americans spend commuting each year. "Did you hear that?" Obama repeated. "Five and-a-half trillion hours." The two men discussed how automated driving would save money, reduce air pollution and accidents, and improve Americans' quality of life. They looked at a video of self-driving trucks on a Nevada highway. "Let's do this, let's figure this out," Obama said. More to come, below is background from the WH. Background from the White House Tour: Before delivering remarks on the importance of investing in infrastructure innovation, the President will be led on a tour by Director of the Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center Michael Trentacoste and Connected Vehicle Program Manager Carl Anderson. The President will first view the Saxton Transportation Operations where he will see screens showing vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) traffic patterns, traffic lights, and a demonstration of how V2I cruise control works. Next, the President will view and be briefed on a vehicle simulator by Dr. David Yang, Human Factors Team Leader and Monique Evans, Director of the Office of Safety in Research and Development. Lastly, the President will visit a test garage with three vehicles equipped with the latest V2I technology. Dr. Joe Peters, Director of the Office of Operations Research and Development, will explain the V2I technology. Audience: The crowd at today’s event is composed of employees from the Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center and professionals from the Department of Transportation. At the second stop of the tour, Obama got into a self-driving car, which he clearly enjoyed. “Yeah, I’m a little tall, but that’s OK,” he said, buckling up. “Safety first.” “Man, this is so eexciting,” heh remarked. “I hhaven’t been on the road in a long time.” As the car lifted up and tilted back, Obama yelled out, “Whoa!” The car was positioned in front of a screen where cars and trucks whizzed by. “I’m going a little fast here,” Obama said. He debated whether to change lanes, but decided not to do it. On a couple of occasions he described the photographers positioned to his left as distracting. “ He also noted that there was no radio in the car. “Where’s the music?” he asked. On the third stop, Obama spoke with an engineer about the technology that allowed cars to communicate with one another. See crowd count and tour guide info below Official Crowd Count: 191 Per Brian Kerr, Facilities Manager at Turner-Fairbanks Highway Research Center Tour guides: Michael Trentacoste, Executive Tour Guide, Associate Administrator for RD&T/Director TFHRC Carl Anderson, Connected Vehicle Program Manager Speaking before a crowd of nearly 200 research center employees, Obama emphasized the need for Congress to pass a bill that would restore money to the Federal Highway Trust Fund. Please check quotes against the transcript. Recounting his experience in the car simulator, Obama said, “It was sort of like Knight Rider. It was a little disorientating.” “I think I had a little bit of a lead foot,” he added, noting that he quickly accelerated to 90 mph. Referring to the group of photographers snapping photos beside him as he drove, he said, “It got me a little queasy, but I’ve recovered.” Obama spoke of the need to invest in automobile technology to improve safety and cut down on fuel costs as well as transportation time. “As the father of a daughter who just turned 16, any new technology that makes driving safer is important to me,” he said. The president noted that Americans spend more on their vehicle-related costs “than anything except the rent or the mortgage.” Making the case for new investment in infrastructure, the president said, “First-class infrastructure attracts first-class jobs. And right now our investments in infrastructure are lagging [behind] the rest of the world.” “This isn’t a partisan issue,” he said. While the White House has endorsed the House bill that would provide enough money to keep the highway trust fund afloat until May 2015, Obama criticized it during the speech as being insufficient. “”Congress shouldn’t pat itself on the back for averting disaster for a few months,” he said. The rest of his speech echoed the remarks he made last week while on the road, where he blasted congressional Republicans for inaction and for the House GOP’s decision to sue him over his use of his executive authority. He spoke of the need to rally around the idea of “economic patriotism.” “I’m proud of you,” he said to the crowd. “I want you to keep on doing what you’re doing.” OFFICIAL RELEASE: Statement of Administration Policy on H.R. 5021 – Highway and Transportation Funding Act of 2014
http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/legislative/sap/113/saphr5021r_20140714.pdf EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET WASHINGTON, D.C. 20503 July 14, 2014 (House Rules) STATEMENT OF ADMINISTRATION POLICY H.R. 5021 – Highway and Transportation Funding Act of 2014 (Rep. Camp, R-Michigan, and Rep. Shuster, R-Pennsylvania) With surface transportation funding running out and hundreds of thousands of jobs at risk later this summer, the Administration supports House passage of H.R. 5021. This legislation would provide for continuity of funding for the Highway Trust Fund during the height of the summer construction season and keep Americans at work repairing the Nation's crumbling roads, bridges, and transit systems. However, this legislation only provides a short-term fix to the Highway Trust Fund. It does not address the continued need to pass a long-term authorization bill that creates jobs and provides certainty for cities, States, and businesses. Congress should work to pass a long-term authorization bill well before the expiration date set forth in H.R. 5021. The President has been very clear that increasing investment in the Nation’s infrastructure is a top priority. That is why the President laid out a vision for a 21st century surface transportation infrastructure, the GROW AMERICA Act, which would streamline project approval processes and implement innovative transportation policies that will make better use of taxpayer dollars while supporting millions of jobs and positioning the Nation's economy for lasting growth. That proposal is fully paid for through existing revenues and by reforming business taxes to help create jobs and spur investment while eliminating loopholes that reward companies for moving profits overseas. The Administration is focused every day on what can be done to expand opportunity for every American. In today's economy, that means building a first-class infrastructure that attracts first-class jobs and takes American businesses' goods all across the world. http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/legislative/sap/113/saphr5016h_20140714.pdf
EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET WASHINGTON, D.C. 20503 July 14, 2014 (House) STATEMENT OF ADMINISTRATION POLICY H.R. 5016 — Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, 2015 (Rep. Rogers, R-Kentucky) The Administration strongly opposes House passage of H.R. 5016, making appropriations for financial services and general government for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2015. The bill impedes implementation of the Affordable Care Act, undermines critical components of Wall Street reform, and fails to provide the resources necessary to provide robust taxpayer services and improve tax enforcement. Further, the legislation includes ideological and political provisions that are beyond the scope of funding legislation. If the President were presented with H.R. 5016, his senior advisors would recommend that he veto the bill. The Administration looks forward to working with the Congress on an orderly appropriations process that supports economic growth, opportunity, and our national security while avoiding unnecessary fiscal crises that hold the Nation's economy back. This process should include reconciling funding levels for individual appropriations bills to promote economic growth and national security, and passing bills without ideological provisions that could undermine an orderly appropriations process. The President's fiscal year (FY) 2015 Budget provides a roadmap for making investments to accelerate economic growth, expand opportunity for all hard-working Americans, and ensure our national security, while continuing to improve the Nation's long-term fiscal outlook. At the same time, the Budget takes key steps to both continue and enhance the Administration's efforts to deliver a Government that is more effective, efficient, and supportive of economic growth. The President's Budget adheres to the FY 2015 spending levels agreed to in the Bipartisan Budget Act (BBA) and shows the choices the President would make at those levels. However, the levels agreed to in the BBA are already below FY 2007 funding levels adjusted for inflation and are not sufficient—either in FY 2015 or beyond—to ensure the Nation is achieving its full potential. For that reason, the Budget also includes a fully paid for Opportunity, Growth, and Security Initiative—evenly split between defense and non-defense priorities—that presents additional investments to grow the economy, expand opportunity, and enhance security. The Opportunity, Growth, and Security Initiative would support a number of investments, including additional resources to improve customer service at the Internal Revenue Service and to provide more useful public reporting of Federal spending data. The Administration would like to take this opportunity to share additional views regarding the Committee's version of the bill and urges the Congress to resolve these issues during the FY 2015 appropriations process. Department of the Treasury Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The Administration strongly opposes the $1.5 billion reduction in funding for the IRS compared to the FY 2015 Budget request. Reverting the agency's funding level to FY 2008 levels would hinder IRS efforts to provide robust service to taxpayers, improve enforcement operations, and implement new statutory responsibilities. Further, these reductions would impact efforts aimed at deficit reduction, as funding for IRS enforcement activities returns many times its cost in the form of increased revenue collections. Additionally, the Administration strongly opposes sections of the bill that limit IRS funding and transfers to carry out implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), through which millions of individuals have signed up for coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplaces. The Administration also objects to provisions that unnecessarily encumber IRS operations with reporting requirements and unduly restrict the IRS's ability to finalize regulations. Community Development Financial Institutions Fund Program (CDFI). The Administration appreciates the support for CDFI, which is funded at $230 million, $5.1 million above the FY 2015 Budget request. However, the Administration is disappointed that within the total, the bill does not provide the $35 million requested for the Healthy Food Financing Initiative, which is designed to increase the availability of affordable, healthy food outlets in underserved urban and rural communities. The Administration is also disappointed that the bill does not provide for the requested continuation of the CDFI Bond Guarantee program beyond FY 2014; the program requires no additional funding and serves as a source of much needed long-term capital in underserved and economically disadvantaged communities. Departmental Offices and Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence. The Administration objects to the $28 million reduction in funding from the FY 2015 Budget request for Departmental Offices Salaries and Expenses. This level would unreasonably impinge on the ability of the Department to carry out its core mission of providing leadership in economic and fiscal policy. It would also fail to sufficiently fund the Department's administration and implementation of the new Gulf Coast Restoration Trust Fund, which could significantly delay grant awards to the five affected States. The Administration also objects to the creation of a new independent account for the Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, which contributes to the reduction in resources available for other management functions. Office of Financial Research (OFR). The Administration opposes language in the bill that would subject OFR to the annual appropriations process beginning in FY 2016 and could limit the agency's ability to develop critical market analysis if funding shortfalls prevent information technology investments or hiring of highly-skilled staff. Multilateral Development Bank (MDB) Restrictions. The Administration opposes language in the bill that prohibits the use of funds for the enforcement of any rule, regulation, policy, or guideline related to the Department of the Treasury's Guidance for U.S. Positions on MDBs Engaging with Developing Countries on Coal-Fired Power Generation. This language is counter to Administration efforts to limit support for coal-fired power plants and to reduce carbon emissions. Executive Office of the President (EOP) EOP Funding. The Administration strongly opposes the reduction in funding for Salaries and Expenses among the components within the EOP, which is $3 million below the FY 2014 enacted level, and $7 million below the FY 2015 Budget request. The Administration strongly objects to the proposed reduction for the President's Council of Economic Advisers, which would limit CEA's ability to monitor the state of the economy and develop policies that will promote economic growth. The Administration also strongly objects to the absence of any funding for Unanticipated Needs. Without any funding, the President's flexibility to meet unanticipated needs for the furtherance of the national interest, security, or defense is severely hampered. Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The Administration strongly opposes the funding level in the bill for OMB, which is $4 million below the FY 2015 Budget request, as well as the unnecessary withholding of $52 million of OMB resources until the FY 2016 Budget request is submitted to the Congress. The Administration objects to bill language that would require burdensome OMB cost estimates to accompany the issuance of all Executive orders, as well as language that would require OMB to submit to the Congress a burdensome and duplicative report of limited value estimating the costs of implementing the Dodd-Frank Act. Prohibition on Paying Salaries and Expenses. The Administration objects to section 621 of the bill would impinge on the President's ability to organize EOP operations by continuing a prohibition on paying salaries and expenses for certain White House staff positions. General Services Administration (GSA) Federal Buildings Fund. The Administration strongly opposes the lack of funding for the Federal Buildings Fund, which is $787 million less than the FY 2015 Budget request. At the level provided, the bill fails to sufficiently fund the GSA capital program, eliminating priority new construction and repair and alteration projects. The bill's funding level also fails to sufficiently fund the operating activities and could force the Government to default on its rent obligation to private sector lessors. Electronic Government (E-Gov) Fund Consolidation. The Administration appreciates the combined level of funding and authorities for GSA's E-Gov Fund and Federal Citizen Services Fund (FCSF). Increased availability of access to the Internet has created opportunities to merge the functions of the FCSF and the E-Gov Fund while improving the ability of the Federal Government to interact with citizens and businesses through improved Digital Services offerings. Allowances and Office Staff for Former Presidents. The Former Presidents Act of 1958 requires GSA to provide former Presidents with allowances and office staff, in addition to their pension and benefits, to carry out the duties associated with their former office. The bill would fund this activity at $1.7 million, half the requested level of $3.4 million, thereby limiting GSA's ability to fully support the former Presidents in the manner required by law. Small Business Administration (SBA) Entrepreneurial Development Programs. While appreciative of the total funding provided for the Entrepreneurial Development Programs in the bill, the Administration opposes the elimination of funding for Regional Innovation Cluster grants and Growth Accelerators, as well as the reduction of funding for Entrepreneurial Education below the level requested in the FY 2015 Budget. These reductions would impede SBA's ongoing efforts to help regions leverage their unique assets to create jobs by turning entrepreneurial ideas into sustainable high-growth small businesses. Business Loans Program. The Administration appreciates the funding in the bill for SBA's business loan programs at a level that would support over $29 billion in lending to small businesses in FY 2015. The Administration strongly encourages the Congress to also include the requested reauthorization of the 504 Loan Refinancing Program, which would allow thousands of businesses to refinance their debt into lower interest rate loans to open up cash flow for investments and other expenses at no cost to taxpayers. Disaster Loans Program. The Administration urges the Congress to utilize the disaster relief cap adjustment authorized in the Budget Control Act of 2011 to fund the $155 million request for SBA's administrative costs associated with major disasters. By not utilizing the cap adjustment, the bill makes unnecessary reductions to other programs to accommodate this line of support to small businesses after disaster. Other Independent Agencies Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The Administration strongly objects to the funding level of $1.4 billion for the SEC, which is $300 million below the FY 2015 Budget request. The bill also prohibits authorized spending from the agency's mandatory Reserve Fund, which would reduce the resources available to the SEC in FY 2015 by an additional $50 million. At this funding level, the SEC would be unable to add critical positions in market oversight, compliance, and enforcement to carry out its financial oversight responsibilities under the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and other authorities. The SEC is fee-funded and its funding level has no impact on the deficit. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). The Administration strongly opposes language in the bill that would subject CFPB funding to the appropriations process beginning in FY 2016. Doing so would weaken the agency's essential independence and undermine its ability to consistently serve the most vulnerable consumer populations. The bill would also impose burdensome and unnecessary reporting requirements regarding the CFPB's funding and operations. The CFPB already routinely testifies before the Congress on its budget and performance, regularly posts financial reports on its website, and is arguably subject to greater oversight than any other Federal financial regulator. The additional reporting requirements this bill would impose on the agency are costly, duplicative, and provide no material benefit. Election Assistance Commission (EAC). The Administration opposes the elimination of funding for EAC, which assists State and local entities with election administration and certifies voting equipment. The Administration urges the Congress to fund EAC at the $10 million level included in the FY 2015 Budget request; $8.1 million for EAC and $1.9 million for related activities performed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology. Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The Administration strongly objects to the reduction in funding in the bill for the FCC, which is funded $53 million below the FY 2015 Budget request and $17 million below the FY 2014 enacted level. This funding level would undermine efforts at the FCC to modernize information technology systems, better map and analyze spectrum usage to free up more bandwidth for commercial use, and continue needed reforms to the Universal Service Fund. United States Postal Service. The Administration is disappointed that language under the Payment to the Postal Service Fund account would prohibit the Postal Service from modifying its delivery schedule to better adapt to its current business environment. Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board (PCLOB). The Administration appreciates the increase to the PCLOB funding level over the FY 2014 enacted level, but is disappointed that the bill only provides $4.5 million, which is more than 40 percent below the FY 2015 Budget request. At the funding level provided, PCLOB would be unable to hire the staff needed to perform effective and independent oversight of counterterrorism-related programs. Administrative Conference of the United States (ACUS). The Administration appreciates the Committee's support for ACUS, which would help save taxpayer dollars through ACUS recommendations. District of Columbia (D.C.) Local Budget and Local Legislative Autonomy. The Administration urges the Congress to adopt the provisions requested in the FY 2015 Budget that allow D.C. to spend its own local taxes and other non-Federal funds without congressional approval, and that enable local legislation to take effect immediately upon adoption by the District government. Restrictions on the District's Use of Local Funds. The Administration strongly opposes language in the bill that restricts D.C. from using its local funds for abortion services, undermining the principle of States' rights and of District home rule. Longstanding Federal policy already prohibits Federal funds from being used for abortions, except in cases of rape or incest, or when the life of the woman would be endangered. Similarly, the Administration strongly opposes the language in the bill preventing the District from using its own local funds to carry out locally-passed marijuana policies, which again undermines the principles of States' rights and of District home rule. Furthermore, the language poses legal challenges to the Metropolitan Police Department's enforcement of all marijuana laws currently in force in the District. Needle Exchange. The Administration strongly opposes the restriction in the bill on the use of Federal funds for the District's needle exchange programs. This is contrary to current law and the Administration's policy to allow the use of funds in locations where local authorities deem needle exchange programs to be effective and appropriate. Education. The Administration is disappointed that the bill compromises a statutorily-mandated evaluation of the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program (OSP) by requiring that funds be made available to students in the control group of a multi-year, multi-million dollar Department of Education study already underway. This study is critical to evaluating the impact of OSP vouchers on the academic achievement of participating students. The Administration also objects to the bill's reduction of funding for D.C. Tuition Assistance Grants, which would severely limit assistance available to D.C. students attending public colleges across the United States. Other Provisions Cuba Restriction. The Administration strongly opposes language in the bill that would prohibit funding for non-academic educational exchanges to Cuba. This language would result in a reduction of people-to-people interactions and as such is counter to the Administration's policy to increase overall travel and the flow of information and resources to private Cubans. This provision is an unwarranted restriction on purposeful travel to Cuba. Abortion in Multi-State Qualified Health Plans. The Administration objects to language in the bill that would prohibit funding for abortion or administrative expenses in connection with a multi-State qualified health plan. The ACA already includes segregated funding requirements that are structured to ensure no Federal funds are used for abortion except in cases of rape, incest, or life of the woman. The language is unnecessary and goes beyond longstanding policy. Impediments to Derivatives Market Reforms. The Administration opposes language in the bill that would amend the Wall Street Reform Act to prohibit regulators from implementing key reforms to the derivatives markets designed to prevent excessive risk taking by financial institutions that are backed by Federal programs. It undermines the efforts under the law to strengthen the Nation's financial system by reducing risks for market participants. Public-Private Competition. The Administration opposes elimination of the moratorium on public-private competition between Government employees and private sector contractors to perform commercial activities that support agency missions. OMB continues to work with agencies on efforts to ensure the most effective mix of Federal employees and contractors and believes more time is needed for its guidance addressing management of the multisector workforce to take effect before the moratorium is lifted. The Administration urges the Congress to continue the moratorium in FY 2015, as proposed in the FY 2015 Budget. Constitutional Concerns There are multiple provisions of the bill that raise constitutional concerns. Section 203 of the bill would prohibit the use of funds for officers or employees of the EOP "to prepare, sign, or approve statements abrogating legislation passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate and signed by the President," and section 204 would prohibit the use of funds for such officers and employees "to prepare or implement an Executive Order that contravenes existing law." Contrary to the implication of section 203, presidential signing statements do not abrogate legislation. They indicate how the Executive Branch would apply acts of the Congress to ensure faithful execution of the laws. Similarly contrary to the implication of section 204, executive orders are designed to implement the law, not to contravene it. To the extent sections 203 and 204 purport to prevent the President from making use of his immediate aides in the EOP to prepare any statement articulating the conclusion that a particular provision of law is unconstitutional and therefore would not be executed, in whole or in part, or from making use of these aides to prepare or implement an executive order instructing others in the Executive Branch as to how to carry out this determination, these provisions would impermissibly encroach upon the President's constitutional authority to execute and interpret Federal laws, including the Constitution. Section 621 of the bill would prohibit the use of funds for several positions that involve providing advice directly to the President and any "substantially similar positions." The President has well-established authority to supervise and oversee the Executive Branch, and to obtain advice in furtherance of this supervisory authority. The President also has the prerogative to obtain advice that would assist him in carrying out his constitutional responsibilities, and to do so not only from Executive Branch officials and employees outside the White House, but also from advisors within it. Legislative efforts that significantly impede the President's ability to exercise his supervisory and coordinating authorities or to obtain the views of the appropriate senior advisors violate the separation of powers. Finally, section 713 of the bill is phrased in a manner that could be construed to require the Executive Branch to disclose, without discretion, certain classified and other privileged information, in which case it would intrude on the President's discharge of his constitutional authorities. The Administration looks forward to working with the Congress as the FY 2015 appropriations process moves forward. OFFICIAL RELEASE: Statement of Administration Policy on H.R. 5016 — Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, 2015
http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/legislative/sap/113/saphr5016h_20140714.pdf EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET WASHINGTON, D.C. 20503 July 14, 2014 (House) STATEMENT OF ADMINISTRATION POLICY H.R. 5016 — Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, 2015 (Rep. Rogers, R-Kentucky) The Administration strongly opposes House passage of H.R. 5016, making appropriations for financial services and general government for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2015. The bill impedes implementation of the Affordable Care Act, undermines critical components of Wall Street reform, and fails to provide the resources necessary to provide robust taxpayer services and improve tax enforcement. Further, the legislation includes ideological and political provisions that are beyond the scope of funding legislation. If the President were presented with H.R. 5016, his senior advisors would recommend that he veto the bill. The Administration looks forward to working with the Congress on an orderly appropriations process that supports economic growth, opportunity, and our national security while avoiding unnecessary fiscal crises that hold the Nation's economy back. This process should include reconciling funding levels for individual appropriations bills to promote economic growth and national security, and passing bills without ideological provisions that could undermine an orderly appropriations process. The President's fiscal year (FY) 2015 Budget provides a roadmap for making investments to accelerate economic growth, expand opportunity for all hard-working Americans, and ensure our national security, while continuing to improve the Nation's long-term fiscal outlook. At the same time, the Budget takes key steps to both continue and enhance the Administration's efforts to deliver a Government that is more effective, efficient, and supportive of economic growth. The President's Budget adheres to the FY 2015 spending levels agreed to in the Bipartisan Budget Act (BBA) and shows the choices the President would make at those levels. However, the levels agreed to in the BBA are already below FY 2007 funding levels adjusted for inflation and are not sufficient—either in FY 2015 or beyond—to ensure the Nation is achieving its full potential. For that reason, the Budget also includes a fully paid for Opportunity, Growth, and Security Initiative—evenly split between defense and non-defense priorities—that presents additional investments to grow the economy, expand opportunity, and enhance security. The Opportunity, Growth, and Security Initiative would support a number of investments, including additional resources to improve customer service at the Internal Revenue Service and to provide more useful public reporting of Federal spending data. The Administration would like to take this opportunity to share additional views regarding the Committee's version of the bill and urges the Congress to resolve these issues during the FY 2015 appropriations process. Department of the Treasury Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The Administration strongly opposes the $1.5 billion reduction in funding for the IRS compared to the FY 2015 Budget request. Reverting the agency's funding level to FY 2008 levels would hinder IRS efforts to provide robust service to taxpayers, improve enforcement operations, and implement new statutory responsibilities. Further, these reductions would impact efforts aimed at deficit reduction, as funding for IRS enforcement activities returns many times its cost in the form of increased revenue collections. Additionally, the Administration strongly opposes sections of the bill that limit IRS funding and transfers to carry out implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), through which millions of individuals have signed up for coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplaces. The Administration also objects to provisions that unnecessarily encumber IRS operations with reporting requirements and unduly restrict the IRS's ability to finalize regulations. Community Development Financial Institutions Fund Program (CDFI). The Administration appreciates the support for CDFI, which is funded at $230 million, $5.1 million above the FY 2015 Budget request. However, the Administration is disappointed that within the total, the bill does not provide the $35 million requested for the Healthy Food Financing Initiative, which is designed to increase the availability of affordable, healthy food outlets in underserved urban and rural communities. The Administration is also disappointed that the bill does not provide for the requested continuation of the CDFI Bond Guarantee program beyond FY 2014; the program requires no additional funding and serves as a source of much needed long-term capital in underserved and economically disadvantaged communities. Departmental Offices and Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence. The Administration objects to the $28 million reduction in funding from the FY 2015 Budget request for Departmental Offices Salaries and Expenses. This level would unreasonably impinge on the ability of the Department to carry out its core mission of providing leadership in economic and fiscal policy. It would also fail to sufficiently fund the Department's administration and implementation of the new Gulf Coast Restoration Trust Fund, which could significantly delay grant awards to the five affected States. The Administration also objects to the creation of a new independent account for the Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, which contributes to the reduction in resources available for other management functions. Office of Financial Research (OFR). The Administration opposes language in the bill that would subject OFR to the annual appropriations process beginning in FY 2016 and could limit the agency's ability to develop critical market analysis if funding shortfalls prevent information technology investments or hiring of highly-skilled staff. Multilateral Development Bank (MDB) Restrictions. The Administration opposes language in the bill that prohibits the use of funds for the enforcement of any rule, regulation, policy, or guideline related to the Department of the Treasury's Guidance for U.S. Positions on MDBs Engaging with Developing Countries on Coal-Fired Power Generation. This language is counter to Administration efforts to limit support for coal-fired power plants and to reduce carbon emissions. Executive Office of the President (EOP) EOP Funding. The Administration strongly opposes the reduction in funding for Salaries and Expenses among the components within the EOP, which is $3 million below the FY 2014 enacted level, and $7 million below the FY 2015 Budget request. The Administration strongly objects to the proposed reduction for the President's Council of Economic Advisers, which would limit CEA's ability to monitor the state of the economy and develop policies that will promote economic growth. The Administration also strongly objects to the absence of any funding for Unanticipated Needs. Without any funding, the President's flexibility to meet unanticipated needs for the furtherance of the national interest, security, or defense is severely hampered. Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The Administration strongly opposes the funding level in the bill for OMB, which is $4 million below the FY 2015 Budget request, as well as the unnecessary withholding of $52 million of OMB resources until the FY 2016 Budget request is submitted to the Congress. The Administration objects to bill language that would require burdensome OMB cost estimates to accompany the issuance of all Executive orders, as well as language that would require OMB to submit to the Congress a burdensome and duplicative report of limited value estimating the costs of implementing the Dodd-Frank Act. Prohibition on Paying Salaries and Expenses. The Administration objects to section 621 of the bill would impinge on the President's ability to organize EOP operations by continuing a prohibition on paying salaries and expenses for certain White House staff positions. General Services Administration (GSA) Federal Buildings Fund. The Administration strongly opposes the lack of funding for the Federal Buildings Fund, which is $787 million less than the FY 2015 Budget request. At the level provided, the bill fails to sufficiently fund the GSA capital program, eliminating priority new construction and repair and alteration projects. The bill's funding level also fails to sufficiently fund the operating activities and could force the Government to default on its rent obligation to private sector lessors. Electronic Government (E-Gov) Fund Consolidation. The Administration appreciates the combined level of funding and authorities for GSA's E-Gov Fund and Federal Citizen Services Fund (FCSF). Increased availability of access to the Internet has created opportunities to merge the functions of the FCSF and the E-Gov Fund while improving the ability of the Federal Government to interact with citizens and businesses through improved Digital Services offerings. Allowances and Office Staff for Former Presidents. The Former Presidents Act of 1958 requires GSA to provide former Presidents with allowances and office staff, in addition to their pension and benefits, to carry out the duties associated with their former office. The bill would fund this activity at $1.7 million, half the requested level of $3.4 million, thereby limiting GSA's ability to fully support the former Presidents in the manner required by law. Small Business Administration (SBA) Entrepreneurial Development Programs. While appreciative of the total funding provided for the Entrepreneurial Development Programs in the bill, the Administration opposes the elimination of funding for Regional Innovation Cluster grants and Growth Accelerators, as well as the reduction of funding for Entrepreneurial Education below the level requested in the FY 2015 Budget. These reductions would impede SBA's ongoing efforts to help regions leverage their unique assets to create jobs by turning entrepreneurial ideas into sustainable high-growth small businesses. Business Loans Program. The Administration appreciates the funding in the bill for SBA's business loan programs at a level that would support over $29 billion in lending to small businesses in FY 2015. The Administration strongly encourages the Congress to also include the requested reauthorization of the 504 Loan Refinancing Program, which would allow thousands of businesses to refinance their debt into lower interest rate loans to open up cash flow for investments and other expenses at no cost to taxpayers. Disaster Loans Program. The Administration urges the Congress to utilize the disaster relief cap adjustment authorized in the Budget Control Act of 2011 to fund the $155 million request for SBA's administrative costs associated with major disasters. By not utilizing the cap adjustment, the bill makes unnecessary reductions to other programs to accommodate this line of support to small businesses after disaster. Other Independent Agencies Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The Administration strongly objects to the funding level of $1.4 billion for the SEC, which is $300 million below the FY 2015 Budget request. The bill also prohibits authorized spending from the agency's mandatory Reserve Fund, which would reduce the resources available to the SEC in FY 2015 by an additional $50 million. At this funding level, the SEC would be unable to add critical positions in market oversight, compliance, and enforcement to carry out its financial oversight responsibilities under the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and other authorities. The SEC is fee-funded and its funding level has no impact on the deficit. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). The Administration strongly opposes language in the bill that would subject CFPB funding to the appropriations process beginning in FY 2016. Doing so would weaken the agency's essential independence and undermine its ability to consistently serve the most vulnerable consumer populations. The bill would also impose burdensome and unnecessary reporting requirements regarding the CFPB's funding and operations. The CFPB already routinely testifies before the Congress on its budget and performance, regularly posts financial reports on its website, and is arguably subject to greater oversight than any other Federal financial regulator. The additional reporting requirements this bill would impose on the agency are costly, duplicative, and provide no material benefit. Election Assistance Commission (EAC). The Administration opposes the elimination of funding for EAC, which assists State and local entities with election administration and certifies voting equipment. The Administration urges the Congress to fund EAC at the $10 million level included in the FY 2015 Budget request; $8.1 million for EAC and $1.9 million for related activities performed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology. Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The Administration strongly objects to the reduction in funding in the bill for the FCC, which is funded $53 million below the FY 2015 Budget request and $17 million below the FY 2014 enacted level. This funding level would undermine efforts at the FCC to modernize information technology systems, better map and analyze spectrum usage to free up more bandwidth for commercial use, and continue needed reforms to the Universal Service Fund. United States Postal Service. The Administration is disappointed that language under the Payment to the Postal Service Fund account would prohibit the Postal Service from modifying its delivery schedule to better adapt to its current business environment. Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board (PCLOB). The Administration appreciates the increase to the PCLOB funding level over the FY 2014 enacted level, but is disappointed that the bill only provides $4.5 million, which is more than 40 percent below the FY 2015 Budget request. At the funding level provided, PCLOB would be unable to hire the staff needed to perform effective and independent oversight of counterterrorism-related programs. Administrative Conference of the United States (ACUS). The Administration appreciates the Committee's support for ACUS, which would help save taxpayer dollars through ACUS recommendations. District of Columbia (D.C.) Local Budget and Local Legislative Autonomy. The Administration urges the Congress to adopt the provisions requested in the FY 2015 Budget that allow D.C. to spend its own local taxes and other non-Federal funds without congressional approval, and that enable local legislation to take effect immediately upon adoption by the District government. Restrictions on the District's Use of Local Funds. The Administration strongly opposes language in the bill that restricts D.C. from using its local funds for abortion services, undermining the principle of States' rights and of District home rule. Longstanding Federal policy already prohibits Federal funds from being used for abortions, except in cases of rape or incest, or when the life of the woman would be endangered. Similarly, the Administration strongly opposes the language in the bill preventing the District from using its own local funds to carry out locally-passed marijuana policies, which again undermines the principles of States' rights and of District home rule. Furthermore, the language poses legal challenges to the Metropolitan Police Department's enforcement of all marijuana laws currently in force in the District. Needle Exchange. The Administration strongly opposes the restriction in the bill on the use of Federal funds for the District's needle exchange programs. This is contrary to current law and the Administration's policy to allow the use of funds in locations where local authorities deem needle exchange programs to be effective and appropriate. Education. The Administration is disappointed that the bill compromises a statutorily-mandated evaluation of the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program (OSP) by requiring that funds be made available to students in the control group of a multi-year, multi-million dollar Department of Education study already underway. This study is critical to evaluating the impact of OSP vouchers on the academic achievement of participating students. The Administration also objects to the bill's reduction of funding for D.C. Tuition Assistance Grants, which would severely limit assistance available to D.C. students attending public colleges across the United States. Other Provisions Cuba Restriction. The Administration strongly opposes language in the bill that would prohibit funding for non-academic educational exchanges to Cuba. This language would result in a reduction of people-to-people interactions and as such is counter to the Administration's policy to increase overall travel and the flow of information and resources to private Cubans. This provision is an unwarranted restriction on purposeful travel to Cuba. Abortion in Multi-State Qualified Health Plans. The Administration objects to language in the bill that would prohibit funding for abortion or administrative expenses in connection with a multi-State qualified health plan. The ACA already includes segregated funding requirements that are structured to ensure no Federal funds are used for abortion except in cases of rape, incest, or life of the woman. The language is unnecessary and goes beyond longstanding policy. Impediments to Derivatives Market Reforms. The Administration opposes language in the bill that would amend the Wall Street Reform Act to prohibit regulators from implementing key reforms to the derivatives markets designed to prevent excessive risk taking by financial institutions that are backed by Federal programs. It undermines the efforts under the law to strengthen the Nation's financial system by reducing risks for market participants. Public-Private Competition. The Administration opposes elimination of the moratorium on public-private competition between Government employees and private sector contractors to perform commercial activities that support agency missions. OMB continues to work with agencies on efforts to ensure the most effective mix of Federal employees and contractors and believes more time is needed for its guidance addressing management of the multisector workforce to take effect before the moratorium is lifted. The Administration urges the Congress to continue the moratorium in FY 2015, as proposed in the FY 2015 Budget. Constitutional Concerns There are multiple provisions of the bill that raise constitutional concerns. Section 203 of the bill would prohibit the use of funds for officers or employees of the EOP "to prepare, sign, or approve statements abrogating legislation passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate and signed by the President," and section 204 would prohibit the use of funds for such officers and employees "to prepare or implement an Executive Order that contravenes existing law." Contrary to the implication of section 203, presidential signing statements do not abrogate legislation. They indicate how the Executive Branch would apply acts of the Congress to ensure faithful execution of the laws. Similarly contrary to the implication of section 204, executive orders are designed to implement the law, not to contravene it. To the extent sections 203 and 204 purport to prevent the President from making use of his immediate aides in the EOP to prepare any statement articulating the conclusion that a particular provision of law is unconstitutional and therefore would not be executed, in whole or in part, or from making use of these aides to prepare or implement an executive order instructing others in the Executive Branch as to how to carry out this determination, these provisions would impermissibly encroach upon the President's constitutional authority to execute and interpret Federal laws, including the Constitution. Section 621 of the bill would prohibit the use of funds for several positions that involve providing advice directly to the President and any "substantially similar positions." The President has well-established authority to supervise and oversee the Executive Branch, and to obtain advice in furtherance of this supervisory authority. The President also has the prerogative to obtain advice that would assist him in carrying out his constitutional responsibilities, and to do so not only from Executive Branch officials and employees outside the White House, but also from advisors within it. Legislative efforts that significantly impede the President's ability to exercise his supervisory and coordinating authorities or to obtain the views of the appropriate senior advisors violate the separation of powers. Finally, section 713 of the bill is phrased in a manner that could be construed to require the Executive Branch to disclose, without discretion, certain classified and other privileged information, in which case it would intrude on the President's discharge of his constitutional authorities. The Administration looks forward to working with the Congress as the FY 2015 appropriations process moves forward. White House Report: Economic Analysis of Transportation Infrastructure Investment
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 14, 2014 White House Report: Economic Analysis of Transportation Infrastructure Investment The White House today released a new report from the Council of Economic Advisers and National Economic Council on the long-term economic benefits of transportation investment and why conditions in the infrastructure sector are ripe for innovation, with new technologies and approaches promising significant gains in productivity, efficiency, and resilience. The President has been clear that we need to improve our infrastructure and rebuild our roads and bridges in a smarter, more responsible way, while supporting millions of jobs. The President will continue to urge Congress to act to avoid a lapse in funding of the Highway Trust Fund, which will go insolvent as early as August – putting numerous active projects at risk. This week Congress will consider a solution to avoid that scenario. In addition to today’s report, the White House released an interactive transportation map detailing the condition of and consequences for each state’s roads and bridges as well as the jobs that would be put at risk, if Congress fails to act. The report is attached, and the map can be found HERE. Dr. Jill Biden Talks Education In Africa (ALL PHOTOS CREDIT: DAVID LIENEMAN, OFFICIAL VICE PRESIDENTIAL SPOUSE PHOTOGRAPHER)
Statement by the President on the Passage of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014
Reminder to RSVP: Kids’ “State Dinner
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the First Lady FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 10, 2014 FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA AND EPICURIOUS ANNOUNCE WINNING RECIPES IN NATIONWIDE “HEALTHY LUNCHTIME CHALLENGE” 54 Kids to Attend "State Dinner" at White House on July 18 To Celebrate Nutritious, Delicious Lunchtime Dishes Washington, DC – Today, First Lady Michelle Obama, Epicurious, the Department of Education, and the Department of Agriculture announced the winners of the Healthy Lunchtime Challenge, a nationwide recipe challenge to promote healthy lunches as part of the First Lady’s Let’s Move! initiative. Winners representing all U.S. states, three territories, and the District of Columbia will attend a Kids' “State Dinner” at the White House hosted by Mrs. Obama on July 18. The 54 children will join the First Lady for a healthy lunch, featuring a selection of the winning recipes, followed by a visit to the White House Kitchen Garden. For the third consecutive year, the Healthy Lunchtime Challenge & Kids' "State Dinner" invited a parent or guardian to work with their child ages 8-12 to create a lunchtime recipe that is healthy, affordable, original, and delicious. In support of Let’s Move!, launched by the First Lady to help address the problem of childhood obesity, each recipe adhered to the guidance that supports USDA’s MyPlate (at ChooseMyPlate.gov) to ensure that the criteria of a healthy meal were met. Entries had to represent each of the food groups, either in one dish or as parts of a lunch meal, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and low-fat dairy foods, with fruits and veggies making up roughly half the plate or recipe. The Healthy Lunchtime Challenge, originated by Epicurious to promote healthy eating among America’s youth, received more than 1,500 entries this year featuring wholesome, tasty ingredients, including salmon, black beans, and ground turkey. The winners and featured recipes include:
The full list of winners and recipes can be found online at recipechallenge.epicurious.com. Additionally, a free downloadable and printable e-cookbook of the winning recipes, including nutritional analyses and photos, will be available in July at the contest site, epicurious.com, letsmove.gov, USDA.gov, and Ed.gov. Travel to Washington D.C. for the winners and their families of the Healthy Lunchtime Challenge & Kids' "State Dinner" is provided by Delta Air Lines. “I am looking forward to hosting the winners of the Healthy Lunchtime Challenge here at the White House for the third annual Kids’ ‘State Dinner,’” said First Lady Michelle Obama. “This event gives us the opportunity to showcase healthy creations from talented kid chefs from across our country, and I can’t wait to see—and taste—this year’s selections.” “Epicurious is proud to work with Mrs. Obama on this program, raising awareness about the importance of healthy eating, and showing kids that cooking is creative and meaningful for their futures,” says Carolyn Kremins, SVP and General Manager of Epicurious. “It’s clear that kids palates and cooking skills are getting increasingly sophisticated, even at the young age of 8.” “The Healthy Lunchtime Challenge is a wonderful opportunity to help kids build healthy habits. First Lady Michelle Obama, through the Let’s Move! Initiative, offers another shining example of how we can mobilize public and private sector resources to improve the lives of our children,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “The decisions parents make to keep their kids healthy often start with the meals made at home. Young people who participate in this challenge and are inspired by MyPlate encourage other children to eat healthier and build food preparation skills that will influence their food decisions into adulthood.” The children’s arrivals on July 18 through the East Wing/ Booksellers will be pooled press and the First Lady’s remarks at the lunch will be open press. White House Blog: From Denver to Austin: "The Bear is Loose" Again Dan Pfeiffer July 8, 2014 06:00 AM EDT Going all the way back to the early days of the campaign, whenever President Obama shook off his schedule and busted out of the bubble, we would say “The Bear is loose.” Lately, the bear has been loose a lot and this week will be no different. The President is hitting the road on a three-day swing to Colorado and Texas where he will meet with Americans who’ve written him letters and whose stories – their challenges and successes – resonate with folks from across the country. While Congressional Republicans continue to block votes on important issues like equal pay and the minimum wage and undertake taxpayer funded political stunts like Speaker Boehner’s plan to sue the President for doing his job, the President will continue to do everything in his power – with and without congress – to create economic opportunity for all Americans The day after the State of the Union, a woman named Alex received a raise, allowing her to pay rent and afford groceries without worry. Alex’s boss was inspired by the President’s call and increased her wage right away. Earlier his year, Alex wrote the President to say “thank you.” Tonight, the President will deliver his reply in person when he meets Alex for dinner in Denver. And, tomorrow she’ll introduce the President before his remarks in Denver. On Thursday in Austin, TX, the President will highlight the actions his Administration has taken – more than 40 since January – to benefit hardworking Americans. From helping to create new manufacturing jobs, to expanding apprenticeships and job training, and from making student loan payments more affordable, to cutting carbon pollution, the President’s used his pen and phone on behalf of folks all across the country. We’ve come a long way since President Obama took office. Thanks to the grit and resilience of the American people, we’ve made progress and there’s reason to be optimistic. Last week, our latest jobs report showed that we've undergone the fastest job growth in the United States in the first half of the year since 1999, with five consecutive months of job growth over 200,000. Yet, we know there’s still much more to do. The President will continue to do his part – focusing on growing our economy from the middle-out, not the top-down. And he’ll continue to urge Republicans in Congress to join him in working for the folks he hears from every day – Americans like Alex, whom the leaders in Washington were sent to serve. Dan Pfeiffer is a Senior Advisor to the President. UPCOMING GUIDANCE FOR FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the First Lady For Immediate Release July 7, 2014 UPCOMING GUIDANCE FOR FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA As part of her Reach Higher initiative, First Lady Michelle Obama will participate in events highlighting the importance of pursuing and completing some form of higher education. Reach Higher encourages students to do their part to answer the President’s call to ensure that by the year 2020, America once again has the highest proportion of college graduates in the world. Tuesday, July 8, 2014 Washington, DC * 11:00 AM – First Lady Michelle Obama will participate in a roundtable discussion with students who have overcome substantial personal challenges to graduate from high school. All of the students joining Mrs. Obama at the White House will be attending four-year colleges this fall. These students will share their educational experiences and how they were able to beat the odds. This event is closed press. Thursday, July 10, 2014 New York, NY * 10:45 AM – First Lady Michelle Obama will visit Global Kids, Inc. to learn about its global education and digital media programs. During her recent visit to the Department of Education’s Summer Learning Day event, the First Lady met with students from the Global Kids, Inc. Program. Global Kids, Inc. is a nonprofit educational organization for global learning and youth development. Through Global Kids' in-school, out of school, and summer learning programs, young people examine global issues, make local connections, and create change through peer education, social action, digital media, and service-learning. This event will be covered by a pre-determined press pool. Please direct media inquiries to Caroline Harting at caroline@globalkids.org or 212-226-0130 x127. New York, NY * 1:00 PM – First Lady Michelle Obama will deliver remarks at the 85th Annual League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) National Convention and Exposition. In her remarks, Mrs. Obama will highlight the vital role education plays in cultivating successful individuals and communities. LULAC is the nation’s largest and oldest Hispanic civil rights organization, focusing primarily on issues related to education, civil rights, and employment for Hispanics. LULAC provides more than million dollars in scholarships to Hispanic students each year. In addition, LULAC’s educational arm, National Educational Service Centers, offers counseling services to more than 18,000 Hispanic students each year. DAILY GUIDANCE AND PRESS SCHEDULE FOR MONDAY, JULY 7, 2014
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 6, 2014 DAILY GUIDANCE AND PRESS SCHEDULE FOR MONDAY, JULY 7, 2014 In the morning, the President and the Vice President will receive the Presidential Daily Briefing in the Oval Office. This meeting is closed press. In the afternoon, the President will host a group of teachers at the White House for lunch to discuss the Administration’s efforts to ensure that every student is taught by an effective educator. The President will be joined by the Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. There will be a pool spray at the top of the lunch. Remarks by the President before Lunch with Teachers
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release July 7, 2014 REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT BEFORE LUNCH WITH TEACHERS Blue Room 12:10 P.M. EDT THE PRESIDENT: Well, good afternoon, everybody. I am here with some outstanding teachers as well as Secretary Arne Duncan. And the reason we’re here is with the school year now over, it is a great time for us to focus on what we need to do to make sure that next year and the year after that and the year after continues to improve for students all across this country. The one ingredient that we know makes an enormous difference is a great teacher, and we have four of the best teachers in the country here. But what we also know is that there are outstanding teachers all across the country, and Arne, myself, I suspect many of you had wonderful teachers that made all the difference in your lives and allowed you to be excited about learning and set you on a path for an extraordinary career. Unfortunately, there are a lot of kids around the country who are not getting the kind of teaching that they need -- not because there aren’t a whole lot of great potential teachers out there, but because we’re not doing enough to put a lot of our teachers in a position to succeed. They may not be getting the training they need, they may not be getting the professional development and support that they need in the classroom. And part of our goal since we came into office, since Arne became Secretary of Education is how do we continue to improve how teachers can get better each and every year. Of particular concern is the fact that typically the least experienced teachers, the ones with the least support, often end up in the poorest schools. So we have a problem in which the kids who need the most skilled teachers are the least likely to get them. And the most talented and skilled teachers oftentimes are teaching the kids who are already the best prepared and have the most resources outside of the school in order to succeed. So what we’re trying to do today -- and Arne is going to have more to say about this this afternoon because we’re hosting a bunch of other teachers who are here in town -- is to highlight what we’re calling “Excellent Educators for All.” It’s going to be a program in which we ask states to take a look at where they’re distributing great teachers, what are they doing in order to train and promote and place teachers in some of the toughest environments for children. And what we’re also going to be doing is providing technical assistance, highlighting best practices, all with the intention of making sure that wherever a child is, anywhere in the country, they’ve got that opportunity to have somebody in front of the classroom or beside them guiding them, mentoring them, helping them learn. And when I think about my own experience, the only reason I’m here in the White House is because I had some extraordinary teachers as well as a pretty extraordinary mom and grandparents. I think everybody sitting around this table probably feels the same way -- I suspect that’s part of what inspired some of these people to become teachers. We want to make sure every child has that access to excellent teachers and we’re very confident that if we can lift up what works, that there are going to be a lot of states that want to adapt to it. So, unfortunately right now, they don’t necessarily have the information and, as I said, if we do nothing, if we don’t highlight the problem, then inevitably the kids who probably need less help get the most, and the kids who need the most help are getting the least. That’s something that we’re going to need to reverse not just because it’s good for these kids -- we know that if they’ve got a great teacher, they’re more likely to graduate, they’re more likely to go to college, they’re more likely to succeed in their career -- it’s also necessary for our economy, because we’ve got too many kids who are trapped in situations in which they’re not able to realize their full potential. So I want to thank all these folks for being here, and I’m really looking forward to listening to them to find out what they think can be most helpful in promoting excellence in teaching. Thank you, everybody. Dr. Jill Biden Arrives in Sierra Leone
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Vice President ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release July 6, 2014 Dr. Jill Biden Arrives in Sierra Leone Dr. Jill Biden has arrived in Freetown, Sierra Leone, her final stop on a three-country visit to Africa. In Sierra Leone, Dr. Biden will highlight how her trip to Africa has focused on the importance of girls’ education and women’s participation in government, the economy, and civil society in accelerating economic development, improving health and educational outcomes, strengthening democratic governance, and fostering peace and security. On Sunday, Dr. Biden will attend a reception hosted by Second Lady Khadija Sam Sumana as part of Sierra Leone’s recognition of the significance of this visit. On Monday, Dr. Biden will meet with President Ernest Bai Koroma at the State House to discuss women’s empowerment; Sierra Leone’s participation in the Equal Futures Partnership and its efforts to promote women’s political and economic empowerment; the country’s work to crack down on corruption; and a range of other issues facing Sierra Leone today. Upon arrival at the State House, Dr. Biden will observe a female quarter guard ceremony and then walk with President Koroma to the Cotton Tree, a historic national landmark and enduring image of Freetown. Later, Dr. Biden will visit St. Joseph’s Secondary School where she will deliver remarks on the empowerment of women and girls through education and highlight important moments from her three-country tour of Africa. Afterwards, Dr. Biden will travel to the U.S. Embassy to meet with staff and families. While at the Embassy, she will meet with human trafficking survivors to discuss how local organizations and government officials are working to prevent trafficking and provide assistance to survivors. Dr. Biden will then depart Sierra Leone en route Washington, DC. Remarks by the President at Fourth of July Celebration
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release July 4, 2014 REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT AT FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION South Lawn 5:56 P.M. EDT THE PRESIDENT: Hello, everybody! (Applause.) Happy Fourth of July! Welcome to the White House! AUDIENCE MEMBER: Thank you! MRS. OBAMA: You’re welcome! THE PRESIDENT: No, thank you. (Laughter.) Now, this little party is something we’ve been doing every year, because there’s no group that we’d rather spend time with on this most American of holidays than with you -- the extraordinary men and women of America’s military. And because of you, we’re safe, we’re free. We depend on you for our way of life, and the sacrifices you make are extraordinary. Now, in the house we’ve got Army. (Applause.) We’ve got Navy. (Applause.) We’ve got Air Force. (Applause.) We’ve got Marines. (Applause.) We’ve got Coast Guard. (Applause.) And, most important, we’ve got the incredible spouses and children -- give it up for our outstanding military families. (Applause.) To help us celebrate, we’ve got our outstanding Marine Band. (Applause.) Later on, we’re going to bring out Pitbull and his band. (Applause.) So we want to see if you like to party. (Laughter.) And, of course, this is always a special day for us because this is Malia’s birthday. (Applause.) AUDIENCE MEMBER: She can get her license! MRS. OBAMA: Oh, she’s going to get her license. (Laughter.) THE PRESIDENT: She is. She’s getting her license, but she has to practice a little bit before that happens. (Laughter.) Now, this is a gorgeous day. We want you to enjoy yourselves, so I’m going to keep my remarks brief. But it is important to remember why we’re here. Two hundred and thirty-eight years ago, our founders came together and declared a new nation and a revolutionary idea --the belief that we are all created equal; that we’re free to govern ourselves; that each of us is entitled to life and liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. And in the generations that have followed -- through war and peace, through depression and prosperity -- these truths have guided us as we have built the greatest democratic, economic, and military force the world has ever known. So today, immigrants from around the world dream of coming to our shores. Young people aspire to study at our universities. Other nations look to us for support and leadership in times of disaster, and conflict, and uncertainty. And when the world looks to America, so often they look to all of you –- the men and women of our Armed Forces. Every day, at home and abroad, you’re working to uphold those ideals first declared in that Philadelphia hall more than two centuries ago. Every day, you give meaning to that basic notion that as Americans we take care of each other. And so today, we honor all of you. And we salute some of the folks who are here with us on this balcony. We salute our soldiers -- like Chief Warrant Officer Tom Oroho, who has served this nation in uniform for 27 years, including deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan. Two summers ago, Tom was at the beach, saw a young girl and her father who had been swept out to sea, and jumped into dangerous riptide and pulled them back to safety. That’s the kind of service we expect from our outstanding soldiers. Please give it up for Tom. (Applause.) Thank you. We salute our sailors -- like Seaman Reverlie Thomas, who came to America 21 years ago from Trinidad. She served a tour in the Persian Gulf for the Navy. Just a few hours ago here at the White House, I was proud to welcome Seaman Thomas and 24 other servicemembers and military spouses as our newest American citizens. Thank you Reverlie, and congratulations. (Applause.) We salute our airmen -- like Technical Sergeant Cheryl Uylaki, who manages the Fisher House at Dover Air Force Base, ensuring the families of our fallen are always provided comfort and care worthy of their profound sacrifice. We’re so grateful to you, Cheryl, for your great work. (Applause.) We salute our Marines -- like Sergeant Isaac Gallegos, who was severely wounded after an IED explosion in Iraq eight years ago. He suffered burns on almost every inch of his face. He was pronounced dead three separate times. Undergone 161 surgeries. But he is here standing with us today, pursuing a Master’s degree, working full-time for the Navy. That’s what we’re talking about when we talk about Marines. Give it up for Isaac. (Applause.) We salute our Coasties -- like Lieutenant Commander Sean Plankey, who helped lead a cyber team in Afghanistan that supported our troops during firefights and helped prevent the detonation of remote-controlled IEDs, saving countless lives. So thank you, Sean. (Applause.) And we salute our military families -- the spouses who put their careers on hold for their loved ones; the children who pick up extra chores while Mom or Dad is deployed; the siblings and parents and extended family members who serve the country every single day. You’re the reason Michelle and Jill Biden started the Joining Forces initiative -- to make sure America is supporting you, too. And today we honor your service here today. (Applause.) So as we pause on this Fourth of July to celebrate what makes us American, we salute all of you whose service and sacrifice renews that promise of America every single day. On behalf of the entire country, Michelle and I simply want to say thank you to all of you for your courage and your strength, and your unending service to this nation. Happy Fourth of July, everybody. Have a great party. Have a hotdog. Have a hamburger. We want to see you dancing. God bless you all, and God bless the United States of America. (Applause.) Thank you. WEEKEND GUIDANCE AND PRESS SCHEDULE FOR SATURDAY, JULY 5, 2014 AND SUNDAY, JULY 6, 2014
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 4, 2014 WEEKEND GUIDANCE AND PRESS SCHEDULE FOR SATURDAY, JULY 5, 2014 AND SUNDAY, JULY 6, 2014 On Saturday, the President has no public events scheduled. On Sunday, the President has no public events scheduled. Saturday’s In-Town Travel Pool Wires: AP, Reuters, Bloomberg Wire Photos: AP, Reuters, AFP TV Corr & Crew: CBS Print: Roll Call Radio: Sirius XM Sunday’s In-Town Travel Pool Wires: AP, Reuters, Bloomberg Wire Photos: AP, Reuters, AFP TV Corr & Crew: CNN Print: The Root Radio: Talk Radio Saturday, July 5, 2014 EDT 10:30AM In-Town Pool Call Time Sunday, July 6, 2014 EDT 10:30AM In-Town Pool Call Time Schedule for the Week of July 7, 2014 On Monday, the President will host a group of teachers at the White House for lunch to discuss the Administration’s efforts to ensure that every student is taught by an effective educator. The President will be joined by the Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. Remarks by the President at Naturalization Ceremony for Servicemembers and Military Spouses
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release July 4, 2014 REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT AT NATURALIZATION CEREMONY FOR SERVICEMEMBERS AND MILITARY SPOUSES East Room 11:24 A.M. EDT THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, everybody. Please be seated. Good morning and welcome to the White House. And Happy Fourth of July! (Applause.) Deputy Secretary Mayorkas, thank you for taking care of the important part of this morning, which is administering the oath -- that’s the thing that we want to make sure we got right. (Laughter.) To Acting Deputy Director Jones, to family, friends, distinguished guests -- thank you all for being here. And finally, to these 25 men and women, servicemembers and spouses, it is an honor to join everyone here, for the first time, in calling you “our fellow Americans.” Now, this is one of my favorite events to do -- and not just because we get to have a barbeque and watch fireworks later. (Laughter.) It’s because each of you has traveled a long journey to this moment -- journeys that began in places like Jamaica and Germany, China and Guatemala. And yet somehow -- either because your parents brought you here as children, or because you made the choice yourselves as adults -- you ended up here, in America. And then many of you did something extraordinary: You signed up to serve in the United States military. You answered the call –- to fight and potentially to give your life for a country that you didn’t fully belong to yet. You understood what makes us American is not just circumstances of birth, or the names in our family tree. It’s that timeless belief that from many we are one; that we are bound together by adherence to a set of beliefs and unalienable rights; that we have certain obligations to each other, to look after each other, and to serve one another. And over the years, that’s exactly what you’ve done. Rodrigo Laquian came to the United States from the Philippines. He joined the Navy because, he said, he “wanted to be a part of something big and important. To be a part of a great cause.” Today, Petty Officer Second Class Laquian is still part of that great cause -- and today he’s also an American citizen. Stephanie Van Ausdall moved here from Canada with her mom when she was 18 years old. And today she’s 26 and a Sergeant in the Army. Stephanie says she joined the military “to give my children someone to look up to and someone they can be proud of.” Stephanie, I know that you’ve made your children and all of us very proud. Oscar Gonzalez was born in Guatemala, and became a Marine last year. Becoming a citizen, he says, means becoming part of a “society that strives and stands for good all around the world -- just being a part of that makes me complete.” Well, Oscar, welcoming you as an American citizen makes our country a little more complete, so thank you. And then there are those of you who married an American servicemember, and as a military spouse, you’ve been serving our country as well. Diana Baker is originally from Kenya and met her husband Kowaine in Germany. Today she’s a nurse at Frederick Memorial Hospital in Maryland, and she and her husband have four beautiful children. In Diana’s words, “Becoming a citizen of the United States is like joining a club of the best of the best.” (Laughter.) And I agree. Congratulations, Diana, on joining the club. Together, all of you remind us that America is and always has been a nation of immigrants. Throughout our history, immigrants have come to our shores in wave after wave, from every corner of the globe. Every one of us –- unless we’re Native American –- has an ancestor who was born somewhere else. And even though we haven’t always looked the same or spoken the same language, as Americans, we’ve done big things together. We’ve won this country’s freedom together. We’ve built our greatest cities together. We’ve defended our way of life together. We’ve continued to perfect our union together. And that’s what makes America special. That’s what makes us strong. The basic idea of welcoming immigrants to our shores is central to our way of life, it is in our DNA. We believe our diversity, our differences, when joined together by a common set of ideals, makes us stronger, makes us more creative, makes us different. From all these different strands, we make something new here in America. And that’s why, if we want to keep attracting the best and brightest from beyond our borders, we’re going to have to fix our immigration system, which is broken, and pass commonsense immigration reform. We shouldn’t be making it harder for the best and the brightest to come here, and create jobs here, and grow our economy here. We should be making it easier. And that’s why I’m going to keep doing -- (Audience member applauds.) THE PRESIDENT: He agrees with me. (Laughter and applause.) So I’m going to keep doing everything I can do to keep making our immigration system smarter and more efficient so hardworking men and women like all of you have the opportunity to join the American family and to serve our great nation. So we can be stronger and more prosperous and more whole –- together. I’ll close with a quick story. George Mardikian was an immigrant from Armenia who became a famous chef. And George had a quote that I think will ring true for most immigrants. He said, “You who have been born in America, I wish I could make you understand what it is like not to be an American -– not to have been an American all your life -– and then, suddenly to be one, for that moment, and forever after.” Today, on this Fourth of July, all across the country –- from Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello to the Alamodome in Texas -- immigrants from around the world are taking the oath of citizenship. And many of them have worked and sacrificed for years to get to this moment. All of them have done it for something none of us should ever take for granted: the right to be called an American, from this moment, and forever after. And that fact should give us hope and should make us confident about the future of our country. Because as long as there are men and women like all of you who are willing to give so much for the right to call yourselves Americans, and as long as we do our part to keep the door open to those who are willing to earn their citizenship, then we’re going to keep on growing our economy, we’ll continue to journey forward, and we’ll remind the world of why the United States of America is and always will be the greatest nation on Earth. We’re very proud of you. Congratulations. God bless you. God bless the United States of America. And now I’d like to turn it over to Deputy Secretary Mayorkas. Congratulations. (Applause.) END Dr. Jill Biden Arrives in the Democratic Republic of Congo
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Vice President _______________________________________________________________________________________________________ FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 3, 2014 Dr. Jill Biden Arrives in the Democratic Republic of Congo Dr. Jill Biden has arrived in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), her second stop on a three-country visit to Africa. Dr. Biden’s trip to the DRC is an opportunity to continue to highlight the importance of girls’ education and women’s participation in government, the economy, and civil society in accelerating economic development, improving health and educational outcomes, strengthening democratic governance, and fostering peace and security. In Kinshasa on Friday, Dr. Biden will meet with Madame Kabila, the Founder and President of the Mr. Laurent Desire Kabila Foundation, to discuss the status and conditions for women, children and vulnerable populations in the DRC. Afterwards, Dr. Biden will meet with women entrepreneurs who are creating their own successful small businesses, including Therese Izay Kirongozi who builds and sells robots. Dr. Biden will highlight the U.S. government’s support for women entrepreneurs around the world, including in the DRC, and the important role women play in advancing and strengthening the global economy. Later, Dr. Biden will meet with women parliamentarians and aspiring political leaders to discuss their efforts to politically empower women in the DRC. The meeting will be an opportunity to highlight the challenges and opportunities for women in political life, and women’s role in making political parties more representative and responsive to their constituencies. In the evening, Dr. Biden will attend a Fourth of July reception at the Chief of Mission’s Residence. On Saturday, Dr. Biden will travel to Bukavu, DRC. Upon arrival, Dr. Biden will be greeted by students enrolled in USAID-supported Accelerated Learning Programs (ALP). These programs aim to increase primary school access for out-of-school Congolese children and adolescents that have been impacted by the insecurity in the eastern Congo. This meeting will be an opportunity to reinforce the U.S. government’s commitment to at-risk students and vulnerable adolescent girls in the eastern DRC. Then, Dr. Biden will visit Panzi Hospital to see firsthand the response services provided to survivors of sexual and gender-based violence. While at the hospital, Dr. Biden will meet with U.S. government partners implementing sexual and gender-based violence interventions. Afterwards, Dr. Biden will visit the UNICEF Boys Reintegration Center where she will meet with children and youth who have been removed from armed groups and who are now housed in this temporary residential center, where they stay prior to reintegration into their home communities or foster families. Dr. Biden will then return to Kinshasa where she will remain overnight. CANADA DAY
Statement by the Prime Minister of Canada on Canada Day Ottawa, Ontario - 1 July 2014 Check against delivery Prime Minister Stephen Harper delivered the following remarks on Canada Day: “Thank you Shelly, Governor General Johnston and Sharon Johnston, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, Happy Canada Day! “One hundred and fifty years ago, the Fathers of Confederation, our ancestors, met in Charlottetown, and Quebec. “In 1864, our Fathers of Confederation dreamed a magnificent dream, a dream of a united Canada that would take its place among the countries of the world; prosperous, strong and free. “147 years later, this is their dream, Canada, a confident partner, a courageous warrior, a compassionate neighbour. Canada, the best country in the world! “Now, Ladies and gentlemen, I believe that greatness springs up from the hearts of a people. In Canada’s heart, our national desire, is to do what is right and good. “It is the true character of the Canadian people, and the expectation they place on their government. “We act, based on those principles, to lead instead of follow. To be good friends; and to honour our commitments. “So ladies and gentlemen, let us celebrate those Canadians who make our Canada great, our men and women in uniform, who keep our streets and loved ones safe, and, as we have tragically seen in Moncton recently, sometimes tragically make the ultimate sacrifice; “The members of the Canadian Armed Forces, who stand on guard, and who have given their lives time after time, so that people around the world might also know freedom, democracy and justice. “The values that Canada stands for, the values under which all Canadians thrive. As we approach the one hundred fiftieth anniversary of our Confederation, let us never forget the sacrifices made by the member’s of our military across our history. “During the First World War, the Second World War, in Korea and, even more recently, in Afghanistan. “This year, the Canadian military marks many significant milestones: the 200th anniversary of the end of the Canadian campaign of the War of 1812; the 100th anniversary of the beginning of the First World War; “The 75th anniversary of the beginning of the Second World War, the 70th anniversary of D-Day and the end of Canada’s military mission in Afghanistan. “We will always call these men and women who have served in these actions over the years, over the decades over the centuries, what they are Canada’s finest heroes! “Canada’s Olympic and Paralympic Athletes also make our country great, and in the winter Olympics of 2014 our Canadian athletes once again made us proud! “In fact friends, a little later we’re going to be joined by six-time Olympic medalist, - that’s winter and summer Olympics - the unbeatable Clara Hughes! “For the last 110 days, Clara has been on an epic journey all around Canada. Friends, Ottawa is her finish line, and so, let’s be sure to give Clara Hughes the hero’s welcome that she deserves here in Ottawa! “Dear friends, the greatness of Canada comes from all of this and more, all of this make us, a role model for the rest of the world. “Friends, if we remember all the things and all the people, from the Fathers of Confederation, to the men and women in military, civil and athletic uniform “To the mothers and fathers who work hard to teach our values to the next generation, if we remember all these people who have made and are making Canada great, if we continue to let their examples guide our actions, then Canada’s future will be very bright indeed. “God bless all of on this 147th and God keep our true north, strong and free! Happy Canada Day, everyone!” THE 4TH OF JULY
WEEKLY ADDRESS: Celebrating Independence Day THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ EMBARGOED UNTIL 6:00 AM ET, SATURDAY, July 5, 2014 WEEKLY ADDRESS: Celebrating Independence Day WASHINGTON, DC — In this week’s address, President Obama commemorated Independence Day by noticing the contributions and sacrifices from individuals throughout the history of this country – from our Founding Fathers, to the men and women in our military serving at home and abroad. The audio of the address and video of the address will be available online at www.whitehouse.gov at 6:00 a.m. ET, July 5, 2014. Remarks of President Barack Obama Weekly Address The White House July 5, 2014 Hi, everybody. I hope you're all having a great Fourth of July weekend. I want to begin today by saying a special word to the U.S. Men’s Soccer Team, who represented America so well the past few weeks. We are so proud of you. You’ve got a lot of new believers. And I know there’s actually a petition on the White House website to make Tim Howard the next Secretary of Defense. Chuck Hagel’s got that spot right now, but if there is a vacancy, I’ll think about it. It was 238 years ago that our founders came together in Philadelphia to launch our American experiment. There were farmers and businessmen, doctors and lawyers, ministers and a kite-flying scientist. Those early patriots may have come from different backgrounds and different walks of life. But they were united by a belief in a simple truth – that we are all created equal; that we are all endowed by our Creator with certain inalienable rights; and that among these rights are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Over the years, that belief has sustained us through war and depression; peace and prosperity. It’s helped us build the strongest democracy, the greatest middle class, and the most powerful military the world has ever known. And today, there isn’t a nation on Earth that wouldn’t gladly trade places with the United States of America. But our success is only possible because we have never treated those self-evident truths as self-executing. Generations of Americans have marched, organized, petitioned, fought and even died to extend those rights to others; to widen the circle of opportunity for others; and to perfect this union we love so much. That’s why I want to say a special thanks to the men and women of our armed forces and the families who serve with them – especially those service members who spent this most American of holidays serving your country far from home. You keep us safe, and you keep the United States of America a shining beacon of hope for the world. And for that, you and your families deserve not only the appreciation of a grateful nation, but our enduring commitment to serve you as well as you’ve served us. God bless you all. And have a great weekend. White House Pool Report 1776
President Obama visited tech incubator "1776," which occupies a warehouse-style. red-white-and-blue-decorated floor in downtown Washington. Obama loosely linked his remarks about an improving economy to the Fourth of July. Obama arrived at 11:08 a.m. via motorcade after a short drive from the White House. He spent the better part of an hour (until 11:57 a.m.) privately talking to and listening to mostly young entrepreneurs, who answered his questions about their tech incubation ideas, their careers, etc. (More on that below.) Obama spoke without notes or text. In a VERY warm workplace at 12:04 -- dressed in a white shirt, sleeves rolled up, and gray tie -- the president picked up a microphone placed in front of a taped-off spot on the concrete floor. The spot was lighted for television. He spoke standing in front of a standing-room-only audience of more than 100 young innovators (rough estimat(primarily young people dressed casually in shorts and summer dresses, flip-flops, and "1776 Where Revolutions Begin" T-shirts ... one audience member said the folks assembled received an hour's notice that Obama was visiting.) The crowd also included some college graduates enrolled in a 10-week a class located a floor below 1776. Obama lauded the economy's trajectory and urged Congress to work with him on immigration, the Highway Trust Fund, and infrastructure. "We've now seen the fastest job growth in the United states in the first half of the year since 1999," he said to cheers and claps from the 1776 crowd Obama said: "This is also the first time we've seen five consecutive months of job growth over 200,000 since 1999 [more hoots and cheers and whistles], and we've seen the quickest drop in unemployment in 30 years. So, it gives you a sense that the economy has built momentum; that we are making progress. We've not seen almost 10 million jobs created over the course of the last 52 months, and it should be a useful reminder to people all across the country that given where we started back in 2008, we've made enormous strides, thanks to the incredible hard work of the American people and American businesses." The president said many Americans continue to face economic challenges, and he mentioned wage growth as one of those challenges. "There are still folks out there who are struggling. We still have not seen as much increase in income and wages as we'd like to see," he said. The Great Recession continues to leave some people out of the recovery, he added. "Historically financial crises take a longer time to recover from. We've done better than the vast majority of other countries over the last five years, but that drag has still meant a lot of hardship for a lot of folks," he noted. More progress on jobs and business opportunities could be possible, Obama added, if "those of us here in Washington were focused on them -- focused on you, the American people, rather than focused on politics." He touted the minimum wage, infrastructure investments, pay equity, and child care affordability and accessibility as examples. Obama said he was taking steps on his own to make strides. But he said Congress was required to enact changes to "fix" immigration. "That's something we need Congress to help us on," he said. He said the Highway Trust Fund, and infrastructure spending also required help from Congress. "My hope is that the American people look at today's news and understand that, in fact, we are making strides. We have not seen more consistent job growth since the '90s, but we could make even more progress if Congress is willing to work with my administration and set politics aside, as least occasionally [audience laughter], which is what I know the American people are urgently looking for." He repeated his reference to "economic patriotism," linking the concept to Independence Day. When the president first arrived at 1776, the POOL saw him circulating in a cavernous room filled with farmhouse-style tables, around which office chairs were assembled. 1776 tech innovators were seated, waiting for him to come to them for short conversations. The innovation co-op is decorated with white Christmas lights strung across the ceiling, industrial style air vents, Edison-bulb light fixtures, large red and blue wingback chairs and a leather-and-burlap tufted sofa. (The space was appointed by a decorator, a woman in the audience said.) There were three red phone booths along one windowed wall -- booths in the vintage style from Great Britain. A young woman explained that the phone booths are a Silicon Valley style trend, and they also allow workers to hold conference calls or other conversations without disturbing others working near them. There are no individual cubes, partitions or walls. The president commented on the look of the workplace: "This is a cool place to work out of," he said. He added it might be hard for him to get work done in such a configuration. When he first arrived, Obama spoke with Rob Bogart, 45, CEO and founder of Culture Aps. Bogart was seated at one of the tables, dressed in shorts, a red-checked shirt (not tucked), and a red baseball cap (which he left on while talking with the president) that said "PRIDE Mountain Vineyards." Example of conversations: Bogart could be heard explaining to Obama, when prompted, that he'd been "head of HR" for a number of companies before founding his current enterprise. As Obama moved to the next table of young innovators, he said, "What have you guys got going here?" His follow-up question, after listening intently to the explanation -- his arms crossed: "So, it would be like an online mall?" Then after shaking hands and moving along, he could be heard joking, "This is what happens. Presidents stop by all the time." By 11:50, clearly in no hurry, the president had moved to the far end of the 1776 floor and was seated on a tall stool, surrounded by a tight audience of workers. He appeared to be listening. It was not possible to hear the conversation. White House photographer Pete Souza was nearby with his camera. White House Communications Director Jen Palmieri moved around the workspace with a folder in her arms. Please note, one other POTUS event today that was not on the official schedule: Ken Burns and his documentary team told POOL early this morning in the briefing room that they are interviewing the president today for Burns' Jackie Robinson film. Remarks by the President on the Economy
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release July 3, 2014 REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT ON THE ECONOMY 1776 Washington, D.C. 11:57 A.M. EDT THE PRESIDENT: So we're going into the 4th of July weekend and what more appropriate place to be than 1776. (Applause.) This is an incubator for all sorts of tech startups, a lot of them focused on social change issues, on education, on health care. And so we've got a range of entrepreneurs who are trying to figure out how can we do well by doing good, in many cases. And I just have to say that the young people -- and some not so young people -- (laughter) -- that I spoke to, coming from a wide range of backgrounds -- we had former Army Rangers; we had lawyers; we had former HR folks, transportation experts, engineers -- all of them had the kind of energy and drive and creativity and innovation that has been the hallmark of the American economy. And part of the reason I wanted to come here today is to focus on what’s happened in the U.S. economy over the last several months and last several years. We just got a jobs report today showing that we've now seen the fastest job growth in the United States in the first half of the year since 1999. (Applause.) So this is also the first time we've seen five consecutive months of job growth over 200,000 since 1999. (Applause.) And we've seen the quickest drop in unemployment in 30 years. So it gives you a sense that the economy has built momentum, that we are making progress. We've now seen almost 10 million jobs created over the course of the last 52 months. And it should be a useful reminder to people all across the country that given where we started back in 2008, we have made enormous strides, thanks to the incredible hard work of the American people and American businesses that have been out there competing, getting smarter, getting more effective. And it's making a difference all across the country. Now, what we also know is, as much progress as has been made, there are still folks out there who are struggling. We still have not seen as much increase in income and wages as we’d like to see. A lot of folks are still digging themselves out of challenges that arose out of the Great Recession. Historically, financial crises take a longer time to recover from. We've done better than the vast majority of other countries over the last five years, but that drag has still meant a lot of hardship for a lot of folks. And so it’s really important for us to understand that we could be making even stronger process, we could be growing even more jobs, we could be creating even more business opportunities for smart, talented folks like these if those of us here in Washington were focused on them, focused on you, the American people, rather than focused on politics. And I’ve given a number of examples over the last several months of things we know would work if we are investing in rebuilding our infrastructure -- that doesn’t just put construction workers back to work, that puts engineers back to work, that puts landscape architects back to work, it puts folks who are manufacturing concrete or steel back to work. It makes a difference and it has huge ripple effects all across the economy. If we are serious about increasing the minimum wage, that puts more money in the pockets of people who are most likely to spend it. They, in turn, are most likely to hire more people because they now have more customers who are frequenting their businesses. If we are making sure that there’s equal pay for equal work, that’s helping families all across the country. If we’re focused on making sure that childcare is accessible and affordable and high-quality, that frees up a whole bunch of potential entrepreneurs, as well as people who are just going to work every single day, doing the right thing, being responsible, but often are hampered by difficult situations in terms of trying to manage parenting and families. And so there are just a series of specific things we can do right now -- many of them I’m doing on my own because we have the administrative authority to do it, but some of them we can’t do without Congress. We can’t fix a broken immigration system that would allow incredibly talented folks who want to start businesses here and create jobs here in the United States, would allow them to stay and make those investments. That’s something that we need Congress to help us on. (Applause.) We’re not going to be able to fund the Highway Trust Fund and to ramp up our investment in infrastructure without acts of Congress. So my hope is, is the American people look at today’s news and understand that, in fact, we are making strides. We have not seen more consistent job growth since the ‘90s. But we can make even more progress if Congress is willing to work with my administration and to set politics aside, at least occasionally -- (laughter) -- which I know is what the American people are urgently looking for. It’s a sort of economic patriotism where you say to yourself, how is it that we can start rebuilding this country to make sure that all of the young people who are here but their kids and their grandkids are going to be able to enjoy the same incredible opportunities that this country offers as we have. That’s our job. That’s what we should be focused on. And it’s worth remembering as we go into Independence Day. Thanks, everybody. Appreciate it. Thanks. (Applause.) White House Press Office Pooler Wrote:
Sometimes the best stories are "the rest of the story." The President has been working with Evan Burfield long enough to trust Evan and his hub. The surprise was for space renters at the Hub finding out the President was coming while they were dressed in shorts, clothing they wished they could change from." The Pooler wrote, "POOL and motorcade needed 6 minutes to arrive at a building downtown, arriving 11:08 am. (Building is also home to Stayer University). POTUS to speak on economy. From the White House: The President is visiting 1776, a tech startup hub in Washington, D.C. 1776 serves as a global hub for startups tackling major challenges in education, energy, health care, government, and other critical industries. 1776 was launched on the second anniversary of President’s “Startup America” Initiative to encourage and promote entrepreneurship. With today’s release of the June employment numbers, businesses have added 9.7 million jobs over 52 straight months of job growth—and that includes hundreds of thousands of jobs in some of the most advanced high-technology sectors. The computer systems design industry has added more than 320,000 jobs, while the architectural and engineering services industry has added 118,000 jobs. The software and Internet publishing sectors have together also added more than 100,000 jobs. Moreover, total employment in these four sectors is now more 12 percent higher than it was prior to the recession. Small firms continue to play an important role in boosting the economic recovery, as firms with fewer than 500 employees have accounted for more than 60 percent of the jobs added since early 2010. Statement on the Employment Situation in June
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 3, 2014 Statement on the Employment Situation in June WASHINGTON, DC – Jason Furman, Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers, issued the following statement today on the employment situation in June. You can view the statement HERE. Posted by Jason Furman on July 3, 2014 at 09:30 AM EDT The 1.4 million jobs added in the first half of this year are the most in any first half since 1999. Furthermore, this is the first time since September 1999-January 2000 we have seen total job growth above 200,000 for five straight months. While today’s jobs report is encouraging, many families are still struggling with long-term unemployment and wages that have been stagnant for decades. The President continues to press Congress to take steps to further strengthen the economy, including passing a transportation bill to avoid jeopardizing hundreds of thousands of jobs later this year. But he will also continue to make progress using his own authority to increase economic opportunity, support wage growth, and ensure America’s workplaces are adapting to the 21st century. FIVE KEY POINTS IN TODAY’S REPORT FROM THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS 1. The private sector has added 9.7 million jobs over 52 straight months of job growth. Today we learned that total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 288,000 in June, mainly reflecting a 262,000 increase in private employment, which is above the 203,000 per month average over the past year. April and May were revised up slightly, so that over the past twelve months, private employment has risen by a total of more than 2.4 million. In addition, the 1.4 million total nonfarm jobs added in the first half of this year are the most in any first half since 1999. Furthermore, this is the first time since September 1999-January 2000 we have seen total job growth above 200,000 for five straight months. 2. Private employment has increased in 52 consecutive months, the longest streak on record. The current 52-month streak has now surpassed the previous record of 51 consecutive months from February 1996 to April 2000, making it the longest streak in data going back to 1939. The steadiness of job gains is a sign of the progress that has been made in the recovery, but the President continues to believe that more can and should be done to further build on this progress. 3. The unemployment rate has fallen 1.4 percentage points over the past year, the sharpest year-over-year decline in nearly three decades. The unemployment rate remains elevated because of an unacceptably high prevalence of long-term unemployment, but it is encouraging that roughly half the decline in the overall unemployment rate over the past year has come from a falling long-term unemployment rate, a disproportionate contribution since the long-term unemployed represent about one-third of the total unemployed. Another positive sign is that the overall unemployment rate has fallen 1.1 percentage point since last October entirely due to people getting jobs, as the labor force participation rate has been unchanged on balance over this time. 4. Aggregate hours worked by private-sector production and nonsupervisory employees rose 4.4 percent at an annual rate in the second quarter, the strongest quarterly growth since 2006. As noted last week, growth in aggregate hours worked is a proxy for total economic output that has historically been reasonably well correlated with real GDP growth. The strong growth in aggregate hours in the second quarter is consistent with a rebound in GDP growth from the first quarter, when the reported contraction in real GDP diverged substantially from the positive growth in aggregate hours and other indicators during that quarter. Overall, the labor market data paint a positive picture of the economy in the first half of the year. 5. Total job growth in June was the 4th strongest month out of the last 52 months, and a number of industries outperformed recent trends. Looking over the 52 months since March 2010, June was a “top ten” month for the following industries: wholesale trade, retail trade, transportation and warehousing, information services, professional and business services, and state and local government. Across the 17 industries shown below, the correlation between the most recent one-month percent change and the average percent change over the last twelve months was 0.57, less than 0.82 last month, reflecting the fact that there was particularly strong job growth in some sectors. As the Administration stresses every month, the monthly employment and unemployment figures can be volatile, and payroll employment estimates can be subject to substantial revision. Therefore, it is important not to read too much into any one monthly report and it is informative to consider each report in the context of other data that are becoming available. Dr Biden's Zambia Pool Report
Foreign poolers often dont know the shorthand of travelling pool who cover the White House regularly writing pieces that are literary in themselves. Perpetual Sichikwenkwe -Times of Zambia, wrote "Jill Biden inspire Zambian pupils Dr. Jill Biden, the wife of U.S. vice president Joe's visit to Zambia has inspired children at one of the community schools located in Kanyama Township, west of Zambia's capital city, Lusaka. Her motorcade which brought business to a standstill as it headed westwards of Lusaka on Wednesday arrived at Shalom community school at about 12:30 hours. Dr Biden who was accompanied by Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Rajiv Shah, US Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women Issues Catherine Russell, her granddaughter Finnegan Biden and other U.S. officials was welcomed by singing pupils who were praising the U.S government for the help rendered to them. The pupils were elated that the US Government has joined hands with the Zambian government to brighten their hopes of a better future through education. She told the pupils "And as a lifelong teacher, one of my favorite things to do when I travel is to meet students, like all of you". Dr Biden told the pupils that what they were doing - putting their education first was important because they were creating a lifetime of opportunities for themselves and their families. "It's a pleasure to be here at Shalom Community School and to meet all of you... and to be joined by Administrator Raj Shah, head of the U.S. Agency for International Development ...Cathy Russell, the U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues ... and David Young, our Charge d'Affaires in Zambia" she said as she smiled at them. The second lady said that U.S. was committed to ensuring that young women have the tools they need to not only survive but to thrive in their communities. Dr. Biden said that a strong educational foundation can provide a sense of hope of normalcy and the chance at a better life. "If you change one classroom, pretty soon that classroom has changed one school...that school has changed a village that village has changed a province ...and that province has changed a country Dr. Biden said. She said that her trip to Africa would focus on girls' education and on how women's participation in government, the economy, and civil society can accelerate economic development, improve health and educational outcomes, and foster peace and security. She said this was being done by ensuring that all students have access to quality education. Dr Biden expressed her concerns about the horrific capturing of girls in Nigeria which she said has triggered anger reminds the world that girls around the globe risk their lives to pursue their ambitions "I've been a teacher for over 30 years. I love helping students -navigate their future ... and see it grow bright before their eyes" she said. A pupil and beneficiary of the "Time to Learn Scholarship program" Martha Matongo thanked the U.S. government for the help rendered of paying for her school fees, uniform and resources to purchase school materials. Zambian's deputy permanent secretary in the ministry of education Christine Mayondi, said community schools forms an integral party of the education system and was happy that the Zambian government and other partners were helping such schools. Wife of Zambia's vice president Guy Scott, Charlotte said 2014 was a special year for Zambia as it was celebrating its 50 years of independence and it was important to receive visitors like Dr. Biden and her delegation. U.S. vice president Joe Biden's wife, Jill has wrap up her tour to Zambia where she visited a community school, health centre and participated at an entrepreneur discussion to promote girls' education and health services for women. Dr Biden who is in the company of Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Rajiv Shah, U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women Issues, Catherine Russell and other officials took off from Kenneth Kaunda International Airport at 14: 47 heading for the Democratic Republic of Congo for her continued mission. She emerged with a smile few minutes after she entered the US Military Aircraft to waive "goodbye" to the U.S. Zambia mission officials, Zambian Government officials and journalists that were giving her delegation a send off as she continues her three-country trip to Africa. Dr Biden headed for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR) and would later fly to Sierra Leone to undertake a similar mission of championing girls and women's rights in areas of education, governance and health among others. Earlier in the day, Dr Biden and Zambia's second lady, Charlotte Scott for more than an hour undertook interact with patients and survivors of gender based violence (GBV) at Ng'ombe health clinic located in one of the highly density township in Lusaka, Zambia's capital city. The two second ladies with their delegations were welcomed by the clinic staff who was excited about the visit and the fact that the U.S. government has continued to fund projects in Zambia for the plight of girls and women. Dr Biden's first interaction was with pregnant women who were receiving talks on how to take care of themselves during pregnancy. She listened with passion as a nurse at the clinic, explained the various lessons given to the expecting women among them HIV and AIDS. Dr Biden and Dr Scott were also explained to by Cervical Cancer Training and Prevention program in Zambia co-director Dr. Sharon Kapambwe on the cancer screening services offered at the clinic using a simple method to detect the disease and that more women are now accessing the services. The U.S. and Zambian delegation later moved to the GBV One Stop Center to meet survivors of GBV and listen to the challenges and scores witnessed by the center that was opened in April this year. The U.S. and U.K. governments have pumped in US$10.2 million to the enter which provides prompt and comprehensive services to survivors of GBV to the women of Ng'ombe and surrounding townships. Coordinator of the center, Derrick Chila told Dr Biden "It may be a small place but it is a life changing facility" as GBV survivors listened on. Dr Shah and Ms Russell later gave an interview to the media and said they were proud with the partnership that existed between two countries and committed continued support from the Obama administration. Dr Scott in an interview with local journalists shortly after the tour said Dr Biden was impressed with happenings at the clinic and urged more women to access the cancer screening services and take advantage of the One Stop Center for their GBV problems. Dr Biden and her delegation later left for the airport took off for DRC aboard a U.S. Military Aircraft. Ends/// Remarks As Prepared for Delivery by Dr. Jill Biden at Shalom Community School in Zambia
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Vice President FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 2, 2014 Remarks As Prepared for Delivery by Dr. Jill Biden Shalom Community School Lusaka, Zambia Wednesday, July 2, 2014 Hi, everyone! Thank you, Martha, for that great introduction! Dr. Scott, thank you for joining me today. I can see very quickly that we share many of the same passions. Provincial Education Officer Ngosa Korati and District Education Board Secretary Ruth Phiri – thank you for honoring us with your presence today. Head Teacher George Kaamba and students – thank you for such a warm welcome! It’s a pleasure to be here at Shalom Community School and to meet all of you – and to be joined by Administrator Raj Shah, head of the U.S. Agency for International Development, Cathy Russell, the U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues and David Young, our Charge d’Affaires in Zambia. I don’t want to keep you from your studies so I just want to say a few quick words. I am very lucky – as Second Lady of the United States, I have the opportunity to travel all around the world. And as a lifelong teacher, one of my favorite things to do when I travel is to meet students, like all of you. What all of you are doing – putting your education first – is so important. By focusing on your studies, you are creating a lifetime of opportunities for you and your families. So on my trip over the next few days, one of the areas I will be focusing is education. But I will also be looking at how women’s participation in government, the economy, and civil society can accelerate economic development, improve health and educational outcomes, and foster peace and security. The United States is committed to making sure girls and young women have the tools they need to not just survive – but to thrive in their communities. Through partnerships with Zambia and other African governments, we hope to improve women’s lives through educational opportunities, access to healthcare, combatting gender-based violence, and empowering women – because a nation cannot reach its full economic potential until its women reach theirs. Many countries around the world now recognize that bringing more women into the workforce is key to economic growth, productivity and prosperity. From Japan to Italy to Mexico and certainly in the United States, governments and business leaders understand that we cannot afford to leave growth on the table and are pursuing new policies to make sure that women can enter, stay and contribute to the economy. First and foremost, this means making sure that all students have access to quality education. I have seen firsthand what a difference this can make all over the world. A few years ago I had the incredible opportunity to visit a school for girls in Kenya where I saw how a strong educational foundation can provide a sense of hope – of normalcy – and the chance at a better life. Last year, I visited a local Muslim girls’ school in India where I will never forget how enthusiastic they were to learn, and just how proud they were to show me their school. I already have the same feeling from all of you! And today, I’m proud to stand with Dr. Scott, your Second Lady, who has been a leading voice in Zambia to raise awareness of gender violence and girls’ education. Earlier this year, Dr. Scott’s efforts brought together thousands of young people, the First Lady, celebrities and the UN, for a “Bring Back Our Girls” event to show solidarity for the kidnapping of young Nigerian girls from their school. The horrific event in Nigeria has rightfully captured attention and anger everywhere. Their story reminds us that girls around the globe risk their lives to pursue their ambitions – and together, we must do more to ensure that all girls and boys have the opportunities everyone deserves: · We all want the opportunity to pursue our dreams and be treated with respect – regardless of our gender; · We all want to have access to resources to help us stay healthy; · And we all want to feel safe and secure as we pursue our dreams. Education makes all of those possible. I’ve been a teacher for over 30 years. I love helping students – navigate their future and see it grow bright before their eyes. And that’s exactly what’s happening to all of you. Because of the education you are getting, you are being set on a lifelong path where most of all, you have the confidence and tools you need to succeed. Over the next few days, I look forward to learning more about what is happening here in Zambia, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and in Sierra Leone. Next month, the United States will host the first U.S.- Africa Leaders Summit where I hope to share what I learn during this trip, including your story – a story of an aspiring generation prying open the doors of opportunity to all, including women who want to participate in your government, help grow and drive your economy, and to foster peace and security in your country and throughout Africa. Your generation will write a new chapter in the story of Africa—one of vibrant, peaceful societies – where the problems of the past are a distant memory – where young Africans are enjoying opportunities undreamt of by their parents and grandparents. Where the sky is the limit and growth and progress are happening fast. That Africa is already emerging, year by year. Zambia is part of that story. And if you work hard and study hard, that will be your story, too. As Nelson Mandela said: “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” You may ask yourself: how does the life of one person – me – fit into that big picture? If you change one classroom, pretty soon that classroom has changed one school. That school has changed a village, that village has changed a province and that province has changed a country. None of that happens if it doesn’t start somewhere. It starts with you, making a difference in your own life. Your own school. Your own village. Thank you so much for opening your school to me. You all are my inspiration and I’m excited to see what you do in the future Letter from the President -- Change in Export Controls for High Performance Computers
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 1, 2014 Attached and signed today is a letter from the President to the Chairmen of the House and Senate Committees on Armed Services, the Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, and the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs regarding high performance computers. DAILY GUIDANCE FOR THE VICE PRESIDENT
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Vice President FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 1, 2014 DAILY GUIDANCE FOR THE VICE PRESIDENT Wednesday, July 2, 2014 In the afternoon, the Vice President will attend the President’s lunch for top economists to discuss ways to accelerate economic growth, expand opportunity, and improve the competitiveness of the American economy. This meeting is in the Old Family Dining Room. Later in the afternoon, the Vice President will attend the President’s meeting with Secretary of the Treasury Lew in the Oval Office. Afterward, the Vice President will attend the Presidential Daily Briefing in the Oval Office. DAILY GUIDANCE AND PRESS SCHEDULE FOR WEDNESDAY, JULY 2, 2014
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 1, 2014 DAILY GUIDANCE AND PRESS SCHEDULE FOR WEDNESDAY, JULY 2, 2014 In the afternoon, the President will host top economists for lunch to discuss ways to accelerate economic growth, expand opportunity, and improve the competitiveness of the American economy. The Vice President will also attend. This meeting in the Old Family Dining Room will be closed press. Remarks by the President on the Economy
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release July 1, 2014 REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT ON THE ECONOMY Georgetown Waterfront Washington, D.C. 2:22 P.M. EDT THE PRESIDENT: Well, hello, everybody. Have a seat, have a seat. It’s hot. (Laughter.) It’s hot out -- Anthony, take off your coat, man. (Laughter.) It is hot and Team USA takes the pitch in a couple hours, so we’ve got to get down to business. (Applause.) We don’t have time for a lot of small talk -- am I right, Mr. Mayor? We’ve got to get going. Behind me is one of the busiest bridges in Washington. And, with the 4th of July on Friday -- also Malia’s birthday, for those of you who are interested, she will be 16, a little worrisome -- I would note that this bridge is named for the man who wrote the “Star-Spangled Banner” –- Francis Scott Key. Three years ago, I came here to this very spot, to the Key Bridge, to talk about how two of the five major bridges connecting D.C. and Virginia –- including this one -– were rated “structurally deficient.” And with almost 120,000 vehicles crossing them every day, I said it was important to fix them. And today, that’s exactly what we’re doing. So, soon, construction workers will be on the job making the Key Bridge safer for commuters and for families, and even for members of Congress to cross. (Laughter.) This is made possible by something called the Highway Trust Fund, which Congress established back in the 1950s, and which helps states repair and rebuild our infrastructure all across the country. It’s an example of what can happen when Washington just functions the way it was supposed to. Back then, you had Eisenhower, a Republican President; over time you would have Democratic Presidents, Democratic and Republican members of Congress all recognizing building bridges and roads and levees and ports and airports -- that none of that is a partisan issue. That’s making sure that America continues to progress. Now, here is the problem. Here is the reason we’re here in the heat. If this Congress does not act by the end of the summer, the Highway Trust Fund will run out. There won’t be any money there. All told, nearly 700,000 jobs could be at risk next year. That would be like Congress threatening to lay off the entire population of Denver, or Seattle, or Boston. That’s a lot of people. It would be a bad idea. Right now, there are more than 100,000 active projects across the country where workers are paving roads, and rebuilding bridges, and modernizing our transit systems. And soon, states may have to choose which projects to continue and which ones to put the brakes on because they’re running out of money. Some have already done just that, just because they’re worried that Congress will not get its act together in time. Now, earlier this year, I put forward a plan not just to replenish the Highway Trust Fund, I put forward a plan to rebuild our transportation infrastructure across the country in a responsible way. And I want to thank Secretary Anthony Foxx, who is here today, for his hard work in putting this plan together. (Applause.) Because we are not spending enough on the things that help our economy grow, the things that help businesses move products, the thing that help workers get to the job, the things that help families get home to see their loved ones at night. We spend significantly less as a portion of our economy than China does, than Germany does, than just about every other advanced country. They know something that I guess we don’t, which is that’s the path to growth, that’s the path to competitiveness. So the plan we put together would support millions of jobs. It would give cities, and states, and private investors the certainty they need to plan ahead. It would help small businesses ship their goods faster, help parents get home to their kids faster. And it wouldn’t add to the deficits –- because we’d pay for it in part by closing tax loopholes for companies that are shipping their profits overseas to avoid paying their fair share of taxes. Seems like a sensible thing to do. (Applause.) It’s not crazy, it’s not socialism. (Laughter.) It’s not the imperial presidency -- no laws are broken. We’re just building roads and bridges like we’ve been doing for the last, I don’t know, 50, 100 years. But so far, House Republicans have refused to act on this idea. I haven’t heard a good reason why they haven’t acted -- it’s not like they’ve been busy with other stuff. (Laughter.) No, seriously. (Laughter.) I mean, they’re not doing anything. Why don’t they do this? Now, Republican obstruction is not just some abstract political stunt; it has real and direct consequences for middle-class families all across the country. We went through the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, we’ve climbed back. Since then, we’ve created 9.4 million new jobs over the past 51 months. Corporate profits are up, stock market is up, housing is improving. (Applause.) Unemployment is down. The deficits have been cut in half. We’re making progress, but we still have a situation where those at the top are doing as well as ever but middle-class families all across the country are still struggling to get by. There are people who are working hard, they believe in the American Dream -- it feels sometimes like the system is rigged against them. And they have good reason to think that way. So far this year, Republicans in Congress have blocked or voted down every serious idea to strengthen the middle class. Not ideas that are unique to me, they’re not -- this isn’t Obama bridge. (Laughter.) It’s Key Bridge. But the Republicans have said no to raising the minimum wage, they’ve said no to fair pay, they’ve said no to extending unemployment insurance for over 3 million Americans looking for a new job. And this obstruction keeps the system rigged for those who are doing fine at the top. It prevents us from helping more middle-class families. And as long as they insist on taking no action whatsoever that will help anybody, I’m going to keep on taking actions on my own that can help the middle class -- like the actions I’ve already taken to speed up construction projects, and attract new manufacturing jobs, and lift workers’ wages, and help students pay off their loans. (Applause.) And they criticize me for this. Boehner sued me for this. And I told him, I’d rather do things with you, pass some laws, make sure the Highway Trust Fund is funded so we don’t lay off hundreds of thousands of workers. It’s not that hard. Middle-class families can’t wait for Republicans in Congress to do stuff. So sue me. (Laughter.) As long as they’re doing nothing, I’m not going to apologize for trying to do something. (Applause.) And look, I just want to be clear -- Republicans in Congress, they’re patriots, they love their country, they love their families. They just have a flawed theory of the economy that they can’t seem to get past. They believe that all we should be doing is giving more tax breaks to those at the top, eliminating regulations that stop big banks or polluters from doing what they want, cut the safety net for people trying to work their way into the middle class, and then somehow the economy is going to get stronger and jobs and prosperity trickle down to everybody. That’s their worldview. I’m sure they sincerely believe it. It’s just not accurate. It does not work. We know from our history our economy doesn’t grow from the top down; it grows from the middle out. We do better when you’ve got some construction workers on the job. They then go to a restaurant and they buy a new car. That means the workers there start doing better. Everybody does better. And we could be doing so much more if Republicans in Congress were less interested in stacking the deck in favor of those at the top or trying to score political points, or purposely trying to gridlock Washington, and just tried to get some things done to grow the economy for everybody. We could do so much more if we just rallied around an economic patriotism, a sense that our job is to get things done as one nation and as one people. Economic patriotism would say that instead of protecting corporations that are shipping jobs overseas, let’s make sure they’re paying their fair share of taxes, let’s reward American workers and businesses that hire them. Let’s put people to work rebuilding America. Let’s invest in manufacturing, so the next generation of good manufacturing jobs are right here, made in the USA. (Applause.) That would be something to celebrate on the 4th of July. (Applause.) Economic patriotism says that instead of stacking the deck in the favor of folks just at the top, let’s harness the talents and ingenuity of every American and give every child access to quality education, and make sure that if your job was stamped obsolete or shipped overseas, you’re going to get retrained for an even better job. (Applause.) Economic patriotism says that instead of making it tougher for middle-class families to get ahead, let’s reward hard work for every American. Let’s make sure women earn pay that’s equal to their efforts. (Applause.) Let’s make sure families can make ends meet if their child gets sick and they need to take a day off. Let’s make sure no American who works full-time ever has to live in poverty. (Applause.) Let’s tell everybody they’re worth something. No matter who you are, no matter what you look like, where you come from, who you love, if you work hard, if you’re responsible, you can make it here in America. That’s what this country was founded on, that idea. That’s why I ran for this office. I think sometimes about what we could be accomplishing, what we could have accomplished this past year, what we could have accomplished the year before that. And typically what gets reported on is just the politics -- well, you know, they’re not doing this because they don’t want to give Obama a victory or oh, well, we don’t want to do this right now because maybe the midterm election is coming up and, oh, well, what’s happening with the polls. People don’t care about that. People just want to see some results. And objectively, if you look at the agenda I’m putting forward, the things that we’re trying to get done like just fixing bridges and roads, it really shouldn’t be controversial. It hasn’t been controversial in the past. And so part of the reason that I’m going to be spending a lot of time over the next several weeks and months getting out there with ordinary folks is just to report to you it’s not as if I don’t know that you could use some help. I know. It’s not as if we don’t have good plans to put more people back to work and raise their incomes and improve the quality of education. We know how to do it. That’s not the reason it’s not happening. It’s not happening because of politics. And the only folks that can fix that are going to be you -- the American people and voters. Sometimes in our culture right now we just get cynical about stuff and we just assume things can’t change because nothing seems to change in this town. But that’s not true. It can change as long as everybody gets activated, as long as people still feel hopeful and we don’t fall prey to cynicism. And so I just want everybody here to understand that as frustrating as it may be sometimes, as stuck as Congress may be sometimes, if the American people put pressure on this town to actually get something done and everybody is looking at some commonsense agenda items that we should be able to do because Democrats and Republicans were able to do them in the past, we can grow our economy, we can lift people’s incomes, we can make sure that people who are fighting hard can get into the middle class and stay there. But it’s going to take you. It’s going to take you. This is not going to happen on its own. And I’m confident if that’s what we do, if all of you are fighting alongside me every single day instead of just giving up on this place, then we’re going to make America better than ever. That’s a promise. Thank you, everybody. God bless you. God bless America. Go Team USA! Let’s build some bridges! END 2:37 P.M. EDT Remarks by the First Lady to the American School Counselor Association Annual Conference -- Orlando, Florida
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the First Lady ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release July 1, 2014 REMARKS BY THE FIRST LADY TO THE AMERICAN SCHOOL COUNSELOR ASSOCIATION ANNUAL CONFERENCE The Dolphin Hotel Orlando, Florida 11:42 A.M. EDT MRS. OBAMA: Yes! (Applause.) How is everybody feeling today? (Applause.) It is really, really my pleasure. You guys, rest yourselves. You work hard enough. (Laughter.) No need to stand for my remarks. It is truly a pleasure and an honor to be with you today, so thank you for having me. Thank you so much. Let me start by thanking Shari for that very kind introduction, but more importantly, for her service as your Board Chair and as a school counselor out in St. Louis. AUDIENCE MEMBER: Yes! MRS. OBAMA: Yes! St. Louis in the house? (Applause.) All right. What about Chicago? We could try that. (Applause.) Okay, I’ll stop. (Laughter.) I also want to thank your Executive Director, Dr. Richard Wong, for his leadership at ASCA. And of course, I’ve got to give a big shout-out to my dear friend, Stedman Graham. Yes, indeed. (Applause.) Now, see, Stedman is a tough act to follow, but I’m going to do my best. I know he imparted words of wisdom, but I’m going to try and do the same. But most of all, I want to recognize all of you for everything you do for our young people every single day. And I have to tell you, when I found out that you all were making me an honorary school counselor, my first thought was, there is absolutely no way I’m worthy of this honor. Because I know that you all have one of the hardest, most stressful, most important and most underappreciated jobs of anyone in this country -- and I live with the President of the United States. (Applause.) So frankly, when I think about what you all do on an average day, well, quite frankly, I’m amazed. An average day for all of you might start with a child sobbing in your office because she’s being bullied or having trouble at home. Or maybe it’s the kid who’s been kicked out of every class, and he’s sitting in front of you, angry and defiant, and it’s up to you to figure out how to help him get back on track. And then, later on in the day, perhaps you meet with an overwhelmed parent who’s not sure that they can really trust you, so you’ve got to convince them that you’re there to help and that you’re on their side. And then maybe you see that kid with so much promise but who doesn’t think she’s college material and refuses to apply to any schools because she doesn’t know how she’s going to pay for school, so you’ve got to somehow show her that she has what it takes to succeed in life. And those are just a few ways that you support our young people every day. Too often, you are the only adults in their lives who aren’t there to grade them or judge them or punish them, and that’s why they seek you out when they have nowhere else to turn. So before I say anything else today, I want to say something that I’m sure you all don’t hear nearly enough, and that is, thank you. Thank you. (Applause.) Thank you for your passion and your dedication. Thank you for refusing to give up on a single child because you believe that every child has promise and every child has something to contribute. And as First Lady, I share that conviction, which is why I want to talk with you about my new initiative that Shari mentioned; I launched it recently to help all of our children fulfill their boundless potential. It’s called Reach Higher, and the goal is to inspire every young person in this country to complete their education beyond high school. And I’m here today because, while we talk a great deal about the role of teachers and principals and parents in preparing kids for higher education, often, engaged school counselors like all of you are the deciding factor in whether young people attend college or not. Just take the example of a young woman named Sbeidy Dominguez from Escondido, California. Now, no one in Sbeidy’s family had ever attended college -- I know you see many kids like that -- but her school counselor, Rita Guerra, insisted that she was college material. So Rita pushed Sbeidy to take the SATs and the ACTs and enroll in AP classes. Then, senior year, Sbeidy became pregnant, and her dreams of college started to seem impossible. But once again, Rita stepped in. She helped Sbeidy find medical care, to complete her FAFSA forms, and to make up her AP exams after she gave birth. And as a result, Sbeidy graduated in the top one percent of her high school class, and this fall, she will be starting [her senior year] at the University of California in Riverside. (Applause.) That’s the difference that you all make in a student’s life. You’re the ones planting the seeds about college as early as elementary school and middle school, making it clear that higher education is the expectation, not the exception. You’re the ones grabbing kids in the hallway to tell them to sign up for that right college prep program, to check out that website for professional training opportunities, to convince them that they belong in that AP class and then to call the teacher to make sure it happens. And when push comes to shove, you’re the ones helping our students meet those deadlines, and write those essays, and untangle those financial aid forms. I recently saw this firsthand at a financial aid event run by school counselors at a school in Virginia. Students and parents had gathered to learn how to fill out their FAFSA forms. Many of these parents hadn’t gone to college, and they seemed anxious and overwhelmed. But I watched how those counselors interacted -- they were joking with those kids and patiently answering their parents’ questions, and I could see the connection that they had to those families, and I could see the bonds of trust that had been formed. And those parents and kids walked away feeling hopeful. They walked away feeling like they weren’t alone, like maybe they could do this college thing after all. And that’s the impact that you all have. And by putting our kids on the path to higher education, you all are literally affecting the entire course of their lives. See, 40 or 50 years ago, most kids could expect to graduate from high school and then go out and get a decent-paying job at a local factory or business. But, as you all know, today, most of the fastest-growing jobs in this country require higher education, and college graduates, as you know, earn twice as much as folks with only a high school diploma. So higher education is no longer just for kids in the top quarter or the top half of the class -- college is for everyone. Every student in this country needs some higher education, whether that’s two-year degree, a four-year degree, or professional training of some sort. But while in recent decades the need for college counseling has skyrocketed, the staffing and resources have not kept pace with this increased need. And all of you know the numbers. While school counselors at private schools have an average caseload of 106 students, and ASCA recommends no more than 250 students per counselor, the national average is one school counselor for every 471 students. And that is outrageous. Outrageous. (Applause.) And one in five American high schools doesn’t have any school counselors at all –- none. And that’s appalling. And a lot of people in this country have no idea about these numbers. They have no idea about all the other challenges you face just to do your jobs. For example, those of you at the high school level are expected to help students choose between thousands of colleges and certificate programs and countless financial aid packages, but hardly any of your master’s degree programs included training on college and career readiness. (Applause.) On top of that, today, students at all levels are arriving at school with greater needs and pressures and distractions, but instead of giving you time to deal with these issues, too often your schools burden you with all kinds of unrelated responsibilities. (Applause.) So while you might be the most highly educated professional in the building, instead of being allowed to do the job you were trained for, you’re assigned to proctor exams, or monitor the lunchroom, or serve as substitute teachers. (Applause.) And then I understand that on professional development days, you have to sit through yet another workshop on reading strategies or the new math curriculum because there aren’t any professional development units relevant to your job. (Applause.) So today, we make all kinds of demands on our school counselors, but we often don’t give you the support you need to meet those demands. And this is unacceptable. School counseling should not be an extra or a luxury just for school systems that can afford it. School counseling is a necessity to ensure that all our young people get the education they need to succeed in today’s economy. And that’s why when we launched Reach Higher we decided to make school counselors a key focus of our work. See, the purpose of Reach Higher is very simple –- yes. (Applause.) You are at -- the key. One of the things we’re trying to do through Reach Higher is to help us reach my husband’s North Star goal -- that by 2020, America will once again have the highest proportion of college graduates in the world. And we simply cannot achieve this goal unless you all have what you need to do your jobs. (Applause.) And that’s why, today, I’m pleased to announce three new efforts to support and recognize school counselors across this country. First, as many of you might know, just yesterday, our Secretary of Education Arne Duncan released new guidance for students -- for superintendents and school principals, and he stated that they can and should use their budgets to create professional development units for school counselors -- that was just yesterday. (Applause.) Because our Secretary of Education knows that every school counselor in this country should have quality, relevant professional development opportunities, end of story. Second, I’m thrilled that the White House will be partnering with the Harvard Graduate School of Education, with ASCA, and with other organizations to host a special event on college counseling at the end of July. And together, we’ll be coming up with ambitious new agenda items to improve training, professional development and support for school counselors. And third -- and I hope this is something you’ll like -- my husband and I think that it’s time that we started giving our school counselors the recognition that you all deserve for the work that you do. So, as you may know, every year we honor the national Teacher of the Year at the White House. Well, starting next year, for the first time ever, we will also hold a White House ceremony honoring the School Counselor of the Year. (Applause.) Yes. This is a start. It is really a start. The idea behind these efforts is very simple: We want to celebrate our school counselors, and we want to highlight what’s working in college counseling across the country. Because we know that so many of you are already leading the way. For example, Jeremy Goldman, who is the 2014 Maryland High School Counselor of the Year -- you guys know Jeremy? (Laughter.) Is he kind of cool? Where -- is Jeremy here? Jeremy, where are you? Hey, Jeremy! (Applause.) You! Well, Jeremy noticed that hardly any African American students in his school were enrolling in AP classes, so his counseling team worked with teachers and the principal and created an action plan to close this gap. And today, both enrollment and test scores are up for African American students in his school. (Applause.) And Kendra Moulton -- is Kendra -- is she in the house? Well, let me tell you about Kendra, because she couldn’t make it. (Laughter.) She’s a school counselor at the Edmund G. Ross Elementary School in Albuquerque, and -- AUDIENCE MEMBER: Woo hoo! MRS. OBAMA: Yeah -- (laughter) -- and works to create a college mindset starting as early as kindergarten. She does this by plastering her school with college pennants, and sponsoring college T-shirt days. She conducts career days with fifth graders, pushing them to think about the higher education that they’re going to need for the jobs of their dreams. And in districts across the country, school counselors are leading the charge to get more students to fill out their FAFSA forms. In Miami, FAFSA completion rates jumped by 13 percent in just one year, and in San Antonio, they jumped by 31 percent. Yes. (Applause.) And these school districts are no different than any others, and they face every challenge you can possibly imagine. So if they can find creative ways to get students on track to college, then I know that every district in America can do the same. And when they do it, that won’t just transform the future of the students, it will transform the future of this country. Because that’s how we build the workforce we need to compete in today’s global economy. And I know that seems like a big ask, especially with everything else you all have on your plates. But this isn’t the first time we’ve called on school counselors like all of you to help us meet a big national goal. In fact, back in the 1950s, after the Russians launched Sputnik and we feared that America might lose the space race, Congress passed the National Defense Education Act, which actually called for the training of more school counselors. We did this because we knew that school counselors would play a vital role in identifying and preparing students to pursue careers in science and engineering. And the same thing is true with our 2020 goal –- once again, we need your help, and we’re counting on you. And I know you all can do this, because the fact is that with every life you transform, with every life you save, you all have an impact that is truly beyond measure. And just take the example of a young man I learned about named Mikela Jones. Mikela grew up on an Indian Reservation, and only -- AUDIENCE MEMBER: Woo hoo! MRS. OBAMA: Yes. (Laughter.) And only one member of his tribe had gone to a four-year college, so Mikela was convinced that college just wasn’t for him. But Mikela’s school counselor, Antonio Lopez, had other ideas. Antonio pushed and prodded Mikela and insisted that he meet with college admissions officers, and as a result, Mikela didn’t just go to college, he became the first person from his entire Tribe to earn a master’s degree. And today, Mikela is a school counselor himself. (Applause.) He chose this career -- and these are his words -- he said: “I wanted to be like Mr. Lopez, to remind students that they are special, important, and have something to offer the world.” He said, “That is how I repay him, by helping others.” So here’s the thing, ASCA members -- whenever you get tired -- and I know that you do -- whenever you get frustrated or overwhelmed -- and I know that you do -- I want you to think about the extraordinary ripple effect of your work, because it’s real. I want you to think about the impact you have not just on every child whose life you transform, but on the family that child will raise, on the business where that child will work, on the community that child will one day serve. I want you to think about how long after those kids graduate your work lives on in their hearts and minds, and in the hearts and minds of everyone they touch. So today, I want to end as I started –- by once again saying thank you. Really, thank you. Thank you for your compassion and determination. Thank you for the boundless love you show our children. And I for one, as your First Lady, I am grateful for all that you do. And I look forward to working closely with you in the years ahead to give all our young people the bright futures they so richly deserve. Thank you all. God bless. (Applause.) END 12:01 P.M. EDT Attached is a proclamation signed by the President
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 30, 2014 Attached is a proclamation signed by the President today regarding the 50th Anniversary of the Civil Rights Act. THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary For Immediate Release June 30, 2014 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT - - - - - - - BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA A PROCLAMATION Few achievements have defined our national identity as distinctly or as powerfully as the passage of the Civil Rights Act. It transformed our understanding of justice, equality, and democracy and advanced our long journey toward a more perfect Union. It helped bring an end to the Jim Crow era, banning discrimination in public places; prohibiting employment discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin; and providing a long-awaited enforcement mechanism for the integration of schools. A half-century later, we celebrate this landmark achievement and renew our commitment to building a freer, fairer, greater society. Through the lens of history, the progress of the past five decades may seem inevitable. We may wish to remember our triumphs while erasing the pain and doubt that came before. Yet to do so would be a disservice to the giants who led us to the mountaintop, to unsung heroes who left footprints on our National Mall, to every American who bled and died on the battlefield of justice. In the face of bigotry, fear, and unyielding opposition from entrenched interests, their courage stirred our Nation's conscience. And their struggle helped convince a Texas Democrat who had previously voted against civil rights legislation to become its new champion. With skillful charm and ceaseless grit, President Lyndon B. Johnson shepherded the Civil Rights Act through the Congress -- and on July 2, 1964, he signed it into law. While laws alone cannot right every wrong, they possess an unmatched power to anchor lasting change. The Civil Rights Act threw open the door for legislation that strengthened voting rights and established fair housing standards for all Americans. Fifty years later, we know our country works best when we accept our obligations to one another, embrace the belief that our destiny is shared, and draw strength from the bonds that hold together the most diverse Nation on Earth. As we reflect on the Civil Rights Act and the burst of progress that followed, we also acknowledge that our journey is not complete. Today, let us resolve to restore the promise of opportunity, defend our fellow Americans' sacred right to vote, seek equality in our schools and workplaces, and fight injustice wherever it exists. Let us remember that victory never comes easily, but with iron wills and common purpose, those who love their country can change it. 2 NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim July 2, 2014, as the 50th Anniversary of the Civil Rights Act. I call upon all Americans to observe this day with programs, ceremonies, and activities that celebrate this accomplishment and advance civil rights in our time. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirtieth day of June, in the year of our Lord two thousand fourteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-eighth. BARACK OBAMA White House Pool Report
Sometimes poolers dont go very far from homebase. Their destination can be their surprise "Around the corner to BLT Steak on Eye Street NW. The President, the First Lady, and Sasha emerged from the limo to a roar from the diners on the outside patio. The First Lady is wearing a sleeveless blue sundress with a white floral pattern." Pooler notes come in at dribs and drabs. " Scores of folks, perhaps from out of town, were lining Eye Street hoping for a glimpse of the First Family. They were displeased when vans containing the pool blocked their line of sight with the president still in the restaurant. One young girl seemed inconsolable. The pool collectively felt guilty. Police were wanding everyone along the yellow tape lines, including kids. By the time dinner ended, the crowd had swelled to roughly 300. Family emerged at 8:12 to cheers and hollers. Rolling...." Treats await poolers. "It has cooled down to become a beautiful summer evening. Pool is seated in bleachers on the Marine Barracks quadrangle, with the historic Barracks in front and the Home of the Commandants to the left. Established in 1801, the Barracks is called "The Oldest Post of the Corps." We're told that there are about 3400 in attendance. Not quite at capacity. The Evening Parade is a longstanding Washington tradition. At 9:03 pm, Marine Corps Commandant James Amos and his wife entered the parade grounds, followed by the President and First Lady. They took their seats in the first row, center. We will be hearing a concert by the US Marine Band and then the US. Marine Drum and Bugle Corps." "Precision and pageantry beneath the floodlights of the Barracks. The program lasted about 75 minutes. A highlight was the silent rifle drills performed by the resident company. There was also a welcome cameo by Chesty, the bulldog mascot of the Corps. Along with traditional marches, the Drum and Bugle Corps played a medley of Motown favorites including "I Heard It Through the Grapevine, ' "I Want You Back" and "My Girl." It couldn't help but remind your pooler of long-ago Saturdays spent in a certain horseshoe stadium: in Ohio. The program concluded with a cannon salute during Beethoven's "Ode to Joy." At 10:20, the President, stock-straight, reviewed his troops as they marched past, his right hand fixed in salute. He then shook hands with Commandant Amos, among others. He made no formal remarks. Following retirement of the colors, departure of the Marines from the parade grounds, and a solemn playing of Taps, the President, the First Lady and Sasha left the grounds at 10:40 pm. Pool rolling as of 10:53 pm." EMBARGOED: WEEKLY ADDRESS: Focusing on the Economic Priorities for the Middle Class Nationwide
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary ______________________________________________________________________________ EMBARGOED UNTIL 6:00 AM ET, SATURDAY, June 28, 2014 WEEKLY ADDRESS: Focusing on the Economic Priorities for the Middle Class Nationwide WASHINGTON, DC — In this week’s address, the President discussed his recent trip to Minneapolis where he met a working mother named Rebekah, who wrote the President to share the challenges her family and many middle class Americans are facing where they work hard and sacrifice yet still can’t seem to get ahead. But instead of focusing on growing the middle class and expanding opportunity for all, Republicans in Congress continue to block commonsense economic proposals such as raising the minimum wage, extending unemployment insurance and making college more affordable. The President will keep fighting his economic priorities in the weeks and months ahead, because he knows the best way to expand opportunity for all hardworking Americans and continue to strengthen the economy is to grow it from the middle-out. Remarks of President Barack Obama Weekly Address The White House June 28, 2014 Hi, everybody. This week, I spent a couple days in Minneapolis, talking with people about their lives – their concerns, their successes, and their hopes for the future. I went because of a letter I received from a working mother named Rebekah, who shared with me the hardships her young family has faced since the financial crisis. She and her husband Ben were just newlyweds expecting their first child, Jack, when the housing crash dried up his contracting business. He took what jobs he could, and Rebekah took out student loans and retrained for a new career. They sacrificed – for their kids, and for each other. And five years later, they’ve paid off debt, bought their first home, and had their second son, Henry. In her letter to me, she wrote, “We are a strong, tight-knit family who has made it through some very, very hard times.” And in many ways, that’s America’s story these past five years. We are a strong, tight-knit family that’s made it through some very tough times. Today, over the past 51 months, our businesses have created 9.4 million new jobs. By measure after measure, our economy is doing better than it was five years ago. But as Rebekah also wrote in her letter, there are still too many middle-class families like hers who do everything right – who work hard and who sacrifice – but can’t seem to get ahead. It feels like the odds are stacked against them. And with just a small change in our priorities, we could fix that. The problem is, Republicans in Congress keep blocking or voting down almost every serious idea to strengthen the middle class. This year alone, they’ve said no to raising the minimum wage, no to fair pay, no to student loan reform, no to extending unemployment insurance. And rather than invest in education that helps working families get ahead, they actually voted to give another massive tax cut to the wealthiest Americans. This obstruction keeps the system rigged for those at the top, and rigged against the middle class. And as long as they insist on doing it, I’ll keep taking actions on my own – like the actions I’ve taken already to attract new jobs, lift workers’ wages, and help students pay off their loans. I’ll do my job. And if it makes Republicans in Congress mad that I’m trying to help people out, they can join me, and we’ll do it together. The point is, we could do so much more as a country – as a strong, tight-knit family – if Republicans in Congress were less interested in stacking the deck for those at the top, and more interested in growing the economy for everybody. So rather than more tax breaks for millionaires, let’s give more tax breaks to help working families pay for child care or college. Rather than protect tax loopholes that let big corporations set up tax shelters overseas, let’s put people to work rebuilding roads and bridges right here in America. Rather than stack the decks in favor of those who’ve already succeeded, let’s realize that we are stronger as a nation when we offer a fair shot to every American. I’m going to spend some time talking about these very choices in the week ahead. That’s because we know from our history that our economy doesn’t grow from the top-down, it grows from the middle-out. We do better when the middle class does better. That’s the American way. That’s what I believe in. And that’s what I’ll keep fighting for. Have a great Fourth of July, everybody – and good luck to Team USA down in Brazil. Thanks. Remarks by the President on the Economy -- Minneapolis, MN
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary ________________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release June 27, 2014 REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT ON THE ECONOMY Lake Harriet Band Shell Minneapolis, Minnesota 10:15 A.M. CDT THE PRESIDENT: Hello, Minneapolis! (Applause.) How is everybody doing today? You look good. (Applause.) It is good to see all of you. I miss Minneapolis. I missed you guys. Go ahead and have a seat, I’m going to be talking for a while. (Laughter.) So we’ve got some wonderful folks here today. I want to acknowledge a few of them. First of all, your outstanding Governor, Mark Dayton. (Applause.) Your wonderful senators, Al Franken and Amy Klobuchar. (Applause.) Congressman Keith Ellison. (Applause.) Your Mayor, Betsy Hodges. (Applause.) And all of you are here, and that’s special. I want to thank Rebekah for not just the introduction and for sharing her story, but for letting me hang out with her and her family for the last couple of days. I really like her. (Laughter.) And her husband is like the husband of the year. Generally, you don’t want your wife to meet Rebekah’s husband, because she’ll be like, well, why don’t you do that? (Laughter.) Why aren’t you like that? I’ve been wanting to visit a place where all the women are strong and the men are good-looking, and the children above average. (Applause.) And this clearly is an example of what Minnesota produces. So yesterday, Rebekah and I had lunch at Matt’s Bar, had a “Jucy Lucy” -- (applause) -- which was quite tasty. We had a town hall at Minnehaha Park, although I did not take a kayak over the falls, which seemed dangerous. (Laughter.) We got ice cream at Grand Ole Creamery -- very good, very tasty. And then this morning, Al Franken and I and Secretary Tom Perez, our Secretary of Labor who’s here -- Tom, stand up -- (applause) -- we stopped by a community organization that helps with a lot of job programs and job placement programs. And this program in particular was focused on young moms. It was really interesting talking to them, because there are teenage mothers, 16 to 18, and it was a great pleasure for me to be able to say to all of them that my mom was a teenage mom, and she was 18 when she had me -- and to be able to say to all of them that here in this country, it is possible for the child of a teenage mom, a single mom, to end up being President of the United States. (Applause.) And I think that it maybe gave them something to think about. So you guys have been great hosts, Minnesota. AUDIENCE MEMBER: Thank you! THE PRESIDENT: You’re welcome. (Laughter.) AUDIENCE MEMBER: We love you! THE PRESIDENT: I love you back. (Laughter and applause.) So I want to give you a sense of how this visit came up. As some of you know, every day we get tens of thousands of correspondence at the White House. And we have a big correspondence office, and every night the folks who manage the correspondence office select 10 letters for me to read. And the job of these letters is not to just puff me up -- so it’s not like they only send me letters saying, Mr. President, you’re doing great. (Laughter.) Sometimes the letters say thank you for something I may have done. Sometimes the letters say, you are an idiot and the worst President ever. (Laughter.) And most of the stories, though, are stories of hardship, or hard-won success, or hopes that haven’t been met yet. Some appreciate a position that I may have taken; some disagree with what I’m doing. Some consider policies like the Affordable Care Act to be socialism; some tell stories about the difference that same policy may have made in folks’ lives. So I’m getting a good sample of what’s happening around the country. And last month, three young girls wrote to me that boys aren’t fair because they don’t pass the ball in gym class. (Laughter.) So there’s a wide spectrum -- and I’m going to prepare an executive order on that. But the letter that Rebekah sent stood out -- first of all, because she’s a good writer, and also because she’s a good person. And the story that she told me reminded Michelle and I of some of our own experiences when we were Rebekah and her husband’s age. And in many ways, her story for the past five years is our story, it’s the American story. In early 2009, Rebekah and Ben, her husband, they were newly married, expecting their first son, Jack. She was waiting tables, he was in construction. Like millions of middle-class families who got hammered by the Great Recession -- the worst recession since the Great Depression -- life was about to get pretty hard. “If only we had known,” she wrote, “what was about to happen to the housing and construction market.” Ben’s business dried up. But as a new husband and dad, he did what he had to, so he took whatever jobs he could, even if it forced him to be away from his family for days at a time. Rebekah realized she needed to think about how her career would unfold, so she took out student loans and enrolled in St. Paul College, and retrained for a new career as an accountant. And it’s been a long, hard road for them. They had to pay off debt. They had to sacrifice for their kids and for one another. But then last year, they were able to buy their first home, and they’ve got a second son. And they love where they work, and Ben’s new job lets him be home for dinner each night. (Applause.) And so what Rebekah wrote was, “It’s amazing what you can bounce back from when you have to. We’re a strong, tight-knit family who has made it through some very, very hard times.” And that describes the American people. We, too, are a strong, tight-knit family who has made it through some very, very hard times. And today, over the past 51 months, our businesses have created 9.4 million new jobs. Our housing market is rebounding. Our auto industry is booming. Our manufacturing sector is adding jobs for the first time since the 1990s. We’ve made our tax code fairer. We’ve cut our deficits by more than half. More than 8 million Americans have signed up for private insurance plans through the Affordable Care Act. (Applause.) So here in Minnesota, you can now say that the women are strong, the men are good-looking, the children are above average, and 95 percent of you are insured. (Applause.) And it’s thanks to the hard work of citizens like Rebekah and Ben and so many of you that we’ve come farther, we’ve recovered faster than just about any other advanced economy on Earth. More and more companies are deciding that the world’s number-one place to create jobs and invest is once again the United States of America. (Applause.) That’s the good news. And you don’t hear it very often. By every economic measure, we are better off now than we were when I took office. (Applause.) You wouldn’t know it, but we are. We’ve made some enormous strides. But that’s not the end of the story. We have more work to do. It wasn’t the end of Rebekah’s story, because she went on to write in her letter, “We did everything right. The truth is, in America, where two people have done everything they can to succeed and fight back from the brink of financial ruin -– through job loss and retraining, and kids, and credit card debts that are set up to keep you impoverished forever, and the discipline to stop spending any money on yourselves or take a vacation in five years -- it’s virtually impossible to live a simple middle-class life.” That’s what Rebekah wrote. Because their income is eaten up by childcare for Jack and Henry that costs more each month than their mortgage. And as I was telling Rebekah -- Michelle and I, when we were their age, we had good jobs and we still had to deal with childcare issues and couldn’t figure out how to some months make ends meet. They forego vacations so they can afford to pay off student loans and save for retirement. “Our big splurge,” Rebekah wrote, “is cable TV, so we can follow our beloved Minnesota Wild, and watch Team USA in the Olympics!” (Applause.) They go out once a week for pizza or a burger. But they’re not splurging. And at the end of the month, things are tight. And this is like this wonderful young couple, with these wonderful kids, who are really working hard. And the point is, all across this country, there are people just like that, all in this audience. You’re working hard, you’re doing everything right. You believe in the American Dream. You’re not trying to get fabulously wealthy. You just want a chance to build a decent life for yourselves and your families, but sometimes it feels like the odds are rigged against you. And I think sometimes what it takes for somebody like Rebekah to sit down and write one of these letters. And I believe that even when it’s heartbreaking and it’s hard, every single one of those letters is by definition an act of hope. Because it’s a hope that the system can listen, that somebody is going to hear you; that even when Washington sometimes seems tone deaf to what’s going on in people’s lives and around kitchen tables, that there’s going to be somebody who’s going to stand up for you and your family. And that’s why I’m here -- because I want to let Rebekah know, and I wanted to let all of you know that -- because you don’t see it on TV sometimes. It’s not what the press and the pundits talk about. I’m here to tell you I’m listening, because you’re the reason I ran for President. (Applause.) Because those stories are stories I’ve lived. The same way that when I saw those young teenage moms, I thought of my mother. And when I see Rebekah and Ben, I think of our struggles when Malia and Sasha were young. And they’re not distant from me and everything we do. I ran for President because I believe this country is at its best when we’re all in it together and when everybody has a fair shot, and everybody is doing their fair share. (Applause.) And the reason I believe that is because that’s how I came here. That’s how I got here. That’s how Michelle and I were able to succeed. (Applause.) And I haven’t forgotten. And so even though you may not read about it or see it on TV all the time, our agenda, what we’re fighting for every day, is designed not to solve every problem, but to help just a little bit. To create more good jobs that pay good wages -- jobs in manufacturing and construction; energy and innovation. That’s why we’re fighting to train more workers to fill those jobs. That’s why we’re fighting to guarantee every child a world-class education, including early childhood education and better childcare. (Applause.) That’s why we’re fighting to make sure hard work pays off with a wage you can live on and savings you can retire on, and making sure that women get paid the same as men for the same job, and folks have flexibility to look after a sick child or a sick parent. (Applause.) That’s what we’re fighting for. We’re fighting so everybody has a chance. We’re fighting to vindicate the idea that no matter who you are, or what you look like, or how you grew up, or who you love, or who your parents were, or what your last name is, it doesn’t matter -- America is a place where if you’re doing the right thing, like Ben and Rebekah are, and you’re being responsible and you’re taking care of your family, that you can make it. And the fact is, we can do that. If we do some basic things, if we make some basic changes, we can create more jobs and lift more incomes and strengthen the middle class. And that’s what we should be doing. And I know it drives you nuts that Washington isn’t doing it. And it drives me nuts. (Applause.) And the reason it’s not getting done is, today, even basic commonsense ideas can’t get through this Congress. And sometimes I’m supposed to be politic about how I say things -- (laughter) -- but I’m finding lately that I just want to say what’s on my mind. (Applause.) So let me just be clear -- I want you think about this -- so far this year, Republicans in Congress have blocked or voted down every single serious idea to strengthen the middle class. You may think I’m exaggerating, but let me go through the list. They’ve said no to raising the minimum wage. They’ve said no to fair pay. Some of them have denied that there’s even a problem, despite the fact that women are getting paid 77 cents for every dollar a man is getting paid. They’ve said no to extending unemployment insurance for more than three million Americans who are out there looking every single day for a new job, despite the fact that we know it would be good not just for those families who are working hard to try to get back on their feet, but for the economy as a whole. Rather than invest in working families getting ahead, they actually voted to give another massive tax cut to the wealthiest Americans. AUDIENCE: Booo -- THE PRESIDENT: Don’t boo, by the way. I want you to vote. (Laughter and applause.) I mean, over and over again, they show that they’ll do anything to keep in place systems that really help folks at the top but don’t help you. And they don’t seem to mind. And their obstruction is keeping a system that is rigged against families like Ben’s and Rebekah’s. Now, I’m not saying these are all bad people; they’re not. When I’m sitting there just talking to them about family, we get along just fine. Many of them will acknowledge when I talk to them -- yes, I know, I wish we could do something more, but I can’t -- but they can’t be too friendly towards me because they’d be run out of town by the tea party. (Laughter.) But sometimes I get a sense they just don’t know what most folks are going through. They keep on offering a theory of the economy that time and again failed for the middle class. They think we should give more tax breaks to those at the top. They think we should invest less in things like education. They think we should let big banks, and credit card companies, and polluters, and insurers do only whatever is best for their bottom line without any responsibility to anybody else. They want to drastically reduce or get rid of the safety net for people trying to work their way into the middle class. And if we did all these things, they think the economy will thrive and jobs will prosper, and everything will trickle down. And just because they believe it, it doesn’t mean the rest of us should be believing it -- because we’ve tried what they’re peddling, and it doesn’t work. We know from our history that our economy does not grow from the top down, it grows from the middle out. We do better when the middle class does better. We do better when workers are getting a decent salary. We do better when they’ve got decent benefits. (Applause.) We do better when a young family knows that they can get ahead. And we do better when people who are working hard know that they can count on decent childcare at an affordable cost, and that if they get sick they’re not going to lose their homes. We do better when if somebody is stuck in a job that is not paying well enough, they know they can go get retrained without taking on huge mountains of debt. That’s when things hum. And with just a few changes in priorities, we could get a lot of that done right now if Congress would actually just think about you and not about getting reelected, not about the next election, not about some media sound bite, but just focus on you. (Applause.) So that’s why I’ve said, look, I want to work with Democrats and Republicans. My favorite President, by the way, was the first Republican President -- a guy named Abraham Lincoln. So this is not a statement about partisanship. This is a statement about America and what we’re fighting for. And I’m not going to let gridlock and inaction and willful indifference and greed threaten the hard work of families like yours. And so we can’t afford to wait for Congress right now. And that’s why I’m going ahead and moving ahead without them wherever I can. (Applause.) That’s why I acted to raise more workers’ wages by requiring federal contractors to pay their employees a fair wage of at least $10.10 an hour. (Applause.) That’s why I acted to help nearly five million Americans make student loan payments cap those payments at 10 percent of their income. That’s why I made sure more women have the protections they need to fight for fair pay in the workplace. (Applause.) That’s why we went ahead and launched new hubs to attract more high-tech manufacturing jobs to America. And, now, some of you may have read -- so we take these actions and then now Republicans are mad at me for taking these actions. They’re not doing anything, and then they’re mad that I’m doing something. I’m not sure which of the things I’ve done they find most offensive, but they’ve decided they’re going to sue me for doing my job. I mean, I might have said in the heat of the moment during one of these debates, “I want to raise the minimum wage, so sue me when I do.” (Laughter.) But I didn’t think they were going to take it literally. But giving more working Americans a fair shot is not about simply what I can do -- it’s about what we can do together. So when Congress doesn’t act, not only have I acted, I’ve also tried to rally others to help. I told CEOs, and governors, and mayors, and state legislatures, for example, they don’t have to wait for Congress to raise the minimum wage. Go ahead and raise your workers’ wages right now. And since I first asked Congress to raise the minimum wage, 13 states and D.C. have raised theirs, including Minnesota, where more than 450,000 of your neighbors are poised to get a raise. (Applause.) When Gap raised wages for its employees, job applications went up through the roof. It was good for business. I even got a letter from a proud mom right here in Minneapolis who just wanted me to know that her son starts his employees at $15 an hour, at Aaron’s Green Cleaning here in town. (Applause.) There they are! (Applause.) So the letter said, “We are very proud of his people-centered business philosophy! Three cheers for a decent living wage!” So we don’t have to wait for Congress to do some good stuff. On Monday, we held the first-ever White House Summit on Working Families, and we heard from a lot of other families like Ben and Rebekah. They count on policies like paid leave and workplace flexibility to juggle everything. We had business owners who came and told me they became more profitable when they made family life easier for their employees. So more companies are deciding that higher wages and workplace flexibility is good for business -- it reduces turnover, more productive workers, more loyal workers. More cities and states are deciding this is good policy for families. So the only holdout standing in the way of change for tens of millions of Americans are some Republicans in Congress. Because I just want to be real blunt: If you watch the news, you just see, okay, Washington is a mess, and the basic attitude is everybody is just crazy up there. But if you actually read the fine print, it turns out that the things you care about right now Democrats are promoting. (Applause.) And we’re just not getting enough help. And my message to Republicans is: Join us. Get on board. If you’re mad at me for helping people on my own, then why don’t you join me and we’ll do it together? (Applause.) We’ll do it together. I’m happy to share the credit. You’re mad at me for doing some things to raise the minimum wage, let’s pass a law -- Republicans and Democrats giving America a raise. If you’re mad at me for taking executive action to make it easier for women to find out if they’re not getting treated fairly in the workplace, let’s do it together. You can share the credit. (Applause.) You’re worried about me trying to fix a broken immigration system, let’s hold hands and go ahead and make sure that this country continues to be a nation of laws and a nation of immigrants. I want to work with you, but you’ve got to give me something. You’ve got to try to deliver something -- anything. (Applause.) They don’t do anything -- (laughter) -- except block me. And call me names. It can’t be that much fun. (Laughter.) It’d be so much more fun if they said, you know what, let’s do something together. If they were more interested in growing the economy for you, and the issues that you’re talking about, instead of trying to mess with me -- (laughter) -- then we’d be doing a lot better. That’s what makes this country great, is when we’re all working together. That’s the American way. Now more than ever, with the 4th of July next week, Team USA moving on down in Brazil -- (applause) -- we should try to rally around some economic patriotism that says we rise or fall as one nation and one people. Let’s rally around the idea that instead of giving tax breaks for millionaires, let’s give more tax breaks for working families to help pay for childcare or college. (Applause.) Instead of protecting companies that are shifting profits overseas to avoid paying their fair share, let’s put people to work rebuilding our roads and our bridges and our airports. (Applause.) Let’s invest in manufacturing startups so that we’re creating good jobs making products here in America, here in Minnesota. (Applause.) Rather than stack the deck in favor of those who have already got an awful lot, let’s help folks who have huge talent and potential and ingenuity but just need a little bit of a hand up so that we can tap the potential of every American. I mean, this isn’t rocket science. There are some things that are complicated -- this isn’t one of them. Let’s make sure every 4-year-old in America has access to high school -- high-quality preschool -- (applause) -- so that moms like Rebekah and dads like Ben know their kids are getting the best quality care and getting a head start on life. Let’s redesign our high schools to make sure that our kids are better prepared for the 21st century economy. Let’s follow the lead of Senator Franken and Secretary Perez and give more apprenticeships that connect young people to rewarding careers. (Applause.) Let’s tell every American if they’ve lost their job because it was shipped overseas, we’re going to train you for an even better one. (Applause.) Let’s rally around the patriotism that says our country is stronger when every American can count on affordable health insurance and Medicare and Social Security, and women earn pay equal to their efforts, and family can make ends meet if their kid get sick, and when nobody who works full-time is living in poverty. We can do all these things. And so let me just -- let me wrap up by saying this. I know sometimes things get kind of discouraging. And I know that our politics looks profoundly broken, and Washington looks like it’s never going to deliver for you. It seems like they’re focused on everything but your concerns. And I know that when I was elected in 2008 and then reelected in 2012, so many of you were hoping that we could get Washington to work differently, and sometimes when I get stymied you’d think, oh, maybe not; maybe it’s just too tough, maybe things won’t change. And I get that frustration. And the critics and the cynics in Washington, they’ve written me off more times than I can count. But I’m here to tell you, don’t get cynical. Despite all of the frustrations, America is making progress. Despite the unyielding opposition, there are families who have health insurance now who didn’t have it before. And there are students in college who couldn’t afford it before. And there are workers on the job who didn’t have jobs before. And there are troops home with their families after serving tour after tour. (Applause.) Don’t think that we’re not making progress. So, yes, it’s easy to be cynical; in fact, these days it’s kind of trendy. Cynicism passes off for wisdom. But cynicism doesn’t liberate a continent. Cynicism doesn’t build a transcontinental railroad. Cynicism doesn’t send a man to the moon. Cynicism doesn’t invent the Internet. Cynicism doesn’t give women the right to vote. Cynicism doesn’t make sure that people are treated equally regardless of race. Cynicism is a choice, and hope is a better choice. And every day I’m lucky to receive thousands of acts of hope -- every time somebody sits down and picks up a pen, and writes to me and shares their story, just like Rebekah did. And Rebekah said in her letter -- she ended it, she said, “I’m pretty sure this is a silly thing to do to write a letter to the President, but on some level I know that staying silent about what you see and what needs changing, it never makes any difference. So I’m writing to you to let you know what it’s like for us out here in the middle of the country, and I hope you will listen.” And I’m here because Rebekah wrote to me and I want her to know I’m listening. I’m here as President, because I want you all to know that I’m listening. (Applause.) I ran for office to make sure that anybody who is working hard to meet their dreams has somebody in Washington that is listening. And I’m always going to keep listening. And I’m always going to keep fighting. (Applause.) And your cares and your concerns are my own, and your hopes for your kids and your grandkids are my own. And I’m always going to be working to restore the American Dream for everybody who’s willing to work for it. (Applause.) And I am not going to get cynical; I’m staying hopeful, and I hope you do too. Thank you. God bless you. God bless America. (Applause.) END 10:50 A.M. CDT White House Pool Report
POTUS made an unexpected stop at a job training center in north Minneapolis, a predominantly African-American neighborhood. See WH-provided background below. The program, called HIRED, is in a large, new building. The pool was led into a classroom inside, where nine young women were seated at a u-shaped table. POTUS walked in with Sen. Al Franken and Labor Sec. Tom Perez. He was greeted by a teacher, who explained the women are taking a 3 week course on customer service. He said they were his best class he'd ever taught. Obama responded with, "How bout that! Way to go, guys!" He then introduced himself, stating the obvious. "I'm Barack Obama. I'm the president." "Of the United States," Franken added dryly, to laughter. Obama introduced Franken and Perez and said they were there because "we've been spending a lot of time thinking about" job training. Obama added that "All of us start in different places. I was basically raised by a single mom... My mom was in a similar place as a lot of you guys" Obama said his mom benefited from help and programs and he wants to makes sure "all of you have opportunities and a chance to thrive." He then asked what they've been learning about customer service. One woman answered, shyly, that they're learning how to be good employees. Obama tried to pull more out of her, but she was reluctant to answer. "You're feeling shy? With all these cameras? I get it." And with that the pool was ushered out. Potus spent about 20 minutes inside, while the pool held outside. At about 9:50, we were rolling for the econ speech at the Lake Harriet Bandshell. The motorcade arrived at 10:05. This is open press. Background from the White House: The President is visiting a Project CARE class with Secretary Perez and Senator Franken. This Project CARE class provides young mothers training in customer service and sales occupations for four weeks, followed by paid internships. Project CARE is a part of HIRED, a community-based organization in Minneapolis that helps individuals train for and find jobs. HIRED is co-located with six local American Job Centers and uses Federal funds from the Workforce Investment Act and administers the Minnesota Family Investment Program funded by Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. HIRED has strong business partnerships in sectors like health care, construction, and manufacturing. DAILY GUIDANCE AND PRESS SCHEDULE FOR FRIDAY, MAY 27, 2014
Sometimes poolers get dates wrong, "THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 26, 2014 DAILY GUIDANCE AND PRESS SCHEDULE FOR FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 2014 In the morning, the President will deliver remarks on the economy at the Lake Harriet Band Shell. The President’s remarks at Lake Harriet Band Shell are open to pre-credentialed media. In the afternoon, the President will depart Minnesota en route Washington, DC. The departure from Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport is open to pre-credentialed media and the arrival on the South Lawn is open press. Later in the afternoon, the President will meet with Acting Secretary of Veterans Affairs Sloan D. Gibson and Rob Nabors to provide an update on the situation at the Department of Veterans Affairs. This meeting in the Oval Office is closed press. In the evening, the President and First Lady will attend the Marine Barracks Evening Parade in Washington, DC. There will be pool coverage of this event" Pool report 11// Unannounced stop continued
The pooler wrote "We’re told by WH the street that the unannounced stop happened is called Grand Avenue. After exiting the Golden Fig, Obama walked along the sidewalk past a restaurant called the Wild Onion at which people were eating outside and seemed happy to see Potus. He shook hands and posed for photos. His limo, the beast, rolled along slowly in the street, never more than 30 feet to his right -- ready in case of emergency. A secret service agent held the door slightly ajar. Obama then talked to folks at other establishments, and at one point his adviser David Simas walked with him. Obama arrived at Grand Ole Creamery, where he spoke with a group of three older women who were sitting outside. “Is this like an everyday thing or just today?” Obama asked them. “It’s a great Minnesota day, today. That’s what we like,” one woman said. Obama told them about the stuntman who went over the falls. “They won’t let me kiss you,” one woman said. “Of course, you can,” Potus said. He hugged her. Inside the creamery, Obama walked along the counter and told the employees he used to scoop ice cream – at Baskin Robbins. The employees groaned. “NO, the point is that my first job was scooping ice cream. One of you might be president,” he said. He explained that from his experience scooping chocolate was more difficult because it was harder but softer flavors like pralines and cream were easier to scoop. Looking at the ice cream, he said: “I'm a sort of traditionalist but this all looks so good I might have to branch out.” Obama was told the number one seller is Black Hills Gold. An employee told pool it was caramel based with pralines and cookies. He asked for a taste and an employee gave him a scoop on a tiny tasting spoon. Obama savored it and put the spoon in his mouth several times, joking he wanted to keep it as a souvenir. "That is outstanding. Let’s get a scoop of that! Got to be on a cone, a homemade waffle cone" Obama then looked up and realized he was (almost) alone. He ordered his staff to come in. "I'm paying for all of you!" But Valerie Jarret informed him she’d already eaten her ice cream. “You already ate yours? How’d that happen,” he asked. “I got here earlier than you,” she replied. Obama then got his ice cream on a waffle cone and showed it to the press and said: "Press, you guys want some? On me. No? Is that unethical? I'm trying to soften you up." With that, the pool was ushered out. At 6:30 pm pool arrived at a private residence for the DCCC fundraiser. We’re holding in a garage. " Remarks by the First Lady During Conversation with Robin Roberts at The White House Working Families Summit
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the First Lady _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release June 23, 2014 REMARKS BY THE FIRST LADY DURING CONVERSATION WITH ROBIN ROBERTS AT THE WHITE HOUSE WORKING FAMILIES SUMMIT The Omni Hotel Washington, D.C. 5:36 P.M. EDT MS. ROBERTS: Good to see you. MRS. OBAMA: How are you? MS. ROBERTS: Oh, doing well. MRS. OBAMA: Doesn’t Robin look good? (Applause.) MS. ROBERTS: Oh, thank you. MRS. OBAMA: You look good! MS. ROBERTS: You're just saying it because it's true. (Laughter.) But it has been, all day long here, and that lively group discussion which has preceded us, talking about the role of women in the workplace and the fact that nearly half of the workforce is made up of women. Yet when you see the Fortune 500 companies, only 24 women are CEOs. That's less than 5 percent. And like everyone, if you're involved in any type of work, you want to be in an environment where you can excel and you can grow. MRS. OBAMA: Absolutely. MS. ROBERTS: So what do we need to do to change that environment? MRS. OBAMA: I think you’ve heard it all day today. We have to use our voices, particularly the young generation, because we have to realize, now that the numbers are on our side, more and more people are realizing that this is an issue for everybody. And we have to use our voices, our power and our leverage to make demands, to feel like we can make the request, to make the ask to our employers. I mean, I had to find that voice within me, myself, and it occurred during my -- after the birth of Sasha. And Barack, I think he mentioned this. Everybody was like -- what was he talking about? Well, this is what he was talking about. (Applause.) This is what he was talking about. I had sort of dealt with the tug of how am I balancing things. Barack was in Springfield; then he was in Washington. I was in Chicago, trying to manage these two beautiful girls, trying to still hold down a part-time job. The first thing I tried to do, which was a mistake, was that I tried the part-time thing. But what I realized was that I got gipped on that front, because when you are working a professional job, what happened was I got a part-time salary but continued to work full-time. (Applause.) So after that experience I said never again will I short-change myself. Because we were still paying for full-time babysitting because as a professional, when there was a meeting that needed to happen they expected you to be there. So we had to have full-time babysitting. So that was a net loss for us. Then I had Sasha and we lost our babysitter, which was probably the worst time of my motherhood. I was so devastated because that balance, that work-family balance is so fragile, and you realize how fragile it is that with a blink of an eye of a broken toilet, a sick child, a sick parent, that that balance is thrown off. And after we lost that first babysitter, someone we developed trust with, you let them in their home, they were wonderful, they loved your kid, and then they left -- and she left for good reason; she left because she needed to make more money. But it was devastating. And I said then, I quit. Just forget it. I'm not doing it again. But I got a call from the University of Chicago Hospital; they wanted me to interview for a job. And by then I was ready to be done, but that empowered me. I said, you know, I don't even want this job, so I'm going to go to the interview and I'm just going to be whoever I'm going to be. (Laughter.) And they’re going to have to deal with it. And who I was at the time was a breast-feeding mother of a four-month old -- (applause) -- and I didn’t have a babysitter, so I promptly took Sasha to the interview with me. And I thought, look, this is who I am. I've got a husband who’s away. I've got two little babies. They are my priority. If you want me to do the job, you’ve got to pay me to do the job and you’ve got to give me flexibility. And flexibility means that I will work my tail off for you, but you better pay me and value my family. And the guy said, of course. I thought, are you kidding? (Laughter.) And so I became a vice president at the University of Chicago Hospitals, and it was one of the best experiences that I had because they -- because he put my family first and I felt like I owed that hospital because they were supporting me. And that's what we have to have. We have to get employers to understand that this is about their bottom line as well. (Applause.) MS. ROBERTS: So your approach to your career changed as you became a mother, and how -- you said at first you learned not to ask for part-time, and so you were more direct in what you needed and your employer responded. There are a lot of people, though, that are going to say, yeah, but I'm at risk if I do that, I might lose my job, I really need this job. MRS. OBAMA: That's true. That’s why it's so important for women and men who are in the position to make these demands to do it. So this isn't just -- this fight isn't about me or Barack, because things are different now. We live in the White House. (Laughter.) Grandma lives upstairs -- thank God. (Laughter.) And we have resources that we never could have imagined. So this isn't -- the fight isn't about us. It's about every mother and father out there who doesn’t have the leverage to make those demands. We're fighting for them because we know how bad it is, we know how tough it is. I knew back then when I was a vice president at a hospital. I understood the advantage that I had. If I were a teacher or a bus driver or a nurse or a shift worker -- which my father was -- there’s no room for that kind of negotiation -- if you're an hourly worker. But the needs are even greater because the balance is even -- it's even more delicate for many working families, folks on an hourly wage. Childcare is beyond expensive. I mean, we had the luxury of looking at nannies, right? We couldn't even afford to keep the one we had, but we weren’t looking at the cost of childcare, taking a baby, packing them up, putting them in a car-seat, dropping them off at a childcare center, coming back. Just that emotional tug on its own is powerful. And it is not lost on either me or Barack how tough it is, which is why we all have to be in this fight. This is something that we're doing for each other. (Applause.) MS. ROBERTS: You bring up so many excellent points, and they’re so -- I know, I know, there are so many places -- but the fact that you're saying working families -- because the landscape is changing. Women are going into the workforce; there are more stay-at-home dads. Is that part of the movement and letting everybody know that it is an issue for everyone in the family? MRS. OBAMA: Absolutely. That's why I love the fact that this is a Working Family Summit. I mean, you guys heard from Barack -- I mean, at least I heard you heard from him. What I heard that he talked about was just how important those first months that he had with the girls was. And men understand that you need that time, too. Because that bonding time, that time that he spent getting up, taking a late-night shift -- not only did it save me, gave me some sleep and some peace of mind, but he connected with our girls in a way that I still see. That connection is real. And we as mothers, we don't take that for granted. But I think more and more men are understanding that you don't miss that time because you don't get that time back -- because, let me tell you, now that Malia and Sasha are teenagers, they don't want to be bothered with us. (Laughter.) So it's that time that you spent rocking in the chairs and reading them stories, and he was able to do that because not only did he value it, but he was in a work situation that allowed him to do that. And that brought us closer. So this is about strengthening the whole family. (Applause.) And I think more and more men are realizing that they can't just -- they just can't pass off those responsibilities and they have to fight for these changes for themselves. This isn't a women’s issue by any stretch of imagination. (Applause.) MS. ROBERTS: No, they realize that. And your husband really -- he was -- the things that he was saying. And one thing that really touched a lot of people is when he said, yes, you are a strong woman, a strong mother, a strong wife, but early in the marriage, to see you break down in tears because you were trying to juggle so much, and how that, after all this time, has still stayed with him. Did you? Were you in tears sometimes trying to do all -- MRS. OBAMA: Oh, my goodness. I mean, the minute those kids come into the world they just rip your heart out of your chest. (Laughter.) That's why I tell young women and young families that we grow up as professionals, many of us, and we think we have all our -- have it all figured out. We've got the plan: four years here at this university and then I'm going to go down this path, I'll earn this money and I'll get this promotion. I'm like, just have a baby. (Laughter.) And that baby comes out and looks you in the face and all the plans go out the window. You don't know how you're going to feel. And every child is different. They add a whole new set of joy, a whole new set of worries to your life. There is nothing more important to me than my girls. That's why when we first came in and people asked me what was my agenda -- when we first came into the White House -- and I said it's making sure that my kids are whole. I thought I was being honest. (Applause.) I mean, some people judged me for that, but the truth of the matter was that whether I'm First Lady and he’s the President, our first job is to make sure that our kids are on point. (Applause.) That is the most important legacy we will ever leave. (Applause.) So that’s why this issue is so important. Because employers have to know is -- if a family’s life isn’t right, if there’s a worry, if you don’t think that you’re leaving your child in good care, if they’re not healthy and whole and happy, you’re going to bring that worry to work. And it’s going to eat away at what you’re able to -- I don’t care what you do. You wait -- as working families, don’t you wake up every morning just praying that nobody is sick? Just don’t be sick, my God. (Laughter.) You know, we all push them out the door a little sniffly because it was like, okay, cough again. (Laughter.) No, you’re not really sick, you’re like -- it’s just -- it’s not 100! It’s not 100! (Laughter.) We all sent them to school just a little -- you’re fine, try to get through lunch. (Laughter.) Call me, tell me how you feel. But you send them off and all you’re doing is worrying that they’re falling apart in school. So these are real emotionally draining issues. And there are -- because there are employers that have figured how to do this -- how to give us families the space to be good workers but also to first and foremost be good families, if some can do it, they call can do it. MS. ROBERTS: Some are doing it; not all are doing it. And in part, why we’re here in Washington, people want to know the role of the federal government, and in some cases, the state government. Is that something that should be done? Because there are a lot of people who are not certain of that. MRS. OBAMA: Well, there are two ways to focus this -- you’re going to see in this administration, they’re going to do everything in their power administratively to make changes and to lead by example. I think one of my young staffers said that she just got an email from the Chief of Staff who said because of this Summit this administration is going to start asking a set of different questions and so on. So the first thing that the President can do is make sure that his administration is leading by example. Now, what we need to do on the policy front requires congressional action at some point in time. And I know I just heard Nancy say it and I heard the President say it, that you’ve got to have elected officials who believe in these issues and the changes that need to be made as passionately as we all do, and that’s going to require us to help them understand just how important these issues are. (Applause.) MS. ROBERTS: But you know there are some who feel -- when we talk about minimum wage and equal pay, but mainly minimum wage -- and I think the first time we sat down and had an interview you brought it up. You were passionate about it then, and fighting, and saying how important -- and knowing the importance of that. When there are people that are there who are saying it’s going to cause jobs to be lost, it’s such a political debate. What can we do -- if we lose that debate, what can be done to push that through? MRS. OBAMA: Well, I think building momentum. Because, again, most employers are private employers. They can make decisions based on what’s most financially expedient for them. And studies are showing that having a fair wage, having decent family leave policies and the like -- creating a flexible environment -- that that improves the bottom line for companies. And we have to start getting that information out so that every company looks at the bottom line for themselves. The question is, is everybody even looking at it? Because if we’ve allowed this not to be an issue because we’re sucking it up, because -- and let me tell you, women, we suck it up. We’re just going to figure it out -- maybe it’s me, the reason why I feel crazy. It’s not because I should be -- we tell ourselves, I should be able to manage this, right? I should be able to have a full-time job and pick my kids up from daycare and drop them off and cook a meal and fry it up in a pan and all that stuff -- MS. ROBERTS: And never let him forget he’s a man. MRS. OBAMA: That part, too. MS. ROBERTS: I’m a woman! Enjoli. (Laughter.) Remember that? Enjoli, yes. (Laughter.) I’m old school, baby, I’m old school. (Laughter.) MRS. OBAMA: Yes, yes, what Robin said. (Laughter.) But because we wind up taking these issues on, and we’re just going to do it all, right, we’re not focusing on the need to push for change. And the 21st-century workplace, as you have pointed out, it’s very different. Women are working more, men are understanding their value as caregivers, women are primary breadwinners -- I mean, we could go on and on and on. Things are different. So we can’t keep operating like everything is the same, and that’s why many of us have done. And I think it’s up to us to change the conversation. And this Summit hopefully is the beginning of a shift in dialogue so that, as Nancy said, as our good Speaker said, we have to change the public conversation. And we can’t underestimate the power there. You can’t just wait for politicians to do what they -- what you think they should know you want to do. They have to feel the pressure. And that’s the job of all of us, and it starts here. But these conversations have to continue at the regional level. I know many people have been working -- absolutely. (Applause.) This is just the beginning. And it has to be a movement, and there has to be momentum, and it has to continue, and -- to the point where the pressure is to real, and that this is the conversation that we’re having at every socioeconomic level, within ever race and every community, that we are now demanding that we can have the resources to do it all -- to be good workers, to earn a decent living, and to raise our families so that they’re whole and happy and healthy. That is the American way. That is the American way. (Applause.) MS. ROBERTS: And it was said here about how women -- there are more women that are in law school and medicine and other fields, but when it comes to the STEM fields, the one -- science, technology, engineering and mathematics -- that’s where the growth is, that’s where women can make even more money than any other field. But yet, women, even though there’s more of us on college campuses, we’re not in those fields. And there seems to be a stigma still attached to that. How do we eradicate that? MRS. OBAMA: Well, we have to start very early on. And more and more resources are being put into encouraging more women and girls to enter STEM fields. But as you all know, it starts very early on. You’ve got to create that pool. Because so much of that field requires the stair-steps of math and science, and you can’t sort of skip a step because everything builds upon everything else. And so many girls shy away from math and science; they automatically say, oh, I’m not good at that. I was a victim of that. I didn’t go to medical school because I thought I wasn’t good at sciences. My mother told me I talked a lot, so I went to law school. (Laughter.) But we’ve got to get girls when they’re young before they move away -- or sort of buy into the mythology that women can’t do these things. So we have to start very early. MS. ROBERTS: You had said in I think it was Parade Magazine that you and your husband would like your daughters to get a minimum-wage job to build character, to understand what it’s like. What kind of job would you like -- when you say that? MRS. OBAMA: I don’t care. Just a job that pays them. It really doesn’t matter what it is. I think the whole point is that they learn how to roll up their sleeves and work hard and understand what the vast majority of folks in this country have to do to earn a living, and that’s it’s not glamorous, and that it’s not fun all the time, and there are people who get up every day for their entire lives and go to a job that’s not fun, and they do it to put food on the table. My father was one of those folks, one of those men. And just watching him get up every day and go to work and go to a job that didn’t -- that wasn’t exciting and glamorous, but -- to go to a job that paid the bills and sent us to college, it motivated me to never take my education or my opportunities for granted. And I want my girls to understand that firsthand. (Applause.) MS. ROBERTS: And when you and your husband, when you leave Washington, let’s see, Malia will be in college. MRS. OBAMA: I know. (Laughter.) MS. ROBERTS: Sasha will be in high school. There are many people that are wondering what’s your next act? Will it be political? MRS. OBAMA: Me? MS. ROBERTS: Yes, you. MRS. OBAMA: No, it will not be political. (Laughter.) MS. ROBERTS: No? MRS. OBAMA: Yes, no, it definitely will not be. It will be mission-based, it will be service-focused. (Applause.) MS. ROBERTS: Not in that regard. Here we are, we’re talking -- we have Nancy Pelosi that was up here, we have women at the Supreme Court, and there are many feeling that if we’re going to talk about leadership -- and that’s what we’re doing here -- that a woman president is part of that. And what an example that would set for your girls and for young boys, and for all of us. Do you foresee that happening, and should -- and when should that happen? MRS. OBAMA: That should happen as soon as possible. (Applause.) And, you know, I think this country is ready. This country is ready for anyone who can do the job. And what we have learned is that the person who can do the job is -- doesn’t have a particular race or gender or background or socioeconomic status. (Applause.) The person who should do the job is the person who’s the most qualified. And I think we have some options, don’t we? (Applause.) MS. ROBERTS: You sure you’re not getting into politics? Because that answer was really good. (Laughter.) MRS. OBAMA: I am positive. (Laughter.) MS. ROBERTS: In the time that we have remaining, as I said, you’re the closing act. There has been a whole day of just great dialogue, and people -- MRS. OBAMA: A great day. MS. ROBERTS: A great day. And people want to feel -- and I was talking about this, because the last time I saw you was Dr. Angelou’s service. And we had all said -- and it was up there in the chapel about how “people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” And there is a sense of how people are going to feel when they leave this day, this Summit. What is it that you want them to know? MRS. OBAMA: People should feel energized and empowered. (Applause.) And I sense that in the room today. I was backstage saying hi to some folks, and you guys were feeling it. (Laughter.) That’s a good thing. That’s the word on the street, is that this was a very uplifting day. But this is just a day, right? And movements don’t happen in the span of 24 hours, and they take a while, which is why we want to really empower the next generation. Because the young folks coming into the workplace now are the ones who can really start pushing for a whole new type of paradigm. But it’s going to take time, and it’s going to take persistence and consistency. And there will be bumps in the road, and there will be losses. But we have to celebrate every small victory. And we can’t be our own worst enemies and get down on ourselves because we lose a battle or we didn’t get a hundred percent of what we want. Change can be -- come in increments of 20 percent victories, but we have to celebrate those victories and keep pushing forward. So this is just the beginning. And it has to be, because this is going to be a long road. We’re going to have to see changes in the way society perceives this issue -- that’s going to come from people in this room. We’re going to have to change the way Congress sees these issues -- that’s going to come from the people in this room. And we have to build on this movement, because it affects everyone. This is one of those -- this should be one of those issues that galvanizes this nation. Because, again, it knows no race, no socioeconomic background, no religion. (Applause.) It’s something that we all should be able to pull around, but we’ve all -- we all have to be out there pushing this forward. And that is my hope for today, that this is just the beginning of an important conversation that’s going to continue for years and years to come until we’re finally up there with other leading nations who’ve had amazing work-family policies for a much longer time. There’s no excuse for America to be following on this issue. We should be leading on this issue. (Applause.) MS. ROBERTS: And picking up that, because your husband just today was talking about how this great country, that we are the only one of a developed nation that does not have a paid leave for maternity. And I think when you see that and when the President expresses that, there is a feeling that this time has come. And so what, again, when we’re going to leave here, what is it that you want us to do? MRS. OBAMA: Vote. (Applause.) Continue to use those voices. For those of us who have the leverage to be sort of the trailblazers within our companies, we should be the ones doing it. If we have seats at the table in companies across America, if we’re sitting on boards, if we’re leading organizations, then we should be taking the lead. We should be pushing our companies. We should be taking the risks of making somebody mad, making somebody feel a little bit uncomfortable. We have to be leaders. If we own a business, we should be trying to figure out the data and how to make it work for our bottom lines. We should be looking at the research. We should be asking those tough questions. We should be looking at best practices. We have to be leaders on this issue. And this group is not an accident. I mean, we’ve picked the top advocates, the top business owners, the top policy makers -- you guys are the ones who are leading on this issue. But remember, trailblazing can hurt sometimes. And some of it may not feel so good, but you’re doing it for the men and women who don’t have that voice, and who can’t take the risks. (Applause.) So we have to be the ones to do it for them. MS. ROBERTS: And you have consistently done that. Mrs. Obama, thank you very much for this opportunity to sit down with me. MRS. OBAMA: Thank you, Robin. (Applause.) END 6:09 P.M. EDT Pool report 10/Unannounced stop at boutique grocery and ice cream shop
The pooler wrote " Potus made an unannounced stop and the pool will divide the scene into two pool reports. Here is the first from the Golden Fig boutique grocery.... At around 5 p.m. the motorcade arrived at the Golden Fig in St. Paul, which the WH describes as “a small, specialty food store that carries Midwest-produced foods and gifts. The store’s owner, Laurie Crowell, wrote a letter to the President detailing the importance of Mom & Pop shops across the country and invited the President to drop by the shop if he was ever in the area.” The boutique store featured lemonade and beer soap ($7.95 a bar), salsa, chips, lollipops, caramels, chocolates and many more items. “It smells good in here. You have all kinds of goodies in here,” Potus said. A woman introduced herself as Ann, and Obama said, “That was my mother’s name, too. I’m partial to that. Crowell told Obama she started her business 18 years ago. “What’s been your biggest challenge?” Obama asked. “Well, filling out my taxes every month,” she said with a chuckle, tapping Potus on the chest. “I’ve got to take home something,” Potus said. The owner pointed to salted caramels. “I love salted caramels,” Potus said. “Let’s make up a chocolate bag and include some caramels.” She then shows him apple chips and he ate a sample. “Those are good. I’ve got to get a couple bags of those. I’m going to be popular when I get home.” The woman said the store does not sell anything with artificial coloring. They stopped at a shelf lined with jars of salsa. Are you mild? Or medium?," she asked. "I'm medium. I like a little body in my salsa. Not too sweet." She then suggested another line. "Minnesalsa! That's what I'm talking about," Obama said. He also got some blue chips and then looked at the bbq vinegar, saying he wants to have the WH start cooking with it. He chatted with two young women at the checkout counter. One had apparently met him before at a high school. “I didn’t have any gray hair when we met.” “This is the kind of store you want to pop into. They don't let me do this stuff anymore. I used to be able to do this stuff." Then Obama looked at some honey and told the proprietor that he signed an executive action related to bees, and he told her about the WH garden bee hive and how they collect 150 pounds of honey. “That’s a lot of honey,” he said. Obama then told the staff he’d been in the park for the town hall. “What was the name of that park?” Obama asked. “Minehaha.” “Lake Haha?” “Minehaha.” Obama then told them that a stuntman went over the Minehaha Falls with a camera on his head and the video went viral. The guy survived, Obama noted. Checking out, Obama turned to the pool and said: “These are not all for me, by the way.” Obama pulled out some cash from his wallet and told the press it makes him happy when he can have his wallet but he has just two things in his wallet these days – cash and his driver’s license. It expires in 2016 he said, noting it was an old photo but a good one. “I was a little younger then.” Obama then signed the receipt, even though he paid cash. Your pool later got a photo of the receipt and it shows Obama paid $90 in cash for a bill that came to $82.55. He got $7.45 in change. He signed it at the top: “To Laurie, Thanks for the great visit! Barack Obama” We then left the store. " The poolers notes give insight into real life moments Presidents and their families can jump in to from time to time. Remarks by the President in Town Hall
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary For Immediate Release June 26, 2014 REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT AT TOWN HALL Minnehaha Park Minneapolis, Minnesota 2:24 P.M. CDT THE PRESIDENT: Hello, Minneapolis! (Applause.) Good to see you. Good to see you. Everybody have a seat. It is good to be back in Minnesota. (Applause.) Last time I was here it was colder. (Laughter.) Here’s just a tip for folks who are not from Minnesota -- if you come here and the Minnesotans are complaining about how cold it is it's really cold. (Laughter.) Because these are some pretty tough folks. They don't get phased with cold. But it was cold, so it's nice to be back when it's a little warmer. And I have to begin by congratulating our U.S. soccer team, Team USA -- (applause) -- for advancing to the next round of the World Cup. (Applause.) AUDIENCE: USA! USA! USA! THE PRESIDENT: USA! AUDIENCE: USA! USA! USA! THE PRESIDENT: Absolutely. We were in what’s called the “Group of Death.” (Laughter.) And even though we didn’t win today, we were in the toughest grouping and we got through. And so we've still got a chance to win the World Cup. (Applause.) And we could not be prouder of them. They are defying the odds and earned a lot of believers in the process. And I want everybody on the team to know that all of us back home are really proud of them. Let me tell you something. I've been really looking forward to getting out of D.C. (Laughter.) But I've also been looking forward to spending a couple days here in the Twin Cities. Our agenda is still a little loose. I might pop in for some ice cream, visit a small business. I don't know. I'm just going to make it up as I go along. The Secret Service -- I always tease them. I'm like a caged bear, and every once in a while I break loose. And I'm feeling super loose today. (Applause.) So you don't know what I might do. You don't know what I might do. Who knows? (Applause.) But the main reason I wanted to be here is I just wanted to have a chance to talk to folks about their lives and their hopes and their dreams and what they’re going through. I want to spend some time listening and answering your questions and just having a conversation about what’s going well in your lives and in your neighborhoods and communities right now, but also what kinds of struggles folks are going through, and what things are helping and what things aren’t. Now, before I do I just want to mention our Governor, Mark Dayton, is here. (Applause.) And Mark gave me an update on the flooding that's been going on all across the state and I know some folks here are probably affected by it as well. We made sure that FEMA is already on the ground here. The Army Corps of Engineers is helping to build up a levee up in Warroad. I told the Governor that we will be there as we get some clarity about the damage and what needs to be done, and you should feel confident that you're going to have a strong partner in FEMA and the federal government in the process of cleaning up. (Applause.) And you can also feel confident because if we didn’t help out, then I'd have Mayor Coleman and Mayor Hodges and Congressman Keith Ellison giving me a hard time. So they’re going to hold me to it. They do a great job on behalf of their constituents every day. (Applause.) I also wanted to mention that up the road there’s a memorial service for a person that many of you knew and loved, and that's Jim Oberstar, who served so long in Congress. I had a chance to know Jim; we overlapped before he came back home. He was a good man. He was a good public servant. He was somebody who never forgot the folks in the Iron Range that he was fighting for. And in a lot of ways, what he represented was a time when folks went to Washington, but they understood that they were working on behalf of hardworking middle-class families and people who were trying to get into the middle class. And that fight continues. We've made progress. And the one thing that I always remind people of is by just about every economic measure, we are significantly better off than we were when I came into office. (Applause.) Unemployment is down; the deficits have been cut in half; the housing market has improved; 401(k)s have gotten more solid. The number of people who are uninsured are down. Our exports are up, our energy production is up. So, in the aggregate, when you look at the country as a whole, by pretty much every measure, the economy is doing better than it was when I came into office -- and in most cases significantly better. We've created now 9.4 million new jobs over the last 51 months. (Applause.) The unemployment rate here in Minnesota is the lowest it’s been since 2007. (Applause.) But here’s the thing -- and I'm not telling you anything that you don't know. There are still a lot of folks struggling out there. We've got an economy that, even when it grows and corporate profits are high and the stock market is doing well, we're still having trouble producing increases in salary and increases in wages for ordinary folks. So we've seen wages and incomes sort of flat-line, even though the costs of food and housing and other things have gone up. And so there are a lot of people who work really hard, do the right thing, are responsible, but still find at the end of the month that they’re not getting ahead. And that is the central challenge that drives me every single day when I think about what kinds of policies would help. So I’ve put forward an opportunity agenda that is a continuation of things I’ve been talking about since I came into the United States Senate and served with Mark and things that I’ve been working on since I became President -- making sure that hard work pays off; making sure that if you work hard your kid can go to a good school and end up going to college without a huge amount of debt; that you’re not going to go broke if you get sick; that you’re able to have a home of your own; and that you’re able to retire with some dignity and some respect, maybe a vacation once in a while. That’s what people are looking for. And that means that we’ve got to reverse this mindset that somehow if everybody at the top does really well then somehow benefits all automatically trickle down -- because that’s not what’s been happening for the last 20, 30 years. We had -- on Monday we had what we called a White House Working Families Summit. And we just talked about bread-and-butter issues that everybody talks about around the kitchen table but, unfortunately, don’t make it on the nightly news a lot. So we talked about childcare and the fact that it’s prohibitive for too many young families. (Applause.) We talked about paid family leave, so that if a child was sick or a parent was sick, that you could actually go help and take care of them -- which is, by the way, what every other developed country does. We’re the only one that doesn’t have it. We talked about workplace flexibility, so that if you wanted to go to a parent-teacher conference with your family -- or for your kid, or a school play, that you could balance that. And in fact, those companies we discovered at the summit who provide that kind of flexibility usually have more productive workers, harder-working workers, more loyal workers, lower turnover, and the companies end up being more profitable. We talked about increasing the minimum wage, which would benefit millions of people all across the country. (Applause.) We talked about equal pay for equal work, because I want my daughters getting paid the same as men do. (Applause.) All of these things are achievable, but we’ve got to make Washington work for you -- not for special interests, not for lobbyists. We don’t need a politics that’s planned to some -- the most fringe elements of politics. We just need folks who are having a common-sense conversation about what’s happening in your lives and how can we help, and then try to take some concrete actions that makes a difference. So that’s what I want to talk about. And I’m hoping that some people in Washington are going to be listening. Some of them will be and they’ll probably be saying I’m crazy or a socialist or something -- (laughter) -- but hopefully hearing from you, some of this stuff will sink in. All right? So with that, I’m just going to take some questions. I’ve got my little hot tea here to make sure I don’t lose my voice. And I think we’ve got microphones in the audience and I’m just going to call on folks. The only rule I’ve got is when I call on you, you’ve got to wait for the microphone, introduce yourself. If you keep your question relatively short I’ll try to keep my answers relatively short. And I’m going to go boy, girl, boy, girl to make sure it’s fair, all right? (Laughter.) All right. Let’s start it off. All right, who wants to go first? This young lady right here. Tell me your name. Q Hello, I’m Cheryl Hill. THE PRESIDENT: Hey, Cheryl. Q And I admire you so much and your office for the support we’ve received. I’m the founder of ClearCause. I work to protect our students abroad. I support hundreds of students who worked their way up through college -- our best and our brightest -- are not well-protected by any surveillance or laws. They are robbed, raped, starved, abandoned and killed. I’m here because of my son, Tyler Hill. THE PRESIDENT: Well, so this is like an exchange programs? Q Study abroad. THE PRESIDENT: Study abroad program. Generally, study abroad programs are coordinated by the universities and colleges that sponsor them. There should be interaction between those educational institutions and the State Department. There are obviously some countries that are particularly dangerous, and in those cases, I think making sure that everybody has good information going in is important. Tragedies happen when folks travel overseas. Unfortunately, tragedies happen here as well. But what I’d like to do is -- let me find out more about the nature of the coordination that happens between the State Department and study abroad programs and see if there are some things that we can do to tighten them up. And it sounds like you’ve been thinking about it, so you may have some ideas. Excellent. Gentleman in the cool sunglasses there. Q Good morning, Mr. President -- or afternoon, Mr. President. My name is Dan Morette (ph). And my question is -- you spoke about tragedies at home -- how we can reduce gun violence in this nation and what we can do to team up together and really make a difference. (Applause.) THE PRESIDENT: Well, on my way over here I was talking to a mom that I had lunch with -- who’s wonderful, by the way, and she’s here but I’m not going to embarrass her. And she’s got a couple of young sons. And we talked about a whole bunch of issues -- the cost of childcare, the fact that wages don’t go up to meet the cost of living. But one thing she talked about was Newtown. And I described how the day that Sandy Hook happened was probably the worst day of my presidency, and meeting those families just a couple of days after they lost these beautiful six-year-olds -- 20 of them -- and then some of the parents -- or some of the teachers and administrators who had been affected as well. I was sure after that happened, there’s no way that Congress isn’t going to do some common-sense stuff. I thought that the issue of gun safety and common-sense legislation has been controversial for some time, but I thought that was going to be a breakthrough moment. The fact that it wasn’t was probably the most disappointing moment that I’ve had with Congress. What we’ve done is we’ve developed 24 executive actions, things that were in our power, to really try to tighten tracking where guns go, making sure that we’re sifting through and separating out responsible gun owners from folks who really shouldn’t be having a weapon. So we’ve probably made some progress. We’ve probably saved a few lives. But I will tell you this is the only advanced country that tolerates something like this. We have what’s basically a mass shooting, it seems like, happening once every couple weeks -- kids on college campuses, kids at home. And we’re not going to eliminate all of that violence, and there’s a strong tradition of gun ownership and there are wonderful folks who are sportsman and hunters, and I respect all of that. But we should be able to take some basic common-sense steps that are, by the way, supported by most responsible gun owners -- like having background checks so you can’t just walk into a store and buy a semiautomatic -- (applause.) Something I'm going to keep on talking about that I was asked about this a few weeks ago, and I said, honestly, this is not going to change unless the people who want to prevent these kinds of mass shootings from taking place feel at least as passionate and are at least as mobilized and well-funded and organized as the NRS and the gun manufacturers are. Because the politics in Congress are such where even members of Congress who know better are fearful that if they vote their conscience and support common-sense gun legislation like background checks, they’re worried that they’re going to lose their seat. And frankly, there’s a number who have because the other side is very well organized. So I will keep on talking about it. We're going to continue to work with law enforcement and community groups and others to try to take steps locally and at the state level. But if we're going to do something nationally, then we're going to have to mobilize ordinary folks -- moms, dads, families, responsible gun owners, law enforcement -- and they’re going to have to get organized and be able to counter the pressure that’s coming from the other side in a sustained way -- not in a one-week or two-week or one-month situation right after a tragedy occurs; it’s going to have to just keep on going for several years before we’re able to make progress. (Applause.) All right. Young lady right there. The one in the orange -- got a mic right next to you. Q I’m an educator in a public school, and I have a son in college who’s struggling through college with student loans. I’ve been an educator for 27-plus years. (Applause.) And I know you’re into sports and I hear they generate a lot of money. We generate a lot of minds. And it really bothers me that I can’t pay for his education. (Applause.) THE PRESIDENT: I’m just curious what your son’s circumstances are. Is he going to a state school? Is he going to a private school? Q He’s going to a community college. THE PRESIDENT: He’s going to a community college. Q And wants to go to college in New York, in fashion design. THE PRESIDENT: Okay. But he’s in community college here in Minnesota right now? Q Correct. THE PRESIDENT: And is he eligible for the federal student loans programs? Or is he finding that because of your income or your family’s income that it’s hard to get some of the lower-interest loans? Q Both. He’s kind of both. THE PRESIDENT: Okay. Well, look, this is something we’ve been spending a lot of time on. There are a couple components to the problem. And, by the way, this is something near and dear to my heart because I was not born into a wealthy family. I’m only here because of my education, but the reason I was able to get that education was because grants, loans, work during the summer -- all of those things allowed me to pay the bills. But college costs were lower then when I was going to school. I know you can’t tell from my gray hair, but I’m getting a little older now. (Laughter.) And so I started college in 1979, and when I graduated -- I was able to get a four-year college education -- I had some debt, but I could pay it off after one year. Now, the average student that does have debt is seeing $30,000 worth of debt. And even if they’re able to take out loans, that’s a burden that they’re carrying with them in their first job; it may prevent them from buying their first home; if they’ve got a business idea, that’s money that is going to take them a while before they’re able to start a business, and, as a consequence, it effects the whole economy. Now, it is really important just to remind everybody a college education is still a great investment as long as you graduate. (Applause.) As long as you graduate. So when you go into college, you’ve got to be determined, “I’m going to graduate.” It’s a great investment, but it’s not a great investment if you take out $20,0000 worth of debt and you don’t graduate, you don’t get the degree, which is why we’re spending a lot of time talking to colleges about what are you doing to retain students. But the things that we need to do are, number one, try to keep costs of student loans down. We’ve been working with colleges and universities, telling them if the federal government is going to help subsidize your universities essentially with the student loan program, you need to show us that you’re informing students ahead of time how much they’re going to owe; that you are describing for them what their repayment plans would be; that you are keeping tuition low and that you’re graduating folks at a high rate. So we’ve got to work with the colleges and universities to lower costs. We’ve got to keep the interest rates on student loans low. Right now, there’s legislation that was presented in the Senate -- Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren sponsored it -- and what it does is it just allows student loans that you already have to be consolidated, and you can refinance them at a lower rate just like you could your mortgage if the rates go down. Republicans all voted against it -- I don’t know why. You will have to ask them. But that’s an example of a tool we can use. We’ve also put in place -- this is something that I passed a while back and now I’ve expanded -- a program whereby you never have to pay more than 10 percent of your current income to pay back your student loans, so that if you decide you want to go into teaching or you want to go into social work -- something that may not be a high-paying profession but a satisfying profession -- that the fact that you’ve had some student debt is not going to preclude you from taking that position. So there are a number of different steps that we’re taking.I will tell you, though, in addition to what we do at the federal level, you’re going to need to talk to your state legislators. Part of the reason that tuition has gone up is because state legislatures across the country have consistently lowered the support that they provide public universities and community colleges, and then the community colleges and the public universities feel obliged to increase tuition rates. And that obviously adds the burden to students. The bottom line is your son is doing the right thing. The fact that he’s starting at a community college will save him money. Even if he wants to graduate from a four-year institution eventually, it will still be a good investment. So he should shop around, get the right information. We’re going to do everything we can to make sure that we keep it as affordable as possible. And I’m sure he’s going to do wonderfully, and then he’s going to look after his mom. (Applause.) Okay, it’s a guy’s turn. This gentleman right here. Q Mr. President, like you, I’m the father of two beautiful, intelligent girls. THE PRESIDENT: Can’t beat daughters. No offense, sons. (Laughter.) Q And they’re both in STEM careers. I’m wondering what we can do to promote and encourage more girls to go into STEM careers. THE PRESIDENT: Oh, this is a great question. (Applause.) First of all, STEM stands for science, technology, engineering and math. America became an economic superpower in large part because we were the most innovative economy. We are a nation of inventors and tinkerers, and we expand the boundaries of what’s possible through science. And that continues to be the case. We still have the most cutting-edge technology, the most patents. But if we’re not careful, we’ll lose our lead. And if things aren’t being invented here, then they’re not being produced here. And if they’re not being produced here, that means the jobs aren’t being created here. And over time, other countries catch up. So what do we have to do? Number one, we’ve got to make sure that we’re investing in basic science. Sometimes people say, I don’t know what the federal government spends the money on; they’re all just wasting it. You know, one of the things that the federal government does is it invests in basic research that companies won’t invest in. And if it wasn’t for the investment in basic research, then things like the Internet, things like GPS that everybody uses every day, things that result in cures for diseases that have touched probably every family that’s represented here in some fashion -- that stuff never happens. You do the basic research and then you move on to commercialize it, and that’s oftentimes when the private sector gets involved. But they’re not willing or able a lot of times to finance basic research. So that’s number one. Number two, we’ve got to make sure that we’re investing in working with companies who are doing, let’s say, advanced manufacturing, the next phases of manufacturing, linking them up with universities so that once we have a good idea, a good invention -- whether it’s clean energy or a new way to build a car -- that the next phase of production and innovation is done here in the United States. And we’ve opened up four what we call advanced manufacturing hubs around the country -- I actually want 15 -- where we link private sector and universities so that they become centers of innovation and jobs get created here in the United States. But the third thing we need is we need more folks in engineering, math, science, technology, computer science. (Applause.) And that means we’ve got to have a school system generally that encourages those subjects. And, by the way, I was a political science and English major, and you need to know how to communicate, and I loved the liberal arts, so this is no offense, but we’ve got enough lawyers like me. We need more engineers. (Applause.) We need more scientists. Generally speaking, we’re not doing good enough educating kids and encouraging them into these kinds of careers. We’re particularly bad when it comes to girls. And my whole thing is -- somebody said I was a sports fan. I am. And one rule of sports is you don’t play as well if you’ve only got half the team. We don’t have everybody on the field right now if our young women are not being encouraged the same way to get into these fields. So this starts at an early age. What we’ve done is I’ve used my Office of Science and Technology to partner with elementary schools to, first of all, train teachers better in STEM,’ then to really focus on populations that are under-represented in STEM -- not only young women but also African Americans, Latinos, others -- getting them interested early. In some cases, for example, we know that young girls -- I know as a father -- they oftentimes do better if they’re in a team and social environment, so making sure that the structure of science classes, for example, have collaboration involved and there’s actual experience doing stuff, as opposed to just it being a classroom exercise. There are certain things that can end up making it a better experience for them, boosting their confidence, and encouraging them to get into the fields. So we’re going to continue to really spend a lot of time on this. I’ll just close by saying every year now I have a science fair at the White House, because my attitude is if I’m bringing the top football and basketball teams to the White House, I should also bring the top scientists. I want them to feel -- (applause) -- that they get the spotlight just like athletes do. And these kids are amazing -- except they make you feel really stupid. (Laughter.) The first student who I met -- she’s now -- she just graduated. When she was 12, she was diagnosed with a rare liver cancer. Fortunately, she had health insurance. They caught it early enough, she responded to treatment. Lovely young lady -- it didn’t come back. But by the time she got into high school and she was taking biology and chemistry, she became interested in why was it that I got this thing at 12 years old? So she talks to her teachers, and she designs a study where she goes to the surgeon who took out the cancer from her liver, takes samples, identifies the genetic profile and the chromosomes that might have led to this particular kind of cancer, writes up the research in Science Magazine, and now has a scholarship to Harvard to pursue her interest in bio-medicine. And as you might imagine, her parents are pretty proud of her. (Laughter.) I was really proud of her. But it gives you a sense of the possibilities for young people and young women if somebody is sparking that interest in them, and telling them this is something that they can do and they should pursue their interests. (Applause.) Young lady right here in the yellow. Q Hi, my name is Joelle Stangle. I’m the University of Minnesota student body president. And so I have a question about higher education. And I also have a softball question after this hardball question. THE PRESIDENT: Okay, I love the softball questions. Q My first question is, the House Republicans recently released their recommendations for the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act, and so I want to know where you think that Republicans and Democrats can work together and what the top priorities should be for reauthorization. And my softball question is how do you get a President to be your commencement speaker? Kids want to know. (Laughter.) THE PRESIDENT: Well, first of all, you have to invite me. (Laughter.) So that’s always a good start. I just did my last commencement at UC Irvine. I have to say, they had a campus-wide letter-writing campaign; I think we ended up getting, like, 10,000 letters, was it, from -- something like that. They also have a very cute mascot. It’s an anteater. I guess that’s their sign; that’s supposed to be the anteater. PARTICIPANT: We’ve got a gopher. THE PRESIDENT: Gophers are cool. (Laughter.) Gophers are cool. But the invitation is a good place to start, and then we’ll work from there. In terms of the higher education reauthorization act, that’s a big bill, there’s a lot of complexities to it. I will just focus on an area that I think should be the focus -- and we’ve already talked about -- and that is student loan costs, and how we can hold schools more accountable for informing young people as they’re starting their education what exactly it’s going to mean for them. Now, we’ve already started this. I mentioned a few things. One thing I didn’t mention is the Consumer Finance Protection Board that we set up that, in response to what had happened during the Great Recession, when people were taking out mortgages they couldn’t afford and predatory lenders were getting folks in a whole lot of trouble. And we said, the same way that you should be protected from a faulty appliance or a faulty car, you should be protected from a faulty financial instrument, make sure it doesn’t explode in your face. (Applause.) And one of the goals of CFPB, is what it’s called, was to tackle the student loan issue. And what we’ve done is created what we call a Know What You Owe program, which pushes colleges and universities not to do the financial counseling on the exit interview where suddenly they hand you a packet and says, here, this is what you’re going to owe -- hand it to folks at the beginning, break it down for them. And that will allow young people I think to make better decisions, and their parents to work with them to make better decisions about what college expenses are going to be. But as I said before -- this is true for education generally -- the federal government can help, but states and local governments have to do their part as well. In public education, the federal government accounts for about 7 percent of total costs. The rest of it comes from state and local taxes. And what we’ve tried to do is leverage the little bit of money that the federal government gives to this to modify how -- to incentivize reform, and to get folks to experiment with new ways of learning. For example, can we use online classes more effectively to help keep college costs down? Can we get more high school students to get transferable college credits while they’re in high school so that they can maybe graduate in three years instead of two? We’re trying to encourage folks to experiment in those ways. All of that we hope can get embodied in the higher education act. I will tell you, sometimes if I’m for it, then the other side is against it even if originally it was their idea. So I can’t guarantee you that we’ll get bipartisan support for these ideas, but there’s nothing that should prevent us from doing it because this is just about making a college education a better value for families. And that’s something that should transcend party; it shouldn’t be a Democrat or a Republican issue. All right. Gentleman right here in the uniform. Q All right, my name is -- well, good afternoon, Mr. President. THE PRESIDENT: Good afternoon. Q My name is John Martinez. I’m a recent EMT graduate from the Freedom House EMS Academy in St. Paul. (Applause.) THE PRESIDENT: Okay, there you go. Q Currently I’m teaching at the Academy, and I just got hired at Allina -- I applied for St. Paul Fire. My question is have you considered starting any other organizations such as the Freedom House for law enforcement or fire or other establishments that could get programs like that going for low-income or minorities? THE PRESIDENT: You know, I’ll confess to you I don’t know enough about Freedom House -- so I’m considering it right now. (Laughter.) But you’ve got to tell me more about it. Since you’re an instructor there and a graduate from there, why don’t you tell me how it works? Q You go through an interviewing process and the leaders -- there’s fire chiefs that interview the candidates. You get paid, but it is an interviewing process. You wear a unifor;, it’s a strict program. And it’s a 14-week or a 10-week program, depending on what time of the year. It’s intensive. Everything is compacted, all the information that we learn. And you learn skills -- all the skills that you need to be an EMT. You meet, you network, you meet fire chiefs, police. I know people that are going into med school. It started in 1967 in Philadelphia. THE PRESIDENT: Well, it sounds like a great program. Q Yes. THE PRESIDENT: And who’s eligible for it? Is it young people who have already graduated from high school but haven’t yet gone to college? If I’m 30 years old and I’m thinking let me try a new career -- who is it that can participate? Q Anyone from the ages of 17 to 30 is eligible. You have to meet the income requirements. And it’s open to anyone who wants to get into EMS or fire. THE PRESIDENT: Well, that’s a great idea. See, you just gave me a good idea. (Laughter.) So now I’m considering expanding it. (Applause.) It’s a good example, though, of a broader issues, which is not everybody is going to go to a four-year university, but everybody is going to need some advanced training. And so the question is how do we set up systems -- whether it’s apprenticeships, whether it’s programs like Freedom House that you just described, whether it’s through the community colleges -- where whatever stage in your life, if you feel as if you’re stuck in your existing occupation, you want to do better, or you lose your job and you’ve got to transition to a new industry, that you are able to get training that fits you. Understanding that for a lot of folks they may be working at the same time as they are looking after their kids, and so there’s got to be some flexibility. The programs have to be more compact. Most importantly, they have to be job-training programs or technical programs that actually produce the skills you need to get jobs that are there. And so what we’ve been trying to do is to -- which seems like common sense but, unfortunately, for a long time wasn’t done -- going to the businesses first that are hiring and asking them, well, what exactly are you looking for, and why don’t you work with the community college, or why don’t you work with the nonprofit to help design the actual training program so that you’ll have the benefit of knowing if somebody has gone through the program, they’re prepared for the job. Conversely, the person who’s gone through the training program, they know if they complete it, that there’s a job at the other end. And that’s how we’re actually trying to redesign a lot of the job training programs that are out there. But as I said before, you’ve also got to make sure that you structure it so that a working mom who can’t afford to just quit her job and go to school -- maybe she’s a waitress right now -- she’s interested in being a nurse’s assistant that has slightly better pay and benefits, and then wants to become a nurse, that she has the opportunity to work around her schedule, make sure that we’ve got the ability to take classes at night, or on weekends, or online. That’s how -- in the future, we’re going to have to redesign a lot of this stuff, getting away from thinking that all the training that’s going to take place is just for 18 and 19-year-olds who’ve got all day and are supported by their parents, because that’s not the model that our economy is going to be in for the foreseeable future. Young lady. Yes, in the stripes. Q Hi, my name is Erin. I just left a corporation in Minnesota, a Fortune 500 corporation, where I had my four-year degree, my male counterpart did not, and he was making $3 more an hour than I was. My question for you is what are we going to do about it so as I grow up and other women grow up we are not experiencing the wage gap anymore? (Applause.) THE PRESIDENT: Well, I’ve got all kinds of opinions on this. (Laughter.) First of all -- I told this story at the Working Families Summit -- my mom was a single mom. She worked, went to school, raised two kids with the help of my grandparents. And I remember what it was like for her -- coming home, she’s dead tired, she’s trying to fix a healthy meal for me and my sister, which meant there were only really like five things in the rotation because she didn’t have time to be practicing with a whole bunch of stuff. And sometimes, because you’re a kid, you’re stupid, so you’re all like, I don’t want to eat that again. (Laughter.) And she’s like, really? (Laughter.) What did you make? Eat your food. (Laughter.) But I remember the struggles that she would go through when she did finally get her advanced degree, got a job, and she’d experience on-the-job discrimination because of her gender. My grandmother, she was Rosie the Riveter. When my grandfather went to fight in World War II, part of Patton’s Army, she stayed home because -- my mom was born in Kansas, at Fort Leavenworth, and my grandmother worked at a bomber assembly line. And she was whip smart. I mean, in another era, she would have ended up running a company. But at the time, she didn’t even get her college degree -- worked as a secretary. She was smart enough that she worked her way up to be a vice president at the local bank where we lived -- which is why sometimes when I watch Mad Men, there’s Peggy and Joan, the two women there, I’m always rooting for them because I imagine them -- that’s what it was like for my grandmother, kind of working her way up. But as smart as she was, she got to a certain point and then she stopped advancing. And then she would train guys how to do the job and they would end up being her boss. And it happened three or four times. So this is something that I care a lot about not just because of my past, but also because of my future. I’ve got two daughters. The idea that they would not be paid the same or not have the same opportunities as somebody’s sons is infuriating. And even if you’re not a dad, those of you who have partners, spouses -- men -- this is not a women’s issue. Because if they’re not getting paid, that means they’re not bringing home as much money, which means your family budget is tighter. (Applause.) So this is a family issue and not a gender issue. So what can we do? First bill I signed was called the Lily Ledbetter Act, that allowed folks to sue if they found out that they had been discriminated against, like you found out. Back then, Lilly Ledbetter, this wonderful woman, she had been paid less than her male counterparts for the same job for over a decade. When she finally finds out, she sues, and the Supreme Court says, well, the statute of limitations has run out; you can’t sue for all of that back pay. She says, well, I just found out -- well, that doesn’t matter. So we reversed that law, allowing people to sue based on when you find out. Most recently what I did was we made it against the law, at least for federal contractors, to retaliate against employees for sharing job -- or salary information. Because part of the problem -- part of the reason that it’s hard to enforce equal pay for equal work is most employers don’t let you talk, or discourage talk about what everybody else is getting paid. And what we’ve said is women have a right to know what the guy sitting next to them who’s doing the exact same job is getting paid. So that’s something we were able to do. But ultimately, we’re going to need Congress to act. There have been repeated efforts by us to get what we call the Paycheck Fairness Act through Congress and Republicans have blocked it. Some have denied that it's a problem. What they’ve said is, you know what, women make different choices. That explains the wage gap. That's the reason that women on average make 77 cents to every dollar that a man earns -- is because they’re making different choices. Well, first of all, that's not true in your case because you were doing the same job. You didn’t make a different choice; you just were getting paid less. But let’s even unpack this whole idea of making different choices. What they’re really saying is, because women have to bear children, and a company doesn’t give them enough maternity leave or doesn’t give them enough flexibility, that they should be punished. And our whole point is that this is a family issue and that if we structure the workplace to actually be family-friendly, which everybody always talks about but we don't always actually practice, then women won't have to make different choices. Then if they’re pregnant and have a child, it's expected that they’re going to have some time off. By the way, the dads should, too. They should have some flexibility in the workplace. (Applause.) They should be able to take care of a sick kid without getting docked for pay. And there are some wonderful companies who are doing this. And as I said before, it turns out that when companies adopt family-friendly policies their productivity goes up, they have lower turnover -- which makes sense. Look, if you have a family emergency, and you go to your boss and you say, can I have a week off, I've got to take care of a sick child or a dad -- or can I leave early this afternoon because my kid is in a school play and I really think this is important, and they say, of course, nothing is more important than family -- how hard are you going to work for that person when you get back on the job? You're going to feel invested in them. You're going to say to yourself, man, these folks care about me, which means I care about you. And if I have to take some extra time on a weekend, or I've got to do some work late at night when I'm not under an emergency situation, I'm going to do that. So this makes good business sense. But the problem is, is that we haven't done enough to encourage these new models. And this is part of the reason why we did this Family Summit -- we wanted to lift this stuff up, show companies that are doing the right thing, encourage others to adopt the same practices, and maybe get some legislation that incentivizes better policies. In the meantime, though, if you're doing the same job you should make the same pay -- period; full stop. (Applause.) That should be a basic rule. That shouldn’t be subject to confusion. (Applause.) Let’s see -- this young man back here, right there. Q Good afternoon, Mr. President. THE PRESIDENT: Good afternoon. What’s your name? Q My name is Quinn Graham. I'm an intern with Right Track. THE PRESIDENT: What’s Right Track? Tell me about it. Q It's a youth jobs program through the city of St. Paul. THE PRESIDENT: That's great. Now, what grade are you going into next year? Q I'm going to be a senior next year. THE PRESIDENT: Fantastic. How did junior year go? Q What? THE PRESIDENT: How did junior year go? Q Yeah. THE PRESIDENT: It was okay? What do you mean, yeah? No, how did junior year go? Q Oh, it went well. THE PRESIDENT: It went well? Q Yeah. THE PRESIDENT: Okay. I just wanted -- because Malia is going into her junior year and I hear it's pretty busy your junior year. Q Yeah. THE PRESIDENT: Yeah? Well, you look like you survived it. Q Yeah. THE PRESIDENT: Okay. You wanted to get to your question. Please go ahead. (Laughter.) Q I was wondering how you would propose to address the growing issue of climate change. (Applause.) THE PRESIDENT: Well, as it just so happens -- now, this young man was not a plant. (Laughter.) But as it just so happens, last year yesterday, I announced my Climate Action Plan. And let me just set the stage by saying that the science here is settled -- (applause) -- carbon dioxide is released by a whole bunch of manmade activities. When you release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere it traps heat. We are seeing the highest levels of carbon dioxide, and as a consequence, some of the warmest temperatures that we've seen in hundreds of thousands of years. They’re going up. And this is not just a problem of polar bears -- although I really like polar bears -- and the ice caps melting. What happens is, is that when temperatures on average go up it throws weather patterns into a whole bunch of different directions. So it may mean that snowcaps on mountains diminish. And out West, entire states get their water from snowcaps. If you're not getting the same amount of water you now have the potential for more severe drought. Agriculture is impacted, which means your food bills go up. California is going through the worst drought it's gone through in a very, very long time. That raises the price of all the fruits and vegetables that are grown in California, so it hits you in your pocketbook. Wildfires may increase. And in fact, we've seen record wildfires. We're having to spend more money fighting fires now than we ever have. It makes hurricanes potentially more frequent and potentially more powerful. So Hurricane Sandy may not be as unusual as it used to be. You see higher incidents of flooding. Coastal states like Florida, there are neighborhoods where now every time there’s a high tide there’s a flood in these neighborhoods. And the problem is it's getting worse. Because as folks in China and India and other places decide they want to have cars, too, and they want to have electricity and the things that we've got, they start building more power plants and they start driving more -- all of that adds to more carbon dioxide and it starts compounding. So this is something we have to deal with. Now, the good news is there are things we can do. So we doubled fuel efficiency standards on cars. By the middle of the next decade, cars and trucks are going to go twice as far on a gallon of gas. That's going to save you money in your pocketbook, but it's also taking carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere. (Applause.) We've invested in clean energy. Since I came into office we're producing three times as much energy through wind power and we're producing about 10 times as much energy through solar power, and we're creating jobs here in the United States -- folks installing wind turbines and solar panels. So it's good economics and it's also good for the environment. Most recently, what I've done is I've said -- about 40 percent of the carbon that we emit comes from power plants. So what we've said is, through the Environmental Protection Agency, we're going to set standards. We set standards for the amount of mercury and arsenic and sulfur that's pumped out by factories and power plants into our air and our water. Right now we don't have a cap on the amount of carbon pollution. So we said we're going to cap it. And we're going to let states work with their private sector and local governments to come up with what’s going to be best for them. Not every state is going to do the same thing. Nevada might emphasize solar power. South Dakota might emphasize wind power. Whatever it is that you're going to do you’ve got to start bringing down your carbon pollution. Now, this has some controversy. Oil companies, not wild about it; coal companies, not crazy about it. These traditional sources of fuel -- fossil fuels -- we're going to use for a while, but we can't just keep on using them forever. We've got to develop new ways of producing energy so that your generation isn't seeing a planet that is starting to break down, with all the costs associated with it. Last point I'll make -- one of the benefits of asking power plants to produce energy that's cleaner is that when they control their carbon dioxide they’re also putting less soot in the air. They’re also putting less particulates in the air. And what that means is your child is less likely to get asthma and those with respiratory diseases are less likely to be impacted. So it has a public health effect that is good as well. We can have an environment that is cleaner, that is healthy for us, and at the same time, develop entire new industries in clean energy. But we're going to have to get started now. And that's why, despite some of the pushback from some of the special interests out there, we're going to just keep on going at this, because we don't have a choice. This is something that we're going to have to tackle during this generation to make sure we're giving a good future for the next generation. (Applause.) Great question. Last question -- last question. This young lady in the pink, go ahead. Q Good afternoon, Mr. President. THE PRESIDENT: Good afternoon. Q My name is Katie Peterson. And my coworker here and friend, we've been working for the federal government for almost 29 years. And we feel really privileged that we've been able to serve that way. THE PRESIDENT: Where do you work? Q For Defense Contract Management Agency. THE PRESIDENT: Excellent. Q But it's been a great career, we love it, but lately, as you know, there’s been a few rough patches with three years of pay freeze and sequestration and furloughs. And we're just kind of wondering what you foresee for the next fiscal year for government workers. THE PRESIDENT: Well, let me make a couple of points. First of all, folks in the federal government, the overwhelming majority, they work really hard doing really important stuff. And I don't know why it is that -- (applause) -- I don't know when it was that somehow working for government -- whether the state or local or federal level -- somehow became not a real job. When you listen to some of the Republican rhetoric sometimes you think, well, this is really important work that we depend on. We've got floods right here right now. The federal government is coming in and it's going to be working with local communities that are overwhelmed to try to make sure that people get help rebuilding. Those are federal workers. If they weren’t around after a tornado or a hurricane, communities would be in a world of hurt. When you check the weather, even on your smartphone, that information didn’t just come from some Silicon Valley office. That came from the National Weather Service. We put out the data developed by the federal government to our satellites that are paid for, and then it's commercialized. And people use it to set up things like the Weather Channel and Weather.com and websites. The folks who help our men and women in uniform make sure that they’ve got proper equipment, those are federal workers. Fighting fires -- a lot of times those are federal workers in the Forest Service. So it frustrates me when I hear people acting as if somebody who’s working for the federal government somehow is less than somebody working on the private sector -- if they’re doing a good job and carrying on an important function, we should praise them. (Applause.) The same is true, by the way, at the local level. The same is true at the local level. I don't know a job more important than teaching. Those are all government workers. In fact, one of the biggest problems we had in coming out of this recession, in addition to it being the worst recession since the Great Depression, was that states and local governments were cutting back on their hiring at an unprecedented rate. We still haven't seen state and local government hiring get back to where it was back in 2007-2008. If we had, if we hadn’t lost so many teachers and teachers’ aides in a lot of communities, the unemployment rate would be much lower and the economy would be much stronger. So I say all this just to make a general point, which is, historically, it's been the private sector that drove the economy, but it was also a whole bunch of really great work done by agricultural extension workers and engineers at NASA and researchers at our labs that helped to create the platform and the wealth that we enjoy. And so this whole idea that somehow government is the enemy or the problem is just not true. Now, are there programs that the government does that are a waste of money or aren’t working as well as they should be? Of course. But I tell you, if you work in any company in America, big company, you’ll find some things that they’re doing that aren’t all that efficient either. Are there some federal workers who do bone-headed things? Absolutely. I remember the first week I was on the job I talked to my Defense Secretary, Bob Gates, who’s older and had been there a long time. I said, do you have advice for me, Bob? He says, one thing you should know, Mr. President, is that at any given moment, on any given day, somebody in the federal government is screwing up. (Laughter.) Which is true, because there are 2 million employees. Somebody out there -- if 99 percent of the folks are doing the right thing and only 1 percent aren’t, that’s still a lot of people. So my job as President, working with Congress, is to make sure taxpayer dollars are spent wisely and efficiently. We shouldn’t be wasting a dime. And where we see waste, where we see things not working the way they should -- like recently, these long waits for folks trying to get in the VA health care program -- we’ve got to crack down and we’ve got to reform it. But we can’t paint in a broad brush and just say somehow stuff is not working -- because even in the VA health care system, once people get in, the quality of care, the satisfaction rates for customers are actually better than in private sector health care. (Applause.) So we can’t generalize like this. Now, the last point I’ll make -- going to your question -- federal workers generally have not gotten raises. And you remember during the government shutdown, they were getting pressed having to pay bills like everybody else, but not having a paycheck coming in. It’s very disruptive for them. And what’s called sequestration and furloughs meant that they might only be able to come to work three days a week instead of the full five. And this all put a strain on their budgets. We’ve been able to stabilize it, but when we go into the budget talks with Republicans next year, we may go through some of the same problems, in part because the other side has said they want to cut funding for education; they’ve said that they want to cut support for vulnerable families; they want to cut Medicaid, which would have an impact on the elderly and families that have folks with disabilities. And I’ve said no. I’ve said why would I -- by the way, the deficit has come down by more than half since I came into office. (Applause.) It hasn’t gone up. Federal spending has not gone up. The deficit has gone down. And if we want to do more to reduce the deficit further, why am I going to take it out on the most vulnerable in our society and programs we need to grow when we’ve got a tax system where you’ve got corporations taking advantage of loopholes -- in some cases, they’re paying no taxes, when a teacher or a secretary are paying taxes themselves? Why wouldn’t I close those loopholes first to generate additional revenues before I started cutting education spending or spending on basic research? (Applause.) It will be a tough negotiation just because everything is a tough negotiation in Washington right now -- which I guess brings me just to my last point. I don’t watch TV news generally, or cable shows, but I suspect if you’re out here and going to work, and picking up your kids and taking them to soccer, or at night sitting there paying the bills, and you just turn on the TV, sometimes it must feel kind of discouraging because it doesn’t feel like what’s being talked about in Washington has anything to do with what’s going on in your lives day to day. And it must feel as if sometimes you’re just forgotten. And sometimes the news that’s being reported on is really important. I mean, what’s happening in Iraq is relevant. We’ve got to pay attention to the threats that are emanating from the chaos in the Middle East. Although I want to be very clear we’re not sending combat troops into Iraq, because that’s -- (applause) -- we’ve done that and we’ve given them an opportunity. And they’re going to have to contribute to solving their own problems here, although we’ll protect our people and we’ll make sure that we’re going after terrorists who could do us harm. But sometimes the news that’s coming off is just -- these are just Washington fights. They’re fabricated issues. They’re phony scandals that are generated. It’s all geared towards the next election or ginning up a base. It’s not on the level. And that must feel frustrating, and it makes people cynical and it makes people turned off from the idea that anything can get done. And if I’ve got one message today, it’s the same message that I gave to that young mom that I mentioned who I had lunch with before I came here, who wrote me a letter just talking about how she had done everything right, her and her husband, and she’s working hard and raising two beautiful kids and she has a great life, but it’s a struggle and wondering if anybody in Washington knows it. What I told her is the same thing I want to tell all of you, which is: I know it. You’re the reason I ran for office. You’re -- (applause) -- no, no, I’m not looking for applause. I want to make this point. I grew up not in tough circumstances, but I was you guys. Somebody out here is going through what my mom went through. Somebody out here is growing through what my grandma went through. Somebody out here is going through what Michelle and I went through when we were first married and our kids were first born. It’s not like I forget. That was just 20 years ago that we were trying to figure out how to buy our first home. This is 10 years ago when we finished off paying our student loans. You guys are the reason I ran. You’re who I’m thinking about every single day. And just because it’s not reported in the news, I don’t want you to think that I’m not fighting for you. And I’m not always going to get it done as fast as I want, because right now we’ve got a Congress that’s dysfunctional. And I’ll be honest with you -- you’ve got a party on the other side whose only rationale -- motivation seems to be opposing me. But despite all that, we’re making progress. Despite all that, some folks have health care that didn’t have it before. (Applause.) Despite all that, some students are able to afford their education better. Despite all that, some folks have jobs that didn’t have it. Despite all that, the Green Line got built here in Minnesota. (Applause.) Despite all that, we can make life a little better for American families who are doing their best, working hard, meeting their responsibilities. And I don’t want you to ever forget that. And I don’t want you to be cynical. Cynicism is popular these days, but hope is better. Thanks, everybody. (Applause.) Thank you. END 3:36 P.M. CDT UPDATED: UPCOMING GUIDANCE FOR FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the First Lady For Immediate Release June 26, 2014 UPDATED: UPCOMING GUIDANCE FOR FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA Friday, June 27, 2014 Washington, DC – Friday evening, the President and First Lady will attend the Marine Barracks Evening Parade. This event is pooled press. Tuesday, July 1, 2014 Orlando, FL * 11:45 AM – As part of her Reach Higher initiative, First Lady Michelle Obama will deliver remarks at the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) Annual Conference. Mrs. Obama will highlight the critical role school counselors play in ensuring students and families have the resources and information they need to pursue postsecondary education. Reach Higher focuses on the importance of pursuing and completing some form of higher education, and encourages students to do their part to answer the President’s call to ensure that by the year 2020, America once again has the highest proportion of college graduates in the world. Letter from the President -- FY 2015 Budget amendments
