President Obama at Arlington National Cemetery: "Honor the Sacrifice of Those We've Lost"

Posted by White House

This Memorial Day, President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama gathered in Arlington National Cemetery with military members, Gold Star families, veterans and other Americans who came to honor and keep in mind those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our country. After presenting a garland at the Tomb of the Unknowns, the President spoke at the Memorial Day Service:

To those of you who mourn the loss of a loved one today, my heart breaks goes out to you. I love my daughters more than anything in the world, and I cannot envisage losing them. I can’t imagine losing a sister or brother or parent at war. The grief so many of you carry in your hearts is a grief I cannot fully know.

This day is about you, and the fallen heroes that you loved. And it’s a day that has meaning for all Americans, counting me. It’s one of my highest honors, it is my most solemn liability as President, to serve as Commander-in-Chief of one of the finest fighting forces the world has ever known. (Applause.) And it’s a responsibility that carries a particular