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 26, 2014 Attached and signed today is a letter from the President to the Speaker of the House concerning FY 2015 Budget amendments. THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary For Immediate Release June 26, 2014 TEXT OF A LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT TO THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES June 26, 2014 Dear Mr. Speaker: I ask the Congress to consider the enclosed Fiscal Year (FY) 2015 Budget amendments for the Department of Defense (DOD) and the Department of State and Other International Programs (State/OIP) to fund Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO). These amendments would provide $58.6 billion for DOD OCO activities, which is $20.9 billion less than the $79.4 billion placeholder for DOD OCO in the FY 2015 Budget. It would also provide $1.4 billion for State/OIP OCO activities, which is in addition to the $5.9 billion for State/OIP included in the FY 2015 Budget. Overall, these amendments would decrease the total OCO funding requested for FY 2015 by $19.5 billion. Final decisions about the number and activities of U.S. forces in Afghanistan after December 2014 had not yet been made at the time the FY 2015 Budget was submitted. As a result, the Budget included a placeholder for DOD FY 2015 OCO funding equivalent to the amount requested in the FY 2014 Budget. The Administration noted in the FY 2015 Budget that after determining required force levels in Afghanistan, a Budget amendment updating the OCO request would be submitted to the Congress. The enclosed amendments include the necessary updates to the OCO request in order to fund military operations in Afghanistan, a significant portion of the U.S. military presence around the Middle East, the Administration's proposed Counterterrorism Partnerships Fund and European Reassurance Initiative, and State/OIP peacekeeping costs in the Central African Republic. The details of these amendments are set forth in the enclosed letter from the Acting Director of the Office of Management and Sincerely, BARACK OBAMA White House Pool Report
Lunch is at Matt's Bar, "home of the Jucy Lucy." (See description below.) Matts is a small, dark corner bar in a typical, middle-class neighborhood. We passed a tattoo parlor and the Chatterbox Pub. POTUS is chatting up customers. More to come. From the White House: Rebekah Erler Rebekah Erler, from Minneapolis, Minnesota, is a 36-year-old working wife and mother of two pre-school aged boys. Rebekah’s new family was hit hard by the downturn in the housing market when her husband’s construction business went under. After relocating from Seattle to Minneapolis, a lot of hard work, and a number of difficult jobs, Rebekah’s husband is now back in the re-modeling industry and is home for dinner each night with Rebekah and their two children. Rebekah took out student loans to go to a local community college for career re-training and is now back in the workforce as an accountant. Last October, Rebekah and her husband bought their first home. Rebekah wrote told her story to the President in March when she sent him a letter. But, Rebekah’s letter was more about her family’s future than it was about her past and the struggles they’ve overcome. Rebekah detailed the rising cost – from groceries to child care to student loan payments – of doing right by your family. Rebekah’s story is representative of the experiences of millions of Americans: While our economy’s made a comeback, too many middle class Americans families with two hardworking parents are still stretched too thin. That’s why the President chose to visit Rebekah and lift up her story. Matt’s Bar The President and Rebekah are having lunch at Matt’s Bar, a Minneapolis landmark home to the “Jucy Lucy,” a burger with melted cheese in the middle of the patty. The pool was led into Matt’s Bar, which is in the Corcoran neighborhood of south Minneapolis. The bar is surrounded by modest, single-family homes and tree-lined streets. A few people in the neighborhood watched the commotion from their front porches. Matt’s sign advertises its tagline under a Budweiser logo: “Home of the Jucy Lucy” Matt’s is small and crowded, even without the addition of POTUS and the pool. People were sitting in small booths and a few tables eating burgers and fries out of red baskets. The walls were covered in Matt’s memorabilia, awards for best “Jucy Lucy” in the Twin Cities and T-shirts. The long bar lined one side. The smell of grease hung in the air – in a delicious way. POTUS was the room when we walked in. Thanks to David Nakamura for picking up this chatter: In the restaurant one couple asked if they could get a photo with Potus but he demurred. "If I start, I'll have to do one with everybody." He said he had to keep his lunch date. He greeted another couple, Josh, 29, and Kelly, 30, Schustak of St. Cloud. Kelly asked what Obama's favorite TV show of is. "Of all time?" Obama said. Yes, she replied. Obama thought about it for a moment. Your pool couldn't hear his response but the Schustak's later informed your pool that Potus had answered "Mash." Potus then greeted a man and his son, who informed him the young man played baseball. "You've got some height on you," Obama said. "Are you a pitcher? How's your arm?" After chatting up the crowd, Obama sat at a booth with Erler. We did not get a chance to hear any conversation between the president and Erler before being ushered out. Pool is now holding in the vans parks outside a tattoo removal shop. White House confirms Potus ordered said Jucy Lucy and an iced tea," the pooler concluded. Statement on the Third Estimate of GDP for the First Quarter of 2014
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 25, 2014 Statement on the Third Estimate of GDP for the First Quarter of 2014 WASHINGTON, DC – Jason Furman, Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers, issued the following statement today on the third estimate of GDP for the first quarter of 2014. You can view the statement HERE. Posted by Jason Furman on June 25, 2014 at 9:30 AM EDT First-quarter GDP was revised down today, largely reflecting a re-estimation of consumer spending on health care, which was substantially lower than originally reported, as well as exports, which were below the initial estimates. The GDP data can be volatile from quarter to quarter; a range of other data show a more positive picture for the first quarter, and more up-to-date indicators from April and May suggest that the economy is on track for a rebound in the second quarter. The recovery from the Great Recession, however, remains incomplete, and the President will continue to do everything he can to support the recovery, either by acting through executive action or by working with Congress on steps that would boost growth and speed job creation. FIVE KEY POINTS IN TODAY’S REPORT FROM THE BUREAU OF ECONOMIC ANALYSIS 1. Real gross domestic product (GDP) fell 2.9 percent at an annual rate in the first quarter of 2014, according to the third estimate from the Bureau of Economic Analysis. This drop follows an increase of 3.4 percent at an annual rate in the second half of 2013. The entire decline in overall GDP in the first quarter can be accounted for by a decline in exports and a slowdown in inventory investment, two particularly volatile components of GDP. In addition, several components were likely affected by unusually severe winter weather, including consumer spending on food services and accommodations, which fell for the first time in four years. 2. The downward revision to first-quarter GDP growth was concentrated in two areas: consumer spending on health care services and net exports. As discussed in greater detail below, the contribution of spending on health care services was revised down 1.2 percentage point, while the net export contribution was revised down 0.6 percentage point. Revisions to other components were small and offsetting. The revisions to estimates of first-quarter GDP growth have been historically large. In the mid-1980s, the Bureau of Economic Analysis began releasing GDP data according to the same timing pattern it uses today. Looking over this period, the estimates of GDP growth for 2014:Q1 represent the largest revision from an advance estimate to a third estimate, as well as the largest revision from a second estimate to a third estimate, in the roughly thirty years the Bureau of Economic Analysis has done these estimates. 3. The performance of the economy in the first quarter as measured by GDP was significantly below other independently calculated measures. For instance, aggregate hours worked by private-sector production and nonsupervisory workers as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics grew 1.4 percent at an annual rate in the first quarter (left chart), while industrial output in the manufacturing sector as measured by the Federal Reserve increased 2.1 percent at an annual rate (right chart). Looking at the historical relationship between these two proxies for output and GDP since 2000, one would have expected positive GDP growth of 2 to 2.5 percent at an annual rate in the first quarter. The roughly 5 percentage point prediction error seen this quarter is more than twice the standard deviation of historical prediction errors, suggesting that such a large negative error only occurs about two percent of the time. 4. Within the first quarter, several key indicators were lower in January and/or February before rebounding strongly in March, suggesting that the severe weather had a disruptive effect that only began to abate at the end of the quarter. Light vehicle sales, average weekly hours, core retail and food service sales, and core capital goods shipments dipped starting in December and/or January before bouncing back in March, and so were left little changed for the quarter as a whole. One outside group has estimated that the elevated snowfall in the first quarter slowed the annual rate of GDP growth by 1.4 percentage point, with all of that lost activity to be made up in the second quarter. Additionally, it is worth noting that consumer spending on utilities surged more than 40 percent at an annual rate in the first quarter, the largest increase on record (with data back to 1959). While this weather-related jump in utilities spending added to GDP growth, it was likely more than offset by the constraining effect of severe weather on other categories, including other components of consumer spending (like autos, household furnishings, and restaurants), some components of private and public fixed investment, and exports. Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis; Bureau of Labor Statistics; Census Bureau. 5. Health care prices continued to rise exceptionally slowly in the first quarter, growing at an annual rate of just 0.5 percent, while utilization (real health care spending) fell 1.4 percent at an annual rate, leading to an outright decline in nominal spending in 2014:Q1. Because health care spending can be volatile on a quarter-to-quarter basis (2013:Q4, for example, was estimated to have seen growth somewhat above the recent trend), it can be useful to look at a longer time period. On a year-over-year basis, health care prices are up just 0.9 percent, while utilization is up 2.6 percent. Today’s report thus shows that the historically slow growth in health care prices and spending seen in recent years, which is thanks in part to the Affordable Care Act, continued through 2013 and into early 2014. Slow growth in health care costs is making it easier for businesses to hire workers or pay a good wage and improving the Nation’s fiscal outlook. Looking ahead, it is likely that the coming quarters will see faster growth in total health care spending as the millions of people who gained health insurance coverage during the Affordable Care Act’s first open enrollment period begin to use their new coverage, fulfilling the law’s goal of expanding access to health care services. Importantly, this type of uptick in total spending would not mean that people who had coverage before the Affordable Care Act are facing higher costs. Rather, what matters for those who are continuously insured are the prices and premiums they face. Today’s data, as well as a variety of other recent data, show that health care prices and per-enrollee spending (the key driver of premiums) are continuing to grow at unusually slow rates. As the Administration stresses every quarter, GDP figures can be volatile and are subject to substantial revision. Therefore, it is important not to read too much into any one single report and it is informative to consider each report in the context of other data that are becoming available. White House Pool Report
Scene: Pool was escorted over to the EEOB at 11:25 a.m. and up to a fourth-floor event space with 5 tables of 12 people and a small podium in one end. A group of interns were sitting in back, perhaps raising the full sum of attendees to about 75. Each table had a pile of Post-its, Sharpie markers and a poster board on an easel with the headline "21st Century Jobs Jam!" (Apparently missing the "data jam" memo. Either way, there was sadly no music or fruit jelly for your pool to enjoy.) Each table had a White House staffer or two facilitating the discussion, with participants writing out their ideas on the post-its and placing them on the boards. After a few minutes each group moved to vote on ideas that they liked the most. "Ideally they are concrete things we can get done in 90,120 days," said one of the facilitators at a nearby table. Each individual got four red dot stickers with which to cast their vote. "We're going to put stickies on ideas," the facilitator said. A single sheet of paper was on one wall with the headline "Policy Parking Lot." It was still blank when the pool was escorted out of the room. On an unrelated note: on the wall was a jumbo photo of President Obama sitting on the sidelines of a basketball court with George Clooney and others from an outing a few years ago. VP Biden remarks: The Vice President entered at 11:58 along with Secretary of Labor Tom Perez "I'm here first and foremost to say thank you," he said. He quickly moved to his standard speech on the importance of creating jobs and boosting the middle class, noting that the President tasked him with this portfolio around the State of the Union. "The overarching issue today how in gods name do to we reinforce the middle class and get it back in gear," Biden said. "When the middle class is doing well, the rich do very well, and the poor have some hope," he added. "It's really debilitating when people start to lose hope when they start to think it's going going to change." "There's a way through it and you are our way through it," Biden said, referencing the participants. The VP said he had just met with "the folks at glassdoor," the jobs and career website. (On background from the Office of the Vice President: The Vice President met with members of the company Glassdoor to discuss new tools for job seekers.) Biden continued his familiar riff that the U.S. is best positioned to succeed in the coming years, noting manufacturing jobs are coming back to the country. "There's a joke in Russia and some other countries," he said. "The last thing you want to be is a mezzanine company that's successful. You get stolen." Biden then announced he was going to review the best ideas at each table. "The bad news is, if you have a really good idea there's no way out, man," Biden joked. "We are going to try to own you." The VP finished his remarks at 12:11 and promptly sat down at Table 1, where he was presented with one of the ideas to help people find jobs — an app built around a right/left swipe function. No, not Tinder, it was called "Swipe for Success." Remarks by President Obama at the White House Summit on Working Families | June 23, 2014
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary For Immediate Release June 23, 2014 REMARKS BY PRESIDENT OBAMA AT THE WHITE HOUSE SUMMIT ON WORKING FAMILIES Omni Shoreham Hotel Washington, D.C. 1:51 P.M. EDT THE PRESIDENT: This crowd looks fired up. (Applause.) Already, everybody have a seat. Have a seat. You look like you’ve been busy. AUDIENCE MEMBERS: Yes! AUDIENCE MEMBER: We’re just waiting on you. THE PRESIDENT: I know that’s right. (Applause.) I know that’s right. (Laughter.) Good afternoon, everybody. Have a seat, have a seat. AUDIENCE MEMBER: I love you, Mr. President. THE PRESIDENT: I love you back. (Applause.) I do. Well, welcome to the White House Summit on Working Families. (Applause.) And thanks to all of you for joining us. I know that for most of you, you are taking time off of work or family, or both, to be here. And I know that’s a sacrifice. And I know just juggling schedules can be tough. And in fact, that’s one of the reasons that we are here today. I want to thank our co-hosts, Secretary of Labor Tom Perez -- give him a big round of applause -- as well as Neera Tanden and everyone at the Center for American Progress for the great work that they did. (Applause.) Thanks as well to all the members of Congress who are participating, especially Nancy Pelosi and the members of the Democratic Women’s Working Group. (Applause.) And a long-time friend and champion of families and women and veterans, Connie Milstein -- we could not have pulled this off without Connie’s great assistance, so we want to thank Connie. (Applause.) So I just walked over to Chipotle for lunch. (Laughter.) I caused a lot of havoc, as you might expect. (Laughter.) It had been a while since I had the burrito bowl, and it was good. (Laughter.) And I went there with four new buddies of mine. One of them is a father of a four year old and a two month old who has worked with his wife to come up with a flexible plan where he works three or four days a week. She works three or four days a week. And the reason is because, as Roger put it, he thinks it’s important that he is able to bond with this kids just as much as his wife is. Lisa you just heard from, who had twins who were prematurely born. And because her company was supportive, she was able to not just thrive and watch her kids grow up, but she’s also been able to be promoted and continue to succeed in her company without being on a slower track while maintaining that life-family balance, which is terrific -- worth applauding. Shirley Young from New York works at a nursing home, and she’s got older children. And she was most interested in talking about the fact that when her son -- it was discovered had curvature of the spine, that she had health care that she could count on. Otherwise, there was no way that she could deal with it. And her benefits on the job were good enough that she could use her vacation time when he had to go to the doctor. And then Shelby from Denver -- (applause) -- Shelby has got a little fan club here. Shelby talked about the fact that on her job it’s been a little more challenging. Her kids are older and she’s going back to school. And it is wonderful that she is actually now taking some classes with her children and they’re helping explain math to her. (Laughter.) On the other hand, she’s also got an aging parent. And when he had to go to the doctor, they don’t have a policy of paid family leave. And since it’s hard making ends meet in the first place, her dad had to end up getting on a bus for eye surgery and come back on his own, because she couldn’t afford to take the time off. Now, each of these folks come from different parts of the country. They have different occupations, different income levels. And yet, what bound all of us together was a recognition that work gives us a sense of place and dignity, as well as income. And it is critically important, but family is also the bedrock of our lives and we don’t want a society in which folks are having to make a choice between those two things. And there are better decisions that we can make and there are not-so-good decisions that we can make as a society to support this balance between work and family. Most of our days consist of work, family, and not much else. And those two spheres are constantly interacting with each other. When we’re with our family, sometimes we’re thinking about work, and when we’re at work, we’re thinking about family. That’s a pretty universal experience. It’s true when you are President of the United States. (Laughter.) Now, I am lucky that my daughters were a bit older by the time I became President, so I never had to meet a world leader with Cheerios stuck to my pants. (Laughter.) That has not happened. And I’m also lucky, because we live above the store, so to speak. (Laughter.) I have a very short commute. (Laughter.) And as a consequence, we’ve been able to organize ourselves to have dinner with Michelle and the girls almost every night. And that’s pretty much the first time we’ve been able to do that in our lives. (Applause.) But before I moved into the White House, I was away a lot sometimes with work, sometimes with campaigning. Michelle was working full-time and was at home with the responsibility all too often of dealing with everything that the girls needed. And so, I understand how lucky we are now, because there was a big chunk of time when we were doing what so many of you have to deal with every day, and that is figuring out how do we make this whole thing work. A lot of Americans are not as lucky as we have been. It is hard sometimes just to get by. Our businesses have created jobs for 51 consecutive months -- 9.4 [million] new jobs in all. (Applause.) But we all know somebody out there who is still looking for work. And there are a whole lot of people who are working harder than ever, but can’t seem to get ahead and pay all the bills at the end of the month. Despite the fact that our economy has grown and those of us at the very top have done very well, the average wage, the average income hasn’t gone up in 15 years in any meaningful way. And that means that relative to 15 years ago, a lot of families just aren’t that much better off. And the sacrifices they make for their families go beyond just missing family dinner. You look at something like workplace flexibility. This was so important to our family when I was away, because if Malia or Sasha got sick, or the babysitter did not show up, it was Michelle who got the call. And, fortunately, she had an employer who understood if she needed to leave work in the middle of the day or change her schedule suddenly. In fact, actually when she applied for the job, she brought Sasha, who was then about six months, in her car seat into the interview -- (applause) -- just to kind of explain this is what you will be dealing with if you hire me. (Laughter.) And so, they signed up for that. And that flexibility made all the difference to our families. But a lot of working moms and dads can’t do that. They don’t have the leverage. They’re not being recruited necessarily where they can dictate terms of employment. And as a consequence, if they need to bring their mom to the doctor or take an afternoon off to see their kid’s school play, it would mean them losing income that they can’t afford to lose. And even when working from home from time to time is doable, it’s often not an option -- even though studies show that flexibility makes workers happier and helps companies lower turnover and raise productivity. The same goes with paid family leave. A lot of jobs do not offer it. So when a new baby arrives or an aging parent gets sick, workers have to make painful decisions about whether they can afford to be there when their families need them the most. Many women can’t even get a paid day off to give birth. Now, that’s a pretty low bar. (Laughter.) You would think -- that we should be able to take care of. (Laughter and applause.) For many hourly workers, taking just a few days off can mean losing their job. And even though unpaid family leave is available, if you can’t pay the bills already the idea of taking a couple days off unpaid may mean you can’t make the mortgage payment or the rent payment at the end of the month. Or look at childcare. In most countries, it costs -- in most parts of the country, it costs thousands of dollars a year. In fact, in 31 states, decent childcare costs more than in-state college tuition -- in 31 states, in more than half the states. I recently got a letter from a woman in Minnesota whose kids’ preschool is so expensive, it costs more than her monthly mortgage payment. Now, she’s made a determination to make that sacrifice for her kids, but a lot of working families can’t make that sacrifice. And, by the way, there are other countries that know how to do childcare well. I mean, this isn’t rocket science. Or look at the minimum wage. Low-wage occupations disproportionately represented by women. Nearly 28 million Americans would benefit if we raised the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour. (Applause.) And we’re not just talking about young people on their first job. The average worker who would benefit from an increase in the minimum wage is 35 years old. Many have kids, a majority are women. And right now, many full-time minimum wage workers are not making enough to keep their children out of poverty. So these are just a few of the challenges that working parents face. And every day, I hear from parents all across the country. They are doing everything right -- they are working hard, they are living responsibly, they are taking care of their children, they’re participating in their community -- and these letters can be heartbreaking, because at the end of the day it doesn’t feel like they’re getting ahead. And all too often, it feels like they’re slipping behind. And a lot of the time, they end up blaming themselves thinking, if I just work a little harder -- if I plan a little better, if I sleep a little bit less, if I stretch every dollar a little bit farther -- maybe I can do it. And that thought may have crossed the minds of some of the folks here from time to time. Part of the purpose of this summit is to make clear you’re not alone. Because here’s the thing: These problems are not typically the result of poor planning or too little diligence on the parts of moms or dads, and they cannot just be fixed by working harder or being an even better parent. (Applause.) All too often, they are the results of outdated policies and old ways of thinking. Family leave, childcare, workplace flexibility, a decent wage -- these are not frills, they are basic needs. They shouldn’t be bonuses. They should be part of our bottom line as a society. That’s what we’re striving for. (Applause.) Parents who work full-time should earn enough to pay the bills, and they should be able to head off to work every day knowing that their children are in good hands. Workers who give their all should know that if they need a little flexibility, they can have it -- because their employers understand that it’s hard to be productive if you’ve got a sick kid at home or a childcare crisis. Talented, hard-working people should be able to say yes to a promotion or a great new opportunity without worrying about the price that their family will pay. There was a new poll by Nielsen’s that found that nearly half of all working parents say they have turned down a job not because they didn’t want it, but because it would put too much of a burden on their families. When that many members of our workforce are forced to choose between a job and their family, something’s wrong. And here is a critical point: All too often, these issues are thought of as women’s issues, which I guess means you can kind of scoot them aside a little bit. At a time when women are nearly half of our workforce, among our most skilled workers, are the primary breadwinners in more families than ever before, anything that makes life harder for women makes life harder for families and makes life harder for children. (Applause.) When women succeed, America succeeds, so there’s no such thing as a women’s issue. (Applause.) There’s no such thing as a women’s issue. This is a family issue and an American issue -- these are commonsense issues. (Applause.) This is about you too, men. (Laughter.) Men care about having high-quality childcare. Dad’s rearrange their schedules to make it to teacher meetings and school plays, just like moms. Although somebody pointed out to me -- this is a useful insight -- that when dads say, yes, I’ve got to leave early to go to the parent-teacher conference, everybody in the office says, oh, isn’t that nice. (Laughter.) And then, when women do it, everybody is all like, is she really committed to the job? So there can be a double standard there. (Applause.) But sons help care for aging parents. A whole lot of fathers would love to be home for their new baby’s first weeks in the world. People ask me what do I love most about being President, and it’s true Air Force One is on the list. (Laughter.) The Truman Balcony has a really nice view. (Laughter.) But one of the -- I was telling folks the other day that one of the best perks about being President is anybody will hand you their baby -- here. (Laughter.) So I get this baby fix like two or three times a week. (Laughter.) But the reason it’s so powerful is because I remember taking the night shift when Malia was born and when Sasha was born, and being up at two in the morning changing diapers and burping them, and singing to them and reading them stories, and watching Sports Center once in a while, which I thought was good for their development. (Laughter.) It was. We want them to be well-rounded. (Laughter.) But the point is, I was lucky enough to be able to take some time off so that I was there for the 2:00 a.m. feeding and the soothing, and just getting to know them and making sure they knew me. And that bond is irreplaceable. And I want every father and every child to have that opportunity. But that requires a society that makes it easier for us to give folks that opportunity. (Applause.) So the bottom line is 21st-century families deserve 21st-century workplaces. (Applause.) And our economy demands them, because it’s going to help us compete. It’s going to help us lead. And that means paid family leave, especially paid parental leave. (Applause.) There is only one developed country in the world that does not offer paid maternity leave, and that is us. And that is not the list you want to be on by your lonesome. It’s time to change that, because all Americans should be able to afford to care for their families. (Applause.) It means high-quality early education. We know that the investment we make in those early years pays off over a child’s entire lifetime. And these programs give parents a great place to know that their kids are thriving while they’re at work. Other countries know how to do this. If France can figure this out, we can figure it out. (Laughter and applause.) All our kids need to benefit from that early enrichment. It means treating pregnant workers fairly, because too many are forced to choose between their health and their job. (Applause.) Right now, if you’re pregnant you could potentially get fired for taking too many bathroom breaks -- clearly from a boss who has never been pregnant -- or forced unpaid leave. That makes no sense. Congress should pass the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act without delay. (Applause.) Speaking of Congress, by the way -- (laughter) -- AUDIENCE MEMBERS: Booo -- THE PRESIDENT: No, don’t boo, vote. (Applause.) As long as Congress refuses to act on these policies, we’re going to need you to raise your voices. We need you to tell Congress don’t talk about how you support families, actually support families. Don’t talk the talk. We want you to walk the walk. In the meantime, if Congress will not act, we’re going to need mayors to act. We’ll need governors and state legislators to act. We need CEOs to act. And I will promise you, you will have a President who will take action to support working families. (Applause.) The good news is you don’t have to do it alone and I don’t have to do it alone. Now that’s part of the purpose of this summit is to recognize that there’s all kinds of exciting stuff going on around the country. We just have to make sure that we lift up conversations that are taking place at the kitchen table every single day. Some businesses are already taking the lead, knowing that family-friendly policies are good business practices. It’s how you keep talented employees. That’s how you build loyalty and inspire your workers to go the extra mile for your company. Some of those businesses are represented here today. So JetBlue, for example, has a flexible, work-from-home plan in place for its customer service representatives. They found it led to happier and more productive employees, and it lowered their costs, which translated into higher profits and lower ticket prices for their customers. It was good business. In 2007, Google realized that women were leaving the company at twice the rate that men left -- and one of the reasons was that the maternity leave policy wasn’t competitive enough. So they increased paid leave for new parents -- moms and dads -- to five months. And that helped to cut the rate of women leaving the company in half. Good business sense. Cisco estimates that by letting their employees telecommute, they save more than $275 million each year. They say it’s the main reason why they’re rated one of the best places to work in America. So it’s easy to see how policies like this make for better places to work. There’s also a larger economic case for it. The strength of our economy rests on whether we’re getting the most out of our nation’s talent, whether we’re making it possible for every citizen to contribute to our growth and prosperity. We do better when we field an entire team, not just part of a team. And the key to staying competitive in the global economy is your workforce, is your talent. Right now, too many folks are on the sidelines who have the desire and the capacity to work, but they’re held back by one obstacle or another. So it’s our job to remove those obstacles -- help working parents, improve job training, improve early childhood education, invest in better infrastructure so people are getting to work safely. Just about everything I do as President is to make sure that we’re not leaving any of our nation’s talent behind. That’s what this summit is all about. AUDIENCE MEMBER: Working families love you, Mr. President. THE PRESIDENT: Well, thank you. (Applause.) So we’re seeing businesses set a good examples. We’ve got states who are setting a good example. California, Rhode Island, and New Jersey all gave workers paid family leave. Connecticut offers paid sick days and so does New York City. (Applause.) Since I asked Congress to raise the minimum wage last year -- they’ve been a little slow, shockingly, but 13 states have taken steps to raise it on their own. (Applause.) In my State of the Union address this year, I asked mayors and governors and CEOs -- do what you can to raise your workers’ wages, and a lot of them are. A lot of them are doing it. Because even if Republicans in Congress refuse to budge on this issue this year, everybody knows America deserves a raise, including Republican voters out there. There are a lot of them who support it. And I’ve said I will work with anybody -- Democrat or Republican -- to increase opportunities for American workers. And Nancy Pelosi is ready to work. (Applause.) Now, many of these issues, they’re not partisan until they get to Washington. Back home, to folks sitting around the kitchen table, this isn’t partisan. Nobody says, I don’t know, I’m not sure whether the Republican platform agrees with paid family leave. They’re thinking, I could really use a couple of paid days off to take care of dad, regardless of what their party affiliation is. So even as we’re waiting for Congress, whenever I can act on my own, I’m going to. That’s why we raised the minimum wage for employees of federal contractors. (Applause.) Nobody who cooks our troops’ meals or washes their dishes should have to live in poverty. That’s a disgrace. That’s why I ordered Tom Perez, our Secretary of Labor, to review overtime protections for millions of workers to make sure they’re getting the pay that they deserve. (Applause.) That’s why I signed an executive order preventing retaliation against federally contracted workers who share their salary information or raise issues of unequal compensation --because I think if you do the same work, you should get the same pay and you should be able to enforce it, which is why Congress should pass the Paycheck Fairness Act today for all workers and not just federally-contracted workers. (Applause.) And yes, that’s why I fought to pass the Affordable Care Act, to give every American access to high-quality affordable care no matter where they work. (Applause.) So far, over 8 million people have enrolled in plans through the ACA. Millions with preexisting conditions have been prevented or have been confident that their insurance companies have not been able to block them from getting health insurance. And by the way, women are no longer charged more for being women. They’re getting the basic care they need, including reproductive care. And millions are now free to take the best job for their families without worrying about losing their health care. Today, I’m going to sign a presidential memorandum directing every agency in the federal government to expand access to flexible work schedules, and giving employees the right to request those flexible work schedules. (Applause.) Because whether it’s the public sector or the private sector, if there’s a way to make our employees more productive and happier, every employer should want to find it. And to help parents trying to get ahead, I’m going to direct my Secretary of Labor, Tom Perez, to invest $25 million in helping people who want to enroll in jobs programs, but don’t currently have access to the childcare that they need to enroll in those job training programs. (Applause.) We’re going to make it easier for parents to get the training they need to get a good job. (Applause.) So we’re going to do everything we can to create more jobs and more opportunity for Americans. And then, let me just close by saying that I was interviewed in the run up to this on Friday. Somebody asked, well, it’s well-known that women are more likely to vote for Democrats -- to which I said, women are smarter. This is true. (Applause.) But they said, so isn’t this Working Families Summit political? And I said, no, I take this personally. I was raised by strong women who worked hard to support my sister and me. (Applause.) I saw what it was like for a single mom who was trying to go to school and work at the same time. And I remember her coming home and having to try to fix us dinner, and me saying, are we eating that again? (Laughter.) And she saying, you know what, buddy, I really don’t want to hear anything out of you right now, because I’ve got to go do some homework after this. And I remember times where my mom had to take some food stamps to make sure that we had enough nutritious food in the house, and I know what she went through. I know what my grandmother went through, working her way up from a secretary to the vice president of a bank. But she should have run the bank, except she hit a glass ceiling and was training people who would leapfrog ahead of her year after year. I know what that’s like. I’ve seen it. I take this personally, because I’m the husband of a brilliant woman who struggled to balance work and raising our girls when I was away. And I remember the stresses that were on Michelle, which I’m sure she’ll be happy to share with you later today. (Laughter.) And most of all, I take it personally, because I am the father of two unbelievable young ladies. (Applause.) And I want them to be able to have families. And I want them to be able to have careers. And I want them to go as far as their dreams will take them. And I want a society that supports that. And I take this personally as the President of the country that built the greatest middle class the world has ever known and inspired people to reach new heights and invent, and innovate, and drew immigrants from every corner of the world because they understood that no matter what you look like or where you come from, here in America you can make it. That’s the promise of America. That’s what we’re going to keep on fighting for. That’s what you’re fighting for. That’s what this summit is all about. Let’s go out there and get to work. Thank you, guys. I love you. God bless you. God bless America. END 2:21 P.M. EDT White House Press Office (Working Families Event)
After the Chipotle lunch, the pooler wrote " POTUS addressed an overflowing ballroom at the Summit on Working Families at the Omni Shoreham for about 31 minutes, a campaign-like appearance emphasizing the importance of family friendly policies in corporate America. Speech began at approx. 1:50 p.m WH transcript sure to follow. Some highlights were his shoutout to Chipotle, “It had been a while since I had a Burrito Bowl,” answering the question which I’m sure was on everyone’s minds. What bound all his lunch mates together, he said, was “a recognition that work gives us a sense of place and dignity, as well as income.” The First Family was lucky in balancing work and family, he noted, because the girls were fairly grown up when they got to the White House, averting a president with “cheerios stuck to my pants…” “I’m also lucky because we live above the store, so to speak.” Despite 51 months of job growth, the president said, “a lot of American families are not as lucky.” POTUS advocated for a higher minimum federal wage, saying “parents who work full time should make enough to pay the bills." He also appealed directly to the may women in the audience, getting cheers when he said “when women succeed, America succeeds.” “Tthese are common sense issues,” he added, “it’s about you too, men.” Among the policies Obama vouched for where paid maternity leave, flex-time, early childhood ed, etc. He also praised the Affordable Care Act : “women are no longer charged more for being women.” Crowd response was ecstatic, with one woman shouting “working families love you, Mr. President.” There was also one pseudo-heckler who shouted “stop deportations” at the end. POTUS joined a working session of CEO’s after the speech in a cramped conference room off the ballroom. Pool was allowed in for a minute, to hear the president say that family friendly policies are not only good for those families, but for these companies’ bottom lines.” The pooler added "Here's the list of CEO participants in the president's roundtable at the Omni Shoreham, per the WH: PARTICIPANTS • Lloyd Blankfein, CEO, Goldman Sachs • Nick Bloom, Economist, Stanford • Randy Garutti, CEO, Shake Shack • Alex Gorsky, CEO, Johnson & Johnson • Kim Jordan, CEO, New Belgium Brewing Company • Debra Lee, CEO, BET Networks • David H. Lissy, CEO, Bright Horizons • Sheila Marcelo, CEO and Founder, Care.com • Bob Moritz, CEO, PricewaterhouseCoopers • Mark Weinberger, CEO, Ernst & Young • Anne Wojcicki, CEO & Co-Founder, 23andMe" White House Pool Report
The pooler shared President Obama's stroll in to Chipotle. The pooler wrote " To recap, POTUS made an unannounced stop at the Chipotle a block from the Omni, walking along Calvert St NW, after leaving the Motorcade, which followed behind and waited outside with the pool The four diners identified in the previous pool report had met him in front of the hotel shortly after 1pm and walked with him Pool was allowed in for a few minutes for a photo op, at which point the president introduced his guests . All sitting at a enter table in a restaurant packed with a surprised lunchtime crowd POTUS heard saying that when companies treat employees right "businesses benefit and the economy benefits" POTUS emerged from the restaurant at 1:33 pm, got back into his limo and proceeded back to the Shoreham." Presidential Memorandum -- Enhancing Workplace Flexibilities and Work-Life Program
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 23, 2014 Attached is a memorandum from the President for the heads of executive departments and agencies enhancing workplace flexibilities and work-life programs. FACT SHEET: The White House Summit On Working Families
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 22, 2014 FACT SHEET: The White House Summit On Working Families Fighting for Working families; Strengthening our economy Building on actions he already has taken to help create real, lasting economic security for working families, today the President will announce a set of concrete steps that will create more opportunities for hardworking families to get ahead. Together with the Department of Labor (DOL) and the Center for American Progress (CAP), the White House is hosting the Summit on Working Families to set an agenda for a 21st century workplace. This fact sheet lays out these new announcements, along with a series of reports the White House Council of Economic Advisers has released ahead of today’s Summit. Already this year, the President has acted to move our country forward by raising the minimum wage for federal contractors, expanding retirement opportunities, strengthening overtime protections, and signing an Executive Order that protects workers from being retaliated against by their boss if they discuss their wages. At the Summit, the President will build on this progress by signing a Presidential Memorandum to help families better balance work and spending time at home, and announcing a package of both public and private sector efforts that will take a strong stand to protect pregnant working women, increase investments for research to understand the economic benefits of paid leave, expand apprenticeships for women, target resources to help more women enter higher-paying STEM and other fields, and make child care more affordable for working families. The President’s approach to the kitchen table issues that working families deal with every day is grounded in his own personal experience as well as his understanding that in order to stay competitive and economically successful, American businesses and our country as a whole need to bring our workplace policies into the 21st century. From growing up as the son of a single mom, to paying off his student loans, to raising two young daughters in a household with two working parents, the President learned the value of hard work and understands many of the struggles that American families face today. Since the beginning of his Administration, President Obama has focused on how we can create real, lasting security for the middle class by strengthening our nation’s workplaces to better support working families. Yet, while studies show that family-friendly workplace policies can enhance businesses’ profitability, many companies report that they lack the tools and expertise to redesign their workplaces to capture this competitive advantage. Too many workplaces still have policies that belong in a Mad Men episode – not the year 2014. When nearly half of all parents have said “no” to a job because it would be too hard on their families, it’s time to act. The President will continue to work with Congress and make progress on his own because working families can no longer wait for Washington to move forward. Today’s Summit explores how, as the demographics of our workforce change, our workplaces can change to support working families, boost businesses’ bottom lines, and ensure America’s global economic competitiveness in the coming decades. The Summit will convene businesses, economists, labor leaders, legislators, advocates and the media for a discussion on issues facing the entire spectrum of working families – from low-wage workers to corporate executives, from young parents to baby boomers caring for their aging parents. The important efforts the President will announce today reflect our belief that we all have a role to play in changing our country’s workplace policies and will be built upon coming out of today’s Summit. In addition, today the White House Council of Economic Advisers is releasing a new report: “Work-Life Balance and the Economics of Workplace Flexibility,” which is attached and available here. In addition, in recent days, CEA has also released the following reports: · “The Economics of Paid and Unpaid Leave,” click here to access the report. · “Nine Facts about American Families and Work” click here to access the report. A Year of Action: Building on Progress EXPANDING WORKPLACE FLEXIBILITY AND EMPOWERING WORKERS Taking Executive Action to Expand Workplace Flexibility. The President will issue a Presidential Memorandum directing federal agencies to implement existing efforts to expand flexible workplace policies to the maximum possible extent. In support of this goal, this executive action will direct agencies to review their workplace flexibilities and programs and report back any best practices and barriers to their use. In addition, the memorandum will make clear that Federal workers have the “right to request” a flexible work arrangement without fear of retaliation, and will direct agencies to establish procedures for addressing these requests by employees. Finally, it will call for training all employees and their supervisors on the effective use of these tools and will direct the Office of Personnel Management to create a new Workplace Flexibility Index that will be published online and updated annually to measure agencies’ success. Supporting the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act. While the Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978 took a crucial step toward protecting pregnant workers, too many women still face discrimination in the workplace and a serious and unmet need for reasonable accommodations that would allow them to keep working while they are pregnant. For that reason, President Obama will urge Congress to pass the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, which would require employers to make reasonable accommodations to workers who have limitations from pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions (unless it would impose an undue hardship on the employer). The legislation also would prohibit employers from forcing pregnant employees to take paid or unpaid leave if a reasonable accommodation would allow them to work. Empowering Pregnant Workers with Better Information About Their Rights. At the President’s direction, DOL will release a new online map that will be a one-stop shop where working families can learn about the rights of pregnant workers in each state. The map will also allow families to see which states are leading the charge in protecting their rights and which are lagging behind. This live map will continue to reflect any future changes in state and federal policy. Extending Workplace Protections to All Families Equally. Last year, in United States v. Windsor, the Supreme Court struck down Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act as unconstitutional. President Obama called the Court’s decision a victory for same-sex married couples who have long fought for equal treatment under the law, and he instructed the Cabinet to review all relevant federal statutes to ensure the decision, including its implications for federal benefits and programs, was implemented swiftly and smoothly. On Friday, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that it has concluded that review. In almost all instances, the government is able to extend benefits to same-sex married couples, regardless of where they live. Also on Friday, DOL announced a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to amend the definition of a “spouse” under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) so that eligible employees in legal same-sex marriages will be able to take FMLA leave to care for their spouse or family member, regardless of where they live. This change will ensure that the FMLA is applied to all families equally, giving spouses in same-sex marriages the same ability as all spouses to fully exercise their rights and responsibilities to their family. INCREASING ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE CHILD CARE Promoting Access to Child Care for Workers in Job Training Programs. DOL will make funds available for technical skill training grants to provide low-wage individuals opportunities to advance in their careers in in-demand industries, with $25 million of the competition focused on addressing barriers to training faced by those with childcare responsibilities. With the help of additional public or private funding that it will leverage, these dedicated funds will promote greater availability of activities such as co-location of training and child care services, access to unconventional training delivery times or locations, flexibilities related to scheduling and child care exigencies, and improved access to related child care services. These funds will give more working families a path to secure, higher wage jobs by addressing the significant barriers related to finding and acquiring affordable, high quality child care—including emergency care—while attending skills training programs. For example, evidence shows that single parents who receive child care are much more likely to complete job training programs than those who do not have access to child care. The new competition, which will be launched next year, will aim to increase participation and completion rates of those in training by supporting sustainable and innovative approaches that expand workers’ access to child care. Expanding Access to High-Quality Child Care. The lack of quality, affordable child care and preschool has enormous economic implications for families. Greater availability of high-quality early care and education enables workers to succeed in their jobs while providing children the resources needed to support their healthy development and prepare them for success in school. Today the U.S. Department of Education (ED) and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will release a new report on the Obama Administration’s investments to expand access to high-quality early care and education, including efforts under the Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge program, Head Start and Early Head Start, and the Child Care and Development Fund. The report will highlight state progress on establishing standards and improving program quality as well as supporting family-friendly policies that help working parents find high-quality and sustainable child care for their children. Supporting High-Quality Early Education for All Children. The President has proposed a series of new investments that will establish a continuum of high-quality early learning for a child—beginning at birth and continuing to age 5—including expanding evidence-based, voluntary home visits for parents and children, growing the supply of high-quality infant and toddler care through our new Early Head Start-Child Care Partnerships, and providing all four-year-old children with access to high-quality preschool. These investments will help close America’s school readiness gap and ensure that children have the chance to enter kindergarten ready for success. In May, HHS announced a $500 million competitive grant opportunity to support the expansion of Early Head Start and the creation of Early Head Start-Child Care Partnerships. In addition, ED will launch a $250 million Race to the Top competition this year to partner with states and communities to expand access to high-quality, universal preschool programs. HHS will provide new grants in 2014 to serve additional at-risk families during pregnancy and children’s early years through the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program. MAKING PROGRESS TOWARD SOLUTIONS FOR PAID LEAVE Supporting the Creation of State Paid Leave Programs. DOL is targeting funds for Paid Leave Analysis Grants to fund up to five states to conduct research and feasibility studies that could support the development or implementation of state paid leave programs. A preliminary announcement about these grants will be sent this week to all state Governors. The selection process will give priority to states that can demonstrate commitment to building a knowledge base needed to implement paid leave programs, and can present clearly articulated strategies for leveraging this research to do so. Providing Additional Research to Inform and Develop Paid Leave Solutions. DOL is funding two new independent research studies related to employee leave that will examine how paid leave programs impact employers and workers. One study is already underway and focuses on state paid parental leave laws in California, New Jersey, and Rhode Island. The first paper from this study, released today, analyzes the positive impact of the California law ten years after implementation. The second study, which begins next month, will assess the current use of leave by workers and the likely effects of alternative worker leave policies. CONTINUING TO CLOSE THE PAY GAP BY INCREASING ACCESS TO NON-TRADITIONAL OCCUPATIONS Closing the Gender Pay Gap and Expanding Women’s Access to STEM and Other Non-Traditional Occupations. Ensuring that women earn equal pay is essential to improving the economic security of American families and the growth of our middle class and our economy. Women comprise nearly half of the American workforce – yet, on average, they still earn less than similarly qualified men for doing the same job. And the pay gap for women of color is even greater. A significant factor contributing to this persistent gap is the concentration of women in comparatively lower paying and non-supervisory professions. Many high-paying jobs are in fields that require scientific knowledge or technical skills, where women and minorities often have been underrepresented or excluded. For example, despite accounting for half of the college-educated workforce, in 2010, women constituted 37 percent of employed individuals with a highest degree in a science and engineering field and 28 percent of employed individuals in science and engineering occupations. The promise of equal pay for equal work must also be a promise of equal access to better paying, STEM and other non-traditional occupations and the Administration is doing its part to make sure that promise is kept by: o Federal Science Agencies Leading Efforts to Increase Women in STEM Research Careers. The Department of Energy (DOE) will announce new partnerships with 100kin10 and US2020 to expand their Women @ Energy series profiling women in Federal STEM careers to inspire the next generation of energy scientists and engineers. The National Science Foundation will implement nearly a year ahead of schedule cost allowance policies for childcare at professional conferences that lesson the challenges for working families. With these and other family friendly policies, Federal science research agencies are stepping up to reduce the false choice faced by women and men entering research careers of starting a family or continuing on a trajectory to productive faculty research positions. And NIH today will release a comprehensive summary of research on barriers and opportunities to attract and retain women in biomedical science careers and will use this evidence base to guide Administration policies to broaden participation and success in STEM fields. o Mobilizing Colleges to Improve College Access and Success for Underserved Students. College and Universities have launched new programs, scholarships, and outreach, in response to the President and First Lady’s call at the White House College Opportunity event in January 2014, to expand STEM college completion for more underserved students, including broadening achievement to women and minorities in STEM fields in which they are under-represented. In particular, significant steps have been taken by the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust, Harvey Mudd College, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Wellesley College, and Stony Brook University. o Expanding Access to Higher-Paying Jobs in Construction Fields for Women. Women hold only 2.6 percent of constructions jobs – and that number is virtually unchanged over the past 35 years. When the employment rates of women of color in construction are examined, the statistics are even bleaker. The Administration is working to reverse this imbalance. Through its Mega-Construction Projects (MCP) Initiative, DOL convenes parties involved in large-scale, high-profile construction projects around the country – including contractors, unions, community leaders, and advocates – to ensure coordination and compliance with equal employment obligations. Designed to address the historical underrepresentation of minorities and women in skilled construction trades, the MCP Initiative enables contractors to identify qualified women and minority workers more easily. o Launching a New Public-Private Partnership to Recruit and Train Women for STEM Fields and Apprenticeships. Jobs for the Future and Wider Opportunities for Women are committing to adapt and expand their Pink to Green Tool-Kit from its current focus on recruiting and retaining women in training programs for green sector jobs to a broader focus on training in STEM careers that hold the promise of new and high-potential career paths for women. In particular, JFF and WOW will work with the Administration to promote the toolkit to potential applicants for the $100M American Apprenticeship Grants to assist in increasing the number of women and other underrepresented groups in apprenticeships. o Releasing a Resource Guide on Women and Minorities in Apprenticeships. DOL is releasing a resource guide on women and minorities in apprenticeships, including tools to help employers and community-based organizations increase the representation of women and minorities in apprenticeships, as well as improve performance and completion rates. o Creating a Clearinghouse for Women Accessing Non-Traditional Occupations. DOL is developing a digital clearinghouse to share the latest and best information on access to non-traditional occupations, including promising industry practices, job and training opportunities, and relevant research and data for use by trade associations, training organizations, employers, and women interested in non-traditional occupations and apprenticeship opportunities. o Investments in Research to Understand Barriers Preventing Women’s Full Access to Non-Traditional Occupations. ED is commissioning a study that will examine whether girls and young women in high school have access to high-quality programs that prepare them for careers that are non-traditional for women. Similarly, DOL has commissioned studies that evaluate existing adult and dislocated worker programs to identify the barriers that women face in accessing non-traditional occupations. DOL soon will release summary data on women’s participation in transportation, technology and manufacturing fields. o Changing the Odds for Marginalized Girls. Later this year, ED and Georgetown University will convene thought leaders, policy makers, practitioners, researchers, advocates and marginalized girls and young women to focus on ending barriers and other challenges that girls and young women face in accessing and completing career and technical education and other rigorous college and career preparation programs. This convening will produce and help inform policy and programmatic proposals to help disrupt patterns of gender-based occupational segregation by increasing young women’s and girls’ participation in programs that prepare them for high-skill, high-wage jobs, including non-traditional occupations. The aim is to develop a going-forward strategy to prepare women and girls for in-demand careers within high-growth industry sectors. o Enforcing Federal Employment Nondiscrimination Laws to Ensure Men and Women Have Equal Access to Job Opportunities. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), DOJ, and DOL remain committed to enforcement of federal laws requiring equal employment opportunity without regard to gender. Through outreach and technical assistance to foster voluntary compliance, and through enforcement and litigation where necessary, EEOC, DOJ and DOL are working to prevent and remedy discriminatory practices that “steer” women and men into specific jobs based on gender or impose barriers to hiring and advancement that exclude qualified women, and also to prevent and remedy sexual harassment and other practices that can discourage men and women from working in traditionally gender-segregated occupations. o Building an Information Portal for Federal Job-Seekers and Human Resource Professionals. OPM’s Recruitment Policy and Outreach Office soon will release a web-based “studio” for Federal human resources professionals and for job seekers, including women and girls. These resources are designed to help job seekers, including women, enhance their job search in all occupational areas, including STEM and other hard-to-fill occupations, and those in which they are traditionally underrepresented. The Administration is joined in these efforts by private sector and non-profit partners: o Attracting New Talent to Technology Careers. The National Center for Women & Information Technology will announce a new commitment to add thousands of new technical women to the U.S. talent pool by 2016 through their Pacesetters program, and is expanding access to the “Transforming Technical Job Ads” initiative, an effort to produce job ads with more inclusive language to encourage more female applicants, to over 150 corporate and small business and more than 300 college and university partners in the coming months. o Reaching Parents with New Tools to Inspire their Daughters to Become Engineers. The Society of Women Engineers, will release new online training tools for parents, educators, and mentors to inspire and encourage more young girls to pursue engineering careers. With funding from the S. D. Bechtel Jr. Foundation, the online resource gives parents information and tools to understand how engineering can improve girls’ academic achievement and career prospects, and gives teachers and mentors activities to use with students to engage and build their interests in STEM fields. This new training builds on a series of publicly available tools to encourage women and girls to pursue and succeed in engineering careers. EXPANDING TAX CREDITS THAT SUPPORT WORKING FAMILIES Tax Credits for Working Families. Recognizing the importance of tax relief for working families, the President enacted, and Congress extended with bipartisan support through 2017, significant improvements to tax credits for working families. These include expansions to the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit, which strengthen work incentives and help parents afford the costs of raising a family, and the American Opportunity Tax Credit, which helps working and middle-class families pay for college. Together, these improvements provide about $25 billion in tax relief to 26 million families every year. The President’s Budget proposes to make these improvements permanent, while doing even more to promote work and support families through improving tax credits that help families with young children afford the rising costs of child care, and the EITC for workers without children, including non-custodial parents. NEW PRIVATE SECTOR EFFORTS TO BRING SOLUTIONS TO MORE WORKPLACES Convening Businesses and Stakeholders to Identify and Share Innovative Solutions. A group of companies and businesses, including Bright Horizons Family Solutions, Care.com, Ernst & Young, Johnson and Johnson, and KPMG are coming together to launch a working group that that will bring together companies across diverse industries to explore ways they can address the needs of working families in today’s changing economy. In consultation with the Administration, the group will identify ways that employers can measure their own progress and help ensure they have effective practices in place to respond to workers’ work-life needs, retain the best talent, and are well-positioned for success in the 21st century global economy. Working with Unions and Labor Management Partnerships to Expand Quality Training Programs to Provide Pathways to Middle-Class Jobs. In partnership with ED, over forty unions and labor management organizations have pledged to expand low-skilled workers’ access to their training programs and share best practices on effective workforce and career pathway programs. These organizations are well-positioned to expand opportunities for women to improve their foundation skills to access higher-wage occupations in the fields of healthcare, construction, transportation, and manufacturing. This collaboration represents partnerships with almost 8,000 employers and will provide unprecedented access to educational and training opportunities as well as supportive services necessary for women and working families to be successful. DAILY GUIDANCE FOR THE VICE PRESIDENT
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Vice President FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 22, 2014 DAILY GUIDANCE FOR THE VICE PRESIDENT Monday, June 23, 2014 At 9:15 AM, the Vice President and Dr. Biden will deliver remarks to the White House Working Families Summit at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, DC. This event is open press. Later in the morning, the Vice President will attend the Presidential Daily Briefing in the Oval Office. In the evening, the Vice President and Dr. Biden will host a reception for freshmen Members of Congress at the Naval Observatory. This event is closed press. DAILY GUIDANCE AND PRESS SCHEDULE FOR MONDAY, JUNE 23, 2014
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 22, 2014 DAILY GUIDANCE AND PRESS SCHEDULE FOR MONDAY, JUNE 23, 2014 In the morning, the President and Vice President will receive the Presidential Daily Briefing in the Oval Office. This meeting is closed press. In the afternoon, the President will deliver remarks and participate in a roundtable discussion as part of the first-ever White House Summit on Working Families to focus on creating a 21st century workplace that works for all Americans. The Vice President, the First Lady and Dr. Biden will also participate in the summit at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, DC. The President’s remarks are open to pre-credentialed media and there will be a pool spray at the top of the roundtable. In-Town Travel Pool Wires: AP, Reuters, Bloomberg Wire Photos: AP, Reuters, AFP TV Corr & Crew: NBC Print: Houston Chronicle Radio: SRN EDT 9:30AM In-Town Travel Pool Call Time 10:00AM THE PRESIDENT and VICE PRESIDENT receive the Presidential Daily Briefing Oval Office Closed Press 1:40PM THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks at the White House Summit on Working Families The Omni Shoreham Hotel Open to Pre-Credentialed Media 2:10PM THE PRESIDENT participates in a roundtable discussion at the White House Summit on Working Families The Omni Shoreham Hotel In-Town Pool Spray at the Top AGENDA: White House Summit on Working Families
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 22, 2014 White House Summit on Working Families Monday, June 23, 2014 Omni Shoreham Hotel, Washington, DC Visit www.workingfamiliessummit.org for livestreams of tomorrow’s plenaries and more information about the day’s events. Please note that the deadline for press credentialing for the summit has passed. 7:30AM Breakfast 9:00AM Opening Remarks Speakers include: THE VICE PRESIDENT DR. JILL BIDEN U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez Valerie Jarrett, Assistant to the President and Senior Advisor Neera Tanden, President of the Center for American Progress Tina Tchen, Assistant to the President and Executive Director of the White House Council on Women and Girls 9:20AM First Plenary: Family Matters Plenary Panel Moderator: Jonathan Cohn, The New Republic Panelists Claudia Goldin, Henry Lee Professor of Economics at Harvard University Mark Weinberger, Global Chairman and CEO of EY Makini Howell, Owner of Plum Bistro Restaurant Mary Kay Henry, President of Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Introducer: Kay Thompson 11:00AM HuffPost Live Segment: Family Matters 11:00AM BREAKOUT 1: Hourly Workers Moderator: Karen Finney, MSNBC Panelists Jennifer Piallat, CEO and Owner of Zazie Maureen Conway, Executive Director of the Economic Opportunities Program at the Aspen Institute Ai-Jen Poo, Director of the National Domestic Workers Alliance U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) Lynn Albright, Vice President of stores, Gap Inc. Introducers: Kristin Rowe Finkbeiner and Sarah Gamble BREAKOUT 2: Compensation Moderator: Cindi Leive, Glamour Panelists Dane Atkinson, CEO of SumAll U.S. Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) Beth Williams, CEO of Roxbury Technology Victoria Budson, Executive Director of the Women and Public Policy Program at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government Minnesota House Speaker Paul Thissen Introducer: Kevin Russell BREAKOUT 3: Evaluation & Assessment Tools Moderator: Winnie Stachelberg, CAP Panelists Carol Evans, President of Working Mother Media Ellen Galinsky, President of the Families & Work Institute Megan Beyer, External Affairs, EDGE Gender Certification BREAKOUT 4: Young Women Leaders Opening Remarks: Valerie Jarrett Moderator: Neera Tanden, CAP Panelists Melanie Campbell, President & CEO of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation, Convener of the Black Women’s Roundtable Anne Marie Chavez, CEO of Girl Scouts USA U.S. Representative Donna Edwards (D-MD) Sarah Bird, CEO of Moz Technology Introducer: Lauren Sills 12:30PM Second Plenary: A 21st Century Economy that Works for Business and Workers: Businesses need to adopt. Speakers include: U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez Betsey Stevenson, Member, Council of Economic Advisors Plenary Panel Moderator: Claire Shipman, ABC and Katty Kay, BBC Panelists Bob Moritz, U.S. Chairman and Senior Partner of PriceWaterhouseCoopers Sheila Marcelo, CEO of Care.com Liz Shuler, Secretary-Treasurer of AFL-CIO Nick Bloom, Professor of Economics at Stanford University Kim Jordan, CEO of New Belgium Brewing Company 1:40PM THE PRESIDENT Delivers Remarks Additional speakers: Maria Shriver interviewed by Maya Harris, CAP Ellen Bravo, President and Founder of Family Values at Work Introducer: Lisa Rumain 3:15PM BREAKOUT 1: Talent Attraction and Retention Moderator: Daniella Gibbs Leger, CAP Panelists Alex Gorsky, CEO of Johnson and Johnson Lloyd Blankfein, Chairman and CEO of Goldman Sachs Debra Ness, President of the National Partnership for Women and Families Sunil Kumar, Dean of the University of Chicago Booth School of Business Randy Garutti, CEO of Shake Shack Introducer: Mary Catherine Halfpenny BREAKOUT 2: Structure of the Workplace Moderator: Carol Evans, Working Mother Magazine Panelists Nancy Lyons, President and CEO of Clockwork Media Andy Shallal, CEO of Busboys and Poets Kathleen Christensen, Program Director at the Alfred R. Sloan Foundation Katherine Archuleta, Director of the Office of Personnel Management Introducer: Delmy Lemus Bemeosolo BREAKOUT 3: Caregiving Moderator: Carmel Martin, CAP Panelists David H. Lissy, CEO of Bright Horizons Ariel Kalil, Professor of Public Policy at the University of Chicago Nancy Duff Campbell, Co-President of the National Women’s Law Center Eva Blum, Chair and President of the PNC Foundation Gail Hunt, CEO of National Alliance for Caregiving Introducer: Shawnta Deniece Jones BREAKOUT 4: STEM and Non-Traditional Jobs Moderator: Fernando Espuelas, Fernando Espuelas Show Panelists Maria Klawe, President of Harvey Mudd College Patrice D’Eramo, Vice President, Americas Field Marketing at Cisco Systems Rosalind Hudnell, Vice President, Human Resources at Intel Corporation Avis Yates Rivers, President and CEO of Technology Concepts Connie Ashbrook, Executive Director at Oregon Tradeswoman, Inc. Introducer: Sabrina Parsons 3:30PM HuffPost Live Segment: Career Ladders and Leadership 4:30PM THIRD PLENARY: Career Ladders and Leadership Plenary Panel Moderator: Mika Brzezinski, MSNBC Panelists U.S. House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) Dr. Judith Rodin, President of the Rockefeller Foundation Katherine Phillips, Paul Calello Professor of Leadership and Ethics at the Columbia Business School Debra Lee, CEO of B.E.T. Gloria Steinem, Activist 5:30PM Closing Remarks Speakers include: THE FIRST LADY Robin Roberts, Anchor, ABC’s Good Morning America Introducer: Martina Leinz Presidential Memorandum -- Creating a Federal Strategy to Promote the Health of Honey Bees and Other Pollinators
Presidential Memorandum -- Creating a Federal Strategy to Promote the Health of Honey Bees and Other Pollinators MEMORANDUM FOR HEADS OF EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES SUBJECT: Creating a Federal Strategy to Promote the Health of Honey Bees and Other Pollinators Pollinators contribute substantially to the economy of the United States and are vital to keeping fruits, nuts, and vegetables in our diets. Honey bee pollination alone adds more than $15 billion in value to agricultural crops each year in the United States. Over the past few decades, there has been a significant loss of pollinators, including honey bees, native bees, birds, bats, and butterflies, from the environment. The problem is serious and requires immediate attention to ensure the sustainability of our food production systems, avoid additional economic impact on the agricultural sector, and protect the health of the environment. Pollinator losses have been severe. The number of migrating Monarch butterflies sank to the lowest recorded population level in 2013-14, and there is an imminent risk of failed migration. The continued loss of commercial honey bee colonies poses a threat to the economic stability of commercial beekeeping and pollination operations in the United States, which could have profound implications for agriculture and food. Severe yearly declines create concern that bee colony losses could reach a point from which the commercial pollination industry would not be able to adequately recover. The loss of native bees, which also play a key role in pollination of crops, is much less studied, but many native bee species are believed to be in decline. Scientists believe that bee losses are likely caused by a combination of stressors, including poor bee nutrition, loss of forage lands, parasites, pathogens, lack of genetic diversity, and exposure to pesticides. Given the breadth, severity, and persistence of pollinator losses, it is critical to expand Federal efforts and take new steps to reverse pollinator losses and help restore populations to healthy levels. These steps should include the development of new public-private partnerships and increased citizen engagement. Therefore, by the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, I hereby direct the following: Section 1. Establishing the Pollinator Health Task Force. There is hereby established the Pollinator Health Task Force (Task Force), to be co-chaired by the Secretary of Agriculture and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. In addition to the Co-Chairs, the Task Force shall also include the heads, or their designated representatives, from:  (a) the Department of State; (b) the Department of Defense; (c) the Department of the Interior; (d) the Department of Housing and Urban Development; (e) the Department of Transportation; (f) the Department of Energy; (g) the Department of Education; (h) the Council on Environmental Quality; (i) the Domestic Policy Council; (j) the General Services Administration; (k) the National Science Foundation; (l) the National Security Council Staff; (m) the Office of Management and Budget; (n) the Office of Science and Technology Policy; and (o) such executive departments, agencies, and offices as the Co-Chairs may designate. Sec. 2. Mission and Function of the Task Force. Within 180 days of the date of this memorandum, the Task Force shall develop a National Pollinator Health Strategy (Strategy), which shall include explicit goals, milestones, and metrics to measure progress. The Strategy shall include the following components: (a) Pollinator Research Action Plan. The Strategy shall include an Action Plan (Plan) to focus Federal efforts on understanding, preventing, and recovering from pollinator losses. The Plan shall be informed by research on relevant topics and include: (i) studies of the health of managed honey bees and native bees, including longitudinal studies, to determine the relative contributions of, and mitigation strategies for, different stressors leading to species declines and colony collapse disorder, including exposure to pesticides, poor nutrition, parasites and other pests, toxins, loss of habitat and reduced natural forage, pathogens, and unsustainable management practices; (ii) plans for expanded collection and sharing of data related to pollinator losses, technologies for continuous monitoring of honey bee hive health, and use of public-private partnerships, as appropriate, to provide information on the status and trends of managed hive losses; (iii) assessments of the status of native pollinators, including the Monarch butterfly and bees, and modeling of native pollinator populations and habitats;  (iv) strategies for developing affordable seed mixes, including native pollinator-friendly plants, for maintenance of honey bees and other pollinators, and guidelines for and evaluations of the effectiveness of using pollinator-friendly seed mixes for restoration and reclamation projects; (v) identification of existing and new methods and best practices to reduce pollinator exposure to pesticides, and new cost-effective ways to control bee pests and diseases; and (vi) strategies for targeting resources toward areas of high risk and restoration potential and prioritizing plans for restoration of pollinator habitat, based on those areas that will yield the greatest expected net benefits. (b) Public Education Plan. The Strategy shall include plans for expanding and coordinating public education programs outlining steps individuals and businesses can take to help address the loss of pollinators. It shall also include recommendations for a coordinated public education campaign aimed at individuals, corporations, small businesses, schools, libraries, and museums to significantly increase public awareness of the importance of pollinators and the steps that can be taken to protect them. (c) Public-Private Partnerships. The Strategy shall include recommendations for developing public-private partnerships to build on Federal efforts to encourage the protection of pollinators and increase the quality and amount of habitat and forage for pollinators. In developing this part of the Strategy, the Task Force shall consult with external stakeholders, including State, tribal, and local governments, farmers, corporations, and nongovernmental organizations. (d) Task Force member agencies shall report regularly to the Task Force on their efforts to implement section 3 of this memorandum. Sec. 3. Increasing and Improving Pollinator Habitat. Unless otherwise specified, within 180 days of the date of this memorandum: (a) Task Force member agencies shall develop and provide to the Task Force plans to enhance pollinator habitat, and subsequently implement, as appropriate, such plans on their managed lands and facilities, consistent with their missions and public safety. These plans may include: facility landscaping, including easements; land management; policies with respect to road and other rights-of-way; educational gardens; use of integrated vegetation and pest management; increased native vegetation; and application of pollinator-friendly best management practices and seed mixes. Task Force member agencies shall also review any new or renewing land management contracts and grants for the opportunity to include requirements for enhancing pollinator habitat.  (b) Task Force member agencies shall evaluate permit and management practices on power line, pipeline, utility, and other rights-of-way and easements, and, consistent with applicable law, make any necessary and appropriate changes to enhance pollinator habitat on Federal lands through the use of integrated vegetation and pest management and pollinator-friendly best management practices, and by supplementing existing agreements and memoranda of understanding with rights-of-way holders, where appropriate, to establish and improve pollinator habitat. (c) Task Force member agencies shall incorporate pollinator health as a component of all future restoration and reclamation projects, as appropriate, including all annual restoration plans. (d) The Council on Environmental Quality and the General Services Administration shall, within 90 days of the date of this memorandum, revise their respective guidance documents for designed landscapes and public buildings to incorporate, as appropriate, pollinator-friendly practices into site landscape performance requirements to create and maintain high quality habitats for pollinators. Future landscaping projects at all Federal facilities shall, to the maximum extent appropriate, use plants beneficial to pollinators. (e) The Departments of Agriculture and the Interior shall, within 90 days of the date of this memorandum, develop best management practices for executive departments and agencies to enhance pollinator habitat on Federal lands. (f) The Departments of Agriculture and the Interior shall establish a reserve of native seed mixes, including pollinator-friendly plants, for use on post-fire rehabilitation projects and other restoration activities. (g) The Department of Agriculture shall, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law, substantially increase both the acreage and forage value of pollinator habitat in the Department's conservation programs, including the Conservation Reserve Program, and provide technical assistance, through collaboration with the land-grant university-based cooperative extension services, to executive departments and agencies, State, local, and tribal governments, and other entities and individuals, including farmers and ranchers, in planting the most suitable pollinator-friendly habitats. (h) The Department of the Interior shall assist States and State wildlife organizations, as appropriate, in identifying and implementing projects to conserve pollinators at risk of endangerment and further pollinator conservation through the revision and implementation of individual State Wildlife Action Plans. The Department of the Interior shall, upon request, provide technical support for these efforts, and keep the Task Force apprised of such collaborations. (i) The Department of Transportation shall evaluate its current guidance for grantees and informational resources to identify opportunities to increase pollinator habitat along roadways and implement improvements, as appropriate. The Department of Transportation shall work with State Departments of Transportation and transportation associations to promote pollinator-friendly practices and corridors. The Department of Transportation shall evaluate opportunities to make railways, pipelines, and transportation facilities that are privately owned and operated aware of the need to increase pollinator habitat. (j) The Department of Defense shall, consistent with law and the availability of appropriations, support habitat restoration projects for pollinators, and shall direct military service installations to use, when possible, pollinator-friendly native landscaping and minimize use of pesticides harmful to pollinators through integrated vegetation and pest management practices. (k) The Army Corps of Engineers shall incorporate conservation practices for pollinator habitat improvement on the 12 million acres of lands and waters at resource development projects across the country, as appropriate. (l) The Environmental Protection Agency shall assess the effect of pesticides, including neonicotinoids, on bee and other pollinator health and take action, as appropriate, to protect pollinators; engage State and tribal environmental, agricultural, and wildlife agencies in the development of State and tribal pollinator protection plans; encourage the incorporation of pollinator protection and habitat planting activities into green infrastructure and Superfund projects; and expedite review of registration applications for new products targeting pests harmful to pollinators. (m) Executive departments and agencies shall, as appropriate, take immediate measures to support pollinators during the 2014 growing season and thereafter. These measures may include planting pollinator-friendly vegetation and increasing flower diversity in plantings, limiting mowing practices, and avoiding the use of pesticides in sensitive pollinator habitats through integrated vegetation and pest management practices. Sec. 4. General Provisions. (a) This memorandum shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations. (b) Nothing in this memorandum shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect: (i) the authority granted by law to any agency, or the head thereof; or (ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals. (c) Nothing in this memorandum shall be construed to require the disclosure of confidential business information or trade secrets, classified information, law enforcement sensitive information, or other information that must be protected in the interest of national security or public safety. (d) This memorandum is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.  (e) The Secretary of Agriculture is hereby authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the Federal Register. BARACK OBAMA WEEKLY ADDRESS: Bringing our Workplace Policies into the 21st Century
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 21, 2014 WEEKLY ADDRESS: Bringing our Workplace Policies into the 21st Century WASHINGTON, DC— In this week’s address, the President previewed Monday’s first-ever White House Summit on Working Families where he will bring together businesses leaders and workers to discuss the challenges that working parents face every day and lift up solutions that are good for these families and American businesses. Many working families can’t afford basic needs like childcare or receive simple benefits such as paid family leave that are common in most countries around the world. When hardworking Americans are forced to choose between work and family, America lags behind in a global economy. To stay competitive and economically successful, America needs to bring our workplace policies into the 21st century. In addition to the address, the White House is also releasing a new report by the Council of Economic Advisers that examines economic benefits that paid family leave policies can have for workers and employers. A copy of that report is attached. Remarks of President Barack Obama Weekly Address The White House June 21, 2014 Hi, everybody. As President, my top priority is rebuilding an economy where everybody who works hard has the chance to get ahead. That’s what I’ll spend some time talking about on Monday, at the White House Summit on Working Families. We’re bringing together business leaders and workers to talk about the challenges that working parents face every day, and how we can address them together. Take paid family leave. Many jobs don’t offer adequate leave to care for a new baby or an ailing parent, so workers can’t afford to be there when their family needs them the most. That’s wrong. And it puts us way behind the times. Only three countries in the world report that they don’t offer paid maternity leave. Three. And the United States is one of them. It’s time to change that. A few states have acted on their own to give workers paid family leave, but this should be available to everyone, because all Americans should be able to afford to care for a family member in need. Childcare is another challenge. Most working families I know can’t afford thousands a year for childcare, but often that’s what it costs. That leaves parents scrambling just to make sure their kids are safe while they’re at work – forget about giving them the high-quality early childhood education that helps kids succeed in life. Then there’s the issue of flexibility – the ability to take a few hours off for a parent-teacher conference or to work from home when your kid is sick. Most workers want it, but not enough of them have it. What’s more, it not only makes workers happier – studies show that flexibility can make workers more productive and reduce worker turnover and absenteeism. That’s good for business. At a time when women make up about half of America’s workforce, outdated workplace policies that make it harder for mothers to work hold our entire economy back. But these aren’t just problems for women. Men also care about who’s watching their kids. They’re rearranging their schedules to make it to soccer games and school plays. Lots of sons help care for aging parents. And plenty of fathers would love to be home for their new baby’s first weeks in the world. In fact, in a new study, nearly half of all parents – women and men – report that they’ve said no to a job, not because they didn’t want it, but because it would be too hard on their families. When that many talented, hard-working people are forced to choose between work and family, something’s wrong. Other countries are making it easier for people to have both. We should too, if we want American businesses to compete and win in the global economy. Family leave. Childcare. Flexibility. These aren’t frills – they’re basic needs. They shouldn’t be bonuses – they should be the bottom line. The good news is, some businesses are embracing family-friendly policies, because they know it’s key to attracting and retaining talented employees. And I’m going to keep highlighting the businesses that do. Because I take this personally. I take it personally as the son and grandson of some strong women who worked hard to support my sister and me. As the husband of a brilliant woman who struggled to balance work and raising our young ladies when my job often kept me away. And as the father of two beautiful girls, whom I want to be there for as much as I possibly can – and whom I hope will be able to have families and careers of their own one day. We know from our history that our economy grows best from the middle-out; that our country does better when everybody participates; when everyone’s talents are put to use; when we all have a fair shot. That’s the America I believe in. That’s the America I’ll keep fighting for every day. Thanks, and have a great weekend. WEEKEND GUIDANCE FOR THE VICE PRESIDENT
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Vice President ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 20, 2014 WEEKEND GUIDANCE FOR THE VICE PRESIDENT Saturday, June 21, and Sunday, June 22, 2014 The Vice President will be in Washington, DC. On Sunday, at 8:00 PM, the Vice President and Dr. Biden will attend the Ford’s Theatre Annual Gala. The Vice President and Dr. Biden will deliver remarks after the performances. Planning Ahead Guidance for the Vice President: On Monday June 23rd, the Vice President and Dr. Biden will deliver remarks to the White House Working Families Summit at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, DC. This event is open press. Sunday, June 22, 2014
EDT 10:30AM In-Town Pool Call Time 4:30PM THE PRESIDENT and FIRST LADY host a reception for Ford’s Theatre East Room Closed Press Schedule for the Week of June 23, 2014 On Monday, the President will participate in the Summit on Working Families to focus on creating a 21st century workplace that works for all Americans at the Omni Hotel in Washington, DC. The Vice President, the First Lady and Dr. Biden will also participate. WEEKEND GUIDANCE AND PRESS SCHEDULE FOR SATURDAY, JUNE 21, 2014 AND SUNDAY, JUNE 22, 2014
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 20, 2014 WEEKEND GUIDANCE AND PRESS SCHEDULE FOR SATURDAY, JUNE 21, 2014 AND SUNDAY, JUNE 22, 2014 On Saturday, the President has no public events scheduled. On Sunday, the President and First Lady will host a reception for the Ford’s Theatre in the East Room. This reception is closed press. Presidential Proclamation -- 70th Anniversary of the GI Bill of Rights
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 20, 2014 Attached is a proclamation signed by the President today regarding the 70th Anniversary of the GI Bill of Rights. THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary For Immediate Release June 20, 2014 70TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE GI BILL OF RIGHTS - - - - - - - BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA A PROCLAMATION In the Second World War, a generation risked their lives for people they had never met and ideals none of us could live without. As they fought to liberate a continent and safeguard the American way of life, our Nation resolved to serve them as well as they were serving us. After months of heated debate and hard-fought compromise, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944, better known as the When patriots who had left our shores as barely more than boys returned as heroes, the GI Bill allowed them to launch their civilian lives. It provided unemployment benefits, home loan guaranties, and subsidies for a college education. This bill marked the first time higher education was available to large cross-sections of the American people. Because veterans took advantage of this unprecedented opportunity, our Nation developed the most talented workforce in history. Millions excelled in their careers, started families, bought new homes, or even started new businesses, helping to build the greatest middle class the world has ever known. The GI Bill proved that America prospers when we put a good education within the reach of those willing to work for it. Under the Post-9/11 GI Bill, our Nation has extended this chance to a new generation. This law has helped more than a million veterans, service members, and military families pursue a college education. And across our country, employers can tap into a vast pool of talent -- men and women who are not only highly educated but have also served with honor in the most dangerous corners of the earth. Today, let us celebrate 70 years of opportunity. Let us remember our sacred debt to our veterans and recall that when we give them the chance to excel, there is no limit to what they NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 22, 2014, as the 70th Anniversary of the GI Bill of Rights. I call upon all Americans to observe this day with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twentieth day of June, in the year of our Lord two thousand fourteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-eighth. BARACK OBAMA White House Report: Nine Facts About American Families and Work
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 20, 2014 White House Report: Nine Facts About American Families and Work On Monday, the President will host the first ever White House Summit on Working Families to spark a national conversation, keep making progress, and identify solutions that are good for both workers and employers – and that go right at the heart of the economic stresses and the emotional strains that families are going through. In order to stay competitive and economically successful, American businesses and our country as a whole need to bring our workplace policies into the 21st century. In advance of the Summit, the Council of Economic Advisers released a report, Nine Facts About American Families and Work, that illustrates the changes that are needed to ensure our long-term economic growth, maintain our economic competiveness, improve the well-being of Americans, and make full use of America’s talent. The report is linked above and also attached. Introduction .....................................................................................................................................................3 Fact 1: Mothers are increasingly the household breadwinners...................................................4 Fact 2: Fathers are increasingly family caregivers.. .......................................................................9 Fact 3: Women make up nearly half of today’s labor force. ........................................................4 Fact 4: Women are increasingly among our most skilled workers, attaining the majority of college degrees, and deepening their work experiences..............................................................6 Fact 5: Most children live in households where all parents work. ............................................11 Fact 6: Caregiving doesn’t end when the children are grown: eldercare is a growing responsibility of workers. ................................................................................................................12 Fact 7: Men and women alike face challenges as they try to balance work and family.........13 Fact 8: Many workplaces have not kept up with the needs of 21st century workers and families. ..............................................................................................................................................14 Fact 9: Providing workplace flexibility and paid leave strengthens families, businesses, and our economy......................................................................................................................................17 Introduction In this report we lay out nine important facts about American families and work which together illustrate the changes that are needed to ensure our long-term economic growth, maintain our economic competitiveness, improve the well-being of Americans, and make full use of all of America’s talent. The interaction between our family lives and our work lives has profound implications for our economy. Most workers have caregiving responsibilities for others—children, elderly parents, aunts, or uncles, spouses, or adult children with disabilities, including returning veterans. Trying to balance breadwinning and caregiving responsibilities without the support of work-family policies designed to help families navigate these complexities is leaving too many families stressed, exhausted, and burdened by work-family conflict. These choices that families face as individuals are intimately linked to the success of our businesses and our economy. When workers are choosing companies based on their family-friendly policies, the companies that adopt such policies are better able to attract and retain talent. And when more companies have adopted such policies workers will be able to choose their job focusing more on where they will be most productive. Growth in women’s labor force participation and earnings has been essential for both family incomes and our overall economy. Without the gains women have made since 1970, median family income would be $13,000 less today and our overall economy would be $2 trillion dollars smaller. Making it easier for everyone to participate in the economy to their fullest potential is an essential ingredient in economic success. Fact 1: Mothers are increasingly the household breadwinners.Mothers are bringing home more of family income than ever before. Mothers’ income is not just supplemental—it is increasingly a necessary source of funds to pay for childcare, housing, transportation, and other essentials. More than 40 percent of mothers are now the sole or primary source of income for the household. This reflects both a rise of single mothers, 65 percent of whom participate in the labor force, and the fact that more married women are out-earning their husbands.17 percent in 1970.2 Most of the growth in family incomes over the past several decades has come from women’s rising earnings. In 2013, the income of employed married women comprised 44 percent of their family’s income, up from 37 percent of household income in 1970.3income has tracked the rise in GDP per capita, while male income has stagnated. That means that nearly all of the rise in family income since the 1970s has been due to the earnings of women. In fact, if women’s participation had not increased since 1970, median family income$13,000 less than what it is today.4 Overall, 24 percent of married women earn more than their husbands compared to only Turning to all women, we see that their................... (See Full report) Remarks by the First Lady at Summer Learning Day Event
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the First Lady _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release June 20, 2014 REMARKS BY THE FIRST LADY AT SUMMER LEARNING DAY EVENT Department of Education Washington, D.C. 11:43 A.M. EDT MRS. OBAMA: How exciting is it? (Applause.) That’s how excited I am. But let me start by thanking Marielena for that very kind introduction. We are so proud of you and what you’re going to be doing with your life. That’s good stuff. Yes! (Applause.) And I know all of you have a story like that. I wish I could hear about every story, but we can’t. But I’m proud of you guys. I really am. I also want to thank Sarah Pitcock from the National Summer Learning Association for her leadership and for helping to organize this event today. I also particularly want to recognize everyone at the Department of Education, not only Undersecretary Ted Mitchell and your Assistant Secretary for Communications and Outreach, Massie Ritsch, but all the staffers here who have joined us today who are working so hard on behalf of kids across the country. I’m so proud of you, and thankful for your work -- especially the guidance and support you’ve given to our development of Reach Higher, the initiative that Marielena spoke about, where we want to inspire young people to complete their education beyond high school. And I want to especially thank the Department of Education for letting me steal somebody important from you -- your Deputy Chief of Staff Eric Waldo, who’s doing an outstanding job as the Executive Director for Reach Higher. This is his original home, but we stole him. And he’s doing great work for us. And most importantly, I want to give a big shoutout to all of the young people that we have here with us today -- yay to you guys. (Applause.) You guys are coming from all over the country -- places like Alabama and Kentucky; we’ve got folks from right here in D.C. You guys are coming from everywhere. (Applause.) And I just spent some time talking to some really terrific young people about what you all are up to this summer, and it is really very cool. You’re learning important things like cooking healthy foods and building Habitat houses. And you’re learning about city planning by building Lego cities -- that was really pretty cool. AUDIENCE MEMBER: Woo hoo! MRS. OBAMA: Yes. (Laughter.) You’re getting some hands-on biology lessons by dissecting things like frogs, sheep eyes, flowers -- yes. We didn’t have sheep eyes here, but I saw a picture. It was pretty gross. (Laughter.) And you’re gaining new understandings of our history by studying our heroes like Jackie Robinson -- in fact, I saw a game that you guys created that helped you learn -- it was very cool. Great job. I got to play and I lost a patience point. (Laughter.) But I did that on purpose. So you guys are doing some great stuff. But I imagine that maybe some of you are still wondering why the First Lady came to hear about what you’re doing this summer. After all, it is summer, right? I mean, summer is supposed that time you get to sleep in, go to the pool, finally beat that video game, right? And you can still do that. But the fact is, is summer is actually one of the most important times of the year for young people like you. And I wish I had known this when I was your age. Because if you’ve got big dreams -- and I know you all do -- if you want to go to college, if you want to get a good job, if you want to make the most of your potential, then summer can’t just be a vacation. It’s really a time to try to get ahead. Think about all the people that you look up to in the world -- the athletes, the people you see on the basketball court or on the football field; the entertainers you see on TV or on stage; your teachers, who inspire you every day in the classroom. Well, every one of these folks work all the time. They’re working all summer long, they’re working after the season’s over, they’re spending hours in the gym pouring over game film. When the music tour ends, those musicians that you love are back in the practice room perfecting their craft. When school is over, your teachers are spending their summers going to conferences and workshops so that they can learn and develop new strategies to help you guys for the next year. So no matter what you want to do with your life, no matter what kind of dreams you have for yourselves, you’ve got to use every minute wisely to reach those dreams. And that starts with being strategic about your summers. So if you want to be an engineer or a doctor, for example, think about signing up for a science camp or asking your science teacher what you can do to get ahead in physics or biology over the summer. If you want to perform on stage, maybe you can join a community theater or sign up for an acting class at your Boys and Girls Clubs in your community. If you fell behind in your classes, well, now is the time to buckle down and work to catch up over the summer. And no matter what you do, every single one of you should read, read, read. That’s what the President tells our daughters. (Applause.) Libraries all across the country are hosting outstanding summer reading programs every single year. So you all have got to go in and pick up some of those new books, maybe on some subjects you don’t know much about. Because reading might be the most important thing you can do for your future. And you can never do enough of it. I know your parents tell you this, and we struggle in our own household to get our kids to turn off the screens and pick up books. But truly, reading is going to do so much for you. So pick up those books and really get into it. But here’s the thing: Summer isn’t just about building new skills and gaining new experiences; it’s also about keeping your minds fresh. Research shows that if you just sit around and you don’t work out your brain all summer, you not only miss out on new information and skills, you can actually lose up to three months’ worth of knowledge from the previous year. That’s a lot. So in some instances, you can actually go backwards. So if you’re not picking up a book, and all you’re doing all summer long is sitting on the couch and catching up on TV shows, then I guarantee that you’re going to lose some ground next year in school. And that won’t just make a difference this fall, it can show up in the years ahead. Because once you begin applying to colleges -- which all of you are going to do, right? AUDIENCE: Yes. MRS. OBAMA: You’re going to be competing against kids who are already making the most of their summers. Let me just share this with you -- there are kids who are really serious about getting into college, and they work on this with the help of parents and tutors, and they’re prepping for their SATs already. They’re completing phenomenal internships. They’re doing everything they can to improve their chances of getting into college. And so you don’t want to fall behind just because you took the summer off. That’s why programs that you’re participating in this summer are so important -– because they help make sure that you’re putting your best foot forward when you get ready to apply to college. And they’re going to also help you start building your own academic and professional networks, which you can’t underestimate. Networking is really important. Whether you’re doing an internship or serving the community or participating in summer learning programs, you’re -- through this kind of stuff, you’re going to start meeting new mentors and coaches and supervisors who actually can help you out later in life. Maybe they can write a letter of recommendation for you when it’s time to go to college. You never know. Years later, when you’re looking for a job, these will be the people that know you, and they’ll be inclined to say, come on, come do a paid job with me. So you want to network. And here’s another reason why summer is important: It’s the perfect time for you to work on the skills you’ll actually need when you get to college. I’m talking about things like time management -- do people talk to you about that? Your parents? Dealing with your finances, which I learned about. There are some of you who are doing summer programs focusing on financial literacy, handling your own schedule. I’m talking about that in my home now. It’s like -- getting places on time, and figuring out where you have to be. Because I know all of you are dying to be independent, right? Yes, yes, you guys are way ready to be independent. But as I always tell my daughters, before you can strike out on your own, you’ve got to learn how to take care of your own business. So this summer, start practicing some of that independence. Think about it. You don’t have to wait on your teacher or your school counselor to help you start getting prepared for your SATs. Start making your own plan, your own study calendar. Go on the website. Figure out what you can do to start preparing yourself. You don’t have to wait for Mom or Dad to pick you up from practice all the time and programs over the summer. Maybe you can ride your bike. Maybe you can organize with your friends a carpool. You don’t have to wait until you fill out your financial aid form to start thinking about how you’re going to pay for college. Maybe you can start thinking about finding a summer job to help pay for tuition and start saving up for the additional expenses that you might not get from scholarships and loans. And while you all are doing that, I want you to know that if you need it, you’ve got plenty of support and resources out there that can help you along the way. You don’t have to do this on your own, because part of being independent is knowing when to ask for help. And you’ve got your parents and teachers and coaches and school counselors -- all these people want you to succeed. You’ve got folks here at the Department of Ed who have created the toolkits and resources that can help you. You can go to studentaid.gov and look at those resources, and they’ll help you prepare to apply to college and get through college. And you’ve got folks from organizations all across the country, many of whom are represented here today -- organizations like Trio and GEAR Up and Upward Bound -- yay. (Applause.) And all of these programs are giving young people like you such wonderful opportunities this summer. It’s really just amazing to see all that you all are doing. For instance, at the Sadie Nash Leadership Project in New York -- yay -- you guys are bringing in activists and artists and politicians and doctors to help give students advice about developing their leadership skills -- very cool. At the New Jersey Law Education Empowerment Program -- (applause) -- they’re right there. (Laughter.) I hear you guys are connecting students with internships and mentors from local law firms. I was a lawyer -- you do know that. And that was one thing I wish I had done, I never worked in a law firm before. This is such great experience, because you’ll have some idea what you’re doing when you go to law school. So good stuff. And of course, the Upward Bound program at Prince George’s Community College -- (applause) -- there you guys go, they’re helping students learn to stick up for themselves and support their classmates by creating an anti-bullying campaign. Excellent work. And while all of you here today are already making the most of your summer, one of the reasons why we have all these cameras here is that we know that a lot of kids aren’t. They don’t have access to these opportunities. Maybe they don’t, because there aren’t any programs in their neighborhoods. And that’s what today is all about. Today is National Summer Learning Day, and there are events and celebrations all across the country to help more young people sign up for summer programs like this one here today. So we want everybody out there listening to go to SummerLearningDayMap.org to find activities right in their communities. And if there aren’t any in your community, I want you to know that this is what we’re going to be working on over the next many, many years. We’re going to work to make sure that every young person in America can have a great summer learning experience, no matter where they come from or how much money their parents have. And that’s one of the goals of our Reach Higher initiative. And that’s why we’ll be shining a spotlight on not just today, but in the months and years ahead. So that’s our job. We’ve got to make sure you have the resources you need to reach your goals. And as young people, your job is to make the most of your summer so that you can reach your potential and achieve every last one of your dreams. You can do this. You can. If I can do it, you can do it. But that starts right now, okay? So I want you to stay focused over these next few months and in the summers ahead. Now, that doesn’t mean you can’t have any fun. You all should be getting outside, hanging out with your friends, getting some exercise -- don’t forget about that. (Laughter.) But you also have to keep your eyes on the prize. You’ve got to keep that college degree as your north star. So you can’t let this summer go to waste, all right. So I want you guys to have fun. I wish you all the luck in the world. I can’t wait to see everything you will accomplish. And I’m going to come down there and shake some hands. (Applause.) Keep up the great work. We’re proud of you all. (Applause.) Print pool #2
The pooler updated their colleagues and media and bloggers around the world relying on poolers to be their eyes and ears at events they cannot attend in person. "POTUS adjourned the Export Council meeting at 11:00am. WH has kindly provided background for the event, including attendees below. Issues discussed include trade agreements, Ex-I'm Bank renewal, commercial data/privacy issues in the post-Snowden era, access to capital for small businesses and the need for strong intellectual property protections. President’s Export Council: This morning, the President joined a meeting of the President’s Export Council. The President’s Export Council advises the President on policies and programs that affect U.S. trade performance and promote export expansion. As part of the focus on manufacturing and innovation this week, the President participated in a discussion about opportunities for the U.S. to take advantage of growing manufacturing competitiveness and new innovative technologies to grow our exports and create more American job PEC ATTENDEES: Private Sector · Jim McNerney, Chairman, President and CEO, The Boeing Company (Chair) · Ursula Burns, Chairman and CEO, Xerox Corporation (Vice Chair) · Mary Andringa, President and CEO, Vermeer · Scott Davis, Chairman and CEO, UPS · Ken Frazier, Chairman, President, and CEO, Merck & Co., Inc. · Dick Friedman, President and CEO, Carpenter & Company, Inc. · Andrés Gluski, President and CEO, AES Corporation · Gene Hale, President, G&C Equipment Corporation · Marillyn Hewson, Chairman, President and CEO, Lockheed Martin Corporation · Vanessa Keitges, President and CEO, Columbia Green Technologies · Ian Read, Chairman and CEO, Pfizer · Ginni Rometty, Chairman, President, and CEO, IBM · Arne Sorenson, President and CEO, Marriott International, Inc. · Patricia Woertz, Chairman and CEO, Archer Daniels Midland Company · Robert Wolf, CEO, 32 Advisors, LLC United States Congress · Senator Amy Klobuchar, D-MN · Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, D-NY · Representative Dave Reichert, R-WA United States Conference of Mayors · Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, Mayor of Baltimore, Maryland White House Officials · Valerie Jarrett · Jeff Zients · Broderick Johnson · Caroline Atkinson · Jason Furman · Brian Deese Administration Officials · John Kerry, Secretary of State · Penny Pritzker, Secretary of Commerce · Anthony Foxx, Secretary of Transportation · Ambassador Mike Froman, United States Trade Representative · Maria Contreras-Sweet, Administrator, Small Business Administration · Krysta Harden, Deputy Secretary of Agriculture · Daniel Poneman, Deputy Secretary of Energy · Eric Hirschhorn, Under Secretary for Industry and Security, Department of Commerce · Fred P. Hochberg, President and Chairman, Export-Import Bank of the United States · Ken Hyatt, Deputy Under Secretary for International Trade, Department of Commerce · Charles Rivkin, Assistant Secretary for Economic and Business Affairs, Department of State · Marisa Lago, Assistant Secretary for International Markets and Development, Department of the Treasury · Portia Wu, Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training, Department of Labor · Peggy Philbin, Deputy Director, United States Trade and Development Agency · Kevin McAleenan, Acting Deputy Commissioner, United States Customs and Border Patrol Remarks by the President at Export Council Meeting
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary ________________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release June 19, 2014 REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT AT EXPORT COUNCIL MEETING Eisenhower Executive Office Building 10:30 A.M. EDT THE PRESIDENT: I just wanted to say thank you to all of you who are here. Some of you have been serving on our Export Council for quite some time. Some of you are here as new additions, but all of you have been extraordinarily successful in your various fields. And it gives us an enormous opportunity to hear from you in very concrete terms about how we can advance not just America’s export agenda, but how we can build the kind of economic future that we want for our kids and our grandkids. For the last 51 months, we have created jobs here in the United States -- 9.4 million jobs in all. But we’re going to have to create more. And one of the best ways to do it is to boost American manufacturing and American exports. That’s why since I came into office we have been promoting American products and businesses when I travel overseas. It’s why we created the President’s Export Council in 2010. There are some of the most iconic companies in the world -- Boeing being an example, Xerox being another one. And with your help, exports have driven one-third of the economic growth in our recovery and now support over 11 million U.S. jobs. Last year, we exported $2.3 trillion in goods and services, which was an all-time high. And business executives around the globe say that the United States is the best place to locate, the best place to invest, and the best place to hire. And that’s the first time that they’ve said that, that we are number one when it comes to their desirable location to invest. This is the first time they’ve said that in over a decade. So the “Made in America” brand is stronger than ever. And as we saw yesterday at the first White House Maker Faire -- I was out there watching these 22-year-olds coming up with incredible things -- it is going to be a remarkable future that we have to look ahead to. Because in many ways, manufacturing is becoming easier, some of the barriers to entry are lowering. It gives inventors and entrepreneurs the opportunity to create new products and services in ways that we can’t even imagine. And we want to make sure that all those trends accelerate here in the United States. So this is a moment of opportunity. We’ve got a chance to extend our competitive advantage in the world. That’s what this meeting is about. One thing I want to focus on today is opening up even more new markets to “Made in America” products. We’re working very hard to finalize trade agreements with our partners in Europe and in Asia that will make us the center of a free trade hub covering two-thirds of the world economy. And Mr. Michael Froman has been putting in a lot of miles trying to make sure that that happens. And I know he’s consulted with some of you -- not just big companies, but a lot of small- and medium-sized businesses who have enormous opportunities if we’re able to open up these markets, and oftentimes are the ones that have the hardest time navigating through some of the barriers that are out there. I especially want to increase trade and investment in the region. And this is going to be one of the issues we discuss in August. There has been some explosive growth in certain parts of the world where we’re just not doing enough, Africa as being a prime example. You’ve got six of the 10 fastest-growing economies in Africa, a young population that is growing rapidly. Some of these economies are doing very, very well, but we’re not penetrating those markets as well as we should. And I think we’ve got a great opportunity in August with an African Leaders Summit that’s going to be taking place for us to talk about trade and commerce, because that’s really what that continent is interested in. They’re not interested in aid as much as they are trade, development, and partnering with the private sector. And as your businesses know well, when we export products overseas, we’re creating jobs and opportunities here at home. That’s the focus here today and every day of my presidency -- how do we create thriving businesses that are also able to create great jobs that allow people not just to stay in the middle class, but to work their way into the middle class if they work hard and take responsibility. And all of you have done that. This council is doing great work. And with that, I’m going to turn it back over to Jay to hear about some of the ideas that you’ve come up with and how we can help advance this agenda. Print pool #1, Export Council mt
The pooler wrote "At 10:30am the pool was ushered into the meeting of the president's Export Council in Eisenhower eob. POTUS kicked off the meeting by highlighting the importance of export growth as a means to creating jobs. He noted that the "Made in America" brand is stronger than ever and that exports are to extending the US' competitive advantage. POTUS is flanked to his left by Xerox CEO Ursula Burns and Valerie Jarrett. To his right by Boeing CEO Jim McNerney, Penny Pritzker and John Kerry. Other attendees include USTR Mike Froman, Fred Hochberg of Ex-Im bank, Pfizer CEO Ian Read, Sen Amy Klobuchar. Hopefully a full list of attendees to come later on. After a quick pool spray, print pooler is staying for the entire meeting. More updates to come" OFFICIAL RELEASE: Statement of Administration Policy on Senate Amendment to H.R. 4660 – Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2015
http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/legislative/sap/113/saps4660s_20140617.pdf EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET WASHINGTON, D.C. 20503 June 17, 2014 (Senate) STATEMENT OF ADMINISTRATION POLICY Senate Amendment to H.R. 4660 – Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2015 (Sen. Mikulski, D-MD) The Administration supports Senate passage of the Senate Amendment to H.R. 4660, making appropriations for the Departments of Commerce and Justice, Science, and Related Agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2015, and for other purposes. The Senate Amendment to H.R. 4660 supports areas critical to the Nation's economic growth, security, and competitiveness in the global marketplace. The Administration looks forward to working with the Congress on an orderly appropriations process that supports economic growth, opportunity, and our national security while avoiding unnecessary fiscal crises that hold the Nation's economy back. This process should include reconciling funding levels for individual appropriations bills to promote economic growth and national security, and passing bills without ideological provisions that would undermine an orderly appropriations process. The Congress should not use the Senate Amendment to H.R. 4660 to advance ideological riders, which the President has made clear are unacceptable. The President's fiscal year (FY) 2015 Budget provides a roadmap for making investments to accelerate economic growth, expand opportunity for all hard-working Americans, and ensure our national security, while continuing to improve the Nation's long-term fiscal outlook. At the same time, the Budget takes key steps to both continue and enhance the Administration's efforts to deliver a Government that is more effective, efficient, and supportive of economic growth. The President's Budget adheres to the FY 2015 spending levels agreed to in the Bipartisan Budget Act (BBA) and shows the choices the President would make at those levels – including investments in research and development that will grow the economy and enable America to remain the world leader in innovation. The levels agreed to in the BBA are already below FY 2007 funding levels adjusted for inflation and are not sufficient–either in FY 2015 or beyond–to ensure the Nation is achieving its full potential. For that reason, the Budget includes a fully paid for Opportunity, Growth, and Security Initiative–evenly split between defense and non-defense priorities–that presents additional investments to grow the economy, expand opportunity, and enhance security. The Administration appreciates the Committee support for many of the key priorities requested in the FY 2015 Budget request, and would like to take this opportunity to share additional views regarding the Committee's version of the bill. Division 1 – Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The Administration supports the Committee's funding for the National Weather Service, critical weather satellites, and ocean stewardship, including regional coastal resilience grants. The Administration urges the Congress to support high priority climate research and data collection, which is critical to helping the Nation better understand, monitor, and prepare for the impacts of climate change. International Trade Administration. The Administration appreciates the Committee's support for SelectUSA and the Interagency Trade Enforcement Center. The funding provided will help promote job-creating business investment in the United States and ensure a level playing field for U.S. businesses overseas. Periodic Censuses and Programs. The Administration is deeply concerned that the bill does not provide adequate funding for the Census Bureau to produce robust economic and demographic data, or sufficiently prepare for the 2020 Decennial Census. The President's requested funding level would save billions of dollars over the next five years by enabling the Census Bureau to conduct the necessary research, testing, and early implementation activities that are needed to contain costs in conducting the 2020 Census. National Institute of Standards and Technology. The Administration appreciates that the Committee provides the FY 2015 Budget request for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership, Advanced Manufacturing Technology Consortia, and Lab-to-Market Technology Transfer. These programs will help create jobs while enhancing the competitiveness and innovative capacity of the United States. To further strengthen U.S. manufacturing, the Administration urges the Congress to provide the additional funds requested in the FY 2015 Budget for coordination of existing and future manufacturing innovation institutes as part of a National Network of Manufacturing Innovation. Space Technology Program. The Administration is concerned that the bill does not provide the FY 2015 Budget request for the Space Technology program. Space Technology is needed to reduce the cost and increase the long-term capability of NASA, other Government, and commercial space activities. Future Science Missions. The Administration appreciates the Committee's support for science missions, but is concerned about prematurely specifying elements of future missions while the missions are in a very early state of development. In particular, the Administration believes the Committee's proposed approach to a follow-on Landsat mission is not feasible within the bill's proposed cost cap of $650 million, and that it is premature to designate the Space Launch System as the launch vehicle for a Europa mission before the costs and benefits of such a choice are understood. National Science Foundation (NSF) The Administration supports the Committee's funding of NSF's top line at the requested level of $7.3 billion. NSF invests in important research and education and lays the foundation for economic growth.... Statement by the President on the Observance of Juneteenth
_ OFFICIAL RELEASE: Statement of Administration Policy on H.R. 4413 – Customer Protection and End User Relief Act
Remarks by the First Lady at a Naturalization Ceremony
UPDATED: DAILY GUIDANCE AND PRESS SCHEDULE FOR WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 2014
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 17, 2014 DAILY GUIDANCE AND PRESS SCHEDULE FOR WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 2014 In the morning, the President will receive the Presidential Daily Briefing in the Oval Office. This meeting is closed press. Later in the morning, the President will host the first ever White House Maker Faire and meet with students, entrepreneurs and everyday citizens who are using new tools and techniques to launch new businesses, learn vital skills in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), and fuel the renaissance in American manufacturing. The President’s viewing of the Maker Faire projects on the South Lawn will be pooled press. The President’s remarks in the East Room will be open press. This event will be streamed live at http:/www.whitehouse.gov/live. In the afternoon, the President will host top economists for lunch to discuss ways to accelerate economic growth, expand opportunity, and improve the competitiveness of the American economy. This meeting in the Roosevelt Room will be closed press. Pool report #1
The pooler gave an abbreviated report to colleagues waiting for news on the event, "The president is finishing up his South Lawn tour of the Makers Faire. He ignored a shouted question about Iraq. Waiting for him now in a filled East Room. Faire color to come." Mobile Fab Lab Nadya Peek, 28, and Makeda Stephenson, 22, Neil Gershenfeld, Director, Center for Bits and Atoms, Boston, MA. Nadya, Makeda, and Neil are the dedicated Makers demonstrating the Mobile Fab Lab, an outreach effort founded by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)’s Center for Bits and Atoms (CBA), where Neil serves as Director. The Fab Lab is a makerspace with the appropriate prototyping tools for independent fabrication projects. Biodiesel Car Students, Teacher, and Principal from Workshop School: Taliya Carter, 15, Joshua Pigford, 18, Derrick Bell, 17, and Simon Hauger, 44, Philadelphia, PA. Fifteen teens from a west Philadelphia high school built a highly efficient Factory Five 818 biodiesel hybrid that’s fast and environmentally friendly. Students have also built modular post-disaster homes, energy efficient lighting systems for a distressed West Philadelphia business corridor and indoor hydroponic gardens. Local Motors Mobi-Factory Jay Rogers is CEO and co-founder of Local Motors, which is building regional micro-factories which represent a unique collaboration between small-volume manufacturing and car-loving communities. Prior to founding Local Motors, Jay served in the Marine Corps as an infantry officer for seven years, including tours in Iraq and the Philippines. Robotic Giraffe Lindsay Lawlor, San Diego, CA. Lindsay Lawlor’s creation is a 17-foot-tall, 2,200-lb robotic giraffe that “walks” on wheels and is powered by a 12-horsepower hybrid fuel-engine motor. Lindsay designed the Robotic Giraffe to play music, feature innovative lighting displays, and it can hold up to 30 people in its carriage. The electric giraffe is an example of how making, engineering, and design, combined with the arts, can bring science, technology, engineering, and math to a mass audiences. Eco-Friendly Urban Furniture Sandra Richter, 30, Cambridge, MA. Sandra and her team designed a solar-powered bench, or a “soofa,” that allows people to charge their phones while stopping for a quick rest. The soofa is part of a larger effort to create dual-purpose modular furniture that also serve as hubs for charging electronic devices and sensing local environmental conditions – unique capabilities that have become everyday needs for a mobile generation. Community-Mapping Balloons Sara Wylie, 34, Boston, MA and Eymund Diegel, 52, Brooklyn, NY. Sara Wylie and Eymund Diegel developed a cheap digital camera that can be attached to a balloon or kite to create high-resolution aerial maps that are better and more up-to-date than satellite photography. Flying balloon cameras from canoes, Eymund undertook an effort in his local community to map the Gowanus Canal Superfund site. Working with the Gowanus Canal Conservacy, their grassroots maps have assisted in the cleanup of the site and identified a potential Revolutionary War cemetery, buried under the Superfund landfill. Bringing Makers to Market in the United States Jen McCabe, 34, Las Vegas, NV. Jen founded Factorli, a small urban factory in Las Vegas, NV, that serves Makers, designers, and startups of all sizes. Factorli offers a unique space for innovators to work out the kinks in their new products by producing them in small quantities, helping them reach the market here in the U.S. Student Develops Comfortable Crutches Partha Unnava, 21, Atlanta, GA. After spending six weeks in crutches, Partha decided that it was time to fix a 5,000-year-old problem. Currently a fifth year Biomedical Engineering student, he helped develop the Better Walk Crutch, which reduces pain and fatigue for crutch users. Better Walk has since participated in the medical device acceleratory program Zero to 510, raised $150K in seed funding from venture capital groups, and obtained letters of intent from orthopedic surgeons who want to bring it to the marketplace. Newborn Incubator Helping Save Premature Babies in Rural Villages Jane Chen, 35, San Francisco, CA. As a student Maker at Stanford University, Jane Chen took on the challenge to develop a baby incubator for $200 – about 1% of the price of the existing technology. The result was Embrace, a low-cost infant warmer that does not require electricity and can be used in rural areas around the world. From its prototype developed in a TechShop makerspace in San Francisco, Embrace has now helped more than 50,000 babies around the globe. This month, Embrace announced that a donation from Beyoncé would bring the product to 10 countries in Africa and touch the lives of another 2,000 newborns. Bringing Makers to Market in the United States Marc Roth, 40, San Francisco, CA. Marc Roth heard about the local “TechShop” facility while staying at a homeless shelter. Marc signed up for a one-month membership to learn basic skills in woodworking, laser cutting, welding, and 3D printing. Within 16 months, Marc launched his own business, SF Laser, to provide custom laser-cutting and etching services. Now Marc is working to provide others with an opportunity similar to the one that changed his life with The Learning Shelter — an online program that will teach tech and manufacturing skills to those trying to get back on their feet. $5 Chemistry Set Manu Prakash, 34, Assistant Professor of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA. Manu Prakash is working to bring low-cost, cutting-edge scientific tools to schoolchildren and laboratories in every corner of the globe. Prakash’s small yet powerful design, inspired by a toy music box, costs only $5, and could enable schoolchildren from low-income communities to learn and address real-world issues like water quality and contamination. As part of this vision of reaching more students with the power of discovery, Manu has also created Foldscope, an origami-based paper microscope that costs less than $1. On the stage: Joey Hudy’s light installation After demonstrating his Extreme Marshmallow Cannon for President Obama in 2010, Joey Hudy, of Anthem, AZ, has gone on to pursue as career as a Maker, creating and selling his own products, and is now Intel’s youngest intern. Joey’s Extreme Marshmallow Cannon, which he built at home from pieces he purchased at the hardware store, debuted at Maker Faire Bay Area 2011. Since demonstrating the cannon at the White House Science Faire with President Obama in 2012, Joey has expanded his projects and is now known for the 3x3x3 LED Cube Arduino shield. Since Intel CEO Brian Krzanich hired Joey as an intern, he has blown up his 3x3x3 shield into a colorful display of 1000 LEDs. State of the Union Visualization: After hearing President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address on February 12, 2013, Gilles Azzaro was inspired to create a 3D-printed art piece based on the President’s message about the importance of additive manufacturing and his call to action to create a network of National Manufacturing Innovation Institutes, the pooler reported. Remarks by the President in Q&A with TechShop Workers -- Pittsburgh, PA
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release June 17, 2014 REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT IN Q&A WITH TECHSHOP WORKERS TechShop Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 1:41 P.M. EDT THE PRESIDENT: Hello, everybody. Everybody, have a seat. Have a seat. It is great to be in TechShop. And I am thankful to all of you for taking the time to hang out with me a little bit. We are here mostly to highlight the incredible work that is not only being done by a lot of people in this room, but the incredible opportunities we have to continue to advance manufacturing all across America. But before we do that, with the press here, I just want to make a quick comment on some news of the day that some of you may have heard. We are all aware of the tragedy that happened in Benghazi, where four Americans, including our Ambassador there, Chris Stevens, was killed in an attack on a consulate office there. I said at the time that my absolute commitment was to make sure that we brought to justice those who had been responsible. And yesterday, our special forces, showing incredible courage and precision, were able to capture an individual -- Abu Khatallah -- who is alleged to have been one of the masterminds of the attack. (Applause.) And he is now being transported back to the United States. I say that, first of all, because we continue to think about and pray for the families of those who were killed during that terrible attack. But, more importantly, it’s important for us to send a message to the world that when Americans are attacked, no matter how long it takes, we will find those responsible and we will bring them to justice. And that’s a message I sent the day after it happened. And regardless of how long it takes -- we will find you. And I want to make sure that everybody around the world hears that message very clearly, because my first and most solemn duty as President and Commander-in-Chief is to keep the American people safe. And there are a lot of dangers out there and a lot of challenges, and our diplomats serve with incredible courage and valor in some very difficult situations. They need to know that this country has their back and will always go after anybody who goes after us. Now, with that in mind, let me get to the point of this gathering here today. I want to thank Mark and Jim for the great work that they’ve done in helping to set up TechShop. And the reason we wanted to come out here was we’ve made enormous progress over the last several years in revitalizing American manufacturing. There was a time when people felt as if no matter what we did, that companies were going to be moving overseas and jobs were going to be moving overseas, and American manufacturing’s days were behind us. And yet, what we’ve seen over the last several years is American manufacturing come roaring back. We’ve got at this point 620,000 manufacturing jobs that have been created over the last several years, the most since the 1990s. We actually have companies now saying that America is the number-one place to do business again, something that we haven’t seen in over 12 years. And companies, instead of outsourcing, are now thinking about insourcing once again. We have seen entrepreneurship in manufacturing expand at the fastest pace that we’ve seen in 20 years. And so people are starting to realize, number one, America is a great place to do business; number two, manufacturing is critical to the health of our economy overall. When we make stuff in America, then R&D is done here, the jobs in manufacturing typically pay better than jobs in other parts of the economy. There are ripple effects -- if you make a product here, that means you’re hiring not just engineers, not just guys on the assembly line or gals on the assembly line, you’re also getting suppliers and advertisers, and there’s just a whole set of positive spinoffs that come out of manufacturing. And part of what’s exciting is that, traditionally, manufacturing was viewed -- and we’re in a steel town here in Pittsburgh -- that manufacturing meant big factories, all kinds of smoke and fire, and a lot of heavy capital. But because of advances in technology, part of the opportunity is now to make the tools that are needed for production and prototypes are now democratized. They’re in the hands of anybody who’s got a good idea. And what we’ve been trying to do is to encourage more and more entrepreneurs, inventors to not just take root here but also have access to the kinds of equipment and technology -- whether it’s 3D printers or laser cutters -- that allow them to design their own ideas, create prototypes, put them out to market, test them, tinker with them, refine them, and ultimately create brand new businesses. And nobody has done a better job or is a better example of this new trend than what’s being done here at TechShop. For the price of a gym membership, people can become members of TechShop, they’re able to have access to a bunch of cutting-edge technology, and folks are able to create products, ideas that in some cases they’re just doing as a hobby or for pleasure, but in some cases actually lead to businesses that end up thriving. Probably the best example is the Square, the little gizmo that people are putting into smartphones and are using for payment purposes and be able to swipe a credit card. It’s now a $5 billion business. The prototype was designed at a TechShop. I have another example that’s near and dear to my heart because I actually own one -- it’s a DODOcase. Somebody have my DODOcase around here? Let’s bring out my DODOcase. (Laughter.) This is -- first of all, this is a great product. I love DODO. See, this my iPad case. That’s a picture of Malia and Sasha, and me giving them a hug. (Laughter.) I love this case, and the first prototype was made at a TechShop. And now you’ve got a whole bunch of people who’ve got a business and who are employed there, and they’re manufacturing and selling all across the country. So we have the opportunity to grow ideas here in the United States, create businesses, create opportunities. And all of this is happening in part because state, local and federal governments are also taking an interest in how can we promote manufacturing more effectively. And we’ve got some people here who have done a great job doing that. You’ve got your own mayor, Bill Peduto, the mayor of Pittsburgh, who’s here. (Applause.) We’ve got county executive, Rich Fitzgerald, who’s here as well. (Applause.) And we’ve got one of your outstanding senators, Bob Casey, who’s here as well. (Applause.) All these guys are great champions for what we’re trying to do. And a lot of my agenda for economic development in the next couple of years revolves around how do we spur more manufacturing, more homegrown ideas, more research and development. Already, we’ve been able to get 80 cities to commit to working in a public-private partnership to generate more manufacturing efforts in their respective cities. We’ve create four high-tech advanced manufacturing hubs, and we have budgeted to create a whole lot more around the country. And some of it has to do with advanced materials, some of it has to do with 3D printing. The idea is, we start building an ecosystem, a network of companies, universities, researchers, entrepreneurs, all of whom start really focusing and becoming experts on a particular facet of industries of the future. That’s how we’re going to build more and more niches that allow us to dominate the market and sell more products made in America, not just here in the United States but overseas. So we’ve got a lot of possibilities, but we’re going to have to continue to make some important investments. And I’m here to tell you that as long as I’m President, at least, one of my top priorities is going to be to continue to build up manufacturing, because I want to make sure that if you work hard in this country, if you’ve got a good idea, if you’re willing to put in some sweat equity, that you can make it here in America and live out your American Dream. Because when we have an economy that works not just from the top down but from the bottom up, and everybody has got a stake and everybody is doing well, everybody is pulling in the same direction, that’s when our economy grows best. Our economy does not grow as well when it just works for a few at the very top and ordinary workers or small businesspeople get squeezed. And I think this is an enormous opportunity for us to take advantage of. So that’s what I wanted to say at the top. Now what I want to do is just hear from you -- questions, comments, ideas. We’ve got about 45 minutes. I’ll try to keep my answers short if your questions are short. (Laughter.) And I’m going to start off with Mark (ph). Q Thank you, Mr. President, for the opportunity to host you here. First, as a former Green Beret, thank you for going and getting that guy and letting our folks do their job. THE PRESIDENT: Absolutely. Q It’s a big deal. You’re hosting the White House Maker Faire tomorrow, and so I want to bridge the advanced manufacturing to makers. I’m just curious, kind of now that you’ve been through this phase and you’ve heard some of the stories, how do you see the maker movement playing into your objective of helping manufacturing in the U.S.? THE PRESIDENT: It’s a great question. Tomorrow, I’m going to be hosting the first White House Maker Faire. And for those of you who are less familiar, there is an entire movement across the country of people who are recognizing that with new technology, that the tinkerers, the people who are working in their garage who are coming up with an idea, that the barriers to entry, the capital they have to put in to work up those ideas are now drastically reduced. So what we decided was, let’s invite a whole bunch of folks who come up with wonderful stuff -- some products that they’re selling; some that they’ve made for themselves -- students, entrepreneurs, established business leaders -- let’s bring them to the White House so that they can share ideas and network a little bit, and so that we can highlight some of the tremendous work that’s already being done out there. And part of my goal has been to use the power of the presidency to highlight some great stuff that’s already going on out throughout the country. We’ve now had several science fairs, because I’m trying to encourage young people to look at science, math, technology, engineering as a critical profession if we’re going to maintain our innovative edge in this global economy. The Maker Faire is the next iteration of that. In order for us to stay ahead when it comes to innovation -- and we remain the most innovative economy in the world by far -- we’ve got to have basic research; we’ve got to have skills like math and science and engineering that are developed; but we also have to provide platforms for people once they have these ideas to go out there and actually make stuff. And so the Maker Faire is an extension of this broader effort that we’ve been trying to make, including significant investments. We’ve seen an increase in federal funding of basic research around manufacturing -- for example, we’ve boosted by about 30 percent, because we want more people to remember what it is that made us an economic superpower in the first place. It wasn’t just the financial sector and a lot of the parts of the economy that have become dominant today, it was folks like Thomas Edison. It was the guys at HP in their garage coming up with new ideas, willing to take risks, willing to experiment. In the past, that kind of innovation and entrepreneurship has been a driver of our economy, but there are a lot of people with good ideas who have had difficulty getting started because getting the equipment they needed in order to get started was often cost-prohibitive. Technology allows us to lower those coasts. Now we’ve got to make sure that we are taking advantage of these new opportunities. Who else? Don’t be shy. This looks like a pretty knowledgeable group here. Yes, what’s your name? Introduce yourself before you ask a question. Q Thank you. Thanassis Rikakis, Vice Provost for Design, Arts and Technology at Carnegie Mellon. Welcome to Pittsburgh, glad to have you here to announce these important things. I have an educational question for you. All the maker paradigms that you’re mentioning, because they accommodate many different learning styles, they also have the ability to enhance and diversify the STEM pipeline. How do you think we can go about increasing the access to learning through making in the K-12 pipeline, and especially in underserved areas? THE PRESIDENT: It is a great question. And this is not a plant. (Laughter.) But part of what I’m working with Arne Duncan, our Secretary of Education, on is how do we start reforming and reimagining how the K-12 process works, but particularly high school. There are basic skills that our kids need. They need to write, they need to read, they need basic numeracy. But too often, what happens in high school is kids are just sitting in a classroom and they’re being lectured to. Now, there are great teachers out there, and in some cases, a subject like organic chemistry, you just need to focus, you need to hit the books, and there aren’t a lot of shortcuts. But young people have different learning styles. And not everybody is going to necessarily go to a four-year college or university. Not everybody is going to be interested in French literature. There are some folks who, they just want to -- they’re going to learn by doing. And so what we have been trying to encourage is are there ways for us to introduce apprenticeships, models for high school in which kids are working at the same time as they’re going to school. So if you want to be a graphic designer, you’ve still got to take the basic classes, but are there ways of designing those classes around you also working with a graphic designer who is already on the job and you can get a concrete sense of what’s possible. I do usually three commencements a year. One is a high school commencement. I just did a commencement at Worcester Tech right outside of Boston, and the principal there is amazing -- young woman; she was voted the National Principal of the Year. But they have boosted their math scores by 100 percent, their reading scores by 200 percent. And they have in-house, in the university, by partnering with businesses, they’ve got a veterinary clinic; they’ve got a car detailing shop; they’ve got a computer design program. So kids actually participate and are running businesses even as they are learning. And that kind of hands-on approach oftentimes is going to be a lot more effective and a lot more relevant to these young people. A whole bunch of them are going to go on to community colleges. Some of them are going to go four-year universities. Some of them may work for a while, for five years, and then once they have a better sense of the skills they need in the occupation that they’re interested in, they’ll go back to school. But giving kids a bunch of different pathways to suit their learning styles and their interests I think is going to end up producing better outcomes. One last point I’ll say just in terms of STEM education -- we’re also trying to really focus on not only how do we get best practices spread among teachers to teach math and science so that it’s not just classroom learning and kids are less intimidated. We’re really focusing on girls and minority students who are often underrepresented in STEM education. And that’s been a major focus of our education reform efforts. Q On a similar note, my name is Ashley Cecil. THE PRESIDENT: Good to see you, Ashley. Q And I am a painter, and I print my fabric -- or my paintings on fabric, and I use TechShop here to sew that into textile products. And I’m also a new mom; I have an 8-month-old at home. And I’m curious, in your experience, are you finding that entrepreneurs, people that are members of the TechShop across the country, are you finding that this is becoming more conducive for women and for mothers? Because it’s very hard for me to juggle childcare, and I find that oftentimes men frequently don’t struggle as much as I do with kind of balancing both of that. I’m hoping that it’s changing in our favor. And I know that you mentioned that you hope that you’re finding more girls are becoming interested in this as a career path, but it’s certainly -- I’m one of out of every ten that’s here in the TechShop. But I hope that maybe you’re finding that’s changing? THE PRESIDENT: Well, I will tell you that the challenges of women in the workplace exist whether you’re an entrepreneur or you are taking a more conventional route -- which is part of the reason why next week we’ll be having an all-day summit on working families. And part of our focus here is how do we make sure that families in general, but women in particular, are able to achieve and succeed in the marketplace without being penalized for also doing their most important job, which is making sure that our kids turn out well. And that means equal pay for equal work. That means increasing the minimum wage, because women are disproportionately represented in low-income occupations. It means making sure that we’ve got a credible childcare network. We probably have as bad a childcare safety net as any developed country, and we need to be doing a lot better on that front. And so the interesting thing is what we’re finding is a lot of companies are realizing that family-friendly policies end up being good business, not just the right thing to do. People are more productive. Michelle talks about how when she worked at the University of Chicago Hospital, her first interview she actually brought Sasha into the meeting with the CEO. She just wanted to kind of see, all right, how is he going to respond. Sasha was still in the bassinet, the car seat thing. Because her point to her employer was: This is who I am. I think I can do a really good job, but it means that if I have to take her to a pediatrician, I don’t want to have to argue about whether or not I can do that. And if you are supportive of my efforts with my family, then you’re going to get 110 percent out of me, but you’ve got to have some flexibility in terms of time and so forth. A lot of employers I think are starting to realize that. It’s harder for smaller businesses, because if you’ve only got four or five employees, sometimes trying to figure out how to build in that flexibility may be more challenging. And that’s where federal policies, tax policies, childcare policies -- that can make a difference. It’s not just to help the individual. It’s also to help the small business who may not have the resources that a Google or a Ford Motor Company might have in terms of creating a more family-friendly workplace. But this is an area that we’re going to have to spend more time on. And, by the way, I just want to emphasize this -- this is not a women’s issue, this is a family issue. Women now bring in close to half of all income, and there are a whole lot of families out there where the woman is the primary breadwinner. And if Michelle is not being paid fairly, then that’s not helping me. I want her to get what she rightfully deserves. I want her being paid the same as a man doing the same job, because that is helping our family. I will say, the First Lady is kind of a bad example, because the First Lady doesn’t get paid. And she works pretty hard. Obviously, we’re okay. (Laughter.) But the truth is, this is a family issue. And also, by the way, more men, fathers -- we just had Father’s Day a couple of days ago -- more men want to be involved in their kids’ childhood as well. And so flexibility, family leave -- those are all policies that are critically important to all of us. Q Hi, Mr. President. My name is Jayon Wang. I was a Sidwell Friends grad in 2009 and a Carnegie Mellon engineer, and now I lead our efforts at Lifeshel, a Pittsburgh startup that aims to use smartphone cases to prevent sexual assault. THE PRESIDENT: That’s excellent. And it’s good to know that Sidwell graduates are doing something with their life. Q Absolutely. THE PRESIDENT: My kids go to Sidwell, so I want to -- (laughter) -- that’s good to know. Q So my question surrounds the various efforts at the White House and all the task forces that are being implemented -- what can young startups do to aid the White House in its task forces, and also, how can we participate in these movements and make sure that our efforts are best utilized? THE PRESIDENT: Well, we’d love to find out what you’re thinking about in terms of using technology more effectively. Obviously, the issue of sexual assault is something that all of us should be alarmed by. I think you’ve seen an increase in awareness, some increase in reporting, but it is still way too pervasive. And recently, we have been taking on not only sexual assault on college campuses but also in our military, where -- as Commander-in-Chief, I’ve said to our top brass, you will be measured in part by your performance, in how well you do in changing a culture here in which sexual assault is still way too common. So we’ve got an ongoing taskforce. What we’ll do is get in contact with you and find out the kind of work that you’re doing. I’m assuming, if you’re talking about smartphones, part of the tool here is the ability for people to alert, using a smartphone, friends, family, law enforcement quickly if they find themselves in a tough situation. And they can press a button and they don’t have to be fumbling around and dialing, which I think is a great idea, and let’s see if we can highlight it and find out more about it. I love, by the way, my -- have we got my tea somewhere? I got a cup of tea. I know it’s out there somewhere. Have somebody bring it up for me. Yes, right there. Q Hello, Mr. President. I’m Jean Fry (ph). I’m originally from Detroit; I’m living in Pittsburgh and have been here for 30 years. So you obviously know the history of manufacturing and its demise and whatever, and I understand the situation with families and such. I have a little bit of a unique situation. I’m going to be 60 in February, and I have been a stay-at-home mom and now going through a divorce. I’ve been placed in a job through TechShop, or through the MAKERSHiP program, and I’ve very grateful for that. I’m just kind of wondering what’s going to happen in my life getting kind of a late start in the workforce again as far as am I ever going to be able to retire, things like that. THE PRESIDENT: Well, there are a couple of questions involved there. First of all, I don’t want to sugarcoat it -- it is tougher to lose your job when you’re in your 50s or early 60s, because employers oftentimes -- it may be unspoken and they may not even be conscious of the bias -- oftentimes they’re thinking, let me hire the 20-something or 30-something-year-old; if I’m going to make an investment in them, then they’ll be potentially working for a long time. One thing that has helped, by the way, is the Affordable Care Act -- because in the past, a lot of employers thought to themselves, if I have an older worker that means that I may have higher health care costs. We have seen over the last three years the slowest increase in health care costs in 50 years. For small employers, oftentimes their employees may be able to get health care through the Affordable Care Act, where the employer, him or herself can’t provide health care. So that’s helped. So I would argue that oftentimes older workers are the best workers. They’ve got experience. They know how to work with others. They’ve gone through a lot of the things that younger workers have to go through to settle down a little bit. I won’t mention specifics, but they’re less likely to go out late at night after work, for example. So in terms of reliability, skill, conscientiousness, I think that older workers are a great investment, particularly because people are healthier now and they’re living longer and they’re taking care of themselves more. But older workers who lose their jobs have to recognize that they are probably going to have to adapt and retool in order to get an opportunity. If you lose your job at 55, you may not be able to be in the same industry that you were in before. And you may have to spend a little bit of time at school. You may have to make a pitch to an employer -- give me a chance for a short time, and let me show you what I can do. It’s not always fair, but that may be what’s required. Q I went to school, too, and now at my age I’m straddled with $30,000 in student debt in a field that I couldn’t get a job in, too. So I mean, there’s that added to the problem, too. THE PRESIDENT: Right. Look, the whole issue of student debt is something that all of us have to address in a serious way, and we’re spending a lot of time focusing on universities and colleges to keep their costs down. And we’ve got legislation that got voted down by Republicans in Congress most recently to allow people to refinance their student debt. That’s got to be a priority as well. But the good news is that the economy now has produced more than 9 million jobs over the last four and a half years. And so although the economy is still healing, generally the employment outlook now is better than it’s been since the Great Recession, since I came into office. That then means that, as there are more job openings, it’s a little bit more of -- applicants are going to have a little more leverage in terms of possibly getting hired, and that means that some folks who have been discouraged from getting into the workplace over the last several years are going to start finding that their skills are a little more appreciated than they were in the past. Q Hi, Mr. President. My name is John Naples. I’m a chairman -- union sheet metal worker, and I take part at the MAKERSHiP project here at TechShop, which helps people develop skills to place them in solid middle-class jobs. And I run a volunteer welding focus group on Thursdays. Anyway, my ultimate goal is to start my own business, and I’d prefer to use organized labor because I know the level of our training and the pride that we take in our work. And I want to know how you think becoming a union contractor and using union labor can help an upstart business or an entrepreneur be successful, and how can we make it easier for people like me to make the transition from union worker to business owner. THE PRESIDENT: Well, look, Pittsburgh historically has been a union town. America was built by workers who over time, through a lot of struggle, got the right to bargain collectively. I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say that our middle class was built in part because unions were able to negotiate weekends and overtime and benefits -- things that now non-union workers take for granted. Well, you got those because unions were out there fighting for you for a very long time. Now, it’s no secret that unions have been back on their heels a little bit over the last several decades. Part of that has to do with the globalization of the economy. Companies say to themselves, well, we can move anywhere -- now that supply chains are dictated more by technology, the cost of transportation has dropped. And that has given unions less leverage. And so only a small percentage of private sector jobs now are unionized. I would continue to argue that we should do everything we can to strengthen unions in this country. Unions have to be flexible. Unions have to recognize that if you’re working for a company, that that company has to have a bottom line; they’re competing against non-union labor as well. The good news, though, is that typically union workers know how to do the job. And so what you may lose incrementally because you’re paying slightly higher wages or higher benefits, you’re gaining in skills, reliability, productivity. And if you can create a culture where employers and workers feel both invested, those are the companies that succeed over time and can thrive. Now, if you’re an entrepreneur, if you’re starting off and you’re a skilled tradesman, I think the challenges in terms of that transition are the same as for everybody who wants to start a business. Typically, the issue is, can you get capital to start it up, are you able to market what you do in a way that gets you customers, are you able to run your business efficiently enough that you actually get in the black at some point, are you willing to put in a whole lot of extra hours -- because if you’re used to getting paid overtime but you now own the business, it doesn’t really matter if you’re paying yourself overtime because it’s coming out of your pocket anyway. And so sometimes that transition I think is going to be tough. But I don’t think the transition is going to be any tougher for somebody coming out of a trade as anybody who’s starting a business. It’s hard starting a small business, and the majority of small business startups fail. The interesting this is the United States remains the place where people are most willing to try and start something up and take those risks, and part of what we should be doing is encouraging that culture. When it comes to small businesses, for example, they were the hardest hit during the recession. What we did was we significantly increased the amount of small business loans that we were willing to give, and we cut down some of the red tape to help people access that financing more quickly. We cut taxes about 18 times for small businesses to incentivize them to hire new workers or invest in new plants and equipment. And I’m constantly looking for ways that we can encourage small business formation. But having said all that, if you’re the guy who is actually starting something up, it doesn’t matter whether it’s a restaurant, you’re trying to become a contractor, or you’re trying to start a high-tech manufacturing firm -- you’re going to be putting a lot of hours and your odds of success are still going to be challenging. On the other hand, that’s what America is all about -- taking some risks. Good luck. Q Thank you for taking my question. My name is Gordon Kirkwood, and I’m working out of TechShop here with a small startup called Whimsy Engineering. I’ve previously been in graduate school and engineering and not felt the access that we have with places like TechShop here to operate cutting-edge equipment to cut metal, to cut plastics, to do really sophisticated things -- machines that cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. And so personally, I found this to be a great enabler. But I’m thinking about what could facilitate this sort of enabling for people in other cities. And I can only imagine an incredible revival in American manufacturing and invention if more people had access to this sort of cheap -- I mean, for the cost of a smartphone or a gym membership, to be able to have access to lasers that will cut -- or water jets that will cut through plate steel and welding, and making anything. So in the context of other costs that other cities incur -- like roads, for instance -- and I understand that for a mile of highway road -- or for a city road, it’s a couple hundred thousand dollars for a mile of city road according to our guy here. And highway construction I understand sometimes is up to a million or two for a mile. When you start looking in terms of that cost, I wonder if we can promote this sort of access to take those risks at lower risk to your pocket better by promoting these in more cities and things like that. THE PRESIDENT: Well, look, one of the things that we’re already doing as part of our overall effort is to find ways that we can make the resources of the federal government more available to the general public. So, for example, the Department of Energy -- which has some cutting-edge technology and laboratories -- if, in fact, they are not being utilized 100 percent, are there ways in which in a controlled way we can give more access to these assets for companies that are trying to start something up. One of the things that we’re looking at is NASA, which has incredible equipment -- are they able to work with companies in their areas so that there may be certain hours or certain periods of time where folks with proper training are able to use some of these assets. I mean, in some ways, part of what technology has enabled is the same thing that’s driving something like Uber or Airbnb, this concept of share economy. Well, the federal government has a lot of assets; can we figure out ways in which, when those assets are being underutilized, somebody who might be able to utilize them could use them. And so I think we’re thinking more creatively about that. Another example is, the federal government possesses incredible amounts of data. And one of the things that we’ve been doing a lot with the high-tech community is thinking about, with proper restrictions to protect privacy and so forth, are there ways for us to generate some of this big data that then ends up being the platform by which we can come up with applications on a smartphone. Essentially, all the weather apps that you have on your phone are all based on data that the government collected -- the National Weather Service. Which is why, by the way, when there’s a government shutdown, people should remember the government does a lot of things you just don’t notice and that a lot of businesses rely on. But there are a whole host of other bits of data that are embedded. Google Maps, in part, started with the fact that there's a whole bunch of maps out there that are already part of the public record, and data has already been collected. And if you can make that accessible, that then suddenly becomes an opportunity for somebody creatively to look at that data in new ways and come up with new ways of creating useful services or products. So this is an area I think that we’re going to continue to explore. Obviously, we’ve got to -- I can’t have -- I can’t rent out the space shuttle to you, or whatever. (Laughter.) I mean, there’s going to be some particle collider that’s worth a billion dollars I don’t want you messing around with. (Laughter.) I want physicists in there doing the work. But what we know is, is that there are areas where we can, in fact, enhance what’s already being done by companies like TechShop. Universities, by the way, are in the same situation. Universities have a lot of access -- or generally have the capital to make large investments, particularly big research universities. Obviously, their first and primary mission is to educate. But the more we can encourage partnerships with universities and local businesses, the possibilities of collaboration and economies of scale, the possibilities of us saving money and creating more entrepreneurship opportunities are going to grow. And, look, a city -- you mentioned earlier about moving from Detroit to Pittsburgh. If you think about the contrast between Pittsburgh and Detroit -- and there are obviously a lot of reasons why some cities were able to bounce back when manufacturing started taking a beating -- part of it was Pittsburgh had these incredible anchor universities that created the ability to diversify their economies, your economy in a way that was a little tougher for Detroit to do. But every city that is succeeding today in this global marketplace has to have some mechanism where the private sector is collaborating with the public sector, with universities, because nobody can do it alone. Yes, right there. Right in front of you. Q Hi. I’m Anne Lopez, and I’m the founder and CEO of a company called Romeo Delivers. THE PRESIDENT: I’m sorry, what’s it called? Q Romeo Delivers. THE PRESIDENT: Romeo Delivers. Tell me about Romeo Delivers. Q So we’re on a mission to help strengthen relationships. THE PRESIDENT: Oh, I see. Okay. (Laughter.) So what exactly is Romeo delivering? (Laughter.) Q It’s G-rated. THE PRESIDENT: This is a family-friendly show. (Laughter.) Q It is. We’re a family-friendly business as well. And we just really believe that there are ways that couples can be communicating and interacting in a more fun and romantic way that, I think because of the digital age, that we think texting and things doesn’t really replace that physical interaction, and, like, writing notes to each other and doing things like that. So we design and manufacture products that inspire that. And I would love to ask you for some examples of things that you have found that are important in your relationship, and that maybe you do, as an example, for your kids that really show that you’re caring -- because you’re traveling so much, and you’re a great example of someone who’s busy. THE PRESIDENT: Without getting too personal -- (laughter) -- I will say this -- that some of this is generational, but I do find that Malia and Sasha’s generation, they live so much on their phones that it’s harder for them to create, maintain keepsakes and objects that show attachment, relationships, et cetera. So I think it’s a great idea. Now, to her credit, Malia, for example, wrote me a letter for Father’s Day, which obviously was a lot more important to me than if she had just texted a little emoji or whatever those things are. (Laughter.) And I’m a big believer in our kids making stuff, and when I think about the gifts that have been most precious to me and the things that I think have been most precious to them, it’s something that I did as opposed to something that I bought. So I probably could have used your service, you could have given me some even better ideas. My craftsmanship has not always been excellent. But I do think that part of what is interesting in this moment in our economy is also what’s scary about it. Very few people are going to live and work in one company for 30 years. That model doesn’t exist. There’s just too much disruption, because technology moves too quickly and globalization moves too quickly. And so the skill sets that we want to pass onto our kids are the basics, the foundations -- communications, numeracy, things like that. But it’s also the ability to create, to adapt; to get an idea, execute that idea. And what’s exciting is, is that people have more tools than they ever had in their hands to do that. That’s true whether it’s manufacturing, that’s true whether it’s managing relationships, that’s true whether you want to start a business. So individuals have been empowered. That’s an exciting moment because it gives us an opportunity to tap into more creativity than ever before. The flipside of it is that you are going to have to adapt and retool and get new skills and be able to understand new technologies much more rapidly than the previous generation did. And so there’s that adaptability that has to be built into everything we do, and we have to be able to pass that onto our kids. But I’ll look up on your website. I’ll see if I can get some new ideas for Michelle. (Laughter.) Thanks. Last question. Gentleman right here. Go ahead. Q Thank you. Good afternoon, sir. My name is Larry Lesniak, and I have a small family business. We do highly specialized woodworking. We build weaving looms for fiber artists across the U.S. We use TechShop as an extension of our manufacturing capability. And in looking at some of the points that you’ve made about children being creative and people being able to access these technologies, one of the things we did -- when you hear about public-private partnerships, it’s normally construed to be a large-scale. We donated a 3D printer to our local library, and it has been hugely successful. We’d like to continue that by adding additional technology -- small laser, small CNC. But that idea of making it publicly available, we now have one of the smallest libraries in the country that has that type of technology available. And really, this isn’t so much a question as a suggestion -- that’s another means of putting these tools in the hands of the public, and in fact, to people across all age spectrums. We focus very appropriately on formal education up through community colleges and such, but having that just generally available to anybody who wants to take the small training course and then come in and create something that they’ve designed is a very powerful concept. And we can leverage the local libraries to accomplish that. THE PRESIDENT: I think that’s a great idea. And, look, I’m a big library guy anyway. I love librarians, so a shout-out to all librarians out there. But you’re absolutely right that what we’re seeing around the country is libraries having to adapt and retool. I still love books and I still love the feel of turning a page, and going into a library. But the truth of the matter is, is that the amount of space you need for storage in a library has changed. Reading patterns have changed. People are a lot more tech-savvy, visual than they used to be. And what that means is, is that the library is a central repository for information. That needs to be adapted to the 21st century. And the idea of using libraries as a center point -- or a focal point along with universities, along with public schools, along with certain government agencies where people can access the tools to make things I think is a great idea. And so hopefully some librarians are out there listening. Generally, the federal government doesn’t manage libraries, so this would -- you talk to the mayor here, I’ll bet he’s got some pull maybe with the libraries here in Pittsburgh. But I think it’s a wonderful idea. Let me just close by saying this -- I want to repeat: Manufacturing is doing better than it’s done in the last -- any time in the last 20 years. We’re seeing more entrepreneurship in manufacturing than we’ve seen in the last 20 years, more manufacturing startups. Large manufacturers who had moved overseas are starting to bring manufacturing back, in part because our workers are so productive. We remain the largest and most prosperous market in the world, and because of things like energy costs that are a lot lower here in the United States than they are in a lot of other places in the country. So we’ve got a lot of things going for us. The one thing that’s inhibiting us is we are not maximizing policies that would give an extra boost to manufacturing. You were mentioning roads earlier -- we’ve got $2 trillion worth of deferred maintenance -- roads, bridges, water systems, a smart grid that can transmit energy more efficiently, an air traffic control system that could cut airline emissions by 30 percent, their fuels by 30 percent, which would actually potentially lower airline ticket prices and reduce delays. All of that would be a huge boost to manufacturing, and those jobs can’t be exported, because they’ve got to be -- by definition, if you’re rebuilding infrastructure, it’s got to be done here. The fact that Congress has not been willing to take me up so far on my proposal to aggressively fund infrastructure right now makes no sense. We would reduce our unemployment rate, put hard hats back to work right now. And the spinoffs would be enormous. We know that if we changed our tax code so that instead of giving tax loopholes to things that aren’t producing economic value and instead are incentivizing and reducing the tax burden on small startups and folks who are doing manufacturing, that would give a boost to our economy right now. So there are just certain steps that we can be taking to accelerate the great work that’s already being done around the country, building off what the private sector does, but leveraging it. Investing more in research and development -- that always has big payoffs. Making sure that we’ve investing in our community colleges so that our workers are trained for the jobs that are actually created. This is a challenging and competitive time. But as I told you before, if you ask companies where’s the best place to do business, they say the United States of America, that’s where we want to invest in. That’s the first time they’ve said that in over a decade. People think we’ve got the best cards, but we’ve got to use them. And that requires Congress breaking out of this mentality that says, if I propose it, they’re opposed to it -- I’m talking, obviously, about the Republicans. And we’re not going to agree on everything, but we can agree on some basic steps that historically weren’t partisan. Infrastructure didn’t used to be partisan. Eisenhower worked with Democrats to build an Interstate Highway System. Research and development didn’t used to be partisan. That was something everybody agreed was important to make, and government had to make those investments, in some cases, because the private sector just couldn’t justify the cost of true basic research. Making sure that we had the best university system in the world and that it was accessible. When I went to school, the amount of debt that I took out for my entire undergraduate education -- and I got some grants, and I worked while I was there -- but I basically paid off my entire student debt my first year out of school. I had to take a job I didn’t like that much to do it, but I knocked it out. Kids these days are just as hardworking if not more hardworking and conscientious than I am, but they’re still coming out with $25,000, $30,000 worth of debt. We can do something about that. So I don’t -- I want everybody to feel optimistic and hopeful about the future of manufacturing and the future of entrepreneurship, and the future of the American economy and our huge advantage in innovation. But I want also everybody to be paying attention to the debates that are taking place in Washington, and don’t just take for granted that somehow gridlock is inevitable, or that we don’t have good policies that we could be pursuing right now -- we do. The reason we don’t pursue them is because of politics. And we’ve got one party that just decides they want to say no to everything because they’re looking at the next election instead of what’s good for the next generation. All of you inspire confidence in me. And if that’s reflected in how we operate in Washington, I think we’re going to do just fine. Thanks, everybody. (Applause.) FACT SHEET: President Obama to Host First-Ever White House Maker Faire
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 18, 2014 FACT SHEET: President Obama to Host First-Ever White House Maker Faire A Nation of Makers: Empowering America’s Students and Entrepreneurs to Invent the Future Today, President Obama will host the first ever White House Maker Faire and will meet with students, entrepreneurs and everyday citizens who are using new tools and techniques to launch businesses, learn vital skills in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), and lead a grassroots renaissance in American manufacturing. As part of his year of action and this week’s focus on efforts that will expand opportunity by spurring manufacturing, innovation and entrepreneurship, the President will also announce new steps the Administration and its partners are taking to increase the ability of more Americans, young and old, to have access to these tools and techniques and to bring their ideas to life. Among the efforts being launched by the President at the White House Maker Faire: · Helping Makers launch new businesses and create jobs, with more than 13 federal agencies and companies including Etsy, Kickstarter, Indiegogo, and Local Motors offering Makers a suite of support services including expanded access to start-up grants, strong relationships with American manufacturers and major retailers, and business mentoring and training. · Dramatically expanding the number of students that have the opportunity to become Makers, with the Department of Education and five other agencies; over 150 colleges and universities; more than 130 libraries; and major companies ranging including Intel, Autodesk, Disney, Lego, 3D Systems, and MAKE committing to create more Makerspaces, enlist more educators in teaching Making, and launch other programs that allow students access to the tools and mentors that will bring their ideas to life. · Challenging Makers to tackle our most pressing problems, from Maker Nurses prototyping new tools that will aid in patient care, to Makers expanding our frontiers in space, to Makers here and abroad developing low-cost technologies that can improve the livelihoods of the world’s most vulnerable people. America has always been a nation of tinkerers, inventors, and entrepreneurs. In recent years, a growing number of Americans have gained access to technologies such as 3D printers, laser cutters, easy-to-use design software, and desktop machine tools, with even more being created by the day. These tools are enabling more Americans to design and build almost anything. The rise of the Maker Movement represents a huge opportunity for the United States. Nationwide, new tools for democratized production are boosting innovation and entrepreneurship in manufacturing, in the same way that the Internet and cloud computing have lowered the barriers to entry for digital startups, creating the foundation for new products and processes that can help to revitalize American manufacturing. These tools, increasing access to nearby makerspaces, and events like Maker Faires across the country are inspiring a new generation of entrepreneurs, empowering Makers to launch manufacturing startups in the same way that Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs developed and marketed the first Apple Computer while participating in the Homebrew Computer Club. Mentors and educators are “passing it on” and inspiring boys and girls to invent, tinker, and learn vital skills in STEM education. The first-ever White House Maker Faire comes just one day after the President visited TechShop Pittsburgh, a makerspace and fabrication studio where individuals can build and test their own products. During his visit, the President highlighted new efforts by his Administration and by more than 90 mayors to spur manufacturing innovation and entrepreneurship. Read more about their efforts here and here. Details on the First-Ever White House Maker Faire The first-ever White House Maker Faire will feature over 100 Makers from more than 25 states, and include more than 30 exhibits. The President will view a subset of these exhibits, representing the incredible range of creativity and ingenuity unlocked by the Maker movement. Following his tour of the White House Maker Faire, the President will deliver remarks to an audience of entrepreneurs, students, business leaders, mayors, and heads of non-profit organizations. A more detailed backgrounder on the notable attendees, exhibitors and other honored Makers at the event is available here. ANNOUNCEMENTS BEING MADE TODAY New steps to support Maker-led startups that will create new industries and jobs. New technologies for rapid prototyping – from laser cutters to CNC routers to 3D printers – have dramatically lowered the cost of developing a prototype and starting a business in manufacturing. The ability to rapidly and affordably test, tinker, monitor and customize places a premium on locating production close to American markets and opens new doors to entrepreneurship and innovation in manufacturing. The power of these emerging technologies creates the opportunity for Makers to launch new businesses, create jobs and build the industries of the future. To leverage these opportunities, the Administration announced today that: · The Manufacturing Extension Partnership is helping startups scale from DIY to Made in the USA. The NIST Manufacturing Extension Partnership serves more than 30,000 U.S. manufacturers each year with a national network of manufacturing assistance centers across all 50 states. The partnership is helping entrepreneurs that got their start as DIY projects and sellers on Etsy, Tindie, Kickstarter, Dragon Innovation, and Indiegogo, locate U.S. based manufacturers with the right expertise and capabilities to partner with the entrepreneurs in scaling up their businesses through MEP’s American Supplier network. For example, Etsy and Fuze Hub, which was launched with a NIST MEP grant, will conduct a pilot to help small designers and makers scale their production by using and accessing local manufacturers, while also educating them on the development and creation of a manufacturing company. · The Small Business Administration is targeting additional support to startup accelerators that help Maker-entrepreneurs. The Small Business Administration, through its $2.5M Accelerator competition, will encourage communities to include startup accelerators and Maker spaces for entrepreneurs in their regional entrepreneurship strategies. This effort builds on SBA’s commitment to help fund non-traditional startup accelerators, including accelerators that may focus on hardware and manufacturing startups. In addition, SBA and USPTO will work together in raising awareness around the maker and inventor nexus through newly established efforts via the AAAS-Lemelson Invention Ambassador program. This endeavor cultivates a new and diverse generation of inventors and increase global understanding of the role of invention in improving our quality of life, creating new products, building new businesses, and fostering innovation. Finally, to support the growth and development of Makers, the SBA will hold one American Supplier Initiative event aimed at providing education and training on the three core challenges small business suppliers face: access to markets, access to capital and access to capabilities. · The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office will provide novel support for Maker startups and small businesses. In addition to opening outreach spaces that will host programming for Makers in the USPTO’s four new regional offices in Detroit, Denver, Silicon Valley, and Dallas, the USPTO is developing a customized advice hotline for Makers. The USPTO will also release a “how to” guide on patenting and IP issues for Maker entrepreneurs and host a series of roadshows across the country to help entrepreneurs navigate the IP system. The USPTO is also working to educate the youngest entrepreneurs through a summer institute on making and intellectual property for middle and high school teachers; new digital badging for boys and girls in collaboration with the 4-H and Girl Scouts; a collaboration with the YMCA to create Maker spaces for students; and the launch of a “USPTO Kids” web site that will showcase young inventors and Making activities. · 11 agencies that collectively grant over $2.5 billion annually to small businesses across the country via the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs are committing to leverage the programs to support Maker innovations. DOD, HHS, DOE, NASA, NSF, USDA, DOC, DOT, DHS, EPA, and ED will work on identifying new and existing topics that are related to Making and its connection to advanced manufacturing, such as next-generation technologies that increase the variety and value of what an individual or small team can design, prototype and manufacture. A few examples of the research being conducted includes: o The Department of Defense (DoD) has opened up 30 Maker-technology topics for proposals, like the Affordable Manufacturing of Refractory Metal Components. o The National Science Foundation (NSF) is searching for innovations that permit manufacturing through a layering process, including 3D printing. o NASA is sponsoring topics like Recycling/Reclamation of 3-D Printer Plastic for Re-use. · The U.S. Department of Agriculture will launch two new competitions to galvanize colleges and schools around agricultural technologies and Making. The competitions will launch later this year for community college and middle school students to compete to create commercialization plans and prototypes for existing Agriculture Research Service technologies. The competitions will help promote agricultural technological development and entrepreneurship that can help promote food, agriculture, natural resources, rural development, nutrition, and related issues. The private sector and others responding to the President’s call to action by announcing: · Local Motors will launch 100 new Microfactories over the next ten years to accelerate innovations in manufacturing. Local Motors, founded by U.S. Marine and Iraq veteran Jay Rogers, is a leader in open-source hardware innovation. Local Motors Microfactories feature Lab spaces that are open to innovators who are willing to share their projects. Each Lab is also a nexus where the community can pursue STEM education and empower a global community of producers of things, not just consumers of things. Partnerships with local schools and universities, government labs and industries provide the community of makers with unprecedented access to both making capabilities and a platform that extends beyond ideation and prototyping to low-volume production and marketing. Within five years, the Microfactories will train over 1,000 students annually and will have offered over $1 million in prizes for new designs. In addition, Local Motors is helping established companies innovate. With GE, for example, Local Motors is helping to bring products to market faster through the FirstBuild Microfactory and Platform (firstbuild.com). · Indiegogo is launching a mentorship competition for startups with the support of Amazon, Intel, and Autodesk. Indiegogo, the world’s largest crowdfunding platform, is partnering with Autodesk to launch its first-ever Maker Challenge. This is a great opportunity for the Indiegogo community’s makers to share their work with the world and raise project awareness. Five selected campaigns will receive 123D Mentorship from Autodesk, while all qualifying maker-oriented projects will get access to Autodesk Fusion 360, an easy-to-use 3D CAD/CAM tool for those makers bringing new products to market. · TechShop is announcing an expansion to St. Louis and Los Angeles, with its latest ribbon cutting just this week at a new facility in Arlington, VA supported by DARPA and GE. TechShop, a national network of Maker spaces that offer access to the latest Maker tools and training for the price of a gym membership, is partnering with universities, academic institutions, companies, corporations, local government and individuals to bring TechShop St. Louis and TechShop Los Angeles to those cities next year. TechShop is also in discussions with over a dozen other cities who want to bring TechShop's open access model to their communities · Grommet will bolster innovation in Main Street retail by creating an effective bridge between new products by Makers and store shelves. The Grommet, a product launch platform for new innovative products will today debut a wholesale e-commerce site. The Grommet Wholesale platform will provide a critical missing resource to build sustainable Maker businesses, by creating a more convenient, organized, and curated platform from which retailers can source the newest and most imaginative products for their stores. With the wholesale extension of their business model, the Grommet will leverage the rich content and data-driven consumer validation created by their existing business to de-risk the purchase of otherwise unproven products for small retailers on its wholesale platform. Grommet’s end goal is to assure that within five years, 10% of all products flowing through US retail are originating from independent small-scale Makers, who create vibrant jobs and innovative products in every corner of the country. · Intel will adopt six Maker Cities across the US to encourage education as well as small-scale product design, development and manufacturing efforts in those cities. Intel will engage with local city leaders in Santa Clara, CA and the surrounding Silicon Valley region; Folsom, CA; the Portland, OR Metro area; Chandler, AZ; Austin, TX; and the Albuquerque, NM Metro area to spearhead the coordination of local partnerships, events, and demonstration projects. These efforts will highlight the opportunities for economic growth, workforce development and job creation that arise from a vibrant local maker scene. · Kickstarter is launching a new funding category specifically for Makerspaces: Today Kickstarter, a funding platform for creative projects is announcing that the creation of a new funding category for Maker Spaces, as part of a broader Civic initiative. The launch of a new category for Makerspaces -- places where people can come together to make new things -- is a rallying cry for builders, hackers and developers everywhere. To date, more than $1.1 billion dollars have been pledged to Kickstarter projects, and over 62,000 projects have been successfully funded by more than 6 million people. Much of that support has gone to projects by Makers over the past five years, but calling attention to the physical spaces where many of these Maker projects began will make it easier than ever for new and existing Makers to find support and funding. · Etsy is empowering unemployed adults to become entrepreneurs using their artistic skills by expanding its Craft Entrepreneurship program to ten cities and by making the curriculum publicly available in 2015. Craft Entrepreneurship teaches unemployed and underemployed adults how to monetize their artistic skills online, using Etsy's e-commerce platform as a learning lab. Participants learn skills like pricing, product photography, and search engine optimization and apply them to their online shop. In 2013, Etsy worked with the cities of Rockford, IL and New York City, NY to pilot the Craft Entrepreneurship program in the Rockford public housing authority and the NYC workforce development centers. Bill, an early participant in the Rockford program, is successfully selling his handmade frames on Etsy and at craft fairs, and no longer has to ask his son for help to pay his monthly bills. By incorporating micro-entrepreneurship training and support into workforce development programs, cities can ensure that the opportunities of the maker economy are accessible to all. · Trimble Navigation commits to expanding its free software services to Makers by adding cloud based software and 3D printing tools. Trimble's SketchUp business has been involved in the Maker movement from its inception. Trimble is committing to expand its free software services to Makers by delivering a professionally managed cloud platform for design through its 3D Warehouse, and through active sponsorship and support of open source development initiatives in the area of 3D Printing and Digital Fabrication (such as Wikihouse and OpenDesk), which connects robotic machine tools with SketchUp’s simple-to-use design environment. Trimble will also continue to offer the SketchUp 3D design software product "SketchUp Make" free to the Maker community and its over 30 million users. Trimble hosts a website repository of 3D designs and images that is freely accessible to makers looking for inspiration or seeking to share their models and designs. The SketchUp "3D Warehouse," contains over 2.5 million models, including thousands of Maker designs. · Leading tech companies from Google to Microsoft to Esri are helping connect Makers with each other, open up new makerspaces, and make existing makerspaces easier to find: Esri is developing a live National Day of Making map, with information on the range of universities, libraries, and cities across the country that are taking part in the Day of Making. Additionally, ESRI’s map will include a live snapshot of National Day of Making by pulling tweets from around the globe and continually updating them on a map, which will allow more people to discover Making in their communities as well as existing resources. Microsoft is announcing a series of Maker Garage Student Open Houses, giving underserved students access to the Maker Garage and the tools, technology and techniques they need to realize their full potential. Google is launching a public interactive nationwide Maker Map to help makers explore local spaces where they can come together to build new projects. From July 7th to August 15th, Google and MAKE will also host their third annual Maker Camp - a free summer camp for building, tinkering and exploring available virtually on Google+ and in local neighborhoods. Google will be providing 500 maker “affiliate sites” around the country with a starter kit of technology and materials for the projects, so that campers can make projects together as well as online. New Steps to Help Inspire and Prepare Many More Students Become Makers. The Maker Movement can fuel the imagination of American students, and equip them with the skills they need to invent the future. Hands-on learning and Making not only promotes values such as creativity, problem-solving, collaboration, and self-expression, but can also serve as a path to get more girls and boys excited about STEM and about careers making things in manufacturing. To give more students access to the tools, mentors and spaces they need, the Administration announced today that: · The Department of Education and its partners are launching a "make over" challenge to create more makerspaces in schools. The Department of Education is launching a "make over" challenge to accelerate the pace at which career and technical education (CTE) classrooms are redesigned to meet the needs of manufacturing in the 21st century. To help lead this transformation, the Department of Education plans to partner with private industry to launch a "Career and Technical Education Make Over Challenge" for community colleges and high schools around the country. States and local educational agencies will compete to receive technical assistance, and professional development, equipment, and or technology to modernize and upgrade CTE facilities. The challenge is planned for the 2014-2015 school year. · The Institute of Museum and Library Services and its partners are announcing new programing and upcoming investments in support of Making: IMLS, the lead federal agency that supports the vitality of America’s libraries and museums, is committing to providing at least $1 million in strategic awards this year for libraries and museums to create makerspaces and engage in other maker-related programming. In addition, IMLS will create a Maker@ Your Museum and Library toolkit built off of the expertise developed by over 50 pioneering libraries and museums. Examples of museums supporting efforts to expand making in their communities include: · Kid Museum in Montgomery County, Maryland is launching a 7,500 square foot makerspace that is expected to introduce over 20,000 students in the Washington D.C. region in the next year to the power of Making within the next year. · The New York Hall of Science will inspire a half million annual visitors to design, make and play through programs like Make Academy, Little Makers, SciPlay and the all-new exhibitions Design Lab and Connected Worlds; and in partnership with Maker Media will welcome more than 80,000 visitors and 600 makers to the fifth annual World Maker Faire in September. · The National Science Foundation (NSF) is highlighting Making-related research opportunities to advance STEM education and innovation. Making has the potential to support many of NSF’s goals, such as increasing retention and broadening participation in STEM education; empowering citizen scientists and citizen explorers; adding new possibilities for informal STEM learning; and supporting research in design; prototyping and advanced manufacturing. NSF’s activities build on the significant investments it has already made. For example, NSF strategic investments in additive manufacturing enabled many of the innovations underlying 3-D printing, computer-aided design, geometric modeling and embedded systems. Education programs include out-of-school activities and challenges that engage students and teachers in the manufacturing process and catalyze research on the impacts. NSF has a history of supporting educational programs that are integrated with science and engineering research, including NSF’s investments in engineering research centers and in science and technology centers. In the next year, NSF will hold a Makers Summit to convening researchers and practitioners, including representatives from community makerspaces, engineering schools, communities that do research on learning, libraries, museums, and manufacturers. · DARPA is announcing the first round of Maker-related awards under its $12.5M MENTOR2 program. The program will support the development of teaching materials aimed at students who are either headed towards or currently working in the uniformed services, with a focus on understanding, diagnosing, repairing, and adapting high-tech equipment in low-tech environments. MENTOR 2's project-based curricula – which will incorporate novel tools related to design, prototyping, and product evaluation – will give students a deeper understanding of modern electromechanical systems and an enhanced ability to maintain and adapt these systems to changing needs. The MENTOR2 awards that DARPA is announcing today are going to Georgia Tech and SRI; DARPA expects to make additional awards later this year, and anticipates that MENTOR2 teaching tools will find wider applicability in other secondary and post-secondary environments. DARPA is also planning to launch a pilot project later this year to engage Makers and entrepreneurs with new ideas for robotics. · The Smithsonian is launching a multi-year Making Initiative using its vast collections of historical objects. Smithsonian will launch a five-year Making Initiative, with the mission of using the Smithsonian’s vast collections and deep expertise, along with facilitators, mentors, and digital resources, to help makers of all ages learn about the past, understand the challenges of today, and imagine the future. Over the next five years, the Initiative will include: continuing to develop hands-on and creative learning spaces in our museums on the National Mall; creating a cohesive digital space for Makers of Smithsonian content; providing a library of curricula, simple how-to guides, and other tools to use Smithsonian’s growing 3D archive; hosting design challenges, with the opportunity to display some of the winning designs be put on display at the Smithsonian; and continuing the digitization of Smithsonian collections into 3D models, into formats suitable for remixing in CAD applications and 3D printing, with the goal to achieve orders of magnitude more scans for makers in the coming years. The Smithsonian is the world’s largest museum and research complex, with 137 million objects, artworks, and specimens, and equally expansive archival holdings · The Department of Education will focus on Making through the 21st Century Learning Centers (21st CCLC) program, the Administration’s largest investment in afterschool and summer programming activities: The U.S. Department of Education (ED) is developing new ways to encourage Making as part of its commitment to expand access to science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) subjects for all students. Making has the exciting potential to catalyze students’ interest in STEM subjects, and encourage learning outside of the classroom. The Department of Education is announcing plans in this fiscal year to make technical assistance and professional development available under the 21st Century Learning Centers (21st CCLC) program so that 21st CCLC sites can offer Making opportunities afterschool and during the summer. ED is also exploring coordination with the Institute of Museum and Library Services to leverage the Institute’s investment in Maker spaces that are close to 21st CCLC sites, to encourage broader access to Making for students in low-performing schools and low-income neighborhoods. · A partnership between the U.S. Department of Agriculture and 4-H clubs nationwide is inspiring more than 27,000 students in rural areas to invent and Make. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Division of Youth and 4-H, in partnership with the National 4-H Council and state 4-H programs, will introduce Making to youth across the country, ensuring that students in rural areas also have access to Making. At 4-H’s first ever Maker Youth Summit in November 2014, 120 4-H mentors will participate in hands-on training in Making. Even more will benefit from new online resources being launched in the coming year, empowering 4-H mentors and leaders to take what they have learned back to their communities and to inspire more students to invent, engineer, and make. By launching mobile Maker spaces, expanding afterschool programs, and holding competitions at state fairs, 4-H clubs in states like California, Virginia, Nebraska, Utah, and West Virginia are gearing up to reach more than 27,000 students and youth. The private sector and others are responding to the President’s call to action by announcing: · More than 150 colleges and universities reaching over 3 million students, from Columbia to Caltech, are taking steps to expand Making on campuses and in their communities. A diverse group of higher education institutions, including universities, community colleges, schools of art and design, and Historically Black Colleges and Universities, signed a letter to the President committing to take concrete steps to empower students to learn through Making, expand access to Maker spaces, incorporate Making into senior design projects and admissions portfolios, and support student entrepreneurship. For example: o Case Western Reserve University is announcing plans to break ground on the renovation of a new 50,000 square-foot makerspace, called Think[box], which includes seven floors designed to help students, faculty, and members of the community design, collaborate, prototype, fabricate, incubate, and start companies that can manufacture products and create jobs here in the U.S. o Carnegie Mellon University will launch a multi-faceted Maker campaign including a more than $5 million investment in a number of maker spaces on the main campus and at satellite locations as well as eight new interdisciplinary minors focused on learning through Making. Carnegie Mellon will also partner with the Intel Corporation to advance best practices in Maker education for K-16 and lifelong learning, and to develop Maker tool kits and guides that will be available to schools across the country. o The Massachusetts Institute of Technology will release a detailed whitepaper about fostering Making on its campus. The document outlines how MIT shapes admissions processes to value and encourage Making, grows Maker-driven curriculum and research, manages maker spaces on campus, and organizes and inspires a student-led culture of making. Additional details on the steps being taken by the more than 150 universities and colleges is available here. · More than 125 libraries and library systems across the country are committing to support Making. Libraries ranging from small rural public libraries, schools and academic libraries to some of the largest public library systems in the United States are committing to support Making, from creating or adapting current spaces, to investing in tools and technology, to participating in regional efforts that build a tight-knit and vibrant Maker ecosystem. A few examples of such efforts include: o Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne, Indiana has forged a multi-year partnership with TekVenture, a local non-profit maker space to bring maker technologies and activities to library patrons. TekVenture is repurposing a 10,000 sq. ft. building near the Library to provide patrons and the public 24-hour access to a broad range of prototyping and digital fabrication technologies. o Chicago Public Library Maker Lab has already served over 44,000 visitors since its opening in July 2013 and will focus on increasing participation and inclusion, particularly of women and minorities. o Broward County Library in Fort Lauderdale, Florida runs the Creation Station, which hosts STEM-oriented activities for students. The Library will designate September as Maker Month and will feature a series of DIY events and activities throughout the month. o East Baton Rouge Parish Library in Louisiana will be hosting a Mini-Maker Faire in September 2014. You can view the full list of 125 libraries and read more about their efforts here. · Intel is expanding its nationwide footprint of maker spaces to reach an additional 25,000 young and aspiring makers through its network of Intel Computer Clubhouses, as well as expanding its efforts in higher education. In partnership with the MIT Media Lab, Intel will use its network of 54 Computer Clubhouses across the United States to increase education in Making. Through new curriculum, professional development, and financial support Intel will teach students to bring their ideas to life while inspiring an interest in the foundations of engineering. In total, Intel will expand to reach 25,000 students and youth through its Making!@ Clubhouses initiative. In addition, Intel will donate Intel® Galileo boards to more than 180 US universities in 2014 and will focus those maker tool donation efforts in the adopted Maker Cities. In collaboration with SparkFun Electronics, Intel will offer hands-on professional development workshops to train more than 100 career- K12 and technical-education teachers in its adopted Maker Cities over the next 12 months. · 3D Systems, The Coca-Cola Company, and will.i.am are providing more than 1,500 3D printers and kits as part of a drive to ensure that all 3,000 FIRST Robotics Teams have access to 3D printing equipment. The drive aims to equip at least 3,000 FIRST teams in middle schools and high schools across the country with an EKOCYCLE Cube 3D printer using post-consumer recycled plastic for its printer cartridges. 3D Systems and The Coca-Cola Company have committed to donate over half of the 3,000 printer kits to FIRST (valued at over $3 million), with the potential to support over 75,000 FIRST students across the United States. In addition, 3D Systems and Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) are installing “starter kits” of the latest 3D scanning, design, and prototyping/ manufacturing tools in SME’s more than 200 affiliated high schools, and building a new nation-wide online network for prospective employers to connect directly with teachers on skills requirements and lesson plans. This effort will allow CTE directors in every state in the nation to keep their programs on the cutting edge, and transform U.S. industrial arts and vocational education. · Disney invests more than $20 million in experiences, resources and tools that foster creativity in young people. As a company that sparks the imaginations of kids and families all over the world through storytelling, Disney plays a powerful role in nurturing the creative-thinking skills of the next generation of innovators and makers. Building on that rich history, Disney is investing more than $20 million this year in experiences, resources and tools that foster creativity and innovation. Continuing its longstanding support of the Maker Movement, Disney will be the title sponsor of the World Maker Faire in New York this September, bringing the best of DIY ingenuity to 75,000 kids and families. Disney supports dreamers and doers through a wide variety of programs across the Company’s businesses and brands, which include Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm, ABC and ESPN, among others. Initiatives range from Walt Disney Imagineering’s “Imaginations,” a design competition to seek out and nurture the next generation of Disney Imagineers, to Disney Friends for Change, a global program that inspires kids and families to make a positive difference in their communities through creative solutions and service. · Chevron is announcing a $10 million commitment to the Fab Foundation with plans to support the creation of 10 new community fabrication labs (Fab Labs). The investment will allow more than 20,000 students and adults to access hands-on project based resources over next three to five years. Starting with FabLabs in Richmond, CA and Bakersfield, CA, the effort will grow to additional locations over the next two years in regions with Chevron facilities. Chevron will also work with other leading companies to replicate FabLabs beyond its direct investment. A Fab Lab is a makerspace that consists of a suite of digital fabrication and rapid prototyping machines, including a 3-D desktop mill and scanner, an electronics work bench, a 3-D printer and the accompanying computers and software for design, programming and machine communications. These applied STEM learning environments enable students to follow their natural curiosity about how things work on a journey through science, technology, engineering and math. Chevron-supported Fab Labs will support K-12 students, but will also be open to workers who seek training or need re-training in new technical and engineering skill sets, to entrepreneurs who aim to prototype business ideas and products, and to community members who want access to high tech tools for prototyping personal projects or for supporting lifelong learning goals. · Cognizant is tripling its investment in maker mentorship through its Making the Future program and will reach 200 communities over the next three years. Building on its leadership as provider of information technology, consulting and business process services, Cognizant is announcing that it will triple the size of its Making the Future program to expand and enhance science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education. Cognizant will provide 1.5 million hours of education programs and serve 25,000 children in 200 communities by 2017. Cognizant’s Making the Future program fosters STEM engagement and learning through after-school and summer programs that are widely accessible, stimulating, enriching and fun. Later this year, Cognizant will release guidelines and supporting materials to mentor organizations on how to effectively participate in and implement Making programs and events. To maximize this opportunity, Cognizant will also work to develop a coalition of like-minded organizations committed to expanding Making opportunities to more youth in communities across the United States. · Autodesk to launch a program for young makers to empower the next generation manufacturing workforce. The Autodesk "Make the Future" program will offer millions of youth a freely available unique and comprehensive combination of tools and content, including professional-grade, cutting-edge 3D design software; new curricula focused on “Making” and 3D printing nationwide competitions that enable students to showcase their talent; and maker badges to enable students to mark their progress. The "Make the Future" program builds on Autodesk’s “Design the Future” program, which provides over 16 million students from 27,000 middle and high schools nationwide with free access to professional 3D design tools from Autodesk, curricula aligned to national standards, and training and certification for educators. Autodesk will also explore developing a Maker Certification program with a third-party partner. · LEGO Systems announces a Junior Maker Program, starting with Making Toolkits that will be delivered to over 750 libraries nationwide: LEGO Systems, a worldwide leader in play materials that spark so many children's imaginations, today announced a Junior Maker program to create more opportunities for young children to play, make and share. In partnership with the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), beginning in July 2014, any children's librarian will be able to download a free, digital toolkit with information and inspiration to host Junior Maker Sessions via the ALSC resources website. More than 750 libraries nationwide will receive a physical toolkit to host ongoing Junior Maker sessions in children's reading areas. Each toolkit will include over 10,000 LEGO(r) bricks, an activity guide and academic insights from The LEGO Foundation's Cultures of Creativity report. Additionally, the company will co-host Junior Maker sessions, as recently held at the Washington DC, Mini Maker Faire, in 20 libraries. Beginning in July, parents can find free downloadable activities and play tips at LEGO.com/Juniors. Additional insights and inspiration for informal learning through play will be made available to millions of families in an issue of the LEGO Club Jr. magazine. · The Maker Education Initiative (Maker Ed) is launching a new campaign to create and expand youth-oriented makerspaces across the country: Building on the goals of the President's Education to Innovate campaign, Maker Ed will support making projects and programs with more than 100,000 children and families in 2014. This includes the expansion of Maker Ed's AmeriCorps VISTA project to five new cities -- Baltimore, Detroit, Pittsburgh, Miami, San Antonio -- reaching 22,000 youth in high poverty communities. Maker Ed is now launching a new campaign to accelerate the creation and expansion of independent, youth-oriented makerspaces to ensure every child in America has access to a nearby makerspace. Maker Ed will foster a Makerspace Network, including key steps to: offer program models for makerspaces, share best practices, provide professional development, create networks for volunteers, develop a directory and map of active spaces, and collaborate with major youth-serving organizations. Partners currently committed to help launch this effort include: Autodesk, Cognizant, Corporation for National and Community Service, FIRST, Intel, MakerMedia, and US2020. To pledge to join this effort, learn more at MakerEd.org. · The 100Kin10 network is building on its momentum to support excellent teachers and cultivate a generation of children to be makers: Responding to the President’s call to action to prepare 100,000 excellent STEM teachers over the next ten years, 200 organizations have come together in a coalition called 100Kin10. These organizations have made over 250 measurable commitments, which 100Kin10 estimates will help directly recruit and prepare over 40,000 STEM teachers and support tens of thousands more over the first five years of the initiative. The network has now raised over $59 million from a broad range of foundations and philanthropists under a unique “funding marketplace” model through which funders can choose from a registry of high-quality proposals. As a next step, 100Kin10 is announcing two new funding pledges. The Tortora Sillcox Family Foundation has pledged $1 million to fund initiatives that increase the number of low-income New York City public school students engaged in rigorous STEM courses through the recruitment and support of effective STEM teachers. Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Foundation has made a renewed pledge of $1.5 million to fund programs to recruit, prepare, retain, develop, and motivate excellent STEM teachers in Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico. These investments will support excellent educators who share their passion for science, math, engineering, and technology and who can create deeply immersive project-based Making experiences that will inspire students to create, Make and share. · MacArthur and partners are expanding Cities of Learning, and supporting Making badges. The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, along the Digital Youth Network and Badge Alliance, is announcing the expansion of the Cities of Learning effort to encourage interest-driven learning in Maker spaces and other community places, as well as online. Through Cities of Learning, youth can earn digital open badges to document their Making skills and other out-of-the-classroom learning. The badges are stored online and can be easily shared with schools, colleges, and employers to showcase achievements. The Cities of Learning movement which started in Chicago last year is growing fast, with three new Cities kicking off this month, two others launching this fall, and more lining up for 2015. This year's programs in Chicago, Columbus, Dallas, Los Angeles, Pittsburgh and Washington, D.C., will include opportunities for hundreds of thousands of students to earn Making badges, along with other badges for competencies in Science, Technology, Engineering, Math and the Arts. With national support from MacArthur, each city is a grassroots effort, often spearheaded by the Mayor’s Office and supported by local public-private partnerships. For example, the Chicago City of Learning effort includes 3D jewelry printing, e-textile fashion design, and Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s visit to a teen Maker showcase. Digital technology is transforming how today’s youth learn and what skills they need to thrive in the new economy and Cities of Learning are embracing the challenge, by ensuring youth from all backgrounds and circumstances have opportunities to tinker, collaborate, Make and create, becoming the digital pioneers, creative thinkers, and innovators of tomorrow. · Mozilla is announcing new partners for its Maker Party campaign to celebrate making and learning. Last year, Mozilla, in partnership with the MacArthur Foundation and National Writing Project, helped catalyze over 1,700 “pop-up” making events across 330 cities where thousands of people of all ages created or remixed websites, made stop-motion animation films, built robots, designed games and more. Today, Mozilla is announcing plans for the 2014 campaign, which will kick off on July 15. Mozilla is teaming up with a variety of partners, including the Institute of Museum and Library Services, which will promote at all the public libraries and museums within their network; the National 4-H Council, which will promote to its 500,000 4-H program leaders, volunteers, parents and youth across the country, and the Association of Science and Technology Centers, which will promotes the effort to more than 390 affiliated science and tech centers. In addition, the C.S. Mott Foundation will partner with Mozilla to support Maker Parties in more than 10 states through the National Network of Statewide Afterschool Networks. · Brit + Co is kicking off a new effort to reach Makers of all ages: Brit + Co., an online media and e-commerce platform that provides tools to teach, inspire, and enable creativity, is launching an effort to help more women and girls pursue their passions and become Makers. This will include campus maker events with potential to reach 20,000 makers per year, a large-scale yearly ‘Makeathon’ conference to get more women engaged in industrial design, sponsoring a number of sponsored “makers in residence” at Brit + Co’s headquarters, and a series of free e-classes designed to give teachers the physical and virtual tools to engage K-12 students in hands-on maker curriculum. · Teach for America and partners launching a new Maker Teacher campaign: Teach for America and its partners STEMConnector, Project Lead the Way and the Digital Harbor Foundation are launching a new campaign to recruit and connect its community of educators to Making. Organized under a new online pledge form available at MakerTeacher.org, the effort will focus on exposing more teachers to the Maker Movement, connecting those already interested to available resources and creating opportunities for educators to collaborate. · Master teachers are developing Making curriculum to support the new science standards with hands-on, project-based learning. The Albert Einstein Teaching Fellows, incubated in the National Science Foundation and Department of Energy, are partnering with 3D Systems to design new curriculum and tools for teachers to bring 3-D printing into K-9 education. Access to 3D printing can turn a classrooms into a mini-Maker laboratory while aligning with latest from the Next Generation Science Standards. BetterLesson is developing blended learning curriculum around the new Next Generation Science Standards and identifying the first-ever Maker Master Teachers. Master Maker Teachers highlight teachers who truly bring to life the Maker Movement in their classrooms, and capture their best practices for effectively teaching a hands-on approach to STEM education. BetterLesson’s Blended Master Teacher Project, created in partnership with the Learning Accelerator, will detail the effective techniques of teachers working in a blended environment. In addition, littleBits will be supporting schools and educators with over $20,000 in littleBits products, with the goal to help educators integrate hands-on STEAM learning in their classrooms, makerspaces and after school programs. · The Digital Harbor Foundation is launching a new Center of Excellence to support Making in schools. The Center of Excellence for Innovation in Technology Education is a technical assistance and training effort to support the ability of schools and non-profits to integrate Making into their programs. To start, the Center is supporting Baltimore-based Green Street Academy and Barclay Elementary and Middle School, both of whom will be launching maker programs in topics that include 3D printing, electronics, web design, and engineering. New steps to harness the creativity and skills of Makers to tackle pressing challenges. Our most pressing challenges require the passion, ingenuity and skills of Americans young and old. These citizen solvers can approach problems with fresh eyes, create new networks of partners and use these tools to design new solutions. This confluence of engaged citizens and tools is why a number of Federal agencies and private-sector partners believe that Makers can be a powerful complement in their strategies to tackle big problems. Key steps being announced today include: · USAID, the World Bank, Lemelson Foundation, Intel, and others will support Makers around the world to improve livelihoods and wellbeing. USAID, the World Bank, and Intel have teamed up with the Fab Foundation to launch a Global Fab Award, which will encourage the invention of open-source, maker-ready sensor technologies to improve the livelihoods of the world’s most vulnerable people by providing better access to information on critical issues such as healthcare diagnostics, agricultural production, and the availability of clean drinking water. At the international Fab10 Conference, the partnership will crowdsource a catalog of Maker solutions that can drive economic development and address social challenges in countries around the world. A roundtable was also held on incorporating the Maker Movement more broadly into the President’s Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI). As part of its commitment to Making in Africa, Intel Corporation and YALI are partnering on the 5th Maker Faire Africa in Johannesburg, South Africa from September 3-6, 2014. Finally, the U.S. Global Development Lab at USAID, along with the Lemelson Foundation, will be supporting the development of Gearbox, an East African design and prototyping space that empowers local innovators and catalyzes scalable businesses to invent solutions for development needs. · NASA and its partners are inspiring a new generation of space enthusiasts and Makers to help expand our capabilities in space. A growing community of space-enthusiasts has the ability to contribute to NASA’s space exploration goals through their passion, technical expertise, and ability to use new additive technologies. To leverage this opportunity, NASA is announcing: o New "Future Engineers" printing challenges for the first 3D printer aboard the International Space Station, in conjunction with the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Foundation. Middle and high school students will design items for 3D printing on ISS, and the winning student will watch from NASA’s Payload Operations Center with the mission control team as the item is printed in space. NASA and the ASME Foundation will also promote these projects and others in Maker Community Challenge Showcases, in which student participants would have the opportunity to have their 3D designs printed at local Maker community locations and student participants would showcase their 3D designs in on online open hardware design repository. o A new announcement of opportunity for CubeSat developers later this year, with the goal of broadening its reach to the 21 "rookie states" that have had no previous CubeSat presence in space, and will leverage the Space Grant network of colleges and universities. CubeSats provide the opportunity for Makers to build small satellites to demonstrate new innovative technologies and conduct scientific research in a space environment. o An additive manufacturing competition with America Makes that will challenge participants to find new ways to create safe shelters using locally available materials and constructed at the point of use. · Agencies are deploying rapid prototyping to the frontlines to pursue critical missions. Agencies are increasingly empowering federal workers across the country and deployed overseas to innovate on the frontlines to improve government services and to deliver on critical missions and objectives. For example, the Department of Defense is beginning to use these innovative approaches to equip and empower more “military MacGyvers” to solve problems with the resources at hand. The Army’s Expeditionary Labs allowed soldiers to improve the armored fighting vehicles that protect them against land mines. The Navy’s “Project Athena” enables sailors with great ideas on the USS Benfold to lead a small team and make it happen. The Department of Defense will develop a strategy to scale up these and other initiatives to harness the creativity and ingenuity of the men and women of the Armed Forces · The Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate is creating a Government Maker Corps program to recruit more than 100 tinkerers, innovators, and doers to apply their talents to public service. Today, the Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate is launching a Government Maker Corps program to recruit creative and energetic Makers to contribute to projects with rapid prototyping opportunities. The interagency Ideation Community of Practice (ICOP), a network of over 200 federal innovators from 25 agencies, will partner with stakeholders to develop a Government Maker Initiative Playbook – a “how-to” guide for policymakers and agencies to leverage innovations from the Maker community. · NIH is launching the NIH 3D Print Exchange (3Dprint.nih.gov), the first-ever government-sponsored database of 3D-printable bioscientific and biomedical files. The NIH is making high-quality, scientifically accurate 3D printable files for bioscientific and biomedical applications available through an online, open access portal. For example, the portal will host 3D printable files of custom and innovative lab equipment, anatomical features and the molecular structures of proteins, all derived directly from real scientific data. The NIH 3D Print Exchange allows users to discover, share, and create bioscientific and biomedical 3D models that are ready to download and print in 3D. Physicians and patients can use the Exchange to visualize disease processes and treatments through 3D prints of medical imaging data. Students, teachers, and parents will find accompanying worksheets and lesson plans for use in STEM education. In the coming months, the Exchange will announce a nationwide challenge, calling on students to create their own 3D bioscientific models, to encourage use of 3D prints and 3D modeling techniques in the classroom. · New communities and tools will empower nurses to make and innovate to improve patient care. MakerNurse, an initiative of the Little Devices Lab at MIT, with support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, is announcing the launch of a new online community for Maker Nurses. The new platform will provide tools and resources to empower nurses to make and innovate at the bedside, improving patient care and health. The mission is to bring health and wellness technologies out of the black box so that every patient, every nurse and every caregiver can be a health maker. In addition, MIT’s International Design Centre and the Institute for Medical Engineering and Science are announcing the first ever DIY Medical Technologies Conference in the fall of 2014 to galvanize the design, fabrication, science and policies around democratized medical technologies. The event will include medical makers who are patients, caregivers, healthcare professionals and DIY medical technology practitioners, all sharing and exploring what this new field can bring to our healthcare system. · Global Minimum commits to supporting more than 300 Youth Makers in Africa. Non-profit organization Global Minimum’s InChallenges program identifies young inventors and entrepreneurs, and supports them in transforming their ideas into first-stage prototypes, and subsequently into scalable social innovations. The InChallenges program runs in Sierra Leone, Kenya and South Africa, where students are given the tools, resources, and network to develop real solutions to local problems affecting their communities. The InChallenges program will be hosted in all three countries in 2014, encouraging youth throughout the continent to use making to solve local challenges they understand deeply. DAILY GUIDANCE AND PRESS SCHEDULE FOR WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 2014
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 17, 2014 DAILY GUIDANCE AND PRESS SCHEDULE FOR WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 2014 In the morning, the President will receive the Presidential Daily Briefing in the Oval Office. This meeting is closed press. Later in the morning, the President will host the first ever White House Maker Faire and meet with students, entrepreneurs and everyday citizens who are using new tools and techniques to launch new businesses, learn vital skills in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), and fuel the renaissance in American manufacturing. The President’s viewing of the Maker Faire projects on the South Lawn will be pooled press. The President’s remarks in the East Room will be open press. This event will be streamed live at http:/www.whitehouse.gov/live. In the afternoon, the President will host top economists for lunch to discuss ways to accelerate economic growth, expand opportunity, and improve the competitiveness of the American economy. This meeting in the Roosevelt Room will be closed press. Later in the afternoon, the President will host the bipartisan, bicameral leadership of Congress at the White House. The President will be joined by Senate Majority Leader Reid, Senate Minority Leader McConnell, Speaker Boehner and Leader Pelosi. There will be a stills only pool spray at the top of this meeting in the Oval Office. In the evening, the President will meet with Secretary of State Kerry in the Oval Office. This meeting is closed press. EDT 9:30AM In-Town Travel Pool Call Time 10:00AM THE PRESIDENT receives the Presidential Daily Briefing Oval Office Closed Press 10:45AM THE PRESIDENT views Maker Faire projects South Lawn Pooled Press (Final Gather 10:30AM – North Doors of the Palm Room) 11:30AM THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks at the White House Maker Faire East Room Open Press (Pre-Set 9:00AM, Final Gather 10:45AM – North Doors of the Palm Room) 12:15PM THE PRESIDENT meets with economists for lunch Roosevelt Room Closed Press Presidential Proclamation -- National Day of Making, 2014
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 17, 2014 Attached is a proclamation signed by the President today regarding National Day of Making, 2014. THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary For Immediate Release June 17, 2014 NATIONAL DAY OF MAKING, 2014 - - - - - - - BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA A PROCLAMATION Our Nation is home to a long line of innovators who have fueled our economy and transformed our world. Through the generations, American inventors have lit our homes, propelled humanity into the skies, and helped people across the planet connect at the click of a button. American manufacturers have never stopped chasing the next big breakthrough. As a country, we respond to challenge with discovery, determined to meet our great tests while seeking out new frontiers. During the National Day of Making, we celebrate and carry forward this Today, more and more Americans are gaining access to 21st century tools, from 3D printers and scanners to design software and laser cutters. Thanks to the democratization of technology, it is easier than ever for inventors to create just about anything. Across our Nation, entrepreneurs, students, and families are getting involved in the Maker Movement. My Administration is increasing their access to advanced design and research tools while organizations, businesses, public servants, and academic institutions are doing their part by investing in makerspaces and mentoring aspiring inventors. I am committed to helping Americans of all ages bring their ideas to life. Alongside our partners, my Administration is getting tens of thousands of young people involved in making. We are supporting an apprenticeship program for modern manufacturing and encouraging startups to build their products here at home. Because science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) are essential to invention, we launched a decade-long national effort to train 100,000 excellent STEM teachers. And we are expanding STEM AmeriCorps so that this summer, 18,000 low-income students will have learning opportunities in these vital fields. As we observe this day, I am proud to host the first-ever White House Maker Faire. This event celebrates every maker -- from students learning STEM skills to entrepreneurs launching new businesses to innovators powering the renaissance in American manufacturing. I am calling on people across the country to join us in sparking creativity and encouraging invention in their communities. Today, let us continue on the path of discovery, experimentation, and innovation that has been the hallmark not only of human progress, but also of our Nation's progress. 2 Together, let us unleash the imagination of our people, affirm that we are a Nation of makers, and ensure that the next great technological revolution happens right here in America. NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 18, 2014, as National Day of Making. I call upon all Americans to observe this day with programs, ceremonies, and activities that encourage a new generation of makers and manufacturers to share their talents and hone their IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this seventeenth day of June, in the year of our Lord two thousand fourteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-eighth. BARACK OBAMA travel pool report #6 - tour of techShop
POTUS was given a tour of several stations in the TechShop facility, where people can have an idea to manufacture something and then use the equipment to bring it to reality. At the first stop, Andy Leer demonstrated a 3D printer called ZeGo, showing the president how he could make objects out of a red plastic that feeds into the printer. He showed gears and circuit boards and other items. POTUS asked a few questions, including "how do you program the designs." At one point, POTUS picked up a bust of Lincoln that the printer made. POTUS talked about how the printer allows people to make good on ideas if "Ive got a great idea for some gizmo" but not the means to produce it. He then went to a second station, where James Gyre was using a laser etcher to make wooden art. POTUS held up a wooden snowflake that was etched on the machine. "This is pretty," POTUS said. POTUS asked whether he used to do the designs by hand, and James said he did the designs in his head. POTUS then watched as the machine, a Trotec Speedy 300 etched NASA picture of a globe onto a piece of wood. "It's really nice. I like your stuff," POTUS said. He then moved to a third station, led by Terry Sandin, who works on the corporate side for TechShop. (Mr. Sandin said he was from Hawaii, which led to the following exchange: POTUS: "Hey, Howzit?" Sandin: "Good, Bro." Sandin: "Im going back in two weeks." POTUS: "Can I go with you?" Sandin: "You gotta buy your own ticket." POTUS: "I have this lease on a plane." Mr. Sandin had POTUS help use a machine to make a mold of the presidential seal out of little grey plastic pellets. POTUS pushed an orange button and then a grey button. The machine heated the pellets up to 460 degrees, according to Sandin. Sandin then showed a Square credit card reader and said the device was originally designed at a ShopTech machine. POTUS then said that his iPad case, a Dodo case, was also first deigned and prototyped at a ShopTech facility. POTUS had an aide bring him his iPad, which he showed to the press, opening the case and closing it again. "For the cost of a gym membership, you have access to all of this equipment," POTUS said. POTUS then moved to his remarks and Q&A, which are open. Background from a White House Official: The President is visiting TechShop Pittsburgh, which provides access to cutting edge prototyping equipment – including more than $1 million worth of professional equipment and software – and empowers a new generation of entrepreneurs to succeed. The popular smartphone mobile payment accessory “Square” was prototyped and designed at the TechShop in San Francisco. DODOCase, the custom iPad case, was also first built at the Menlo Part TechShop. There are eight TechShops across the country with two more in development. Membership in TechShops is about equal to the price of a gym membership. The President will highlight America’s growing manufacturing sector and Pittsburgh’s rich manufacturing ecosystem and underscore the importance of creating the quality jobs of the future by replicating the success of Pittsburgh’s growing high tech manufacturing sector. The President will also take questions in a town hall format. Prior to the President’s town hall, he will be led on a tour by Matt Verlinich, General Manager of TechShop Pittsburgh. Along the tour, the President will visit a rapid prototyping area with a table-top, open-air 3-D Printer. Next, the President will use an injector mold to create a plastic Presidential Seal cast in an aluminum mold. Traveling Pool report #5
POTUS arrived at TechShop Pittsburgh at 12:45 pm after an uneventful motorcade. Your pool is holding ahead of an expected tour of the facility by POTUS and then open press remarks **Reminder to RSVP**: UPCOMING GUIDANCE FOR FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the First Lady For Immediate Release June 13, 2014 UPCOMING GUIDANCE FOR FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA Wednesday, June 18, 2014 Washington, DC * 11:00 AM – In celebration of 50 new U.S. Citizens, First Lady Michelle Obama will deliver remarks at a Naturalization Ceremony at the National Archives. Naturalization ceremonies are the final step in the journey to U.S. citizenship for more than 600,000 people each year as new citizens take the Oath of Allegiance at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) field offices across the country and overseas. Each year, the National Archives hosts a Naturalization Ceremony during which petitioners are sworn in as new citizens in front of The Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson will administer the Oath of Allegiance. This event is open press. Members of the media who wish to cover this event must RSVP to public.affairs@nara.gov by Tuesday, June 17, 2014 at 12pm. Thursday, June 19, 2014 Washington, DC * 6:00 PM – First Lady Michelle Obama will deliver remarks at the Graduation Celebration for the DC College Access Program (DC-CAP) at The Marriott Wardman Park. DC-CAP is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to helping DC high school students prepare for, enroll in, and graduate from college. The program will celebrate former DC-CAP students who received college degrees this spring. The overwhelming majority of students served by DC-CAP are from low-income, minority, single-parent households and are the first in their families to attend college. DC-CAP provides student and parent college readiness counseling starting in 9th grade helping families navigate the college application and financial aid process throughout the high school years. DC-CAP also provides integral support and financial assistance for students while in college. Since DC-CAP’s inception in 1999, the program has played a critical role in helping to double the number of students enrolling in college and tripling the number who graduate in DC. The event is an opportunity to applaud their achievement and honor their families who supported them. This event is open press, however the deadline to RSVP has passed. For more information, please contact Julie Rosenthal at julie@jrcommunications.com. Friday, June 20, 2014 Washington, DC * 11:30 AM – As part of her Reach Higher initiative, First Lady Michelle Obama will tour student demonstrations and deliver remarks at the National Summer Learning Day Fair at the Department of Education. The National Summer Learning Day Fair, which marks National Summer Learning Day on June 20th, will bring together high school students and education leaders from across the country to highlight the critical role summer learning plays in preparing young people for successful college entry and completion. On the same day, hundreds of cities and programs across the country will host local events to build awareness around the need for and benefits of high-quality summer learning programs. The First Lady’s Reach Higher initiative focuses on the importance of pursuing and completing some form of higher education, and encourages students to do their part to answer the President’s call to ensure that by the year 2020, America once again has the highest proportion of college graduates in the world. FACT SHEET: President Obama Announces New Pen and Phone Actions to Spur Innovation and Entrepreneurship to Revitalize American Manufacturing
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 17, 2014 FACT SHEET: President Obama Announces New Pen and Phone Actions to Spur Innovation and Entrepreneurship to Revitalize American Manufacturing U.S. manufacturing is on the rise, and the U.S. manufacturing sector is as competitive as it has been in decades for new jobs and investment. The manufacturing sector has added 646,000 jobs since February 2010, the fastest pace of job growth since the 1990s. And this week, President Obama will outline new actions to accelerate an emerging trend in U.S. manufacturing: new technologies and entrepreneurship in manufacturing that are providing advantages for the United States and helping hardworking Americans get ahead. Attached is a new White House report, Making in America: U.S. Manufacturing Entrepreneurship and Innovation, that demonstrates how new game-changing technologies are reducing the cost, increasing the speed, and making it easier for entrepreneurs and manufacturers to translate new ideas into products Made in America. These new technologies are already having an impact, with the growth rate in manufacturing entrepreneurship at its fastest pace in over 20 years. Today, the Obama Administration is announcing new actions by the Federal government and new commitments from Mayors and local leaders around the country who, following the President’s call to action, are investing locally in manufacturing. On Wednesday, the President will host the first-ever White House Maker Faire, where he will announce new actions by Federal agencies and new public-private commitments to spur local entrepreneurship and inspire young people to pursue careers in manufacturing and engineering. New Actions Announced Tuesday Ø Communities stepping up to support manufacturing entrepreneurship. Responding to the President’s call to action, more than 90 Mayors and local leaders have committed to the ‘Mayors Maker Challenge’ to expand access to physical locations and new manufacturing and prototyping equipment in their communities, spur manufacturing entrepreneurship, and inspire young people to pursue careers in manufacturing and engineering. Ø Streamlining access to over $5 billion worth of advanced equipment in over 700 R&D facilities available to entrepreneurs. The Administration is helping manufacturing entrepreneurs access more than $5 billion worth of advanced equipment in federal R&D facilities that they may use to develop new technologies and launch new inventions. For example, entrepreneurs may be able to access NASA’s National Center for Advanced Manufacturing to produce the high-strength, defect-free joints required for cutting-edge aeronautics, and DOE’s Manufacturing Demonstration Facility at Oak Ridge National Laboratory for collaborative projects in additive manufacturing, composites and carbon fiber, and other leading clean energy technologies. Ø Expanding investment in the Materials Genome Initiative to ensure U.S. leadership in inventing and manufacturing advanced materials. Five Federal agencies will invest more than $150 million in ground-breaking research to support the Materials Genome Initiative, upping the Administration’s investment in the manufacturing of game-changing advanced materials. The Materials Genome Initiative is a public-private endeavor that aims to cut in half the time it takes to develop novel materials that can fuel advanced manufacturing and bolster the 21st century American economy. Background: New Actions to Support the Revitalization of U.S. Manufacturing To augment and capture the momentum in manufacturing innovation and entrepreneurship, the Administration has made spurring innovation in U.S. manufacturing a core priority of its manufacturing agenda. Through these investments and a continued focus on strengthening domestic production, the Administration is laying the foundation for a revitalized U.S. manufacturing sector. By spurring innovation and entrepreneurship in manufacturing, we can shore up the central pillar of America’s innovation enterprise. · Through the National Network for Manufacturing Innovation – with four hubs already and four more on the way – the Administration is bringing together private industry, leading universities, and public agencies to co-invest in emerging technologies like additive manufacturing, lightweight materials, next-generation power electronics, and digital design and fabrication and to develop the skills our workers need to provide ongoing American leadership in manufacturing. · Across Federal agencies, the Administration has supported an increase in federal investment in manufacturing R&D by 35 percent in just three years – from $1.4 billion in 2011 to $1.9 billion in 2014. New Actions Announced Today Ø Recognizing more than 90 Mayors and community leaders who are responding to the President’s Call to Action as part of the Mayors’ Maker Challenge to expand access to innovative manufacturing technologies and grow the Maker movement in their communities: o Mayors and community leaders from around the country have recognized the value of new innovative tools for production and the Maker movement for manufacturing entrepreneurship, STEM education, and inspiring the next generation manufacturing workforce. o Spearheaded by the Manufacturing Alliance of Communities, Mayors have come together to support expanded access and education around these technologies in communities as diverse as: o Lansing, MI, which has appointed an urban manufacturing coordinator to support the expansion of making with the city, to o Pittsburgh, PA, which has launched a new generation of hardware startups and is engaging students in new STEM learning at its libraries, to o Raleigh, NC, which has opened up new design and technology innovation centers for the community o Each of these Mayors has stepped up to expand Making in their communities. You can view the full list of Mayors and read more about their efforts in the Manufacturing Alliance of Communities’ report. Ø Helping manufacturing entrepreneurs discover, access, and use the more than $5 billion worth of research, prototyping, and testing equipment and expertise included in over 700 Federal R&D facilities. o The Administration is upgrading Data.gov/research to include, for the first time in one place, machine-readable data on over 700 Federal R&D facilities that may be utilized by external entrepreneurs and innovators to research, prototype, and test new technologies in manufacturing and other industries. These facilities, operated by agencies including DOE, NASA, and NIH, include cutting-edge research tools and together represent over $5 billion dollars of taxpayer investment. For example, entrepreneurs may be able to access NASA’s National Center for Advanced Manufacturing to produce the high-strength, defect-free joints required for cutting-edge aeronautics, and DOE’s Manufacturing Demonstration Facility at Oak Ridge National Laboratory for collaborative projects that involve additive manufacturing, composites and carbon fiber, and other leading clean energy technologies. o Over time, Data.gov/research will expand to include more comprehensive data on other R&D assets available to manufacturing entrepreneurs, including federally funded intellectual property (IP). Moreover, as part of the President’s Management Agenda and Lab-to-Market initiative, the Administration will continue to accelerate and improve the transfer of new technologies from the laboratory to the commercial marketplace, including by reducing the time, cost, and complexity of licensing Federal IP and utilizing Federal R&D facilities, where appropriate and consistent with the agency’s mission. o Today, the Administration is issuing a call to the developer community and other stakeholders to leverage these open government data resources to build tools that will enhance the ability of innovators, entrepreneurs, and manufacturers to utilize available Federal R&D facilities and other resources. Ø Launching a $150M expansion of the Materials Genome Initiative to deliver new domestic manufacturing capabilities for advanced materials, providing a foundation for ongoing U.S. leadership. o Five Federal agencies will invest more than $150 million in ground-breaking research to support the Materials Genome Initiative, upping the Administration’s investment in the manufacturing of game-changing advanced materials and building on the progress made since the MGI was launched by President Obama in June 2011. o Since its launch in 2011, the Federal government has invested over $250 million in the Materials Genome Initiative – funding new R&D and innovation infrastructure to build U.S. leadership in advanced materials – from carbon fiber to electronic materials to new polymers – that are essential for modern manufacturing. Early milestones include: § A $25 million multi-stakeholder NIST Center of Excellence, focusing on the development of industrially ready advanced materials in emerging fields as diverse as self-assembled biomaterials, organic photovoltaic materials, advanced ceramics, and novel polymer and metal alloys for structural applications. § Support from the DOD, DOE and NSF to over 500 research scientists across 80 companies, 60 universities, and 8 national labs – defining the cutting edge in materials innovation and developing new tools in computation, instrumentation, and data science to compress the time to discover and deploy new materials to market. § Two DOD-sponsored collaborative partnerships to engineer and produce high performance industrial components within highly constrained environments in both composite and superalloy materials. Industrial participation includes: GE, Lockheed Martin, Autodesk, Convergent Materials, Pratt & Whitney, Rolls-Royce Corporation, Honeywell, Boeing, and ATI-Ladish. o The Materials Genome Initiative is a public-private endeavor that aims to cut in half the time it takes to develop novel materials that can fuel advanced manufacturing and bolster the 21st century American economy. Stay tuned later this week as more executive actions, including a new report on progress and future plans, are unveiled for the third anniversary of the Initiative. Background: New White House National Economic Council Report – Making in America: U.S. Manufacturing Entrepreneurship and Innovation · U.S. manufacturing plays an outsized role in supporting and driving American innovation. Manufacturing represents 12 percent of U.S. GDP, yet accounts for 75% of all U.S. private sector research and development, and the vast majority of all patents issued in the United States. · U.S. manufacturing is more competitive than it has been in decades. Manufacturing output has increased 30% since the end of the recession, growing at roughly twice the pace of the economy overall, the longest period where manufacturing has outpaced U.S. economic output since 1965. o Since February 2010, the United States has directly added 646,000 manufacturing jobs, with the sector expanding employment at its fastest rate in nearly two decades. In addition, manufacturing supports millions of additional jobs across its supply chain and in the communities where it locates. o The United States’ renewed competitiveness in manufacturing is bringing production back. Fifty four percent of U.S.-based manufacturers surveyed by the Boston Consulting Group are actively considering bringing production back from China to the United States, up from 37 percent only 18 months prior. o Global executives surveyed by AT Kearney across all industries and geographies ranked the U.S. as the #1 destination for business investment for the second year in a row. Due to a highly productive workforce, sizeable and transparent markets, low-cost energy, and our historic lead in innovation, the United States is once again the leading destination for business investment. · New technologies are lowering the cost and reducing the time required for businesses and entrepreneurs to design, test, and produce new products. Advances in new technologies for rapid prototyping – from laser cutters to CNC routers to 3D printers – have placed a premium on locating close to American markets, and opened new doors to entrepreneurship and innovation in manufacturing. These new technologies can dramatically lower the cost of prototyping in manufacturing, costs that historically have been a barrier to manufacturing startups and to rapid customization at established companies. · These emerging technologies and the renewed focus on manufacturing innovation, while nascent, are already spurring change in U.S. manufacturing. Manufacturers have accelerated investment in research and development, while entrepreneurs in manufacturing are starting new businesses at the fastest rate in over 20 years. o Entrepreneurship in U.S. manufacturing is on the rise, with the rate of growth in manufacturing entrepreneurship at its fastest pace since 1993: The rate of growth in new manufacturing firm openings, a leading indicator of entrepreneurship, has reached its highest levels since 1993. And for the first time since 1999, the number of manufacturing establishments is growing, as new companies form and existing companies branch out into new factories, with more than 1,400 new establishments opening in 2013. o American manufacturers have accelerated investments in U.S. innovation. Manufacturers represent 75 percent of total annual U.S. private sector investment in R&D, having reached an all-time high of $202 billion in 2012, as a result of an acceleration in U.S. R&D intensity from 2007 to now. Established manufacturers, like Ford and GE, are taking advantage of new technologies like rapid prototyping networks to develop new products and increase the rate of innovation within their firms. DAILY GUIDANCE AND PRESS SCHEDULE FOR TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 2014
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 16, 2014 DAILY GUIDANCE AND PRESS SCHEDULE FOR TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 2014 In the morning, the President will receive the Presidential Daily Briefing in the Oval Office. This meeting is closed press. Later in the morning, the President will travel to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The President’s departure from White House and the arrival at Pittsburgh International Airport are open press. While in Pittsburgh, the President will tour the TechShop Pittsburgh, deliver remarks and answer questions on the additional ways we can continue to create good jobs and expand opportunity for Americans by spurring American manufacturing and innovation. There will be out-of-town travel pool coverage of the tour, and the remarks are open to pre-credentialed media. Remarks by the President at University of California-Irvine Commencement Ceremony
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary ________________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release June 14, 2014 REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT AT UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-IRVINE COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY Angel Stadium Anaheim, California 12:10 P.M. PDT THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. (Applause.) Hello, Anteaters! (Applause.) That is something I never thought I’d say. (Laughter.) Please, please take a seat. To President Napolitano -- which is a nice step up from Secretary; to Fred Ruiz, Vice Chair of the University of California Regents; Chancellor Drake; Representatives Loretta Sanchez and Alan Lowenthal; to the trustees and faculty -- thank you for this honor. And congratulations to the Class of 2014! (Applause.) Now, let me begin my saying all of you had the inside track in getting me here -- because my personal assistant, Ferial, is a proud Anteater. (Applause.) Until today, I did not understand why she greets me every morning by shouting “Zot, Zot, Zot!” (Laughter.) It’s been a little weird. But she explained it to me on the way here this morning, because she’s very proud to see her brother, Sina, graduate today as well. (Applause.) So, graduates, obviously we’re proud of you, but let’s give it up for your proud family and friends and professors, because this is their day, too. (Applause.) And even though he’s on the road this weekend, I also want to thank Angels centerfielder Mike Trout for letting me cover his turf for a while. (Applause.) He actually signed a bat for me, which is part of my retirement plan. (Laughter.) I will be keeping that. And this is a very cool place to hold a commencement. I know that UC Irvine’s baseball team opens College World Series play in Omaha right about now -- (applause) -- so let’s get this speech underway. If the hot dog guy comes by, get me one. (Laughter.) Now, in additional to Ferial, graduates, I’m here for a simple reason: You asked. For those who don’t know, the UC Irvine community sent 10,000 postcards to the White House asking me to come speak today. (Applause.) Some tried to guilt me into coming. I got one that said, “I went to your first inauguration, can you please come to my graduation?” (Applause.) Some tried bribery: “I’ll support the Chicago Bulls.” Another said today would be your birthday -- so happy birthday, whoever you are. My personal favorite -- somebody wrote and said, “We are super underrated!” (Laughter.) I’m sure she was talking about this school. But keep in mind, you’re not only the number-one university in America younger than 50 years old, you also hold the Guinness World Record for biggest water pistol fight. (Applause.) You’re pretty excited about that. (Laughter.) “We are super underrated.” This young lady could have just as well been talking, though, about this generation. I think this generation of young people is super underrated. In your young lives, you’ve seen dizzying change, from terror attacks to economic turmoil; from Twitter to Tumblr. Some of your families have known tough times during the course of the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. You’re graduating into a still-healing job market, and some of you are carrying student loan debt that you’re concerned about. And yet, your generation -- the most educated, the most diverse, the most tolerant, the most politically independent and the most digitally fluent in our history -- is also on record as being the most optimistic about our future. And I’m here to tell you that you are right to be optimistic. (Applause.) You are right to be optimistic. Consider this: Since the time most of you graduated from high school, fewer Americans are at war. More have health insurance. More are graduating from college. Our businesses have added more than 9 million new jobs. The number of states where you’re free to marry who you love has more than doubled. (Applause.) And that’s just some of the progress that you’ve seen while you’ve been studying here at UC Irvine. But we do face real challenges: Rebuilding the middle class and reversing inequality’s rise. Reining in college costs. Protecting voting rights. Welcoming the immigrants and young dreamers who keep this country vibrant. Stemming the tide of violence that guns inflict on our schools. We’ve got some big challenges. And if you’re fed a steady diet of cynicism that says nobody is trustworthy and nothing works, and there’s no way we can actually address these problems, then the temptation is too just go it alone, to look after yourself and not participate in the larger project of achieving our best vision of America. And I’m here to tell you, don’t believe the cynicism. Guard against it. Don’t buy into it. Today, I want to use one case study to show you that progress is possible and perseverance is critical. I want to show you how badly we need you -- both your individual voices and your collective efforts -- to give you the chance you seek to change the world, and maybe even save it. I’m going to talk about one of the most significant long-term challenges that our country and our planet faces: the growing threat of a rapidly changing climate. Now, this isn’t a policy speech. I understand it’s a commencement, and I already delivered a long climate address last summer. I remember because it was 95 degrees and my staff had me do it outside, and I was pouring with sweat -- as a visual aid. (Laughter.) And since this is a very educated group, you already know the science. Burning fossil fuels release carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide traps heat. Levels of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere are higher than they’ve been in 800,000 years. We know the trends. The 18 warmest years on record have all happened since you graduates were born. We know what we see with our own eyes. Out West, firefighters brave longer, harsher wildfire seasons; states have to budget for that. Mountain towns worry about what smaller snowpacks mean for tourism. Farmers and families at the bottom worry about what it will mean for their water. In cities like Norfolk and Miami, streets now flood frequently at high tide. Shrinking icecaps have National Geographic making the biggest change in its atlas since the Soviet Union broke apart. So the question is not whether we need to act. The overwhelming judgment of science, accumulated and measured and reviewed over decades, has put that question to rest. The question is whether we have the will to act before it’s too late. For if we fail to protect the world we leave not just to my children, but to your children and your children’s children, we will fail one of our primary reasons for being on this world in the first place. And that is to leave the world a little bit better for the next generation. Now, the good is you already know all this. UC Irvine set up the first Earth System Science Department in America. (Applause.) A UC Irvine professor-student team won the Nobel Prize for discovering that CFCs destroy the ozone layer. (Applause.) A UC Irvine glaciologist’s work led to one of last month’s report showing one of the world’s major ice sheets in irreversible retreat. Students and professors are in the field working to predict changing weather patterns, fire seasons, and water tables -- working to understand how shifting seasons affect global ecosystems; to get zero-emission vehicles on the road faster; to help coastal communities adapt to rising seas. And when I challenge colleges to reduce their energy use to 20 percent by 2020, UC Irvine went ahead and did it last year. Done. (Applause.) So UC Irvine is ahead of the curve. All of you are ahead of the curve. Your generation reminds me of something President Wilson once said. He said, “Sometimes people call me an idealist. Well, that is the way I know I am an American.” That’s who we are. And if you need a reason to be optimistic about our future, then look around this stadium. Because today, in America, the largest single age group is 22 years ago. And you are going to do great things. And I want you to know that I’ve got your back -- because one of the reasons I ran for this office was because I believed our dangerous addiction to foreign oil left our economy at risk and our planet in peril. So when I took office, we set out to use more clean energy and less dirty energy, and waste less energy overall. And since then, we’ve doubled the distance our cars will go on a gallon of gas by the middle of the next decade. We’ve tripled the electricity we harness from the wind, generating enough last year to power every home in California. We’ve multiplied the electricity we generate from the sun 10 times over. And this state, California, is so far ahead of the rest of the country in solar, that earlier this year solar power met 18 percent of your total power demand one day. (Applause.) The bottom line is, America produces more renewable energy than ever, more natural gas than anyone. And for the first time in nearly two decades, we produce more oil here at home than we buy from other countries. And these advances have created jobs and grown our economy, and helped cut our carbon pollution to levels not seen in about 20 years. Since 2006, no country on Earth has reduced its total carbon pollution by as much as the United States of America. (Applause.) So that’s all reason for optimism. Here’s the challenge: We’ve got to do more. What we’re doing is not enough. And that’s why, a couple weeks ago, America proposed new standards to limit the amount of harmful carbon pollution that power plants can dump into the air. And we also have to realize, as hundreds of scientists declared last month, that climate change is no longer a distant threat, but “has moved firmly into the present.” That’s a quote. In some parts of the country, weather-related disasters like droughts, and fires, and storms, and floods are going to get harsher and they’re going to get costlier. And that’s why, today, I’m announcing a new $1 billion competitive fund to help communities prepare for the impacts of climate change and build more resilient infrastructure across the country. (Applause.) So it’s a big problem. But progress, no matter how big the problem, is possible. That’s important to remember. Because no matter what you do in life, you’re going to run up against big problems -- in your own personal life and in your communities and in your country. There’s going to be a stubborn status quo, and there are going to be people determined to stymie your efforts to bring about change. There are going to be people who say you can’t do something. There are going to be people who say you shouldn’t bother. I’ve got some experience in this myself. (Laughter.) Now, part of what’s unique about climate change, though, is the nature of some of the opposition to action. It’s pretty rare that you’ll encounter somebody who says the problem you’re trying to solve simply doesn’t exist. When President Kennedy set us on a course for the moon, there were a number of people who made a serious case that it wouldn’t be worth it; it was going to be too expensive, it was going to be too hard, it would take too long. But nobody ignored the science. I don’t remember anybody saying that the moon wasn’t there or that it was made of cheese. (Laughter.) And today’s Congress, though, is full of folks who stubbornly and automatically reject the scientific evidence about climate change. They will tell you it is a hoax, or a fad. One member of Congress actually says the world is cooling. There was one member of Congress who mentioned a theory involving “dinosaur flatulence” -- which I won’t get into. (Laughter.) Now, their view may be wrong -- and a fairly serious threat to everybody’s future -- but at least they have the brass to say what they actually think. There are some who also duck the question. They say -- when they’re asked about climate change, they say, “Hey, look, I’m not a scientist.” And I’ll translate that for you. What that really means is, “I know that manmade climate change really is happening, but if I admit it, I’ll be run out of town by a radical fringe that thinks climate science is a liberal plot, so I’m not going to admit it.” (Applause.) Now, I’m not a scientist either, but we’ve got some really good ones at NASA. I do know that the overwhelming majority of scientists who work on climate change, including some who once disputed the data, have put that debate to rest. The writer, Thomas Friedman, recently put it to me this way. He were talking, and he says, “Your kid is sick, you consult 100 doctors; 97 of them tell you to do this, three tell [you] to do that, and you want to go with the three?” The fact is, this should not be a partisan issue. After all, it was Republicans who used to lead the way on new ideas to protect our environment. It was Teddy Roosevelt who first pushed for our magnificent national parks. It was Richard Nixon who signed the Clean Air Act and opened the EPA. George H.W. Bush -- a wonderful man who at 90 just jumped out of a plane in a parachute -- (laughter) -- said that “human activities are changing the atmosphere in unexpected and unprecedented ways.” John McCain and other Republicans publicly supported free market-based cap-and-trade bills to slow carbon pollution just a few years ago -- before the Tea Party decided it was a massive threat to freedom and liberty. These days, unfortunately, nothing is happening. Even minor energy efficiency bills are killed on the Senate floor. And the reason is because people are thinking about politics instead of thinking about what’s good for the next generation. What’s the point of public office if you’re not going to use your power to help solve problems? (Applause.) And part of the challenge is that the media doesn’t spend a lot of time covering climate change and letting average Americans know how it could impact our future. Now, the broadcast networks’ nightly newscasts spend just a few minutes a month covering climate issues. On cable, the debate is usually between political pundits, not scientists. When we introduced those new anti-pollution standards a couple weeks ago, the instant reaction from the Washington’s political press wasn’t about what it would mean for our planet; it was what would it mean for an election six months from now. And that kind of misses the point. Of course, they’re not scientists, either. And I want to tell you all this not to discourage you. I’m telling you all this because I want to light a fire under you. As the generation getting shortchanged by inaction on this issue, I want all of you to understand you cannot accept that this is the way it has to be. The climate change deniers suggest there’s still a debate over the science. There is not. The talking heads on cable news suggest public opinion is hopelessly deadlocked. It is not. Seven in ten Americans say global warming is a serious problem. Seven in ten say the federal government should limit pollution from our power plants. And of all the issues in a recent poll asking Americans where we think we can make a difference, protecting the environment came out on top. (Applause.) So we’ve got public opinion potentially on our side. We can do this. We can make a difference. You can make a difference. And the sooner you do, the better -- not just for our climate, but for our economy. There’s a reason that more than 700 businesses like Apple and Microsoft, and GM and Nike, Intel, Starbucks have declared that “tackling climate change is one of America’s greatest economic opportunities in the 21st century.” The country that seizes this opportunity first will lead the way. A low-carbon, clean energy economy can be an engine for growth and jobs for decades to come, and I want America to build that engine. Because if we do, others will follow. I want those jobs; I want those opportunities; I want those businesses right here in the United States of America. (Applause.) Developing countries are using more and more energy, and tens of millions of people are entering the global middle class, and they want to buy cars and refrigerators. So if we don’t deal with this problem soon, we’re going to be overwhelmed. These nations have some of the fastest-rising levels of carbon pollution. They’re going to have to take action to meet this challenge. They’re more vulnerable to the effects of climate change than we are. They’ve got even more to lose. But they’re waiting to see what does America do. That’s what the world does. It waits to watch us act. And when we do, they move. And I’m convinced that on this issue, when America proves what’s possible, then they’re going to join us. And America cannot meet this threat alone. Of course, the world cannot meet it without America. This is a fight that America must lead. So I’m going to keep doing my part for as long as I hold this office and as long as I’m a citizen once out of office. But we’re going to need you, the next generation, to finish the job. We need scientists to design new fuels. We need farmers to help grow them. We need engineers to invent new technologies. We need entrepreneurs to sell those technologies. (Applause.) We need workers to operate assembly lines that hum with high-tech, zero-carbon components. We need builders to hammer into place the foundations for a clean energy age. We need diplomats and businessmen and women, and Peace Corps volunteers to help developing nations skip past the dirty phase of development and transition to sustainable sources of energy. In other words, we need you. (Applause.) We need you. And if you believe, like I do, that something has to be done on this, then you’re going to have to speak out. You’re going to have to learn more about these issues. Even if you’re not like Jessica and an expert, you’re going to have to work on this. You’re going to have to push those of us in power to do what this American moment demands. You’ve got to educate your classmates, and colleagues, and family members and fellow citizens, and tell them what’s at stake. You’ve got to push back against the misinformation, and speak out for facts, and organize others around your vision for the future. You need to invest in what helps, and divest from what harms. And you’ve got to remind everyone who represents you, at every level of government, that doing something about climate change is a prerequisite for your vote. It’s no accident that when President Kennedy needed to convince the nation that sending Americans into space was a worthy goal, he went to a university. That’s where he started. Because a challenge as big as that, as costly as that, as difficult as that, requires a spirit of youth. It requires a spirit of adventure; a willingness to take risks. It requires optimism. It requires hope. That day, a man told us we’d go to the moon within a decade. And despite all the naysayers, somehow we knew as a nation that we’d build a spaceship and we’d meet that goal. That’s because we’re Americans -- and that’s what we do. Even when our political system is consumed by small things, we are a people called to do big things. And progress on climate change is a big thing. Progress won’t always be flashy; it will be measured in disasters averted, and lives saved, and a planet preserved -- and days just like this one, 20 years from now, and 50 years from now, and 100 years from now. But can you imagine a more worthy goal -- a more worthy legacy -- than protecting the world we leave to our children? So I ask your generation to help leave us that legacy. I ask you to believe in yourselves and in one another, and above all, when life gets you down or somebody tells you you can’t do something, to believe in something better. There are people here who know what it means to dream. When Mohamad Abedi was a boy, the suffering he saw in refugee camps in Lebanon didn’t drive him into despair -- it inspired him to become a doctor. And when he came to America, he discovered a passion for engineering. So here, at UC Irvine, he became a biomedical engineer to study the human brain. (Applause.) And Mohamad said, “Had I never come to the United States, I would have never had the ability to do the work that I’m doing.” He’s now going to CalTech to keep doing that work. Cinthia Flores is the daughter of a single mom who worked as a seamstress and a housekeeper. (Applause.) The first in her family to graduate from high school. The first in her family to graduate from college. And in college, she says, “I learned about myself that I was good at advocating for others, and that I was argumentative -- so maybe I should go to law school.” And, today, Cinthia is now the first in her family to graduate from law school. And she plans to advocate for the rights of workers like her mom. (Applause.) She says, “I have the great privilege and opportunity to answer the call of my community.” “The bottom line,” she says, “is being of service.” On 9/11, Aaron Anderson was a sophomore in college. Several months later, he was in training for Army Special Forces. He fought in Afghanistan, and on February 28th, 2006, he was nearly killed by an IED. He endured dozens of surgeries to save his legs, months of recovery at Walter Reed. When he couldn’t physically return to active duty, he devoted his time to his brothers in arms, starting two businesses with fellow veterans, and a foundation to help fellow wounded Green Beret soldiers. And then he went back to school. And last December, he graduated summa cum laude from UC Irvine. And Aaron is here today, along with four soon-to-be commissioned ROTC cadets, and 65 other graduating veterans. And I would ask them to stand and be recognized for their service. (Applause.) The point is, you know how to dream. And you know how to work for your dreams. And, yes, sometimes you may be “super underrated.” But usually it’s the underrated, the underdogs, the dreamers, the idealists, the fighters, the argumentative -- those are the folks who do the biggest things. And this generation -- this 9/11 generation of soldiers; this new generation of scientists and advocates and entrepreneurs and altruists -- you’re the antidote to cynicism. It doesn’t mean you’re not going to get down sometimes. You will. You’ll know disillusionment. You’ll experience doubt. People will disappoint you by their actions. But that can’t discourage you. Cynicism has never won a war, or cured a disease, or started a business, or fed a young mind, or sent men into space. Cynicism is a choice. Hope is a better choice. (Applause.) Hope is what gave young soldiers the courage to storm a beach and liberate people they never met. Hope is what gave young students the strength to sit in and stand up and march for women’s rights, and civil rights, and voting rights, and gay rights, and immigration rights. Hope is the belief, against all evidence to the contrary, that there are better days ahead, and that together we can build up a middle class, and reshape our immigration system, and shield our children from gun violence, and shelter future generations from the ravages of climate change. Hope is the fact that, today, the single largest age group in America is 22 years old who are all just itching to reshape this country and reshape the world. And I cannot wait to see what you do tomorrow. Congratulations. (Applause.) Thank you, Class of 2014. God bless you. God bless the United States of America. (Applause.) Remarks by the President at the Cannon Ball Flag Day Celebration
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary For Immediate Release June 13, 2014 REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT AT THE CANNON BALL FLAG DAY CELEBRATION Standing Rock Indian Reservation Cannon Ball, North Dakota 4:58 P.M. CDT THE PRESIDENT: Hello Dakota Nation! (Applause.) Hello Lakota Nation! Chairman Archambault, tribal leaders, people of Standing Rock, people of Indian Country -- Michelle and I are honored to be in this sacred and beautiful place. It’s easy to see why it’s called God’s country. (Applause.) And because I’m among friends, I’m going to try something in Lakota. But I can’t guarantee it’s going to come out perfect. Háu, mitákuyepi! (Applause.) I’m going to practice. I’m going to be even better next time. (Laughter.) AUDIENCE MEMBER: We love you, Obama! THE PRESIDENT: I love you back! (Applause.) I want to thank Governor Jack Dalrymple and the members of Congress who are here today: Senator Heidi Heitkamp, Senator John Hoeven, Congressman Kevin Cramer. We’re so grateful that you took the time to be here. And I know that your annual Flag Day powwow officially begins this evening. So we’re a little early. But thank you for giving us a sneak peek of the celebration. And we are grateful for the chance to pay tribute to all the veterans of America’s armed forces who have joined us here today, as well as those who have walked on, and whose flags are proudly displayed here today. Thank you and to your families for your extraordinary service. We are very, very grateful. (Applause.) I want to acknowledge our outstanding Secretary of the Interior, Sally Jewel, who’s here. (Applause.) This visit holds special meaning for me. AUDIENCE MEMBER: We love Michelle, too! THE PRESIDENT: Of course you love Michelle. Who doesn’t love Michelle? (Laughter and applause.) When I was first running for President, I had the honor of visiting the Crow Nation in Montana. And today I’m proud to be making my first trip to Indian Country as President of the United States. (Applause.) I know that throughout history, the United States often didn’t give the nation-to-nation relationship the respect that it deserved. So I promised when I ran to be a President who’d change that -- a President who honors our sacred trust, and who respects your sovereignty, and upholds treaty obligations, and who works with you in a spirit of true partnership, in mutual respect, to give our children the future that they deserve. And today, I’m proud that the government-to-government relationship between Washington and tribal nations is stronger than ever. Sally Jewell has been doing great work. Her predecessor, Ken Salazar, did great work to make sure that we were listening to you. And as head of our new Council on Native American Affairs, she makes sure that the federal government and tribal governments are coordinating with each other at all times. And Kevin Washburn, my Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Indian Affairs and a member of the Chickasaw Nation, is here as well. You see, my administration is determined to partner with tribes, and it’s not something that just happens once in a while. It takes place every day, on just about every issue that touches your lives. And that’s what real nation-to-nation partnerships look like. We’ve responded and resolved longstanding disputes. George Keepseagle is here today. (Applause.) A few years ago, my administration reached a historic settlement with George and other American Indian farmers and ranchers. And I signed into law the historic Cobell settlement, leading to the Land Buy-Back Program, a $1.9 billion fund to consolidate individual Indian lands and restore them to tribal trust lands. (Applause.) We’ve made major investments to help grow tribal economies -- investments in job training and tribal colleges; roads and high-speed Internet; energy, including renewable energy. And thanks to the Affordable Care Act, Native Americans -- like all Americans -- finally have access to quality, affordable health care. (Applause.) But I realize that a powwow isn’t just about celebrating the past. It’s also about looking to the future. It’s about keeping sacred traditions alive for the next generation, for these beautiful children. So here today, I want to focus on the work that lies ahead. And I think we can follow the lead of Standing Rock’s most famous resident, Chief Sitting Bull. (Applause.) He said, “Let’s put our minds together to see what we can build for our children.” (Applause.) So let’s put our minds together to build more economic opportunity in Indian Country -- because every American, including every Native American, deserves the chance to work hard and get ahead, everybody. (Applause.) That means creating more jobs and supporting small businesses in places like Standing Rock -- because young people should be able to live and work and raise a family right here in the land of your fathers and mothers. (Applause.) Let’s put our minds together to advance justice -- because like every American, you deserve to be safe in your communities and treated equally under the law. (Applause.) My administration has gone further than any in history to strengthen the sovereignty of tribal courts, particularly when it comes to criminal sentencing and prosecuting people who commit violence against women. And Standing Rock has done a terrific job at building a court system that is open and efficient, and delivers justice to your people. (Applause.) So we want to support more tribes as they follow your lead and strengthen justice in our communities. And that includes protecting important rights like the right to vote, because every Native American deserves a voice in our democracy. (Applause.) Let’s put our minds together to improve our schools -- because our children deserve a world-class education, too, that prepares them for college and careers. (Applause.) And that means returning control of Indian education to tribal nations with additional resources and support so that you can direct your children’s education and reform schools here in Indian Country. And even as they prepare for a global economy, we want children, like these wonderful young children here, learning about their language and learning about their culture, just like the boys and girls do at Lakota Language Nest here at Standing Rock. We want to make sure that continues and we build on that success. (Applause.) Before we came here, Michelle and I sat with an amazing group of young people. I love these young people. I only spent an hour with them. They feel like my own. And you should be proud of them -- because they’ve overcome a lot, but they’re strong and they’re still standing, and they’re moving forward. (Applause.) And they’re proud of their culture. But they talked about the challenges of living in two worlds and being both “Native” and “American.” And some bright young people like the ones we met today might look around and sometimes wonder if the United States really is thinking about them and caring about them, and has a place for them, too. And when we were talking, I said, you know, Michelle and I know what it feels like sometimes to go through tough times. We grew up at times feeling like we were on the outside looking in. But thanks to family and friends, and teachers and coaches and neighbors that didn’t give up on us, we didn’t give up on ourselves. Just like these young people are not giving up on themselves. And we want every young person in America to have the same chance that we had -- and that includes the boys and girls here in Indian Country. (Applause.) There’s no denying that for some Americans the deck has been stacked against them, sometimes for generations. And that’s been the case for many Native Americans. But if we’re working together, we can make things better. We’ve got a long way to go. But if we do our part, I believe that we can turn the corner. We can break old cycles. We can give our children a better future. I know because I’ve talked to these young people. I know they can succeed. I know they’ll be leaders not just in Indian Country, but across America. And we’ve got to invest in them and believe in them and love them, and that starts from the White House all the way down here. (Applause.) I understand that the Lakota word for “children” -- “wakanyeja” -- comes from the word “wakan” -- “sacred.” That’s what young people are -- they’re sacred. They’re sacred to your families and they’re sacred to your tribe, and they’re sacred to this nation. And every day that I have the honor of serving as your President, I will do everything I can to make sure that you see that our country has a place for everyone, including every single young person here -- and all across the Dakotas and all across America, and that you’re getting the support and encouragement you need to go as far as your hard work and your talent will take you. That is my commitment to you -- to every single young person here. (Applause.) This community has made extraordinary contributions to the United States. Just look at all these flags. So many Native Americans have served our country with honor and with courage. And now it’s up to us to keep strong what they have built -- to keep America the place where no matter who you are and what you look like, or where you come from, you can make it. And that you don’t have to give up your culture to also be part of the American family. That’s what I believe. And coming here today makes me believe it that much more. Hechetu welo. Thank you. God bless you. And God bless the United States of America. (Applause.) WEEKEND GUIDANCE AND PRESS SCHEDULE FOR SATURDAY, JUNE 14, 2014 AND SUNDAY, JUNE 15, 2014
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 13, 2014 WEEKEND GUIDANCE AND PRESS SCHEDULE FOR SATURDAY, JUNE 14, 2014 AND SUNDAY, JUNE 15, 2014 On Saturday morning, the President will travel to Orange County area to attend a DNC event. This event is closed press, and the departure from Palm Springs International Airport and arrival at Los Alamitos Army Airfield are open press. In the afternoon, the President will travel to Anaheim, California to deliver the commencement address for the University of California, Irvine. The President’s remarks, the departure from Los Alamitos Army Airfield and arrival at Palm Springs International Airport are open press. POW WOW
President and Mrs Obama arrived at the powwow at 4:31, greeted by cheers and a song. The president sat in a front row if chairs, alongside Standing Rock Sioux Tribal Chairman David Archambault II, who wore a headdress. They were entertained first by male dancers, all wearing vibrant colors. Then came female dancers, similarly dressed. Next, six children, maybe 6-8 years old, lined up before the Obamas to sing a song. A larger group of about 30 children then danced. The audience included members and officials of several tribes from the US and Canada. Also there: Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, who had flown here aboard Air Force One. Also, Interior Secretary Sally Jewell. The official estimate was that 1800 people were present, the pooler wrote. Archambault welcomed Obama. "We are honored by this gesture," he said. He noted that Sitting Bull, who lived here, once asked The government in Washington to send him an honest man. "If Sitting Bull we're sitting here today, he'd be honored," he said. He said no other president has come close to Obama in commitment to Indian Country. "I hope this sets a precedent," he said. He and others presented the Obama with quilt and a shawl, which Mrs Obama placed over her shoulders. In his remarks, paid tribute to veterans and noted his work to improve relations and cooperation between the US and tribal nations. "Thus visit holds special meaning to me," he said. He noted that the US government did not always give Indian Country "the Nation to nation respect it deserves." As a candidate, he said, he promised to honor the "sacred trust" between the two. Under his watch, he said, "I'm proud that the government to government relationship between Washington and tribal nations is stronger than ever." Obama spoke briefly in Lakota, a language your pool does not know. WEEKLY ADDRESS: The President Wishes America's Dads a Happy Father's Day
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary ______________________________________________________________________________ EMBARGOED UNTIL 6:00 AM ET, SATURDAY, June 14, 2014 WEEKLY ADDRESS: The President Wishes America's Dads a Happy Father's Day WASHINGTON, DC— In this week’s address, President Obama wished America’s dads a happy Father’s Day and underscored the crucial role fathers play in our society. The President encouraged Americans to support those living without a father figure through initiatives like My Brother’s Keeper. He also highlighted actions he is taking on behalf of hardworking, responsible dads and moms, such as hosting the first-ever White House Working Families Summit later this month, and called on Congress to do its part to help offer more parents the chance to work hard and provide for their families. Remarks of President Barack Obama Weekly Address The White House June 14, 2014 Hi, everybody. Sunday is Father’s Day. If you haven’t got Dad a gift yet, there’s still time. Just barely. But the truth is, what we give our fathers can never match what our fathers give us. I know how important it is to have a dad in your life, because I grew up without my father around. I felt the weight of his absence. So for Michelle and our girls, I try every day to be the husband and father my family didn’t have when I was young. And every chance I get, I encourage fathers to get more involved in their children’s lives, because what makes you a man isn’t the ability to have a child – it’s the courage to raise one. Still, over the past couple years, I’ve met with a lot of young people who don’t have a father figure around. And while there’s nothing that can replace a parent, any of us can do our part to be a mentor, a sounding board, a role model for a kid who needs one. Earlier this year, I launched an initiative called My Brother’s Keeper – an all-hands-on-deck effort to help more of our young men reach their full potential. And if you want to be a mentor to a young man in your community, you can find out how at WhiteHouse.gov/MyBrothersKeeper. Now, when I launched this initiative, I said that government can’t play the primary role in a young person’s life. Taking responsibility for being a great parent or mentor is a choice that we, as individuals, have to make. No government program can ever take the place of a parent’s love. Still, as a country, there are ways we can help support dads and moms who make that choice. That’s why, earlier this week, we brought working dads from across America to the White House to talk about the challenges they face. And in a few weeks, I’ll hold the first-ever White House Working Families Summit. We’ve still got too many workplace policies that belong in the 1950s, and it’s time to bring them up to date for today’s families, where oftentimes, both parents are working. Moms and dads deserve affordable child care, and time off to care for a sick parent or child without running into hardship. Women deserve equal pay for equal work – and at a time when more women are breadwinners for a family, that benefits men, too. And because no parent who works full-time should have to raise a family in poverty, it’s time for Congress to follow the lead of state after state, get on the bandwagon, and give America a raise. Dads work hard. So our country should do what we can to make sure their hard work pays off; to make sure life for them and their families is a little less stressful, and a little more secure, so they can be the dads their kids need them to be. Because there’s nothing more precious in life than the time we spend with our children. There’s no better feeling than knowing that we can be there for them, and provide for them, and help give them every shot at success. Let’s make sure every dad who works hard and takes responsibility has the chance to know that feeling, not just on one Sunday, but every day of the year. Thanks everybody, happy Father’s Day, and have a great weekend. President Obama to Host Maker Faire at the White House
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 13, 2014 President Obama to Host First-Ever White House Maker Faire WASHINGTON, DC – On Wednesday, June 18, President Obama will host the first ever White House Maker Faire and meet with students, entrepreneurs and everyday citizens who are using new tools and techniques to launch new businesses, learn vital skills in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), and fuel the renaissance in American manufacturing. The President will also announce new steps the Administration and its partners are taking to support the ability of more Americans, young and old, to have to access to these tools and techniques and brings their ideas to life. America has always been a nation of tinkerers, inventors, and entrepreneurs. In recent years, a growing number of Americans have gained access to technologies such as 3D printers, laser cutters, easy-to-use design software, and desktop machine tools. These tools are enabling more Americans to design and build almost anything. The rise of the Maker Movement represents a huge opportunity for the United States. Nationwide, new tools for democratized production are boosting innovation and entrepreneurship in manufacturing, in the same way that the Internet and cloud computing have lowered the barriers to entry for digital startups, creating the foundation for new products and processes that can help to revitalize American manufacturing. In addition to the Makers at the White House event, June 18 will be a nationwide Day of Making for communities across America to share and celebrate their involvement in the Maker Movement. WHAT: President Obama to Host Maker Faire at the White House WHEN: Wednesday, June 18, 2014 at 10:45 AM UPCOMING GUIDANCE FOR FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the First Lady For Immediate Release June 13, 2014 UPCOMING GUIDANCE FOR FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA Wednesday, June 18, 2014 Washington, DC * 11:00 AM – In celebration of 50 new U.S. Citizens, First Lady Michelle Obama will deliver remarks at a Naturalization Ceremony at the National Archives. Naturalization ceremonies are the final step in the journey to U.S. citizenship for more than 600,000 people each year as new citizens take the Oath of Allegiance at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) field offices across the country and overseas. Each year, the National Archives hosts a Naturalization Ceremony during which petitioners are sworn in as new citizens in front of The Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson will administer the Oath of Allegiance. This event is open press. Members of the media who wish to cover this event must RSVP to public.affairs@nara.gov by Tuesday, June 17, 2014 at 12pm. Press who do not have a White House hard pass must include their social security number, date of birth, country of citizenship, current city/state of residence, and gender. Press who do not have a White House hard pass must include their social security number, date of birth, country of citizenship, current city/state of residence, and gender Thursday, June 19, 2014 Washington, DC * 6:00 PM – First Lady Michelle Obama will deliver remarks at the Graduation Celebration for the DC College Access Program (DC-CAP) at The Mayflower Hotel. DC-CAP is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to helping DC high school students prepare for, enroll in, and graduate from college. The program will celebrate former DC-CAP students who received college degrees this spring. The overwhelming majority of students served by DC-CAP are from low-income, minority, single-parent households and are the first in their families to attend college. DC-CAP provides student and parent college readiness counseling starting in 9th grade helping families navigate the college application and financial aid process throughout the high school years. DC-CAP also provides integral support and financial assistance for students while in college. Since DC-CAP’s inception in 1999, the program has played a critical role in helping to double the number of students enrolling in college and tripling the number who graduate in DC. The event is an opportunity to applaud their achievement and honor their families who supported them. This event is open press, however the deadline to RSVP has passed. For more information, please contact Julie Rosenthal at julie@jrcommunications.com. Friday, June 20, 2014 Washington, DC * 11:30 AM – As part of her Reach Higher initiative, First Lady Michelle Obama will tour student demonstrations and deliver remarks at the National Summer Learning Day Fair at the Department of Education. The National Summer Learning Day Fair, which marks National Summer Learning Day on June 20th, will bring together high school students and education leaders from across the country to highlight the critical role summer learning plays in preparing young people for successful college entry and completion. On the same day, hundreds of cities and programs across the country will host local events to build awareness around the need for and benefits of high-quality summer learning programs. The First Lady’s Reach Higher initiative focuses on the importance of pursuing and completing some form of higher education, and encourages students to do their part to answer the President’s call to ensure that by the year 2020, America once again has the highest proportion of college graduates in the world. FACT SHEET: Strengthening Tribal Communities through Education and Economic Development
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 12, 2014 FACT SHEET: Strengthening Tribal Communities through Education and Economic Development Today, the President, accompanied by the First Lady, is making his first Presidential trip to Indian Country. The Administration is taking action to strengthen Native American communities through education and economic development. These initiatives build on the significant progress the President has already made in partnering with tribes on a nation-to-nation basis to promote prosperous and resilient tribal nations. Underlying this progress is President Obama’s firm belief that tribal leaders must have a seat at the table. To make this commitment a reality, the President has hosted the White House Tribal Nations Conferences with tribal leaders every year he has been in office, and last year, he established the White House Council on Native American Affairs to ensure cross-agency coordination and engagement with Indian Country. Furthermore, the President’s 2015 Budget proposes a more than $3 billion increase in support to tribal communities, American Indians, and Alaska Natives, as compared to 2009. Greater engagement and collaboration with tribes has led to substantial advances in tribal self-determination. These accomplishments include the 2013 reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, which recognizes tribes’ inherent sovereign right to protect Native women from domestic violence; amendments to the Stafford Act, which authorizes federally recognized tribes to directly request federal disaster assistance; and the Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service guidance on the application to certain tribal benefit programs of the general welfare exclusion from federal income tax. Additionally, the President has worked to heal the U.S. relationship with Native Americans by acknowledging the difficult and painful U.S. history of broken promises, and by settling longstanding legal disputes such as the Cobell and Keepseagle litigation and 80 breaches of trust lawsuits brought by Indian tribes against the United States. Despite this unprecedented progress, the President recognizes that much work remains, and he is eager to partner with tribal nations to create meaningful and lasting change. As part of this year of action to expand opportunity for all Americans, the Administration is taking new steps focused on two of Indian Country’s most pressing challenges: education and economic development. IMPROVE THE BUREAU OF INDIAN EDUCATION In today’s global economy, a high-quality education is no longer just a pathway to opportunity – it is a prerequisite to success. President Obama has set out a vision for education that includes raising the bar for all of the nation’s learners. In his first term, he signed an Executive Order to establish the White House Initiative on American Indian and Alaska Native Education and to strengthen the relationship between the Departments of Education and the Interior. Native American students continue to lag behind their peers on national assessments, account for the highest dropout rate of any racial or ethnic population, and hold a dramatically lower share of baccalaureate degrees than the rest of the population. In strong partnership with tribal nations, the Administration has continued to identify and promote critical reforms that prepare American Indian students for leadership in their communities and success in the 21st century. Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) The Department of the Interior’s (DOI) BIE educates 48,000 American Indian students across 23 states at 183 elementary and secondary schools and dormitories. BIE works with tribes to promote self-determination to ensure students are college- and career- ready, with an emphasis on Native American language, history, and culture. The BIE confronts unique challenges due to school remoteness, difficulty attracting highly effective teachers and principals, lack of IT infrastructure, and compliance with 23 different state assessments. With only 34.6 percent of BIE schools meeting the adequate yearly progress goals established in accordance with federal law, these students deserve more support so they can get the quality education they deserve. · Release a blueprint for a 21st Century education for the BIE. Today, the Departments of the Interior and Education Study Group will release a “Blueprint for Reform,” a comprehensive plan to redesign the BIE to achieve one overarching goal: for tribes to deliver a world-class education to all students attending BIE schools. The Administration will take immediate action on several of the Blueprint’s key recommendations. · Issue a Secretarial Order to transform the BIE into a School Improvement Organization. Today Secretary Jewell will sign an order to increase tribal control of schools by shifting the BIE from a direct operator of schools into a resource provider to tribally controlled schools, as recommended in the Blueprint. The transformed BIE will assist tribes in operating high-performing schools through customized technical assistance, including developing the schools’ educational leadership skills and delivering resources informed by best practices in student supports, instruction, financial management, organizational management, and teacher training, recruitment, and retention. · Connect BIE schools and dorms to high speed Internet and support digital learning. To accelerate the speed at which students in BIE schools experience the benefits of the President’s ConnectED vision, DOI is partnering with the private sector to support digital learning and broadband connectivity. DOI will appoint an E-Rate specialist, funded in coordination with the Broad Foundation, to provide technical assistance to increase the competitiveness of E-Rate applications from BIE-funded schools. DOI will also issue a directive that prioritizes right of way permits for broadband reaching BIE schools for the next two years, and announce new connectivity for the more than 1,000 Native children who live in federally-funded dormitories while attending public schools outside of their reservation. These dorms have historically been burdened with limited and aged technology. Verizon, working with Alcatel-Lucent and Cross Wireless, will wire all 10 dorms with wireless broadband connectivity provided at no cost for up to two years, and provide each student with a wireless device like a laptop or tablet, to ensure that learning does not stop at the classroom door. · Issue waivers giving BIE schools greater flexibility and support to carry out critical school improvements. ED will provide guidance to tribally-controlled grant schools regarding permissible spending activities under various ED programs. To create incentives for schools to invest in school improvements and reforms, ED will support BIE-funded schools in requesting waivers from certain restrictions on federal education funding. · Provide National Board Certification (NBC) training to existing BIE instructional staff. Over three years, BIE will pay for NBC training for any teacher interested in pursuing their NBC certification. Going through NBC certification training is a rigorous, peer-reviewed process that provides high-quality professional development to teachers and ensures they have the skills necessary to improve student achievement. NBC teachers could extend their impact in a role as instructional leaders in their schools and communities so they can provide the support and resources necessary to help colleagues in their schools improve. SUPPORT THE ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT OF ALL NATIVE AMERICAN STUDENTS ED is committed to supporting the efforts of school districts, states, tribes, and other organizations to better meet the unique educational and culturally-related academic needs of Native American students. ED will support states, tribes, and school districts in implementing rigorous college- and career- ready standards and new systems of support for American Indian and Alaska Native students so that these students remain on track for success. · Share Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) completion rates with tribes to help Native American students apply for college financial aid. President Obama recently launched a new FAFSA Completion Initiative to give more Americans the opportunity to afford, attend, and graduate from college. To ensure that the FAFSA is not a barrier to college access for Native American students, ED will finalize guidance that permits states to share FAFSA completion information with tribal education officials. · Host a Native Languages Summit. This month, ED, in partnership with the Departments of Health and Human Services and the Interior, will host a summit that brings together over 300 participants, from across the country to discuss how federal resources can support Native American language revitalization. Additionally, ED will provide technical assistance to school districts to address the unique cultural and linguistic needs of Native American students, and examine current and future funding programs to identify additional support and resources. · Hold listening sessions on school climate to ensure Native American students receive a nurturing, supportive education that respects their identities and backgrounds. The White House Initiative on American Indian and Alaska Native Education will conduct a listening tour at which schools and communities will identify ways to improve school climate, discuss recent research, and highlight ways communities are proactively supporting Native American students. The listening tour will focus on bullying, disproportionate discipline, and offensive imagery and symbolism. SUPPORT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN TRIBAL COMMUNITIES Tribal communities have made significant economic progress in recent decades, with increases in income and improvements to living standards. Nevertheless, wide disparities still persist both between tribes and between Native Americans in general and the overall U.S. population. Indians living on reservations have seen their personal incomes nearly double since 1970, a faster rate of growth than for the U.S. population as a whole or for any other racial and ethnic group. However, the average poverty rate for these communities from 2006-2010 was 30 percent versus 14 percent nationally, and the child poverty rate was more than 15 percentage points higher than the national average, at 36 percent. In that same period, when the U.S. unemployment rate was just under 8 percent, the average unemployment rate in Indian Country was nearly 15 percent. The Administration has partnered with Native communities to strengthen their economies through funding, technical assistance, and legal and regulatory improvements. In 2013, Native Americans benefited from approximately $18.64 billion in federal spending, including $2 billion in food assistance, $5.5 billion in education- related funds, and $5.3 billion for the Indian Health Service. In 2013 alone, USDA Rural Development invested $628.4 million in economic projects that directly benefitted tribal communities. Today HUD released the application for its annual Indian Community Development Block Grants, with $70 million available to improve housing and support economic opportunity in Indian Country. The Department of the Interior now administers over one billion dollars in funds to buy back and consolidate fractionated lands burdened by multiple owners, due to the Cobell settlement. To increase tribal sovereignty, remove regulatory barriers to development, and support Native entrepreneurs, the Administration will announce new initiatives to support economic development in Native communities. · Removing regulatory barriers to infrastructure and energy development on Indian land. BIA will announce a proposed rule to modernize and streamline the approval process for rights-of-way, which are required for all new infrastructure construction on tribal lands, including transmission lines and broadband access. The new regulations propose strict timelines for BIA approval, eliminate the need for pre- development surveys to receive BIA approval, and limit BIA’s scope for issuing disapprovals. Providing greater deference to tribes increases certainty and promotes infrastructure development on Indian lands that can lay a foundation for economic development and improved quality of life. · Removing barriers to land development through increased tribal self-governance. BIA will announce a new training series to help tribal leaders implement the Helping Expedite & Advance Responsible Tribal Homeownership (HEARTH) Act. When a business needs to build a factory or a family wants to purchase a new home on a reservation, the lease generally needs BIA approval. Since 2012, the HEARTH Act has allowed tribes to expedite the process for long-term leasing of federal Indian trust lands by establishing and enforcing their own land leasing regulations. 21 of the 300 tribes with federal trust lands have submitted regulations to BIA, and 12 tribes to date have already received approvals. Through these new training programs, BIA further supports tribal self-governance. This builds on DOI’s progress in strengthening tribal control over tribal resources, including comprehensive surface leasing reform in 2012 and a commitment to increase land held in trust. DOI already is half way towards its goal of restoring 500,000 acres of tribal homeland held in trust. · Making federal data and resources for tribal economic development easier to find and use. Tribal leaders need access to quality data as they make policy decisions and create tribal development plans. The federal government collects large amounts of data, but this data is not always easily accessible or usable. The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, in collaboration with the Departments of Commerce and the Interior and other agencies, will partner with tribes in a series of workshops to improve tribal access to data and create new tools to make data more accessible for tribes. Additionally, to help Native communities more easily find resources for economic development, the Department of Health and Human Services will release an Economic Development Resource Guide that compiles a range of the Native-oriented funding and technical assistance opportunities offered by the Administration for Children and Families. · Encourage the use of tax-exempt bonds for tribal economic development. The Treasury Department will conduct outreach to tribal leaders and bond practitioners to expand awareness and understanding of Tribal Economic Development (TED) Bonds. Tribes can use TED bonds to finance economic development projects such as laying new broadband fiber, improving access to clean water, or building hotels for tourists. Currently a tribe may apply for up to 20 percent of the approximately $1.3 billion in remaining aggregate TED bond authority. · Support the growth of new markets for Native American small businesses. The Small Business Administration (SBA), USDA, and DOI will announce new initiatives to support Native American-owned businesses. To help Native-owned businesses access export opportunities, USDA will host a “Made in Native America” forum this fall as part of the “Made in Rural America” initiative. To connect Native-owned small businesses to millions of dollars in possible contracting opportunities, SBA is announcing a commitment to host two Native-focused American Supplier Initiative events this year and to create a new American Indian and Alaska Native portal on its BusinessUSA website to connect businesses to government assistance programs. To increase federal procurement opportunities for Native-owned small businesses, DOI will issue a new directive to improve the implementation of the Buy Indian Act and to increase its procurement purchases by Native-owned small businesses by 10 percent. · Support Native American veterans through employment and small business opportunities. The Indian Health Services (IHS) and BIA, which combined employ over 20,000 people, will announce a new commitment to increase the number of veterans hired by each agency. IHS will increase the percent of new hires that are veterans from 6 percent to 9 percent and BIA will boost their percent of new hires that are veteran from 9 percent to 12.5 percent. SBA will host a Native veteran focused Reboot to Business, SBA’s Introduction to Entrepreneurship class in Albuquerque, New Mexico, featuring a customized curriculum with Native-specific government programs and lending opportunities to provide Native veterans with entrepreneurship training. The Department of Veterans Affairs, working with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, will host veterans’ economic summits to train human resource professionals on connecting veterans with employers, and include events supporting the Choctaw Nation and the Blackfeet Nation. DAILY GUIDANCE AND PRESS SCHEDULE FOR FRIDAY, JUNE 13, 2014
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 12, 2014 DAILY GUIDANCE AND PRESS SCHEDULE FOR FRIDAY, JUNE 13, 2014 In the morning, the President will receive the Presidential Daily Briefing in the Oval Office. This meeting is closed press. Later in the morning, the President and the First Lady will travel to the Cannon Ball, North Dakota area to visit the Standing Rock Sioux Tribal Nation. The departure from the South Lawn and the arrival at Bismarck Municipal Airport are open press. While in North Dakota, the President and First Lady will participate in a roundtable discussion with Native American Youth. This roundtable is closed press. Following this, the President and First Lady will attend the Cannon Ball Flag Day Celebration, during which the President will deliver remarks. There will be travel pool coverage of this event, and it will be streamed live at http:/www.whitehouse.gov/live. In the evening, the President and First Lady will depart the Cannon Ball, North Dakota area en route Palm Springs, California. The departure from Bismarck Municipal Airport and the arrival at Palm Springs International Airport are open press. The President and First Lady will remain in California overnight. In-Town Travel Pool Wires: AP, Reuters, Bloomberg Wire Photos: AP, Reuters, AFP TV Corr & Crew: NBC Print: BuzzFeed Radio: Talk Radio Out-of-Town Travel Pool Wires: AP, Reuters, Bloomberg Wire Photos: AP, Reuters, AFP TV Corr & Crew: NBC Print: McClatchy EDT 10:00AM In-Town Travel Pool Call Time 10:00AM THE PRESIDENT receives the Presidential Daily Briefing Oval Office Closed Press 11:25AM THE PRESIDENT and FIRST LADY depart the White House en route Joint Base Andrews South Lawn Open Press (Final Gather 10:55AM – North Doors of the Palm Room) 11:40AM THE PRESIDENT and FIRST LADY depart Joint Base Andrews Out-of-Town Travel Pool Coverage (Call Time 10:15AM – Virginia Gate, Joint Base Andrews) CDT 1:45PM THE PRESIDENT and FIRST LADY arrive Bismarck, North Dakota Bismarck Municipal Airport Open Press 2:40PM THE PRESIDENT and FIRST LADY participate in a roundtable discussion with Native American Youth Cannon Ball Elementary School Closed Press 3:45PM THE PRESIDENT and FIRST LADY attend the Cannon Ball Flag Day Celebration; THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks Cannon Ball Powwow Grounds Travel Pool Coverage Remarks by the First Lady Before White House Garden Harvest Event
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the First Lady _________________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release June 12, 2014 REMARKS BY THE FIRST LADY BEFORE WHITE HOUSE GARDEN HARVEST EVENT State Dining Room 3:37 P.M. EDT MRS. OBAMA: Hey, guys. (Applause.) Well, it’s good to have you here. I want to find out, first of all, how many kids were here for the planting? Was everybody here? Because I know I see some familiar faces and some new faces. And I promised you then that you were going to come back and we were going to harvest. Now, the weather isn’t as good as we wanted it to be, although Sam thinks we still should be outside. But I just wanted to make sure that no one was struck by lightning, so we’re inside today. So you guys went out to the garden, right? You got to see it before coming in. Didn't it look really different from what it looked like when you planted it? You see how much those vegetables have grown? It’s pretty amazing, isn’t it? And I’ve been looking after it. I’ve been going down there every night after dinner with the dogs and with the President, and we’ve been making sure that everything is turning out okay. But you guys did an awesome job in helping us plant, so now we get to experience the fruits of our labor. So I’m really happy that you guys could come back. I’m really proud of you all. You all make our Kitchen Garden possible. And you guys are the reason why we’re doing this. You see all these wonderful people up here, these leaders in nutrition, our Secretary of Agriculture who has made your school lunches possible? The reason we’re doing this, and the reason this First Lady is so passionate about these issues is because of these kids. For millions of kids in this country, their main source of nutrition comes from the food that they get in their schools. And we are paying billions of dollars to invest in that food as taxpayers. And as a result, it’s up to us to make sure that these kids get the best food that they can get into their stomachs because it’s not just about nutrition, it’s about their academic success. We know that kids who have nutritious foods, vegetables and fruits, they do better in school. They have better disciplinary outcomes. They have higher test scores. So we simply can't afford to say, oh, well, it’s too hard so let’s not do it. And as this First Lady will tell you, I’m going to fight until the bitter end to make sure that every kid in this country continues to have the best nutrition that they can have in our schools, because these kids, all of these kids are worth it. And you’re going to see -- yes, indeed. (Applause.) They are absolutely worth it. And you’re going to see firsthand what happens when kids are involved in the process. Because every time we harvest, we have kids who are enthusiastic about planting, harvesting, prepping and eating. There are ways to make this fun and interesting for kids, and it doesn't require being at the White House. This just happens to be a nice perk. All of these schools have gardens of their own. All of these schools in this area are finding ways to incorporate healthy foods into their lunches. It is doable. For the schools that are struggling, we have an entire agency who is ready to lend a hand to figure out how can we help you. But at the end, what we have to remember is that this fight is about our kids. So are you guys ready to show these folks how to eat healthy, how to prepare food, and how to make a great salad, and that kids actually enjoy healthy food that's good for them? Are you guys ready to prove that point today? CHILDREN: Yes. MRS. OBAMA: Can we hear it? I can't hear you. CHILDREN: Yes! MRS. OBAMA: All right, well, let’s get started. Let’s move. Let’s get it done. END 3:40 P.M. EDT
Office of the First Lady For Immediate Release June 10, 2014 UPCOMING GUIDANCE FOR FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA Thursday, June 12, 2014 Washington, DC * 3:30 PM – The First Lady will join local students and school nutrition directors from across the country to harvest the summer crop from the White House Kitchen Garden. In 2009, Mrs. Obama planted a vegetable garden on the South Lawn to initiate a national conversation around the health and wellbeing of our nation—a conversation that evolved into her Let’s Move! initiative. Since Mrs. Obama launched Let’s Move! in 2010, parents, business leaders, educators, elected officials, military leaders, chefs, physicians, athletes, childcare providers, community and faith leaders, and kids themselves have stepped up to improve the health of our nation’s children. And thanks to these efforts, we are moving toward a healthier new norm all across the country. To help with this summer’s harvest, the First Lady invited local school children whose schools are successfully implementing national school lunch standards. Children from these Washington, D.C. schools joined Mrs. Obama in April for the spring garden planting and will now have the opportunity to harvest the produce they recently planted:
The following school nutrition directors will participate in this summer’s garden harvest:
DAILY GUIDANCE AND PRESS SCHEDULE FOR WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 10, 2014 DAILY GUIDANCE AND PRESS SCHEDULE FOR WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014 In the morning, the President and Vice President will receive the Presidential Daily Briefing in the Oval Office. This meeting is closed press. Later in the morning, the President will meet with the United States Sentencing Commission in the Roosevelt Room. This meeting is closed press. In the afternoon, the President will travel to Worcester, Massachusetts. The departure from the South Lawn is open press and the arrival at Worcester Regional Airport is open to pre-credentialed media. Later in the afternoon, the President will deliver the commencement address at the Worcester Technical High School graduation ceremony. The President’s remarks are open to pre-credentialed media. In the evening, the President will attend a DSCC event in the Boston area. There will be print pool coverage of the President’s remarks. Later in the evening, the President will depart Worcester, Massachusetts en route Washington, DC. The departure from Worcester Regional Airport is open to pre-credentialed media, while the arrival on the South Lawn is open press. In-Town Travel Pool Wires: AP, Reuters, Bloomberg Wire Photos: AP, Reuters, AFP TV Corr & Crew: CNN Print: BNA Radio: NPR Out-of-Town Travel Pool Wires: AP, Reuters, Bloomberg Wire Photos: AP, Reuters, AFP TV Corr & Crew: CNN Print: AFP EDT 9:30AM In-Town Travel Pool Call Time 10:00AM THE PRESIDENT and VICE PRESIDENT receive the Presidential Daily Briefing Oval Office Closed Press 10:50AM THE PRESIDENT meets with the United States Sentencing Commission Roosevelt Room Closed Press 1:50PM THE PRESIDENT departs the White House en route Joint Base Andrews South Lawn Open Press (Final Gather 1:35PM – North Doors of the Palm Room) 2:05PM THE PRESIDENT departs Joint Base Andrews Out-of-Town Travel Pool Coverage (Call Time 12:45PM – Virginia Gate, Joint Base Andrews) 3:20PM THE PRESIDENT arrives Worcester, Massachusetts Worcester Regional Airport Open to Pre-Credentialed Media 4:00PM THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks at the Worcester Technical High School Commencement Worcester Technical High School, Worcester, Massachusetts Remarks by the President at Worcester Technical High School Commencement Ceremony
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary ________________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release June 11, 2014 REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT AT WORCESTER TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY Worcester Technical High Schoo Worcester, Massachusetts 4:44 P.M. EDT THE PRESIDENT: Thank you! (Applause.) Thank you so much. Please, everybody, be seated. Good afternoon. (Applause.) It is great to be back in Massachusetts, and it is great to be here at Worcester Tech. (Applause.) I want to thank Reggie for that outstanding introduction. (Applause.) I want to thank Naomi for those inspiring words. (Applause.) I want to thank your outstanding, fabulous principal, Sheila Harrity, who has done so much to make this school a success. (Applause.) Let me just say, when you’re the National High School Principal of the Year, you’re doing something right. There are a lot of principals out there, and we could not be prouder of what she’s doing. I want to thank your Mayor, Joseph Petty; your outstanding Governor and a great friend of mine, Deval Patrick; wonderful Congressman, Jim McGovern. (Applause.) And most of all, I want to thank the class of 2014. (Applause.) Thank you for allowing me to be part of your special day. And you all look great. And I want to thank all the parents and all the grandparents, and the family and the friends -- this is your day, too. Part of the reason I’m here is because I’ve got to practice, because Malia is graduating in two years. So I’m trying to get used to not choking up and crying and embarrassing her. So this is sort of my trial run here. I have to say, I do not remember my high school graduation speaker. I have no idea who it was. (Laughter.) I’m sure I was thinking about the party after graduation. (Applause.) I don’t remember the party either. (Laughter.) I’m just telling the truth here. You will remember the speaker at this graduation because there’s a lot of Secret Service around, not because of anything that I say that’s so inspiring. But I know this day has been a long time coming. Together, you made it through freshman initiation. You survived Mr. O’Connor’s English class, which I understand is pretty tough. (Applause.) Everybody has got to have, like, a Mr. O’Connor in their life just to kind of straighten you out. And now it’s the big day -- although I notice that none of you are wearing your IDs. Rumor has it some of you haven’t been wearing them for years. (Laughter.) Today I’m exercising my power as President and granting an official pardon for all of you who did not follow the rules there. Consider it my graduation gift to you. I know a lot of folks watching at home today will see all of you in your caps and your gowns and they’ll think, well, maybe this is just another class of graduates at another American high school. But I’m here today because there is nothing ordinary about Worcester Tech or the Class of 2014. (Applause.) You have set yourselves apart. This high school has set itself apart. Over the past four years, some of you have learned how to take apart an engine and put it back together again. Some of you have learned how to run a restaurant, or build a house, or fix a computer. And all of you are graduating today not just with a great education, but with the skills that will let you start your careers and skills that will make America stronger. Together, you’re an example of what’s possible when we stop just talking about giving young people opportunity, when we don’t just give lip service to helping you compete in the global economy and we actually start doing it. That’s what’s happening right here in Worcester. And that’s why I’m here today. I mean, I like all of you, and I’m glad to be with you, but the thing I really want to do is make sure that what we’ve learned here at this high school we can lift up for the entire nation. I want the nation to learn from Worcester Tech. (Applause.) Of course, your journey is just beginning. Take a look around at all the smiles from the parents and the grandparents and all the family members. Everything your families have done has been so that you could pursue your dreams, so that you could fulfill your potential. Everybody here has a story of some sacrifice that’s been made on your behalf. And whether you’re heading to college, or the military, or starting your career, you’re not going to be able to take them with you now. Some of your moms and dads probably wish they could hang onto you a little bit longer. Some of you, maybe they’re ready to get rid of you. (Laughter.) Regardless, though, you are now entering into a stage where it’s up to you. And what you can do is remember some of the lessons that you’ve learned here and carry them with you, wherever you’re going. And I want to talk about three of those lessons, a couple of which have already been mentioned by the previous speakers. First of all, I want you to remember that each of us is only here because somebody somewhere invested in our success. (Applause.) Somebody invested in us. I know that’s true for me. I was raised by a single mom with the help of my grandparents. We didn’t have a lot of money growing up. At times, we struggled. When my mom was going to school at the same time as she was raising my sister and me, we had to scrape to get by. But we had a family who loved me and my sister. And I had teachers who cared about me. And ultimately, with the help of a community and a country that supported me, I was able to get a good education. And I was able to get grants and student loans, and opportunities opened up. And all of this happened because people saw something in me that I didn’t always see in myself. And that’s not just true for me, that’s true for Michelle, who grew up the daughter of a blue-collar worker and a mom who stayed at home and then became a secretary -- never went to college themselves. That's true for Duval, who grew up initially on the South Side of Chicago and didn't have a lot, and somebody reached out and gave him a hand up. It’s true of this city. This is a town that's always been home to smart people with big ideas. The Mayor mentioned Robert Goddard, the father of the modern rocket. He was born here, performed some of the earliest tests on rocketry. But Worcester has also prepared its workers for the jobs that those big ideas would bring. And that’s why they opened a technical school here more than a century ago -- with a class of 29 ironworkers and 23 woodworkers. And that school became Worcester Tech. Along the way, the economy changed. Innovation made it possible for businesses to do more with less. The Internet meant they could do it anywhere. Schools like this were finding it harder to prepare students with the skills that businesses were looking for. And then a guy named Ted Coghlin came along. (Applause.) And Ted is known as the “godfather” of Worcester Tech, because about 10 years ago he set out to make this school what he knew it could be -- a place where businesses train new workers, and young people get the keys to a brighter future. And he put his heart and soul into it. And eventually, that’s what happened. Ted helped raise money for a new building -- and the state and federal government chipped in, as well. And businesses helped create everything from an auto service center to a bank right inside the school. And top-notch teachers got on board -- led by Principal Harrity and the assistant principals here, and an outstanding superintendent. And before long, Worcester Tech was on its way to becoming one of the best schools in this city. And today, so many students want to come to Worcester Tech that there’s a waiting list more than 400 names long. (Applause.) The number of students scoring “proficient” or “advanced” in math has gone up 100 percent; in English more than 200 percent. (Applause.) Ninety-five percent of students now graduate in four years. And just as impressive, many of you are leaving here with more than a diploma. You’re already certified as nursing assistants and EMTs and home health aides and preparing to become IT associates. (Applause.) And with the credits that you’ve earned, some of you are already on your way to a college diploma. And as Ted said, “Our students deserve the best so we can help them become the best -- for their future and ours.” The point is, a lot of people made an investment in you. I can't imagine a better investment. But as you experience your success and as you experience setbacks, you need to remember everything that's been put into making sure that you had opportunity. Which brings me to the second thing I hope you remember when you leave here: You’re going to also have to give back. (Applause.) This community invested in you. You’ve got to make sure that you use those gifts. When my Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, came to Worcester Tech earlier this year, he said he had never seen a school more open. If you live near the school, you can come in and get your car detailed for a fraction of what it would cost someplace else. So I’m giving a little free advertising to the detailing operation here. (Laughter.) You can eat a meal cooked by students in the culinary arts program. (Applause.) One teacher called the hair salon the “city’s best kept secret.” (Applause.) Your veterinary clinic cares for about 250 pets a month, so I could have brought Bo and Sunny here. (Laughter.) You guys would have taken care of them. So Worcester Tech isn’t separate from the broader community. You’re a vital part of the community. So part of what you’ve learned here is that we are at our best, we are strongest when we are working together and when we’re looking out for one another and we have responsibilities towards each other, and all of us have contributions to make. You’re giving back to folks who gave you so much. And whatever you do next, I hope you keep giving back. That may mean staying in Worcester and working for one of the companies that helped train you. If it means going to college or the military, or using your skills to help more students get the same opportunities that you’ve had here, no matter what it is that you do, no matter what path you take, I want to make sure that you understand the incredible leadership that we now expect from you. I understand that every year at exam time, you hear from a motivational speaker. And one of them this year was Colin Powell, because when you’re getting ready to take a test it never hurts to get a pep talk from a general. (Laughter.) But the best part is that you decide to do the same thing for younger kids. So this class -- those of you in the National Honor Society -- rolled out the red carpet for students at nearby Chandler Elementary. And so those younger kids left here feeling fired up, inspired by your example -- looking up to you, imagining that they could do what you did. And they’re going to keep on looking up to you. And there are going to be people across the country who are watching you. And when they see you succeed, when they see you working hard, when they see you overcoming setbacks -- that’s going to inspire them as well. And that brings me to my final point, which is I hope you leave here today believing that if you can make it, then there shouldn’t be any kid out here who can’t make it. (Applause.) Every child in America, no matter what they look like, or where they grow up, what their last name is -- there’s so much talent out there. And every single child -- as Ted understood when he helped transform this school -- every single child should have the opportunity like you have had to go as far as your talents and hard work will take you. I’ve seen you do it, so we know it’s possible. Now, it’s a challenging time. I think sometimes I worry that your generation has grown up in a cynical time -- in the aftermath of a Great Recession, in the aftermath of two wars. We live in a culture that so often focuses on conflict and controversy and looks at the glass half empty instead of half full. And you’re graduating at a time when you’ll no longer be competing just with people across town for good jobs, you’re going to be competing with the rest of the world. But when I meet young people like you I am absolutely certain we are not just going to out-compete the rest of the world, we are going to win because of you. Because we are Americans, that's what we do. We don't settle. We outwork. We out-innovate. We out-hustle the competition. (Applause.) And when we do, nobody can beat us. And that's what you’ve shown at this school -- not just helping a few kids go as far as their hard work will take them. I want all of you to be part of the process of helping all our young people achieve their God-given potential. And as President, my job is to make sure every child in America gets that chance. And Deval Patrick’s job is to make sure that everybody in the Commonwealth gets that chance. And the Mayor, his focus is making sure everybody in this town gets that chance. Every community is different. But if Worcester can bring teachers and business and entire communities together for the sake of our young people, then other places can, too. And that's why I’ve challenged high schools all across the country to do what you’re doing here -- better prepare students for the demands of the global economy. We’re getting started this year with a competition that pairs schools and employers and colleges to combine quality education with real-world skills. As part of that initiative, I launched something called ConnectED, working with the private sector to connect America’s students to high-speed broadband and advanced technology, just like you’ve got here at Worcester Tech. Already, companies have committed to donate $2 billion to this effort. And starting later this week, schools and teachers and students will be able to go to WhiteHouse.gov and access resources in time for the new school year -- because I want to encourage more schools to do what you’re doing. You’ve set a standard. You’ve set a bar. More schools can do it across the country. (Applause.) If you’re going to college, I also want to make sure that when you graduate you don't have a mountain of debt. (Applause.) So we’re not only working to make college more affordable, we’re working to help more students pay back their loans that they take out when they go to college. It is not fair to students who do everything right to get saddled with debt that they have to pay off not just for years, but in some cases decades. We can do better than that. (Applause.) And even though they had votes and they couldn’t make it, I want to give a plug to a couple people. Senator Elizabeth Warren and Congressman John Tierney, both from Massachusetts, who introduced bills that would make it easier for students to repay their student loans. (Applause.) It’s the same idea we used to make it easier for your parents to pay off their mortgages. Now today, that idea was defeated by Republicans in Congress, which was frustrating, especially -- AUDIENCE: Booo -- THE PRESIDENT: Well, don't boo. Just remember to vote. (Laughter and applause.) So I know that it’s frustrating for parents. It’s frustrating for students who are working hard and doing everything right. There are too many politicians in Washington who don't have the right priorities. We need to straighten them out. And maybe they forgot where they came from and who invested in them along the way. (Applause.) And when a bill to help you pay off your college doesn't pass, it’s a disservice not only to your generation but to our history as a nation that strives to put quality education within the reach of every American. So we’re going to have to keep on putting pressure on Congress. But in the meantime, where Congress won’t act, I’m going to do whatever I can on my own. (Applause.) So on Monday, I announced executive actions that are going to help students like you find the right options -- and give millions of Americans who are already making their loan payments a chance to cap those repayments at 10 percent of their income. Because a quality education shouldn’t be something that other kids get -- it should be something that every kid gets. And that has to be a priority for this country. (Applause.) I tell you all this not just because you stand to benefit from changes in laws, but because you’re going to have to be a part of helping to shape the law. You’re going to have to shape public opinion. You’re going to have remember everybody who invested in you. You’re going to have to remember the experience of being part of this incredible community. And then, when you go out into the world, whether you are a businessperson, or you are in the military, or you are an academic, or a doctor, or whatever it is that you’re doing, you’re also going to be a citizen. You’re also going to be somebody who has a voice in how this country operates. And you’ve got to push so that others get the same chance you did. And making sure that every young person has the same opportunities you’ve had -- it won’t be easy. Progress takes commitment. It takes hard work. We have to fight through the cynicism. It’s going to take work from parents and from teachers, and members of the community and from students, but I know we can do it -- and I know it because of you. If Melinda Blanchard can get so good at welding that a bunch of college kids ask her help building a solar-paneled house for a competition in China, I know that we can get more young people excited about learning. (Applause.) If Greg Carlson can help the robotics team at Worcester Tech win the world championship -- (applause) -- and still find time to mentor a robotics team at the middle school where he started out, then I know we can help guarantee every child in America a quality education. If Derek Murphy can start his own web development company -- (applause) -- and graduate with 18 college credits, I know we can help more students earn the skills that businesses are looking for. You’re already doing it. You’re already blazing a trail. You’re already leading. You’re already giving back. You don’t need to remember what I said today, because you’re already doing it. And if it can happen in Worcester, it can happen anyplace. (Applause.) And if it does -- if more communities invest in young people like you, if you give back, if we all keep fighting to put opportunity within the reach of everybody who is willing to work for it -- America will be stronger, your future will be brighter. There is no limit to what we can do together. So congratulations, Class of 2014. You’re going to do big things. God bless you. God bless the United States of America. (Applause.) FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA AND EPICURIOUS ANNOUNCE WINNING RECIPES IN NATIONWIDE “HEALTHY LUNCHTIME CHALLENGE”
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the First Lady FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 10, 2014 FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA AND EPICURIOUS ANNOUNCE WINNING RECIPES IN NATIONWIDE “HEALTHY LUNCHTIME CHALLENGE” 54 Kids to Attend "State Dinner" at White House on July 18 To Celebrate Nutritious, Delicious Lunchtime Dishes Washington, DC – Today, First Lady Michelle Obama, Epicurious, the Department of Education, and the Department of Agriculture announced the winners of the Healthy Lunchtime Challenge, a nationwide recipe challenge to promote healthy lunches as part of the First Lady’s Let’s Move! initiative. Winners representing all U.S. states, three territories, and the District of Columbia will attend a Kids' “State Dinner” at the White House hosted by Mrs. Obama on July 18. The 54 children will join the First Lady for a healthy lunch, featuring a selection of the winning recipes, followed by a visit to the White House Kitchen Garden. For the third consecutive year, the Healthy Lunchtime Challenge & Kids' "State Dinner" invited a parent or guardian to work with their child ages 8-12 to create a lunchtime recipe that is healthy, affordable, original, and delicious. In support of Let’s Move!, launched by the First Lady to help address the problem of childhood obesity, each recipe adhered to the guidance that supports USDA’s MyPlate (at ChooseMyPlate.gov) to ensure that the criteria of a healthy meal were met. Entries had to represent each of the food groups, either in one dish or as parts of a lunch meal, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and low-fat dairy foods, with fruits and veggies making up roughly half the plate or recipe. The Healthy Lunchtime Challenge, originated by Epicurious to promote healthy eating among America’s youth, received more than 1,500 entries this year featuring wholesome, tasty ingredients, including salmon, black beans, and ground turkey. The winners and featured recipes include: · ALABAMA : Veggie Spaghetti with Alabama Gulf Shrimp, Jane Battle, 10 · ALASKA: Maple Pecan Salmon Delight, Michael Halpern, 10 · ARIZONA: Shrimp Tacos with Watermelon Jicama Salad, Cody Vasquez, 11 · ARKANSAS: Arkansas meets Asia Catfish Sliders, Hart Irby, 10 · CALIFORNIA: Ethiopian Kik Alitcha, Genene Savall, 10 · COLORADO: Grilled Salmon with Farro & Warm Swiss Chard Salad, Kiana Farkash, 8 · CONNECTICUT: Quinoa Chicken Burger with Kale and Potato Chips, Cecilia Vinas, 10 · DELAWARE: Chi-Irish Shepherd's Pie, Roisin Liew, 9 · DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA: Healthy Grains, Squash, Apples, Sausage, & Kale, Maxwell Lynch, 10 · FLORIDA: Fish Cartucho Al Gabusho, Gabriel Medina, 10 · GEORGIA: Grillin' Out Veggie Style, Mira Solomon, 10 · GUAM: Mo-Rockin' Meatless Monday Special, Lily Vinch, 8 · HAWAII: 'Aina Holoka'I, Grady Duncan, 9 · IDAHO: K&T's Amazing Tortilla Chicken Soup, Katie Hebdon, 11 · ILLINOIS: Lincoln's Inaugural Soup, Tess Boghossian, 11 · INDIANA: Sophie's Healthy Coconut Chicken, Sophie McKinney Han, 10 · IOWA: Over the Rainbow Veggie Pancakes, Anabel Bradley, 8 · KANSAS: Tangy Veggy Springetty, Jasmy Seetala, 8 · KENTUCKY: Around the World in One Bite, Lucy Fairhead, 8 · LOUISIANA: Muffin Tin Egg White Frittatas, Moria Doran, 10 · MAINE: Mexican Haystack, Sienna Mazone, 12 · MARYLAND: Chesapeake Fish Tacos, Lemon-Basil Sorbet, Esther Matheny, 10 · MASSACHUSETTS: Quinoa Lentil Burgers with Kale Slaw, Yonah de Graaf, 10 · MICHIGAN: Barack-oli and Mich-room Obama-lette, Elena Hirsch, 11 · MINNESOTA: Quinoa and Black Beans, Sophia Webster, 12 · MISSOURI: Asian Chicken Meatball & Cauliflower Rice Tortilla, Joshua Wittman-Murphy, 10 · MISSISSIPPI: Quinoa Sweet Potato Boat, Devlyn Davis, 10 · MONTANA: “What! You Don't Like Tofu?” Stir Fry, Chloe Long, 10 · NORTH CAROLINA: Yummy and Healthy Kati Roll, Rajen Dey, 11 · NORTH DAKOTA: Grilled Veggie Brunch, Tegan Lancaster, 11 · NEBRASKA: Terrific Turkey Tacos, Zienna Peterson, 10 · NEW HAMPSHIRE: Pan-seared Salmon with Vegetables & Tricolor Salad, Jessica Bakas, 12 · NEW JERSEY: Sweet Potato Crusted Turkey & Veggie Pizza, Jacob Cook, 9 · NEW MEXICO: Southwestern Casera, Max Johnson-Jimenez, 11 · NEVADA: Chicken and Grape Salad Lettuce Wraps, Grace Keating, 11 · NEW YORK: Mike's Chicken and Vegetable Dumpling Cups, Michael Lombardi, 11 · OHIO: Sunrise Tuscan Chicken, Abigail Messina, 9 · OKLAHOMA: Smoky Southwestern Vegetable Dip, Ranger Lemaster, 8 · OREGON: Healthy Stuffed Rainbow Peppers, Grace Wetzler, 12 · PENNSYLVANIA: Seafood Tacos with Lime Coleslaw and Peachy Salsa, Hannah Foley, 10 · PUERTO RICO: Salmon and Salad Island Deluxe, Karla Gonzalez, 10 · RHODE ISLAND: Mediterranean Kebab Wrap with Cilantro Tabbouleh, Kinnan Hammond-Dowie, 12 · SOUTH CAROLINA: Carolina Chicken Chili, Julia Pascoe, 8 · SOUTH DAKOTA: Hawaiian Kale Wraps, Sabrina Swee, 12 · TENNESSEE: Tennessee Tabouli, Lily Sahihi, 9 · TEXAS: Baked Falafel, Ariel Derby, 8 · UTAH: New Polish Potatoes, Andrew Chardack, 9 · VERMONT: Chinese Vegetable Stir Fry, Iris Hsiang, 10 · VIRGINA: Chia Chicken Pitas, Sophie Haga, 12 · WASHINGTON: This Fish has Gone Nuts!, Maliha Amarsi, 9 · WEST VIRIGINA: Magnificent Mediterranean Spotlight Peppers, Adrianna Nelson, 9 · WISCONSIN: Amazing African Sweet Potato Stew, Sarah Ganser, 12 · WYOMING: Stuffed Pumpkin, KyAnn James, 11 · VIRGIN ISLANDS: Ahlissa’s Rainbow Caribbean Soup, Ahlissa Pierce, 9 The winners were chosen by a panel of judges that included: Sam Kass, Executive Director of Let’s Move! and Senior Policy Advisor on Nutrition; Tanya Steel, Epicurious’ Special Projects Contributor and originator of the contest; Jackie Haven M.S., R.D., Deputy Director, USDA; Deborah Friendly, General Attorney Office of the General Counsel, USED; Chef Linton Hopkins, consulting chef for Delta Air Lines, and two Washington, D.C.-based children who are graduates of Share our Strength’s Cooking Matters program. The full list of winners and recipes can be found online at recipechallenge.epicurious.com. Additionally, a free downloadable and printable e-cookbook of the winning recipes, including nutritional analyses and photos, will be available in July at the contest site, epicurious.com, letsmove.gov, USDA.gov, and Ed.gov. Travel to Washington D.C. for the winners and their families of the Healthy Lunchtime Challenge & Kids' "State Dinner" is provided by Delta Air Lines. “I am looking forward to hosting the winners of the Healthy Lunchtime Challenge here at the White House for the third annual Kids’ ‘State Dinner,’” said First Lady Michelle Obama. “This event gives us the opportunity to showcase healthy creations from talented kid chefs from across our country, and I can’t wait to see—and taste—this year’s selections.” “Epicurious is proud to work with Mrs. Obama on this program, raising awareness about the importance of healthy eating, and showing kids that cooking is creative and meaningful for their futures,” says Carolyn Kremins, SVP and General Manager of Epicurious. “It’s clear that kids palates and cooking skills are getting increasingly sophisticated, even at the young age of 8.” “The Healthy Lunchtime Challenge is a wonderful opportunity to help kids build healthy habits. First Lady Michelle Obama, through the Let’s Move! Initiative, offers another shining example of how we can mobilize public and private sector resources to improve the lives of our children,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “The decisions parents make to keep their kids healthy often start with the meals made at home. Young people who participate in this challenge and are inspired by MyPlate encourage other children to eat healthier and build food preparation skills that will influence their food decisions into adulthood.” The children’s arrivals on July 18 through the East Wing/ Booksellers will be pooled press and the First Lady’s remarks at the lunch will be open press. Remarks by the President in Q&A with David Karp, CEO of Tumblr
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release June 10, 2014 REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT IN Q&A WITH DAVID KARP, CEO OF TUMBLR State Dining Room 4:15 P.M. EDT THE PRESIDENT: Hello, everybody. AUDIENCE: Hi. THE PRESIDENT: You don’t have to be so formal. (Laughter.) Sheesh. Come on, now. MR. KARP: This is unusual. Thank you. Thank you, everyone, and welcome to the White House. Thank you for having us, Mr. President. I’m David Karp, the founder of Tumblr, and it is my tremendous privilege to be here with President Obama today and joined by the Tumblr community. Thank you for joining us, everyone. Yesterday, the President signed an executive order intended to curb the pain of student debt. Americans now hold more than a trillion dollars in student debt, one of the greatest expenses they’ll incur in their lifetime. And the generation that’s just reaching college age is beginning to wonder if it’s even worth it. One-third of Americans who have applied for an education loan this year also happen to use Tumblr, so last week we asked our audience if they had questions that they’d like to ask the President about the cost value and accessibility of higher education -- turns out they had quite a few. We’re not going to be able to get through all of them today, but the President has been kind enough to give us some time at his house to answer some of those questions. (Laughter.) So again, huge thank you for making yourself available today. Anything you’d like to add before we start? THE PRESIDENT: Well, first of all, this is a rental house. (Laughter.) I just want to be clear. My lease runs out in about two and a half years. Second of all, I want to thank David and the whole Tumblr community for participating in this. We’re constantly looking for new ways to reach audiences that are relevant to the things we’re talking about. And, obviously, young people disproportionately use Tumblr. A lot of Tumblr users are impacted by student debt. So for you to be able to give us this forum to speak directly to folks is wonderful, and I’m looking forward to a whole bunch of good questions. MR. KARP: Thank you. Okay, so everybody is clear on how the questions work -- so since we closed for questions at 5:00 p.m. yesterday, we brought together a team of influential Tumblr bloggers who helped us select some of the best questions. There are -- a few of them, anyway, are joining us in the audience in the State Dining Room here today. Neither the White House nor the President have seen any of these questions in advance Should we get started? THE PRESIDENT: Let’s go. MR. KARP: All right. So, first came in from Caitlin (ph). I appreciate your willingness to work with legislators to attempt to retroactively diffuse the cost of some student’s loans by creating new repayment plans, but this seems to me like an attempt to put a band aid on a broken leg. What are we doing to actually lower the cost of a college degree -- excuse me -- of college tuition so these loans will no longer be necessary? THE PRESIDENT: Well, it’s a great question. Let me give people some context for what’s happened over the last 20, 30 years. I graduated from college in ’83; graduated from law school in 1990. And although I went to a private school, through a combination of grants, loans and working I had a fairly low level of debt that I was able to pay in one year without getting an incredibly well-paying job. I was able to keep my debt burden pretty low. Folks who were 10 years younger than me, they probably paid even less. And if you went to a state school at the time, typically people would come out with almost no debt whatsoever. Today, the average debt burden, even for young people who are going to a public university, is about $30,000. And that gives you some sense of how much the cost has escalated for the average young person Now, you mentioned earlier some people are wondering, is this a good investment. It absolutely is. The difference between a college grad and somebody with a high school diploma is about $28,000 a year in income. So it continues to be a very smart investment for you to go to college. But we have to find ways to do two things. One is we have to lower the costs on the front end. And then, if you do have to supplement whatever you can pay with borrowing, we’ve got to make sure that that is a manageable debt. And about 12 months ago, maybe 16 months ago, I convened college and university presidents around the country to start working with them on how we could lower debt -- or lower tuition, rather. The main reason that tuition has gone up so much is that state legislatures stopped subsidizing public universities as much as they used to, in part because they started spending money on things like prisons and other activities that I think are less productive. And so schools then made up for the declining state support by jacking up their tuition rates. What’s also happened is, is that the costs of things like health care that a university community with a lot of personnel has to shoulder, those costs have gone up faster than wages and incomes. The combination of those things has made college tuition skyrocket faster than health care costs have. There are ways we can bring down those costs, and we know that because there are some colleges who have done a very good job in keeping tuition low. We also have to do a better job of informing students about how to keep their debt down -- because, frankly, universities don’t always counsel young people well when they first come in; they say, don’t worry about it, you can pay for it -- not realizing that you’re paying for it through borrowing that you’re going to end up having to shoulder once you graduate. MR. KARP: What does that help, what does that support look like? So Chelsea sent in a very similar question from Portland. So she asks: “Colleges help students get into debt. They don’t often help offer financial planning services before school, after they graduate.” Do you guys have a plan to help students make sound financial decisions? I mean, these are teenagers who are making decisions sometimes amounting to hundreds of thousands of dollars that are going to follow them through their entire lives. Hopefully, they have parents who can help them navigate those decisions. But if they don’t, are they on their own? THE PRESIDENT: Well, we are already doing something we call Know What You Owe. And the idea is to work with every college, university, community college out there so that when you come into school, ideally even before you accept admission from a school, you are given a sense of what your annual loans might be, what your financial package is going to translate into in terms of debt -- assuming you go through a four-year degree on schedule, and what your monthly payments are likely to be afterwards. And so just that one step alone -- making sure that schools are obliged to counsel you on the front end when you come in, as opposed to just on the exit interview once you’ve already accumulated the debt -- that in and of itself can make a big difference. MR. KARP: Understood. We didn’t get first names for everybody. So Haiku Moon asks -- (laughter) -- THE PRESIDENT: That might be the first name. That’s a cool name. (Laughter.) MR. KARP: “It wasn’t until after I graduated college that I realized what I wanted to do with my life. Now I have a degree that has very little to do with that goal and a mountain of debt. I can’t help but wonder if I wasn’t pressured to go to college and was better prepared to make that decision, and if I was better prepared to make that decision, that I might be in a better place to pursue my dreams today. How can we change the public education system to better prepare and support young people making this huge decision?” I mean, again, teenagers deciding what they want to do for the rest of their lives. THE PRESIDENT: Well, one of the things that Haiku Moon is alluding to is that high school should be a time in which young people have greater exposure to actual careers as opposed to just classroom study. And I went to a wonderful school in New York called P-TECH, went there for a visit. What they’ve done is they have collapsed high school basically into a three-year program. You can then extend for another two years and get an associate’s degree. IBM is working with them so that if, in fact, they complete the curriculum that IBM helped to design, they know they’ve got a job at IBM on the back end. And that’s just one example of what I’d like to see a lot more high schools do, which is give young people in high school more hands-on experience, more apprenticeships, more training. If you are somebody who is interested in graphic design, I’d rather have you work at a company doing graphic design your senior year or junior year to see if you actually like it, to get a sense of the training you need. You may not need a four-year degree. You might only need a two-year degree. You might be able to work while getting that degree. All that can save you money. So that can make a really big difference for high school kids. At the same time, one of the things that we initiated several years back is something called income-based repayments. And that’s something I really want to focus on, IBR for short -- income-based repayments. What we did in 2011 was to say all student loans going forward, if you have a debt and you decide you want to go into a job that -- like teaching or social work, that doesn’t necessarily pay a lot, you shouldn’t be hampered from making that choice just because you’ve got such a significant debt load. So what we said was that we will cap your repayments of your loans at 10 percent of your income above $18,000. And by doing that, that gives people flexibility. It doesn’t eliminate your debt. But what it does is it makes it manageable each month so that the career that you choose may not be constrained, and we then have additional programs so that if you go into one of the helping professions -- public service, law enforcement, social work, teaching -- then over time that debt could actually be forgiven. Now, the problem with it was that we passed this law in 2011; it only applied going forward. It didn’t apply retroactively. So yesterday what I did was sign an executive action saying that the Department of Education is going to be developing rules so that going backwards anybody can avail themselves of this income-based repayments, because I get a lot of letters from people who took out loans in 2005 or 2000 -- they are also in a situation where they’re making regular payments but it’s very hard for them to make ends meet. And we want to ideally finish what’s called the rulemaking process -- nothing is easy around here -- hopefully by the time -- say, the end of next year, the rules will be in place, that will be the law, and then everybody and not just folks who borrowed after 2011 can take advantage of that. But there’s not a lot of knowledge of this, and I hope that the Tumblr community helps to spread the word that this is something already available for loans that you took out after 2011 and hopefully by next year it will be available for people even if you took out your loans before 2011. MR. KARP: Where do we find information about it? THE PRESIDENT: You should go to whitehouse.gov, the White House website. It will then link you to ED.gov, which is the Education Department website. But whitehouse.gov I figure is easier to remember. (Laughter.) MR. KARP: Can you elaborate real quick on encouraging public service? So Josh from Oak Park sent in a really good question about this: “The U.S. has a long history of encouraging college-age men and women to give back to their larger communities through organizations like the Peace Corps, through organizations like Teach for America. Couldn’t we make a larger commitment to that by creating tuition loan forgiveness programs for those students who agree to work in those fields or work in those geographic areas in need of skilled employees?” So you can imagine family practice doctors, you can imagine public defenders. THE PRESIDENT: I mean, right now we have some programs like this in place but they’re typically relatively small, relatively specialized. So there are some loan-forgiveness programs for primary care physicians who are going out to rural communities or inner cities or underserved communities. There are some programs that are available through the AmeriCorps program for people who are engaged in public service. They are not as broad-based and widespread as I would like. And we have tried to work with Congress -- so far, unsuccessfully -- to be able to get an expansion of these areas. And let’s take health care as an example. We know that the population is aging. We know that we have a severe shortage of primary care physicians. A lot of young doctors are going into specialized fields like dermatology or plastic surgery because you can make a relatively large profit, you don’t end up having a lot of liability, and that’s not really what we need more of. And so my hope is, is that over time Congress recognizes that young people are our most precious asset. There are some areas that we know we need people to get into the field, our best and brightest, and right now the financial burdens are precluding them from doing it. And we could open up those fields to a huge influx of talent if we were a little smarter with it. MR. KARP: So you’ve touched on health care in public service and health care in general. You talk a lot about STEM fields. So how do we promote -- this is one Orta (sp) asked: “How can we promote growth in STEM fields without putting humanities on the back burner?” THE PRESIDENT: Well, first of all, I want to say I was a humanities major. (Laughter.) I majored in political science and I minored in English. And I was pretty good in math, but in high school -- I actually loved math and science until I got into high school, and then I misspent those years. (Laughter.) And the thing about the humanities was you could kind of talk your way through classes, which you couldn’t do in math and science. (Laughter.) So a great liberal arts humanities education is still critically important, because in today’s global economy, one of the most important skills you have is your ability to work with people and communicate clearly and effectively. Having said that, what is also true is that technology is going to continue to drive innovation. And just to be a good citizen, you need some background in STEM, and we are not producing enough engineers, enough computer scientists, enough math teachers and science teachers, and enough researchers. And so I’m putting a big emphasis on STEM in part because we have a shortage; not because I’m privileging one over the other, but because we don’t have as many people going into the STEM fields. And it starts early. Part of what we’re trying to do is work with public schools to take away some of the intimidation factor in math and science. Part of what we’re trying to do is make sure that we are reaching to demographics that are very underrepresented -- and, yes, I mean you, women. Girls are still more likely to be discouraged from pursuing math, science, technology degrees. You see that imbalance in Silicon Valley, you see it in a lot of high-tech firms. And so we’re trying to lift up curriculums that are interesting for kids, work with schools in terms of best practices. One of the things that we’re also discovering is that young people who have an interest in math and science, when they go to college, oftentimes they’re steered into finance because that’s been perceived as the more lucrative option. And we’re trying to work with universities and departments of engineering, for example, to help mentor young people to understand that -- if you look at the top 100 companies in the country, you’ve got a lot more engineers running companies than you do folks who have a finance background. And so there are great opportunities. And one of the things that every young person should be thinking about is, A, what’s their passion, what do they care about, but they should also be taking a look at where is there a demand. And frankly, if you’ve got a science or engineering background, the likelihood of you being unemployed is very low, because there’s always going to be a need -- and it doesn’t preclude you from writing a haiku at some point and figuring out some creative outlet. But having that discipline and that skillset is still going to be invaluable. MR. KARP: Well, you just described it as really hard to navigate -- again, a teenager making the decision between passion or an industry that’s going to have demand for them. So great question: “At this point, I’m stuck between majors. I know the field I have a passion for has a limited number of jobs, all of which pay very little. Assuming I get the job, the low income will make it difficult to pay the substantial debt I’ll most likely be in from that education. There are other fields I know I could succeed in and receive the higher salary, but I’m afraid that one day I’ll realize I hate what I do.” Question was, how did you decide on your career, and what advice do you have for somebody who is coming up trying to navigate that marketplace with demand or their passions? THE PRESIDENT: Well -- MR. KARP: By the way, one vote for keeping kids out of finance. (Laughter.) THE PRESIDENT: Or the law, by the way, because -- (laughter) -- we have enough lawyers. Although it’s a fine profession. (Laughter.) I can say that because I’m a lawyer. I think everybody is different. But I do think that, first of all, when I first got out of school I worked for a year in a job that I wasn’t interested in because I wanted to pay off my loans. Now, I had the luxury, as I said, that my loan burden was only -- was small enough that I could pay it off in a year. But work is not always fun, and you can't always follow your bliss right away. And so I think that young people should be practical. I know a lot of young people who work for five years in a field that they may not be interested, but it gives them the financial stability and the base from which then to do what they want. And there’s nothing wrong with that. The main advice I would give young people starting off, though, is ultimately you are going to do best at something you care deeply about. And some people have probably heard this said before, but if you really enjoy what you do, then the line between work and play starts vanishing a little bit. You still have to grind it out, but you can get into that mindset where the creativity or the effort and the sweat that you’re putting into what you do doesn't feel like a burden, it feels like an expression of what you care about. And so I think your career is not going to be a straight line all the time. I think there may be times where you got to take a detour and you got to do something practical to pay the bills. There are going to be times where you see an opportunity, and you’re making a calculated risk that I’m going to start some wacky company called Tumblr. (Laughter.) And how you balance the practical with your highest aspirations is something that will be different for each person. Everybody is going to have different circumstances. MR. KARP: What do you say to kids right now who ask you -- they see their passion, they want to build big stuff for the Internet. They want to build the next big app or the next big social network. What do you tell them, when they say, hey, look, David, Zuckerberg, Jobs, Gates, all these guys -- THE PRESIDENT: Just dropped out of school. MR. KARP: -- might not necessarily deserve to get a company up, but dropped out of school? THE PRESIDENT: Yes. I mean you wouldn’t know it looking at you, but you’re like LeBron or Durant. (Laughter.) I mean, you guys don't have the same physiques -- (laughter) -- but there are only going to be so many Zuckerbergs or Gates who are able to short-circuit the traditional path. If you can, more power to you. But let me put it this way: Had you not -- let’s say Tumblr had been a bust, right? Or Facebook had just ended up being some dating site that nobody was really interested in. MR. KARP: We’d be in a hard place. THE PRESIDENT: Well, but the truth is also you had the foundation where you could go back to school, right? I mean, it wasn’t as if you were suddenly operating without a net. I’m assuming that you would have been readmitted to whatever institution you were in. And if not, then you would go to another school and you’d do fine. So the issue is not whether you may not want to take a risk at some point. The point is that for the average young person an investment in college is always going to be a smart investment. Making sure you know what it is that you’re investing in is important. One of the biggest areas where we see a problem is young people who are going, let’s say, to technical schools or community colleges or some of these for-profit universities, they're promised a lot. But they haven’t done the research to see, okay, does typically a graduate coming out of one of these schools get a job in the occupation? Are they actually making money? If you’re going to have $50,000 worth of debt, you better have factored in what are the employment prospects coming out. And so I think it’s good for young people -- not only good, it’s imperative for young people to be good consumers of education, and don't just assume that there’s one way of doing things. We tell our daughters -- Malia is now -- she’ll be 16 next month, and she’s going to be in the college process. And we tell her, don't assume that there are 10 schools that you have to go to, and if you didn't go to those 10, that somehow things are going to be terrible. There are a lot of schools out there. There are a lot of options. And you should do your research before you decide to exercise one of those options. Having said that, the overwhelming evidence is that a college education is the surest, clearest path into the middle class for most Americans. MR. KARP: Is the White House right now offering any of those tools to be a good a consumer, to navigate all the choices out there? THE PRESIDENT: Yes, yes. So if you go to whitehouse.gov, which will link you to the Department of Education, one of the things that we’re doing is to -- we’re starting to develop a scorecard for colleges and universities so you have just a general sense of what’s the typical graduation rate, what’s the typical debt that you carry once you get out, what is the employment rate for graduates five years afterwards. And over time, one of the things that we’re trying to do is develop a ranking system that is not exactly the same as the typical college-ranking systems that you see in U.S. News and World Report, for example. Part of the problem with the traditional ranking systems of schools is that, for example, high cost is actually a bonus in the ranking system. It indicates prestige, and so there may be some great schools that are expensive, but what you’re missing is a great school that may give you much better value, particularly in the field that you’re in. Now, there’s some controversy, I want to confess, about -- that a lot of colleges and universities say, you know, if you start ranking just based on cost and employability, et cetera, you’re missing the essence of higher education and so forth. What we’re really trying to do is just identify here are some good bargains, here are some really bad deals. Then there’s going to be a bunch of schools in the middle that there’s not going to be a huge amount of differentiation. But what we are trying to do is make sure that students have enough information going into it that they don’t end up in a school that is pretty notorious for piling a lot of debt on their students but not really delivering a great education. MR. KARP: Back to the debt, which is top of mind for everybody here today -- so Megan (ph) from Tulsa asked an interesting question: “Of my $220,000 in student loans -- THE PRESIDENT: Yikes. MR. KARP: -- from college and law school” -- there you go -- “less than half is receiving the benefit of loan forgiveness.” Why is there no discussion on the mounting private student loan debt? THE PRESIDENT: Well, there is a discussion. The problem is we just end up having less leverage over that. I mean, the truth is, is that both legislatively and administratively we have some impact on federal loans. Private loans -- if you take -- if you go to a private company and you’re taking out a loan, we have the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau that is trying to regulate this area and make sure that you have full information about what you’re getting yourself into. It’s another version of Know Before You Owe. But it’s harder for us to restructure some of that debt. Now, one thing that I think is really important for everybody to know here -- because this is actual action you can take, as opposed to just listening to me blather on. This week, there will be a vote in the United States Senate on a bill sponsored by Elizabeth Warren, the Senator from Massachusetts. And what this bill would do would allow students to refinance their existing loans at today’s rates. The reason that’s important is because rates have been low, and typically there’s going to be a pretty big spread between the rates that a lot of students -- the interest rates that a lot of students have on their debt right now, versus what they could do if they refinanced, the same way that a lot of people refinance their mortgages to take advantage of historically low rates. And so this vote is coming up. It will come up this week. I think everybody on Tumblr should be contacting their senators and finding out where they stand on the issue, because -- and, by the way, this is something that will not add to the deficit, because the way we pay for it is we say that we’re going to eliminate some loopholes right now that allow millionaires and billionaires to pay lower rates of taxes than secretaries and teachers. And so it would pay for itself. It’s a good piece of legislation. It directly affects folks in their 20s and 30s, and in some cases, their 40s and 50s and 60s. But particularly the young people who use Tumblr, this is something that you should pay a lot of attention to. Make sure that you are pushing your senators around this issue. MR. KARP: Particularly important if you know you’re facing that debt already or you are already today facing that debt. What’s the best way, though, for people who are -- again, they’re thinking about higher education, they’re in school today, and a thoughtful question. What is the best way for students to have a voice in their own education? So much education today, I think really -- I don’t know, I mean, so many teenagers who feel like education is happening to them. They’re going through the motions. They know that this is what they’re supposed to do, and so they follow along. How do we make sure kids are driving? THE PRESIDENT: Well, look, at some point it’s going to be up to the young person to drive that education. It’s not inevitable that you just fasten your seatbelt and just go on a ride for four years or two years or whatever it is. I mean, I have to say that in my own college experience, I think the first two years I was there thinking I’m just happy to be here and I’m having fun and I’ll just sort of go through the motions. My last two years was when I really became much more serious about what I was doing and much more intentional about what I was doing. Too many young people see -- and I’m grossly generalizing now, so excuse me -- but I use myself as an example as well. I think too many of us see college as a box to check or a place to have fun and extend adolescence, as opposed to a opportunity for each of us to figure out what is it that we’re good at, what is it that we care about, what is it that we’re willing to invest a lot of time and effort and energy into, how do we hone some skills or interests or attributes that we already have. And as a consequence, I think young people waste a lot of time in school. Now, again, I’m generalizing, because there are a whole bunch of folks who are working while going to school, while helping out their parents -- in some cases, they’re already parents themselves. And so everything I just said does not apply to you. It’s interesting -- one of the reasons I think I did well in law school was because I had worked for three and a half years so that by the time I got to law school I actually knew why I was studying the law, and I knew exactly what I wanted to get out of it -- not to mention the fact that the idea of just going to class for three hours a day and then reading didn’t seem particularly oppressive to me, whereas young people who had come straight out of college thought, this is horrible. Try working for a while and then you realize that this is a pretty good deal. (Laughter.) But I think that part of what we as adults have to do goes back to what I said about high schools. Education is not a passive thing. You don’t tip your head and somebody pours it into your ear. It is an active process of you figuring out the world and your place in it. And the earlier we can help young people -- not lock them in. Look, nobody expects that somebody who is 16 automatically knows exactly what they want to do, and people may change their minds repeatedly. But what we can do is expose young people to enough actual work and occupations that they start getting a feel for what they would be interested in. And I really want to work with more school districts, and I’ve asked the Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, to work with more school districts, and we’re actually giving grants to school districts that are thinking creatively about how high school can be used more effectively. I don’t want a young person who knows that they want to go into the trades to just waste four years of high school and then they’ve got to go through two years of apprenticeship and classwork before they become a contractor. I’d rather have them doing contracting while also getting some other educational exposure so that they’re getting a jump on the things that they want to do. And they can save a lot of money in the process. MR. KARP: So Beth asked a question close to that point. Instead of pushing all students into college, shouldn’t we focus on the other side -- increasing the minimum wage and making it viable, livable to enter the workforce straight out of high school? Should we be doing both? THE PRESIDENT: Absolutely. Well, here is what I would say: There are very few jobs now where you’re not going to need some advanced training. One of the great things about being President is I get to visit companies and worksites and factories. And if you go into the average auto company today, for example, first of all, it’s not at all what you’d imagine -- it is spotless and it is quiet, and it is humming, because it is all mechanized and computerized at this point. And even if you have a four-football-field-sized assembly line, most of the people there are working with machines and they’re working on computer keyboards. So having some basic training in math, some familiarity with computers, some familiarity with programming and code -- all that is a huge advantage if you are trying to get a job on an assembly line. Now, if that’s true for assembly line work, that’s certainly going to be true for any other trade that you’re interested in. We do have to do a better job of giving young people who are interested an effective vocational education. And there are tons of opportunities out there for people -- here’s an interesting statistic: The average trade person in Wisconsin -- and what I mean by that is an electrician, a plumber, a carpenter, a machine tool worker -- the average age in Wisconsin is 59 years old. Now, these jobs typically pay 25, 30 bucks an hour, potentially, with benefits. You can make a really good living doing that, and there are a lot of folks who love doing it. It’s really interesting work and highly skilled work. So I don’t want somebody to find out about that when they’re 30, after they’ve already taken a bunch of classes and stuff that they ended up not using; now they’ve got a bunch of debt. I’d rather, if they got that inclination, to figure that early and be able to go straight into something that helps them get that job. MR. KARP: So one question we heard a lot from our community that I wanted to make sure to mention today: Recently -- I think you’ve been following -- the Department of Ed’s Office of Civil Rights and DOJ have extended Title IX protections to trans students. What do you see as the next steps to ensure equal treatment of trans people in schools in America? THE PRESIDENT: Well, Title IX is a powerful tool. It’s interesting -- yesterday I had the University of Connecticut men’s and women’s basketball teams here. This is only the second time that the men’s and women’s basketball teams won the national championship in the same year. The previous year was 2004, and it was UConn again. But what was interesting about it is that the men were kind of a surprise. It was nice. The women were dominant. I mean, the UConn Husky women’s program, they rule. And they are incredible athletes. And talking to these young women, they’re poised and they’re beautiful, and some of them are 6’6” and they’re wearing high heels, and supremely confident and competitive. And that’s a huge shift from even 20 years ago or 30 years ago. The reason for that was Title IX was applied vigorously in schools, and it gave opportunities -- it’s not like women suddenly became athletes. They were athletic before. Michelle, when I work out with her, she puts me to shame. (Laughter.) But it had more to do with restrictions and opportunity. So the point I’m making is, is that Title IX is a very powerful tool. The fact that we are applying it to transgender students means that they are going to be in a position to assert their rights if and when they see that they are being discriminated on their college campuses. And that could manifest itself in a whole variety of ways. MR. KARP: Brilliant. This one was sent in a few days ago: “Mr. President, my name is Nick Dineen, and I attend school at the University of California-Santa Barbara. I was the RA for the floor that George Chen lived on last year as a first-year college student. I knew him. Elliot Rodger killed him and five more of my fellow students. Today, another man has shot and killed at least one person and injured three others at a private Christian school in Seattle. What are you going to do? What can we all do?” And of course, another mass shooting this morning. THE PRESIDENT: I have to say that people often ask me how has it been being President, and what am I proudest of and what are my biggest disappointments. And I’ve got two and a half years left. My biggest frustration so far is the fact that this society has not been willing to take some basic steps to keep guns out of the hands of people who can do just unbelievable damage. We’re the only developed country on Earth where this happens. And it happens now once a week. And it’s a one-day story. There’s no place else like this. A couple of decades ago, Australia had a mass shooting similar to Columbine or Newtown. And Australia just said, well, that's it -- we’re not seeing that again. And basically imposed very severe, tough gun laws. And they haven’t had a mass shooting since. Our levels of gun violence are off the charts. There’s no advanced, developed country on Earth that would put up with this. Now, we have a different tradition. We have a Second Amendment. We have historically respected gun rights. I respect gun rights. But the idea that, for example, we couldn’t even get a background check bill in to make sure that if you’re going to buy a weapon you have to actually go through a fairly rigorous process so that we know who you are, so you can't just walk up to a store and buy a semiautomatic weapon -- it makes no sense. And I don't know if anybody saw the brief press conference from the father of the young man who had been killed at Santa Barbara. And as a father myself, I just could not understand the pain he must be going through and just the primal scream that he gave out -- why aren’t we doing something about this? And I will tell you, I have been in Washington for a while now and most things don’t surprise me. The fact that 20 six-year-olds were gunned down in the most violent fashion possible and this town couldn’t do anything about it was stunning to me. And so the question then becomes what can we do about it. The only thing that is going to change is public opinion. If public opinion does not demand change in Congress, it will not change. I’ve initiated over 20 executive actions to try to tighten up some of the rules in the laws, but the bottom line is, is that we don’t have enough tools right now to really make as big of a dent as we need to. And most members of Congress -- and I have to say, to some degree, this is bipartisan -- are terrified of the NRA. The combination of the NRA and gun manufacturers are very well financed and have the capacity to move votes in local elections and congressional elections. And so if you’re running for office right now, that’s where you feel the heat. And people on the other side may be generally favorable towards things like background checks and other commonsense rules but they’re not as motivated. So that’s not -- that doesn’t end up being the issue that a lot of you vote on. And until that changes, until there is a fundamental shift in public opinion in which people say, enough, this is not acceptable, this is not normal, this isn’t sort of the price we should be paying for our freedom, that we can have respect for the Second Amendment and responsible gun owners and sportsmen and hunters can have the ability to possess weapons but that we are going to put some commonsense rules in place that make a dent, at least, in what’s happening -- until that is not just the majority of you -- because that’s already the majority of you, even the majority of gun owners believe that. But until that’s a view that people feel passionately about and are willing to go after folks who don’t vote reflecting those values, until that happens, sadly, not that much is going to change. The last thing I’ll say: A lot of people will say that, well, this is a mental health problem, it’s not a gun problem. The United States does not have a monopoly on crazy people. (Laughter.) It’s not the only country that has psychosis. And yet, we kill each other in these mass shootings at rates that are exponentially higher than anyplace else. Well, what’s the difference? The difference is, is that these guys can stack up a bunch of ammunition in their houses and that’s sort of par for the course. So the country has to do some soul searching about this. This is becoming the norm, and we take it for granted in ways that, as a parent, are terrifying to me. And I am prepared to work with anybody, including responsible sportsmen and gun owners, to craft some solutions. But right now, it’s not even possible to get even the mildest restrictions through Congress, and we should be ashamed of that. MR. KARP: Thank you for taking the time to answer that one. Obviously an incredibly difficult and disappointing conversation to have. It looks like we have time for one more question, so let’s switch over to a lighter one. There are plenty of young people out there today who are watching your career incredibly closely. They’re thinking about their futures, their careers, their educations that they’re going off to pursue. Astonishment asked, “Where do you see yourself in 10 years?” (Laughter.) THE PRESIDENT: Well, I haven’t projected out 10 years. I’m really focused on making sure that I make every day in the next two and a half years count, because it’s an incredible privilege to be in this office. And even when I’m frustrated with Congress or I’m frustrated with the press and how it’s reporting things and Washington generally, I also know that there’s something I can do every single day that’s helping somebody and that sometimes without a lot of fanfare we’re making it easier for a business to get a loan, and we’re making it easier for a young person to get an education, and we’re making it easier for a family to get health care, and making sure that each day I come away with something that we’ve done to make it a little easier for folks to work their way into the middle class, to stay in the middle class, to save for retirement, to finance their kids’ college educations -- that’s a good day for me. I know what I’ll do right after the next President is inaugurated. I’ll be on a beach somewhere drinking out of a coconut. (Laughter.) But that probably won’t last too long. And one of the things that Michelle and I have talked about a lot is we’re really interested in developing young people and working with them and creating more institutions to promote young leadership. I’m so impressed when I meet young people around the country. They’re full of passion. They’re full of ideas. I think they’re much wiser and smarter than I was, part of it maybe is because of Tumblr -- I don’t know. (Laughter.) And so there’s just huge potential. And the challenge is they’re also fed a lot of cynicism. You guys are fed a lot of cynicism every single day about how nothing works and big institutions stink and government is broken. And so you channel a lot of your passion and energy into various private endeavors. But this country has always been built both through an individual initiative, but also a sense of some common purpose. And if there’s one message I want to deliver to young people like a Tumblr audience is, don’t get cynical. Guard against cynicism. I mean, the truth of the matter is that for all the challenges we face, all the problems that we have, if you had to be -- if you had to choose any moment to be born in human history, not knowing what your position was going to be, who you were going to be, you’d choose this time. The world is less violent than it has ever been. It is healthier than it has ever been. It is more tolerant than it has ever been. It is better fed then it’s ever been. It is more educated than it’s ever been. Terrible things happen around the world every single day, but the trend lines of progress are unmistakable. And the reason is, is because each successive generation tries to learn from previous mistakes and pushes the course of history in a better direction. And the only thing that stops that is if people start thinking that they don’t make a difference and they can’t make changes. And that’s fed in our culture all the time. It’s fascinating to me -- I don’t consume a lot of television, but generally, the culture right now is inherently in a cynical mood in part because we went through a big trauma back in 2007, 2008 with the financial crisis, and we went through a decade of wars that were really tough. And that’s the era in which you were born. But look out on the horizon, and there’s a lot of opportunity out there. And that’s what I’d like to do after the presidency, is make sure that I help young people guard against cynicism and do the remarkable things they can do. MR. KARP: Beautiful. Mr. President, thank you so much for taking time to answer our questions today, really. THE PRESIDENT: We had a great time. MR. KARP: Thank you. (Applause.) THE PRESIDENT: Appreciate it. It was great. Thank you. MR. KARP: Was that okay? I’ve never talked to a President before. THE PRESIDENT: He’s a natural. He could have gone into journalism. MR. KARP: I’ve never talked to a President before. Thank you so much. Hey, real quick, guys, before we go, I would really like to thank the President for having us over to his rental property today. (Laughter.) It really does mean a lot to our community to know that America’s leader is listening to us. I hope we’ve all come away with a clear picture as to the issues that we’re facing. Please make sure to follow WhiteHouse.tumblr.com. And lastly, please wish -- excuse me -- Sasha a happy 13th birthday from us. THE PRESIDENT: It is Sasha’s birthday today. (Applause.) MR. KARP: Now that’s she’s 13, guys -- (applause) -- now that she’s 13, according to our terms of service, she’s officially old enough to use Tumblr. (Laughter.) Let us know. THE PRESIDENT: So she wasn’t before then? (Laughter.) MR. KARP: She wasn’t. Sorry. We can let this one slide. (Laughter.) THE PRESIDENT: I’m going to have to talk to somebody about that. (Laughter.) Thank you, guys. Had a great time. (Applause.) President Obamas TUMBLr Interview
Getting this disclosure out of the way: Yahoo bought Tumblr in 2013. The State Dining Room scene: Two chairs facing East, in front of a large flatscreen TV, for the principals. TV is under the portrait of Lincoln. Before the interview began, the TV showed a cartoony bald eagle with the Tumblr lower-case "t" on its chest. Five rows of chairs facing the TV, packed with 20-somethings (all prominent tumblr users) though a few look a bit older. At the North End of the room, a table with 3 men and one woman live-blogging. In the Red Room, a mission-control set-up for the live-stream. Staffed by White House TV and Tumblr. Four laptops and a stand-alone monitor. OFFICIAL RELEASE: Statement of Administration Policy on H.R. 4457 – America’s Small Business Tax Relief Act of 2014
http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/legislative/sap/113/saphr4457r_20140610.pdf EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET WASHINGTON, D.C. 20503 June 10, 2014 (House Rules) STATEMENT OF ADMINISTRATION POLICY H.R. 4457 -- America’s Small Business Tax Relief Act of 2014 (Rep. Tiberi, R-OH, and 17 cosponsors) The Administration supports making permanent expanded expensing for small businesses and offsetting the cost by closing tax loopholes. Enhanced small business expensing supports small businesses in making investments and creating jobs. Small businesses employ half of the Nation’s workforce and create nearly two out of every three jobs. However, as with other similar proposals, the Administration strongly opposes House passage of H.R. 4457, which would permanently extend and expand the current expensing provisions for small businesses without offsetting the cost, adding to long-run deficits. By making expanded expensing for small business permanent without offsets, H.R. 4457 would add $73 billion to the deficit over the next ten years. Moreover, if this unprecedented approach of making major traditional tax extenders permanent without offsets were followed for the other traditional tax extenders, it would add $500 billion or more to deficits, wiping out most of the deficit reduction achieved through the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2013. Just two months ago, House Republicans passed a budget resolution that required offsets for any tax extenders that were made permanent with other revenue measures. With this legislation, Republicans are imposing a double standard by adding to the deficit to fund tax breaks for businesses, while insisting on offsetting the cost of measures that help middle-class and working Americans. The cost of H.R. 4457 is many times the cost of the proposed extension of emergency unemployment benefits, which House Republicans insist be offset, and more than the discretionary funding increases for defense and non-defense priorities such as research and development in the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013, which were offset. House Republicans also are making clear their priorities by rushing to make business tax cuts permanent without offsets even as the House Republican budget resolution calls for raising taxes on 25 million working families and students by letting important improvements to the Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, and education tax credits expire. The Administration wants to work with Congress to make progress on measures that strengthen the economy and help middle-class families, including pro-growth business tax reform. However, making traditional tax extenders permanent without offsets represents the wrong approach. If the President were presented with H.R. 4457, his senior advisors would recommend that he veto the bill. OFFICIAL RELEASE: Statement of Administration Policy on S. 2432 – Bank on Students Emergency Loan Refinancing Act
http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/legislative/sap/113/saps2432s_20140610.pdf EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET WASHINGTON, D.C. 20503 June 10, 2014 (Senate) STATEMENT OF ADMINISTRATION POLICY S. 2432 – Bank on Students Emergency Loan Refinancing Act (Senator Warren, D-MA, and 43 cosponsors) The Administration strongly supports passage of S. 2432, which would provide Americans with student loans the opportunity to refinance their loans at the lower interest rates available to current students. The legislation would benefit an estimated 25 million Americans and save a typical borrower $2,000 over the life of his or her loan. It would strengthen the economy by offering relief to Americans who are working hard to pay back their student loans and launch careers, start families, or buy homes. S. 2432 would offset the cost of its refinancing provisions by implementing the “Buffett Rule,” which would set a minimum tax rate for taxpayers with annual incomes over $1 million. The Administration strongly supports this proposal to ensure that the Nation’s wealthiest are not able to use tax preferences and shelters to reduce their tax rate below what many middle-class families pay. The Administration is committed to working with Congress on ensuring that college remains affordable for American families by promoting innovation and competition within higher education, maintaining funding for critical Federal student aid like Pell Grants, and assuring borrowers that affordable repayment options will exist to help them meet their financial obligations after they leave school. REPORT: Taking Action - Higher Education And Student Debt
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 10, 2014 REPORT: Taking Action - Higher Education And Student Debt Today, the President will participate in a live question and answer session with Tumblr to talk about the importance of making college more affordable for current students, graduates and their families and the new executive actions he announced on Monday to ease the burden of college debt for millions of Americans. The event comes as part of the President’s weeklong focus on steps he is taking to offer relief to Americans who are working hard to pay back their student loans borrowers and the need for Congress to do their part by passing Senate Democrats’ bill to help more young people save money by refinancing their federal student loans. In advance of today’s event, the White House’s Council of Economic Advisers and Domestic Policy Council released a new report showing the impact of crushing student debt on young Americans and our economy, and new data showing how borrowers in each state would benefit from both the President’s executive actions and the Senate Democrats’ bill. Please find that report attached. White House, Department of Labor and Center for American Progress to Hold Summit on Working Families
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 9, 2014 MEDIA CREDENTIALS INFORMATION: White House, Department of Labor and Center for American Progress to Hold Summit on Working Families WASHINGTON, D.C. – On June 23, 2014, the White House Council on Women and Girls, the Department of Labor, and the Center for American Progress will host a Summit on Working Families to focus on creating a 21st century workplace that works for all Americans. The President, Vice President, First Lady, and Dr. Biden will participate in the summit. Workplaces that make full use of the talented pool of American workers are essential – to a thriving and healthy economy, to enable businesses to stay competitive in today’s global economy, and to help all workers ensure the economic stability of their families. Too many working Americans – both women and men – are living paycheck to paycheck, struggling to make ends meet and respond to the competing demands of work and family. The summit will convene businesses, economists, labor leaders, policymakers, advocates, and ordinary citizens to discuss policy solutions that can make a real difference in the lives of working families and ensure America’s global competitiveness in the coming decades. For more information, visit workingfamiliessummit.org. The panel discussions and remarks by the President, Vice President, First Lady, Dr. Biden and other officials will be open to pre-credentialed media. Media interested in covering the summit can apply for credentials by visiting HERE. The deadline to apply is Friday, June 13. What: White House Summit on Working Familie When: Monday, June 23, 2014 Where: Omni Hotel Washington, DC Remarks by the President on Opportunity for All: Making College More Affordable
Remarks by the President on Opportunity for All: Making College More AffordableInboxxWhite House Press Office THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary For Immediate Release May 9, 2014 REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT ON OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL: MAKING COLLEGE MORE AFFORDABLE 1:51 P.M. EDT THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. Everybody have a seat. Welcome to the White House. And I want to thank Andy for the terrific introduction. And this is commencement season, and it’s always a hopeful and exciting time, and I’ll bet we might have some folks who just graduated here today. Raise your hands. Let’s see -- yes, we’ve got a couple of folks who are feeling pretty good. (Laughter.) Of course, once the glow wears off, this can be a stressful time for millions of students. And they’re asking themselves, how on Earth am I going to pay off all these student loans? And that’s what we’re here to talk about. And Andy I think gave a vivid example of what’s going through the minds of so many young people who have the drive and the energy and have succeeded in everything that they do but because of family circumstances have found themselves in a situation where they’ve got significant debt. Now, we know, all of you know, that in a 21st century economy, a higher education is the single best investment that you can make in yourselves and your future, and we’ve got to make sure that investment pays off. And here’s why: For 51 months in a row, our businesses have created new jobs -- 9.4 million new jobs in total. And over the last year, we’ve averaged around 200,000 new jobs every month. That’s the good news. But while those at the top are doing better than ever, average wages have barely budged. And there are too many Americans out there that are working harder and harder just to get by. Everything I do is aimed towards reversing those trends that put a greater burden on the middle class and are diminishing the number of ladders to get into the middle class, because the central tenet of my presidency, partly because of the story of my life and Michelle’s life, is this is a country where opportunity should be available for anybody -- the idea that no matter who you are, what you look like, where you come from, how you were raised, who you love, if you’re willing to work hard, if you’re willing to live up to your responsibilities, you can make it here in America. And in America, higher education opens the doors of opportunity for all. And it doesn’t have to be a four-year college education. We’ve got community colleges, we’ve got technical schools, but we know that some higher education, some additional skills is going to be your surest path to the middle class. The typical American with a bachelor’s degree or higher earns over $28,000 more per year than somebody with just a high school education -- 28 grand a year. And right now, the unemployment rate for workers with a bachelor’s degree is about half of what it is for folks with just a high school education. So you know that this is a smart investment. Your parents know this is a smart investment. That’s why so many of them made such big sacrifices to make sure that you could get into college, and nagged you throughout your high school years. (Laughter.) Here’s the problem: At a time when higher education has never been more important, it’s also never been more expensive. Over the last three decades, the average tuition at a public university has more than tripled. At the same time, the typical family’s income has gone up just 16 percent. Michelle and I both went to college because of loans and grants and the work that we did. But I’ll be honest with you -- now, I’m old, I’ve got to admit -- (laughter) -- but when I got out of school, it took me about a year to pay off my entire undergraduate education. That was it. And I went to a private school; I didn’t even go to a public school. So as recently as the ‘70s, the ‘80s, when you made a commitment to college, you weren’t anticipating that you’d have this massive debt on the back end. Now, when I went to law school it was a different story. But that made sense because the idea was if you got a professional degree like a law degree, you would probably be able to pay it off. And so I didn’t feel sorry for myself or any lawyers who took on law school debt. But compare that experience just half a generation, a generation ago to what kids are going through now. These rising costs have left middle-class families feeling trapped. Let’s be honest: Families at the top, they can easily save more than enough money to pay for school out of pocket. Families at the bottom face a lot of obstacles, but they can turn to federal programs designed to help them handle costs. But you’ve got a lot of middle-class families who can’t build up enough savings, don’t qualify for support, feel like nobody is looking out for them. And as Andy just described vividly, heaven forbid that the equity in their home gets used up for some other family emergency, or, as we saw in 2008, suddenly home values sink, and then people feel like they’re left in the lurch. So I’m only here because this country gave me a chance through education. We are here today because we believe that in America, no hardworking young person should be priced out of a higher education. This country has always made a commitment to put a good education within the reach of young people willing to work for it. I mentioned my generation, but think about my grandfather’s generation. I just came back from Normandy, where we celebrated D-Day. When that generation of young people came back from World War II, at least the men, my grandfather was able to go to college on the GI Bill. And that helped build the greatest middle class the world has ever known. Grants helped my mother raise two kids by herself while she got through school. And she didn’t have $75,000 worth of debt, and she was raising two kids at the same time. Neither Michelle or I came from a lot of money, but with hard work, and help from scholarships and student loans, we got to go to great schools. We did not have this kind of burden that we’re seeing, at least at the undergraduate stages. As I said, because of law school, we only finished paying off our own student loans just 10 years ago. So we know what many of you are going through or look forward -- or don’t look forward to. (Laughter.) And we were doing it at the same time -- we already had to start saving for Malia and Sasha’s education. But this is why I feel so strongly about this. This is why I’m passionate about it. That’s why we took on a student loan system that basically gave away tens of billions of taxpayer dollars to big banks. We said, let’s cut out the middle man. Banks should be making a profit on what they do, but not off the backs of students. We reformed it; more money went directly to students. We expanded grants for low-income students through the Pell grant program. We created a new tuition tax credit for middle-class families. We offered millions of young people the chance to cap their student loan payments at 10 percent of their income -- that’s what Andy was referring to. Michelle right now is working with students to help them “Reach Higher,” and overcome the obstacles that stand between them and graduation. This is something we are deeply invested in. But as long as college costs keep soaring, we can’t just keep throwing money at the problem. We’re going to have to initiate reforms from the colleges themselves. States have to invest more in higher education. Historically, the reason we had such a great public education system, public higher education system was states understood we will benefit if we invest in higher education. And somewhere along the line, they started thinking, we’ve got to invest more in prisons than we do in higher education. And part of the reason that tuition has been jacked up year after year after year is state legislators are not prioritizing this. They’re passing the costs onto taxpayers. It’s not sustainable. So that’s why I laid out a plan to shake up our higher education system and encourage colleges to finally bring down college costs. And I proposed new rules to make sure for-profit colleges keep their promises and train students with the skills for today’s jobs without saddling them with debt. Too many of these for-profit colleges -- some do a fine job, but many of them recruit kids in, the kids don’t graduate, but they’re left with the debt. And if they do graduate, too often they don’t have the marketable skills they need to get the job that allows them to service the debt. None of these fights have been easy. All of them have been worth it. You’ve got some outstanding members of Congress right here who have been fighting right alongside us to make sure that we are giving you a fair shake. And the good news is, more young people are earning college degrees than ever before. And that’s something we should be proud of, and that’s something we should celebrate. But more of them are graduating with debt. Despite everything we’re doing, we’re still seeing too big a debt load on too many young people. A large majority of today’s college seniors have taken out loans to pay for school. The average borrower at a four-year college owes nearly $30,000 by graduation day. Americans now owe more on student loans than they do on credit cards. And the outrage here is that they’re just doing what they’ve been told they’re supposed to do. I can’t tell you how many letters I get from people who say I did everything I was supposed to and now I’m finding myself in a situation where I’ve got debts I can’t pay off, and I want to pay them off, and I’m working really hard, but I just can’t make ends meet. If somebody plays by the rules, they shouldn’t be punished for it. A young woman named Ashley, in Santa Fe, wrote me a letter a few months ago. And Ashley wanted me to know that she’s young, she’s ambitious, she’s proud of the degree she earned. And she said, “I am the future” -- she put “am” in capital letters so that I’d know she means business. (Laughter.) And she told me that because of her student loan debt, she’s worried she’ll never be able to buy a car or a house. She wrote, “I’m not even 30, and I’ve given up on my future because I can’t afford to have one.” I wrote her back and said it’s a little early in your 20s to give up. (Laughter.) So I’m sure Ashley was trying to make a point, but it’s a point that all of us need to pay attention to. In America, no young person who works hard and plays by the rules should feel that way. Now, I’ve made it clear that I want to work with Congress on this issue. Unfortunately, a generation of young people can’t afford to wait for Congress to get going. The members of Congress who are here are working very hard and putting forward legislation to try to make this stuff happen, but they have not gotten some of the support that they need. In this year of action, wherever I’ve seen ways I can act on my own to expand opportunity to more Americans, I have. And today, I’m going to take three actions to help more young people pay off their student loan debt. Number one, I’m directing our Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, to give more Americans who are already making their loan payments a chance to cap those payments at 10 percent of their income. We call it “Pay As You Earn.” We know it works, because we’ve already offered it to millions of young people. It’s saving folks like Andy hundreds of dollars potentially every month. It’s giving graduates the opportunity to pursue the dreams that inspired them to go to school in the first place, and that’s good for everybody. And we want more young people to start their own businesses. We want more young people becoming teachers and nurses and social workers. We want young people to be in a position to pursue their dreams. And we want more young people who act responsibly to be able to manage their debt over time. So we’re announcing steps that will open up “Pay As You Earn” to nearly 5 million more Americans. That’s the first action we’re taking today. The second action is to renegotiate contracts with private companies like Sallie Mae that service our student loans. And we’re going to make it clear that these companies are in the business of helping students, not just collecting payments, and they owe young people the customer service, and support, and financial flexibility that they deserve. That’s number two. Number three -- we’re doing more to help every borrower know all the options that are out there, so that they can pick the one that’s right for them. So we’re going to work with the teachers’ associations, and the nurses’ associations, with business groups; with the YMCA, and non-profits and companies like TurboTax and H&R Block. And tomorrow, I’m going to do a student loan Q&A with Tumblr to help spread the word -- you’re laughing because you think, what does he know about Tumblr? (Laughter.) But you will recall that I have two teenage daughters so that I am hip to all these things. (Laughter.) Plus I have all these twenty-somethings who are working for me all the time. (Laughter.) But to give even more student borrowers the chance to save money requires action from Congress. I’m going to be signing this executive order. It’s going to make progress, but not enough. We need more. We’ve got to have Congress to make some progress. Now, the good news is, as I said, there are some folks in Congress who want to do it. There are folks here like Jim Clyburn, John Tierney, who are helping lead this fight in the House. We’ve got Elizabeth Warren, who’s leading this fight in the Senate. Elizabeth has written a bill that would let students refinance their loans at today’s lower interest rates, just like their parents can refinance a mortgage. It pays for itself by closing loopholes that allow some millionaires to pay a lower tax rate than middle-class families. I don’t know, by the way, why folks aren’t more outraged about this. I’m going to take a pause out of my prepared text. You would think that if somebody like me has done really well in part because the country has invested in them, that they wouldn’t mind at least paying the same rate as a teacher or a nurse. There’s not a good economic argument for it, that they should pay a lower rate. It’s just clout, that’s all. So it’s bad enough that that’s already happening. It would be scandalous if we allowed those kinds of tax loopholes for the very, very fortunate to survive while students are having trouble just getting started in their lives. So you’ve got a pretty straightforward bill here. And this week, Congress will vote on that bill. And I want Americans to pay attention to see where their lawmakers’ priorities lie here: lower tax bills for millionaires, or lower student loan bills for the middle class. This should be a no-brainer. You’ve got a group of far-right Republicans in Congress who push this trickle-down economic plan, telling hard-working students and families, “You’re on your own.” Two years ago, Republicans in Congress nearly let student loan interest rates double for 7 million young people. Last year, they tried to strip protections from lower-income students. This year, House Republicans voted overwhelmingly to slash Pell grants and make it harder for thousands of families to afford college. If you’re a big oil company, they’ll go to bat for you. If you’re a student, good luck. Some of these Republicans in Congress seem to believe that it’s just because -- that just because some of the young people behind me need some help, that they’re not trying hard enough. They don’t get it. Maybe they need to talk to Andy. These students worked hard to get where they are today. Shanelle Roberson -- where is Shanelle? Shanelle is the first in her family to graduate from a four-year college. (Applause.) Shanelle is not asking for a handout, none of these folks are. They’re working hard. They’re working while they’re going to school. They’re doing exactly what we told them they should do. But they want a chance. If they do exactly what they’re told they should do, that they’re not suddenly loaded up where they’ve got so much debt that they can’t buy a house, they can’t think about starting a family, they can’t imagine starting a business on their own. I’ve been in politics long enough to hear plenty of people, from both parties, pay lip service to the next generation, and then they abandon them when it counts. And we, the voters, let it happen. This is something that should be really straightforward, just like the minimum wage should be straightforward, just like equal pay for equal work should be straightforward. And one of the things I want all the voters out there to consider, particularly parents who are struggling trying to figure out how am I going to pay my kid’s college education, take a look and see who is that’s fighting for you and your kids, and who is it that’s not. Because if there are no consequences, then this kind of irresponsible behavior continues on the part of members of Congress. So I ran for this office to help more young people go to college, graduate, and pay off their debt. And we’ve made some really good progress despite the best efforts of some in Congress to block that progress. Think about how much more we could do if they were not standing in the way. This week, they have a chance to help millions of young people. I hope they do. You should let them know you are watching and paying attention to what they do. If they do not look out for you, and then throw up a whole bunch of arguments that are meant to obfuscate -- meaning confuse, rather than to clarify and illuminate -- (laughter) -- then you should call them to account. And in the meantime, I’m going to take these actions today on behalf of all these young people here, and every striving young American who shares my belief that this is a place where you can still make it if you try. Thank you, everybody. God bless you. God bless America. Presidential Memorandum -- Federal Student Loan Repayments
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 9, 2014 Attached is a memorandum from the President for the Secretary of the Treasury and the Secretary of Education concerning Federal student loan repayments. THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary For Immediate Release June 9, 2014 June 9, 2014 MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY SUBJECT: Helping Struggling Federal Student Loan Borrowers THE SECRETARY OF EDUCATION Manage Their Debt A college education is the single most important investment that Americans can make in their futures. College remains a good investment, resulting in higher earnings and a lower risk of unemployment. Unfortunately, for many low- and middle-income families, college is slipping out of reach. Over the past three decades, the average tuition at a public four-year college has more than tripled, while a typical family's income has increased only modestly. More students than ever are relying on loans to pay for college. Today, 71 percent of those earning a bachelor's degree graduate with debt, which averages $29,400. While most students are able to repay their loans, many feel burdened by debt, especially as they seek to start a family, buy a home, launch a business, or save for retirement. Over the past several years, my Administration has worked to ensure that college remains affordable and student debt is manageable, including through raising the maximum Pell Grant award by nearly $1,000, creating the American Opportunity Tax Credit, and expanding access to student loan repayment plans, where monthly obligations are calibrated to a borrower's income and debt. These income-driven repayment plans, like my Pay As You Earn plan, which caps a Federal student loan borrower's payments at 10 percent of income, can be an effective tool to help individuals manage their debt, and pursue their careers while avoiding consequences of defaulting on a Federal student loan, such as a damaged credit rating, a tax refund offset, or While my Administration has made significant strides in expanding repayment options available to borrowers and building awareness of income-driven repayment plans, more needs to be done. Currently, not all student borrowers of Federal Direct Loans can cap their monthly loan payments at 10 percent of income, and too many struggling borrowers are still unaware of the options available to them to help responsibly manage their Therefore, by the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, I hereby direct the following: 2 Section 1. Expanding the President's Pay As You Earn Plan to More Federal Direct Loan Borrowers. Within 1 year after the date of this memorandum, the Secretary of Education shall propose regulations that will allow additional students who borrowed Federal Direct Loans to cap their Federal student loan payments at 10 percent of their income. The Secretary shall seek to target this option to those borrowers who would otherwise struggle to repay their loans. The Secretary shall issue final regulations in a timely fashion after considering all public comments, as appropriate, with the goal of making the repayment option available to borrowers by December 31, 2015. Sec. 2. Improving Communication Strategies to Help Vulnerable Borrowers. By December 31, 2014, the Secretary of Education shall develop, evaluate, and implement new targeted strategies to reach borrowers who may be struggling to repay their Federal student loans to ensure that they have the information they need to select the best repayment option and avoid future default. In addition to focusing on borrowers who have fallen behind on their loan payments, the Secretary's effort shall focus on borrowers who have left college without completing their education, borrowers who have missed their first loan payment, and borrowers (especially those with low balances) who have defaulted on their loans to help them rehabilitate their loans with income-based monthly payments. The Secretary of Education shall incorporate data analytics into the communications efforts and evaluate these new strategies to identify areas for improvement and build on Sec. 3. Encouraging Support and Awareness of Repayment Options for Borrowers During Tax Filing Season. By September 30, 2014, the Secretary of the Treasury and the Secretary of Education shall invite private-sector entities to enter into partnerships to better educate borrowers about income-based repayment plans during the tax filing season in 2015. Building off of prior work, the Secretaries shall further develop effective ways to inform borrowers about their repayment options during the tax filing season in 2015, as well as through personalized financial management tools. Sec. 4. Promoting Stronger Collaboration to Ensure That Students and Their Families Have the Information They Need to Make Informed Borrowing Decisions. By September 30, 2014, the Secretary of Education, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, shall develop a pilot project to test the effectiveness of loan counseling resources, including the Department of Education's Financial Awareness Counseling Tool. The Secretary of Education shall convene higher education experts and student-debt researchers to identify ways to evaluate and strengthen loan counseling for Federal student loan borrowers. Additionally, the Secretaries shall collaborate with organizations representing students, teachers, nurses, social workers, entrepreneurs, and business owners, among others, to help borrowers represented by these organizations learn more about the repayment options that are available to them in financing their investment in higher education and managing their debt, and to provide more comparative, customized resources to those borrowers when possible. 3 Sec. 5. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this memorandum shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect: (i) the authority granted by law to an agency, or the head thereof; or (ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals. (b) This memorandum shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of (c) This memorandum is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person. (d) The Secretary of Education is hereby authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the Federal Register. BARACK OBAMA In-town pool #1
The pooler wrote "POTUS arrives in east room at 1:47 to announce new student loan reforms. The room is packed, with the "opportunity for all" slogan on a large TV screen on stage. Also a small desk complete with presidential seal, presumably where POTUS will sign today's memorandum. See White House fact sheet from earlier today for more specifics. Remarks are open press, and being streamed online..." The pooler continued " -background from White House officials on today's event, including on Andy McCracken, who spoke for about 3 minutes before introducing the president. Andy MacCracken, Introducer Andy has federal loans spanning from March 2008 to March 2014. He graduated with a BA in 2011 with $27,000 in student loan debt. He went immediately into graduate studies and recently completed his MPA with an additional $48,000 in student loan debt. He currently owes $75,116 in federal student loans (before interest). His consolidated interest rate is 6.1%. He would owe $837 a month under standard repayment, but PAYE will reduce his monthly payments to $204. He enters repayment in November 2014. He is executive director at the National Campus Leadership Council. Members of Congress expected to attend include: · Senator Elizabeth Warren · Rep. Jim Clyburn · Rep. Tim Bishop · Rep. G. K. Butterfield · Rep. Joe Courtney · Rep. Rubén Hinojosa · Rep. John Tierney _FACTSHEET: Making Student Loans More Affordable
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 9, 2014 President Obama declared 2014 a year of action – vowing to use the power of his pen and phone to help ensure that hardworking Americans have the opportunity to succeed. And this week will be no different. With a focus on supporting hardworking Americans and upholding our country’s commitment to provide a quality education for all of our students, the President is again taking action. Today, he will deliver remarks at the White House, announcing new executive actions to further lift the burden of crushing student loan debt, including a Presidential Memorandum that will allow an additional 5 million borrowers with federal student loans to cap their monthly payments at just 10 percent of their income. A fact sheet detailing these new steps is below. Tomorrow the President will do a live Q and A with Tumblr, answering questions directly from consumers across the country about this crucial issue. At both of those events, and throughout this week ahead of their upcoming vote, the President will use every opportunity to urge Congress to do their part by passing Senate Democrats’ bill to help more young people save money by refinancing their federal student loans. From reforming the student loan system and increasing Pell Grants to offering millions of students the opportunity to cap their monthly student loan payments at 10 percent of their income, making a degree more affordable and accessible has been a longtime priority for the President. But he knows there is much more work to do and that’s what this week is all about. FACTSHEET: Making Student Loans More Affordable A postsecondary education is the single most important investment that Americans can make in their futures. Higher education results in higher earnings and a lower risk of unemployment, but for too many low- and middle-income families this essential rung on the ladder to opportunity and advancement is slipping out of reach. Over the past three decades, the average tuition at a public four-year college has more than tripled, while a typical family's income has barely budged. More students than ever are relying on loans to pay for college. Today, 71 percent of those earning a bachelor’s degree graduate with debt, which averages $29,400. While most students are able to repay their loans, many feel burdened by debt, especially as they seek to start a family, buy a home, launch a business, or save for retirement. The President and his Administration have a long track record of taking steps to make college more affordable and accessible for families. And as part of his year of action to expand opportunity for all Americans, the President is committed to building on these efforts by using his pen and his phone to make student debt more affordable and more manageable to repay. Today the President will use the power of his pen to help millions of borrowers afford their student loan payments. He will sign a new Presidential Memorandum directing the Secretary of Education to propose regulations that would allow nearly 5 million additional federal direct student loan borrowers the opportunity to cap their student loan payments at 10 percent of their income. The Presidential Memorandum also outlines a series of new executive actions aimed to support federal student loan borrowers, especially for vulnerable borrowers who may be at greater risk of defaulting on their loans. Today the President will also reiterate his call for the Senate to pass legislation that could help an estimated 25 million Americans refinance outstanding student loans at lower interest rates, the same as those available to federal student loan borrowers taking out loans this year. This move could save a typical student $2,000 over the life of his or her loans. The Challenge of Student Debt: The challenges of managing student loan debt can lead some borrowers to fall behind on their loan payments and in some cases even default on their debt obligation, with such consequences as a damaged credit rating, losing their tax refund, or garnished wages. Because credit ratings are increasingly scrutinized in making employment offers, financing a home, or even opening a bank account, a damaged credit rating can further reduce borrowers’ ability to repay their loans. Today’s actions build on the Administration’s significant progress in creating flexible repayment options for borrowers and raising awareness about the steps borrowers can take to responsibly manage their debt. Capping Student Loan Payments at 10 Percent of Income: Today, the President will direct the Secretary of Education to ensure that student loans remain affordable for all who borrowed federal direct loans as students by allowing them cap their payments at 10 percent of their monthly incomes. The Department will begin the process to amend its regulations this fall with a goal of making the new plan available to borrowers by December 2015. With legislation passed by Congress and signed by the President in 2010 and regulations adopted by the Administration in 2012, most students taking out loans today can already cap their loan payments at 10 percent of their incomes. Monthly payments will be set on a sliding scale based upon income. Any remaining balance is forgiven after 20 years of payments, or 10 years for those in public service jobs. However, this Pay As You Earn (PAYE) option is not available to students with older loans (those who borrowed before October 2007 or who have not borrowed since October 2011), although they can access similar, less generous options. No existing repayment options will be affected, and the new repayment proposal will also aim to include new features to target the plan to struggling borrowers. This executive action is expected to help up to 5 million borrowers who may be struggling with student loans today. For students that need to borrow to finance college, PAYE provides an important assurance that student loan debt will remain manageable. Because the PAYE plan is based in part on a borrower’s income after leaving school, it shares with students the risk of taking on debt to invest in higher education. Many student loan borrowers are working and trying to responsibly make their monthly payments, but are nonetheless struggling with burdensome debt. For example, a 2009 graduate earning about $39,000 a year as a fourth year teacher, with student loan debt of $26,500, would have his or her initial monthly payments reduced by $126 under the President’s Pay As You Earn plan compared with monthly payments under the standard repayment plan and would see a reduction in annual loan payments of over $1,500. Doing All We Can to Help Students Repay their Loans: The President today will also direct the Secretaries of Education and the Treasury to work together to do all they can to help borrowers manage their student loan debts. Specifically, the Departments will: 1) Strengthen Incentives for Loan Contractors to Serve Students Well: The Department of Education administers the federal student loan program through performance-based contracts with private companies awarded through a competitive process. Rather than specifying every step of the servicing process, as was done in the guaranteed loan program that ended in 2010, these contracts provide companies with incentives to find new and innovative ways to best serve students and taxpayers and to ensure that borrowers are repaying their loans. Today, the Department announced that it will renegotiate its contracts with federal loan servicers to strengthen financial incentives to help borrowers repay their loans on time, lower payments for servicers when loans enter delinquency or default, and increase the value of borrowers’ customer satisfaction when allocating new loan volume. These changes will improve the way that servicers are compensated to better ensure high-quality servicing for student loan borrowers. 2) Ensure Active-Duty Military Get the Relief They Are Entitled to: The Servicemember Civil Relief Act requires all lenders to cap interest rates on student loans – including federal student loans -- at 6 percent for eligible servicemembers. The Department of Education already directs its loan servicers to match their student borrower portfolios against the Department of Defense’s database to identify eligible active-duty servicemembers. Now, the Department of Education will reduce those interest rates automatically for those eligible without the need for additional paperwork. It will also provide additional guidance to Federal Family Education Loan program servicers to provide for a similar streamlined process. 3) Work with the Private Sector to Promote Awareness of Repayment Options: The Secretary of the Treasury and the Secretary of Education will work with Intuit, Inc. and H&R Block, two of the U.S.’s largest tax preparation firms, to communicate information about federal student loan repayment options with millions of borrowers during the tax filing process — a time when people are thinking about their finances. The Administration is continuing its partnership with Intuit. through its TurboTax product, which serves around 28 million tax filers. The Administration will also form a new partnership with H&R Block, serving approximately 15 million tax filers through its 11,000 retail locations, and an additional 7 million tax filers through its digital tax products. Partnerships like these will give us the opportunity to provide information about federal student loan repayment, building upon our work during the most recent tax season by exploring different messages and the timing of information to best help borrowers in evaluating their federal loan repayment options. In addition, the Administration will work with Intuit to explore ways to communicate with federal student loan borrowers through Intuit’s free personal financial management product, Mint.com. Mint is used by 15 million people for financial management and advice, and partnering with Mint provides the opportunity to communicate with their 15 million users about income-driven repayment options. Mint includes the capability to provide personalized information about federal loan repayment options, based upon the information that a user has already provided to Mint. 4) Use Innovative Communication Strategies to Help Vulnerable Borrowers: Too many borrowers are still unaware of the flexible repayment options currently available to them, especially when they run into difficulties in managing their payments. The Department of Education is redoubling its efforts to identify borrowers who may be struggling to repay and provide them with timely information about their options supporting them through the repayment process and helping them avoid or get out of default. Last year, the Department’s efforts led to more than 124,000 borrowers enrolling in an income-driven repayment plan like Income-Based Repayment or the Pay As You Earn plan Moving forward, the Department of Education will test new ways to reach 2.5 million borrowers with the greatest risk of encountering payment difficulty, such as borrowers who have left college without completing their education, missed their first loan payment, and those who have defaulted on low balances loans to get them back on track with their loan payments. The Department will also evaluate these strategies to identify which can be used on a larger scale and which are the most effective. 5) Promote Stronger Collaborations to Improve Information for Students and Families: All student borrowers are required to receive loan counseling when they first borrow federal student loans and when they leave school, but little is known about the effectiveness of these programs. Working with student debt researchers and student advocates, the Department of Education and the Department of Treasury will also develop and launch a pilot project to test the effectiveness of loan counseling resources, including the Department of Education’s Financial Awareness Counseling Tool. The lessons learned will be considered for future actions by the Department and shared with outside partners like the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators to improve loan counseling activities at colleges and universities throughout the country. Another way to reach student borrowers is by working with professional associations to provide customized information about repayment options. Today, the Administration is announcing its commitment to work with the American Federation of Teachers, National Education Association, American Association of Colleges of Nursing, American Association of Nurse Practitioners, American Nurses Association, American Association of Physician Assistants, Business Forward, City Year, National Association of Social Workers, Physician Assistants Education Association, SEIU and the YMCA of the USA to provide comprehensive information about repayment options and federal student aid resources that are available to them. Moving forward, the Administration will continue to engage organizations, institutions of higher education, and others to ensure that all borrowers have access to the resources and information they need to responsibly manage the repayment of their student loans. Additional Actions to Reduce Indebtedness and Promote College Affordability: Helping Students and Families Access Education Tax Benefits. In addition to helping borrowers manage their student loan debt, the Department of Education and the Department of Treasury will also work together to educate students, families, financial aid administrators, and tax preparers to ensure that all students and families understand what education tax benefits they are eligible for and receive the benefits for which they qualify. In 2009, the President created the American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC), which provides up to $2,500 to help pay for each year of college. But the process of claiming education tax credits like the AOTC can be complex for many students, including for the 9 million students who receive Pell Grants, and hundreds of millions of dollars of education credits go unclaimed each year. To help address this complexity, the Department of Treasury will release a fact sheet clarifying how Pell Grant recipients may claim the AOTC. DAILY GUIDANCE FOR THE VICE PRESIDENT
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Vice President _______________________________________________________________________________________________________ FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 8, 2014 DAILY GUIDANCE FOR THE VICE PRESIDENT Monday, June 9, 2014 In the morning, the President and Vice President will receive the Presidential Daily Briefing in the Oval Office. At 1:15 PM, the Vice President will attend an event for Governor Maggie Hassan at The Willard Hotel. This event is closed press. Later in the afternoon, the Vice President will attend meetings at the White House. Planning Ahead Guidance: On Tuesday, June 10th, the Vice President will deliver remarks to the National Association of Manufacturers’ 2014 Manufacturing Summit at the Renaissance Hotel in Washington, DC. The Vice President’s remarks at this event are open press; DAILY GUIDANCE AND PRESS SCHEDULE FOR MONDAY, JUNE 9, 2014
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 8, 2014 DAILY GUIDANCE AND PRESS SCHEDULE FOR MONDAY, JUNE 9, 2014 In the morning, the President and Vice President will receive the Presidential Daily Briefing in the Oval Office. This meeting is closed press. Later in the morning, the President will join nurses from across the country to discuss the importance of passing commonsense immigration reform. This meeting is closed press. In the afternoon, the President will deliver remarks and sign a Presidential Memorandum on reducing the burden of student loan debt. This event in the East Room is open press. Following this event, the President will meet with governors of Western States to discuss wildfires via video teleconference. This meeting in the Situation Room is closed press. Later in the afternoon, the President will welcome the NCAA Champion UConn Huskies Men’s and Women’s Basketball teams to honor the teams and their 2014 NCAA Championships. This event in the East Room is open to pre-credentialed media. VP Travel Pool Report #9 -- refueling in Ireland
The pooler wrote "Air Force Two landed in Shannon, Ireland, at 8:41 p.m. local time. Refueling was the only order of business here. The hour-long break was spent in the airport terminal, where Vice President Biden enjoyed some duty-free shopping. He purchased a couple baseball caps, but the pool was not able to see much beyond the bright green color. As he left the duty-free shop, Biden said, "I always buy something for the grandkids." When he headed back to the plane, Biden greeted several airport workers, telling them that one advantage of being Irish is that the airport always remembers to get him ice cream. He reached into a plastic bag and showed them a small container of ice cream." WEEKEND GUIDANCE AND PRESS SCHEDULE FOR SATURDAY, JUNE 7, 2014 AND SUNDAY, JUNE 8, 2014
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 6, 2014 WEEKEND GUIDANCE AND PRESS SCHEDULE FOR SATURDAY, JUNE 7, 2014 AND SUNDAY, JUNE 8, 2014 On Saturday and Sunday, the President has no public events scheduled. Saturday’s In-Town Travel Pool Wires: AP, Reuters, Bloomberg Wire Photos: AP, Reuters, AFP TV Corr & Crew: FOX Print: Washington Examiner Radio: AURN Sunday’s In-Town Travel Pool Wires: AP, Reuters, Bloomberg Wire Photos: AP, Reuters, AFP TV Corr & Crew: NBC Print: Washington Post Radio: CBS Saturday, June 7, 2014 EDT 11:00AM In-Town Pool Call Time Sunday, June 8, 2014 EDT 11:00AM In-Town Pool Call Time Schedule for the Week of June 9, 2014 On Monday, the President will host an event on education at the White House. Later in the afternoon, the President will welcome the NCAA Champion UConn Huskies Men’s and Women’s Basketball teams to honor the teams and their 2014 NCAA Championships. On Tuesday, the President will take to Tumblr in an event at the White House moderated by Tumblr Founder and CEO David Karp. The President will deliver remarks and answer questions from folks across the country on the importance of education, college affordability, and reducing student loan debt. On Wednesday, President Obama will travel to Worcester, Massachusetts to deliver the commencement address at the Worcester Technical High School graduation ceremony. The President will also attend a DSCC event in the Boston area. Following the event, the President will return to Washington, DC. On Thursday, the President will hold a bilateral meeting Prime Minister Tony Abbott of Australia at the White House; the Vice President will also attend. The two leaders will discuss a range of issues of mutual interest, such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership, Australia's leadership of the G-20 this year, the future of Afghanistan, and the growing bilateral defense relationship, including the rotation of U.S. Marines through Darwin. They will also address some of the most serious security issues that confront both Australia and the United States, including Syria, Russia's actions in Ukraine, North Korea, and the security and stability of the Asia Pacific region. In the afternoon, the President will welcome the WNBA Champion Minnesota Lynx to the White House to honor the team and their victory in the WNBA Finals. On Friday, the President and the First Lady will travel to the Cannonball, North Dakota area to visit the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation. Following their visit to Indian Country, the President and the First Lady will travel to Palm Springs, CA. On Saturday, the President will deliver the commencement address at University of California, Irvine on the 50th anniversary of the dedication of the UC Irvine campus by President Lyndon B. Johnson. UC Irvine does outstanding work at the undergraduate and graduate level in science and research, humanities, and professional studies, and the President looks forward to speaking with the graduates in June. Following these events, he will return to Palm Springs, CA. The President and the First Lady will return to Washington, D.C on Monday. Statement on the Employment Situation in May
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 6, 2014 Statement on the Employment Situation in May WASHINGTON, DC – Jason Furman, Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers, issued the following statement today on the employment situation in May. You can view the statement HERE. Posted by Jason Furman on June 6, 2014 at 09:30 AM EDT Job growth exceeded 200,000 for the fourth straight month in May, and businesses have now added over a million jobs so far this year. This month’s report continued the trend of steady job growth. While the consistent pace of job gains means the economy has come a long way in recovering from the Great Recession, the President believes that more can and should be done to strengthen economic growth and expand economic opportunity. Continuing to press ahead using his executive authority wherever possible, the President will hold events next week focused on ways to take action to improve college affordability and support working families. FIVE KEY POINTS IN TODAY’S REPORT FROM THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS 1. The private sector has added 9.4 million jobs over 51 straight months of job growth. Today we learned that total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 217,000 in May, mainly reflecting a 216,000 increase in private employment, slightly above the 197,000 average pace over the last twelve months. The three-month moving average of 229,000 is the highest in over a year. 2. Nominal hourly earnings rose 2.4 percent over the twelve months ending in May, up from 1.9 percent over the preceding twelve month period, and likely continued to exceed year-over-year inflation. The average production and nonsupervisory worker made $20.54 an hour in May (nominal), and data on real wages will be available with the release of the consumer price index for May on June 15. While the real wage gains seen in recent months are an important sign of progress, there is still a long way to go to make up for the years of stagnation that preceded the financial crisis. The President continues to push for steps that would raise wages, including an increase in the minimum wage that many states and companies have already decided to undertake. 3. The unemployment rate for construction workers has been cut in half from its peak, but remains elevated, an important signal that underutilized resources still remain in the construction sector. Over the last 12 months, the unemployment rate in the construction sector has averaged 10.0 percent, down from a peak of over 20 percent in 2010, but above its average of 9.3 percent in 2002-2003. In addition, the twelve month moving average of the unemployment rate for construction workers is 3.7 percentage points above the overall unemployment rate. The gap between these two rates averaged 3.0 percentage points in 2002-2003. The President continues to push for investments in infrastructure that would further reduce unemployment in the construction sector and strengthen the economy in the near term, while making it more productive over the long run. 4. The unemployment rate for college graduates age 25 and older was 3.2 percent in May, compared to 6.5 percent for workers with only a high school diploma. While unemployment rates continue to trend down for workers of all educational backgrounds, the economic benefits of going to college remain substantial. On Monday, the President will hold an event at the White House to discuss steps to make college more accessible and affordable, a key element of the President’s broader agenda to act where he can to expand economic opportunity. 5. The pattern of job growth across industries in May was very consistent with recent trends. Looking across the 17 industries shown below, the correlation between the most recent one-month percent change and the average percent change over the last 12 months was 0.86, suggesting that job growth in May does not appear to reflect any outlier performance in a single industry or handful of industries. Health care and social assistance had a stronger-than-average month, adding 55,000 jobs, as did transportation and warehousing, which added 16,000 jobs. Job growth in most other industries was squarely within the range observed over the course of the recovery. As the Administration stresses every month, the monthly employment and unemployment figures can be volatile, and payroll employment estimates can be subject to substantial revision. Therefore, it is important not to read too much into any one monthly report and it is informative to consider each report in the context of other data that are becoming available. Remarks by Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and Dr. Biden
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary _________________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release June 5, 2014 REMARKS BY SECRETARY OF EDUCATION ARNE DUNCAN AND DR. JILL BIDEN Roosevelt Room 11:07 A.M. EDT SECRETARY DUNCAN: We just appreciate you folks making an effort. It’s a really interesting group of people; different backgrounds, different experiences, but with a sort of shared passion to figure out what we as a country can do to make college both more accessible and more affordable. And what you all recognize is that going to college has never been more important than it is today; unfortunately, it’s also never been more expensive. And somehow we have to find ways to reduce that. And we’re working on lots of stuff, as are many of you, and give you -- have you give us your best thinking -- obviously, if you tell us what we need to hear, not what we want to hear. And the President, the Vice President, the First Lady, Dr. Biden, this is one where -- the highest levels of the White House. It’s this huge passion and commitment. As Dr. Biden said, she has been teaching for a couple of decades now. That’s where her heart is. (Laughter.) That’s where her passion is. She hasn’t taken the easiest of jobs. She’s taught in therapeutic situations, she’s taught in prisons, she teaches at a community college. This is her passion. This is her life’s work. As I always say, she could be spending all her time at fancy parties and fancy lunches, and she teaches students every single day. So we’re so lucky to have someone of her passion and commitment work on this every single day. I’ll turn it over to her then we’ll go to Dexter, and we’ll just sort of open it up and get folks thinking. Dr. Biden. DR. BIDEN: Thanks. I leave all the fancy parties to Arne. (Laughter.) SECRETARY DUNCAN: I wish. I wish. (Laughter.) DR. BIDEN: Well, hello, everyone. And it’s my pleasure to welcome everybody here to the White House. And as a lifelong educator -- I like that a little better. (Laughter.) SECRETARY DUNCAN: I’ll work it out. I owe you one. (Laughter.) DR. BIDEN: Anyway, I’ve seen firsthand the power, really, of college education, and -- as well as many barriers to success, as Arne talked about. And as I said, I teach full time at a community college in Northern Virginia. And really, my students are juggling a lot. They’re working full time, and balancing family and community obligations, along with taking classes. But I see over and over, they are so committed to furthering their education because they know it’s the way to a better life for themselves and for their families. And that’s why college affordability is so critical. And we need to make sure that there’s an affordable path to higher education for all, and not just a luxury for a few. And that’s why affordable student loans are essential. And over the past three decades, the average tuition at a public four-year college has more than tripled. The average undergraduate student who borrows for college graduates with almost $30,000 of debt. So we all agree -- all of us -- that we need to do more. And I’m proud to be part of an administration that has made college affordability a priority, reforming the student loan system and doubling the Pell grants. But we all know that we need to do more to make college affordable, and that’s why I’m so pleased to announce that the Senate Democrats are working on a proposal that would help more young people afford to repay college debt. We will also hear from -- this issue from the President on Monday. So together, we can do more to lift this burden off our students. I thank you all for being here, and I really look forward to hearing your stories. Dr. Biden pool report
The Pooler wrote "Second Lady Jill Biden and Education Secretary Arne Duncan hosted more than a dozen students, advocates and economists in the White House Roosevelt room this morning at 11 a.m. Eastern to discuss student loans and college affordability. The pool went in at 11 a.m. Attendees joined from organizations including Generation Progress, the United States Student Association, the Center for American Progress, Montgomery College, George Washington University, and The Institute for College Access and Success. Duncan made some comments before introducing Biden. “We all recognized that going to college has never been more important than it is today. Unfortunately it’s also never been more expensive. Somehow we have to find ways to reduce that,” Duncan said. “We’re working on lots of stuff… give us your best” ideas. “Tell us what we need to hear, not what we want to hear.” “The president, the vice president, the first lady, Dr. Biden … highest levels of the White House” are working on this issue. Biden described how her students at Northern Virginia Community College are juggling work, families and school, but are committed to getting an education and better life. “That’s why college affordability is so critical. And we need to make sure there’s an affordable path to higher education for all, and not just a luxury for a few. And that’s why affordable student loans are essential.” Biden then described how tuition and student loan volume has increased dramatically in recent years. “We all agree all of us that we need to do more and I’m proud to be part of this administration that has made college affordability a priority, reforming the student loan system and doubling Pell Grants but we all know that we need to do more.” “That’s why I’m so pleased to announce that the Senate Democrats are working on a proposal that would help more young people afford to repay college debt.” Dexter McCoy, a Boston University graduate and former student body president saddled with $30,000 in debt, then spoke about how he had to work to help his parents pay for tuition. “That was a very difficult decision and its’ something I’m going to have to work very hard to pay back.” “Throughout college I had to work to help my family with affording college.” “It’s the story of many people my age across the country,” he said. “It’s really important to me that the White House is taking steps to address this issue.” The pool left at about 11:06." White House Officials to Host Business Leaders, Researchers, Athletes and Dads for Event on Working Fathers
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 3, 2014 Monday, June 9: White House Officials to Host Business Leaders, Researchers, Athletes and Dads for Event on Working Fathers WASHINGTON, DC – On Monday, June 9, in the lead up to the White House Summit on Working Families, White House officials will host a day of discussion – the first of its kind at the White House – in the South Court Auditorium on the state of working dads today and how businesses have created win-win cultures to enable their working dads to be more involved parents and better employees. A number of leading experts, working dads, business leaders and Administration officials will share their insights as they explore the breadth of roles dads play today at home, the new challenges dads experience balancing career and family, and how both businesses and working families benefit from progressive workplace policies like paid parental leave and extensive workplace flexibility options. Chief of Staff Denis McDonough, Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx and Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers Jason Furman are among the Administration officials who will take part in the event. New York Mets second baseman Daniel Murphy will discuss why he decided to take paternity leave on opening day earlier this year to be with his wife for the birth of their first child and the support he received from his team and Major League Baseball. Businesses and officials will also discuss the business case for generous workplace flexibility and paid parental leave—how these benefits can boost profitability and reduce costs. The event, along with others across the country, will inform the June 23 White House Summit on Working Families by engaging groups and individuals to identify initiatives that benefit America’s working families, American businesses, and the American economy. In order to stay competitive, companies need to attract and retain the best talent, and policies that support working families are crucial to these goals. WHEN: Monday, June 9 at 9:00 AM ET WHERE: South Court Auditorium, Eisenhower Executive Office Building Remarks by the President with the "My Brother's Keeper" Task Force
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary For Immediate Release May 30, 2014 REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT WITH “MY BROTHER’S KEEPER” TASK FORCE Roosevelt Room 12:35 P.M. EDT THE PRESIDENT: Earlier this year, I launched something we’re calling “My Brother’s Keeper,” and I think that many of you recall me talking in very personal terms about someone who grew up without a father and made some mistakes when I was young, but benefitted from the love and attention and opportunities that were given to me during the course of growing up, and the fact that we have too many young men of color -- black boys and young men, Latino boys and young men -- who are adrift and don’t have those same opportunities and don’t have those same structures of support. The idea behind “My Brother’s Keeper” was that there are a lot of folks that want to do something, but we hadn’t created a platform, a mechanism to gather all those resources together, concentrate and focus on them, get good data, figure out what the best practices are, and then go out there and implement. And so what I did was assign a process for us to inventory everything that’s already being done to help young boys of color and men of color to succeed, to have every agency -- from Justice Department to Education to HUD to USDA -- look at how they could contribute to the process to make sure that we’ve got the best data possible, and then to report back to me so that we can have a plan of attack. Today, thanks to the good work of my Cabinet Secretary, who has been heading this up as well as our Deputy Secretary of Education -- Broderick Johnson and Jim Shelton, they’ve presented to me our report on what we need to be doing. And it is comprehensive and it goes -- everything from making sure that we’ve got better early childhood education to finding better ways to create apprenticeship programs and job-training programs and mentorship programs; how do we modify policies in schools where young men of color are being disproportionally suspended -- which we know results in higher dropout rates, which we know results potentially in them ending up in the prison system -- all the way to how do we deal with young people who have gotten into trouble with the law but can be redeemed if we have effective ways of reaching them. With this task force report, we’re now looking to implement. And we’re partnering with philanthropies, we’re partnering with businesses, we’re partnering with community organizations and non-governmental organizations that are already doing great jobs on the ground but feel isolated and disconnected from other efforts in other places. And the goal then is going to be for us over the course of the next couple years to really put in place not only an all-hands-on-deck effort on the federal level, but a partnership with the private sector so that we can see some concrete outcomes. And we’ve already got enormous enthusiasm from mayors around the country, many of whom tell us that this is the single-most important priority that they have in ensuring that their cities will thrive. We’ve got businesses who are saying, we know this is going to be the workforce of the future, and if we do not address this demographic, our companies aren’t going to prosper and the American economy as a whole is not going to grow as quickly as it could. We know that there is enormous enthusiasm from faith-based groups that feel as if they’re laboring out there on their own and want to connect up with others. We know that our national service programs have real interest in figuring out how this works. So you’re going to see a rollout over the next several weeks of some very specific commitments that have already been made. We have benefited from input from a whole range of sources. There have been listening tours that Broderick and Jim have conducted in cities all across the country. I want to thank the CEO of Deloitte, Joe Echevarria, as well as Magic Johnson, who are going to be leading an external push to get more folks on board. And I also want to thank members of Congress who have given us some great input, as well. One of the big pushes we’re going to make because of the timing is on summer jobs. And already we’re seeing I think a much greater sense of urgency this summer about putting these young people in opportunities where they can learn the basic skills that they’re going to need to get attached to the labor market. So overall, I’m very happy with the report. We’ll give the press the report and our executive summary to see the very specific steps, the things that we know are going to work. And we are going to be rolling out over the next several weeks more specifics about commitments that we’ve obtained, and you can expect over the course of the next year, you’re going to be getting more news from us about the successes that we’re achieving and the lessons that we’ve learned. But the bottom line is this: As we approach Father’s Day, I’m just reminded that I am only here because a bunch of folks invested in me. We’ve got a huge number of kids out there who have as much talent, and more talent than I had, but nobody is investing in them. And I want to make sure that I use this platform, and every Cabinet member here wants to make sure that they use the tools that they’ve got, so that these young men, young boys, know somebody cares about them, somebody is thinking about them, and that they can succeed, and making America stronger as a consequence. Thank you very much, everybody. WHITE HOUSE POOL REPORT MY BROTHER'S KEEPER
Pool entered the Roosevelt Room at 12:35 for a 7-minute spray at the bottom of the President's meeting with the My Brother's Keeper task force, which was designed to provide him with a 90-day report on the group's progress. The President was seated at a table with members of the task force, between Attorney General Eric Holder and Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett. He opened his remarks by recalling growing up without a father, yet benefitting from "love and opportunities" from others. He lamented that too man black and Latino young men "are adrift" without similar support. He said, "There are a lot of folks that want to do something" to remedy that, and that the initial work of the My Brother's Keeper task force was to inventory data and best practices regarding how to accomplish that goal. He noted the involvement of multiple agencies, and acknowledged Broderick Johnson's and Jim Shelton's work on what he called a "comprehensive report on what we need to be doing." He specifically mentioned job training, mentorship, and the modification of school policies under which young men of color are disproportionate suspended. The goal of My Brother's Keeper, over "over the next couple of years," he said, will be to put in place "an all hands on deck effort." He cited "enormous enthusiasm from faith based groups," the business community, and national service programs, for the work of the initiative. He announced that the CEO of Deloitte and Magic Johnson would be "leading an external push to get more folks on board," and that members of Congress would also be involved in this effort. He also forecasted a focus on the creation of summer jobs for young people. "Overall I'm very happy with the report," Obama said. "We're going to be rolling out over the next couple of weeks more specifics about commitments we've obtained." He closed his remarks by saying, "As we approach Father's Day, I'm just reminded that I'm only here because a bunch of folks invested in me," and saying he hoped to use his platform to make sure that "these young men and young boys know someone is thinking of them and someone cares about them and they can succeed." He did not respond to questions shouted as the pool was escorted out at 12:42. meeting participants From a White House official, the following is a list of participants in today's My Brother's Keeper meeting: Education Secretary Arne Duncan Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker OPM Director Katherine Archuleta CNCS CEO Wendy Spencer DPC Director Cecilia Muñoz NEC Director Jeff Zients Labor Secretary Tom Perez Attorney General Eric Holder Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack OMB Deputy Director Brian Deese HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan Education Deputy Secretary Jim Shelton Cabinet Secretary Broderick Johnson Valerie Jarrett, Senior Advisor CEA Member Betsey Stevenson UPDATE 3: DAILY GUIDANCE AND PRESS SCHEDULE FOR FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2014
UPDATE 3: Briefing Schedule 1:30PM Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jay Carney UPDATE 2: Later in the morning, the President will deliver a statement in the Brady Press Briefing Room. This statement is open press. Afterward, the President will meet with the My Brother’s Keeper Task Force to receive a 90-day report on its progress. There will be a pool spray at the bottom of this meeting in the Roosevelt Room. 11:15AM THE PRESIDENT delivers a statement Brady Press Briefing Room Open Press 11:30AM THE PRESIDENT meets with the My Brother’s Keeper Task Force Roosevelt Room Pool Spray at the bottom (Final Gather 11:45AM – Brady Press Briefing Room) FACT SHEET & REPORT: Opportunity for All: My Brother’s Keeper Blueprint for Action
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 30, 2014 FACT SHEET & REPORT: Opportunity for All: My Brother’s Keeper Blueprint for Action Please find attached the My Brother’s Keeper Task Force Report to the President. Over the past five years, the hard work and grit of the American people pulled our economy back from the brink of collapse. We are now moving forward again. But there is more work to do, and for decades opportunity has lagged behind for some, including millions of boys and young men of color. Boys of color are too often born into poverty and live with a single parent. And while their gains contributed to the national high school graduation rate reaching an all-time high, in some school districts dropout rates remain high. Too many of these boys and young men will have negative interactions with the juvenile and criminal justice system, and the dream of a college education is within grasp for too few. Our society can and will do more to help remove barriers to all young people’s success, because America prospers not only when hard work and responsibility are rewarded but also when we all pull forward together. Rebuilding that core American value—community—is why the President launched My Brother’s Keeper, an initiative designed to determine what works to help young people stay on track to reach their full potential. The Administration is doing its part by identifying programs and policies that work, and recommending action that will help all our young people succeed. Since the launch of My Brother’s Keeper, the President’s Task Force has met with and heard from thousands of Americans, through online and in-person listening sessions, who are already taking action. Cities and towns, businesses, foundations, faith leaders and individuals have made commitments to helping youth get a strong start in school and life and later connect them to mentoring, support networks and specialized skills they need to find a good job or go to college and work their way up into the middle class. As President Obama has said, “We are stronger when America fields a full team.” Today, the President met with his Cabinet to discuss the Task Force’s initial assessments and recommendations and the President called on the American people to get engaged through mentorship opportunities nationwide. Call to Action The President is calling on Americans interested in getting involved in My Brother’s Keeper to sign up as long-term mentors to young people at WH.gov/mybrotherskeeper. This effort will engage Americans from all walks of life to sign up to develop sustained and direct mentoring relationships that will play vital roles in the lives of young people. It is important that all children have caring adults who are engaged in their lives. But too many young people lack this support. For example, roughly two-thirds of Black and one-third of Hispanic children live with only one parent. Moreover, research suggests that a father's absence increases the risk of his child dropping out of school among Blacks and Hispanics by 75 percent and 96 percent respectively. We see significant high school dropout rates—as high as 50 percent in some school districts—including among boys and young men from certain Southeast Asian and Pacific Islander populations. And some 27 percent of American Indians and Alaska Natives live in poverty, compared to 11.6% of White Americans. Presidential Task Force 90-Day Report As part of its 90-day report, the Task Force has identified a set of initial recommendations to the President, and a blueprint for action by government, business, non-profit, philanthropic, faith and community partners. In developing its recommendations, the Task Force identified key milestones in the path to adulthood that are especially predictive of later success, and where interventions can have the greatest impact: 1. Getting a healthy start and entering school ready to learn; 2. Reading by third grade; 3. Graduating from high school ready for college and career; 4. Completing post-secondary education or training; 5. Entering the workforce; 6. Keeping kids on track and giving them second chances. By focusing on these key moments, and helping our young people avoid roadblocks that hinder progress across life stages, we can help ensure that all children and young people have the tools they need to build successful lives. Focused on areas of action that can improve outcomes at these key moments, the President’s Task Force today presented him with recommendations including: Cross-Cutting Recommendations · Launch a public-private campaign to actively recruit mentors for youth and improve the quality of mentoring programs. · Make the status and progress of boys and young men of color and other populations more visible by improving data collection and transparency. A Healthy Start and Ready for School · Eliminate suspensions and expulsions in preschool and other early learning settings. Reading at Grade Level by the End of Third Grade · Close the word gap by launching a public and private initiative to increase joint and independent reading time outside of school and build a reading culture in more homes. Graduating From High School · Increase focus on transforming the schools and districts producing the majority of the country's dropouts. Completing Post-Secondary Education or Training · Increase college completion by expanding students’ access to and successful completion of rigorous courses, such as Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate and dual enrollment options in high school. Entering the Workforce · Increase awareness about youth summer employment and use of pre-apprenticeships as good entry-level jobs. Reducing Violence and Providing a Second Chance · Institutionalize community oriented policing practices in the field and employ methods to address racial and ethnic bias within the juvenile and criminal justice systems. The recommendations identified by the President’s Task Force mark the starting point of what must and will be a long-term effort. The Task Force and public, private and philanthropic actors will continue to develop recommendations and support community solutions well beyond this 90-day progress report. In addition to today’s announcements, in coming weeks and months, leading foundations will independently announce specific commitments to help ensure young people can succeed. The following foundations will together seek to invest at least $200 million: The Annie E. Casey Foundation, The Atlantic Philanthropies, Bloomberg Philanthropies, The California Endowment, The Ford Foundation, The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, The Open Society Foundations, The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, The W.K. Kellogg Foundation, The Kapor Center for Social Impact, and the Nathan Cummings Foundation. DAILY GUIDANCE AND PRESS SCHEDULE FOR FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2014
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 29, 2014 DAILY GUIDANCE AND PRESS SCHEDULE FOR FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2014 In the morning, the President will meet with the My Brother’s Keeper Task Force to receive a 90-day report on its progress. There will be a stills only pool spray of this meeting in the Roosevelt Room. In the afternoon, the President and the Vice President will meet for lunch in the Private Dining Room. This lunch is closed press. Later in the afternoon, the President will attend a hurricane preparedness meeting at FEMA Headquarters. There will be a pool pray at the top of this meeting. EDT 9:30AM In-Town Travel Pool Call Time 11:00AM THE PRESIDENT meets with the My Brother’s Keeper Task Force Roosevelt Room Stills Only Pool Spray (Final Gather 10:40AM – Brady Press Briefing Room) WH Print Pool report #4 - Hillary Clinton Lunch
People Magazine's White House correspondent was asked to delete their tweet on Ms. Clinton's lunch with Mr. Obama. The lunch was not on Mr. Obama's schedule. Pooler wrote "The White House confirmed that Hillary Clinton had lunch with President Obama today after People magazine tweeted about the meeting - a tweet that has since been deleted. "The President enjoyed an informal, private lunch with Secretary Clinton at the White House this afternoon," a White House official said on background in a response to an inquiry from your pooler. The pooler lodged a complaint about the lack of transparency on the meeting with White House Press Secretary Jay Carney. The lunch was not on the president's public schedule. WHITE HOUSE POOL REPORT
White House poolers share the worlds we dream of. We live the occasion through their eyes. Pooler wrote "Obama says he's probably had "mild" concussions President Obama says he probably had multiple "mild" concussions when he played sports - and didn't think anything of it at the time. Obama spoke for about 15 minutes in the East Room about the dangers of concussions, urging caution and highlighting new research efforts into brain injuries. But Obama also encouraged kids and parents to continue to engage in sports. The remarks were open press. I'll note that I had a good view of one of the president's teleprompters and he frequently went off-script, including when he talked about multiple times playing sports when he got a ringing in his ears, which he said might have been "a mild concussion" that he didn't think about at the time. After the president ended his remarks, a discussion panel began. Pam Oliver started it off with a question on whether people should say "mild concussion." The president was introduced by Victoria Bellucci. Background from the WH: Bellucci is a 2014 graduate of Huntingtown High school in Huntingtown, Maryland. Bellucci played four years of women's varsity soccer where she was a team captain and an All-State selection. By the time her high school and club soccer careers ended in 2013, Bellucci had suffered five concussions. The effects of her injuries disturbed Bellucci's academic and social well-being, and eventually caused her to turn down a full-ride scholarship to play soccer at Towson University. Bellucci will attend Flagler College in Florida this fall, and will be joined tomorrow by her parents Gigi and Conte. Some details on the attendees for Obama's concussion speech: Reps. Joyce Beatty, D-Ohio, Bill Pascrell, D-N.J., and Leonard Lance R-N.J., and Tim Bishop, D-N.Y. all sat in the front row. NIH director Francis Collins was also in the front row. More info from the White House on the concussion panel that followed: White House Healthy Kids & Safe Sports Concussion Summit Panel Pam Oliver, Moderator Pam Oliver is an NFL on FOX Reporter. Pam joined the NFL on FOX team in 1995 and contributes feature stories and sideline reports for "FOX NFL Sunday." A native of Texas, Pam was a high school and college athlete, including being recognized in the Florida A&M Sports Hall of Fame. Gerard A. Gioia Dr. Gioia is the Chief of the Division of Pediatric Neuropsychology at Children’s National Medical Center, where he directs the SCORE Concussion Program. He also is Professor of Pediatrics and Psychiatry at the George Washington University School of Medicine. He has been the principal investigator of several studies of pediatric mild traumatic brain injury and worked with the CDC on their “Heads Up” concussion educational toolkits for healthcare professionals, parents, children, coaches and school personnel. He works with the Washington Capitals and Baltimore Ravens, and consults with youth sports in ice hockey, lacrosse, football, rugby, and soccer. He is a father of three children, who are now young adults, all of whom were active in various youth sports. R. Dawn Comstock Dr. Comstock runs the national high school sports injury surveillance program called High School RIO. She is an associate professor at the Colorado School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology and the University of Colorado School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics and a member of the Pediatric Injury Prevention, Education, and Research (PIPER) program. Dr. Comstock and her team analyze High School RIO data to describe the rates, patterns and trends of high school sports-related injuries, including concussions. This analysis is a first step toward the development, implementation and evaluation of evidence-based, targeted prevention programs and interventions to reduce the number and/or severity of injuries among high school athletes. General Raymond Odierno General Odierno is the Chief of Staff of the United States Army. He has over 38 years of service. Since 2001, General Odierno has commanded the 4th Infantry Division, leading the division during Operation Iraqi Freedom. He also served as the Commanding General, Multi-National Corps-Iraq (III Corps) as the operational commander of the surge of forces. Later, he served as the Commanding General, Multi-National Force-Iraq and subsequently United States Forces-Iraq. From October 2010 until August 2011, he was the Commander of United States Joint Forces Command. General Odierno has three children and four grandchildren. He played football in high school, baseball at West Point, and is a lifelong sports fan. Taylor Twellman Taylor Twellman is a former professional soccer player and current ESPN analyst. Twellman was major league soccer’s MVP in 2005, but retired from soccer after suffering lingering concussion symptoms following a collision with a goalkeeper. Twellman played for the New England Revolution professional soccer team. He has started the foundation ThinkTaylor.Org to create social change around Traumatic Brain Injuries, by generating increased awareness, recognition and education. The ThinkTaylor Foundation envisions a safe and healthy environment by providing compassion and support to those affected by Traumatic Brain Injuries. LaVar Arrington LaVar Arrington is a former NFL linebacker with and three-time Pro Bowler. Arrington played professionally for six seasons in Washington and one season for the New York Giants. Prior to his time as an NFL player, Arrington played college football at Penn State University where he was a two-time All-American. After retiring from football, Arrington worked on pregame and postgame shows for Comcast SportsNet and Washington Post Live, as well as a weekly radio talk show in Washington, DC. Arrington is currently an NFL Ambassador for Heads Up Football which teaches youth football players the safe way to play the game. Arrington and his wife, Trishia, live in Maryland with their three children." Remarks by the President at the Healthy Kids and Safe Sports Concussion Summit
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release May 29, 2014 REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT AT THE HEALTHY KIDS AND SAFE SPORTS CONCUSSION SUMMIT East Room 11:19 A.M. EDT THE PRESIDENT: As a dad, when you -- Tori’s parents are here. And I have to imagine they are awfully proud of this remarkable young lady, and we really appreciate you taking the time to introduce me. I want to welcome everybody here to the White House. I want to thank members of Congress, who are here. We’ve got leaders from America’s sports and medical communities, especially young people here like Tori, who did such a great job sharing her story today. All across the country, there are millions of young athletes just like Tori who spend their weekends and summers on baseball diamonds and soccer pitches. And they put in extra practice so they can make the varsity or maybe even earn a college scholarship. Most of them are not as good as Tori was at her sport. I certainly wasn’t -- although, I had the same enthusiasm. And for so many of our kids, sports aren’t just something they do; they’re part of their identity. They may be budding scientists or entrepreneurs or writers, but they’re also strikers and linebackers and point guards. And that’s a good thing. First of all, the First Lady thinks everybody needs to move. (Laughter.) And obviously there’s a huge public health interest in making sure that people are participating in sports. But sports is also just fundamental to who we are as Americans and our culture. We’re competitive. We’re driven. And sports teach us about teamwork and hard work and what it takes to succeed not just on the field but in life. And I was a basketball player -- as I said, not as good as Tori was at soccer. But I learned so many lessons playing sports that I carry on to this day, even to the presidency. And still, when I need to relax and clear my head, I turn to sports -- whether it’s a pick-up basketball game -- and I’m much slower than I was just last week -- (laughter) -- or more sedate pastimes like golf, or watching SportsCenter. And more than that, as a parent, Michelle and I have always encouraged our girls to play sports. One of the greatest transformations I think in our society has been how young women have been finally given the opportunity because of Title IX, and now you see just unbelievable women athletes who are getting the same exposure and experience and outlets for sports all across the country. And Malia and Sasha are part of that generation. They took for granted -- of course, we’re playing sports. And they played everything from soccer to basketball and tennis and track. So sports are important to our life as a family, just like they are for families all across the country. The reason we’re here today, though, is all across the country parents are also having a more troubling conversation, and that’s about the risks of concussions. There’s a lot of concern, but there’s a lot of uncertainty. And as Tori’s story suggests, concussions are not just a football issue. They don’t just affect grown men who choose to accept some risk to play a game that they love and that they excel at. Every season, you’ve got boys and girls who are getting concussions in lacrosse and soccer and wrestling and ice hockey, as well as football. And, in fact, the Center for Disease Control reports that in the most recent data that’s available to us, young people made nearly 250,000 emergency room visits with brain injuries from sports and recreation -- 250,000. That number obviously doesn’t include kids who see their family doctor or, as is typical, don’t seek any medical help. Before the awareness was out there, when I was young and played football briefly, there were a couple of times where I’m sure that that ringing sensation in my head and the need to sit down for a while might have been a mild concussion, and at the time you didn’t think anything of it. The awareness is improved today, but not by much. So the total number of young people who are impacted by this early on is probably bigger than we know. Now, I say this not to scare people. We want our kids participating in sports. I’d be much more troubled if young people were shying away from sports. As parents, though, we want to keep them safe, and that means we have to have better information. We have to know what these issues are. And the fact is, we don’t have solid numbers, and that tells me that at every level we’re all still trying to fully grasp what’s going on with this issue. Last fall, a comprehensive report found that there are too many gaps in the understanding of the effects and treatment for concussions. Researchers are still learning about the causes and consequences of these injuries. Communities are wondering how young it is to start tackle football, for example. Parents are wondering whether their kids are learning the right techniques, or wearing the best safety equipment, or whether they should sign up for -- to have their kids participate in any full-contact sports at all. We’ve got some outstanding scientists here today like Francis Collins, the head of the NIH. There may be tests that at some point we can do to see if there is a particular susceptibility to concussions. Some people’s brains may be more vulnerable to trauma than others are. We don’t know that yet, but there may be some evidence that is worth exploring. So with all of these questions swirling around, as a parent and as a fan, and in discussions with a lot of other parents and fans who happen to be in this White House, we decided why not use our convening power to help find some more answers. And today we’ve brought together the President of the NCAA, the MLS commissioner, senior leadership from the NHL, and US Soccer, and the NFL, and the NFL Players Association. We’ve also got some of the nation’s foremost brain experts. We’ve got doctors who work with kids every day from all over the country. We’ve got leaders in Pop Warner, and Little League, and Under Armour, and ESPN participating. And we’ve got members of Congress like Joyce Beatty, and Tim Bishop, and Bill Pascrell, all who have taken a great interest in this. And because we’re all here and are looking for information, even if we may not agree on everything, the one thing we can agree on is, is that sports are vital to this country and it’s a responsibility for us to make sure that young, talented kids like Tori are able to participate as safely as possible and that we are doing our job, both as parents and school administrators, coaches, to look after them the way they need to be looked after. That’s job number one. The good news is, across the country people eagerly signed up to participate here. They recognize this is an issue that is worth paying attention to. We’ve seen all 50 states pass laws requiring concussed athletes to get a medical clearance before they return to play. Folks from USA Hockey banned checking before 12 years old. In March, the NFL donated $45 million to USA Football for their Heads Up Football program, which emphasizes coach training and player safety. On our part, this administration -- the CDC has spearheaded a public awareness campaign for parents, and athletes, and coaches, and school staff called “Heads Up.” And you can check it out at CDC.gov/concussion. That’s where we’ve compiled a lot of the best information available for parents. And while the number of concussions reported among young athletes has risen over the past decade, one reason is likely because players, coaches, and parents better understand symptoms of these injuries. Still, there’s more work to do. We’ve got to have better research, better data, better safety equipment, better protocols. We’ve got to have every parent and coach and teacher recognize the signs of concussions. And we need more athletes to understand how important it is to do what we can to prevent injuries and to admit them when they do happen. We have to change a culture that says you suck it up. Identifying a concussion and being able to self-diagnose that this is something that I need to take care of doesn’t make you weak -- it means you’re strong. At the same time, I want to point out that this is not just a matter for athletes. You’ll notice this big guy here, Ray Odierno, who is not only the leader of our Army, but also is somebody who plays football -- I don’t know if he still plays, although he could. (Laughter.) But as a leader of our Armed Forces, he sees the effects that injuries have had on brave men and women who serve in uniform, and all of us who careNF about them. That’s why Ray is here today. And I’ve seen in my visits to wounded warriors, traumatic brain injury is one of the signature issues of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The thing is, the vast majority of mild traumatic brain injury cases in the military occur outside deployment. So even though our wars are ending, addressing this issue will continue to be important to our Armed Forces. And as part of a new national action plan we announced last year, we’re directing more than $100 million in new research to find more effective ways to help prevent, diagnose and treat mental health conditions and traumatic brain injury -- because the more we can learn about the effects of brain injuries, the more we can do to help our courageous troops and veterans recover. And that obviously gives us more information about our kids, as well. Today, by the way, I’m proud to announce a number of new commitments and partnerships from the folks in this room that are going to help us move the ball forward on this issue. The NCAA and the Department of Defense are teaming up to commit $30 million for concussion education and a study involving up to 37,000 college athletes, which will be the most comprehensive concussion study ever. And our service academies -- Army, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard -- are all signed up to support this study in any way that they can. The NFL is committing $25 million of new funding over the next three years to test strategies like creating health and safety forums for parents, and they’re building on the program piloted by my own Chicago Bears to get more trainers at high school games. And the NIH is announcing the next step in this partnership with the NFL. They’re dedicating $16 million of the NFL’s previous donation toward studies and clinical trials to examine the chronic effects of repetitive concussions. The National Institute of Standards and Technology will invest $5 million over the next five years to explore the development of lighter and smarter and more responsive materials for protective equipment. And I want to single out the New York Giants chairman, Steve Tisch, who is here and is donating $10 million of his own money to expand the BrainSPORT Program at UCLA to prevent, study, and treat concussions and traumatic brain injury in youth. So all these new commitments are terrific, and we want to thank everybody here for participating. (Applause.) So just to wrap up, so you can hear from people who actually know what they’re talking about, these efforts are going to make a lot of difference for a lot of people -- from soldiers on the battlefield to students out on the football field. Take the Levine family from Rockville, Maryland, who are here today. Where did the go? There they are right there. Cheryl and Jason Levine have three boys, who when you look at them you know right away they’re brothers -- Isaac, Sidney, and Rueben. They have loved ice hockey since they were really young. But when he was seven years old, Sidney suffered a pair of moderate concussions on the ice. A few years later, when Isaac was an eighth grader, he suffered a more severe concussion in a game. After the injury, both boys had headaches. They started struggling in class. They started acting out. Isaac’s concussion even kept him out of school for a while. And, as you might imagine, Cheryl was horrified; as she put it, “you only have one brain.” That’s a good point. And you want to make sure that you’re treating it right. Fortunately, with the help of their doctors, both boys’ health and behavior improved. And Sidney was back on the ice 10 weeks after his concussion. He’s hoping to play varsity next year as a freshman. And last winter, Isaac played forward as his high school team won the state championship. Now, Cheryl and Jason could have pulled their boys out -- it was such a scare -- and had their doctors recommended it, that’s what they would have done. But they knew that just like millions of kids across the country, kids love their sports. So Cheryl and Jason educated themselves on the issue, and with their doctor’s blessing and the support of the coaches and teachers, they’re encouraging their boys to lace up those skates and get out on the ice. And as Cheryl said, “My kids aren’t going to go on and play in the NHL.” I hope they know that, by the way. (Laughter.) “But what I’m worried about is getting through their teens while having fun and building confidence and doing the things they want to do, obviously within certain limits.” That’s some good parenting by Cheryl. That’s what today is about -- is to give parents the information they need to help their kids compete safely. Let’s keep encouraging our kids to get out there and play sports that they love, and doing it the right way. That’s not a job just for parents, but it’s a job for all of us. And that’s why the public-private partnerships like these are important. In a few minutes, I know that many of you are going to take this discussion a step further with this panel of experts moderated by Pam Oliver, which we’re very grateful for. But I want to thank all of you for coming here today, for your contributions to our kids’ future. And, most of all, I want to thank the young people who are here, particularly Tori, for highlighting why this issue is so important. We’re really excited. And, by the way, Tori although is not going to be playing soccer when she goes to college -- she’s graduating -- she does intend to stay involved in the sport, and I understand is going to be doing some coaching of some four- and five-year-olds this summer. And she is going to pass on some of the knowledge, hard-earned knowledge that she’s learned. And that’s why we know she’s going to be a terrific success in whatever she chooses to do. Thank you, everybody. (Applause.) DAILY GUIDANCE AND PRESS SCHEDULE FOR THURSDAY, MAY 29, 2014
Due to the inclement weather, the sports clinic in conjunction with the White House Healthy Kids & Safe Sports Concussion Summit on the South Lawn has been cancelled. THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 28, 2014 DAILY GUIDANCE AND PRESS SCHEDULE FOR THURSDAY, MAY 29, 2014 In the morning, the President will receive the Presidential Daily Briefing in the Oval Office. This meeting is closed press. Later in the morning, the President will deliver remarks as part of the White House Healthy Kids & Safe Sports Concussion Summit. He will be joined by young athletes, parents, coaches, academics, experts, athletes, military service members, and other stakeholders for these remarks in the East Room. The President’s remarks will be open press. In the afternoon, the President will join students participating in the White House Healthy Kids & Safe Sports Concussion Summit for a sports clinic on the South Lawn. This event will be pooled press. White House to Host Press Call on the Release of the My Brother’s Keeper 90-Day Recommendations Report
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary EMBARGOED FOR 6:00AM EDT FRIDAY, MAY 30 4:30 PM TODAY: White House to Host Press Call on the Release of the My Brother’s Keeper 90-Day Recommendations Report WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Thursday, May 29, at 4:30 PM ET, White House Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett, White House Director of Domestic Policy Cecilia Muñoz, and White House Cabinet Secretary and Chair of the My Brother’s Keeper Task Force Broderick Johnson will hold an embargoed on-the-record press conference call to preview the release of the My Brother’s Keeper 90-Day Recommendations Report. In February, as part of his plan to make 2014 a year of action focused on expanding opportunity for all Americans, President Obama unveiled the “My Brother’s Keeper” initiative, taking action to help every boy and young man of color who is willing to do the hard work to get ahead. This initial report includes key indicators to help understand the issues and to track progress and recommendations on steps we can take to begin to expand opportunity for boys and young men of color. This call will be on the record, embargoed for 6:00AM EDT, tomorrow, Friday, May 30, 2014. WHO: Valerie Jarrett, White House Senior Advisor Cecilia Muñoz, White House Director of Domestic Policy Broderick Johnson White House Cabinet Secretary and Chair of the My Brother’s Keeper Task Force Statement on the Second Estimate of GDP for the First Quarter of 2014
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 29, 2014 Statement on the Second Estimate of GDP for the First Quarter of 2014 WASHINGTON, DC – Jason Furman, Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers, issued the following statement today on the second estimate of GDP for the first quarter of 2014. You can view the statement HERE. Posted by Jason Furman on May 29, 2014 at 10:19 AM EDT Today’s GDP revision was due almost entirely to a downward revision to the highly volatile inventories category, with small upward revisions to consumer spending and business fixed investment being offset by small downward revisions to net exports and State and local purchases. Overall the first quarter was subject to a number of notable influences, including historically severe winter weather, which temporarily lowered growth. A range of more up-to-date data from March and April, including jobs, manufacturing, housing and other indicators, provide a more accurate and timely picture of where the economy is today and show that it continues to recover from the worst recession since the Great Depression. The President will do everything he can either by acting through executive action or by working with Congress to push for steps that would raise growth and accelerate job creation. FIVE KEY POINTS IN TODAY’S REPORT FROM THE BUREAU OF ECONOMIC ANALYSIS 1. Real gross domestic product (GDP) fell 1.0 percent at an annual rate in the first quarter of 2014, according to the second estimate from the Bureau of Economic Analysis. This drop follows an increase of 3.4 percent annual pace in the second half of 2013. Looking at the various components of GDP, consumer spending grew at a rapid pace, mainly reflecting sharp increases in health care and utilities consumption, while the other elements of consumer spending on net rose only slightly. Consumer spending on food services and accommodations fell for the first time in four years, one of several components that was likely affected by unusually severe winter weather. Exports and inventory investment, two particularly volatile components of GDP, also subtracted from growth. 2. The downward revision to real GDP growth was almost entirely due to a downward revision to the volatile inventory investment component; revisions to the other components were small and offsetting. The contribution of inventory investment to growth was revised down a full percentage point, from -0.6 percentage point in the advance estimate to -1.6 percentage point in the latest estimate. Consumer spending and business fixed investment were revised up slightly, while net exports and State and local government spending were revised down slightly. 3. The first quarter of 2014 was marked by unusually severe winter weather, including record cold temperatures and snowstorms, which explains part of the difference in GDP growth relative to previous quarters. The left chart shows the quarterly deviation in heating degree days from its average for the same quarter over the previous five years. By this measure, the first quarter of 2014 was the third most unusually cold quarter over the last sixty years, behind only the first quarter of 1978 and the fourth quarter of 1976. In addition, there were four storms in the first quarter that rated on the Northeast Snowfall Impact Scale (NESIS). The right chart shows that no quarter going back to 1956 had more than three such storms. 4. Within the first quarter, several key indicators were lower in January and/or February before rebounding strongly in March, suggesting that the severe weather had a disruptive effect that only began to abate at the end of the quarter. Light vehicle sales, average weekly hours, core retail and food service sales, and core capital goods shipments dipped starting in December and/or January before bouncing back in March, and so were left little changed for the quarter as a whole. One outside group has estimated that the elevated snowfall in the first quarter slowed the annual rate of GDP growth by 1.4 percentage point, with all of that lost activity to be made up in the second quarter. Additionally, it is worth noting that consumer spending on utilities surged more than 40 percent at an annual rate in the first quarter, the largest increase on record (with data back to 1959). While this weather-related jump in utilities spending added to GDP growth, it was likely more than offset by the constraining effect of severe weather on other categories, including other components of consumer spending (like autos, household furnishings, and restaurants), some components of private and public fixed investment, and exports. Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis; Bureau of Labor Statistics; Census Bureau. 5. The federal sector made a small positive contribution to growth for the first time in over a year, in part because the effect of the shutdown in the fourth quarter reversed. The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) reported that in the fourth quarter, federal worker furloughs resulting from the government shutdown directly reduced GDP growth by 0.3 percentage point at an annual rate; other effects of the shutdown (including reduced government purchases of goods and services) also likely contributed to the large 1.0 percentage point negative contribution from the federal government. In the first quarter of 2014, the federal sector made a small (0.05) percentage point positive contribution to growth, in part due to the return to a full quarter of undisrupted federal employee work hours. Federal spending is subject to a number of influences, including the winding down of overseas military operations, the withdrawal of temporary support measures enacted earlier in the recovery, and in 2013, the sequester. The budget agreement reached late last year should create a more neutral fiscal climate in 2014 than in 2013, and while there is still a need to do more to invest in growth, the reduced fiscal drag is a key reason that outside forecasters expect growth to strengthen over the remainder of the year. As the Administration stresses every quarter, GDP figures can be volatile and are subject to substantial revision. Therefore, it is important not to read too much into any one single report and it is informative to consider each report in the context of other data that are becoming available. DAILY GUIDANCE AND PRESS SCHEDULE FOR THURSDAY, MAY 29, 2014
UPDATED: Due to the inclement weather, the sports clinic in conjunction with the White House Healthy Kids & Safe Sports Concussion Summit on the South Lawn has been cancelled. THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 28, 2014 DAILY GUIDANCE AND PRESS SCHEDULE FOR THURSDAY, MAY 29, 2014 In the morning, the President will receive the Presidential Daily Briefing in the Oval Office. This meeting is closed press. Later in the morning, the President will deliver remarks as part of the White House Healthy Kids & Safe Sports Concussion Summit. He will be joined by young athletes, parents, coaches, academics, experts, athletes, military service members, and other stakeholders for these remarks in the East Room. The President’s remarks will be open press. In the afternoon, the President will join students participating in the White House Healthy Kids & Safe Sports Concussion Summit for a sports clinic on the South Lawn. This event will be pooled press. White House Releases Report on the Administration’s All-of-the-Above Energy Strategy as a Path to Sustainable Economic Growth
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 29, 2014 White House Releases Report on the Administration’s All-of-the-Above Energy Strategy as a Path to Sustainable Economic Growth Today, the White House released a report, “An All-of-the-Above Energy Strategy as a Path to Sustainable Economic Growth,” detailing the President’s all-of-the-above energy strategy and the profound transformation in the domestic energy sector since the President took office. Thanks to this dramatic transformation and the President’s bold, aggressive plan, the United States has seen significant economic and national security benefits, and we are tackling the challenges posed by climate change. The President has set out an aggressive All-of-the-Above energy strategy recognizing that no single energy source alone can accomplish all that is required to face our challenges and meet our goals. Instead, the President continues to push on multiple fronts to strike the right balance of energy sources that will power our economy forward. The President’s plan is three-pronged: to support economic growth and job creation, to enhance energy security, and to lay the foundation for—and take critical steps towards—a low-carbon energy future. Historic Transformation · Decades-long trends in energy use are being reversed. Natural gas consumption has risen 18 percent since 2005. In addition, total energy obtained from wind, solar, and geothermal energy have more than doubled since 2009. · Many of these changes are largely unforeseen. Only eight years ago, baseline projections showed steadily increasing petroleum consumption well into the future. But the Energy Information Administration (EIA) now projects petroleum consumption to decline starting after 2019. In fact, since its peak in 2007, U.S. gasoline consumption has fallen by 5.5 percent, or half a million barrels per day. Economic Growth · The energy sector has provided key support to the recovery from the Great Recession: Rising domestic energy production has made an appreciable contribution to GDP growth and job creation. The oil and natural gas sector alone contributed more than 0.2 percentage point to real GDP growth in both 2012 and 2013, and employment in these sectors increased by 133,000 between 2010 and 2013. Tens of thousands more jobs have been created in the solar and wind industries. · Excluding the crisis-affected year of 2009, the U.S. trade deficit as a percent of GDP is the lowest in more than a decade and more than a fifth of the narrowing of the trade deficit as a percent of GDP since its 2006 peak can be directly attributed to a shrinking trade deficit in petroleum products, as rising domestic production and declining domestic consumption have combined to cut oil imports. Energy Security · The resilience of the economy to international supply shocks – macroeconomic energy security – is enhanced by reducing spending on net petroleum imports and by reducing oil dependence. The factors that have reduced net oil imports – decreased domestic petroleum demand, increased domestic oil production, more efficient vehicles, and increased use of biofuels – reduce the vulnerability of the U.S. economy to sudden rises in oil prices. Although international oil supply shocks and oil price volatility will always present risks, empirical evidence presented in this report suggests that further reductions in net petroleum imports will reduce those risks. · The United States has emerged as the world’s leading producer of petroleum and natural as. In 2013, combined production of petroleum, natural gas, and other liquid fuels in the United States exceeded that of Saudi Arabia and Russia. The United States leads in natural gas and is predicted by the International Energy Agency to lead in oil as well in a few years. A Low-Carbon Future · The United States has reduced its total carbon pollution since 2005 more than any other nation on Earth. However, much work remains. Recent projections suggest that emissions could begin to increase again, and more work remains to address this critical imperative. · While the President’s strategy embraces natural gas as a transition fuel and includes steps to ensure natural gas development is done responsibly, the plan also supports and is making progress on renewables, nuclear, and other zero-carbon energy sources through research and development, and invests in energy efficiency. OFFICIAL RELEASE: Statement of Administration Policy on H.R. 4660 - Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2015
http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/legislative/sap/113/saphr4660h_20140528.pdf EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET WASHINGTON, D.C. 20503 May 28, 2014 (House) STATEMENT OF ADMINISTRATION POLICY H.R. 4660 — Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2015 (Rep. Rogers, R-KY) This Statement of Administration Policy provides views on H.R. 4660, making appropriations for the Departments of Commerce and Justice, Science, and Related Agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2015, and for other purposes. While the Administration appreciates the support for research and development in the bill, H.R. 4660 inadequately funds areas critical to the Nation's economic growth, security, and competitiveness in the global marketplace, including investments in climate research, assistance to small manufacturers, and support for commercial space flight, census research, and access to justice. The bill also includes a number of objectionable language provisions that will make it more difficult to protect the public from gun violence and continues unwarranted restrictions regarding detainees held at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba that will undermine our national security. The Administration looks forward to working with the Congress on an orderly appropriations process that supports economic growth, opportunity, and our national security while avoiding unnecessary fiscal crises that hold the Nation's economy back. This process should include reconciling funding levels for individual appropriations bills to promote economic growth and national security, and passing bills without ideological provisions that could undermine an orderly appropriations process. The President's fiscal year (FY) 2015 Budget provides a roadmap for making investments to accelerate economic growth, expand opportunity for all hard-working Americans, and ensure our national security, while continuing to improve the Nation's long-term fiscal outlook. At the same time, the Budget takes key steps to both continue and enhance the Administration's efforts to deliver a government that is more effective, efficient, and supportive of economic growth. The President's Budget adheres to the FY 2015 spending levels agreed to in the Bipartisan Budget Act (BBA) and shows the choices the President would make at those levels—including investments in research and development that will grow the economy and enable America to remain the world leader in innovation. However, the levels agreed to in the BBA are already below FY 2007 funding levels adjusted for inflation and are not sufficient—either in FY 2015 or beyond—to ensure the Nation is achieving its full potential. For that reason, the Budget also includes a fully paid for Opportunity, Growth, and Security Initiative—evenly split between defense and non-defense priorities—that presents additional investments to grow the economy, expand opportunity, and enhance security. The Opportunity, Growth, and Security Initiative would support additional research and development at the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Standards and Technology, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and other agencies across the government that would create the businesses and jobs of the future. The Administration would like to take this opportunity to share additional views regarding the Committee's version of the bill and urges the Congress to resolve these issues during the FY 2015 appropriations process. Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The Administration appreciates the Committee's support for the National Weather Service and critical weather satellites. However, the Administration strongly opposes the significant reductions below FY 2014 funding levels for high priority climate research, as well as the elimination of funding for the Total Solar Irradiance Sensor that is necessary to maintain a long-term climate data record. NOAA's climate research will help the Nation better understand, monitor, and prepare for the impacts of climate change. In addition, the Administration opposes the reduction to NOAA's fisheries management and coastal restoration programs, including regional coastal resilience grants. These programs contribute to the long-term economic and ecosystem health of the fishing industry and coastal communities throughout the United States. International Trade Administration (ITA). The Administration urges the Congress to provide the requested funding level of $497 million for ITA, which would fully fund SelectUSA and the Interagency Trade Enforcement Center. Reduced funding levels for these two priorities would undermine efforts to increase foreign investment in the United States, create jobs, and ensure a level playing field for U.S. businesses overseas. Periodic Censuses and Programs. The Administration objects to the inadequate funding provided to the Census Bureau to produce robust economic and demographic data, or sufficiently prepare for the 2020 Decennial Census. The Committee's proposed funding level would increase costs by billions of dollars over the next five years by preventing the Census Bureau from conducting the necessary research, testing, and early implementation activities that are needed to contain costs in conducting the 2020 Census. Current Population Survey (CPS) Data Collection. The Administration strongly objects to language in the bill included in the Bureau of the Census, salaries and expenses account requiring that the data collection for CPS use outdated health insurance questions included in previous years. The revised questions will allow the Census Bureau to better measure the uninsured, while reverting back to the previous questions will create a gap in the data and severely limit its statistical value. National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). The Administration opposes the funding reduction from the FY 2014 enacted level and the FY 2015 Budget request for NTIA. This reduction would prevent NTIA from standing-up the Internet Policy Center to bolster the Administration's Internet governance and policy efforts. National Institutes of Standards and Technology (NIST). The Administration is concerned that the bill does not provide the requested increases to the Manufacturing Extension Partnership program to support small manufacturing businesses, or those that will enhance benefits from the Manufacturing Institutes Initiative. These initiatives will help advance the development and adoption of new manufacturing technologies. Department of Justice (DOJ) State and Local Assistance Programs. The Administration appreciates the Committee's support for the Justice Reinvestment Initiative and the Now is the Time Comprehensive School Safety Program. However, the Administration strongly objects to the Committee's decision to reduce funding from the requested levels for juvenile justice and delinquency prevention programs and for Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS). The reductions in COPS funding alone would result in almost 1,000 fewer officer hires. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) Gun Riders. The Administration strongly opposes language in the bill that severely inhibits ATF's ability to combat illegal gun trafficking and protect the public. This includes the requirement that ATF authorize the importation of certain "curio and relic" firearms simply because of their age and regardless of the danger they may pose; the prohibition against ATF's current practice of collecting information on the sale of multiple long guns in the Southwest Border region; and the prohibition against ATF denying an application to import particular models or configurations of a shotgun that do not meet the statutory "sporting purposes" test. In addition, the Administration urges the Congress to repeal a number of provisions made permanent in prior years, including a prohibition against requiring firearms dealers to conduct physical inventories and a prohibition on changing the definition of "curio and relic" firearms. Working Capital Fund and Assets Forfeiture Fund Restrictions. The Administration strongly opposes the limitations included in the bill for the Working Capital Fund and Assets Forfeiture Fund that would severely restrict DOJ's ability to fund essential requirements of its financial management system consolidation efforts, to pay for other vital unfunded capital equipment needs, and to cover the costs of unanticipated expenses. The Department must regain its ability to use the Working Capital Fund and Assets Forfeiture Fund spending authorities in order to minimize the financial impact to programs critical to public safety and national security while improving financial reporting, accountability, and law enforcement capabilities. Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT). The Administration appreciates the Committee's support for MLAT process reform, which is critical to investigating crimes, working with foreign partners, and prosecuting terrorists and other criminals. This funding will provide for an updated, improved, and accelerated process to handle foreign governments' requests for evidence as well as enhance mutual relationships. Guantánamo Detainee Restrictions. The Administration strongly objects to sections 528 and 529, which would prohibit the use of funds for the transfer of detainees to the United States and for the construction, acquisition, or modification of any facility to house Guantánamo detainees in the United States. The President has repeatedly objected to the inclusion of these and similar provisions in prior legislation and has reiterated his call to Congress to lift the restrictions. As the President said in his State of the Union Address, "this needs to be the year Congress lifts the remaining restrictions on detainee transfers and we close the prison at Guantánamo Bay." Operating the detention facility at Guantánamo weakens our national security by draining resources, damaging our relationships with key allies and partners and emboldening violent extremists. These provisions are unwarranted and threaten to interfere with the Executive Branch's ability to determine the appropriate disposition of detainees and its flexibility to determine when and where to prosecute Guantánamo detainees based on the facts and circumstances of each case and our national security interests. Section 528 would, moreover, violate constitutional separation-of-powers principles under certain circumstances. Executive Office of the President Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR). The Administration urges the Congress to provide the requested funding level of $56.2 million for USTR. The funding reduction would limit USTR's ability to conduct major trade negotiations, enforce trade agreements, and pursue new and existing trade disputes. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Commercial Crew Program. The Administration appreciates the Committee's support for NASA, but is disappointed the bill does not provide the full funding request for the Commercial Crew Program. The lower funding level for the program jeopardizes the goal of sending astronauts to the International Space Station on American spacecraft by 2017 and will likely extend the period of time NASA needs to rely on Russia for transport to and from the Station. The Administration also encourages the Congress to support competition in the program, which is important to lowering risk and reducing prices in the long term. Space Technology Program. The Administration is concerned that the bill does not fund the full request for the Space Technology program. Space Technology is important to reducing the cost and increasing the capability of NASA, other Government, and commercial space activities. National Science Foundation (NSF) The Administration appreciates the Committee's support for NSF. NSF invests in important research and education and lays the foundation for economic growth. Legal Services Corporation (LSC) The Administration strongly opposes the level of funding provided in the bill for LSC, which is $80 million below the FY 2015 Budget request. At this funding level, tens of thousands of low-income Americans, including many military families and veterans, would be denied assistance with civil legal problems, impacting their ability to receive fair treatment in the courts. The Administration also opposes the Committee's decision not to lift the prohibition against filing class action lawsuits or restrictions on the use of non-LSC funds by LSC grantees as requested in the Budget. Constitutional Concern Other provisions in the bill, including sections 509, 519, and 527, would also raise constitutional concerns in certain applications by intruding upon the President's constitutional authority over international diplomacy. The Administration looks forward to working with Congress to address these concerns. DAILY GUIDANCE AND PRESS SCHEDULE FOR THURSDAY, MAY 29, 2014
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 28, 2014 DAILY GUIDANCE AND PRESS SCHEDULE FOR THURSDAY, MAY 29, 2014 In the morning, the President will receive the Presidential Daily Briefing in the Oval Office. This meeting is closed press. Later in the morning, the President will deliver remarks as part of the White House Healthy Kids & Safe Sports Concussion Summit. He will be joined by young athletes, parents, coaches, academics, experts, athletes, military service members, and other stakeholders for these remarks in the East Room. The President’s remarks will be open press. In the afternoon, the President will join students participating in the White House Healthy Kids & Safe Sports Concussion Summit for a sports clinic on the South Lawn. This event will be pooled press. EDT 10:00AM THE PRESIDENT receives the Presidential Daily Briefing Oval Office Closed Press 11:10AM THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks at the White House Healthy Kids & Safe Sports Concussion Summit East Room Open Press (Pre-Set 9:30AM, Final Gather 10:40AM – North Doors of the Palm Room) 2:55PM THE PRESIDENT participates in a clinic as part of the White House Healthy Kids & Safe Sports Concussion Summit South Lawn Pooled Press (Final Gather 2:35PM – North Doors of the Palm Room) UPCOMING GUIDANCE FOR FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the First Lady For Immediate Release May 28, 2014 UPCOMING GUIDANCE FOR FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA Monday, June 2, 2014 North Kingston, RI * 1:30 PM – First Lady Michelle Obama will deliver remarks at the keel-laying ceremony for the future USS ILLINOIS, the 13th Virginia Class submarine. The keel-laying is the ceremonial start of construction of the submarine, and the ceremony provides an opportunity for the First Lady, as the official sponsor of the ILLINOIS, to meet the submarine’s crew and their families for the first time. To commemorate this initiation, the First Lady will chalk her initials onto a metal plate, which will then be mounted onto the submarine. While they will not attend this event, the First Lady has chosen her daughters, Malia and Sasha, to be her “Maids of Honor.” In this traditional role, the Maids of Honor lend symbolic support to the sponsor in her ceremonial duties. Elected officials, the shipbuilders, and U.S. Navy leadership also will participate in the event. FACT SHEET: Obama Administration Designates the First 12 Manufacturing Communities through the Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership to Spur Investment and Create Jobs
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary EMBARGOED UNTIL 2:30 PM ET, WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2014 FACT SHEET: Obama Administration Designates the First 12 Manufacturing Communities through the Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership to Spur Investment and Create Jobs America’s middle class was built on the strength of our manufacturing sector. Today, five years after we pulled our economy back from the brink of collapse, manufacturers have created 647,000 jobs. But there’s more work to do to create more of these good jobs making things the rest of the world buys, and President Obama has focused on boosting U.S. manufacturing by rewarding companies that create jobs here, rescuing the U.S. auto industry and expanding exports. To build on this momentum in manufacturing, the Obama Administration launched the Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership (IMCP) last September– an initiative to spur communities to develop integrated, long-term economic development strategies that strengthen their competitive edge in attracting global manufacturers and their supply chains to our local communities—increasing investment and creating jobs. IMCP specifically brings together the resources of multiple federal departments and agencies to support strong local economic development plans. Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker is announcing the first 12 communities that will be designated Manufacturing Communities as part of the second phase of the IMCP. Selected out of more than 70 communities that applied, these 12 communities developed strong economic development plans and have deep partnerships in place across the public and private sectors to carry out their plans. The first 12 Manufacturing Communities designated by the Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership are:
Eleven federal agencies with $1.3 billion in economic development funds will be able to use the designees' plans to make targeted investments in demonstrably strong public-private partnerships to strengthen regional manufacturing. In addition, each designated community will also receive a federal liaison and branding and promotion as a designated Manufacturing Community to help attract additional private investment and partnerships. Later this year, the Administration will launch a second Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership competition to designate the next round of communities. In the meantime, the Administration and federal agencies will work with all the applicant communities to help them strengthen their plans and to identify opportunities for communities to work with the federal government on their local economic development priorities. And later this year, the White House will convene the more than seventy communities that applied for the Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership to share best practices in economic development planning and attracting new jobs and investment in manufacturing. IMCP Manufacturing Communities: Southwest Alabama Home to 14 major shipbuilders and many more small manufacturers making everything from U.S. Navy vessels to commercial tug boats, Mobile, Alabama and the surrounding Southwest Alabama area, including Baldwin, Choctaw, Clarke, Conecuh, Escambia, Mobile, Monroe, and Washington counties, led by the University of South Alabama, are strengthening and expanding their workforce partnerships to compete for shipbuilding and aerospace manufacturing. Southern California At the vanguard of innovation in aerospace manufacturing and home to innovative companies like SpaceX, AeroVironment, and Sapphire Energy, the Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, and Ventura counties, led by the University of Southern California Center for Economic Development, are investing in infrastructure to reduce shipping costs, higher today due to congestion by 50-250%, and developing a regional workforce training consortium in manufacturing. Northwest Georgia Called the “Carpet Capital of the World” for producing over 70% of the nation’s carpet, the Dalton County and Northwest Georgia region led by the Northwest Georgia Regional Commission is transferring innovations from its universities into its local supply chain and out into the skills of its workforce to spur a more sustainable floor covering industry. The Chicago Metro Region Home to 3,700 metals and machining companies, the Chicago metro region including Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, and Will counties, led by the Cook County Bureau of Economic Development, has formed an integrated strategy to strengthen its lead in metals and machining leveraging local strengths like its strong transportation access – including six Class 1 railroads, seven interstates, and the nation’s second busiest cargo airport. South Kansas The 27-county region around Wichita, Kansas is the most manufacturing-specialized metro area in the country with 32% of employment in manufacturing, half of which is in the aerospace supply chain. Led by Wichita State University, South Kansas is leveraging shared research and innovation facilities to compete on the frontier of advanced materials used in planes, cutting-edge machinery, and refineries. Greater Portland Region in Maine With arguably more breweries per capita than anywhere else in the country and over 60 food processers and hundreds of home microbusinesses, Cumberland County, home to Portland, Maine, is a food processing powerhouse. Led by the Greater Portland Council of Governments, the community is upgrading its port and improving the transportation and distribution efficiency of its supply chains to grow its lead in sustainable food production. Southeastern Michigan Thirteen counties in Southeastern Michigan, including the cities of Detroit, Flint, Lansing, Ann Arbor, and Pontiac, produce 22% of all vehicles made in America and at $14 billion a year, account for over 70% of total U.S. auto research investment. Led by the Wayne County Economic Development Growth Engine, Southeastern Michigan is building on its strengths in connected-vehicle technologies, including technologies that allow cars to communicate with each other and with the road to carry their passengers more safely and efficiently to their destinations. The New York Finger Lakes Region With over 120 photonics manufacturers and more than 500 photonics patents last year alone, the Greater Rochester region, led by the City of Rochester, is bringing new life to manufacturing business parks and expanding its workforce development efforts to maintain its historic lead in precision machining and optics, photonics, and imaging. Southwestern Ohio Aerospace Region The birthplace of modern aviation, with over 116,000 manufacturing workers across all stages of the aerospace supply chain, the 27 counties along the I-75 Corridor, led by the City of Cincinnati, are expanding industry-led curriculum and training and launching efforts to certify more small manufacturers for aerospace manufacturing. The Tennessee Valley In the past two years alone, more than 150 auto and auto parts manufacturers have announced expansions or new facilities in the Tennessee Valley automotive region, which spans 69 counties in Tennessee and portions of southern Kentucky, north Alabama, and north Georgia. Led by the University of Tennessee, the region is better connecting its nationally renowned research institutions with manufacturers to move up the value chain in automotive manufacturing. The Washington Puget Sound Region The counties along the I-90 and I-5 Aerospace Corridors in Washington State host the largest aerospace cluster in the world, with over 132,000 aerospace-related employees and more than 1,350 aerospace firms. Led by the Puget Sound Regional Council, the region is working with local employers to identify training needs and to develop new manufacturing capabilities to strength its aerospace supply chains. The Milwaukee 7 Region Known as the “Machine Shop of the World”, the seven-county Milwaukee region in Southeast Wisconsin employs than 15% of its workforce in manufacturing. Led by the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Milwaukee, the region is building on its historic strengths in precision machining to attract new jobs and investment in energy and power, water technologies, and food and beverage manufacturing.
Statement by the President on the Passing of Maya Angelou
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 28, 2014 Statement by the President on the Passing of Maya Angelou When her friend Nelson Mandela passed away last year, Maya Angelou wrote that “No sun outlasts its sunset, but will rise again, and bring the dawn.” Today, Michelle and I join millions around the world in remembering one of the brightest lights of our time – a brilliant writer, a fierce friend, and a truly phenomenal woman. Over the course of her remarkable life, Maya was many things – an author, poet, civil rights activist, playwright, actress, director, composer, singer and dancer. But above all, she was a storyteller – and her greatest stories were true. A childhood of suffering and abuse actually drove her to stop speaking – but the voice she found helped generations of Americans find their rainbow amidst the clouds, and inspired the rest of us to be our best selves. In fact, she inspired my own mother to name my sister Maya. Like so many others, Michelle and I will always cherish the time we were privileged to spend with Maya. With a kind word and a strong embrace, she had the ability to remind us that we are all God’s children; that we all have something to offer. And while Maya’s day may be done, we take comfort in knowing that her song will continue, “flung up to heaven” – and we celebrate the dawn that Maya Angelou helped bring. Remarks by the President at West Point Academy Commencement Ceremony
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary For Immediate Release May 28, 2014 REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT AT WEST POINT ACADEMY COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY U.S. Military Academy-West Point West Point, New York 10:22 A.M. EDT THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. (Applause.) Thank you so much. Thank you. And thank you, General Caslen, for that introduction. To General Trainor, General Clarke, the faculty and staff at West Point -- you have been outstanding stewards of this proud institution and outstanding mentors for the newest officers in the United States Army. I’d like to acknowledge the Army’s leadership -- General McHugh -- Secretary McHugh, General Odierno, as well as Senator Jack Reed, who is here, and a proud graduate of West Point himself. To the class of 2014, I congratulate you on taking your place on the Long Gray Line. Among you is the first all-female command team -- Erin Mauldin and Austen Boroff. In Calla Glavin, you have a Rhodes Scholar. And Josh Herbeck proves that West Point accuracy extends beyond the three-point line. To the entire class, let me reassure you in these final hours at West Point: As Commander-in-Chief, I hereby absolve all cadets who are on restriction for minor conduct offenses. (Laughter and applause.) Let me just say that nobody ever did that for me when I was in school. (Laughter.) I know you join me in extending a word of thanks to your families. Joe DeMoss, whose son James is graduating, spoke for a whole lot of parents when he wrote me a letter about the sacrifices you’ve made. “Deep inside,” he wrote, “we want to explode with pride at what they are committing to do in the service of our country.” Like several graduates, James is a combat veteran. And I would ask all of us here today to stand and pay tribute -- not only to the veterans among us, but to the more than 2.5 million Americans who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as their families. (Applause.) This is a particularly useful time for America to reflect on those who have sacrificed so much for our freedom, a few days after Memorial Day. You are the first class to graduate since 9/11 who may not be sent into combat in Iraq or Afghanistan. (Applause.) When I first spoke at West Point in 2009, we still had more than 100,000 troops in Iraq. We were preparing to surge in Afghanistan. Our counterterrorism efforts were focused on al Qaeda’s core leadership -- those who had carried out the 9/11 attacks. And our nation was just beginning a long climb out of the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. Four and a half years later, as you graduate, the landscape has changed. We have removed our troops from Iraq. We are winding down our war in Afghanistan. Al Qaeda’s leadership on the border region between Pakistan and Afghanistan has been decimated, and Osama bin Laden is no more. (Applause.) And through it all, we’ve refocused our investments in what has always been a key source of American strength: a growing economy that can provide opportunity for everybody who’s willing to work hard and take responsibility here at home. In fact, by most measures, America has rarely been stronger relative to the rest of the world. Those who argue otherwise -- who suggest that America is in decline, or has seen its global leadership slip away -- are either misreading history or engaged in partisan politics. Think about it. Our military has no peer. The odds of a direct threat against us by any nation are low and do not come close to the dangers we faced during the Cold War. Meanwhile, our economy remains the most dynamic on Earth; our businesses the most innovative. Each year, we grow more energy independent. From Europe to Asia, we are the hub of alliances unrivaled in the history of nations. America continues to attract striving immigrants. The values of our founding inspire leaders in parliaments and new movements in public squares around the globe. And when a typhoon hits the Philippines, or schoolgirls are kidnapped in Nigeria, or masked men occupy a building in Ukraine, it is America that the world looks to for help. (Applause.) So the United States is and remains the one indispensable nation. That has been true for the century passed and it will be true for the century to come. But the world is changing with accelerating speed. This presents opportunity, but also new dangers. We know all too well, after 9/11, just how technology and globalization has put power once reserved for states in the hands of individuals, raising the capacity of terrorists to do harm. Russia’s aggression toward former Soviet states unnerves capitals in Europe, while China’s economic rise and military reach worries its neighbors. From Brazil to India, rising middle classes compete with us, and governments seek a greater say in global forums. And even as developing nations embrace democracy and market economies, 24-hour news and social media makes it impossible to ignore the continuation of sectarian conflicts and failing states and popular uprisings that might have received only passing notice a generation ago. It will be your generation’s task to respond to this new world. The question we face, the question each of you will face, is not whether America will lead, but how we will lead -- not just to secure our peace and prosperity, but also extend peace and prosperity around the globe. Now, this question isn’t new. At least since George Washington served as Commander-in-Chief, there have been those who warned against foreign entanglements that do not touch directly on our security or economic wellbeing. Today, according to self-described realists, conflicts in Syria or Ukraine or the Central African Republic are not ours to solve. And not surprisingly, after costly wars and continuing challenges here at home, that view is shared by many Americans. A different view from interventionists from the left and right says that we ignore these conflicts at our own peril; that America’s willingness to apply force around the world is the ultimate safeguard against chaos, and America’s failure to act in the face of Syrian brutality or Russian provocations not only violates our conscience, but invites escalating aggression in the future. And each side can point to history to support its claims. But I believe neither view fully speaks to the demands of this moment. It is absolutely true that in the 21st century American isolationism is not an option. We don’t have a choice to ignore what happens beyond our borders. If nuclear materials are not secure, that poses a danger to American cities. As the Syrian civil war spills across borders, the capacity of battle-hardened extremist groups to come after us only increases. Regional aggression that goes unchecked -- whether in southern Ukraine or the South China Sea, or anywhere else in the world -- will ultimately impact our allies and could draw in our military. We can’t ignore what happens beyond our boundaries. And beyond these narrow rationales, I believe we have a real stake, an abiding self-interest, in making sure our children and our grandchildren grow up in a world where schoolgirls are not kidnapped and where individuals are not slaughtered because of tribe or faith or political belief. I believe that a world of greater freedom and tolerance is not only a moral imperative, it also helps to keep us safe. But to say that we have an interest in pursuing peace and freedom beyond our borders is not to say that every problem has a military solution. Since World War II, some of our most costly mistakes came not from our restraint, but from our willingness to rush into military adventures without thinking through the consequences -- without building international support and legitimacy for our action; without leveling with the American people about the sacrifices required. Tough talk often draws headlines, but war rarely conforms to slogans. As General Eisenhower, someone with hard-earned knowledge on this subject, said at this ceremony in 1947: “War is mankind’s most tragic and stupid folly; to seek or advise its deliberate provocation is a black crime against all men.” Like Eisenhower, this generation of men and women in uniform know all too well the wages of war, and that includes those of you here at West Point. Four of the servicemembers who stood in the audience when I announced the surge of our forces in Afghanistan gave their lives in that effort. A lot more were wounded. I believe America’s security demanded those deployments. But I am haunted by those deaths. I am haunted by those wounds. And I would betray my duty to you and to the country we love if I ever sent you into harm’s way simply because I saw a problem somewhere in the world that needed to be fixed, or because I was worried about critics who think military intervention is the only way for America to avoid looking weak. Here’s my bottom line: America must always lead on the world stage. If we don’t, no one else will. The military that you have joined is and always will be the backbone of that leadership. But U.S. military action cannot be the only -- or even primary -- component of our leadership in every instance. Just because we have the best hammer does not mean that every problem is a nail. And because the costs associated with military action are so high, you should expect every civilian leader -- and especially your Commander-in-Chief -- to be clear about how that awesome power should be used. So let me spend the rest of my time describing my vision for how the United States of America and our military should lead in the years to come, for you will be part of that leadership. First, let me repeat a principle I put forward at the outset of my presidency: The United States will use military force, unilaterally if necessary, when our core interests demand it -- when our people are threatened, when our livelihoods are at stake, when the security of our allies is in danger. In these circumstances, we still need to ask tough questions about whether our actions are proportional and effective and just. International opinion matters, but America should never ask permission to protect our people, our homeland, or our way of life. (Applause.) On the other hand, when issues of global concern do not pose a direct threat to the United States, when such issues are at stake -- when crises arise that stir our conscience or push the world in a more dangerous direction but do not directly threaten us -- then the threshold for military action must be higher. In such circumstances, we should not go it alone. Instead, we must mobilize allies and partners to take collective action. We have to broaden our tools to include diplomacy and development; sanctions and isolation; appeals to international law; and, if just, necessary and effective, multilateral military action. In such circumstances, we have to work with others because collective action in these circumstances is more likely to succeed, more likely to be sustained, less likely to lead to costly mistakes. This leads to my second point: For the foreseeable future, the most direct threat to America at home and abroad remains terrorism. But a strategy that involves invading every country that harbors terrorist networks is naïve and unsustainable. I believe we must shift our counterterrorism strategy -- drawing on the successes and shortcomings of our experience in Iraq and Afghanistan -- to more effectively partner with countries where terrorist networks seek a foothold. And the need for a new strategy reflects the fact that today’s principal threat no longer comes from a centralized al Qaeda leadership. Instead, it comes from decentralized al Qaeda affiliates and extremists, many with agendas focused in countries where they operate. And this lessens the possibility of large-scale 9/11-style attacks against the homeland, but it heightens the danger of U.S. personnel overseas being attacked, as we saw in Benghazi. It heightens the danger to less defensible targets, as we saw in a shopping mall in Nairobi. So we have to develop a strategy that matches this diffuse threat -- one that expands our reach without sending forces that stretch our military too thin, or stir up local resentments. We need partners to fight terrorists alongside us. And empowering partners is a large part of what we have done and what we are currently doing in Afghanistan. Together with our allies, America struck huge blows against al Qaeda core and pushed back against an insurgency that threatened to overrun the country. But sustaining this progress depends on the ability of Afghans to do the job. And that’s why we trained hundreds of thousands of Afghan soldiers and police. Earlier this spring, those forces, those Afghan forces, secured an election in which Afghans voted for the first democratic transfer of power in their history. And at the end of this year, a new Afghan President will be in office and America’s combat mission will be over. (Applause.) Now, that was an enormous achievement made because of America’s armed forces. But as we move to a train-and-advise mission in Afghanistan, our reduced presence allows us to more effectively address emerging threats in the Middle East and North Africa. So, earlier this year, I asked my national security team to develop a plan for a network of partnerships from South Asia to the Sahel. Today, as part of this effort, I am calling on Congress to support a new Counterterrorism Partnerships Fund of up to $5 billion, which will allow us to train, build capacity, and facilitate partner countries on the front lines. And these resources will give us flexibility to fulfill different missions, including training security forces in Yemen who have gone on the offensive against al Qaeda; supporting a multinational force to keep the peace in Somalia; working with European allies to train a functioning security force and border patrol in Libya; and facilitating French operations in Mali. A critical focus of this effort will be the ongoing crisis in Syria. As frustrating as it is, there are no easy answers, no military solution that can eliminate the terrible suffering anytime soon. As President, I made a decision that we should not put American troops into the middle of this increasingly sectarian war, and I believe that is the right decision. But that does not mean we shouldn’t help the Syrian people stand up against a dictator who bombs and starves his own people. And in helping those who fight for the right of all Syrians to choose their own future, we are also pushing back against the growing number of extremists who find safe haven in the chaos. So with the additional resources I’m announcing today, we will step up our efforts to support Syria’s neighbors -- Jordan and Lebanon; Turkey and Iraq -- as they contend with refugees and confront terrorists working across Syria’s borders. I will work with Congress to ramp up support for those in the Syrian opposition who offer the best alternative to terrorists and brutal dictators. And we will continue to coordinate with our friends and allies in Europe and the Arab World to push for a political resolution of this crisis, and to make sure that those countries and not just the United States are contributing their fair share to support the Syrian people. Let me make one final point about our efforts against terrorism. The partnerships I’ve described do not eliminate the need to take direct action when necessary to protect ourselves. When we have actionable intelligence, that’s what we do -- through capture operations like the one that brought a terrorist involved in the plot to bomb our embassies in 1998 to face justice; or drone strikes like those we’ve carried out in Yemen and Somalia. There are times when those actions are necessary, and we cannot hesitate to protect our people. But as I said last year, in taking direct action we must uphold standards that reflect our values. That means taking strikes only when we face a continuing, imminent threat, and only where there is no certainty -- there is near certainty of no civilian casualties. For our actions should meet a simple test: We must not create more enemies than we take off the battlefield. I also believe we must be more transparent about both the basis of our counterterrorism actions and the manner in which they are carried out. We have to be able to explain them publicly, whether it is drone strikes or training partners. I will increasingly turn to our military to take the lead and provide information to the public about our efforts. Our intelligence community has done outstanding work, and we have to continue to protect sources and methods. But when we cannot explain our efforts clearly and publicly, we face terrorist propaganda and international suspicion, we erode legitimacy with our partners and our people, and we reduce accountability in our own government. And this issue of transparency is directly relevant to a third aspect of American leadership, and that is our effort to strengthen and enforce international order. After World War II, America had the wisdom to shape institutions to keep the peace and support human progress -- from NATO and the United Nations, to the World Bank and IMF. These institutions are not perfect, but they have been a force multiplier. They reduce the need for unilateral American action and increase restraint among other nations. Now, just as the world has changed, this architecture must change as well. At the height of the Cold War, President Kennedy spoke about the need for a peace based upon, “a gradual evolution in human institutions.” And evolving these international institutions to meet the demands of today must be a critical part of American leadership. Now, there are a lot of folks, a lot of skeptics, who often downplay the effectiveness of multilateral action. For them, working through international institutions like the U.N. or respecting international law is a sign of weakness. I think they’re wrong. Let me offer just two examples why. In Ukraine, Russia’s recent actions recall the days when Soviet tanks rolled into Eastern Europe. But this isn’t the Cold War. Our ability to shape world opinion helped isolate Russia right away. Because of American leadership, the world immediately condemned Russian actions; Europe and the G7 joined us to impose sanctions; NATO reinforced our commitment to Eastern European allies; the IMF is helping to stabilize Ukraine’s economy; OSCE monitors brought the eyes of the world to unstable parts of Ukraine. And this mobilization of world opinion and international institutions served as a counterweight to Russian propaganda and Russian troops on the border and armed militias in ski masks. This weekend, Ukrainians voted by the millions. Yesterday, I spoke to their next President. We don’t know how the situation will play out and there will remain grave challenges ahead, but standing with our allies on behalf of international order working with international institutions, has given a chance for the Ukrainian people to choose their future without us firing a shot. Similarly, despite frequent warnings from the United States and Israel and others, the Iranian nuclear program steadily advanced for years. But at the beginning of my presidency, we built a coalition that imposed sanctions on the Iranian economy, while extending the hand of diplomacy to the Iranian government. And now we have an opportunity to resolve our differences peacefully. The odds of success are still long, and we reserve all options to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. But for the first time in a decade, we have a very real chance of achieving a breakthrough agreement -- one that is more effective and durable than what we could have achieved through the use of force. And throughout these negotiations, it has been our willingness to work through multilateral channels that kept the world on our side. The point is this is American leadership. This is American strength. In each case, we built coalitions to respond to a specific challenge. Now we need to do more to strengthen the institutions that can anticipate and prevent problems from spreading. For example, NATO is the strongest alliance the world has ever known. But we’re now working with NATO allies to meet new missions, both within Europe where our Eastern allies must be reassured, but also beyond Europe’s borders where our NATO allies must pull their weight to counterterrorism and respond to failed states and train a network of partners. Likewise, the U.N. provides a platform to keep the peace in states torn apart by conflict. Now we need to make sure that those nations who provide peacekeepers have the training and equipment to actually keep the peace, so that we can prevent the type of killing we’ve seen in Congo and Sudan. We are going to deepen our investment in countries that support these peacekeeping missions, because having other nations maintain order in their own neighborhoods lessens the need for us to put our own troops in harm’s way. It’s a smart investment. It’s the right way to lead. (Applause.) Keep in mind, not all international norms relate directly to armed conflict. We have a serious problem with cyber-attacks, which is why we’re working to shape and enforce rules of the road to secure our networks and our citizens. In the Asia Pacific, we’re supporting Southeast Asian nations as they negotiate a code of conduct with China on maritime disputes in the South China Sea. And we’re working to resolve these disputes through international law. That spirit of cooperation needs to energize the global effort to combat climate change -- a creeping national security crisis that will help shape your time in uniform, as we are called on to respond to refugee flows and natural disasters and conflicts over water and food, which is why next year I intend to make sure America is out front in putting together a global framework to preserve our planet. You see, American influence is always stronger when we lead by example. We can’t exempt ourselves from the rules that apply to everybody else. We can’t call on others to make commitments to combat climate change if a whole lot of our political leaders deny that it’s taking place. We can’t try to resolve problems in the South China Sea when we have refused to make sure that the Law of the Sea Convention is ratified by our United States Senate, despite the fact that our top military leaders say the treaty advances our national security. That’s not leadership; that’s retreat. That’s not strength; that’s weakness. It would be utterly foreign to leaders like Roosevelt and Truman, Eisenhower and Kennedy. I believe in American exceptionalism with every fiber of my being. But what makes us exceptional is not our ability to flout international norms and the rule of law; it is our willingness to affirm them through our actions. (Applause.) And that’s why I will continue to push to close Gitmo -- because American values and legal traditions do not permit the indefinite detention of people beyond our borders. (Applause.) That’s why we’re putting in place new restrictions on how America collects and uses intelligence -- because we will have fewer partners and be less effective if a perception takes hold that we’re conducting surveillance against ordinary citizens. (Applause.) America does not simply stand for stability or the absence of conflict, no matter what the cost. We stand for the more lasting peace that can only come through opportunity and freedom for people everywhere. Which brings me to the fourth and final element of American leadership: Our willingness to act on behalf of human dignity. America’s support for democracy and human rights goes beyond idealism -- it is a matter of national security. Democracies are our closest friends and are far less likely to go to war. Economies based on free and open markets perform better and become markets for our goods. Respect for human rights is an antidote to instability and the grievances that fuel violence and terror. A new century has brought no end to tyranny. In capitals around the globe -- including, unfortunately, some of America’s partners -- there has been a crackdown on civil society. The cancer of corruption has enriched too many governments and their cronies, and enraged citizens from remote villages to iconic squares. And watching these trends, or the violent upheavals in parts of the Arab World, it’s easy to be cynical. But remember that because of America’s efforts, because of American diplomacy and foreign assistance as well as the sacrifices of our military, more people live under elected governments today than at any time in human history. Technology is empowering civil society in ways that no iron fist can control. New breakthroughs are lifting hundreds of millions of people out of poverty. And even the upheaval of the Arab World reflects the rejection of an authoritarian order that was anything but stable, and now offers the long-term prospect of more responsive and effective governance. In countries like Egypt, we acknowledge that our relationship is anchored in security interests -- from peace treaties with Israel, to shared efforts against violent extremism. So we have not cut off cooperation with the new government, but we can and will persistently press for reforms that the Egyptian people have demanded. And meanwhile, look at a country like Burma, which only a few years ago was an intractable dictatorship and hostile to the United States -- 40 million people. Thanks to the enormous courage of the people in that country, and because we took the diplomatic initiative, American leadership, we have seen political reforms opening a once closed society; a movement by Burmese leadership away from partnership with North Korea in favor of engagement with America and our allies. We’re now supporting reform and badly needed national reconciliation through assistance and investment, through coaxing and, at times, public criticism. And progress there could be reversed, but if Burma succeeds we will have gained a new partner without having fired a shot. American leadership. In each of these cases, we should not expect change to happen overnight. That’s why we form alliances not just with governments, but also with ordinary people. For unlike other nations, America is not afraid of individual empowerment, we are strengthened by it. We’re strengthened by civil society. We’re strengthened by a free press. We’re strengthened by striving entrepreneurs and small businesses. We’re strengthened by educational exchange and opportunity for all people, and women and girls. That’s who we are. That’s what we represent. (Applause.) I saw that through a trip to Africa last year, where American assistance has made possible the prospect of an AIDS-free generation, while helping Africans care themselves for their sick. We’re helping farmers get their products to market, to feed populations once endangered by famine. We aim to double access to electricity in sub-Saharan Africa so people are connected to the promise of the global economy. And all this creates new partners and shrinks the space for terrorism and conflict. Now, tragically, no American security operation can eradicate the threat posed by an extremist group like Boko Haram, the group that kidnapped those girls. And that’s why we have to focus not just on rescuing those girls right away, but also on supporting Nigerian efforts to educate its youth. This should be one of the hard-earned lessons of Iraq and Afghanistan, where our military became the strongest advocate for diplomacy and development. They understood that foreign assistance is not an afterthought, something nice to do apart from our national defense, apart from our national security. It is part of what makes us strong. Ultimately, global leadership requires us to see the world as it is, with all its danger and uncertainty. We have to be prepared for the worst, prepared for every contingency. But American leadership also requires us to see the world as it should be -- a place where the aspirations of individual human beings really matters; where hopes and not just fears govern; where the truths written into our founding documents can steer the currents of history in a direction of justice. And we cannot do that without you. Class of 2014, you have taken this time to prepare on the quiet banks of the Hudson. You leave this place to carry forward a legacy that no other military in human history can claim. You do so as part of a team that extends beyond your units or even our Armed Forces, for in the course of your service you will work as a team with diplomats and development experts. You’ll get to know allies and train partners. And you will embody what it means for America to lead the world. Next week, I will go to Normandy to honor the men who stormed the beaches there. And while it’s hard for many Americans to comprehend the courage and sense of duty that guided those who boarded small ships, it’s familiar to you. At West Point, you define what it means to be a patriot. Three years ago, Gavin White graduated from this academy. He then served in Afghanistan. Like the soldiers who came before him, Gavin was in a foreign land, helping people he’d never met, putting himself in harm’s way for the sake of his community and his family, of the folks back home. Gavin lost one of his legs in an attack. I met him last year at Walter Reed. He was wounded, but just as determined as the day that he arrived here at West Point -- and he developed a simple goal. Today, his sister Morgan will graduate. And true to his promise, Gavin will be there to stand and exchange salutes with her. (Applause.) We have been through a long season of war. We have faced trials that were not foreseen, and we’ve seen divisions about how to move forward. But there is something in Gavin’s character, there is something in the American character that will always triumph. Leaving here, you carry with you the respect of your fellow citizens. You will represent a nation with history and hope on our side. Your charge, now, is not only to protect our country, but to do what is right and just. As your Commander-in-Chief, I know you will. May God bless you. May God bless our men and women in uniform. And may God bless the United States of America. (Applause.) White House to Host Embargoed Press Call Previewing the Healthy Kids & Safe Sports Concussion Summit
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the White House will hold an on-the-record conference call to preview the White House Healthy Kids & Safe Sports Concussion Summit that the President will host on Thursday, May 29. The President will be joined at this summit by young athletes, parents, coaches, academics and experts, athletes, military service members, and other stakeholders. The President believes we can and must do more to help ensure that children continue to be active and play sports safely. During this summit, the Administration will announce new commitments from both the public and private sectors to raise awareness among young athletes, parents, school administrators, clinicians, coaches, and youth sports programs about how to identify, treat, and prevent concussions, as well as to conduct additional research in the field of sports-related concussions that will help better address concussions among students. WHO: Jennifer Palmieri, Communications Director Jay Carney, Press Secretary Carole Johnson, White House Domestic Policy Council Kyle Lierberman, White House Office of Public Engagement Remarks of President Barack Obama Graduation Ceremony West Point, New York
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary May 28, 2014 Remarks of President Barack Obama Graduation Ceremony West Point, New York May 28, 2014 Good morning. Thank you, General Caslen, for that introduction. To General Trainor, General Clarke, and the faculty and staff at West Point – you have been outstanding stewards of this proud institution, and excellent mentors for the newest officers in the United States Army. I’d like to acknowledge the Army’s leadership – Secretary McHugh and General Odierno, as well as Senator Jack Reed – a proud graduate of West Point himself. To the class of 2014, I congratulate you on taking your place on the Long Gray Line. Among you is the first all-female command team: Erin Mauldin and Austen Boroff. In Calla Glavin, you have a Rhodes Scholar, and Josh Herbeck proves that West Point accuracy extends beyond the three point line. To the entire class, let me reassure you in these final hours at West Point: as Commander-in-Chief, I hereby absolve all cadets who are on restriction for minor conduct offenses. Let me just say that nobody ever did that for me when I was in school. I know you join me in extending a word of thanks to your families. Joe DeMoss, whose son James is graduating, spoke for many parents when he wrote me a letter about the sacrifices you have made. “Deep inside,” he wrote, “we want to explode with pride at what they are committing to do in the service of our country.” Like several graduates, James is a combat veteran. And I would like to ask all of us here today to stand and pay tribute – not only to the veterans among us, but to the more than 2.5 million Americans who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan, and their families. It is a particularly useful time for America to reflect on those who have sacrificed so much for our freedom – for you are the first class to graduate since 9/11 who may not be sent into combat in Iraq or Afghanistan. When I first spoke at West Point in 2009, we still had more than 100,000 troops in Iraq. We were preparing to surge in Afghanistan. Our counter-terrorism efforts were focused on al Qaeda’s core leadership. And our nation was just beginning a long climb out of the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. Four and a half years later, the landscape has changed. We have removed our troops from Iraq. We are winding down our war in Afghanistan. Al Qaeda’s leadership in the border region between Pakistan and Afghanistan has been decimated, and Osama bin Laden is no more. Through it all, we have refocused our investments in a key source of American strength: a growing economy that can provide opportunity here at home. In fact, by most measures, America has rarely been stronger relative to the rest of the world. Those who argue otherwise – who suggest that America is in decline, or has seen its global leadership slip away – are either misreading history or engaged in partisan politics. Think about it. Our military has no peer. The odds of a direct threat against us by any nation are low, and do not come close to the dangers we faced during the Cold War. Meanwhile, our economy remains the most dynamic on Earth; our businesses the most innovative. Each year, we grow more energy independent. From Europe to Asia, we are the hub of alliances unrivalled in the history of nations. America continues to attract striving immigrants. The values of our founding inspire leaders in parliaments and new movements in public squares around the globe. And when a typhoon hits the Philippines, or girls are kidnapped in Nigeria, or masked men occupy a building in Ukraine – it is America that the world looks to for help. The United States is the one indispensable nation. That has been true for the century passed, and will likely be true for the century to come. But the world is changing with accelerating speed. This presents opportunity, but also new dangers. We know all too well, after 9/11, just how technology and globalization has put power once reserved for states in the hands of the individual, raising the capacity of terrorists to do harm. Russia’s aggression toward former Soviet states unnerves capitals in Europe, while China’s economic rise and military reach worries its neighbors. From Brazil to India, rising middle classes compete with our own, and governments seek a greater say in global forums. And even as developing nations embrace democracy and market economies, 24 hours news and pervasive social media makes it impossible to ignore sectarian conflicts, failing states and popular uprisings that might have received only passing notice a generation ago. It will be your generation’s task to respond to this new world. The question we face – the question you will face – is not whether America will lead, but how we will lead, not just to secure our peace and prosperity, but also to extend peace and prosperity around the globe. This question isn’t new. At least since George Washington served as Commander-in-Chief, there have been those who warned against foreign entanglements that do not touch directly on our security or economic well-being. Today, according to self-described realists, conflicts in Syria or Ukraine or the Central African Republic are not ours to solve. Not surprisingly, after costly wars and continuing challenges at home, that view is shared by many Americans. A different view, from interventionists on the left and right, says we ignore these conflicts at our own peril; that America’s willingness to apply force around the world is the ultimate safeguard against chaos, and America’s failure to act in the face of Syrian brutality or Russian provocations not only violates our conscience, but invites escalating aggression in the future. Each side can point to history to support its claims. But I believe neither view fully speaks to the demands of this moment. It is absolutely true that in the 21st century, American isolationism is not an option. If nuclear materials are not secure, that could pose a danger in American cities. As the Syrian civil war spills across borders, the capacity of battle-hardened groups to come after us increases. Regional aggression that goes unchecked – in southern Ukraine, the South China Sea, or anywhere else in the world – will ultimately impact our allies, and could draw in our military. Beyond these narrow rationales, I believe we have a real stake – an abiding self-interest – in making sure our children grow up in a world where school-girls are not kidnapped; where individuals aren’t slaughtered because of tribe or faith or political beliefs. I believe that a world of greater freedom and tolerance is not only a moral imperative – it also helps keep us safe. But to say that we have an interest in pursuing peace and freedom beyond our borders is not to say that every problem has a military solution. Since World War II, some of our most costly mistakes came not from our restraint, but from our willingness to rush into military adventures – without thinking through the consequences; without building international support and legitimacy for our action, or leveling with the American people about the sacrifice required. Tough talk draws headlines, but war rarely conforms to slogans. As General Eisenhower, someone with hard-earned knowledge on this subject, said at this ceremony in 1947: “War is mankind’s most tragic and stupid folly; to seek or advise its deliberate provocation is a black crime against all men.” Like Eisenhower, this generation of men and women in uniform know all too well the wages of war. That includes those of you at West Point. Four of the service-members who stood in the audience when I announced the surge of our forces in Afghanistan gave their lives in that effort. More were wounded. I believe America’s security demanded those deployments. But I am haunted by those deaths. I am haunted by those wounds. And I would betray my duty to you, and to the country we love, if I sent you into harm’s way simply because I saw a problem somewhere in the world that needed fixing, or because I was worried about critics who think military intervention is the only way for America to avoid looking weak. Here’s my bottom line: America must always lead on the world stage. If we don’t, no one else will. The military that you have joined is, and always will be, the backbone of that leadership. But U.S. military action cannot be the only – or even primary – component of our leadership in every instance. Just because we have the best hammer does not mean that every problem is a nail. And because the costs associated with military action are so high, you should expect every civilian leader – and especially your Commander-in-Chief – to be clear about how that awesome power should be used. Let me spend the rest of my time, then, describing my vision for how the United States of America, and our military, should lead in the years to come. First, let me repeat a principle I put forward at the outset of my presidency: the United States will use military force, unilaterally if necessary, when our core interests demand it – when our people are threatened; when our livelihood is at stake; or when the security of our allies is in danger. In these circumstances, we still need to ask tough questions about whether our action is proportional, effective and just. International opinion matters. But America should never ask permission to protect our people, our homeland, or our way of life. On the other hand, when issues of global concern that do not pose a direct threat to the United States are at stake – when crises arise that stir our conscience or push the world in a more dangerous direction – then the threshold for military action must be higher. In such circumstances, we should not go it alone. Instead, we must mobilize allies and partners to take collective action. We must broaden our tools to include diplomacy and development; sanctions and isolation; appeals to international law and – if just, necessary, and effective – multilateral military action. We must do so because collective action in these circumstances is more likely to succeed, more likely to be sustained, and less likely to lead to costly mistakes. This leads to my second point: for the foreseeable future, the most direct threat to America at home and abroad remains terrorism. But a strategy that involves invading every country that harbors terrorist networks is naïve and unsustainable. I believe we must shift our counter-terrorism strategy – drawing on the successes and shortcomings of our experience in Iraq and Afghanistan – to more effectively partner with countries where terrorist networks seek a foothold. This reflects the fact that today’s principal threat no longer comes from a centralized al Qaeda leadership. Instead, it comes from decentralized al Qaeda affiliates and extremists, many with agendas focused in the countries where they operate. This lessens the possibility of large-scale 9/11-style attacks against the homeland, but heightens the danger to U.S. personnel overseas, as we saw in Benghazi; or less defensible targets, as we saw in a shopping mall in Nairobi. We need a strategy that matches this diffuse threat; one that expands our reach without sending forces that stretch our military thin, or stir up local resentments. Empowering partners is a large part of what we’ve done in Afghanistan. Together with our allies, America struck huge blows against al Qaeda core, and pushed back against an insurgency that threatened to overrun the country. But sustaining this progress depends on the ability of Afghans to do the job. That’s why we trained hundreds of thousands of Afghan soldiers and police. Earlier this spring, those forces secured an election in which Afghans voted for the first democratic transfer of power in their history. At the end of this year, a new Afghan President will be in office, and America’s combat mission will be over. Now, as we move to a train and advise mission in Afghanistan, our reduced presence there will allow us to more effectively address emerging threats in the Middle East and North Africa. Earlier this year, I asked my national security team to develop a plan for a network of partnerships from South Asia to the Sahel. Today, as part of this effort, I am calling on Congress to support a new Counter-Terrorism Partnerships Fund of up to $5 billion, which will allow us to train, build capacity, and facilitate partner countries on the front lines. These resources will give us flexibility to fulfill different missions, including training security forces in Yemen who have gone on the offensive against al Qaeda; supporting a multinational force to keep the peace in Somalia; working with European allies to train a functioning security force and border patrol in Libya; and facilitating French operations in Mali. A critical focus of this effort will be the ongoing crisis in Syria. As frustrating as it is, there are no easy answers – no military solution that can eliminate the terrible suffering anytime soon. As President, I made a decision that we should not put American troops into the middle of this increasingly sectarian civil war, and I believe that is the right decision. But that does not mean we shouldn’t help the Syrian people stand up against a dictator who bombs and starves his people. And in helping those who fight for the right of all Syrians to choose their own future, we also push back against the growing number of extremists who find safe-haven in the chaos. With the additional resources I’m announcing today, we will step up our efforts to support Syria’s neighbors – Jordan and Lebanon; Turkey and Iraq – as they host refugees, and confront terrorists working across Syrian borders. I will work with Congress to ramp up support for those in the Syrian opposition who offer the best alternative to terrorists and a brutal dictator. And we will continue to coordinate with our friends and allies in Europe and the Arab World – to push for a political resolution of this crisis, and make sure that those countries, and not just the United States, are contributing their fair share of support to the Syrian people. Let me make one final point about our efforts against terrorism. The partnership I’ve described does not eliminate the need to take direct action when necessary to protect ourselves. When we have actionable intelligence, that’s what we do – through capture operations, like the one that brought a terrorist involved in the plot to bomb our Embassies in 1998 to face justice; or drone strikes, like those we have carried out in Yemen and Somalia. But as I said last year, in taking direct action, we must uphold standards that reflect our values. That means taking strikes only when we face a continuing, imminent threat, and only where there is near certainty of no civilian casualties. For our actions should meet a simple test: we must not create more enemies than we take off the battlefield. I also believe we be more transparent about both the basis for our actions, and the manner in which they are carried out – whether it is drone strikes, or training partners. I will increasingly turn to our military to take the lead and provide information to the public about our efforts. Our intelligence community has done outstanding work and we must continue to protect sources and methods. But, when we cannot explain our efforts clearly and publicly, we face terrorist propaganda and international suspicion; we erode legitimacy with our partners and our people; and we reduce accountability in our own government. This issue of transparency is directly relevant to a third aspect of American leadership: our efforts to strengthen and enforce international order. After World War II, America had the wisdom to shape institutions to keep the peace and support human progress – from NATO and the United Nations, to the World Bank and IMF. Though imperfect, these institutions have been a force multiplier – reducing the need for unilateral American action, and increased restraint among other nations. But just as the world has changed, this architecture must change as well. At the height of the Cold War, President Kennedy spoke about the need for a peace based upon, “a gradual evolution in human institutions.” Evolving these institutions to meet the demands of today must be a critical part of American leadership. Of course, skeptics often downplay the effectiveness of multilateral action. For them, working through international institutions, or respecting international law, is a sign of weakness. I think they’re wrong. Let me offer just two examples why. In Ukraine, Russia’s recent actions recall the days when Soviet tanks rolled into Eastern Europe. But this isn’t the Cold War. Our ability to shape world opinion helped isolate Russia right away. Because of American leadership, the world immediately condemned Russian actions. Europe and the G-7 joined with us to impose sanctions. NATO reinforced our commitment to Eastern European allies. The IMF is helping to stabilize Ukraine’s economy. OSCE monitors brought the eyes of the world to unstable parts of Ukraine. This mobilization of world opinion and institutions served as a counterweight to Russian propaganda, Russian troops on the border, and armed militias. This weekend, Ukrainians voted by the millions; yesterday, I spoke to their next President. We don’t know how the situation will play out, and there will be grave challenges. But standing with our allies on behalf of international order has given a chance for the Ukrainian people to choose their future. Similarly, despite frequent warnings from the United States, Israel, and others, the Iranian nuclear program steadily advanced for years. But at the beginning of my presidency, we built a coalition that imposed sanctions on the Iranian economy, while extending the hand of diplomacy to the Iranian government. Now, we have an opportunity to resolve our differences peacefully. The odds of success are still long, and we reserve all options to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. But for the first time in a decade, we have a very real chance of achieving a breakthrough agreement – one that is more effective and durable than what would be achieved through the use of force. And throughout these negotiations, it has been our willingness to work through multilateral channels that kept the world on our side. This is American leadership. This is American strength. In each case, we built coalitions to respond to a specific challenge. Now we need to do more to strengthen the institutions that can anticipate and prevent them from spreading. For example, NATO is the strongest alliance the world has ever known. But we are now working with NATO allies to meet new missions – within Europe, where our Eastern allies must be reassured; and also beyond Europe’s borders, where our NATO allies must pull their weight to counter-terrorism, respond to failed states, and train a network of partners. Likewise, the UN provides a platform to keep the peace in states torn apart by conflict. Now we need to make sure that those nations who provide peace-keepers have the training and equipment to keep the peace, so that we can prevent the type of killing we have seen in Congo and Sudan. We are deepening our investment in countries that support these missions. Because having other nations maintain order in their own neighborhoods lessens the need for us to put our own troops in harm’s way. It is a smart investment. It’s the right way to lead. Keep in mind, not all international norms relate directly to armed conflict. In the face of cyber-attacks, we are working to shape and enforce rules of the road to secure our networks and citizens. In the Asia Pacific, we are supporting Southeast Asian nations as they negotiate a code of conduct with China on the South China Sea, and are working to resolve territorial and maritime disputes through international law. That spirit of cooperation must energize the global effort to combat climate change – a creeping national security crisis that will help shape your time in uniform, as we’re called on to respond to refugee flows, natural disasters, and conflicts over water and food. That’s why, next year, I intend to make sure America is out front in a global framework to preserve our planet. You see, American influence is always stronger when we lead by example. We cannot exempt ourselves from the rules that apply to everyone else. We can’t call on others to make commitments to combat climate change if so many of our political leaders deny that it is taking place. It’s a lot harder to call on China to resolve its maritime disputes under the Law of the Sea Convention when the United States Senate has refused to ratify it – despite the repeated insistence of our top military leaders that the treaty advances our national security. That’s not leadership; that’s retreat. That’s not strength; that’s weakness. And it would be utterly foreign to leaders like Roosevelt and Truman; Eisenhower and Kennedy. I believe in American exceptionalism with every fiber of my being. But what makes us exceptional is not our ability to flout international norms and the rule of law; it’s our willingness to affirm them through our actions. That’s why I will continue to push to close GTMO – because American values and legal traditions don’t permit the indefinite detention of people beyond our borders. That’s why we are putting in place new restrictions on how America collects and uses intelligence – because we will have fewer partners and be less effective if a perception takes hold that we are conducting surveillance against ordinary citizens. America does not simply stand for stability, or the absence of conflict, no matter what the price; we stand for the more lasting peace that can only come through opportunity and freedom for people everywhere. Which brings me to the fourth and final element of American leadership: our willingness to act on behalf of human dignity. America’s support for democracy and human rights goes beyond idealism – it’s a matter of national security. Democracies are our closest friends, and are far less likely to go to war. Free and open economies perform better, and become markets for our goods. Respect for human rights is an antidote to instability, and the grievances that fuel violence and terror. A new century has brought no end to tyranny. In capitals around the globe – including some of America’s partners – there has been a crackdown on civil society. The cancer of corruption has enriched too many governments and their cronies, and enraged citizens from remote villages to iconic squares. Watching these trends, or the violent upheaval in parts of the Arab World, it is easy to be cynical. But remember that because of America’s efforts – through diplomacy and foreign assistance, as well as the sacrifices of our military – more people live under elected governments today than any time in human history. Technology is empowering civil society in ways that no iron fist can control. New breakthroughs are lifting hundreds of millions out of poverty. And even the upheaval of the Arab World reflects the rejection of an authoritarian order that was anything but stable, and offers the long-term prospect of more responsive and effective governance. In Egypt, we acknowledge that our relationship is anchored in security interests – from the peace treaty with Israel, to shared efforts against violent extremism. So we have not cut off cooperation with the new government. But we can and will persistently press for the reforms that the Egyptian people have demanded. Meanwhile, look at a country like Burma, which only a few years ago was an intractable dictatorship, hostile to the United States. Thanks to the enormous courage of the people in that country – and because we took the diplomatic initiative – we have seen political reforms opening a once closed society; a movement away from partnership with North Korea in favor of engagement with America and our allies. We are now supporting reform – and badly needed national reconciliation – through assistance and investment; coaxing and, at times, public criticism. Progress could be reversed. But if Burma succeeds, we will have gained a new partner without having fired a shot. In all these cases, we should not expect change to happen overnight. That’s why we form alliances – not only with governments, but with ordinary people. For unlike other nations, America is not afraid of individual empowerment, we are strengthened by it – by civil society and transparency; by striving entrepreneurs and small businesses; by educational exchange and opportunity for women and girls. That’s who we are. That’s what we represent. I saw that throughout my trip to Africa last year. American assistance has made possible the prospect of an AIDS-free generation, while helping Africans care for their sick. We are helping farmers get their products to market, and feeding populations once endangered by famine. We aim to double access to electricity in sub-Saharan Africa, so people are connected to the promise of the global economy. All this creates new partners and shrinks the space for terrorism. Tragically, no American security operation can eradicate the threat posed by an extremist group like Boko Haram. That is why we must focus both on rescuing those girls, but also on supporting Nigerian efforts to educate its youth. Indeed, this should be one of the hard-earned lessons of Iraq and Afghanistan, where our military became the strongest advocate for diplomacy and development. Foreign assistance isn’t an afterthought – something nice to do apart from our national defense. It’s part of what makes us strong. Ultimately, global leadership requires us to see the world as it is, with all its danger and uncertainty. But American leadership also requires us to see the world as it should be – a place where the aspirations of individual human beings matter; where hopes and not just fears govern; where the truths written into our founding documents can steer the currents of history in the direction of justice. And we cannot do that without you. Graduates, you have taken this time to prepare on the quiet banks of the Hudson. You leave this place to carry forward a legacy that no other military in human history can claim. And you do so as part of a team that extends beyond your units or even our Armed Forces. In the course of your service, you will work as a team with diplomats and development experts. You will get to know allies and train partners. You will embody what it means for America to lead. Next week, I will go to Normandy to honor the men who stormed the beaches. And while it is hard for many Americans to comprehend the courage and sense of duty that guided those who boarded small ships, it is familiar to you. At West Point, you define what it means to be a patriot. Three years ago, Gavin White graduated from this Academy. He then served in Afghanistan. Like the soldiers who came before him, he was in a foreign land, helping people he’d never met, putting himself in harm’s way for the sake of his people back home. Gavin lost one of his legs in an attack. I met him last year at Walter Reed. He was wounded, but just as determined as the day that he arrived here. He developed a simple goal. Today, his sister Morgan will graduate. And true to his promise, Gavin will be there to stand and exchange salutes with her. We have been through a long season of war. We have faced trials that were not foreseen, and divisions about how to move forward. But there is something in Gavin’s character, and America’s character, that will always triumph. Leaving here, you carry with you the respect of your fellow citizens. You will represent a nation with history and hope on our side. Your charge, now, is not only to protect our country, but to do what is right and just. As your Commander-in-Chief, I know you will. May God bless you. May God bless our men and women in uniform. And may God bless the United States of America. The Pooler wrote:
Some have asked about the class "goat" who got a loud cheer as he was called to the stage. He is Matthew Mayeaux, who had lowest GPA. He received $1 from each classmate, cash given to him in a bundle. FACT SHEET: Harnessing the Power of Data for a Clean, Secure, and Reliable Energy Future
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 28, 2014 FACT SHEET: Harnessing the Power of Data for a Clean, Secure, and Reliable Energy Future “We are blessed when it comes to energy, but we’re much more blessed when it comes to the innovation and the dynamism and the creativity of our economy.” – President Barack Obama, May 9, 2014 President Obama’s all-of-the-above energy strategy recognizes that we need to deploy American assets, innovation, and technology in order to safely and responsibly develop more energy here at home and be a leader in the global energy economy. This means tapping into every ounce of America’s creativity and ingenuity to catalyze innovations that provide consumers with choices to reduce costs, save energy, and protect the environment. This approach calls for all hands on deck—including private-sector entrepreneurs, technologists, and innovators who are critical to building the tools, services, and infrastructure needed to support a clean energy economy. Both the public and private sectors have an important role to play in continuing our progress to develop and deploy renewable energy sources, strengthen the electric grid, drive more advanced and fuel-efficient vehicles, and cut energy waste in homes and businesses. Since its earliest days, the Obama Administration has recognized that freely available data from the U.S. Government is an important national asset, serving as fuel for entrepreneurship, innovation, scientific discovery, and economic growth. That is why the Federal Government has taken unprecedented steps to make open data more available to citizens, companies, and innovators—including by launching both an Energy Data Initiative and a Climate Data Initiative. The Administration has also long recognized the value of providing homes and businesses with secure access to their own energy usage data to spur innovation and enable informed choices. In 2012, the Administration launched a Green Button Initiative in partnership with the electric utility industry to provide families and business with easy and secure access to their own energy usage information. Today, over 100 million Americans have access to their own “Green Button” data — and the opportunity to use new private sector tools and services to manage or upgrade their own household or building energy performance. To continue this momentum, today the White House, the Department of Energy, and the General Services Administration are hosting an “Energy Datapalooza” to announce new steps forward in support of clean energy innovation, and to highlight private-sector innovators who are harnessing the power of data to advance the clean energy economy. Key Administration steps include: · Anonymized building performance data for energy retrofits, financing, and policy design: The Department of Energy announced today that its Buildings Performance Database has exceeded a milestone of 750,000 building records, making it the world’s largest public database of real buildings’ energy performance information. The Buildings Performance Database lets users mine anonymous statistical data from real buildings that match a specific building characteristic profile, enabling real estate professionals, contractors, policymakers and lenders to incorporate real-world performance data into their decision making · Reducing energy costs in Federal buildings with Green Button: The President’s Climate Action Plan and a subsequent Presidential Memorandum issued in December 2013 call for leveraging the Green Button standard (an industry-developed consensus-driven method for accessing and transmitting energy-consumption information) in Federal buildings to save energy and money. Responding to the President’s vision, the General Services Administration (GSA), with the support of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the Department of Energy, and working with private-sector partners Schneider Electric, Pepco Holdings and FirstFuel Software, announced today the conclusion of a successful pilot using the Green Button standard, demonstrating the opportunity for building managers to use innovative tools to manage energy usage and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. As directed by the President, the Department of Energy’s Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) will use the results of this pilot to develop government-wide guidance, and the EPA is working to integrate the Green Button standard into its EnergyStar benchmarking tool. · Making solar energy more affordable with software innovation: To further reduce the “soft costs” of solar deployment, the Energy Department recently launched the SunShot Catalyst prize challenge. Catalyst will solicit “problem statements” from industry that highlight barriers and costs associated with solar deployment. Other teams will then propose solutions to these problems. The Department of Energy will help teams with the best proposal to build a prototype in 90 days. The most promising of these prototypes will be awarded a prize of up to $100,000 to launch the initial version of their solution or product. · Open geothermal data for scientists and industry: In response to industry demand, the Energy Department supported in the Recovery Act the creation of a National Geothermal Data System. Today, the Department of Energy is launching this resource that contains enough raw geoscience data to pinpoint elusive sweet spots of geothermal energy deep in the earth, enabling researchers and commercial developers to find the most promising areas for geothermal energy. Access to this data will reduce costs and risks of geothermal electricity production and, in turn, accelerate its deployment. · Open data on hydropower potential and other important attributes of rivers and streams across the United States: The Department of Energy recently released a study which identified 65-85 gigawatts of untapped hydropower potential in the United States. Accompanying the release of this report, Oak Ridge National Laboratory has released detailed data resulting from this study. This information can be used by stakeholders to help evaluate appropriate sites for hydropower development and to conduct analyses requiring information about the environmental or social characteristics of U.S. river systems. · American Energy Data Challenge spurs innovative uses of energy data: Today, Secretary Moniz will announce the winners of the Department of Energy’s “Apps for Energy” contest, the second part of its year-long American Energy Data Challenge to harness energy data into a more powerful force for a cleaner and more efficient economy. The Department will also announce the details of the third part of the challenge: “Open Data by Design.” Beginning June 4, this contest will invite competitors to use information design and graphic design to inspire, inform, and amplify the value of our public data resources. · New EPA tool helps state and local planners analyze impacts of energy policies: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has developed the AVoided Emissions and geneRation Tool (AVERT), a free software tool designed to help state and local air quality planners evaluate county-level emissions displaced at electric power plants by efficiency and renewable energy policies and programs. Analysts are able to improve their understanding of the emission benefits of statewide or multi-state energy efficiency and renewables policies and programs. Regulatory planners are able to assess emission benefits incorporated into Clean Air Act plan to meet clean air goals. Energy officials are able to estimate and promote the air benefits of their energy efficiency or renewable energy policies. Private-sector and other commitments include: · Continued momentum on the Green Button Initiative: In December 2013, the Administration announced that 48 utilities and electricity suppliers serving more than 59 million homes and businesses have committed to enable their customers with “Green Button” access to help them save energy and shrink their bills. Of these, over 42 million household and business customers (reaching well over 100 million Americans) already have access to their Green Button energy data. Additional developments include: o Today, new utilities and state-wide energy efficiency programs are committing to make energy data available to their customers via the Green Button standard, including: Seattle City Light, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, Green Mountain Power, Wake Electric, Hawaiian Electric Company, Maui Electric Company, Hawai'i Electric Light Company, and Hawaii Energy. o To ensure interoperability of the broad range of Green Button deployments across the nation, a public-private partnership of UCAIug, Underwriters Laboratory, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and the Department of Energy announced today they have initiated Green Button Certification efforts. o Technology company Pivotal Labs has collaborated with NIST and EnergyOS to provide OpenESPI, an open source implementation of the Green Button standard. o In support of the President's goal to cut energy waste in buildings, the District of Columbia’s Department of General Services and New City Energy have implemented a solution to use the Green Button standard to benchmark the energy usage of over 400 municipal buildings in the District o A new coalition of technology companies, Mission:Data, announced the formation of an effort to advance consumers’ secure and easy access to their own energy data, including via Green Button. · New industry-led effort to provide consumers and first-responders with information about power outages: Today, a number of electric utilities and technology companies agreed to the development and use of a voluntary open standard for the publishing of power outage and restoration information. The commitment of utilities to publish their already public outage information as a structured data in an easy-to-use and common format, in a consistent location, will make it easier for a wide set of interested parties—including first responders, public health officials, utility operations and mutual assistance efforts, and the public at large—to make use of and act upon this important information, especially during times of natural disaster or crisis. o Utilities announcing their intent to develop and use this standard and publish their outage and restoration information include: Duke Energy, BGE, ComEd, PECO, SDG&E, Southern California Edison, and National Grid. o Utility vendor iFactor Consulting announced its intent to support the standard in its software. o Google announces its intent to use the open outage data in its Crisis Maps and other Crisis response products · Cities publishing open building energy performance data in a standard format to aid benchmarking and promote efficiency: Today, the cities of Philadelphia, San Francisco and Washington D.C. are announcing that they will use the Department of Energy’s open source Standard Energy Efficiency Data (SEED) platform to publish the data collected through their benchmarking disclosure programs. SEED is a free, user-friendly, web-enabled software application that helps organizations easily aggregate, clean, track, and share data on the energy performance of large groups of buildings. White House Science Fair Fact Sheet & Backgrounder
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 27, 2014 President Obama to Host White House Science Fair Highlights New Commitments to Help More Girls and Boys Succeed in STEM WASHINGTON, DC -- President Obama will host the 2014 White House Science Fair today and celebrate the student winners of a broad range of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) competitions from across the country. This year’s Fair will include a specific focus on girls and women who are excelling in STEM and inspiring the next generation with their work. The President will also announce new steps as part of his Educate to Innovate campaign, an all-hands-on-deck effort to get more girls and boys inspired to excel and to provide the support they need to succeed in these in these vital subjects. Educate to Innovate components being announced today include among others: · A new $35 million Department of Education competition, in support of the President’s goal to train 100,000 excellent STEM teachers; · A major expansion of STEM AmeriCorps to provide STEM learning opportunities for 18,000 low-income students this summer; · A national STEM mentoring effort kicking off in seven cities, as well as new steps by leading technology and media companies, non-profits and others to connect more students to STEM. “When students excel in math and science, they’re laying the groundwork for helping America compete for the jobs and industries of the future,” said President Obama. “That’s why I’m proud to celebrate outstanding students at the White House Science Fair, and to announce new steps my Administration and its partners are taking to help more young people succeed in these critical subjects." Details on the White House Science Fair The White House Science Fair will feature over 100 students from more than 30 states, representing more than 40 different STEM competitions and organizations that recognize the talents of America’s next generation of scientists, engineers, inventors and innovators. Approximately 30 student teams will have the opportunity to exhibit their projects as part of the Fair. The President will view exhibits of the students’ work, ranging from breakthrough basic research to new inventions, and deliver remarks to an audience of students, science educators and business leaders on the importance of STEM education to the country’s economic future. This year’s Fair includes a specific focus on girls and women who are excelling in STEM and inspiring the next generation with their work. Since day one, the President has been committed to getting more underrepresented groups, including women and girls, excited to excel at STEM subjects. For example, in the Administration’s signature education reform initiative, Race to the Top, President Obama granted states competitive preference if they demonstrated efforts to close the STEM gap for girls and other groups that are underrepresented. The White House Science Fair is a key part of the President’s Educate to Innovate campaign to inspire more girls and boys to excel in STEM subjects. As the President has noted, “If you win the NCAA championship, you come to the White House. Well, if you're a young person and you produce the best experiment or design, the best hardware or software, you ought to be recognized for that achievement, too.” New Steps Being Taken by the Administration in Support of the President’ STEM Education Goals · The U.S. Department of Education launches a STEM-Focused Teacher Training Grant Competition to Grow Pathways for Effective STEM Educators: Responding to the President’s goal to prepare 100,000 excellent STEM teachers over the next decade, the U.S. Department of Education is announcing a new round of the Teacher Quality Partnership (TQP) grant competition, which includes a focus on STEM teacher preparation. This competition will award approximately $35 million in grants, and grow the portfolio of projects supported by the Department that are investing in STEM teachers. For this competition: o Applications that increase opportunities for the preparation and professional development of STEM teachers will receive extra points. Applications may also receive additional points for targeting under-represented groups for STEM teacher preparation and professional development. Applicants are encouraged to incorporate hands-on and field-based experiences into their STEM teacher preparation programs. o TQP grants support partnerships among universities, high-need school districts, and schools to develop and execute pre-baccalaureate and residency teacher-training programs. These programs include yearlong clinical experiences, access to mentors, induction support, and professional development for partner districts and stipends. To date, 40 TQP grants have been awarded. · A major expansion of STEM AmeriCorps will provide STEM learning opportunities for 18,000 low-income students this summer: Building on the President’s launch of STEM AmeriCorps at the White House Science Fair last year, the Corporation for National and Community Service today is announcing a major summer AmeriCorps VISTA initiative that includes six Southern states. These 256 AmeriCorps members will connect approximately 18,000 at-risk students in low-performing schools to STEM opportunities. The AmeriCorps members will serve with community groups, educational institutions, and corporate sponsors that are committed to sharing their expertise to inspire new discovery and increase the students’ chances for academic achievement. This initiative will make it possible for students to learn about and build robots, engage with community members to solve challenging STEM tasks, write code that will be uploaded to the International Space Station, participate in a “scientist-for-a-day” program that explores various careers, and learn about food production. This AmeriCorps VISTA project, which expands access to STEM education through national service, is one part of the overall STEM AmeriCorps effort. Other STEM AmeriCorps initiatives include partnerships with FIRST Robotics, US2020, Maker Education Initiative, Citizen Schools, Teach for America, and other organizations – efforts collectively reaching tens of thousands of students engaging in STEM learning. New Partners Stepping Up in Response to the President’s Call to Action · Working with US2020, Seven Cities to Launch STEM Mentoring Efforts: Led by US2020, seven American cities are launching new campaigns this year to connect passionate STEM employees from local companies to students in their region, including: Allentown, PA; Chicago, IL; Indianapolis, IN; Research Triangle Park, NC; Philadelphia, PA; San Francisco, CA; and Wichita, KS. Sponsored by Cisco and launched at last year’s White House Science Fair, the US2020 City Competition challenged cities to develop innovative models for scaling STEM mentorship for young students in STEM, particularly for girls, underrepresented minorities and children from low-income families. These seven cities – the winners from more than 50 competing cities – assembled city-wide STEM mentoring plans and recruited over 200 regional companies and organizations as partners. They will be supported by US2020 through a mix of financial support, capacity-building with VISTA AmeriCorps members, consulting support from Discovery Communications, access to the US2020 mentor matching platform, and membership in a community of practice. In addition, Discovery Communications will air a cross-channel public service announcement starring MythBusters and Science Channel's Head Rush host Kari Byron on its 14 U.S. Networks, focusing on the need to recruit STEM mentors to help encourage students at a young age, especially girls and minorities who are under-represented in STEM careers. The long-term goal of US2020 is to mobilize 1 million STEM mentors annually by the year 2020, creating millions of moments of discovery – those life changing events when children launch rockets, build robots, write a computer program, or look into the farthest reaches of the universe. Today, Chevron and Discovery Communications are joining US2020 as its newest partners, joining founding partners Cisco, Cognizant, Raytheon, SanDisk and Tata Consultancy Services. · ConnectED Commitment by Esri to Provide Free Educational Software to Every K-12 School in America: In continuing its support of education, and in line with the President’s ConnectED vision of opening new opportunity through technology in the classroom, Esri will provide to every U.S. K-12 school in America free access to ArcGIS Online Organization accounts — the same GIS technology as used by government and business. These allow users to map and analyze data, create and share content, and collaborate in the cloud -- via computers, tablets, or smartphones, anytime, anywhere connected. This commitment expands on Esri’s successful program in pilot schools at all levels across the country, and will allow students to do projects of unlimited content, from global to local, building community, as well as knowledge and skills for college and career. · New Nationwide Campaign to Engage Hispanic Youth in STEM: NBCUniversal's Hispanic Enterprises and Content will launch a new nationwide campaign, Aprender es Triunfar, aimed at closing the Latino student achievement gap, especially in STEM education. A central pillar of the campaign will be the release of Underwater Dreams, a new documentary film by award-winning filmmaker Mary Mazzio and narrated by actor Michael Pena. The film chronicles the compelling and inspirational story of four teenage boys, the sons of Mexican immigrants, who entered a sophisticated underwater robotics competition, going up against the likes of engineering powerhouse MIT. In support of reaching many Latino families with this inspirational message, AMC Theatres has committed to hosting 100 community screenings across the U.S. to enable school and non-profit groups to enjoy the film on the big screen this summer and fall. In addition, this July, MSNBC, Telemundo and mun2 will simultaneously broadcast a 44-minute television version. This project was made possible by the Bezos Family Foundation, the Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund, and Babson College, among others. · A New Global Initiative to Connect STEM Students from around the World with Each Other and with Leading Scientists: The New York Academy of Sciences and its partners are launching the Global STEM Alliance, an ambitious program to connect STEM students from around the world with each other, and with their role models, through a mix of site-based programs, a collaborative digital platform, and a social learning network. The initiative will begin with students in the United States, Malaysia, Australia and the City of Barcelona, with other countries and regions expected to join. Working with Cisco’s advanced tools, the virtual platform allows students to: o interact and discuss STEM with counterparts in other countries; o participate in mentoring relationships with brilliant, young scientists; o elect to take cutting-edge STEM courses, challenges, games, and other activities; o learn about a day-in-the-life-of a scientist; o seek advice, and network with STEM-minded peers. Additional members of the Alliance include GALXYZ, a game-based intergalactic science adventure, and Rocket 21, an online youth engagement platform, with more to come. In addition, the New York Academy of Sciences and Rocket21 will partner to announce Dream Big for the World, a series of STEM challenges to immerse middle and high school students in the pressing global issues raised in the USAID Grand Challenges. Planned for launch during the 2014-2015 academic year, the challenge will invite students, working independently or in a team, to develop innovative solutions to their choice of Grand Challenges, with opportunities to connect virtually with content experts, as well as provide resources to teachers. The ultimate goal of the Global STEM Alliance is to mitigate STEM drop-out and create the next generation of STEM leaders and innovators, thereby closing the widely predicted gap in the technically adept workers needed to address the grand challenges of the 21st century. · Khan Academy and NASA Collaborate to Help More Students Learn the Math and Science Behind Going to Mars: Today, NASA and Khan Academy are partnering to launch www.khanacademy.org/NASA, a series of interactive lessons that invite users to engage with the science and mathematics used to measure our universe and the exciting engineering problems involved in launching and landing on Mars. The simulations, challenges, and games transport students deep into STEM subjects, blending NASA’s space exploration expertise with Khan Academy’s compelling approach to online self-paced learning. These dynamic educational materials will be free and available on Khan Academy to millions of learners worldwide. In just the past two years, Khan’s free online educational materials have reached over 100 million learners worldwide and delivered over 2 billion exercise problems. Ongoing Momentum by Existing Partners in the President’s Call to Action · Time Warner Cable Reaches Goal of Connecting 1 Million Minds to STEM: Five years ago, in response to the President’s call to action, Time Warner Cable (TWC) launched a new philanthropic initiative, Connect a Million Minds, to have parents, mentors and others commit to connecting over one million students to highly-engaging after-school STEM activities. Through national and local non-profit partnerships, employee volunteers, original public service announcements, and innovative campaigns like STEM in Sports and Wouldn’t It Be Cool If…, TWC has organized direct and in-kind investments of more than $100 million to-date to inspire student interest in STEM subjects. Together with its partners, including FIRST Robotics and the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, TWC has reached its goal of connecting one million students to STEM opportunities in their communities. Building on this success, TWC will continue connecting students through new and expanded partnerships that bring high-quality STEM learning to existing afterschool programs, and by leveraging its media assets, which include "It Ain't Rocket Science," an original television series that introduces families to STEM events and careers. · Over 130,000 Youth Engaged in STEM Learning Outside of the Classroom: Four years ago, responding to the President’s call to action, the Association of Science-Technology Centers (ASTC), a global organization of science centers, museums, and related institutions, announced the national ‘Youth Inspired Challenge’ to engage at least 25,000 youth, ages 10-19, in at least two million hours of hands-on science enrichment outside of the classroom. In addition to the strong support of community leaders, social support organizations, corporations, and individual citizens, ASTC announced today that institutions in all 50 states across America have joined the initiative, with the result that the Youth Inspired Challenge has vastly exceeded its goal and continues to grow. As of today, the results indicate that participating institutions are providing programs that can engage more than 132,000 youth in nearly 3.5 million hours of targeted STEM learning. The Youth Inspired Challenge places particular emphasis on expanding opportunities for STEM engagement of underrepresented groups, including minorities, women, and youth with disabilities, and ASTC plans to continue the effort to reach even more students. · Summer Launch of Online Resource Library for Maker Educators: Building on the successful launch of their Maker Corps program at the last White House Science Fair, the Maker Education Initiative (Maker Ed) will launch an online resource library, a culmination of the most valuable insights gained from national partnerships including playbooks, videos, projects, and an interactive community of practice. Maker Ed expects more than 100,000 educators to benefit from these resources, which will go live in advance of the 2014-2015 school year. · Math and Science Effort for Military-Impacted Students Continues to Add Partners and Grow: As part of the First Lady’s Joining Forces effort, the National Math and Science Initiative (NMSI) College Readiness Program is leading a campaign to give many more students in military families access to rigorous Advanced Placement (AP) coursework in math and science. Starting in four public high schools in 2010, by 2013, the 52 schools in the NMSI program that had completed their first year were showing a 67 percent increase in passing math, science and English AP scores – more than nine times the national average while African-American and Hispanic students saw an 80 percent increase. Women saw a 62 percent increase in passing math and science AP scores. With additional support, NMSI is now expanding its program to reach a total of 78 high schools this year. DAILY GUIDANCE AND PRESS SCHEDULE FOR TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2014
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 26, 2014 DAILY GUIDANCE AND PRESS SCHEDULE FOR TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2014 In the morning, the President will host the 2014 White House Science Fair and celebrate the student winners of a broad range of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) competitions from across the country. The President will also announce new steps as part of his Educate to Innovate campaign, an all-hands-on-deck effort to get more girls and boys inspired to excel and to provide the support they need to succeed in these vital subjects. The President’s viewing of the science fair projects in the State Dining Room will be pooled press. The President’s remarks in the East Room will be open press. This event will be streamed live at http:/www.whitehouse.gov/live. 11:15AM THE PRESIDENT views science fair projects State Dining Room Pooled Press (Final Gather 10:45AM – North Doors of the Palm Room) 11:45AM THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks at the White House Science Fair East Room Open Press (Pre-Set 9:00AM, Final Gather 10:45AM – North Doors of the Palm Room) Remarks by the First Lady Before a Discussion with School Leaders and Experts on Issues Surrounding School Nutrition
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the First Lady ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release May 27, 2014 REMARKS BY THE FIRST LADY BEFORE A DISCUSSION WITH SCHOOL LEADERS AND EXPERTS ON ISSUES SURROUNDING SCHOOL NUTRITION Eisenhower Executive Office Building 1:50 P.M. EDT Pooler wrote, " At 1:50 p.m. first lady Michelle Obama kicked off a roundtable discussion with school nutrition leaders from five states. Obama made brief remarks at a podium flanked by two American flags and then joined the participants at the table. The event was held in a meeting room on the third floor of the EEOB around a large table, with 10 total participants including Obama, Sam Kass, executive director of Let's Move!, Tina Chen, FLOTUS chief of staff, Janey Thornton, under secretary for food, nutrition & consumer services and six guests (full list from the White House pasted below): David Binkle Director of Food Services, Los Angeles Unified School District Eric Goldstein Chief Executive, Office of School Support Services, New York City Department of Education Donna Martin Director, School Nutrition Program, Burke County Board of Education (Georgia) Helen Phillips Senior Director, School Nutrition, Norfolk Public Schools (Virginia) Shirley Watkins Bowden School food consultant, SRWatkins & Associates · She is also former USDA Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services, past President of the School Nutrition Association, and former Food Service Director for Memphis City Schools Marla Caplon Director, Division of Food and Nutrition Services, Montgomery County Public Schools (Maryland) The First Lady was wearing a fitted blue, teal and purple dress with a scoop v-neck in a geometric print. There was cheers and applause after FLOTUS noted kids are consuming more fruits and vegetables. "This is unacceptable," said Obama, citing efforts in Congress to scale back school nutrition standards. "It's unacceptable to me not just as First Lady but also as a mother." "The stakes couldn't be higher on this issue," she said, pointing to obesity statistics in both children and adults. "The last thing we can afford to so right now is play politics with our kids health." "Now is not the time to roll back everything we have worked for." "As parents... We always put our kids interests first." FLOTUS emphasized that she believes nutrition experts, like the Institute of Medicine, should set standards, not Congress. "We have to be willing to fight the hard fight now." "Rolling things back is not the answer." Obama said she was going to do "a lot of listening" to the nutrition leaders at the table about their experiences implementing the nutrition changes on the ground." Pooler wrote, "FLOTUS has been participating in the roundtable discussion, asking Qs about why the School Nutrition Association is fighting to change regulations after supporting the 2010 Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act. She also asked nutrition leaders about how the debate over school lunch reform can be changed to be primarily about helping the struggling schools instead of rolling back the major components of the law. Nutrition leaders emphasized that their schools have had success serving students more whole grain rich products as well as fruits and vegetables. Participants praised USDA for listening to concerns and urged the administration to keep the regulations on track. At about 2:15, aides moved to usher the pool out of the room but FLOTUS spoke up and said "let them stay." The pool was ushered out at around 2:35 pm, as the discussion (which began at approximately at 2 pm) continued. Pool included roughly 20 members of the media including print, TV & photo." The Pooler also wrote, "MRS. OBAMA: Hello, everyone. Welcome. Have you all been here for a little bit? It’s good to have you. Welcome to the White House. And thank you all for your outstanding work every day on behalf of our children. Because of you and your colleagues across the country, today, tens of millions of children are eating healthier school meals that finally meet modern nutrition standards -– standards, by the way, that were developed by experts at the Institute of Medicine, and based on sound science. And I know that this type of major transformation of our nation’s school lunch program hasn’t been easy. The truth is that when it came to the food being served in our schools, we had our work cut out for us. Our school lunch program costs taxpayers more than $10 billion a year. And before these new standards, a lot of that money was spent on meals that had more than the recommended amounts of salt, sugar and fat -- meals that weren't meeting basic nutrition guidelines. But today, thanks to the hard work of school chefs, food service workers across the country, 90 percent of schools are now meeting modern nutrition standards. That’s a good thing. And the USDA is working to provide greater flexibility and more assistance to help the remaining schools catch up. So today, kids across America are eating more fruits and vegetables -- let’s hear it -- (applause) -- more low-fat dairy products and whole grains. And as a result of these changes, in many school districts -- which is important to note -- the number of students participating in the school lunch program has actually increased. And today, more importantly, parents across the country finally have some peace of mind about what their kids are eating during the school day. But unfortunately, despite these successes, we're now seeing efforts in Congress to roll back these new standards and undo the hard work that all of you, all of us have done on behalf of our kids. And this is unacceptable. It’s unacceptable to me not just as First Lady, but as a mother. I know that right now, because I have talked to so many parents, so many teachers, so many kids write me every day. And more families are realizing that we are facing a health crisis in this country. We’re now realizing that childhood obesity is a real issue. And so many families are looking for help now in their efforts to find new ways to feed their families balanced meals. So moms and dads don’t want their efforts undermined when they send their kids off to school. Parents have a right to expect that their kids will get decent food in our schools. And we all have a right to expect that our hard-earned taxpayer dollars won't be spent on junk food for our kids. And the stakes just couldn’t be higher on this issue. Because one in three children in this country are still overweight or obese, and one in three are on track to develop diabetes in their lifetimes. Those are real statistics. And we currently spend $190 billion a year treating obesity-related conditions -- and just imagine what those numbers are going to look like in 10 or 20 years if we don’t start working on this problem now, if we don’t solve it today. So the last thing that we can afford to do right now is play politics with our kids’ health, especially when we’re finally starting to see some progress on this issue. We’re starting to move the curve on this. And folks like all of you have worked so hard to meet these new standards, and now is not the time to roll back everything that we have worked for. Our kids deserve so much better than that. They really do. And as parents, there is nothing that we would not do for our kids -- there is nothing. Not a thing. We always put our kids' interests first. We wake up every morning and we go to bed every night thinking and worrying about the health and well-being of our kids. I know I do that with my kids, and I do it with every kid in this country. And when we make decisions about our kids’ health, we want those decisions to be guided by doctors and nutritionists. We want decisions that rely on the best information based on sound science. And that’s what we expect from our leaders in Washington, as well. So it is up to us to hold them accountable. It’s up to us to let them know that we’re going to follow what’s going on here in Washington, and we expect them to act based on our children’s best interests. And I know this work isn’t easy. Transforming the health of an entire generation is no small task. But we have to be willing to fight the hard fight now. This is what I tell myself. In 10 or 20 years, I don’t want to look back with regret and think that we gave up on our kids because we felt like this thing was too hard, or too expensive. We owe our kids way more than that. And so that’s why every day, so many parents and families and folks like all of you are fighting so hard to give our kids the healthy futures they deserve. And I think that we all can agree that folks here in Washington should be on our side -- and, more importantly, on the side of our children’s futures. So I'm excited to join in this conversation. It’s been wonderful working with all of you. I think that we all can be proud of the progress that we’ve made. I know there are a lot of folks out there who are so appreciative. And you know, I can’t tell you the number of letters that I get not just from parents and teachers, but from kids -- kids who are struggling to create healthy lifestyles for themselves, who find themselves at odds when they go to school and they don’t have options. Those kids are grateful for the changes that are being made. And with kids, it takes them a second to change their habits. We know that. Look, my kids growl at me every time we sit at the dinner table and there’s fish. (Laughter.) So we know that it’s tough to change the habits of kids, but that can’t be the reason why we start rolling these back. There are many, many changes that we can make; many things that we can do to make the nutrition standards work for all schools. But rolling things back is not the answer. So I look forward to hearing from all of you, hearing about the progress. I want to learn about what’s happening, what you see on the ground, what we can be doing better, what information we can share with the public and with parents to understand how these nutrition standards work. I think the more information we give the better, so that people can make informed decisions. So I really appreciate you all taking the time. And with that, I’m going to turn it over to Sam. And I’m going to be doing a lot of listening, so please, don’t be shy. (Laughter.) Thank you so much. The First Lady also said: " At 1:50 p.m. first lady Michelle Obama kicked off a roundtable discussion with school nutrition leaders from five states. Obama made brief remarks at a podium flanked by two American flags and then joined the participants at the table. The event was held in a meeting room on the third floor of the EEOB around a large table, with 10 total participants including Obama, Sam Kass, executive director of Let's Move!, Tina Tchen, FLOTUS chief of staff, Janey Thornton, under secretary for food, nutrition & consumer services and six guests (full list from the White House pasted below): David Binkle Director of Food Services, Los Angeles Unified School District Eric Goldstein Chief Executive, Office of School Support Services, New York City Department of Education Donna Martin Director, School Nutrition Program, Burke County Board of Education (Georgia) Helen Phillips Senior Director, School Nutrition, Norfolk Public Schools (Virginia) Shirley Watkins Bowden School food consultant, SRWatkins & Associates · She is also former USDA Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services, past President of the School Nutrition Association, and former Food Service Director for Memphis City Schools Marla Caplon Director, Division of Food and Nutrition Services, Montgomery County Public Schools (Maryland) The First Lady was wearing a fitted blue, teal and purple dress with a scoop v-neck in a geometric print. There was cheers and applause after FLOTUS noted kids are consuming more fruits and vegetables. "This is unacceptable," said Obama, citing efforts in Congress to scale back school nutrition standards. "It's unacceptable to me not just as First Lady but also as a mother." "The stakes couldn't be higher on this issue," she said, pointing to obesity statistics in both children and adults. "The last thing we can afford to so right now is play politics with our kids health." "Now is not the time to roll back everything we have worked for." "As parents... We always put our kids interests first." FLOTUS emphasized that she believes nutrition experts, like the Institute of Medicine, should set standards, not Congress. "We have to be willing to fight the hard fight now." "Rolling things back is not the answer." Obama said she was going to do "a lot of listening" to the nutrition leaders at the table about their experiences implementing the nutrition changes on the ground." DAILY GUIDANCE AND PRESS SCHEDULE FOR WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2014
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 27, 2014 DAILY GUIDANCE AND PRESS SCHEDULE FOR WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2014 In the morning, the President will travel to West Point, New York. The departure from the South Lawn and arrival at Stewart Air Base are open press. While in West Point, the President will deliver the commencement address at the United States Military Academy at West Point. The President’s remarks are open to pre-credentialed media. In the afternoon, the President will depart West Point en route Washington, DC. The departure from Stewart Air Base and arrival on the South Lawn are open press. From the roundtable discussion this afternoon: After the nutrition directors shared their experiences, FLOTUS chimed in: “Let me just ask: Why are we even having this conversation? Help me understand why, especially given the fact that the School Nutrition Association worked to pass the original changes in the nutrition standards. It is my understanding that this is the group that’s pushing to change the legislation.”
“If anyone can help me understand how we wound up here..." Helen Phillips, senior director of school nutrition for Norfolk Public Schools in Virginia (who formerly served as president of SNA) responded: “I’m not here to speak on behalf of the School Nutrition Association, although I am the past president of the association. There are definitely school districts that are struggling.” “I believe some of that struggle comes from not being prepared and some of it comes from attitudes of: I can’t, I won’t or this is hard,” Phillips said. "Some people are having financial constraints. Some people have suffered a decrease in participation. I did initially.” Donna Martin, director of the school nutrition program for the Burke County Board of Education in Georgia: “We serve 200 to 300 salads every day in our schools." She said her students enthusiastically take fruits and vegetables, pointing to kiwi and cucumber slices with homemade low-fat ranch dressing as two favorites “USDA is listening to us,” said Martin, noting that the department has made some “significant changes” on bread and grain requirements. “Our kids are worth it, y’all, do not let us go backwards,” she said. “Let us continue to go forward. It has been a challenge. We’ve risen to the challenge.” “In the south, do you not think that taking fried chicken off the menu was dangerous? It was. But we have an herb-baked chicken that our children love. We bake our French fries and we have whole grain, locally-grown grits we do for breakfast that are awesome.” President Obama to Host Summit on Youth Sports Safety and Concussions
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 27, 2014 President Obama to Host Healthy Kids & Safe Sports Concussion Summit WASHINGTON, DC – On Thursday, May 29, President Obama will host a Healthy Kids & Safe Sports Concussion Summit at the White House, where he will be joined by young athletes, parents, coaches, academics and experts, athletes, military service members, and other stakeholders. We know that many parents are focused on how best to protect their child from concussions, identify when their child has a concussion, and how best to respond when their child has a concussion. Last fall, the Institute of Medicine and the National Research Council published a report that found that there are gaps in our research knowledge and that there is a startling lack of data on concussions, especially in youth sports. The report also found that there is still a “culture of resistance” among athletes related to the self-reporting of concussions and the adherence to treatment plans once they experience a concussion. The President believes we can and must do better and the Administration is committed to helping ensure that children continue to be active and play sports safely. During this summit, the Administration will announce new commitments from both the public and private sectors to raise awareness among young athletes, parents, school administrators, clinicians, coaches, and youth sports programs about how to identify, treat, and prevent concussions, as well as to conduct additional research in the field of sports-related concussions that will help better address concussions among students. WHEN: Thursday, May 29, 11:05 AM ET WEBCAST: This event will be webcast live at www.whitehouse.gov/live. Remarks by the President at the White House Science Fair
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary For Immediate Release May 27, 2014 REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT AT THE WHITE HOUSE SCIENCE FAIR East Room 12:13 P.M. EDT THE PRESIDENT: Welcome to the White House Science Fair! (Applause.) I love this event. (Laughter.) This is one of my favorite things all year long. Before I begin, I want to recognize some people who are here today who really worked hard not only to make our Science Fair happen, but are working hard to connect young people to science every single day. We’ve got our Secretary of Education -- Arne Duncan is here. (Applause.) We have our head of NASA and former astronaut -- Charlie Bolden, is here. There he is. (Applause.) We have our Director of the National Institutes of Health -- Francis Collins, is here. (Applause.) My chief Science Advisor -- John Holdren is here. (Applause.) We’ve got Bill Nye, the Science Guy. You can see his bow-tie. He’s right here. (Applause.) Bill Nye, the Science Guy. You guys like him, huh? (Laughter.) You see, you got a big “whoop.” (Laughter.) And we’ve got a woman who gets to build and blow stuff up for a living at MythBusters -- Kari Byron is here. Where’s Kari? There she is right there. (Applause.) And we want to recognize the people whose love and support helped these amazing young people get here: the parents, mentors, and tireless teachers. Let’s give them all a big round of applause. Yay! (Applause.) Now, I have a confession to make. When I was growing up, my science fair projects were not as successful as the ones here. (Laughter.) One year, I accidently killed some plants that were a part of my experiment. (Laughter.) Another time, a bunch of mice escaped in my grandmother’s apartment. (Laughter.) These experiments did not take me straight to the White House. (Laughter.) And, instead, I have a chance now to see what real young scientists can do. And they were just amazing. And, by the way, there were no rodents loose in the White House. (Laughter.) I couldn’t even imagine doing some of the work that the young people I had a chance to meet were doing when I was their age, and your generation of young people is learning more than people in some ages ever did. And our job is to make sure that you’ve got everything you need to continue on this path of discovery and experimentation and innovation that has been the hallmark not only of human progress, but also the hallmark of American progress. And that’s why we decided to organize these science fairs. Last week, we had the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks here. They came by the White House. And that was cool -- and there’s a tradition that when the NBA champions or the NFL champions or college football champions -- if they win a championship, they get a chance to come and get highlighted in the White House and take a picture with the President. But I believe that what’s being done by these amazing young people who I had a chance to meet is even more important. And I’m a big sports fan -- everybody knows that. But what’s happening here is more important. As a society, we have to celebrate outstanding work by young people in science at least as much as we do Super Bowl winners. Because superstar biologists and engineers and rocket scientists and robot-builders, they don’t always get the attention that they deserve, but they’re what’s going to transform our society. They’re the folks who are going to come up with cures for diseases and new sources of energy, and help us build healthier, more successful societies. And I want to make sure that every young people across America knows what their peers are doing to inspire even more work in science. That’s what this White House Science Fair is all about. And this year, we’re putting special emphasis and special focus on all the amazing girls and young women who are excelling at science and technology and engineering and math. And I met some amazing young ladies here today. (Applause.) So a lot of the young people who I met, they started off trying to solve a problem that they saw in their neighborhoods or their school. But the solutions they’re coming up with have the potential to solve problems all around the world. So we have the all-girls app team from Resaca Middle School in Los Fresnos, Texas. Where are they? I just saw them. There they are. There they are. (Applause.) So one of their classmates -- an outstanding young man, Andres Salas -- is visually impaired. So they designed an app to help him navigate their school and other buildings. The app tells Andres where he is, where he may need to go, can give him directions -- which saves Andres a huge amount of time because, they were explaining -- Andres was explaining how if he goes from middle school to high school, he’s got to essentially memorize and track his surroundings and this app is helping him do that. And so not only do these young ladies have big brains, but they’ve also got big hearts. When Maria Hanes thought about entering the science fair her senior year in high school, she wanted to work on a project on something she loves. She loves football more than anything else. She’s from Oklahoma, so as you might imagine the Sooners are big in her mind. And she also recognized, though, that a lot of players are suffering from the concussions that come from collisions -- and she also happened to manage her high school football team. She dropped her cell phone one day -- like most teenagers, she loves her cell phone more than anything -- (laughter) -- including probably her parents at this stage -- (laughter) -- although I know that she’ll grow out of that. She noticed her rubber case protected her phone. She wondered what kinds of stuff are covering football helmets. And that’s how her “Concussion Cushion” was born. And that’s the kind of idea that we’re going to be talking about this Thursday, when we actually have parents, kids, and pro athletes come to the White House for a Healthy Kids and Safe Sports Concussion Summit. Peyton Robertson is here -- first of all, where is -- I want to make sure I acknowledge Maria. Where is Maria? There she is. Stand up, Maria, so everybody can see you. (Applause.) Now, we’ve got Peyton Robertson, who’s here from Pine Crest School of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. I would just advise people -- I can’t do this because I’ve got a conflict of interest -- if you can buy stock in Peyton, you should do so now. (Laughter.) He actually had two projects here, both patented or patents pending. You say you’re 12? PEYTON: I am. THE PRESIDENT: “I am” -- yes. (Laughter.) This guy is something. (Laughter.) When Hurricane Wilma hit nearly nine years ago, Peyton took cover in the closet and played Monopoly with his mom, and later said, “It’s a lot easier to win when your parents are distracted by a Category 3 storm.” (Laughter.) That is a good point. You were just buying Boardwalk and -- (laughter) -- they didn’t care, whatever. (Laughter.) After the storm, Peyton started thinking about the ways people prepare for floods. And he noticed that sandbags are heavy and sometimes they leak. So Peyton designed new, reusable sandbags, using polymers, that, when wet, expand to prevent saltwater from seeping in, and when they dry out, they weigh just four pounds. Now, this is just one of his projects. He had another project about retractable training wheels so dad doesn’t have to get out the screwdriver. (Laughter.) But it just gives you a sense of the kind of inquisitiveness and ingenuity that a young man like Peyton has. So give Peyton a big round of applause. (Applause.) Way to go, Peyton. And then there is Olivia Van Amsterdam and Katelyn Sweeney, representing their team from Natick High School in Massachusetts. Where are they? Where did they go? There they are. Stand up. (Applause.) They learned that diving for a missing person can be dangerous and a time-consuming process, particularly up in Massachusetts where it gets cold and there’s often ice over the water. So they worked to develop a robot that could help firefighters and ice rescue teams search for objects and bodies in perilous waters. So they built the robot. But here’s the other reason that I admire the two of them: When they’re not busy building lifesaving robots, they are also establishing an all-girls robotics team. And one is about to graduate. The other is a junior. They’re already helping other young women get involved in science and technology, engineering and math. And we are very, very proud of them. So give them a big round of applause. (Applause.) Every one of the young people that I met here were amazing. And it reminds us that there’s so much talent to be tapped if we're working together and lifting it up. Right now, fewer than one in five bachelor’s degrees in engineering or computer science are earned by women. Fewer than three in 10 workers in science and engineering are women. That means we've got half the field -- or half our team we're not even putting on the field. We've got to change those numbers. These are the fields of the future. This is where the good jobs are going to be. And I want America to be home for those jobs. And that’s why, three years ago, I called for a national effort to train 100,000 excellent STEM teachers over the next decade. We are now making progress on that front. Today, I’m announcing a new $35 million competition to train some of our best math and science graduates to become teachers, and fill more of our classrooms with the hands-on science that we see here today, even when their school districts can’t afford a lot of fancy equipment. We’re also going to expand STEM AmeriCorps to provide learning opportunities for 18,000 low-income students this summer. (Applause.) And companies, non-profits, cities -- they’re doing their part. Today, dozens of them are stepping up with new commitments to inspire and help more students learn. So seven cities are partnering with more than 200 businesses and non-profits to connect girls and low-income students with mentors in science and technology. Esri is giving every school in America the chance to use its scientific software for free. And we're grateful for that. Khan Academy is partnering with NASA to make lessons about the math and science going on relative to the Mars Project open and accessible to millions of learners worldwide. And a lot of private sector leaders are involved in these efforts and have come here today -- probably to recruit -- (laughter) -- folks like Peyton, giving him a card and saying, here, in six years come call me. (Laughter.) So we’re blessed to live in a country filled with bright, eager young people who love science, love tinkering, love making things, who have the ability to see old problems and grand challenges with fresh eyes. And those of us who are grownups have an obligation to help them reach their full potential, just as others helped us. It was Franklin Roosevelt who said, “We cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future.” And as President, that’s what inspires me. That’s what gets me up every day. And that’s why I'm going to keep on -- for every day that I'm in this office, that I have the privilege of being President, I'm going to make sure that my focus is on how we're building up the youth of tomorrow so that they can succeed and, as a consequence, America can succeed. To all the young people that I met -- I mean, I'm just looking at them. I want to kind of actually talk about all of them. You’ve got the young lady here who was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 12, and figured out, with the help of the surgeon, a better understanding of how to isolate the genetic mutations that impact her cancer. She’s going to be going to Harvard, as you might imagine. (Laughter.) You got this guy right here who is designing a new computer system that might allow us to develop flu vaccines faster and more efficiently. He’s going to Harvard. (Laughter.) You got this guy who won like a coding competition for STEM education and he just started high school. So, I don't know, he'll go to MIT or someplace. (Laughter.) And then we've got the Girl Scout troop here from Oklahoma who -- stand up, girls. (Applause.) These guys did their own coding to design a Lego system that shows how, if water is rising too fast on a bridge, potentially the bridge would go up right away and save lives and save the bridge. And they’re in second grade. (Laughter.) So I was just learning how to put up a tent. (Laughter.) They’re designing bridge stuff to save people. So we're very proud of them. Give them a big round of applause. (Applause.) Now that I'm at it I'm not going to leave anybody out. Who else did I miss? We've got this crew that had a simulated catapult that did outstanding work. These two folks in the blue shirts are designing a sensor system to save pedestrians, and they are actually doing it jointly with kids in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, because they want to spread their knowledge, not just restricted to here in the United States. We've got our team from Chicago doing some outstanding robotic work. (Applause.) We've got a young lady from -- was it San Antonio? -- San Antonio, Texas, who’s doing the great work with electronic vehicles, and she actually sat in it. And I think those are all the folks -- did I miss anybody who I saw, who I had a chance to see? Because I know that we've got other contestants, including the folks back here. Anyway, I wanted to let you know how proud and impressed I was with all of you. Not only are you great scientists and engineers and tinkerers, but you also gave outstanding presentations to the President of the United States. And so not only are your parents very proud of you, and your teachers and your mentors, I'm very proud of you as well. Thank you, everybody. This was a great day. (Applause.) Good luck. Great event. (Applause.) END 12:30 P.M. EDT White House Science Fair Fact Sheet & Backgrounder
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 27, 2014 President Obama to Host White House Science Fair Highlights New Commitments to Help More Girls and Boys Succeed in STEM WASHINGTON, DC -- President Obama will host the 2014 White House Science Fair today and celebrate the student winners of a broad range of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) competitions from across the country. This year’s Fair will include a specific focus on girls and women who are excelling in STEM and inspiring the next generation with their work. The President will also announce new steps as part of his Educate to Innovate campaign, an all-hands-on-deck effort to get more girls and boys inspired to excel and to provide the support they need to succeed in these in these vital subjects. Educate to Innovate components being announced today include among others: · A new $35 million Department of Education competition, in support of the President’s goal to train 100,000 excellent STEM teachers; · A major expansion of STEM AmeriCorps to provide STEM learning opportunities for 18,000 low-income students this summer; · A national STEM mentoring effort kicking off in seven cities, as well as new steps by leading technology and media companies, non-profits and others to connect more students to STEM. “When students excel in math and science, they’re laying the groundwork for helping America compete for the jobs and industries of the future,” said President Obama. “That’s why I’m proud to celebrate outstanding students at the White House Science Fair, and to announce new steps my Administration and its partners are taking to help more young people succeed in these critical subjects." Details on the White House Science Fair The White House Science Fair will feature over 100 students from more than 30 states, representing more than 40 different STEM competitions and organizations that recognize the talents of America’s next generation of scientists, engineers, inventors and innovators. Approximately 30 student teams will have the opportunity to exhibit their projects as part of the Fair. The President will view exhibits of the students’ work, ranging from breakthrough basic research to new inventions, and deliver remarks to an audience of students, science educators and business leaders on the importance of STEM education to the country’s economic future. This year’s Fair includes a specific focus on girls and women who are excelling in STEM and inspiring the next generation with their work. Since day one, the President has been committed to getting more underrepresented groups, including women and girls, excited to excel at STEM subjects. For example, in the Administration’s signature education reform initiative, Race to the Top, President Obama granted states competitive preference if they demonstrated efforts to close the STEM gap for girls and other groups that are underrepresented. The White House Science Fair is a key part of the President’s Educate to Innovate campaign to inspire more girls and boys to excel in STEM subjects. As the President has noted, “If you win the NCAA championship, you come to the White House. Well, if you're a young person and you produce the best experiment or design, the best hardware or software, you ought to be recognized for that achievement, too.” New Steps Being Taken by the Administration in Support of the President’ STEM Education Goals · The U.S. Department of Education launches a STEM-Focused Teacher Training Grant Competition to Grow Pathways for Effective STEM Educators: Responding to the President’s goal to prepare 100,000 excellent STEM teachers over the next decade, the U.S. Department of Education is announcing a new round of the Teacher Quality Partnership (TQP) grant competition, which includes a focus on STEM teacher preparation. This competition will award approximately $35 million in grants, and grow the portfolio of projects supported by the Department that are investing in STEM teachers. For this competition: o Applications that increase opportunities for the preparation and professional development of STEM teachers will receive extra points. Applications may also receive additional points for targeting under-represented groups for STEM teacher preparation and professional development. Applicants are encouraged to incorporate hands-on and field-based experiences into their STEM teacher preparation programs. o TQP grants support partnerships among universities, high-need school districts, and schools to develop and execute pre-baccalaureate and residency teacher-training programs. These programs include yearlong clinical experiences, access to mentors, induction support, and professional development for partner districts and stipends. To date, 40 TQP grants have been awarded. · A major expansion of STEM AmeriCorps will provide STEM learning opportunities for 18,000 low-income students this summer: Building on the President’s launch of STEM AmeriCorps at the White House Science Fair last year, the Corporation for National and Community Service today is announcing a major summer AmeriCorps VISTA initiative that includes six Southern states. These 256 AmeriCorps members will connect approximately 18,000 at-risk students in low-performing schools to STEM opportunities. The AmeriCorps members will serve with community groups, educational institutions, and corporate sponsors that are committed to sharing their expertise to inspire new discovery and increase the students’ chances for academic achievement. This initiative will make it possible for students to learn about and build robots, engage with community members to solve challenging STEM tasks, write code that will be uploaded to the International Space Station, participate in a “scientist-for-a-day” program that explores various careers, and learn about food production. This AmeriCorps VISTA project, which expands access to STEM education through national service, is one part of the overall STEM AmeriCorps effort. Other STEM AmeriCorps initiatives include partnerships with FIRST Robotics, US2020, Maker Education Initiative, Citizen Schools, Teach for America, and other organizations – efforts collectively reaching tens of thousands of students engaging in STEM learning. New Partners Stepping Up in Response to the President’s Call to Action · Working with US2020, Seven Cities to Launch STEM Mentoring Efforts: Led by US2020, seven American cities are launching new campaigns this year to connect passionate STEM employees from local companies to students in their region, including: Allentown, PA; Chicago, IL; Indianapolis, IN; Research Triangle Park, NC; Philadelphia, PA; San Francisco, CA; and Wichita, KS. Sponsored by Cisco and launched at last year’s White House Science Fair, the US2020 City Competition challenged cities to develop innovative models for scaling STEM mentorship for young students in STEM, particularly for girls, underrepresented minorities and children from low-income families. These seven cities – the winners from more than 50 competing cities – assembled city-wide STEM mentoring plans and recruited over 200 regional companies and organizations as partners. They will be supported by US2020 through a mix of financial support, capacity-building with VISTA AmeriCorps members, consulting support from Discovery Communications, access to the US2020 mentor matching platform, and membership in a community of practice. In addition, Discovery Communications will air a cross-channel public service announcement starring MythBusters and Science Channel's Head Rush host Kari Byron on its 14 U.S. Networks, focusing on the need to recruit STEM mentors to help encourage students at a young age, especially girls and minorities who are under-represented in STEM careers. The long-term goal of US2020 is to mobilize 1 million STEM mentors annually by the year 2020, creating millions of moments of discovery – those life changing events when children launch rockets, build robots, write a computer program, or look into the farthest reaches of the universe. Today, Chevron and Discovery Communications are joining US2020 as its newest partners, joining founding partners Cisco, Cognizant, Raytheon, SanDisk and Tata Consultancy Services. · ConnectED Commitment by Esri to Provide Free Educational Software to Every K-12 School in America: In continuing its support of education, and in line with the President’s ConnectED vision of opening new opportunity through technology in the classroom, Esri will provide to every U.S. K-12 school in America free access to ArcGIS Online Organization accounts — the same GIS technology as used by government and business. These allow users to map and analyze data, create and share content, and collaborate in the cloud -- via computers, tablets, or smartphones, anytime, anywhere connected. This commitment expands on Esri’s successful program in pilot schools at all levels across the country, and will allow students to do projects of unlimited content, from global to local, building community, as well as knowledge and skills for college and career. · New Nationwide Campaign to Engage Hispanic Youth in STEM: NBCUniversal's Hispanic Enterprises and Content will launch a new nationwide campaign, Aprender es Triunfar, aimed at closing the Latino student achievement gap, especially in STEM education. A central pillar of the campaign will be the release of Underwater Dreams, a new documentary film by award-winning filmmaker Mary Mazzio and narrated by actor Michael Pena. The film chronicles the compelling and inspirational story of four teenage boys, the sons of Mexican immigrants, who entered a sophisticated underwater robotics competition, going up against the likes of engineering powerhouse MIT. In support of reaching many Latino families with this inspirational message, AMC Theatres has committed to hosting 100 community screenings across the U.S. to enable school and non-profit groups to enjoy the film on the big screen this summer and fall. In addition, this July, MSNBC, Telemundo and mun2 will simultaneously broadcast a 44-minute television version. This project was made possible by the Bezos Family Foundation, the Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund, and Babson College, among others. · A New Global Initiative to Connect STEM Students from around the World with Each Other and with Leading Scientists: The New York Academy of Sciences and its partners are launching the Global STEM Alliance, an ambitious program to connect STEM students from around the world with each other, and with their role models, through a mix of site-based programs, a collaborative digital platform, and a social learning network. The initiative will begin with students in the United States, Malaysia, Australia and the City of Barcelona, with other countries and regions expected to join. Working with Cisco’s advanced tools, the virtual platform allows students to: o interact and discuss STEM with counterparts in other countries; o participate in mentoring relationships with brilliant, young scientists; o elect to take cutting-edge STEM courses, challenges, games, and other activities; o learn about a day-in-the-life-of a scientist; o seek advice, and network with STEM-minded peers. Additional members of the Alliance include GALXYZ, a game-based intergalactic science adventure, and Rocket 21, an online youth engagement platform, with more to come · Khan Academy and NASA Collaborate to Help More Students Learn the Math and Science Behind Going to Mars: Today, NASA and Khan Academy are partnering to launch www.khanacademy.org/NASA, a series of interactive lessons that invite users to engage with the science and mathematics used to measure our universe and the exciting engineering problems involved in launching and landing on Mars. The simulations, challenges, and games transport students deep into STEM subjects, blending NASA’s space exploration expertise with Khan Academy’s compelling approach to online self-paced learning. These dynamic educational materials will be free and available on Khan Academy to millions of learners worldwide. In just the past two years, Khan’s free online educational materials have reached over 100 million learners worldwide and delivered over 2 billion exercise problems. Ongoing Momentum by Existing Partners in the President’s Call to Action · Time Warner Cable Reaches Goal of Connecting 1 Million Minds to STEM: Five years ago, in response to the President’s call to action, Time Warner Cable (TWC) launched a new philanthropic initiative, Connect a Million Minds, to have parents, mentors and others commit to connecting over one million students to highly-engaging after-school STEM activities. Through national and local non-profit partnerships, employee volunteers, original public service announcements, and innovative campaigns like STEM in Sports and Wouldn’t It Be Cool If…, TWC has organized direct and in-kind investments of more than $100 million to-date to inspire student interest in STEM subjects. Together with its partners, including FIRST Robotics and the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, TWC has reached its goal of connecting one million students to STEM opportunities in their communities. Building on this success, TWC will continue connecting students through new and expanded partnerships that bring high-quality STEM learning to existing afterschool programs, and by leveraging its media assets, which include "It Ain't Rocket Science," an original television series that introduces families to STEM events and careers. · Over 130,000 Youth Engaged in STEM Learning Outside of the Classroom: Four years ago, responding to the President’s call to action, the Association of Science-Technology Centers (ASTC), a global organization of science centers, museums, and related institutions, announced the national ‘Youth Inspired Challenge’ to engage at least 25,000 youth, ages 10-19, in at least two million hours of hands-on science enrichment outside of the classroom. In addition to the strong support of community leaders, social support organizations, corporations, and individual citizens, ASTC announced today that institutions in all 50 states across America have joined the initiative, with the result that the Youth Inspired Challenge has vastly exceeded its goal and continues to grow. As of today, the results indicate that participating institutions are providing programs that can engage more than 132,000 youth in nearly 3.5 million hours of targeted STEM learning. The Youth Inspired Challenge places particular emphasis on expanding opportunities for STEM engagement of underrepresented groups, including minorities, women, and youth with disabilities, and ASTC plans to continue the effort to reach even more students. · Summer Launch of Online Resource Library for Maker Educators: Building on the successful launch of their Maker Corps program at the last White House Science Fair, the Maker Education Initiative (Maker Ed) will launch an online resource library, a culmination of the most valuable insights gained from national partnerships including playbooks, videos, projects, and an interactive community of practice. Maker Ed expects more than 100,000 educators to benefit from these resources, which will go live in advance of the 2014-2015 school year. · Math and Science Effort for Military-Impacted Students Continues to Add Partners and Grow: As part of the First Lady’s Joining Forces effort, the National Math and Science Initiative (NMSI) College Readiness Program is leading a campaign to give many more students in military families access to rigorous Advanced Placement (AP) coursework in math and science. Starting in four public high schools in 2010, by 2013, the 52 schools in the NMSI program that had completed their first year were showing a 67 percent increase in passing math, science and English AP scores – more than nine times the national average while African-American and Hispanic students saw an 80 percent increase. Women saw a 62 percent increase in passing math and science AP scores. With additional support, NMSI is now expanding its program to reach a total of 78 high schools this year. UPCOMING GUIDANCE FOR FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the First Lady For Immediate Release May 23, 2014 UPCOMING GUIDANCE FOR FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA Tuesday, May 27, 2014 Washington, DC * 2:00 PM – First Lady Michelle Obama will join a discussion with school leaders and experts on issues surrounding school nutrition. This meeting will be an opportunity for the First Lady to hear directly from them about the work they are doing to improve school nutrition in their local districts. Mrs. Obama will stress the importance of students, parents, school officials, community leaders, and health advocates coming together to protect and advance the tremendous progress that has been made in schools across our country. There will be a pool spray at the top of the First Lady’s participation in the roundtable. Remarks by the President on Creating Jobs Through Tourism
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release May 22, 2014 REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT ON CREATING JOBS THROUGH TOURISM Baseball Hall of Fame Cooperstown, New York 3:50 P.M. EDT THE PRESIDENT: Thank you so much. (Applause.) Thank you. Thank you. There must be some White Sox fans here somewhere. (Laughter.) It is great to be here in Cooperstown. And I have to say that in addition to just wonderful people, those of you all across America and around the world who have not been here, this is a gorgeous place. We came in by helicopter and had a chance to see the landscape and it looks like a spectacular place to spend a few days, a week -- however long you want to stay. I'll bet people will be happy to have you. And although he is not here yet, I want to acknowledge the Governor of New York. He had a conflict and he’s on his way up. But he is really focused on jobs in Upstate New York -- your Governor, Andrew Cuomo. I want to thank your Mayor, Jeff Katz, for having me, and his great hospitality, and everybody who was involved in arranging the visit. We’ve also got, by the way, our Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security, Ali Mayorkas, who is here. And he’s important because he’s helping bring travelers to America. (Applause.) It is a great honor to be the first sitting President ever to visit the Baseball Hall of Fame. (Applause.) The timing could not be better. First off, summer marks the 75th anniversary of the Hall of Fame. I also promised Frank Thomas I’d check the place out before he’s inducted in July. (Laughter.) And I’m so glad I did. Obviously I didn’t have a chance to roam around as long as I wanted, but thanks to the wonderful hospitality here, I saw the ball that William Howard Taft threw at the first-ever presidential opening day pitch. I saw the “White Sox locker” of memorabilia, and got to bask in the glory of the 2005 World Series win. (Applause.) Yes! At the Hall’s request, I contributed something of my own, which was the jacket I wore when I threw out the first pitch at the 2009 All-Star Game. I hear that with all the media attention about it, there was also some interest in the jeans I wore that night. (Laughter.) But Michelle retired those jeans quite a while back. (Laughter.) So I love baseball; America loves baseball. It continues to be our national pastime. And for any baseball fan out there, you’ve got to make a trip here. But as much as I'd love to talk baseball all day -- and with a Chicago legend, Andre Dawson, the “Hawk,” here today, it’s hard not to want to talk baseball all day long -- I’m actually here to talk about jobs -- good, middle-class jobs. And believe it or not, places like this institution, the Hall of Fame, have something to do with jobs and economic growth. It’s been about five and a half years since the worst economic crisis of our lifetimes hit. And thanks to the grit and determination of the American people, we’ve been steadily fighting our way back. Over the last four years, our businesses have created 9.2 million new jobs. We had an auto industry that was flat-lining; it's come roaring back. A manufacturing sector that had lost about one-third of its jobs in the last decade is now adding jobs for the first time since the 1990s. And rather than create jobs in other countries, more and more companies are recognizing that it makes sense to invest right here in America. We've got great workers. We've got the largest market in the world. We've got a whole bunch of stuff going for us and we're starting to see insourcing rather than outsourcing of jobs. So we’ve made progress, but here’s the thing -- too many Americans out there are still working harder than ever and can’t seem to get ahead. And so we have to do more to spur growth and economic development, and create more jobs that pay a good wage. We should be making it easier, not harder, for businesses to invest and create jobs here in the United States. We should be making sure that people are rewarded for hard work and responsibility, rather than see their wages and salaries stagnate. And we should be making it easier, not harder, for striving young students to afford the higher education that's going to be the key to a lot of 21st century jobs, and make sure that they can repay that loan debt that too often they’re taking on when they go to college. There’s a new bill, by the way, being introduced in Congress in the coming weeks that’s going to really do more to make sure that college students are getting a fair shot. Of course, unfortunately, we’ve got a Congress that all too often spends a few days blocking initiatives to create jobs and raise wages and help young people go to college. They seem to be more interested in politics right now than performance. And that’s a challenge. I’ll work with anybody who’s focused on what we need to be focused on and what all the people who sent us to Washington are focused on, and that is how do we improve the economy and create more jobs. But if Congress isn’t going to act, then I’m going to do whatever and any steps I can take to create jobs and opportunity for more working families. So far, we’ve seen, for example, the House Republicans blocked legislation that would raise America’s minimum wage. So I’ve been working with states and cities and businesses to go ahead and raise their minimum wage anyway. And I issued an executive order making sure that if you are contracting with the federal government, you’ve got to pay your workers a higher minimum wage -- at least $10.10 an hour -- because I believe that if you work full-time you shouldn’t be in poverty. We saw Senate Republicans block an up-or-down vote on ensuring equal pay for women. I went ahead and took action on my own to make it easier for women to find out whether they’re being treated fairly at the workplace and to be able to take action. And when it comes to creating jobs, last week I was down in Tarrytown, where workers were able to break ground on the replacement of the Tappan Zee Bridge ahead of schedule because my administration fast-tracked that project and a lot of major projects across the country. On Tuesday, I met with CEOs from around the world who are investing and hiring in America because we’ve made our country more competitive. And today, I’m here in Cooperstown to talk about some new steps that will lead to more tourism not just within America but getting more folks to come and visit the treasures, the national treasures that we have all across this country, including the Baseball Hall of Fame right here in Cooperstown -- because tourism translates into jobs and it translates into economic growth. When visitors come here, they don’t just check out the Hall. They rent cars; they stay in hotels; they eat at restaurants. And that means for Upstate New York, the Baseball Hall of Fame is a powerful economic engine. Last year alone, travel and tourism were responsible for $1.5 trillion in economic activity across the country. Think about that -- $1.5 trillion supporting nearly 8 million jobs in communities like this one. And when tourists come from other countries and spend money here, that’s actually considered a type of export. We don’t always think about it that way, but we should. Nothing says “Made in America” better than the Empire State Building or the Hoover Dam. Folks who work at restaurants and hotels that serve fans in Cooperstown have the kinds of jobs that can’t be offshored. And obviously it’s tough to ship the Rocky Mountains or the Grand Canyon overseas. You can’t do it. When it comes to tourism, the good news is we’ve got a great product to sell. People want to come here. I was reminded of that yesterday. I took a walk from the White House to the Department of the Interior building. Keep in mind, I don’t get a chance to take walks very often. (Laughter.) Secret Service gets a little stressed. But every once in a while I’m able to sneak off. I’m sort of like the circus bear that kind of breaks the chain, and I start taking off, and everybody starts whispering, the bear is loose! (Laughter.) So I got out, take a walk -- it was a beautiful day. And even though I went for several blocks -- it was probably about a 10-minute walk -- in that little span of time, I met tourists from Germany, and Israel, and Brazil, and China, and Ukraine on the National Mall. The fact that people come from all over the world to see our parks, to see our monuments, is something we should take great pride in as Americans. And it’s good for our economy. So just like we’re helping our businesses to sell more goods made in America in markets all across the world, we’re spending a lot of time and focus trying to make it easier for folks from around the world to come see America and spend money here. Four years ago, I signed a law that set up a nonprofit organization with one mission, and that is to pitch America as a travel destination. And two years ago, I went down to Disney World to announce new action to make it simpler for travelers to visit America, without compromising security at our borders. And those efforts are paying off. Since its low point after the recession, our travel and tourism industry has added nearly 580,000 new jobs. Last year, a record 70 million tourists visited America from other countries –- more than the populations of Texas, Florida, and New York combined. And they spent their money here. No country on Earth earns more money from international tourism than we do. And the growth of international tourism created about 175,000 new jobs over the last five years, and helped drive American exports to an all-time high. So we’re making great strides in welcoming more visitors to America in places like Cooperstown, but we can do even better. I want to turn the 70 million tourists that came last year into 100 million each year by the beginning of the next decade. (Applause.) And meeting that goal is going to help create jobs here in New York. And that’s why, earlier today, I took new actions to meet that goal. I met with several CEOs of travel and tourism companies, and building on the progress that we’ve made, I directed my administration to work with airports, airlines, hotel groups, states, and cities to do more to improve the traveler experience, and reduce wait times for folks entering into the United States, all without compromising our security. We have some folks here today who are already showing us what’s possible. Scott Donohue is the CEO of the Dallas/Fort Worth Airport. Where’s Scott? There he is, right here. We’ve got, from my own hometown, Rosie Andolino, the Aviation Commissioner from Chicago. Rosie is right there. The two of them are responsible for two of the busiest airports in America. But the average wait times through customs and passport control at DFW and O’Hare has fallen to just 15 minutes. You get off your plane, it’s takes you 15 minutes to get through if you’re an international traveler. And that is a big deal. If folks spend less time at the airport, they’re more likely to come back for a return trip. And when they go back home they tell their friends, you know what, America was there to greet us. And I’ve made it clear that national security remains our top priority, and that’s not going to change. But there’s no reason we can’t replicate the success stories of places like Dallas and Chicago all around the country. We can automate passport controls. We can bring in top talent from the private sector to find best practices to help move lines faster. We can add new staff at customs. We want to bring in more visitors faster and more jobs faster. If they come into JFK faster, they come into La Guardia faster, then they can get to Cooperstown faster. (Applause.) And they can start seeing Joe DiMaggio’s glove faster. They can see Babe Ruth’s bat faster. (Applause.) So creating good jobs isn’t always easy. But standing here and looking back on more than 150 years of our country’s history, baseball describes our history in so many ways. We’re reminded of all the obstacles that we’ve overcome to get there. This Hall has memories of two world wars that we fought and won. It has memories of color barriers being broken; Jackie Robinson’s uniform, the record of his first season as a Dodger. It shows us the history of communities that we built across a new continent and the ways that we connected with our country and our world, and how women athletes started getting the recognition that they deserved. So we’ve faced challenges before, but we don’t respond with cynicism and we can’t respond with gridlock. Every generation faces tough times. But, in the words attributed to the great Yogi Berra, they’re just “déjà vu all over again.” (Laughter.) We know we are up to these challenges. And just as our parents and our grandparents faced challenges a lot tougher than the ones we face, and just as they went ahead and built an economy where hard work was rewarded and responsibility was rewarded, and opportunity was open to all people, we can do the same. They passed those values on down through the generations. They passed them down to us. And when you come to the Baseball Hall of Fame, part of what you’re learning is that there is some eternal, timeless values of grit and determination and hard work and community, and not giving up, and working hard. Those are American values -- just like baseball. And there’s no reason we can’t do the same. That’s what I’m going to be working on as long as I’m President of the United States. I’m going to be fighting to make sure that those values live out in better jobs, higher wages, stronger economy, stronger communities. And I hope you’ll join me. Thank you, everybody. God bless you. God bless America. (Applause.) FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA
In reading Pooler reports, one gets to stay abreast of employee changes in the various offices. Sometimes staff go back and forth between the Wings- West and Womens. "At 11 AM, your pool entered a conference room in the EEOB where FLOTUS was seated at the center of a rectangular conference table with 14 people her office described as international education experts. The first lady’s chief of staff, Tina Tchen, was also at the table. Your pool was in the room for three minutes to hear remarks by the first lady at the top of the meeting. She was described as “dropping by” the discussion. The first lady said there couldn’t be better timing for such a discussion. Her remarks were hard to capture on tape, but here are a few direct quotes. “What has been going on in Nigeria is a tragic reminder” of the need for educating women and girls. “Now that we have a bit of the world’s attention on this issue, we have to seize upon this moment and take the opportunity to really push to make some significant changes. Right now today, there are millions and millions of girls around the world who are not in school. And it’s not because they don’t want to be in school. It’s because they don’t have the opportunity. We all know … you all are the experts … countries are stronger when their women and girls are educated.” She also said one of the reasons the East Wing chose ‘Reach Higher’ as a domestic initiative to focus on is because it is an issue that she/they could connect internationally. “Every child in American has a school to go to but that’s not the case around the world. So it’s two-fold. We need to inspire kids here in the United States to really utilize and really understand” the value of education and “not to take it for granted.” She said they also need to figure out from the experts like those around the table how to strategically change the lives of girls globally. “It’s an important issue to us,” FLOTUS said, indicating that her chief of staff was in the room. FLOTUS also said this is an issue that is important to her and that she planned to work on it long after the White House. FLOTUS indicated that she is young enough to do that. A woman seated to the first lady’s right remarked: “We don’t doubt that that. We’re going to be hearing from you.” The room erupted in gentle laughter. PRESIDENT OBAMA
Poolers explain the journey President's go on daily for the country. Poolers present perspectives, fly on the wall observations that colleagues then share with their readers when possible. "The pool joined President Obama’s already-in-progress tour of the Baseball Hall of Fame at the Diamond Dreams exhibit highlighting women in baseball. The tour guide offered a short history of women and the game. “That’s great. … That’s terrific,” Obama said. Next, they looked at Babe Ruth’s bat, which Obama quickly held up and inspected. “Wow,” he said. He then examined the ball that Howard Taft threw in 1910 – the first-ever presidential opening day first pitch. Taft threw it from his seat and not from the pitcher's mound. Obama grabbed it and pretended to throw it at the press pool but thought better of it. Obama picked up FDR’s green-light letter declaring that baseball would continue during the war. Obama read aloud, “I honestly feel it would be best for the country to keep baseball going….. ” “Wise man. FDR,” Obama said. The tour guide then showed Obama the shoes that “Shoeless” Joe Jackson wore. “He had small feet,” Obama said as he held them for a moment. Obama noted that Shoeless Joe was a touchy subject for White Sox fans. Obama then eagerly picked up Joe DiMaggio’s well-worn glove. “How about that,” Obama said, clearly delighted to see this history up close. Obama took a quick look at a signed Carlton Fisk jersey, saying, “That’s fantastic.” The president then looked at a display of World Series rings. While other visitors had been shooed away and told not to touch anything, Obama quickly slipped on a ring. “Oh, it fits,” he said with a smile. He then held up a blinged-out ring from 2003 and a much more modest championship ring from 1922. “You will notice the contrast,” Mr. Obama said. At the exhibit focused on the African American baseball experience, the tour guide and Obama discussed the integration of baseball and Jackie Robinson’s role. “That’s great …. Gotta have everybody on the field,” Obama said. The guide showed Obama a thick book detailing exhaustive records, pointing out the details of Jackie Robinson’s first at-bat. The guide told Obama that Robinson had been hit by pitches seven times during his first few months in the league. “Interesting to note,” Obama said. Finally, Obama stopped by a locker showcasing the history of his beloved Chicago White Sox. He spent a couple minutes looking at the White Sox display before moving on to the nearby Chicago Cubs’ locker. Andrew Dawson, who joined the tour, offered a few details about the Cubs but they were largely out of earshot of the pool. Dawson spent the middle years of his baseball career playing for the Cubs. Obama is now speaking to a small crowd at the Hall of Fame. His remarks are open press. The White House also passes along this short history of presidents and Cooperstown from the Hall of Fame: PRESIDENTIAL VISITS TO THE HALL OF FAME July 29, 1985: VP George HW Bush visits Museum and HOF Game, throws out ceremonial first pitch. July 25, 1999 (Induction Sunday): Texas Governor George W. Bush attends Induction Weekend as guest of Nolan Ryan. Press conference with Ryan and him at Cooperstown High School on July 24, 1999 July 27, 2003: Former President George HW Bush attends Induction Ceremony with grandson as guest of Gary Carter. August 31, 2002: Former President Bill Clinton and United States Senator Hillary Clinton (New York) visit Museum May 22, 2014: President Obama becomes first sitting president to visit Museum to give tourism speech Martin Van Buren is the ONLY sitting president to visit Cooperstown. He did so in 1839. PRESIDENTIAL ARTIFACTS AT THE BASEBALL HALL OF FAME Baseballs n Warren G. Harding, Calvin Coolidge, Babe Ruth, Mathewson, Landis & Kelly n Calvin Coolidge & Wm Howard Taft autographs n Taft, Harding, Coolidge, Hoover, FDR, Truman, Eisenhower, JFK, Johnson, Nixon n To Walter Johnson from Wm Howard Taft n Woodrow Wilson autograph n Warren G. Harding autograph, 1921 n Warren G. Harding autograph n Calvin Coolidge autograph n Calvin Coolidge autograph & 1924 Senators n Theodore Roosevelt autograph, possibly Roosevelt’s son Theodore, Jr. n Herbert Hoover 1931 Opening Day n Herbert Hoover autograph n Franklin D. Roosevelt 1940 Opening Day n Franklin D. Roosevelt 1933 World Series n Harry S. Truman 1952 Opening Day (using an 1895 ball) n Harry S. Truman autograph n Harry S. Truman & AB Chandler autographs n Harry S. Truman & Metcalf autographs n Dwight D. Eisenhower 1956 Opening Day n Dwight D. Eisenhower 1957 Opening Day n Dwight D. Eisenhower & Richard M. Nixon autographs n To Joe Cronin from Dwight Eisenhower n Dwight D. Eisenhower autograph n John F. Kennedy n Lyndon B. Johnson 1964 Opening Day n Richard M. Nixon at dedication of Candlestick Park n To Joe from Richard M. Nixon n To Nick Altrock from Richard M. Nixon n Ford, Carter, Reagan, G.H. Bush, Clinton, G.W. Bush n Gerald Ford and Johnny Bench autographs n Gerald Ford and Thurman Munson autographs n Jimmy Carter autograph, 1979 World Series n George H. Bush autograph 1985 n George H. Bush autograph 1985 n Wm Clinton and Hillary Rodham Clinton n Wm. Clinton, George Steinbrenner, Joe Torre Non-Baseballs n Gold Pass issued to Pres. Reagan & Party n Gold Pass 1976 season issued to President Ford n Presidential Box seats (6) from Griffith Stadium n Glove used by Eisenhower to throw out 1st Pitch 1956 n Bat autographed by Babe Ruth to President Harding n AL Pass issued to President Nixon n Bronze medal-Richard M. Nixon Inaug. 1969 n “The First Pitch”, painting by Sheila Wolk n Scorecard signed by Dwight Eisenhower-1954 Yankees v Senators n Doubleday badge-Committee on visit of President to Gettys" PRESIDENT OBAMA CLOSED DOOR MEETING ON TOURISM
Obama held a closed door meeting with executives on tourism. Photographers were allowed in to take photos before the President closed the door to media. White House press office said the following executives were attending: Below are participants in today’s meeting with the President: · Jim Abrahamson, CEO, Interstate Hotels & Resorts · Geoff Ballotti, President and CEO, Wyndham Hotel Group · John Caparella, President and COO, The Venetian & Palazzo Resorts and Sands Expo Center · Stephen Cloobeck, Founder and Chairman, Diamond Resorts International · Roger Dow, President and CEO, U.S. Travel Association · Barney Harford, CEO, Orbitz Worldwide · Mark Hoplamazian, President and CEO, Hyatt Hotels Corporation · Jeremy “Jerry” Jacobs Jr., Principal, Delaware North Companies · Stephen Joyce, President and CEO, Choice Hotels International · Tom Klein, President and CEO, Sabre Holdings · Christopher “Chris” Nassetta, President and CEO, Hilton Worldwide · Joseph “Joe” Popolo, Jr., CEO, Freeman · Trudy Rautio, President and CEO, Carlson · Sergio Rivera, President, The Americas, Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide · Arne Sorenson, President and CEO, Marriott International · John Sprouls, Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer, Universal Parks and Resorts · Greg Stubblefield, Chief Strategy Officer and Executive Vice President, Enterprise Holdings, Inc. · W. Edward “Ed” Walter, President and CEO, Host Hotels & Resorts · Paul Whetsell, President and Chief Executive Officer, Loews Hotels · Anré Williams, President, Global Merchant Services, American Express Company White House and Administration Participants: · Valerie Jarrett, Senior Advisor to the President · Jeff Zients, Director of the National Economic Council · Alejandro Mayorkas, Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security Presidential Memorandum -- Establishing a National Goal and Developing Airport Specific Action Plans to Enhance the Entry Process for International Travelers to the United States
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary For Immediate Release May 22, 2014 May 22, 2014 MEMORANDUM FOR THE HEADS OF EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES SUBJECT: Establishing a National Goal and Developing Airport Specific Action Plans to Enhance the Entry Process for International Travelers to the United States The U.S. travel and tourism sector is critical to the Nation's prosperity and drives economic growth. In 2013, international visitors alone supported more than 1.3 million U.S. jobs. Executive Order 13597 of January 19, 2012 (Establishing Visa and Foreign Visitor Processing Goals and the Task Force on Travel and Competitiveness), mobilized the Federal Government to increase visa processing capacity, expand the Visa Waiver Program, and expand expedited traveler programs, all without compromising national security requirements. The National Travel and Tourism Strategy, published 2 years ago, set a target of attracting and welcoming 100 million visitors by 2021, which the United States is on track to meet. To ensure we properly welcome and process those visitors at our airports, I am directing the Secretaries of Commerce and Homeland Security (Secretaries) to develop a national goal for improving service levels for international arrivals, including the time passengers spend waiting for primary inspection, i.e. passport control, and other steps of the arrival process. The Secretaries shall also develop airport-specific action plans that include actions from both private and public sectors to measurably improve the entry experience and reduce the wait time for international arrivals to those airports. The goal and action plans shall be consistent with efforts that have already demonstrated significant improvements through partnership between the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and international airports, such as improvements at Dallas-Fort Worth and Chicago O'Hare over a 12-month period that have resulted in average wait times of just 15 minutes and reduced the percentage of travelers with more than 30-minute wait times from 29 percent to The purpose of this goal and action plans is to maximize the economic contribution of travel and tourism for business, leisure, academic, medical, and other lawful purposes by improving the experience of international travelers coming to the United States, in particular their experience with passport control and customs processing at airports in the United States. The experience of an international arrival at one of our airports is not limited to the interaction with the U.S. Government. Airports, airlines, and local governments figure heavily into the arrival's experience -- and they have an essential role to play in creating a positive first impression. Therefore, as part of the action plans, the Secretaries will identify opportunities for private and nonfederal public sector actors to help achieve the goal, and ask for their public commitment to take specific actions to improve the entry experience for international guests. By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, and in order to remove barriers to traveler entry while continuing to protect our national security, public health, and safety, I hereby Section 1. National Goal for Improving the Entry Process for International Arrivals. (a) Within 120 days of the date of this memorandum, the Secretaries shall, in consultation with the Tourism Policy Council established by the United States National Tourism Organization Act of 1996, National Security Council, National Economic Council, Council of Economic Advisers, Office of Management and Budget, Secretaries of State, Agriculture, Transportation, and Health and Human Services, and other executive departments and agencies (agencies) as appropriate, (i) in consultation with private and nonfederal public actors, a national goal for improving the experience of international arriving passengers, including expediting the arrival and entry process for international visitors to the United States. In developing the goal, the Secretaries shall consider all steps the Federal Government can take to improve the arrivals experience, including by expediting primary inspection and customs clearance, while maintaining public health and national security. In addition to steps to be taken by agencies, the Secretaries shall identify opportunities for both private and nonfederal public sector actors to help achieve the goal; and (ii) in consultation with airlines, airport authorities, worker representatives, State and local governments, and appropriate private and nonfederal public actors, airport-specific action plans to measurably improve the international arrivals' experience and reduce the processing time for international arrivals in at least 15 U.S. gateway airports. The action plans shall draw upon the lessons and successes of the targeted pilot efforts that demonstrated significant service level improvements and wait time reductions at Dallas-Fort Worth and Chicago O'Hare airports. These action plans could include automating paper Customs and Border Protection Form I-94, implementing Automated Passport Control kiosks, expanding the DHS Global Entry program, and airports entering into voluntary partnerships with stakeholders to provide increased services on a reimbursable basis. (b) In developing the goal and action plans as set forth in subsection (a) of this section, the Secretaries shall establish metrics for measuring progress in implementing the action plans and achieving service-level improvements, taking into account the Federal Government's responsibility to protect the safety, public health, and national security of the United States and its visitors. These metrics shall include measurements of wait times that consider the entire arrivals process (from landing to exiting the airport), private sector effects on the arrivals process, and traveler perceptions of (c) In developing the goal and action plans, the Secretaries shall consult with existing non-governmental entities and advisory councils with relevant expertise and experience, such as the Travel and Tourism Advisory Board within the Department of Commerce, for continued input and advice. Sec. 2. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this memorandum shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect: (i) the authority granted by law to an executive department, agency, or the head thereof; or (ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals. (b) This memorandum shall be implemented consistent with applicable law, and subject to the availability of (c) This memorandum is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person. (d) Independent agencies are strongly encouraged to comply with the requirements of this memorandum. BARACK OBAMA President Obama to Host White House Science Fair
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 22, 2014 President Obama to Host White House Science Fair WASHINGTON, DC – On Tuesday, May 27th, the President will host the 2014 White House Science Fair and celebrate the student winners of a broad range of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) competitions from across the country. The President will also announce new steps as part of his Educate to Innovate campaign, an all-hands-on-deck effort to get more girls and boys inspired to excel and to provide the support they need to succeed in these vital subjects. With students from a broad range of STEM competitions, this year’s Fair will include a specific focus on girls and women who are excelling in STEM and inspiring the next generation with their work. Since day one, the President has been committed to getting more underrepresented groups, including women and girls, excited to excel at STEM subjects. For example, in the Administration’s signature education reform initiative, Race to the Top, President Obama granted states competitive preference if they demonstrated efforts to close the STEM gap for girls and other groups that are underrepresented. The President hosted the first-ever White House Science Fair in late 2010, fulfilling a commitment he made at the launch of his Educate to Innovate campaign to inspire students to excel in math and science. As the President noted then, “If you win the NCAA championship, you come to the White House. Well, if you're a young person and you produce the best experiment or design, the best hardware or software, you ought to be recognized for that achievement, too.” Pool Report #2 -- Additional details from President Obama's conversations with White House Science Fair youngsters in the State Dining Room, Blue Room and Red Room As always, please check transcript. By POOL's count, the president spoke with and had his photograph taken standing aside each of the projects' creators ... 24 students over 56 minutes. He said, as he did in the East Room, how much he enjoyed the Science Fair. The president appeared very enthusiastic about talking with the impressive (and darn cute) kids. His quips were largely self-deprecating, some of them flying over the heads of the self-possessed youngsters who were intent on earnestly explaining their projects to the president. Obama repeatedly offered effusive praise and congratulations to the students ("Fantastic!" "That's terrific!" "Excellent!"), asked them how they came up with their ideas for the competitions, and questioned the older students about their college and research aspirations. Some samples of conversation: Please check the transcript for the exact quote because all tape recorders consulted afterward failed to pick up an exact quote when the president was chatting with the ice-search-and-rescue machine inventors, Olivia Van Amsterdam, 16, and Katelyn Sweeney, 17. He quipped that the machined, which could motor over an icy surface and drop a small, dangling camera into a hole in the surface (images visible on land) could come in handy if, for example, he fell through ice, and didn't make it. The equipment would help if "Michelle" wanted to retrieve his remains, he noted with a mock-serious expression on his face. To Elana Simon: "Can I just say I did not do this at 12... or 18," he said with a wry look on his face. "We're so proud of you." To Peyton Robertson, an 8-year-old wearing a smart suit and tie, who said he'd taken some course work at the University of Mississippi already: "I can tell you're a high-powered guy." The president examined a model of a polymer (a large expandable plastic toy), opening and closing it, and said, "Sometimes in the Oval Office I just look at them," joking he had something like it. When Peyton dropped polymers into a bucket of water, Obama said, "This is not the blob is it? This is not going to eat up the White House?" Clearly impressed, the president said, "I love this guy!" Then, "Where do I buy stock in you? I was not like this!" With the basketball catapult inventors from MA, the president caught a small basketball hurled by the mechanical dummy they created, which was dressed in sports clothes. Obama tossed the ball back to one of the youngsters. He asked them if they wanted to become engineers one day, but Daisjaughn Bass, 13, said he was more interested in a career playing backetball. Obama, with a knowing look, asked how tall his parents were. After hearing they were not exceptionally tall, the president advised, "Keep up with your science homework!" The president addressed robotics inventors Lydia Wolfe, 16, and John Moore, 19, as his "Chicago homies." Obama said they could unfortunately not use the robot inside the White House to hurl anything -- a machine with a large frame of metal tubes and a swing-arm that can play a game similar to lacrosse -- because a ball might hit the photographers and the POOL. The president gave the cameras, stills and scribblers a look that suggested it was tempting to imagine. "Actually, this is a pretty good group," he said. "There are some where I wouldn't mind." He told Lydia, "We especially need young women in engineering and science." To Eric Chen from San Diego, the president asked a series of questions about Chen's impressive influenza research indicating that Obama possessed some knowledge of virology, drug testing and research and the challenges of getting new medications to market. Obama picked up a plastic, multi-colored model of viruses, about the size of a baked potato and joked, "This thing was in my nose just three weeks ago," he said. "It lasted forever. I couldn't get rid of it. Not really. Just kidding." More seriously, he told the high schooler, "This could be the start of saving millions of lives. Here's the order in which the president surveyed the exhibits, with name spellings and ages provided by the WH: State Dining Room: -Elana Simon, 18, New York, NY, cancer research -Peyton Robertson, 12, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, sand bags & retractable training wheels (2 projects) -Deidre Carrillo, 18, San Antonio, TX, electric car (go cart) -Brooke Bohn, 14; Daisjaughn Bass, 13; Gerry McManus, 13, Hudson, MA, basketball catapult -Lydia Wolfe, 16; John Moore, 19, Chicago IL, robotics -Eric Chen, 18, San Diego, CA, influenza drug research Red Room: -Nicolas Badila (age?), Jonesboro, GA, STEM video game -Felege Gebru, 18; Karen Fan, 17, Newton, MA, pedestrian crossing signal designed especially for use in Ethiopia Blue Room: -Maria Hanes, 19, Santa Cruz, CA, concussion-preventing sports helmets -Cassandra Baquero, 13; Caitlin Gonzalez, 12; Janessa Leija, 11 (+ visually impaired classmate whose name was not on background material, who inspired the project), Los Fresnos, TX, tablet/smartphone app to help student navigate his school -Olivia Van Amsterdam, 16; Katelyn Sweeney, 17, Natick, MA, unmanned search and rescue equipment on ice -Avery Dodson, 6; Natalie Hurley, 8; Miriam Schaffer, 8; Claire Winton, 8; Lucy Claire Sharp, 8, (Girl Scout Brownies in 2nd grade), Tulsa, OK, "flood-proof" Lego bridge design and automation. Background from White House after East Room remarks: "The students behind the president are all students excelling in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) and represent a diverse group STEM competitions and organizations that recognize the talents of America’s next generation of scientists, engineers, inventors and innovators. The robots on the stage are from the FIRST Robotics competition. Celebrating its 25th year, FIRST challenges student teams to build and program robots that compete and complete complex tasks. The robots on stage today are able to catapult a large ball into a basket nine feet in the air." First Lady Michelle Obama adressed the gathered. Pooler wrote, "This morning there was a discussion about international girls' education on 4th floor of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building." Pooler wrote later "Here’s guidance on background from a WH Official regarding participants in FLOTUS international education roundtable today: “Participants include international girl’s education experts from the UN and World Bank, leading non-governmental organizations who implement programs around the world, and organizations that run successful advocacy campaigns.”
Experts on this issue participated in the discussion, and there was a pooled spray at the top of the roundtable. First Lady, Michelle Obama, dropped by. All of the participants were women except for one gentleman (not counting your pooler.) Your pool was ushered into the room at 11:02 a.m. Your foreign pool counted 18 people were there including Mrs. Obama and her chief of staff, Tina Tchen. Mrs. Obama was on the opposite side of the table from your pool. A transcript will be released by the White House, but some highlights are as follows; Mrs. Obama started off by speaking on the tragic kidnappings in Nigeria. According to the office of the First Lady, this was her third time talking about the kidnappings. The first time was when Mrs. Obama delivered her first solo weekly address on Saturday, May 10, in honor of Mother's Day. She also talked about the kidnappings when she gave the commencement speech at Dillard University in New Orleans, LA also on Saturday, May 10. In addition, She posted a photo of herself captioned, "#BringBackOurGirls" on Instagram. She said, "What has been going on in Nigeria is a tragic reminder of what young girls all over the world are facing trying to get education, now that we have the world's attention, we have to seize upon this moment and take the opportunity to really push to make some significant changes." Next, Mrs. Obama underscored how important education is for millions of girls around the world who are not at school "not because they don't want to be school. It's because they don't have opportunity." She said to the experts attending that countries are stronger when their women and girls are being educated. "One of the things I tell kids here in the United States is I want to see them in their seats in class because every child in America has a school to go to, but that's not the case around the world." She said we need to inspire kids in the United States to utilize and understand the privileges they have and not take it for granted, and to lift up this issue and figure out how to strategically change the lives of young girls. Finally, she said to the experts attending that she wanted to hear their thoughts and their suggestions on how someone like her can use her platform effectively." Then Pooler was requested to leave. Poolers never stay for a whole event. Whole events are for invited guests only. May 27, 2014
The Pooler filed a report on the White House Science Fair projects, State Dining Room display President Obama declined to respond to a POOL question about reports the US is sending trainers to help rebels in Syria. (He will speak publicly about Afghanistan troops today.) POOL will send longer description of the president's comments to the students shortly... The president chatted and took pix with with students from 2nd grade to a college freshman who explained some of their winning inventions and science projects, which were arrayed in the State Dining Room, the Blue Room, and the Red Room. POTUS entered the State Dining Room at 11:15, finishing his tour of student exhibitions to begin speaking in the East Room at 12:11 pm. The fourth annual White House Science Fair this year featured more than 100 students from more than 30 states, representing more than 40 different competitions and organizations that recognize student winners of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) competitions from across the country. This year, the White House and Obama said there is a "specific focus" on girls and women who are drawn to these disciplines. [The president's remarks after the expo ... in the East Room ... OPEN PRESS. Please check transcript.] [ White House fact sheets for basic background on the White House Science Fair ... http://www.whitehouse.gov/science-fair] Remarks by the First Lady at Girls International Education Roundtable
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the First Lady __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release May 22, 2014 REMARKS BY THE FIRST LADY AT GIRLS INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION ROUNDTABLE Eisenhower Executive Office Building 11:02 A.M. EDT MRS. OBAMA: Well, I want to thank you all for taking the time to come. This is -- it couldn’t be better timing for worse reasons. What has been going on in Nigeria is a tragic reminder of the challenges that young girls all over the world face in trying to get an education. And now that we have a bit of the world’s attention on this issue, we have to seize upon the moment to take the opportunity to really push to make some significant changes. Because right now, today, there are millions and millions of girls around the world who are not in school. And it’s not because they don’t want to be in school, it’s because they don’t have the opportunities to be in school, and if they are in school, many of them are doing it and they’re putting their lives at risk. And we all know -- you all are the experts -- that countries are stronger when their women and girls are educated. So one of the reasons why we chose Reach Higher as a domestic issue to focus on education of young people here in the United States is because it’s an issue that we can connect internationally. Now, one of the things I tell kids here in the United States is, I want to see them in their seats, in class. Because every child in America has a school to go to, but that’s not the case around the world. There are so many -- so there’s a twofold thing that we need to do -- we need to inspire kids here in the United States to really utilize and understand the privileges that they have here, and not to take it for granted. But we really do need to lift up this issue and figure out from experts like you how we can strategically change the lives for younger girls, particularly adolescents. People need to understand what these issues are, and they need to know what we need to be doing as a global community to support these young girls. So Tina is here because it is an important issue to us. It’s going to be something that I work on not just for the next few years here in the White House, but long after. (Laughter.) I consider myself young enough -- PARTICIPANT: We don’t doubt that, but we’re going to be here long. (Laughter.) MRS. OBAMA: But I am here to listen. And I know that you all have already been talking about some of the issues, so I just want to -- I want to hear what you all are thinking, how someone like me can use my platform effectively to really add value to this issue, and how do we educate the world in a better way and then do something. Poolers coordinate color and copy to colleagues in other parts of the world. Each Pooler has their own signature style
"Marine One touched down in Cooperstown at 3:07 p.m. and the motorcade made the short drive to the Baseball Hall of Fame, arriving at 3:16 p.m. A large crowd of protesters chanting "End fracking now!" greeted the motorcade outside the museum. They waved an assortment of anti-fracking signs. The White House sends along this correction on a greeter at the airport: Rome NY Mayor is: Joseph Fusco Jr., Previous last name spelling had Rusco as the last name. Additional details from the White House about the president's planned tour and his push to attract international visitors are included below. Background from the White House: As a part of the President’s push to create more good jobs in the United States by supporting travel and tourism, the President is visiting the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. The Hall of Fame draws nearly 300,000 visitors annually, helping to drive more than $160 million into the economy of Otsego County each year. In fact, it is projected that each Hall of Fame visitor generates an estimated $500 in spending into the regional economy. Before his remarks, the President will be led on a tour by Jeff Idelson, President of the Hall of Fame. Andre Dawson, inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2010, will join the President for the tour. The President will view exhibits raging from “Diamond Dreams”, highlighting the role of women in baseball to “Pride and Passion,” exploring the history of African Americans in the game, to “Today’s Game,” featuring the stars and accomplishments of today’s stars. Among the artifacts the President will see include: Jackie Robinson’s jersey, Babe Ruth’s bat, Jim Thome’s 500th home run baseball, as well as the ball thrown by President Taft, for the first ever Presidential first pitch." LEVIN FLOOR STATEMENT ON THE STOP CORPORATE INVERSIONS ACT
Mr. President, along with a number of cosponsors, I have introduced the Stop Corporate Inversions Act of 2014. This legislation is designed to address a loophole which, unless we close it, will unleash a flood of corporate tax avoidance that threatens to shove billions of dollars in tax burden from profitable multinationals onto the backs of their American competitors and other American taxpayers. The issue we seek to address is known technically as “corporate inversion.” The details of inversions sound complex, but the principle is not. Inversion means avoiding potentially billions of dollars in U. S. taxes by changing a corporation’s address, for tax purposes, to an offshore location. What we have here is a tax avoidance scheme, an enormous loophole that allows companies to avoid billions in taxes without any significant change in where they operate, where their profits are generated, or the location of the executives who manage and control these corporations. A recent prominent example involves Pfizer, a U.S. drug company, and AstraZeneca, a U.K.-based competitor. This proposed corporate takeover – which Pfizer makes abundantly clear is largely about avoiding U.S. taxes – has gotten a lot of attention the attention, and for good reason. It would cost the United States about $1 billion a year in tax revenue. But this is not about just two companies. This is not about just one merger – even a merger that could shove billions of dollars in tax burden onto U.S. taxpayers. The Pfizer-AstraZeneca deal is just the latest example of abusive inversion deals. You cannot pick up a newspaper’s business section these days without reading about what Reuters has called “a wave of tax-driven overseas deal-making.” Some companies that believe in meeting their tax obligations are under competitive pressure to invert. It is clear that dozens, perhaps scores of companies are preparing to file their change-of-address cards, and in doing so, avoid billions in U.S. taxes. That burden doesn’t just go away. Either our remaining constituents must pick up the tab, or the loss of Treasury revenue adds to the federal deficit. We tightened the rules regarding inversion schemes in 2004, and we did so promptly, and on a bipartisan basis. But recent events show an enormous loophole remains. And so our bill seeks to address that loophole, and I hope once again we can do so on a rapid, bipartisan basis. There is no justification for inaction. Essentially, the problem we have today is that a U.S.-based multinational can file a change-of-address card with the United States simply by acquiring an offshore company that is a fraction of the U.S. company’s size. Our bill would ensure that any inversion meets a more stringent test. Under current law companies can pull off an inversion if just a fraction of their stock – just over 20 percent – is in the hands of new stockholders. Our bill would raise that threshold to 50 percent or more. In addition, it would stop tax avoiding inversions in cases where management and control remain in the United States. President Obama’s 2014 budget included a similar proposal, which one expert told The New York Times would “essentially eliminate inversions as we know them.” Our bill contains one difference from the President’s proposal. In essence, we would achieve a two-year moratorium on inversions through the use of a two-year sunset provision. Why a two-year moratorium? This is a response to a number of our colleagues who have said this is an issue that should wait for comprehensive tax reform. We all believe in comprehensive tax reform, or most of us do, but it’s going to take time and is uncertain, and this is an immediate threat. Our Treasury is bleeding, and this bill is first aid for the tax code. A two-year moratorium on inversions that do not meet our tougher standard stops the bleeding while we debate the comprehensive tax reform that most of us believe is desirable. But as of this moment, there is no comprehensive tax reform legislation pending in either chamber of Congress. There is no debate scheduled. There is, in fact, not a single comprehensive tax reform proposal that has been formally introduced as legislation. That’s not because no one in Congress cares about tax reform; nearly everybody does. But broadly reforming corporate taxes is a complicated and time consuming process. But we simply cannot wait. Multinationals are exploiting this loophole today. Meanwhile, hard-working American taxpayers and small business owners, and even large corporations that have to compete with the tax avoiders but believe that inversion is wrong for their companies and for America, see their tax burden rise while our national debt grows. How can we look them in the eye and say, “We had a way to call a halt to this gimmick, but we decided to wait for comprehensive reform that may or may not ever materialize?” This is very similar to what Congress did, on a bipartisan basis, a decade ago. Then, Senators Baucus and Grassley jointly declared that they were working on legislation to stop abusive tax inversions. This bill – along with Chairman Wyden’s announcement two weeks ago – should make clear to companies considering a tax inversion that they are once again on notice. These multinational companies benefits from the safety and security that the U.S. government provides. Our troops protect them. Our intellectual property rights protections allow them to profit from their innovations. They benefit from federally funded research, and claim tax subsidies for their own research and development. They raise capital in U.S. securities markets that are the envy of the world thanks to the rule of law that this government protects. In the last four years, one of the companies at the center of this debate, Pfizer, received more than $4.4 billion in taxpayer money for federal contracts. Just last month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention awarded Pfizer a $1.1 billion contract. Yet that company and others now are poised to shortchange Uncle Sam by billions of dollars, simply by changing their address for tax purposes. I am sure most of our constituents wish they could do that. But Michigan taxpayers can’t reduce their tax bill with the stroke of a pen. Michigan small businesses can’t pretend they’re based offshore for tax purposes. There is no pretense that any of these corporate inversions make sense from any standpoint other than avoiding U.S. taxes. That is their motivation – and these companies aren’t shy about saying so. They will continue to operate in the United States. The executives who manage them will continue to live and work in the United States. They will live under the umbrella of protection our men and women in uniform provide – at the same time we are cutting support to those same men and women because of the deficit these tax avoidance schemes have helped create. Few even try to defend these inversions on principle. They are simply tax avoidance. Even the corporate executives who engineer them make little pretense as to any other purpose. Let us reform the tax code, yes. But while we craft and debate that reform, let us stop these transactions that add massively to our deficit and to the burden that America’s working families and small businesses must carry. Remarks by the First Lady and the President at Turnaround Arts Talent Show
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the First Lady ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release May 20, 2014 REMARKS BY THE FIRST LADY AND THE PRESIDENT AT TURNAROUND ARTS TALENT SHOW East Room 3:00 P.M. EDT MRS. OBAMA: Yay! (Applause.) Yes! We’re going to have a show! (Applause.) Thank you all so much. Rest yourselves. I am beyond thrilled to welcome you all here today for the first ever White House Turnaround Arts Talent Show. (Applause.) We’re putting on a show! I want to start by recognizing the stars of today’s show, our fabulous student performers. We are all so proud of you! (Applause.) I also want to thank the National Endowment for the Arts and the Department of Education for their partnership on the Turnaround Arts program, and I want to thank Kathy Fletcher for her leadership of this program. (Applause.) And I want to recognize the extraordinary companies and foundations who are funding and advising this effort. We absolutely could not do this without you. You all are amazing. And of course, most of all, I want to thank the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities, PCAH -- I’ll say that instead of saying the longer. Thanks to my favorite people in the world, the PCAH co-chairs, George Stevens and Margo Lion -- well done. (Applause.) And George Wolfe and Damian Woetzel who are co-directing today’s event. (Applause.) And Rachel -- where’s Rachel Goslins, who is our -- there you are. (Applause.) Our amazing Executive Director of PCAH. She is awesome. Love you. Well done. And thanks to all of the PCAH members who have truly gone above and beyond every step of the way. Now, as many of you know, three years ago, the members of the PCAH came up with an audacious idea, and they decided they wanted to use arts education to turn around struggling schools. They wanted to bring in art supplies and instruments and teacher training, and they wanted to convince famous artists to adopt these schools and help them transform over a two-year period of time. And we all know the statistics when it comes to the power of the arts in education. We know that kids who get involved in the arts have higher grades, higher graduation rates, higher college enrollment rates. I could go on and on and on. You all know this. But the thing is, the schools that the PCAH chose for this effort were literally some of the most underperforming schools in the country -- schools with rock bottom test scores, rampant disciplinary problems, high teacher turnover, and low parent engagement. And with so many pressing challenges, as you might imagine, bringing the arts to these schools wasn’t necessarily at the top of their priority list. So we were careful to manage our expectations. We didn’t let ourselves get too excited about what we could accomplish. And I am very proud to say that today, three years later, the Turnaround Arts program has exceeded not just our expectations, but our wildest hopes and dreams. This has been amazing. With the help of this program and some School Improvement Grants, math and reading scores have gone up in these schools, attendance is up, enrollment is up, parent engagement is up, suspensions have plummeted, and two of the schools in our pilot improved so dramatically that they are no longer in turnaround status. That’s amazing. (Applause.) It’s amazing. Amazing. And today, the students in these schools are engaged in their education like never before, and that’s really the point. It’s about their education. For example -- (applause.) Yes. (Laughter and applause.) See, they know what it’s about. For example, students in Denver are learning geometry by studying cubism and using digital arts skills to create 3D pop-up books. Students in Bridgeport have a school band for the first time in 17 years, and they have 100 percent of their teachers -- 100 percent -- that are integrating the arts into their classrooms. (Applause.) Students in New Orleans are displaying their artwork in local coffee shops and galleries, and they’ve even created their own play about the alphabet. And then there’s the story of Orchard Gardens School that’s in Boston. (Applause.) Is Orchard Gardens here? (Laughter and applause.) Okay, just checking. (Laughter.) Well, let me tell you a little bit about this fabulous school. This school had had six principals in seven years, their teacher turnover rate was over 50 percent, and their test scores were among the lowest in the state. But they had a principal who believed in the power of the arts. So that individual replaced the school’s security guards with five full-time arts and music teachers. And today, Orchard Gardens is known as one of the most improved schools in the entire state of Massachusetts. (Applause.) Say, oh, yes, we can! AUDIENCE: Oh, yes, we can! MRS. OBAMA: Oh yeah. (Laughter.) So it is clear that the Turnaround Arts pilot program has been an overwhelming success. And that’s why today I am thrilled to announce that we will be quadrupling the size of this program. So this fall, we’re going to be adding a total of 35 schools in 11 states, and well over 10,000 more students will finally have access to arts education. This is huge. It’s huge and it’s exciting. (Applause.) But as we celebrate this expansion today, I’m also thinking about the kids who aren’t among the lucky few to attend a Turnaround Arts school. I’m thinking about the 6 million children in America who don’t have a single art or music class in their schools. I am thinking about the millions more who have only minimal exposure to the arts. The vast majority of these kids attend the highest-need schools -- schools with crumbling classrooms, less experienced teachers, and technology that lags years behind. So, too often, the kids who need arts education the most are getting it the least. So as you watch these children performing on this stage here today, I just want everyone who is focusing on this event, I want you to think about what their lives would be like if they didn’t have this opportunity. Just think about that. Think about the kind of trajectory they might be on. And to inform your thinking, I want you to consider this fact -- that when high school dropouts were asked why they decided to leave school, one of their top reasons was that they simply weren’t interested in their classes, so they just couldn’t see the point of showing up. And that is precisely where arts education comes in. That’s why so many children get out of bed each morning. It’s because of the arts. They do it because they’re thinking about the musical that they’re going to act in. They’re focused on the painting that they’ve been working on, the instrument that they’re so excited to get their hands on. And then once we got those kids in those seats, then we can teach them math and reading and science. For many, arts is the hook. But if they’re not in those seats, then we can’t teach them anything at all. So the bottom line here is very clear: Arts education isn’t something we add on after we’ve achieved other priorities like raising test scores and getting kids into college. It’s actually critical for achieving those priorities in the first place. That’s what the Turnaround Arts program is all about. (Applause.) And that’s also what my new Reach Higher initiative is about. It’s about encouraging every young person -- are you listening? AUDIENCE: Yes. MRS. OBAMA: -- every young person to commit to school and complete their education beyond high school. Okay? Beyond high school. A high school diploma is not enough. AUDIENCE MEMBERS: Okay. MRS. OBAMA: All right. (Laughter.) We didn’t plan this. (Laughter.) And I know that arts education is an important part of achieving these goals. So that’s why I am so passionate about this. Plus, the kids are just so talented. So I want to once again thank the members of the PCAH for bringing the Turnaround Arts program to life. From the very beginning, they have been one of the most engaged by far and effective committees by far here at the White House. You guys are blowing it out. They haven’t just lent their names to this effort, they have poured their hearts and souls into this effort. Kerry Washington danced the lindy hop with the entire fourth grade class at her school. I was there. I saw it. Sarah Jessica Parker hosted her school musical’s cast party remotely. And I could go on and on. There are so many other stories just like these. So I want to take this moment to recognize all of the turnaround artists who have made this program such a success. I want to recognize all the artists here today who’ve committed to working in these schools over the next two years. I want you all to stand so that we can give you all a round of applause, all of you. (Applause.) And there are so many more -- because for these artists, bringing the arts to our schools just isn’t -- it’s not a volunteer gig for these folks. It’s a mission. And we all need to have that exact mindset, because arts education should be all of our mission -- not just parents and teachers and administrators, but businesses and foundations and concerned citizens who care about the future of our children. It’s certainly part of our mission here at the White House as well. And that’s why we’ve hosted all kinds of events and youth workshops on everything from poetry to dance to classical music. And we need as many people as possible to join this effort. We really do. We need more artists, we need more resources. We need more teachers and administrators who are willing to embrace the power of arts education in their schools. And we cannot rest until every child in this country has some kind of exposure to the arts in their lives. We can’t stop until every child has the chance to fulfill their boundless promise. And that’s why today’s talent show is going to be so cool. It’s about celebrating that promise and it’s about recommitting ourselves to this vitally important cause. So it is now my pleasure to turn things over to the brilliant young performers and get this show started. Thank you all so much. (Applause.) We’re going to have a show! * * * * * MRS. OBAMA: Everyone, ladies and gentlemen, somebody was able to make it to the talent show. (Applause.) It’s my husband! It’s the President! (Applause.) THE PRESIDENT: So I just want to say, I’ve got talent. (Laughter.) I’ve got some talent, but I wasn’t invited to be part of the show. (Laughter.) This is the First Lady’s outstanding initiative, along with all of you. But I just wanted to come by and say that the arts are central to who we are as a people, and they are central to the success of our kids. This is not an afterthought. This is not something you do because it’s kind of nice to do. It is necessary for these young people to succeed that we promote the arts. And I hope that events like this help send a message to school districts, and parents, and governors, and leaders all across this country: You’ve got to support the arts. It’s a priority. And you guys were all outstanding. So congratulations. (Applause.) MRS. OBAMA: Thank you, honey. That’s how -- you guys, I want all the kids to know just how important you are that the President of the United States came by to tell you how proud he was. (Applause.) I just want to thank everyone. To all our principals, to all our teachers, to our Turnaround Artists, to our funders -- this wouldn’t be possible without you. Remember what I said early on? Just think about the millions of kids who aren’t being touched by the arts. Look at how much we’re missing. We can’t afford to miss out on any kid’s talent, reaching their -- I have seen these kids from little to -- this little one has grown up so much. And I am so proud of them. But we have to make this a reality for every child in this country. We just have to. You all, thank you so much. Kids, great job. Well done. You all take care. Have a great afternoon. Keep working hard. (Applause.) END 4:15 P.M. EDT Announcing the White House Science Fair and Celebrating Girls Excelling in STEM
Next week – on Tuesday, May 27 – the White House is going to be filled with robots, science projects, and more. Students from around the country are headed to the 2014 White House Science Fair hosted by President Obama, and we couldn’t be more excited. With students from a broad range of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) competitions, this year’s Fair will include a specific focus on girls and women who are excelling in STEM and inspiring the next generation with their work. Stay tuned, because this week, we’ll be previewing some of the amazing girls who will be presenting their projects at the White House Science Fair. Since day one, the President has been committed to getting more underrepresented groups, including women and girls, excited to excel at STEM subjects. For example, in the Administration’s $4.35 billion Race to the Top competition, President Obama granted states competitive preference if they demonstrated efforts to close the STEM gap for girls and other groups that are underrepresented. The President began the tradition of hosting White House Science Fairs in 2009 when he launched his Educate to Innovate campaign to inspire more girls and boys to excel in STEM subjects. As the President has noted, “If you win the NCAA championship, you come to the White House. Well, if you're a young person and you produce the best experiment or design, the best hardware or software, you ought to be recognized for that achievement, too." In the run up to the Science Fair, we also want you to share your stories, and we want to highlight YOUR First Science Fair project. So for this Thursday’s Throw Back Thursday, tweet us a photo of your science fair projects and other STEM work from when you were a kid using #TBTsciencefair! Follow us here @WhiteHouse and @whitehouseostp as we plan to join in the fun as well. To get us in the Science Fair frenzy, we’ve been reviewing the amazing videos, vines, and gifs from past years. You should too. New Appointee Joins Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee
_The United States Mint is pleased to announce the appointment of Mary N. Lannin to the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC). Ms. Lannin fills the vacancy created this year by the expiration of the appointment of Michael Olson. Ms. Lannin was appointed based on the recommendation of House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi and will serve for a statutory term of four years.A well-known freelance editor, Ms. Lannin has worked on various numismatic papers and publications. Her die study of Alexander II Zabinas at Antioch, co-authored with Arthur Houghton, will be published by the American Numismatic Society in the upcoming Hellenistic Studies volume. She has researched and assisted other scholars who are contributing to this study. Other studies of Antioch's Hellenistic coinage (Alexander I, Demetrius II) are in the planning stage. She is a Life Member of both the American Numismatic Society and American Numismatic Association, and is currently a member of the Royal Numismatic Society, the Swiss Numismatic Society, the San Francisco Ancient Numismatic Society and the New York Numismatic Club. A member of the Ancient Arts Council of the Legion of Honor (San Francisco), Ms. Lannin is also a member of the Asian Art Museum (San Francisco), San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, LACMA (Los Angeles). She is a volunteer staff member at the Legion of Honor, currently evaluating the 50 most valuable holdings for the museum and the City of San Francisco. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Minnesota (1969) and attended Trinity College, Washington D.C. The CCAC, established by an Act of Congress in 2003, advises the Secretary of the Treasury on theme or design proposals relating to circulating coinage, bullion coinage, Congressional Gold Medals and other medals produced by the United States Mint. The CCAC also makes commemorative coin recommendations to the Secretary and advises on the events, persons or places to be commemorated, as well as on the mintage levels and proposed designs. The CCAC is subject to the authority of the Secretary of the Treasury. The United States Mint is responsible for providing necessary and appropriate administrative support, technical services and advice. The CCAC submits an annual report to Congress and the Secretary of the Treasury, describing its activities and providing recommendations. The United States Mint was created by Congress in 1792. This year marks the bureau's 222th anniversary. The United States Mint is the Nation's sole manufacturer of legal tender coinage and is responsible for producing circulating coinage for the Nation to conduct its trade and commerce. The United States Mint also produces numismatic products including proof, uncirculated and commemorative coins; Congressional Gold Medals; and silver, gold and platinum bullion coins. The United States Mint's numismatic programs are self-sustaining and operate at no cost to the taxpayer. United States Mint - Connecting America through Coins Remarks by the President at Meeting with Business Leaders
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release May 20, 2014 REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT AT MEETING WITH BUSINESS LEADERS Roosevelt Room 11:05 A.M. EDT THE PRESIDENT: For the press, I just want to point out these are some outstanding companies, all of whom are investing in the United States, are representing major companies that see the U.S. as a great place to do business. We have made enormous strides over the last several years not just recovering from a Great Recession, but taking advantage of and now marketing the advantages of doing business in the United States -- whether it’s low energy costs, an incredibly productive workforce. Obviously, we have the most dynamic and creative and innovative economy in the world, but we don’t always do what it takes to go after business around the world and make sure that they know the benefits of investing in the largest market on Earth. And we want to be more systematic about it. We want to make sure that the federal government is working in sync with state and local governments when it comes to locating businesses here in the United States. SelectUSA turned out to be an enormously successful process where we’re coordinating between agencies as well as other stakeholders. And we want to make sure that it’s even more successful the next time. So this is a terrific venue for us to learn from some outstanding companies. And we’re announcing that we’ll have our next SelectUSA conference -- give me the exact date, Jeff. MR. ZIENTS: March of 2015. THE PRESIDENT: March of 2015 -- which is right around the corner. (Laughter.) So thank you for participating. We’re very excited about it. Thanks, everybody. Pool entered the Roosevelt Room at 11:03 a.m. as POTUS was in midspeech. To his right was
Ravila Gupta, president of Umicore USA and left was Joe Hinrichs, Ford Motor's executive vice president and president of the Americas. "We make sure that folks know that this is a great place to do business," POTUS said, praising the assembled business leaders who have added jobs in the United States. "For the press, I just want to point out: these are some oustanding companies, all of whom are investing in the United States." POTUS spoke to the pool for about three minutes. Across from POTUS was senior advisor Valerie Jarrett and Jeff Zients, director of the National Economic Council, who had scribbled extensive notes on several pages. At one point, Obama asked Zients when the next "SelectUSA" conference would take place and Zients said March 2015 aimed at helping businesses bring jobs to the United States. "We're very excited," Obama said. As the pool exited, POTUS turned to business leaders and said: "They follow me everywhere" which drew laughs and added: "Some of them are pretty good guys. Photographers especially" -- a comment that drew a reaction from one wire service reporter leaving the room. Below is list of participants provided by the White House Business Leaders: · Michael Araten, President and CEO, K’Nex; President and CEO, Rodon Group · Karen Bomba, President and CEO, Safran Morpho Detection · Mike Foley, CEO North America Commercial, Regional Chairman of North America, Zurich Insurance Group · Ravila Gupta, President, Umicore USA · Joe Hinrichs, Executive Vice President and President of the Americas, Ford Motor Company · Peder Holk Nielsen, President and CEO, Novozymes · Dr. Sanjay K. Jha, CEO, GLOBALFOUNDRIES · Byeong Jin Lee, Senior Vice President and COO, Hankook Tire · Michael Penner, President, Richelieu · Angel Ruiz, President and CEO, Ericsson North America · Carsten Spohr, Chairman and CEO, Deutsche Lufthansa AG White House Participants: · Valerie Jarrett, Senior Advisor to the President · Jeff Zients, Director of the National Economic Council · Secretary Pritzker, Department of Commerce (via video link) Senators introduce bill to clamp down on ‘inversions’ tax loophole
Bill provides 2-year moratorium on tax avoidance through offshore loophole while Congress pursues broad reform Tuesday, May 20, 2014 WASHINGTON – A group of 14 senators today introduced legislation to tighten rules on corporate tax avoidance through “inversion,” the practice of reincorporating offshore to avoid paying U.S. taxes. The Stop Corporate Inversions Act of 2014 is designed to prevent the loss of billions of dollars in revenue through a flood of inversions, a loss that would add either to the deficit or to the tax burden of American taxpayers. The bill would effectively impose a two-year moratorium on inversions, the practice of shifting a corporation’s tax residence overseas through acquisition of an offshore company to avoid paying U.S. income taxes. “These transactions are about tax avoidance, plain and simple,” said Sen. Carl Levin, chairman of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations and the bill’s lead sponsor. “The Treasury is bleeding red ink, and we can’t wait for comprehensive tax reform to stop the bleeding. Our legislation would clamp down on this loophole to prevent corporations from shifting their tax burden onto their competitors and average Americans while Congress is considering comprehensive tax reform.” “Mergers should be driven by economics, not tax avoidance,” said Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I. “When profitable corporations employ cynical strategies to avoid taxes, honest taxpayers pay the price. That’s why I’m pleased to join Senator Levin in introducing this common sense tax fairness bill.” “This bill is a necessary step to crack down on companies that use gimmicks to avoid paying taxes,” said Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif. “What we need is a complete overhaul of the corporate tax code. Until that happens, Congress must act to prevent companies from exploiting loopholes that unfairly lower their tax bills.” “This is about leveling the playing field and rooting out flagrant tax abuse in our system that could lead to billions of dollars of lost revenue," said Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va. “In order to fully restore budget certainty, we need to look at abuses in the tax code as much as spending. The fact that companies can change their tax liability to low-tax jurisdictions on paper while maintaining operations and ownership in the U.S. is unacceptable and I'm pleased to join my colleagues to introduce this important fix.” “It’s simply unfair that while families in Hawaii and across our country pay their taxes each year, big corporations use loopholes to avoid paying theirs,” said Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii. “It’s time to close these loopholes and make big corporations pay their fair share like everyone else.” "Our country deserves a tax code that is simple and fair," said Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii. "The average family in the U.S. pays over 18 percent in federal taxes. However, by using gimmicks and loopholes like inversions, major corporations pay an average of 13 percent. That’s not fair to average working families. The Stop Corporate Inversions Act of 2014 will save billions of dollars that can in turn be used for investments in education, infrastructure, and research and development. These are investments that we all benefit from – American families, small businesses, large corporations – and they make our economy stronger and our country better." "Our current tax code unnecessarily encourages companies to shift their tax address offshore, eroding the U.S. tax base and endangering American jobs. I’m proud to join Senator Levin in this effort to close this loophole and protect Americans workers,” said Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md., a member of the Finance Committee. “In the longer term, I look forward to redoubling our efforts on broader tax reform legislation that can fix our corporate tax code and make it more competitive.” Additional cosponsors are Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va.; Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif.; Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla.; Sen. Tim Johnson, D-S.D; Sen. Angus King, I-Maine; Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich.; and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass. The bill is broadly similar to a proposal in President Obama’s 2015 budget submission. Under current law, U.S. companies can “invert” and avoid paying U.S. income taxes if a merger transfers just 20 percent of its stock to shareholders of an offshore company. The bill introduced today would raise that threshold to 50 percent, so that if the majority of a company’s stock remains in the hands of the U.S. company’s shareholders, it is treated as a U.S. company for tax purposes. It also would bar companies from shifting tax residence offshore if their management and control and significant business operations remain in the United States. The two-year moratorium is achieved through a two-year sunset provision designed to provide time for Congress to work on bipartisan comprehensive corporate tax reform. Companion legislation is being introduced in the House of Representatives by Rep. Sander Levin, D-Mich., the ranking member on the House Ways and Means Committee. President Obama to Travel to Cooperstown, NY
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 20, 2014 President Obama to Travel to Cooperstown, NY WASHINGTON, DC – On Thursday, May 22, the President will travel to Cooperstown, New York to deliver remarks on tourism at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. The arrival and departure of Air Force One are open to pre-credentialed members of the media, but closed to the public. The President’s remarks at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum are pooled for television and still photographers and open to a limited number of pre-credentialed correspondents. The President’s remarks will also be available via live-stream at www.whitehouse.gov/live. Committee On The Arts And Humanities Announces Expansion Of Turnaround Arts Program
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the First Lady For Immediate Release May 20, 2014 COMMITTEE ON THE ARTS AND HUMANITIES ANNOUNCES EXPANSION OF TURNAROUND ARTS PROGRAM INTO 35 SCHOOLS ACROSS AMERICA After a Successful Two-Year Pilot, Turnaround Arts will Expand into an Additional 19 School Districts in 11 States Washington, D.C. –The President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities (PCAH) will expand its successful Turnaround Arts initiative, a program designed to help turn around low-performing schools, narrow the achievement gap, and increase student engagement through the arts, announced the committee’s co-chairs, George Stevens Jr. and Margo Lion today. The newly expanded program is funded through a public-private partnership, providing over $5 million over the next three years from the U.S. Department of Education, the National Endowment of the Arts, the Ford Foundation and other private foundations and companies to bring arts education into low-performing schools. Local program partners will provide an additional $12 million and the money will be used to hire new arts and music teachers, bring teaching artists, art supplies and music instruments into schools and support arts integration into other core subjects such as reading, math and science. Additionally, the President’s Committee announced a number of new “Turnaround Artists,” who will work to support individual schools’ arts education curriculum: Chad Smith, Clarence Greenwood (aka Citizen Cope), Doc Shaw, Elizabeth Banks, Elton John, Frank Gehry, Jason Mraz, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Josh Groban, Marc Anthony, Rashida Jones, Russell Simmons, the Silk Road Ensemble, Tim Robbins and Troy Andrews (aka Trombone Shorty). These artists join PCAH members who are currently working with the program, including Alfre Woodard, Chuck Close, Damian Woetzel, Forest Whitaker, John Lloyd Young, Kal Penn, Kerry James Marshall, Kerry Washington, Sarah Jessica Parker and Yo-Yo Ma. In May 2012, the President’s Committee, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Education and the White House Domestic Policy Council, launched Turnaround Arts as a pilot program in eight “turnaround schools” across the country—public schools in the lowest-achieving five percent of their state that are receiving School Improvement Grants through the U.S. Department of Education. Over the last two years, Turnaround Arts has brought arts education resources into pilot schools. Interim evaluation results show that participating schools are demonstrating improved academic performance, increased student and parent engagement and improved culture and climate. The expanded program will be working in 35 schools in districts in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Oregon and Washington D.C., with plans to expand to up to 60 schools across the country. Studies show that when students participate in the arts they are four times more likely to be recognized for academic achievement, have higher GPA/SAT scores, are more engaged and cooperative with teachers and peers, and are more self-confident and better able to express their ideas. These benefits are particularly pronounced in high-poverty, low-performing schools. First Lady Michelle Obama, Honorary Chair of the President’s Committee, said, “The Turnaround Arts program has exceeded not just our expectations, but our wildest hopes and dreams. With the help of this program and some School Improvement Grants, math and reading scores have gone up in these schools… attendance is up, enrollment is up…parent engagement is up… suspensions have plummeted…and two of the schools in our pilot improved so dramatically that they are no longer in turnaround status. And today, the students in these schools are engaged in their education like never before.” “During the two-year Turnaround Arts pilot, we have seen notable progress in school culture, improved academic performance and increased parental engagement at each of our original eight schools,” U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan said. “As the Turnaround Arts program expands into 35 schools across the nation, I congratulate the President’s Committee on its success and thank all of our partners for contributing to the U.S. Department of Education’s reform efforts and goal to make sure all children receive a well-rounded, high-quality education.” “We are proud of the progress Turnaround Arts schools have made so far and thrilled to be able to expand the program into more schools across the country,” said PCAH Vice-Chair Mary Schmidt Campbell, Ph.D. “Thanks to the hard work of our artists, program partners and school educators, we have been able to demonstrate that high quality arts education can positively change young lives and turn around failing schools.” All schools participating in Turnaround Arts will receive training and resources to address their individual needs. Resources will include a summer leadership program, in-school professional development, partnerships with community arts education and cultural organizations, art supplies and musical instruments. Participating artists will “adopt” Turnaround Arts schools for the length of the program, working with students, schools and communities to highlight their success. “It’s an honor to be part of this program,” said actress and PCAH member Kerry Washington. “Through my work in Turnaround Arts schools over the past two years, I have witnessed the power of integrated arts education to move the needle on some of our toughest educational challenges, and to give all students the chance to excel and to shine.” National partners in Turnaround Arts include the U.S. Department of Education, National Endowment for the Arts, the Ford Foundation, the Herb Alpert Foundation, the Rosenthal Family Foundation, the Keith Haring Foundation, Crayola LLC, the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Foundation and Music Theater International. The program is administered in partnership with Americans for the Arts. Local program partners include: Academy of Urban School Leadership, Chicago, IL; Boston Public Schools, Boston, MA; CREATE CA, Los Angeles, CA; Des Moines Public Schools, Des Moines, IA; George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts, Baton Rouge, LA; and Perpich Center for Arts Education, Minneapolis, MN. About the President’s Committee on The Arts and The Humanities Created in 1982 under President Reagan, the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities (PCAH) is an advisory committee to the White House on cultural issues. The PCAH works directly with the three primary cultural agencies—National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Institute of Museum and Library Services—as well as other federal partners and the private sector, to address policy questions in the arts and humanities, to initiate and support key programs in those disciplines and to recognize excellence in the field. Its core areas of focus are education, cultural exchange, and creative economy. Under the leadership of the First Lady and Honorary Chairman, and through the efforts of its federal and private members, the President’s Committee has compiled an impressive legacy over its tenure, conducting major research and policy analysis, and catalyzing important federal cultural programs, both domestic and international. For more information, please visit http://www.pcah.gov/. FACT SHEET & REPORT: President Obama Visits Cooperstown to Highlight Travel and Tourism that is Growing our Economy and Creating Jobs
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary EMBARGOED FOR 6AM EDT THURSDAY, MAY 22 FACT SHEET & REPORT: President Obama Visits Cooperstown to Highlight Travel and Tourism that is Growing our Economy and Creating Jobs Below is a fact sheet on travel and tourism as well as a progress report on the President’s National Travel and Tourism Strategy. Both documents are embargoed for 6AM tomorrow, Thursday May 22. As a part of his Year of Action, the President is using the power of his pen and phone wherever he can on behalf of the American people to create jobs and help hardworking Americans get ahead. The President will travel to Cooperstown, New York to visit the Baseball Hall of Fame – an economic engine in upstate New York. The Hall of Fame draws nearly 300,000 visitors annually, helping to drive more than $160 million into the economy of Otsego County each year. In fact, it is projected that each Hall of Fame visitor generates an estimated $500 in spending into the regional economy. The President will discuss the Administration’s efforts to support increased travel and tourism in the United States – helping local businesses and growing the economy for everyone. Before heading to Cooperstown, the President will use the power of his pen to sign a Presidential Memorandum to help welcome more international visitors to our country, making it easier for foreign tourists to see more and spend more in the United States. The President will also utilize his phone – his power to convene – and meet with travel and tourism industry CEOs and senior executives at the White House to discuss their vital industry, which supports nearly 8 million jobs across the country and is a major driver of our economy. President Obama Visits Cooperstown to Highlight Travel and Tourism that is Growing our Economy and Creating Jobs President Announces New Steps to Welcome More International Visitors to the United States From our cities to national parks, every year millions of people travel across America. Those visits support nearly 8 million American jobs— jobs that can’t be outsourced at thousands of local and small businesses. As a part of his Year of Action, the President is using the power of his pen and phone wherever he can on behalf of the American people to create jobs and help hardworking Americans get ahead. This week, the President has highlighted the importance of investing in America and today he is taking action to welcome more international visitors to our country – because making it easier for more foreign visitors to travel to and spend money at America’s attractions and national parks helps local businesses and grows the economy for everyone. That is why the President launched a National Travel and Tourism Strategy in 2012 and set an ambitious goal of attracting and welcoming 100 million international visitors annually by the end of 2021. Two years later, we are on track to meet this goal, in part due to the actions taken by the President’s Administration to expand our ability to attract and welcome visitors, while maintaining the highest security standards. Today, the Administration released a new report Increasing Tourism to Spur Economic Growth: Progress on the President’s National Travel and Tourism Strategy that highlights the many economic benefits to the United States from increased travel and tourism, and the progress that the Administration has made in implementing the President’s strategy.
New Steps to Improve the Entry Process and Welcome More International Travelers to the United States Signing a Presidential Memorandum to Expedite the Entry Process for Travelers, Starting With the 15 Largest Airports: Over the next 120 days, Secretary Pritzker and Secretary Johnson will lead an interagency team, in close partnership with industry, to develop a national goal to improve the entry process and reduce wait times for international travelers to the United States, and action plans at the 15 largest airports for international arrivals, consistent with progress achieved at Dallas Fort Worth and Chicago O’Hare airports where, through a combination of streamlining processes and upgrading technologies, wait times were reduced significantly. Taking Additional Steps to Improve and Streamline the Entry Process: The Department of Homeland Security is expanding the use of technology to streamline the entry process, such as Automated Passport Control kiosks. Launching New Efforts to Encourage Travelers to Visit the United States: The Departments of Commerce, State, Agriculture, Homeland Security, Transportation and the Interior will take additional steps to encourage travelers to visit the United States, including launching coordinated strategies with BrandUSA in ten international markets, creating a “one-stop” that supports international bids for major global events and launching a new “virtual visitor services” platform to increase tourism on public lands and waters. Background on Today’s New Steps to Increase International Visitors to the United States · Directing the Secretaries of Commerce and Homeland Security to partner with industry to improve the entry process for international travelers: The President is announcing today a new partnership with industry to dramatically improve service levels for international arrivals to airports, including the wait time for passport control and customs processing. This new effort will be consistent with the progress achieved in partnership with industry at Dallas Fort Worth and Chicago O’Hare airports. The measures the Administration is taking to expedite the arrivals process will enhance our security by focusing officer time on the highest-risk passengers and facilitating the process for the vast majority of legitimate travelers. o Partnering with industry to develop national goal and airport specific action plans. The Secretaries of Homeland Security and Commerce will partner with industry to develop a national goal to improve service levels for international arrivals, as well as airport specific action plans that include steps that both private and public actors must take in order for the United States to meet this important national goal. Agencies, working closely with the Tourism Policy Council as well as airlines and local governments, will develop and share metrics to demonstrate service level improvement, taking into account the federal government’s responsibility to protect the safety, public health, and national security of the United States and its visitors. · Making progress on additional steps to improve and streamline the traveler experience at ports of entry: DHS continues to streamline and enhance the entry process. Actions include: o Expanding the use of Automated Passport Control kiosks to 25 airports by end of 2014. Automated Passport Control (APC) kiosks provide modern touch screen technology which allows passengers to scan their passports and enter their customs declaration information. Provided through public-private partnership with airport authorities, these kiosks expedite air passenger inspection for U.S. and Canadian citizens at participating airports. They reduce officer interaction to approximately 30 seconds from 55 seconds while increasing security by allowing officers to focus on the passenger instead of paperwork. In the past year, 15 airports deployed the technology, with plans for another 10 to join by the end of the year. A number of these airports, including John F. Kennedy International Airport, Chicago O’Hare International Airport, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, and Orlando International Airport have experienced reductions in average wait times of 30% or more after APC kiosks have been installed. o Boosting processing capacity at ports of entry with 2,000 additional CBP officers. Congress recently granted CBP authority to hire 2,000 new CBP officers over the next two years. These new CBP officers are a welcome complement to the Global Entry program and APC kiosks, all of which are important for a faster and more secure entry and arrivals process. o Developing a new Loaned Executive Program to borrow private sector expertise to improve line and crowd management. DHS’ Loaned Executive Program will embed senior private sector experts within TSA and CBP, for six months to a year, to improve government customer service and operations at our ports of entry and ensure a positive first impression of the United States for visitors—while simultaneously upholding the DHS public safety mission. o Opening 300+ new enrollment centers nationwide in 2014 for Trusted Traveler Programs (including TSA Pre✓™, CBP’s Global Entry and NEXUS). In 2013, there were almost 1 million additional uses ofGlobal Entry and NEXUS Air kiosks representing a 34% increase over usage in 2012. o Creating additional public-private partnerships to defray costs of meeting increased staffing and overtime needs. In the last two budget cycles, the Administration has requested and Congress has granted new legal authorities for DHS to enter into voluntary partnerships with state, local, tribal, and private sector entities. These partnerships allow DHS to provide increased customs and immigration inspections services on a reimbursable basis at U.S. ports of entry upon request. Five agreements were signed in December 2013. In 2014, DHS will seek to enter into five additional partnerships with international gateway airports and seek additional opportunities to expand services and facilities at land and sea ports consistent with the authority granted by Congress. o Liberalizing Aviation Markets and Modernizing International Partnerships. The United States has 113 Open Skies agreements with partners across the world which have increased international traffic and resulted in significant benefits to the U.S. economy, aviation industry and workforce, and traveling public. Since the President took office the Administration has established 19 Open Skies agreements and is continuing to pursue new agreements, and improve existing agreements, to provide U.S. air carriers with opportunities to offer new and innovative service to travelers and shippers, as well as to strengthen the Federal government’s ability to help resolve operational issues. · Launching new efforts to attract more international travelers to the United States: In 2013, a record 70 million international visitors traveled to the United States, spending an all-time high of $180.7 billion, an increase of more than 9% from 2012. The Administration is undertaking new initiatives to build on the progress to date by: o Creating a “one-stop-shop” for federal resources to support U.S. bids for major international events such as large conferences and sporting events: A planned interagency advocacy task force would provide coordinated support that could include high-level advocacy with decision makers, expedited visa appointments for participants, special handling for customs, streamlined process for obtaining necessary federal representations, and other value-added services to support the success of U.S. bids and events. o Launching a coordinated federal approach to leverage multiple U.S. government resources in foreign countries to increase tourism demand. An interagency group led by the Departments of Commerce and State are organizing an initiative to target the top 10 international markets, with a pilot launched this year in the United Kingdom. o This effort would create an integrated strategic plan at the country level (across agencies and with Brand USA) to increase demand for legitimate travel and tourism to the United States, and to ensure that federal agencies plan for downstream effects to meet demand for services and provide a quality experience. o Marketing and promotional activities, communicating U.S. entry policies, increasing participation in Trusted Traveler Programs, anticipating entry volumes, and taking advantage of liberalized air service agreements could be included in the integrated approach. o Developing a “virtual visitor services” open data platform to enable state, local, and tribal organizations and private sector partners to build innovative trip planning resources, mobile apps, and customer--friendly digital services to increase tourism on public lands and waters. The platform, under development by the Interior Department and other land-management agencies, will improve the efficiency and effectiveness of federal agency operations, enrich the visitor experience for a diverse set of audiences, and open up opportunities for private sector innovation. o The data and web services platform will make key visitor and travel information for public lands available to external travel and tourism providers via open application programming interfaces (APIs). The platform will support local and regional economic development by providing key data on travel and tourism opportunities. o Long term plans include integration with multiple data sources to enable partners to build services that provide visitors integrated access to multiple travel options. o Partnering with Brand USA, the country’s nonprofit travel promotion corporation, to develop thematic tourism diplomacy campaigns. An expanded year-long global culinary tourism campaign will culminate at the World Expo in Milan, Italy, in May 2015. In preparation, agencies are coordinating a pilot public diplomacy culinary tourism campaign in five target posts in East Asia (China, Taiwan, Australia, Japan and South Korea) to promote U.S. tourism and agricultural exports around embassies’ July 4 festivities, through an integrated recipe book with articles and photos highlighting U.S. tourism destinations, a social media toolkit, promotional collateral and American chef visits. UPCOMING GUIDANCE FOR FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the First Lady For Immediate Release May 21, 2014 UPCOMING GUIDANCE FOR FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA Thursday, May 22, 2014 Washington, DC * 11:00 AM – On Thursday, First Lady Michelle Obama will attend a discussion with issue experts about international girls’ education. Education, both in the U.S. and around the world, has been a long-held priority for the First Lady. Despite progress over the last 15 years around girls’ education, there are approximately 62 million girls globally who are not enrolled in school. The discussion will be an opportunity for Mrs. Obama to hear directly from experts about advancing education for girls worldwide – topics will include ongoing challenges and obstacles, best practices and examples of improvement, and recommendations going forward. There will be a pooled photo spray at the top of the First Lady’s participation in the roundtable. FACT SHEET & REPORT: On White House Roundtable on Investing in America
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 20, 2014 FACT SHEET & REPORT: On White House Roundtable on Investing in America Attached is a new report by the White House and Department of Commerce: Winning Business Investment in the United States”. The report can also be found HERE. President Obama announces second-ever SelectUSA Summit to be held in Spring 2015 At a time when our businesses have created 9.2 million new jobs in just over four years, and more companies are considering bringing jobs here, we have a choice to make. We can make it easier for businesses to invest in America – or we can make it harder. It has been a top priority for this administration to do all we can to help businesses invest in the U.S. and support good jobs for American workers, and the President wants to work with Congress to continue to create jobs and expand opportunity for more Americans. But where Congress won’t act, the President will. In 2011, the President launched SelectUSA – a global team in embassies abroad and agencies at home focused on encouraging and supporting companies to bring job-creating investment to the United States. Last October, the President hosted the first-ever SelectUSA Summit, bringing more than 1,300 people - business executives from more than 60 countries, governors, mayors, and economic development officials from 48 states – to see the benefits of doing business and creating jobs in the U.S. and establishing the connections to make that happen. The insourcing trend continues to grow, with survey after survey showing companies choosing to invest in the U.S. An AT Kearney survey ranked the U.S. #1 in the world for the first time since 2001. A 2013 Boston Consulting Group survey of U.S. manufacturers with production abroad found that the majority (54 percent) are looking at re-shoring to the United States from China, up from 37 percent in 2012. An Organization for International Investment (OFII) / PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP survey showed that executives see the U.S. as the preferred location amongst advanced economies. Second SelectUSA Investment Summit Ø Today, the President is announcing the second SelectUSA Summit to be held in Spring of 2015 in Washington, D.C. With the success of the first summit, this event will be twice the size with more than 2,500 people from around the world to help bring more job-creating investments to the U.S and to share stories about what Made in America really means. Ø SelectUSA has directly assisted in winning more than $18 billion in job-creating business investments for the United States in 17 different states and territories, and since October has assisted nearly 500 businesses, encouraging them to invest in the U.S. and helping them to navigate the Federal government. SelectUSA Progress Report The White House and Department of Commerce released a new report Winning Business Investment in the United States that highlights the growing attractiveness of investing in the U.S., the importance of inbound investment, and progress on the President’s SelectUSA initiative. Investment is growing and plays an important role in the U.S. economy: o Investment in the U.S. is growing due to one of the most highly-skilled and productive workforces, low-cost and abundant energy resources, global leadership in innovation and invention, access to global markets, and rising costs abroad. o Business fixed investment from companies choosing to grow and invest in the United States accounts for more than 20 percent of the rebound in real GDP since 2009. o The U.S. manufacturing sector has added 647,000 new jobs, the fastest pace of manufacturing job growth since the 1990s. o Since 2006, the United States has been the world’s largest recipient of foreign direct investment (FDI) and receives the majority of all inflows to the G7. U.S. affiliates of non-U.S. firms employ 5.6 million Americans. U.S. is an increasingly attractive as a location for investment and job creation: o In a 2013 survey of 300 global executives, the U.S. was ranked the top destination for global business cross-border investment, the first time the U.S. has been at the top since 2001. [AT Kearney] o The share of U.S. executives actively considering bringing back production from China rose to 54 percent in survey released September 2013, compared with 37 percent only 18 months earlier. [The Boston Consulting Group] o In a survey of company financial officers in 2014, more than 80% surveyed believe the U.S. business climate is getting stronger, and 60% surveyed prefer the U.S. to all other advanced economies compared to just 25% making the same claim in 2011. [Organization for International Investment and PricewaterhouseCoopers] The President’s SelectUSA is the first-ever, comprehensive federal effort to actively compete to bring job-creating investment to the United States: o In the U.S. and around the world, SelectUSA works to encourage investment from companies, advocating for the U.S., providing companies with the information they need, and connecting them to the resources that will bring them to the U.S., with country-specific strategies in 32 markets representing more than 90% of FDI. o SelectUSA serves as a single point of contact for ready investors, assisting companies in navigating the federal government and regulatory system o SelectUSA coordinates advocacy by federal officials up to and including the President – working with our mayors and governors to compete and win jobs and investment for the United States. Companies Participating in President’s SelectUSA Roundtable Ericsson Ericsson, a Swedish multinational corporation, is a world-leading provider of communications technology, software, and services for telecommunications operators and other industries. 40 percent of the world's mobile traffic goes through Ericsson networks every day servicing more than 2.5 billion subscribers. In September 2013, Ericsson completed a massive expansion of its Plano, Texas campus, which also serves as its North American headquarters. Since 2001, Ericsson has more than quadrupled its workforce in Plano, to approximately 4,500 employees. Ericsson has invested $7 billion in U.S. acquisitions over the past six years and sees opportunities for more growth in the U.S. Ford Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., is set to launch 23 new vehicles to customers around the world. Building on the addition of 14,000 new hires over the past two years, Ford will add more than 5,000 U.S. jobs in 2014 to meet this unprecedented growth. This past year, Ford also invested $200 million in its Cleveland, Ohio plant to manufacture Ford's 2.0-liter EcoBoost engines, supporting 450 additional jobs in Ohio. Previously, a Ford plant in Europe supported U.S. demand for these engines. Ford made the move to assemble these engines in Ohio to help meet rising consumer demand in the U.S. for this award-winning engine. GLOBALFOUNDRIES GLOBALFOUNDRIES is the second largest contract chip manufacturer in the world. Launched in 2009 as a partnership between AMD and Mubadala Development Company, GLOBALFOUNDRIES is based in Silicon Valley with manufacturing operations in Germany, Singapore and the United States (Malta, NY), as well as research partnerships around the globe. GLOBALFOUNDRIES is now operating and expanding their new Fab 8 facility at the Luther Forest Technology Campus in Saratoga County, NY, the most advanced semiconductor foundry manufacturing and technology development center in the United States. In 2013, the company announced an expansion with a $2 billion investment in a Technology Development Center on the same campus, bringing the company’s total investment to more than $8.5 billion at that location. Since breaking ground on Fab 8 in 2009, the company has created more than 2,200 new full-time direct jobs, as well as approximately 650 contractor positions, and expects to create an additional 600 full-time positions by the end of this year. According to company data, the Fab 8 project has required more than 6 million man hours of construction and created more than 10,000 new construction jobs and thousands of construction-related jobs since 2009. Hankook Tire Hankook Tire, a South Korean tire manufacturer, is a leading global provider of passenger, SUV, trucks, buses, and competition tires. Hankook Tire America is the company’s U.S. subsidiary, with headquarters in Wayne, New Jersey and a Research and Development center in Akron, Ohio. Hankook Tire America is a strategic partner to Ford, and a supplier for Hyundai’s Alabama operations. The company is planning to invest $800 million in a state-of-the-art plant in Clarksville, Tennessee, the company’s first in the United States. At full capacity, the new plant will support approximately 1,800 full-time jobs. The company cited growing demand in the United States, a desire to establish a production base in all major markets, and access to an increasingly important customer base as reasons for manufacturing in the United States. Hankook is expected to break ground on its plant this year and begin tire production by 2016. K’NEX K'NEX Brands is a U.S. manufacturer of construction toys based in Hatfield, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1992, K'NEX Brands and their wholly owned plastic injection molding subsidiary, The Rodon Group, founded in 1956, manufacturers brands such as K'NEX Building Sets, Lincoln Logs(r), Tinkertoy(r), NASCAR(r), Angry Birds(tm), and more. Over the past five years, K'NEX, a family-owned company, has been moving its toy production from Asia back to its plant in Pennsylvania. Approximately 95 percent of the parts and 80 percent of the finished products are now made in the United States. K'NEX cites speed to market (about three times as fast as the competition) and cost savings (about 30 percent less expensive than the competition) as two reasons for their investment in the United States. President Obama visited K’NEX in 2012. Lufthansa Lufthansa Group, the largest airline group in Europe, is comprised of several businesses that are world market leaders in their segments (Lufthansa Passenger Airlines / Swiss / Austrian / Brussels Airlines, Lufthansa Cargo, Lufthansa Technik, Lufthansa Systems and LSG SkyChefs). Lufthansa companies account for 10,000 employees in the U.S. alone. Lufthansa has multi-billion-dollar investments in the U.S. with its long-standing partnerships with The Boeing Company, General Electric, and Honeywell among others. In addition, Lufthansa owns 19 percent interest in the U.S. airline JetBlue Airways. In April 2014, Lufthansa Technik –the largest independent global provider of maintenance, repair, and overhaul services for aircraft, engines, and component parts – announced a significant investment in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico that is expected to create up to 400 permanent jobs. Lufthansa Technik chose the United States—among strong international competition—as the site of a new aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul facility to service short-haul and medium-haul aircraft. With local efforts led by Governor Alejandro García Padilla and the Puerto Rico Industrial Development Company, as well as the support of Vice President Biden and the President’s Task Force on Puerto Rico. The SelectUSA team at the U.S. Department of Commerce worked with the Puerto Rico team to offer Lufthansa information and assistance from across federal agencies and departments that not only assisted in their intense due diligence and assessment for making their decision but also demonstrated why the United States is the top destination for foreign direct investment. Novozymes Novozymes, headquartered in Denmark, is a world leader in bioinnovations. The company’s US operations are based in Franklinton, North Carolina, where Novozymes plans to invest $36 million to build a new research and development center in nearby Cary, North Carolina. This new center will create 100 research and development jobs over the next three years. Scientists at this site will research and develop beneficial microorganisms found in the soil and the resulting technology will focus on improved crop yield, fertility and pest control for growers around the world. The expansion of R&D resources will enable Novozymes’ scientists to pursue more and better biological solutions for the ever-changing challenges facing global agriculture. Richelieu In 2011, Richelieu, an apparel manufacturer, first invested in the United States to rescue the failing sock company International Legwear Group. With an initial investment of $7 million, Richelieu re-employed ILG’s existing workforce and saved its ongoing accounts. Richelieu continues to expand, recently deciding to invest up to $24 million in a new, state-of-the-art facility that will ultimately reshore production, creating 205 new jobs. The company credits Walmart for their assistance and commitment through a multi-year purchase order. SelectUSA, through the U.S. Commercial Service in Canada, has also been instrumental in Richelieu’s investment. Through comprehensive counselling on the U.S. economic, business and investment climate; support related to federal regulations such as immigration and work permits; and facilitation of federal sources of capital potentially available to them through the Small Business Administration (SBA), SelectUSA helped the company navigate the intricacies of federal regulations. Safran Safran is a global high-technology company with concentrations in aerospace, defense, and security. In the United States, Safran has nearly 7,000 employees in 22 states. Safran serves federal, state, and local governments as well as top industry partners. The United States represents over 25% of Safran’s global activities and the U.S. government is Safran’s largest end user. In March 2014, Safran and Albany International, a New Hampshire-based advanced textiles and materials processing company, inaugurated a new facility in Rochester, New Hampshire. The 300,000 square-foot facility will produce woven composite parts for aircraft engines and employ over 400 people at full capacity. To augment local capabilities in advanced manufacturing, Safran and Albany International are also partnering with Great Bay Community College in Portsmouth, New Hampshire to develop a six-month training program. Graduates will fill key positions including bonding and finishing operators, paint operators, and inspection and coordination of measuring machine operators. Umicore Umicore USA, a Belgian global materials technology and recycling group, focuses on application areas in materials science, chemistry, and metallurgy. In December 2013, Umicore announced an agreement to acquire Palm Commodities International, a leading manufacturer and distributor of materials to the surface treatment industry. Recently, Umicore has constructed a new facility in Tulsa, OK for the manufacture of precious metals catalysts to cater to its customers in the North American market. The investment will result in a significant expansion of manufacturing capabilities. This facility currently has 126 employees. Umicore is also investing in a new production line at its plant in Arab, Alabama where there are currently 53 employees in manufacturing and technical positions. This new line will produce catalysts for the petrochemical industry. Zurich NA Zurich North America is a regional subsidiary of Switzerland-based Zurich Insurance Group, and is one of the largest commercial insurers in the U.S. With almost 9,000 employees in the region and $14 billion in annual revenue, Zurich North America is the largest construction insurer in the U.S. and the largest insurer of the auto industry. In late 2013, Zurich announced plans to build a sophisticated new North American headquarters in Schaumburg, Illinois. To be completed in 2016, the project will create up to 700 construction jobs and is one of the largest build to suit projects currently underway in the United States. Zurich started its U.S. operations in Chicago more than a 100 years ago, and currently employs approximately 3,000 people in the greater Chicago area. Zurich’s decision to remain in Schaumburg reflects their commitment to providing the best possible working environment for their employees. White House to Host Embargoed Press Call on the Importance of Investing in America
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary 4:30PM TODAY: White House to Host Embargoed Press Call on the Importance of Investing in America WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Council of Economic Advisers Chairman Jason Furman and Director of the National Economic Council Jeff Zients, will hold an embargoed on-the-record conference call to preview the President's weeklong focus on the importance of investing in America and a meeting he will hold tomorrow at the White House with business leaders from across the country and world to discuss new investments that will create even more jobs. This call will be on the record, embargoed for 6:00AM EDT, tomorrow, Tuesday, May 20, 2014. WHO: Council of Economic Advisers Chairman, Jason Furman Director of the National Economic Council, Jeff Zients WHEN: Monday, May 19, 2014 4:30 PM EDT Obama made an unscheduled side trip to visit and chat w four teams of Little League'ers warming up before their games at Friendship Park in NW DC. The White House notes the trip came in advance of his trip to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY on Thursday.
Obama in dress pants, white shirt and tie, mingled w the co-ed teams, Shaking hands w excited members of 4 little league teams and posing for pictures on a glorious sunny day. He also grabbed a ball and lobbed it to home plate where Danny Ringel, 10, who plays for the Tigers ably caught the ball. "You saved me from grounding," obama said as Danny scooped up the ball. The teams were thrilled to see POTUS arrive: "Omg, it's a dream come true," one player said to another. "What's going on people" Obama said as he arrived. "What's going on guys?" "It's a great day for baseball." He told the kids, "I don't want to break up the game, let's get a picture quick." "Were u sliding?"He asked of a kid w his arm in a sling. Pool didn't get the answer. "Back to drills, you got a game to play," he said after a second round of photos. After about 12 minutes or so, the motorcade is back on the road for the fundraiser at 6:03 pm Trip to the ball fields was uneventful, but for commuters backed up along DC streets and the Key Bridge DAILY GUIDANCE AND PRESS SCHEDULE FOR TUESDAY, MAY 20, 2014
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 19, 2014 DAILY GUIDANCE AND PRESS SCHEDULE FOR TUESDAY, MAY 20, 2014 In the morning, the President will drop by a meeting with business leaders from across the country and around the world to discuss the importance of investing in and creating well-paying jobs in the U.S. There will be a pool spray of this meeting in the Roosevelt Room. In the afternoon, the President will meet with Secretary of Defense Hagel in the Oval Office. This meeting is closed press. EDT 9:30AM In-Town Travel Pool Call Time 10:45AM THE PRESIDENT drops by a meeting with business leaders The Roosevelt Room Pool Spray (Gather Time 10:25AM – Brady Press Briefing Room) Remarks by the First Lady at Topeka School District Senior Recognition Day
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the First Lady ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release May 16, 2014 REMARKS BY THE FIRST LADY AT TOPEKA SCHOOL DISTRICT SENIOR RECOGNITION DAY Expo Center Topeka, Kansas 6:33 P.M. CDT MRS. OBAMA: Thank you, guys. Thank you so much. Wow! (Applause.) Look at you guys. (Applause.) All right, you all rest yourselves. You’ve got a big day tomorrow. I want you guys to be ready. It is beyond a pleasure and an honor, truly, to be with you here today to celebrate the class of 2014. Thank you so much for having me. I’m so proud of you guys. (Applause.) Days like this make me think of my own daughters, so forgive me if a get a little teary. You guys look great. We have a great group of students here. We have students from Highland Park High School. (Applause.) We have Hope Street Academy students here today. (Applause.) Topeka High School is in the house. (Applause.) And of course, we have Topeka West High School in the house. (Applause.) Tomorrow will be a big day for all of you. You all have worked so hard, I know -- I can tell. You’ve come so far. And as you walk across that stage tomorrow to get your diploma, know that I’m going to be thinking of you all. I am so proud of you all and all that you’ve achieved thus far. And you have got so many people here who are proud of you tonight. Your families are here, your teachers and counselors, your principals, your coaches, everyone who has poured their love and hope into you over these many, many years. So, graduates, let’s just take a moment to give a round of applause to those folks, as well. Tonight is their night, too. Yes! (Applause.) Now, I want to start by thanking Lauren for that amazing introduction. (Applause.) Yes, indeed. Well done, Lauren. I want to thank a few other people here -- of course, Secretary Sebelius. As you know, my husband and I are so grateful for all that she has done, her wonderful service. (Applause.) And I’m so glad that she and her family could join us tonight. And of course, I want to recognize Congresswoman Jenkins, Governor Brownback, and Mayor Wolgast, as well as Superintendent Ford, School Board President Johnson, and all of your great principals -- Principals Carton, New, Noll and Wiley. (Applause.) Yay! And finally, to our fantastic student speakers -- Alisha, Rosemary and Noah –- just hearing your backgrounds makes me feel like an underachiever, so thank you so much for your remarks about Brown vs. Board of Ed.. I know Noah is coming. You have approached this issue past, present and future. And I think it’s fitting that we’re celebrating this historic Supreme Court case tonight, not just because Brown started right here in Topeka or because Brown’s 60th anniversary is tomorrow, but because I believe that all of you –- our soon-to-be-graduates -– you all are the living, breathing legacy of this case. Yes. (Applause.) I mean, just look around at this arena. Not only are you beautiful and handsome and talented and smart, but you represent all colors and cultures and faiths here tonight. (Applause.) You come from all walks of life, and you’ve taken so many different paths to reach this moment. Maybe your ancestors have been here in Kansas for centuries. Or maybe, like mine, they came to this country in chains. Or maybe your family just arrived here in search of a better life. But no matter how you got here, you have arrived at this day together. For so many years, you all have studied together in the same classrooms, you’ve played on the same teams, attended the same parties -- hopefully you behaved yourselves at those parties. (Laughter.) You’ve debated each other’s ideas, hearing every possible opinion and perspective. You’ve heard each other’s languages in the hallways, English, Spanish and others, all mixed together in a uniquely American conversation. You’ve celebrated each other’s holidays and heritages -- in fact, I was told that at one of your schools so many students who aren’t black wanted to join the black students club that you decided to call it the African American Culture Club so everyone would feel welcome. Way to go. (Applause.) So, graduates, it is clear that some of the most important parts of your education have come not just from your classes, but from your classmates. And ultimately, that was the hope and dream of Brown. That’s why we’re celebrating here tonight, because the fact is that your experience here in Topeka would have been unimaginable back in 1954, when Brown v. Board of Education first went to the Supreme Court. This would not be possible. As you all know, back then, Topeka, like so many cities, was segregated. So black folks and white folks had separate restaurants, separate hotels, separate movie theaters, swimming pools, and, of course, the elementary schools were segregated, too. So even though many black children lived just blocks away from their white schools in their neighborhoods, they had to take long bus rides to all-black schools across town. So eventually, a group of black parents got tired of this arrangement -- and they decided to do something about it. Now, these were ordinary folks. Most of them were not civil rights activists, and some of them were probably nervous about speaking up, worried they might cause trouble for themselves and their families. And the truth is, while the black schools were far away, the facilities were pretty decent, and the teachers were excellent. But eventually, these parents went to court to desegregate their children’s schools because, as one of the children later explained as an adult, she said, “We were talking about the principle of the thing.” Now, think about that for a moment. Those folks had to go all the way to the Supreme Court of the United States just to affirm the principle that black kids and white kids should be able to attend school together. And today, 60 years later, that probably seems crazy to all of you in this graduating class, right? You all take the diversity you’re surrounded by for granted. You probably don’t even notice it. And that’s understandable, given the country you have grown up in -- with a woman Governor, a Latina Supreme Court Justice, a black President. (Applause.) You have seen Latino singers win Grammys, black coaches win Super Bowls. You’ve watched TV shows in -- characters of every background. So when you watch a show like the “The Walking Dead,” you don’t think it’s about a black guy, a black woman, an Asian guy, a gay couple and some white people -- you think it’s about a bunch of folks trying to escape some zombies, right? Period. (Laughter.) And then when some folks got all worked up about a cereal commercial with an interracial family, you all were probably thinking, really, what’s the problem with that? When folks made a big deal about Jason Collins and Michael Sam coming out as gay, a lot of kids in your generation thought, what is the issue here? (Applause.) And if someone were to say something racist on Twitter, well, I imagine that many of you would tweet right back, letting them know that’s just not cool. You see, when you grow up in a place like Topeka, where diversity is all you’ve ever known, the old prejudices just don’t make any sense. Seems crazy to think that folks of the same race or ethnicity all think or act the same way -- because you actually know those folks. They’re your teammates, your lab partner, your best friend. They’re the girl who’s obsessed with the Jayhawks but loves computer science programming; the guy who loves the Wildcats and dreams of being an artist. (Applause.) That’s the world you’ve grown up in. But remember, not everyone has grown up in a place like Topeka. See, many districts in this country have actually pulled back on efforts to integrate their schools, and many communities have become less diverse as folks have moved from cities to suburbs. So today, by some measures, our schools are as segregated as they were back when Dr. King gave his final speech. And as a result, many young people in America are going to school largely with kids who look just like them. And too often, those schools aren’t equal, especially ones attended by students of color which too often lag behind, with crumbling classrooms and less experienced teachers. And even in schools that seem integrated according to the numbers, when you look a little closer, you see students from different backgrounds sitting at separate lunch tables, or tracked into different classes, or separated into different clubs or activities. So while students attend school in the same building, they never really reach beyond their own circles. And I’m sure that probably happens sometimes here in Topeka, too. And these issues go well beyond the walls of our schools. We know that today in America, too many folks are still stopped on the street because of the color of their skin -- (applause) -- or they’re made to feel unwelcome because of where they come from, or they’re bullied because of who they love. (Applause.) So, graduates, the truth is that Brown vs. Board of Ed. isn’t just about our history, it’s about our future. Because while that case was handed down 60 years ago, Brown is still being decided every single day –- not just in our courts and schools, but in how we live our lives. Now, our laws may no longer separate us based on our skin color, but nothing in the Constitution says we have to eat together in the lunchroom, or live together in the same neighborhoods. There’s no court case against believing in stereotypes or thinking that certain kinds of hateful jokes or comments are funny. So the answers to many of our challenges today can’t necessarily be found in our laws. These changes also need to take place in our hearts and in our minds. (Applause.) And so, graduates, it’s up to all of you to lead the way, to drag my generation and your grandparents’ generation along with you. And that’s really my challenge to all of you today. As you go forth, when you encounter folks who still hold the old prejudices because they’ve only been around folks like themselves, when you meet folks who think they know all the answers because they’ve never heard any other viewpoints, it’s up to you to help them see things differently. And the good news is that you probably won’t have to bring a lawsuit or go all the way to the Supreme Court to do that. You all can make a difference every day in your own lives simply by teaching others the lessons you’ve learned here in Topeka. Maybe that starts simply in your own family, when grandpa tells that off-colored joke at Thanksgiving, or you’ve got an aunt talks about “those people.” Well, you can politely inform them that they’re talking about your friends. (Applause.) Or maybe it’s when you go off to college and you decide to join a sorority or fraternity, and you ask the question, how can we get more diversity in our next pledge class? Or maybe it’s years from now, when you’re on the job and you’re the one who asks, do we really have all the voices and viewpoints we need at this table? Maybe it’s when you have kids of your own one day, and you go to your school board meeting and insist on integrating your children’s schools and giving them the resources they need. But no matter what you do, the point is to never be afraid to talk about these issues, particularly the issue of race. Because even today, we still struggle to do that. Because this issue is so sensitive, is so complicated, so bound up with a painful history. And we need your generation to help us break through. We need all of you to ask the hard questions and have the honest conversations, because that is the only way we will heal the wounds of the past and move forward to a better future. (Applause.) And here’s the thing -- the stakes here simply couldn’t be higher, because as a nation, we have some serious challenges on our plate –- from creating jobs, to curing diseases, to giving every child in this country a good education. And we know -- we don’t even know where the next new breakthrough, the next great discovery will come from. Maybe the solution to global warming will come from that girl whose parents don’t speak a word of English, but who’s been acing her science classes since kindergarten. (Applause.) Maybe the answer to poverty will come from the boy from the projects who understands this issue like no one else. So we need to bring everyone to the table. We need every voice in our national conversation. So, graduates, that is your mission: to make sure all those voices are heard, to make sure everyone in this country has a chance to contribute. And I’m not going to lie to you, this will not be easy. You might have to ruffle a few feathers, and believe me, folks might not always like what you have to say. And there will be times when you’ll get frustrated or discouraged. But whenever I start to feel that way, I just take a step back and remind myself of all the progress I’ve seen in my short lifetime. I think about my mother, who, as a little girl, went to segregated schools in Chicago and felt the sting of discrimination. I think about my husband’s grandparents, white folks born and raised right here in Kansas, products themselves of segregation. (Applause.) Good, honest people who helped raise their bi-racial grandson, ignoring those who would criticize that child’s very existence. (Applause.) And then I think about how that child grew up to be the President of the United States, and how today -- (applause) -- that little girl from Chicago is helping to raise her granddaughters in the White House. (Applause.) And finally, I think about the story of a woman named Lucinda Todd who was the very first parent to sign on to Brown vs. Board of Education. See, Lucinda’s daughter, Nancy, went to one of the all-black schools here in Topeka, and Mrs. Todd traveled across this state raising money for the case, determined to give her daughter –- and all our sons and daughters -– the education they deserve. And today, six decades later, Mrs. Todd’s grandniece, a young woman named Kristen Jarvis, works as my right-hand woman in the White House. She is here with me today. (Applause.) She has traveled with me around the world. So if you ever start to get tired, if you ever think about giving up, I want you to remember that journey from a segregated school in Topeka all the way to the White House. (Applause.) I want you to think about folks like Lucinda Todd -- folks who, as my husband once wrote, decided that “a principle is at stake,” folks who “make their claim on this community we call America” and “choose our better history.” Every day, you have the power to choose our better history -- by opening your hearts and minds, by speaking up for what you know is right, by sharing the lessons of Brown v. Board of Education -- the lessons you all learned right here in Topeka -- wherever you go for the rest of your lives. And I know you all can do it. I am so proud of all that you’ve accomplished. This is your day. I am here because of you. And I cannot wait to see everything you will achieve in the years ahead. So congratulations, once again, to the class of 2014. I love you. Godspeed on your journey ahead. Thank you, all. God bless you. I love you. (Applause.) END 6:54 P.M. CDT WEEKLY ADDRESS: Working When Congress Won't Act
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary ______________________________________________________________________________ WEEKLY ADDRESS: Working When Congress Won’t Act WASHINGTON, DC – In this week’s address, the President discussed actions to expand opportunity for more Americans, with or without the help of Republicans in Congress, including his Administration’s efforts to cut red tape for major transportation infrastructure projects. In the coming days, the President will meet with business leaders to highlight the importance of bringing jobs back to America and will also discuss the economic benefits of making it easier for tourists to visit and spend money at attractions in the U.S., which in turn helps local businesses and grows the economy for everyone. The President has called 2014 a year of action, and he will continue to do whatever he can to continue to strengthen our economy, create jobs and restore opportunity for all. The audio of the address and video of the address will be available online at www.whitehouse.gov at 6:00 a.m. ET, Saturday, May 17, 2014. Remarks of President Barack Obama Weekly Address The White House May 17, 2014 Hi, everybody. At a time when our businesses have created 9.2 million new jobs in just over four years, and more companies are considering bringing jobs back from overseas, we have a choice to make. We can make it easier for businesses to invest in America – or we can make it harder. I want to work with Congress to create jobs and opportunity for more Americans. But where Congress won’t act, I will. And I want to talk about three things we’re doing right now. First, we’re helping more businesses bring jobs to America from overseas. Three years ago, my Administration created SelectUSA – a team of people in embassies abroad and agencies here at home focused on insourcing instead of outsourcing. Today, they’re helping a Belgian company create jobs in Oklahoma. They’re helping a Canadian company create jobs in Kansas. In my State of the Union Address, I asked more businesses to do their part. And this week, business leaders from across the country are coming here to the White House to discuss new investments that will create even more jobs. Second, on Thursday, I’ll be heading to Cooperstown, New York – home of the Baseball Hall of Fame – to talk about tourism. Because believe it or not, tourism is an export. And if we make it easier for more foreign visitors to visit and spend money at America’s attractions and unparalleled national parks, that helps local businesses and grows the economy for everyone. Finally, we know that investing in first-class infrastructure attracts first-class jobs. And I want to spend a minute on this, because it’s very important this year. We know business owners don’t seek out crumbling roads and bridges and backed-up supply chains. They set up shop where the newest, fastest transportation and communications networks let them invent and sell goods Made in America to the rest of the world as fast as possible. Here’s the problem: If Congress doesn’t act by the end of this summer, federal funding for transportation projects will run out. States might have to put some of their projects on hold. In fact, some already are, because they’re worried Congress won’t clear up its own gridlock. And if Congress fails to act, nearly 700,000 jobs would be at risk over the next year. That’s why I put forward a plan to rebuild our transportation infrastructure in a more responsible way. It would support millions of jobs across the country. And we’d pay for it without adding to the deficit by closing wasteful tax loopholes for companies that ship jobs overseas. Now, the Republicans in Congress seem to have very different priorities. Not only have they neglected to prevent this funding from running out, their proposal would actually cut by 80% a job-creating grant program that has funded high-priority transportation projects in all 50 states. And they can’t say it’s to save money, because at the very same time, they voted for trillions of dollars in new tax cuts, weighted towards those at the very top. Think about that. Instead of putting people to work on projects that would grow the economy for everyone, they voted to give a huge tax cut to households making more than $1 million a year. So while Congress decides what it’s going to do, I’ll keep doing what I can on my own. On Wednesday, I was in New York where workers are building the area’s first large new bridge in 50 years. And they’re doing it ahead of schedule. Three years ago, I took action without Congress to fast-track the permitting process for major projects. Normally, it would have taken three to five years to permit that bridge. We did it in a year and a half. And I announced a new plan to cut red tape and speed up the process for even more projects across the country. All these steps will make it easier for businesses to invest in America and create more good jobs. All of them can be done without Congress. But we could do a lot more if Congress was willing to help. In the meantime, I’ll do whatever I can – not just to make America a better place to do business, but to make sure hard work pays off, and opportunity is open to all. Thanks, and have a great weekend. Remarks by the First Lady at Roundtable Discussion with High School Students -- Topeka, Kansas
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the First Lady For Immediate Release May 16, 2014 REMARKS BY THE FIRST LADY AT ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION WITH HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS Brown V. Board of Education Historical Site Topeka, Kansas 4:22 P.M. CDT MRS. OBAMA: I thought it would be really cool to talk to – students who were here. That’s why we got to –- with all of you. One of the –- a new initiative that I started just this past month is called Reach Higher. And one of the things that I’m trying to do to support the President’s North Star goal is to make sure that the United States has the most educated workforce in the world once again –- is to really try to reach out to young people and stress the importance of finishing high school and getting an education beyond high school, whether that’s professional training, four-year college, two-year community college. It’s just going to be essential for you guys to succeed in an ever-globalizing economy, to have that kind of education. And I hear that you guys are already way into that. You’re good. You’re focused, right? MS. NILSEN: Going to college. MRS. OBAMA: That’s a good thing. But I’m really –- what helps me in these initiatives is to really hear from students like you to find out what are your hopes, how do you think about college, what do you think about life there –- and so forth. What are some of the challenges that you face? What are some of the questions you have of somebody like me who might be able to do something about something, or talk to a guy that could maybe do something about something? So I really just want to hear from you. See what’s on your minds, what’s working for you, what are you afraid of, what are some of the concerns. END 4:24 P.M. CDT Mrs. Obama landed in Topeka at 3:31 pm CT and arrived at the Brown V Board of Education National Historic Site, a two room brick schoolhouse , formerly the all-black Monroe School, at 4:09 pm . She will tour a kindergarten classroom that has recently been renovated and will speak with high schoolers who participate in a program for at risk college bound youth.
More to come... Remarks of Dr. Jill Biden at Villanova University Commencement *AS PREPARED FOR DELIVERY*
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Vice President __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 16, 2014 Remarks of Dr. Jill Biden *AS PREPARED FOR DELIVERY* Villanova University Commencement Villanova, Pennsylvania Friday, May 16, 2014 Father Donohue, thank you for that honor. Thank you, Dr. Hicks, for that very kind introduction. Good afternoon, everyone! It’s wonderful to be here at Villanova to celebrate such an important day with each one of you and your families. To my fellow teachers: congratulations on finishing another successful year. I also want to recognize members of the military who are graduating today. Thank you for your service. As Second Lady, as a lifelong educator, and as a proud Villanova graduate, it is truly my honor to be here with all of you. I’m a Philly girl. I grew up in Willow Grove straight down Broad Street. My childhood was spent crossing the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge every single weekend with my entire family. Five sisters would pile in our car – without seatbelts – and drive to South Jersey to visit my grandparents. Along the way, we would pass pretzel vendors on the street corners, but we’d never stop. We didn’t ask because we never had any extra money. My summers were spent watching the Phillies with my Dad on a black and white Philco TV. As a teenager, I waitressed at the shore. I ran the Race for the Cure, the Broad Street 10-miler, and the Philadelphia Half Marathon. I watched the Mummers Parade and spent my class field trips at the Fels Planetarium and the Betsy Ross House. I skated in the winters on the canals of Washington’s Crossing. Growing up, I knew early what I wanted in life: a marriage like my parents’, maybe kids, definitely a career. Although things didn’t necessarily happen in that order, I did get all three. But it wasn’t always easy. As I matured, I became more aware of the changes that were happening all around me. I couldn’t see it clearly at the time, but a new counter culture was emerging that would seep into America’s psyche: spurred on by Vietnam and the draft; the “feminist revolution;” the increasing use of so-called recreational drugs; greater awareness that our planet’s resources were finite; student unrest on campuses like Kent State, where I personally knew one of the students who was shot but survived; racial inequality and the struggle for civil rights, and the cruel loss of our heroes, Martin Luther King, Jr. and John Kennedy. I had to grow up, and perhaps like many of you here today, I learned that growing up takes some stepping up. During your years at Villanova, you have seen: the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan winding down; dire predictions about climate change and the effects of global warming; revolutions for democracy spurred by social media use in countries around the globe; and the continued struggle for civil rights, especially related to women’s issues and our new definition of what makes a family. So when I sat down to write this speech, I asked myself what is it that I can say that would matter? Because, quite frankly, I can’t remember one word from any of my graduations, nor can I remember the speakers. My answer? What matters is what we have in common – our compassion for one another is what binds us together. Although we each carry our own hesitancies, our own fears – we each have our own capacity to dream, hope, give, and receive in return. So I thought I’d tell you briefly three things I found that matter in life. The first lesson is one that I try to impart to my students. It’s one that I didn’t always recognize, especially when I was facing my own setbacks. And it’s this – everyone around us is struggling, and it is during those trying times when you really have to rely on your inner strength and your faith, whatever that means for you. I’ve been in the classroom teaching for more than 30 years. One day this semester, I was telling my students I would miss our next class for personal reasons. Of course, they have no filter or any sense of privacy and were shouting out, “Where are you going to be, Dr. B?” So I told them: “My sister Jan is having a stem cell transplant. That’s her first treatment and she will have to stay in the same hospital room for six weeks, and I need to be with her.” I turned to face the chalkboard because the words caught in my throat. I just needed a moment. When I turned back to face my students, the entire class was standing, lined up to give me hugs, one by one. They took my breath away. And that leads me to my second point: the power of a small act of kindness. My son Beau deployed to Iraq for a year in October 2008. That was a very tough year for our entire family. A military family goes through a lot during a deployment. For my daughter-in-law Hallie and my grandchildren, Hunter and Natalie, there were so many moments – some big and many small – when Beau’s absence cast a long shadow. Like any child, Natalie had trouble understanding why her Daddy couldn’t be with her to celebrate her fifth birthday. The holidays were difficult for our entire family because we always spent them together. We tried to keep our spirits up with our regular traditions, but the empty chair at the table was a painful reminder of Beau’s absence. What kept us going were the many people who found ways to support our family that year, through so many acts of kindness. A neighbor shoveled after a snowstorm. Friends brought meals. Our church included Beau’s name in the prayer list. At Natalie’s school, her teacher hung a photo of Beau’s unit on the wall of her classroom, so everyone would know that her daddy was at war. That meant so much to our entire family. Those small acts of kindness are a big part of why First Lady Michelle Obama and I started our Joining Forces initiative three years ago – so that all Americans would be inspired to take action on behalf of our troops and military families. I challenge all of the graduates here today to commit to their own act of kindness as we wind down the war in Afghanistan and our troops return home. I’m sure every single person in this room can think of a time when someone did something seemingly small that really made a difference for you. A stranger picked up the tab for your coffee when you forgot your wallet. A teacher said she believed in you, and pushed you a little further on a project. A friend asked how you were doing, and took the time to listen. These are pretty simple things. But they are things that can change your day. Those acts of kindness, stacked up day after day, over a lifetime, can make all the difference. I hope you understand its power and try to find a way to use it, every single day. You will be surprised by how much of a difference you can make for those around you and by how much better you will feel yourself. The third and final lesson is to have confidence in yourself and don’t let anything stand in the way of your goals. I see this over and over in my classroom at the community college where I teach: students who are facing significant challenges, but are determined to get their education, so they can build a better life for themselves. I helped one woman who was writing her scholarship essay for a four-year university. Her path had not been easy – she left an abusive relationship and was homeless, living in her car with her kids. Once she got into a homeless shelter, she was encouraged to attend a community college, where I met her as part of a women’s mentoring project. She went on to a four-year university where she is working to earn her accounting degree – with confidence that she is on the path to a better life for herself and her family. I have many students who have come to the United States from countries all around the world. Another semester I was teaching a course on refugees. One student attending the community college was one of the Lost Boys of Sudan, part of the more than 20,000 boys displaced and orphaned in the Second Sudanese Civil War. He had lost his entire family when he was only 10 years old. Everything he had known growing up was different in the United States. Yet he was persistent, doing everything he could to finish his education. He completed his associate’s degree and is now working to help other young boys find their path in the world. As Second Lady, I have seen this over and over – ordinary people, often facing extraordinary challenges, staying true to themselves to reach their dreams. Teachers who stay late, who spend their own money on classroom materials, and are always dreaming up creative lessons – who are there for their students 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Because teaching is who they are. Veterans who return home and transition out of the military who use their training to continue to serve their communities as medics, nurses, firefighters, and teachers. Young mothers in the poorest slums in the world in Africa and India who decide to stay in their villages, so they can help educate other young girls. Young women, like those in Nigeria and Pakistan, who risk their lives to receive an education – which we take for granted. The Villanova motto is “Veritas, Unitas, Caritas” – Truth, Unity, Love. These are the values you have been surrounded by here – a community dedicated to pursuing knowledge as well as a commitment to serving others. During the time I was earning my master’s degree here, I was also teaching full-time and raising three small children. I remember so clearly the hour-long drive each way a few nights a week – this was before the Blue Route – to get to classes. It was a lot at once. But I loved what I found here – the intellectual rigor of the classes, the supportive values of the community. And even though it took me 15 years to earn two master’s degrees and eventually my doctorate, I kept at it because I knew teaching was my passion. And along the way I picked up those three lessons: Everybody struggles. A little act of kindness can make a huge difference. And, it’s not easy to have the confidence to stay true to your goals. You may have to step back, dig deep, refocus, and rely on your inner strength. But, persevere. Let me end with one more thought that is reflected in all of these lessons: show your heart to the world. Pope Francis recently paraphrased St. Ignatius by saying, quote: “…Love is expressed more clearly in actions than in words.” So graduates, I hope you keep sharing your time, your skills that you learned here at Villanova, and your heart, with the rest of the world. And on behalf of President Obama, the First Lady and the Vice President – we are so proud of you. We look forward to all that is to come. Congratulations and God bless you! White House Blog Post: The President and Vice President’s 2013 Financial Disclosure Forms
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 15, 2014 White House Blog Post: The President and Vice President’s 2013 Financial Disclosure Forms To view the full blog post, click HERE Today, the President and Vice President released their 2013 financial disclosure reports. The Ethics in Government Act of 1978 requires high-level federal officials to publicly disclose their personal financial interests. The public filing system serves to prevent financial conflicts of interest by providing for a systematic review of the finances of government officials. Those finances are set forth in annual disclosures which are reviewed and certified by ethics officials. Neither the President nor the Vice President have any conflicts of interest, and their reports have been reviewed and certified by the independent Office of Government Ethics. We are continuing this Administration's practice of posting these forms online here in the interests of transparency: View the President's 2013 financial disclosure report (pdf) View the Vice President's 2013 financial disclosure report (pdf) White House staff are also completing their forms and we anticipate they will be available here next month, also in electronic form. Statement by the Press Secretary on Net Neutrality
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 15, 2014 Statement by the Press Secretary on Net Neutrality The President has made clear since he was a candidate that he strongly supports net neutrality and an open Internet. As he has said, the Internet’s incredible equality – of data, content, and access to the consumer – is what has powered extraordinary economic growth and made it possible for once-tiny sites like eBay or Amazon to compete with brick and mortar behemoths. The FCC is an independent agency, and we will carefully review their proposal. The FCC’s efforts were dealt a real challenge by the Court of Appeals in January, but Chairman Wheeler has said his goal is to preserve an open Internet, and we are pleased to see that he is keeping all options on the table. We will be watching closely as the process moves forward in hopes that the final rule stays true to the spirit of net neutrality. The President is looking at every way to protect a free and open Internet, and will consider any option that might make sense. UPCOMING GUIDANCE FOR FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the First Lady For Immediate Release May 15, 2014 UPCOMING GUIDANCE FOR FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA Friday, May 16, 2014 Topeka, KS * 4:30 PM (Central) – First Lady Michelle Obama will travel to Topeka, KS, where she will meet with high school students participating in the Wichita State University GEAR UP program as part of her Reach Higher initiative. GEAR UP is a U.S. Department of Education-funded program designed to better prepare more low-income students to enter and succeed in postsecondary education. The Kansas Kids @ GEAR UP program focuses specifically on supporting children in foster care and other limited income children. The program sets high goals to support students and their families to succeed in high school and enroll in a postsecondary institution. The First Lady’s Reach Higher initiative focuses on the importance of pursuing and completing some form of higher education, and encourages students to do their part to answer the President’s call to ensure that by the year 2020, America once again has the highest proportion of college graduates in the world. Brief remarks at the top of the roundtable will be covered by a pre-determined pool. Topeka, KS * 6:00 PM (Central) – First Lady Michelle Obama will deliver remarks at a “Senior Recognition Day” to celebrate seniors from high schools in the Topeka, KS Public School District. This event will take place the day before each high school holds their official graduation ceremony. The remarks will celebrate the achievements of the graduating class of high school seniors in Topeka, home of the landmark U.S. Supreme Court case, Brown v. Board of Education; Saturday will mark the 60th anniversary of this historic decision. The First Lady’s remarks will be livestreamed HERE. Tuesday, May 20, 2014 The White House * 2:30 PM (Eastern) – First Lady Michelle Obama and the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities (PCAH) will host the first-ever White House Talent Show. This event will feature performances by major artists and showcase the talents of students from schools participating in Turnaround Arts – a PCAH program to help turn around low-performing schools and increase student achievement through arts education. The talent show will be followed by an event where schools and arts organizations from across the country will model classroom projects that integrate the arts into Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math learning. Students participating in this event come from Findley Elementary School in Des Moines, IA; Orchard Gardens in Boston, MA; Savoy Elementary in Washington, DC; Roosevelt Elementary in Bridgeport, CT; ReNEW Cultural Arts Academy in New Orleans, LA; Lame Deer Middle School in Lame Deer, MT; Martin Luther King Jr. School in Portland, OR; and Noel Community Arts School in Denver, CO. Remarks by the President at 9/11 Museum Dedication
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary For Immediate Release May 15, 2014 REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT AT 9/11 MUSEUM DEDICATION New York, New York 10:12 A.M. EDT THE PRESIDENT: Mayor Bloomberg, Governor Cuomo, honored guests, families of the fallen. In those awful moments after the South Tower was hit, some of the injured huddled in the wreckage of the 78th floor. The fires were spreading. The air was filled with smoke. It was dark, and they could barely see. It seemed as if there was no way out. And then there came a voice -- clear, calm, saying he had found the stairs. A young man in his 20s, strong, emerged from the smoke, and over his nose and his mouth he wore a red handkerchief. He called for fire extinguishers to fight back the flames. He tended to the wounded. He led those survivors down the stairs to safety, and carried a woman on his shoulders down 17 flights. Then he went back. Back up all those flights. Then back down again, bringing more wounded to safety. Until that moment when the tower fell. They didn’t know his name. They didn’t know where he came from. But they knew their lives had been saved by the man in the red bandana. Again, Mayor Bloomberg; distinguished guests; Mayor de Blasio; Governors Christie and Cuomo; to the families and survivors of that day; to all those who responded with such courage -- on behalf of Michelle and myself and the American people, it is an honor for us to join in your memories. To remember and to reflect. But above all, to reaffirm the true spirit of 9/11 -- love, compassion, sacrifice -- and to enshrine it forever in the heart of our nation. Michelle and I just had the opportunity to join with others on a visit with some of the survivors and families -- men and women who inspire us all. And we had a chance to visit some of the exhibits. And I think all who come here will find it to be a profound and moving experience. I want to express our deep gratitude to everybody who was involved in this great undertaking -- for bringing us to this day, for giving us this sacred place of healing and of hope. Here, at this memorial, this museum, we come together. We stand in the footprints of two mighty towers, graced by the rush of eternal waters. We look into the faces of nearly 3,000 innocent souls -- men and women and children of every race, every creed, and every corner of the world. We can touch their names and hear their voices and glimpse the small items that speak to the beauty of their lives. A wedding ring. A dusty helmet. A shining badge. Here we tell their story, so that generations yet unborn will never forget. Of coworkers who led others to safety. Passengers who stormed a cockpit. Our men and women in uniform who rushed into an inferno. Our first responders who charged up those stairs. A generation of servicemembers -- our 9/11 Generation -- who have served with honor in more than a decade of war. A nation that stands tall and united and unafraid -- because no act of terror can match the strength or the character of our country. Like the great wall and bedrock that embrace us today, nothing can ever break us; nothing can change who we are as Americans. On that September morning, Alison Crowther lost her son Welles. Months later, she was reading the newspaper -- an article about those final minutes in the towers. Survivors recounted how a young man wearing a red handkerchief had led them to safety. And in that moment, Alison knew. Ever since he was a boy, her son had always carried a red handkerchief. Her son Welles was the man in the red bandana. Welles was just 24 years old, with a broad smile and a bright future. He worked in the South Tower, on the 104th floor. He had a big laugh, a joy of life, and dreams of seeing the world. He worked in finance, but he had also been a volunteer firefighter. And after the planes hit, he put on that bandana and spent his final moments saving others. Three years ago this month, after our SEALs made sure that justice was done, I came to Ground Zero. And among the families here that day was Alison Crowther. And she told me about Welles and his fearless spirit, and she showed me a handkerchief like the one he wore that morning. And today, as we saw on our tour, one of his red handkerchiefs is on display in this museum. And from this day forward, all those who come here will have a chance to know the sacrifice of a young man who -- like so many -- gave his life so others might live. Those we lost live on in us. In the families who love them still. In the friends who remember them always. And in a nation that will honor them, now and forever. And today it is my honor to introduce two women forever bound by that day, united in their determination to keep alive the true spirit of 9/11 -- Welles Crowther’s mother Alison, and one of those he saved, Ling Young. (Applause.) END 10:21 A.M. EDT UPDATES OF COLOR ADRESSING PRESIDENT OBAMA'S VISIT TO THE NEWLY OPENED 9-11 Memorial
Some color from the museum tour: The pool was brought into the underground galleries through the back stairwell. The space is large and spare, a mix of gray cement and white painted walls. We spotted a few scattered artifacts -- a section of tribute mural painted by children and an exhibit of photographs taken of first responders on 9-11. The pool observed the tour group -- Potus, Flotus, President and Sec. Clinton, Mayor Bloomberg and his partner Diana Taylor -- at two locations on the tour. First, we were led into square gallery covered with small photographs --arranged in a massive grid -- of people who died in the attack. We briefly watch the group, looking solemn, inspect the photos. They said very little to each other. At one point, Bloomberg appeared to be telling the president about how families sent the photos to the museum. The pool was not close enough to hear details. President Clinton listened in briefly, but then walked a few step away and looked at the photos on his own. A few minutes later the pool watched the group walk through a large, vaulted hallway, past a wall with a quote from Virgil: "No day shall erase you from the memory of time." Potus and Bloomberg walked ahead alone. Bloomberg was doing most of the talking, while Potus nodded. Sec. Clinton, Flotus and Taylor walked behind, with President Clinton a step behind them. Bloomberg and Potus paused to look at one of the artifacts -- a mangled, almost skeletal fire truck damaged in the collapse. The men stood and talked quietly for a few minutes. Pool could not hear the conversation. Pool was then led away to the ceremony, which is open press. Remarks coming soon. <> the museum tour: The pool was brought into the underground galleries through the back stairwell. The space is large and spare, a mix of gray cement and white painted walls. We spotted a few scattered artifacts -- a section of tribute mural painted by children and an exhibit of photographs taken of first responders on 9-11. The pool observed the tour group -- Potus, Flotus, President and Sec. Clinton, Mayor Bloomberg and his partner Diana Taylor -- at two locations on the tour. First, we were led into square gallery covered with small photographs --arranged in a massive grid -- of people who died in the attack. We briefly watch the group, looking solemn, inspect the photos. They said very little to each other. At one point, Bloomberg appeared to be telling the president about how families sent the photos to the museum. The pool was not close enough to hear details. President Clinton listened in briefly, but then walked a few step away and looked at the photos on his own. A few minutes later the pool watched the group walk through a large, vaulted hallway, past a wall with a quote from Virgil: "No day shall erase you from the memory of time." Potus and Bloomberg walked ahead alone. Bloomberg was doing most of the talking, while Potus nodded. Sec. Clinton, Flotus and Taylor walked behind, with President Clinton a step behind them. Bloomberg and Potus paused to look at one of the artifacts -- a mangled, almost skeletal fire truck damaged in the collapse. The men stood and talked quietly for a few minutes. Pool could not hear the conversation. Pool was then led away to the ceremony, which is open press. Remarks coming soon. <> Potus spoke at a podium set up in Foundation Hall. He was facing a crowd seated around the Last Column, the 36-foot piece of structural steel that was the last removed from the site in May 2002. The rusted column is covered with sprayed painted numbers, inscriptions and missing posters. Potus was scheduled to speak for fewer than 5 min. He spoke for almost 10 min. After his remarks, he stayed to listen to Ling Young and Alison Crowther, the mother of Welles Crowther. (The man Potus paid tribute to in his remarks) When they finished, Potus and pool left as a video tribute went up. At 10:30, we are rolling to JFK. Attention NYC drivers: Potus is driving to the airport. Too much fog for the helicopters. DAILY GUIDANCE AND PRESS SCHEDULE FOR THURSDAY, MAY 15, 2014
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 14, 2014 DAILY GUIDANCE AND PRESS SCHEDULE FOR THURSDAY, MAY 15, 2014 In the morning, the President and the First Lady will tour the National September 11 Memorial & Museum. Following this tour, the President will deliver remarks at a dedication ceremony. The tour will be covered by the travel pool, and the President’s remarks will be pooled for cameras and open to limited correspondents In the afternoon, the President and First Lady will depart New York City en route Washington, DC. The departure from John F. Kennedy International Airport and the arrival on the South Lawn are open press. Remarks by the President on Building a 21st Century Infrastructure
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary For Immediate Release May 14, 2014 REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT ON BUILDING A 21ST CENTURY INFRASTRUCTURE Washington Irving Boat Club Tarrytown, New York 3:37 P.M. EDT THE PRESIDENT: Hello, New York! (Applause.) It turned out to be a beautiful day. Well, it’s wonderful to be here with all of you. Take a seat, take a seat. Relax. First of all, I want to thank Governor Cuomo for that great introduction and the great job he’s doing. I want to thank Mayor Fixell for having me in Tarrytown. (Applause.) Where’s the Mayor? Where’d he go? There he is, right there. This is a gorgeous part of the world and I am lucky to be here, and I’m going to be coming back soon; in two weeks, I’ve got the honor of delivering the commencement at West Point just a little bit further up. But today, I’m here, along with our Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx -- (applause) -- to talk about one of the best ways to create new jobs and spur our economy, and that is to rebuild America’s infrastructure. It’s been about five and a half years since the financial crisis that rocked Wall Street and then ultimately spread to Main Street. Thanks to the grit, the determination of the American people, we’ve been steadily fighting our way back. In just four years, our businesses have now created 9.2 million new jobs. Auto industry that was flatlining is now booming. A manufacturing sector that had lost a third of its jobs back in the ‘90s is adding jobs for the first time. Troops that were fighting two wars, they’re either home or coming home. Rather than creating jobs in other countries, more and more companies are recognizing it makes good business sense to locate right here in the United States of America with outstanding American workers. (Applause.) So we’ve made progress, but here’s the thing: We could be doing a lot more. We could make the decision easier for businesses to locate here in the United States, here in New York state, if we do a better job rebuilding our roads, rebuilding our bridges, upgrading our ports, unclogging commute times. The alternative is to do nothing and watch businesses go to places that have outstanding infrastructure. And behind me is the old Tappan Zee Bridge, the longest bridge in New York and one of the busiest bridges around. As any commuter will tell you, it is crowded. (Laughter.) It carries a lot more traffic than when it was built back in 1955. At times, you can see the river through the cracks in the pavement. Now, I’m not an engineer, but I figure that’s not good. (Laughter.) But right now, thanks to the efforts of Governor Cuomo, thanks to your outstanding congressional delegation led by Nita Lowey and including Eliot Engel, and Sean Patrick Maloney, and Jerry Nadler, all of whom are here today -- stand up, congressional delegation. We’re proud of you. (Applause.) Thanks to their outstanding efforts, workers are building a replacement -- the first new bridge in New York in 50 years. It’s called The “New” New York Bridge -- which is fine as a name, but for your next bridge you should come up with something a little more fresh. (Laughter.) Now, here’s the thing -- this never happens -- you are building this bridge ahead of schedule. Three years ago, after Republicans in Congress refused to pass multiple bills that would have put construction workers back to work, I took action on my own to fast-track the permitting process for major projects like this one. Normally, it would have taken three to five years to permit this bridge; we did it in a year and a half -- in a year and a half. (Applause.) That meant we were creating thousands of jobs faster while doing right by workers and tending to the environment. And the Vice President is in Cleveland today at another project that we fast-tracked -- a rapid-transit station that will make life easier for a lot of residents there. So today, we’re releasing a new plan to apply the same strategy to other major projects all across America. We’re announcing 11 more projects to accelerate, to get moving faster -- from Boston’s South Station, to Pensacola Bay Bridge, to new light-rail projects north and south of Seattle. We’re cutting bureaucratic red tape that stalls good projects from breaking ground. We’re launching a new national permitting center to implement these reforms. We are aiming to put every major infrastructure project on a public dashboard so everybody can go online; track our progress; hold us accountable; make sure things are coming in on time, on budget; make sure your taxpayer money is being used well, but also make sure that we’re putting folks back to work rebuilding America. That’s our goal. (Applause.) Now, all these steps we can do without Congress. And all these steps mean more good jobs -- because nobody was hurt worse than construction workers by the financial crisis. The housing market plummeted, and a lot of guys in hard hats and a lot of gals in hard hats, suddenly they were off the job. And that’s why the Recovery Act back in 2009, 2010 included the most important public works jobs program since the New Deal, jumpstarting more than 15,000 construction projects around the country. Over the past five years, American workers have repaired or replaced more than 20,000 bridges, improved more than 350,000 miles of American roads. Four years ago, when we were just starting to clear away the damage from the financial crisis, the unemployment rate for construction workers stood at 20 percent -- in fact, it was over 20 percent. Today, we’ve cut it by more than half. But we can do better. We can build better -- and we have to. We’ve got ports that aren’t ready for the next generation of cargo ships. We’ve got more than 100,000 bridges that are old enough to qualify for Medicare. (Laughter.) We’ve got leaky pipes that lose billions of gallons of drinking water every single day, even as we’ve got a severe drought in much of the West. Nearly half our people don’t have access to transit at all. And I don’t have to tell you what some of our airports look like. Building a world-class transportation system is one of the reasons America became an economic superpower in the first place. But over the past 50 years, as a share of our economy, our investment in transportation has shrunk by 50 percent. Think about that. Our investment in transportation has been cut by half. You know what other countries are doing? European countries now invest twice as much as we do. China invests four times as much as we do in transportation. One study recently found that over time, we’ve fallen to 19th place when it comes to the quality of our infrastructure -- 19th place. I don’t know about you, but I don’t like America being 19th. I don’t like America being second. I want us to be first when it comes to infrastructure around the world, because businesses are going to come where there’s good infrastructure to move businesses, move people, move services. (Applause.) We shouldn’t watch the top-rated airports and seaports or the fastest rail lines or fastest Internet networks get built somewhere else -- they need to be built right here in New York, right here in the United States. First-class infrastructure attracts first-class jobs. Business owners don’t want a crumbling road or a bridge because then they can’t move out their stuff, and their workers aren’t as productive because it’s harder for them to get to work. They want to set up shop where there’s high-speed rail and high-speed broadband, high-tech schools, self-healing power grids, new ports, tunnels. That allows them, when they make goods here in America, to move those goods out and sell them all around the world. Now, unfortunately, helping states and cities fund infrastructure is one of Congress’s chief responsibilities. And you’ve got some outstanding members here, but let me just talk a little bit about Congress right now. If they don’t act by the end of the summer, federal funding for transportation projects will run out -- will run out. There will be no money. The cupboard will be bare. And all told, nearly 700,000 jobs would be at risk over the next year -- that’s like the population of Tampa and St. Louis combined. Right now, there are more than 100,000 active projects paving roads and rebuilding bridges, modernizing our transit systems. States might have to choose which ones to put the brake on. Some states are already starting to slow down work because they’re worried Congress won’t untangle the gridlock on time. And that’s something you should remember every time you see a story about a construction project stopped, or machines idled, or workers laid off their jobs. And that’s why, earlier this year, in addition to fast-tracking projects, working with Secretary Foxx, I put forward a plan to rebuild our transportation infrastructure in a more responsible way. It would support millions of jobs across America. It would give cities and states and private investors the certainty they need to plan ahead and invest. And it wouldn’t add to our deficits because we’d pay for it in part by closing wasteful tax loopholes for companies that are shipping jobs overseas that are in the tax code right now and that we could clean out and help pay to put folks back to work rebuilding America. (Applause.) Now, so far, at least, Republicans who run this Congress seem to have a different priority. Not only have they prevented so far efforts to make sure funding is still in place for what we’ve already got, but their proposal would actually cut job-creating grant programs that have funded high-priority transportation projects in all 50 states. They’d cut them by about 80 percent. And they can’t say it’s to save money, because at the very same time, they voted for trillions of dollars in new tax cuts, weighted towards folks at the very top. So think about that for a second. Instead of putting more workers back on the job, they’d put those workers’ jobs at risk. Instead of breaking ground on new projects that would improve the quality of life for millions of people, they voted to give a massive tax cut to households making more than $1 million a year. Instead of making investments that grow our economy by growing the middle class, they’re still convinced that prosperity trickles down from the very top. If you want to tell them what you think about that, don’t worry, because usually they show up at ribbon-cuttings -- (laughter) -- for projects that they refused to fund. And here is the sad part: Rebuilding America, that shouldn’t be a partisan issue. My favorite President happens to have been a Republican -- a guy named Abraham Lincoln in my home state of Illinois. And it was Lincoln who committed to a railroad connecting East to West, even while he was struggling mightily to hold together North and South. It was a Republican, Dwight Eisenhower, who built the Interstate Highway System. It was Ronald Reagan who said that rebuilding our infrastructure is “an investment in tomorrow that we must make today.” Since when are the Republicans in Congress against Ronald Reagan? (Laughter.) But that’s part of the problem -- we’ve gotten so partisan, everything is becoming political. They’re more interested in saying no because they’re worried that maybe they’d have to be at a bill signing with me than they are at actually doing the job that they know would be good for America. It’s time for folks to stop running around saying what’s wrong with America; roll up your sleeves and let’s get to work and help America rebuild. That’s what we should be doing. (Applause.) We don’t need a “can’t do” spirit; we need a “can do” spirit. That’s what Governor Cuomo has, and it sounds like the state legislature was willing to work with him on this. Well, we need Congress to work with us on these issues. It doesn’t mean they’re going to agree with us on everything. I guarantee you they will have more than enough to disagree with me about, but let’s not fight on something we all know makes sense. After all, we’re the people who, in the depths of the Depression, lifted a great bridge in California, and laid a great dam down in the Southwest, and lifted up rural America. We shrank a sprawling continent when we pounded in that final railroad spike, connected up this amazing country of ours; stretched a network of highways all across America from coast to coast. And then we connected the world with our imaginations and the Internet. A great nation does these things. A great nation doesn’t say “no, we can’t,” it says “yes, we can.” (Applause.) So the bottom line, Tarrytown, is America doesn’t stand still. There is work to be done. There are workers ready to do it, and some of them are here and they’re already on the job doing the work. We’re proud of them. (Applause.) There are people all across this country that are ready and eager to move this country forward. So I’m going to keep on fighting alongside all of you to make sure that we’re doing everything we can to rebuild America -- not just rebuild one bridge, but I want us to rebuild every bridge. I don’t want us to just rebuild one school, I want us to rebuild every school that needs help. (Applause.) I want us to most of all, most importantly, rebuild an economy where hard work is valued and responsibility is respected and rewarded, and where opportunity is available not just to some, but to every single hardworking American. That’s what I’m fighting for, and I know that’s what you care about. Thank you very much, everybody. Good job, workers. I look forward to seeing this bridge. Thank you very much. God bless you. God bless America. Thank you. (Applause.) END 3:54 P.M. EDT White House Honors “Champions of Change” for Transportation
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of Communications FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 12, 2014 White House Honors “Champions of Change” for Transportation WASHINGTON, DC – Tomorrow, the White House will honor eleven local heroes who are “Champions of Change” for their exemplary leadership to ensure that transportation facilities, services, and jobs help individuals and their communities connect to 21st century opportunities. These individuals are leading the charge across the country building connectivity, strengthening transportation career pathways, and making connections between transportation and economic growth. Across the Federal government, the Administration has been dedicated to providing “ladders of opportunity” for all Americans, by investing in connecting communities to centers of employment, education, and services, and is calling for greater emphasis on those initiatives supporting this outcome. Recent research has found that social mobility varies by geography, and poor transportation access is a factor preventing lower income Americans from gaining higher income levels than their parents. Transportation plays a critical role in connecting Americans and communities to economic opportunity through connectivity, job creation, and economic growth. Recognizing social mobility as a defining trait of America’s promise, access to reliable, safe, and affordable transportation is critical. The Champions of Change program was created as an opportunity for the White House to feature individuals doing extraordinary things to empower and inspire members of their communities. The event is closed to press but will be live streamed on the White House website. To watch this event live, visit www.whitehouse.gov/live at 10:00 am EST on May 13, 2014. To learn more about the White House Champions of Change program, visit www.whitehouse.gov/champions. Josh Baker, General Manager, Radford Transit, New River Valley Community Services Blacksburg, VA Josh is the leader of a major investment in the development of a brand new Public Transit system in the City of Radford, Virginia. He pioneered the concept and worked with community leaders, local university administration, state officials and the Federal Transit Administration to garner support for a much needed community service. Josh dedicated his work and time over the course of three years to help make the new service a reality. It’s the first time in over 30 years there has been any transit available to the City of Radford, and it was badly needed. Radford Transit has grown rapidly providing over 325,000 passenger trips annually, even providing transfer connections throughout the entire region. Now residents can move effortlessly and reach their destinations within and between the communities of Radford, Pulaski County, Montgomery County and the Towns of Blacksburg and Christiansburg. Dr. Evelyn Blumenberg, Professor and Chair of Urban Planning, UCLA’s Luskin School of Public Affairs Los Angeles, CA Professor Evelyn Blumenberg’s research examines the effects of urban structure—the spatial location of residents, employment, and services—on economic outcomes for low-wage workers, and on the role of planning and policy in shaping the spatial structure of cities. Evelyn has investigated the travel behavior of special population groups including low-income adults, immigrants, and youth; the effects of the economy on the travel behavior and transportation assets in low-income communities; and the relationship between residential location, automobile ownership, and employment outcomes among the poor. Evelyn is recommended for Ladders of Opportunity because her current research examines (1) travel behavior of low-income adults; (2) the transportation expenditure burden; and (3) the relationship between transportation and the economic outcomes of low-income families. Dan Burden, Director of Innovation and Inspiration, Walkable and Livable Communities Institute Port Townsend, WA Dan Burden is the Director of Innovation and Inspiration for the nonprofit Walkable and Livable Communities Institute. For more than 35 years he has worked to inspire leaders in 3500 cities on ways to design cities for people first; still accommodating the auto. His work helps define the future of transportation; and is now celebrated with thousands of new innovations giving full support to walking, bicycling, transit, and living in place; driving less, enjoying life more. Dan has proven his ability to energize leaders of towns and cities to help them frame and focus on their assets, get beyond their barriers, raise the bar in design of place. He has an ability to help them focus on their values and become believers in their future, achieving their hopes and dreams, and once momentum is gained, expand to the rebuilding of their entire community. Anthony Chiarello, President and CEO, TOTE Princeton, NJ Anthony has led TOTE to build the first liquefied natural gas (LNG) powered container ships in the world; TOTE is the first maritime company in the U.S. to convert its entire fleet to natural gas. As a result of his vision and leadership, natural gas suppliers are now creating distribution networks in major U.S. ports, making gas available to all transportation modes in those markets. Natural gas powered ships will achieve emissions reductions far below even the world’s most stringent regulatory standards. These emissions reductions will have long-lasting and far-reaching positive effects on the health and safety of citizens along the U.S. coastline, particularly in Washington, Alaska, Florida, and Puerto Rico where TOTE ships are part of the critical domestic supply chain. As the adoption of natural gas fuel spreads, air emissions will be lowered along the coastline as part of the North American Emissions Control Area, and additional environmental benefits will accrue in ports, on roads, and rail lines. Greer Gillis, Area Manager of Parsons Brinckerhoff Washington, DC Greer Gillis is the Washington, D.C. Area Manager of Parsons Brinckerhoff, where she oversees transportation services staff in managing various infrastructure, planning, and design projects as well as leading client relations management, business development, and financial oversight for activities in the metropolitan Washington DC area. She is the Vice President of the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO) Washington, DC chapter and serves as National Chair of its “Celebrating Women Who Move the Nation” Awards Committee. She is also a past President of the Women’s Transportation Seminar International’s Washington, D.C. Chapter. Throughout her career, she has served as a role model and advocate for building a diverse transportation workforce. Marilyn Golden, Senior Policy Analyst, Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund Berkeley, CA For over 25 years, Marilyn Golden has led national system-change efforts that broaden the rights of people with disabilities to transportation. Marilyn has played a key role in federal policy development in the interconnected areas of transportation and architectural barriers. She has been a strong advocate for the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) throughout all the stages of its proposal, passage, and implementation, as well as a forceful watchdog through its many stages of regulatory interpretation and the regular challenges to its strong mandates. Her advocacy has been focused on a broad range of transportation issues—including fixed route buses, all forms of passenger rail systems, ADA complementary paratransit, privately-funded over-the-road buses, taxis, airport shuttles, as well as air travel. As a national transportation advocate, she has led the struggle for many of the policy victories during and since the ADA to provide better public transportation for people with disabilities. Marilyn served on the U.S. Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board from 1996-2005 as a very strong and effective advocate for the interests of people with disabilities. Daphne Izer, Founder, Parents Against Tired Truckers (PATT) Lisbon, ME Daphne Izer founded the nonprofit safety organization Parents Against Tired Truckers (PATT) after losing her son Jeff in a fatigue related truck crash that killed three other teenagers and seriously injured a fourth. Daphne has worked tirelessly to advance truck safety in order to help prevent other families from suffering a similar, devastating loss. PATT has focused its efforts on reducing truck driver fatigue, seeking a requirement for the use of technology to accurately record truck driver hours behind the wheel and reduce falsification of driving logs, and to promoting safe trucking. Recently, PATT took another step toward realizing its goal of requiring electronic logging devices (ELDs) in commercial trucks when the FMCSA released the NPRM for the ELD rule. This May, as PATT marks its twentieth anniversary, Daphne is recognized for her instrumental work in bringing attention to the urgent need for change in truck safety policy and programs, with a focus on reducing truck driver fatigue. Flavio Leo, Deputy Director, Aviation Planning and Strategy, Massachusetts Port Authority Newton, MA Flavio has played a key role applying innovative transportation technology to enhance airport safety, security and equitable access at MassPort Airport in Boston. This includes the implementation of aircraft related noise mitigation strategies for the surrounding urban communities and the greater Boston region , leading to an enhanced quality of life. Through his leadership, transparency and enhanced public participation, he has established a relationship with over 30 diverse communities, which have had a long history of engagement with Massport and the FAA. He has been the leader and “face of Massport” on an innovative program to address airport noise and other safety and technology improvements, which can be applied nationwide. Flavio was selected for his leadership and coordination for the implementation of a set of noise reduction strategies created with extensive community participation and implemented that will reduce aircraft noise impacts to the greater Boston area including to nearby disadvantaged communities. Susan Park Rani, President, Rani Engineering Minneapolis, MN Susan Park Rani is an inspiration and a role model for women, minorities, immigrants, and virtually anyone with a desire to pursue the American Dream and start their own business. As a leader in the transportation field, she has demonstrated that opportunities in this industry are widespread and growing—and open to all who wish to acquire the necessary skills and participate. Rani, born in South Korea, moved with her family to the United States as a child, speaking no English. She ultimately obtained a degree in civil engineering, and in 1993, at the age of 34, founded one of the first woman-and-minority-owned engineering firms in Minnesota where she grew up, with just two employees. Over the years, the company has been involved in a number of high-profile transportation projects, and today, Rani Engineering employs 50 people, the company grosses over $5 million a year, and anticipates doubling in size within the next five years. In 2012, Rani Engineering was named the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Contractor of the Year by the Minnesota Department of Transportation. Big John Smith, Transportation Director, Shoshone and Arapaho Tribes, Joint Business Council Fort Washakie, WY For the past 25 years, “Big John Smith” has served as the Transportation Director for the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho tribes’ Joint Business Council on the Wind River Indian Reservation in central Wyoming. Big John is also the Rocky Mountain Regional Representative on the Tribal Transportation Committee, and the Executive Director of the Intertribal Transportation Association. Big John has succeeded in improving the reservation’s transportation infrastructure (highways and bridges), has led the effort to dramatically cut alcohol-involved crashes and fatalities on the Wind River Reservation. He has worked with tribal leaders to toughen tribal laws to enhance seat belt compliance, and has led the effort to use positive messaging to educate drivers of all ages about the dangers of drinking and driving. His love for the people of Wind River has been instrumental in building relationships with tribal, local, county, state and federal partners to save lives. Wanda Vazquez, Regional Traffic Safety Liaison, Rincon Family Services Chicago, IL Wanda Vazquez has been an active mentor and trainer for Hispanic advocates in the Chicago area helping them become certified child passenger safety technicians. As a motivational instructor, she teaches students how to correctly install car seats and help families understand the importance of safe transportation for their children. Once the training is completed, the students become nationally certified and are able to staff car seat inspection stations or participate in community events. Statistics show that Hispanic children are at a greater risk than non-Hispanic children for injuries and death in traffic crashes because their restraint use is low. Often times this is because their parents are from home countries where car seat use is not the norm. By training Hispanic advocates on how to correctly install car seats and the value of occupant protection, they can in turn go into the Hispanic community where they are welcomed and are able to teach families the importance of keeping their children and themselves safety secured whenever they travel. Ms. Vazquez also served as the Diversity Representative on the National Child Passenger Safety Board and was instrumental in translating materials into Spanish and ensuring that the concerns of the Hispanic community were heard. Wanda is a recommended Champion for her active role as a mentor and trainer for Hispanic advocates in the Chicago. Remarks of First Lady Michelle Obama – As Prepared for Delivery
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the First Lady May 16, 2014 Remarks of First Lady Michelle Obama Topeka Senior Appreciation Day Topeka, KS May 16th, 2014 As Prepared for Delivery – It is such a pleasure and an honor to be here tonight to celebrate the class of 2014 – thank you all so much for having me. We’ve got students from Highland Park High School here tonight! We’ve got Hope Street Academy! We’ve got Topeka High School! And we’ve got Topeka West High School! Tomorrow will be a big day for all of you. You all have worked so hard and come so far, and as you walk across that stage tomorrow to get your diploma, know that I will be thinking of you all. And I am so proud of all that you’ve achieved thus far. And you’ve got so many other people who are so proud of you here tonight – your families, your teachers and counselors, your principals, your coaches, everyone who has poured their love and hope into you for so many years. So let’s take a moment to give them a round of applause. Tonight is their night too. Now, I want to start tonight by thanking Lauren for that wonderful introduction. I also want to thank Secretary Sebelius – my husband and I are so grateful for her service, and I’m so glad she and her family could join us tonight. And of course, I want to recognize Congresswoman Jenkins, Governor Brownback, and Mayor Wolgast, as well as Superintendent Ford, School Board President Johnson, and Principals Carton, New, Noll and Wiley. And finally, to our fantastic student speakers – Alisha, Rosemary and Noah – thank you so much for your remarks about Brown vs. Board of Education – past, present and future. I think it’s fitting that we’re celebrating this historic Supreme Court case tonight, not just because Brown started right here in Topeka or because Brown’s 60th anniversary is tomorrow, but because I believe that all of you – our soon-to-be-graduates – you all are the living, breathing legacy of this case. Just look around this arena. Look at all the colors, cultures and faiths represented here tonight. You come from all walks of life, and you’ve taken so many different paths to reach this moment. Maybe your ancestors have been here in Kansas for centuries. Or maybe they came to this country in chains, like mine. Or maybe your family just arrived here in search of a better life. But no matter how you got here, you have arrived at this day together. For so many years, you’ve all studied together in the same classrooms, you’ve played on the same sports teams, attended the same parties. You’ve debated each other’s ideas, hearing every possible opinion and perspective. You’ve heard each other’s languages in the hallways – English, Spanish and others, all mixed together in a uniquely American conversation. You’ve celebrated each other’s holidays and heritages. In fact, at one of your schools, so many students who aren’t black wanted to join the black students club, so they decided to call it the African American Culture Club so everyone would feel welcome. So graduates, it is clear that some of the most important parts of your education have come not just from your classes but from your classmates. And ultimately, that was the hope and dream of Brown. That’s why we’re celebrating here tonight because the fact is that your experience here in Topeka would have been unimaginable back in 1954, when Brown v. Board of Education went to the Supreme Court. As you all know, back then, Topeka was a segregated city, so black folks and white folks had separate restaurants, separate hotels, separate movie theaters and swimming pools, and the elementary schools were segregated too. So even though many black children lived just blocks away from the white schools in their neighborhoods, they had to take long bus rides to all-black schools across town. Eventually, a group of black parents got tired of this arrangement, and they decided to do something about it. Now, these were ordinary folks, most of them were not civil rights activists, and some of them were probably nervous about speaking up, worried they might cause trouble for themselves and their families. And the truth is, while the black schools were far away, the facilities were pretty decent, and the teachers were excellent. But eventually, these parents went to court to desegregate their children’s schools because as one of the children later explained, and these are her words: “We were talking about the principle of the thing.” Now, think about that for a minute, those folks had to go all the way to the Supreme Court of the United States just to affirm the principle that black kids and white kids should be able to attend school together. Today, 60 years later, that probably seems crazy to all of you in this graduating class. You all take the diversity you’re surrounded by for granted – you probably don’t even notice it. And that’s understandable, given the country you have grown up in: with a woman Governor, a Latina Supreme Court Justice, a black President. You’ve seen Latino singers win Grammys and black coaches win the Super Bowl. You’ve watched TV shows with characters of every background, and when you see a show like The Walking Dead, you don’t think it’s about a black woman, a black guy, an Asian-American guy, a gay couple, and some white people – you think it’s about a bunch of folks trying to escape some zombies, end of story. And when some folks got all worked up about a cereal commercial with an interracial family, you all were probably thinking, “Really, what’s the problem with that?” When folks made a big deal about Jason Collins and Michael Sam coming out as gay a lot of kids in your generation thought, “So what? What’s the issue here?” And if someone were to say something racist on Twitter, well, I imagine many of you would tweet right back, letting them know that’s just not cool. You see, when you grow up in a place like Topeka where diversity is all you’ve ever known, the old prejudices just don’t make any sense. It seems crazy to think that folks of the same race or ethnicity all think or act the same way, because you actually know those folks. They’re your teammate, your lab partner, your best friend. They’re the girl who’s obsessed with the Jayhawks and loves computer programming, the guy who loves the Wildcats and dreams of being an artist. But remember, not everyone has grown up in a place like Topeka. You see, many districts in this country have actually pulled back on efforts to integrate their schools and many communities have become less diverse as folks have moved from cities to suburbs. So today, by some measures, our schools are as segregated as they were back when Dr. King gave his final speech. As a result, many young people in America are going to school largely with kids who look just like them. And too often, those schools aren’t equal, especially ones attended by students of color which too often lag behind, with crumbling classrooms and less experienced teachers. And even in schools that seem integrated according to the numbers, when you look a little closer, you see students from different backgrounds sitting at separate lunch tables, or tracked into different classes, or separated into different clubs or activities. So while students attend school in the same building, they never really reach beyond their own circles, and that probably happens here in Topeka too sometimes. And these issues go well beyond the walls of our schools. We know that today in America, too many folks are still stopped on the street because of the color of their skin, or they’re made to feel unwelcome because of where they’re from, or they’re bullied because of who they love. So graduates, the truth is that Brown vs. Board of Education isn’t just about our history, it’s about our future. Because while that case was handed down 60 years ago, Brown is still being decided every single day – not just in our courts and schools, but in how we live our lives. Our laws may no longer separate us based on our skin color, but there’s nothing in our Constitution that says we have to eat together in the lunchroom or live together in the same neighborhoods. There’s no court case against believing in stereotypes or thinking that certain kinds of hateful jokes or comments are funny. So the answers to many of our challenges today can’t necessarily be found in our laws – these changes also need to take place in our hearts and in our minds. And graduates, it’s up to all of you to lead the way and drag my generation and your grandparents’ generation along with you. And that’s really my challenge to all of you today – when you encounter folks who still hold the old prejudices because they’ve only been around folks like themselves, when you meet folks who think they know all the answers because they’ve never heard any other viewpoints, it is up to you to help them see things differently. And the good news is that you probably won’t have to bring a lawsuit or go all the way to the Supreme Court. You all can make a difference every day in your own lives simply by teaching others the lessons you’ve learned here in Topeka. Maybe that starts in your own family, when grandpa tells that awkward joke at Thanksgiving or your aunt says something about “those people,” and you politely inform them that they’re talking about your friends. Or maybe it’s when you go off to college and you decide to join a sorority or fraternity, and you ask “How can we get more diversity in our next pledge class?” Or maybe it’s years from now, when you’re at work, and you’re the one who asks, “Do we really have all the voices and viewpoints we need at this table?” Or maybe it’s when you have kids of your own one day, and you go to your school board meeting and insist on integrating your schools and giving them the resources they need. No matter what you do, the point is to never be afraid to talk about these issues, particularly the issue of race, because even today, we still struggle to do that. This issue is so sensitive, so complicated, so bound up with a painful history. And we need your generation to help us break through – we need all of you to ask the hard questions and have the honest conversations because that is the only way we will heal the wounds of the past and move forward to a better future. And the stakes here simply couldn’t be higher, because as a nation, we have some serious challenges on our plate – from creating jobs, to curing diseases, to giving every child in this country a good education. And who knows where the next new breakthrough – the next big discovery – will come from? Maybe the solution for global warming will come from that girl whose parents don’t speak a word of English, but who’s been acing her science classes since kindergarten. Maybe the answer to poverty will come from that boy from the projects who understands this issue like no one else. So we need to bring everyone to the table, we need every voice in our national conversation. So graduates, that is your mission: to make sure all those voices are heard, to make sure everyone in this country has a chance to contribute. Now, I’m not going to lie to you, this won’t be easy. You might have to ruffle a few feathers and folks might not always like what you have to say. And there will be times when you’ll get frustrated or discouraged. But whenever I start to feel that way, I like to take a step back and remind myself of all the progress I’ve seen in my short lifetime. I think about my mother who, as a little girl, went to segregated schools in Chicago and felt the sting of discrimination. I think about my husband’s grandparents, white folks born and raised right here in Kansas – products themselves of segregation. Good, honest people who helped raise their bi-racial grandson, ignoring those who would criticize that child’s very existence. And then I think about how that child grew up to be the President of the United States, and how today, that little girl from Chicago is helping to raise her granddaughters in the White House. And finally, I think about the story of a woman named Lucinda Todd who was the very first parent to sign on to Brown vs. Board of Education. Her daughter, Nancy, went to one of the all-black schools here in Topeka, and Mrs. Todd traveled across this state raising money for the case, determined to give her daughter – and all our sons and daughters – the education they deserve. And today, six decades later, Mrs. Todd’s grandniece, a young woman named Kristen Jarvis, works as my right-hand woman in the White House, in fact, she’s here with me today. So if you ever start to get tired, if you ever think about giving up, I want you to remember that journey from a segregated school in Topeka all the way to the White House. I want you to think about folks like Lucinda Todd, folks who, as my husband once wrote, “decide that a principle is at stake,” folks who “make their claim on this community we call America” and “choose our better history.” Every day, you have that same power to choose our better history – by opening your hearts and minds, by speaking up for what you know is right, by sharing the lessons of Brown v. Board of Education, the lessons you learned right here in Topeka, wherever you go for the rest of your lives. I know you all can do it. I am so proud of all of you, and I cannot wait to see everything you achieve in the years ahead. So congratulations once again to the class of 2014, and Godspeed on the journey ahead. Thank you, and God bless. DAILY GUIDANCE AND PRESS SCHEDULE FOR WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 2014
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 13, 2014 DAILY GUIDANCE AND PRESS SCHEDULE FOR WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 2014 In the morning, the President and Vice President will receive the Presidential Daily Briefing in the Oval Office. This meeting is closed press. In the afternoon, the President and First Lady will travel to New York City. The departure from the South Lawn and arrival at John F. Kennedy International Airport are open press. Upon arrival, the President will travel to Tarrytown, New York where the President will deliver remarks on the need for a 21st Century Transportation Infrastructure. The President’s remarks near the Tappan Zee Bridge will be open press and streamed live on www.whitehouse.gov/live. Following these remarks, the President will attend two events, one for the DNC and another for the DSCC. The DNC event is closed press, and the DSCC event will be print pool coverage for remarks only. The President and First Lady will remain overnight in New York City. Statement by the President on National Small Business Week
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 12, 2014 Statement by the President on National Small Business Week Today marks the beginning of National Small Business Week, a time to highlight the crucial role that America’s small businesses play in our economy. Employing millions of Americans and creating nearly two out of three new jobs, America’s small businesses are the backbone of our economy. More than that, our small businesses represent what is best about America – that with hard work and ingenuity, anyone – no matter their background – can build a better future for themselves and their families. That’s why we have cut taxes for small businesses 18 times and we remain committed to simplifying the tax code for small businesses. Additionally, the Small Business Administration continues to support hundreds of thousands of businesses through loans all across the nation. But there’s more work to do, and my administration will continue to do everything we can to help our businesses grow and succeed, including taking steps to invest in our infrastructure, support access to credit to more small businesses and reform our immigration system. During National Small Business Week, we renew our commitment to helping our businesses hire more workers, sell more products and continue to grow the foundation of our American economy. The First Lady Marks Mother’s Day and Speaks Out on the Tragic Kidnapping in Nigeria
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary EMBARGOED UNTIL 6:00 AM ET, SATURDAY, May 10, 2014 WEEKLY ADDRESS: The First Lady Marks Mother’s Day and Speaks Out on the Tragic Kidnapping in Nigeria WASHINGTON, DC – In this week’s address, First Lady Michelle Obama honored all mothers on this upcoming Mother’s Day and offered her thoughts, prayers and support in the wake of the unconscionable terrorist kidnapping of more than 200 Nigerian girls. The audio of the address and video of the address will be available online at www.whitehouse.gov at 6:00 a.m. ET, Saturday, May 10, 2014. Remarks of First Lady Michelle Obama Weekly Address May 10, 2014 Hello everyone, I’m Michelle Obama, and on this Mother’s Day weekend, I want to take a moment to honor all the mothers out there and wish you a Happy Mother’s Day. I also want to speak to you about an issue of great significance to me as a First Lady, and more importantly, as the mother of two young daughters. Like millions of people across the globe, my husband and I are outraged and heartbroken over the kidnapping of more than 200 Nigerian girls from their school dormitory in the middle of the night. This unconscionable act was committed by a terrorist group determined to keep these girls from getting an education – grown men attempting to snuff out the aspirations of young girls. And I want you to know that Barack has directed our government to do everything possible to support the Nigerian government’s efforts to find these girls and bring them home. In these girls, Barack and I see our own daughters. We see their hopes, their dreams – and we can only imagine the anguish their parents are feeling right now. Many of them may have been hesitant to send their daughters off to school, fearing that harm might come their way. But they took that risk because they believed in their daughters’ promise and wanted to give them every opportunity to succeed. The girls themselves also knew full well the dangers they might encounter. Their school had recently been closed due to terrorist threats…but these girls still insisted on returning to take their exams. They were so determined to move to the next level of their education…so determined to one day build careers of their own and make their families and communities proud. And what happened in Nigeria was not an isolated incident…it’s a story we see every day as girls around the world risk their lives to pursue their ambitions. It’s the story of girls like Malala Yousafzai from Pakistan. Malala spoke out for girls’ education in her community…and as a result, she was shot in the head by a Taliban gunman while on a school bus with her classmates. But fortunately Malala survived…and when I met her last year, I could feel her passion and determination as she told me that girls’ education is still her life’s mission. As Malala said in her address to the United Nations, she said “The terrorists thought that they would change our aims and stop our ambitions but nothing changed in my life except this: Weakness, fear and hopelessness died. Strength, power and courage was born.” The courage and hope embodied by Malala and girls like her around the world should serve as a call to action. Because right now, more than 65 million girls worldwide are not in school. Yet, we know that girls who are educated make higher wages, lead healthier lives, and have healthier families. And when more girls attend secondary school, that boosts their country’s entire economy. So education is truly a girl’s best chance for a bright future, not just for herself, but for her family and her nation. And that’s true right here in the U.S. as well…so I hope the story of these Nigerian girls will serve as an inspiration for every girl – and boy – in this country. I hope that any young people in America who take school for granted – any young people who are slacking off or thinking of dropping out – I hope they will learn the story of these girls and recommit themselves to their education. These girls embody the best hope for the future of our world…and we are committed to standing up for them not just in times of tragedy or crisis, but for the long haul. We are committed to giving them the opportunities they deserve to fulfill every last bit of their God-given potential. So today, let us all pray for their safe return... let us hold their families in our hearts during this very difficult time…and let us show just a fraction of their courage in fighting to give every girl on this planet the education that is her birthright. Thank you. Remarks by the First Lady at Museum and Library Services National Medal Awards Ceremony
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the First Lady ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release May 8, 2014 REMARKS BY THE FIRST LADY AT MUSEUM AND LIBRARY SERVICES NATIONAL MEDAL AWARDS CEREMONY East Room 11:11 A.M. EDT MRS. OBAMA: Thank you. (Applause.) Good afternoon, everyone. It’s a -- afternoon or morning? Good morning. (Laughter.) Well, hello, everyone, and welcome to a little museum that we like to call the White House. (Laughter.) I want to welcome all of you -- our election officials, all the board members, the community members. We are grateful to have you here. And, Susan, thank you very much for that tremendous introduction, as well as your outstanding leadership. We are so grateful. And of course, I want to recognize our guests of honor, this year’s winners of the National Medal for Museums and Library Services. You all are redefining what it means to lead a museum or a library in the 21st century. All across the country –- from Brooklyn, New York, to Independence, Missouri, to Gallup, New Mexico –- you all are putting our -- your programs and exhibitions up to help us expand our horizons and connect us with the rest of the world. You offer dynamic classrooms for folks of all ages, from toddlers to grandparents. You serve as a gateway to technology for so many in your communities. And as any mom with young kids will tell you, on a rainy weekend afternoon, you are a welcome haven -- (laughter) -- where kids can learn and explore. And really, the work to engage and empower our young people is some of the most important work that all of you do. You’re teaching kids how to get their hands dirty in community gardens -- my favorite. You’re showing them how to dance and choreograph moves of their own -- another one of my favorites. You’re opening up your planetarium doors and taking these young people on trips to outer space. And when schools get out in the summers, you all are stepping up with all sorts of camps and learning opportunities. So instead of spending months sitting in front of the television, our young people are stretching their minds, they’re making new friends, and they’re having a great time as they do it. For example, at the Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, you’re leading summer expeditions where kids excavate dinosaur bones alongside professional paleontologists. At the Mystic Aquarium in Connecticut, you’re offering summer internships to teach young people about marine biology, and you’re doing it by helping them feed and train beluga wales -- very impressive. And at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, you’re offering a weeklong “Summer Ed-Venture” program with hikes and overnight camping to help kids discover the science that surround us in our natural environment. So the work that you do in the summers, and throughout the year, quite frankly, is filling a crucial role for our country as we strive to give our young people a world-class education. And as First Lady, as many of you know, that’s one of the issues that I am very passionate about. I am passionate about giving our kids the skills and support they need to reach their fullest potential. And that’s why, just last week, I announced my Reach Higher initiative, where we’re hoping to inspire young people to continue their education beyond high school. And whether that’s at a professional training program or a community college, or a four-year college or university, we all know that in order for today’s young people to be able to compete in a global economy, a high school diploma just is not enough. So we’re helping students understand the path they need to take to achieve their education by focusing on things like financial aid, college visits, supporting our high school counselors, and providing young people with summer learning opportunities to give them a chance to compete and understand what they want to get out of their education. So we’re helping students in that way because we’re depending on young people to set big goals for themselves. That’s one of my messages, for them to reach higher and to work harder, to work like crazy to get where they want to be. But we all know that these kids can’t do it alone. That’s why we need all of us -- all of us -- helping these kids step up in every way. So we’re going to be getting everybody involved in this effort -- from business owners and government leaders, to congregations and community groups, and of course, libraries and museums like the ones you all represent. In fact, all of you are providing perfect examples of the kind of opportunities that we need to make sure that all our young people have. So I want to applaud you for those efforts. But I also want to challenge you. I want to challenge you to reach even higher for those kids in your communities who you might not see so often -- the kids who only make it to your buildings on a class field trip, the kids who don’t know how to get a library card, the kids whose neighborhoods don’t offer a lot of positive learning environments. And these kids exist in every single one of our communities. And I know many of you are already touching these kids, but it is up to us to reach higher for them and to give them the opportunities they need to fulfill their boundless potential. And, again, all of you are already well on your way, which is why we’re so thrilled and honored to have you here. This is a special privilege for me, to be here with all of you. And I am particularly excited that you have brought community members along with you to share in this day. So once again, congratulations on this honor. And now, I want to turn it over to Gladstone Payton from the Institute for Museum and Library Services to present the medals. Thank you, all, and welcome. (Applause.) (Awards are presented.) Well, what an excellent array of programs. We are so proud of all of you. We’re just hopeful that this is the boost that you need to keep doing the great work that you’re doing. Having it here at the White House, having the media here, remembering that you all are opening so many doors for people in communities across this country. It is an honor and a privilege. Everyone, let’s give these awardees another round of applause. (Applause.) And that concludes our program, but we’re going to open up those doors. We have a wonderful reception for everyone here. I promised someone over there some cookies. (Laughter.) And he’s been suffering through all of this -- (laughter) -- just waiting for the cookies. So I don't think I will delay any longer. Once again, it’s an honor to have you all here. Congratulations, and we look forward to seeing you again next year. So enjoy. (Applause.) END 11:31 A.M. EDT UPCOMING GUIDANCE FOR FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the First Lady For Immediate Release May 8, 2014 UPCOMING GUIDANCE FOR FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA Saturday, May 10, 2014 New Orleans, LA * 10:00 AM (Central)—First Lady Michelle Obama will deliver the commencement address to the class of 2014 at Dillard University in New Orleans, LA. Dillard is a private four-year liberal arts historically black university with a history dating back to 1869. Academically, Dillard is listed on: Forbes’ 2013 list of Top Colleges and Universities in the U.S., top 60 liberal arts institutions by the Washington Monthly (2013), and is consistently one of U.S News and World Report’s top Historically Black Colleges and Universities. The University has been fully engaged in the economic development of the Gentilly community in which it is located as well as the city of New Orleans. Dillard University partners with 12 community organizations, businesses, and local schools in implementing such projects as home buyer workshops, community health fairs, edible gardens, and water sustainability. New Orleans, LA * 12:30 PM (Central) —On Saturday afternoon, First Lady Michelle Obama will join Senator Mary Landrieu for a meeting with spouses of Veterans, who will share their first-hand accounts of the transition of families from active duty military to veteran status. The top of the roundtable will be covered by a pre-determined pool. Monday, May 12, 2014 Washington, DC * 11:00 AM (Eastern)—First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden will host their annual Mother’s Day tea to honor military mothers at the White House. As part of their Joining Forces initiative, Mrs. Obama and Dr. Biden will deliver brief remarks in the East Room followed by a musical performance by Norah Jones. At the event, the First Lady and Dr. Biden will also help military kids create Mother’s Day cards and homemade gifts, which the children will present to their mothers and grandmothers. DAILY GUIDANCE FOR THE VICE PRESIDENT
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Vice President __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 15, 2014 DAILY GUIDANCE FOR THE VICE PRESIDENT Friday, May 16, 2014 At 10:45 AM, the Vice President will deliver remarks on the Administration’s job-driven training agenda at the National STEM Summit of Change the Equation, a non-profit dedicated to mobilizing the business community to improve K-12 education in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). The Vice President’s remarks at this event at the Crystal Gateway Marriott are open press. In the afternoon, the President and the Vice President will meet with Secretary of the Treasury Lew in the Oval Office. At 3:00 PM, the Vice President will ceremonially swear-in Terrell McSweeny as a Commissioner of the Federal Trade Commission at the White House. This event is closed press. UPCOMING GUIDANCE FOR FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the First Lady For Immediate Release May 6, 2014 UPCOMING GUIDANCE FOR FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA Thursday, May 8 Washington, DC * 11:00 AM EST – First Lady Michelle Obama will present the 2014 National Medal for Museum and Library Service to this year’s recipients in a ceremony in the East Room. The National Medal is the nation’s highest honor given to museums and libraries for service to the community. In its 20th anniversary year, the medals program celebrates excellent institutions that have made a significant impact on individuals, families, and communities across the nation. These ten honorees exemplify the nation’s great diversity of libraries and museums and include a natural history museum, a children’s museum, a natural sciences museum, an aquarium, a botanic garden, public library systems, and a book center, hailing from ten states. The 2014 winners of the National Medal for Museum and Library Service are:
OFFICIAL RELEASE: Statement of Administration Policy on H.R. 4438 – American Research and Competitiveness Act of 2014
EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET WASHINGTON, D.C. 20503 May 6, 2014 (House Rules) STATEMENT OF ADMINISTRATION POLICY H.R. 4438 – American Research and Competitiveness Act of 2014 (Rep. Brady, R-Texas, and 23 cosponsors) The Administration supports enhancing, simplifying, and making permanent the Research and Experimentation Credit ("R&D credit"), and offsetting the cost by closing tax loopholes. Making this credit permanent will increase its effectiveness, since it will allow businesses to make investments and create jobs today confident that they will continue to benefit from the credit in the future. Moreover, four-fifths of the R&D credit is attributable to salaries of U.S. workers performing U.S.-based research—meaning that the credit helps create high-skilled jobs, as well as encouraging new innovations and future productivity. However, the Administration strongly opposes House passage of H.R. 4438, which would permanently extend and expand the R&D credit without offsetting the cost, adding to long-run deficits. By making the R&D credit permanent without offsets, H.R. 4438 would add $156 billion to the deficit over the next 10 years. Moreover, if this same, unprecedented approach of making major traditional tax extenders permanent without offsets were followed for the other traditional tax extenders, it would add $500 billion or more to deficits, wiping out most of the deficit reduction achieved through the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2013. Last month, House Republicans themselves passed a budget resolution that required offsetting any tax extenders that were made permanent with other revenue measures. The deficit increase in H.R. 4438 is more than fifteen times the cost of the proposed extension of emergency unemployment benefits, which Republicans are insisting be offset, and more than double the discretionary funding increases for defense and non-defense priorities such as research and development in the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013, which were offset. House Republicans also are making clear their priorities by rushing to make business tax cuts permanent without offsets even as the House Republican budget resolution calls for raising taxes on 25 million working families and students by letting important improvements to the Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, and education tax credits expire. The Administration wants to work with Congress to make progress on measures that strengthen the economy and help middle-class families, including pro-growth business tax reform. However, making traditional tax extenders permanent without offsets represents the wrong approach. If the President were presented with H.R. 4438, his senior advisors would recommend that he veto the bill. Color On The White House Cinco de Mayo Reception
The challenge about covering events at the White House is being there but not being there more like a fly on the wall. "Pool was escorted into the East Room of the White House for the president’s remarks at a Cinco de Mayo reception, which was in full swing. Guests were standing with drinks and there were several bars scattered throughout the room and foyer, and there was possibly a fresh guacamole table, but pool was unable to investigate. A mariachi band was playing and there were striped flower boxes overflowing with pink, yellow, orange and red roses. The bars were serving colorful drinks and margaritas. Pool confirmed that ceviche was being served among other delicious looking small dishes. POTUS remarked later that celebrity chef Jose Andres was guest chef for the event. White House declined to provide guest list for the evening, however pool spotted several members of Congress, including Rep. Filemon Vela (D-Texas), Hispanic Caucus Chair Ruben Hinojosa (D-Texas) and Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-Calif.). Guests were standing throughout and the room was packed, making it difficult to identify anyone. Men were dressed in suits, women mostly in knee-length dresses. Obama began his remarks at 5:46 p.m. by recognizing the ambassadors and members of Congress who were in attendance. He did not mention any administration officials. Obama recalled the history of Cinco de Mayo, then talked about restoring opportunity for all, “which is why I fought so hard for the Affordable Care Act.” He said millions of Latinos now have access to expanded Medicare and health care plans. The biggest applause lines came when the president spoke about immigration and fixing the broken immigration system. “I’m convinced that America’s prosperity and security depend on comprehensive, common-sense immigration reform,” he said. So far, Republicans in the House have refused to allow meaningful immigration reform to move forward at all, he said. There are Republicans who want to do the right thing, and the president said he would work with anyone who is serious about strengthening borders, modernizing the immigration system and keeping families together. “A majority of Americans agree with me on this. It’s time for members of Congress and Republicans in the House to catch up with the rest of the country,” Obama said. He called on the crowd to mobilize over the next two months and lobby Congress to say yes to fixing our broken immigration system. Remarks ended about 5:53 p.m., with Obama saying gracias to the crowd and urging them to get back to the fiesta. Throughout his remarks, pool was only able to see the very top of the president’s head through the standing crowd. He then stepped down into the crowd and disappeared from view. Pool was ushered out shortly thereafter." Remarks by the President at Cinco de Mayo Reception
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary For Immediate Release May 5, 2014 REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT AT CINCO DE MAYO RECEPTION East Room 5:46 P.M. EDT THE PRESIDENT: Hello, everybody! (Applause.) Bienvenidos a la Casa Blanca! (Applause.) This is a rowdy crowd, I can tell. (Laughter.) They’re ready to party. (Applause.) AUDIENCE MEMBER: Love the margaritas. THE PRESIDENT: The margaritas I hear are quite good. (Applause.) Be careful, though, they’ll sneak up on you. (Laughter.) Well, thank you for joining our Cinco de Mayo celebration. It is wonderful to have so many Latinos and Latinas -- (applause) -- and people who wish they were Latino or Latina. (Laughter.) A lot of honorary Latinos and Latinas. On Cinco de Mayo, todos somos Latinos! (Applause and laughter.) I'm just going to say a few words, and then we get back to the fiesta. No Cinco de Mayo would be complete without great food and great music. So I want to thank our guest chefs, my good friend, José Andrés -- (applause) -- Pati Jinich is here as well. (Applause.) Our musicians -- members of the Georgetown University Orchestra and our mariachis, Los Gallos Negros. (Applause.) I’m honored to welcome our friends from other parts of the Americas. We've got Mexico’s Undersecretary of North America, Sergio Alcocer, is here. The Ambassador to the United States, Eduardo Medina-Mora, is here as well. Give them a big round of applause. (Applause.) Peru’s Ambassador to the U.S., Harold Forsyth, is here. (Applause.) I also want to welcome all the members of Congress who are here today, including members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus -- and its outstanding Chairman, Rubén Hinojosa, is here. (Applause.) And as always, it’s great to see Hispanic Americans from across my administration, whose contributions every single day make me proud. Cinco de Mayo marks a great moment in Mexican history -- one that ended up shaping the United States as well. One hundred and fifty-two years ago, a band of Mexican patriots in the town of Puebla faced an invasion by Napoleon III’s troops. The French side was bigger, it was better trained and better armed. But the Mexicans grabbed whatever weapons they could and fought with all their might, and they won the battle. (Applause.) A few years later -- thanks to the bravery and tenacity of the Mexican people, with support of the United States -- the occupation came to an end. And had the opposite happened, our nations would look very different today. Our friendship with Mexico has had an enormous influence on our history and our culture and our economy. Today, our governments work together on everything from stopping crime to promoting trade to protecting our environment. And millions of Americans are connected to Mexico through ties of friendship and language and family -- and they make vital contributions to our nation every single day. So today, we remember with gratitude those brave fighters who triumphed in Puebla all those years ago, and the generations of Mexicans and Americans who’ve sustained and strengthened us ever since. (Applause.) Of course, we can honor our past by building an even brighter future together. And that means restoring our nation’s promise of opportunity for all so that everybody has a fair shot at the American Dream -- which is why I fought so hard for the Affordable Care Act -- (applause) -- because every American deserves quality, affordable health care. Thanks to the ACA, millions of Latinos now have access to expanded preventive care, and hundreds of thousands of Latinos have recently enrolled in health care plans, and hundreds of thousands of young Latinos are able to stay on their parents’ plans until they’re 26. (Applause.) It's the same reason I’m fighting to make sure every child has access to a world-class education, from pre-K through college. (Applause.) And thanks in part to our investments, our high school graduation rate is the highest on record, and the Latino dropout rate has been cut in half since 2000. That's worth applauding. (Applause.) Education helps us find new frontiers for collaboration between the United States and Mexico, and throughout the hemisphere. That’s why I launched the “100,000 Strong in the Americas” initiative to significantly increase educational exchanges among our countries. And I just came from a discussion with leaders in business and education who see these exchanges as key to maintaining their competitive advantage. They understand that if we're serious about building a 21st century workforce then we're going to have to build knowledge and relationships that reach across borders. And that’s how we’re going to create new jobs and develop new markets, explore new ideas and unleash the hemisphere’s extraordinary opportunity. And opportunity for all is why I’m fighting so hard to fix a broken immigration system. (Applause.) I am convinced that America’s prosperity and security depend on comprehensive, common-sense immigration reform. Last year, Democrats and Republicans in the Senate came together to pass a common-sense bill that would grow our economy and shrink our deficits, reward businesses and workers that played by the rules -- all while upholding our most cherished values as a nation of immigrants. So far, the Republicans in the House have refused to allow meaningful immigration reform to move forward at all. We know there are Republicans in the House who want to do the right thing. I'm going to work with everybody who’s serious about strengthening our borders, modernizing our legal immigration system, keeping more families together, and getting this done. And it’s the right thing to do for our economy, for our security and our future. The majority of Americans agree with me on this. It’s time for members of Congress, and Republicans in the House to catch up with the rest of the country. So I need all of you to go out there and mobilize particularly over the next two months -- tell them to get on board. Get on board with business leaders and faith leaders, law enforcement, Republicans and Democrats across the country -- say yes to fixing our broken immigration system. Let’s get it done right now once and for all. (Applause.) So, today, on Cinco de Mayo, we celebrate our shared heritage, our shared history, our shared future. That’s not something to be afraid of -- that’s something that we need to embrace. That’s what I’m going to be doing, not just today, but every day, to keep fighting for opportunity for all people and greater understanding between all nations. And I know that’s what you’re fighting for as well. So, gracias. Que Dios los bendiga, y feliz Cinco de Mayo. Thank you, everybody. (Applause.) UPDATED White House Guidance
Due to the possibility of inclement weather, please review the updated guidance with a change to the location of today’s event. In the evening, the President will host a Cinco de Mayo reception in the East Room. There will be pooled press coverage of this event. 5:50PM THE PRESIDENT hosts a Cinco de Mayo reception The East Room Remarks by the First Lady at Ribbon Cutting of the Anna Wintour Costume Center
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the First Lady ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release May 5, 2014 REMARKS BY THE FIRST LADY AT RIBBON CUTTING OF THE ANNA WINTOUR COSTUME CENTER The Metropolitan Museum of Art New York, New York 11:03 A.M. EDT MRS. OBAMA: Thank you. (Applause.) Thank you so much. Thank you, all. Please. Good afternoon. It is truly a pleasure to be here with all of you today as we inaugurate this brand new center in honor of our friend, Anna Wintour. I want to start by thanking Tom for that very brief introduction -- it’s to the point -- but more importantly, for his outstanding leadership here at the Met. I also want to acknowledge all of the elected officials joining us today. And I want thank Aerin Lauder, and Harold Koda, and everyone else whose generosity and creativity and hard work have made this day possible, especially Anna herself. Now, I know that Anna hates being the center of attention, so this all is probably killing her -- but we love it. But the truth is, I’m here today because of Anna. I’m here because I have such respect and admiration for this -- women who I am proud to call my friend. And I’m here because I am so impressed by Anna’s contributions not just to the fashion industry, but to the many causes she shares and cares about, particularly this great American museum. Thanks to Anna and so many other dedicated individuals, the Met will be opening up the world of fashion like never before. And that’s really the mission of this new space –- to show that fashion isn’t an exclusive club for the few who can attend a runway show or shop at certain stores. This Center is for anyone who is curious about fashion and how it impacts our culture and our history. And we know that that curiosity is out there. Previous exhibits at the Costume Institute have drawn hundreds of thousands of visitors, many of them students. And as we cut this ribbon today, that’s really who I’m thinking about. I’m thinking about all of the young people who will find their way to this new space. Now, maybe they’ll come initially because they love clothes and they love shopping, but then they’ll learn that fashion isn’t just about what we wear but that fashion is also a business, it is an art; it’s a career that involves science, engineering, accounting, marketing and so much more. Maybe they’ll learn about the math behind Charles James’ designs and they’ll think to themselves, maybe I should pay closer attention in geometry this semester. (Laughter.) Maybe they’ll think about going to college. Or maybe they’ll learn what it takes to succeed in the fashion industry; how you need passion, and grit, and a fierce belief in yourself and in your vision –- traits that all of our young people should develop. And then once they’ve finished with the exhibits here, maybe these young people will wander over to another part of this extraordinary museum. Maybe they’ll spend an afternoon learning about Islamic or Asian Art. Maybe they’ll check out the photographs, or view the endless galleries of great American Art, and maybe they’ll have an even greater appreciation for our history or a newfound interest in a foreign culture or language. So for our young people –- and for people of all ages, for that matter -– this Center will be a source of learning and inspiration, and it will be a gateway to so much more. So I think it’s fitting that this place bears Anna Wintour’s name, because that is who Anna is. That is what she’s about. Anna is one of the most powerful leaders in the fashion industry -- she’s one of the most powerful women in any industry, for that matter. And that alone is such a singular accomplishment. But Anna has never been content just to achieve greatly in the fashion world. She has always used her power for so much more. From working tirelessly to end HIV/AIDS, to creating Fashion’s Night Out to boost the economy, and to her comparable -- incomparable efforts to support the Met, time and again, Anna has sought the spotlight not for herself, but for the people and causes she believes in. And today, Anna and I are actually working on an idea to bring students to the White House for a fashion workshop. So I hope you all behave; maybe you get an invitation. (Laughter.) The idea is to show young people what it takes to succeed, and how important it is for them to commit to their education. You see, Anna understands that those of us who have been blessed with opportunities to succeed have an obligation to reach back and bring others along with us –- and not just with words of praise, but with meaningful, sustained support. That’s what the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund is all about. It’s about lifting up brilliant young designers not just with money, but with mentorship and connections, all of the things they need to succeed and dream even bigger for themselves. And that is really my message to the young people here today. You’re here because we want you to dream bigger. You’re here because we believe in your promise, and we know that if you commit to your education, if you work like never before, if you have the courage to fail and fail and fail again until you finally succeed, then one day you could be just like the legendary designers who are here today. One day, you could be a leader in the fashion industry, or in any industry you choose. And when that happens for you, I hope you’ll look back and you will see who you can bring up with you, like Anna does. I hope you will use your power to be an inspiration-multiplier like Anna, so we can create more days like today. And I think Anna really said it best when, during an interview, she was asked what power means to her and she replied, simply: “It is a wonderful opportunity to be able to help others, and for that I’m extremely grateful.” Well, Anna, the feeling is very much mutual. It really is. We are so grateful for all that you have given back, and we are so thrilled to see your name on this wonderful new Center. And we look forward to all you will continue to contribute in the years ahead. And with that, it is my pleasure to help cut this ribbon. Anna, and others, would you please join me on stage? Thank you so much. (Applause.) Remarks by the President at White House Correspondents' Dinner
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release May 3, 2014 REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT AT WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENTS’ DINNER 10:21 P.M. EDT THE PRESIDENT: Thank you so much, everybody. Have a seat, have a seat. Before I get started, can we get the new presidential setup out here? (Aides bring out two ferns.) It was worked before. (Laughter and applause.) That’s more like it. It is great to be back. What a year, huh? I usually start these dinners with a few self-deprecating jokes. After my stellar 2013, what could I possibly talk about? (Laughter.) I admit it -- last year was rough. Sheesh. (Laughter.) At one point things got so bad, the 47 percent called Mitt Romney to apologize. (Laughter.) Of course, we rolled out healthcare.gov. That could have gone better. (Laughter.) In 2008 my slogan was, “Yes We Can.” In 2013 my slogan was, “Control-Alt-Delete.” (Laughter.) On the plus side, they did turn the launch of healthcare.gov into one of the year’s biggest movies. (Laughter.) But rather than dwell on the past, I would like to pivot to this dinner. Let’s welcome our headliner this evening, Joel McHale. (Applause.) On “Community,” Joel plays a preening, self-obsessed narcissist. So this dinner must be a real change of pace for you. (Laughter.) I want to thank the White House Correspondents Association for hosting us here tonight. I am happy to be here, even though I am a little jet-lagged from my trip to Malaysia. The lengths we have to go to get CNN coverage these days. (Laughter and applause.) I think they’re still searching for their table. (Laughter and applause.) MSNBC is here. They’re a little overwhelmed. (Laughter.) They’ve never seen an audience this big before. (Laughter.) But, look, everybody is trying to keep up with this incredibly fast-changing media landscape. For example, I got a lot of grief on cable news for promoting Obamacare to young people on Between Two Ferns. But that’s what young people like to watch. And to be fair, I am not the first person on television between two potted plants. (Laughter and applause.) Sometimes I do feel disrespected by you reporters. But that’s okay. Seattle Seahawk cornerback Richard Sherman is here tonight. (Applause.) And he gave me some great tips on how to handle it. Jake Tapper, don’t you ever talk about me like that! (Laughter.) I’m the best President in the game! (Laughter.) What do you think, Richard? Was that good? A little more feeling next time? While we’re talking sports, just last month, a wonderful story -- an American won the Boston Marathon for first time in 30 years. (Applause.) Which was inspiring and only fair, since a Kenyan has been president for the last six. (Laughter and applause.) Had to even things out. (Laughter.) We have some other athletes here tonight, including Olympic snowboarding gold medalist Jamie Anderson is here. We’re proud of her. (Applause.) Incredibly talented young lady. Michelle and I watched the Olympics -- we cannot believe what these folks do -- death-defying feats -- haven’t seen somebody pull a “180” that fast since Rand Paul disinvited that Nevada rancher from this dinner. (Laughter.) As a general rule, things don’t like end well if the sentence starts, “Let me tell you something I know about the negro.” (Laughter.) You don’t really need to hear the rest of it. (Laughter and applause.) Just a tip for you -- don’t start your sentence that way. (Laughter.) Speaking of Rand Paul -- (laughter) -- Colorado legalized marijuana this year, an interesting social experiment. I do hope it doesn’t lead to a whole lot of paranoid people who think that the federal government is out to get them and listening to their phone calls. (Laughter.) That would be a problem. (Laughter.) And speaking of conservative heroes, the Koch brothers bought a table here tonight. But as usual, they used a shadowy right-wing organization as a front. Hello, Fox News. (Laughter and applause.) I’m just kidding. Let’s face it, Fox, you’ll miss me when I’m gone. (Laughter.) It will be harder to convince the American people that Hillary was born in Kenya. (Laughter and applause.) A lot of us really are concerned about the way big money is influencing our politics. I remember when a Super PAC was just me buying Marlboro 100s instead of regulars. (Laughter.) Of course, now that it’s 2014, Washington is obsessed on the midterms. Folks are saying that with my sagging poll numbers, my fellow Democrats don’t really want me campaigning with them. And I don’t think that’s true -- although I did notice the other day that Sasha needed a speaker at career day, and she invited Bill Clinton. (Laughter.) I was a little hurt by that. (Laughter.) Both sides are doing whatever it takes to win the ruthless game. Republicans -- this is a true story -- Republicans actually brought in a group of consultants to teach their candidates how to speak to women. This is true. And I don’t know if it will work with women, but I understand that America’s teenage boys are signing up to run for the Senate in droves. (Laughter.) Anyway, while you guys focus on the horserace, I’m going to do what I do -- I’m going to be focused on everyday Americans. Just yesterday, I read a heartbreaking letter -- you know I get letters from folks from around the country; every day I get 10 that I read -- this one got to me. A Virginia man who’s been stuck in the same part-time job for years; no respect from his boss; no chance to get ahead. I really wish Eric Cantor would stop writing me. (Laughter.) You can just pick up the phone, Eric. (Laughter.) And I’m feeling sorry -- believe it or not -- for the Speaker of the House, as well. These days, the House Republicans actually give John Boehner a harder time than they give me, which means orange really is the new black. (Laughter and applause.) But I have not given up the idea of working with Congress. In fact, two weeks ago, Senator Ted Cruz and I, we got a bill done together. And I have to say, the signing ceremony was something special. We’ve got a picture of it I think. (Laughter.) Look, I know, Washington seems more dysfunctional than ever. Gridlock has gotten so bad in this town you have to wonder: What did we do to piss off Chris Christie so bad? (Laughter and applause.) One issue, for example, we haven’t been able to agree on is unemployment insurance. Republicans continue to refuse to extend it. And you know what, I am beginning to think they’ve got a point. If you want to get paid while not working, you should have to run for Congress just like everybody else. (Laughter and applause.) Of course, there is one thing that keeps Republicans busy. They have tried more than 50 times to repeal Obamacare. Despite that, 8 million people signed up for health care in the first open enrollment. (Applause.) Which does lead one to ask, how well does Obamacare have to work before you don’t want to repeal it? What if everybody’s cholesterol drops to 120? (Laughter.) What if your yearly checkup came with tickets to a Clippers game? (Laughter.) Not the old, Donald Sterling Clippers -- the new Oprah Clippers. Would that be good enough? (Laughter.) What if they gave Mitch McConnell a pulse? (Laughter.) What is it going to take? (Laughter.) Anyway, this year, I’ve promised to use more executive actions to get things done without Congress. My critics call this the “imperial presidency.” The truth is, I just show up every day in my office and do my job. I’ve got a picture of this I think. (Laughter and applause.) You would think they’d appreciate a more assertive approach, considering that the new conservative darling is none other than Vladimir Putin. (Laughter.) Last year, Pat Buchanan said Putin is “headed straight for the Nobel Peace Prize.” He said this. Now I know it sounds crazy but to be fair, they give those to just about anybody these days. (Laughter.) So it could happen. But it’s not just Pat -- Rudy Giuliani said Putin is “what you call a leader.” Mike Huckabee and Sean Hannity keep talking about his bare chest, which is kind of weird. (Laughter.) Look it up -- they talk about it a lot. (Laughter.) It is strange to think that I have just two and a half years left in this office. Everywhere I look, there are reminders that I only hold this job temporarily. (Laughter.) But it’s a long time between now and 2016, and anything can happen. You may have heard the other day, Hillary had to dodge a flying shoe at a press conference. (Laughter and applause.) I love that picture. (Laughter.) Regardless of what happens, I’ve run my last campaign and I’m beginning to think about my legacy. Some of you know -- Mayor Rahm Emanuel recently announced he is naming a high school in Chicago after me, which is extremely humbling. I was even more flattered to hear Rick Perry, who is here tonigh, is doing the same thing in Texas. Take a look. (Laughter.) Thank you, Rick. It means a lot to me. (Laughter and applause.) And I intend to enjoy all the free time that I will have. George W. Bush took up painting after he left office, which inspired me to take up my own artistic side. (Laughter.) I’m sure we’ve got a shot of this. (Laughter.) Maybe not. The joke doesn’t work without the slide. (Laughter.) Oh well. Assume that it was funny. (Laughter.) Does this happen to you, Joel? It does? Okay. On a more serious note, tonight reminds us that we really are lucky to live in a country where reporters get to give a head of state a hard time on a daily basis -- and then, once a year, give him or her the chance, at least, to try to return the favor. But we also know that not every journalist, or photographer, or crewmember is so fortunate, because even as we celebrate the free press tonight, our thoughts are with those in places around the globe like Ukraine, and Afghanistan, and Syria, and Egypt, who risk everything -- in some cases, even give their lives -- to report the news. And what tonight also reminds us is that the fight for full and fair access goes beyond the chance to ask a question. As Steve mentioned, decades ago, an African American who wanted to cover his or her President might be barred from journalism school, burdened by Jim Crow, and, once in Washington, banned from press conferences. But after years of effort, black editors and publishers began meeting with FDR’s press secretary, Steve Early. And then they met with the President himself, who declared that a black reporter would get a credential. And even when Harry McAlpin made history as the first African American to attend a presidential news conference, he wasn’t always welcomed by the other reporters. But he was welcomed by the President, who told him, I’m glad to see you, McAlpin, and I’m very happy to have you here. Now, that sentiment might have worn off once Harry asked him a question or two -- (laughter) -- and Harry’s battles continued. But he made history. And we’re s proud of Sherman and his family for being here tonight, and the White House Correspondents Association for creating a scholarship in Harry’s name. (Applause.) For over 100 years, even as the White House Correspondents Association has told the story of America’s progress, you’ve lived it, too -- gradually allowing equal access to women, and minorities, and gays, and Americans with disabilities. And, yes, radio, and television, and Internet reporters, as well. And through it all, you’ve helped make sure that even as societies change, our fundamental commitment to the interaction between those who govern and those who ask questions doesn’t change. And as Jay will attest, it’s a legacy you carry on enthusiastically every single day. And because this is the 100th anniversary of the Correspondents’ Association, I actually recorded an additional brief video thanking all of you for your hard work. Can we run the video? (Video fails to play.) THE PRESIDENT: What’s going on? (Laughter.) I was told this would work. Does anybody know how to fix this? (Laughter.) (Secretary Sebelius enters from backstage.) THE PRESIDENT: Oh, thank you. (Laughter and applause.) You got it? SECRETARY SEBELIUS: I got this -- I see it all the time. There, that should work. (Video plays.) THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much, everybody. God bless you. And God bless America, and thank you, Kathleen Sebelius. (Applause.) END 10:40 P.M. EDT White House Correspondents Dinner Report 5
The White House Correspondents 'prom' mission is to raise scholarship money for minority aspiring journalists. Pooler alluded to this without making this raison d'etre clear when Pooler wrote "After awarding of scholarships, toast to President and video clip starring Biden, POTUS gave his traditional humorous remarks. Remarks were televised, but ranged from health care to race to GOP obstruction of his agenda. "Orange is the new black" joke about treatment of Boehner and himself got one of biggest laughs in ballroom. In a surprise bit, HHS Sec Sebelius helped President fix a video, a riff on healthcare.gov's problems" Presidents bring in the big guns when it comes to their speeches being written. One of President Obama's writers, Jon Favreau, has moved on to Hollywood script writing fame. White House Correspondents Dinner Report 4
The Pooler reported who was seated at the Head Table with President Obama. President of White House Correspondents Association, Steven Thomma, sat at head table President Obama sat to the right of Thomma, and to POTUS right were Patrick Talamantes FLOTUS Joel McHale April Ryan Major Garrett Christi Parsons, sat to the President's left, along with Jay Carney Carol Lee Doug Mills Olivier Knox Margaret Talev Scott Horsley George Lehner White House Correspondents Dinner Report 3
There is always a difference when the Pooler reporting is male rather than female when it comes to reporting fashion. "President and FLOTUS took places at head table at about 7:15; greeted speaker Joel McHale and others and took in presentation of colors and national anthem; many in ballroom sang along. FLOTUS in cream-colored gown and men in tuxes" White House Correspondents Dinner Report 2
The Poolers dont write that they sit and wait in the wings until they are called to take photos of the President. Pooler wrote, "Per White House officials, POTUS is scheduled to give his remarks at WH Correspondents' Dinner at about 10:15 p.m." Poolers try to see who is out in the ballroom as they peek at the attendees. The Poolers wrote, "A plethora of guests are chatting and mingling between tables in the Washington Hilton ballroom while the U.S. Marine Band entertains; among VIPs, this pooler has spotted Al Sharpton, Uber founder Travis Kalanick, departing HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz, former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and D.C. chef/restarateur Jose Andres, the latter of whom appeared to nod at poolers in holding area and say, "How are you?" The holding area is a roped in area with Secret Service positioned on the perimeter. White House Correspondents Dinner Report 1
The President's Committee Of Arts & Humanities attends the White House Correspondents' Dinner. The Pooler reported that "POTUS and FLOTUS left WH at 6:54 p.m. and arrived at Washington Hilton at about 7 pm for White House Correspondents' Dinner." The President and First Lady arrive at a covered carport used since the assasination attempt on the Later President Reagan. The Pooler reported, "Bystanders cheered, waved and some attempted selfies as motorcade went by on Conn . Ave in NW. No glimpse of POTUS and FLOTUS attire yet, but president will be in black tie. At red carpet, folks milled about and cheered for pool as it was ushered down to ballroom and holding room." The Pooler was looking for stars to report arrivals of as Pool was whisked in to the ballroom, "Spotted Fed Chairwoman Janet Yellin; no Hollywood types yet." THE PRESIDENTS COMMITTEE OF ARTS & HUMANITIES:
Cultural Tourism [ Source: http://www.pcah.gov/cultural-tourism ] Communities throughout the U.S. have developed successful programs linking the arts, humanities, history and tourism. Travel industry research confirms that cultural and heritage tourism is one of the fastest growing segments of the tourism industry. The growth and investment in cultural heritage tourism has expanded markets, audiences and consumers, as well as provided a means for sustaining cultural and heritage resources with vital revenue and awareness. The President’s Committee and its cultural partners—the NEA, NEH and IMLS—have been catalyst in the growth of cultural and heritage tourism, which over time has evolved into a broader policy and development approach known as the creative economy. Save America's Treasures America's legacy, and ours as citizens, is made up of a fabric of buildings, places, documents, records, artifacts and artistic works. Each Save America's Treasures project makes a lasting difference to their communities and to the nation by preserving these structures, places and cultural artifacts that are the genius and language of America's democracy. [ SOURCE: http://www.pcah.gov/members ] Appointed by the President, the President’s Committee Co-Chairs lead the committee, which includes both public and private members. The public members consist of the heads of twelve federal agencies with cultural programs, including the National Endowments for the Arts and the Humanities, the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the U. S. Departments of Education, Treasury and State, the Smithsonian Institution, the Library of Congress, the National Gallery of Art and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. The private members are appointed by each administration, and represent some of the country’s most prominent and successful artists, actors, architects, dancers, authors, scholars, philanthropists and businesspeople. The President’s Committee’s achievements across a variety of arts and humanities fields are made possible by the expertise and leadership of both its private and federal members, who embody and represent the diverse elements of the U.S. interdependent system of support for the arts and humanities. Government Members who serve ex-officio James H. Billington, Librarian of Congress, Library of Congress G. Wayne Clough, Secretary, Smithsonian Institution Arne Duncan, Secretary, U.S. Department of Education Susan Hildreth, Director, Institute of Museum and Library Services Sally Jewell, Secretary, U.S. Department of the Interior John F. Kerry, Secretary, U.S. Department of State Jacob J. Lew, Secretary, U.S. Department of the Treasury Earl Powell III, Director, National Gallery of Art David Rubenstein, Chairman, John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Joan Shigekawa, Senior Deputy Chairman, National Endowment for the Arts Dan M. Tangherlini, Administrator, U.S. General Services Administration Carole M. Watson, Acting Chairman, National Endowment for the Humanities Private Members J Ricky Arriola, Miami, FL Paula E. Boggs, Seattle, WA Chuck Close, New York, NY Richard J. Cohen, St. Paul, MN Paula Hannaway Crown, Chicago, IL Stephanie Cutter, Washington, DC Christine Forester, La Jolla, CA Fred Goldring, Pacific Palisades, CA Howard Gottlieb, Wilmette, Illinois Teresa Heinz, Washington, DC Pamela Joyner, San Francisco, CA Janet Keller, Laguna Beach, CA Victoria S. Kennedy, Pacific Palisades, CA Jhumpa Lahiri, Brooklyn, NY Bryan Lourd, Los Angles, CA Anne Luzzatto, New York, NY Yo-Yo Ma, Boston, MA Liz Manne, New York, NY Kerry James Marshall, Chicago, IL Thom Mayne, Los Angeles, CA Kalpen Suresh Modi, Freehold, NJ Olivia Morgan, Washington, DC Edward Norton, New York, NY Sarah Jessica Parker, New York, NY Ken Solomon, Santa Monica, CA Andy Spahn, Los Angeles, CA Caroline "Kim" Taylor, Lenox, MA Jill Cooper Udall, Santa Fe, NM Kerry Washington, Los Angeles, CA Andrew J. Weinstein, Coral Springs, FL Forest Whitaker, Los Angeles, CA Anna Wintour, New York, NY Damian Woetzel, Roxbury, CT George C. Wolfe, New York, NY Alfre Woodard, Santa Monica, CA John Lloyd Young, Los Angeles, CA Federal Cultural Partners The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) is a public agency dedicated to supporting excellence in the arts, both new and established; bringing the arts to all Americans; and providing leadership in arts education. The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) serves and strengthens our Republic by promoting excellence in the humanities and conveying the lessons of history to all Americans. The NEH is the nation’s leading supporter of research education, preservation and public programs in the humanities. The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) is an independent federal grant making agency dedicated to creating strong libraries and museums that connect people to information and ideas. The IMLS works at the national level and in coordination with state and local organizations to sustain heritage, culture, and knowledge; enhance learning and innovation; and support professional development. Remarks by the First Lady at San Antonio Signing Day Reach Higher Event
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the First Lady _________________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release May 2, 2014 REMARKS BY THE FIRST LADY AT SAN ANTONIO SIGNING DAY REACH HIGHER EVENT University of Texas, San Antonio San Antonio, Texas 12:39 P.M. CDT MRS. OBAMA: Hey! (Applause.) Hello, everybody! (Applause.) Let me tell you, I am thrilled to be here today -- and not just because I get to wear a T-shirt, because I never get to wear a T-shirt to work. I’m here because this is such an incredible event. It really is. This is amazing. You all are showing that signing days like these are not just for all-American athletes, but they’re for all-Americans. Period. So I want to just give a big shout-out to San Antonio, Texas for the great work that they’re doing. You all should be very proud of yourselves. (Applause.) Yes! But, before we begin, I just want to take a few moments to thank a few people -- your tremendous mayor, Mayor Castro -- (applause) -- yes, as well as his very cool brother, Congressman Castro -- (applause) -- and all of the elected officials, all the school administrators, all the university presidents who are here, and of course, all of the parents. Let’s hear it for the parents; there are a few here. (Applause.) Thank you for being here today. Thank you all for everything you do for these young people. I also want to thank the University of Texas-San Antonio for hosting us here today. (Applause.) And finally, I have to thank Rocio for that very, very kind introduction and for sharing her story. (Applause.) She is pretty amazing, and I know she represents all of you so well. And really, her story of grit and determination and commitment to education –- that’s what we’re celebrating today. Each of you has your own story of how you made it to this day –- a story that includes a lot of other folks who were there with you along the way. Maybe you were raised by a single mom who worked two jobs to put food on the table. Well, this day is for her, right? (Applause.) Maybe a teacher or a counselor encouraged you to apply to that stretch school, or to do more than you thought you could do. Well, this day is for them. (Applause.) Maybe your family was like Rocio’s and you came to this country just a few years ago to give you a chance at a better life. Well, this day is the day you all can celebrate another step toward achieving your American Dream. (Applause.) Or maybe, like me, along the way, somebody told you you would never make it to this day; that you simply weren’t college material. Well, this day is for the doubters and the haters, too. (Applause.) It’s the day that they see how wrong they were. This is their day, too. But most of all, this day is for you. It’s for all those years of hard work you all put in, right? All those late nights and tough classes, right? All those obstacles that you fought your way through because no matter what, you were determined to go to college -- and you did it. You made it, and you should be so proud of yourselves. Because I am so proud of you. So let’s just take a moment to give yourselves a round of applause. To the San Antonio class of 2014! (Applause.) We are all so proud of you. We’re so proud! And I am honored to be here. I didn’t want to be anywhere else but here with you. (Applause.) This is a big day. And while my main reason to come here was to celebrate with you all, I also want to talk to you about another big day that is on the horizon for you, and that is the day you graduate from college. That’s right. (Applause.) You see, what I’ve learned is that reaching a milestone like this means that you’ve just raised the bar for yourself, all right? It gets higher. Because just getting into college isn’t the ultimate goal. You have got to stay focused once you get there, and you’ve got to get that degree or that certificate. And you’ve got to be thinking every step of the way, what comes next? Start thinking like that. That’s something that I learned from my parents. My family didn’t have much money. My parents were working-class folks. But they always taught me that going to college was the expectation. There was no other choice. So I focused my entire high school career not just on getting a high school diploma, but on getting into Princeton. And I knew I needed to have a clear plan to reach my goal, and I knew that it was my responsibility to execute that plan. It was my job. So, like many of you, I worked hard in high school. I made sure that I took the right classes. I studied 24/7. And I agonized over those college essays. I know you all are done that -- happy that’s done, right? And by the time senior year rolled around and I finally got that acceptance letter, I actually ended up feeling more relieved than excited. I mean, I definitely celebrated that important achievement, but I quickly got my mind ready for my next goal. I was already thinking about what I needed to do. I knew I needed to be as focused about getting my college degree as I was about getting my high school diploma. So I started developing my plan to get through college. What courses should I be taking? How hard would I need to study to get the grades that I needed? What would I need to do to get into graduate school? What kind of career did I want? Those were just some of the questions that were rolling through my head. And today, I hope that all of you are starting to ask yourselves some of those questions. I hope you’re asking, what am I going to do this summer to prepare for my first semester in college? What do I want my major to be? How am I going to pay tuition year after year? Should I get a part-time job or not? What’s my plan to pay off my college loans when I’m done? And if those questions feel a little scary, that’s okay. That’s actually a good thing, because let me tell you, getting through college requires persistence and focus and determination. And there are going to be times when you feel like you’re going to fail. And that definitely happened to me. I thought I had done everything I could to prepare myself for Princeton, but when I got there, I was totally overwhelmed. I didn’t have any friends, I didn’t know how to pick my classes -- I didn’t even bring the right size sheets for my bed. It was pretty pathetic. But, step by step, I developed my plan, and I got better and better at executing it. And eventually, I found my way. I went to the student multicultural center, started making new friends. I reached out to an advisor who would answer any questions that I had. And I studied as hard as I could to get the grades that I wanted. And soon enough, I realized that I had everything I needed to handle college. I knew how to work hard -- so do you. I knew how to battle through adversity -- so do you. I knew how to ask for help when I needed it. What I learned was that the same qualities that got me through high school would be the same qualities that would get me through Princeton, and later, through Harvard Law School. So I want you all to understand that those moments when you’re feeling anxious or insecure, those moments when you’re not sure you can reach that next level -- those are the moments when you shape yourself into who you want to be. That’s actually proven by science and research that shows that when you think hard about something or you struggle to solve a problem -- whether it’s math or science, or a problem in life -- your brain is actually growing. You’re actually becoming smarter because of that struggle. So embrace it. Relish those moments. Those are the moments when you’ve got to tell yourself to reach higher. And that’s really my message to all of you today. You have come so far, you’ve climbed so high to get here, but you have got to keep reaching higher. And that’s a message that I’ve been delivering not just to you guys here but to young people all across this country. Because while we adults have to do our part to give you the support you need -- like building the best schools, and training the best teachers in the world -- really, at the end of the day, the most important person in your education is you. See, you decide whether you show up for class. You decide how many hours you put in that library. You decide whether or not you’re going to ask for help or you’re going to quit -- that’s on you. That’s what I’ve been speaking about with young people over these past few months. And today, I’m also here because I’m proud to announce that I’m giving this effort that we’re going to embark on a name and an aspiration. We are calling it what? Reach Higher. Makes sense -- Reach Higher. (Applause.) Reach Higher is my new initiative, and it’s about inspiring every student in America to take charge of their future by completing their education past high school -- whether at a professional training program, or a community college, or a four-year university or college. Because while it’s good news that high school graduation rates have climbed to their highest levels ever in this country, we also know that in today’s world, a high school degree simply isn’t enough. To get a good job, to compete, you have got to reach higher. The fact is, a generation ago our country had the highest percentage of college graduates in the world. But today, we have dropped all the way to 12th. And that’s unacceptable. That’s not who we are. And all of you have a role to play to help get us get back on top, because the education you get today won’t just help you compete; it’s going to help our entire country compete in a global economy. So with this initiative, we’re going to make sure that every student in this country understands what they need to do to complete their education and take their place on that world roster. We’re going to be focusing on things like financial aid, summer learning opportunities that get you where you need to be, getting kids off of high schools and onto college campuses for visits, exposing them to different careers, and supporting high school counselors so that they can keep on helping more kids like you get into college. (Applause.) And we’re kicking everything off today -- this is the kick off, today -- by spreading the spirit of this signing day all across America. (Applause.) So what we’ve done is that we’ve asked everyone to take a picture in their college T-shirt, or in their colors, their hat -- we want them to Instagram it, Facebook it, or tweet it with the hashtag #ReachHigher. And we’ve got everybody doing this. At the White House, everybody is wearing their high school gear -- or their college gear. The President is wearing his colors. (Applause.) The Vice President and Dr. Biden. (Applause.) So we want Americans all across the country to join in, as well. So this is a call not just to the young people in America, but to everyone in this country to help with this goal. We need everybody to reach higher for our young people. We need more parents reading to their kids at an early age. We need more businesses offering jobs and internships for young people like all of you. We need more foundations offering college scholarships. (Applause.) And we need more communities doing what you all are doing right here in San Antonio, like building new preschools -- you’re doing that here -- like recruiting volunteers to help students fill out their financial aid forms -- you all are doing that here in San Antonio -- and hosting career fairs, and college summit days, and signing days just like this one. San Antonio, you all are what Reach Higher is all about –- a community coming together to lift up its young people so they can fulfill every last bit of their potential. And we’re seeing more and more communities -- from California to Iowa to Philadelphia -– they’re coming up with creative new ways to encourage their students to complete their education past high school as well. And while we’ve still got a lot of work to do to spread this message all across the country, we know that in the end, a big part of this effort is in your hands as young people. It’s up to all of you to hold up your end of the bargain. So no matter what life throws your way –- because it has, and will continue to mess with you. Life is a trip. But no matter what, whether that’s a tough class, financial difficulties, or something else –- it’s going to keep coming, but you have got to stay focused on that horizon for yourself. You have got to keep your heart in the game every single day. You have got to commit yourselves to your future and to your education. Can you do that? (Applause.) You guys ready for that challenge? I think that you are. But I think now is a good time that we go into that college commitment pledge, right? You all know what I’m talking about. I know you all have been practicing this pledge, and we are going to do it together. Are you all ready? (Applause.) All right, here’s what I want all my high school college-bound graduates to do: I want you to raise your right hands. Stand up straight. Stomachs in, backs straight, chin -- head proud. And repeat after me: I believe in my future and myself. (Students repeat.) I commit to enroll in college. (Students repeat.) I commit to persevere when I get there. (Students repeat.) I commit to graduate. (Students repeat.) And no matter what, I commit to always reach higher for myself, for my family, and for my community. (Students repeat.) All right! (Applause.) So seniors, now comes the hard part. You have got to make that pledge a reality. Because I don’t know if you know this, that there’s something -- I’m going to be watching you, first of all. (Laughter.) And you cannot break a promise to the First Lady of the United States of America. Come on, now! (Laughter and applause.) I am counting on you all. I am looking you all in the face, and I know that you can do this. Go in there knowing that you can do this. Whoever you’re sitting next to in class, you are just as smart as they are. You belong in those seats, do you understand me? If I can do it, you can do this. It is not rocket science. You all have brains in your head, and you guys have character -- that’s what matters. You roll up your sleeves, you work hard, and you make us proud, okay? Make your families proud, your community proud. And when you run into trouble, you promise me you ask for help. Don’t suffer by yourself. Everybody needs help. I need help every day. (Laughter.) So I want you guys to always reach out and ask for help. Will you promise me that? STUDENTS: Yes. MRS. OBAMA: All right. I cannot wait to see what you all do with the rest of your lives. I am so honored to be here. Congratulations. And I will see you in a few years when you get those degrees. God bless you all. Congratulations. (Applause.) END 12:58 P.M. CDT WEEKEND GUIDANCE AND PRESS SCHEDULE FOR SATURDAY, MAY 3, 2014 AND SUNDAY, MAY 4, 2014
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 2, 2014 WEEKEND GUIDANCE AND PRESS SCHEDULE FOR SATURDAY, MAY 3, 2014 AND SUNDAY, MAY 4, 2014 On Saturday, the President and the First Lady will attend the 2014 White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner. The event will be covered by the travel pool. White House Pool Report 1
Teachers took center stage in the East Room this afternoon, as President Obama honored the 2014 National Teacher of the Year and finalists. The event was open press but here are some highlights: Beginning at 2 p.m., each finalist was introduced and individually made the nerve-racking walk to the stage — not a single fall, not even a stumble. Most of the men wore gray or black suits — the female teachers rocked way more color. Your pooler was particularly impressed with the finalist from Georgia (yes, I’m a homer). Obama, joined by Education Secretary Arne Duncan and National Teacher of the Year Sean McComb, was introduced roughly 15 minutes later. POTUS said Duncan cared about three things: his family, basketball and ensuring every child received a world-class education. Obama talked about the role teachers played in shaping his own life. The president said that every successful person will “tell you about a teacher or a coach who inspired them.” “Teachers don’t get an off day, even when they’re exhausted,” he added. In his most political statement, Obama urged the audience to support elected leaders who ensure teachers “have the resources they need to do their jobs well.” Obama ended his remarks by telling the teachers they were doing the “Lord’s work.” Obama presented McComb, a Baltimore-area teacher, with the apple trophy, before posing for a picture with the group. “That’s a good-looking apple,” Obama quipped. Fittingly, Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Md., was in the front row. Obama initiated one final round of applause for the teachers and left the room just after 2:30 p.m. Dr. Jill Biden to Deliver 2014 Commencement Addresses
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Vice President ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 1, 2014 Dr. Jill Biden to Deliver 2014 Commencement Addresses This year, Dr. Jill Biden will deliver commencement addresses at Owensboro Community & Technical College in Owensboro, Kentucky and Villanova University in Villanova, Pennsylvania. On Tuesday, May 13, Dr. Biden will address graduates at Owensboro Community & Technical College (OCTC). OCTC offers a variety of certificate programs and associate degrees, serving more than 4,500 students in Daviess, Ohio, Hancock, and McLean counties. Many of the programs at OCTC are designed to help fulfill high-wage, high-demand career options and help equip students with the skills they need to succeed in those jobs. Through this approach, OCTC has developed partnerships and collaborations with other universities, including Western Kentucky University, the private sector, and federal agencies. This evening ceremony is open to the press. Members of the media should contact Bernie Hale, OCTC Director of Public Relations, at bernie.hale@kctcs.edu or (270) 686-4506. On Friday, May 16, Dr. Biden will address graduates at Villanova University’s 171st commencement. Villanova is a Roman Catholic university founded in 1842 by the Order of St. Augustine with five colleges and schools, including the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the Villanova School of Business, the College of Engineering, the College of Nursing, and the Villanova School of Law. Dr. Biden is a 1991 graduate of Villanova University with a Master of Arts in English. This afternoon event is open to the press. Members of the media should contact Villanova University’s Media Relations office at kathleen.scavello@villanova.edu or (610) 519-5152. Dr. Biden, an educator for more than 30 years, continues to teach full-time at a community college in Northern Virginia. Additional Information on Commencement Addresses by Dr. Jill Biden: In 2009, Dr. Biden addressed graduates at Kingsborough Community College. In 2010, Dr. Biden delivered commencement addresses at the University of Delaware and at the Columbia University Teachers College. In 2011, Dr. Biden spoke at the graduation of Montgomery County Community College and Salve Regina University. In 2012, Dr. Biden addressed graduates at Southwestern Community College and Broward College. In 2013, Dr. Biden delivered the commencement address at Navajo Technical College. DAILY GUIDANCE FOR THE VICE PRESIDENT
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Vice President FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 1, 2014 DAILY GUIDANCE FOR THE VICE PRESIDENT Friday, May 2, 2014 In the morning, the President and the Vice President will welcome Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany Angela Merkel to the White House. The Vice President will attend the President’s bilateral meeting with Chancellor Merkel in the Oval Office. At 12:00 PM, the Vice President will deliver remarks at the Motion Picture Association of America’s second annual Creativity Conference at the Newseum in Washington, DC. The Vice President’s remarks at this event will be pooled for television and open to credentialed correspondents and photographers. Remarks by the President Honoring the 2014 National and State Teachers of the Year
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary For Immediate Release May 1, 2014 REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT HONORING THE 2014 NATIONAL AND STATE TEACHERS OF THE YEAR East Room 2:18 P.M. EDT THE PRESIDENT: Well, welcome to the White House. Let me start off by saying thank you to a leader of unbelievable passion and expertise and dedication; somebody who every single day wakes up and thinks about three things -- either his family, basketball -- (laughter) -- or how to give child a world-class education -- our Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan. (Applause.) I also want to thank our members of Congress who are here today. I am thrilled to have them here and always encourage all members of Congress to focus on education and teachers. And I am thrilled to be welcoming all our state and national teachers of the year. So give them a big round of applause. Good job. (Applause.) This is a phenomenal group –- in addition to being very good-looking. (Laughter.) The best of the best. And they’d be the first to say that they’re only here because they’re surrounded by outstanding teachers who give all to their students every single day. Today is a chance to thank not just the teachers on this stage but teachers all across the country. We really can’t say enough about how important their role is in making sure that America succeeds. So thank you for what you’re giving our children and what you’re giving our nation. Now, it’s been a while since I was in school, but I still remember all the wonderful teachers who made me who I am, who opened the world up to me, who made me feel that maybe I had something to offer, and maybe saw things in me before I saw them in myself. We all had teachers like that. Talk to anybody who’s succeeded in business, or written a play, or invented an app, or broken an athletic record, and they’ll tell you about a teacher or a coach who inspired them and who challenged them, and taught them values, and encouraged them to be curious and ask questions, and explore new realms and new ideas. Everybody has got somebody like that in their lives. That’s what great teachers do. They set us on a better path. And they do it even though we ask so much of them. Teachers don’t get an off day –- even when they're exhausted, even when you’re up all night with your own kid, even if you’ve got bills or something personal on your mind. Once you’re in front of that class, you’ve got eager minds depending on you. And what a lot of people may not realize is how emotionally taxing teaching can be, because great teachers really care about their students. You carry their struggles with you well after the school day ends. You worry about them. You’re often the ones they go to with their troubles and their fears. And sometimes, you can see that they’ve got something on their minds even if they don't talk to you about it. Sometimes they even reach back after they’ve gone off to college and may need a little advice. And it’s that all-encompassing commitment –- that love that you feel for your students -– that makes so many teachers go the extra mile. It’s why many of you dip into your own pockets to pay for classroom supplies. It’s why you spend your nights and weekends thinking about new ways to make your lessons come alive, and why you work hard to build relationships with your students’ families –- because you want to make sure they all have the support that they need outside of the classroom, as well as in it. So being a teacher is a 24/7 job. And yet, many say there’s nothing in the world they’d rather do. And that’s the kind of commitment that the guests we have up on this stage today exhibit every day. We’ve got teachers here from just a few miles away. We’ve also got teachers who came from the Mariana Islands. They teach everything from biology to music to special education. What connects them is how they challenge their kids to reach their full potential; the creativity and passion that they bring to their work, instead of just going through the motions or teaching to the test. What separates them is the lasting impact that they have on their students’ lives. And that is the story of today’s primary honoree, our National Teacher of the Year for 2014, Mr. Sean McComb. (Applause.) Now, I wish I could say this is the biggest thing that happened to Sean this year, but that little bundle right there is Sean’s. (Laughter.) So we clearly are ranked second or third in terms of big stuff happening in Sean’s life. But when Sean was a high school student, he dealt with some pretty serious problems at home and spent his days feeling apathetic and disengaged. And then he entered Mr. Schurtz’s English class. And Mr. Schurtz was one of those teachers who changes everything. He made Sean want to work hard. When Sean’s mom passed away, Mr. Schurtz gave Sean the strength to deliver her eulogy. When Sean went to college, it was, as he put it, through the force of Mr. Schurtz’s will. So Sean himself saw the impact that a teacher could have in a child’s life. And it was Mr. Schurtz’s example that led Sean to become an English teacher himself. Today, at Patapsco High School and Center for the Arts in Baltimore, Sean works with kids in a college-readiness program called Advancement Via Individual Determination, or AVID. And it’s aimed at the kind of student Sean was in high school -- students who have the ability to do the work but need that extra push to reach their full potential. Among the last two graduating classes in the AVID program, 98 percent were admitted to a four-year college. And they earned more merit scholarship money than the rest of the graduating class combined. It’s a tribute to Sean that one of his students asked him, “What do you think about me becoming a teacher?” Sean asked him what subject he’d want to teach, and his student said, “It doesn’t matter. I just want to have as much fun as you do every day.” (Laughter.) And Sean tries to instill in his students a sense of respect and obligation to each other. As one of his students said, “I feel like I’m not learning on my own here; I learn from everyone.” And I think it speaks volumes about the kind of example Sean sets for his students that, as part of his application for this award, the parents of one of his students wrote a letter on his behalf. And they wrote, “[Our daughter] had the typical teenage drama in school that at times really got her depressed about school and life in general. We reached out to Sean for help with getting her back on track. No matter his schedule load, if he knew one of his students was in need, whether [for] a shoulder to cry on or a calming word of encouragement, he would be there to help.” And there’s an image from Sean’s application essay that captures what he and all the teachers here are trying to accomplish. Every child has an invisible chalkboard attached to their hearts and minds that they carry with them through their lives. Some people they meet write messages of love and support. Some leave messages of negativity and doubt. It’s a teacher’s job to erase the negative messages and fill those boards with caring words, and inspire confidence and strengthen values. Now, some of today’s students might not even know what a chalkboard is anymore -- (laughter) -- but they do know that what a teacher gives them stays with them for a lifetime, because teachers matter. When Michelle and I talk to students, we often tell them education is a two-way street. It’s our job to provide students with great schools and great teachers, and it’s their job to do their homework and work hard and do their best. The people you elect have to make sure that teachers and school districts have the resources they need to do their jobs well. And investing in education has been a top priority of mine since the day I took office. And it falls on all of us to make sure that we’re encouraging our kids and reading to them, and teaching them healthy, successful habits that set them on a path to college and a career, and a lifetime of citizenship. Teachers who work hard to inspire their kids every day, they too deserve our support, because these are our kids that we’re grooming for all the challenges that they’re going to face throughout the next generation. So I could not be prouder of Sean and all the teachers who are here today. Sean, I’m pretty sure Mr. Schurtz would be proud of you, too. And to all the teachers who are out there, and the millions who are working hard in classrooms all across our nation, we want to thank you as well. You’re doing the Lord’s work. And with that, I’m going to present Sean with his apple. (Laughter.) Thank you, and God bless you. God bless America. (Applause.) END 2:27 P.M. EDT White House to Host Press Call to Release Big Data Report
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 1, 2014 Washington, DC – Today, Thursday, May 1 at 2:00 PM EDT, Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker and John Podesta, Counselor to the President, will host a press conference call to release the White House’s Big Data Report. To view the Big Data Report, click HERE. WHO: Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker John Podesta, Counselor to the President WHAT: Press conference call on the White House Big Data Report THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 1, 2014 FACT SHEET: BIG DATA AND PRIVACY WORKING GROUP REVIEW Driven by the declining cost of data collection, storage, and processing; fueled by new online and real-world sources of data, including sensors, cameras, and geospatial technologies; and analyzed using a suite of creative and powerful new methods, big data is fundamentally reshaping how Americans and people around the world live, work, and communicate. It is enabling important discoveries and innovations in public safety, health care, medicine, education, energy use, agriculture, and a host of other areas. But big data technologies also raise challenging questions about how best to protect privacy and other values in a world where data collection will be increasingly ubiquitous, multidimensional, and permanent. In January, President Obama asked his Counselor John Podesta to lead a 90-day review of big data and privacy. The review was conceived as fundamentally a scoping exercise, designed to define for the President what is new about the technologies that define the big data landscape; uncover where and how big data affects public policy and the laws and norms governing privacy; to ask how and whether big data creates new challenges for the principles animating the Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights embraced by the Administration in 2012; and to lay out an agenda for how government can maximize the benefits and minimize the risks of big data. The working group – which included Commerce Secretary Pritzker, Energy Secretary Moniz, the President’s Science Advisor John Holdren, the President’s Economic Advisor Jeff Zients, and other Senior Administration Officials – sought public input and worked over 90 days with academic researchers and privacy advocates, regulators and the technology industry, advertisers and civil rights groups, the international community and the American public. This review was supported by a parallel effort by the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) to research the technological trends underpinning big data. Today, Podesta and the big data working group presented their findings and recommendations to the President. The review did not set out to answer every question about big data, nor was it intended to develop a comprehensive policy approach to big data. However, by evaluating the opportunities and challenges presented by big data, the working group was able to draw important conclusions and make concrete recommendations to the President for Administration attention and policy development. SEIZING OPPORTUNITIES We live in a world of near-ubiquitous data collection where that data is being crunched at a speed increasingly approaching real-time. This revolution presents incredible opportunities: · Big data is saving lives. Infections are dangerous—even deadly—for many babies born prematurely. By collecting and analyzing millions of data points from a neonatal intensive care unit, one study was able to identify factors, like slight changes in body temperature and heart rate, that serve as early warning signs an infection may be taking root—subtle changes that even the most experienced doctors may not have have noticed on their own. · Big data is making the economy work better. Jet engines and delivery trucks now come outfitted with sensors that continuously monitor hundreds of data points and send automatic alerts when maintenance is needed. Utility companies are starting to use big data to predict periods of peak electric demand, adjusting the grid to be more efficient and potentially averting brown-outs. · Big data is saving taxpayer dollars. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services have begun using predictive analytics—a big data technique—to flag likely instances of reimbursement fraud before claims are paid. The Fraud Prevention System helps identify the highest-risk health care providers for waste, fraud, and abuse in real time and has already stopped, prevented, or identified $115 million in fraudulent payments. Big data also presents powerful opportunities in areas as diverse as medical research, agriculture, energy efficiency, global development, education, environmental monitoring, and modeling climate change impacts, among others. PRESERVING OUR VALUES The opportunities presented by big data are considerable, but big data raises serious concerns about how we protect our privacy and other values. For example: · Big data tools can alter the balance of power between government and citizen. Government agencies can reap enormous benefits from using big data to improve service delivery or detect payment fraud. But government uses of big data also have the potential to chill the exercise of free speech or free association. As more data is collected, analyzed, and stored on both public and private systems, we must be vigilant in ensuring that balance is maintained between government and citizens, and revise our laws accordingly. · Big data tools can reveal intimate personal details. One powerful big data technique involves merging multiple data sets, drawn from disparate sources, to reveal complex patterns. But this practice, sometimes known as “data fusion,” can also lead to the so-called “mosaic effect,” whereby personally identifiable information can be discerned even from ostensibly anonymized data. As big data becomes even more widely used in the private sector to bring a wellspring of innovations and productivity, we must ensure that effective consumer privacy protections are in place to protect individuals. · Big data tools could lead to discriminatory outcomes. As more decisions about our commercial and personal lives are determined by algorithms and automated processes, we must pay careful attention that big data does not systematically disadvantage certain groups, whether inadvertently or intentionally. We must prevent new modes of discrimination that some uses of big data may enable, particularly with regard to longstanding civil rights protections in housing, employment, and credit. POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS No matter how quickly technology advances, it remains within our power to ensure that we both encourage innovation and protect our values through law, policy, and the practices we encourage in the public and private sector. To that end, the working group made six actionable policy recommendations in their report to the President: · Advance the Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights because consumers deserve clear, understandable, reasonable standards for how their personal information is used in the big data era. · Pass National Data Breach Legislation that provides for a single national data breach standard, along the lines of the Administration’s 2011 Cybersecurity legislative proposal. · Extend Privacy Protections to non-U.S. Persons because privacy is a worldwide value that should be reflected in how the federal government handles personally identifiable information from non-U.S. citizens. · Ensure Data Collected on Students in School is used for Educational Purposes to drive better learning outcomes while protecting students against their data being shared or used inappropriately. · Expand Technical Expertise to Stop Discrimination because the federal government should build the technical expertise to be able to identify practices and outcomes facilitated by big data analytics that have a discriminatory impact on protected classes. · Amend the Electronic Communications Privacy Act to ensure the standard of protection for online, digital content is consistent with that afforded in the physical world—including by removing archaic distinctions between email left unread or over a certain age. UPDATED GUIDANCE FOR FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the First Lady For Immediate Release April 30, 2014 GUIDANCE FOR FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA Friday, May 2, 2014 Reminder to RSVP: San Antonio, TX * 12:10 PM CST – First Lady Michelle Obama will speak at the Fourth Annual College Signing Day at the University of Texas at San Antonio. In her keynote remarks, the First Lady will highlight the significance of pursuing and completing some form of higher education and the importance of students doing their part to answer the President’s ‘North Star’ Education Goal that by the year 2020, America once again has the highest proportion of college graduates in the world. College Signing Day is part of Destination College, a week of free events started during the tenure of Mayor Julián Castro to celebrate San Antonio as both a college town and a college-going town. To celebrate their commitment to higher education, San Antonio residents show their support by wearing college apparel on Signing Day. To demonstrate national support for higher education, the First Lady is encouraging people across the country to join in this movement and on Friday, May 2nd, share photos of themselves in college apparel on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Vine, and across additional social media platforms using the hashtag #ReachHigher. Monday, May 5, 2014 New York, NY * 11:00 AM – First Lady Michelle Obama will join students from the Fashion Institute of Technology and the High School for Fashion Industries to deliver remarks at the ribbon cutting for The Costume Institute’s new Anna Wintour Costume Center at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. President Obama to Honor Teachers of the Year
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 29, 2014 President Obama to Honor Teachers of the Year WASHINGTON, DC – On Thursday, May 1, President Obama will honor the 2014 National Teacher of the Year and finalists, thanking them for their hard work and dedication each and every day in the classroom. Dr. Jill Biden and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan will also attend the event. Providing all children in America with the opportunity to get a world-class education is critical to their success and the success of our nation, and there is no more important factor in successful schools than great teachers. On Monday afternoon, Dr. Jill Biden, an educator for more than 30 years, hosted a reception honoring the 2014 State Teachers of the Year at the Vice President’s Residence. This is the sixth year in a row that Dr. Biden hosted this group of accomplished teachers. The National Teacher of the Year is chosen from among the State Teachers of the Year by a national selection committee representing the major national education organizations organized by the Council of Chief State School Officers. White House Pool Report #1
Some Poolers are polite when they share data with Media around the world relying on input for updates on the President's activities. "Manila, April 29. Good morning, The president's first event of the day was an inspection of a new US-made electric mini bus prototype that will replace some of the diesel Jeepney vehicles which are synonymous with Manila's chaotic traffic. The electric vehicle scheme, known as Global Electric Transportation (GET) is a 50-50 venture between US and Filipino investors. The president first inspected an old red Jeepney with its shiny chrome fenders and colorful red livery, then stepped aboard the new version. Pangea Motors, based in Vancouver, WA is the sole provider for the system. His remarks, sometimes punctuated by laughter were mostly inaudible to the pool due to the noise of nearby engines of the motorcade. The president's tour guides were Ken Montler, CEO Global Electric Transportation Ltd. (Light blue shirt) -Freddie Tinga, President, Global Electric Transportation Ltd (white shirt) -Robert Martin, Jeepney Driver (Red Shirt) The system, known as City Optimized Managed Electric Transport (COMET) will result in 30,000 of the pollution spewing Jeepneys being taken off the road over the next three years. Jeepneys are ubiquitous multi person independently operated mini buses on Manila's roads, which are crammed with passengers on two long benches, and crawl through gridlocked city streets. The blue and white prototype viewed by the president was larger than the Jeepney, with higher ceilings and looks more comfortable. It also operates on a farecard system rather than the cash fare scheme on traditional Jeeney buses. After the event, the motorcade headed to the helicopters. The President was aboard Marine One at 9.30 am. Background note distributed by the White House is below: Backgrounder: Global Electric Transportation (GET) City Optimized Managed Electric Transport (COMET) Global Electric Transportation Overview: You Tube GET uses leading American electric vehicle technology to solve mass transport related problems in urbanized emerging market megacities and environmentally impacted areas. GET moves public transportation from an interruption in people’s lives to a continuation of their lives. GET is the vehicle of change. Global Electric Transportation (GET) GET is a 50-50 venture between American and Filipino investors to develop a connected mass transport system. Pangea Motors, an American company based in Vancouver, WA, is the exclusive provider and distributor of electric vehicles for GET. GET’s City Optimized Managed Electric Transport (COMET) will launch in Manila in May 2014. Pangea Motors provides the COMET’s engineering, design and manufacturing. GET Philippines delivers the fleet management, a cashless fare system, passenger media analytics and final vehicle assembly. The GET-Pangea partnership intends to launch operations in the United States and Asia. Economic Impact Once fully operational, the COMET will generate 100's of American jobs and 100's more among downstream suppliers to be mirrored where COMET fleets are deployed. In the next three years, GET anticipates purchases of $200 million in US high-end electronic components for the COMET. Over the next three years, 30,000 jeepneys will be taken off the road, with 30,000 COMET drivers operating 15,000 COMETs. The COMET will alleviate the $50 million/day in economic loss the Philippines experiences due to traffic congestion. Environmental Impact The COMET will address pollution, climate change, and healthcare issues. Manila is one of the top five cities at risk to suffer the adverse impacts of climate change. Vehicles cause 85% of Manila’s pollution. Air pollution in the Philippines causes $50 million in annual healthcare costs and 12% of total deaths. Diesel jeepneys in Manila contribute to 15% particulate matter (PM) emissions and 11% carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. GET is currently developing microgrid capability for sustainable charging." FACT SHEET: U.S.-Philippines Partnership for Growth
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 28, 2014 Fact Sheet: United States-Philippines Bilateral Relations President Obama visited the Philippines from April 28-29 to reaffirm the United States’ commitment to the alliance, and to discuss with President Aquino our strategic vision for the bilateral relationship. The President noted our shared history, shared democratic values, strong people-to-people ties, commitment to peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region, and commitment to build prosperity for our people and the global economy. Security Cooperation During the visit, President Obama and President Aquino announced that the two countries agreed to an Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA). The agreement will help the U.S.-Philippine alliance continue to promote the peace and stability that has underpinned Asia’s remarkable economic growth over the past six decades. The EDCA updates and strengthens U.S.-Philippine defense cooperation to meet 21st century challenges. The agreement will facilitate the enhanced rotational presence of U.S. forces; facilitate humanitarian assistance and disaster relief in the Philippines and the region; improve opportunities for bilateral training; and support the long-term modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) as it works to establish a minimum credible defense. The United States has already begun to provide $40 million in technical expertise, training, and equipment through the Global Security Contingency Fund to strengthen the Philippines’ security operations and maritime domain awareness capabilities, the United States is supporting the AFP as it transitions from internal security to external defense (as outlined in the Philippine government’s 2011 “Internal Peace and Security Plan”). This funding also assists the Philippine National Police as they assume a leading role in providing internal security and combating terrorism. The United States, through the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, is also helping to construct a Philippine National Coast Watch Center in Manila that will assist the Philippine Coast Guard in assuming increased responsibility for enhancing information sharing and interagency coordination in maritime security operations. Economic Cooperation The Aquino administration has made significant progress in implementing economic policy and institutional reforms and has achieved remarkable improvements in GDP growth, competitiveness, intellectual property protection and enforcement, tax revenues, and the country’s sovereign debt ranking. The United States is supporting that effort through the Partnership for Growth (PFG), an enhanced engagement of 15 U.S. government agencies aiming to address the most significant constraints to growth in the Philippines and to stimulate inclusive economic expansion. USAID and the Millennium Challenge Corporation account for the majority of PFG financial resources amounting to more than $750 million. Together we have made enormous strides in deepening economic linkages between our two countries. These include: • Removal of the Philippines from the Special 301 Watch List, based on significant advances in the protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights; • Considerable progress on worker rights issues in the Philippines, which will allow the U.S. government to close a Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) review of worker rights in Philippines without any change to the Philippines’ GSP trade benefits; • Actions to further strengthen and expand bilateral agricultural trade – including for U.S. meat and vegetable exports to Philippines as well as Philippine fruit exports to the United States – recognizing the sector’s increasing importance to the bilateral relationship; • Announcement on April 10 by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration that the Republic of the Philippines complies with international safety standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization and has been granted a Category 1 rating; and • Agreement in principle on the general market access terms, including steps to facilitate trade by the Philippines, which would enable the United States to support special WTO treatment for the Philippines’ rice imports through 2017. Both governments intend to finalize a letter exchange memorializing this understanding by June 1. To further strengthen the United States’ enduring ties to the Asia-Pacific region, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker will travel to the Philippines in June in conjunction with a delegation of U.S. CEOs. The engagement of our respective private sectors is critical for strengthening our ties and for generating economic growth and high-paying jobs both in the United States and in the region. The United States and the Philippines have a strong, $24 billion-a-year trade relationship, and our two governments are committed to building on that for mutual benefit. We discussed Philippine interest in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), which the United States sees as the pathway to promoting high-standard, ambitious and comprehensive Asia-Pacific economic integration and to encourage economic reform and development, increase regional and global competitiveness, and create jobs. The United States will continue to support the Philippine government’s medium- to long-term recovery efforts following Typhoon Haiyan, directed at infrastructure and livelihood development, by working hand in hand with the President’s Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery and local government units. The United States is providing $140 million towards typhoon recovery. The United States welcomes the finalization of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro between the Philippine Government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) as an important step in ending violence in the southern Philippines. The United States continues to support efforts to improve governance and foster development in Mindanao through ongoing programs aimed at strengthening local governments’ ability to deliver basic social and economic services, improving governments’ transparency and accountability, and supporting civic engagement in local communities. People-to-People The United States and the Philippines share extensive people-to-people ties. Around 350,000 Americans reside in the Philippines, and approximately 600,000 U.S. citizens visit the country each year. There are approximately 4 million people of Philippine descent in the United States. The Philippines boasts the world’s oldest continuous operating Fulbright program: the Philippine-American Educational Foundation, established in 1948. In 2013, the U.S. Embassy in Manila processed close to 200,000 non-immigrant visa applications and nearly 65,000 immigrant visa cases. Since 1961, over 8,500 Peace Corps Volunteers have served in the Philippines, and at present, 130 Peace Corps Volunteers are working in the country on education, youth development, environmental conservation, and disaster management issues. Remarks by the President at Commercial Deals Signing Ceremony
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary For Immediate Release April 28, 2014 REMARKS BY PRESIDENT OBAMA AT COMMERCIAL DEALS SIGNING CEREMONY Ritz-Carlton Hotel Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 9:24 A.M. MST THE PRESIDENT: Well, it’s a great pleasure to be here with Prime Minister Najib. Before I leave to my next stop on this tour, I thought it was entirely appropriate for us to end my wonderful visit here in Malaysia with an event that directly relates to jobs, business, the wellbeing of our people. Yesterday we agreed to forge a new comprehensive partnership between Malaysia and the United States, and that includes working to expand our economic ties. In the United States, our government goes to bat every day for American companies that are trying to export or do business abroad. We advocate for them. We help facilitate deals like this. And today, we’re selling more American exports around the world than ever before. I want to congratulate these American companies for completing these important commercial deals. Together, these three deals -- in aviation, biotech and insurance -- are worth nearly $2 billion. It means these companies will be doing more business in Malaysia and selling more exports marked “Made in America.” These deals support American jobs in places like Ohio and North Carolina. And companies that export often pay better wages, so it’s a good day for American workers as well. The United States is already the largest foreign investor in Malaysia. And Malaysia is one of the fastest-growing investors in the United States. And I want to do even more business together. And I know the Prime Minister agrees. So these deals reflect our commitment to stepping up our game -- competing harder, investing more -- not only in each other’s countries, but across the region. And finally, today reminds us that we need to do everything we can to promote more trade and ties like this. And that includes reducing some of the existing barriers to trade and investment and completing the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which is going to open up more markets to our exports and support good jobs. So I want to thank Prime Minister Najib for being here and for his commitment to expanding the economic ties between our countries. I want to thank these outstanding business leaders behind us for the great work that they do and the jobs they support back home in the United States. Here in Asia and around the world, I’m going to keep advocating on behalf of American companies and American workers so that we continue to see more growth and prosperity not only in our own country but around the world. And with that, we’ll let them sign these agreements. Congratulations. (Applause.) (Business leaders sign agreements.) Thanks, everybody. END 9:31 A.M. MST President Obama Congratulates American Companies On Completing Commercial Agreements
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 27, 2014 President Obama Congratulates American Companies On Completing Commercial Agreements Agreements will increase exports, boost investment in the U.S. and support American jobs Today, President Obama attended a signing ceremony to congratulate three American companies -- General Electric, Verdezyne and MetLife -- on the completion of commercial agreements in Malaysia worth more than $1.8 billion. As a result of these deals, U.S. companies will be doing more business in Malaysia, increasing U.S. exports, and Malaysians will be investing in America. All these transactions help support good jobs in the United States. Three Agreements GE-Air Asia General Electric will supply engines and related maintenance to power 25 new A330 aircraft for Air Asia X. This sale, worth more than $1.5 billion, will help support thousands of jobs in Cincinnati, Ohio, Durham, North Carolina, Rutland, Vermont and elsewhere in the United States as well as jobs in GE’s 150 suppliers in 34 states. With this agreement, GE will have provided 600 engines to AirAsia. Verdezyne-Sime Darby Sime Darby will take a 30% stake, valued at $30 million, in San Diego-based Verdezyne, a start-up biotechnology company. Verdezyne will use this investment to fund research and development in the United States. The two companies will cooperate on developing a new facility that will convert palm oil waste into valuable industrial chemicals. MetLife-AmBank Group MetLife and AmBank have agreed to cooperate on a $250 million venture to distribute savings and insurance products, including Takaful, Islamic-compliant insurance contracts. AmBank is the fifth largest banking group in Malaysia. U.S.-Malaysia Investment and Trade Malaysia is one of the fastest growing investors in the US. For example, Genting, a leisure and hospitality company, is investing over $3 billion into the hotel & tourism sector. The Malaysia Life Science Capital Fund includes several U.S. biotechnology companies in its investment portfolio. Finally, Khazanah, the state investment fund, recently opened an office in San Francisco targeting high-tech investments. Malaysia is also the second largest U.S. trading partner in ASEAN and the United States is Malaysia’s fourth largest trading partner worldwide. Reflecting Malaysia’s strong integration into global supply chains, semiconductors, computer parts and electronic equipment form a substantial part of bilateral trade. Other U.S. exports include civilian aircraft, industrial equipment and chemicals and agricultural products, while additional substantial Malaysian exports include palm oil and medical equipment. In 2013, bilateral trade in goods increased to $40.3 billion from $38.8 billion in 2012. White House Travel Pool Report #1
President Obama's Asia trip is winding down. The White House pooler of the day was up early to cover the event with business executives. "At about 9:25 am local time, President Obama and Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak came in to a room at the Ritz-Carlton to preside over a business event in which executives from three U.S. firms announced new investment deals with Malaysian companies. Under the agreements signed today, General Electric will make engines for 25 A330 aircraft as part of a $1.5 billion contract with AirAsia X Bhd, the long-haul unit of the region's biggest low-cost airline. MetLife Inc. agreed to work on a $250 million initiative to sell savings and insurance products, while the San Francisco-based biotech company Verdezyne inked a $30 million investment to partner with the Kuala Lumpur-based Sime Darby Bhd. to convert palm oil waste into industrial chemicals. The executives, all of them men in dark suits with crisp white shirts and neckties in an array of colors, stood by three tables draped in a shiny yellow material. Behind each table stood a Malaysian and American flag. There were 30 audience members seated in chairs watching the ceremony, most of whom work for the three firms. Some Malaysian and US government officials also attended, including US Trade Representative Mike Froman. Obama described how the US worked to promote US businesses abroad. "We advocate for them, we help facilitate deals like this together." He said the agreements, "in aviation, biotech and insurance, are worth nearly 2 billion dollars. These deals support (American jobs) in places like Ohio and North Carolina, and companies that export often pay higher wages, so it's a good deal for America." "I want to do even more business together, and I know the prime minister agrees." The president and prime minister stood behind each pair of executives in succession as they signed the deals, and applauded each one as they did it." Poolers typos can be funny, like the pooler writing the involved were "singing" the deals, rather than signing the deals. Pooler generally are under stress cover the President. Travel poolers also deal with Time Zone changes. " A full list of those singing the deals, per the White House, is below: GE + AirAsia X - Signing for GE: Mr. John G. Rice, Vice Chairman and President & CEO, GE Global Growth & Operations, GE - Signing for AirAsia X: Yang Berbahagia Tan Sri Dato' Sri Dr. Tony Fernandes, Group CEO, AirAsia Berhad Verdezyne + Sime Darby - Signing for Verdezyne: Mr. Bill Radany, President & CEO, Verdezyne - Signing for Sime Darby: Tan Sri Dato' Seri Mohd Bakke Salleh, President & Group Chief Executive, Sime Darby Berhad MetLife + AmBank Group - Signing for Metlife: Mr. Christopher G. Townsend, President, MetLife, Asia - Signing for AmBank Group: Yang Berbahagia Tan Sri Azman Hashim, Chairman, AmBank Group Berhad" DAILY GUIDANCE AND PRESS SCHEDULE FOR MONDAY, APRIL 28, 2014
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 27, 2014 DAILY GUIDANCE AND PRESS SCHEDULE FOR MONDAY, APRIL 28, 2014 On Monday, the President will participate in the signing of major commercial agreements with American businesses. There will be travel pool coverage of the signing. Later in the morning, the President will depart Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia en route Manila, Philippines. The Presidents departure from the Rmaf Subang Air Base and arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport are open press. In the afternoon, the President will participate in the official arrival ceremony at the Malacanang Palace with President Benigno Aquino of the Philippines. The President’s arrival ceremony is open press. Following the official arrival ceremony, the President will participate in the guest book signing with President Aquino. There will be travel pool coverage of the signing. Later in the afternoon, the President will participate in a restricted and expanded bilateral meeting with President Aquino. There will be limited pool spray of the restricted meeting, and there will be a travel pool spray at the top of the expanded meeting. Following these meetings, the President joins President Aquino for a joint press conference. The press conference is open press. In the evening, the President will meet with employees and family members of the United States Embassy to the Philippines. This event at the Sofitel Hotel is closed press. Later in the evening, the President will return to the Malacanang Palace to attend the state dinner with President Aquino of the Philippines. There will be travel pool coverage of the state dinner toasts. The President will remain overnight in the Philippines. MYT 9:15AM THE PRESIDENT participates in the signing of major commercial agreements with American businesses Ritz-Carlton, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia White House Travel Pool Report #5 -- innovation and creativity center
The White House pooler for the visit to Malaysia's innovation and creativity center reported, "After a short drive to the Malaysian Global Innovation and Creativity Center, President Obama took an efficient tour of the center, making three quick stops.... At each stop, Obama chatted for a minute or two with the creator. "What do we have here?" he asked the creator of the electric Go-Kart. Khairil Adri explained that an electric Go-Kart could be used indoors. Obama posed several questions to the creators, asking "What's been the biggest challenge starting up a company?" "Fantastic. Good luck," he said as he wrapped up each conversation. Next, Obama greeted several dozen school-aged children who were seated at tables working on computer tablets. He stopped to chat with a few kids, asking what they were doing. "They were working on Angry Birds. What are you guys doing?" he asked the second group he visited. Obama made brief remarks, extolling the value of entrepreneurship and encouraging the children to follow their dreams. "That's how societies grow," he said. Obama called the center -- known by the acronym MAGIC -- a one-stop shop for young entrepreneurs, noting that they could get help with patents, assistance starting busineses and other guidance. "This is the kind of entrepreneurship that Prime Minister Najib and I want to encourage," he said. Obama added: "These young people are going to be creating amazing things." He thanked them for their determination and imagination. Prime Minister Najib spoke briefly and announced that MAGIC would be naming the green space in front of the center the "Obama Oval." The pool glimpsed the space as the motorcade departed, and it was indeed green. A sculpture with two adjoining ovals marked the Obama Oval. After speaking to the kids, Obama spent several minutes posing for pictures. Grinning widely, he joked with the children as they tried to arrange themselves for multiple photos. With that, the visit to MAGIC concluded. The motorcade departed at 3:10 p.m. an is en route to the town hall event, which is open press. Background, from the White House: Tour Guide/Participants: *Prime Minister Najib Razak *Mohd Irwan, Treasury Sec.-General, Finance Ministry *Tour Stops: o Stop One: Hypoband: POTUS and PM Najib greeted by Geoffrey Tan, the creator of the Hypoband, which is designed for use by diabetics and can detect a cold sweat and warn others of the user’s need for help. It measures the skin’s humidity and temperature levels and displays the readings on the screen of a smartphone. o Stop Two: Electric Go-Kart: POTUS and PM Najib greeted by Khairil Adri, the creator of a 100% Electric Go Kart with a top speed of over 70 kilometers per hour. The team was responsible for the design, retrofitting, integration and assembly of the electric powertrain unit. o Stop Three: Piktochart: POTUS and PM Najib greeted by Ai Ching Goh, the creator of the Piktochart, which is an online infographic tool. It has recorded a total database of 300,000 users since they launched in March 2012. It is an easy infographics design application that requires very little effort to produce simple, high quality graphics. The elephant in the room remains the Malaysian airliner disappeared without a trace despite all of technologies promoted wonders. Joint Press Conference with President Obama and Prime Minister Najib of Malaysia
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary For Immediate Release April 27, 2014 REMARKS BY PRESIDENT OBAMA AND PRIME MINISTER NAJIB OF MALAYSIA IN JOINT PRESS CONFERENCE Perdana Putra Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 1:32 P.M. MST PRIME MINISTER NAJIB: A very good afternoon. It is an honor to host you, Mr. President, and the United States delegation. On behalf of the Malaysian people, I extend to you our warmest greeting. Normally, I would say selamat datang, which means “welcome” in our language. But since you grew up not far from here, you’re one of the few leaders, world leaders, who will understand when I say selamat datang, sahabat saya. Forty-eight years ago, a United States President first stepped onto Malaysian soil. Back then, TV was black and white. The Monkees were topping the U.S. charts with “The Last Train to Clarksville.” (Laughter.) PRESIDENT OBAMA: It’s a good song. (Laughter.) PRIME MINISTER NAJIB: And the “Sound of Music” movie was winning Academy Awards. Today, Mr. President, you see not rubber trees, as Lyndon B. Johnson did, but soaring skyscrapers. They are a testament to the transformation that is taking place here in Malaysia. And on this journey we are thankful for the United States’ hand in friendship. Over the past two months, the strength of our relationship has been revealed for all to see. From the day MH370 went missing, the United States lent its considerable expertise to the investigation and its unique capabilities and assets to the search effort. We are grateful to you for standing by Malaysia in our hour of need. The U.S. and Malaysia have a longstanding relationship. We established diplomatic relations on the day of Malaysia’s independence in 1957. In the decades that followed, when ideological tensions tore at Southeast Asia, the U.S. and Malaysia remained firm friends. And over the past few years, we have been working to strengthen the bonds between us. Today we see the fruits of this labor on the economy, on security and on people-to-people relations. We are closer now than ever before. Earlier this morning, the President and I talked at length about the issues we face in the region and in the world, and we took significant steps towards our shared objectives. First and foremost, we agreed to upgrade our bilateral relations to a Comprehensive Partnership. This marks a new phase in our relationship with greater collaboration on the economy, security, education, science, technology, and more. We also decided to reinvigorate the Senior Officials Dialogue as a key forum for high-level discussion. Together, these agreements lay a firm foundation for further cooperation to come. Malaysia welcomes America’s rebalancing towards Asia and its contribution to peace, stability and prosperity in the region. Our continents share an ocean. We should be connected by common policy, too. We believe all parties should share in Asia’s remarkable growth story, provided they also share a commitment to the peace upon which it depends. On global security, the President and I agreed to strengthen cooperation in peacekeeping training. Malaysia has also decided to endorse the “Statement of Interdiction Principles” of the Proliferation Security Initiative. I expressed my appreciation to the President on U.S. strong support for ASEAN and the East Asia Summit, and for the confidence they have expressed in Malaysia’s chairmanship of ASEAN next year. As we prepare for this chairmanship, and as we bid for a non-permanent seat on the U.N. Security Council, we seek a greater role in promoting global peace and regional stability. In these endeavors and more, our friendship with the United States is immensely valued. Just last month, Malaysia helped secure a comprehensive agreement in the Southern Philippines, ending a conflict which claimed 150,000 lives, and denying al Qaeda and its affiliates a possible foothold in that region. We have rejected religious extremism by establishing a Global Movement of Moderates. On the South China Sea, President Obama and I both stressed earlier the importance of upholding universally recognized principles of international law, including United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. We agreed that the full implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties was vital and that an effective Code of Conduct would enhance mutual trust. The President and I have agreed on a U.S.-Malaysia English Teaching Assistant Program, formerly known as the Fulbright Program. I’m happy to note that we’ve agreed on the bilateral work agreement for partners of diplomats and I would like to thank President Obama for agreeing to consider Malaysia’s participation in the Visa Waiver Program. I’m glad the U.S. is now committed to provide technical briefings, security requirements, and information-sharing agreements for this purpose. For centuries, our people have done business across the Pacific. Today, we continue to do brisk trade. Our bilateral trade has averaged at least 35 billion U.S. dollars annually from 2010 to 2013, while last year, the United States was Malaysia’s largest source of foreign investment, investing $1.9 billion in Malaysia and creating almost 8,000 jobs. President Obama and I welcome the progress made on the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement negotiations. Trade deals are always complex, but our countries are committed to resolving the remaining issues. I know all sides share our desire for an agreement that delivers the best for our citizens and our businesses. I would like to thank President Obama for his understanding of Malaysia’s challenges and sensitivities in the TPP negotiations. Malaysia has always been a bridge between peoples and cultures, a trading nation bound by vital seas. We are a modern progressive Muslim majority nation, a multiethnic, multi-religious society. We have long known the benefit of cooperation across borders, and we have long recognized the power of shared prosperity. In this context, it gives us sincere pleasure to welcome the U.S. delegation for this historic visit. Your presence here, Mr. President, will mark the beginning of the next phase of our partnership, with deeper friendship and a more comprehensive partnership. Over the past few days, we have found common cause on issues that matter -- those that would deliver opportunity for our people and security for our region. And we have set the stage for a new phase of our relationship, one based on greater cooperation needed to equal the challenges of our time. Thank you. PRESIDENT OBAMA: Selamat tengah hari. Thank you, Prime Minister Najib, for your warm welcome. I am very pleased to be the first U.S. President to visit Malaysia in almost 50 years. And it is wonderful to be staying in Kuala Lumpur -- one of Asia’s most dynamic cities. I want to thank Their Majesties, the King and the Queen, for their incredible hospitality at last night’s state dinner, and the wonderful display of Malaysian culture in all its beauty and diversity. And I want to thank the people of Malaysia for such a warm welcome. Today the United States is once again playing a leadership role in the Asia Pacific. And a key part of our strategy is expanding our ties with Southeast Asia -- and that includes Malaysia. By virtue of geography, Malaysia is central to regional stability, maritime security and freedom of navigation. By virtue of its economic progress -- that’s evident for all who visit here for the first time -- and by virtue of Prime Minister Najib’s goal of making the economy even more competitive, Malaysia has the potential to unleash a new era of growth. And by virtue of its diversity -- people from so many ethnic groups and backgrounds, holding different political beliefs and practicing different faiths, Malaysia has the opportunity to draw on the enormous strengths of its people. In the United States embracing that diversity and upholding the rights and dignity of all our citizens has always made us stronger, and I believe it can make Malaysia even stronger as well. I welcomed Prime Minister Najib to Washington four years ago, and we agreed at that time to broaden and deepen the relationship between our countries. Today, across a whole range of areas -- security, trade, regional institutions -- we’re working more closely together than ever before. And today, I’m pleased that we’re formalizing our efforts in a new Comprehensive Partnership. I’d note that we’ve also seen our cooperation during the response to the disappearance of Malaysian Airlines Flight 370. And I want to again express the deepest condolences of the American people to all the families who lost loved ones on that flight -- Malaysian, American, Chinese and people from many other nations. As we have since the beginning of this tragedy, we’re working closely with our Malaysian partners and we will continue to provide all the assistance we can in their search and the investigation. And today, the Prime Minister and I discussed some of the lessons that are being learned from this tragedy and how nations, including our own, might continue to improve our cooperation moving forward. The Comprehensive Partnership we’re launching today aims to deepen our economic ties. As the Prime Minister noted, Malaysia and the United States are already close economic partners, and we’re working together on the Trans-Pacific Partnership to open up Asia Pacific markets, boost exports, promote innovation and growth in both our nations. The TPP will support good jobs in the United States and Malaysia, and it will help Malaysia meet its goal to become a high-income economy by the end of the decade. Today, the Prime Minister and I discussed the particular issues of importance to Malaysia and we agreed to work quickly to resolve those issues, consistent with a final high-standards, comprehensive TPP agreement. And tomorrow we’ll have the opportunity to join some of our business leaders as they sign three commercial agreements worth more than $1 billion of new trade and investment between our nations. Our Comprehensive Partnership will expand our security cooperation. As a founding member of ASEAN and the East Asia Summit, Malaysia has already been a critical leader in building the institutions that can advance regional prosperity and security. Strengthening ASEAN unity and its central role in the region is a key part of our own American engagement in Asia. We very much agree with ASEAN’s view and Malaysia’s view that disputes need to be resolved peacefully, without intimidation or coercion, and that all nations must abide by international rules and international norms. We welcome Malaysia’s recent endorsement of the principles of the Proliferation Security Initiative, the global effort to prevent the tracking [trafficking] of weapons of mass destruction. We’re aiming to step up our coordination on a range of challenges, from disaster relief to maritime security. And we are looking forward to working closely with Malaysia on all these issues when it chairs both ASEAN and the EAS next year. And finally, our Comprehensive Partnership will continue to strengthen the strong ties between our peoples, especially our young people. The young women and men of Malaysia are brimming with potential, and we want to do more together to open the door of opportunity to everybody, regardless of race, religion, gender or language. That’s why the Prime Minister and I will be meeting with entrepreneurs from Malaysia, and why I’ll be engaging with promising young leaders from across South[east] Asia later this afternoon. And thanks to the tremendous success of our program to bring young Americans to Malaysia to teach English, the Prime Minister and I agreed to renew that program for several more years. The time that I spent in this region as a child helped to shape my understanding of the world, broadened my vision, left me with a lifelong affection for the people and traditions of Southeast Asia. And I look forward to a new generation of Americans getting that same experience here in Malaysia. So, Prime Minister Najib, thank you again for your partnership, for your vision for what our nations can accomplish together, not only for our two peoples, but for the peace and prosperity of this entire region. Terima kasih banyak. (Applause.) Q Good afternoon, and selamat datang to Mr. President. PRESIDENT OBAMA: Thank you. Q I have a question on the issue of Proliferation Security Initiative. This PSI, this is something new for Malaysia. Are we going to be the 103rd member of PSI? And what is the SOP like? And do we have the expertise? And for Mr. President, is the U.S. going to assist us in capacity-building and other requirements? Thank you. PRIME MINISTER NAJIB: Well, this PSI is actually not new in substance because we’ve been working very closely with the United States and whenever there is a request for us to do some interdiction we’ve never failed to respond. What we’re doing today is to formalize it so that there will be a formal relationship. And that relationship will just continue what we have done, and it also reflects a strong will and desire on Malaysia’s side to cooperate not only with the United States, with the international community, to stop the profilation -- proliferation -- sorry -- PRESIDENT OBAMA: It’s a hard one. I always screw it up. (Laughter.) PRIME MINISTER NAJIB: -- for the spread -- (laughter) -- of parts for nuclear weapons and weapons of mass destruction. I’ll get it right, don’t worry. (Laughter.) PRESIDENT OBAMA: Well, as the Prime Minister said, this is an area where we’ve already developed strong partnership. And I want to commend Prime Minister Najib and his national security team and law enforcement, intelligence teams. I think it’s fair to say that when both of us came into office this wasn’t at the top of the priority list. And what we were seeing, though, was that this region was a potential area where traffickers in parts and systems that could lead to nuclear proliferation or weapons of mass destruction could operate. And so, in our conversations, in our teams’ consultations, we began to tighten the links and bonds between us in terms of sharing information, identifying threats, and working more closely and cooperatively together. And we’ve done that. What the PSI does, as the Prime Minister says, is formalize it. It puts a framework around it. It involves capacity-building, but it’s not just a one-way street. Obviously, we have been working on these issues for a long time. I consider the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction as one of the greatest threats to U.S. security, as well as international peace. So we have developed a lot of capacities in this area. But this is a partnership, and what we seek to do is to find ways in which the strengths and the information that each side has can be enhanced and combined and pooled so that we don’t have the possibility of loose nuclear materials or certain component parts that are being shipped falling into the wrong hands. And we very much appreciate the cooperation that’s already there, but I think what the PSI signifies is that we can do even better in the future. Q Thank you, Mr. President. And, Mr. Prime Minister, selamat tengah hari. PRESIDENT OBAMA: There you go. Good job there, Chuck. Q Mr. President, on the situation in Ukraine and the Russian sanctions that I know the United States and others may be announcing on Monday -- I guess my question is why wait on sectoral sanctions, as far as the United States is concerned? Why not do that on your own, now and sooner, rather than wait for the Europeans to get on board on this? Because aren’t you concerned that Putin is essentially using the European angst over tougher sanctions as a way to slow-walk things and buy more time and space for himself? Quickly, on a second topic, Mr. President, there’s a controversy surrounding some horrendous, racially-charged comments that an owner of the L.A. Clippers made. I was wondering if you care to comment on that. And to the Prime Minister, the TPP -- I know you talked about it -- it’s been generating some protests here in your country, including another one today -- chief concern being some worries, some higher costs of medical supplies in particular. I was wondering if you can comment on those protests and the concern that somehow you’re being bullied into the TPP by the United States. Do you feel that way on that front? Thank you. PRESIDENT OBAMA: Okay, first, on Ukraine, in consultation with our European partners we’ve determined that because Russia has failed to follow through on its side of the accord that had been hammered out in Geneva, it was important for us to take further steps, sending a message to Russia that the kind of destabilizing activities that are taking place in the east and the south of Ukraine had to stop. There was a glimmer of hope after the Geneva accords that Ukraine would follow through on its commitments to enter into a dialogue around constitutional reforms, that it would do everything it needed to do to disarm irregular forces and militias, and it would offer amnesty to those who willingly laid down arms and pulled out of the buildings. They’ve been doing that. Russia has not lifted a finger to help. In fact, there’s strong evidence that they have been encouraging the kinds of activities that have been taking place in eastern and southern Ukraine. And so, collectively, us and the Europeans have said that so long as Russia continues down a path of provocation rather than trying to resolve this issue peacefully and deescalating, there are going to be consequences and those consequences will continue to grow. Now, the notion that for us to go forward with sectoral sanctions on our own without the Europeans would be the most effective deterrent to Mr. Putin I think is factually wrong. We’re going to be in a stronger position to deter Mr. Putin when he sees that the world is unified and the United States and Europe is unified, rather than this is just a U.S.-Russian conflict. And, in fact, you notice that oftentimes they’re really interested in portraying this through this old Cold War prism, when, in fact, that’s not what the issue is here. The issue is respecting basic international norms of sovereignty and territorial integrity. The issue is can the Ukrainians make their own decisions about how they govern themselves and who they have international relations with. That’s our only interest in this whole process. And so it’s important for us to make sure that we are part of an international coalition sending that message and that Russia is isolated in its actions, rather than falling into the trap of interpreting this as the United States is trying to pull Ukraine out of Russia’s orbit, circa 1950. Because that’s not what this is about. And the Europeans have a larger stake in this than anyone. Now, as I said I think at the last press conference, there are going to be differences even within Europe, in part because of the nature of the economic relationships that they’ve got. And we’ve got to work through those in a systematic way. If, in fact, we need to move forward with sectoral sanctions, then it’s going to be important that we know exactly what we’re prepared to do and sustain over the long haul; our European partners know what they’re willing and able to do as well. And the more we are unified, the more effective it’s going to be. If we, for example, say we’re not going to allow certain arms sales to Russia -- just to take an example -- but every European defense contractor backfills what we do, then it’s not very effective. It’s going to be more effective if everybody signs on and everybody is committed. Q But why only have -- PRESIDENT OBAMA: I didn’t say “only,” “never,” “when.” I said this is our strategy. And I want to emphasize every time I address this question there is a diplomatic path to resolving this issue. The Geneva statement pointed towards how we could resolve this statement. What it asks of the Russians is hardly onerous: Make a public statement that those militias need to lay down their arms and exit those buildings; participate with international observers and monitors, rather than stand by while they’re being bullied and, in some cases, detained by these thugs; negotiate with the Ukrainian government and engage in some confidence-building measures. These aren’t heavy lifts if the Russians are sincere in wanting to resolve this problem. So far we haven’t seen that, but we’re going to keep on raising the consequences of Russia rejecting that path towards diplomacy. With respect to the statements by the owner of the Los Angeles Clippers -- for our Malaysian audience, this is a sports team, basketball team in the United States. The owner is reported to have said some incredibly offensive racist statements that were published. I don’t think I have to interpret those statements for you; they kind of speak for themselves. When people -- when ignorant folks want to advertise their ignorance you don’t really have to do anything, you just let them talk. And that’s what happened here. I am confident that the NBA Commissioner, Adam Silver, a good man, will address this. Obviously, the NBA is a league that is beloved by fans all across the country. It’s got an awful lot of African American players. It’s steeped in African American culture. And I suspect that the NBA is going to be deeply concerned in resolving this. I will make just one larger comment about this. The United States continues to wrestle with a legacy of race and slavery and segregation that’s still there -- the vestiges of discrimination. We’ve made enormous strides, but you’re going to continue to see this percolate up every so often. And I think that we just have to be clear and steady in denouncing it, teaching our children differently, but also remaining hopeful that part of why some statements like this stand out so much is because there had been -- there has been this shift in how we view ourselves. And like Malaysia, we constantly have to be on guard against racial attitudes that divide us rather than embracing our diversity as a strength. And I know that the people of Malaysia are committed to wrestling with those issues as well. We have to make sure that we stay on top of it -- and we will. Even though it wasn’t directed at me, I am going to say one thing about TPP -- this notion somehow that some protests here might indicate U.S. bullying. Keep in mind, I’ve got protests back home from my own party about TPP. So there’s never been a trade deal in which somebody is not going to at some point object because they’re fearful of the future or they’re invested in the status quo. And I think it’s just very important for everybody to wait and see what exactly is the agreement that has been negotiated before folks jump to conclusions. If you take an issue like drugs, for example, the United States does extraordinary work in research and development, and providing medical breakthroughs that save a lot of lives around the world. Those companies that make those investments in that research oftentimes want a return, and so there are all kinds of issues around intellectual property and patents, and so forth. At the same time, I think we would all agree that if there’s a medicine that can save a lot of lives, then we’ve got to find a way to make sure that it’s available to folks who simply can’t afford it as part of our common humanity. And both those values are reflected in the conversations and negotiations that are taking place around TPP. So the assumption somehow that right off the bat that’s not something we’re paying attention to, that reflects lack of knowledge of what is going on in the negotiations. But my point is you shouldn’t be surprised if there are going to be objections, protests, rumors, conspiracy theories, political aggravation around a trade deal. You’ve been around long enough, Chuck -- that’s true in Malaysia; it’s true in Tokyo; it’s true in Seoul; it’s true in the United States of America -- and it’s true in the Democratic Party. So I continue to strongly believe, however, that this is going to be the right thing to do -- creating jobs, creating businesses, expanding opportunity for the United States. And it’s going to be good for countries like Malaysia that have been growing rapidly but are interested in making that next leap to the higher-value aspects of the supply chain that can really boost income growth and development. PRIME MINISTER NAJIB: I’d just like to echo what President Obama said. Emphatically, in no uncertain terms, we went to the TPP on our own accord. We were not bullied into it. And I can attest to our commitment towards free trade as the principle and philosophy, because we have entered into 13 separate FTA agreements with other countries. So Malaysia is a great believer in free trade. But we also understand that the benefits of free trade like boosting trade, creating wealth, jobs -- those are the good things. But there will be some losers in the process -- there will be winners and losers. But overall, the benefit, I think -- it's important for us to show to the people in Malaysia that the benefits far outweigh the disadvantages of a free trade agreement. And this is what, in a final analysis, what we have to do, because the underpinnings of a free trade agreement would be acceptance by the people. And we are committed to that process. We’ll engage with the public and we’ll also present it to parliament. So we are working out around the sensitivities and challenges, which I alluded to in my discussions with President Obama. He fully understands our domestic sensitivities, and we will sit down and try to iron this out with the intention of trying to work out a deal in the near future. Q Mr. President, selamat datang. Mr. President, how do you see Malaysia efforts and ability in getting multinational support and efforts for the missing MH370 search-and-rescue operation? And, Mr. President, I'd appreciate if you can elaborate on the visa waiver request. PRESIDENT OBAMA: Well, I know personally, because I’ve been in consultation with my team and all the assets that we have available, that the Malaysian government is working tirelessly to recover the aircraft and investigate exactly what happened. And I can’t speak for all the countries in the region, but I can say that the United States and other partners have found the Malaysian government eager for assistance, have been fully forthcoming with us in terms of the information that they have. And this is a joint effort. It’s not easy. Obviously, we don’t know all the details of what happened, but we do know that if, in fact, the plane went down in the ocean in this part of the world, that is a big, big place and it is a very challenging effort and laborious effort that’s going to take quite some time. I completely understand the heartache that the families are going through and wanting answers. And I think it’s very important -- and I said to Prime Minister Najib -- that there should be full transparency in terms of what we know, what we don’t know, how the process is proceeding. But I can tell you that the United States is absolutely committed to providing whatever resources and assets that we can and that the Malaysian government has been very welcoming of that assistance. On the Visa Waiver Program, the way it works in the United States, we’ve got a very clear set of laws and provisions in terms of how someone -- how a country qualifies to be part of the Visa Waiver Program. And the Prime Minister raised this issue with me, and my team is prepared to work with the Malaysian government to go through the various steps. Typically, it takes some time, it’s not something that happens overnight, because we have to make sure that the kinds of information-sharing, the reporting about lost and stolen passports, terrorist watch lists -- that all those pieces are in place before it’s facilitated. But given the growing and expanding trade that exists and the people-to-people relations between Malaysia and the United States, I want to make sure that we can start down a path. It may take a little bit of time, but we welcome the opportunity to engage with the government on this issue. Q Prime Minister Najib, good afternoon. Thank you for your hospitality, sir. Mr. President, you said at your press conference in Seoul you expressed some frustration with the narrative that military force is the best response to difficult foreign policy challenges. I invite you to expand on that if you want to. But I’m more curious about what you said right after that -- there are many tools in the American toolbox to advance foreign policy interests. As you know, one of those tools is for America to use her prestige to speak out on behalf of human rights, racial tolerance, political accountability and free speech. As you well know, Mr. President, those issues are up for grabs in Malaysia right now, and they’re probably best symbolized by the precarious legal position of Anwar Ibrahim, the opposition political leader in this country. Former Vice President Al Gore has taken up his cause, as has Human Rights Watch and other international lawyers interested in human rights. Can you explain, sir, why you have said nothing about these issues here in Malaysia, why you will not meet with Mr. Ibrahim, and how it’s possible for the United States government to advance these interests of political reform when it won’t use the non-military tools in the toolbox you described in Seoul? And, Mr. Prime Minister, have you made any commitments to the United States government about your efforts in the future to address the issue of political reform here in Malaysia? Thank you. PRESIDENT OBAMA: Well, first of all, Major, I think it’s important to note that there is not a meeting I have around the world where issues of freedom of the press, human rights, civil liberties aren’t prominent on the agenda. And that includes my meeting with Prime Minister Najib. And I think when you say that issues are all “up for grabs” in Malaysia, I think that implies a judgment about what’s happening here in Malaysia that may not fully reflect the progress that’s been made by Prime Minister Najib, but also the recognition I think by the Malaysian government that there’s more work that needs to be done. The fact that I haven’t met with Mr. Anwar in and of itself is not indicative of our lack of concern, given the fact that there are a lot of people I don’t meet with and opposition leaders that I don’t meet with and that doesn’t mean that I’m not concerned about them. But what I have shared with the Prime Minister is the core belief that societies that respect rule of law, that respect freedom of speech, that respect the right of opposition to oppose even when it drives you crazy, even when it’s inconvenient, the respect for freedom of assembly, the respect for people of different races and different faiths and different political philosophies -- that those values are at the core of who the U.S. is, but also I think are a pretty good gauge of whether a society is going to be successful in the 21st century or not. And I think the Prime Minister is the first to acknowledge that Malaysia has still got some work to do -- just like the United States, by the way, has some work to do on these issues. Human Rights Watch probably has a list of things they think we should be doing as a government. And I am going to be constantly committed to making sure that these issues get raised in a constructive way. And Prime Minister Najib came in as a reformer and one who is committed to it, and I’m going to continue to encourage him as a friend and a partner to make sure that we’re making progress on that front. PRIME MINISTER NAJIB: President Obama and I are both equally concerned about civil liberties as a principle. And as you know, when I came into office in 2009, I introduced a slew of reforms, which include a very major undertaking on our part, which is to abolish the detention without trial, ISA. Now, other countries have not done so, but Malaysia has taken the lead in doing so. We’ve also introduced the Peaceful Assembly Act -- the right to protest, the right to assemble. And within this spirit, it would be fair to say that this is the largest or the biggest reform in terms of civil liberties in Malaysia’s history. So in that, I think you should not underestimate or diminish whatever we have done. Specifically on Anwar’s case, it’s not -- I want to put it on record, it’s not about the government against him. It’s an action taken by an individual who happens to be his former employee who’s taken up this case against him -- a complainant. And under the eyes of the law, even if you’re a small man or a big man, you have equal justice. I think you believe in that principle. So now the matter is before the courts. It’s not right for me to comment anything more than that. But be assured that Malaysia is committed to the rule of law, to the independence of a judiciary and to civil liberties. As the President said, there’s more work to be done. But it also means society has got to be prepared for it, for change, because what is important is the end result. And the end result, as the Prime Minister, of this country, I’m committed to ensure peace, stability and harmony. That is the most important thing. And people must respect that, because there are sensitivities on either side, sensitivities relating to minorities and majority as well. So we have to manage that, and that’s exactly what Malaysia has done. And because of that, we are a relatively peaceful, harmonious nation. Thank you. PRESIDENT OBAMA: Thank you very much. Terima Kasih. END 2:16 P.M. MST White House Travel Pool Report #7
Pooler reported on President Obama's town hall departure. President Obama's town hall event wrapped up at 5:15 p.m. local time, and his motorcade is now departing for a meeting with Malaysian civil society leaders. Pooler reported the White House provided color on the event. Pooler wrote... "President Obama will be hosting a town hall with youth from across ASEAN as part of the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI). The crowd will consist of around 400 young people from all ten ASEAN countries who have been identified as emerging leaders in business, government, and civil society by local US embassies. The President will take questions directly from the audience. He'll also be answering questions that have been submitted via Facebook and Twitter using the hashtag #YSEALI and have been preselected by audience members and moderator Anita Woo, a young Malaysian journalist. The Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YESALI) is a signature program that strengthens leadership development and networking in ASEAN, deeps engagement with young leaders on key regional and global challenges, and strengthens people-to-people ties between the United States and Southeast Asian youth. President Obama launched YSEALI via video message in December 2013 during the LEAD ASEAN Youth Summit in Manila Philippines. 100 of the audience members are in Kuala Lumpur for a YSEALI Generation Workshop, which provides leadership development and skills training to high-potential youth from all over ASEAN. " White House Travel Pool Report #6 - town hall info
The White House pooler reported on President Obama's town hall event at the University of Malaya is in progress. The White House relays that the moderator is Anita Woo. The White House also sends along the crowd count and this contact: Crowd count from University of Malaya: 550 White House Remarks by President Obama in Youth Town Hall (Malaysia)
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary ______________________________ For Immediate Release April 27, 2014 REMARKS BY PRESIDENT OBAMA
3:54 P.M. MST
PRESIDENT OBAMA: Well, good afternoon. Selamat petang. Please, everybody have a seat. It is wonderful to be here and it is wonderful to see all these outstanding young people here.
I want to thank, first of all, the University of Malaya for hosting us. I want to thank the Malaysian people for making us feel so welcome. Anita, thank you for helping to moderate.
These trips are usually all business for me, but every once in a while I want to have some fun, so I try to hold an event like this where I get to hear directly from young people like you -- because I firmly believe that you will shape the future of your countries and the future of this region. And I'm glad to see so many students who are here today, including young people from across Southeast Asia. And I know some of you are joining us online and through social media, and you’ll be able to ask me questions, too.
This is my fifth trip to Asia as President, and I plan to be back again later this year -- not just because I like the sights and the food, although I do, but because a few years ago I made a deliberate and strategic decision as President of the United States that America will play a larger, more comprehensive role in this region’s future.
I know some still ask what this strategy is all about. So before I answer your questions, I just want to answer that one question -- why Asia is so important to America, and why Southeast Asia has been a particular focus, and finally, why I believe that young people like you have to be the ones who lead us forward.
Many of you know this part of the world has special meaning for me. I was born in Hawaii, right in the middle of the Pacific. I lived in Indonesia as a boy. (Applause.) Hey! There’s the Indonesian contingent. (Applause.) Yes, that’s where they’re from. My sister, Maya, was born in Jakarta. She’s married to a man whose parents were born here -- my brother-in-law’s father in Sandakan, and his mom in Kudat. (Applause.) And my mother spent years working in the villages of Southeast Asia, helping women buy sewing machines or gain an education so that they could better earn a living.
And as I mentioned last night to His Majesty the King, and the Prime Minister, I’m very grateful for the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia for hosting an exhibit that showcased some of my mother’s batik collection, because it meant a lot to her and it's part of the connection that I felt and I continue to feel to this region.
So the Asia Pacific, with its rich cultures and beautiful traditions and vibrant society -- that's all part of who I am. It helped shape how I see the world. And it's also helped to shape my approach as President.
And while our government, our financial centers, many of our traditions began along the Atlantic Coast, America has always been a Pacific nation, as well. Our biggest, most populous state is on the Pacific Coast. And for generations, waves of immigrants from all over Asia -- from different countries and races and religions -- have come to America and contributed to our success.
From our earliest years, when our first President, George Washington, sent a trade mission to China, through last year, when the aircraft carrier that bears his name, the George Washington, helped with typhoon relief in the Philippines, America has always had a history with Asia. And we’ve got a future with Asia. This is the world’s fastest-growing region. Over the next five years, nearly half of all economic growth outside the United States is projected to come from right here in Asia.
That means this region is vital to creating jobs and opportunity not only for yourselves but also for the American people. And any serious leader in America recognizes that fact. And because you're home to more than half of humanity, Asia will largely define the contours of the century ahead -- whether it’s going to be marked by conflict or cooperation; by human suffering or human progress. This is why America has refocused our attention on the vast potential of the Asia Pacific region.
My country has come through a decade in which we fought two wars and an economic crisis that hurt us badly -- along with countries all over the globe. But we’ve now ended the war in Iraq; our war in Afghanistan will end this year. Our businesses are steadily creating new jobs. And we’ve begun addressing the challenges that have weighed down our economy for too long -- reforming our health care and financial systems, raising standards in our schools, building a clean energy economy, cutting our fiscal deficits by more than half since I took office.
Though we’ve been busy at home, the crisis still confronts us in other parts of the world from the Middle East to Ukraine. But I want to be very clear. Let me be clear about this, because some people have wondered whether because of what happens in Ukraine or what happens in the Middle East, whether this will sideline our strategy -- it has not. We are focused and we’re going to follow through on our interest in promoting a strong U.S.-Asia relationship.
America has responsibilities all around the world, and we’re glad to embrace those responsibilities. And, yes, sometimes we have a political system of our own and it can be easy to lose sight of the long view. But we have been moving forward on our rebalance to this part of the world by opening ties of commerce and negotiating our most ambitious trade agreement; by increasing our defense and educational exchange cooperation, and modernizing our alliances; by participating fully in regional institutions like the East Asia Summit; building deeper partnerships with emerging powers like Indonesia and Vietnam.
And increasingly, we’re building these partnerships throughout Southeast Asia. Since President Johnson’s visit here to Malaysia in 1966, there’s perhaps no region on Earth that has changed so dramatically. Old dictatorships have crumbled. New voices have emerged. Controlled economies have given way to free markets. What used to be small villages, kampungs, are now gleaming skyscrapers. The 10 nations that make up ASEAN are home to nearly one in 10 of the world’s citizens. And when you put those countries together, you’re the seventh largest economy in the world, the fourth largest market for American exports, the number-one destination for American investment in Asia.
And I’m proud to be the first American President to meet regularly with all 10 ASEAN leaders, and I intend to do it every year that I remain President. (Applause.) By the way, I want to congratulate Malaysia on its turn to assume the chairmanship of ASEAN next year. (Applause.) Malaysia plays a central role in this region that will only keep growing over time, with an ability to promote economic growth and opportunity, and be an anchor of stability and maritime security.
Now, one of the things that makes this region so interesting is its diversity. That diversity creates a unique intersection of humanity -- people from so many ethnic groups and backgrounds and religious and political beliefs. It gives Malaysia, as one primary example, the chance to prove -- as America constantly tries to prove -- that nations are stronger and more successful when they work to uphold the civil rights and political rights and human rights of all their citizens. (Applause.)
That’s why, over the past few years, Prime Minister Najib and I have worked to broaden and deepen the relationship between our two countries in the same spirit of berkerja sama that I think so many of you embody. (Applause.) The United States remains the number-one investor in Malaysia. We’re partnering to promote security in shipping lanes. We’re making progress on the Trans-Pacific Partnership to boost trade that supports good jobs and prosperity in both our countries. Today, I’m very pleased that we’ve forged a comprehensive partnership that lays the foundation for even closer cooperation for years to come.
But our strategy is more than just security alliances or trade agreements. It’s also about building genuine relationships between the peoples of Asia and the peoples of the United States, especially young people. We want you to be getting to know the young people of the United States and partnering well into the future in science and technology, and entrepreneurship, and education.
One program that we’re proud of here in Malaysia is the Fulbright English Teaching Assistant Program. (Applause.) Hey, there we go. (Laughter.) Over the past two years, nearly 200 Americans have come here, and they haven’t just taught English -- they’ve made lifelong friendships with their students and their communities.
One of these Americans, I’m told, was a young woman named Kelsey, from a city in Boston -- the city of Boston. Last year, after the Boston Marathon was attacked, she taught her students all about her hometown -- its history and its culture. She taught them a phrase that’s popular in Boston -- “wicked awesome.” So that was part of the English curriculum. (Laughter.)
And so her students began to feel like a place -- that this place, Boston, that was a world away was actually something they understood and they connected to and they cared about. They responded by writing get-well cards and sending them to hospitals where many of the victims were being treated.
Partnerships like those remind us that the relationship between nations is not just defined by governments, but is defined by people -- especially the young people who will determine the future long after those of us who are currently in positions of power leave the stage. And that’s especially true in Southeast Asia, because almost two-thirds of the population in this region is under 35 years old. This is a young part of the world.
And I’ve seen the hope and the energy and the optimism of your generation wherever I travel, from Rangoon to Jakarta to here in KL. I've seen the desire for conflict resolution through diplomacy and not war. I've seen the desire for prosperity through entrepreneurship, not corruption or cronyism. I’ve seen a longing for harmony not by holding down one segment of society but by upholding the rights of every human being, regardless of what they look like or who they love or how they pray. And so you give me hope.
Robert Kennedy once said, “It is a revolutionary world that we live in, and thus it is young people who must take the lead.” And I believe it is precisely because you come of age in such world with fewer walls, with instant information -- you have the world at your fingertips, and you can change it for the better. And I believe that together we can do things that your parents, your grandparents, your great-grandparents would have never imagined.
But today I am proud that we’re launching a new Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative to increase and enhance America’s engagement with young people across the region. You’re part of this new effort. You’re the next generation of leaders -- in government, in civil society, in business and the arts.
Some of you have already founded non-profit organizations to promote human rights, or prevent human trafficking, or encourage religious tolerance and interfaith dialogue. Some of you have started projects to educate young people on the environment, and engage them to protect our air and our water, and to prevent climate change. Some of you have been building your own ASEAN-wide network of young leaders to meet challenges like youth unemployment. And I know that some of you have been spending this weekend collaborating on solutions to these major issues.
And over the next few months, across Southeast Asia, we’re going to find ways to listen to young people about your ideas and the partnerships we can then build together to empower your efforts, develop new exchanges, connect young leaders across Southeast Asia with young Americans.
So that’s part of what we’re starting here today. And before I take your questions, let me just close by sharing with you the future that I want to work for in this region, about where we want America’s rebalance in the Asia Pacific to lead, about the work we can do together.
I believe that together we can make the Asia Pacific more secure. America has the strongest military in the world, but we don’t seek conflict; we seek to keep the peace. We want a future where disputes are resolved peacefully and where bigger nations don’t bully smaller nations. All nations are equal in the eyes of international law. We want to deepen our cooperation with other nations on issues like counterterrorism and piracy, but also humanitarian aid and disaster relief -- which will help us respond quickly to catastrophes like the tsunami in Japan, or the typhoon in the Philippines. We want to do that together.
Together, we want to make the Asia Pacific more prosperous, with more commerce and shared innovation and entrepreneurship. And we want to see broader and more inclusive development and prosperity. Through agreements like the TPP, we want to make sure nations in the Asia Pacific can trade under rules that ensure fair access to markets, and support jobs and economic growth for everybody, and set high standards for the protection of workers and the environment.
Together, we want to make the Asia Pacific -- and the world –- cleaner and more secure. The nations of this region are uniquely threatened by climate change. No nation is immune to dangerous and disruptive weather patterns, so every nation is going to have to do its part. And the United States is ready to do ours. Last year, I introduced America’s first-ever Climate Action Plan to use more clean energy and less dirty energy, and cut the dangerous carbon pollution that contributes to climate change. So we want to cooperate with countries in Southeast Asia to do the same, to combat the destruction of our forests. We can’t condemn future generations to a planet that is beyond fixing. We can only do that together.
Together, we can make this world more just. America is the world’s oldest constitutional democracy; that means we’re going to stand up for democracy -- it’s a part of who we are. And we do this not only because we think it’s right, but because it’s been proven to be the most stable and successful form of government. In recent decades, many Asian nations have shown that different nations can realize the promise of self-government in their own way; they have their own path. But we must recognize that democracies don’t stop just with elections; they also depend on strong institutions and a vibrant civil society, and open political space, and tolerance of people who are different than you. We have to create an environment where the rights of every citizen, regardless of race or gender, or religion or sexual orientation are not only protected, but respected.
We want a future where nations that are pursuing reforms, like Myanmar, like Burma, consolidate their own democracy, and allow for people of different faiths and ethnicities to live together in peace. We want to see open space for civil society in all our countries so that citizens can hold their governments accountable and improve their own communities. And we want to work together to ensure that we’re drawing on the potential of all our people –- and that means ensuring women have full and equal access to opportunity, just like men. (Applause.)
And to make sure we can sustain all these efforts, we want a future where we’re building an architecture of institutions and relationships. For America, that always begins with our alliances, which serve as the cornerstone of our approach to the world. But we also want to work with organizations like ASEAN and in forums like APEC and the East Asia Summit to resolve disputes and forge new partnerships. And we want to cooperate with our old allies and our emerging partners, and with China. We want to see a peaceful rise for China, because we think it can and should contribute to the stability and prosperity that we all seek.
So that’s the shared future I want to see in the Asia Pacific. Now, America cannot impose that future. It’s one we need to build together, in partnership, with all the nations and peoples of the region, especially young people. That vision is within our reach if we’re willing to work for it.
Now, this world has its share of threats and challenges, and that’s usually what makes the news. We know that progress can always be reversed, and that positive change is achieved not through passion alone, but through patient and persistent effort. But we’ve seen things change for the better in this region and around the world because of the effort of ordinary people, together -- working together. It’s possible. We’ve seen it in the opportunity and progress that’s been unleashed in this amazing part of the world.
I’ve only been in Malaysia for a day, but I’ve already picked up a new phrase: Malaysia boleh. (Applause.) Malaysia can do it. Now, I have to say, we have a similar saying in America: Yes, we can. That’s the spirit in which I hope America and all the nations of Southeast Asia can work together, and it’s going to depend on your generation to carry it forward. As Presidents and Prime Ministers, they can help lay the foundation, but you’ve got to build the future.
And now I want to hear directly from you. I want to hear your aspirations for your own lives, your hopes for your communities and your culture, what you think we can do together in the years to come.
Terima kasih banyak. (Applause.)
MS. WOO: Thank you very much, Mr. President. If you may?
PRESIDENT OBAMA: Well, I’m going to take the first question, and then I think Anita is going to take a question from social media. This is tough because we have so many outstanding young people. I’ll call on this young lady right here, right in the front.
Tell me your name. If you’re going to school, tell me what level you’re at, what year you are in school, and where you’re from.
Q Hi, Mr. President. I’m from Cambodia, and I went to Institute of Foreign Languages at the Royal University of Phnom Penh. And I’ve got a very simple question for you. What was your dream when you were in your 20s, and did you achieve it? And if so, how did you achieve it?
PRESIDENT OBAMA: Well, it’s a short question but it’s not a simple one. (Laughter.) When I was in high school -- so, for those of you who are studying under a different system, when I was 15, 16, 17, before I went to the university -- I wasn’t always the best student. Sometimes I was enjoying life too much. (Laughter.) Don’t clap. (Laughter.) This guy is the same way. (Laughter.) No, part of it I was rebelling, which is natural for young people that age. I didn’t know my father, and so my family life was complicated. So I didn’t always focus on my studies, and that probably carried over into the first two years of university.
But around the age of 20, I began to realize that I could have an impact on the world if I applied myself more. I became interested in social policy and government, and I decided that I wanted to work in the non-profit sector for people who are disadvantaged in the United States. And so I was able to do that for three years after I graduated from college. That’s how I moved to the city of Chicago. I was hired by a group of churches to work in poor areas to help people get jobs and help improve housing and give young people more opportunity. And that was a great experience for me, and it led me to go to law school and to practice civil rights laws, and then ultimately to run for elected office.
And when I think back to my journey, my past, I think the most important thing for -- and maybe the most important thing for all the young people here -- is to realize that you really can have an impact on the world; you can achieve your dreams. But in order to do so, you have to focus not so much on a title or how much money you’re going to make, you have to focus more on what kind of influence and impact are you going to have on other people’s lives -- what good can you do in the world.
Now, that may involve starting a business, but if you want to start a business you should be really excited about the product or the service that you’re making. It shouldn’t just be how much money I can make -- because the business people who I meet who do amazing things, like Bill Gates, who started Microsoft -- they’re usually people who are really interested in what they do and they really think that it can make a difference in people’s lives.
If you want to go into government, you shouldn’t just want to be a particular government official. You should want to go into government because you think it can help educate some children, or it can help provide jobs for people who need work.
So I think the most important thing for me was when I started thinking more about other people and how I could have an impact in my larger society and community, and wasn’t just thinking about myself. That’s when I think your dreams can really take off -- because if you’re only thinking about you, then your world is small; if you‘re thinking about others, then your world gets bigger.
Thank you. (Applause.)
MS. WOO: Thank you, Mr. President. We now have a question from the social media, which we’ve been collecting over the week.
PRESIDENT OBAMA: Okay.
Q The question comes from our friend from Burma, from Myanmar. And he asks: To Mr. President, what would be your own key words or encouragement for each of us leaders of our next generation while we are cooperating with numerous diversities such as different races, languages, beliefs and cultures not only in Myanmar, but also across ASEAN? Thank you.
PRESIDENT OBAMA: Well, it’s a great question. If you look at the biggest source of conflict and war and hardship around the world, one of the most if not the most important reasons is people treating those who are not like them differently. So in Myanmar right now, they’re going through a transition after decades of repressive government, they’re trying to open things up and make the country more democratic. And that’s a very courageous process that they’re going through.
But the danger, now that they’re democratizing is that there are different ethnic groups and different religions inside of Myanmar, and if people start organizing politically around their religious identity or around their ethnic identity as opposed to organizing around principles of justice and rule of law and democracy, then you can actually start seeing conflicts inside those countries that could move Myanmar in a very bad direction -- particularly, if you’ve got a Muslim minority inside of Myanmar right now that the broader population has historically looked down upon and whose rights are not fully being protected.
Now, that’s not unique to Myanmar. Here in Malaysia, this is a majority Muslim country. But then, there are times where those who are non-Muslims find themselves perhaps being disadvantaged or experiencing hostility. In the United States, obviously historically the biggest conflicts arose around race. And we had to fight a civil war and we had to have a civil rights movement over the course of generations until I could stand before you as a President of African descent. (Applause.) But of course, the job is not done. There is still discrimination and prejudice and ethnic conflict inside the United States that we have to be vigilant against.
So my point is all of us have within us biases and prejudices of people who are not like us or were not raised in the same faith or come from a different ethnic background. But the world is shrinking. It’s getting smaller. You could think that way when we were all living separately in villages and tribes, and we didn’t have contact with each other. We now have the Internet and smart phones, and our cultures are all colliding. The world has gotten smaller and no country is going to succeed if part of its population is put on the sidelines because they’re discriminated against.
Malaysia won’t succeed if non-Muslims don’t have opportunity. (Applause.) Myanmar won’t succeed if the Muslim population is oppressed. No society is going to succeed if half your population -- meaning women -- aren’t getting the same education and employment opportunities as men. (Applause.) So I think the key point for all of you, especially as young people, is you should embrace your culture. You should be proud of who you are and your background. And you should appreciate the differences in language and food. And how you worship God is going to be different, and those are things that you should be proud of. But it shouldn’t be a tool to look down on somebody else. It shouldn’t be a reason to discriminate.
And you have to make sure that you are speaking out against that in your daily life, and as you emerge as leaders you should be on the side of politics that brings people together rather than drives them apart. (Applause.) That is the most important thing for this generation. And part of the way to do that is to be able to stand in other people’s shoes, see through their eyes. Almost every religion has within it the basic principle that I, as a Christian, understand from the teachings of Jesus. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Treat people the way you want to be treated. And if you’re not doing that and if society is not respecting that basic principle, then we’re going backwards instead of going forward.
And this is true all around the world. And sometimes, it’s among groups that those of us on the outside, we look -- they look exactly the same. In Northern Ireland, there has been a raging conflict -- although they have finally come to arrive at peace -- because half or a portion of the population is Catholic, a portion is Protestant. From the outside, you look -- why are they arguing? They’re both Irish. They speak the same language. It seems as if they’d have nothing to argue about. But that’s been a part of Ireland that has been held back and is poor and less developed than the part of Ireland that didn’t have that conflict.
In Africa, you go to countries -- my father’s country of Kenya, where oftentimes you’ve seen tribal conflicts from the outside you’d think, what are they arguing about? This is a country that has huge potential. They should be growing, but instead they spend all their time arguing and organizing politically only around tribe and around ethnicity. And then, when one gets on top, they’re suspicious and they’re worried that the other might take advantage of them. And when power shifts, then it’s payback. And we see that in society after society. The most important thing young people can do is break out of that mindset.
When I was in Korea, I had a chance to -- or in Tokyo rather -- I had a chance to see an exhibit with an astronaut, a Japanese astronaut who was at the International Space Station and it was looking at the entire globe and they’re tracking now changing weather patterns in part because it gives us the ability to respond to disasters quicker. And when you see astronauts from Japan or from the United States or from Russia or others working together, and they’re looking down at this planet from a distance you realize we’re all on this little rock in the middle of space and the differences that seem so important to us from a distance dissolve into nothing.
And so, we have to have that same perspective -- respecting everybody, treating everybody equally under the law. That has to be a principle that all of you uphold. Great question. (Applause.) Let me call on the -- I’m going to go boy, girl, boy, girl so that everybody gets a fair chance. Let’s see, hold on. This gentleman right here, right there with the glasses. (Applause.) There you go.
Q Hello, Mr. President.
PRESIDENT OBAMA: Hello.
Q I’m from Malaysia, currently with YES Alumni Malaysia. Well, I have a question. I wondered what was your first project -- community service project that you didn’t like and how did the project impact your community? Thank you so much.
PRESIDENT OBAMA: That’s a great question. (Applause.) I told you that when I graduated from college, I wanted to work in poor neighborhoods. And so, I moved to Chicago and I worked. This community had gone through some very difficult times. The steel plants there, the steel mills had closed. A lot of manufacturing was moving out of America or becoming technologically obsolete, these old mills. And so, these were areas that had been entirely dependent on steel. And as those jobs left, the communities were being abandoned.
And there was also racial change in the area. They had been predominantly white, and then blacks and Latinos had moved in. And there was fear among the various groups. So they had a lot of problems. I will tell you this, what I did was I organized a series of meetings listening to people to find out what they wanted to do something about first. The most immediate problem they saw was there was a lot of crime that had emerged in the area, but they didn’t quite know how to do anything about it. So I organized a meeting with the police commander, so that they could file their complaints directly to the police commander and try to get more action to create more safe space in those communities for children and to end people standing on street corners, because it was depressing the whole community.
Now, here’s the main thing I want to tell you. That first meeting, nobody came. It was a complete failure and I was very depressed, because I thought, well, everybody said that they were concerned about crime, but when I organized the meeting nobody came. And what it made me realize is, is that if you want to bring about change in a community or in a nation it’s not going to happen overnight. Usually, it’s very hard to bring about change, because people are busy in their daily lives. They have things to do. One of the things I realized was I hadn’t organized the meeting at the right time. It was right around dinner time, and if people were working they were coming home and picking up their kids, and they couldn’t get to the meeting fast enough.
So, first of all, you’ve got to try to get people involved. And a lot of people are busy in their own lives or they don’t think it’s going to make a difference or they’re scared if they’re speaking out against authority. And many of the problems that we’re facing, like trying to create jobs or better opportunity or dealing with poverty or dealing with the environment, these are problems that have been going on for decades. And so, to think that somehow you’re going to change it in a day or a week, and then if it doesn’t happen you just give up, well, then you definitely won’t succeed.
So the most important thing that I learned as a young person trying to bring about change is you have to be persistent, and you have to get more people involved, and you have to form relationships with different groups and different organizations. And you have to listen to people about what they’re feeling and what they’re concerned about, and build trust. And then, you have to try to find a small part of the problem and get success on that first, so that maybe from there you can start something else and make it bigger and make it bigger, until over time you are really making a difference in your community and in that problem.
But you can’t be impatient. And the great thing about young people is they’re impatient. The biggest problem with young people is they’re impatient. It’s a strength, because it’s what makes you want to change things. But sometimes, you can be disappointed if change doesn’t happen right away and then you just give up. And you just have to stay with it and learn from your failures, as well as your successes.
Anita.
MS. WOO: Mr. President, thank you very much. We have a question from our friend in Singapore. He asks, what is the legacy you wish to leave behind?
PRESIDENT OBAMA: I’ve still got two and a half years left as President, so I hope he’s not rushing me. (Laughter.) But what is true is that as President of the United States, you have so many issues coming at you every day, but sometimes I try to step back and think about 20 years from now when I look back what will I be most proud of or what do I think will be most important in the work that I’ve done.
Now, my most important legacy is Malia and Sasha, who are turning out to be wonderful young people. (Applause.) So your children, if you’re a parent the most important legacy you have is great children -- and I have those -- who are happy and healthy, and I think they’re going to do great things. Another important legacy is being a good husband. So I’ve tried to do that. (Applause.) That’s important, because if you don’t do those things well, then everything else you’re going to have some problems with. (Laughter.)
But I think as President, what I’ve tried to do in the United States is really focus on how do you create opportunity for all people. And when I first came into office, we were in a huge financial crisis that had hit the entire world. And it was the worst crisis the United States had had since the 1930s. So the first thing I had to do was just make sure that we stop the crisis and start allowing the economy to recover. And we've now created more than 9 million jobs and the economy is beginning to improve for a lot of people. But what you’ve also seen is a trend in the United States but also around the world in which even when the economy grows, it tends to benefit a lot of people at the very top, but the vast majority of people, they don't benefit as much. And you're starting to see bigger and bigger gaps in inequality and in wealth and in opportunity.
And that's true not just in the United States, it's true in Europe; it's long been true in parts of Asia; it's been true in Latin America. And I believe that economies work best when growth and development is broad-based, when it's shared -- when ordinary people, if they work hard and they take responsibility, they can succeed. Not everybody is going to be rich, but everybody should be able to live a good life. Not everybody is going to be a billionaire, but everybody should be able to have a nice home and educate their children and feel some sense of security.
So that's not something that I can do by myself as President of the United States, but everything that I do -- whether it's providing more help for people to go to college, or giving early childhood education to young children because we know that the younger children get some additional schooling, especially poor children, the better off they’ll do in school for all the years to come, to the work that we're trying to do in providing health care for all Americans so that they don't experience a crisis when somebody in their family gets sick -- all of those efforts are with the objective of making sure that ordinary people, if they work hard and act responsibly, they can succeed.
And internationally, my main goal has been to work with other partners to promote a system of rules so that conflicts can be resolved peacefully, so that nations observe basic rules of behavior, so that whether you're a big country or a small country, you know that there are certain principles that are observed -- that might doesn’t just make right, but that there’s a set of ideals and there’s justice both inside countries and between countries.
Now, that means trying to end the proliferation of nuclear weapons, which are a threat to humanity. And we've made progress in that front, me negotiating the reduction of our nuclear stockpiles with the Russians, and trying to resolve through diplomacy the problem that Iran has been trying to pursue nuclear weapons, and working with countries like Malaysia to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons.
That means working to get chemical weapons out of Syria. It means trying to promote a just peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians. It means opening up to Burma. And I was the first President to visit there, and seeing if we could take advantage of the opportunity with Aung San Suu Kyi’s release to create a country that was a responsible part of the world order.
Sometimes our efforts have been successful; sometimes, as I told this young man here, my efforts initially haven't been as successful and I've had to keep on trying. And I am confident that when I'm done as President there’s still going to be parts of the world that are having war, that are having conflict, that are oppressing their own people. So I'm not going to solve all these problems. I've got to leave some work for all of you. (Laughter.)
But what I do hope is that I will have made progress on each of those fronts -- that if when I leave I can say there are a few more countries that are democracies now and the United States helped; if there are countries where I can say -- or areas of the world where I can say we avoided conflict between two countries because we helped to mediate a dispute, I'll be proud of that. If there are countries where a spotlight has been shined internationally on the oppression of a minority group and it has forced that country to change its practices, that will be a success.
I don't consider -- I don't think I can do that by myself, of course. I can only do that not only with the cooperation and consultation of other leaders, but it's also other citizens of the world -- all of you and people in various regions, they’ve got to want more justice and more peace in order for us to achieve it.
Sometimes the United States is viewed as, on the one hand, the cause of everybody’s problem, or on the other hand, the United States is expected to solve everybody’s problem. And we are a big, powerful nation and we take our responsibilities very seriously, but we can only do so much. Ultimately, the people in these countries themselves have to partner with us -- because we have problems in our own country that we have to solve. But hopefully, I'm also lifting up certain universal principles and ideals that all of us can embrace and share.
All right, it’s a woman’s turn. It's a young woman’s turn. I've got to -- let’s see who is back here. No, it's a young lady’s turn. Okay, this young lady right here -- since the microphone is right there.
Q Good afternoon, Mr. President, and welcome to Malaysia. Gathering from what you’ve said, I think it's a shared consensus that youth worldwide can be the catalyst, planting the seeds for an early conditioning on certain global issues here. So my question is how exactly can America lead us youth internationally in championing such issues, for example, climate change, women empowerment, poverty eradication -- the goal being to bring the human race together? It appears that a lot of policies have been put in place, but a lot of the policies that have been put in place by the Gen Xers, the Baby Boomers. People like us, the Gen Ys, we don't have a say in this policy, so we are supposed to champion them, but how are we supposed to do all these things?
PRESIDENT OBAMA: I'm trying to figure out which generation I am. (Laughter.) You got Baby Boomers, then Gen X, and then there’s a Gen Y -- we're on Y? Is that Z, are they here yet, or -- that's next?
Well, first of all, just to be very specific, as I said in my speech, part of the reason that I like to meet with young people is to get their suggestions and their ideas. But then what we try to do is set up a process and a network of young leaders who can share ideas with each other and with us, to let us know how they think we can empower you.
So coming out of this meeting, there will be mechanisms through social media and in our embassies in each of the 10 ASEAN countries where we're going to be bringing together youth leaders to talk to each other about their plans, what their priorities are, how they think the United States can be most helpful. And we're going to take your suggestions.
And let’s take the example of something like climate change. The voice of young people on this issue is so important because you are the ones who are going to have to deal with the consequences of this most significantly. I rode with Prime Minister Najib from our press conference to the new MaGIC Center that's been set up -- entrepreneurial center that came out of our global entrepreneur summit that was hosted here in Malaysia. And on the ride over, it hadn’t started raining yet, but you could tell it was going to be raining soon. And he said that here in Malaysia you’ve already seen a change in weather patterns -- it used to be that the dry season and the rainy season was very clear. Now it all just kind of is blurring together.
Now, not all of that can be directly attributed precisely to climate change. But when you look at what’s been happening all across the country or all around the world, there’s no doubt that weather patterns are changing. It is getting warmer. That is going to have impacts in terms of more flooding, more drought, displacement. It could affect food supplies. It could affect the incidences of diseases. Coastal communities could be severely affected. And what happens when humans are placed under stress is the likelihood of conflict increases.
There is a theory that one of the things that happened in Syria to trigger the protests that resulted in the terrible, violent efforts to suppress them by President Assad was repeated drought in Syria that drove people off their land, so they could no longer afford to make the traditional living that they had made. Now, whether that’s true or not we don’t know precisely. But what we do know is that you see in communities that are under severe weather pressure -- drought, famine, food prices increasing -- they’re more likely to be in conflict.
And you’re going to have to deal with this, unless we do something about it. So the question is what can we do? Every country should be coming up with a Climate Action Plan to try to reduce its carbon emissions. In Southeast Asia, one of the most important issues is deforestation. In Indonesia and Malaysia, what you’ve seen is huge portions of tropical forests that actually use carbon and so reduce the effects of climate change, reduce carbon being released into the atmosphere and warming the planet -- they’re just being shredded because of primarily the palm oil industry. And there are large business interests behind that industry.
Now, the question is are we going to in each of those countries say how can we help preserve these forests while using a different approach to economic development that does less to damage the atmosphere? And that means engaging then with the various stakeholders. You’ve got to talk to the businesses involved. You’ve got to talk to the government, the communities who may be getting jobs -- because their first priority is feeding themselves, so if you just say, we’ve got to stop cutting down the forests, but you don’t have an alternative opportunity for people then they may just ignore you. So there are going to be all kinds of pieces just to that one part of the problem. And each country may have a different element to it.
The point, though, is that you have to be part of the solution, not part of the problem. You have to say, this is important. You don’t have to be a climate science expert, but you can educate yourselves on the issue. You can discuss it with your peer groups. You can organize young people to interact with international organizations that are already dealing with this issue. You can help to publicize it. You can educate your parents, friends, coworkers. And through that process, you can potentially change policy.
So it may take -- it will take years. It will not happen next week. But our hope is that through this network that we’re going to be developing that we can be a partner with you in that process.
So I just want to check how many -- how much time do we have here? Who is in charge?
MS. WOO: We’ve got time, Mr. President.
PRESIDENT OBAMA: How much time? MS. WOO: A couple more questions.
PRESIDENT OBAMA: A couple more questions -- all right, because I just want to make sure that I’m being fair here. All right, it’s a guy’s turn. Let’s see -- all right, how about this guy, because I like his hair cut, the guy with the spiky hair right there. (Applause.)
Q In your opinion, what are the top three advice to fellow Malaysians and government to become a developed country in six years’ time? As this is one of country’s missions and I think it’s important for fellow Malaysians to contribute together in order to achieve that. Thank you. (Applause.)
PRESIDENT OBAMA: Well, I had an extensive conversation with Prime Minister Najib about his development strategy. First of all, Malaysia is now a middle-income country. It’s done much better than many other countries in per capita income and growth over the last two decades, and there’s been some wise leadership that has helped to promote Malaysian exports and to help to train its people.
You’ve got high literacy rates, which is critically important. Investing in people is the single most important thing in the knowledge economy. Traditionally, wealth was defined by land and natural resources. Today the most important resources is between our ears. And Malaysia has made a good investment in young people. So that continues to be I think the most important strategy for growth in the 21st century.
And in the United States, my main focus is improving our education system and lifelong learning. Because part of what’s changed in the economy -- in the 20th century, you got a change at a company, you might stay there for 30 years; things didn’t change that much. Now you may be at one company and that company may be absorbed, and you might have to retrain for a new job because the thing that you were doing before has been made obsolete because of technology.
So we have to keep on investing in not only elementary school and secondary school and even universities. But in the United States, for example, we have a system of community colleges and job training where somebody who’s in their 30s or even 40s or 50s can go back, get retrained, get more skills, adapt to a new industry, and then be a productive citizen. That’s a critical investment that needs to be made.
The second thing that I know Prime Minister Najib is focused on -- and this applies throughout the region -- is if you want to move to the next level of development, then you have to open up an economy to innovation and entrepreneurship. The initial push for growth in Southeast Asia initially started with exporting raw materials, and then shifted to manufacturing and light assembly and being part of the global supply chain. And that’s all a very important ladder into development. But now a lot of wealth is being created by new products and new ideas.
And at least in the United States, for example, we don’t want to just assemble the latest smartphone, we want to invent the latest smartphone. We want to invent the apps and the content for those smartphones. And then we have an asset that whoever is manufacturing it, some of the value is still flowing to us. Well, what that requires then is changes in the economy to make it more open, to make it more entrepreneurial. Some of the old systems have to be broken down.
Now, different countries in ASEAN and different countries around the world are at different stages of development. In some countries, the most important thing for development is just basic rule of law, and something that I said earlier, which is making sure that the law applies to everybody in the same way. I believe if Malaysia is going to take that next leap, then it’s going to have to make sure that the economy is one where everybody has the opportunity, regardless of where they started, to succeed. (Applause.) And that energy has to be unleashed. And I think Prime Minister Najib understands that.
And the trade agreement that we’re trying to create, the TPP, part of what we’re trying to do is to create higher standards for labor protection, higher standards for environmental protection, more consistent protection of intellectual property -- because increasingly that’s the next phase of wealth. All those things require more transparency and more accountability and more rule of law, and I think that it’s entirely consistent with Malaysia moving into the next phase.
Now, it’s hard to change old ways of doing things -- and that’s true for every country. I mean, China right now, after unprecedented growth over the last 20 years, realizes it’s got to change its whole strategy. It’s been so export-oriented, but now they’re starting to realize that if they want to continue to grow they’ve got to develop consumer markets inside their own country.
And what that means is, is that they’ve got to give workers more ability to spend on consumer goods, and that they have to have a social safety net so that workers aren’t just saving all the time, because if they get sick they don’t have any social insurance programs and they don’t have any retirement groups. And so they’re starting to make these shifts, but these are hard shifts.
Even in a country that’s controlled by the central party that’s not democratic. It’s because certain people have gotten accustomed to and done very well with an export-driven strategy. So when you shift, there’s going to be somebody who resists. That’s true in every country. It’s true in the United States. We’ve got to change how we do things. And when you try to change, somebody somewhere is benefiting from the status quo. Malaysia is no different. But I’m confident that you can make it happen.
I’ll take two more questions. And it’s a young lady’s turn. So, guys, you can all put down your hands. (Laughter.) Let’s see -- this young lady with the yellow.
Q Good morning. I’m from Indonesia.
PRESIDENT OBAMA: Apa kabar?
Q Baik-baik saja.
PRESIDENT OBAMA: Baik.
Q Well, okay, I have a very short question. What does happiness mean for you?
PRESIDENT OBAMA: What does happiness mean to me?
Q Yes.
PRESIDENT OBAMA: Wow, you guys -- that’s a big, philosophical question. (Applause.) I mentioned earlier my family, and it really is true that the older I get the more -- when I think about when I’m on my deathbed -- I mean, I don’t think about this all the time. (Laughter.) I don’t want you to think -- I’m still fairly young. But when I think, at the end of my life and I’m looking back, what will have been most important to me, I think it’s the time I will have spent with the people I love. And so that makes me happy.
But I also think that, as I get older, what’s most important to me is feeling as if I’ve been true to my beliefs and that I’ve lived with some integrity. Now, that doesn’t always make you happy in the sense of you’re laughing or just enjoying life -- because sometimes, being true to your beliefs is uncomfortable. Sometimes doing things that you think are right may put you in some conflict with somebody. Sometimes people may not appreciate it and it may be inconvenient.
But I think that part of being satisfied at least with life as you get older is feeling as if you know that every day you wake up and there’s certain things you believe in -- for example, respecting other people, or showing kindness to others, or trying to promote justice, or whatever it is that you think is best in you -- that at the end of each day you can say, okay, you know what, I was consistent with what I say I’m about, what I say I believe in -- the image I have of myself.
And when I’m uncomfortable is when I think, you know, I didn’t do my best today. Maybe I didn’t speak out when I should have spoken out. Maybe I didn’t work as hard on this issue as I should have worked. Then I’m tossing and turning and I don’t feel good.
And I think that having that kind of integrity is important -- where you can look at yourself in the mirror and you can say, okay, I am who I want -- who I say I want to be. And nobody is perfect and everybody is going to make mistakes, but I think if you feel as if you’re always striving towards your ideals, then you’ll feel okay at the end.
Okay, last question. And it’s -- let’s see. No, no, it’s a guy’s question. Women, put down your hands. (Laughter.) Okay, I’ll call on this gentleman here because he -- there you go, with the glasses.
Q Good evening, Mr. President Obama. I’m from Malaysia. I’m an undergrad from University of Malaya. So my question is, in your position right now, what values that you uphold the most that you think is very important, that makes you what you are today? And what do you wish to bring that value to the young people of today that can change the world to become a better world? Thank you.
PRESIDENT OBAMA: Well, thank you. I’m going to take another question after that, because I’ve already answered this question. Wait, wait, wait -- let me -- (laughter) -- let me explain the -- what I think is most important is showing people respect who you disagree with, right? (Applause.) And so, for example, there’s a note over there -- I don’t know what those young people are putting a note about -- but I think that the basic idea that if somebody is not like you, if they look differently than you, if they believe differently than you -- that you are treating them as you want to be treated. If you are applying those ideas, I think you’re going to be halfway there in terms of solving most of the world’s problems.
And a lot of that is around some of the traditional divisions that we have in our society -- race, ethnicity, religion, gender. Treat people with respect, whoever they are, and expect your governments to treat everybody with respect. (Applause.) And if you do that, then you’re going to be okay.
All right, last question. Young ladies -- wait, wait, wait, everybody put down their hands for a second. Okay, now I’ve heard from -- I’ve had an Indonesian, a Malaysian, a Cambodian, Myanmar. Thailand didn’t get called on. So I think -- all right, Thailand. Where -- okay. And the Philippines -- well, see, I can’t call on everybody. (Laughter.) Thailand said -- they were the first ones to shout. Go ahead, this young lady right here. Q Hi, President. Very short question. What are the things that you regret now that you have done in the past? PRESIDENT OBAMA: What are the things that I regret? Oh, the list is so long. (Laughter.) I regret calling on you, because now I’m going to be telling everybody my business. (Laughter.) No, I’m just joking about that. (Laughter.) I’m now 52. And I still feel pretty good. I’m a little gray-haired. But I will tell you two things I regret -- one is very specific, one is more general. The specific thing is I regret not having spent more time with my mother. Because she died early -- she got cancer right around when she was my age, actually, she was just a year older than I am now -- she died. It happened very fast, in about six months. And I realized that -- there was a stretch of time from when I was, let’s say, 20 until I was 30 where I was so busy with my own life that I didn’t always reach out and communicate with her and ask her how she was doing and tell her about things. I was nice and I’d call and write once in a while. But this goes to what I was saying earlier about what you remember in the end I think is the people you love. I realized that I didn’t-- every single day, or at least more often, just spend time with her and find out what she was thinking and what she was doing, because she had been such an important part of my life. Now, that’s natural as young people. As you grow up, you become independent. But for those of you who have not called their parents lately, I would just say that that is something, actually, that I regret. The more general answer is I regret wasting time. I think when I was young I spent a lot of time on things that I realize now were not very important and I wish I had used my time more wisely.Now, I don’t want people to spend every minute of every day working all the time, because you have to enjoy life and you have to have friends and you have to appreciate all that life has to offer. But I do think that in America at least, but now I think worldwide, we spend an awful lot of time on diversions -- watching TV or playing video games. And all that time, when you add it all up, I say to myself, I could have spent more time learning a foreign language, or I could have spent more time working on a project that was important. And I think it would be useful for all of you to consider how you’re spending your time and make sure that you’re making every day count. Let me just say this by way of thank you to all of you. I think you’ve asked terrific questions. I’m so impressed with all of you and what you have done and what you’ll do in the future. I do want you to feel optimistic about your future. Even though I told you about some problems like climate change that seem so big now, I always say -- we get White House interns to come in and they work at the White House, and they’re there for six months, and then I usually speak to them at the end of six months. And I always tell them that despite how hard sometimes the world seems to be, and all you see on television is war and conflict and poverty and violence, the truth is that if you had to choose when to be born, not knowing where or who you would be, in all of human history, now would be the time. Because the world is less violent, it is healthier, it is wealthier, it is more tolerant and it offers more opportunity than any time in human history for more people than any time in human history. Now, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t still terrible things happening around the world or in this region. We still have things like human trafficking. And we still have terrible abuse of children. And there are conflicts. And so these are things that we’re going to have to tackle and deal with. But you should know that with each successive generation things have improved just a little bit. And over time, that little bit adds to a lot. And it’s now up to you, the next generation, to make sure that 20 years from now, or 30 years from now, people look back and say, wow, things are a lot better now than they were back then. And there will still be problems 20 or 30 years from now also. But they will be different problems, because you will have solved many of the problems that exist today. And America wants to be a partner with you in that process, so good luck. Thank you, everybody. (Applause.) MS. WOO: Thank you very much, Mr. President. It’s been a wonderful opportunity and we appreciate it very much. PRESIDENT OBAMA: Thank you, everybody. (Applause.) END 5:15 P.M. MST White House FACT SHEET: The President’s Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 27, 2014 FACT SHEET: The President’s Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative Today, President Obama hosted a town hall with youth from across the member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as part of the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI). YSEALI is the President’s signature program to strengthen leadership development and networking in ASEAN, deepen engagement with young leaders on key regional and global challenges, and strengthen people-to-people ties between the United States and young Southeast Asian leaders. President Obama announced YSEALI via video message December 2013 during the LEAD ASEAN Youth Summit in Manila, Philippines. Engaging and strengthening ties with young people is a critical element of the United States’ rebalance to the Asia-Pacific region. Recognizing that over 65 percent of ASEAN’s population is under the age of 35, YSEALI is an important investment in the next generation of Southeast Asian leaders. This initiative expands existing U.S. engagement in the region to better empower, support, and connect youth across Southeast Asia. Learn more about YSEALI here. Developing Innovative Solutions to Shared Challenges Over the coming months, the State Department will host YSEALI Generation Workshops aimed at developing a regional network for youth in ASEAN countries to collaborate on solving common challenges and creating new opportunities. At YSEALI Youth Summits, cross-regional teams will present proposals to tackle economic, environmental, education and civic engagement challenges to leaders in business, government, and civil society and share their perspectives on regional issues. YSEALI Seeds for the Future will provide funding for many of these teams to implement their ideas. YSEALI will also encourage creative solutions to major global issues through the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) newly-launched Development Innovations Lab in Cambodia, which will be the first of several such labs that are being created across ASEAN. The Lab will provide a platform for youth to innovatively address development challenges through creative applications of technology, while strengthening and building networks of leaders in civil society and social entrepreneurship. The Labs will provide young people specialized training and mentoring in communication and leadership skills from experienced ICT professionals, civil society leaders, and established social entrepreneurs. They will have access to state-of-the-art computers, software, and equipment, as well as in-person discussion forums aimed at nurturing new ideas and information sharing. Elevating the Ideas of Young Leaders Launched at today’s town hall, YSEALI Talks provides a platform for young leaders to share their ideas, initiatives, and innovations. By organizing and presenting a YSEALI Talk, youth can generate support for their ideas, both within their own communities and across a broader network. Participants in today’s town hall will be the first to present YSEALI Talks and will help others develop their own events. #YSEALITalks will enable young leaders to connect, contribute to a broader conversation, and collaborate on creating new initiatives. Information on how to join the initiative and create a YSEALI Talk is available here. Linking Young Leaders YSEALI Connects will expand opportunities for young leaders from Southeast Asia to participate in new State Department-organized exchanges in the United States. Working with their American counterparts, young leaders will be able to discover the latest tools, trends, and technology in their field. These programs will allow ASEAN and American young leaders to develop new solutions for key issues such as economic development, environmental protection, education, and civic engagement. The first exchanges will take place this summer at university campuses across the United States, with a focus on the environment. Another program is slated to take place later this fall. YSEALI Online will virtually connect young leaders from across the region and will offer an array of resources, networking opportunities, and trainings. The internet-based platform will encourage young people to collaborate on regional strategies for tackling issues of shared concern and will provide them an avenue to further their own development through courses on leadership, entrepreneurship, and major trends. The YSEALI website will also be regularly updated with information on upcoming events, courses, and opportunities. Remarks by President Obama at the Malaysian Global Innovation and Creativity Center
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary For Immediate Release April 27, 2014 REMARKS BY PRESIDENT OBAMA AT THE MALAYSIAN GLOBAL INNOVATION AND CREATIVITY CENTER Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 2:53 P.M. MST PRESIDENT OBAMA: Well, hello, everybody. AUDIENCE: Hello! PRESIDENT OBAMA: Selamat petang. I want to thank Prime Minister Najib for bringing me here today, as well as Cheryl Yeoh. Where’s Cheryl? She was here just a second ago. There she is over there -- (applause) -- who’s going to be directing the Malaysian Global Innovation and Creativity Center, or “MaGIC,” and Startup Malaysia. As Prime Minister Najib indicated, we are here because we have a shared commitment to fostering the spirit of entrepreneurship, especially among our young people. We want you to be able to create things and start your own companies and your own businesses, and come up with your own products and services, because that’s how our societies grow. And the dreams and talents of these young people help to fuel our economies and create jobs, and they also bring our countries closer together. So, five years ago, when I was in Cairo, I called for a new partnership between the United States and Muslim communities around the world -- partnerships where we could focus on the things that matter most in people’s daily lives, including jobs and providing for our families. So often the conversation between the United States and Muslim communities was around security issues, but the truth is, day to day what people are concerned about is jobs and businesses and improving quality of life for themselves and their families. And that was not enough of a conversation that was taking place. So I was proud to host the first Global Entrepreneurship Summit in Washington. Prime Minister Najib -- who has been working to empower entrepreneurs here in Malaysia -- hosted last year’s summit in Kuala Lumpur. And the impact has been phenomenal. Around the world, we are helping young entrepreneurs connect and collaborate and start their own businesses, serve their communities, tackle global challenges like expanding education and combating climate change, and create this center to turn their ideas into reality. And this center is a direct result of the entrepreneurship summit that the Prime Minister hosted. It’s a one-stop shop so young entrepreneurs, they can come here, they can get help to file a patent for their ideas, they can access loans and venture capital, they can get technical training and assistance, and they can get their businesses up and running. And we just had a chance to see some innovations of some young entrepreneurs that have already been started: An online tool that helps students learn with digital presentations; a very impressive electric go-kart; a device that helps diabetics monitor cold sweats, so that if they are in need of medical assistance somebody will be alerted right away. And so this is the kind of entrepreneurship that Prime Minister Najib and I want to encourage. And it’s innovation like these that’s going to make our lives better and safer and healthier. These young people here, they’re going to be creating all kinds of amazing things when they get older. And the fact that this center is giving them the opportunity to learn computer coding early on, understanding that computer sciences and IT are going to be one of the keys to future growth, I think is a testament to some outstanding investments by the people of Malaysia and the next generation. So I want to thank Prime Minister Najib for all his efforts to support young entrepreneurs and would-be entrepreneurs. And I want to thank all of you for your determination and your imagination. I’m very excited to see what’s going to happen not only with the entrepreneurs here in the future, but these young people and the remarkable things they’ll do to help Malaysia grow, help the region grow, and help the world grow. So, terima kasih banyak for the good work that you’re doing. (Applause.) END 2:57 P.M. MST Joint Statement By President Obama And Prime Minister Najib Of Malaysia
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 27, 2014 Joint Statement By President Obama And Prime Minister Najib Of Malaysia The Honorable Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib Tun Abdul Razak, Prime Minister of Malaysia and The Honorable Barack Obama, President of the United States of America held a bilateral meeting on 27 April 2014 in Putrajaya, Malaysia. The two leaders reflected on the historic nature of President Obama’s State Visit to Malaysia, the first Presidential visit in 48 years, and the resilience of bilateral relations between Malaysia and the United States. Both leaders reaffirmed their mutual commitment to further enhance Malaysia – U.S. engagement on issues of bilateral, regional and international importance. Reflecting on the search for missing flight MH370 which carried passengers and crew from 14 nations, including Malaysia and the United States, the Prime Minister expressed Malaysia’s gratitude to President Obama for the United States' unwavering support. Malaysia is heartened by the presence of the United States from day one in the ongoing operations to locate flight MH370. The support received exemplifies the strong ties of friendship and cooperation between the two countries. Recognizing the growing cooperation between the two countries in a wide range of areas, Prime Minister Najib and President Obama decided to elevate the Malaysia – U.S. relationship to a Comprehensive Partnership with the aim of advancing the two countries’ common interests and the shared values of the people of the United States and Malaysia. Under the Comprehensive Partnership, both countries commit to further strengthening dialogue mechanisms in key areas including political and diplomatic cooperation, trade and investment, education and people-to-people ties, security and defense cooperation, as well as collaboration on the environment, science and technology, and energy. Political and Diplomatic Cooperation The Prime Minister and the President welcomed the increasing high-level interaction between the two countries in recent years, including the numerous Cabinet-level exchanges of visits, and encouraged continued dialogue at various levels. Both sides also committed to reinvigorate the Malaysia – U.S. Senior Officials Dialogue as a key forum to pursue the implementation of the Comprehensive Partnership through regular consultations. The Prime Minister appreciated the United States’ presence in Asia which contributes to peace, stability and prosperity in the region. President Obama reiterated the United States’ strong support for the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the importance of East Asian regional institutions. President Obama also welcomed Malaysia’s upcoming chairmanship of ASEAN in 2015 and expressed confidence that under Malaysia’s stewardship, ASEAN would further its regional ambition of economic integration. The Prime Minister and the President acknowledged the importance of peace and stability for the security and economic prosperity of nations. The leaders exchanged views on recent developments in the South China Sea and affirmed the importance of safeguarding maritime security and ensuring freedom of navigation and over flight throughout the region, including critical waterways in the South China Sea. The two leaders underscored the importance of all parties concerned resolving their territorial and maritime disputes through peaceful means, including international arbitration, as warranted, and in accordance with universally recognized principles of international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The two leaders highlighted the importance of all parties concerned avoiding the use of force, intimidation, or coercion, and exercising self-restraint in the conduct of activities. The Prime Minister and the President reaffirmed the importance of the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) in enhancing mutual trust and confidence amongst all parties concerned and recognized the need for ASEAN and China to work expeditiously towards the establishment of an effective Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC). The two leaders underscored their commitment to promoting respect for human rights, as well as the importance of a vibrant and independent civil society consistent with the Charter of the United Nations and international human rights law. Respect for diversity, respect for the freedom to express different views and practice different faiths, respect for all religions and respect for the rights of all in the populations are essential to healthy and prosperous democracies. Both leaders welcomed efforts to promote tolerance and inter-faith understanding and counter violence and extremism. In relation to this, the two leaders also appreciated the goals of the Global Movement of Moderates to promote greater understanding and moderation among people of all faiths by expanding government-to-government and people-to-people engagement. President Obama commended Malaysia’s leading role in facilitating the Southern Philippines Bangsamoro peace process that led to the recent signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro. Both leaders welcomed the bilateral work agreement on the gainful employment of spouses of embassy and consulate officials which provides benefits for diplomatic families of both sides as well as the host country. Economic and Trade Cooperation Prime Minister Najib and President Obama celebrated the strong economic links between Malaysia and the United States, including bilateral trade amounting to U.S. $40 billion annually. Prime Minister Najib and President Obama applauded the progress made so far in the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement negotiations. They reaffirmed their commitment to work together to resolve the remaining issues and conclude the high-standard agreement as soon as possible so that both countries’ businesses, workers, farmers, and consumers could begin benefitting. Both leaders also discussed the importance of enhancing multilateral cooperation to promote trade, investment and inclusive growth in fora such as ASEAN, the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and the World Trade Organization (WTO). Noting that the United States was the largest source of foreign investment in Malaysia in 2013, the Prime Minister acknowledged the beneficial and significant role of U.S. investors in the development of Malaysia’s economy. This close cooperation has resulted in support for Malaysian Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) through linkages between U.S. companies and Malaysian SMEs, sharing technology, promoting innovation and contributing to Malaysia’s economic transformation agenda. The President similarly highlighted the United States’ openness to foreign investment, and noted the mutually beneficial nature of Malaysian investment in the United States. The President encouraged Malaysian participation in SelectUSA, a U.S. Government initiative to promote and facilitate inbound business investment and a key partner and support system for potential Malaysian investors, including SMEs, seeking investment opportunities in the United States. Both leaders emphasized the importance of a strong intellectual property rights regime, to promote innovation and for the mutual benefit of innovators and consumers. Such a regime has already helped support investments in new growth areas including in emerging and high technology sectors as well as high value-added, knowledge-based and skills-intensive industries which should generate more high income job opportunities in both countries and support Malaysia’s aspiration to become a developed nation by the year 2020. The two leaders expressed confidence that the ongoing economic reforms in Malaysia and the economic recovery of the United States would accelerate economic growth, opening greater opportunities for trade and creating employment in both countries. Education and People-to-People Recognizing people-to-people relations as the foundation of strong bilateral ties, the two leaders affirmed their shared intention to foster better understanding, goodwill and friendship between the peoples of both countries. Reflecting the Prime Minister and President Obama’s shared aspiration to enhance people-to-people interaction first discussed in 2010, the two leaders celebrated the success of the Fulbright English Teaching Assistant (ETA) Program. Likening the spirit of the Fulbright ETA program to the Peace Corps program, which ran for two decades in Malaysia, Prime Minister Najib and President Obama announced that the governments of Malaysia and the United States have extended the Fulbright ETA Program for another three years. The two leaders applauded the network of eight Lincoln Corners in six different Malaysian states and Kuala Lumpur that host hundreds of educational programs and promote connections between Malaysia and the United States. Both leaders also recognized the value of sharing the rich cultural heritages of our two countries through exchanges of displays in art galleries and museums in both countries. The Prime Minister and President Obama welcomed the establishment of the Malaysia-America Foundation and the exploring of opportunities to establish sister city relationships between the two sides. Prime Minister Najib and President Obama acknowledged that university level linkages between the United States and Malaysia continue to grow. Both sides encouraged the expansion of research and study partnerships between U.S. and Malaysian institutions of higher education. Both leaders emphasized the importance of youth empowerment, particularly in promoting entrepreneurship, environmental protection, education, and civic participation in Malaysia and across the region, including through such programs as the Malaysian Global Innovation and Creativity Centre (MaGIC) and activities under the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI). Defense and Security President Obama welcomed Malaysia’s commitment to counter the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction with the endorsement of the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) Statement of Interdiction Principles. The two leaders reaffirmed the longstanding military-to-military cooperation between Malaysia and the United States which provides a solid foundation for enhancements across a broad front. Both leaders acknowledged the value of continuous dialogue on regional and global security challenges as well as coordination on military matters through the Malaysia – U.S. Strategic Talks (MUSST) and the Bilateral Training and Consultative Group (BiTACG). Prime Minister Najib and President Obama decided to continue discussions on opportunities for practical future cooperation in the maritime domain, including ways the United States could support the development of Malaysia’s maritime enforcement capacity through the provision of training, equipment and expertise. President Obama applauded Malaysia’s troop contributions to peacekeeping in United Nations missions, including in Afghanistan and Lebanon and thanked Malaysia for its successful deployment of a military medical team in Afghanistan. Both sides committed to strengthen cooperation in peacekeeping training under the Global Peace Operations Initiative (GPOI) and welcomed U.S. support for the Malaysian Peacekeeping Training Centre. The two leaders welcomed the expansion of ties between the defense industries of Malaysia and the United States, which contribute to Malaysia’s economic development. Both sides committed to work further to nurture and deepen defence bilateral engagements, including promoting the interoperability between the two armed forces. Malaysia and the United States noted with satisfaction the progress in various ongoing scientific sectors, including cooperation to raise awareness and capacity in biosecurity laboratories and research facilities in Malaysia dealing with biological threats. These activities reflect a shared commitment to the Global Health Security Agenda, which seeks to accelerate progress toward a world safe and secure from threats posed by infectious disease. Prime Minister Najib and President Obama expressed a firm commitment towards enhancing cooperation between their two countries in trade and investment. Among the areas of interest are customs administrative matters and to this end would therefore encourage officials engaged in the negotiations to expedite the early conclusion of the Customs Mutual Assistance Agreement. The two leaders are also committed to work toward finalizing the memorandum of understanding on immigration information exchange. Prime Minister Najib and President Obama also decided to consult on Malaysia’s interest in meeting the statutory requirements for participation in the Visa Waiver Program. As a first step, the United States has committed to provide technical briefings on security requirements and information sharing agreements this year. Recalling the Memorandum of Understanding on Transnational Crime signed by both sides in 2012, the two leaders look forward to convening the inaugural Joint Working Group Meeting to review the efficiency and effectiveness of our law enforcement cooperation. The two leaders decided that Malaysia and the United States would strengthen cooperation in humanitarian assistance, disaster relief and management, including exploring capacity building initiatives to increase preparedness in handling natural and man-made disasters. Environment, Science and Technology, and Energy Cooperation The Prime Minister and President Obama welcomed the active cooperation between Malaysia and the United States in science and technology following the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on Science and Technology Cooperation in 2010. Pursuant to the MOU, the leaders noted the establishment of focus areas on biotechnology, marine science, climate studies, conservation science and management under the Joint Committee of Science and Technology. The Prime Minister highlighted to President Obama the initiatives under the Global Science and Innovation Advisory Council (GSIAC), a joint New York Academy of Sciences and Malaysian Industry-Government Group for High Technology (MIGHT) forum with a mandate to develop science, technology and innovation strategies to achieve Malaysia’s vision 2020. Malaysia recognized the U.S. Government’s tremendous role as an important partner of the Coral Triangle Initiative (CTI). The Prime Minister conveyed his appreciation to President Obama for United States’ contributions of more than U.S $60 million in technical and financial assistance and capacity building programs to CTI member countries. Noting the shared visions of the two countries to develop a stronger bio-based economy to ensure sustainable growth, both leaders recognized expanded private sector research collaboration and cooperation in biotechnology. The Prime Minister sought the United States’ support to build Malaysian knowledge and expertise to develop green technology and thanked President Obama for U.S. assistance in creating Malaysia’s newly announced green technology development strategy and clean energy cooperation to date under the U.S. Asia Pacific Comprehensive Energy Partnership. The Prime Minister and President Obama reiterated a common commitment to the conservation of biodiversity and agreed to strengthen cooperation in addressing illegal wildlife trade. Conclusion Looking ahead, both leaders pledged their commitment to elevate the Malaysia – U.S. bilateral cooperation to a Comprehensive Partnership that would cover wide-ranging areas for the expansion of trade and investment, security and defense, education, science and technology, energy, and people-to-people relations, for the collective benefit of both countries. Remarks by President Obama and His Majesty King Halim of Malaysia at State Banquet
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary _______________________________________________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release April 26, 2014 REMARKS BY PRESIDENT OBAMA AND HIS MAJESTY KING ABDUL HALIM OF MALAYSIA AT STATE BANQUET Istana Negara Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 8:38 P.M. MST HIS MAJESTY KING HALIM: The honorable President Barack Obama, President of the United States; Excellencies; honored guests; ladies and gentlemen: The Raja Permaisuri Agong joins us in warmly welcoming you, Mr. President, and your delegation to Istana Negara on the occasion of your state visit to Malaysia. The visit clearly manifests the excellent state of the longstanding relations between our governments and people of Malaysia and the United States. Your Honorable, we are heartened that your visit builds upon the close bond of friendship between our two countries on the recent missing flight MH370 involving many nationalities, including Malaysians and Americans. We wish to express our utmost gratitude for the U.S. unwavering support and cooperation. Your involvement since the beginning of the search-and-rescue mission and the ongoing recovery operation indeed exemplifies the strong commitment established between our two countries. We are pleased to see the ties between our two countries gaining so much traction. Over the years, the two countries’ common interests and shared values have flourished. We are also delighted that both our countries will be discussing ways to strengthen cooperation in wide-ranging areas of economy, security and defense, education, energy, science and technology, and people-to-people relations. The economic ties between our two countries have been very strong. Your continuous support to our country’s economic growth would prepare Malaysia in its aspiration to reach the developed nation status. We welcome the United States to continue working hand in hand with Malaysia to ensure the peace and stability of the region. This could be attained through the shared values and mutual respect, understanding and moderation, coupled by the strong people-to-people relations, testifying both our countries’ goodwill and mutual understanding. Mr. President, you can be rest assured that Malaysia will continue our efforts to build a strong, nourished and lasting relationship between the United States as a foundation for the stability and prosperity of our countries. We hope that your visit to Malaysia is both meaningful and memorable. It is our hope that you will enjoy our hospitality and return to the United States with fond memories of Malaysia. We pray for your continued good health, as well as for that of your family and for the people of the United States. We pray also for peace, stability and prosperity for both our countries in the years to come. Ladies and gentlemen, we would like to invite all of you to join us in proposing a toast to the President and the people of the United States. Thank you. (A toast is offered.) PRESIDENT OBAMA: Good evening. Selamat Petang. (Applause.) Your Majesty, thank you so much for those warm words. To you; Her Majesty; Madam Rosmah; Prime Minister; distinguished guests and friends -- thank you for the extraordinary hospitality that you’ve shown me and my delegation. And on behalf of my country, I want to thank the Malaysian people for the wonderful welcome that you extended to us today. I’m delighted to make this historic visit. As some of you may know, it has been nearly 50 years since an American President visited Malaysia. In his memoirs, Lyndon Johnson wrote of how impressed he was by the “extraordinary vitality and eagerness” he saw in the faces of people here and throughout Southeast Asia. And I’m eager to see that same boleh spirit tomorrow -- (applause) -- when I have the opportunity to speak with young people from across Southeast Asia at the University of Malaya. Mr. Prime Minister, I look forward to our work together, and I pledge to infuse our efforts with that same spirit. Tonight, I simply want to express my gratitude for the generosity that you’ve shown us today -- a generosity the people of Malaysia have extended to my family since I was elected. As some of you may know, two years ago, the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia hosted an exhibit that showcased some of my mother’s batik collection. Now, my mother loved batik. I remember when I was a boy growing up in Jakarta, she’d come home from village markets with her arms full of batik and she’d lay them around the house and look at them, and make dresses out of them. And I was a young boy so I wasn’t as excited as she was. (Laughter.) And they weren’t particularly fancy or expensive -- although later in life, she would get some antiques that were extraordinary -- but for my mother, batik wasn’t about fashion. It was representative of the work and the livelihood of mothers and young women who had painstakingly crafted them. It was a window into the lives of others -- their cultures, and their traditions, and their hopes. And it meant so much to her and it was part of her spirit, and so I’m deeply grateful to the people of Malaysia for celebrating that part of my mother’s life. It was very kind of you. And I tell this story because my mother believed, and I believe, that whether we come from a remote village or a big city, whether we live in the United States or in Malaysia, we all share basic human aspirations: To live in dignity and peace. To shape our own destiny. To be able to make a living and to work hard and support a family. And most of all, to leave the next generation something better than was left to us. These are the aspirations that I believe illuminate a new era of partnership, of berkerja sama between the United States and Malaysia. (Applause.) For while we may be different as nations, our people have similar hopes and similar aspirations. And we can draw strength in both our nations from our ethnic and religious diversity. We can draw hope from our history. And we dream of a brighter future for all of our children. So I would like to propose a toast: To the strength of our relationship, the power of our friendship, the peace and prosperity of our peoples, and the good health of Their Majesties the King and Queen. (A toast is offered.) Terima kasih banyak. (Applause.) Thank you very much. END 8:50 P.M. MST DAILY GUIDANCE AND PRESS SCHEDULE FOR SUNDAY, APRIL 27, 2014
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 26, 2014 DAILY GUIDANCE AND PRESS SCHEDULE FOR SUNDAY, APRIL 27, 2014 Later in the morning, the President will travel to the Prime Minister Najib of Malaysia’s residence to participate in a bilateral meeting and working lunch. These meetings will be followed by a joint press conference. The bilateral meeting will have a travel pool spray at the top and the working lunch is closed press. In the afternoon, the President and Prime Minister will visit the Malaysian Global Innovation and Creativity Center. During his visit, participants will demonstrate several projects to the President and Prime Minister and the President will deliver remarks. The tour and remarks will be covered by the travel pool. In the evening, the President will travel to the University of Malaya to participate in a town hall with participants in the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative. 2:35PM THE PRESIDENT and Prime Minister Najib tour the Malaysian Global Innovation and Creativity Center Malaysian Global Innovation and Creativity Center, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 2:55PM THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks Malaysian Global Innovation and Creativity Center, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 3:55PM THE PRESIDENT participates in a town hall with participants in the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Schedule for the Week of April 28, 2014 On Monday, the President will leave for the Philippines, where he will have a bilateral program with President Aquino and hold a joint press conference. In the evening, the President will attend a state dinner hosted by President Aquino. On Tuesday, the President will begin his day by viewing the COMET, a new electric vehicle that’s being supported by a technology maker in the United States. He will then go to Fort Bonifacio, where he will give remarks to an audience that will include U.S. and Filipino servicemembers and veterans. The President will underscore our deep security cooperation over the years and our security cooperation in the current environment in the Asia Pacific as we seek to build out and advance the relationship between our militaries. Then he will have a wreath-laying ceremony at the American Cemetery, which holds such importance to those who fought in World War II. Afterward he will conclude his visit and return to the United States. On Wednesday, the President will hold an event on the economy at the White House. On Thursday, the President will honor the 2014 National Teacher of the Year and finalists at the White House, thanking them for their hard work and dedication each and every day in the classroom. On Friday, President Obama will welcome Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany Angela Merkel to the White House. The alliance between the United States and Germany is indispensable to meeting the challenges and seizing the opportunities of the 21st century. In their meeting, the President and Chancellor Merkel will discuss promoting economic growth, supporting the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, cooperating within NATO, supporting democracy in Europe’s east, and meeting shared security and economic challenges around the globe. White House Pool #9 -- gaggle highlights
Sometimes the pooler sends bits and pieces of speeches at a time. Pooler wrote" RUSSIA *On sanctions timing, he said they could come “early in the coming week.” He didn’t specify exact date but said it won’t happen on the weekend. *Asked whether the sanctions could target prominent business people in sectors that might be targeted later, he said “yes.” He used the word “cronies,” saying going after them would have an impact on the Russian economy. *Asked about concerns in the business community in Europe, he said “we understand there is unease about the economic consequences of sanctions on a large economy like Russia … There is a degree of unease in the private sector.” *Said Merkel shared with Obama some of her “takeaways” from her conversation with President Putin, but said he didn’t want to speak for her beyond that. *Said that, if Russian troops amass on the border invade Ukraine, then sectoral sanctions will follow … and that will have an impact on the global economy. MALAYSIA *Asked why the president isn’t meeting personally with opposition leaders in Malaysia, Rhodes said “it’s a very packed schedule in Malaysia.” “He doesn’t frequently meet with opposition leaders when he visits other countries.” *He argued it was important that Susan Rice, as his top national security official, was meeting with opposition leaders including Anwar. Said the US supports a deepening of the democratic process in Malaysia and is concerned by “any restrictions in the political space.” *He hinted the issue may come up in the bilateral meeting PHILIPPINES *On the basing agreement, Rhodes wouldn’t say if the deal is ready to be signed during the president’s visit Remarks by President Obama at Business Roundtable
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary ________________________________________________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release April 26, 2014 REMARKS BY PRESIDENT OBAMA AT BUSINESS ROUNDTABLE Grand Hyatt Hotel Seoul, Republic of Korea 9:11 A.M. KST PRESIDENT OBAMA: Well, I want to thank Jim Kim and the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea for hosting us. And I'm very pleased to be meeting with these business leaders, both Korean and American, who have been in discussions with Michael Froman, our Ambassador for trade, as well as Caroline Atkinson, who is one of my senior advisors on international economics, because what we want to do is to underscore the fact that, as important as the security relationship and the alliance is between the Republic of Korea and the United States, what is also important is the incredible and growing economic ties that are creating jobs and opportunity in both countries. I said yesterday with President Park that under the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement, our trade has increased. These business leaders know concretely what this means. American companies are exporting more to Korea; Korean companies are exporting more to the United States. So it’s a win-win for both countries. We also know that we still have some more work to do to fully implement the trade agreement and make sure that we're maximizing its benefits, that our companies can compete fairly in areas like autos and IT and organic foods. And I discussed this with President Park last night. We both agreed that these are issues we can work through together. And given South Korea’s interest in the Trans-Pacific Partnership, fully implementing KORUS also is the single most important step that South Korea can take now to show that it’s prepared to eventually meet the high standards of TPP. And finally, we are joined by some outstanding Korean companies that are already invested in the United States and we want to thank them for their investments and the jobs that they’re creating back home. I just want to remind companies around the world that if you are looking for a great place to set up shop, come to the United States. We've got outstanding workers, great universities, incredible productivity, great energy sources and a pretty big consumer market last I checked. And you're also going to have a White House and federal government, but working with state and local governments, who are absolutely committed to making it easier for companies to invest in the United States. And whether it's high skills that you're looking for, or productivity, our open economy, research and development, innovation, I think more and more companies realize it makes sense to locate in the U.S. And with our SelectUSA initiative, we’re making it easier to invest. So I just wanted to thank these leaders. With that, I'm going to actually spend most of my time listening, but I look forward to all the suggestions or recommendations that are being provided by both the Korean and the U.S. business leaders, because I'm confident that this is going to be one of the key economic relationships of the 21st century. Thank you so much, everybody. END 9:15 A.M. KST President Obama Attends Roundtable With Korean Business Executives To Encourage Investment In United States
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 26, 2014 President Obama Attends Roundtable With Korean Business Executives To Encourage Investment In United States Today, President Barack Obama reaffirmed the commitment of the United States of America toward strengthening the economic relationship with the Republic of Korea and boosting investment, jobs and growth in the United States. During a roundtable discussion hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea (“AMCHAM Korea”) and senior Korean business executives, President Obama spoke of the importance of the U.S. - Korea Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA) in strengthening bilateral trade ties. The President also made the case for additional investment in the United States, which will lead to high-quality, well-paying jobs for American workers. The business executives discussed why their companies chose to make significant investments in the United States and what might encourage them to invest more. The Korean executives emphasized the attractiveness of the U.S. market as an investment destination for their companies, focusing on the skill sets that American workers have to offer. SelectUSA and Korean Investment in the United States The roundtable highlighted the SelectUSA initiative, which is one part of the Administration’s all-hands effort to spur more job-creating U.S. investment from around the world. In 2011, President Obama launched SelectUSA, the first ever federal effort to partner with states and cities to promote inbound investment. It also includes a deliberative effort to enhance coordination of federal agencies to cut red tape and support companies considering investments that create more American jobs. The Korean executives praised the United States as one of the most open economies in the world for investment, offering strong rule of law, access to high-skilled labor, a tradition of research and development excellence, and abundant natural resources. These facts have attracted Korean direct investment in United States, which has grown by nearly 75 percent since 2008 to a current total of $24.3 billion. Many of the companies represented at the roundtable have made recent investments in the United States, some of which have been supported by the President’s SelectUSA initiative. Recent U.S. investments include: · In October 2013, Hanook Tire America, the U.S.-based subsidiary of South Korea-based tire manufacturer Hanook Tire Worldwide, announced an $800 million investment in its first U.S. production plant in Clarksville, Tennessee. Tire production is expected to start in 2016. · In August 2012, Samsung Austin Semiconductor, owned by Samsung Electronics, announced its plans for a $4 billion expansion of its semiconductor plant in Austin, Texas. Samsung's latest investment marks the largest single foreign investment ever made in the state of Texas. The company's total investment in Samsung Austin Semiconductor since 1996 now exceeds $13 billion. U.S. - Korea Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA) During the roundtable, President Obama and the Korean executives praised the role the KORUS FTA has played in strengthening bilateral economic ties. The KORUS FTA is the most commercially significant free trade agreement the United States has concluded in almost two decades, and its impact has been immediate. Since the KORUS FTA came into force in early 2012, two-way U.S.-Korea trade has increased and the U.S. International Trade Commission estimates that, when fully implemented, the reduction of Korean tariffs and tariff-rate quotas on goods alone will add $10 billion to $12 billion to annual U.S. Gross Domestic Product. President Obama described the successful implementation of the KORUS FTA as critical to the U.S.-Korea economic relationship and a means to achieve President Park’s vision of a Korean economy that is business-friendly, with smarter regulation and stronger policies to promote innovation. The KORUS FTA is the highest standard free trade agreement that either country has ever concluded to date and exemplifies the benefits of open markets. In addition to the President, the AMCHAM Korea-hosted meeting attendees included · James Kim, Chairman, AMCHAM Korea Country Manager, Microsoft Korea · Amy Jackson, President, AMCHAM Korea · Pat Gaines, President, Boeing Korea · David Ruch, Country Manager, United Airlines · Jae Jung, President, Ford Korea · John Kim, Managing Director, Goldman Sachs Korea · Han Duck-Soo, Chairman, Korea International Trade Association (KITA) · Huh Chang-Soo, Chairman, Federation of Korean Industries Chairman, GS Group · Park Yong-Maan, Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chairman and CEO, Doosan Corporation · Lee Kun-hee, Chairman of Samsun · Jay Y. Lee, Vice Chairman, Samsung Electronics · Chung Mong-koo, Chairman, Hyundai Motor · Cho Yang-rai, Chairman, Hankook Tire Company · Cho Yangho, Chairman and CEO, Korean Air Lines Chairman and CEO, Hanjin Group · Shin Dong-Bin, Chairman, Lotte Group · Bon Moo Koo, Chairman, LG Group · Michael Froman, United States Trade Representative · Caroline Atkinson, Deputy National Security Advisor for International Economics · Wendy Cutler, Acting Deputy United States Trade Representative · Sung Kim, U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Korea · Ahn Ho-Young, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to the United States White House Pool Report 1 President Obama Roundtables With Korean Business Leaders
Pool reporter of the event sent an update to colleagues around the world receiving White House news updates. Pooler wrote " Potus met this morning with American and Korean business leaders to talk about making investments in the United States. At 9:15 a.m., the pool went in for a pool spray at the top of the meeting. The president was seated at a u-shaped table, with Mike Froman on his left and Caroline Atkinson on his right. He made a few brief remarks, noting that, as important as the security alliance is, business opportunities are also at the top of his list. Trade has increased under the KORUS agreement, he said, calling it a "win-win for both countries." There's more work to do to fully implement it, he said, something he and President Park discussed in their meeting yesterday. Noting Korea's interest in the TPP, Obama said that fully implementing KORUS is "the best way to demonstrate it can meet the high standards" of the Trans Pacific agreement. Addressing international executives, Obama said, "If you are looking for a great place to set up shop, come to the United States." The US has good schools and a "pretty big consumer market," as well as a government committed to making it easier to invest. Obama said he would "spend most of my time listening" to leaders at the meeting. Also called the US/Korea relatoinship "one of the key economic relationships of the 21st century." From the White House, here is a list of participants: • James Kim, Chairman, AMCHAM Korea Country Manager, Microsoft Korea • Amy Jackson, President, AMCHAM Korea • Pat Gaines, President, Boeing Korea • David Ruch, Country Manager, United Airlines • Jae Jung, President, Ford Korea • John Kim, Managing Director, Goldman Sachs Korea • Han Duck-Soo, Chairman, Korea International Trade Association (KITA) • Huh Chang-Soo, Chairman, Federation of Korean Industries Chairman, GS Group • Park Yong-Maan, Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chairman and CEO, Doosan Corporation • Lee Kun-hee, Chairman of Samsung • Jay Y. Lee, Vice Chairman, Samsung Electronics • Chung Mong-koo, Chairman, Hyundai Motor • Cho Yang-rai, Chairman, Hankook Tire Company • Cho Yangho, Chairman and CEO, Korean Air Lines Chairman and CEO, Hanjin Group • Shin Dong-Bin, Chairman, Lotte Group • Bon Moo Koo, Chairman, LG Group • Michael Froman, United States Trade Representative • Caroline Atkinson, Deputy National Security Advisor for International Economics • Wendy Cutler, Acting Deputy United States Trade Representative • Sung Kim, U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Korea • Ahn Ho-Young, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to the United States" White House Pool Report 12 President Obama Departs The Blue House
The Pooler wrote that President Obama had a working dinner with President Park Guen-hye. President Obama's motorcade left to return to the Grand Hyatt hotel at 9 pm. There was an addendum provided by White House handlers to Pool, adressing Magnolia trees. Here is some additional background from the WH on the magnolia tree President Obama mentioned in his news conference: In memory of the hundreds of students and teachers who lost their lives on the Sewol Ferry on April 16, 2014, a beautiful Magnolia tree from the South Lawn of the White House is being presented to the Danwon High School, where the majority of students studied. Magnolia trees have adorned the White House lawn since the mid-1800's, when President Andrew Jackson planted a Magnolia sprout from his home in honor of his late wife, Rachel. The "Jackson Magnolia" has held sentimental value to many presidents throughout the years, and from 1928 to 1988 the reverse side of the twenty dollar bill showed an image of the Jackson Magnolia standing alone just southwest of the White House. This tree symbolizes the deep sympathy that the American people have for the families and loved ones of those who perished in this tragedy. U.S. Protocol officers presented the tree to Protocol officers from the Republic of Korea. Remarks by President Obama and President Park at Korean Seals Presentation
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary ________________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release April 25, 2014 REMARKS BY PRESIDENT OBAMA AND PRESIDENT PARK GEUN-HYE AT KOREAN SEALS PRESENTATION Blue House Seoul, Republic of Korea 5:49 P.M. KST PRESIDENT OBAMA: So we just had an excellent meeting, and I know that we’ll have the opportunity to answer questions from the press about policy. But I just wanted to make a brief remark about these remarkable artifacts. These are historic seals that were part of the monarchy here in Korea. And during the Korean War, a Marine from the United States found them and took them back as mementos to the United States. I don’t think he fully appreciated the historic significance of them. After his passing, his widow discovered how important they were, and she graciously recognized that they appropriately belonged here in Korea. So she facilitated the return and I wanted to just let the Korean people know that they’re back where they belong. And this is a symbol, hopefully, of the respect that we have for Korean culture and our friendship. They’re very beautiful. PRESIDENT PARK: (As interpreted.) It’s very significant that we were able to return home these very historic and precious artifacts. And I do wish to thank President Obama, as well as the American people, for this gesture. This event is really the fruits of the close consultations and collaboration that our two countries have been undertaking since late last year. And I do wish to acknowledge all the hard work of the officials, the relevant officials at the Department of Homeland Security as well as other related agencies for their hard work. I also understand that later this year we’re preparing to adopt an MOU with regard to the return of cultural artifacts, and preparations are currently underway to do so. And I believe the event can further catalyze collaboration in terms and with regard to cultural heritage. Once again, I wish to thank you, Mr. President, and the American government for this wonderful present. END 5:52 P.M. KST White House Pool- President Obama Korea- Return of Antiquities
Pooler of the day covered an important historic moment, Return of Artifacts. Pooler wrote, "President Obama took part in a formal ceremony to return nine ancient seals that an American Marine removed from the country during the Korean War." "These are historic seals that were part of the monarchy here in Korea." POoler wrote, "Obama said, as Park stood next to him, next to a table on which the seals were arranged, that "During the war, a Marine found them and took them home as a memento," Obama said. "I don't think he fully appreciate their historic significance." Pooler wrote, "After the man died, his wife discovered the significance of the artifacts and moved to repatriate them." "I just want to let the Korean people know that they are back where they belong," President Obama said, "calling it as gesture of respect for Korean culture." Pooler wrote that President Park thanked Obama for returning "these very precious and historic artifacts." President Obama Attends Roundtable With Korean Business Executives To Encourage Investment In United States
Joint Fact Sheet: The United States-Republic of Korea Alliance: A Global Partnership
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 25, 2014 JOINT Fact Sheet THE UNITED STATES-REPUBLIC OF KOREA ALLIANCE: A GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP On the occasion of President Obama’s visit to the Republic of Korea, the United States-Republic of Korea Alliance is stronger and deeper than ever. Originally forged in the shared sacrifice of our peoples 61 years ago, our Alliance today is the linchpin of peace and security in the Asia-Pacific region and an increasingly comprehensive global partnership. Our two nations enjoy strong and longstanding security, economic, and people-to-people ties, and our shared values of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law are the foundation of our relationship. From strengthening the nonproliferation regime to climate change, we are committed to deepening our cooperation on global challenges, and continue to work together to advance prosperity and security in the Asia-Pacific region and around the world. The United States and Republic of Korea remain fully committed to continuing our close cooperation on the full range of issues related to North Korea toward our common goal, which is shared by the international community, of the complete, verifiable, and irreversible denuclearization of North Korea in a peaceful manner. Our two countries reaffirm the UN Security Council’s unanimous condemnation of the DPRK’s recent ballistic missile launches as clear violations of UN Security Council resolutions 1718, 1874, 2087, and 2094. We strongly urge the DPRK to refrain from additional provocations in further violation of its international obligations and commitments. We are also committed to working with the international community to ensure the full and transparent implementation of all UN Security Council resolutions concerning the DPRK, and we urge the DPRK to refrain from further threatening actions. The United States supports President Park's vision of a Korean Peninsula free of nuclear weapons, free from the fear of war, and peacefully reunified on the basis of democratic and free-market principles, as articulated in her Dresden address. We are dedicated to working together with our allies and partners in the international community to focus international attention on and improve the deplorable human rights situation in North Korea and to hold the DPRK accountable for its systematic and ongoing violations of the human rights of its people. A Strong, Capable Alliance The United States and Republic of Korea (ROK) continue to build a comprehensive strategic Alliance of bilateral, regional, and global scope based on common values and mutual trust. We are strengthening our combined defense posture on the Korean Peninsula and enhancing cooperation for regional and global security in the 21st century. As part of this effort to enhance our coordination, we plan to hold a foreign and defense ministers' (“2+2”) meeting in 2014. The U.S. commitment to the Republic of Korea’s security remains unwavering. The United States and Republic of Korea have decided that due to the evolving security environment in the region, including the enduring North Korean nuclear and missile threat, the current timeline for the transition of wartime operational control (OPCON) to a Republic of Korea-led defense in 2015 can be reconsidered. Both the United States and Republic of Korea continue to develop interoperability and readiness through the use of annual joint and combined exercises such as Ulchi Freedom Guardian, Key Resolve, and Foal Eagle. The two sides are also working to ensure that the Republic of Korea is ready to lead the combined defense after OPCON transition takes place. The leaders of both countries urged their teams to continue to work hard to determine appropriate timing and conditions. As part of its commitment to strengthen Alliance capabilities, the Republic of Korea is continuing to procure major intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) and weapons systems. The Republic of Korea announced on March 24 that it intends to procure Global Hawk Unmanned Aerial Vehicle systems, and announced its intent to procure F-35 Joint Strike Fighter jets. Furthermore, the two governments exchanged views on strengthening cooperation regarding the anticipated U.S. Air Force T-X trainer replacement program. The Republic of Korea is also developing its own interoperable ballistic missile defense systems and enhancing the interoperability of the Alliance’s command, control, communications, computers, and intelligence (C4I) systems. In order to respond to the North Korean nuclear and missile threats, the United States and Republic of Korea recognize the importance of trilateral information sharing among the United States, Republic of Korea, and Japan in a way that contributes to a comprehensive and cooperative response against such threats. The United States welcomes the Republic of Korea’s ratification of a new five-year Special Measures Agreement, which establishes the framework for ROK contributions to offset the costs associated with the stationing of United States Forces Korea on the Korean Peninsula. This agreement reflects our shared commitment to the defense of the Korean Peninsula and strengthens the U.S.-ROK Alliance’s capability to serve as the linchpin of regional peace and stability. Following our work in the bilateral Extended Deterrence Policy Committee, our two countries endorsed a Tailored Deterrence Strategy in October 2013 to improve the effectiveness of extended deterrence against North Korean nuclear and weapons of mass destruction threats. Both countries signed the Counter Provocation Plan in March 2013 to enable us to respond immediately and decisively to any North Korean provocation. Global Partnership for Peace and Security The U.S.-ROK alliance is increasingly global in nature, and our countries are partners on a broad range of security, development, and economic initiatives around the world. Our expanding cooperation benefits not only Northeast Asia, but also promotes peace and security for the international community. The United States and Republic of Korea are close partners on international efforts to resolve the international community’s concerns about Iran’s nuclear program. Our countries strongly support the P5+1 process and the P5+1-Iran Joint Plan of Action. The United States appreciates the Republic of Korea’s assistance in implementing the Joint Plan of Action. The United States and Republic of Korea continue to condemn the Syrian regime’s indiscriminate and continuing use of violence against civilians. Both countries are committed to addressing the significant humanitarian needs of the Syrian people, and the United States welcomes the Republic of Korea’s contributions to the international community’s humanitarian assistance efforts. We are close partners in supporting the UN-Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons Joint Mission and remain committed to ensuring the complete elimination of Syria’s chemical weapons. Our two countries strongly support the goal of the complete elimination of chemical weapons stockpiles around the world, and urge those countries that have not acceded to the Chemical Weapons Convention, including North Korea, to do so as soon as possible. In Afghanistan, where American and Korean troops have served side by side, the Republic of Korea continues to provide generous assistance toward reconstruction and stabilization. The United States and Republic of Korea cooperate closely on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. The United States welcomed the Republic of Korea's co-hosting of the 3rd ASEAN Regional Forum Disaster Relief Exercise with Thailand in May 2013. Our two countries continue to collaborate on a wide range of nonproliferation and counter-proliferation issues, including nuclear security, nuclear safeguards, combating the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and related technologies, and preventing nuclear terrorism. The United States and Republic of Korea have long partnered to ensure that nuclear materials cannot be sold or stolen and then used for nuclear weapons. The United States and Republic of Korea are partners in the global counter-piracy effort. Both countries have contributed naval assets to protect the safety of civilian maritime trade and are active leaders in the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia. The United States convened the first Nuclear Security Summit in Washington, DC in 2010, and the Republic of Korea hosted the second Summit in Seoul in 2012. At this year’s Summit in The Hague, the three Summit hosts sponsored a joint statement on Strengthening Nuclear Security Implementation, issued by 35 countries, who committed to take certain actions to improve the effectiveness of their nuclear security systems and contribute to the continuous improvement of nuclear security. In addition, the United States and Republic of Korea, along with three other countries, announced they are collaborating to develop new high-density low-enriched uranium fuels as part of an effort to minimize the amount of highly-enriched uranium in civilian use. Our two countries are closely cooperating to promote the full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1540 (2004), including through joint efforts to lead a Security Council open debate in May 2014, on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the resolution. The United States and Republic of Korea are also close partners on the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism, a multilateral partnership that strengthens our global capacity to prevent, detect, and respond to nuclear terrorism. We also collaborate in the Global Partnership Against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction, an initiative to prevent terrorists or states that support them from acquiring or developing weapons of mass destruction. Climate Change and Energy Cooperation The United States and Republic of Korea share the view that climate change represents a threat to the security and economic development of all nations, and we are committed to taking ambitious action together. The Republic of Korea hosts the Green Climate Fund (GCF), and we cooperate in the Major Economies Forum and the Climate and Clean Air Coalition. Both countries intend to continue to make efforts toward the successful operationalization of the GCF. As part of our regular consultations on this issue, the Department of State’s Special Envoy for Climate Change hosted his ROK counterpart for a bilateral dialogue on climate change in January 2014. The United States and Republic of Korea reaffirm their commitment on using expertise and the institutions of the Montreal Protocol to phase down the production and consumption of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) as set out in the G-20 St. Petersburg Leader’s Communique. Our countries also collaborate closely on climate change science and clean energy research. The Republic of Korea Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy plans to host a Clean Energy Policy Dialogue with the U.S. Department of Energy in June to discuss cooperation on clean energy technology research and development, including microgrids, energy storage, and fuel cells. The United States and Republic of Korea continue to discuss possibilities for promoting information sharing regarding shale gas. In May, the Republic of Korea is hosting and the U.S. Secretary of Energy plans to attend the 5th Clean Energy Ministerial, a high-level global forum to share best practices and promote policies and programs that encourage and facilitate the transition to a global clean energy economy. Advancing International Development The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in April 2014 that highlights our strengthened collaboration on maternal and child health in Ghana and Ethiopia, our cooperation on developing the energy sector in Ghana in support of the Power Africa Initiative, our cooperation on climate change in Vietnam, and our partnership on innovative approaches such as Grand Challenges for Development and public-private partnerships. Additionally, USAID, in partnership with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), is providing nearly $270,000 to strengthen the ROK’s disaster response capacity by supporting civil society partners in the areas of assessments, contingency planning, and application of humanitarian standards in disaster response. This partnership is expected to enhance the capacity of national-level disaster and emergency first responders. Our two countries have already seen benefits from this collaboration, particularly during our coordinated response to Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines. Partnering for Prosperity, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship The United States and Republic of Korea marked the second anniversary of the entry into force of the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA) on March 15, 2014. Now in its third year, this landmark agreement continues to provide tangible benefits for consumers, businesses, workers, and farmers in both countries. The United States and Republic of Korea have reaffirmed our commitment to strengthen our efforts to fully implement the KORUS FTA to ensure that the economic benefits of the agreement are realized for both sides. The KORUS FTA has provided a strong foundation for increased foreign direct investment in the United States by Korean companies. In October 2013, Hankook Tire Co. announced it would build its first manufacturing plant in Tennessee, investing $800 million and creating 1,800 jobs in the process. Hyundai, Samsung, Kia, LG, SK, and Hanjin Shipping also have made major investments in the United States in recent years. In 2012 and 2013, the United States had a $4.4 billion surplus in foreign direct investment flows with the Republic of Korea. The Republic of Korea also welcomes the recent investments made by U.S. companies such as GE, Boeing, and Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. and is hopeful that the KORUS FTA will expand opportunities for more investments by U.S. companies. The United States reaffirmed that it welcomes the Republic of Korea’s interest in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and its commitment to continue to consult closely with the Republic of Korea on meeting the high standards of the TPP and to address specific issues of concern. The United States and Republic of Korea share the view that creativity and ingenuity are keys to enhancing our shared prosperity and building sustainable economic growth. During the first U.S.-ROK Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Policy Forum in November 2013, both sides decided to pursue collaboration on ICT policy that promotes innovation and fosters the global and open nature of the Internet. The United States and Republic of Korea look forward to further cooperation on innovation and entrepreneurship in the second round of the U.S.-ROK ICT Policy Forum in Seoul in the second half of 2014. The United States and Republic of Korea also work closely together to monitor global financial conditions and to strengthen cooperation, including through the G-20, on policies that strengthen financial stability and promote strong, sustainable, and balanced growth. On March 26, 2014, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) added the Republic of Korea to the list of countries eligible to export poultry products to the United States. FSIS determined that the Republic of Korea’s poultry laws, regulations, and inspection system, as implemented, met U.S. standards. This decision allows U.S. consumers to enjoy products such as samgyetang (ginseng chicken soup) imported from the ROK. Collaboration on Science, Technology, Cyber, and Health Issues The United States and Republic of Korea have had a strong partnership in the field of peaceful nuclear cooperation for more than a half century, and the United States is pleased that the Republic of Korea has become one of the world’s leading nations in the development of peaceful nuclear technology. To advance this collaboration, the United States and Republic of Korea are negotiating a successor nuclear cooperation agreement that is intended to reflect the Republic of Korea’s status as a major global nuclear supplier and the great importance both governments place on maintaining high standards of nuclear safety and security upon which we are continuously improving, as well as a strong commitment to nonproliferation. Our two countries are confident that a new agreement can greatly advance our bilateral cooperation and address the Republic of Korea’s civil nuclear energy priorities of assured fuel supply, used fuel management, and competitiveness in the global nuclear energy market. The United States and Republic of Korea enjoy longstanding cooperation in science and technology, reflecting the two nations’ mutual recognition that science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education, scientific research, and technology development are essential to economic prosperity, enhanced public health, environmental sustainability, and national security. We look forward to holding the next Joint Commission for Science and Technology Cooperation May 19-20 in Washington to expand collaboration on a wide range of science, technology, and health issues. We plan to revise the U.S.-ROK Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement to enhance the valuable exchange of science and technology ideas, information, skills, and techniques between our two countries. U.S.-ROK cooperation on cyber issues continues to expand, and the United States welcomed Seoul’s hosting of the October 2013 Seoul Conference on Cyberspace. In 2013, the United States and Republic of Korea continued our efforts to enhance cybersecurity through increased cooperation between our computer security incident response teams as well as the creation of a cyber cooperation working group between our militaries. The United States and Republic of Korea plan to hold the third round of the U.S.-ROK Cyber Dialogue in the summer of 2014, and will continue to promote a common vision of an open, interoperable, secure, and reliable cyberspace. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Republic of Korea Ministry of Health and Welfare continue to work cooperatively to improve the health of Republic of Korea and U.S. citizens, particularly through our research collaboration in basic science and public health, and our cooperation on public health emergency preparedness and response. The United States welcomes the Republic of Korea’s support for the U.S. Global Health Security Agenda, which seeks to accelerate progress toward a world safe and secure from infectious disease threats and to promote global health security as an international security priority. As a part of this cooperation, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response have hosted Republic of Korea public health emergency preparedness and response fellows. In 2013, the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Korea Health Industry Development Institute created a joint fellowship program and offered 16 Korean post-doctoral researchers two-year stipends for research at NIH. The United States and Republic of Korea also continue to partner on areas such as biosecurity, biosurveillance, and biodefense through the annual interagency Able Response exercise. Enduring Ties Between Our Peoples Our people-to-people ties with the Republic of Korea are broad and deep. Over 1.7 million U.S. citizens are of Korean descent, including U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Korea Sung Kim, and Republic of Korea citizens are the ninth-largest nationality of visitors to the United States. The Republic of Korea sends over 70,000 students annually – more students per capita than any other major country – while the number of U.S. citizens studying in the Republic of Korea continues to grow. Recognizing the importance both countries place on protecting cultural heritage, the United States is pleased to return to the Republic of Korea 9 cultural artifacts, including one national seal of the Korean Empire. The repatriation of the nine artifacts was conducted by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations in close cooperation with the Republic of Korea Cultural Heritage Administration. On October 29, 2013, our two countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding renewing the Work, English Study, Travel (WEST) program, which allows Korean university students and recent graduates to study English, work as interns, and travel in the United States. Over 2,000 Korean youth have participated in the program since its inception. Since 2011, the WEST program also has given North Korea-born youth now living in the Republic of Korea the opportunity to improve their English language ability and gain business skills and international experience, to help them to serve as a bridge between the United States and the North Korean community. Since 1950, the Fulbright program has fostered mutual understanding between the United States and Republic of Korea, and since 1992 over 1,100 U.S.-citizen college graduates have spent a year or more as teachers in rural regions of the Republic of Korea as part of the Fulbright English Teaching Assistant program. Including Fulbright program alumni, there are nearly 6,000 U.S. government exchange program alumni in the Republic of Korea. Recognizing that expanding economic opportunities for women and ensuring their full participation in the workforce is a challenge shared by both countries, the United States is pleased to announce its intent to invite five Republic of Korea participants to attend the White House Summit on Working Families, which President Obama plans to host on June 23, 2014. The Summit aims to bring together businesses, economists, labor leaders, policymakers, advocates, and ordinary citizens to discuss how we can create a 21st century workplace that meets the needs of a 21st century workforce. Following the Summit, the participants plan to meet with policymakers and businesspeople to discuss how to make workplaces better for families, with an eye towards improving women’s labor force participation. In 2014, six North Korea-born high school students participated in two separate Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs SportsUnited basketball programs in the United States. Three boys and three girls who had escaped from North Korea and are now ROK citizens spent two weeks in the United States playing basketball and learning about nutrition, fitness, life skills, conflict resolution, and how sports help to build bridges of understanding. The United States is pleased to announce that White House Assistant Chef and Senior Policy Advisor for Nutrition Policy Sam Kass plans to travel to the Republic of Korea in summer 2014 to share First Lady Michelle Obama’s work to help the United States raise a healthier generation of young people. In addition to sharing his experience cooking at the White House for President Obama and foreign dignitaries, Chef Kass looks forward to learning about and sampling the rich diversity of Korean cuisine. Presidential Proclamation -- Workers Memorial Day, 2014
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary For Immediate Release April 25, 2014 WORKERS MEMORIAL DAY, 2014 BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA A PROCLAMATION America is built on the promise of opportunity. We believe that everyone should have a chance to succeed, that what matters is the strength of our work ethic, the scope of our dreams, and our willingness to take responsibility for ourselves and each other. Yet each year, workplace illness and injury threaten that promise for millions of Americans, and even more tragically, thousands die on the job. This is unacceptable. On Workers Memorial Day, we honor those we have lost, and in their memory, affirm everyone's right to a safe workplace. With grit and determination, the American labor force has propelled our Nation through times of hardship and war, and it laid the foundation for tremendous economic growth. Workers risked life and limb to turn the gears of the Industrial Revolution, raise our first skyscrapers, and lay railroad track that connected our country from coast to coast. The injured, as well as families of the dead, received little or. It was only after decades of organizing, unionizing, and public pressure that workers won many of the rights we take for granted today. Finally, with the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, the Federal Government required employers to provide basic safety equipment. Just 1 year prior, the Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act of 1969 established comprehensive safety and health standards for coal mines, increased Federal enforcement powers, and provided compensation to miners with black lung. My Administration remains dedicated to building on this progress. We are improving standards to protect workers from black lung and reduce their exposure to dangerous substances. We are helping employers provide safe workplaces and holding those who risk workers' lives and health accountable. And we are empowering workers with information so they can stay safe on We must never accept that injury, illness, or death is the cost of doing business. Workers are the backbone of our economy, and no one's prosperity should come at the expense of their safety. Today, let us celebrate our workers by upholding their basic right to clock out and return home at the end of NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim April 28, 2014, as Workers Memorial Day. I call upon all Americans to participate in ceremonies and activities in memory of those killed or injured due to unsafe working IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-fifth day of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand fourteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-eighth. BARACK OBAMA FACT SHEET: Taking Action to Improve Teacher Preparation
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 25, 2014 FACT SHEET: Taking Action to Improve Teacher Preparation Providing all children in America with the opportunity to get a world-class education is critical for their success and the success of our nation, and there is no more important factor in successful schools than having a great teacher in every classroom. President Obama believes that we need to give schools the resources to keep good teachers on the job and reward the best ones, and give teachers the flexibility to teach with creativity and passion. But far too many teachers report they are unprepared when they first enter the classroom after completing their teacher preparation program. Today – continuing to use the power of his phone and his pen to make 2014 a year of action – President Obama is directing the Department of Education to move forward on a plan to strengthen America’s teacher preparation programs. Recruiting, preparing, developing and supporting great teachers has a direct impact on the learning and success of America’s students. Research confirms that the most important factor in a student’s success in school is a strong teacher, and excellent teachers are especially important for our neediest students.[1] School districts, principals, parents and children depend on great teachers to provide a world-class education. However, the vast majority of new teachers – almost two-thirds – report that their teacher preparation program left them unprepared for the realities of the classroom. Moreover, for decades, institutions that prepare teachers have had lacked the feedback needed to identify their strengths and weaknesses, and had little information on where program graduates go to teach, how long they stay, and how they perform in the classroom. Existing federal regulations on teacher preparation focus on information that is not sufficiently meaningful to preparation programs, potential teachers or potential employers. Today, President Obama directed the U.S. Department of Education to lay out a plan to strengthen America’s teacher preparation programs for public discussion by this summer, and to move forward on schedule to publish a final rule within the next year. The Administration will encourage and support states in developing systems that recognize excellence and provide all programs with information to help them improve, while holding them accountable for how well they prepare teachers to succeed in today’s classrooms and throughout their careers. The Obama Administration will put forth a proposal this summer to support the pipeline of future teachers by strengthening teacher preparation programs, and will seek additional input on this plan through a public comment process. The Administration’s plans will: · Build on state systems and efforts and the progress in the field to encourage all states to develop their own meaningful systems to identify high- and low-performing teacher preparation programs across all kinds of programs, not just those based in colleges and universities. · Ask states to move away from current input-focused reporting requirements, streamline the current data requirements, incorporate more meaningful outcomes, and improve the availability of relevant information on teacher preparation. · Rely on state-developed program ratings of preparation programs – in part – to determine program eligibility for TEACH grants, which are available to students who are planning to become teachers in a high-need field in a low-income school, to ensure that these limited federal dollars support high-quality teacher education and preparation. These critical changes will help to increase recognition for high-performing teacher preparation programs, and create a much-needed feedback loop to provide information to prospective teachers, schools and districts, and the general public, and drive improvement across programs. They will help to improve systems-level accountability for supporting the high-quality instruction all students deserve. Moreover, strengthened preparation and support will help to make teaching an increasingly desirable and rewarding career. Educators and leaders across the country are exploring new and innovative efforts to make teacher preparation more hands-on, relevant, and effective, including examples such as: · The Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), which has produced a commitment across hundreds of providers to establish bold new standards for accrediting teacher preparation programs that will encourage higher entry and exit requirements for candidates, and will make use of data about new teachers’ employment, retention and student learning outcomes. · Five states, Tennessee, Ohio, North Carolina, Louisiana and Florida, currently report information about teacher preparation programs and their graduates back to the programs as well as to potential teachers and the public. Several more states have announced plans to create their own versions of these reports. · Arizona State University and Urban Teacher Residencies are enriching the clinical experiences they provide, so their teacher candidates can learn in real schools with the help of master teachers. Additionally, these programs use the same teaching standards in preparation that teachers will use on the job later. There are signs this real-world experience helps teacher stay in the classroom – 85% of Urban Teacher Residencies graduates remain in the classroom after three years, compared to the 50 percent national average. · UTeach at the University of Texas at Austin are drawing more undergraduates with STEM majors into teaching. Ninety 90% of UTeach graduates enter teaching and of those, roughly 80 percent are retained after 5 years, and about half of UTeach graduates are in high-need schools. Recent replications of the UTeach model have meant that the annual number of UTeach candidates has grown from 519 in 2008 to nearly 7,000 in 2014, expanding the supply of teachers prepared to teach STEM subjects. · Relay Graduate School of Education, founded by three charter management organizations, measures and holds itself accountable for both program graduate and employer satisfaction, and requires that teachers meet high goals for student learning growth before they can complete their degrees. There is promise that this approach translates into classroom results as K-12 students of Relay teachers grew 1.3 years in reading performance in one year. · Fayetteville State University in North Carolina incorporates the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction competencies and standards as well as the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards into its curriculum for master’s degree students in their School of Education. Of their recent graduates, 87 percent of new teachers met or exceeded expectations for student learning growth, compared to the 75 percent state average. Building on Success: This initiative around teacher preparation is the newest component of the Administration’s work to ensure that teachers and leaders have the support they need from preparation and through their careers, and that all students have access to great teachers and leaders. · The Administration’s proposed ConnectEDucators program in the President’s FY15 budget request supports teachers’ efforts to learn how to make the best use of technology and digital learning materials in their classrooms. · The Administration’s RESPECT proposal seeks to elevate the education profession through improved preparation and early career support, teacher leadership and development opportunities, and improved work environments. Recently, the Department of Education announced Teach to Lead, a new initiative to ensure that teachers have the opportunity to play a critical role in the decisions that impact their classrooms and their students without leaving the classroom. · Through programs like Teacher Incentive Fund, Investing in Innovation (i3), and the Race to the Top, the Department of Education is assisting states and school districts across the country to find innovative new ways to develop, support, and retain the educators they need for the future. Remarks by the First Lady in Q&A With Children at Take-Your-Daughters-And-Sons-To-Work Day
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the First Lady _________________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release April 24, 2014 REMARKS BY THE FIRST LADY IN Q&A WITH CHILDREN AT TAKE-YOUR-DAUGHTERS-AND-SONS-TO-WORK DAY East Room 11:10 A.M. EDT MRS. OBAMA: (Applause.) Hey, you guys. How are you doing? CHILDREN: Good. MRS. OBAMA: Have you been having -- awesome. Have you been having fun today? CHILDREN: Yes. MRS. OBAMA: All right. Give me -- what’s the best thing you’ve done so far? Just yell it out. Let’s hear. CHILDREN: Eating food. MRS. OBAMA: You’ve eaten good food? Getting to meet me? Did you see the bees? Did you go out and see the garden? CHILDREN: Yeah! MRS. OBAMA: That sounds good. Well, I’m glad you’re having fun. I love talking to you guys, because I really, often, don’t take questions with the press in the room. So I only do this with you guys, so I trust that you will be on your Ps and Qs, because the whole world is watching, okay? (Laughter.) But one of the reasons why this day is so special for us is because you guys are pretty special people -- yes, there they go. We know how much you guys sacrifice because your parents work here. I mean, for many of you, I know it’s hard when your mom or your dad says, I’m going to miss dinner tonight because I’ve got to work late, or there’s a meeting on Saturday so I’ll miss your game, or I have to travel next week and I might not get to that recital. Our kids go through it and it’s not a lot of fun. But it’s important for you to know that when you guys show appreciation to your parents for the hard work that they do, it helps the President. And that’s what we tell our kids. Sometimes we make sacrifices -- sometimes pretty huge sacrifices -- so that the country runs a little bit better. And you guys are at the forefront of that sacrifice. So we’re very proud of you all, and grateful for you guys being the great kids that you are. That’s why we make this day so special for you. So thank you. Thank you for your patience and your intelligence, and for behaving and doing everything your parents tell you to do -- because I know you’re doing that, right? Okay, good. Just keep it up. So with that, I’ll take questions, okay? So I’m going to try to mix around. I’m going to go from section to section and try to get a mix of boys and girls, so I’m going to call out a color -- an arm -- I see this young lady in the jeans jacket on the end. Stand up, tell me your name. Q Do you enjoy planting in your garden? MRS. OBAMA: Her question was do I enjoy planting in my garden. Yes, because, you know, one of the things we do when we plant, we always invite students from the area who come and help. We just planted the garden a couple of weeks ago, and we had students from three or four schools in the area, and a few kids from schools outside of the area. And because we had so many great kids we got it done -- we got all the garden planted, like, within an hour. And it was really fun to spend time out in the sun and talk to the kids and learn -- many of the kids came from schools that had their own gardens. So that’s really fun for me, to be able to do that. And when we harvest, we invite a lot of those kids back, and then they help us -- they get to see the garden -- what it was when they planted it, and how beautiful and lush it gets when everything is growing. And we actually cook from the garden out on the South Lawn. We make veggie pizzas and the kids get to eat the vegetables. So it’s really a lot of fun. Thanks, sweetie. Thanks for the question. Q My name is Matthew (ph) and I was wondering, who takes care of the dogs when you’re busy? MRS. OBAMA: Yes, that’s a great question. We’ve got one of our best staff people, one of my favorite people, Dale. He is the primary keeper of the dogs, and he’s one of the head gardeners, one of the head people who handles the grounds out here. So he’s responsible for more than just Sunny and Bo. But Dale picks them up every morning at 7:30 or so, and they go off to work. And they’re very excited about their day. They walk all over the White House. They’re in the West Wing; they’re in the East Wing. When we first got Bo, people used to give him snacks, so he was getting a little chunky. So I had to tell people, stop feeding him; you can give him toys. And, fortunately, everyone around the White House is listening now, so they only get toy treats. They don’t get food treats. But they’re with Dale until about 1:00, and then they come home, and they’re very tired. They’re home by the time we get home and the girls get home. So it’s good because they spend the day out in the sun, they’re walking around, they’re meeting people. They’re our best ambassadors. So Dale is the person who’s right on the case with the dogs. Great question. Q My name is Aliyah (ph), and I wonder, what is your favorite drink? MRS. OBAMA: My favorite -- Q Drink. MRS. OBAMA: Drink? The truth is my favorite drink is seltzer water with lime. I’m sorry, I wish I could be more interesting. But that’s what I drink most of the time, because I like to -- it’s a good way to get water -- as a little shameless plug, Drink Up. We’re trying to encourage people, especially young people, to drink more water, because water is like the best thing you can have. And sometimes plain water is not as much fun, but if you get seltzer water it’s kind of bubbly, and if you put lemons in it, it almost tastes like a little treat. So I drink that a lot. Q Hi. My name is Lauren (ph.) And what’s your favorite place to travel to? MRS. OBAMA: Oh, that’s a great question. My favorite place to travel -- that’s hard to say, because we’ve been to so many great places. Rome is a beautiful city, and that trip was really special because we got to meet the Pope. The food is really good. We just came back from China, which was incredibly interesting. The culture and the country is so very different from ours, so it was really good to be in a place where I didn’t -- where it didn’t feel anything like this country. It was incredibly different. So we just did that trip. But I also like to travel a lot to places right here in the United States. I mean, we go to Hawaii every year; Hawaii is a beautiful state, and the weather is really good and the beaches are great. But it’s also been fun getting to visit a lot of the national parks that are right here in the United States. So we went to the Grand Canyon, and we’ve been to great national parks in Maine. And there are really interesting national parks sites right here in the area that we try to take our girls to. So I love to travel. That’s one of the things I hope to do more of while -- the last few years while we’re here in the White House, and hopefully take the girls to some more interesting places and expose them to a little bit more. What’s your name? Q Jude (ph.) MRS. OBAMA: Jude? Got it. I thought you said “you.” I was like, no, you. (Laughter.) And you said “Jude.” That was kind of funny, huh? (Laughter.) Okay, Jude, what’s your question? Q What is your favorite thing to eat? MRS. OBAMA: My favorite thing to eat. Okay, so I’m going to give you my favorite healthy thing to eat, which actually is my favorite thing to eat: Pizza. Yes. But usually when I have pizza -- all right, don’t get mad at me -- I do veggie pizzas. CHILDREN: Oh. MRS. OBAMA: Hey, hey, hey, I’m just saying, I like them. It’s really good. And they make great pizza here at the White House, so that’s a way that I get the favorite food that I love but also do it in a healthy way so that I can eat it whenever I want to. But if I’m really being bad, if I want my favorite junk food -- some kids asked me this just the other day -- one of my favorite, favorite junk foods are French fries. I love French fries. French fries -- with hot sauce you said? Q Yeah. MRS. OBAMA: With hot sauce. Yeah, I don’t know if I’d do -- what’s this over here? We’re getting a lot of feedback from -- the junk food. Okay, got it. Q Ni hao, Mrs. Obama. Just like saying that because I take Mandarin at school. MRS. OBAMA: Ni hao. Q So what was your favorite thing in China? Like what was your favorite thing to do? MRS. OBAMA: Oh, when we were in Beijing we had the best weather there. And the sun was out, and when -- we went to the Great Wall of China, which was an amazing sight to see, a wall that just goes on forever and ever and ever. It took a long time to build and millions of people to help build it. So it’s one of the great wonders of the world, so it was fascinating to see it. And I enjoyed that time because I was there with my daughters, and we got a moment alone on the Great Wall where we just sort of looked over the landscape and we took it all in. And then the fun part of the Great Wall is that they’ve got this toboggan ride you can ride down on to get down from the top of the Great Wall. And there are these little carts, and you pull them and you go down -- it’s almost like a rollercoaster but it’s not so fast, and it winds its way down. And we took that down, and that was a lot of fun. Have you ever been to China? Q (Inaudibile.) MRS. OBAMA: Excellent. It’s going to be a great trip. You know where you’re going to go? Are you going to go to Beijing or Shanghai? Q (Inaudible.) MRS. OBAMA: Excellent. Well, zàijiàn. Q My name is Josh (ph.) And if you could go anywhere, where would you go? MRS. OBAMA: If I could go anywhere, where would I go. Oh, gosh, that’s so hard. There are so many great places to go, I have to pick one? CHILD: Yeah. (Laughter.) MRS. OBAMA: Where do you guys think? Where would you want to go? Help me out with this. All right, one at a time. First, Josh (ph), where would you want to go? Q Japan. MRS. OBAMA: Japan. The President is in Japan as we speak. CHILD: Paris. MRS. OBAMA: Paris, I’ve been to Paris. It’s beautiful. Where else? Greece, did I hear Greece? I would love to go to Greece. CHILD: I lived in Greece -- I lived there for three years. MRS. OBAMA: You lived in Greece for three years? That’s awesome. There’s so many great places -- where would you go? CHILD: Hawaii. MRS. OBAMA: Hawaii is cool. CHILD: Australia. MRS. OBAMA: That’s one -- that’s on my bucket list, Australia, New Zealand. What about you, sweetie? CHILD: Florida. MRS. OBAMA: Florida! (Laughter.) We just went to Florida. We went to Florida for a few days, we had fun. Q What made you want to get kids to eat healthier foods? MRS. OBAMA: That’s a great question, what made me want to get kids to eat healthier food. It was really what I -- the challenges that I had as a mom. Before I came to the White House, I was like most of your parents -- I worked, the President worked, so we were really busy. And cooking at home was hard to do, so we would take the shortcuts -- we’d go out, we’d do drive-thru, we’d do a lot of microwaving and the things that you do when you’re busy and you’re just trying to feed -- and my kids were like you. They didn’t like vegetables, they always complained about dinner so we were always trying to find something that they liked and it was usually not healthy for them. Because all the stuff you guys like -- you like French fries and chicken nuggets and all that kind of stuff. CHILD: Wings. MRS. OBAMA: Wings. And some of that stuff is -- CHILD: (Inaudible.) MRS. OBAMA: The best invention ever made -- man ever made is chicken nuggets. And there’s nothing wrong with chicken nuggets, it’s just that if you eat the same thing every day, if you eat fast food every day, what I found was that it wasn’t so good for my kids’ health. And after a while -- I don’t know -- a lot of kids don’t get to the point where it doesn’t taste good, but I like your spirit. (Laughter.) But my kids weren’t as healthy. And our pediatrician said, you’ve got to really watch what they eat. And I didn’t know that what I was doing wasn’t good for them, so I started doing some research and started working to figure out, well, how do I clean up our kids’ diet and do it in a way that I can manage it. And I started eliminating like all the processed food. We started adding more vegetables. I made sure my kids had more fruit. We got rid of a lot of sugary drinks. I made sure that they were getting active. And in a few months, when we went back to the doctor, the doctor was like, what did you do? This is amazing. Whatever health outcomes he was seeing had changed over the course of a few months with just a few changes. And I thought, well, if I’m going through this, what’s going on in all the households over the country and all over the world where parents aren’t being told this kind of stuff? And that’s one of the reasons why we have a huge childhood obesity epidemic. And what happens is like, if we don’t help you guys start out at a young age learning how to eat properly and get exercise, the problems that you will have for the rest of your life are really tough. And I didn’t want that for my kids, and I certainly don’t want that for any kids in this country. So I thought, when I get here, maybe I can do more to raise the awareness. And we started with planting a garden. And I wanted to find a way to make healthy eating and exercise not a chore, but fun. That’s one of the things I’ve been asking grocery store manufacturers to do. It’s like, find a way to make the healthy stuff fun. Make it taste good. Make the school lunches better, and make them taste good. Put good foods in there. Let’s work on making healthy fun. And that’s what we’re doing with Let’s Move. We’re trying to make it cool to eat vegetables. Because once you start eating vegetables, then they start to taste better. If you never eat vegetables, then they’re too bitter, you don’t like them. If you never try vegetables, then you’ll never want them. And you just can’t live -- as I tell my kids -- you can’t -- if you could live on ice cream and pizza, I tell my kids, it would be so easy to give you that because that would make them happy. But I can’t do that as a responsible parent. It would be irresponsible of me to let my kids eat ice cream every day. So we’ve got to toughen up as parents and help you guys do what’s right for you. And then, as you grow up, you’ll do the right things for yourself because you’ll have better habits. That’s a long story, but it’s an important issue to me. But thank you for the question, sweetie. Eat your vegetables! (Laughter.) Q What’s your favorite food? MRS. OBAMA: My favorite food? Remember I said pizza? Remember that one? Q Yeah. MRS. OBAMA: You want another question? Q What’s your favorite color? (Laughter.) MRS. OBAMA: I like purple. Yay! Q My mom likes that. MRS. OBAMA: What was that? Q My mom likes it, too. MRS. OBAMA: Tell her -- we’re right here. Tell her we’re sisters in colorhood. (Laughter.) Q Okay. Q My dad’s been out of a job for three years and I wanted to give you his resume. MRS. OBAMA: You are so sweet. Oh, my goodness. Good job. I will take it. Well, it’s a little private, but she’s doing something for her dad. Got it. Q My name is Thomas Cuddy (ph), and my question is, do you miss your old job? MRS. OBAMA: Do I miss my old job. I don’t know if I miss the job -- sorry to the folks I used to work with, love you guys -- but I think this is a pretty cool job. But sometimes I miss, like, a normal life. CHILD: Without security guards. MRS. OBAMA: Without security guards. CHILD: Without policemen -- MRS. OBAMA: Yes. So sometimes I miss being able to walk out the front door and go wherever I want to whenever I want to. Sometimes I miss walking around where nobody even cares whether you’re there. So sometimes me and the President, we dream about sneaking out of the White House and going to have ice cream, and nobody really knowing who we are. But the truth is, I have a really cool job. I mean, I get to have an effect on issues that really matter. And there are few jobs in the world that I can say I could ever do that. So with all of the tough stuff that comes with living in the White House or whatever, I wouldn’t trade it for the world. So this is kind of a pretty neat job. Q Hi, my name is Jasmine (ph.) When you first came here, did you ever get lost in the White House? (Laughter.) MRS. OBAMA: Oh, yes. There were a first few days -- you know how we enter the White House? You don’t get to come to the White House until you are living in the White House, so it’s not like a regular house where you get to move in a couple of days, and then you visit back and forth. We came here once. And then, on Inauguration Day, when you’ve got a parade and balls and all of that, that’s the first time, after a long day of parades, that you get to walk into this house. And all your stuff is here and unpacked, but you’ve never seen it before. You don’t even know where your kids are. (Laughter.) We couldn’t find our children. I didn’t know where the bathroom was. And there are all these doors, and they were all closed, and I was going in and out of doors and they weren’t rooms, they were closets. But we had to rush to get ready for the ball, and I didn’t know where anything was. It was really pretty strange. But the White House is very simply laid out. It seems really big, but the layout is fairly simple. And once you know what’s behind every door -- and there are a lot of secret doors, too. There are doors that lead to other rooms and doors that lead to little rooms. And once you figure all those out, then you just don’t go in those doors. (Laughter.) But it doesn’t take long to get used to it. You would get used to it. You wouldn’t get lost in the White House if you lived here for a couple of weeks. What’s your name? Q I’m Jet, J-E-T. MRS. OBAMA: Jet, got it. Q My question is, is it -- do you like living and working in the White House? MRS. OBAMA: I do. I mean, I feel like this is a great honor to be the caretakers of what we call the “People’s House.” Because we’re just living here for a few years. This house belongs to America. And it’s really a nice responsibility to take care of it and make sure that as many people around the country and around the world have access to it. So we love holding events and doing things like this, where you guys get to come in and sit in the East Room and ask questions. We just had the Easter Egg Roll. How many people got to come to the Easter Egg Roll? That was pretty cool, huh? So stuff like that is really pretty neat. So it’s a very great honor, and we take our responsibility very seriously. Okay, I got the signal that I have time for one more question. Q My name is Torrin (ph.) What do you like -- being the First Lady? MRS. OBAMA: I like spending time with kids like you guys. I really do. My best days are when I’m with kids like you. Because I think that I have so much hope for you guys, and I want you guys to have all the opportunities that you deserve to be really great adults. And I know your parents love you. It’s hard not to love great kids like you guys. So it’s easy for me to hang out with you guys, because you all are smart. And I know you’re kind, and you’re decent young people. And who wouldn’t want to hang out with you guys? So if I could, I’d spend the rest of the day with you, but I can’t, and I’m getting the angry look from my staff at the back because I have to go to a meeting. (Laughter.) But I hope you guys had a great time. END 11:35 A.M. EDT First Lady Michelle Obama to Address 2014 Graduating Seniors
The First Lady will deliver remarks at a “Senior Recognition Day” to celebrate seniors from high schools in the Topeka, KS Public School District on May 16. This will take place the day before each high school holds their official graduation ceremony. The remarks will celebrate the achievements of the graduating class of high school seniors in Topeka, home of the landmark U.S. Supreme Court case, Brown v. Board of Education, which is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year. THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the First Lady ___________________________________________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release April 17, 2014 First Lady Michelle Obama to Address 2014 Graduating Seniors This year, First Lady Michelle Obama will deliver commencement addresses at Dillard University, an assembly of high schools in the Topeka, Kansas Public School District, and the District of Columbia College Access Program (DC-CAP). All of these institutions are supporting the First Lady’s higher education initiative and doing their part to answer the President’s call to ensure that by the year 2020, America once again has the highest proportion of college graduates in the world. The First Lady will deliver remarks at Dillard University because of its legacy as one of America’s top historically black universities; she will address high school students in Topeka, Kansas - home of the landmark U.S. Supreme Court case, Brown vs. Board of Education - which will celebrate its 60th anniversary the same day as the First Lady’s remarks; and she will deliver remarks at the Graduation Celebration of the DC College Access Program (DC-CAP) to highlight the important work that CAP is doing to ensure that first generation, low income students are graduating from high school ready to pursue a higher degree. The commencement addresses will be open press, but space is limited. Members of the media who wish to cover the commencements must RSVP directly to the contacts listed below. Dillard University First Lady Michelle Obama will deliver the commencement address to the class of 2014 at Dillard University in New Orleans, LA on Saturday, May 10 at 10:00 AM Central. Dillard is a private four-year liberal arts historically black university with a history dating back to 1869. Academically, Dillard is listed on: Forbes’ 2013 list of Top Colleges and Universities in the U.S., top 60 liberal arts institutions by the Washington Monthly (2013), and is consistently one of U.S News and World Report’s top Historically Black Colleges and Universities. The University has been fully engaged in the economic development of the Gentilly community in which it is located as well as the city of New Orleans. Dillard University partners with 12 community organizations, businesses and local schools in implementing such projects as home buyer workshops, community health fairs, edible gardens and water sustainability. Its Minority Health and Health Disparities Research Center also partners with local health institutions to study and address diseases such as diabetes, obesity and colon cancer, which are common to underserved individuals in the New Orleans community. First Lady Michelle Obama will deliver the commencement address to graduating seniors from high schools in the Topeka, KS Public School District on May 17 at 1:00 PM Central. Topeka Public Schools is located in the capital city of Kansas and is the home of the landmark U.S. Supreme Court case, Brown v. Board of Education, which will celebrate its 60th anniversary the same day as the First Lady’s remarks. Nearly 1,000 seniors will listen to the First Lady before crossing the stage to receive their diplomas. Topeka Public School District is a diversified urban district with nearly 14,000 students and 2,400 employees. The school district has 29 schools, including two magnet schools, three signature schools and the Topeka Center for Advanced Learning and Careers. The largest urban prairie in the U.S. is also part of the Kanza Education and Science Park making it a destination for learning. White House Pool Report President Obama Japan- The Menu
Poolers arent perfect. Sometimes they make funny mistakes like writing "Men for the state dinner" instead of Menu. That is because Poolers have to write very fast, rushed in and out. They dont spend much time in the events. Official staff stay longer. Pooler provided the menu at the Dinner in Honor of The Honorable Barack H. Obama President of the United States of America April 24, 2014 at the Imperial Palace, Tokyo Consommé à la Royale Royal Consommé 清羹 Madaï au Champagne Red Sea Bream Steamed with Champagne 真鯛洋酒蒸 Gigot de Mouton Rôti Roasted Leg of Lamb 羊腿肉蒸焼 Salade de Saison Seasonal Salad サラダ Glace Mont Fuji Ice Cream in the Image of Mt. Fuji アイスクリーム(富士山型) Dessert Fruit 果物 Spirits: Corton Charlemagne 1999 (white) Château Margaux 1994 (red) Moët et Chandon, Dom Pérignon 1998 (champagne) Japanese Sake Aperitif Menu: Sandeman Medium Dry Sherry Tomato Juice Fresh-Squeezed Orange Juice After-Dinner Drinks: Coffee Hennessy Extra Cointreau Peppermint Liqueur Ballantine’s 30 Year Remarks by President Obama to Miraikan Science and Youth Expo
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary _______________________________________________________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release April 24, 2014 REMARKS BY PRESIDENT OBAMA TO MIRAIKAN SCIENCE AND YOUTH EXPO Miraikan Museum Tokyo, Japan 3:27 P.M. JST PRESIDENT OBAMA: Konnichiwa. Please sit down. Thank you so much. Well, I want to thank Dr. Mohri and everyone at The Miraikan for welcoming me here today. And it is wonderful to see all of these outstanding students. Dr. Mohri is a veteran of two space shuttle missions, embodies the spirit that brings us here together —- the incredible cooperation in science and technology between Japan and the United States. I want to thank all the students that I had a chance to meet with as we went around the various exhibits. We heard a message from the international space station. We saw some truly amazing robots -- although I have to say the robots were a little scary. They were too lifelike. They were amazing. And these students showed me some of their experiments, including some soccer-playing robots that we just saw. And all of the exhibits I think showed the incredible breakthroughs in technology and science that are happening every single day. And historically, Japan and the United States have been at the cutting-edge of innovation. From some of the first modern calculators decades ago to the devices that we hold in our hands today -- the smartphones that I’m sure every young person here uses -- Japan and the United States have often led the way in the innovations that change our lives and improve our lives. And that’s why I’m so pleased that the United States and Japan are renewing the 10-year agreement that makes so much of our science and technology cooperation possible. Both of our societies celebrate innovation, celebrate science, celebrate technology. We’re close partners in the industries of tomorrow. And it reminds us why it’s so important for us to continue to invest in science, technology, math, engineering. These are the schools -- these are the skills that students like all of you are going to need for the global economy, and that includes our talented young women. Historically, sometimes young women have been less represented in the sciences, and one of the things that I’ve really been pushing for is to make sure that young women, just like young men, are getting trained in these fields, because we need all the talent and brainpower to solve some of the challenges that we’re going to face in the future. Earlier today, Prime Minister Abe and I announced a new initiative to increase student exchanges, including bringing more Japanese students to the United States. So I hope you’ll come. Welcome. And it’s part of our effort to double students exchanges in the coming years. As we saw today, young people like you have at your fingertips more technology and more power than even the greatest innovators in previous generations. So there’s no limit to what you can achieve, and the United States of America wants to be your partner. So I’m very proud to have been here today. I was so excited by what I saw. The young people here were incredibly impressive. And as one of our outstanding astronauts described, as we just are a few days after Earth Day, it’s important when we look at this globe and we think about how technology has allowed us to understand the planet that we share, and to understand not only the great possibilities but also the challenges and dangers from things like climate change -- that your generation is going to help us to find answers to some of the questions that we have to answer. Whether it’s: How do we feed more people in an environment in which it’s getting warmer? How do we make sure that we’re coming up with new energy sources that are less polluting and can save our environment? How do we find new medicines that can cure diseases that take so many lives around the globe? To the robots that we saw that can save people’s lives after a disaster because they can go into places like Fukushima that it may be very dangerous for live human beings to enter into. These are all applications, but it starts with the imaginations and the vision of young people like you. So I’m very proud of all of you and glad to see that you’re doing such great work. You have counterparts in the United States who share your excitement about technology and science. I hope you get a chance to meet them. I hope you get a chance to visit the United States. As far as I know, we don’t have one of those cool globes, but we have some other pretty neat things in the United States as well. And I hope we can share those with you if and when you come. Thank you very much. And I just want you to know in closing that I really believe that each of you can make a difference. Gambatte kudasai. You can do this thing if you apply yourselves. Thank you. (Applause.) White House Press Office Pool Report 7 President Obama In Japan
Pooler wrote a little bit later that "following the robot demos, Potus stopped to make remarks to some students, lauding the "incredible cooperation" in science and technology between the US and Japan. "I have to say that the robots were a little scary, they were too lifelike. They were amazing," he said. "All of those exhibits, I think show the incredible breakthroughs in technology and science that are happening every single day." "Historically Japan and the United States have been at the cutting edge of innovation. "Japan and the United States have historically led the way in innovations that have changed our lives and improved our lives," he said mentioning early calculators and smart phones. Pooler, whose role is to communicate to colleagues what took place, wrote President Obama said "he was so pleased the US and Japan were renewing a 10 year agreement that makes so much technological cooperation possible. He also mentioned the agreement mentioned at the presser to send more Japanese students to the US to study. "Young people like you have more technology and more power than even the greatest innovators of previous generations so there is no limit to what you can achieve," Obama said and that he was proud of the students and counterparts in the US and asked Japanese students to go to the US. "Gambatte kudasai --- you can do this thing if you apply yourselves." Pooler wrote that "a Japanese journalist said the Japanese phrase can be translated as "Make an effort, please." White House Press Office Pool Report 6 President Obama In Japan
After the recorded message from the astronauts, Potus examined a vast globe strung from the ceiling on which was projected a computerized representation of the swirling precipitation patterns mentioned in the previous report. In the highlight of the tour, Potus interacted with a humanoid robot which was about the size of a 10 year old child and was dressed in an astronaut suit. Pooler wrote, "The robot's movements were eerily realistic as it went through its paces for the president. "It's nice to meet you," it said in a metallic voice. At one point the robot approached a soccer ball and told the president "I can kick a soccer ball too," "Ok come on," said Obama. The robot then took a couple of steps back as if to size up the kick then ran up to the ball and delivered a hefty punt. President Obama, the pooler wrote, "trapped the ball with his foot and was clearly impressed and amused by the robot. "How about that, that was pretty impressive," pooler reported President Obama said. Then the robot told the president it had learned to jump and started to demonstrate. Each stop of the President's Tour was assigned a guide from the institution of higher learning. Tour Stop 1- Shu Nagata, University of Tokyo Science; Runa Koizuma, Tokyo Institute of Technology. Tour Stop 2- Iida Satoru, International Christian University; Nao Yamamoto, Tokyo Institute of Technology; Tour Stop 3 with students Kaito Oba, Yuki Iwasaki, Arata Sakamaki, Yuki Nomura, from Tamagawa Academy was closed to media. White House Press Office Pool Report 5 President Obama In Japan
The White House Pool Reporter, the reporter providing a summary of events to colleagues wrote, "President Obama and Ambassador Caroline Kennedy will tour the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation together with Dr. Mamoru Mohri, chief executive director of Miraikan. The tour will begin with a pre-recorded message from the International Space Station highlighting U.S.-Japan cooperation in space. Koichi Wakata, commander of the International Space Station, will be delivering the message together with Steve Swanson, an American flight engineer, and Rick Mastracchio, also an American flight engineer. Following the message, Dr. Mohri will introduce President Obama to the Geo-Cosmos, Miraikan's signature exhibit, where Japanese Astronaut Soichi Noguchi will be on hand to explain the latest NASA-JAXA collaboration: the Global Precipitation Measurement satellite (GPM). GPM is an advanced earth-observation satellite that is capturing never-before-seen precipitation measurements. One student from Tokyo Institute of Technology and another from Tokyo University of Science will join this interaction." Caroline Kennedy, Ambassador to Japan, Dr. Mohri and President Obama were to view ASIMO, Honda's humanoid robot. Pooler wrote, "Speaking in English, ASIMO will welcome the President to Miraikan before running across the room and kicking a soccer ball. A student from International Christian University and another from Tokyo Institute of Technology will join the robot demonstration." Afterwards, Pooler wrote, "President and Ambassador Kennedy also will see the SCHAFT robot and meet its designers. SCHAFT is based on Japanese technology and received initial funding from Japanese investors. The United States Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) later funded SCHAFT to participate in the DARPA Robotics Challenge, where it received first prize in the most recent trial in Florida in December 2013. A short video showcasing SCHAFT's capabilities was also on display. SCHAFT was developed to assist with disaster response." The demonstration was to be followed with four students whose Club, Tamagawa Academy's robot club, won RoboCup Junior Japan, a robot soccer competition. Plans were President Obama would adress an audience of 30 students highlighting U.S.-Japan science cooperation and the importance of studying abroad. Dr. Yasuharu Suematsu and Dr. C. David Allis, winners of this year's Japan Prize were announced to attend President Obama's remarks. Obama Administration Launches Online Veterans Employment Center: One-Stop-Shop Connects Veterans, Transitioning Service Members, and their Spouses to Employers
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the First Lady ______________________________________________________________________________ FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 23, 2014 Obama Administration Launches Online Veterans Employment Center One-Stop-Shop Connects Veterans, Transitioning Service Members, and their Spouses to Employers At today’s anniversary celebration of Joining Forces, First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden announced the launch of a new integrated employment tool to connect veterans and service members with employers, and to help translate military skills into the civilian workforce. The Veterans Employment Center, an integrated, online tool connecting veterans, transitioning service members and their spouses with both public and private-sector employers, is the result of an interagency effort to improve, simplify and consolidate the current array of employment resources for veterans. Additionally, this will provide one comprehensive database of resumes for employers who are seeking to leverage the skills and talents of veterans, service members, and their spouses. “Our service members haven’t always had the time or information they needed to prepare their resumes, to plot their career goals, to meet with employers and get the jobs they deserve. And that’s simply not acceptable,” said First Lady Michelle Obama. “As my husband has said, when you’ve fought for this country around the world, you shouldn’t have to fight for a job when you return home. Starting today, every single service member, every veteran, and every military family will have access to a new online tool that will revolutionize how you find jobs in both the public and private sectors. All you have to do is log on to ebenefits.va.gov.” “Veterans deserve an authoritative source for connecting with employers,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. “The online Veterans Employment Center is the single, federal source for veterans looking for new career opportunities, service members transitioning to the civilian workforce, and spouses and beneficiaries looking to connect with job opportunities.” The new online resource, called the Veterans Employment Center, is the first interagency tool to bring a wealth of public and private job opportunities, a resume-builder, military skills translator and detailed career and training resources together in one place. In connection with the First Lady and Dr. Biden’s Joining Forces initiative, the Department of Veterans Affairs worked with employers, the Departments of Defense, Labor, Education, and the Office of Personnel Management to design and develop the site and incorporate features of existing online employment tools within government. The result is an integrated solution providing veterans, transitioning service members, and military spouses with the tools they need to connect to employers. With this tool, employers will be able to search and view Veteran, Service Member, and spouse resumes in one comprehensive location. "Our service members transitioning to civilian life, as well as their spouses, deserve the resources they need to be successful," said Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel. "Through this effort, they are getting that help. Our troops and their spouses are proven leaders, highly-skilled and hard-working. Employers hiring them are getting the best this nation has to offer." “Improving veterans’ employment is an all-hands-on-deck enterprise,” said U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas Perez. “With more than 1 million service members projected to leave the military in the coming years, the Veterans Employment Center, along with the wealth of services the Department of Labor offers through its 2,500 American Job Centers, will connect our veterans and service members with both public and private sector employers eager to hire those with military experience.” “OPM’s USAJobs program is excited to be partnering with the VA on making this a robust tool for our nation's veterans and transitioning service members seeking Federal employment,” said OPM Director, Katherine Archuleta. “It has been more than four years since President Obama established the Veterans Employment Initiative and, in that time, the Executive Branch of Government hired the highest percentage of military veterans in more than 20 years – of the 195,000 new employees hired in FY 2012, approximately 56,000 were veterans, equaling 28.9 percent of total hires. We can continue to honor and show our appreciation for the dedicated and heroic service of America’s veterans by ensuring that they have every opportunity to continue their service to this great nation as Federal civilian employees. The Veterans Employment Center helps us honor these men and women by making employment opportunities available when our servicemen and women lay down their uniforms.” The Veterans Employment Center will provide employers with access to a targeted pool of resumes from veterans and transitioning service members, allowing them to search resumes to identify veterans with skill sets applicable to civilian employment at their organization, and to track progress towards reaching their veteran hiring goals. Resumes are visible to all employers with an active LinkedIn or Google profile. To prevent spam, an applicant’s name and email address are redacted and only visible to employers verified by the VA as registered companies with the IRS. The site is also built using open data and an open application programming interface to attract private-sector innovation. Joining Forces is a national initiative launched by First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Biden to engage all sectors of society to give our service members and their families the opportunities and support they have earned. In addition, Dr. Biden launched the Military Spouse Employment Partnership in June 2011 with just under 60 companies. Today, Dr. Biden announced there are 228 partner employers, more than 1.8 million jobs posted on the MSEP Career Portal and more than 60,000 military spouse hires. The Veterans Employment Center can be found at: https://www.ebenefits.va.gov/ebenefits/jobs For a tutorial video on how to use the Veterans Employment Center, please visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWfhI-eSoWk Remarks by the First Lady and Dr. Jill Biden at Joining Forces Meet-and-Greet with Military Families
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the First Lady _________________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release April 23, 2014 REMARKS BY THE FIRST LADY AND DR. JILL BIDEN AT JOINING FORCES MEET-AND-GREET WITH MILITARY FAMILIES Fort Campbell Campbell, Kentucky 1:10 P.M. CDT DR. BIDEN: Thank you, everybody. Go ahead and sit, sit. I just wanted to say thank you for having me here, and Michelle here, today. I am a military mom. Our son Beau was deployed to Iraq for a year in 2008, just before we were elected. So it was kind of bittersweet that Beau went off to war, and then we were elected. And actually, the night of the election, as we walked out, we had Beau -- we Skyped with Beau so that he could walk out with us onto the stage. So it was a really incredible experience. But I just want to say, that year away was a really tough year for the Biden family. And our community stepped up, and it meant so much to me and to Beau’s family and his children. And so Michelle and I are just hoping that -- one of the reasons we started Joining Forces was to have other Americans honor you and respect you and lift you up like I was lifted up. So that’s why we started it. We’ve been working together -- it’s been three years. It’s our anniversary. So thank you all for what you do, because I know how tough it is. So thank you. Michelle? MRS. OBAMA: Thanks, Jill. We’re just thrilled to be here. And we’re honored to be celebrating the third year of Joining Forces here at Fort Campbell with all of you. Unlike Jill, I wasn’t a military mom. I wasn’t a Blue Star family member. I didn’t know much about the military, and I was probably more like the average American. Because when one percent of the country is serving and protecting the freedoms of the other 99 percent, it’s very easy for the other 99 percent to take that for granted. And I first was exposed to the military community on the campaign trail. I remember that we would do these gatherings with moms, women -- mostly working women -- because I wanted to hear through -- for my husband what were some of the challenges of working women out there. And everywhere we went, I heard the voice of a woman that I hadn’t heard before, and it was your voice. And I was just awed and blown away by what I heard through those voices, the challenges you all face. Dealing with everything that I was dealing with -- a spouse traveling, a job, kids -- we didn’t deal with multiple moves, but I learned about the challenges that happen when you move from base to base to base; the way your kids have to adjust on a dime. And doing it knowing that the person you love is in harm’s way. And those stories moved me in a way that I didn’t expect. And one of the things I thought was, most Americans don’t know you. They don’t come on these bases. They don’t hear your story. And I felt like if we had the honor of serving this country as President and First Lady, then I was going to help be that voice. I was going to help shine a light on your lives, because I knew that the rest of the country would respond with the same level of compassion and wanting to step up and support you as I felt. And it just so happened that Jill had the same passion. We didn’t even know -- it was on that night when our families connected on that stage that we talked about the kind of things that were important to us. And military families was at the top of my list, and it was for Jill. And we knew then and there we were going to work to start a movement that would get this country to rally around your families in a way that would show our gratitude and appreciation for the sacrifices you made for all of us. And now, we’re in the third year of that initiative. And you all should know that the country has responded just as I would have thought. No one tells us no. We ask them and they do it, and they’re doing it for you -- sort of, kind of for us, but mostly for you. (Laughter.) And what we hope is that over these years, at some point, you’re starting to feel this work on the ground where you are. And that’s important for us. And we always say when we meet with families, you’ve got to keep giving us feedback. Let us know what more we can do, because Joining Forces will not end when our husbands leave office. Our goal is to make sure that every President, every First, Second Lady, every Vice President takes on this initiative. Because just because these wars are coming to a close doesn’t mean your issues stop. In fact, that’s when the hard work begins -- with the transitions you all have to make as your loved ones come back and they’re looking for jobs, and you’re trying to get the benefits that you’ve earned, and you’re still serving this country. America needs to remember that you’re still out here. And as far as our military kids go, oh, man, you guys are heroes -- beyond heroes. It is just amazing how poised and mature and confident and selfless you all are, knowing that you hold your families down and allow your parents to do what you do because you all keep your stuff together. And most people don’t know what you go through, and sometimes it feels like it’s hard. But let me tell you, we have seen that kids like you go on to do amazing things because of the challenges that you faced. So it may not feel that way now, particularly when you’re in high school, but let me tell you, we see interns all over the place and when they are Blue Star family kids, they are outstanding. So we are so proud of you all. We’re proud of what you have done to serve us. You all have served as much as your parents have served. So we look forward to meeting with all of you. We’re going to be up here like a wedding, taking pictures with all of you guys. (Laughter.) But the main message that Jill and I came here to deliver is, thank you. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. You have touched my life in a way that you can’t imagine. And hopefully, Joining Forces is just a small way that we’re touching your life. So with that, we look forward to meeting you guys one on one up here. Congratulations on just being fabulous. (Laughter.) Thank you. (Applause.) Remarks by Dr. Jill Biden at Joining Forces Veterans Jobs Summit and Career Forum
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the First Lady _________________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release April 23, 2014 REMARKS BY DR. JILL BIDEN AT JOINING FORCES VETERANS JOBS SUMMIT AND CAREER FORUM Fort Campbell Campbell, Kentucky 11:24 A.M. CDT DR. BIDEN: Thank you. Good morning, everyone. As a proud Blue Star mom, I’m thrilled to be here with all of you today. And thank you, Major General McConville, for that kind introduction. I’d like to recognize the extraordinary military spouses and families who are here with us today. And of course, to my dear friend, the First Lady, Michelle Obama, I cannot believe that it’s already been three years since we started Joining Forces. From the very beginning, Michelle and I both knew we wanted to work together to support our military families. And we knew that the American people would come out in full force. But I think it’s safe to say that we have been overwhelmed by the support shown for our servicemembers, our veterans and our military families. From employers hiring veterans, to schools recognizing military kids, to non-profits supporting military families, America has stepped up. Our colleges and universities have stepped, as well. As an educator myself, making sure our veterans who return to campus communities succeed is particularly important to me, so I could not be prouder of these efforts. And those of you who have tried to figure out your GI Bill benefits, as you know, it’s not always that easy. That’s why the administration’s new GI Bill Comparison Tool is so important. With this new tool, you can get answers you need using information that you already know about yourself, like how long you’ve served and your current status. And when you type in the name of a school that you might like to attend, you can figure out how much the tuition will be, how much you’ll get for books, for housing, the school’s graduation rate, and the loan default rates -- just with a few clicks. Another area we have made real progress in is supporting our military spouses. We all know the sacrifices that they make -- running households and raising kids alone through deployments, packing and unpacking after each and every move, and often while maintaining full-time jobs themselves. So that’s why, nearly three years ago, I was honored to join military leaders, businesses and the Chamber of Commerce to announce the Military Spouse Employment Partnership. Our goal was to develop career and educational opportunities for military spouses. When we started, there were just under 60 companies who had signed on. I am thrilled to say that, today, there are 228 partner employers. More than 1.8 million jobs have been posted. And as of this month, more than 60,000 military spouses have been hired. (Applause.) The Military Spouse Employment Partnership has made a difference for thousands of military families -- people like Jessica Patrick, who’s here today -- an Army spouse, a mother of two, and a registered nurse. Just under a year ago, Jessica left her job and was looking for the next opportunity. Having already moved multiple times, and knowing that future moves were likely, she was looking for a military-friendly company -- companies that understood that military spouses have qualities they wanted, like dedication, flexibility, a strong work ethic, and endless energy. She was recruited through Humana’s Veterans and Military Spouse Hiring initiative. Jessica said, knowing that they understood the gaps in her resume were because of the moves of -- with the military, it reduced the stress she experienced in previous job interviews. Jessica knew she was qualified for the position, and went into the interview with the confidence she needed to succeed. She loves her job and the flexibility it has offered her and her family. And because she telecommutes 100 percent of the time, her family’s move next year won’t impact her job. More importantly, she sees her employment as giving her the chance to grow in her role, and advance in her career without having to start over. So now, Jessica is even looking to obtain a master’s degree. Good for you, Jessica. (Applause.) Stories like Jessica’s are exactly why Michelle and I started Joining Forces. From sponsoring hiring fairs for veterans and spouses, to creating a mentoring program for 10,000 military wives and servicewomen, to helping spouses further their education, the Military Spouse Employment Network and others are playing an important role, and we are grateful for your support. But we are not stopping. As more and more Americans understand what it means to serve, the more they are ready to step up and do their part. And now, it is my great honor to introduce someone getting ready to transition to civilian life in the coming weeks. He is the father of four, the son of a Vietnam veteran, and a self-proclaimed “army brat” who grew up all over the world. Please join me in welcoming and thanking him for his service to our country, Sergeant Aaron Wanless. (Applause.) Remarks by the First Lady at Joining Forces Veterans Jobs Summit and Career Forum
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the First Lady _________________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release April 23, 2014 REMARKS BY THE FIRST LADY AT JOINING FORCES VETERANS JOBS SUMMIT AND CAREER FORUM Fort Campbell Campbell, Kentucky 11:35 A.M. CDT MRS. OBAMA: Thank you, guys. (Applause.) Thank you so much. Good morning. And it is truly a pleasure for me to be here today. I want to start by thanking Sergeant Wanless for that very kind introduction, and, more importantly, for his service to our country both in and out of uniform. I also want to recognize my dear friend and outstanding partner in Joining Forces, Dr. Jill Biden. Jill, it has just been an extreme pleasure to work with you on this issue. She is smart. She is funny. She is beautiful. And she cares a lot about what you all are going through. So I am so grateful for her friendship and her support. I also want to recognize our fabulous First Lady of Kentucky, Jane Beshear, who is here with her handsome grandson -- straight-A student, fifth grade. And she has just been an amazing, passionate champion for our military families. So we are grateful for your service, and we’re honored to have you here today. I’d also like to thank Major General McConville, as well as Command Sergeant Major Smith for their commitment and leadership here at Fort Campbell. And finally, most of all, I want to thank our soldiers and, more importantly, your fantastic spouses, right? Because, quite frankly, you couldn’t be here if they weren’t by your side. I want to thank you all for your service and for taking the time to join us here today -- although I know that you didn’t exactly have a choice about being here since this is your mandatory place of duty. And as I understand it, usually, when you’re called to a mandatory place of duty, it’s because we need you to carry out some kind of mission for our country. Well, today it’s different. Today, you’re here for yourselves. And your mission is your future. And that’s what this summit is all about -- it is about a transformational shift across the military in how we think about your careers. See, we’ve always done an outstanding job in preparing you to succeed during your time in uniform. And that’s why our military is second to none. But most of you aren’t going to spend your entire careers in the military. And for some of you, that transition to civilian life doesn’t always go as smoothly as it should. Our servicemembers haven’t always had the time or the information that they need to prepare for civilian life -- things like getting your resumes together, plotting your career goals, taking the time to meet with employers to get access to the jobs that you all deserve. And that’s simply not acceptable. As my husband has said, when you have fought for this country around the world, you should not have to fight for a job when you return home. And that’s why the Army has adopted the new Soldier for Life initiative, so that now, starting on the day you join the service -- on the very day you join -- we’re already going to be planning for the day you leave. And we won’t just be investing in your success as soldiers, but we’re going to be investing in your future as civilians -- as employers and as employees, as entrepreneurs, as leaders who will contribute to this country for the rest of your lives. And today, I’m thrilled to announce that every branch of the military will soon be taking this very same new approach. That means that every member of our Armed Forces will start preparing for their transition in advance. They’re going to start -- yes. (Applause.) We won’t wait for the last day. So that means you’re going to start very early drafting resumes. You’re going to start ahead of time attending job fairs and summits like this one here today. And you’re going to start applying for college if you want to go to college. And you’ll be doing all of this months before you hang up your uniforms. And starting today, every servicemember, every veteran, and every military family member will have access to a new online tool that will revolutionize how you find jobs in both the public and private sectors. All you have to do is log on to ebenefits.va.gov. When you get to the website, you click on to “employment center,” and then you just type in your M.O.S. And within seconds, that website will translate that M.O.S. into a list of civilian skills, and it will tell you what careers you’re qualified for. You can also see which of those jobs are actually available where you’ll be living. And with a few more clicks, you can make your resume visible to the employers who are on that site. It is very simple. I have seen it myself. It is truly an amazing tool that will make your lives better. The website will also show the companies here -- which companies have actually made commitments to hire veterans and spouses. And it will give you information about all kinds of things -- things like your higher education benefits. It will show you all of your earned benefits in one place -- everything from career counseling to the GI Bill. You can sort of consider this like your personal transition toolbox, and it’s something that will be right there for you on your computers. And for all of the companies that are out there, not just here but out there around the country, through this tool, you’ll have access -- direct access to some of America’s most qualified employees that you will ever meet. All you have to do is log in, and you’ll see which veterans, which servicemembers and spouses have the skills you need in the communities where you need them. And then you can contact them instantly, directly right then and there. This tool is amazing. You can also see, as employers, which hiring centers are available to you as an employer, from direct financial incentives to job training for employees. It is all right there at your fingertips. So with this website, we’re going to be connecting veterans, servicemenbers and your families to the jobs and educational opportunities that you’ve earned. And we’re doing this well before you leave the service. And all of that is our responsibility to you. It is our obligation to you. That’s our job. Your responsibility is to take full advantage of these opportunities. We need you all to get out there and sell yourselves. We need you to tell these schools and employers about everything you’ve achieved during your time in the Army. And I know that request might be a little counterintuitive for many of you, because I know they don’t exactly teach you how to self-promote in the military. Instead, you’ve been focused on completing the mission. You’ve been focused on being there for your fellow soldiers. Well, today, we need you start thinking and talking about yourselves for a change. And that’s going to take a little transition for you personally. It may be a little scary to talk about yourself. But I have met so many of you over the course of these three years working with Joining Forces. I have met with so many amazing military spouses and veterans. You all have done incredible things, so don’t be afraid to brag a little bit about yourselves -- and smile every once in a while, too. (Laughter.) I have worked in every sector out there. I have worked in government, I’ve worked in corporate America, I’ve worked in non-profits. And I can tell you from my own experience that if you want to get a job, then you can’t be modest about your qualifications. You have to be willing to sell yourself. But you all are qualified for so much, for any number of jobs. You have got world-class training in everything from logistics to risk management to intelligence analysis. You’ve learned about leadership. You know about team building. You know about working with folks from all different backgrounds. And all of these skills, trust me, are in high demand in today’s workplaces. Anyone out there would be lucky to have you on their team. That’s why folks are here -- because they know who you are, they know what you have to offer. And that’s really another reason why we’re all here today. You see, these summits aren’t just an investment in your futures. They’re an investment in our country’s future, as well. Because when employers can hire top talent like all of you, that makes our businesses stronger, and that in turn makes our entire economy stronger. And you don’t have to take my word for it. Just listen to what happened at the summit that we held back in February at Fort Bliss -- same summit. Employers there took more than 700 resumes over the course of that time, and made more than 100 job offers on the spot on that day. And that’s just a tiny fraction of all the hires that we’ve seen since we launched Joining Forces just three years ago. Back when we launched this initiative, we called on companies to step up and hire as many of you as possible. We hoped we’d meet the President’s goal of getting people to commit 100,000 jobs in two years. And we thought that that was ambitious. But the truth is, we met that goal -- and we met it in just one year. That’s how responsive employers to that request. (Applause.) That’s how ready and willing they are to step up and support you. And today, as we celebrate the third anniversary of Joining Forces, that number has risen to 540,000 jobs. That’s over half a million jobs in just three years. (Applause.) And as Jill said, we are not stopping there. Today, I’m pleased to announce that Capital One, in partnership with Hiring Our Heroes, has secured commitments from over 300 small and medium-sized businesses to hire 55,000 veterans and military spouses. (Applause.) UPS is doubling their commitment from 25,000 to 50,000 jobs. (Applause.) Xerox will be hiring 10,000 veterans and spouses. And they just launched an initiative called Heroes@Home, which will allow folks to telework from their own homes. So that’s a good thing. We are so proud. (Applause.) And today, more than 100 companies have come to this base. And they’re all here for just one reason -- because they want to hire you. So make no mistake about it: We’ve got your backs. We do. Because we know what your service has meant to this nation. Just think about the history of this very base. As you all know, Fort Campbell is home to the 101st Screaming Eagles, the Band of Brothers who served in World War II -- (applause) -- and were later sent by President Eisenhower to help integrate Central High School in Little Rock Arkansas. And I know that many of us will never forget the images of those soldiers facing down an angry mob so that those nine young men and women –- and, quite frankly, all of our children -- could get the education they deserve. And we’ll never forget your service in the decades since then. In fact, the 101st is still serving bravely today as we speak in Afghanistan. They are there now. And you all have survived some of the toughest battles, risking your lives time and again to preserve our most fundamental rights and freedoms. So here’s the beauty of that: I know you can handle the pressure of a job interview with Xerox or UPS. That is nothing. I know you all can thrive in any classroom, in any business. And ultimately, that’s really what today is all about. It’s about ensuring that you all can keep contributing to this nation. And it’s about making sure that we serve all of you as well as you’ve served the United States of America. You all deserve nothing less. So thank you. Thank you so much for your service. Thank your spouses for their service and sacrifice. Thank you to our veterans for just being a shining light of what America is supposed to be. God bless you all. And I look forward to seeing everything that you achieve in the months and years ahead. We need you out there. So go get the job. Thank you so much. (Applause.) CORRECTED: Statement by the President on the Passing of Nobel Laureate Gabriel García Marquez
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 17, 2014 Statement by the President on the Passing of Nobel Laureate Gabriel García Marquez With the passing of Gabriel García Márquez, the world has lost one of its greatest visionary writers – and one of my favorites from the time I was young. Affectionately known as “Gabo” to millions of his fans, he first won international recognition with his masterpiece One Hundred Years of Solitude. I once had the privilege to meet him in Mexico, where he presented me with an inscribed copy that I cherish to this day. As a proud Colombian, a representative and voice for the people of the Americas, and as a master of the “magic realism” genre, he has inspired so many others – sometimes even to pick up the pen themselves. I offer my thoughts to his family and friends, whom I hope take solace in the fact that Gabo’s work will live on for generations to come. Remarks by the First Lady at Discussion with High School and College Students
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the First Lady _________________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release April 17, 2014 REMARKS BY THE FIRST LADY AT DISCUSSION WITH HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE STUDENTS Howard University Washington, D.C. 2:42 P.M. EDT MRS. OBAMA: Thank you. Thanks, you guys. (Applause.) Thanks, Bow Wow. Let’s give it up for Bow Wow. Very proud of this young man. I have grown very fond of him. We’ve done some good work together, and his commitment to education, his commitment to young people, and BET’s commitment, it just means the world to me and I know it means the world to all of you. But I am so excited to be here with all of you. We’re going to have a chance to talk and really get candid and all that sort of stuff. But I want to welcome you all to Washington, D.C., and also to Howard University -- one of the finest universities in the country. (Applause.) On this beautiful campus, on this beautiful day -- for those of you from Chicago, the weather here is better. (Laughter.) It’s not hard when you’re from Chicago. But this is such an important occasion, and this is one of the reasons why I’m here. Because one of the things that Barack and I are focusing on and will be focusing on for the rest of our lives, quite frankly, is making sure that young people understand the importance of an education. And that means education beyond high school. No longer is high school the bar. That is not enough in today’s globalizing economy. You have got to go to college, or get some kind of professional training beyond college. And one of the goals that the President set is trying to make sure that we are the -- once again, the leader in college graduates in the world. It’s called his North Star Goal. We were at the top years back, but now we’ve fallen very far behind the rest of the world. And it’s going to be up to all of you, because while there’s a lot of work that needs to be done on our end -- governments, private sector, the folks with money -- I want to talk to you all. Because at the very least, you all have complete control over your futures. How you approach your education is really still within your hands. You don’t have time to wait for everybody to fix the system for you. We have to have a hunger for education like we had when our parents and grandparents were fighting for us to have the right to come to these schools and to get the education. So now, it’s up to you all to take that baton and do the very best you can with it. And that’s one of the reasons why I wanted to be here with all of you, because this transition for some of you may be a little scary. It may be unknown. It was that way for me when I was growing up. I mean, my older brother went to college, but I didn’t know anything about what my college experience was going to be like. Unlike you all, I didn’t get tours like -- I didn’t even go on a college tour. I didn’t go on a single -- nobody went on college tours. It would have been nice to see what a dorm looked like. The only reason I saw a dorm was because I visited my brother once when he was in college. That was the only exposure. And I applied here, I applied to Howard. I applied to Northwestern. I applied to the University of Wisconsin, Madison -- but I don’t even know why I applied. I knew why I applied to Howard, but everywhere else was just a crapshoot. They sent me a brochure, I was like, okay, I’ll apply. (Laughter.) I got in. It’ll look -- the pictures looked nice. That was all that I had. So the fact that you guys have this opportunity to spend a weekend on a college campus and really get a feel for what this experience is going to be like is really a tremendous opportunity that I hope you all take advantage of. So I’m going to stop talking, because I really want to hear from you all. You guys, feel free to ask anything. I’m going to turn it back over to Bow Wow, and then we’ll just talk. We’ll get real candid. And then when the press leaves, we’ll really get candid. (Laughter.) END 2:49 P.M. EDT FLOTUS Pool Report (Howard University)
Pooler wrote, "On this sunny Thursday afternoon FLOTUS joined 37 juniors and seniors from Chicago public high schools for the first full day of a four day visit to Howard University. The annual college visit, which was started 11 years ago by then-Howard students from Chicago, is called "Escape to the Mecca." (Howard's nickname is "the Mecca" signifying it's central and historical place among historically black colleges and universities.) FLOTUS, joined by the actor and rapper Bow Wow, met the students at about 2 pm as they toured Frazier Hall, one of four dormitories that house freshman women at the university. The first lady, Bow Wow and about a dozen students, stopped by two dorm rooms. The first was a double. The second was a single. The rooms were fairly typical dormitory style. In the single room, the twin-bed was neatly tucked with a purple comforter. Shoes were lined up in front of the window. The room's occupant, whose name appeared to be Patrice according to a sign on the wall, also had a portfolio laid out on her desk with her resume in the pocket. Patrice was not in the room and did not get to meet FLOTUS, who appreciated her room. "This isn't bad," Obama said as she stepped inside. Obama encouraged the visiting high school students to step in and look around too. "You might be living here. I'm just visiting," she said. Student: "This is huge. This is bigger than my room at home." FLOTUS left Frazier hall and walked into an outdoor area in between the freshman girls' dorms called the quad. As she walked with the gaggle of students, they laughed as she spoke with them. "These are all residence halls," said the group's tour guide Patrick Scott, pointing to the four brick buildings surrounding the open square. As FLOTUS posed for photos with the students from Chicago, female Howard students inside the dorms shouted hello through open windows. "Hi Michelle!!!" several young women screamed. That prompted other women in surrounding dorms to also shout hello. "Michelllllle! First lady! We love you." FLOTUS waved. Then she threw up "the quad," a hand signal that symbolizes the freshman girl dorms made by putting two hands together in the shape of a square. The women in the dorms were thrilled and shouted in excitement. "Michelle! Michelle! First lady Michelle please," a young woman shouted through a screened window. II. FLOTUS and the students then went over to the Blackburn building, a central hub on campus where she and Bow Wow held a roundtable with the high school students in an eatery area called the "punchout." Bow Wow led the conversation. (PLEASE CHECK OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT FOR FULL FLOTUS REMARKS...) According to university officials, 23 of the students in the group of Chicago high schoolers had been accepted to Howard. Thirteen of those students had been awarded full-tuition scholarships. "I'm very proud of you guys," Bow Wow said, after starting off by shouting out Chicago neighborhoods. FLOTUS pumped her fist when he said "south side." "I remember my first time voting, I voted for her husband. For Barack Obama. That was the first time I ever voted and I remember him saying how much they needed us, the youth. It's us that's going to shape this world and turn it around. It's us that are going to be the new leaders. Maybe the next president is right here in this room. ... It's gon' be haters. We know that. We deal with haters. It's ways to defeat the haters. But we know success is the most powerfullest things that you guys can do. So I want to wish you guys good luck." FLOTUS nodded as he spoke. FLOTUS commended Bow Wow, a child rapping prodigy who did not attend college, for his support for education and said she was "very proud of this young man. I have grown very fond of him. We've done some good work together and his commitment to education, his commitment to young people and BET's commitment it just means the world to me and I know it means the world to all of you." (She appeared on 106 & Park, the hip hop talk show that Bow Wow co-hosts, last year as part of the roll out of her education initiative.) She welcomed the students to Washington DC and Howard, calling it "one of the finest universities in this country." "For those of you from Chicago, the weather here is better. It's not hard when you're from Chicago." She encouraged the students to go to college or pursue other higher education. "No longer is high school the bar. That is not enough in today's globalizing economy." She mentioned the Obama administration's efforts to increase the number of high school students who graduate from college. "While there's a lot of work that needs to be done on our end," she said, referring to government, philanthropy and other resources, "you don't have time to wait for everybody to fix the system." She told the students they had to be responsible for their own educations. "This transition for some of you may be a little bit scary," Obama said before telling them about her own transition. "I didn't even go on a college tour." She chose the colleges she applied to, including Howard, Northwestern University, and University of Wisconsin-Madison, because "the pictures looked nice. That was all I had." She concluded: "We'll just talk. We'll get candid and then when press leaves we'll get real candid." Bow Wow called on two students, one from Whitney Young High in Chicago (the first lady's alma mater) and another student who was from Chicago and had attended Howard, to share their experiences with the first lady. The high school student said she planned to pay her enrollment fee for Howard that day and "this has been the most phenomenal day of my life." After the two students spoke, the press was escorted out for the more candid conversation. According to Bow Wow's manager, Bart Waters, the actor/rapper's his given name is Shad Moss; he is 27 years old and the first lady's office requested him for this event. FROM THE WHITE HOUSE The First Lady's visit to Howard is part of her higher education initiative, in particular working to achieve the President's "North Star" Goal, that by the year 2020, America will once again have the highest proportion of college graduates in the world. First Lady Michelle Obama to Address 2014 Graduating Seniors
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the First Lady ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release April 17, 2014 First Lady Michelle Obama to Address 2014 Graduating Seniors This year, First Lady Michelle Obama will deliver commencement addresses at Dillard University, an assembly of high schools in the Topeka, Kansas Public School District, and the District of Columbia College Access Program (DC-CAP). All of these institutions are supporting the First Lady’s higher education initiative and doing their part to answer the President’s call to ensure that by the year 2020, America once again has the highest proportion of college graduates in the world. The First Lady will deliver remarks at Dillard University because of its legacy as one of America’s top historically black universities; she will address high school students in Topeka, Kansas - home of the landmark U.S. Supreme Court case, Brown vs. Board of Education - which will celebrate its 60th anniversary the same day as the First Lady’s remarks; and she will deliver remarks at the Graduation Celebration of the DC College Access Program (DC-CAP) to highlight the important work that CAP is doing to ensure that first generation, low income students are graduating from high school ready to pursue a higher degree. The commencement addresses will be open press, but space is limited. Members of the media who wish to cover the commencements must RSVP directly to the contacts listed below. Dillard University on Saturday, May 10 at 10:00 AM (Central) First Lady Michelle Obama will deliver the commencement address to the class of 2014 at Dillard University in New Orleans, LA on Saturday, May 10 at 10:00 AM Central. Dillard is a private four-year liberal arts historically black university with a history dating back to 1869. Academically, Dillard is listed on: Forbes’ 2013 list of Top Colleges and Universities in the U.S., top 60 liberal arts institutions by the Washington Monthly (2013), and is consistently one of U.S News and World Report’s top Historically Black Colleges and Universities. The University has been fully engaged in the economic development of the Gentilly community in which it is located as well as the city of New Orleans. Dillard University partners with 12 community organizations, businesses and local schools in implementing such projects as home buyer workshops, community health fairs, edible gardens and water sustainability. Its Minority Health and Health Disparities Research Center also partners with local health institutions to study and address diseases such as diabetes, obesity and colon cancer, which are common to underserved individuals in the New Orleans community. High Schools in the Topeka, KS Public School District on May 17 at 1:00 PM (Central) First Lady Michelle Obama will deliver the commencement address to graduating seniors from high schools in the Topeka, KS Public School District on May 17 at 1:00 PM Central. Topeka Public Schools is located in the capital city of Kansas and is the home of the landmark U.S. Supreme Court case, Brown v. Board of Education, which will celebrate its 60th anniversary the same day as the First Lady’s remarks. Nearly 1,000 seniors will listen to the First Lady before crossing the stage to receive their diplomas. Topeka Public School District is a diversified urban district with nearly 14,000 students and 2,400 employees. The school district has 29 schools, including two magnet schools, three signature schools and the Topeka Center for Advanced Learning and Careers. The largest urban prairie in the U.S. is also part of the Kanza Education and Science Park making it a destination for learning. DC College Access Program (DC-CAP) Graduation Celebration on June 19 at 6:00 PM (Eastern) Mrs. Obama will deliver remarks at the Graduation Celebration for the DC College Access Program (DC-CAP) on Thursday, June 19 at 6:00 PM Eastern at The Mayflower Hotel in Washington, DC. DC-CAP is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to helping DC high school students prepare for, enroll in, and graduate from college. The overwhelming majority of students served by DC-CAP are from low-income, minority, single-parent households and are the first in their families to attend college. DC-CAP provides student and parent college readiness counseling starting in 9th grade helping families navigate the college application and financial aid process throughout the high school years. DC-CAP also provides integral support and financial assistance for students while in college. Since DC-CAP’s inception in 1999, the program has played a critical role in helping to double the number of students enrolling in college and tripling the number who graduate in DC. The event is an opportunity to applaud their achievement and honor their families who supported them. Additional information on Commencement Addresses by First Lady Michelle Obama: In 2009, Mrs. Obama spoke at the graduation of University of California Merced’s first full senior class. She also addressed the Washington Math and Science Tech Public Charter High School Graduation in Washington DC. In 2010, Mrs. Obama addressed graduates of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, the George Washington University, and the Anacostia Senior High School. In 2011, Mrs. Obama delivered commencement addresses at the University of Northern Iowa, Spelman College, and Quantico Middle High School. The First Lady also spoke to graduates and families at West Point. In 2012, Mrs. Obama spoke at the graduation of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (North Carolina A&T), and Oregon State University (OSU). In 2013, Mrs. Obama addressed graduates of Eastern Kentucky State University, Bowie State University, and Martin Luther King Jr. Academic Magnet High School. WH Print Pool report 1, 4/15/14
The Pooler wrote, "Obama meets with faith leaders to talk about immigration Here is a list of participants from the White House: · Dr. Noel Castellanos, CEO, Christian Community Development Association, Chicago, IL · Luis Cortes, President, Esperanza · JoAnne Lyon, General Superintendent, The Wesleyan Church · Dr. Russell Moore, Southern Baptist Convention, Nashville, TN · Suzii Paynter, Executive Coordinator, Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, Atlanta, GA · Dieter Uchtdorf, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, North Salt Lake City, UT UPCOMING GUIDANCE FOR FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the First Lady ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 15, 2014 UPCOMING GUIDANCE FOR FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA As part of her focus on American students pursuing higher education, the First Lady will join juniors and seniors from Chicago public high schools on the first day of a four-day visit to Howard University called “Escape to the Mecca.” The program is designed to immerse talented high school students in a college campus environment. The First Lady’s visit to Howard is part of her higher education initiative, in particular working to achieve the President’s “North Star” Goal, that by the year 2020, America will once again have the highest proportion of college graduates in the world. The First Lady will join the students on a campus tour followed by a roundtable discussion where the students will be joined by their hosts. In the discussion, the First Lady will hear how college tours and similar types of exposure can inspire students to reach higher in their education. The tour and opening portion of the First Lady’s discussion with the students will be covered by a pre-determined pool. Bow Wow, co-host of BET’s 106 & Park, will join the tour and moderate the First Lady’s discussion with the students. Background Information on “Escape to the Mecca “ The Chicago Peoples Union (CPU) is an organization founded on the campus of Howard University in 1979, to increase fellowship among Illinois students; to expose Howard University students to Chicago culture; to serve as a liaison between prospective students from Illinois and Howard University; and to foster relationships with the surrounding community. The CPU’s “Escape to the Mecca” program caters to high school juniors and seniors interested in attending Howard University. Selected high school students from Illinois are able to experience college through a weekend-long visit to Howard – they stay with Howard University students from the Chicago area, attend classes, speak with Howard University officials, and interact with the Howard community. WHITE HOUSE PRESS OFFICE REPORT#6
Pooler reported: "The president and vice president departed the community college via motorcade at 5:45 pm. Here's some additional color from the president's speech, which was held in the community college's auto shop. The backdrop was decorated with ab American flag and a blue banner with white lettering that reads, "Opportunity for all." The crowd was composed primarily of community college students, New Century Careers apprentices and Schroeder employees. Potus and veep shook hands and chatted with audience members for a few minutes after their remarks as music played, but your pooler was too far away to catch any interactions. Remarks by the President and the Vice President on Skills Training
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary For Immediate Release April 16, 2014 REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT AND THE VICE PRESIDENT ON SKILL TRAINING Community College of Allegheny County West Hills Center Campus Oakdale, Pennsylvania 4:05 P.M. EDT THE VICE PRESIDENT: Hi, everybody. Good to be back in Pennsylvania. That other guy is coming. (Laughter.) He’s coming. He’s coming. Good to be with you and the President. And, you know, America -- what a lot of people -- you go around, you hear people talking down the economy. America is better positioned than any country in the world to lead the world in the 21st century. The rest of the country -- the rest of the world doesn't have, as they used to say up in Scranton, in my neighborhood, not a patch on our jeans, I tell you. And when you ask companies why they're coming back -- and remember the President and I have been saying for the last five years American companies are coming back, coming back. There’s an outfit up in Boston that surveys every year American manufacturing companies in China, and they say, what are your plans. This year 53 percent of the American companies in Japan -- I mean in China said they're either planning on coming back to the United States and set up manufacturing, or they're thinking about it -- investing, hiring here at home. And that's because -- it’s all because of you. America has the best-qualified workers in the world. Leo Gerard, he and I have been friends for a long time, and we got tired of hearing all this stuff about how American workers weren’t as productive. Independent studies show American workers are three times as productive as workers in China. We want China to do well. We have the best workers in the world. We have the most innovative ideas in the world. You’ve heard for a long time how throughout the world, and particularly in the Far East, they’ve educated X as many engineers as we have, three times, four times -- but guess what. There’s no products with their names on it. And they're coming home. I’m serious. So I’ve kind of had it up to hearing about American workers and American manufacturing. I’ve been sort of the -- for the last 10 years, as Senator Casey can tell you, I’ve been talking about there’s not a reason in the world why we can't be the manufacturing capital of the world. None. Zero. None. (Applause.) And look, we not only have the most creative workers, we have the best laws and protections. Your intellectual property gets protected here. You have a court system. If there’s a disagreement, it’s adjudicated -- adjudicated fairly. And now there’s an energy boom. You all know about the Marcellus Shale -- I think you heard of that, right? (Applause.) There’s an energy boom that's changed the paradigm of manufacturing. It’s cheaper to manufacture in the United States than it is in Europe and/or in Asia. But the economy is at a crossroads. Our economy is at a crossroads. It's not like other periods in our history. We face tremendous, tremendous opportunities. But we face challenges, as the President will speak to briefly, as a consequence of that god-awful, lingering recession that just brought us that close to a Depression. Our workers, though, are up to the task. But the companies, the education system, every level of government, we need to rethink how we’re helping move folks into these new opportunities. It’s a different skill set that's going to be required, required now and over -- six out of 10 jobs in the next 10 years are going to require some certificate or degree beyond high school. That's why the President and I are here today. The point is real simple: The backbone of this country is a strong and thriving middle class. That's not hyperbole. That's not because I’m a Scranton kid or everybody trying to make me Middle-Class Joe. It’s true. It’s been the backbone of America, the distinguishing feature of our economy over the last 150 years. And we’re here to show how we can help more people find a path to good-paying jobs -- middle-class jobs in high-growth industries from information technology, energy, advanced manufacturing, health care. It’s not just in manufacturing. And let me define what I mean by middle class. Our economists in the administration will argue whether it’s $51,450 or $52,500. Middle class is an idea. Middle class is an ideal. What’s it’s about is being able to own your home and not rent it. It’s about being able to send your kid to a park you know they're going to be safe and come home safely. It’s about being able to send them to a local public school and know if they do well, they can qualify for school after high school. (Applause.) And it’s about being able to take care of your parents and hope to God you can plan enough so your kids will never have to take care of you. That's what it has always been about in Pennsylvania. (Applause.) But the fact of the matter is so many people over the last two decades have fallen out of the middle class. You know a lot of them. You know a lot of people you grew up with, a lot of people you live with. And so many more generations need to find a path to the middle class. And that's what the President and I are committed to -- spending the rest of our time in office making sure that the aperture to the middle class is open, is wider, and there’s real, decent, good-paying jobs. Now, I’m proud to introduce a buddy of mine. That's not how you usually talk about the President, is it? (Laughter.) But he is. He’s my good friend, but he’s also my President, and I’m proud to serve with him. And this is a guy who wakes up every morning -- this is not -- I spend a lot of hours a day with the President. Every single waking hour with him is about how can we make life -- this is real -- better for hardworking Americans -- hardworking Americans who are ready to do whatever it takes to provide for themselves and their families? Ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce the President of the United States, Barack Obama. (Applause.) THE PRESIDENT: Hello, everybody! AUDIENCE: Hello! THE PRESIDENT: Hello, Allegheny County! (Applause.) Joe and I decided it was time for a guys’ trip. (Laughter.) Actually, Michelle and Jill wanted us out the house. (Laughter.) So we decided to take a little road trip. And we are thrilled to be back here with a lot of good friends and folks who are doing terrific work every single day. We brought with us some people who are doing some important work, trying to make sure that we're building on the kind of success that we're seeing here -- first of all, Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker is here. Give Penny a big round of applause. (Applause.) We've got a great friend and an outstanding Senator -- Bob Casey in the house. (Applause.) Congressman Mike Doyle is here. (Applause.) One of the biggest Steelers fans we've got. (Laughter.) We've got County Executive Rich Fitzgerald here in the house. (Applause.) Outstanding Mayor of Pittsburgh, Bill Peduto is here. (Applause.) And your college president, Quintin Bullock is here. (Applause.) And of course, all of you are here. (Applause.) Yeah! Yeah! (Laughter.) Now, we're here because CCAC is an outstanding model of the kind of job-driven training we’re trying to encourage all across the country. And Joe and I just spent some time checking out the machines and motors that are being used here to train folks in mechatronics. Now, I have to say that before I came here I didn’t know there was such a thing as mechatronics. (Laughter.) Sounds like something that Godzilla would be fighting. (Laughter.) It turns out it has to do with engineering, how stuff works. And we saw firsthand everything that you are doing to train more workers for new jobs and better jobs -- jobs companies need to keep growing. And what we want to do is we want to replicate your model across the country. You're doing something right that is making a difference in people’s lives -- (applause) -- and we want to spread the word. (Applause.) So that's why we're here today in Allegheny County, because I’m taking some new action to expand this kind of job-driven training to all 50 states. And Joe talked a little bit about why we have to do this -- because in today’s economy, it's never been more important to make sure that our folks are trained for the jobs that are there -- and for the jobs of the future. Now, we’ve spent the past five and a half years fighting back from the worst economic crisis in our lifetimes. The good news is our economy is growing again, our businesses are creating jobs. We've created nearly 9 million jobs over the past four years. We’ve cut our deficits by more than half. Our manufacturing sector that used to be losing jobs, just hemorrhaging jobs, is now adding jobs for the first time since the 1990s. (Applause.) The first time since the 1990s. High school dropout rates are going down. College attendance rates and graduation rates are going up. Our troops are coming home. (Applause.) We’re seeing an energy boom all across the country. And more than 7.5 million people have been able to sign up for health care, many for the very first time, through the Affordable Care Act. (Applause.) And 7.5 million people, by the way, is about the number that it would take to fill up Heinz Field 115 times. So there are a lot of good trends that are taking place. And a lot of that has to do with the great work that our outstanding Vice President is doing. (Applause.) It has to do with the great work that folks like Mike and Bob and Rich are doing, and your outstanding Mayor in Pittsburgh and all he’s doing to help transform the economy there. But here’s the challenge -- and a lot of folks here know it. A lot of people don’t feel that progress in their own lives yet. So the stock market is doing great. Corporate profits are soaring. Folks at the very, very top are doing better than ever. But too many Americans, if they’re lucky enough to have a job, are working harder and harder just to get by, much less to get ahead. For too many middle-class Americans, it feels as if the same trends that have been going on for decades are continuing. You’re working hard, but wages flat-line, incomes flat-line, cost of everything else going up. So we’ve got to reverse those trends. We’ve got to make sure that we have an economy that’s not just growing from the top down -- because it doesn’t really grow when it’s just from the top down. We’ve got to have an economy where it grows from the middle class out, and from the bottom up, and everybody has a chance. (Applause.) That’s the idea of America -- if you work hard, you can get ahead. That’s the promise at the heart of this country. If you’re responsible, you’re willing to put in some sweat, you can get ahead. You may not be fabulously wealthy, but you can support a family; you can buy a home; make sure your kids are doing good and they can go to college; have something left over for retirement; have health care you can count on; maybe take a vacation once in a while -- (laughter) -- just the basics and knowing that you’re part of a community that is growing for everybody, not just some. Restoring that idea is the defining issue of our time. And so the truth is -- Joe and I, we were talking about this the other day -- we sometimes sound like a broken record because we’ve been talking about this for six, seven, eight years, ever since we’ve been in public office. But it’s more urgent than ever now that we move forward. And we know what to do. We’re pushing a four-part opportunity agenda. And the first part is more good jobs paying good wages -- manufacturing jobs, construction jobs, jobs in energy, jobs in innovation, jobs in infrastructure, rebuilding our roads and our bridges -- putting people back to work. There’s a lot more we could be doing. Number two, we’ve got to train more Americans with the skills to fill the jobs that are there, just like you do here at CCAC. Number three, we’ve got to guarantee every young American a world-class education. And number four, when people do have a job, we’ve got to make sure that job pays a decent wage and that you have savings you can retire on and health care you can count on. (Applause.) These are the things we’ve got to be doing. You know it; I know it. That’s what would put our unemployment rate down faster. It would pull our wages up faster. It’s what we could do to create more jobs and economic security for a lot of families that have been reaching for it for years. And every single person you send to Washington should be focused on that issue. That’s what America needs right now. Today, the reason we came here is to focus on that second part of that agenda -- training Americans with the skills that they need for the good jobs that are going to be here today and tomorrow. Around here, you know better than most how in recent decades the economy hasn’t always worked for middle-class families. You saw outsourcing. There was a time when finding a good job in manufacturing wasn’t all that hard. If you were willing to work, you could go to the local factory, maybe the factory your dad was working in, and say, I’m ready to go, and they’d sign you up. And over time, the economy changed, part of it because of globalization, some of it because of new technologies. And you’ve seen, sometimes painfully, where technology shutters factories and ships jobs overseas, and even makes some jobs obsolete. But you know what, we’re not going to reverse all those trends. We can’t stop technology. And you’ve got a global economy now where we’ve got to compete. We live in a 21st century global economy. Jobs know no borders, and companies are able to seek out the best-educated, most highly-skilled workers wherever they live. And that’s where the good jobs and the good pay and the good benefits is going to be. Other countries know this. Countries like Germany, China, India -- they’re working every day to out-educate our kids so they can out-compete our businesses. And each year, frankly, it shows that they’re making more progress than we are. We’re still ahead, we’ve still got the best cards, but they’re making some good decisions. We’ve got to make those same decisions. And when it comes to training our workers, not all of today’s good jobs require a four-year college degree, but I promise you, there’s not a job out there that’s going to pay a lot if you don’t have some sort of specialized training. So our best bet is keeping ahead in the skills race. And you see what happens when we put effort into making sure workers have new skills -- the education that’s required for this 21st century economy. At a time when traditional manufacturing is back on the rise, Pittsburgh is seeing new factories manufacturing new technologies across the board. And I know you’re County Executive and your Mayor and steel workers --everybody is -- we’re focused on bringing jobs back. And the good news is they’re coming back. The problem is we’re having trouble filling some of those jobs. I mean, there’s been great progress in this area. You’ve earned a great nickname -- “Roboburgh” -- because you’ve got high-tech plants and workplaces that are adding jobs faster than workers can fill them. That’s a good problem to have. But we’ve got a lot of Americans who are still looking for work or underemployed and not getting paid enough. That's where what you do here is making a difference. America has got a choice to make. We can do nothing -- which is the strategy that some folks in Washington seem to have -- or we can do what we’ve always done best: We pull together; we fight back; and we win. (Applause.) That's what we do best. So earlier this year, I asked Joe to work with Penny Pritzker and Tom Perez, our Labor Secretary, to lead an across-the-board reform of all of our federal training programs to make sure they’ve got one clear mission: Train Americans with the skills employers need. Not something that looks good on paper, but doesn't give you a job; find out what are the jobs that need to be filled and make sure folks are being trained and matched to those good jobs. We’ve got to move away from what our Labor Secretary, Tom Perez, calls a “train and pray” approach. We train them and we pray that they can get a job. (Laughter.) Because the problem there is students, when they go to a community college, they go to a four-year university, they're taking out debt. They're straining their budgets. We got to make sure that it pays off for them. So we need to take a job-driven approach. And that's what you’ve done here in Allegheny County. That's what you’re doing here. (Applause.) So we’re rewarding high schools that redesign their curriculums to help students gain ready-to-work skills even earlier because there’s no reason why you got to wait for college. Our high schools could be providing more relevant education and making kids more job-ready. (Applause.) We are supporting partnerships between employers and local governments and nonprofits to help unemployed workers who’ve been sidelined for too long, help them get the skills that they need, help to connect them to the jobs that require those skills. We’re working with a bipartisan coalition of governors and mayors across the country to make job training partnerships a reality for more Americans. But we could be doing a lot more. And I’ve asked Congress to invest in serious programs that connect ready-to-work Americans with ready-to-be-filled jobs. (Applause.) And in fairness, Mike Doyle, he’s supportive of that and Bob Casey is supportive of it. But, unfortunately, there are some other folks in Washington that haven’t acted yet. They haven’t been getting the job done so far. And Americans can't afford to wait. So today, I’m taking two significant actions that don’t require Congress -- (applause) -- that don't require Congress. First, we’ve asked more community colleges to do what you’ve done here at Allegheny, and that is to figure out what skills local employers are looking for, and then partner with them to help design the curriculums and to prepare the students for those jobs. We want a seamless progression from community college programs to industry-recognized credentials and credit towards a college degree. And today I’m announcing that we’re going to award nearly $500 million to those institutions who are doing it best in all 50 states -- using existing money to create opportunity for hardworking folks like you. (Applause.) That's good. Second -- and this is related -- we’re launching a $100 million competition for what we’re calling American Apprenticeship Grants. Now, these are awards that are going to expand the kinds of apprenticeships that help young people and experienced workers get on a path towards advancement, towards better jobs, better pay, a trajectory upwards in their careers. And apprenticeships are a way to link more Americans to jobs in some of our in-demand fields, like IT and health care. They let you earn while you learn. And sometimes it makes -- it’s possible for them to also create college credits on the job, even as you’re pursuing a degree or a better job. Right now, nearly nine out of 10 apprentices -- folks who are in apprenticeships, they get hired when they’re finished -- which makes sense, right? You get an apprenticeship; you’re there, you’re learning on the job. People see that you’re serious about working. So nine out of 10 folks, once they get an apprenticeship, they get hired. And by the way, they make an average of $50,000. So we’re streamlining efforts by the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Labor to help veterans access their GI Bill benefits for apprenticeships. Businesses, unions, community colleges, nonprofits -- we’re getting them to work with us as well. The UAW is joining with the Big Three and John Deere and others to add nearly 2,000 apprentices. Some of the biggest manufacturers are partnering with community colleges in North Carolina and Texas and California on high-skill training programs. And now we want to work with national industry associations to help partnerships like these take root all across the country -- so that anybody, in any city, any state, can earn the training they need to get the good jobs of tomorrow. So the bottom line is if you’re willing to put in the work to get a job or earn a promotion in today’s economy, America’s job-training system should give you every possible chance. And you’re doing it here. When we took that tour, we saw young people and some not-so-young people -- I won’t say who. I don't want to offend. (Laughter.) But these are folks who -- many of them were in a job right now, but they saw that it was a dead-end and they wanted to make sure that they could get a better job. Some of them were just getting started. But either way, their investment and their effort was being rewarded. One person we met is a gentleman named Tim Wright. He was showing us some of the computer systems that folks are working on. Now, Tim worked as a shift laborer for 13 years, loading rail cars, moving equipment, working nights, working weekends. And he always had his eye on moving into industrial maintenance so he could repair and oversee the factory’s equipment, but he couldn’t pass the skills test. I love this about Tim. He did not give up. He didn't say, well, I guess I can't get to my dream. Instead he started on this mechatronics training at CCAC. So he’d squeeze in classes whenever he could, while he was still working his shifts. And after six months of hard work, he graduated as an industry-certified mechatronics technician. He re-took the test. He passed the test. (Applause.) Today, Tim is doing what he set out to do. (Applause.) So today he’s working on a factory floor, making sure the machines do what they’re supposed to do. He earns more money, he works better hours. He has more time to spend with his family. And I want to read what Tim said here about this. He said, “That extra training made all the difference in the world. Those were the skills I needed to get to the next level.” So I couldn’t be prouder of Tim. Those are the victories -- they don’t get a lot of publicity. Tim’s name won’t be in the papers -- although now it may be because I just talked about him. (Laughter.) But that’s what America is all about, each of us working to try to move forward. And by each of us moving forward, we all move forward. And then, we reach back and we help other folks. Companies that are represented here today -- like Alle-Kiski and Schroeder and Aerotech -- they’re helping. They want to help even more of their workers to take their skills to the next level, whether it’s through a community college partnership like Tim’s, or working with organizations like New Century Careers here in southwestern Pennsylvania. (Applause.) More workers getting apprenticeships. We know it works. And if it worked for folks like Tim and some of the men and women who are standing behind me here today, who took the initiative to upgrade their skills and stay ahead of the jobs curve and prepare themselves for a new job or a better job, then it can work all across the country. We want that for every American. Everybody who works hard and takes responsibility deserves a chance to get ahead. That is what this country is built on. That’s what the moment requires. That’s what Congress should be working on. (Applause.) That’s what Joe is working on. That’s what I’m working on. That’s what you’re working on. And if we keep on working, we’re going to move forward. Thank you, everybody. God bless you. God bless America. (Applause.) WHITE HOUSE Out Of Town Pool Report #5
Pooler reported: " Obama's remarks at the community college ended at 4:31 p.m. Please note that Commerce Secretary Pritzker joined Biden and Obama on their classroom tour at the community college, which was described in the last pool report. More tidbits from the gaggle aboard Air Force One: Carney praised Ukraine for its "admirable restraint" but said, "It is certainly appropriate for Ukraine to take action to restore law and order. "If and as Russia escalates, the costs will escalate as well." Carney said while the US is focused on a diplomatic solution, "we're prepared to impose new sanctions." On NATO: "We're obviously a significant member of NATO and we fully endorse the actions the alliance has taken to reassure alliance members and reenforce NATO's presence" in the Balkan region. Commerce Secretary Pritzker spoke about the $500 million job training competition and $100 million in funding for apprenticeships announced by the president. "We have to engage with business in order to give workers the skills that we need. To do this, we have to break down silos" that separate businesses, community colleges, universities and local governments. "American businesses pay $400 billion today to train their own workers. What we want to do is take that training and make it available to more people." She said the US is falling behind in the number of apprentices it has. "Traditionally apprenticeships have been in trades," she said. "We want to do apprenticeships in advanced manufacturing, IT and health care." Eighty-seven percent of people in apprenticeships end up with jobs, she said. The president's budget calls for $2 billion in funding for apprenticeships." WHITE HOUSE Out of town travel pool report #4
Pooler reported "The president and vice president arrived via motorcade at the Community College of Allegheny West Hills Center in Oakdale, Pa., at 3:25 pm. En route a few dozen local residents waved and snapped photos from the side of the road, including a group of children holding handmade flags and a band playing from an open garage in a nearby house, under a banner that read "Welcome Mr. President" in red and blue lettering. Obama and Biden toured a classroom at the community college. Their guide was Paul Blackford, instructor of the college’s mechatronics program. Both Obama and Biden had ditched their suit jackets for the tour and proceeded in shirtsleeves. Six students in safety goggles demonstrated several pieces of equipment used for student instruction, including a mechanical drive system, which shows students how to adjust the speed of a motor using gears, pulleys or sprockets, and a motor control system, which teaches students how to design circuits to operate motors and troubleshoot bugs. Another machine they examined teaches students to program the computers that run production lines or devices such as walk signals for traffic lights. The students identified themselves to the press pool as Zack Kuzmo, Stephanie Womack, Tyran Baltimore, Melissa Ayres, Timothy Wright and Michael Athey. After Womack explained the first machine, labeled "Mechanical Drive Systems," the president turned to the press pool and said, "I want to point out this is clearly an A student here." Obama asked each of the students' names and inquired about their job prospects. He shook their hands and took pictures with them. Biden gave Womack a hug, and got a laugh from her. Kuzmo said he had just gotten a job this week. "What's what we want to see," the president said. "That's terrific." "Congratulations, man," Biden said. Kuzmo carefully tuned on the machine to demonstrate it_after noting that "safety is a big thing"_and Obama exclaimed, "It's working!" "You guys make a great presentation," he said. Blackford explained that the mechatronics course these students are taking is 360 hours, "which translates into 5-6 months. It's a deep commitment." Baltimore and Ayres then showed off the motor control system, which was set up to simulate a garage door opener. "We're lawyers, we barely understand garage door openers," Obama joked. Baltimore said he works for an energy company and the mechatronics course "helped me get advancement in my job." "Outstanding," Obama said. "...We're so proud of what you guys are doing. I can tell any employer will be lucky to have you, so just stay at it." Your pooler was hustled out before she could hear what Obama and Biden had to say to the last two students. VP Joe Biden took the stage in a large room nearby packed with mechanical equipment to introduce the president at 4:03 p.m. Their remarks are open press. FACT SHEET - American Job Training Investments: Skills and Jobs to Build a Stronger Middle Class
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 16, 2014 American Job Training Investments: Skills and Jobs to Build a Stronger Middle Class To create new opportunities for all hard-working Americans to get ahead, the President has asked the Vice President to lead an initiative to help individuals get trained with skills businesses need now and then placed in good, middle class jobs. Training America’s workers with the skills they need for a good job can help middle class families feel more secure in their jobs and help American businesses grow our economy. But too many businesses can’t find skilled workers for jobs they want to fill, while too many people looking for a job may be ready to learn new skills but may not be certain that there’s a job waiting for them on the other end. Community colleges are one of the best ways to train workers with the skills they need for a job, and hands-on apprenticeships are one of the clearest paths to a good, secure middle class job. In fact, 87 percent of apprentices are employed after completing their programs and the average starting wage for apprenticeship graduates is over $50,000. Today, as part of this effort, the President and Vice President are announcing new federal investments using existing funds to support job-driven training, like apprenticeships, that will expand partnerships with industry, businesses, unions, community colleges, and training organizations to train workers in the skills they need. Employers, unions, and foundations are joining these efforts with new commitments to support job-driven training. These steps are part of President Obama’s commitment to make 2014 a year of action, acting with Congress when possible but also using his pen and his phone – calling on businesses, philanthropy, non-profits, states, and local communities to act. American Job Training Executive Action Partnering Local Businesses with Community Colleges to Put Americans Back to Work Through a Nearly $500 Million Job Training Competition. Today, the Department of Labor is releasing the application for partnerships of community colleges, employers and industry to develop training programs that are job-driven – that is – designed to respond to the demands of employers so people get placed in jobs. As part of a nearly $500 million competition, all grantees will be required to identify sectors with open jobs to fill, partner with the public workforce system and employers in that sector to address the skills needed for these open jobs, and create pathways from entry level positions to more advanced positions to ensure room for growth for employees with even the lowest starting skills levels. This program is a part of the Trade Adjustment Assistance and Community College and Career Training (TAA-CCCT) competitive grant program that has, over the last three years, supported community colleges preparing dislocated workers and other adults for jobs available in their regional economies. For the first time, this year’s funding will prioritize three key goals by providing larger grants to applicants who propose to address them: • Scale In-Demand Job Training Across the Country through National Industry Partnerships. Grants will incentivize partnerships to include national entities - such as industry associations - that commit to help design and implement job training programs based on industry-recognized credentials, and replicate these with other education and training institutions across the country where industry also needs to hire workers with those skills. • Advance Education & Training to Ensure a Seamless Progression from One Stepping Stone to Another. In order to make it easier for individuals to progress through their careers and build one degree on top of another, this competition prioritizes applicants that are increasing state-wide alignment of the training investments made by employers, educators and the workforce system. For example, communities will work to ensure accelerated degree paths and credentials that incorporate prior learning, provide credit based on demonstrated skills rather than seat time, and other innovative strategies that will pave the way for making college more affordable for adult workers and all kinds of students. • Improve Statewide Employment and Education Data Integration and Use. In order to better assess the effectiveness of education and job training programs over time and continue to improve job placement rates, these grants encourage applications that commit States to further integrate their employment and education data systems. Deadline for applications is July 7th, and grants will be awarded to community colleges in every state. Expanding Apprenticeships for Good Middle Class Jobs. The Department of Labor is making $100 million in existing H-1B funds available for American Apprenticeship Grants to reward partnerships that help more workers participate in apprenticeships. This competition will help more Americans access this proven path to employment and the middle class: 87 percent of apprentices are employed after completing their programs and the average starting wage for apprenticeship graduates is over $50,000. The new American Apprenticeship Grants competition – which will be launched in the fall – will focus on partnerships between employers, labor organizations, training providers, community colleges, local and state governments, the workforce system, non-profits and faith-based organizations that: · Launch apprenticeship models in new, high-growth fields: Many fast-growing occupations and industries with open positions, such as in information technology, high-tech services, healthcare, and advanced manufacturing, have an opportunity to adopt and adapt apprenticeship programs, to meet their skilled workforce needs. · Align apprenticeships to pathways for further learning and career advancement: Apprenticeships that embed industry-recognized skills certifications or reward workplace learning with college credit provide an affordable educational pathway for those who need to earn while they learn, and apprenticeships linked to pre-apprenticeship programs can help more Americans access this training and get on an early pathway to a good career. · Scale apprenticeship models that work: Across the country, there are pockets of excellence in apprenticeship, but all too often these successful models are unknown in other regions or to other employers. These grants will build from strength and invest in innovations and strategies to scale apprenticeships – including to market the value of apprenticeships, make them more attractive to women and other Americans who have been underrepresented, increase the return on investment for workers and, or build national and regional partnerships to expand apprenticeships. Making Apprenticeships Work for More Americans. The Departments of Labor, Education, and Veteran Affairs are reforming their programs to enable the use of education benefits for apprenticeships: · Streamlining GI Bill benefits for apprentices. Through a new partnership between the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Labor, employers now have a fast-track for their veteran employees to access their GI Bill benefits for registered apprenticeships, helping more than 9,000 veteran apprentices receive the benefits they have earned. · Connecting apprentices with college credit. The Registered Apprenticeship College Consortium (RACC), a partnership among community colleges, national accreditors, employers, and major apprenticeship sponsors, will make it possible for apprenticeship graduates to earn credits that will transfer to any community college in the consortium they attend. Founding members include large state systems like Ohio and Wisconsin. Since it was launched last week by the Vice President, 33 more colleges and systems have started the process, including the state system of North Carolina, to join the consortium. Business and Philanthropic Investments in Job-Driven Training Business, Union, and Non-Profit Efforts to Expand Apprenticeships: Today, the President and Vice President will recognize efforts by employers, unions, and training institutions to expand apprenticeships, helping more Americans access this proven path to employment and middle class earnings. · The President’s Advanced Manufacturing Partnership (AMP) is developing scalable apprenticeship models in high need advanced manufacturing. Spearheaded by AMP members Dow, Alcoa, and Siemens, a coalition of employers is partnering with community colleges in Northern California and in Southern Texas on apprenticeships in advanced manufacturing occupations – like welders who can fabricate equipment using high-performance alloys and technicians to maintain the complex equipment found in today’s factories. Led by South Central College in southern Minnesota, a coalition of 24 community colleges and employers is pioneering a statewide apprenticeship model in mechatronics. And Harper College, in suburban Chicago, is establishing an apprenticeship program linked to college credit for veterans in advanced manufacturing specialties, including logistics and supply chain management. To scale these models and meet the demand for a projected 40,000 employees with advanced skills in machining, welding, and industrial maintenance over the next decade, coalition members will release a “How To” manual documenting concrete steps other employers, community colleges, training organizations and states can follow to replicate the model. · The United Auto Workers, in partnership with employers such as Ford, General Motors, Chrysler, John Deere and many others, plans to add nearly 2,000 apprentices. The apprentices, who will be added in the next year, represent the largest expansion in the apprenticeship program in more than a decade and an example of employers and workers joining together to strengthen our workforce. Together, the Big Three domestic automakers, John Deere, and suppliers such as American Axle, International Automotive Components, Gerdau Special Steel, and Tower Automotive, among others will employ apprentices with starting annual wages between $40,000 and $60,000, presenting a solid path to the middle class. · UPS will add 2,000 new apprentices, including drivers and apprentices in new programs like IT, operations, and automotive repair. Over the next five years, UPS is committed to expanding their existing apprenticeship program for drivers and to expand their apprenticeship programs to include apprentices in other growing fields such as information technology, operations, and automotive repair. This expansion builds on UPS’ longstanding commitment to apprenticeships and its historic partnership with the Teamsters. · The SEIU Healthcare Northwest Training Partnership (Training Partnership), in partnership with its employers ResCare, Addus, Chesterfield, the State of Washington, and others, is expanding its novel apprenticeship program for home care aides to train 3,000 apprentices a year. The Training Partnership’s innovative online pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship program for home care aides in Washington state currently trains 300 apprentices a year for jobs as home care aides. The Training Partnership is pleased to announce that it and its employer and labor partners are expanding the program nationwide with a goal of reaching 3,000 apprentices a year within five years for fast-growing jobs in healthcare and, through new online technologies, scaling its other healthcare training programs to reach more than 10x more workers over five years. · North America’s Building Trades Unions pledge to add 25,000 new apprentices over the next five years. In addition to the more than $1 billion the Building Trades Unions invest annually in registered apprenticeship training for their members and employers, over the next five years, through new and emerging industry partnerships, North America’s Building Trades Unions will build on the strengths of their existing programs by adding 25,000 apprentices over the next five years. Philanthropic and Non-Profit Support to Generate Stronger Community College-Industry Partnerships: Philanthropic and non-profit commitments to provide technical assistance and disseminate best practices for applications for the Job-Driven Training Grants, to support the goal of replicating successful programs across the nation. · Philanthropic Support for Potential Applicants and Grantees. Six national foundations will join together to assist grantees to succeed. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Lumina Foundation, ACT Foundation, Joyce Foundation and Wadhwani Foundation will each make investments to develop strong partnerships among community colleges, employers, and industry associations that lead to the creation and adoption of industry-recognized credentials. The goal of technical assistance will focus on training and supporting awardees and their partners to develop strategies to scale their efforts, improve collection and sharing of data, and share proven practices and early successes to strengthen competency-based training and credentialing. Some of the foundations will also support convenings and other outreach to inform potential applicants about the program. · Best Practices Website for Community Colleges and Employers to Develop Job-Driven Training Partnerships. Skills for America's Future (SAF) will launch a new website with strategies for community college applicants to develop strong partnerships needed to apply for and implement successful grants. SAF will work to source information from employers and community colleges who have been involved in previous rounds of TAA-CCCT as well as national resource organizations so that the site will stay updated with relevant information going forward. Continuing to Call on Congress for Further Action Expanding Apprenticeships and Investing in Community Colleges. Over 4 years, this fund would create competitive grants to partnerships of community colleges, industry and employers, to reform job training curricula and launch new programs to deliver skills for in-demand jobs and careers. This fund will help to spur the development and adoption of common, industry-recognized credentials and skill assessments to allow employers to more easily identify and hire qualified candidates. $2 billion will be set aside for an Apprenticeship Training Fund that would provide grants for comprehensive expansion strategies that can combine small incentives and guidance to employers with a statewide marketing effort to drive apprenticeship adoption as well as innovative regional consortia to create new apprenticeships and increase participation in existing apprenticeship programs. With support for comprehensive state strategies and regional innovations from Congress, we could double the number of U.S. Registered Apprenticeships within five years. THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Vice President DAILY GUIDANCE FOR THE VICE PRESIDENT Wednesday, April 16, 2014 In the morning, the Vice President will attend the Presidential Daily Briefing in the Oval Office. In the afternoon, the Vice President will travel to Oakdale, Pennsylvania. While in Oakdale, the President and the Vice President will visit the Community College of Allegheny County West Hills Center to tour a classroom and deliver remarks on the importance of jobs-driven skills training in a 21st Century economy. The tour will be pooled press and the President and the Vice President’s remarks will be open to pre-credentialed media. In the evening, the Vice President will return to Washington, DC. DAILY GUIDANCE AND PRESS SCHEDULE FOR WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16, 2014
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 15, 2014 DAILY GUIDANCE AND PRESS SCHEDULE FOR WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16, 2014 In the morning, the President and the Vice President will receive the Presidential Daily Briefing in the Oval Office. This meeting is closed press. In the afternoon, the President will travel to Oakdale, Pennsylvania. There will be in-town travel pool coverage of the President’s departure from White House, and the arrival at Pittsburgh International Airport is open press. While in Oakdale, the President will visit the Community College of Allegheny County West Hills Center to tour a classroom and deliver remarks on the importance of jobs-driven skills training in a 21st Century economy. The Vice President will also deliver remarks and join the tour. There will be out-of-town travel pool coverage of the tour, and the remarks are open to pre-credentialed media. In the evening, the President will depart Oakdale, Pennsylvania en route Washington, DC. The departure from Pittsburgh International Airport is open press, and there will be in-town travel pool coverage of the return to the White House. In-Town Travel Pool Wires: AP, Reuters, Bloomberg Wire Photos: AP, Reuters, AFP TV Corr & Crew: CBS Print: NY Daily News Radio: NBC Out-of-Town Travel Pool Wires: AP, Reuters, Bloomberg Wire Photos: AP, Reuters, AFP TV Corr & Crew: CBS Print: McClatchy EDT 9:30AM In-Town Travel Pool Call Time 10:00AM THE PRESIDENT and THE VICE PRESIDENT receive the Presidential Daily Briefing Oval Office Closed Press 1:00PM THE PRESIDENT departs the White House en route Joint Base Andrews South Lawn In-Town Travel Pool Coverage (Final Gather 12:30PM – North Doors of the Palm Room) 1:35PM THE PRESIDENT departs Joint Base Andrews en route Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Out-of-Town Travel Pool Coverage (Call Time 12:00PM – Virginia Gate, Joint Base Andrews) 2:30PM THE PRESIDENT arrives Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Pittsburgh International Airport Open Press 3:10PM THE PRESIDENT and THE VICE PRESIDENT tour a classroom Community College of Allegheny West Hills Center, Oakdale, Pennsylvania Out-of-Town Travel Pool Coverage 3:45PM THE PRESIDENT and THE VICE PRESIDENT deliver remarks Community College of Allegheny West Hills Center, Oakdale, Pennsylvania Open to Pre-Credentialed Media 5:45PM THE PRESIDENT departs Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania en route Joint Base Andrews Pittsburgh International Airport Open Press 6:45PM THE PRESIDENT arrives Joint Base Andrews In-Town Travel Pool Coverage (Final Gather 5:00PM – North Doors of the Palm Room) 7:20PM THE PRESIDENT arrives the White House South Lawn In-Town Travel Pool Coverage Readout of the President’s Meeting with the Global Development Council
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 14, 2014 Readout of the President’s Meeting with the Global Development Council Today the President met with members of the Global Development Council at the White House. President Obama welcomed the opportunity to hear the Council’s views and reiterated his Administration's strong commitment to promoting development as a key component of our comprehensive approach to national security. He urged members of the Council to develop additional actionable recommendations on how to catalyze private sector investment in development, leverage American innovation to help reduce poverty and boost economic growth, and increase agricultural production and food security without further accelerating climate change. In addition to the President, meeting participants included: U.S. Government Council Members · John Kerry, Secretary of State · Chuck Hagel, Secretary of Defense · Rajiv Shah, Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development · Sarah Raskin, Deputy Secretary of the Treasury · Wendy Cutler, Acting Deputy United States Trade Representative · Daniel Yohannes, Chief Executive Officer, Millennium Challenge Corporation · Elizabeth Littlefield, President of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation Council Members · Richard C. Blum (Richard C. Blum and Associates, Inc.) · Esther Duflo (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) · Mohamed El-Erian, GDC Chair (formerly CEO Pacific Investment Management Company, LLC) · Gargee Ghosh (Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation) · Sarah Kambou (President, International Center for Research on Women) · James Manyika, GDC Vice-Chair (McKinsey and Company) · Alan Patricof (Greycroft, LLC) · Bill Reilly (TPG Capital, LP, former head of EPA) · Steve Schwager (formerly of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, Inc.) · Smita Singh (formerly of the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation) White House Participants · Susan Rice, Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs · John Podesta, Counselor to the President · Caroline Atkinson, Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy National Security Advisor for International Economics · Gayle Smith, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director, National Security Council The Global Development Council is the first Presidential-level council devoted to global development policy. It was established in February 2012 by Executive Order 13600, consistent with the Presidential Policy Directive on Global Development. The mission of the Council is to inform and provide advice to the President and other senior U.S. officials on U.S. global development policy and practice. White House Blog Post: President Obama and Vice President Biden’s 2013 Tax Returns
Jay Carney http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2014/04/11/president-obama-and-vice-president-biden-s-2013-tax-returns April 11, 2014 02:00 PM EDT Today, the President released his 2013 federal income tax returns. He and the First Lady filed their income tax returns jointly and reported adjusted gross income of $481,098. The Obamas paid $98,169 in total tax. The President and First Lady also reported donating $59,251 – or about 12.3 percent of their adjusted gross income – to 32 different charities. The largest reported gift to charity was $8,751 to the Fisher House Foundation. The President’s effective federal income tax rate is 20.4 percent. The President pushed for and signed into law legislation that makes the system more fair and helps the middle class by extending tax cuts to middle class and working families and asks the wealthiest Americans to pay their fair share. In 2013, as a result of his policies, the President was subject to limitations in tax preferences, as well as additional Medicare and investment income taxes, for high income earners. The President and First Lady also released their Illinois income tax return and reported paying $23,328 in state income tax.The Vice President and Dr. Jill Biden also released their 2013 federal income tax returns, as well as state income tax returns for both Delaware and Virginia. The Bidens filed joint federal and combined Delaware income tax returns. Dr. Biden filed a separate non-resident Virginia tax return. Together, they reported adjusted gross income of $407,009. The Bidens paid $96,378 in total federal tax for 2013, amounting to an effective tax rate of 23.7 percent. They also paid $14,644 in Delaware income tax and Dr. Biden paid $3,470 in Virginia income tax. The Bidens contributed $20,523 to charity in 2013, including contributing the royalties received from Dr. Biden’s children’s book, net of taxes, to the USO. President Obama Announces his Intent to Nominate Dr. William “Bro” Adams as Chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 10, 2014 President Obama Announces his Intent to Nominate Dr. William “Bro” Adams as Chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities WASHINGTON, DC – Today, President Obama announced his intent to nominate Dr. William “Bro” Adams as Chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities. President Obama said, “Bro brings demonstrated leadership and decades of experience as an administrator at major universities and liberal arts institutions. His clear dedication and lifelong commitment to the humanities make him uniquely qualified to lead the nation’s cultural agency. I’m proud to nominate Bro as Chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities and look forward to working with him in the months and years to come.” President Obama announced his intent to nominate Dr. William “Bro” Adams as Chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities: Dr. William “Bro” Adams, Nominee for Chairman, National Endowment for the Humanities Dr. William “Bro” Adams is President of Colby College, a position he has held since 2000. Previously, he was President of Bucknell University from 1995 to 2000. Dr. Adams was Vice President and Secretary of Wesleyan University from 1993 to 1995, and was Program Coordinator of the Great Works in Western Culture program at Stanford University from 1986 to 1988. Earlier in his career, he held various teaching positions at Stanford University, Santa Clara University, and the University of North Carolina. Dr. Adams served in the Vietnam War as a First Lieutenant in the U.S. Army. In 1977, he became a Fulbright Scholar and conducted research at the Ecole des Hautes Etudes and the Ecole Normale Superieure in Paris, France. Dr. Adams is a member of the Board of Directors of the Maine Film Center and t he Maine Public Broadcasting Corporation. Dr. Adams received a B.A. from the Colorado College and a Ph.D. from the University of California, Santa Cruz. Readout of the Vice President’s Meetings on Workforce Development and Job-Driven Training
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Vice President ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 9, 2014 Readout of the Vice President’s Meetings on Workforce Development and Job-Driven Training As part of Vice President Biden’s ongoing work to improve America’s training programs, the Vice President hosted a conference call today with National Governors Association (NGA) leadership to discuss workforce development and job-driven training. The Vice President highlighted the importance of giving America’s workers opportunities to acquire skills they need to pursue in-demand jobs and careers. The Vice President also highlighted innovative efforts in states across the country that have proven successful, and encouraged the governors to expand on these efforts in their roles as state executives and leaders of the NGA. The Vice President was joined on today’s call by Governor Fallin of Oklahoma, Governor Hickenlooper of Colorado, Governor Beshear of Kentucky, and Governor Sandoval of Nevada. The Vice President also dropped by a meeting today at the White House with entrepreneurs and leaders from information technology companies to discuss the importance of ensuring that our training efforts teach skills that are in demand by employers. The Vice President encouraged the leaders to increase job-driven training by supporting efforts to promote partnerships with training organizations and community colleges; define common skills, credentials, and standards that workers need to get middle class jobs; and increase the number of apprenticeship programs. The Vice President’s meetings today are part of his ongoing work with private companies, non-profit organizations, federal agencies, education institutions, state and local leaders, and others across the country to make the workforce and training system more job-driven, integrated, and effective. Remarks by the President, Vice President, and SBA Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet at Swearing-In Ceremony
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary For Immediate Release April 7, 2014 REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT, VICE PRESIDENT, AND SBA ADMINISTRATOR MARIA CONTRERAS-SWEET AT SWEARING-IN CEREMONY South Court Auditorium 3:35 P.M EDT THE PRESIDENT: All right, everybody please have a seat. I just wanted to stop by and congratulate Maria on officially being sworn in as the head of the SBA. I want to thank all the members of Congress who are here today, as well as the terrific staff at the SBA for helping America’s small businesses succeed, and who have been holding down the fort until we got this confirmation through. I nominated Maria because she knows first-hand the challenges that small businesses go through -- and she has a proven track record of helping them succeed. She was California’s Secretary of Business, Transportation and Housing, and in that role she was the driving force behind major public investments in job-creating industries. As the founder of the ProAmerica Bank, she supported Latino entrepreneurs throughout Los Angeles. So Maria understands that small businesses are the lifeblood of our economy. They represent the promise that if you work hard in this country, you can succeed and you can help your children do even better. And that’s why this administration has been so focused on helping small businesses succeed from day one. We cut taxes 18 times for small businesses in my first term. We’ve helped more than 200,000 small businesses get loans supported by the SBA. Today, our economy is growing and our businesses have created almost 9 million jobs, and a lot of that has to do with the fact that there are small businesses out there who are making things happen every single day. But we can always do more. And that’s why having such a hard charger as Maria, who knows both the entrepreneurial side as well as public service, is so important. When I announced her nomination back in January, I was absolutely confident that she was going to do a terrific job. And I am no less confident today. I understand she already had meetings this morning. She didn’t really wait for the ceremony -- (laughter) -- to start meeting with some of our veterans and women-owned businesses, and Latino and African American-owned businesses. And she’s going to be out there I know listening to small businesses, working with our other agencies that are in charge of helping businesses grow. And I’m confident that by the end of her tenure she’s really going to have made her mark and made a difference. And, of course, she also has a really beautiful family, which is good too. (Applause.) So with that, Biden is in charge of the next state of this thing. (Laughter.) And he always does a great job. And it’s not that many lines -- (laughter) -- so hopefully we’ll get them right. We had a few problems my first time out, but second time went smoothly. And Joe has done this a lot. So congratulations again, Maria. (Applause.) THE VICE PRESIDENT: Well, Maria, you brought out the first team here. I can see that Congress is in full array here and anchored by Secretary Jack Lew at the end of the aisle there. Folks, Ray, thank you for being willing to do this. And I mean that sincerely. All the members of the House here know that no one does a job on their own, that if their spouse isn’t in on the deal, it doesn't work. And so thank you for being willing to do this. And, Francesca, it’s a pleasure to meet you, as well as Antonio. And I understand your sister Anna is here? ADMINISTRATOR CONTRERAS-SWEET: Indeed, there she is. THE VICE PRESIDENT: Hey, sis. How are you? Welcome, welcome. (Applause.) Look, the history of the journey of this country, in my view, has been the promise that anything is possible, that anything is possible in the United States of America. And, Maria, I think you’re living proof of that, the vitality of that promise. Maria came to the United States from Mexico as a young child not speaking a single word of English. But, Maria, you worked hard. You stayed in school, and you remembered what your grandmother -- a migrant worker -- told you that one day that you’d be able to work in an office. You’d be a secretary. (Laughter.) I don't think she had this in mind. (Laughter.) But I tell you what, you did become a secretary -- Secretary of Business, Transportation and Housing in the state of California. And as I said, I’m not sure your grandmom had this in mind, but I don't think she has any doubt about it, as she looks down, that you’ve become whatever you wanted to be. You also became vice president of the 7-UP Bottling Company; co-founder of a private equity fund focusing on Hispanic businesses; founded the first Hispanic-owned business bank in California in over 30 years. And the common thread here is you’ve never forgotten to look back. You know that -- the business potential in the Hispanic community, and you’ve known it. You’ve nurtured it, and you’ve helped it at every turn because you know everyone here -- what everyone here today knows, that the Hispanic business community is absolutely central -- central -- to this country’s growth. Hispanics in this country start businesses three times as often as on the national average as any other group of Americans. And right now there are about 3.2 million Hispanic-owned businesses across the country, contributing almost a half a trillion dollars to the American economy. Not all of them are small businesses. Some of them are pretty big that used to be small, and that's exactly what we want to happen. And that's why since we took office, the Small Business Administration has helped Hispanic-owned businesses secure 16,000 loans of over $6 billion and garnered over $41 billion in prime contacts with the federal government, and in no small part because of our friends in the Congress. And just as important is the growth of women-owned businesses in this country. Over the past 40 years, women have gone from owning 5 percent of all small businesses in America, today owning 30 percent. That's why the Small Business Administration has increased lending to women-owned businesses by 31 percent just since 2009. And they’ve also opened new doors to 23 new businesswomen centers which have trained and counseled more than 270,000 women in America. Small businesses represent a fundamental American promise that if you work hard, if you just get a chance, there’s nothing that can't be done. And, Maria, I have every confidence in the world that you’ll do everything in your power to give all of America’s small businesses and entrepreneurs the chance that they dream of. And so it’s now my pleasure, Maria, to swear you in and perform the oath of office here. [The oath is administered.] (Applause.) ADMINISTRATOR CONTRERAS-SWEET: Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Vice President, for those very generous words. I also want to thank the President for his confidence and for giving me this opportunity to be an advocate for America’s 28 million small businesses; and to Representatives Becerra, Garcia, Hinojosa, Napolitano, and Roybal-Allard, and Secretary Lew for being here today. I want to thank the members of the Senate for their vote of confidence. I look forward to working with all the members of Congress. My journey from Guadalajara to this house today is one that could only happen in America. And that journey has not been a lonely one. Thank you to my family, my friends, my associates, who have made my entire career a prologue to the position I assume today. I want to give special thanks to the SBA partners and stakeholders who are here today, and for your patience and support throughout this entire process. I know how hard you worked behind the scenes so that I could be standing here before you today and I'm so grateful. I want to thank my family -- of course, my husband, Ray, who everywhere he goes he says, I'm the one who made her sweet. (Laughter and applause.) To my three wonderful children, two of whom are here today -- one is in the middle of a very good case that we sure hope it was worth it and that he wins -- and of course, to Francesca Maria and to Antonio Kenneth. My mother worked so hard her entire life to give her six children opportunities she would never have. And my dear grandmother who told me I could be a secretary someday, but a Cabinet Secretary? Never in her wildest dreams. I came to this country at the age of 5 with my mom and five siblings. We didn’t have much, but what we did have was an abundance of hope. We didn’t speak the language yet -- neither the business language, nor or the English language. But my grandmother taught us to believe in the promise of America. This country was founded by risk-takers, resourceful pioneers who built this prosperous nation. Entrepreneurialism is in our heritage. The American Dream has always been about the opportunity to earn a good education and the keys to own your home. But the expanding American Dream is also about the opportunity to start your own business. I've lived that dream. And as the SBA Administrator, I'm determined to help others realize theirs as well. Some small businesses employ one out of two workers today in America. SBA is a driving force that helps propel this economic activity. SBA provides access to capital, contracting opportunities, and consultation through a national network of partners, and of course, disaster relief loans. I'm energized to begin this work on behalf of the nation’s entrepreneurs who wish so much to start new businesses and create most of our new jobs. I've already had a busy first morning on the job. I met with our disaster assistance team, which is on the ground in Washington State, following the presidential declaration to assist those impacted by the devastating mudslide. I also met with a group of veterans to thank them and to explore how more of our military heroes can use their skills to become successful small business owners. I recall when John F. Kennedy said, all of us do not have equal talent, but all of us should have an equal opportunity to develop our talents. I've come to realize that access to the American Dream means access to capital. Entrepreneurs are the difference-makers in our economy. I've seen the pivotal role that SBA plays in our entrepreneurial ecosystem. I was both a community banker and an SBA lender. I was a small business owner whose small business helped small businesses every day. As the bank chairwoman, I examined business plans, their viability and management’s ability to execute. The only thing that I understood was that they strengthened my knowledge of the challenges that small businesses face. It also strengthened my resolve to help them overcome those hurdles and succeed. When I started my first business almost 20 years ago, I experienced the same challenges that entrepreneurs face today. On any given day, I'd be called upon to be the company’s human resources director, the CFO, the spokesperson, or even the chief sales officer, all the while competing against larger firms in highly competitive markets. Today’s small business owners multitask their way through similar days, relying on their determination, the courage of their convictions, and the power of their entrepreneurial spirit. At the SBA, we're working to create the next American success story. SBA lending has helped launch businesses on the path to the Fortune 500 -- companies like Apple, and FedEx. SBA helped launch an iconic American ice cream brand -- Ben and Jerry’s. SBA even helped six small businesses partner together with NASA to launch the Mars Rover Curiosity, which is exploring the surface of the planet as we speak. As Administrator, my mission is to make the SBA an agency that's as innovative as the small businesses that we serve. Two out of three new jobs in America are created by small businesses. Millions of middle-class families are working for folks who depend on the SBA’s ability to facilitate access to capital, counseling and contracting opportunities. We must draw on technology to streamline the process of working with the SBA to make it easier for borrowers to access capital and easier for lenders to lend. The SBA must be nimble, agile to keep pace with our digital age. Do you remember when a bank was only a tall building you walked into to do business with a teller or a loan officer? Then ATMs came along and transformed our relationship to our banks. Today, Americans can use their smartphone to scan their checks and make deposits out of their living room. The SBA must anticipate the kinds of rapid changes that are transforming how Americans access financial services so that our products are accessible and that they’re relevant to the technological age. Demographic changes also require fresh thinking. We know that there are more retired people who are looking to start a second career, to be their own boss. There are more women, more minorities seeking to join the entrepreneurial class. And the data shows that immigrants are twice as likely to file patents and twice as likely to start a new enterprise. Think about that -- twice as likely to file patents and twice as likely to start a new enterprise. As Administrator, I plan to embrace them all with a broad, inclusive vision. I’m determined to get more loans into the hands of entrepreneurs who reflect the diversity of America. We know SBA lending to African Americans, Asian Americans and Hispanic American-owned businesses, as well as women-owned businesses can lift up entire communities. SBA must do more Main Street business -- help more Main Street businesses seeking loans. We will do this by making it easier for community banks and micro lenders to become our partners. Through our vast resource network, we can strengthen entrepreneurial education, which is so important to 1 million people who get game-changing SBA counseling every year. We will seed startup businesses focused on high-growth areas like advanced manufacturing. We must build bridges with rural communities as well as the urban centers alike. They’re exporting more and are integrated into the global supply chain every day. With the President’s support, I’m going to collaborate with my Cabinet colleagues to make sure more government contracts are awarded to our nation’s small businesses. I’m eager to get to work to help our entrepreneurs grow their companies and the American economy along with it. At the SBA, taking care of business has been our business for 61 years. This agency has been a pivotal force in America’s economic comeback story. But, ladies and gentlemen, we’re only getting started. So thank you again, Mr. Vice President, for this very special opportunity. Ladies and gentlemen, let’s get down to business. (Laughter.) And I invite you to join me on Twitter at #gettingdowntobusiness -- (laughter) -- to begin that dialogue today. God bless you and God bless the United States of America. Thank you. (Applause.) In Town Pool Report #6
Here is the promised fuller report on Maria Contreras-Sweet's swearing in ceremony as Administrator of the Small Business Administration. Please note one typo correction from earlier report (#5) on the precise timing the swearing-in was complete (it was 3.43pm). Refer to the official WH transcript for complete remarks. POTUS, VP Biden and Contreras-Sweet and her family walked onto the stage at 3.34pm. There were around 100 people in the audience, including friends, family, members of Congress and SBA staff. Treasury Sec Jack Lew was sat in the front row. Biden, in a dark suit, and Contreras-Sweet, who was in a light blue suit, were stood to POTUS's left, while the three other family members (see below) were stood to the president's right. "I just wanted to stop by and congratulate Maria on officially being sworn in to be the head of the SBA," POTUS, in a dark blue suit, said, adding: "I nominated Maria because she knows first-hand the challenges that small business go through and she has a proven track record of helping them succeed." He joked: "I understand she had meetings this morning. She didn't really wait for the ceremony." After a few more remarks about Contreras-Sweet's achievements for the Latino community, POTUS left the stage and handed over to VP Biden. "Joe's done this a lot, so..." he said, before leaving the stage. Biden took to the lectern and said Contreras-Sweet was "living proof" that "anything is possible in the United States of America". He said she came to the United States from Mexico as a young child "not speaking a single word of English". Biden stressed the importance of women for small businesses. After more remarks about Contreras-Sweet's achievements, in California and for the Hispanic community, Biden oversaw the swearing in ceremony. Contreras-Sweet's husband, Ray, held the bible while she placed her left hand on it and swore the oath, uttering the final words, "so help me God", at 3.43pm. There was polite applause and two 'whoops'. The following family members were on the stage beside Contreras-Sweet: • Raphael “Ray” Sweet, a Human Resources Self-Employed Executive, (husband) • Francesca Sweet, Graduate Student, 30 (daughter) • Antonio Sweet, Student, 22 (son) Contreras-Sweet had a sister in the audience whose name pool did not hear. She told the audience that a third child could not be there because they were "in the middle of very good case", an apparent reference to a legal case or trial. The one joke that elicited genuine laughter occurred when Contreras-Sweet thanked "my husband Ray, who everywhere he goes he says: 'I'm the one who made her sweet". Her full speech, about her personal biography and the importance of small businesses to the economy, will be released by the White House shortly. PS: In reference to Obama's visit to a high school in Bladensburg earlier, a pool-recipient has emailed the pool reporter (who is British) to say: "You do realize what actually happened at Bladensburg?" Indeed! The point was not missed on Gov O'Malley, either, who was in the audience, and tweeted this. In Town Pool #5
Paul Lewis of the Guardian reported "POTUS and VP Biden attended the ceremonial swearing in of Maria Contreras-Sweet, as Administrator of the Small Business Administration, beginning at 3.34pm, in the South Court Auditorium. A fuller report coming later but here is a quick summary. POTUS made brief remarks and then handed over to VP at 3.38pm for the actual swearing in and then left the room. Contreras-Sweet is the founder of ProAmérica bank, which serves small and medium-sized Latino businesses. Having been sworn-in - the final words "so help me God" were ushered at 3.34pm - she started giving a speech which is ongoing. Her new role in the SBA is a cabinet-level position. More background on her nomination can be found here and here. Earlier, the WH press office confirmed POTUS met as scheduled with two representatives of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. They were Commander-in-Chief of the, William A. “Bill” Thien, and Executive Director, Bob Wallace. The event was closed press." Readout of the President’s Meeting with the Presidential Ambassadors for Global Entrepreneurship
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 7, 2014 Readout of the President’s Meeting with the Presidential Ambassadors for Global Entrepreneurship This afternoon President Obama met with the inaugural members of the Presidential Ambassadors for Global Entrepreneurship (PAGE) at the White House, along with Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker, the PAGE Chair. Established by the Department of Commerce, PAGE is a group of successful American businesspeople eager to share their knowledge and experience to help develop the next generation of entrepreneurs at home and abroad. Members have agreed to participate in an ongoing dialogue with policy makers globally, acting as goodwill ambassadors in discussions about how to create an environment where creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship can grow and thrive. They will also participate in outreach and mentorship activities to help promote start-up culture, and energize their own personal and professional networks to challenge and inspire budding entrepreneurs and raise awareness of the many resources available to them. They will work with Entrepreneurs Across Borders, an UP Global initiative, that will connect highly successful entrepreneurs with hundreds of cities in the United States and around the world to help spark grassroots startup growth. During their meeting, President Obama thanked members for their commitment to this cause and discussed the critical role that entrepreneurship plays in spurring job growth and sparking innovation. He urged them to use the PAGE platform to help others learn from their experiences, benefit from their networks, and inspire new business owners to create economic opportunity in their own communities, throughout the country and across the globe. The inaugural members of PAGE are: --Rich Barton, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman, Zillow (Seattle, WA) --Tory Burch, Chief Executive Officer, Tory Burch; Founder, Tory Burch Foundation (New York, NY) --Steve Case, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Revolution (Washington, DC) --Helen Greiner, Chief Executive Officer, CyPhyWorks; Co-Founder, iRobot Corporation (Danvers, MA) --Reid Hoffman, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman, LinkedIn (Mountain View, CA) --Quincy Jones, Chief Executive Officer, Quincy Jones Productions (Los Angeles, CA) --Salman Khan, Founder and Executive Director, Khan Academy (Mountain View, CA) --Daphne Koller, Co-Founder and President, Coursera (Mountain View, CA) --Hamdi Ulukaya, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Chobani (New York, NY) --Nina Vaca, Chief Executive Officer, Pinnacle Technical Resources (Dallas, TX) --Alexa von Tobel, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, LearnVest (New York, NY) FACT SHEET: Strengthening Entrepreneurship At Home and Abroad
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 7, 2014 FACT SHEET: Strengthening Entrepreneurship At Home and Abroad “Let’s do more to help the entrepreneurs and small business owners who create most new jobs in America.” – President Barack Obama, State of the Union, January 28, 2014 Entrepreneurs play a critical role in expanding the economy and creating jobs. President Obama is committed to increasing the prevalence and success of entrepreneurs across the country, including through the White House Startup America initiative, an “all-hands-on-deck” effort to expand access to capital, accelerate innovation, and promote private sector efforts to strengthen the Nation’s startup communities. The United States also runs and funds hundreds of programs to support entrepreneurs globally and maintains a broad coalition of governments, business people, civil society, investors, and academics to educate and support entrepreneurs around the world. Building on these efforts, today the Administration is announcing a series of new steps to accelerate the success of entrepreneurs in the United States and across the globe: Presidential Ambassadors for Global Entrepreneurship: Today, President Obama hosted the inaugural meeting of the Presidential Ambassadors for Global Entrepreneurship (PAGE), a group of successful American businesspeople who have committed to sharing their time, energy, ideas, and experience to help develop the next generation of entrepreneurs at home and abroad. The group is chaired by Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker, and the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) are also partners in this effort. Attracting the World’s Best and Brightest: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will soon publish several proposed rules that will make the United States more attractive to talented foreign entrepreneurs and other high-skill immigrants who will contribute substantially to the U.S. economy, create jobs, and enhance American innovative competitiveness. These proposed regulations include rules authorizing employment for spouses of certain high-skill workers on H-1B visas, as well as enhancing opportunities for outstanding professors and researchers. These measures build on continuing DHS efforts to streamline, eliminate inefficiency, and increase the transparency of the existing immigration system, such as by the launch of Entrepreneur Pathways, an online resource center that gives immigrant entrepreneurs an intuitive way to navigate opportunities to start and grow a business in the United States. Accelerating Biomedical Entrepreneurs from Lab to Market: The National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) are launching a new collaboration to empower entrepreneurial scientists and address the critical gap between fundamental research and the development of a commercial entity. Academic researchers and entrepreneurs who receive Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) funding from NIH will be eligible to pilot a new version of the NSF Innovation Corps (I-Corps) program that is specially tailored for biomedical technologies. This intensive, mentor-driven experience is changing the way that NSF-funded researchers think about the commercialization process. NIH will also help scale up I-Corps by augmenting existing NIH-funded programs, such as the NIH Centers for Accelerated Innovation (NCAI), that focus on promising technologies developed by academic researchers. Faculty and students who participate in these new I-Corps programs will receive mentorship opportunities, entrepreneurial training, and modest funding to enable them to move their ideas from the lab to the market. Energizing Entrepreneurs to Help End Extreme Poverty: Fostering entrepreneurs and strengthening entrepreneurial ecosystems are vital elements of USAID’s newly launched U.S. Global Development Lab (The Lab). The Lab will empower a global network of individuals to help create, solve and scale innovative solutions to global challenges by applying rigorous scientific, business, research, and technological expertise. In the next five years, scientists and technology experts at The Lab will create a new global marketplace of innovations and take them to scale to reach over 200 million people worldwide. The Lab is pioneering open-source development models like Development Innovation Ventures and Grand Challenges that nurture new solvers and players in emerging markets and spurring innovation. The Lab is expanding a Global Development Alliance furthering LGBT equality through entrepreneurship and small and medium enterprise growth in Latin America. A new USAID Research and Innovation Fellowships Program will send more than 60 young U.S. leaders in science and technology to universities, NGOs, and companies in 12 developing countries this year. Bolstering Exchanges and Training for Entrepreneurs in the Western Hemisphere: This fall, the State Department will host TechCamps for women in El Salvador, Colombia, and Argentina. These camps will bring together hundreds of women across the region over the course of the year and provide them training to address key challenges in business formation, from financing to marketing. Additionally, the State Department will be launching two new exchange programs for entrepreneurs in the Western hemisphere. The Small Business Network of the Americas (SBNA) Fellowship Program will connect incubators across the hemisphere to share best practices in entrepreneurial development and unlock market access for small businesses across the region. The Professional Fellows Program will bring Salvadorian, Guatemalan, and American officials together for a six-week internship and training program focuses on professional development, problem-solving, and networking. In Town Report #4
POTUS entered the Bladensburg school auditorium at approximately 11.33am and spoke for roughly 20 minutes. When he entered, students and teachers were immediately on their feet; applauding, hollering, screaming. POTUS was introduced by Leah Woody, who the WH said was a senior at Bladensburg High School who has maintained a GPA above 3.9 during her senior year. The WH said she is an active member of the National Honors Society and was recognized as a Scholar of the Week during this current school year. She spoke briefly and received a loud applause when she said she was "college bound". POTUS walked onto the stage and said Leah's story "makes me inspired". "It is a good way to start the week," he said. Behind him were stood several rows of students high beneath a large blue White House banner that said 'Opportunity for All'. The remarks were broadcast live and there will be a WH-provided transcript, but here is a quick flavor. [Check remarks by the stenographer's version.] POTUS was announcing the winners of the Youth CareerGrants, awarded to schools that proposed programs partnering with employers and colleges that would prepare students for the global economy. "We've got to make sure that our economy works for everybody, not just the few," he said. "That's the chance that this country gave me, it is the chance that this country gave Michelle. That's why we're working so hard" on an opportunity agenda, he added. He said his economic agenda had four priorities: creating new jobs, making sure people had the right skills for those jobs, ensuring young people have a world class education and, fourth, rewarding hard work "with healthcare you count on and wages you can live on". "You guys are coming of age when you're not going to be competing with people across town for jobs," he said. "You're going to be competing with people across the world." He mentioned India and China. "I'm confident you can match or exceed anything they do," he said. He said the US has to "out innovate and out hustle" everybody else and "think about new ways of doing things" He said high schools still have curriculums based on the "40s and 50s and 60s" that need to be updated for a modern global economy. He said the award program had asked high schools to partner with colleges and employers to propose programs that would prepare students for the economy. "The reasons we have to do this now, is some countries, they've got a bit of a lead on us when it comes to some of these areas." He mentioned Germany and said high schools should look at what that country is doing. "We want to reward the schools that are being most innovative," he said. "Today I'm proud to say that schools across America are putting up some pretty impressive proposals. The winners across the board are doing the kind of stuff" that will allow others to emulate what they're doing, he added. "As long as you're clear about your goals, you're going to succeed," he told the students, adding that "the old people in the room - like me" have the responsibility to enable younger people to succeed. He added: "I want to make sure that every student in America gets that moment." POTUS finished delivering remarks at 11.54am and spent around 90 seconds shaking hands with student who were sat behind him. Spotted in the audience: Maryland gov Martin O'Malley Rep Donna Edwards Rep Steny Hoyer It was not possible for your pooler to spot any other WH attendees but he shall endeavor to find out and get back. WH press office said it will also return with a crowd estimate; in lieu of that, pool can say there were several hundred students on the room. POTUS left the school at noon, pretty much on the dot; he arrived back at the White House just now, at 12.16pm. There is now a lunch lid until 2.30pm with the exception of the press briefing. In Town Pool Report #3
Paul Lewis of the Guardian reported "The White House press office has provided the following background on today's event Background from the White House, Bladensburg High School: The President will visit Bladensburg High School, one of three high schools included in the Prince George’s County - Youth CareerConnect Program (PGC-YCCP) which is being awarded $7 million. Bladensburg High School in Prince George’s County, Maryland established three career academies in which college and career-ready standards are aligned with the entrance requirements of the state university system. Through rigorous, project-based learning, students apply their knowledge and skills to real world problems in a manner that keeps them engaged and on-track to graduate. More than 70 percent of Bladensburg’s students come from low-income families and the academies ensure that these students have the opportunity to succeed. With support from the $7 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor, Bladensburg High School will be able to expand and strengthen its Health & Biosciences Academy to prepare more students for careers in the region’s high-growth healthcare field through a collaborative effort with community partners. Before the President’s remarks, he will visit a 10th grade Microbiology class at Bladensburg High School where students are learning skills they can apply after graduation. The President will be led on the tour by Stephen Steven, who has taught for ten years at Bladensburg and at the end of the classroom visit the President will meet Lucia Simpson, head of Bladensburg’s Science Department. Introducer: The President will be introduced by Leah Woody, a senior at Bladensburg High School who has maintained a GPA above 3.9 during her senior year. She is an active member of the National Honors Society and was recognized as a Scholar of the Week during this current school year." In Town Pool Report #2
Paul Lewis of the Guardian reported "POTUS entered a windowless classroom in the school at around 11.18am. There were 15 students, boy and girls, all in the 10th grade, and two teachers, gathered around two tables in safety goggles and aprons. It was a microbiology class. Each table contained two microscopes, two laptops, iodine and beakers labeled 'H20'. On the board was written: 'Essential Question: how can patients with pathogenic microbes identify and treat the problem?' The first thing POTUS said was: "Hello everybody. This is serious. I'm not going to catch anything by getting too close am I?" He sat at the first table, where there were eight students, and asked them to introduce themselves. They all did. A teacher, Stephen Steven, who the WH said has taught at the school for 10 years, asked the students to explain their case study for the president. Barack Obama agreed and told the students he was "confused". One boy explained the experiment but the comments were not audible to pool. POTUS asked the students whether taking this class had encouraged them to consider a career in medicine. A girl said something inaudible to pool but appeared to reply in the affirmative. "Oh, you're in to CSI thing," Obama said. Pool was ushered out of the room before POTUS - who was in a suit and blue tie - got to the second table. Remarks by the President on Opportunity for All -- Bladensburg High School
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary For Immediate Release April 7, 2014 REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT ON OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL Bladensburg High School Bladensburg, Maryland 11:35 A.M. EDT THE PRESIDENT: Hello, Mustangs! (Applause.) Fantastic. Well, everybody have a seat. Have a seat. Thank you, Leah, for the great introduction. Give Leah a big round of applause. Yay! (Applause.) Meeting young people like Leah just makes me inspired. It’s a good way to start the week. And all of the students here who are discovering and exploring new ideas is one of the reasons I love visiting schools like Bladensburg High. And so I just want to congratulate all of you for the great work that you’re doing. I brought a couple of folks here who are helping to facilitate some of the programs here. My new Deputy Secretary of Labor, Chris Lu, is here. Give him a big round of applause. (Applause.) And some of the biggest champions for education in Prince George’s County are here, including your Governor, Martin O’Malley. (Applause.) County Executive Rushern Baker. (Applause.) Mayor Walter James. (Applause.) Superintendent Kevin Maxwell. (Applause.) Your biggest fans in Congress, Donna Edwards and Steny Hoyer. (Applause.) We are proud of all of them, and we’re proud of you. All of you remind me, all these young people here, that young people today are working on cooler stuff than they were when I was in high school. In classrooms across the country, students just like the students here, they’re working hard, they’re setting their sights high. And we’ve got to do everything we can to make sure that all of you have a chance to succeed. And that’s why your outstanding principal, Aisha Mahoney, is working so hard at this school. (Applause.) That’s why Governor O’Malley has been working so hard to repair old schools and build new ones across the state of Maryland. And that’s why I’m here today. Because last year, we launched a national competition to redesign America’s high schools for the 21st century -- the 21st century economy. And I’m proud to say that your hard work here has paid off, because one of the winners is Prince George’s County. (Applause.) Good job. That’s right, you guys have done great. (Applause.) Now, let me tell you why this is so important. Many of the young people here, you’ve grown up in the midst of one of the worst economic crises of our lifetimes. And it’s been hard and it’s been painful. There are a lot of families that lost their homes, lost jobs; a lot of families that are still hurting out there. But the work that we’ve done, the groundwork that we’ve laid, has created a situation where we’re moving in the right direction. Our businesses have created almost 9 million new jobs over the last four years. Our high school graduation rate is the highest on record. Dropout rates are going down; among Latinos, the dropout rate has been cut in half since 2000. (Applause.) More young people are earning college degrees than ever before. We've been bringing troops home from two wars. More than 7 million Americans have now signed up for health coverage through the Affordable Care Act. (Applause.) So we’ve been making progress, but we've got more work to do to make sure that every one of these young people, that everybody who is willing to work hard has the chance to get ahead. We’ve got to make sure that our economy works for everybody, not just a few. We’ve got to make sure opportunity exists for all people. No matter who you are, no matter where you started out, you’ve got to have confidence that if you work hard and take responsibility, you can make it. And that’s the chance that this country gave me. It's the chance that this country gave Michelle. And that's why we’re working so hard for what we call an opportunity agenda -- one that gives everybody a shot. And there are four simple goals: We want to create new jobs. We want to make sure that people have the skills to fill those jobs. We want to make sure every young person has a world-class education. And we want to make sure that we reward hard work with things like health care you can count on and wages you can live on. And Maryland and Governor O’Malley have been working alongside us on these issues, and I want to give a special shout-out to the Maryland legislature because, because of Governor O’Malley’s leadership, you are helping to make sure that we are raising more people’s wages with your push to raise your minimum wage right here in Maryland. (Applause.) We're very proud to see that happen. And I hope Governor O’Malley is going to sign it into law soon. Give Maryland a raise. (Applause.) That's good work. But the main focus here is guaranteeing every young person has access to a world-class education. Every single student. Now, that starts before high school. We've got to start at the youngest ages by making sure we've got high-quality preschool and other early learning programs for every young child in America. (Applause.) It makes a difference. We've got to make sure that every student has access to the world’s information and the world’s best technology, and that's why we’re moving forward with an initiative we call ConnectED to finally connect 99 percent of America’s students to high-speed Internet in the next few years. (Applause.) It means that we've got to rein in college costs -- because I want to make sure that Leah, when she goes to school, she’s not burdened with too much debt. (Applause.) And we've got to make it easier to repay student loans -- because none of the young people here should be denied a higher education just because your family has trouble affording it. And a world-class education means preparing every young person with the skills they need for college, for a career, and for a lifetime of citizenship. So what we did was we launched a new competition, backed by America’s Departments of Education and Labor, to start redesigning some of our high schools. We call it Youth CareerConnect. And we’re offering $100 million in new grants to help schools and local partners develop and test new curricula and models for success. We want to invest in your future. You guys are all coming up in an age where you’re not going to be able to compete with people across town for good jobs -- you’re going to be competing with the rest of the world. Young people in India and China, they’re all interested in trying to figure out how they get a foothold in this world economy. That's who you're competing against. Now, I'm confident you can match or exceed anything they do, but we don't do it by just resting on what we've done before. We've got to out-work and out-innovate and out-hustle everybody else. We've got to think about new ways of doing things. And part of our concern has been our high schools, a lot of them were designed with curriculums based on the 1940s and ‘50s and ‘60s, and haven't been updated. So the idea behind this competition is how do we start making high school, in particular, more interesting, more exciting, more relevant to young people. Last year, for example, I visited a school called P-TECH --- this is in Brooklyn -- a high school that partnered with IBM and the City University of New York to offer its students not only a high school diploma, but also an associate’s degree in computer systems or electromechanical engineering. IBM said that P-TECH graduates would be the first in line for jobs. Then I visited a high school in Nashville that offers “academies” where students focus on a specific subject area -- but they’re also getting hands-on experience running their own credit union, working in their own TV studios, learning 3D printing, tinkering with their own airplane -- which was pretty cool. I never got to do that. I did get my own airplane later in life. (Laughter.) Although I've got to give it back. (Laughter.) I don't get to keep it. But this is stuff I didn’t get to do when I was in high school -- and I wish I had. But it's stuff you have to know how to do today, in today’s economy. Things are moving faster, they’re more sophisticated. So we challenged America’s high schools to look at what’s happening in a place like P-TECH, look at what’s happening in cities like Nashville, and then say what can you do to make sure your students learn the skills that businesses are looking for in high-demand fields. And we asked high schools to develop partnerships with colleges and employers, and create classes that focus on real-life applications for the fields of the future -- fields like science and technology and engineering and math. And part of the reason we have to do this now is because other countries, they’ve got a little bit of a lead on us on some of these areas. A country like Germany right now focuses on graduating their high school students with a technical degree equivalent that give them a head start. So we’re asking schools to look into what places like Germany are doing. Now, not every school that enters into this competition for the $100 million is going to win -- because we don’t have enough money for everybody, and we want to force schools to think hard and redesign, and we want to reward the schools that are being most innovative and are actually proving some of the concepts that they’re trying out. But the great thing is that through this competition, schools across the country that entered have changed the way they prepare their students, and have already made enormous improvements, even before they get the grant. And, ultimately, we had to choose the top Youth CareerConnect initiatives. Today, I’m proud to say that schools across America are putting up some pretty impressive proposals. The winners across the board are doing the kinds of stuff that will allow other schools to start duplicating what they’re doing. The winners in Indianapolis are expanding their career prep programs to encourage more young women and kids from diverse backgrounds to join our science and technology workforce. New York City likes that Brooklyn high school model, P-TECH, so much that they’re using their grant to fund two more just like it, so that students can gain two degrees at once and get the edge they need in today’s high-tech, high-speed economy. And as I mentioned earlier, one of our 24 winners is a three-school team including your high school. Mustangs, you guys are part of the team that won! (Applause.) That’s good. Now, in part, the reason you won is because you guys were ahead of the curve. You were already winning. For a couple years now, your career academies have been integrating classroom learning with ready-to-work skills, and you’re preparing students to move directly into the in-demand jobs of the future -- jobs in IT and biosciences and hospitality. And now you’re stepping it up. You’re taking it to another level. So in the classroom I just visited, you had 10th graders -- although there was also a freshman -- who are studying epidemiology -- the study of disease patterns and outbreaks. And they’re getting potentially college-level credit for it, which is good because they may be the young people who discover a cure for some disease down the line that we don’t even know about yet. I know our brilliant scientists at the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control, they’d be proud of you. They like looking at bacteria. (Laughter.) And I got a little worried when I went into the classroom -- everybody was wearing goggles and vests, and I didn’t have my goggles. (Laughter.) But they assured me it was safe. But some of you Mustangs are pushing yourselves to get industry-recognized certifications in nursing, while other students on this winning team are studying cutting-edge technology and getting hands-on internship experience at local businesses. And we know these are skills that will be in demand. Companies will come looking to hire you because of the experiences you’ve gotten here. If you’re focused, if you’re working hard, you now have a platform so that by the time you get out of high school you’re already ahead of the game; you’re already in a position where you’ve got some skills that make you employable. And then you can just take it further, whether it’s a two-year college or a four-year college, or graduate school. Or there are a couple of young ladies in there who said they want to be neurosurgeons, psychiatrists. So you can build on these careers, but the point is you have a baseline where you know if you’re focused here at this school, doing your work, you’re going to be able to find a job. And the grants that you’ve won in this Youth CareerConnect competition mean that the programs you’ve started are going to expand, and you’re going to get more college and career counseling to help get you a jump on your post-high school plans. So a little over four years from now, Bladensburg and your partner schools will graduate hundreds more students with the knowledge and skills that you’ll need to succeed. And that’s what we want for all the young people here. We want an education that engages you; we want an education that equips you with the rigorous and relevant skills for college and for a career. And I'm confident -- meeting these young people, they were incredible. And a couple of them giggled a little bit when I walked in, but after they kind of settled down -- (laughter) -- they were -- they knew their stuff, and they were enjoying it. And that's part of the message I've got for all the young people here today, is your potential for success is so high as long as you stay focused. As long as you're clear about your goals, you're going to succeed. And my message to the older people here -- like me -- is we've got a collective responsibility to make sure that you're getting those opportunities. And there are resources out there that we've got to pull into the school setting. Businesses, foundations around the country, they want to fund more CareerConnect programs -- because it’s in their interest. They want good employees. They’re looking for folks with skills. When you can say, hey, the math that I’m doing here could change the way the business operates; or, I see how this biology experiment could help develop a drug that cures a disease -- that’s a door opening in your imagination. It’s also good for our economy. It's good for our businesses. That's a new career path you’re thinking about that allows you to pursue higher education in that field, or the very training you need to get a good job, or create a new business that changes the world. That's good for our economy, it's good for business, it's good for you, it's good for America. As a country, we’ve got to do everything we can to make sure that every single young person here can have that “aha” moment, that light bulb goes off and suddenly you're not just studying because your parents tell you to or your teacher tells you to, you're studying because you know you’ve got something to offer. And I want to make sure every student in America has a chance to get that moment -- that realization that your education can not just unlock your future and take you places you never imagined, but you're also going to be leading this country. That’s the chance that this country gave to me and Michelle. And that’s the chance I want for every single one of you. From preschool for every four-year-old in America, to higher education for everybody who wants to go, every young person deserves a fair shot. And I’m going to keep on doing everything I can to make sure you get that shot and to keep America a place where you can make it if you try. I'm proud of your principal. I'm proud of your superintendent. I'm proud of everybody who got involved in making sure that you guys were already doing the right thing before you won this new grant -- and I know it's going to be well-spent. Most of all, I'm proud of the students. Thank you very much, everybody. God bless you. (Applause.) Go, Mustangs! All right. (Applause.) FACT SHEET: Youth CareerConnect
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 7, 2014 FACT SHEET: Youth CareerConnect Integrating Education and Career Skills to Build America’s Workforce Too few of America’s students are meaningfully engaged in their academic experience while in high school, and many high school graduates lack exposure to learning that links their studies in school to future college and career pathways – especially in the critically important fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). President Obama has called for a comprehensive effort to rethink the high school experience for America’s youth, challenging schools to scale up innovative models that personalize teaching and learning so that students stay on track to graduate with the knowledge and skills they’ll need to succeed in college and in careers. President Obama has made clear that he is committed to making 2014 a year of action by taking steps – both with Congress and on his own – to expand opportunity for all Americans. As part of achieving the President’s vision to prepare all students for success in post-secondary education and in a competitive workforce, the U.S. Department of Labor, in collaboration with the Department of Education, has established Youth CareerConnect grant. This initiative encourages America’s school districts, institutions of higher education, the workforce investment system, and their partners to integrate rigorous educational standards with work experiences and skills in ways that enhance instruction and deliver real-world learning opportunities for students. Across the country, 24 Youth CareerConnect awards will provide $107 million to local partnerships of local education agencies, workforce investment boards, institutions of higher education and employer partners as they re-design the teaching and learning experience for youth to more fully prepare them with the knowledge, skills, and industry-relevant education needed to get on the pathway to a successful career, including postsecondary education or registered apprenticeship. Youth CareerConnect schools will strengthen America’s talent pipeline by supporting stronger high school, postsecondary, workforce investment system, and employer partnerships that deliver: · Robust Employer Engagement & Work-Based Learning: Youth CareerConnect awards will provide students with the education and training that combines rigorous academic and career-focused curriculum to increase students’ employability skills. Employer partners will provide work-based learning, job-shadowing, and mentoring opportunities to ensure students’ learning is relevant. · A Focus on High-Demand Industries, Including STEM: Youth CareerConnect awards will create a pathway for students to enter high-demand industries such as information technology, healthcare, and other STEM-related and manufacturing fields. Grantees will ensure recruitment and retention of underrepresented groups including girls and minorities to expand the talent pool for these high-demand occupations. · Integration of Post-secondary Education and Training: Youth CareerConnect awards will enable high school students to participate in education and training that leads to credit toward a post-secondary degree or certificate and an industry recognized credential, where appropriate. Recipients of Today’s CareerConnect (YCC) Grants Today, President Obama will visit Bladensburg High School, one of three high schools included in the Prince George’s County - Youth CareerConnect Program (PGC-YCCP) which is being awarded $7 million. Bladensburg offers several career academies with high school curricula aligned with college-level entrance requirements for Maryland’s state university system. Through a collaborative effort with community partners, the school will expand the capacity of its Health & Biosciences Academy to better prepare more students for one of the region’s highest growth industries. Students at Bladensburg who concentrate in health professions will be able to earn industry-recognized certifications in the fields of nursing and pharmacy; biomedical students will earn college credit from the University of Maryland Baltimore County and the Rochester Institute of Technology. Through the YCC grant program, students will have access to individualized career and college counseling designed to improve the attainment of industry-recognized credentials and preparation for college-level course work. Students will also have the ability to receive postsecondary credit while still in high school and will have access to paid work experiences with employer partners such as Lockheed Martin. Overall, the PGC-YCCP will help prepare 2,500 graduates at Bladensburg and other schools across the county to succeed academically and graduate career-ready in the high-demand fields of information technology and health care. Additional Youth CareerConnect (YCC) Grant recipients include the following: · The Los Angeles Unified School District is receiving a $7 million grant to build out new career academies in six high schools that will focus on healthcare, biotechnology, and other technology-related industries. The program is backed by funding from the Irvine Foundation. The United Way of Greater Los Angeles, the workforce investment system, and the Chamber of Commerce will help provide work-based learning opportunities to students, including 10,000 student summer internships. · The New York City Department of Education is receiving a nearly $7 million grant to fund two new early college high schools similar to IBM PTECH models that offer associate’s degrees while still in in high school. The grant will alsoexpand diesel mechanic registered apprenticeship to opportunity youth andcreate a dental hygienist apprenticeship in partnership with the Consortium for Worker Education and modify 10 career and technical education programs to offer college credit and counseling. · Clinton, South Carolina, is receiving a $6.8 million grant to reshape three high schools to prepare students for skilled jobs in computer science and engineering. Each school will restructure its instructional calendar to expand individual learning time, work with corporate partners to design project-based learning experiences modeled on real-world challenges, and align curricula with Piedmont Technical College and Midlands Technical College so students can earn postsecondary credits and credentials before graduating. · The Metropolitan School District of Pike Township in Indianapolis is receiving a $7 million grant to expand its career academies in advanced manufacturing and logistics, working in partnership with Conexus, an advanced manufacturing collaborative, and EmployIndy to provide work-based learning opportunities. The grantee will also expand STEM academies, working with the National Society of Black Engineers, Women in Technology, and the Indiana Girls Collaborative to ensure these programs are resulting in a more diverse STEM workforce. · Jobs for the Future is receiving a $4.9 million grant to expand and implement rigorous and engaging career pathway models that take young people from 9th grade through industry credentials and an associate’s degree in high demand fields. The grant will fund pathways in three regions across Massachusetts, focusing on information technology, advanced manufacturing, and health care. · The Denver School District is also receiving received nearly $7 million to create and expand STEM pathways in eight schools. Students will participate in a paid internship or job shadow and complete a capstone project that demonstrates how they applied the skills and knowledge learned in the classroom to their workplace-based learning experience. Denver will also work with workforce investment partners to provide career fairs and summer industry academies. Outside Commitments to Support the Youth CareerConnect Model · Website for Information-sharing about CareerConnect Model Ideas: Applicants will be invited to send their applications to a web site to share information on ideas for redesigning high schools in ways that build and strengthens a greater connection to work and careers – providing additional opportunities for outside funders to make new investments in these models and identify new partners. Hosted by the National Career Academy Coalition and College and Career Academy Support Network and created with funding from PG&E, this website will provide information on both funded and non-funded CareerConnect applications and it will allow interested parties to view applications by industry, occupation, geography, and other descriptors. Organizations committed to using the website to foster progress in redesigning high schools include the Rockefeller Foundation, IBM Foundation, Irvine Foundation, and the National Academy Foundation. · Commitments by the Irvine Foundation to Provide Additional Funding to California Winners: Following up on their commitment made for the White House’s College Opportunity Summit in January, the Irvine Foundation is providing additional $1.5 million to the funded California applications from Los Angeles and the East San Gabriel Valley Regional Occupational Program. The Irvine Foundation is also willing to commit additional funding for any joint efforts among foundations to support a learning community across funded applications. PG&E Commitment to Create Two New Energy Academies: In addition to committing to support the website development, PG&E is creating two new energy academies, one with Arroyo Grande High School, and another with a San Francisco Bay Area school with which they are partnering this year. PG&E will also provide a six-week paid, work-based, learning opportunity for 60-100 students to prepare them for a career in the energy and utility industry. This is a step on their path to investing $1 million in high school redesign efforts by 2016 and increasing the number of New Energy Academy programs by 50 percent, as committed to in the White House college opportunity summit. Building on Progress President Obama has encouraged all Americans to commit at least one year to higher education or career training and has set the ambitious goal that America will have the highest proportion of college graduates in the world by 2020. Yet today, nearly one in in five students in America fails to graduate from high school on time and many of the students who graduate have not been adequately prepared to succeed in college and the workforce. Today’s announcement of the Youth CareerConnect grant recognizes that many local districts and school leaders, as well as many of their national and local workforce partners, have been working together to provide these workplace relevant opportunities for students for quite some time, and it builds off of the collective experiences of these local partnerships. Further, this program complements additional proposals in the President’s 2015 budget to ensure that all high school students graduate ready for college and career success and to help America once again lead the world in college attainment: · High School Redesign ($150 million). The President’s budget supports a new competition at the U.S. Department of Education to support school districts and their partners as they transform high schools in innovative ways that better prepare students for college and career success. The new program will ensure that all students graduate from high school with college credit and career-related experiences or competencies, obtained through project or problem-based learning, real-world challenges, and organized internships and mentorships. Under this program, grantees would work to: (1) align academic content and instructional practices more closely with postsecondary education and careers; (2) personalize learning opportunities to support the educational needs and interests of students; (3) provide academic and wrap-around support services for those students who need them; (4) make available high-quality career and college exploration and counseling options for students after high school graduation; (5) offer multiple opportunities to earn postsecondary credit while still in high school; and (6) strategically use learning time in more meaningful ways, such as through technology, a redesigned school day or calendar, or competency-based progressions. Reauthorized Perkins Career and Technical Education program ($1.1 billion). The President’s budget also supports a reauthorized Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act The Administration blueprint for Perkins reauthorization proposal would strengthen alignment among secondary and postsecondary CTE programs and business and industry; create a better accountability system for improving academic outcomes, technical skills, and employability outcomes; and provide competitive funding to promote innovation and reform in CTE. Full List of CareerConnect Grant Recipients Pima County, Tucson, AZ, $5,351,690 East San Gabriel Valley Regional Occupational Program, West Covina, CA $4,499,251 Los Angeles Unified School District, Los Angeles, CA $7,000,000 School District No. 1 in the City and County of Denver, Denver, CO $6,999,980 Putnam County Board of Education, Eatonton, GA $2,418,343 Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission, Postville, IA $2,784,360 Manufacturing Renaissance, Chicago, IL $2,670,909 Metropolitan School District of Pike Township, Indianapolis, IN $7,000,000 Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana, Kokomo, IN $3,273,878 Kentucky Educational Development Corporation, Ashland, KY $5,520,019 Jobs for the Future, Inc., Boston, MA $4,867,815 Prince George`s County Economic Development Corporation, Largo, MD $7,000,000 Independent School District 196, Rosemount, MN $2,990,026 Independent School District #625, St. Paul, MN $3,680,658 Anson County Schools, Wadesboro, NC $2,247,373 Westside Community Schools, Omaha, NE $2,647,212 Board of Education, Buffalo NY, Buffalo, NY $3,898,700 New York City Department of Education, New York, NY $6,999,601 Toledo Public Schools, Toledo, OH $3,824,281 Academia de Directores Medicos de Puerto Rico, Inc., San Juan, PR $2,842,834 Laurens County School District 56, Clinton, SC $6,890,232 Bradley County School District, Cleveland, TN $4,499,121 Colorado City Independent School District, Colorado City, TX $3,482,704 Galveston Independent School District, Galveston, TX $3,975,000 UPDATED: DAILY GUIDANCE AND PRESS SCHEDULE FOR MONDAY, APRIL 7, 2014
Briefing Schedule 12:00PM Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jay Carney THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 6, 2014 DAILY GUIDANCE AND PRESS SCHEDULE FOR MONDAY, APRIL 7, 2014 In the morning, the President will receive the Presidential Daily Briefing in the Oval Office. This meeting is closed press. Later in the morning, the President will travel to Bladensburg High School in Bladensburg, Maryland to announce the winners of a competition he launched last fall to bring together educators and employers to redesign the high school experience to give students access to real-world career skills and college-level courses. The President’s remarks are open to pre-credentialed media and there will be in-town travel pool coverage of the President’s classroom visit at Bladensburg High School. In the afternoon, the President will meet with the Commander-in-Chief and Executive Director of the Veterans of Foreign Wars in the Oval Office. This meeting is closed press. Later in the afternoon, the President and the Vice President will attend and deliver remarks at the ceremonial swearing-in of Maria Contreras-Sweet as Administrator of the Small Business Administration. This event in the South Court Auditorium is open press. In-Town Travel Pool Wires: AP, Reuters, Bloomberg Wire Photos: AP, Reuters, AFP TV Corr & Crew: CNN Print: The Guardian Radio: SRN EDT 9:30AM In-Town Pool Call Time 10:00AM THE PRESIDENT receives the Presidential Daily Briefing Oval Office Closed Press 11:15AM THE PRESIDENT visits a classroom at Bladensburg High School Bladensburg High School, Bladensburg, Maryland In-Town Travel Pool Coverage (In-Town Travel Pool Gather 10:15AM – Palm Room Doors) 11:35AM THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks at Bladensburg High School Bladensburg High School, Bladensburg, Maryland Open to Pre-Credentialed Media 2:00PM THE PRESIDENT meets with the Commander-in-Chief and Executive Director of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Oval Office Closed Press 3:25PM THE PRESIDENT and THE VICE PRESIDENT attend the ceremonial swearing in of Maria Contreras-Sweet as Administrator of the Small Business Administration South Court Auditorium Open Press (Pre-set 2:45PM – Gather Time 3:00PM – Stakeout Location) Briefing Schedule 1:15PM Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jay Carney DAILY GUIDANCE FOR THE VICE PRESIDENT
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Vice President ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 6, 2014 DAILY GUIDANCE FOR THE VICE PRESIDENT Monday, April 7, 2014 At 10:30 AM, the Vice President and Dr. Jill Biden will deliver remarks at the 94th Annual Convention of the American Association of Community Colleges. This event at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel is open press. In the afternoon, the Vice President will attend meetings at the White House. At 3:30 PM, the President and the Vice President will attend and deliver remarks at the ceremonial swearing-in of Maria Contreras-Sweet as Administrator of the Small Business Administration. This event in the South Court Auditorium is open press. Afterwards, the Vice President will attend meetings at the White House. The President’s Budget Ensures Opportunity for All Hard-Working Americans
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ EMBARGOED UNTIL 6:00 AM ET, SATURDAY, April 5, 2014 WEEKLY ADDRESS: The President’s Budget Ensures Opportunity for All Hard-Working Americans WASHINGTON, DC— In this week’s address, the President highlighted the important differences between the budget he’s put forward – built on opportunity for all – and the budget House Republicans are advocating for, which stacks the deck against the middle class. While the President is focused on building lasting economic security and ensuring that hard-working Americans have the opportunity to get ahead, Republicans are advancing the same old top-down approach of cutting taxes for the wealthiest Americans and slashing important investments in education, infrastructure, and research and development. The audio of the address and video of the address will be available online at www.whitehouse.gov at 6:00 a.m. ET, Saturday, April 5, 2014. Remarks of President Barack Obama Weekly Address The White House April 5, 2014 Hi, everybody. Today, our economy is growing and our businesses are consistently generating new jobs. But decades-long trends still threaten the middle class. While those at the top are doing better than ever, too many Americans are working harder than ever, but feel like they can’t get ahead. That’s why the budget I sent Congress earlier this year is built on the idea of opportunity for all. It will grow the middle class and shrink the deficits we’ve already cut in half since I took office. It’s an opportunity agenda with four goals. Number one is creating more good jobs that pay good wages. Number two is training more Americans with the skills to fill those jobs. Number three is guaranteeing every child access to a great education. And number four is making work pay – with wages you can live on, savings you can retire on, and health care that’s there for you when you need it. This week, the Republicans in Congress put forward a very different budget. And it does just the opposite: it shrinks opportunity and makes it harder for Americans who work hard to get ahead. The Republican budget begins by handing out massive tax cuts to households making more than $1 million a year. Then, to keep from blowing a hole in the deficit, they’d have to raise taxes on middle-class families with kids. Next, their budget forces deep cuts to investments that help our economy create jobs, like education and scientific research. Now, they won’t tell you where these cuts will fall. But compared to my budget, if they cut everything evenly, then within a few years, about 170,000 kids will be cut from early education programs. About 200,000 new mothers and kids will be cut off from programs to help them get healthy food. Schools across the country will lose funding that supports 21,000 special education teachers. And if they want to make smaller cuts to one of these areas, that means larger cuts in others. Unsurprisingly, the Republican budget also tries to repeal the Affordable Care Act – even though that would take away health coverage from the more than seven million Americans who’ve done the responsible thing and signed up to buy health insurance. And for good measure, their budget guts the rules we put in place to protect the middle class from another financial crisis like the one we’ve had to fight so hard to recover from. Policies that benefit a fortunate few while making it harder for working Americans to succeed are not what we need right now. Our economy doesn’t grow best from the top-down; it grows best from the middle-out. That’s what my opportunity agenda does – and it’s what I’ll keep fighting for. Thanks. And have a great weekend. Vice President Biden to Ceremonially Swear-In Maria Contreras-Sweet as Administrator of the Small Business Administration
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Vice President ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release April 4, 2014 MEDIA ADVISORY: Vice President Biden to Ceremonially Swear-In Maria Contreras-Sweet as Administrator of the Small Business Administration WASHINGTON, DC – On Monday, April 7, 2014, Vice President Biden will ceremonially swear-in Maria Contreras-Sweet as Administrator of the Small Business Administration. The Vice President and Maria Contreras-Sweet will deliver remarks at this ceremony. This event will be OPEN PRESS. An RSVP is required to participate; media details are below. WHAT: Vice President Biden to ceremonially swear-in Maria Contreras-Sweet as Administrator of the Small Business Administration WHO: Vice President Joe Biden Maria Contreras-Sweet WHEN: Monday, April 7, 2014 3:30 PM ET Camera pre-set for all TV cameras planning to cover the event: 2:50 PM at the White House stakeout location Gather time for print reporters, radio and still photographers: 3:10 PM at the White House stakeout location WHERE: Eisenhower Executive Office Building South Court Auditorium Statement on the Employment Situation in March
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 4, 2014 Statement on the Employment Situation in March WASHINGTON, DC – Jason Furman, Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers, issued the following statement today on the employment situation in March. You can view the statement HERE. Posted by Jason Furman on April 4, 2014 at 09:30 AM EDT The economy continued to add jobs in March at a pace consistent with job growth over the past year. Additionally, the unemployment rate was steady while the labor force participation rate edged up. While today’s data indicates that the recovery is continuing to unfold, the President still believes further steps must be taken to strengthen growth and boost job creation. In this regard, the Senate’s decision yesterday to move forward with the consideration of a bill to reinstate extended unemployment insurance was an important step in the right direction. In addition to encouraging this and other action in Congress, such as raising the minimum wage and passing the Paycheck Fairness Act, the President will continue to act on his own executive authority wherever possible to expand economic opportunity for American families. FIVE KEY POINTS IN TODAY’S REPORT FROM THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS 1. The private sector has added 8.9 million jobs over 49 straight months of job growth. Today we learned that total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 192,000 in March, entirely due to an increase in private employment, while government employment was unchanged on net. Job growth in January and February was revised up, so that that over the past twelve months, private employment has risen by 2.3 million, or an average of 189,000 a month. This is slightly faster than the pace of job gains over the preceding twelve-month period (175,000 a month). 2. Revisions to jobs numbers tend to be cyclical (negative in a recession, positive in a recovery); consistent with this pattern, the initial estimate of job growth has been revised up in 18 of the last 19 months, and in 40 of the 56 months since the end of the recession in June 2009. One of the main reasons that jobs numbers are subject to revision is that, at the time of the first report, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is missing data from firms that have not responded to the survey, as well as data on business start-ups and closures. BLS uses a model to estimate missing data, but these model-based estimates are backward-looking so that they understate both the declines in a recession and the gains in a recovery. Over time, the BLS is able to replace initial survey reports and model-based estimates with more comprehensive data drawn from administrative records. With today’s report, job growth in January and February has been revised up by a combined 53,000 relative to their respective first reports. Since June 2009, the latest data are an average of 31,000 a month higher than the first report, indicating that the recovery has been stronger than initially estimated. However, during the recession from December 2007 to June 2009, first reports of monthly job growth were revised down by an average of 115,000 a month, meaning that the recession was deeper than originally estimated. 3. In thinking about how to address the persistent challenge of long-term unemployment, it is important to recognize that the long-term unemployed are a demographically diverse group and broadly similar to the shorter-term unemployed. As shown below, long-term unemployment does not appear to be overly concentrated in a single occupation. This suggests that steps to support the long-term unemployed in their job search activities and ensure they are given a fair look by employers still have a critical role to play in helping to address this pressing issue. 4. The average workweek in the manufacturing sector rebounded to 42.0 hours in March, tied for the highest since July 1945. Average weekly hours for manufacturing production and nonsupervisory workers also hit 42.0 hours in November 2013, before edging down in December, January, and February. Some of the decline in those months was likely due to unusually severe winter weather, including the major snowstorm that hit during the survey week in February. Consistent with the unwinding of weather effects, the average workweek in manufacturing jumped in March and returned to its 68-year high. 5. Employment gains in most industries in March were consistent with their range of monthly changes over the last several years. The construction sector had an above-average month, adding 19,000 jobs for a total of 88,000 over the last three months. In addition, state and local government performed relatively well, adding 9,000 jobs in March. Manufacturing employment was little changed, but with upward revisions to previous months, this sector has risen by 97,000 on net since last July. As the Administration stresses every month, the monthly employment and unemployment figures can be volatile, and payroll employment estimates can be subject to substantial revision. Therefore, it is important not to read too much into any one monthly report and it is informative to consider each report in the context of other data that are becoming available. Remarks by the First Lady at Sixth Annual Kitchen Garden Planting
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the First Lady _________________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release April 2, 2014 REMARKS BY THE FIRST LADY AT SIXTH ANNUAL KITCHEN GARDEN PLANTING White House Kitchen Garden 3:37 P.M. EDT MRS. OBAMA: Hey, people! Little people and big people. How are you guys? This is the sixth annual planting of the White House kitchen garden -- six times we’ve done this over six years. Pretty amazing, huh? STUDENTS: Yes. MRS. OBAMA: So guess what we’re doing differently this year? We are going to plant something called a pollinator garden. Did you hear about this? STUDENTS: Yes. MRS. OBAMA: So just for the folks at home who have not heard about a pollinator, but a pollinator garden helps to encourage the production of bees and monarch butterflies. And why do we need to do that? You guys -- just yell it out. STUDENT: Because they pollinate the plants. MRS. OBAMA: They pollinate the plants, they help the plants grow. But why do we need to help bees and butterflies -- what’s happening to them? Yell it out. They’re dying because of disease -- we don’t even know why some beehives are just totally disappearing. But that could be a problem for the planet because if you don’t have insects and great pollinators to pollinate the plants, it could affect our food source, it could affect our ability to continue to grow things. And that would be a problem. So this garden is going to help to contribute to improving that problem. So we’re going to plant all kinds of flowers that attract bees and butterflies, which is not going to make the Obama girls happy because they don’t really like bees. But bees are good. Bees are a good thing. So you guys are going to help do that, and that’s the first time we’ve done a pollinator garden. Pretty cool, huh? All right, well, let me welcome you guys who are here so we get good shoutouts from all the schools that are participating, okay. So when I say your school name, I want to hear it. All right? If you really love your school, then you’ll hear it -- we’ve got schools that have been here every single year. We’ve got Bancroft. (Applause.) Bancroft! (Laughter.) Another longstanding school partner, we have Harriet Tubman. (Applause.) Tubman, yes! And we’ve got Kimball Elementary School. (Applause.) Now, the teachers, you all could help, too. Where are the -- you guys, come on. And we have a couple of new schools this year. We’ve got the Cleveland Elementary School. (Applause.) STUDENT: Yeah! MRS. OBAMA: All right! (Applause.) See, that’s new. They've never been here before, so they’re still excited. And then we’ve got Friendship Public Charter School. (Applause.) Yay! Very exciting. But we also have some special friends from the FoodCorps -- let’s hear it for the FoodCorps. (Applause.) Now, the FoodCorps are near and dear to my heart because they’re an AmeriCorps national service program. And before I became First Lady, I ran an AmeriCorps program called Public Allies. But what these young people do -- young people. You guys are getting old compared to these guys. (Laughter.) Young compared to me. But you guys take a year, right, and spend a year either after college, during college, after college, and they spend it in a community, in a school helping you guys understand the importance of healthy eating and knowing what good food is and helping you plant gardens in your schools and in your communities, right? You’re helping to spread that knowledge about why eating fresh fruits and vegetables is so important -- so important that they have dedicated a year of their life to making that happen. They’re going to be helping out today. Thank you guys so much. Thanks for your service and your efforts. It really makes a difference. The whole notion of getting out there and teaching healthy habits for our kids is brilliant, and we’re grateful. And welcome here to the White House. (Applause.) Yay! And we’ve got our White House team, our crew who is here. (Applause.) Our crew, our chefs who -- they are so invested in this garden, because they use the garden every day. They pull things out of that garden every day, they put it on our plates and we eat it for dinner and they serve it at big state dinners. So the garden is very important to them, which is why they always come down and make sure that you guys do it right. Yes? Q Where are you from? MRS. OBAMA: Where am I from? Chicago. Good question. (Laughter.) All right, you guys. So I think we’re ready. Sam -- and then we have Sam Kass. Have you guys met Sam? All right, so you guys have your jobs. You’ve got your assignments. All right, well, let’s get to work. Let’s move! Let’s move! (Applause.) Remarks by the President on Minimum Wage -- Ann Arbor, MI
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release April 2, 2014 REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT ON THE MINIMUM WAGE University of Michigan Ann Arbor, Michigan 2:52 P.M. EDT THE PRESIDENT: Hello, Michigan! (Applause.) Go Blue! (Applause.) This is a good-looking crowd. (Applause.) Just happy to be out of class. (Applause.) I'm sure that's not true. I'm sure these are all outstanding students. (Applause.) Good to see you. First of all, give Mira a big round of applause for the great introduction. (Applause.) I want to say thanks to your president, Mary Sue Coleman, for her years of outstanding leadership here at Michigan. (Applause.) We’ve got a few other Michigan leaders who are here today. We've got Congressman John Conyers. (Applause.) We've got Congressman Gary Peters. (Applause.) We've got your mayor, John Hieftje. (Applause.) Former Congressman Mark Schauer. (Applause.) Your Congressman, the legendary John Dingell, could not make it, but his wife Debbie is here. Give her a big round of applause. (Applause.) Now, most importantly I know to all of you, we’ve got some Wolverines in the house here. (Applause.) We've got Greg Robinson III. (Applause.) We've got Jordan Morgan. (Applause.) We've got Big Ten Player of the Year, Nik Stauskas. (Applause.) And we've got quarterback, Devin Gardner. (Applause.) These guys were outstanding this year. Give them a bigger round of applause than that. (Applause.) You guys had a great run. That last game was as good of a game as we've seen the entire season. I know you wish that that turned out a little bit later -- if you’d had five more seconds, it would have been helpful. (Laughter.) But I wanted to congratulate the coach, Coach Beilein, and the team for a great season. (Applause.) And I understand that Jordan wanted me to talk about my bracket. (Laughter.) My bracket is a mess. (Laughter.) I've learned my lesson -- I will not pick against the Wolverines. (Applause.) It's not going to happen. This is the problem with doing these brackets -- people just trash-talk you non-stop. (Laughter.) It's terrible. And I think it's worth mentioning, I want to congratulate Jordan for playing more games at Michigan than any other player in history -- not only earning an undergraduate degree in engineering -- (applause) -- pursuing a graduate degree in engineering as well. That's the kind of student athlete we're talking about. (Applause.) Now, do some of you guys have chairs? Because if you’ve got chairs, feel free to sit down. But if you don't, don't sit down, because I don't want you getting hurt. Before I came here today, I stopped at Zingerman’s, which is the -- (applause) -- which is the right thing to do when you're in Ann Arbor. (Laughter.) I stopped for two reasons. The first is the Reuben is killer. (Laughter.) So I ordered like the small -- (laughter) -- and it didn’t look that small. So I gave half to Valerie Jarrett, who’s traveling with us. And then after I finished the half, I wanted the half back. (Laughter.) But it was too late. All she had left was the pickle. (Laughter.) So I took the pickle. (Laughter.) So one of the reasons I went was because the sandwiches are outstanding. The second reason, though, is Zingerman’s is a business that treats its workers well, and rewards honest work with honest wages. (Applause.) And that’s worth celebrating. And that’s what I’m here to talk about today: How do we rebuild an economy that creates jobs and opportunities for every American? And I want to focus on something a lot of people in Michigan are working very hard to accomplish right now, and that is raising the minimum wage to help more folks get ahead. (Applause.) Now, here’s the context. Our economy is doing better. It’s growing. Our businesses are creating jobs -- 8.7 million new jobs over the past four years. (Applause.) Our manufacturing sector, which had been losing jobs throughout the ‘90s and throughout the -- what do you call it -- aughts? (Laughter.) You know, the 2000 to 2010, whatever you call that. (Laughter.) But manufacturing had been losing jobs -- about a third of manufacturing had lost -- and obviously that hit Michigan really hard. But we’re now seeing the manufacturing sector add jobs for the first time since the 1990s. So that is good news. (Applause.) The housing market is recovering. Obviously the stock market has recovered, which means people’s 401(k)s, if they have them, are doing a lot better. Troops that were fighting two wars, they’re coming home. (Applause.) We just went through the first month since 2003 where no U.S. soldier was killed in either Afghanistan or Iraq. (Applause.) Today you’ve got companies looking to invest in the U.S. instead of sending jobs overseas. They want to create more jobs and invest right here in the United States. We’re more competitive. We’re more productive. Oh, and by the way, 7.1 million Americans have now signed up for coverage through the Affordable Care Act, otherwise known as Obamacare. (Applause.) That’s a lot of people -- 7.1. That’s enough to fill up The Big House 65 times. (Applause.) And by the way, that doesn’t count the more than 3 million young people who have been able to stay on their parents’ plans. (Applause.) So we have seniors here who graduate and then it may take a couple months to find a job, or you’re doing an internship or something that does not provide health care, you’re going to be covered until you get that job that actually provides health insurance. So it provides you the kind of protection you need. (Applause.) So that’s the good news. We fought back from the worst economic crisis in our lifetimes. We’ve laid the foundation for America’s future growth. But here’s the problem: There’s been a long-term trend that has really been hitting middle-class folks and folks trying to get into the middle class, and that’s been going on since before most of you were born. The economy increasingly has folks at the top doing really well, but then middle-class families, people who are struggling to get into the middle class, they’re working harder, but their wages, their incomes aren’t going up. And we’re a better country than that. In America, we do not believe in opportunity just for the few. We believe that everybody should have a chance at success. Everybody. (Applause.) And we believe our economy grows best not from the top down, but from the middle out, and from the bottom up. (Applause.) And we want to make sure that no matter where you’re born, what circumstances, how you started out, what you look like, what your last name is, who you love -- it doesn’t matter, you can succeed. That’s what we believe. (Applause.) We believe that what matters is the strength of our work ethic and the scope of our dreams and our willingness to take responsibility for ourselves, but also for ourselves. That's what America is about. That’s the promise that this country is built on. And for the sake of your generation, we got to make sure that that continues to be the case; that that’s not just something we’re nostalgic about; that that’s something that we project out into the future. So I had a State of the Union a while back and I laid out a four-part Opportunity Agenda to make sure everybody has a shot. And that starts with something I know graduating seniors are thinking about: More good jobs paying good wages; jobs in high-tech and manufacturing and energy and innovation. And there are things we can do to create jobs -- rebuilding our infrastructure in this country, investing in R&D, closing wasteful loopholes that don't create jobs. So we’re providing tax breaks to companies that are creating jobs right here in the United States. Those are things we can do right now. Opportunity means training more Americans for the skills needed to fill those jobs. We got to make sure everybody is ready with the skills they need. Not everybody is going to be lucky enough to be a Wolverine and graduate from Michigan. (Applause.) But everybody can get a good, solid base so that they can have a job and a career. Opportunity means guaranteeing every young people access to a world-class education, and that's got to start with pre-K, all the way through higher education. (Applause.) And it means making college more affordable. (Applause.) Some of you may not know this, but before a lot of you even entered college, we took on the student loan system. It was giving billions of taxpayer dollars to big banks to serve as middlemen in the student loan process. We said, why do we need the banks? We cut them out. We used the savings that were generated, billions of dollars, to expand the grants that help millions of low-income students pay for college. And we’re offering millions of students who are graduating the chance to cap monthly student loan payments at 10 percent of your income. (Applause.) This is something you need to talk to your counselors about, especially if you’re going into teaching or social work, or other professions where it’s a passion but you’re not going to be an investment banker salary situation. So make sure you find out about this. You can cap -- I mean, I know Stauskas has got the contract coming up, so he’ll -- (laughter) -- he doesn't have to worry about these things. But I’m saying later -- I’m not telling him to leave. (Laughter.) I wasn’t editorializing on that. (Laughter.) My point is we got to make sure that everybody can afford to do things that may not pay huge sums of money but are really valuable to society. And the good news is more young people are earning college degrees than ever before. But we’ve still got to do more work to rein in tuition costs. I talked to your president about this. And we got to help more students who are trapped by student loan debt -- because this country cannot afford striving young people to be priced out of a higher education. Everybody has got to be able to afford it. (Applause.) Finally, opportunity means rewarding the hard work of every American -- not just some Americans, every American. That means making sure that folks are paid equal for doing equal work. (Applause.) I do not want my daughters paid less than somebody else’s sons for doing the same job. (Applause.) It means making sure that there are decent benefits and, at minimum, that every American has access to quality, affordable health insurance. It means paychecks and wages that allow you to support a family. All of which brings me back to this issue of the minimum wage, giving America a raise. Now, raising the minimum wage is not going to solve all of our economic challenges. The majority of folks who are working get paid more than the minimum wage. As Americans we understand that some people will earn more than others. But here’s one thing we do believe: Nobody who works full-time should be raising their family in poverty, right? (Applause.) If you’re working, if you’re responsible, you should be able to pay the rent, pay the bills. (Applause.) But that's what’s happening right now. All across the country, you can work full-time on the minimum wage and still be in poverty. And that’s why, in the year since I first asked Congress to raise the minimum wage, we’ve seen six states on their own pass laws to raise their minimum wage. Last week, Connecticut became the first state in the country to raise its minimum wage to $10.10 an hour. (Applause.) Congratulations, Connecticut. You’ve got more states and counties and cities that are working to raise their minimum wage as we speak. That includes your state legislators from Ann Arbor -- Adam Zemke and Jeff Irwin -- who are trying to raise it here in Michigan. (Applause.) We’re proud of them. Stand up, guys. Come on. There they are. (Applause.) See, I used to be in the state legislature, so I was kind of partial to -- (laughter.) But raising wages is not just a job for organizers, it’s not just a job for elected officials, it’s also a job for business. It was here in Michigan 100 years ago that Henry Ford announced he was doubling his workers’ wages. And at the time, some of his fellow business leaders thought he had lost his mind. But Henry Ford understood it was going to be good for business. Not only did it boost productivity, not only did it reduce turnover, not only did it make employees more loyal to the company, but it meant that the workers could afford to buy the cars that they were building. (Applause.) So you were building -- so by paying your workers more, you were building your own market for your products. And hugely successful companies today, like Costco, they take the same approach. And it’s not just big businesses; small businesses, too. In my State of the Union address, I called on more business leaders to boost their employees’ wages, give them a fair wage. And since then, you’ve seen businesses across the country -- small ones, like an ice cream parlor in Florida, to a marketing agency in Georgia, to a pizzeria in St. Louis -- they’ve all said, you know what, this is the right thing to do. Recently, the Gap decided to raise its base wages, and that benefited about 65,000 workers in the United States -- and it led me to go shopping at Gap. (Laughter and applause.) Some of you may have seen the very attractive sweaters that I purchased for my daughters. (Laughter.) They have not worn them yet, so if they’re listening, make me feel good, just wear it one time. (Laughter.) Now, Zingerman’s does not have as many workers as the Gap, obviously, but they try to do right by each and every one of them. You’ve got some big businesses who go to Washington to lobby for special treatment for themselves. So one of Zingerman’s owners, Paul Saginaw, flew to D.C. to lobby for his workers, to lobby for better treatment for workers through a higher minimum wage. (Applause.) That’s the kind of folks who are running Zingerman’s. Then afterwards, he held a sandwich summit here in Ann Arbor to help build support for Michigan’s minimum wage going up. And Paul’s point is simple: Fair wages and higher profits are not mutually exclusive; they can go hand-in-hand. That’s what Henry Ford understood. And Paul opened Zingerman’s doors 32 years ago last month so he knows a little bit about business. But he and business owners like him believe higher wages are good for the bottom line. I happen to believe the same thing. So I decided several months ago that the federal government should follow their lead. And so I issued an executive order that requires federal contractors, folks who are doing business with the government, to pay their employees on new contracts a fair wage of at least $10.10 an hour. It’s the right thing to do. (Applause.) And I’m determined to do my part to lift wages, improve take-home pay any way I can. My attitude is if you cook our troops’ meals, you wash their dishes, your country should pay you a living wage. (Applause.) Now, here’s the challenge. What Zingerman’s can do on its own, what even I can do as the head of the executive branch of the federal government, that doesn’t reach everybody. If we’re going to do right by our fellow Americans, we need Congress to get onboard. (Applause.) We’ve got to have Congress to get onboard. We’ve got to have state legislators to get onboard. (Applause.) Because even though we’re bringing manufacturing jobs back to America, we’re creating more good-paying jobs in education and health care and business services, there are always going to be folks who do critical work, who bust their tails every day -- airport workers, restaurant workers, and hospital workers, and retail salespeople -- who deserve an honest day’s pay for an honest day’s work. They’re doing necessary jobs -- they should be able to make a living. So right now there is a bill before Congress that would boost America’s minimum wage to $10.10 an hour. It’s easy to remember: 10-10. 10-10. Passing this bill would not just raise wages for minimum-wage workers; it would help lift wages for nearly 28 million Americans, including nearly a million people right here in Michigan. It would lift millions of people out of poverty right away. It would help millions more work their way out of poverty right away. (Applause.) It wouldn’t require any new taxes. It doesn’t require new spending. It doesn’t require new bureaucracy. But what it would do is help those families and give businesses more customers with more money to spend. And it would help grow the economy for everybody. So you would think this would be a no-brainer. Politically, you’d think that folks would be rushing to do this. Nearly three in four Americans support raising the minimum wage -- nearly three in four. Here’s the problem. Republicans in Congress -- not Republicans out in America, because some of them get paid the minimum wage, so they want to see it raised -- Republicans in Congress don’t want to vote to raise it at all. In fact, some want to just scrap the minimum wage. One House Republican said, “It’s outlived its usefulness.” AUDIENCE: Booo -- THE PRESIDENT: No, that’s what he said. AUDIENCE PARTICIPANT: Booo -- THE PRESIDENT: Don’t boo, organize. (Applause.) That’s what you need to do, because they may not hear the boos, but they can read a petition and they can see votes. (Applause.) You’ve got some Republicans saying we shouldn’t raise the minimum wage because -- they said this -- because, well, it just helps young people. Now, first of all, I think it’s pretty good to help young people. (Applause.) I don’t know what’s wrong with helping young people. Folks who say that, next thing you know they’ll say, “Get off my lawn.” (Laughter.) I think it’s okay to help young people. But the fact is most people who would benefit from a higher minimum wage are not teenagers taking on their first job. The average age of folks getting paid the minimum wage is 35. A majority of lower-wage jobs are held by women. Many of them work full-time, often to support a family. And, by the way, what’s wrong with helping young people get ahead? (Laughter.) Mira puts herself through college on a base wage of less than $3 an hour, because she’s working in a restaurant. She works hard -- she does. So we should be making it easier for your generation to gain a foothold on the ladder of opportunity. We shouldn’t be making it harder. Now, the truth is the Republicans’ refusal so far to raise the minimum wage is pretty consistent with their general worldview -- (laughter) -- which says -- it says basically you’re on your own; government doesn’t have a role to play in making sure that the marketplace is working for everybody. Just yesterday, Republicans in Congress put forward a budget for the country that I believe would shrink opportunity for your generation. It starts by giving a massive tax cut to households making more than $1 million a year, the very folks who’ve benefited the most over the last 20 years from this economy that is benefiting people at the top. Then, so they don’t blow a hole in the deficit, they’d have to raise taxes on middle-class families with kids. Then they’d force deep cuts to the investments that help our economy grow, like research and clean energy, and investments in middle-class families, like education and job training. When they put these budgets together, usually they don’t tell you exactly what they’d cut because they know you wouldn’t like it, so you have to kind of do the math. But compared to my budget, if they cut everything evenly in the amount that they’re talking about, within a few years about 170,000 kids would get cut from early childhood education. About 200,000 new moms and children would get cut off from the programs that help them to get healthy food. Funding for 21,000 special education teachers would be cut off. And if they wanted to make smaller cuts in any of these -- in any one of these areas, they’d have to make bigger cuts in others. It even cuts Pell grants, which makes it harder for students to pay for a college education. Now, to give them credit, they do have one original idea, which is to repeal Obamacare -- (laughter) -- because they haven’t tried that 50 times. (Applause.) Fifty times they’ve tried to do that. (Laughter.) So that means they would take away health coverage not only for more than 7 million Americans who’ve done the responsible thing, signed up, bought health care for themselves and their families, but for the 3 million young adults who’ve been able to stay on their parents’ plan under this law. What I just told you about being able to stay on your parent’s plan -- the Republicans don’t like that. And their budget guts the rules we put in place to protect middle-class families from another financial crisis like the one that we’ve endured. So if this all sounds familiar, it should be familiar because it was their economic plan in the 2012 campaign, it was their economic plan in 2010. It’s like that movie Groundhog Day -- (laughter) -- except it’s not funny. (Applause.) If they tried to sell this sandwich at Zingerman’s, they’d have to call it the Stinkburger, or the Meanwich. (Laughter and applause.) Look, here’s the truth. They’re not necessarily cold-hearted, they just sincerely believe that if we give more tax breaks to a fortunate few and we invest less in the middle class, and we reduce or eliminate the safety net for the poor and the sick, and we cut food stamps, and we cut Medicaid, and we let banks and polluters and credit card companies and insurers do only what’s best for their bottom line without the responsibility to the rest of us, then somehow the economy will boom, and jobs and prosperity will trickle down to everybody. And when I say it that way, I know it sounds like I’m exaggerating -- except I’m not. This is their theory. They’re pretty unabashed about it. And it’s not a new theory. They’ve held it for decades, through good times and bad. They were making the same argument against FDR when he was setting up Social Security. And, look, it does create opportunity for a handful of people who are already doing really, really well. But we believe in opportunity for everybody. More good jobs for everybody. More workers to fill those jobs. (Applause.) A world-class education for everybody. Hard work that pays off with wages you can live on and savings you can retire on and health care you can count on. That’s what “opportunity for all” means. (Applause.) That’s what it means. Now, next week, members of Congress have a fresh chance to show which side they’re on. They’re going to get a yes or no vote on raising the minimum wage all across this country. And they’ve got to make a clear choice: Talk the talk about valuing hardworking families, or walk the walk and actually value hardworking families. (Applause.) You’ve got a choice. You can give America the shaft, or you can give it a raise. (Applause.) Here in Michigan, your Senators, Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow -- (applause) -- your Representatives, John Dingell and John Conyers and Gary Peters, they are already onboard. But every American deserves to know where their elected representatives stand on this choice. So those of you -- if you’re going back home for spring break or something or -- did that already happen, spring break? AUDIENCE: Yes! THE PRESIDENT: I’m sorry. (Laughter.) Everybody is all, aw, yeah. (Laughter.) Well, I hope you had a good time. (Laughter.) But if you have the chance to talk to a congressman who’s not supporting it, you need to ask him, do you support raising the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour? If they say yes, then you should say thank you -- (laughter) -- because elected officials do not hear that very often. When they do the right thing, you should reward them. AUDIENCE MEMBER: Thank you, President Obama! THE PRESIDENT: You’re welcome. Thank you. Thank you. (Applause.) Now, if they say no, you shouldn’t yell at them. Be polite. Ask them why not. Ask them to reconsider. Tell them to join the rest of the country. For once, instead of just saying no, say yes. It’s time for $10.10. It’s time to give America a raise. And as I’m looking out at all of you I’m reminded, four years ago I had the privilege of delivering the commencement address at the university, over in the big stadium. (Applause.) And I said our democracy, it's always been noisy, it’s always been messy. We have big arguments. But in the end, we’ve always had the ability to look past our differences and our disagreements and forge a common future. And we’ve got common values -- hard work, responsibility, pursuing your individual dreams. What the argument is right now about is whether we also affirm the values that make sure we’ve giving everybody a chance; making sure our fellow citizens can also pursue their dreams; that we’re not just looking out for ourselves all the time, but we’re also looking out for the person next to you. That's also what America is about. That's what we have to do again. We’ve got more jobs to create. We’ve got more kids to educate. We’ve got more clean energy to create. (Applause.) We’ve got more troops to bring home. We got more veterans to care for. We got an immigration system we got to fix. (Applause.) We got to build a middle class. We got to give opportunity for everybody who strives for it. We got to make sure everybody -- black, white, Latino, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, with or without a disability, folks in the inner city, folks outside the borders of the city -- everybody has got a chance. (Applause.) America is a place for everybody. That's what we’re fighting for. That's what I need you to go out there and talk about. (Applause.) Thank you. God bless you. God bless America. (Applause.) White House Press Office
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Vice President ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 1, 2014 Readout of the Vice President’s Meeting with Business Executives from Information Technology Companies As part of the Administration’s ongoing efforts to help Americans obtain the skills they need to acquire good middle class jobs, Vice President Biden dropped by a meeting today with a group of business executives from leading information technology companies. The Vice President highlighted the importance of making sure our training efforts teach skills that are in demand by employers. He also encouraged the participants to expand initiatives that have proven successful, including partnerships between companies and community colleges to teach workers new skills. The group discussed how increasing the availability of on-the-job training opportunities -- like apprenticeships – can help Americans find employment and ultimately widen the aperture into the middle class. The Vice President is working with private companies, non-profit organizations, federal agencies, education institutions, state and local leaders, and others across the country to make the workforce and training system more job-driven, integrated, and effective. REMINDER TO RSVP: First Lady Michelle Obama, School Children, and Foodcorps Leaders to Plant Sixth Annual White House Kitchen Garden
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the First Lady FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Monday, March 31, 2014 FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA, SCHOOL CHILDREN, AND FOODCORPS LEADERS TO PLANT SIXTH ANNUAL WHITE HOUSE KITCHEN GARDEN Washington, DC—On Wednesday, April 2, 2014 at 3:30 PM ET, First Lady Michelle Obama will join FoodCorps leaders and local students to plant the White House Kitchen Garden for the sixth year in a row. In 2009, Mrs. Obama planted a vegetable garden on the South Lawn to initiate a national conversation around the health and wellbeing of our nation—a conversation that evolved into her Let’s Move! initiative. Since Mrs. Obama launched Let’s Move! in 2010, parents, business leaders, educators, elected officials, military leaders, chefs, physicians, athletes, childcare providers, community and faith leaders, and kids themselves have stepped up to improve the health of our nation’s children. And thanks to these efforts, we are moving toward a healthier new norm all across the country. This year, Mrs. Obama is inviting the founders of FoodCorps and six FoodCorps service members to join her at the garden planting. FoodCorps is part of the AmeriCorps Service Network. This nationwide program is dedicated to teaching children about healthy food, how it grows, and where it comes from, and ensuring they have access to these foods each and every day. Serving under the direction of state and community partners, FoodCorps members across the country dedicate a year of public service to help children grow up in healthy school food environments. This fall, FoodCorps plans to serve local DC schools, Cleveland Elementary School, Friendship Public Charter School, and Kimball Elementary School—students from these schools will also be attending the garden planting. In addition, Mrs. Obama will be joined in the garden by students from Bancroft Elementary School and Harriet Tubman Elementary School, who have been active participants in the White House Kitchen Garden. The following FoodCorps service members will attend the garden planting:
Statement by the President on the Confirmation of Maria Contreras-Sweet to Lead the Small Business Administration
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 27, 2014 Statement by the President on the Confirmation of Maria Contreras-Sweet to Lead the Small Business Administration With the bipartisan confirmation of Maria Contreras-Sweet as the next Administrator of the Small Business Administration, the American people will have a fierce champion who understands what it means to start a small business, and who has a proven track record of helping other small businesses succeed. As the founder of ProAmérica Bank, Maria helped provide loans to small businesses that needed them, especially within the Latino community. Maria also served the citizens of California as Secretary of Business, Transportation, and Housing, becoming the first Latina cabinet secretary in California history and playing a critical role in ensuring that entrepreneurs and small business owners across her state had access to the capital they needed to start and grow their businesses. As we work to keep our economy growing, Maria will be charged with looking for more ways to support small businesses. Two years ago I elevated the role of Small Business Administrator to a cabinet-level position to make sure small businesses have the seat at the table they deserve. I’m confident that as the newest member of my cabinet, Maria will to do an outstanding job as she working with me, with America’s small business owners, and with my entire Administration to increase economic growth and expand opportunity for all. 2:00 PM CET/9:00 AM ET TODAY: Senior Administration Officials to Hold Background Call on the Bulk Telephone Metadata Program
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary For Immediate Release March 27, 2014 2:00 PM CET/9:00 AM ET TODAY: Senior Administration Officials to Hold Background Call on the Bulk Telephone Metadata Program WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Thursday, March 27, at 2:00 PM CET/9:00 AM ET, Senior Administration Officials will hold a conference call on background for reporters on the bulk telephone metadata program. WHO: Senior Administration Officials WHAT: Background Call for Reporters on Bulk Telephone Metadat WHEN: Thursday, March 27, 2014 9:00 AM ET RSVP: Media from the U.S., and international media should dial and ask for the “White House call.” Travel pool addendum - Papal Gift
President Barack Obama presented His Holiness Pope Francis with a custom-made seed chest featuring a variety of fruit and vegetable seeds used in the White House Garden. Earlier this month, Pope Francis made the historic announcement that he would open to the public the gardens of the papal summer residence, the Apostolic Palace of Castel Gandolfo. The chest is made from American leather, and features reclaimed wood from the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which is one of the oldest Catholic cathedrals built in the United States. The Basilica’s cornerstone was laid by John Carroll, a Jesuit and the first Catholic bishop and archbishop in the United States. The Cathedral was designed by Benjamin Latrobe, who was selected by President Thomas Jefferson to serve as an Architect of the Capitol, and played a pivotal role in its design and construction. The inscription on the chest reads: Presented to His Holiness Pope Francis by Barack Obama President of the United States of America March 27, 2014 In keeping with the spirit of the gift, Thomas Jefferson's Monticello will donate seeds that will yield several tons of produce to a charity of Pope Francis’ choosing. CORRECTED: Readout of the President’s Audience with His Holiness Pope Francis
CORRECTED: Below please find corrected excerpts with a typo fixed: The President said “elusive peace” not “illusive peace.” THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 27, 2014 Readout of the President’s Audience with His Holiness Pope Francis Excerpts of the President’s remarks on his meeting with His Holiness Pope Francis are below, from a press conference: Q Mr. President, in your meeting with His Holiness, Pope Francis, did he register any objections with you about the contraception coverage mandate in the Affordable Care Act or your efforts to advance the rights of gays and lesbians in the United States that worry so many Catholics? And what were his concerns? And on Russia, with reports of troops building on the Ukrainian border, by taking the military option off the table are you sending a signal to Vladimir Putin that other parts of Ukraine are his for the taking? And why not send multinational peacekeepers to the Ukrainian border as a deterrent? And to you, Mr. Prime Minister, the President said yesterday that the U.S. would defend any NATO ally. Are you making that same commitment when it comes to Russia? PRESIDENT OBAMA: In terms of the meeting with His Holiness, Pope Francis, we had a wide-ranging discussion. I would say that the largest bulk of the time was discussing two central concerns of his. One is the issues of the poor, the marginalized, those without opportunity, and growing inequality. And those of us as politicians have the task of trying to come up with policies to address issues, but His Holiness has the capacity to open people’s eyes and make sure they’re seeing that this is an issue. And he’s discussed in the past I think the dangers of indifference or cynicism when it comes to our ability to reach out to those less fortunate or those locked out of opportunity. And then we spent a lot of time talking about the challenges of conflict and how elusive peace is around the world. There was some specific focus on the Middle East where His Holiness has a deep interest in the Israeli-Palestinian issue, but also what’s happening in Syria, what’s happening in Lebanon, and the potential persecution of Christians. And I reaffirmed that it is central to U.S. foreign policy that we protect the interests of religious minorities around the world. But we also touched on regions like Latin America, where there’s been tremendous progress in many countries, but there’s been less progress in others. I think the theme that stitched our conversation together was a belief that in politics and in life the quality of empathy, the ability to stand in somebody else’s shoes and to care for someone even if they don't look like you or talk like you or share your philosophy -- that that's critical. It’s the lack of empathy that makes it very easy for us to plunge into wars. It's the lack of empathy that allows us to ignore the homeless on the streets. And obviously central to my Christian faith is a belief in treating others as I’d have them treat me. And what’s I think created so much love and excitement for His Holiness has been that he seems to live this, and shows that joy continuously. In terms of domestic issues, the two issues that we touched on -- other than the fact that I invited and urged him to come to the United States, telling him that people would be overjoyed to see him -- was immigration reform. And as someone who came from Latin America, I think he is very mindful of the plight of so many immigrants who are wonderful people, working hard, making contribution, many of their children are U.S. citizens, and yet they still live in the shadows, in many cases have been deported and are separated from families. I described to him how I felt that there was still an opportunity for us to make this right and get a law passed. And he actually did not touch in detail on the Affordable Care Act. In my meeting with the Secretary of State, Cardinal Parolin, we discussed briefly the issue of making sure that conscience and religious freedom was observed in the context of applying the law. And I explained to him that most religious organizations are entirely exempt. Religiously affiliated hospitals or universities or NGOs simply have to attest that they have a religious objection, in which case they are not required to provide contraception although that employees of theirs who choose are able to obtain it through the insurance company. And I pledged to continue to dialogue with the U.S. Conference of Bishops to make sure that we can strike the right balance, making sure that not only everybody has health care but families, and women in particular, are able to enjoy the kind of health care coverage that the AC offers, but that religious freedom is still observed. … Q Mr. President, I just want to follow up on Jim’s question on your meeting with the Pope today. Do you think some of the schisms that he referenced on social issues would stand in the way of you and Pope Francis collaborating or forming a strategic alliance to tackle income inequality? PRESIDENT OBAMA: First of all, I just want to make clear -- maybe it wasn’t clear from my answer to Jim -- that we actually didn’t talk a whole lot about social schisms in my conversations with His Holiness. In fact, that really was not a topic of conversation. I think His Holiness and the Vatican have been clear about their position on a range of issues, some of them I differ with, most I heartily agree with. And I don’t think that His Holiness envisions entering into a partnership or a coalition with any political figure on any issue. His job is a little more elevated. We’re down on the ground dealing with the often profane, and he’s dealing with higher powers. I do think that there is a potential convergence between what policymakers need to be thinking about and what he’s talking about. I think he is shining a spotlight on an area that’s going to be of increasing concern, and that is reduced opportunities for more and more people, particularly young people -- who, by the way, have more and more access to seeing what’s out there and what’s possible because they have access to the Internet or they have access to other media, and they see the inequality and they see themselves being locked out in ways that weren’t true before. And that’s true internationally, not just within countries. And so, for him to say that we need to think about this, we need to focus on this, we need to come up with policies that provide a good education for every child and good nutrition for every child, and decent shelter and opportunity and jobs -- he is not going to get into details of it, but he reminds us of what our moral and ethical obligations are. It happens also to be good economics and good national security policy. Countries are more stable, they’re going to grow faster when everybody has a chance, not just when a few have a chance. So he’s, hopefully, creating an environment in which those of us who care about this are able to talk about it more effectively. And we are in many ways following not just his lead but the teachings of Jesus Christ and other religions that care deeply about the least of these. Fact Sheet: The Administration’s Proposal for Ending the Section 215 Bulk Telephony Metadata Program
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 27, 2014 Fact Sheet: The Administration’s Proposal for Ending the Section 215 Bulk Telephony Metadata Program On January 17, 2014, President Obama gave a speech at the Department of Justice on his Administration’s review of certain intelligence activities. During this speech, he ordered a transition that would end the Section 215 bulk telephony metadata program as it previously existed and establish a new mechanism to preserve the capabilities we need without the government holding this bulk metadata. The President made clear that he was ordering this transition to give the public greater confidence that their privacy is appropriately protected, while maintaining the tools our intelligence and law enforcement agencies need to keep us safe. This fact sheet describes the steps the Administration has taken to implement this transition, details the President’s proposal for a new program to replace the Section 215 program, and outlines the steps the Administration will be taking in the near future to realize the President’s vision. Ending the Section 215 Bulk Telephony Metadata Program as it Existed On January 17, 2014, the President directed the first step in the transition of the Section 215 program; that the Department of Justice (DOJ) to seek to modify the program to ensure that: · Absent an emergency situation, the government can query the telephony metadata collected pursuant to the program only after a judge approves the use of specific numbers for such queries based on national security concerns; and · The results of any query are limited to metadata within two hops of the selection term being used, instead of three. On February 5, 2014, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC) approved the government’s request to modify the program. The President’s Proposal to Replace the Section 215 Program For the second step in the transition, the President instructed the Attorney General and the Intelligence Community (IC) to develop options for a new program that could match the capabilities and fill the gaps that the Section 215 metadata program was designed to address without the government holding the bulk telephony metadata records. The President further instructed the Attorney General and the IC to report back to him with options for alternative approaches before the program comes up for reauthorization by the FISC on March 28th. Consistent with this directive, DOJ and the IC developed options designed to meet the criteria the President laid out in his speech -- to preserve the capabilities we need without the government holding this metadata. The Administration has also consulted with Congress, the private sector, privacy and civil liberties groups, and other interested groups. On the basis of these consultations, and after having carefully considered the available options, the President has decided on a proposal that will, with the passage of appropriate legislation, allow the government to end bulk collection of telephony metadata records under Section 215, while ensuring that the government has access to the information it needs to meet its national security requirements. Under the President’s proposal, a new program would be created with the following key attributes: · the government will not collect these telephone records in bulk; rather, the records would remain at the telephone companies for the length of time they currently do today; · absent an emergency situation, the government would obtain the records only pursuant to individual orders from the FISC approving the use of specific numbers for such queries, if a judge agrees based on national security concerns; · the records provided to the government in response to queries would only be within two hops of the selection term being used, and the government’s handling of any records it acquires will be governed by minimization procedures approved by the FISC; · the court-approved numbers could be used to query the data over a limited period of time without returning to the FISC for approval, and the production of records would be ongoing and prospective; and · the companies would be compelled by court order to provide technical assistance to ensure that the records can be queried and that results are transmitted to the government in a usable format and in a timely manner. The President believes that this approach will best ensure that we have the information we need to meet our intelligence requirements while enhancing public confidence in the manner in which this information is collected and held. The Path Forward Legislation will be needed to implement the President’s proposal. The Administration has been in consultation with congressional leadership and members of the Intelligence and Judiciary Committees on this important issue throughout the last year, and we look forward to continuing to work with Congress to pass a bill that achieves the goals the President has put forward. Given that this legislation will not be in place by March 28 and given the importance of maintaining the capabilities in question, the President has directed DOJ to seek from the FISC a 90-day reauthorization of the existing program, which includes the substantial modifications in effect since February. Statement by the President on the Section 215 Bulk Metadata Program
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 27, 2014 Statement by the President on the Section 215 Bulk Metadata Program Earlier this year in a speech at the Department of Justice, I announced a transition that would end the Section 215 bulk telephony metadata program as it previously existed and that we would establish a mechanism to preserve the capabilities we need without the government holding this bulk metadata. I did so to give the public greater confidence that their privacy is appropriately protected, while maintaining the tools our intelligence and law enforcement agencies need to keep us safe. In that January 17 speech, I ordered that a transition away from the prior program would proceed in two steps. In addition to directing immediate changes to the program, I also directed the Intelligence Community and the Attorney General to use this transition period to develop options for a new approach to match the capabilities and fill gaps that the Section 215 program was designed to address without the government holding this metadata. I instructed them to report back to me with options for alternative approaches before the program comes up for reauthorization on March 28th. As part of this process, we consulted with the Congress, the private sector, and privacy and civil liberties groups, and developed a number of alternative approaches. Having carefully considered the available options, I have decided that the best path forward is that the government should not collect or hold this data in bulk. Instead, the data should remain at the telephone companies for the length of time it currently does today. The government would obtain the data pursuant to individual orders from the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC) approving the use of specific numbers for such queries, if a judge agrees based on national security concerns. Legislation will be needed to permit the government to obtain this information with the speed and in the manner that will be required to make this approach workable. I believe this approach will best ensure that we have the information we need to meet our intelligence needs while enhancing public confidence in the manner in which the information is collected and held. My team has been in touch with key Congressional leadership -- including from the Judiciary and Intelligence Committees -- and we are committed to working with them to see legislation passed as soon as possible. Given that this legislation will not be in place by March 28 and given the importance of maintaining this capability, I have directed the Department of Justice to seek a 90-day reauthorization of the existing program including the modifications I directed in January. I am confident that this approach can provide our intelligence and law enforcement professionals the information they need to keep us safe while addressing the legitimate privacy concerns that have been raised. Readout of the President’s Audience with Best Selling Author His Holiness Pope Francis
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 27, 2014 Readout of the President’s Audience with His Holiness Pope Francis Excerpts of the President’s remarks on his meeting with His Holiness Pope Francis are below, from a press conference: Q Mr. President, in your meeting with His Holiness, Pope Francis, did he register any objections with you about the contraception coverage mandate in the Affordable Care Act or your efforts to advance the rights of gays and lesbians in the United States that worry so many Catholics? And what were his concerns? And on Russia, with reports of troops building on the Ukrainian border, by taking the military option off the table are you sending a signal to Vladimir Putin that other parts of Ukraine are his for the taking? And why not send multinational peacekeepers to the Ukrainian border as a deterrent? And to you, Mr. Prime Minister, the President said yesterday that the U.S. would defend any NATO ally. Are you making that same commitment when it comes to Russia? PRESIDENT OBAMA: In terms of the meeting with His Holiness, Pope Francis, we had a wide-ranging discussion. I would say that the largest bulk of the time was discussing two central concerns of his. One is the issues of the poor, the marginalized, those without opportunity, and growing inequality. And those of us as politicians have the task of trying to come up with policies to address issues, but His Holiness has the capacity to open people’s eyes and make sure they’re seeing that this is an issue. And he’s discussed in the past I think the dangers of indifference or cynicism when it comes to our ability to reach out to those less fortunate or those locked out of opportunity. And then we spent a lot of time talking about the challenges of conflict and how illusive peace is around the world. There was some specific focus on the Middle East where His Holiness has a deep interest in the Israeli-Palestinian issue, but also what’s happening in Syria, what’s happening in Lebanon, and the potential persecution of Christians. And I reaffirmed that it is central to U.S. foreign policy that we protect the interests of religious minorities around the world. But we also touched on regions like Latin America, where there’s been tremendous progress in many countries, but there’s been less progress in others. I think the theme that stitched our conversation together was a belief that in politics and in life the quality of empathy, the ability to stand in somebody else’s shoes and to care for someone even if they don't look like you or talk like you or share your philosophy -- that that's critical. It’s the lack of empathy that makes it very easy for us to plunge into wars. It's the lack of empathy that allows us to ignore the homeless on the streets. And obviously central to my Christian faith is a belief in treating others as I’d have them treat me. And what’s I think created so much love and excitement for His Holiness has been that he seems to live this, and shows that joy continuously. In terms of domestic issues, the two issues that we touched on -- other than the fact that I invited and urged him to come to the United States, telling him that people would be overjoyed to see him -- was immigration reform. And as someone who came from Latin America, I think he is very mindful of the plight of so many immigrants who are wonderful people, working hard, making contribution, many of their children are U.S. citizens, and yet they still live in the shadows, in many cases have been deported and are separated from families. I described to him how I felt that there was still an opportunity for us to make this right and get a law passed. And he actually did not touch in detail on the Affordable Care Act. In my meeting with the Secretary of State, Cardinal Parolin, we discussed briefly the issue of making sure that conscience and religious freedom was observed in the context of applying the law. And I explained to him that most religious organizations are entirely exempt. Religiously affiliated hospitals or universities or NGOs simply have to attest that they have a religious objection, in which case they are not required to provide contraception although that employees of theirs who choose are able to obtain it through the insurance company. And I pledged to continue to dialogue with the U.S. Conference of Bishops to make sure that we can strike the right balance, making sure that not only everybody has health care but families, and women in particular, are able to enjoy the kind of health care coverage that the AC offers, but that religious freedom is still observed. … Q Mr. President, I just want to follow up on Jim’s question on your meeting with the Pope today. Do you think some of the schisms that he referenced on social issues would stand in the way of you and Pope Francis collaborating or forming a strategic alliance to tackle income inequality? PRESIDENT OBAMA: First of all, I just want to make clear -- maybe it wasn’t clear from my answer to Jim -- that we actually didn’t talk a whole lot about social schisms in my conversations with His Holiness. In fact, that really was not a topic of conversation. I think His Holiness and the Vatican have been clear about their position on a range of issues, some of them I differ with, most I heartily agree with. And I don’t think that His Holiness envisions entering into a partnership or a coalition with any political figure on any issue. His job is a little more elevated. We’re down on the ground dealing with the often profane, and he’s dealing with higher powers. I do think that there is a potential convergence between what policymakers need to be thinking about and what he’s talking about. I think he is shining a spotlight on an area that’s going to be of increasing concern, and that is reduced opportunities for more and more people, particularly young people -- who, by the way, have more and more access to seeing what’s out there and what’s possible because they have access to the Internet or they have access to other media, and they see the inequality and they see themselves being locked out in ways that weren’t true before. And that’s true internationally, not just within countries. And so, for him to say that we need to think about this, we need to focus on this, we need to come up with policies that provide a good education for every child and good nutrition for every child, and decent shelter and opportunity and jobs -- he is not going to get into details of it, but he reminds us of what our moral and ethical obligations are. It happens also to be good economics and good national security policy. Countries are more stable, they’re going to grow faster when everybody has a chance, not just when a few have a chance. So he’s, hopefully, creating an environment in which those of us who care about this are able to talk about it more effectively. And we are in many ways following not just his lead but the teachings of Jesus Christ and other religions that care deeply about the least of these. FIRST LADY's INTERVIEW CITES HER LEGACY OF EDUCATION ACTIVITY AND PERSONAL INSPIRATION
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the First Lady FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 24, 2014 This weekend, Caixin Online published a Q+A with First Lady Michelle Obama about her visit to China from March 19-26, 2014. View Mrs. Obama’s Q+A in English HERE; view Mrs. Obama’s Q+A in Chinese HERE. Excerpts below: Caixin: Why is the main focus of your trip "the power and importance of education," and in what ways do you think this is particularly relevant to China? Michelle Obama: I always tell young people that if they get a good education, then they won't just build a better future for themselves and their families, they'll help build a better world for us all. You see, our world is more interconnected than ever before, and the challenges we face – from combating climate change, to expanding economic opportunity, to confronting the spread of nuclear weapons – know no borders. They cannot be solved by any one person or group in any one country, and soon it will fall to our next generation to confront these challenges together. And a good education – one that helps young people understand the world beyond their borders and engage with people from different cultures – will empower young people in China and in the U.S to come together and ensure that our shared future is peaceful and prosperous. And in order to make those kinds of connections, it's important to ensure that information and ideas flow freely over the Internet and through the media because that's how we learn about each other and it's how we decide which ideas we think are best, by debating them vigorously and deciding for ourselves. My husband and I know from experience that this can be a messy process – we get plenty of questioning and criticism from our media and our fellow citizens – but we wouldn't trade it for anything in the world because time and again we have seen that countries are stronger and more prosperous when the voices of all their citizens can be heard. Your mother, Mrs. Marian Robinson, and daughters, Malia and Sasha, are traveling with you. This represents three different generations of Americans. What kind of message or image do you want to convey to China? Like many Chinese families, at our house, we have three generations under one roof. When my husband was elected president back in 2008, one of the first things I did was ask my mother to come live with us in the White House and help raise our daughters, and I am grateful every day for her presence in our lives. Our family is the center of our world and there are so many families just like ours all across America. Their hard work and devotion to each other help make our country strong every single day. In addition, as you noted, the focus of my trip is the power of education and the importance of students from different cultures engaging with each other and learning from each other. And as I've learned more about China and its people, I've been struck by the tremendous value that Chinese families place on schooling, with parents often making great sacrifices to ensure that their children can get a good education. The story of these families very much mirrors my own family's story. My parents didn't attend university, but they worked tremendously hard and saved every penny so that my brother and I could have that chance. And today, my husband and I are working hard to ensure that every child in America has the same opportunity we did to complete their education and fulfill their potential. So in my family's experience, I hope the people of China see a reflection of the commitment we all share to leave something better for our next generation and to give our children and grandchildren opportunities we never dreamed of for ourselves. What have the four of you done to prepare for your trip? I have received a number of briefings by China experts, and I've been reading about Chinese culture with a particular focus on learning about the Chinese education system. I also had the unique opportunity to visit the Yu Ying School, a public school near the White House. Yu Ying is one of a number of Chinese immersion schools across America where students learn Chinese. I met with sixth graders there – kids who are 11 and 12 years old – and they did a presentation for me about their recent trip to China. They were bursting with excitement, eager to tell me about the places they visited, the foods they ate and the families they stayed with. I also attended a Chinese class composed of three and four year olds, and I have to tell you, it was incredibly moving to see these tiny American children learning about another culture and speaking another language. They even taught me a few key phrases for my trip. Leading up to the trip, my office also reached out to PBS and Discovery, two educational media outlets in America, to establish a platform to share my trip with children across America. During my time in China, I'll be sharing my experiences via Twitter and Instagram, and I'll be posting a daily travel blog complete with photos and videos. I'll be answering questions from students across America, and I'll be sharing the stories of the Chinese students I meet along with interesting facts about China's history and culture. You were unable to meet with Peng Liyuan, President Xi Jinping's wife, last year in California, but I believe you two have kept in touch. Might you be able to speak to what you two have discussed? Madame Peng and I have a number of things in common. We have both worked hard to balance our roles as mothers and professionals, and we both have the great honor of representing our countries when we travel, showcasing the unique cultures and history of the United States and China all around the world. We have also both chosen to work on issues we care about, and Madame Peng's commitment to improving public health in her country and around the world is truly inspiring. A certain American TV series about Washington politics is a big hit among Chinese viewers, and many of those viewers are getting their primary impression of the president and first lady from said series. What is the real American first lady's life like? I hate to disappoint people, but real life in the White House is nothing like what you see in that television show. In real life, everyone in the White House – my husband and I and every member of our extraordinary staff – is there for one reason: because we love our country and want to serve it. And that's what we focus on every day: how to give more Americans a chance to fulfill their dreams, to get a good education, get a good job to support their families, and so much more. You've been first lady for six years now, and have successfully led projects like the White House Kitchen Garden and Let's Move! for solving childhood obesity. What have you learned from these experiences about the power of the first lady's role? I've learned that as first lady, I have the opportunity to bring attention to vitally important issues that affect so many people in my country. And I've learned that there are so many committed individuals, organizations and businesses that are eager to step up and help if we just ask. For example, through our initiative to combat childhood obesity, schools, businesses and non-profit organizations are working hard every day to provide children with healthier food and more opportunities to exercise. I have also learned the power of my story and my husband's story to inspire young people who come from very humble backgrounds like ours. Education has been a key focus of my husband's administration, and in support of his efforts, I recently launched a new initiative to inspire more young people to pursue their education beyond high school. And when I talk to young people, I often use our stories as an example, and I tell them that it doesn't matter where they're from, or what they look like, or how much money their parents have, if they commit to their education and work as hard as they can, there is no limit to what they can achieve. What kind of legacy do you hope to leave at the end of your time as first lady? I very much hope that when my time as first lady ends, America's children will be leading healthier lives and our young people will have more opportunities to get a good education and fulfill their potential. I also hope that I will have left a legacy of truly making the White House "the people's house." My husband and I have worked hard to open up the White House to as many Americans as possible, particularly those who have never had a chance to visit before. We've hosted all kinds of cultural and artistic events, and we always make a special effort to invite young people to participate, particularly young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. Pool Report panda base chengdu March 26 First Lady's Trip To China
(Panda Cubs Are A China Brand Strategy) Pool arrived Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. Walked through groves of bamboo, cool misty morning, pink blossom trees, birds chirping. Shut to the public for Obama visit. Cameras and reporters lined up about ten feet back from low wood fence, pit for five pandas and their bamboo shoots below the fence.. FLOTUS and family walked past cameras (no. Hello, no good morning) to the fence and peered at pandas for 15 minutes. Director of base, Zhang Zhilhe, talked to them. Pool swept away and taken down sidewalk to other side of base.FLOTUS and family taken to panda nursery, according to base staff, but no sighting of nursery or what happened there. According to base staff, at the pit FLOTUS and family were looking at LiLi, a 22 year old grandmother and five young pandas. Pool now waiting in vans at panda base to move to Tibetan restaurant. See White House briefing note sent this morning for bakckground on panda base. § Chengdu has been the ancestral homeland to giant pandas since ancient times. This natural habitat reserve is home to nearly 80 giant pandas, as well as a colony of red pandas. Over the course of 20 years the Chengdu Panda Base has become one of the major research bases purposed with implementing for endangered wild animals. § The Chengdu facility focuses on research and panda breeding efforts. Breeding was established in March 1987 with the mission to further the research and conservation carried out by the Chengdu Zoo. Over the course of 20 years the Chengdu Panda Base has become one of the major research bases purposed with implementing for endangered wild animals. With a population of less than 2000, the giant panda species is included on the endangered list and is protected by China’s Wildlife Protective Law as a special-class protected animal. § Pandas have played a leading role in a custom known as “Panda Diplomacy.” Since the 1950s, China has given pandas to various countries as a way to build relationships and connections. § In 1972, China gave a pair of pandas to the people of the United States when former First Lady Pat Nixon told the Chinese Premier how much she enjoyed seeing the pandas on a trip to China. The National Zoo has been a welcoming home for pandas since then. § On August 23, 2013, Mei Xiang gave birth to a panda cub at the National Zoo. After an online contest, First Lady Michelle Obama and Madame Peng both announced via video the cub’s name, Bao Bao – “treasure.” FACT SHEET: Bilateral Relations between the United States and Belgium
FACT SHEET: Bilateral Relations between the United States and Belgium Belgium is a valued and reliable NATO ally, and our countries have enjoyed strong bonds of friendship and close cooperation since 1832. Our long-standing ties are based on shared values, and the United States and Belgium work together across the globe to promote security, human rights, and prosperity for all. Standing Together For Generations Belgians and Americans have fought side by side and paid the ultimate sacrifice to defend freedom and liberty for generations, including during the fifth Battle of Ypres in 1918, during World War I, and the Battle of the Bulge in 1944-1945, during World War II. When World War I brought famine to Belgium, ordinary Americans led by future U.S. president Herbert Hoover, sent food and medical aid that help saved millions from starvation, and after World War I, the United States assisted with Belgium’s recovery. After World War II, Belgium participated in the Marshall Plan, which helped to restore Europe’s post-war economy. On September 12, 2001, Belgium joined with our NATO Allies to invoke Article 5 of the NATO Treaty – a powerful statement of solidarity with the United States. Strengthening Shared Security At Home and Abroad The United States and Belgium are founding members of the NATO Alliance; as allies, we have a shared responsibility for advancing our shared security. Belgium hosts the NATO Headquarters and Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, NATO’s Strategic Command for operations. Belgium is also a key contributor to NATO operations, such as its participation in NATO’s Operation Unified Protector in Libya in 2011. Belgium has made important contributions to the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) mission in Afghanistan, and has pledged to support Afghanistan during its post-2014 transition. Belgium also contributes to key capabilities initiatives. It has provided three rotations to Baltic Air Policing operations and pledged a fourth. U.S. and Belgian humanitarian and development efforts in Africa and the Middle East are complementary, and serve to promote stability and security for the region’s inhabitants. Belgium also has provided much-needed emergency airlift assistance during international crises, which the United States values. Through its participation in EU and NATO counter-piracy operations, its demining mission in UNIFIL in Lebanon, contributions to the United Nation’s MONUSCO peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the EU Training Mission in Mali, Belgium is demonstrating its commitment to advancing human rights and promoting peace and security in some of the most challenging environments around the world. The United States and Belgium share a mutual interest in creating safe communities in the United States, Belgium, and elsewhere by cooperating on counterterrorism and countering violent extremism. Ongoing consultations and visits by senior U.S. and Belgian counterparts reinforce the high level of law enforcement and judicial cooperation between the two countries. The Belgian government collaborates closely with the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol on the Container Screening Initiative and with the Department of Energy on the Megaports Initiative to ensure dangerous cargo and nuclear fissile material are not smuggled through Belgian ports. Belgium and the United States announced at the 2014 Nuclear Security Summit that they have jointly completed the removal of a significant amount of excess highly enriched uranium (HEU) and separated plutonium from Belgium, as part of their commitment to reduce the risks of nuclear terrorism. Enhancing Economic and Commercial Ties The United States and Belgium have deep, reliable, and longstanding economic and commercial ties. In 2013, the United States exported nearly $32 billion worth of goods to Belgium; around 50 percent of U.S. exports to Belgium transit to the rest of Europe. In 2013, Belgian exports to the United States totaled $19 billion, including precious stones/metals, mineral fuel/oil, pharmaceuticals, transport equipment, and machinery. The United States and Belgium are also significant investment partners. Belgium is the 9th largest investor in the United States with $88.7 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI) on a historical cost basis. In 2011, U.S. subsidiaries of Belgian-owned firms employed some 160,000 U.S. workers, invested $246 million in research and development in the United States, and contributed nearly $3.4 billion to U.S. goods exported. FDI flows from Belgium to the United States reached $11.9 billion in 2012. The U.S. FDI position in Belgium stood at $53.8 billion in 2012. Belgian affiliates of U.S. firms employed approximately 138,100 people as of 2011. Thirteen representatives of Belgian businesses and trade organizations attended the SelectUSA conference in October 2013, which the President addressed. The United States seeks to strengthen economic cooperation with Belgium even further, and the negotiation of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (T-TIP) presents an opportunity to further expand this relationship, creating more jobs and greater prosperity for Americans and Belgians alike – especially as foreign trade represents 65 percent of Belgium’s gross domestic product (GDP). Today, more than 13 million jobs on both sides of the Atlantic are already supported by U.S.-EU trade, and it is estimated that such an agreement would increase exports by tens of billions of dollars and support hundreds of thousands of additional jobs. It would also build a lasting foundation for our efforts to promote growth and the global economic recovery and serve as a powerful demonstration of our determination to shape a free, open, and rules-based world and create new opportunities for small and medium sized firms that are engines of growth across the world. Partnering through educational and cultural programs Belgian and U.S. universities partner on a variety of activities, and the Fulbright program supports 50 students and scholars from Belgium annually. In 2013, 894 Belgian students were enrolled in U.S. institutions of higher education, and 1,300 Americans studied in universities in Belgium. Cultural bonds formed through immigration and solidified after the wars of the early 20th century, and they continue to be strengthened through education, travel, and tourism today. FACT SHEET: U.S.-EU Cyber Cooperation
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 26, 2014 FACT SHEET: U.S.-EU Cyber Cooperation The United States and the European Union work in close coordination on cyber-related issues both bilaterally and in multilateral fora. This cooperation is founded on our shared values, our interest in an open and interoperable Internet, and our commitment to multistakeholder Internet governance, Internet freedom, and protecting human rights in cyberspace. International cyberspace developments are central to our broader foreign and security policy, and are key elements of our strategic partnership. U.S.-EU Cyber Dialogue The new high-level U.S.-EU Cyber Dialogue announced at the 2014 U.S.-EU Summit will formalize and broaden our cooperation on cyber issues, building on shared commitments and achievements in key areas. This strategic dialogue will be the platform for close U.S.-EU coordination on: · International cyberspace developments; · Promotion and protection of human rights online; · International security issues, such as norms of behavior in cyberspace, cyber security confidence building measures, and application of existing international law; and · Cybersecurity capacity building in third countries. U.S.-EU Working Group on Cybersecurity and Cybercrime Established in the context of the 2010 Lisbon U.S.-EU Summit, this Working Group serves as a framework for U.S.-EU collaboration to enhance cybersecurity and cybercrime activities and contribute to countering global cybersecurity threats. The Working Group focuses on four areas where cooperative approaches add significant value to both regions: cyber incident management, public-private partnership on critical infrastructure cybersecurity, cybersecurity awareness raising, and cybercrime. Since its creation, the Working Group has successfully conducted a transatlantic cyber exercise, organized information exchanges on national and regional cyber exercises, developed public-private workshops on industrial control systems, and jointly promoted National Cyber Awareness Month in the U.S. and Europe, among other activities. The Working Group continues to focus on incident management and response, awareness raising, critical infrastructure protection, combatting botnets, promoting the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime, and enhancing the security of domain names and Internet Protocol addresses. The Working Group played a central role in the December 2012 launch of the Global Alliance against Child Sexual Abuse Online, a coalition of over 50 countries that have come together to actively combat, reduce, and prosecute child sexual abuse and exploitation online. The U.S. will take over the chairmanship of the Global Alliance in 2014, and plans are underway for a follow on conference later this year. Information Society Dialogue (ISD) The ISD ensures the coordination of an on-going working relationship between the USG and EU on important communication and information policy issues. ISD discussions typically include overarching issues such as internet governance, as well as a specific focus on cross-border data flows/cloud computing, data protection/data privacy, wireless spectrum management, broadband rollout, research and development cooperation, and 3rd-country market access issues. EU-US Summit: Joint Statement
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 26, 2014 EU-US Summit: Joint Statement 1. We, the leaders of the European Union and the United States, met today in Brussels to reaffirm our strong partnership. We reaffirmed our shared values of democracy, individual freedom, the rule of law and human rights, and a common commitment to open societies and economies. Starting from those values, the European Union and the United States work together every day to address issues of vital interest and importance to our citizens and the world. We strive to create jobs and sustainable growth through sound economic policies. We seek a landmark Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership to build our common prosperity. We undertake joint efforts to build security and stability around the globe and to tackle pressing global challenges like climate change. Today, we took stock of our achievements, set priorities and charted the way ahead for a stronger transatlantic relationship, and rededicated ourselves to building a safer, more prosperous world for future generations. 2. Today in Ukraine, the basic principles of international law and security in the 21st century are being challenged. The EU and the United States support the Ukrainian people and their right to choose their own future and remain committed to uphold the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. We strongly condemn the illegal annexation of Crimea to Russia and will not recognise it. We urge Russia to engage in a meaningful dialogue with Ukraine with a view to finding a political solution. Further steps by Russia to destabilise the situation in Ukraine would lead to additional and far reaching consequences for the EU's and United States' relations with Russia in a broad range of economic areas. The EU and the United States stand by the Ukrainian government in its efforts to stabilise Ukraine and undertake reforms, including through assistance. We welcome the Ukrainian government's commitment to ensure that governmental structures are inclusive and reflect regional diversity and to provide full protection of the rights of persons belonging to national minorities. 3. Reinforcing economic growth and job creation remains central. The EU and the United States have taken important steps to stabilize financial conditions and overcome the crisis. The EU remains committed to building a deep and genuine economic and monetary union, including a banking union on which significant progress has already been made. Determined action by the EU and the United States is vital to support the recovery in the short run and to promote sustainable and balanced growth, to boost competiveness and to reduce unemployment, especially of young people. 4. We commit to continue our efforts through the G-20 to promote strong, sustainable and balanced growth across the global economy by developing comprehensive growth strategies for the Brisbane Summit. We aim at implementing the G-20 commitments to create a more stable financial system. Fiscal sustainability in advanced economies remains critical for a stronger and sustainable recovery. We also welcome the ambitious G-20 agenda to fight tax evasion. 5. Today we reaffirmed our commitment to conclude expeditiously a comprehensive and ambitious Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) that will strengthen an economic partnership that already accounts for nearly half of global output and supports three-quarters of a trillion euros in bilateral trade, and almost 3 trillion euros in investment, and 13 million jobs on both sides of the Atlantic. We commit ourselves to conducting these negotiations with clarity and in a manner that builds support among our publics. The United States and the EU continue to share the same goals spelled out in the February 2013 Final Report of the High Level Working Group on Jobs and Growth. These goals include expanding access to each other’s markets for goods, services, investment, and procurement; increasing regulatory compatibility while maintaining the high levels of health, safety, labour and environmental protection our citizens expect of us; and formulating joint approaches to rules that address global trade challenges of common concern. A high-standard TTIP agreement will make us more competitive globally, and boost economic and jobs growth, including for small and medium-sized enterprises. 6. Even as we undertake this joint endeavour, we underscore the importance of the World Trade Organization and the timely implementation of the outcome of the 9th Ministerial Conference in December 2013, including the Trade Facilitation Agreement. We call on other negotiating partners to contribute to the prompt conclusion of a balanced and commercially significant expansion of the Information Technology Agreement (ITA) by offering commitments reflecting the high level of ambition shown by the EU and the US. We also reaffirm our commitment to achieving an ambitious Trade in Services Agreement (TiSA), which should further advance services liberalisation and regulatory disciplines. 7. Sustainable economic growth will only be possible if we tackle climate change, which is also a risk to global security. We therefore reaffirm our strong determination to work towards the adoption in Paris in 2015 of a protocol, another legal instrument or an agreed outcome with legal force under the Convention applicable to all Parties, to strengthen the multilateral, rules-based regime. The 2015 agreement must be consistent with science and with the goal of limiting the global temperature increase to below 2°C, and should therefore include ambitious mitigation contributions, notably from the world’s major economies and other significant emitters. We are implementing our existing pledges and preparing new mitigation contributions for the first quarter of 2015, mindful of the importance of ensuring that mitigation contributions are transparent, quantifiable, verifiable and ambitious. The EU and the United States demonstrate leadership and are intensifying their cooperation, including: phasing out fossil fuel subsidies, phasing down the production and consumption of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) under the Montreal Protocol, in promoting sustainable energy, energy efficiency and renewable energy, fighting deforestation, and mobilizing private and public finance. We are committed to ambitious domestic action to limit HFC use and emissions. 8. Together with several other WTO members, we have pledged to prepare the launch of WTO negotiations on liberalising trade in environmental goods, which will make an important contribution to tackling key environmental challenges as part of our broader agenda to address green growth, climate change and sustainable development. We are convinced this can make a real contribution to both the global trading system and the fight against climate change, and can complement our bilateral trade talks. 9. Energy is a key component in the transition to a competitive low-carbon economy and achieving long-term sustainable economic development. The EU-US Energy Council fosters cooperation on energy security, regulatory frameworks that encourage the efficient and sustainable use of energy, and joint research priorities that promote safe and sustainable energy technologies. The situation in Ukraine proves the need to reinforce energy security in Europe and we are considering new collaborative efforts to achieve this goal. We welcome the prospect of U.S. LNG exports in the future since additional global supplies will benefit Europe and other strategic partners. We agree on the importance of redoubling transatlantic efforts to support European energy security to further diversify energy sources and suppliers and to allow for reverse natural gas flows to Ukraine from its EU neighbours. We are working together to foster competitive, transparent, secure and sustainable international energy markets. We remain committed to close cooperation on energy research and innovation in areas including energy efficiency, smart and resilient energy grids and storage, advanced materials including critical materials for safe and sustainable energy supply, nuclear energy and interoperability of standards for electric vehicle and smart grid technologies. This commitment extends to the promotion of related policies that encourage commercial deployment of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies, notably in power generation and transportation. We agree to strengthen knowledge-sharing on carbon capture and storage, and on the sustainable development of unconventional energy resources. 10. We commit to expand cooperation in research, innovation and new emerging technologies, and protection of intellectual property rights as strong drivers for increased trade and future economic growth. Our collaboration in the space domain also contributes to growth and global security, including on an International Code of Conduct for Outer Space Activities. We will combine wherever possible our efforts as we did in the Transatlantic Ocean Research Alliance and through the GPS/Galileo agreement. The Transatlantic Economic Council will continue its work to improve cooperation in emerging sectors, specifically e-mobility, e-health and new activities under the Innovation Action Partnership. 11. We reaffirm our commitment to complete secure visa-free travel arrangements between the United States and all EU Member States as soon as possible and consistent with applicable domestic legislation. 12. The transatlantic digital economy is integral to our economic growth, trade and innovation. Cross border data flows are critical to our economic vitality, and to our law enforcement and counterterrorism efforts. We affirm the need to promote data protection, privacy and free speech in the digital era while ensuring the security of our citizens. This is essential for trust in the online environment. 13. We have made considerable progress on a wide range of transnational security issues. We cooperate against terrorism in accordance with respect for human rights. Agreements such as the Passenger Name Record and Terrorist Finance Tracking Programme that prevent terrorism while respecting privacy are critical tools in our transatlantic cooperation. We will strengthen our coordination efforts to prevent and counter violent extremism. We will continue looking for appropriate mechanisms to counter the threats posed by fighters departing to Syria and other unstable regions, who return home where they may recruit new fighters, plan and conduct terrorist operations. We also work to address the threats posed by activities of groups contributing to instability in these regions. We welcome our increasingly close cooperation in building the capacity of partner countries to counter terrorism and violent extremism within a framework of rule of law, particularly in the Sahel, Maghreb, Horn of Africa region and Pakistan. We pledge to deepen and broaden this cooperation through the United Nations, the Global Counterterrorism Forum, and other relevant channels. We have also decided to expedite and enhance cooperation on threats directly affecting the security of EU and US diplomatic staff and facilities abroad. 14. Data protection and privacy are to remain an important part of our dialogue. We recall the steps already taken, including the EU-U.S. ad hoc Working Group, and take note of the European Commission Communication of 27 November 2013 and President Obama's speech and Policy Directive of 17 January 2014. We will take further steps in this regard. We are committed to expedite negotiations of a meaningful and comprehensive data protection umbrella agreement for data exchanges in the field of police and judicial cooperation in criminal matters, including terrorism. We reaffirm our commitment in these negotiations to work to resolve the remaining issues, including judicial redress. By ensuring a high level of protection of personal data for citizens on both sides of the Atlantic, this agreement will facilitate transfers of data in this area. The United States and the EU will also boost effectiveness of the Mutual Legal Assistance Agreement – a key channel of cooperation in the digital era. In addition, we are committed to strengthening the Safe Harbour Framework in a comprehensive manner by summer 2014, to ensure data protection and enable trade through increased transparency, effective enforcement and legal certainty when data is transferred for commercial purposes. 15. The Internet has become a key global infrastructure. We share a commitment to a universal, open, secure, and reliable Internet, based on an inclusive, effective, and transparent multi-stakeholder model of governance. As such, we reaffirm that human rights apply equally online and offline, and we endeavour to strengthen and improve this model while working towards the further globalisation of core Internet institutions with the full involvement of all stakeholders. We look forward to the transition of key Internet domain name functions to the global multi-stakeholder community based on an acceptable proposal that has the community's broad support. We acknowledge the good expert-level cooperation developed in the framework of the EU-US Working Group on Cyber Security and Cybercrime. We commend the political success of our joint initiative to launch a Global Alliance against Child Sexual Abuse Online, as the EU prepares to hand over the lead to the United States, and we decide to tackle jointly the issue of transnational child sex offenders. We reiterate our support for the Budapest Convention on cybercrime, and encourage its ratification and implementation. Building on all these achievements and guided by shared values, we have today decided to launch a comprehensive EU-US cyber dialogue to strengthen and further our cooperation including on various cyber-related foreign policy issues. 16. The EU and the United States have significantly strengthened and intensified their cooperation on foreign and security policy. We will continue jointly to support the promotion, protection and observance of human rights and the rule of law, democratic transition, inclusive political processes, economic modernisation and social inclusion around the globe. 17. In the Western Balkans, and with the aim of enhancing regional stability, the EU facilitated the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, leading to progress in the normalisation of relations, notably thanks to the April 2013 agreement. We share our deep concern at the current political and economic stalemate in Bosnia and Herzegovina and stand ready to assist the country in bringing it closer to European and Euro-Atlantic structures. 18. We support the ongoing process of political association and economic integration of interested Eastern Partnership countries with the EU, an expression of the partner countries' free choice. The Association Agreements, including their Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Areas, have the potential to support far-reaching political and socio-economic reforms leading to societies strongly rooted in European values and principles and to the creation of an economic area that can contribute to sustainable growth and jobs, thereby enhancing stability in the region. We support the democratic path of the Eastern European partners, the resolution of protracted conflicts and fostering economic modernisation, notably with regard to Georgia and the Republic of Moldova, which are moving closer to signing their respective Association Agreements with the EU. 19. In the EU's southern neighbourhood, we are coordinating closely to assist countries in transition in North Africa, including the worrying situation in Egypt. We welcome the adoption of a new constitution respectful of human rights and fundamental freedoms in Tunisia, following an inclusive national dialogue. As agreed earlier this month in Rome, we also aim to intensify coordinated assistance to Libya, a country facing significant challenges to its democratic transition and stability. 20. We have undertaken joint intensive diplomatic efforts through the E3/EU+3 to seek a negotiated solution that resolves the international community's concerns regarding the Iranian nuclear programme. The strong and credible efforts of the E3/EU+3 that resulted in agreement last November on a Joint Plan of Action, are widely supported by the international community. Efforts must now focus on producing a comprehensive and final settlement. The E3/EU+3 talks in February in Vienna resulted in an understanding on the key issues that need to be resolved, and in a timetable for negotiations over the next few months. We will continue to make every effort to ensure a successful outcome. We also jointly urge Iran to improve its human rights situation and to work more closely with the United Nations and international community to this end. 21. We fully support ongoing efforts to reach a peace agreement in the Middle East. We stand ready to contribute substantially to ensure its implementation and sustainability. The EU has offered an unprecedented package of political, economic and security support to the Palestinians and Israelis in the context of a final status agreement. The current negotiations present a unique opportunity to achieve a two state solution to the conflict; this chance must not be missed. But for the negotiations to succeed, actions that undermine them and diminish the trust between the negotiation partners must be avoided and both sides must take bold decisions to reach a compromise. 22. The Geneva negotiation process is crucial for achieving a genuine political transition in Syria. The onus is on the Syrian regime to engage constructively with the process and take part in meaningful negotiations towards political transition as set out in the Geneva Communique. Any elections in Syria should only take place within this framework. We will continue promoting efforts to alleviate the suffering of civilians; including the 6.5 million people displaced, more than half of them children, at risk of becoming a lost generation. We commend Syria's neighbours for hosting 2.5 million refugees and recall the need to maintain sufficient assistance. We demand all parties, in particular the Syrian regime, allow unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid and medical care country-wide and across borders and including areas under siege, in full compliance with UN Security Council Resolution 2139. We are concerned that there are delays in the transfer process of chemical weapons out of Syria, and we urge Syria to comply with its obligations under UN Security Council Resolution 2118 and the decisions of the OPCW Executive Council to verifiably eliminate its chemical weapons program in the shortest time possible. We will also continue, through the UN human rights bodies, to press for an end to and accountability for the grave human rights abuses and serious violations of international humanitarian law in Syria. 23. We stress the importance of the upcoming elections as an historic opportunity to further enhance democratic transition, stabilisation and development in Afghanistan, and recall the need to protect human rights gains, in particular for women and girls, and to conclude solid security arrangements, including the Bilateral Security Agreement. Continued progress on the commitments of the Tokyo Mutual Accountability Framework will be needed to maintain high levels of international support after 2014. We also recall the importance of regional cooperation, notably the Heart of Asia initiative and the New Silk Road, as a means to promote security, stability and development in the region, and agreed to discuss this also in the context of our dialogue on Central Asia. 24. We are deepening our cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region to support efforts to preserve peace, ensure stability, and promote prosperity. We work together to encourage and support democratic and economic transformation, including in Myanmar/Burma. We support ASEAN and its central role in establishing strong and effective multilateral security structures, and we will continue to play an active and constructive role in the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF). We underline our support for a regional architecture that is supported by shared rules and norms and that encourages cooperation, addresses shared concerns, and helps resolve disputes peacefully. In this context, we recognise the EU's experience in regional integration and institution building, and welcome greater EU engagement with the region’s institutions and fora. 25. Mindful that a maritime regime based on international law has contributed to the region's impressive economic growth, we reaffirm our commitment to the freedom of navigation and lawful uses of the sea. We call on parties to avoid taking unilateral action to change the status quo and increase tensions in the region. In the East China Sea, we support calls for diplomacy and crisis management procedures in order to avoid miscalculations or accidents. In the South China Sea, we urge ASEAN and China to accelerate progress on a meaningful code of conduct. We reiterate our calls on all parties to take confidence building measures and to settle conflicts without threat or use of force and by diplomatic means in accordance with international law, including UNCLOS. 26. We call on the DPRK to comply fully, unconditionally, and without delay with its denuclearization commitments under the 2005 Joint Statement of the Six-Party Talks and its international obligations, including as set out in relevant UN Security Council Resolutions in order to work towards lasting peace and security. We demand that the DPRK abandon all its existing nuclear and ballistic missile programmes in a complete, verifiable, and irreversible manner and return to the NPT and IAEA Safeguards. We also remain gravely concerned with the human rights and humanitarian situation in the DPRK. While we welcome the meetings of separated families, which should continue, and inter-Korean high-level meetings, we urge the DPRK to address all the concerns of the international community, including over its systematic, widespread, and grave human rights violations, as recently documented by the UN Commission of Inquiry. 27. We commit to work with all partners to agree an ambitious post-2015 development agenda, anchored in a single set of clear, measurable, and universally applicable goals. That agenda should address the inter-linked challenges of poverty eradication and sustainable development, including climate change; deliver on the unfinished business of the Millennium Development Goals; invest in health, food security, nutrition and education; advance the sustainable management of natural resources, sustainable energy and water management, and inclusive and sustainable growth; promote peaceful and safe societies, open and accountable governance, the rule of law, gender equality and empowerment of women, girls and persons of disabilities, and human rights for all; and revitalize a global partnership for development. We underscore the central imperative of poverty eradication and sustainable development in the interrelated economic, social and environmental dimensions. We are committed to freeing humanity from poverty and hunger as a matter of urgency. 28. Building on the progress made through the EU-U.S. Development Dialogue, we will continue to utilize this forum to pursue cooperation and a division of labour to build resilience and address food insecurity. Attention should also be given to universal access to sustainable energy in Africa and other underserved regions, through public and private investment, and appropriate investment security. We agree to coordinate further our support to the UN Energy for All initiative and our interventions under the United States' Power Africa initiative and the Africa-EU Energy Partnership, with a view to formalizing this collaboration by the creation of a partnership framework. 29. We are the world’s two largest humanitarian donors; providing over 60% of all humanitarian aid worldwide. When we join forces, we maximize our impact, leading to real improvements in the lives of millions of people affected by humanitarian crises, including refugees and other vulnerable persons worldwide. Together, we have used our diplomatic influence to support humanitarian agencies, to strengthen UN led coordination and safely reach millions of people in need of assistance in situations of natural disasters and in Syria, Sudan, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Myanmar/Burma, the Central African Republic, and other places where armed groups have blocked or hampered access. We commit to continue this robust, close, and frequent coordination in areas facing humanitarian crises around the world. 30. Security and development are inextricably linked, we will continue to deepen our dialogue in this regard to frame and undertake complementary and mutually reinforcing action. Working together and with other international, regional and local partners, the EU and the United States strive to put this approach into practice through early warning and prevention, crisis response and management, to early recovery, stabilisation and peacebuilding, in order to help countries to get back on track towards sustainable long-term development. 31. We welcome the EU's efforts to strengthen its Common Security and Defence Policy, particularly the goals articulated at the December 2013 European Council for the EU to contribute more effectively to peace and security, including by working together with key partners such as the United Nations, the United States and NATO, and to ensure the necessary means and a sufficient level of investment to meet the challenges of the future. We will continue working to strengthen fully EU-NATO cooperation, especially in early consultations on crises and emerging security challenges such as maritime, energy, and cyber security, as well as mutual reinforcement in developing Allies’ and Member States’ capabilities. Strong, coherent and mutually beneficial cooperation between the EU and NATO, in compliance with the decision-making autonomy and procedures of each, remains as important as ever, particularly in a time of constrained budgets. 32. We also committed to enhancing practical EU-U.S. security and crisis response management cooperation, particularly in addressing crises in Africa. We work there together with partner states and organisations such as the African Union and the United Nations in diplomatic, political, development, economic, and other areas to promote peace and security. We have worked together in training and supporting the Somali National Security Forces. Naval forces of the United States, NATO, and EU coordinate closely within the international efforts to fight piracy off the Horn of Africa, and the EU has now succeeded the United States as Chair of the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia for 2014. The United States and EU remain deeply concerned about the situations in the Central African Republic and South Sudan, and are supporting African and UN efforts to stabilize these countries. We also agreed that coordination of our efforts across the Sahel and in the Gulf of Guinea and the Great Lakes regions will be important to address the trans-national issues those regions face. Furthermore, we will work respectively with partner states and organizations to assist African partners in building the institutional capacity for conflict management, prevention and peacekeeping, through training and other measures designed to strengthen the resilience of the security sector. 33. We reaffirm our joint commitments on non-proliferation, disarmament and arms control. We stress the importance of compliance with, and strengthening implementation of, the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT), the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), and the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC), and will work closely together on preparations for the 2015 NPT Review Conference and the 2016 BWC Review Conference. We underscore the importance of the timely entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) and support to the CTBTO Preparatory Commission. We recall our continued interest in the commencement of negotiations on a treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices and look forward to the work of the United Nations Group of Government Experts established to make recommendations on possible aspects that could contribute to such a treaty. We welcome implementation of the New START Treaty, look forward to next steps, and encourage the P5 to continue their important dialogue. We are determined to promote IAEA’s Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement and the Additional Protocol as the universally accepted Safeguards standard. We will work together to achieve the highest standards of safety for peaceful uses of nuclear energy, and of nuclear materials security, including as highlighted at the March 2014 Nuclear Security Summit. We will also work together to promote the entry into force of the Arms Trade Treaty in 2014. FACT SHEET: U.S.-EU Economic Ties That Bind
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 26, 2014 FACT SHEET: U.S.-EU Economic Ties That Bind “America and Europe have done extraordinary things together before. And I believe we can forge an economic alliance as strong as our diplomatic and security alliances.” -President Barack Obama The United States and the European Union (EU) share fundamental values of freedom, democracy, human rights, and respect for law. A robust transatlantic economic relationship undergirds our ability to confront global challenges jointly and to promote global security, development, and prosperity. We work together to boost jobs and growth on both sides of the Atlantic, promote financial stability, advance energy security, and help the EU’s European neighbors integrate into the Euro-Atlantic community. The U.S.-EU Economy The U.S.-EU Economy accounts for about half of global GDP and a third of global trade, with $1 trillion in annual two-way trade. The United States and the EU have the world’s largest investment relationship, with nearly $4 trillion in total transatlantic investments. · The EU is the United States’ largest merchandise and services trade partner. Two-way trade currently supports roughly 13 million jobs on both sides. · EU and U.S. foreign direct investment in each other’s economies directly supports 7 million American and European jobs, and millions more indirectly. Specifically, affiliates of U.S. firms employ about 4.2 million workers in Europe. U.S. direct investments in Europe rose by 6 percent in 2013, totaling an estimated $200 billion, which represents nearly 14 percent of global foreign direct investment inflows of $1.5 trillion. · U.S.-EU flows in research and development are the most intense between any two international partners, with mutual investments exceeding $60 billion annually. Almost 20 U.S. government agencies and research institutions are currently collaborating with the EU on two dozen projects ranging from global food security to developing new therapies to treat cancer. The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (T-TIP) The United States and EU are negotiating an ambitious and comprehensive trade agreement with the goal of significantly expanding our trade and investment, and increasing economic growth and jobs. We want to eliminate tariffs, reduce non-tariff barriers to trade, and increase the compatibility of our regulations and standards without lowering the level of health, safety, and environmental protections our people have come to expect and which they deserve. People-to-People Connections Over 12 million Europeans visited the United States in 2012. Eight of the top twenty countries whose citizens visited the United States in 2012 were EU member states. In the past five years, nearly one million American and EU students have crossed the Atlantic to study. In 2013 alone, more than 18,000 citizens from EU countries came to the United States on special visas for cultural exchange, including physicians, research scholars, teachers, and trainees. These visitors not only broadened their own skills and networks but they contributed to continuing U.S. and EU collaboration in research and development, innovation, and growth. The U.S. government also directly sponsors transatlantic exchanges between rising American and European leaders. DAILY GUIDANCE FOR THE VICE PRESIDENT
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Vice President ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 23, 2014 DAILY GUIDANCE FOR THE VICE PRESIDENT Monday, March 24, 2014 The Vice President will attend meetings at the White House. At 7:00 PM, the Vice President will deliver remarks at the award celebration for the Toner Prize for Excellence in Political Reporting at the Kaiser Family Foundation building in Washington, DC. This event is open press. Remarks by the First Lady at Stanford Center at Peking University
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the First Lady ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release March 22, 2014 REMARKS BY THE FIRST LADY AT STANFORD CENTER AT PEKING UNIVERSITY Beijing, China 11:22 A.M. CST MRS. OBAMA: (Applause.) Thank you. Well, ni-hao. (Laughter.) It is such a pleasure and an honor to be here with all of you at this great university, so thank you so much for having me. Now, before I get started today, on behalf of myself and my husband, I just want to say a few very brief words about Malaysia Airlines Flight 370. As my husband has said, the United States is offering as many resources as possible to assist in the search. And please know that we are keeping all of the families and loved ones of those on this flight in our thoughts and prayers at this very difficult time. Now with that, I want to start by recognizing our new Ambassador to China, Ambassador Baucus; President Wang; Chairman Zhu; Vice President Li; Director Cueller; Professor Oi, and the Stanford Center; President Sexton from New York University, which is an excellent study abroad program in Shanghai; and John Thornton, Director of the Global Leadership Program at Tsinghua University. Thank you all for joining us. But most of all, I want to thank all of the students who are here today. And I particularly want to thank Eric Schaefer and Zhu Xuanhao for that extraordinary English and Chinese introduction. That was a powerful symbol of everything that I want to talk with you about today. See, by learning each other’s languages, and by showing such curiosity and respect for each other’s cultures, Mr. Schafer and Ms. Zhu and all of you are building bridges of understanding that will lead to so much more. And I’m here today because I know that our future depends on connections like these among young people like you across the globe. That’s why when my husband and I travel abroad, we don’t just visit palaces and parliaments and meet with heads of state. We also come to schools like this one to meet with students like you, because we believe that relationships between nations aren’t just about relationships between governments or leaders -- they’re about relationships between people, particularly young people. So we view study abroad programs not just as an educational opportunity for students, but also as a vital part of America’s foreign policy. Through the wonders of modern technology, our world is more connected than ever before. Ideas can cross oceans with the click of a button. Companies can do business and compete with companies across the globe. And we can text, email, Skype with people on every continent. So studying abroad isn’t just a fun way to spend a semester; it is quickly becoming the key to success in our global economy. Because getting ahead in today’s workplaces isn’t just about getting good grades or test scores in school, which are important. It’s also about having real experience with the world beyond your borders –- experience with languages, cultures and societies very different from your own. Or, as the Chinese saying goes: “It is better to travel ten thousand miles than to read ten thousand books.” But let’s be clear, studying abroad is about so much more than improving your own future. It’s also about shaping the future of your countries and of the world we all share. Because when it comes to the defining challenges of our time -– whether it’s climate change or economic opportunity or the spread of nuclear weapons -- these are shared challenges. And no one country can confront them alone. The only way forward is together. That’s why it is so important for young people like you to live and study in each other’s countries, because that’s how you develop that habit of cooperation. You do it by immersing yourself in one another’s culture, by learning each other’s stories, by getting past the stereotypes and misconceptions that too often divide us. That’s how you come to understand how much we all share. That’s how you realize that we all have a stake in each other’s success -- that cures discovered here in Beijing could save lives in America, that clean energy technologies from Silicon Valley in California could improve the environment here in China, that the architecture of an ancient temple in Xi’an could inspire the design of new buildings in Dallas or Detroit. And that’s when the connections you make as classmates or labmates can blossom into something more. That’s what happened when Abigail Coplin became an American Fulbright Scholar here at Peking University. She and her colleagues published papers together in top science journals, and they built research partnerships that lasted long after they returned to their home countries. And Professor Niu Ke from Peking University was a Fulbright Scholarship -- Scholar in the U.S. last year, and he reported -- and this is a quote from him -- he said, “The most memorable experiences were with my American friends.” These lasting bonds represent the true value of studying abroad. And I am thrilled that more and more students are getting this opportunity. As you’ve heard, China is currently the fifth most popular destination for Americans studying abroad, and today, the highest number of exchange students in the U.S. are from China. But still, too many students never have this chance, and some that do are hesitant to take it. They may feel like studying abroad is only for wealthy students or students from certain kinds of universities. Or they may think to themselves, well, that sounds fun but how will it be useful in my life? And believe me, I understand where these young people are coming from because I felt the same way back when I was in college. See, I came from a working-class family, and it never occurred to me to study abroad -- never. My parents didn’t get a chance to attend college, so I was focused on getting into a university, earning my degree so that I could get a good job to support myself and help my family. And I know for a lot of young people like me who are struggling to afford a regular semester of school, paying for plane tickets or living expenses halfway around the world just isn’t possible. And that’s not acceptable, because study abroad shouldn’t just be for students from certain backgrounds. Our hope is to build connections between people of all races and socioeconomic backgrounds, because it is that diversity that truly will change the face of our relationships. So we believe that diversity makes our country vibrant and strong. And our study abroad programs should reflect the true spirit of America to the world. And that’s why when my husband visited China back in 2009, he announced the 100,000 Strong initiative to increase the number and diversity of American students studying in China. And this year, as we mark the 35th anniversary of the normalization of relationships between our two countries, the U.S. government actually supports more American students in China than in any other country in the world. We are sending high school, college and graduate students here to study Chinese. We’re inviting teachers from China to teach Mandarin in American schools. We’re providing free online advising for students in China who want to study in the U.S. And the U.S.-China Fulbright program is still going strong with more than 3,000 alumni. And the private sector is stepping up as well. For example, Steve Schwarzman, who is the head of an American company called Blackstone, is funding a new program at Tsinghua University modeled on the Rhodes Scholarship. And today, students from all kinds of backgrounds are studying here in China. Take the example of Royale Nicholson, who’s from Cleveland, Ohio. She attends New York University’s program in Shanghai. Now, like me, Royale is a first-generation college student. And her mother worked two full-time jobs while her father worked nights to support their family. And of her experience in Shanghai, Royale said -- and this is her quote -- she said, “This city oozes persistence and inspires me to accomplish all that I can.” And happy birthday, Royale. It was her birthday yesterday. (Laughter.) And then there’s Philmon Haile from the University of Washington, whose family came to the U.S. as refugees from Eritrea when he was a child. And of his experience studying in China, he said, “Study abroad is a powerful vehicle for people-to-people exchange as we move into a new era of citizen diplomacy.” “A new era of citizen diplomacy.” I could not have said it better myself, because that’s really what I’m talking about. I am talking about ordinary citizens reaching out to the world. And as I always tell young people back in America, you don’t need to get on a plane to be a citizen diplomat. I tell them that if you have an Internet connection in your home, school, or library, within seconds you can be transported anywhere in the world and meet people on every continent. And that’s why I’m posting a daily travel blog with videos and photos of my experiences here in China, because I want young people in America to be part of this visit. And that’s really the power of technology –- how it can open up the entire world and expose us to ideas and innovations we never could have imagined. And that’s why it’s so important for information and ideas to flow freely over the Internet and through the media, because that’s how we discover the truth. That’s how we learn what’s really happening in our communities and our country and our world. And that’s how we decide which values and ideas we think are best –- by questioning and debating them vigorously, by listening to all sides of an argument, and by judging for ourselves. And believe me, I know how this can be a messy and frustrating process. My husband and I are on the receiving end of plenty of questioning and criticism from our media and our fellow citizens. And it’s not always easy, but we wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world. Because time and again, we have seen that countries are stronger and more prosperous when the voices of and opinions of all their citizens can be heard. And as my husband has said, we respect the uniqueness of other cultures and societies, but when it comes to expressing yourself freely and worshipping as you choose and having open access to information, we believe those universal rights -- they are universal rights that are the birthright of every person on this planet. We believe that all people deserve the opportunity to fulfill their highest potential as I was able to do in the United States. And as you learn about new cultures and form new friendships during your time here in China and in the United States, all of you are the living, breathing embodiment of those values. So I guarantee you that in studying abroad, you’re not just changing your own life, you are changing the lives of everyone you meet. And as the great American President John F. Kennedy once said about foreign students studying in the U.S., he said “I think they teach more than they learn.” And that is just as true of young Americans who study abroad. All of you are America’s best face, and China’s best face, to the world -- you truly are. Every day, you show the world your countries’ energy and creativity and optimism and unwavering belief in the future. And every day, you remind us -- and me in particular -- of just how much we can achieve if we reach across borders, and learn to see ourselves in each other, and confront our shared challenges with shared resolve. So I hope you all will keep seeking these kinds of experiences. And I hope you’ll keep teaching each other, and learning from each other, and building bonds of friendship that will enrich your lives and enrich our world for decades to come. You all have so much to offer, and I cannot wait to see all that you achieve together in the years ahead. Thank you so much. Xie-Xie. (Applause.) END 11:48 A.M. CST INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL GUIDANCE AND PRESS SCHEDULE FOR THE FIRST LADY
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the First Lady FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 22, 2014 INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL GUIDANCE AND PRESS SCHEDULE FOR THE FIRST LADY SATURDAY, MARCH 22, 2014 Beijing, China The First Lady will travel to China from March 19-26, 2014. She will be visiting Beijing from March 20-23, Xi’an on March 24, and Chengdu from March 25-26. Accompanying Mrs. Obama on this trip will be her mother, Mrs. Marian Robinson, and daughters, Malia and Sasha Obama. During the trip to China, as on previous international trips to Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America, the First Lady will be focusing on the power and importance of education, both in her own life and in the lives of young people in both countries. The First Lady is encouraging students and classrooms across the U.S. to follow her trip by signing up for updates throughout the visit. View the First Lady’s message to students here. Press Pool for Virtual Discussion at Peking University Wires: AP, Bloomberg, Reuters Wire Photos: Reuters, AP, AFP TV: AP Print: New York Times, Wall Street Journal Radio: CBS Radio All Times Listed are China Standard Time Beijing, China * 10:00 am—First Lady Michelle Obama delivers remarks to students at the Stanford Center at Peking University. Open press coverage The audience will be comprised of American students studying abroad at Peking University and Chinese students who have studied abroad in the United States. The First Lady will discuss the importance of study abroad and other cultural exchanges as well as the stake our two countries have in one another’s success. Beijing, China * 11:15 am—First Lady Michelle Obama participates in a virtual discussion with American youth. The First Lady will discuss the importance of study abroad and other cultural exchanges. Pooled press coverage Mrs. Obama will highlight the role of technology in enabling students in the United States to connect and collaborate with students around the world. Beijing, China * 1:45pm—First Lady Michelle Obama visits the Summer Palace. Pooled press coverage Beijing, China * 5:45pm—First Lady Michelle Obama meets with staff and families of the United States Embassy in Beijing. Closed press coverage Readout of the President’s meeting with CEOs
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 21, 2014 Readout of the President’s meeting with CEOs Today, the President and senior members of his team met with Executives from several leading U.S. tech companies as part of a continuing dialogue with the private sector, civil society, and others on issues surrounding intelligence, technology and privacy. The President used this opportunity to update the CEOs on our progress in implementing the principles and reforms he announced on January 17, including the new Presidential Directive he issued to govern our intelligence activities that will ensure that we take into account our security requirements, but also our alliances; our trade and investment relationships, including the concerns of our companies; and our commitment to privacy and basic liberties. The President reiterated his Administration’s commitment to taking steps that can give people greater confidence that their rights are being protected while preserving important tools that keep us safe. The President also updated the CEOs on the comprehensive “big data” review being led by John Podesta, which looks at how “big data” will affect the way we live and work; the relationship between government and citizens; and how the public and private sectors can spur innovation and maximize the opportunities and free flow of this information while minimizing the risks to privacy. The following Executives attended: · Reed Hastings, Co-Founder & CEO, Netflix · Drew Houston, Founder & CEO, Dropbox · Dr. Alexander Karp, Founder & CEO, Palantir · Aaron Levie, Co-Founder & CEO, Box · Eric Schmidt, Executive Chairman, Google · Mark Zuckerberg, Founder and CEO, Facebook From the Administration, the following attended: · Secretary of Commerce Pritzker · Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett · Counselor John Podesta · Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism Lisa Monaco · National Economic Council Director Jeff Zients · Deputy Director of the National Security Agency Rick Ledgett Statement by the Press Secretary on Blocking of Twitter in Turkey
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 21, 2014 Statement by the Press Secretary on Blocking of Twitter in Turkey The United States is deeply concerned that the Turkish government has blocked its citizens’ access to basic communication tools. We oppose this restriction on the Turkish people’s access to information, which undermines their ability to exercise freedoms of expression and association and runs contrary to the principles of open governance that are critical to democratic governance and the universal rights that the United States stands for around the world. We have conveyed our serious concern to the Turkish government, urge Turkish authorities to respect the freedom of the press by permitting the independent and unfettered operation of media of all kinds, and support the people of Turkey in their calls to restore full access to the blocked technologies. Presidential Innovation Fellows Round 3: Serve. Create. Innovate. March 6 2014
Today, we are very excited to announce that applications are now being accepted for the third round of the Presidential Innovation Fellows program. This initiative pairs talented, diverse individuals from outside government with top Federal innovators to implement game-changing projects that make the Federal Government work better for the American people. At its core, the Presidential Innovation Fellows Program is as strong as the incredible people that are willing to join this effort and serve their country. That’s why we want the best and brightest individuals—original thinkers, gifted designers, tech-savvy strategists, private-sector doers, inventors, entrepreneurs, and talented developers and engineers—to offer up their skills and expertise to create huge value for the American public. Round 3 will include 14 projects that focus on addressing three high-impact initiatives:
Since the initiative launched two years ago, Presidential Innovation Fellows, along with their government teammates, have been delivering impressive results—at start-up velocity. Fellows have unleashed the power of open government data to spur the creation of new products and jobs; improved the ability of the Federal government to respond effectively to natural disasters; designed pilot projects that make it easier for new economy companies to do business with the Federal Government; and much more. Their impact is enormous. For example, Fellows recently helped expand the Blue Button Initiative, which is helping Americans across the country gain secure, online access to their own healthcare information. Through the work of Fellows and their government teammates, the Blue Button Initiative has expanded its reach to more than 150 million Americans who are today able to use Blue Button-enabled tools to access their own health information from a variety of sources including healthcare providers, health insurance companies, medical labs, and state health information networks. Another recent example of the Fellows in action is their work at the Smithsonian Institute to develop a crowdsourcing platform that allows the public to transcribe handwritten historic documents and records. This kind of innovative approach will not only support important research, but provide an important avenue for the public to help preserve our Nation’s history. In just six months, Fellows developed and launched an end-to-end solution for creating digital records for historic files, which in turn engaged thousands of volunteers who have helped to transcribe and review more than 3,000 historic and scientific records —which are now easily accessible to the public for the first time. Looking ahead, the next round of Presidential Innovation Fellows will continue to build on these successes as well as tackle a new set of challenges. This is an opportunity to truly transform how government works for the people it serves. The work will be challenging, but promises to be tremendously rewarding. The first step is to apply here. We can’t wait to see what the third round of Fellows will do! Todd Park is Assistant to the President and U.S. Chief Technology Officer Dan Tangherlini is Administrator of the U.S. General Services Administration DAILY GUIDANCE AND PRESS SCHEDULE FOR FRIDAY, MARCH 21, 2014
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 20, 2014 DAILY GUIDANCE AND PRESS SCHEDULE FOR FRIDAY, MARCH 21, 2014 In the morning, the President will receive the Presidential Daily Briefing in the Oval Office. This meeting is closed press. In the afternoon, the President will meet with Internet CEOs in the Oval Office. This meeting is closed press. In-Town Travel Pool Wires: AP, Reuters, Bloomberg Wire Photos: AP, Reuters, AFP TV Corr & Crew: ABC Print: Tribune Radio: AP EDT 10:00AM In-Town Pool Call Time 10:30AM THE PRESIDENT receives the Presidential Daily Briefing Oval Office Closed Press 4:05PM THE PRESIDENT meets with Internet CEOs Oval Office Closed Press Briefing Schedule 1:15PM Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jay Carney WHITE HOUSE UPDATING PRIVACY POLICY
We’re updating the White House privacy policy. The new policy will go into effect on April 18, 2014. See the existing privacy policy here. The White House is committed to protecting individual privacy and securing the personal information made available to us when you visit WhiteHouse.gov, use our mobile app, or visit White House pages hosted by other sites (such as our official profiles on social networking sites). This Privacy Policy describes what information is made available to the White House and how that information is used and retained, and provides information on:
Information Received and Retained by White House Online Platforms Information You Give Us You do not have to provide the White House with any personal information or create a user account to access information on WhiteHouse.gov. However, for some services, we may need some personal information from you such as your name, address, telephone number, and email address. For example:
Using the WhiteHouse.gov Mobile Application When you use the WhiteHouse.gov Mobile Application (“App”), the App pulls content from the White House website, generating the same basic information as when you visit WhiteHouse.gov (see Visits to WhiteHouse.gov). The WhiteHouse.gov Mobile App does not collect geolocation information or use location services. You may sign up to receive “push notification” messages via a third party provider (currently Urban Airship). To make sure messages reach the correct devices, our third party provider relies on a device token unique to your mobile device. While we may be able to access a list of the tokens, the App and tokens do not reveal your identity, unique device ID, or contact information to us. If, at any time, you wish to stop receiving push notifications, simply adjust your phone settings or remove the App. The White House receives aggregate data about the use of our App, such as the number of people who have opened the App from a third party provider (currently Google Analytics). We also receive aggregate data from the platforms that distribute our App (currently the iTunes Store and Google Play Store), such as the number of people who download the App and mobile set-up information (e.g., device model, App version, country, language, and mobile carrier). Please consult the privacy policies of these third parties for further information. Email Subscriptions In order to manage White House email subscription lists, we retain the names and email address of our email subscribers, as well as other information they may have shared with us (e.g., addresses and phone numbers), logs of emails we send, and automatically generated email data used to improve our email communications. This automatically generated email data (generated through simple tools such as “pixel tags” and link redirects) includes:
Third-Party Websites The White House maintains official pages or accounts on third-party websites in order to better engage with the American public (a current list is here). Your activity on those sites is governed by the third-party website’s security and privacy policies. Users of third-party sites often share information with the general public, user community, and/or the third-party operating the site. Consequently, you should review the privacy policies of third-party sites before using them and ensure that you understand how your information may be shared and used. You should also adjust privacy settings on your account on any third-party site to match your preferences. For the sole purpose of complying with the Presidential Records Act, the White House archives some information that users submit or publish when engaging with the White House through official White House pages or accounts on third-party websites (e.g., by sending a message, posting a comment, “following,” “friending,” or taking similar actions). This information may contain personal information, such as an individual’s username and other public account information, when such information is available based on the user’s privacy settings and the terms of the site. For example:
How Information is Used Information You Give Us If you choose to provide us with information, we may use that information to contact you, respond to your message or petition, or provide you the information or services you requested. In order to serve you better, we may analyze multiple sources of data you have provided (for example, to look up whether you previously contacted the White House about the same topic so that we do not send you a duplicative response). We may also use messages or comments collected through White House.gov or official social media pages for our own purposes, such as to inform policy decisions or in public advocacy. We may use data you provide and automatically generated data for statistical analysis to assess, for example, what information is of interest to users, technical design specifications, and system performance. This allows us to make general improvements to our site as well as to offer tailored content to email subscribers (e.g., a follow-up message to subscribers interested in a specific topic based on information they have provided or automatically generated data). Sharing of this Information Information you choose to share with the White House (directly and via third party sites) may be treated as public information. We may, for example, publish compilations of messages or comments collected through WhiteHouse.gov or official social media pages and provide them to national leaders, members of the press, or other individuals outside of the Federal Government. And the We the People API allows public access to some We the People signature data. However, we exercise discretion to limit such disclosures to protect your privacy (for example, we generally do not publish last names of commenters). The White House uses a third-party analytics provider (currently Google Analytics) to analyze data from cookies. The third-party analytics provider does not receive personally identifiable information through these cookies and is prohibited from combining, matching or cross-referencing WhiteHouse.gov information with any other information. We have also limited the provider’s ability to see your full IP address (a process known as “IP masking”). Please review Google Analytics’ privacy policy for additional information. Within the White House, we restrict access to personally identifiable information to employees, contractors, and vendors subject to non-disclosure requirements who require access to this information in order to perform their official duties and exercise controls to limit what data they can view based on the specific needs of their position. In some cases, we may share information you have provided or automatically generated information with other government agencies in response to lawful law enforcement requests or to protect WhiteHouse.gov from security threats. Additionally, if you seek assistance on a matter within the jurisdiction of a federal agency, we may share your information with that agency for the limited purpose of addressing your request for assistance. We do not use or share your information for commercial purposes and, except as described above, we do not exchange or otherwise disclose this information. Data Retention Under the Presidential Records Act (PRA), we are generally required to retain information until the end of the current Administration, at which time it will be transferred to the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). NARA may eventually release this material to the public, but will withhold any information that would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy if released. Access to this information may be requested under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) five years after the end of the current Administration. NARA or the White House may choose to dispose of information lacking in historical value through procedures under the PRA. The White House currently disposes of certain information under those procedures:
White House Pages on Third-Party Websites Your activity on those sites (a current list is here) is governed by the third-party website’s security and privacy policies. The White House has conducted and published a Privacy Impact Assessment of Third-Party Sites, which includes more information about these issues and can be accessed here. White House Content Embedded in Third-Party Sites In some instances, a third-party website may feature embedded White House content served by WhiteHouse.gov. For example, other websites might embed the WhiteHouse.gov’s “Taxpayer Receipt” calculator. The embedded WhiteHouse.gov content automatically generates White House server logs (see Visits to WhiteHouse.gov) and may set a White House cookie (see Cookies). Children and Privacy on WhiteHouse.gov We believe in the importance of protecting the privacy of children online. The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) governs information gathered online from or about children under the age of 13. Verifiable consent from a child’s parent or guardian is required before collecting, using, or disclosing personal information from a child under age 13. Our site is not intended to solicit information of any kind from children under age 13. If you believe that we have received information from or about children under age 13, please contact us through the Privacy Feedback form. Security We take reasonable precautions to protect our site and information automatically collected by WhiteHouse.gov or voluntarily submitted to WhiteHouse.gov or an official White House page on a third-party site. For example, we restrict access to personally identifiable information to employees, contractors, and vendors subject to non-disclosure requirements who require access to this information in order to perform their official duties and exercise controls to limit what data they can view based on the specific needs of their position. Access to official White House accounts on third-party sites is limited to the individuals who administer those accounts, and all official White House accounts are clearly labeled. We also utilize commonly used practices and technical controls to protect the information in our possession or control, along with WhiteHouse.gov itself. These practices and controls include, but are not limited to: encrypting the transfer of personal information over the internet via Secure Sockets Layer (SSL), using high-strength firewalls and intrusion detection systems (IDS) to safeguard personal information, and maintaining strict technical controls and procedures to ensure the integrity of all data on WhiteHouse.gov. We periodically review our processes and systems to verify compliance with industry best practices and to ensure the highest level of security for our website. Updates to This Privacy Policy We will revise or update this policy from time to time. If we make significant changes to how we handle personal information, we will post changes to the policy on our site and change the date at the bottom. We will provide additional notice in advance (e.g., a disclaimer on our website or an email to subscribers) if material changes are being made. This new policy will go into effect on April 18, 2014. Previous version(s) of this policy may be accessed on the archive page. Glossary Internet Protocol (IP): A computer’s IP address establishes its location on the internet and allows other computers, such as those hosting WhiteHouse.gov, to send it content and other information. Go back up to the term in use. Domain name: For example, “xcompany.com” if you use a private Internet access account, or “yourschool.edu” if you are connecting from a university’s domain. Go back up to the term in use. Cookies: A small piece of data sent from a website and stored in a user's web browser while the user is browsing that website. Go back up to the term in use. Device token: A unique string used to identify devices. Go back up to the term in use. Email client: The email client is the program used to access and manage a user's email (e.g., Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo!). Go back up to the term in use. WhiteHouse.gov PRIVACY IMPACT ASSESSMENT FOR USE OF THIRD PARTY-WEBSIDES AND APPLICATIONS
CURRENT WHITE HOUSE THIRD PARTY PAGES
Below is the current list of public-facing White House accounts on third-party websites. The new policy will go into effect on April 18, 2014. The White House may use non-public accounts for testing and other internal uses. Social Networks Site Accounts AMightRiver.com (privacy policy) The White House Facebook (privacy policy) The White House Let's Move Joining Forces Educate to Innovate Race to the Top White House Live application Foursquare (privacy policy) The White House GitHub (privacy policy) The White House Google+ (privacy policy) The White House iHispano.com (privacy policy) The White House LinkedIn (privacy policy) The White House Group MySpace (privacy policy) The White House Quora (privacy policy) Aneesh Chopra (deactivated) Kori Schulman Macon Phillips Todd Park SoundCloud (privacy policy) White House Thunderclap (privacy policy) White House Tumblr (privacy policy) The Official White House Tumblr What Has Obamacare Done for Me Lately? Twitter (privacy policy) @WhiteHouse The Administration @VP @FLOTUS @DrBiden White House Initiatives @JoiningForces @LetsMove Other @Blog44 @LaCasaBlanca @ProjectMyUSA @WethePeople @WHLive @WHVideo @WHVine @WHWeb White House Staff @AmbassadorRice @Bobby44 @Brundage44 @Cabinet @Cecilia44 @DavidAgnew44 @Erin44 @HealthCareTara @Inouye44 @JEarnest44 @JesseCLee44 @Jordan44 @Katie44 @KS44 @JPalm44 @Lehrich44 @Lubin44 @Maley44 @NSCPress @PAniskoff44 @PeteSouza @Pfeiffer44 @Podesta44 @PressSec @Racusen44 @Rhodes44 @Rosholm44 @Schultz44 @Simas44 @Utech44 @Vargas44 @VJ44 Video and Multimedia Site Flickr (privacy policy) Accounts The White House Let’s Move Hulu (privacy policy) Inside the White House Music and the Arts President Obama's Weekly Address Speeches of President Obama West Wing Week White House White Board Instagram (privacy policy) The White House First Lady Michelle Obama Pete Souza iTunes (privacy policy) White House Podcasts Pinterest (privacy policy) The White House UStream (privacy policy) The White House Vine (privacy policy) @WhiteHouse @WHVine Vimeo (privacy policy) The White House YouTube (privacy policy) The White House Let’s Move Document Sharing Site Avue (privacy policy) Accounts The White House Internship Program Scribd (privacy policy) The White House SlideShare (privacy policy) The White House Socrata (privacy policy) The White House USTIR
Israel Removed From Special 301 Report Washington, DC –United States Trade Representative Michael Froman announced today that Israel is being removed from the Special 301 Report Watch List. Israel will no longer be listed in the Special 301 Report, which identifies trading partners that do not adequately and effectively protect intellectual property rights. Israel has passed patent legislation that satisfies the remaining commitments Israel made in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) both countries signed in 2010. The MOU outlined a series of legal and regulatory measures Israel would take to make Israel’s patent system more transparent, efficient and effective. USTR moved Israel from the Priority Watch List to the Watch List in September 2012, based on progress made under the same MOU. “We welcome Israel’s improvement to its patent system and the opportunity to remove Israel from the Special 301 Report Watch List.” Ambassador Froman said. “The successful conclusion of this Understanding reflects USTR’s unwavering commitment to protecting and promoting innovation around the world, and demonstrates that the United States and Israel share this objective.” Background on Special 301 Under Special 301 provisions of U.S. trade law, USTR must identify those countries that deny adequate and effective protection for intellectual property rights (IPR) or deny fair and equitable market access for persons that rely on intellectual property protection. Countries that have the most onerous or egregious acts, policies, or practices and whose acts, policies, or practices have the greatest adverse impact (actual or potential) on relevant U.S. products must be designated as “Priority Foreign Countries.” USTR has created a “Priority Watch List” and a “Watch List” under the Special 301 provisions. Placement of a trading partner on the Priority Watch List or the Watch List indicates that particular problems exist in that country with respect to IPR protection, or enforcement, or market access for persons relying on IPR. The removal of a trading partner’s status from Priority Watch List to Watch List signifies that the partner has made progress towards resolving problems that exist with respect to these issues, and similarly for the removal of a trading partner’s status from the Watch List to no longer being listed in the Special 301 Report. MARCH 14 2014
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the First Lady ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release March 14, 2014 REMARKS BY THE FIRST LADY AT THE PARTNERSHIP FOR A HEALTHIER AMERICA’S BUILDING A HEALTHIER FUTURE SUMMIT Hilton Hotel Washington, D.C. 1:41 P.M. EDT MRS. OBAMA: Yay to everyone! (Applause.) Thank you so much. You all, rest yourselves. It is a pleasure to be here with all of you today. Let me start by thanking Larry, not just for his very kind introduction but for his outstanding leadership at PHA, as well as the entire staff of PHA, the board, Jim Gavin -- all of you deserve a huge round of applause for your outstanding work. I’m so proud of you all. Thank you so much. (Applause.) PHA is doing critically important work to engage partners across the private sector, and over the past two days we’ve seen the fruits of their efforts. And I am thrilled about the extraordinary commitments that have been announced at this summit, so I want to take a moment to recognize Dannon, Del Monte, Knowledge Universe, Kwik Trip, Nutri Ventures, and Sodexo. So let’s give them another huge round of applause. (Applause.) These are major steps to making sure our families can lead healthier lives, and we are extremely grateful. And of course, I want to thank all of you, the advocates and experts who’ve been working on the issue of childhood obesity long before it came into the national spotlight. You all are truly our brain trust on this issue. You know better than anyone where we’ve been and where we need to go. And that’s really what I want to talk about today. I want to talk about how much we’ve achieved, but more importantly, how much more we have left to do. So let’s start with the good news: Because of what we have all done together, today, 32 million kids are getting healthier school meals. Tens of thousands of schools are removing junk food ads from their classroom. Fifteen thousand childcare centers will be providing healthier snacks and getting those cute little kids up and moving. Food and beverage companies have cut 6.4 trillion calories from their products. We will soon have better nutrition labels on 700,000 food items. Hundreds of new or renovated grocery stores are reaching millions of people in underserved communities -- I could go on. These are just a few of the highlights. Absolutely amazing. (Applause.) And today, slowly but surely, healthy habits are becoming the new norm in this country. Today, according to a recent CDC report that I know you have all discussed, obesity rates have fallen by 43 percent among children ages two to five years old. And I think we should all be very proud of what we are achieving together, because in a fight this hard, we should celebrate every small victory we can get. But that’s really what the CDC report represents. Yes, it is an important achievement, but in light of the magnitude of this challenge, it is a small achievement. It’s just a hint of the progress that’s possible on this issue. So it is a very good thing that we have got so much momentum right now, because we still have a long way to go to solve this problem, particularly among our older children. So now is not the time to take our foot off the gas and congratulate ourselves on a job well done -- just the opposite. Now is the time to fight even harder, because we now know it is possible to make a difference on this issue. We know that our strategies are beginning to work. So through Let’s Move, we plan to keep attacking this problem from every angle, because we know there is no one magic bullet. So we plan to keep building healthier schools. We plan to keep bringing fresh food into our communities. We plan to keep urging businesses to provide healthy products and market them responsibly to our kids. But we also need to keep innovating. We need to keep pushing the envelope. We need to find new ideas from every sector to help families make manageable, affordable changes that can transform our children’s health. And today, I just want to talk briefly to give an example of one of those changes. It’s a simple idea which will be a key focus of Let’s Move over the next year, but it is an idea that can help families create healthier new habits. And the idea is to help families start cooking again. Now, I know this might not seem like an earth-shattering notion -- though neither was planting a garden in the White House, I will remind you. (Laughter.) But research clearly shows that home-cooking is one of the single most impactful ways for families to improve their health. One study shows that home-cooking is actually a better predictor of how well families eat than their income. And that’s not surprising, because food prepared at home is lower in saturated fat, sodium, cholesterol and calories than food prepared away from home. Because when you cook at home, you’re in control of your nutrition. You decide the ingredients to use. You decide the portion sizes. You decide whether there’s a vegetable on the plate or not. But unfortunately, for many families, home-cooking has fallen by the wayside. And many folks feel like they just don’t have the time to cook, or they don’t know how. Some think it’s more expensive to prepare balanced home-cooked meals, so they don’t do it. But it hasn’t always been that way. See, back in the day -- for you young people, the day is, like, when I was young -- (laughter) -- folks used to cook all the time. That was certainly true in my family growing up. My mother had a strict food budget, and every Saturday she wrote out her list for the week, headed to the grocery down the street. And she had every meal planned out for the week -– that roast beef for Sunday dinner would be sandwiches for Monday and Tuesday lunches. Wednesday night was liver night -- it was a very sad night in our household, by the way. (Laughter.) Thursday might be spaghetti; Friday, fish. And once in great a while, we’d order a pizza or pick up a burger at the drive-through, but we usually couldn’t afford to eat out so those were exceptions. My grandmother had done the same thing for her family, and she worked full-time for most of her life. See, back then, unless you were rich, cooking was a matter of survival. It was a way of life. But like a lot of folks in my generation, I found that by the time I grew up and went off to school and started my career, things had changed. I remember one Saturday afternoon as a young lawyer working crazy hours, I was talking to my grandmother over the phone, and the first thing she asked me, she said, “what are you cooking?” I was like, “Grandma, really? I am a lawyer. I do not cook.” (Laughter.) You see, my parents urged me to focus on my studies and career above all else. They had worked hard to support my dreams, so they didn’t want me to worry about traditional things like cooking. They felt like I could always learn to cook later. And that was all well and good for a while, until I had a family of my own. And I was fine when my kids were little, because we went from breastfeeding straight to what Barack and I called the “jar stage” -- when an entire meal for a baby came in a single jar. Barack and I, we loved the “jar stage.” (Laughter.) We were masters of the “jar stage.” Providing a balanced meal was so easy -- chicken and rice? In a jar. Peas and spinach? Jar. Peaches, bananas? Jar -- big jar. No need to cook, boil, bake, it was all there for us in those marvelous little baby food jars. It was heaven. But then our babies outgrew the “jar stage,” and suddenly we were faced with the reality that we might actually have to use the appliances in our kitchen to feed our children. And we slowly figured it out. We started with the basics like broiled chicken and rice, and steamed broccoli, scrambled eggs -- that’s really all Barack would do, the eggs. (Laughter.) And we did our best to cook regularly at home. But like so many working parents, we both had demanding jobs, we were always exhausted. And over time, we started giving in and popping things into the microwave, or spending way too much of our monthly budget ordering takeout, which, in turn, resulted in less than optimal health outcomes for our kids. So as my story hopefully illustrates, while we often frame this cooking problem as a time problem or a budget problem, for many folks it’s actually a skills problem. Because when you don’t have those basic cooking and budgeting skills that my mother and grandmother had, everything takes longer and costs much more. You don’t know how to plan a full week of meals, so you go back and forth to the grocery store. You don’t know how to cut a whole chicken yourself, so you pay more for the pre-cut parts. You’ve never learned the basics of cooking, so even simple dishes take longer to prepare. And today, a lot of folks think it’s quicker and cheaper to just grab some fast food. But the fact is that with the right recipes and a few basic skills, there are countless recipes that families can prepare in less than 30 minutes –- meals that actually cost less than going to the drive-through. For example, a fast food meal for a family of four could cost as much as $20, $25 or more. But for less than $15, a family can cook a full chicken dinner complete with sides. And cooking isn’t just good for our budgets or our physical health, it’s also good for our kids’ emotional health. Research shows that when families share meals together, kids actually perform better in school, and they get along better with their peers. And let’s not forget that cooking together can actually be fun. So the benefits of cooking couldn’t be more clear. The question is how do we help families start cooking again, even if it’s just one or two meals a week? Can we work with supermarkets to do more to distribute recipes on how to cook, and do demonstrations? Can we develop the home-ec class of the future that will give kids -- both girls and boys –- the basic skills they need to feed themselves on a budget? Can we inspire chefs to offer affordable cooking classes in their restaurants? I mean, the possibilities here are endless. And in the coming months, as we continue our existing efforts, we will be announcing some new initiatives along these lines. But really, this is just one example of a very simple, creative approach that doesn’t require new legislation but can fundamentally change the way families take control of their own health. And I know, looking around this room, that all of you have some great ideas of your own; many innovative, creative things to keep moving this issue forward. And that’s why today, more than ever before, we need you all with us in this effort. We need everyone in this room to keep tackling this problem from every angle, because we are just beginning to get traction on this issue. After decades of struggle, we are just beginning to make some progress. And I am proud of what we’ve achieved together. But when one in three children in this country are still overweight or obese, when millions of kids are still on track to develop devastating illnesses like diabetes and heart disease, then we still have to do a gut check. We need to ask ourselves, have we really done all that we can for our children? Have we given them our very best? And of course, the answer is, not really. The truth is that right now, the biggest risk to our success is our own impatience, our desire to want big changes overnight. Just think back to our first PHA Summit four years ago -- I don’t know how many of you were there -- I was there. (Laughter.) And I still remember all the excitement and determination we were feeling that day. We didn’t listen to the skeptics who said we could never solve a problem this big and entrenched. Instead, we all committed ourselves to one clear goal, and that was to solve the problem of childhood obesity within a generation so that kids born today will grow up healthy. Now, this wasn’t a five-year goal or a ten-year goal. It was a generational goal, because it took decades for this childhood-obesity crisis to develop and we knew it would take decades to fix it. And today, just four years later, studies are beginning to show that our youngest kids –- kids born two to five years ago -- are growing up healthier. So we’re on track to achieve our goal, we are. (Applause.) We are on track. But if we back down now, if we don’t keep innovating and pushing forward, I guarantee you that we will go right back to where we started. And that’s not who we are. That’s not what we do in this country. We don’t just walk away when things get hard, especially when it comes to our children’s future. And we cannot walk away from this issue until obesity rates drop for children of every age and every background. We cannot walk away until every child in this country has a shot at a healthy life. And that’s why I’m in this for the long haul -- and I mean long after I leave the White House. Because I believe in finishing what I start, and I know that you all do too. (Applause.) So now is the time for all of us to truly double down. Now is the time to commit more effort, more innovation, more energy, more dollars, and more leadership to solving this problem. That’s what I plan on doing, and if you continue to join me in this effort, if you keep on digging deep and pushing forward, then I know we can raise healthier kids who will become healthier adults, who will raise healthier families of their own. And that’s how we make real and lasting change in this country. That’s how we create a better future for generations to come. So I look forward to working with all of you to create that future that we know we can achieve in the months and years ahead. So thank you all. Thank you for everything you’ve done. Thank you for everything you continue to do. I am so proud of you all. God bless. (Applause.) END 1:58 P.M. EDT MARCH 14 2014
FWD from EDUCATION: OBAMA ADMINISTRATION TAKES ACTION TO PROTECT AMERICANS FROM PREDATORY, POOR-PERFORMING CAREER COLLEGES U.S. Department of Education Office of Communications & Outreach, Press Office FOR RELEASE Friday, March 14, 2014 Obama Administration takes action to protect Americans from predatory, poor-performing career colleges New ‘gainful employment’ proposal targets training programs that saddle students with debt but provide few opportunities for success The Obama Administration announced today new steps to address growing concerns about burdensome student loan debt by requiring career colleges to do a better job of preparing students for gainful employment – or risk losing access to taxpayer-funded federal student aid. The proposed regulations released by the U.S. Department of Education will help to strengthen students’ options for higher education by giving all career training programs an opportunity to improve, while stopping the flow of federal funding to the lowest-performing ones that fail to do so. “Higher education should open up doors of opportunity, but students in these low-performing programs often end up worse off than before they enrolled: saddled by debt and with few – if any – options for a career,” said U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan. “The proposed regulations address growing concerns about unaffordable levels of loan debt for students enrolled in these programs by targeting the lowest-performing schools, while giving all programs an opportunity to improve.” Background on the need for action and history of reform Career training programs offer millions of Americans an opportunity to further their education so that they can pursue their dreams of gaining a well-paying job, owning a home, and providing for their family. These values are the cornerstone of the nation’s economy and the gateway to the middle class. By law, career training programs can only receive taxpayer-funded federal student aid if they “prepare students for gainful employment in a recognized occupation.” Some of these programs, whether public, private, or for-profit, empower students to succeed by providing high-quality education and career training. But many of these programs, particularly those at for-profit colleges, are failing to do so – at taxpayers’ expense and the cost of students’ futures. For-profit colleges can receive up to 90 percent of their revenue from taxpayer dollars, with the additional revenue frequently coming from veterans’ benefits and private student loans. Students at for-profit colleges represent only about 13 percent of the total higher education population, but about 31 percent of all student loans and nearly half of all loan defaults. In the most recent data, about 22 percent of student borrowers at for-profit colleges defaulted on their loans within three years. Most students at for-profit gainful employment programs who graduated with an associate degree were also left with federal student loan debt, which averaged $23,590, while the majority of students at community colleges did not borrow. And of the for-profit gainful employment programs the Department could analyze and which could be affected by our action today, the majority – 72 percent – produced graduates who earned less than high school dropouts. These students – including veterans – enrolled to become equipped for the workforce, but often they didn’t get what they need. Instead, they found confusing or misleading information, excessive costs, poor quality, low completion rates, and programs that provide training for low-wage occupations or, in some cases, where there simply are no jobs. Widespread concerns prompted the Obama Administration to embark on a multi-year negotiation with the higher education community over new regulations that ensure students are being prepared for gainful employment. Following last year’s court decision, which affirmed the U.S. Department of Education's authority to regulate in this area in order to protect students and taxpayers, the Department undertook new efforts to make career training programs affordable pathways to good jobs. “For too long, some of these programs have measured success by how many students they enroll – and that needs to change,” Duncan said. “Success in career education should be measured by how many students graduate prepared for a good job with sufficient earnings. And while state attorneys general across the country and allies like the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau have taken steps in recent months to stop programs from preying on students, we know more can be done at the local, state, and federal level to stop this abuse.” New proposal to better prepare students for gainful employment The proposed regulations follow on public hearings the Department held last year. The affected programs include nearly all programs at for-profit institutions, as well as certificate programs at public and private non-profit institutions, such as community colleges. The Department has proposed a framework with three components: certification requirements, accountability metrics, and public disclosures. The proposal distinguishes programs that provide affordable training that leads to well-paying jobs from those programs that leave students with poor earnings prospects and relatively high amounts of debt, or which lead to high student loan default rates. While all programs would have an opportunity to improve under the proposed regulations, those with the worst outcomes – high debt-to-earnings rates or high loan default rates – would lose eligibility to participate in federal student aid programs to protect students and taxpayers. The proposed rule also increases transparency about gainful employment programs by requiring institutions to tell current and potential students about key outcomes, like average debt levels, earnings, loan repayment rates, loan default rates, and completion and withdrawal rates. This information would help students identify programs that may serve them best and help them make more informed decisions about their educational investment. 1. Certification requirements Institutions must certify that each of their gainful employment programs meets applicable institutional or program-level accreditation requirements and state or federal licensure standards. 2. Accountability metrics To maintain Title IV eligibility, gainful employment programs will be required to meet minimum standards measured by two metrics: debt-to-earnings and program cohort default rate. Annual debt-to-earnings (aD/E) Discretionary debt-to-earnings (dD/E) Program cohort default rate (pCDR) Students Title IV-aided completers Title IV-aided completers AND non-completers Categories & thresholds Pass: aD/E≤8% OR dD/E≤20% Zone: 8%<aD/E≤12% OR 20%<dD/E≤30% Fail: aD/E>12% AND dD/E>30% Pass: pCDR<30% Fail: pCDR≥30% Ineligibility A program becomes ineligible to provide Title IV aid for 3 years if: It fails in any 2 out of 3 consecutive years OR It is in the zone (or a combination of being in the zone and failing) for 4 consecutive years A program becomes ineligible to provide Title IV aid for 3 years if it fails for 3 consecutive years.
Potential Impact of today’s proposal Students’ outcomes are particularly troubling among a small percentage of institutions, many of which are among the largest in student enrollment, revenues, and recipients of taxpayer funds. But of the title IV students who are in the lowest-performing programs, 98 percent of them are in programs at for-profit institutions. While many students attended these programs hoping to improve their future, many will find themselves worse off than when they started. About 1 million students are enrolled in programs that would either fail or fall in the zone for improvement under the accountability metrics – programs that would likely leave them with student debt they couldn’t afford to repay. “Protecting students is at the core of this rule,” Duncan said. “Ensuring all students end up on the path to success is our biggest priority, which is why we want to ensure that students have the information they need to make choices on what career training program is best for them. This will shine a light on the programs doing a good job preparing students for careers while also making sure consumers know about the schools that are not.” After the proposal released today publishes in the Federal Register, the public will have 60 days to comment on the draft regulations. The Department will take that feedback and finalize the rule in the following months. Additional information on the Department's negotiated rulemaking efforts, including the proposed regulation as well as additional data about gainful employment programs, may be found on the Department’s website at: http://www2.ed.gov/policy/highered/reg/hearulemaking/2012/gainfulemployment.html MARCH 13 2014
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 13, 2014 FACT SHEET: Opportunity for All: Rewarding Hard Work by Strengthening Overtime Protections After weathering the Great Recession and through five years of hard work and determination, America is creating jobs and rebuilding our economy. But as a result of shifts that have taken hold over more than three decades, too many Americans are working harder than ever just to get by, let alone to get ahead. President Obama believes that, in America, if you work hard and take responsibility, you should have the opportunity to succeed. That’s why he has pledged to make 2014 a year of action, working with Congress where they’re willing, but using his phone and his pen wherever he can to build real, lasting economic security for the middle class and those working hard to become a part of the middle class. As part of that effort, today, President Obama is directing the Secretary of Labor to begin the process of addressing overtime pay protections to help make sure millions of workers are paid a fair wage for a hard day's work and rules are simplified for employers and workers alike. Basic Overtime Protections Have Eroded The overtime rules that establish the 40-hour workweek, a linchpin of the middle class, have eroded over the years. As a result, millions of salaried workers have been left without the protections of overtime or sometimes even the minimum wage. For example, a convenience store manager or a fast food shift supervisor or an office worker may be expected to work 50 or 60 hours a week or more, making barely enough to keep a family out of poverty, and not receive a dime of overtime pay. It’s even possible for employers to pay workers less than the minimum wage per hour. The overtime and minimum wage rules are set in the Fair Labor Standards Act, originally passed by Congress in 1938, and apply broadly to private-sector workers. However, there are some exceptions to these rules, which the Department of Labor has the authority to define through regulation. One of the most commonly used exemptions is for “executive, administrative and professional” employees, the so-called “white collar” exemption Workers who are paid hourly wages or who earn below a certain salary are generally protected by overtime regulations, while those above the threshold who perform executive, professional or administrative duties are not. That threshold has failed to keep up with inflation, only being updated twice in the last 40 years and leaving millions of low-paid, salaried workers without these basic protections. Specifically: · In 1975 the Department of Labor set the threshold below which white collar workers were entitled to overtime pay at $250 per week. · In 2004 that threshold was set at $455 per week (the equivalent of $561 in today's dollars). This is below today’s poverty line for a worker supporting a family of four, and well below 1975 levels in inflation adjusted terms. Today, only 12 percent of salaried workers fall below the threshold that would guarantee them overtime and minimum wage protections (compared with 18 percent in 2004 and 65 percent in 1975). Many of the remaining 88 percent of salaried workers are ineligible for these protections because they fall within the white collar exemptions. Many recognize that these regulations are outdated, which is why states like New York and California have set higher salary thresholds At the same time, employers and workers alike have difficulty navigating the existing regulations, and many recognize that the rules should be modernized to better fit today’s economy. Details of the Presidential Memorandum Improving the overtime regulations consistent with the Memorandum the President will sign today could benefit millions of people who are working harder but falling further behind. The Fair Labor Standards Act protects over 135 million workers in more than 7.3 million workplaces nationwide. The Presidential Memorandum instructs the Secretary of Labor to update regulations regarding who qualifies for overtime protection. In so doing, the Secretary shall consider how the regulations could be revised to: · Update existing protections in keeping with the intention of the Fair Labor Standards Act. · Address the changing nature of the American workplace. · Simplify the overtime rules to make them easier for both workers and businesses to understand and apply. MARCH 5 2014
FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA AND EPICURIOUS HOST THIRD RECIPE CHALLENGE TO PROMOTE HEALTHY EATING NATIONWIDE White House Press Office via service.govdelivery.com Mar 5 THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the First Lady FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 5, 2014 FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA AND EPICURIOUS HOST THIRD RECIPE CHALLENGE TO PROMOTE HEALTHY EATING NATIONWIDE “The Healthy Lunchtime Challenge” Welcomes Children and Their Parents to Create Healthy Lunch Recipes for an Invite to the Kids’ “State Dinner” at the White House Recipes can be submitted through April 5th at recipechallenge.epicurious.com WASHINGTON, DC – With the overwhelming success of the Healthy Lunchtime Challenge & Kids' “State Dinner” in 2012 and 2013, First Lady Michelle Obama is again teaming up with Epicurious, the U.S. Department of Education, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture to host a nationwide recipe challenge to promote cooking and healthy eating among America’s youth. Teaching kids to cook is a great way to ensure our children learn healthy habits early in life. Research shows that children who help with cooking and meal preparation are more likely to consume fruits and vegetables, and they are more aware of the importance of making healthier food choices. The third annual Healthy Lunchtime Challenge & Kids' “State Dinner” encourages kids across the country to come up with healthy, original creations “The Kids’ ‘State Dinner’ is one of my favorite events to host at the White House, and I am thrilled to announce the third annual Healthy Lunchtime Challenge. This event gives us the opportunity to showcase healthy creations from talented kids from across our country,” said First Lady Michelle Obama. “I’m looking forward to seeing—and tasting—this year’s selections. So young chefs, get creative and get cooking!” The third Healthy Lunchtime Challenge & Kids' “State Dinner” invites parents or guardians and their children, ages 8-12, to create and submit an original lunch recipe that is healthy, affordable, and tasty. In support of the First Lady’s Let’s Move! initiative, each recipe must adhere to the guidance that supports USDA’s MyPlate (at ChooseMyPlate.gov) to ensure that the criteria of a healthy meal are met. Entries must represent each of the food groups, either in one dish or as parts of a lunch meal, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins and low-fat dairy foods, with fruits and veggies making up roughly half of the plate or recipe. All U.S. states and territories, including Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands, are invited to participate. Delta Air Lines will fly fifty-six children and their parent/guardian (one pair from each of the 50 states, plus the U.S. Territories, D.C., and Puerto Rico) to the nation’s capital where they will have the opportunity to attend a Kids’ “State Dinner” at the White House hosted by Mrs. Obama. A selection of the winning healthy recipes will be served. “The Healthy Lunchtime Challenge is a wonderful opportunity to help kids build healthy habits. First Lady Michelle Obama, through the Let’s Move! Initiative, offers another shining example of how we can mobilize public and private sector resources to improve the lives of our children,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “The decisions parents make to keep their kids healthy often start with the meals made at home. Young people who participate in this Challenge and are inspired by MyPlate encourage other children to eat healthier and build food preparation skills that will influence their food decisions into adulthood.” “We are truly honored that Mrs. Obama is once again partnering with Epicurious to help raise awareness for the importance of healthy eating for kids,” said Carolyn Kremins, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Epicurious. "We hope the Healthy Lunchtime Challenge can show kids that meals, especially their school lunch, can be tasty, healthy and fun to prepare.” The winning recipes will be chosen by a panel of judges, including Nilou Motamed, Tanya Steel, Let’s Move! Executive Director Sam Kass, U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Education representatives, as well as junior chefs. At the conclusion of the Kids’ “State Dinner,” a free, downloadable and printable e-cookbook featuring the winning recipes, nutritional analysis, photos and drawings, will be available via LetsMove.gov, USDA.gov, Ed.gov, epicurious.com and recipechallenge.epicurious.com. The White House Kids’ “State Dinner” will take place later this summer. Recipes can be submitted March 5th through April 5th, online at recipechallenge.epicurious.com, or via mail at “The Healthy Lunchtime Challenge c/o Epicurious.com,” 1166 Avenue of the Americas, 15th Floor, New York, NY 10036. Winners will be notified in May. For more information and contest rules visit recipechallenge.epicurious.com. MARCH 4 2014
Office of Science and Technology Policy Executive Office of the President Eisenhower Executive Office Building Washington, DC 20502 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 4, 2014 The FY 2015 Science and Technology R&D Budget Science, Technology, and Innovation for Opportunity and Growth The President’s fiscal year 2015 Budget proposes $135.4 billion for Federal research and development (R&D) activities, an increase of $1.7 billion or 1.2 percent over FY 2014 enacted levels. The 2015 R&D budget extends the Administration’s ongoing commitment to make wise, targeted investments in science and technology (S&T) in support of job creation, economic growth, and opportunity for all Americans. It builds on R&D’s proven record of turning ideas into realities, and of generating new technologies, products, and businesses that in many cases were barely imagined a few years earlier. “The 2015 budget reflects this Administration’s clear-eyed recognition that our Nation’s standing as a global leader today is built largely on a foundation of science and technology,” said Dr. John P. Holdren, President Obama’s science and technology advisor and Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. “By continuing the Administration’s record of steady support for research and development across the full spectrum of scientific and technological domains—including such diverse priorities as biomedicine, advanced manufacturing, climate science, cybersecurity, natural resource management, space exploration, and national security—the Budget ensures that the United States will be an incubator of innovation and economic growth for many years to come.” The Budget calls for $65.9 billion for non-defense R&D, up 0.7 percent or $477 million from the 2014 enacted level, and $69.5 billion for defense R&D, up $1.2 billion or 1.7 percent from the 2014 enacted level. (All comparisons are to FY 2014 enacted and are in current, not-adjusted-for-inflation dollars.1) Basic and applied research investments (the “R” in “R&D”) total $64.7 billion, up $251 million or 0.4 percent from 2014. Investments in development (the “D” in “R&D”) total $68.0 billion, an increase of 2.3 percent over 2014. Importantly, these critical investments in our Nation’s future fit within an overall 2015 Budget that falls within the caps of the deficit-reducing Budget Control Act of 2011 and the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013. Already, the national deficit has fallen by more than half under President Obama—the most rapid deficit reduction as a share of the economy since the end of World War II. Promising to continue that trend, but also recognizing the additional boost that could be generated by enhanced investments in foundational elements of the Nation’s economy, the President’s Budget proposes a separate, fully-paid-for $56 billion Opportunity, Growth, and Security Initiative that includes $5.3 billion for R&D endeavors. 1 For reference, the latest economic projections show inflation of 1.7 percent between 2014 and 2015 for the economy as a whole, using the GDP deflator. 2 Some highlights of the 2015 Budget include: $30.2 billion for theNational Institutes of Health (NIH), which supports high-quality, innovative, biomedical research at institutions across the United States to improve the health of the American people. $12.3 billion for R&D at the Department of Energy (DOE), to support such priorities as clean energy and advanced manufacturing, energy security, carbon pollution reduction and climate change mitigation, and modernization of America’s nuclear weapons stockpile and infrastructure—including $5.1 billion for DOE’s Office of Science. $11.6 billion for R&D at theNational Aeronautics and Space Administration, to develop systems for human exploration of deep space; continue studies of our planet, the Sun, our solar system and the universe; continue development of the James Webb Space Telescope for launch in 2018; and continue to develop, in collaboration with the private sector, new U.S. capabilities for transporting human crews to the International Space Station. $7.3 billionfor theNational Science Foundation (NSF), the Nation’s primary source of support for academic research in most non-biomedical disciplines, integrating fundamental research and education across a broad spectrum of science and engineering domains. $2.4 billion for R&D at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to support research in such agriculturally important domains as climate resilience and advanced genetics. $1.2 billion for R&D at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), which focuses on biomedical topics of special relevance to wounded warriors and supports a robust program of clinical and translational research. $925 million for R&D at the Department of the Interior, including work relating to environmental and natural resource monitoring, energy permitting, ecosystem restoration and management, and Earth observations. $876 million for R&D at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), to support work in cybersecurity, explosives detection, nuclear detection, and chemical/biological detection, and for the development of state-of-the-art solutions for first responders. $688 million for R&D at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in the Department of Commerce, to support critical satellite programs, Earth observations, ocean and coastal research, and NOAA's other core science and stewardship responsibilities. $680 million for the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s (NIST) intramural laboratories in the Department of Commerce, to support research that promotes U.S. innovation and industrial competitiveness by advancing measurement science, standards, and technology. The 2015 Budget also provides ongoing support for key interagency initiatives that coordinate investments in three cross-cutting areas of importance: FEBRUARY 28 2014
Presidential Proclamation -- National Consumer Protection Week, 2014 White House Press Office via service.govdelivery.com Feb 28 THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 28, 2014 Attached is a proclamation signed by the President today regarding National Consumer Protection Week, 2014. THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary For Immediate Release February 28, 2014 NATIONAL CONSUMER PROTECTION WEEK, 2014 BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA A PROCLAMATION The premise that we are all created equal is the opening line in the American story, and while we do not promise equal outcomes, we have always strived to deliver equal opportunity. When everyone gets a fair shot, does their fair share, and plays by the same set of rules, the best ideas rise to the top and our economy thrives. After 6 years of digging out of a historic crisis brought on by widespread abuses in our financial system, it is clearer than ever that we cannot succeed without strong consumer protections. This week, we remember that our Nation's economy is only as strong as its people, and we recommit to fostering a sense of basic fairness in our marketplace. Since I took office, my Administration has worked tirelessly to expose deceptive mortgage schemes, crack down on abusive debt collection practices, and ensure an irresponsible few cannot hurt consumers by illegally rigging markets for their own gain. We have taken action to prevent credit card companies from hiding fees in intentionally obscure text and given families access to clear, comprehensive information on student loans. We passed the strongest consumer financial protection law in history and created an independent watchdog charged with looking out for the American people in the financial world. And to introduce more choice for those planning for retirement, I launched the myRA program, a new type of savings bond that lets Americans keep the same account, even if they change jobs. It is also critical that all Americans know their rights and have the tools to weigh the risks and potential benefits of their choices in the open market. In partnership with consumer advocates, my Administration launched www.NCPW.gov, which provides advice on everything from avoiding scams, protecting identities, and staying informed about product recalls to managing debt and making sound financial decisions. During National Consumer Protection Week, let us recognize the men and women who power the engine of prosperity. Together, let us build an economy that works for everyone, leaves no one behind, and allows every American to pursue their own measure of happiness. NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim March 2 through March 8, 2014, as National Consumer Protection Week. I call upon government officials, industry leaders, and advocates across the Nation to share information about consumer protection and provide our citizens with information about their rights as consumers. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-eighth day of February, in the year of our Lord two thousand fourteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-eighth. BARACK OBAMA FEBRUARY 28 2104
Presidential Proclamation -- Read Across America Day, 2014 White House Press Office via service.govdelivery.com Feb 28 THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 28, 2014 Attached is a proclamation signed by the President today regarding Read Across America Day, 2014. THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary For Immediate Release February 28, 2014 READ ACROSS AMERICA DAY, 2014 BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA A PROCLAMATION Literacy is the foundation of every child's education. It opens doorways to opportunity, transports us across time and space, and binds family and friends closer together. When parents, educators, librarians, and mentors read with children, they give a gift that will nourish souls for a lifetime. Today, Americans young and old will take time to get lost in a story and do their part to cultivate the next generation of talent and This day is also a time to honor the legacy of Theodor Seuss Geisel, known to us as Dr. Seuss. Countless Americans can recall his books as their first step into the lands of letters and wordplay. With creatures, contraptions, and vibrant characters, they have led generations of happy travelers through voyages of the imagination. Yet his tales also challenge dictators and discrimination. They call us to open our minds, to take responsibility for ourselves and our planet. And they remind us that the value of our possessions pales in comparison to that of the ties we share with family, friends, and From children's stories to classic works of literature, the written word allows us to see the world from new perspectives. It helps us understand what it means to be human and what it means to be American. During Read Across America Day, let us celebrate, rediscover, and engage our children in this wonderful NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim March 3, 2014, as Read Across America Day. I call upon children, families, educators, librarians, public officials, and all the people of the United States to observe this day with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-eighth day of February, in the year of our Lord two thousand fourteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-eighth. BARACK OBAMA FEBRUARY 28 2014
EMBARGOED- WEEKLY ADDRESS: Investing in Technology and Infrastructure to Create Jobs White House Press Office via service.govdelivery.com Feb 28 THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary ______________________________________________________________________________ EMBARGOED UNTIL 6:00 AM ET, SATURDAY, March 1, 2014 WEEKLY ADDRESS: Investing in Technology and Infrastructure to Create Jobs WASHINGTON, DC— In his weekly address, President Obama said he took action this week to launch new manufacturing hubs and expand a competition to fund transformative infrastructure projects. Both are policies aimed at expanding economic opportunity for all by creating jobs and ensuring the long-term strength of the American economy. Congress can boost this effort by passing a bipartisan proposal to create a nationwide network of high-tech manufacturing hubs and taking steps to invest in our nation’s infrastructure -- rebuilding our transportation system, creating new construction jobs, and better connecting Americans to economic opportunities. The audio of the address and video of the address will be available online at www.whitehouse.gov at 6:00 a.m. ET, Saturday, March 1, 2014. Video Remarks of President Barack Obama Weekly Address The White House March 1, 2014 Hi everybody. In my State of the Union Address, I said that the best measure of opportunity is access to a good job. And after the worst recession of our lifetimes, our businesses have created eight and a half million new jobs in the last four years. But we need to do more to make America a magnet for good jobs for the future. And in this year of action, where Congress won’t do that, I will do whatever I can to expand opportunity for more Americans. This week, I took two actions to attract new jobs to America – jobs in American manufacturing, and jobs rebuilding America’s infrastructure. Here’s why this is important. In the 2000s alone, we lost more than one-third of all American manufacturing jobs. One in three. And when the housing bubble burst, workers in the construction industry were hit harder than just about anybody. The good news is, today, our manufacturers have added more than 620,000 jobs over the last four years – the first sustained growth in manufacturing jobs since the 1990s. Still, the economy has changed. If we want to attract more good manufacturing jobs to America, we’ve got to make sure we’re on the cutting edge of new manufacturing technologies and techniques. And in today’s global economy, first-class jobs gravitate to first-class infrastructure. That’s why, on Tuesday, I launched two new high-tech manufacturing hubs – places where businesses and universities will partner to turn groundbreaking research into real-world goods Made in America. So far, we’ve launched four of these hubs, where our workers can master 3-D printing, energy-efficient electronics, lightweight metals, and digital manufacturing – all technologies that can help ensure a steady stream of good jobs well into the 21st century. Then on Wednesday, I launched a new competition to build 21st century infrastructure – roads and bridges, mass transit, more efficient ports, and faster passenger rail. Rebuilding America won’t just attract new businesses; it will create good construction jobs that can’t be shipped overseas. Of course, Congress could make an even bigger difference in both areas. Thanks to the leadership of a bipartisan group of lawmakers, there’s a bill in Congress right now that would create an entire network of high-tech manufacturing hubs all across the country. And next week, I’ll send Congress a budget that will rebuild our transportation systems and support millions of jobs nationwide. There’s a lot we can do if we work together. And while Congress decides what it’s going to do, I’m going to keep doing everything in my power to rebuild an economy where everyone who works hard has the chance to get ahead – where we’re restoring our founding vision of opportunity for all. Thanks, everybody, and have a great weekend. FEBRUARY 28 2014
Remarks by the President at White House Student Film Festival White House Press Office via service.govdelivery.com Feb 28 THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release February 28, 2014 REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT AT WHITE HOUSE STUDENT FILM FESTIVAL East Room 4:11 P.M. EST THE PRESIDENT: Hello. My name is Shelly Ortiz -- oh, wrong page. (Laughter.) I was just teasing. I knew I wasn’t Shelly Ortiz. (Laughter.) Everybody give Shelly a big round of applause for the great work. (Applause.) Thank you so much. Thanks for not only the introduction, but for the beautiful video that you made about your dad. Us dads, we get pretty touched by stuff like that. And I am thrilled that all of you are with us for our first-ever White House Student Film Festival. And I know we're running a little bit late. It's not because the projector was not working. It was because of me. But I appreciate all of you guys being here and your patience. The Academy Awards are not until Sunday, but, as you can see, we’ve brought the Oscars to the White House a little bit early. And I want to thank our partners: Fox, National Geographic, and the American Film Institute. We’ve got the red carpet, we've got the big screens, the opening monologue. The only difference is nobody asks what you’re wearing. (Laughter.) And we've got Bill Nye, the Science Guy -- (applause) -- and Neil deGrasse Tyson from the Hayden Planetarium -- (applause) -- who might even give you a sneak peak of his new show, COSMOS, if everybody behaves themselves. (Applause.) I saw the original version -- I'm a little older than all of you -- and it was spectacular and wonderful, and I know this is going to be not just as good but even better. And so we're thrilled with that. And we’re putting on a big show here because we’re honoring some remarkable filmmakers. I've said before, I believe, and I hope all of us believe, that every child in America deserves a world-class education -- especially in science and technology and engineering and math -- because it’s skills like these that made us an economic superpower and built our middle class. We also need folks who are studying the arts because our film industry is a huge generator of jobs and economic power here in the United States, and it tells us our story and helps us to find what’s -- our common humanity. And it’s skills like these that allowed NASA to announce the other day that we’ve discovered more than 700 new planets. (Applause.) That's cool. I mean, we didn’t make the planets, but we -- (laughter) -- we found out that they were there. And one of the ways that we deliver the best education in the world is by empowering our students with the best technology in the world. To help inspire us, we invited students from across the country to send their videos about how their schools use technology today, how they might use it in the future. So kids got their cameras out and went to work. And we received about 2,500 videos -- 2,500. And we watched them all. I did not personally watch them all, but the White House watched them all. And today, the Oscar goes to -- all of you. Because among all the incredible videos we received, yours stood out. And in my official capacity as President, let me just say these movies are awesome. Like all great movies, yours do something special -- they tell a story. They help us understand, in this case, the amazing things that are going on in classrooms and how technology is empowering our students and broadening their imaginations and challenging them to dream bigger and reach further. Now, here is the spoiler alert: There is some wonderful stuff going on out there. So even before you have seen some of these films, you need to know that what these filmmakers have displayed is the incredible innovation and creativity of this generation coming up. You’ve got Gabrielle Nafie and Miles Pilchik from SciTech Kids in New York. (Applause.) They showed us that their class isn’t just dreaming about going into space, they're actually going into space. They designed density experiments and used a 3-D printer to build tiny satellites to hold them. And then they actually launched a giant balloon that carried their satellites up to the edge of space -- very cool -- MS. NAFIE: Thank you. (Laughter.) THE PRESIDENT: -- so they could collect the data. When I was in elementary school, I was not launching satellites into space. You’ve got Alex Emerson, who showed how his 8th grade class at Brookwood School in Massachusetts changed the definition of “pen-pals” by video-chatting with students in Uganda. And one of the things they did was collaborate on cook stoves that help families in rural areas cook safer and with cleaner energy. And it doesn’t stop with what’s possible today. These videos show how students are imagining the future -- classrooms that are fully accessible to classmates with disabilities; individualized learning platforms that you can carry around in your pocket. And that’s the kind of creativity and imagination we want all our young people to embrace. We cannot wait to see more of that innovative spirit later this year when we host our first ever White House Maker Faire. (Applause.) We already have a White House Science Fair. This new event is going to highlight how Americans young and old -— tinkerers and inventors —- are imagining and designing and building tools and machines that will open our minds and power our economy. We want to bring this spirit -- including more technology --into the classroom. And that’s why I launched something we’re calling ConnectED -- our initiative to close the technology gap in our schools and connect 99 percent of America’s students to high-speed broadband Internet within five years. Because when the average American school has about the same Internet bandwidth as the average American home but serves 200 times as many people, that means our students are at a disadvantage. And when less than 30 percent of our students have access to true high-speed Internet in their classroom, while in South Korea students have 100 percent, that's like waving the white flag when it comes to our global competition. But here’s what I think: In a country where we expect free Wi-Fi at our coffee shops, then we should demand it in our schools and in our libraries. (Applause.) This is not thing we can do alone. And as a consequence, I picked up the phone and started asking business leaders to help bring our schools and libraries into the 21st century. They did not just answer the call, they came up huge. So, earlier this month, some of our biggest technology companies committed to more than $750 million in computers and software and broadband access to put our kids and classrooms on the cutting edge of technology. Today, I’m proud to announce that more companies are getting on board. Prezi will provide over $100 million in presentation products to help students develop ready-to-work skills in slideshows and creative communication. So give them a big round of applause. We’re very proud of them for that. (Applause.) And Adobe will make available, for free, more than $300 million in creative and teaching software so that kids can turn their ideas into films and graphics, and teachers can deliver lessons electronically. So give Adobe a big round of applause. (Applause.) If you’re quick at math, which I know you are, then you’ll see that this means we’ve delivered over $1 billion in technology commitments to our schools, which isn’t too shabby for one month. But there’s still more to do, and we need even more companies to get on board. Because, thanks to innovative schools and teachers and students like all of you, we know what school might look like in the century ahead: Classrooms wired to space; students who are fluent in coding and web design; teachers collaborating on projects with peers around the world. We’ve always imagined giving every child the chance to learn like that. And with these private sector partners, we’re helping to make it a reality. So let me leave you with a wonderful example of the difference that technology can make. Kyle Weintraub is a 7th grader at David Posnak Jewish Day School in Florida. And last year, he was diagnosed with lymphoma, had to move to Pennsylvania for treatment. In the past, that meant Kyle would have had to leave his school and his friends behind. But every day, Kyle puts on his school uniform and, without even leaving his room in Pennsylvania, he goes to school in Florida because he has a special robot with a high-tech video feed that goes to class for him. And even as he’s getting medical treatment and fights to get better, Kyle can keep up with his studies -- controlling his robot from his computer at home. And through a video feed, Kyle can see his classmates; they can see him. So the robot doesn’t just have a name -- they just say, “Hey, Kyle.” And he can look around the classroom, move down the hallways, even sit with his friends at lunch. And I know the teachers think this is just extraordinary as well, because if there’s one thing you don’t want to do, is start a food fight with a robot. (Laughter.) So everybody kind of seems to be better behaved when Kyle’s robot is around. Kyle is here today. He did not bring his robot, but everybody give Kyle a big round of applause. (Applause.) Kyle’s story is just one example of what’s possible when we put our extraordinary technologies to work for our students and our schools. And that’s what this film festival is about. So to all the young filmmakers out there, remember you’re much better at this than all that adults. (Laughter.) It’s your imagination and your creativity and your innovation and your dreams that are going to help this country move forward. Keep up the great work. We could not be prouder of you. Your parents are proud of you, I know that, but I am, too. And America is counting on you. So with that, let’s start the show. Thank you, guys. (Applause.) END 4:23 P.M. EST FEBRUARY 28 2014
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary For Immediate Release February 28, 2014 President Obama to Host First-Ever White House Film Festival Announces $400 million in new private sector commitments toward ConnectED goal WASHINGTON, DC - Today, President Obama will host the first ever White House Student Film Festival, an event that will showcase the power of technology to boost learning and the Administration’s commitment to bringing America’s classrooms into the 21st century with high-speed internet and cutting-edge educational technology. In the East Room of the White House, President Obama will discuss ongoing progress towards his ConnectED goal of transforming American education by connecting 99% of students to next-generation broadband and wireless technology within five years. In keeping with his pledge to make 2014 a year of action using the power of his pen and his phone, the President will announce $400 million in new private sector commitments from Adobe and Prezi to make free software available to teachers and students to help introduce creative learning materials to classrooms all across the country and help realize the promise of e-learning. The commitments the President will announce include: · Adobe – Making available over $300 million worth of free software to teachers and students, including Photoshop and Premiere Elements for creative projects; Presenter and Captivate to amplify e-Learning; EchoSign for school workflow; and a range of teacher training resources. · Prezi – Prezi, a software tool for creating memorable presentations, is providing $100 million in Edu Pro licenses for high schools and all educators across America. These build on the $750 million commitments the President announced earlier this month — by using the power of his phone, the President inspired private-sector leaders to pledge well over $1 billion in value to America’s students through these private-sector commitments in the last month alone. Last November, the White House announced the first-ever White House Student Film Festival, a video competition created for K-12 students to create short films on how technology is used in their classroom and the role technology will play in education in the future, and to support learning in key fields such as science, technology, engineering, and math. More than 2,000 videos were submitted. Following the President’s remarks tomorrow, the White House – in collaboration with the American Film Institute (AFI) – will screen the 16 “Official Selections.” The selected videos will be screened in four groups: (1) Young Visionaries; (2) Future Innovators; (3) World of Tomorrow; (4) Building Bridges. The films will be presented by Kal Penn, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Bill Nye, and AFI President and CEO Bob Gazzale. Conan O’Brien will also address the students by video. Details on the selected student videos can be found below. In addition to the celebration of the student films and the President’s remarks, FOX and National Geographic Channel will treat the attendees to a sneak peek of the first episode of the upcoming COSMOS: A SPACETIME ODYSSEY television series that celebrates the scientific perspective and the importance of science, technology, engineering, and math education. The students who submitted the Official Selections will be joined in the audience by students who submitted honorable mention videos, parents, teachers, business leaders, and education advocates. Details on the Official Selections for the first-ever White House Student Film Festival Young Visionaries Technology, Documentary, My Dad, and Me. Seventeen-year-old Shelly Ortiz became interested in filmmaking once she began attending the Metropolitan Arts Institute in Arizona in eighth grade. In "Technology, Documentary, My Dad, and Me," Shelly tells us about how the technology in her school has allowed her to find her passion and ability as a filmmaker and use that ability to tell the story of the people she cares about. Teleportation Investigation of 2014. Delaware, Ohio High school students Lexus Lexus Wolf, Natalie Koeritzer, Caroline Proffit, and Elizabeth Russell make up the group The Extrazzlers. In their video "Teleportation Investigation of 2014,” The Extrazzlers created an original music video about the technology in 2014 and what it might look like in the future. Through the Lens of a Tiger. Seniors Alicia Oluhara and Jason Perry attend Woodrow Wilson High School in Washington, D.C. In their submission to the White House Student Film Festival, they detail the many ways technology has enabled them to learn about broadcasting and journalism to tell stories and chase their dreams. Stay Curious: Technology in the Classroom. Seventeen-year-old Kayla Briët from Cypress, California has a passion for film, music, and the arts. Her submission focused on how technology can foster both academics and creativity. Kayla is also an accomplished musician who produced and recorded the original music featured in her film "Stay Curious: Technology in the Classroom." Discovery. Irvington High School sophomore Tiffany Lin from Fremont, California learned about the White House Student Film Festival by following the White House on Instagram. Her film, “Discovery,” shows how technology is used in the everyday life of a student through the advents of an action figure and an omniscient person who guides it. Beyond the Crossfire. High school students Gabriel Garcia, Tirsa Mercado, and Rachel Walden from High Tech High in Chula Vista, California submitted a short film about a larger documentary being produced by more than 45 fellow students designed to elevate youth voices in the discussion about how to prevent and reduce violence and make our schools, homes, and neighborhoods safer. Future Innovators Art Tech Collaboration. Elementary school students Emily Villazon, Sarah Matus, Jessica Barney, Reyah Doshi, and Garrett Dahn at Highlands and Mill Street Elementary Schools in Naperville, Illinois came together to create this dramatization of the interaction between two schools without ever meeting face to face. Student volunteers helped animate paper cutouts, created props, edited the film, and composed a soundtrack. This was a collaborative effort that required students to work together to create a cohesive story. PIP. High school students Richard White, Nicolas Ramey, and Emil Willmann from Louisiana teamed up to tell the story of a young boy who uses technology to make a presentation on what he wants to be when he grows up. Technology and Me. First graders Emily Kretschmer, Eleanor Daken, Malaika Wande, Yoan Pinsonneault, Veronica Techane, Makaia Spittel, Bezawit Gessesse, and Sydney Humpert from Silver Spring, Maryland gave us a pure and simple look at how the youngest of our students see the past, present, and future of classroom technology. World of Tomorrow Technology in Education: A Future Classroom. High school junior Daniel Nemroff from Wynnewood, Pennsylvania set out to show us what education might look like in the future. In "Technology in Education: A Future Classsroom," Daniel replaces standard texting with a conceptual example of Objective-Based Learning where students work independently, at their own pace, and are motived by achieving a virtual objective. Full S[T]EAM Ahead – How Technology Rocks the Classroom. Elementary school students Miles Pilchik and Gabrielle Nafie from SciTech Kids in New York, New York came together to show us how technology can spark children's innate curiosity through hands-on experiences. From iPads to 3D printers, "Full S[T]EAM Ahead" shows us how STEAM activities requires them to think like scientists, inventors, and Makers. Tomorrow's Classroom. Eighth grader Alexander Emerson from Manchester, Massachusetts shows us how his classroom uses technology to collaborate with students in Uganda, Rwanda, and Brazil to design a more efficient cookstove. Alex has been making films for several years, including an adaptation of Ambrose Bierce's short story "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge." Building Bridges Alex. Eleventh grader Aaron Buangsuwon from Atladena, California shot his video "Alex" about his brother, Alex, to shed light on how technology is helping kids with dyslexia and/or dysgraphia learn in a modern school environment. In order to stand out from the other submissions, and in honor of his brother's love of the outdoors, Mitch recorded his video out in nature instead of inside the classroom. Posnack Technology: A Day in the Life of Kyle. Seventh graders Marni Rosenblatt, Justin Etzine, and Rachel Huss at the David Posnack Jewish Day School in Davie, Florida came together to tell the story of fellow student Kyle Weintraub, who is being treated for lymphoma in Philadelphia but continues to attend school at Posnack through the use of a special robot. Using the robot, Kyle is able to interact with friends and teachers, venture through the hallways, and participate in class as if he were physically present. Double Time. Eighth graders Joshua Leong and Stephen Sheridan from Longfellow Middle School in Falls Church, Virginia told the story of two sister schools who collaborate on a school project from different parts of the world by using technology. Josh and Stephen wrote the script and traveled to schools and airports to tell their story. Hello From Malaysia. Seventeen-year-old Kira Bursky from Asheville, North Carolina has been making films since she was only 10. Her film chronicles a fictional girl, Aiman, who, after being sent to boarding school in the United States, uses technology both to maintain a connection with her family back home in Malaysia and also to share her culture and build connections with her new classmates. FEBRUARY 28 2014
Prezi Becomes a Technology Partner in the White House ConnectED Initiative Joins Other Industry Leaders Answering President Obama’s Call to Improve Education in the United States SAN FRANCISCO – February 28, 2014 – Prezi, the software for delivering memorable presentations, today announced that is has joined other industry leaders in support of President Obama’s ConnectED Initiative. Prezi's commitment will provide $100 million in Edu Pro licenses to hundreds of thousands of high schools and educators across America. With Prezi, teachers will have a better way to help their students explore subjects, see how ideas are related, and collaborate with each other. “Better education is our best chance to improve the world. Through the President’s ConnectED initiative, we’re making sure that more schools have access to the innovative tools that will inspire an expanding mind,” said Peter Arvai, co-founder and chief executive officer of Prezi. “Prezi, in particular, will help teachers convey ideas and enable students to understand and retain concepts. We are extremely excited to participate in the initiative and grateful to the nearly 40 million people in our Prezi community who have made it possible.” The White House previously announced $750 million in commitments from 7 partners including Apple, Microsoft, AT&T, Sprint, Verizon, Autodesk, and O'Reilly Media. Prezi and Adobe are the latest technology companies to join the initiative, bringing the total ConnectED investment to more than $1 billion. About Prezi Prezi is the presentation software that uses an open canvas instead of traditional slides to help people explore ideas, collaborate more effectively, and create visually dynamic presentations. More than 35 million people from over 190 countries use Prezi from their desktops, browsers, iPads, or iPhones. Founded in 2009, and with offices in San Francisco and Budapest, Prezi provides a unique solution for anyone who needs to deliver a “wow” experience or simply share an idea--anytime, anywhere. Relevant Links: · Prezi · What is ConnectED? · President Obama speaks on ConnectED FEBRUARY 27 2014
http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/legislative/sap/113/saphr899h_20140227.pdf EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET WASHINGTON, D.C. 20503 February 27, 2014 (House) STATEMENT OF ADMINISTRATION POLICY H.R. 899 – Unfunded Mandates Information and Transparency Act of 2013 (Rep. Foxx, R-North Carolina, and 4 cosponsors) The Administration is committed to ensuring that regulations are tailored to advance statutory goals in a manner that is efficient and cost-effective, and that minimizes uncertainty. By layering on additional, burdensome judicial review and other unnecessary changes to the regulatory process, H.R. 899, the Unfunded Mandates Information and Transparency Act of 2013, would introduce needless uncertainty into agency decision-making and undermine the ability of agencies to provide critical public health and safety protections. Accordingly, the Administration strongly opposes House passage of H.R. 899. When a Federal agency promulgates a regulation, the agency must adhere to the robust and well-understood procedural requirements of Federal law, including the Administrative Procedure Act, the Regulatory Flexibility Act, the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act, the Paperwork Reduction Act, and the Congressional Review Act. In addition, for decades, agency rulemaking has been guided by executive orders issued and followed by administrations of both political parties. These require regulatory agencies to promulgate regulations upon a reasoned determination that the benefits justify the costs, to consider regulatory alternatives, and to promote regulatory flexibility. The President's regulatory approach has been consistent throughout his Administration. We don’t have to choose between protecting the health, welfare, and safety of Americans and promoting economic growth, job creation, competitiveness, and innovation—we can do both. To this end, Executive Order 13563 requires careful cost-benefit analysis, increased public participation, harmonization of rulemaking across agencies, and flexible regulatory approaches. Through executive orders and other presidential directives, agencies must ensure that they take into account the consequences of rulemaking on small businesses. And, through Executive Orders 13579 and 13610, the Administration has also taken important steps to promote systematic retrospective review of regulations by all agencies, including encouraging independent agencies to conduct such a review. Collectively, these requirements promote flexible, cost-effective regulation. H.R. 899 would unnecessarily add to the already robust analytical and procedural requirements of the rulemaking process. In particular, H.R. 899 would create needless grounds for judicial review, unduly slowing the regulatory process. In addition, it would add layers of procedural steps that would interfere with agency priority setting and compliance with statutory mandates. If H.R. 899 were presented to the President, his senior advisors would recommend that he veto the bill. FEBRUARY 27 2014
THE WHITE HOUSE AND THE AMERICAN FILM INSTITUTE CO-SPONSOR FIRST-EVER "WHITE HOUSE FILM FESTIVAL" President Obama Introduces the White House Student Film Festival Winners FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, FEBRUARY 27, 2014, LOS ANGELES, CA – The American Film Institute announced today its collaboration with the White House on its first-ever film festival. With President Obama delivering opening remarks on February 28, 2014, the White House Film Festival will be held inside the East Room of the White House where the winning short films created by K-12 students on the subject of technology in education will be screened. The AFI's work with the White House marks a continuation of its presence in the nation's capital where the Institute was founded in 1965. In 2012, AFI celebrated the 50th Anniversary of TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD with President Obama, who introduced the film both at the White House and before a national televised screening of the classic film. Annually, the Institute presents its highly regarded documentary festival, AFI DOCS in landmark venues throughout Washington, DC and the historic AFI Silver Theatre. This year, AFI DOCS is June 18-22. "AFI is proud and honored to support the White House in its celebration of tomorrow's storytellers, " said Bob Gazzale, President & CEO of AFI. "Here they have shown that film and technology will help lead the nation forward – an enduring reminder that movies matter." Last November, the White House announced the first-ever White House Film Festival, a video competition created for K-12 students to create short films on how technology is used in their classroom, the role technology will play in education in the future, and to support learning in key fields such as science, technology, engineering, and math. More than 2,000 videos were submitted and finalists have been invited to the White House for a film festival where they will have their short films screened. The White House Student Film Festival highlights the Administration's commitment to getting high-speed Internet connectivity and educational technology into classrooms, and into the hands of teachers trained to take advantage of it. As part of the event, the President will deliver remarks on his ConnectED goal of transforming American education by connecting 99% of students to next-generation broadband and wireless technology within five years. About the American Film Institute AFI is America's promise to preserve the history of the motion picture, to honor the artists and their work and to educate the next generation of storytellers. AFI provides leadership in film, television and digital media and is dedicated to initiatives that engage the past, the present and the future of the moving image arts. AFI programs include the AFI Catalog of Feature Films and AFI Archive, which preserve film heritage for future generations; the AFI Life Achievement Award – the highest honor for a career in film – now in its 42nd year; AFI Awards, honoring the most outstanding motion pictures and television programs of the year; AFI's 100 Years...100 Movies television events and movie reference lists, which have introduced and reintroduced classic American movies to millions of film lovers; year-round and special event exhibition through AFI Fest presented by Audi, AFI Docs and the AFI Silver Theatre; and educating the next generation of storytellers at the world renowned AFI Conservatory, recognized for the quality of its instructors and speakers, and its notable alumni. FEBRUARY 26 2014
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary For Immediate Release February 26, 2014 REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT ON JOBS IN AMERICAN INFRASTRUCTURE Union Depot St. Paul, Minnesota 2:40 P.M. CST THE PRESIDENT: Hello, St. Paul! (Applause.) It is good to be back in Minnesota. (Applause.) AUDIENCE MEMBER: We love you! THE PRESIDENT: I love you back. That’s why I came here. Good to see you. Although, can I just say that when we got off the plane, Secretary Foxx, who is from North Carolina, turned to me and he said, this is the coldest I’ve ever been in my life. (Laughter.) Now, we were only out there for like a minute -- (laughter) -- which goes to show how soft these folks from North Carolina are when it comes to the weather. (Laughter and applause). I, on the other hand, am from Chicago -- (applause) -- I walked off those stairs and I was like, this is balmy, this is great. (Laughter.) February, in Minnesota -- can't beat it. Cannot beat it. Now, in addition to Secretary Foxx, who I want to -- give him a big round of applause for that introduction. (Applause.) You’ve two champions for the people of Minnesota who are here today. You’ve got Representative Betty McCollum -- (applause) -- and Representative Keith Ellison. (Applause.) You’ve got your Mayor, Chris Coleman, in the house. (Applause.) The new Mayor of Minneapolis, Betsy Hodges, is here. (Applause.) And my great friend, who actually told me I was running for President before I knew I was running for President -- R.T. Rybak. Love that name. (Applause.) Where’s R.T.? Now, I want to thank everybody who showed me around Union Depot and gave me a preview of this new light rail line. It is fantastic. (Applause.) And I also just want to say -- even though he’s not here today -- I want to say to everybody how Michelle and I have been keeping in our thoughts and prayers one of the great Americans that we know, as well as a great Minnesotan -- Walter Mondale. (Applause.) Now, like millions of Americans, I’ve spent some time with Minnesotans lately -- because I was watching the Olympics. (Laughter.) Minnesota sent 19 athletes to the games. (Applause.) That’s tied for second most of any state, and they did us all proud. It is not shocking that Minnesotans might be pretty good at the Winter Olympics. (Laughter.) What is particularly interesting is that, once again, the tiny town of Warroad proved that it really is Hockeytown, USA, thanks to T.J. Oshie and Gigi Marvin, who we’re just so proud of. And T.J.’s shootout performance against the Russians I might say I enjoyed a lot. (Applause.) I tweeted at him about it. So we’ve spent some time over the last few weeks on hockey, but I’m not here to talk about hockey. By the way, I cannot play hockey. (Laughter.) I grew up in Hawaii -- we do not have hockey in Hawaii. But I’m here to talk about what you’re doing in the Twin Cities, and how you’re helping to create new jobs and new opportunities for every American. We are at a moment when our economy is growing. Our businesses have created about 8.5 million new jobs in the past four years. Unemployment is at the lowest it’s been in over five years; in Minnesota, it’s lower than it’s been in six and a half years. (Applause.) And, by the way, you’ve got a great governor who I served with in the Senate, Mark Dayton, who is helping to make that happen. (Applause.) So in a lot of ways things are looking up. But in some ways, the trends that had been battering middle-class families for a long time have gotten even starker, because those at the top are doing better than ever, while wages and incomes for a lot of families have barely budged. And too many families are working harder than ever just to keep up. So as I said at the State of the Union address a few weeks back, our job is to reverse those trends. (Applause.) We’ve got to build an economy that works for everybody. We’ve got to restore opportunity for all people, so that no matter who you are, where you come from, what you look like, you can get ahead if you work hard and you’re responsible. And so I laid out an opportunity agenda that has four parts. Number one, good jobs that pay good wages in manufacturing, in energy, in innovation and infrastructure. Number two, train folks with the skills they need to get those good jobs, something that your senator, Al Franken, is doing great work on every single day. He cares a lot about that job training issue. (Applause.) Number three, guaranteeing every child has access to a world-class education. (Applause.) And, number four, making sure that hard work is rewarded with wages you can live on, and savings you can retire on, and health care you can count on. That’s what we’re fighting for. (Applause.) Minnesota is helping to lead the way on these issues. Your state legislature is poised to raise your minimum wage this year. (Applause.) In my State of the Union address, I called for a new women’s economic agenda. It’s actually a family economic agenda -- equal pay for equal work, paid sick leave and more. And there are leaders in your state legislature that are working hard at this, because they know when women succeed, America succeeds. (Applause.) So on all these issues, we’re reaching out to members of Congress, looking to see if they’re willing to work with us on some of these priorities. But what I also said at the State of the Union is, in this year of action, whenever I can partner directly with states or cities or business leaders or civic leaders to act on this opportunity agenda, I’m going to go ahead and do it. We can’t wait. We’ve got to move. We’ve got to get things going. Too many families are counting on it. (Applause.) So yesterday, I launched new hubs to attract 21st century manufacturing jobs to America. And today, I’m here to launch a new competition for 21st century infrastructure and the jobs that come with it, because any opportunity agenda begins with creating more good jobs. And one of the fastest and best ways to create good jobs is by rebuilding America’s infrastructure -- our roads, our bridges, our rails, our ports, our airports, our schools, our power grids. We’ve got a lot of work to do out there, and we’ve got to put folks to work. (Applause.) One of the most difficult things about the financial crisis we went through was the housing bubble bursting, and construction workers were hammered harder than just about anybody. And while we’ve cut the unemployment rate for construction workers almost in half since 2010, too many are still looking for jobs at a time when we've got so much that we could put them to work on rebuilding. We’ve got ports that aren’t ready for the next generation of supertankers. We’ve got more than 100,000 bridges that are old enough to qualify for Medicare. (Laughter.) Everybody knows, and nobody knows better than Minnesotans, when we've gone through a winter like this, roads are wrecked, full of potholes all across the country. (Applause.) Now, other countries are not waiting to rebuild their infrastructure. They’re trying to out-build us today so they can out-compete us tomorrow. As a percentage of GDP, countries like China, Germany, they’re spending about twice what we're spending in order to build infrastructure -- because they know that if they have the fastest trains on the planet or the highest-rated airports or the busiest, most efficient ports that businesses will go there. But we don't want businesses to go there. We want them to come here to Minnesota. (Applause.) We want them to come here to the United States of America. And that means the best airports and the best roads and the best trains should be right here in America. At a time when companies are saying they intend to hire more people this year, we need to make that decision easier for them. And we can create jobs at the same time, rebuilding our transportation systems, our power grids, our communications networks -- all the things that commerce relies on and that help get workers to those jobs. So the bottom line is there’s work to be done, workers ready to do it. Rebuilding our infrastructure is vital to business. It creates good-paying jobs that, by the way, cannot be outsourced. (Applause.) This is one of Congress’s major responsibilities -- helping states and cities fund new infrastructure projects. (Applause.) And part of the reason I'm focused on this is Congress has an important deadline coming up. If Congress doesn’t finish a transportation bill by the end of the summer, we could see construction projects stop in their tracks, machines sitting idle, workers off the job. So next week, I'm going to send Congress a budget that funds rebuilding our transportation infrastructure in a more responsible way -- by doing it over four years, which gives cities and states and private investors the certainty they need to plan major projects. Projects like repairing essential highways and bridges; building new transit systems in fast-growing cities and communities, so folks who live there can get to work and school every day and spend less time sitting in traffic. (Applause.) And we're going to have to construct smarter, more resilient transportation systems that can withstand the worst impacts of climate change, like bigger surges of water that we’ve seen in recent floods. So, all told, my transportation budget will support millions of jobs nationwide. And we’ll pay for these investments in part by simplifying the tax code. We’re going to close wasteful tax loopholes, lower tax rates for businesses that create jobs here at home, stop rewarding companies for sending jobs to other countries, use the money we save in this transition to create good jobs with good wages rebuilding America. It makes sense. (Applause.) Now, I’ll be honest with you, there are leaders in both parties who are willing to reach across the aisle in Congress when it comes to American infrastructure. They know how important it is. And infrastructure didn’t use to be a partisan issue -- shouldn’t be Democrat or Republican. Everybody uses roads, everybody uses ports, airports. Unfortunately, time and again over the past few years, there have been some Republicans in Congress who refused to act on common-sense proposals that will create jobs and grow our economy. It’s not that they’re -- I guess they don’t like roads; they just don’t want to pay for them. It doesn’t work that way. You’ve got to come up with a way to get these projects going. So while Congress is deciding what it’s going to do next, I’m just going to go ahead and do what I can to create more good jobs. And that’s why I came here to St. Paul. (Applause.) Because this project symbolizes what’s possible. Union Depot was renovated and expanded with the help of what we call TIGER grants. These are competitive grants that we created as part of the Recovery Act, also known as the stimulus, which actually worked despite what everybody claims. (Applause.) So the idea is, if a city or state comes up with a plan to modernize transportation infrastructure that will have a significant impact on economic activity, and if they line up other sources of funding to help pay for it, they can win a TIGER grant and the federal government becomes a partner with these local communities. So far, these grants have given a boost to 270 infrastructure projects across all 50 states. (Applause.) And you heard Secretary Foxx talk about -- these grants are helping cities like LA and states like North Carolina, and they helped you rebuild this depot into a hub that will bring different modes of transportation together under one roof instead of scattered across the city. Amtrak is going to be here. The new Metro Green Line will be here. Bus lines will be here. (Applause.) And I just had a chance to take a look at some of those spiffy new trains. (Laughter.) They are nice. And they’re energy efficient. They’re going to be reliable. You can get from one downtown to the other in a little over 30 minutes instead of when it’s snowing being in traffic for two hours. (Applause.) The trains were made in California, which meant folks were put to work here in the United States building them. (Applause.) And here’s the best part of it: Not only have you made a more efficient transportation system, cutting down commutes, saving on gas, reducing carbon pollution, but this depot has helped to boost economic development in Lowertown St. Paul. (Applause.) Just across the street the old downtown post office building is becoming apartments and shops. All told, more than 4,000 jobs were created for this project. (Applause.) And we’re seeing businesses crop up and new development crop up all along the line. So everybody is winning. And in part because of some flexibility that we showed during the planning process, the line is also going to stop in some poor neighborhoods that oftentimes have difficulty getting to the places where there are jobs. (Applause.) So it’s going to help folks who are willing to work hard, trying to get into the middle class, it helps them get access -- helps people get access to opportunity that, up until this point, had a tough time. So we know this works. Today, we’re kicking off the next round of competition for TIGER grants. Mayors and governors, city councils, state legislatures, all of you who are watching here today, if you’ve got a great idea for your city or your state, then let us know your plan. If it will encourage economic activity and support local businesses, and help put people to work, then your country is interested in partnering with you. And TIGER grants aren’t the only way that we can help cities like St. Paul and Minneapolis rebuild their infrastructure. You’ve got -- federal funding helped to build the Green Line; that's going to make it easier than ever to travel between the two cities. You’ve got more than 5,000 construction workers from all over Minnesota helping to build it. Nearly 200 police officers, train operators and maintenance workers are being hired. And that’s not counting all the jobs that are being created from the offices and the apartment buildings that are going to be built along the line. Because the trains stopped at neighborhoods that have access to public transportation, those folks are going to work. And all of this can be duplicated all across the country. But unfortunately, funding for these projects are going to be in jeopardy unless Congress passes this new transportation bill. So I want everybody to understand. Now, the good news is Keith Ellison, Betty, they're already onboard. (Applause.) They know this needs to happen. Al Franken, all over it. Some Democrats and Republicans are already working together to make sure transportation doesn't -- funding doesn’t run out. And we’re seeing some glimmers of hope, because this new round of TIGER grants was the result of bipartisan cooperation. That’s what needs to happen when we work together. But we’re going to need your voices telling a story around the country about why this is so important. Roads and bridges should not be a partisan issue. More Americans should have access to the kind of efficient, affordable transit you’re going to have with the Green Line. (Applause.) There’s no faster way or better way for Congress to create jobs right now and to grow our economy right now, and have a positive impact on our economy for decades than if we start more projects and finish more projects like this one. Let’s create more good jobs, build smarter schools, better airports, faster railways, better broadband networks. Let’s educate our kids and our workers better. Let’s rebuild an economy where everybody who is willing to hard has a chance to get ahead. (Applause.) This is the beginning, not the end. We’ve got a lot more rail we got to lay. We’ve got a lot more roads we got to travel. Let’s get going, Minnesota. Thank you. God bless you. God bless the United States of America. (Applause.) END 3:00 P.M. CST FEBRUARY 25 2014
Remarks by the President on Manufacturing Innovation Institutes White House Press Office via service.govdelivery.com Feb 25 THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary For Immediate Release February 25, 2014 REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT ON MANUFACTURING INNOVATION INSITUTES East Room 3:19 P.M. EST THE PRESIDENT: Hello, everybody! Everybody, please have a seat. Thank you. Thank you very much. Hey! Thank you. (Applause.) Welcome to the White House, everybody. We’ve got some pretty cool stuff up here, and we also have people here who can explain what it all is. But thank you so much for being here. We’ve got, first and foremost, some people who I’m proud to call friends and have been fighting on behalf of American workers every single day. We’ve got the Governor of the great state of Illinois -- Pat Quinn is here in the house. (Applause.) We’ve got somebody who is responsible for trimming my trees and potholes in front of my house -- (laughter) -- and shoveling snow. And I haven’t been back for a while; I don’t know how it’s going, but I’m assuming he’s handling his business -- the Mayor of the great city of Chicago, Rahm Emmanuel is here. (Applause.) We’ve got Phil LaJoy, who’s the supervisor of Canton Township, Michigan, who is here. There he is. (Applause.) Good job, Phil. And we’ve got some outstanding members of Congress who are here, especially someone who just announced that this would be his last term in Congress, but is somebody who so many of us have learned from, have admired. He is a man who has every single day of his life, in office, made sure that he was fighting on behalf of people who really needed help. And he’s going to be very missed. John, you are not just the longest-serving member of Congress in American history, you’re also one of the very best. Michigan’s own John Dingell is here. (Applause.) And we are better off because of John’s service, and we’re going to miss you. Now, today I am joined by researchers who invent some of the most advanced metals on the planet, designers who are modeling prototypes in the digital cloud, folks from the Pentagon who help to support their work. Basically, I’m here to announce that we’re building Iron Man. (Laughter.) I’m going to blast off in a second. (Laughter.) We’ve been -- this has been a secret project we’ve been working on for a long time. (Laughter.) Not really. Maybe. It’s classified. (Laughter.) But keeping America at the cutting edge of technology and innovation is what is going to ensure a steady stream of good jobs into the 21st century. And that’s why we’re here today -- to take new action to put America at the forefront of 21st century manufacturing. This is a moment when our economy is growing, and it has been growing steadily for over four years now. Our businesses have created about 8.5 million new jobs over the past four years. The unemployment rate is the lowest it’s been in over five years. Our manufacturing sector is adding jobs for the first time since the 1990s. So there’s some good news to report, but the trends that have battered the middle class for decades have become, in some ways, even starker. While those at the top are doing better than ever, average wages have barely budged. Too many Americans are working harder than ever just to keep up. And it’s our job to reverse those trends. We’ve got to build an economy that works for everyone, not just a fortunate few. We’ve got to restore opportunity for all people. That’s the essence of America: No matter who you are or where you come from, what you look like, how you started out -- if you are willing to work hard and take responsibility, you can get ahead in America. So I’ve been talking now for months about an opportunity agenda. And let me break it down into four parts. Number one, more good jobs that pay good wages -- jobs in American manufacturing, rebuilding our infrastructure, innovation, energy. Number two, training workers with the skills they need to fill those jobs. Number three, guaranteed access to a world-class education for every child in America. And number four, making sure that hard work pays off with wages you can live on and savings you can retire on and health insurance you can count on when you need it. Now, I’m looking forward to working with Congress wherever they’re willing to do something on any of these priorities. And I have to say that the members of Congress who are here all care deeply about these issues. But let’s face it -- sometimes it’s hard to get moving in Congress. We’ve got a divided Congress at this point. And so, in this year of action, wherever I can act on my own to expand opportunity for more Americans, I’m going to seize that opportunity. And that’s why we’re here today. Already, my administration has launched two hubs for high-tech manufacturing. One is in Youngstown, Ohio and is focused on 3-D printing, an entirely new way by which the manufacturing process can accelerate and supply chains get stitched together, and you integrate design and all the way through production in ways that can potentially be revolutionary. We’ve also focused on energy-efficient electronics in Raleigh, North Carolina. And what happens at each of these hubs is we’re connecting leading businesses to research universities, so they’re able to ensure that America leads the world in the advanced technologies that are going to make sure that we’re at the forefront when it comes to manufacturing. Now, my friend Congressman Tim Ryan, who’s here today, helped -- where’s Tim? I just saw him, there he is -- helped us get the first of these hubs off the ground. There’s growing bipartisan momentum now behind these efforts. We’ve got two Republicans and two Democrats, Roy Blunt and Sherrod Brown in the Senate, and Tom Reed and Joe Kennedy in the House, that have written bills that would help us create a true network of these hubs all across the country. So I’m really encouraging Congress to pass these bills. They’re good ideas. And what they do is not only help link up our top researchers with our best business people, but suddenly they become a focal point of opportunity, and businesses around the country and around the world start seeing, huh, if I’m interested in digital technologies that’s the place I should locate. If I’m interested in 3-D printing, let me go there. And so you get a virtuous cycle that can take place. And Congress I think has an opportunity to really expand these in a significant way. In the meantime, while Congress decides on what it’s going to do, we’re going to go ahead and take some action to launch more of these hubs this year. And today, we’re announcing the next two advanced manufacturing hubs. One is in the Detroit area, and the other is in Chicago, Illinois. (Applause.) Now, let me describe a little more why this is so important. For generations of Americans, manufacturing was the ticket to a good middle-class life. We made stuff. And the stuff we made -- like steel and cars and planes -- made us the economic leader of the world. And the work was hard, but the jobs were good. And if you got on an assembly plant in Detroit or in a steel plant in Youngstown, you could buy a home. You could raise kids. You could send them to college. You could retire with some security. And those jobs didn’t just tell us how much we were worth, they told us how we were contributing to the society and how we were helping to build America, and gave people a sense of dignity and purpose. They saw a Boeing plane or one of the Big Three cars rolling off the assembly line, and they said, you know what, I made that. And they were iconic. And people understood that’s what it meant for something to be made in America. Now, advances in technology have allowed manufacturers to do more with less. Global competition means a lot of good manufacturing jobs went overseas. There was just more competition. Folks caught up to us, and they in some cases just copied what we were doing with lower wages, so the competition was fierce. And in the 2000s alone, we lost about one-third of all American manufacturing jobs -- and the middle class suffered for it. Now, the good news is, today, our manufacturers have added more than 620,000 new manufacturing jobs over the last four years. That’s the first sustained manufacturing growth in over 20 years. But the economy has changed. So if we want to attract more good manufacturing jobs to America, we’ve got to make sure we’re on the cutting edge of new manufacturing techniques and technologies. And I just have to emphasize here that -- because you’ll hear some people say, well, why are manufacturing jobs so special, and this is a service economy. Nobody believes that we’re going to duplicate all the manufacturing jobs that existed back in the ‘40s and the ‘50s just because the economy has changed. You go into an auto plant now, it’s different then it was. Fewer people can make more cars. But keep in mind that when we have manufacturing in this country, what ends up happening is that, first of all, there are a whole lot of suppliers to those manufacturers, so that one plant may be deceptive. It doesn't tell you all the companies all across the country that are working on behalf of those manufacturers. The services that are provided to those manufacturers, the advertising that's connected to it, and the architects and the designers and the software engineers -- all those things may not be counted as manufacturing, but by us having those hubs of manufacturing, it has a ripple effect throughout the economy. So we’ve got to focus on advanced manufacturing to keep that manufacturing here in the United States. That's what’s going to help get the next Stark Industries off the ground. (Laughter.) So today -- by the way, my Commerce Secretary, Penny Pritzker, is not here because she’s in Silicon Valley meeting with business leaders and talking about how together we can work together to spur economic growth. The point is, I don't want the next big job-creating discovery to come from Germany or China or Japan. I want it to be made here in America. And this is one last point I’m going to make about this. Typically, a lot of research and development wants to be co-located with where manufacturing is taking place -- because if you design something, you want to see how is it working and how is it getting made, and then tinker with it and fix it, and try something different. So if all the manufacturing is somewhere else, the lead we’ve got in terms of design and research and development, we’ll lose that too. That will start locating overseas. And we will have lost what is the single most important thing about American economy, and that is innovation. So that's what all these hubs are about. They’re partnerships that bring together companies and universities to develop cutting-edge technology, train workers to use that technology, and then make sure that the research is translated into real-world products made by American workers. So the first hub, in Michigan, is going to focus on developing advanced lightweight materials. Detroit has already helping lead the American comeback in manufacturing. Since we stepped in to help our automakers retool, the American auto industry has created almost 425,000 new jobs. And they’ve already begun using new high-strength steel to make lighter cars that use less gas, save money, help save the planet, cars are still safe -- because of these new metals. And that's just one example of the incredible things these new metals can do. You’re seeing the same thing when it comes to lighter armored vehicles for our troops; planes and helicopters that can carry bigger payloads. If you look at some of the new planes that Boeing is manufacturing, they look lighter; even though they have the same capacity, they use less fuel. Wind turbines that generate more power at less cost. Prosthetic limbs that help people walk again who never thought they could. So we believe there’s going to be an incredible demand for these metals, both from the military and from the private sector, and we want to make sure they're made right here in America. We want our workers to have those jobs. So that's what our first hub is going to do -- focus on making these cool metals. Second hub -- based in Chicago, but keep in mind this is a consortium of more than 40 companies, 23 universities, labs like Northwestern and the University of Illinois, and nearly 200 small businesses. A number of other states are participating in this consortium. It’s funded by a $70-million award led by the Defense Department, but the state and its businesses raised $250 million in private funding commitments to help win this bid and make it happen. So this Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation [Institute] is going to be headquartered not far from downtown Chicago, on Goose Island, where there’s also a very superior beer in case you are -- (laughter and applause) -- I’m just letting you know. (Laughter.) A little hometown plug there. Feel free to use that, Goose Island. (Laughter.) And it’s going to focus on using digital technology and data management to help manufacturers turn their ideas into real-world products faster and cheaper than before. And it will include training to help more Americans earn the skills to do these digital manufacturing jobs. And this is critical: The country that gets new products to market faster and at less cost, they’ll win the race for the good jobs of tomorrow. And if you look at what’s happening in manufacturing, a lot of it is much more specific. Companies want to keep their inventories low. They want to respond to consumer demand faster. And what that means is, is that manufacturers who can adapt, retool, get something out, change for a particular spec of a particular customer, they’re going to win the competition every time. And we want that country that is specialized in this to be us, the United States of America. We want suppliers to be able to collaborate with customers in real-time, test their parts digitally, cut down on the time and money that they spend producing expensive prototypes. We want our manufacturers to be able to custom-design products tailored to each individual consumer. We want our troops to be able to download digital blueprints they can use to 3-D print new parts and repair equipment right there in the field. And these are all ambitious goals, but this is America -- that’s what we do, we’re ambitious. We don’t make small planes. Now, that doesn’t mean we’re going to be able to make all these happen overnight. This stuff takes time. And we also know these manufacturing hubs have the potential to fundamentally change the way we build things in America. So 10 years from now, 20 years from now, imagine our workers manufacturing materials that used to be science fiction -- a sheet of metal that’s thinner than paper but is strong as steel. Or our workers being able to design a product using these materials entirely on a computer, they bring it to market, less money, hire folks to build it right here, sell it all over the world. That’s what the next generation of American manufacturing could look like. But to get there, we can’t stop at just four of these hubs. I’m really excited about these four hubs; the only problem is Germany has 60 of them. Germany has 60 of them. Part of the reason Germany has been able to take the lead in certain manufacturing areas is because they’ve invested in these hubs and then they invest in the training of the workers for these very precise machines and tools, and that means that that cuts into our market share when it comes to manufacturing around the world. So we can’t let Germany have 60 and us have four. We’ve got to do better. So I’m hoping that we can get these outstanding members of Congress to push this through so I can sign a bill. But without waiting for Congress, we can launch four new manufacturing hubs this year. That’s our intention. My Department of Energy is announcing the competition for the first of these new hubs today. So to businesses and universities or civic leaders who are watching, start forming those partnerships now. Turn your community into a global center for creating high-tech jobs. We can’t turn the clock back to earlier, easier times when thousands of Americans would just punch in at a single factory and pound out the products for the industrial age. But thanks in part to our investment and most importantly to the collaboration of some of these outstanding institutions and leaders, factories that once went dark are turning their lights on again. More assembly lines are churning out the cars that the world wants to buy, humming with components of the clean energy age. If we stay focused on winning this race, we will make sure the next revolution in manufacturing is an American revolution. (Applause.) And we’ll make sure that opportunity for all is something that’s made in the USA. Thanks very much, everybody. Congratulations. Good job. Keep it up. (Applause.) END 3:40 FEBRUARY 27 2014
EMBARGOED: FWD from Adobe: Adobe Commits Over $300 Million in Software and Teacher Training to President Obama’s ConnectED Initiative White House Press Office via service.govdelivery.com Feb 27 Please see below and attached for an embargoed release from Adobe on their commitment to the President’s ConnectED Initiative. EMBARGOED UNTIL 6 AM EASTERN on FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2014 Adobe Commits Over $300 Million in Software and Teacher Training to President Obama’s ConnectED Initiative Commitment helps advance digital learning, teaching, administration in 15,000 U.S. schools SAN JOSE, Calif. — Feb. 28, 2014 --Adobe (Nasdaq:ADBE) announced today it is answering President Barack Obama’s challenge to bring technology education and teacher training to American schools by committing over $300 million in software and professional development to the White House’s ConnectED initiative. This commitment is among the largest to date, bringing the collective total of private sector donations to over $1 billion. Adobe’s $300 million commitment consists of software for students and educators, including: creative products Adobe Photoshop Elements, and Adobe Premiere Elements which includes complimentary access to technologies from Dolby Laboratories; Adobe Presenter and Adobe Captivate for e-Learning curricula; and Adobe EchoSign electronic signature software for improving schools’ administrative processes. In addition, Adobe’s Education division and the Adobe Foundation are providing a range of teacher training resources from the company’s Education Exchange program and the Adobe Youth Voices initiative. The commitment is aligned with the Common Core State Standards Initiative, which recommends that media skills be integrated throughout core curricula. Adobe is presenting its commitment to ConnectED during the first White House Student Film Festival on Fri., Feb. 28 at 3:30 p.m. ET in the East Room. “We believe in the power of media creation as a way for youth to express their creativity and build their skills for future success,” said Shantanu Narayen, president and CEO of Adobe. “We’re proud to contribute to the President’s ConnectED initiative, and look forward to seeing the benefits that our technology brings to both students and educators." For the past 20 years, Adobe has helped K-12 schools integrate creativity and digital literacy into curriculums through programs such as Adobe Youth Voices (AYV) and the Adobe Education Exchange. • The Adobe Education Exchange is the largest online community of creative educators. 127,000 teachers from across the globe connect with each other, access free professional development tools, and explore standards-based resources. • Adobe Youth Voices is the Adobe Foundation’s global initiative to ignite young people’s creativity through the power of storytelling with digital media. Like the films submitted at today’s student film festival at the White House, AYV teaches youth how to develop original media that highlights an issue they care about, identify solutions, and in the process, foster critical creative skills and a passion to make a difference. Since the program’s launch, more than 5,000 educators and 150,000 youth from over 58 countries have developed original, thought-provoking digital media. According to a 2013 study conducted by Adobe, parents and educators in the United States identified three key requirements needed to promote and foster creativity in education: provide tools and training to educators to enable creativity, make creativity integral to the curriculum, and reduce mandates that hinder creativity. In supporting the ConnectED initiative, Adobe addresses all three by providing access to quality software and resources that will foster students’ creative thinking and expression, and equip teachers to help students confidently communicate their ideas through media. About Adobe Systems Incorporated Adobe is changing the world through digital experiences. For more information, visit www.adobe.com. © 2014 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All rights reserved. Adobe, the Adobe logo, Photoshop, Captivate and EchoSign are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. FEBRUARY 25 2014
EMBARGOED: President Obama to Host First-Ever White House Film Festival White House Press Office via service.govdelivery.com Feb 27 THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary THIS WAS EMBARGOED UNTIL 6:00 AM ET, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28 [ At 6:00am, the Press release was able to be released publicly ] President Obama to Host First-Ever White House Film Festival Announces $400 million in new private sector commitments toward ConnectED goal WASHINGTON, DC - Today, President Obama will host the first ever White House Student Film Festival, an event that will showcase the power of technology to boost learning and the Administration’s commitment to bringing America’s classrooms into the 21st century with high-speed internet and cutting-edge educational technology. In the East Room of the White House, President Obama will discuss ongoing progress towards his ConnectED goal of transforming American education by connecting 99% of students to next-generation broadband and wireless technology within five years. In keeping with his pledge to make 2014 a year of action using the power of his pen and his phone, the President will announce $400 million in new private sector commitments from Adobe and Prezi to make free software available to teachers and students to help introduce creative learning materials to classrooms all across the country and help realize the promise of e-learning. The commitments the President will announce include: · Adobe – Making available over $300 million worth of free software to teachers and students, including Photoshop and Premiere Elements for creative projects; Presenter and Captivate to amplify e-Learning; EchoSign for school workflow; and a range of teacher training resources. · Prezi – Prezi, a software tool for creating memorable presentations, is providing $100 million in Edu Pro licenses for high schools and all educators across America. These build on the $750 million commitments the President announced earlier this month — by using the power of his phone, the President inspired private-sector leaders to pledge well over $1 billion in value to America’s students through these private-sector commitments in the last month alone. Last November, the White House announced the first-ever White House Student Film Festival, a video competition created for K-12 students to create short films on how technology is used in their classroom and the role technology will play in education in the future, and to support learning in key fields such as science, technology, engineering, and math. More than 2,000 videos were submitted. Following the President’s remarks tomorrow, the White House – in collaboration with the American Film Institute (AFI) – will screen the 16 “Official Selections.” The selected videos will be screened in four groups: (1) Young Visionaries; (2) Future Innovators; (3) World of Tomorrow; (4) Building Bridges. The films will be presented by Kal Penn, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Bill Nye, and AFI President and CEO Bob Gazzale. Conan O’Brien will also address the students by video. Details on the selected student videos can be found below. In addition to the celebration of the student films and the President’s remarks, FOX and National Geographic Channel will treat the attendees to a sneak peek of the first episode of the upcoming COSMOS: A SPACETIME ODYSSEY television series that celebrates the scientific perspective and the importance of science, technology, engineering, and math education. The students who submitted the Official Selections will be joined in the audience by students who submitted honorable mention videos, parents, teachers, business leaders, and education advocates. Details on the Official Selections for the first-ever White House Student Film Festival Young Visionaries Technology, Documentary, My Dad, and Me. Seventeen-year-old Shelly Ortiz became interested in filmmaking once she began attending the Metropolitan Arts Institute in Arizona in eighth grade. In "Technology, Documentary, My Dad, and Me," Shelly tells us about how the technology in her school has allowed her to find her passion and ability as a filmmaker and use that ability to tell the story of the people she cares about. Teleportation Investigation of 2014. Delaware, Ohio High school students Lexus Lexus Wolf, Natalie Koeritzer, Caroline Proffit, and Elizabeth Russell make up the group The Extrazzlers. In their video "Teleportation Investigation of 2014,” The Extrazzlers created an original music video about the technology in 2014 and what it might look like in the future. Through the Lens of a Tiger. Seniors Alicia Oluhara and Jason Perry attend Woodrow Wilson High School in Washington, D.C. In their submission to the White House Student Film Festival, they detail the many ways technology has enabled them to learn about broadcasting and journalism to tell stories and chase their dreams. Stay Curious: Technology in the Classroom. Seventeen-year-old Kayla Briët from Cypress, California has a passion for film, music, and the arts. Her submission focused on how technology can foster both academics and creativity. Kayla is also an accomplished musician who produced and recorded the original music featured in her film "Stay Curious: Technology in the Classroom." Discovery. Irvington High School sophomore Tiffany Lin from Fremont, California learned about the White House Student Film Festival by following the White House on Instagram. Her film, “Discovery,” shows how technology is used in the everyday life of a student through the advents of an action figure and an omniscient person who guides it. Beyond the Crossfire. High school students Gabriel Garcia, Tirsa Mercado, and Rachel Walden from High Tech High in Chula Vista, California submitted a short film about a larger documentary being produced by more than 45 fellow students designed to elevate youth voices in the discussion about how to prevent and reduce violence and make our schools, homes, and neighborhoods safer. Future Innovators Art Tech Collaboration. Elementary school students Emily Villazon, Sarah Matus, Jessica Barney, Reyah Doshi, and Garrett Dahn at Highlands and Mill Street Elementary Schools in Naperville, Illinois came together to create this dramatization of the interaction between two schools without ever meeting face to face. Student volunteers helped animate paper cutouts, created props, edited the film, and composed a soundtrack. This was a collaborative effort that required students to work together to create a cohesive story. PIP. High school students Richard White, Nicolas Ramey, and Emil Willmann from Louisiana teamed up to tell the story of a young boy who uses technology to make a presentation on what he wants to be when he grows up. Technology and Me. First graders Emily Kretschmer, Eleanor Daken, Malaika Wande, Yoan Pinsonneault, Veronica Techane, Makaia Spittel, Bezawit Gessesse, and Sydney Humpert from Silver Spring, Maryland gave us a pure and simple look at how the youngest of our students see the past, present, and future of classroom technology. World of Tomorrow Technology in Education: A Future Classroom. High school junior Daniel Nemroff from Wynnewood, Pennsylvania set out to show us what education might look like in the future. In "Technology in Education: A Future Classsroom," Daniel replaces standard texting with a conceptual example of Objective-Based Learning where students work independently, at their own pace, and are motived by achieving a virtual objective. Full S[T]EAM Ahead – How Technology Rocks the Classroom. Elementary school students Miles Pilchik and Gabrielle Nafie from SciTech Kids in New York, New York came together to show us how technology can spark children's innate curiosity through hands-on experiences. From iPads to 3D printers, "Full S[T]EAM Ahead" shows us how STEAM activities requires them to think like scientists, inventors, and Makers. Tomorrow's Classroom. Eighth grader Alexander Emerson from Manchester, Massachusetts shows us how his classroom uses technology to collaborate with students in Uganda, Rwanda, and Brazil to design a more efficient cookstove. Alex has been making films for several years, including an adaptation of Ambrose Bierce's short story "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge." Building Bridges Alex. Eleventh grader Aaron Buangsuwon from Atladena, California shot his video "Alex" about his brother, Alex, to shed light on how technology is helping kids with dyslexia and/or dysgraphia learn in a modern school environment. In order to stand out from the other submissions, and in honor of his brother's love of the outdoors, Mitch recorded his video out in nature instead of inside the classroom. Posnack Technology: A Day in the Life of Kyle. Seventh graders Marni Rosenblatt, Justin Etzine, and Rachel Huss at the David Posnack Jewish Day School in Davie, Florida came together to tell the story of fellow student Kyle Weintraub, who is being treated for lymphoma in Philadelphia but continues to attend school at Posnack through the use of a special robot. Using the robot, Kyle is able to interact with friends and teachers, venture through the hallways, and participate in class as if he were physically present. Double Time. Eighth graders Joshua Leong and Stephen Sheridan from Longfellow Middle School in Falls Church, Virginia told the story of two sister schools who collaborate on a school project from different parts of the world by using technology. Josh and Stephen wrote the script and traveled to schools and airports to tell their story. Hello From Malaysia. Seventeen-year-old Kira Bursky from Asheville, North Carolina has been making films since she was only 10. Her film chronicles a fictional girl, Aiman, who, after being sent to boarding school in the United States, uses technology both to maintain a connection with her family back home in Malaysia and also to share her culture and build connections with her new classmates. FEBRUARY 25 2014
President Obama to Host First-Ever White House Film Festival White House Press Office via service.govdelivery.com Feb 25 THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 25, 2014 President Obama to Host First-Ever White House Film Festival WASHINGTON – On Friday, February 28, the White House will host students, parents, and teachers at its first-ever Student Film Festival, highlighting the Administration’s commitment to get high-speed Internet connectivity and educational technology into classrooms. Last November, the White House announced the first-ever White House Student Film Festival, a video competition created for K-12 students to create short films on how technology is used in their classroom, the role technology will play in education in the future, and to support learning in key fields such as science, technology, engineering, and math. More than 2,000 videos were submitted and finalists have been invited to the White House for a film festival where they will have their short films screened. As part of the event, the President will deliver remarks on his ConnectED goal of transforming American education by connecting 99% of students to next-generation broadband and wireless technology within five years. Earlier this month, some of America’s largest companies answered the President’s call to action towards that goal by pledging more than $750 million in commitments to deliver cutting-edge technologies to classrooms, including devices, free software, teacher professional development, and home wireless connectivity. In addition to the celebration of the student films and the President’s remarks, FOX and National Geographic Channel will treat the attendees to a sneak peek of the first episode of the upcoming COSMOS: A SPACETIME ODYSSEY television series that celebrates the scientific perspective and the importance of science, technology, engineering, and math education. The event will be open press and streamed live on www.whitehouse.gov/live. For more information and to view the live webcast visit, http://www.whitehouse.gov/filmfest. WHAT: White House will host its first-ever Student Film Festival, highlighting the Administration’s commitment to getting high-speed Internet connectivity and educational technology into classrooms, and into the hands of teachers trained to take advantage of it. As part of the event, the President will deliver remarks on his ConnectED goal of transforming American education by connecting 99% of students to next-generation broadband and wireless technology within five years. WHEN: Friday, February 28, 3:30 PM ET WHERE: East Room of the White House. Media should enter the White House complex via the northwest appointment gate, located on Pennsylvania Avenue. Media should bring a government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license or passport, as well as a media credential from their outlet for access. MEDIA REGISTRATION: The President’s remarks and the Film Fest are OPEN PRESS. Media wishing to cover this event must RSVP. Press holding White House hard passes had to send their name, media outlet, phone, and email, by Wednesday, February 26, at 5:00PM ET, with the subject line “Film Fest”. Press not holding White House hard passes had to include specific details in advance FEBRUARY 24 2014
President to Host Event on Manufacturing Innovation Institutes THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 24, 2014 President to Host Event on Manufacturing Innovation Institutes Tomorrow, Tuesday, February 25, the President will host an event at the White House to announce new steps in partnership with the private sector to boost advanced manufacturing, strengthen our capabilities for defense, and attract the types of high-quality jobs that a growing middle class requires. The President will announce two new manufacturing innovation institutes led by the Department of Defense supported by a $140 million Federal commitment combined with more than $140 million in non-federal resources: (1) Detroit-area headquartered consortium of businesses and universities, with a focus on lightweight and modern metals manufacturing; (2) Chicago headquartered consortium of businesses and universities that will concentrate on digital manufacturing and design technologies. President Obama has declared 2014 a year of action, and while he will continue to work with Congress on new measures to create jobs and grow the economy, he will also use his executive authority to get things done. After shedding jobs for a decade, our manufacturers have added 622,000 jobs since early 2010, including more than 80,000 over the past four months. Manufacturing production is growing at its fastest pace in over a decade, and the President is committed to building on that progress. The event will be open press and streamed live on www.whitehouse.gov/live. WHAT: The President will host an event at the White House to announce new steps in partnership with the private sector to boost advanced manufacturing, strengthen our capabilities for defense, and attract the types of high-quality jobs that a growing middle class requires. WHEN: Media interested in covering this event must report to the north Palm Room doors at 2:40 PM to be escorted. 3:05 PM Remarks by THE PRESIDENT Open press (Pre-set 1:35 PM, Final Gather 2:40 PM – North Palm Room Doors) WHERE: Media should enter the White House complex via the northwest appointment gate, located on Pennsylvania Avenue, and proceed to the north Palm Room doors at the designated time. Media should bring a government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license or passport, as well as a media credential from their outlet for access. NOTE: Members of the media who do not have a White House hard pass must also submit their full legal name (including middle name), date of birth, Social Security number, gender, country of birth, country of citizenship and current city and state of residence by 5:00 PM ET. FEBRUARY 19 2014
Executive Order -- Streamlining the Export/Import Process for America’s Businesses THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 19, 2014 Attached is an Executive Order signed by the President today regarding the completion of the International Trade Data System by December 2016. THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary For Immediate Release February 19, 2014 EXECUTIVE ORDER STREAMLINING THE EXPORT/IMPORT PROCESS FOR AMERICA'S BUSINESSES By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, and in order to reduce supply chain barriers to commerce while continuing to protect our national security, public health and safety, the environment, and natural resources, it is hereby Section 1. Policy. The United States is the world's largest economy and the largest trading Nation. Trade is critical to the Nation's prosperity -- fueling economic growth, supporting good jobs at home, raising living standards, and helping Americans provide for their families with affordable goods and services. It is the policy of the United States to promote commerce through the effective implementation of an ambitious 21st century trade agenda and vigorous enforcement of our Nation's laws relating to trade, security, public health and safety, the environment, and natural resources. In support of these goals, and to ensure that our Nation is well-positioned to compete in an open, fair, and growing world economy, the Federal Government must increase efforts to improve the technologies, policies, and other controls governing the movement of goods across our national borders. In particular, we must increase efforts to complete the development of efficient and cost-effective trade processing infrastructure, such as the International Trade Data System (ITDS), to modernize and simplify the way that executive departments and agencies (agencies) interact with traders. We must also improve the broader trade environment through the development of innovative policies and operational processes that promote effective application of regulatory controls, collaborative arrangements with stakeholders, and a reduction of unnecessary procedural requirements that add costs to both agencies and industry and undermine our Nation's economic competitiveness. By demonstrating our commitment to utilizing technology, coordinating government processes, fulfilling international obligations, and embracing innovative approaches to promote new opportunities for trade facilitation in the 21st century, we can lead by example and partner with other countries willing to adopt similar programs. This will encourage compliance with applicable laws and, more broadly, result in a more prosperous, safe, secure, and sustainable trading environment for all. Sec. 2. Policy Coordination. Policy coordination, guidance, dispute resolution, and periodic reviews for the functions and programs set forth in this order shall be provided through the interagency process established in Presidential Policy Directive–1 of February 13, 2009 (Organization of the National Security Council System), or any successor. Sec. 3. International Trade Data System. The ITDS, as described in section 405 of the Security and Accountability for Every Port Act of 2006 (the "SAFE Port Act") (Public Law 109-347), is an electronic information exchange capability, or "single window," through which businesses will transmit data required by participating agencies for the importation or exportation of cargo. To enhance Federal coordination associated with the development of the ITDS and to provide necessary transparency to businesses, agencies, and other (a) by December 31, 2016, participating agencies shall have capabilities, agreements, and other requirements in place to utilize the ITDS and supporting systems, such as the Automated Commercial Environment, as the primary means of receiving from users the standard set of data and other relevant documentation (exclusive of applications for permits, licenses, or certifications) required for the release of imported cargo and clearance of cargo for export; (b) by December 31, 2016, the Department of Homeland Security shall confirm to the Secretary of the Treasury and the ITDS Board of Directors (Board), which serves as the Interagency Steering Committee established under section 405 of the SAFE Port Act, that the ITDS has the operational capabilities to (i) transmit a harmonized set of import and export data elements, to be collected, stored, and shared, via a secure single window, to fulfill U.S. Government requirements for the release and clearance of goods; (ii) transition from paper-based requirements and procedures to faster and more cost-effective electronic submissions to, and communications with, (c) the Board shall, in consultation with ITDS participating agencies, define the standard set of data elements to be collected, stored, and shared in the ITDS; and continue to periodically review those data elements in order to update the standard set of data elements, as necessary; (d) the Board shall continue to assist the Secretary of the Treasury in overseeing the implementation of, and participation in, the ITDS, including the establishment of the ITDS capabilities and requirements associated with the collection from users and distribution to relevant agencies of standard electronic import and export data; and (e) the Board shall make publicly available a timeline outlining the development and delivery of the secure ITDS capabilities, as well as agency implementation plans and schedules. Agencies shall take such steps as are necessary to meet the timeline, including timely completion of all appropriate agreements, including memoranda of understanding, and other required documents that establish procedures and guidelines for the secure exchange and safeguarding of data among agencies and, as appropriate, with other Federal Sec. 4. Establishment of the Border Interagency Executive Council. (a) There is established the Border Interagency Executive Council (BIEC), an interagency working group to be chaired by the Secretary of Homeland Security or a senior-level designee from the Department. The BIEC shall also have a Vice Chair, selected every 2 years from among the members of the BIEC by a process determined by the members. The BIEC shall develop policies and processes to enhance coordination across customs, transport security, health and safety, sanitary, conservation, trade, and phytosanitary agencies with border management authorities and responsibilities to measurably improve supply chain processes and improve identification of (b) The Department of Homeland Security shall provide funding and administrative support for the BIEC, to the extent (c) In addition to the Chair and Vice Chair, the BIEC shall include designated senior-level representatives from agencies that provide approval before goods can be imported and exported, including the Departments of State, the Treasury, Defense, the Interior, Agriculture, Commerce, Health and Human Services, Transportation, and Homeland Security, the Environmental Protection Agency, and other agencies with border management interests or authorities, as determined by the Chair and Vice Chair. The BIEC shall also include appropriate representatives from the Executive Office of the President. Sec. 5. Functions of the BIEC. The BIEC shall: (a) develop common risk management principles and methods to inform agency operations associated with the review and release of cargo at the border and encourage compliance with (b) develop policies and processes to orchestrate, improve, and accelerate agency review of electronic trade data transmitted through relevant systems and provide coordinated and streamlined responses back to users to facilitate trade and support and advance compliance with applicable laws and international agreements, including (in coordination with, and as recommendations to, the Board) policies and processes designed to assist the Secretary of the Treasury, as appropriate, with activities related to the ITDS; (c) identify opportunities to streamline Federal Government systems and reduce costs through the elimination of redundant capabilities or through enhanced utilization of the Automated Commercial Environment capabilities as a means of improving supply chain management processes; (d) assess, in collaboration with the Board, the business need, feasibility, and potential benefits of developing or encouraging the private-sector development of web-based interfaces to electronic data systems, including the ITDS, for individuals and small businesses; (e) engage with and consider the advice of industry and other relevant stakeholders regarding opportunities to improve supply chain management processes, with the goal of promoting economic competitiveness through enhanced trade facilitation and (f) encourage other countries to develop similar single window systems to facilitate the sharing of relevant data, as appropriate, across governmental systems and with trading (g) assess, in consultation with the Department of the Treasury, opportunities to facilitate electronic payment of duties, taxes, fees, and charges due at importation. The Federal Government endorses electronic payment of duties, taxes, fees, and charges due at importation, and currently allows payment electronically through various systems. Sec. 6. Regulatory Review. To support the Federal Government's rapid development of the ITDS that, to the greatest extent possible, relies upon the collection, exchange, and processing of electronic data, each agency that utilizes the (a) as part of the retrospective review report due to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) on July 14, 2014, pursuant to Executive Order 13610 of May 10, 2012 (Identifying and Reducing Regulatory Burdens), unless directed otherwise through subsequent guidance from OIRA, determine whether any regulations should be modified to achieve the requirements set forth in this order; and (b) promptly initiate rulemaking proceedings to implement necessary regulatory modifications identified pursuant to subsection (a) of this section. Sec. 7. Reports. (a) Within 180 days of the date of this order, agencies with border management interests or authorities shall report to the Board on their anticipated use of international standards for product classification and (b) By July 1, 2014, and every year thereafter until July 2016, the BIEC, in consultation with the Board, shall provide to the President, through the Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism, a report on the implementation of section 5 of this order. Sec. 8. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect: (i) the authority granted by law to an executive department, agency, or the head thereof; or (ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals. (b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law, and subject to the availability of (c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person. (d) Independent agencies are strongly encouraged to comply with the requirements of this order. BARACK OBAMA February 19, 2014. FEBRUARY 19 2014
The White House Office Of The Secretary issued an Open Media Press Call to cover White House highlighting Patent Reform. The Press Release said: White House to Host Event Highlighting Patent Reform Efforts WASHINGTON – Tomorrow, Thursday, February 20, the White House will host an event highlighting the Administration’s commitment to strengthening the patent system to ensure it encourages innovation and invention, inspires and rewards creativity, drives investment, and spurs job creation. In his State of the Union address, the President renewed his call to protect innovators from patent trolls and for Congress to pass common-sense patent legislation. Tomorrow, the White House, Department of Commerce and U.S. Patent and Trademark Office will announce progress on Administration initiatives on patent reform and new efforts to simplify and strengthen our patent system for a 21st century economy — helping companies focus on innovation, not litigation. WHEN: Thursday, February 20, 3:30 PM ET WHERE: South Court Auditorium, Eisenhower Executive Office Building WHO: U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker Gene Sperling, Assistant to the President for Economic Policy and Director of the National Economic Council and Assistant to the President for Economic Policy Todd Park, Assistant to the President and U.S. Chief Technology Officer Michelle Lee, Deputy Director, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office This event will be webcast live at http:/www.whitehouse.gov/live. FEBRUARY 18 2014
The White House screened "The Monument's Men" along with the film's cast and crew, officials from the State Department's Cultural Heritage Center, regarded by the White House as the country's modern day monuments men and woman seeing Cultural heritage preservation as a vital tool of Foreign Policy.. Also in attendance were White House curators, members of the Jewish community, and the Director of the US Holocaust Memorial Museum. Celebrating and preserving diverse heritages strengthens the foundation of bilateral relationships. The State Department's Cultural Heritage Center has been a leader in global preservation for cultural heritage sites and objects for over thirty years. Attendees include: · George Clooney · Nick and Nina Clooney · Bill Murray · Matt Damon · Grant Heslov · Robert Edsel, author of the book The Monuments Men · Harry Ettlinger, a member of the original Monument Men group · Bill Burns, Deputy Secretary of State · Heather Higginbottom, Deputy Secretary of State · David Wade, State Department Chief of Staff · Richard Stengel, Under Secretary of State for Public Affairs · Evan Ryan, Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs · Bill McHugh, Secretary of the Army · Sara Bloomfield, Director the US Holocaust Memorial Museum · Rabbi Jack Moline, Agudas Achim Congregation · Susan Hildreth, Director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services · David Ferriero, Archivist of the United States DECEMBER 23 2013
President Obama Honors Outstanding Early-Career ScientistsWorkxWhite House Press Office noreply@messages.whitehouse.gov via service.govdelivery.com 12/23/13 to me THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary _________________________________________________________________________________________ FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 23, 2013 President Obama Honors Outstanding Early-Career Scientists President Obama today named 102 researchers as recipients of the Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers, the highest honor bestowed by the United States Government on science and engineering professionals in the early stages of their independent research careers. The winners will receive their awards at a Washington, DC, ceremony in the coming year. “The impressive achievements of these early-stage scientists and engineers are promising indicators of even greater successes ahead,” President Obama said. “We are grateful for their commitment to generating the scientific and technical advancements that will ensure America’s global leadership for many years to come. The Presidential Early Career Awards embody the high priority the Obama Administration places on producing outstanding scientists and engineers to advance the Nation’s goals, tackle grand challenges, and contribute to the American economy. The recipients are employed or funded by the following departments and agencies: Department of Agriculture, Department of Commerce, Department of Defense, Department of Education, Department of Energy, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of the Interior, Department of Veterans Affairs, Environmental Protection Agency, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, National Science Foundation, the Smithsonian Institution, and the Intelligence Community, which join together annually to nominate the most meritorious scientists and engineers whose early accomplishments show the greatest promise for assuring America’s preeminence in science and engineering and contributing to the awarding agencies' missions. The awards, established by President Clinton in 1996, are coordinated by the Office of Science and Technology Policy within the Executive Office of the President. Awardees are selected for their pursuit of innovative research at the frontiers of science and technology and their commitment to community service as demonstrated through scientific leadership, public education, or community outreach. This year’s recipients are: Department of Agriculture Dr. Steven Cannon, Iowa State University Dr. Isis Mullarky, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Dr. Justin Runyon, U.S. Forest Service Department of Commerce Dr. Gretchen Campbell, National Institute of Standards and Technology Dr. Adam Clark, University of Oklahoma Dr. Alan Haynie, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Dr. R. Joseph Kline, National Institute of Standards and Technology Dr. Ana Rey, National Institute of Standards and Technology and University of Colorado at Boulder Dr. Scott Weaver, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Department of Defense Dr. Jennifer Dionne, Stanford University Dr. Mohamed El-Naggar, University of Southern California Dr. Gregory Fuchs, Cornell University Dr. Kristen Grauman, University of Texas at Austin Dr. Mona Jarrahi, University of Michigan at Ann Arbor Mr. Lane Martin, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Dr. Yael Niv, Princeton University Dr. Derek Paley, University of Maryland Dr. Greg Pitz, Air Force Research Laboratory Dr. Ronald Polcawich, U.S. Army Research Laboratory Dr. Rodney Priestley, Princeton University Dr. Jeremy Robinson, Naval Research Laboratory Dr. Onome Scott-Emuakpor, Air Force Research Laboratory Dr. Ramon van Handel, Princeton University Dr. David Weld, University of California at Santa Barbara Dr. Yongjie Zhang, Carnegie Mellon University Department of Education Dr. Jeffrey Karpicke, Purdue University* Dr. Young-Suk Kim, Florida State University Department of Energy Dr. Brian Anderson, West Virginia University Dr. Theodore Betley, Harvard University Dr. Matthew Brake, Sandia National Laboratories Mr. Adrian Chavez, Sandia National Laboratories Dr. Gary Douberly, University of Georgia Dr. Mattan Erez, University of Texas at Austin Dr. Sean Hartnoll, Stanford University Dr. Daniel Kasen, University of California at Berkeley and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Dr. Meimei Li, Argonne National Laboratory Dr. Miguel Morales, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Dr. Jennifer Reed, University of Wisconsin at Madison Dr. Seth Root, Sandia National Laboratories Dr. Adam Weber, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Department of Health and Human Services Dr. Debra Auguste, City College of New York Dr. Jessica Belser, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Dr. Jeremy Clark, University of Washington Dr. Andreea Creanga, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Dr. Damien Fair, Oregon Health and Science University Dr. Thomas Fazzio, University of Massachusetts Medical School Dr. Jessica Gill, National Institutes of Health Dr. Andrew Goodman, Yale University School of Medicine Dr. Aron Hall, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Dr. Xue Han, Boston University Dr. Susan Harbison, National Institutes of Health Dr. Richard Ho, Vanderbilt University Medical Center Dr. Shingo Kajimura, University of California at San Francisco Dr. Young Kim, Yale University School of Medicine Dr. Todd Macfarlan, National Institutes of Health Dr. Gaby Maimon, Rockefeller University Dr. Sandra McAllister, Harvard Medical School Dr. Quyen Nguyen, University of California at San Diego Dr. Sallie Permar, Duke University School of Medicine Dr. Katherine Radek, Loyola University Chicago Dr. Katherine Rauen, University of California at San Francisco Dr. Ida Spruill, Medical University of South Carolina Dr. Andrew Yoo, Washington University School of Medicine Department of Interior Dr. Anna Chalfoun, U.S. Geological Survey Dr. Gavin Hayes, U.S. Geological Survey Dr. Burke Minsley, U.S. Geological Survey Department of Veterans Affairs Dr. Karunesh Ganguly, San Francisco VA Medical Center Dr. Brian Head, VA San Diego Healthcare System Dr. Katherine Iverson, VA Boston Healthcare System Dr. Hardeep Singh, Houston VA Medical Center Environmental Protection Agency Dr. Steven Purucker, Environmental Protection Agency Intelligence Community Dr. Joeanna Arthur, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency Dr. Lucy Cohan, Central Intelligence Agency Mr. Justin Jacobs, National Security Agency Dr. Steven Jaslar, Federal Bureau of Investigation Dr. Daniel Stick, Sandia National Laboratories Dr. Charles Tahan, National Security Agency National Aeronautics and Space Administration Dr. Joshua Alwood, NASA Ames Research Center Dr. Douglas Hoffmann, Jet Propulsion Laboratory and California Institute of Technology Dr. Randall McEntaffer, University of Iowa Dr. Tamlin Pavelsky, University of North Carolina Dr. Patrick Taylor, NASA Langley Research Center National Science Foundation Dr. Theodor Agapie, California Institute of Technology Dr. Javier Arce-Nazario, University of Puerto Rico at Cayey Dr. Sarah Bergbreiter, University of Maryland at College Park Dr. Moises Carreon, University of Louisville Dr. Sigrid Close, Stanford University Dr. Raffaella De Vita, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Dr. Abigail Doyle, Princeton University Dr. Daniel Goldman, Georgia Institute of Technology Dr. Joel Griffitts, Brigham Young University Dr. Samantha Hansen, University of Alabama Dr. Rouslan Krechetnikov, University of California at Santa Barbara Dr. Tamara Moore, University of Minnesota Dr. Daniela Oliveira, Bowdoin College Dr. Jonathan Pillow, University of Texas at Austin Dr. Benjamin Recht, University of Wisconsin at Madison Dr. David Savitt, University of Arizona Dr. Noah Snavely, Cornell University Dr. Junqiao Wu, University of California at Berkeley Dr. Ahmet Yildiz, University of California at Berkeley Smithsonian Institution Dr. Rossman Irwin III, National Air and Space Museum *Jeffrey Karpicke was nominated by both the Department of Education and the National Science Foundation DECEMBER 18 2013
PCAST Considers Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) and Related Technologies in Higher Education Today, the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) released a letter report to the President about opportunities for advanced education technologies to improve educational outcomes and lower costs in higher education. The report, which builds on insights from PCAST members and additional outside experts, underscores the promise of new high-tech educational tools and advocates for continued experimentation in the education technology domain. Access to higher education is an important pathway to success in almost any field. According to a report released earlier this month by the College Board Advocacy and Policy Center, over the past decade, tuition and fees at public, four-year colleges have risen 5.1% per year faster than the rate of inflation. This troubling trend puts a college education out of reach for many young people in America, especially those from middle-class or low-income families. In its new report, PCAST explores the potential of recent advances in technology—with a focus on Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs)—to expand access to higher education opportunities and to address other challenges facing America’s higher education system. PCAST recommends three key steps the Federal Government can take to derive maximum benefits from new education technologies:
Read the full letter report here. View an infographic about the report here. Jim Gates, Craig Mundie, and Shirley Ann Jackson are members of PCAST and co-chairs of the PCAST Education Information Technology (EdIT) Working Group. The PCAST EdIT Working Group also includes Richard Levin, Dan Schrag, Mark Gorenberg, Barbara Schaal, William Press, Chad Mirkin, and Susan Graham. PCAST is an advisory group of the Nation’s leading scientists and engineers, appointed by the President to augment the science and technology advice available to him from inside the White House and from cabinet departments and other Federal agencies. For more information about PCAST, please visit the PCAST website. |
THE ECONOMY
IS NOT ABOUT ACCOUNTING
IT IS
ABOUT ACCOUNTABILITY
________________
MAY 9 2013
Obama Administration Releases Historic Open Data Rules to Enhance Government Efficiency and Fuel Economic Growth The Obama Administration today took groundbreaking new steps to make information generated and stored by the Federal Government more open and accessible to innovators and the public, to fuel entrepreneurship and economic growth while increasing government transparency and efficiency. Today’s actions—including an Executive Order signed by the President and an Open Data Policy released by the Office of Management and Budget and the Office of Science and Technology Policy—declare that information is a valuable national asset whose value is multiplied when it is made easily accessible to the public. The Executive Order requires that, going forward, data generated by the government be made available in open, machine-readable formats, while appropriately safeguarding privacy, confidentiality, and security. The move will make troves of previously inaccessible or unmanageable data easily available to entrepreneurs, researchers, and others who can use those files to generate new products and services, build businesses, and create jobs. “One of the things we’re doing to fuel more private sector innovation and discovery is to make vast amounts of America’s data open and easy to access for the first time in history. And talented entrepreneurs are doing some pretty amazing things with it,” said President Barack Obama. “Starting today, we’re making even more government data available online, which will help launch even more new startups. And we’re making it easier for people to find the data and use it, so that entrepreneurs can build products and services we haven’t even imagined yet.” Later today, President Obama will meet with entrepreneurs at the Capital Factory—a startup incubator—who are already leveraging open government data to create new products and services as part of his new series of Middle Class Jobs & Opportunity Tours to highlight how a growing, thriving middle class is critical to America’s economic future. The American economy has consistently benefited when government data have been released to entrepreneurs and other innovators. The public release of weather data from government satellites and ground stations generated an entire economic sector that today includes the Weather Channel, commercial agricultural advisory services, and new insurance options. Similarly, the decision by the US Government to make the Global Positioning System (GPS), once reserved for military use, available for civilian and commercial access, gave rise to GPS-powered innovations ranging from aircraft navigation systems to precision farming to location-based apps, contributing tens of billions of dollars in annual value to the American economy. And the Administration’s current Health Data Initiative, which has opened government-held data on hospitals, drugs, insurance products, healthcare costs, and more in machine-readable form, has already contributed to hundreds of new products and companies that are transforming health care delivery and improving patient health. Just yesterday, Medicare published data that for the first time gives consumers information on what hospitals charge for common inpatient procedures, signaling a major step forward for hospital price transparency and accountability. Along with the Executive Order and Open Data Policy, the Administration announced a series of complementary actions: • A new Data.Gov. In the months ahead, Data.gov, the powerful central hub for open government data, will launch new services that include improved visualization, mapping tools, better context to help locate and understand these data, and robust Application Programming Interface (API) access for developers. • New open source tools to make data more open and accessible. The US Chief Information Officer and the US Chief Technology Officer are releasing free, open source tools on Github, a site that allows communities of developers to collaboratively develop solutions. This effort, known as Project Open Data, can accelerate the adoption of open data practices by providing plug-and-play tools and best practices to help agencies improve the management and release of open data. For example, one tool released today automatically converts simple spreadsheets and databases into APIs for easier consumption by developers. Anyone, from government agencies to private citizens to local governments and for-profit companies, can freely use and adapt these tools starting immediately. • Building a 21st century digital government. As part of the Administration’s Digital Government Strategy and Open Data Initiatives in health, energy, education, public safety, finance, and global development, agencies have been working to unlock data from the vaults of government, while continuing to protect privacy and national security. Newly available or improved data sets from these initiatives will be released today and over the coming weeks as part of the one year anniversary of the Digital Government Strategy. • Continued engagement with entrepreneurs and innovators to leverage government data. The Administration has convened and will continue to bring together companies, organizations, and civil society for a variety of summits to highlight how these innovators use open data to positively impact the public and address important national challenges. In June, Federal agencies will participate in the fourth annual Health Datapalooza, hosted by the nonprofit Health Data Consortium, which will bring together more than 1,800 entrepreneurs, innovators, clinicians, patient advocates, and policymakers for information sessions, presentations, and “code-a-thons” focused on how the power of data can be harnessed to help save lives and improve healthcare for all Americans. For more information on open data highlights across government visit: http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/ostp/library/docsreports APRIL 12 2013
The White House Office of the Press Secretary For Immediate Release April 22, 2013 NEW DETAILS: President Obama to Host White House Science Fair WASHINGTON, DC -- Today, President Obama will host the White House Science Fair and celebrate the student winners of a broad range of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) competitions from across the country. The President will also announce new steps as part of his Educate to Innovate campaign, an all-hands-on-deck effort to get more girls and boys inspired to excel in these key subjects. “When students excel in math and science, they help America compete for the jobs and industries of the future,” said President Obama. “That’s why I’m proud to celebrate outstanding students at the White House Science Fair, and to announce new steps my Administration and its partners are taking to help more young people succeed in these critical subjects." The White House Science Fair will feature 100 students from more than 40 states, representing 45 different STEM competitions and organizations that recognize the talents of America’s next generation of scientists, engineers, inventors and innovators. Approximately 30 student teams will have the opportunity to exhibit their projects as part of the Fair. The President will view exhibits of the student work, ranging from breakthrough basic research to new inventions, followed by remarks to an audience of students, science educators and business leaders on the importance of STEM education to the country’s economic future. The White House Science Fair is a key commitment in the President’s Educate to Innovate campaign to inspire more girls and boys to excel in STEM subjects. As the President has noted, “If you win the NCAA championship, you come to the White House. Well, if you're a young person and you produce the best experiment or design, the best hardware or software, you ought to be recognized for that achievement, too.” New Commitments Being Announced Today to Advance the President’s Educate to Innovate Campaign New AmeriCorps track focused on STEM Education: Starting this year, and in partnership with leading nonprofits, the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) will announce a new dedicated cohort of national service participants, called STEM AmeriCorps. This effort will place national service members in nonprofits that mobilize STEM professionals to inspire young people to excel in STEM education. As a key first step, CNCS will place 50 AmeriCorps VISTA members across the country to build the capacity of FIRST, a nonprofit organization that sponsors robotics competitions and other tech challenges. As a result of support from the AmeriCorps VISTA members, FIRST will be able to connect more low-income children with FIRST’s exciting competitions. AmeriCorps VISTA will partner with leading non-profits in the Maker Movement to create Maker Spaces in high schools around the country. These investments will lay the foundation for an AmeriCorps competition later this year in which STEM will be a priority, allowing the funding of hundreds of STEM-focused AmeriCorps members across the country. These members will recruit and support thousands of STEM professionals to volunteer in schools and academic programs. To maximize this opportunity, CNCS will pursue partnerships with both the private sector and other Federal agencies. Multi-year STEM mentoring campaign – US2020 – to get many more companies to commit their science and technology workforce to STEM volunteering: In response to the President’s call to action, ten leading education non-profits and U.S. technology companies, including Fortune 500 firms SanDisk, Cognizant, and Cisco are launching US2020, an all-hands-on-deck effort to have many more STEM professionals mentor children from kindergarten through college. US2020 aims to make mentoring the new normal in the STEM professions in the same way that pro-bono work is common in the legal profession. Member companies will work to have 20 percent of their STEM employees engaged in at least 20 hours a year of mentoring or teaching by the year 2020. The long-term goal of US2020 will be to mobilize 1 million STEM mentors annually by the year 2020, creating millions of moments of discovery – those life changing events when children launch rockets, build robots, write a computer program, or look into the farthest reaches of the universe. Collectively, the founding partners and members of US2020 have already committed more than $2 million in private funds to launch the organization and support STEM mentoring. Partners have also committed to focus on scaling up quality mentoring and reaching many more underserved students – particularly girls and underrepresented minorities. Over the next year, US2020 will be incubated within the non-profit organization Citizen Schools and will become a stand-alone non-profit entity in 2014. Additional US2020 founding partners and members include Weber Shandwick, AfterCollege, HotChalk, CodeNow, TEALS and the National Commission on Teaching and America's Future. Summer campaign to give many more students the ability to be “Makers”: This summer, the Maker Education Initiative will launch the first-ever MakerCorps. These volunteers will give more young people the opportunity to design and build something that is personally meaningfully to them. In its first year, over 100 MakerCorps members – in 19 states and Washington D.C. —will work work with 34 different partner organizations such as schools, libraries, and science centers. In addition, Mozilla and the National Writing Project will lead Maker Party 2013: Learn, Connect, Share, a summer long campaign where teachers, technologists and families across the country will join dozens of partner organizations including the NYC Department of Education, Intel, and DIY.org to help young people embrace the maker spirit and learn career building STEM skills. The campaign will launch on June 15 with a Hive Learning Popup, the first of over 1,000 summer learning events planned as part of the Summer of Making and Connecting supported by the MacArthur Foundation. Math and Science AP Initiative to Expand to 70 High Schools Serving Military Families: As part of the First Lady’s Joining Forces effort, the National Math and Science Initiative (NMSI), in partnership with Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC) and Military Impacted Schools Association (MISA), is leading a campaign to give many more students at public high schools serving a high percentage of military families access to rigorous Advanced Placement (AP) coursework in math and science. NMSI will now expand its Initiative for Military Families this fall to an additional 17 public high schools serving children of military families in eight new states, reaching a total of 70 schools. In the first two years alone, this initiative has led to students from military-impacted schools taking and passing an additional 1,150 AP courses. Corporate, philanthropic and government partners making investments in this initiative include the Department of Defense Education Activity, the Office of Naval Research, BAE Systems, Boeing, ExxonMobil, Jack Kent Cooke Foundation, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman. Time Warner Cable’s “STEM in Sports:” As part of the Educate to Innovate initiative, Time Warner Cable (TWC) has made a $100 million commitment to inspire the next generation by connecting students to highly-engaging after-school STEM activities. As part of its Connect a Million Minds initiative and with partners including New York Giants receiver Victor Cruz, TWC will launch a new effort in May 2013 to get kids and parents excited about STEM by highlighting the role these subjects play in sports. TWC will work with star athletes, including Cruz, motorsports driver Kasey Kahne and golf champion Ian James Poulter. Continued momentum on the 100Kin10 coalition: Responding to the President’s call to action to prepare 100,000 excellent STEM teachers over the next ten years, more than 150 organizations have now come together in a coalition called 100Kin10. These organizations have made over 150 measurable commitments to increasing the supply of excellent STEM teachers; hiring, developing, and retaining excellent STEM teachers; and building the 100Kin10 movement. With leadership from the Carnegie Corporation of New York, the coalition has raised over $30 million from a broad range of foundations and philanthropists under a unique “funding marketplace” model through which funders can choose from a registry of high-quality proposals. As a next step, 100Kin10 is announcing a new commitment from Chevron, with a leadership pledge of $5 million to invest in partnerships that prepare, retain, develop, and motivate STEM professionals to effectively engage students in engineering design and to support implementation of the Next Generation Science Standards in the classroom. This builds upon contributions by Amgen Corporation, MacArthur Foundation, Noyce Foundation, and Samueli Foundation, among others, who have made commitments in the past year, with the capital campaign closing at the Clinton Global Initiative-America meeting in June 2013. Next steps in Discovery Communications’ STEM Campaign: As part of Educate to Innovate, Discovery Communications launched a multi-year campaign to get more students excited about STEM, including a dedicated commercial-free educational kids block on the Science Channel, and programming on the “grand challenges” of the 21st century. As a key next step, on May 1st, Discovery is launching a new science-focused series to inspire the next generation of students, “The Big Brain Theory: Pure Genius,” hosted by Kal Penn. On the show, 10 contestants will navigate engineering challenges using design and logic as they compete to see who will be America’s next great innovator. Additional details on the White House Science Fair Senior Administration officials and leading STEM communicators, advocates, and educators will also attend the White House Science Fair and meet the students. For a full list of the exhibits that the President will see, as well as more information on all the students, competitions, and organizations being honored, click here. Senior Administration Officials and Other Attendees John Holdren, Assistant to the President for Science and Technology and Director, Office of Science and Technology Policy Nancy Sutley, Chair, White House Council on Environmental Quality Francis Collins, Director, National Institutes of Health Cora Marrett, Director, National Science Foundation Charles F. Bolden, Administrator, National Aeronautics and Space Administration Harold Varmus, Director, National Cancer Institute Kathryn D. Sullivan, Acting Administrator, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Wendy Spencer, Chief Executive Officer, Corporation for National and Community Service Rosina Bierbaum, Professor, University of Michigan School of Natural Resources and Environment and member of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson Leading STEM and Media Communicators Bill Nye, Bill Nye the Science Guy and Executive Director, Planetary Society Kal Penn, Actor, Producer, Host of upcoming Discovery Channel series The Big Brain Theory: Pure Genius Victor Cruz, Wide Receiver, New York Giants Bobak Ferdowsi, Flight Director, Mars Curiosity Rover (aka NASA’s “Mohawk Guy”) Bill Prady, Writer, Producer, and Co-Creator, The Big Bang Theory LeVar Burton, Actor, Director, and Producer, Reading Rainbow and Star Trek: The Next Generation A sampling of the exhibits at the White House Science Fair include:
|
The FY 2014Science and Technology R&D BudgetStrategicinvestmentsto boostresearch, fuel innovation, and grow the economyThe President’s fiscal year (FY)2014 Budgetcalls for significant, targeted investmentsin the U.S. research and development (R&D) enterprise and inscience, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education—core elements of the Administration’s strategy for ensuring continued economic expansion built on the foundation of a thriving middle class.TheFY 2014Budget demonstrates the President’sfirm commitment to expanding the frontiers of human knowledge;cultivating a home-grown, clean-energy future;improvinghealthcare outcomes for all Americans at lower cost;addressingthe mounting challenges of global climatechange;managingcompeting demands on environmental resources;and reinforcingnational and homeland security.At the same time, in keepingwith the spendingcaps imposed bythe Budget Control Act of 2011, the President’s R&D Budget includesstrategic cuts in selected areas to help reduce the deficit,even as itprovidesincreasesforscience and engineering researchwith the greatest potential to pay off for the Nation.“The President’s FY 2014 budget reflects the wise recognition that investing todayinscience, innovation,and STEM educationis the best way to maintain America’s edgein the development of transformative technologies,the industries of future,and breakthrough solutions to national and global challenges,”said Dr. John P. Holdren, President Obama’s science and technology advisor and Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. “We have seentime and again that fueling the American R&D enginenot only results in new toolsto solveourtoughest problemsbut also opens new doors to jobs and opportunities for all Americans.”All told,the President’s FY 2014Budget proposes $142.8 billion for Federal R&D, an increase of$1.9billion or 1.3percent over the FY 2012 enacted level.(All comparisons noted here are in current, not-adjusted-for-inflation dollarsand use FY 2012 appropriations as baseline because the FY 2013 Budget was so recently enacted.)TheFederal research portfolio—comprising basic and applied research—would total$68.1billion,up $4.8billion or 7.5percent, and non-defense R&D would rise 9.2percent to $69.6billion. These increases are offset in part by reductions in defense R&D(in the Departments of Defense and Energy combined), down 5.2 percent or $4.0 billion to $73.2 billion, and in the Nation’s developmentbudget overall, down 5.0 percent or $3.8 billion to $71.5 billion. Both of those reductions primarily reflect Department of Defense (DOD) weapons-systems developmentprograms that have maturedand are transitioningto the production phase.In addition, the President’s FY 2014 science and technology budget:•Sustains a World-LeadingCommitment to Science & Researchfor three science agenciescrucial to our Nation’s future competitiveness—the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Office of Science, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology(NIST) laboratories, providinga total of $13.5 billion—an increase of 8percent above FY 2012 funding levels.•Makes America a Magnet for Manufacturing and Jobs by providing $2.9 billion for advanced manufacturing R&D—including expanded support for innovative manufacturing processes, advanced industrial materials, and robotics. This figure includes the Administration’s proposedinvestment of$1 billion to launch a network of up to 15 manufacturing innovation institutes in a National Network for Manufacturing Innovation.•Advances Clean, American Energyby providing$379millionfor transformational energy R&D inDOE’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E); $2.8billion for DOE’s Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy office, with a focus on clean-vehicle technologies;and $200 million in FY 2014 and $2 billion over ten years from revenue generated by Federal oil and gas development for the establishment of an Energy Security Trust to support research focused on a range of cost-effective energy technologies.•Preparesthe Nation’s FutureInnovatorsby providing $3.1billionfor STEMeducationto ensure the next generation isprepared for challenging 21stcentury careers. In addition, the Budget includes a reorganization of STEM education programs to make Federal investments in this domain more efficient and effective. Other R&D highlights in the President’s FY 2014Budget(compared to FY 2012enacted)include: •$31.3billion (up 1.5%) for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) budget•$12.7 billion (up 18%) for DOE R&D•$11.6 billion (up 2.6%) for National Aeronautics and Space Administration R&D•$7.6 billion (up 8.4%) for the NSF budget•$2.7 billion (up 6.0%) for the U.S. Global Change Research Program•$1.4 billion (up 186%) for Department of Homeland Security R&D•$1.2billion (up 9%) for the U.S. Geological Survey budget•$754 million (up 21.0%) for NIST’s intramural laboratories•$733 million (up 28%) for NOAA’s R&D programs. Decreases not already mentioned above include reductions in R&D within the Department of Defense (to $68.3billion, down 6.3%),the Environmental Protection Agency (to $560 million, down 1.4%), and themulti-agency National Nanotechnology Initiative(to $1.7 billion, down 9%).Additional details can be found on fact sheetsand other FY 2014budget resourcesat http://www.whitehouse.gov/ostp/rdbudgets.OSTP was created by Congress in 1976 to serve as a source of scientific and technological analysis and judgment for the President with respect to major policies, plans, and programs of the Federal government. For more information on OSTP, visit http://www.whitehouse.gov/ostp
President Obama today named twelve eminent researchers as recipients of the National Medal of Science and eleven extraordinary inventors as recipients of the National Medal of Technology and Innovation, the highest honors bestowed by the United States Government upon scientists, engineers, and inventors. The recipients will receive their awards at a White House ceremony in early 2013.
“I am proud to honor these inspiring American innovators,” President Obama said. “They represent the ingenuity and imagination that has long made this Nation great—and they remind us of the enormous impact a few good ideas can have when these creative qualities are unleashed in an entrepreneurial environment.”
The National Medal of Science was created by statute in 1959 and is administered for the White House by the National Science Foundation. Awarded annually, the Medal recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to science and engineering. A committee of Presidential appointees selects nominees on the basis of their extraordinary knowledge in and contributions to chemistry, engineering, computing, mathematics, or the biological, behavioral/social, and physical sciences.
The National Medal of Technology and Innovation was created by statute in 1980 and is administered for the White House by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Patent and Trademark Office. The award recognizes those who have made lasting contributions to America’s competitiveness and quality of life and helped strengthen the Nation’s technological workforce. Nominees are selected by a distinguished independent committee representing the private and public sectors.
This year’s recipients are listed below.
National Medal of Science
National Medal of Science
Dr. Allen Bard, University of Texas at Austin, TX
Dr. Sallie Chisholm, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MA
Dr. Sidney Drell, Stanford University, CA
Dr. Sandra Faber, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA
Dr. Sylvester James Gates, University of Maryland, MD
Dr. Solomon Golomb, University of Southern California, CA
Dr. John Goodenough, University of Texas at Austin, TX
Dr. M. Frederick Hawthorne, University of Missouri, MO
Dr. Leroy Hood, Institute for Systems Biology, WA
Dr. Barry Mazur, Harvard University, MA
Dr. Lucy Shapiro, Stanford University School of Medicine, CA
Dr. Anne Treisman, Princeton University, NJ
National Medal of Technology and Innovation
Dr. Frances Arnold, California Institute of Technology, CA
Dr. George Carruthers, U.S. Naval Research Lab, DC
Dr. Robert Langer, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MA
Dr. Norman McCombs, AirSep Corporation, NY
Dr. Gholam Peyman, Arizona Retinal Specialists, AZ
Dr. Art Rosenfeld, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, CA
Dr. Jan Vilcek, NYU Langone Medical Center, NY
Team:
Dr. Samuel Blum, IBM Corporation, NY
Dr. Rangaswamy Srinivasan, IBM Corporation, NY
Dr. James Wynne, IBM Corporation, NY
Company:
Raytheon BBN Technologies, MA, *Represented by CEO, Edward Campbell
Affiliations listed are the awardees’ most recently identified employers; some awardees are now retired.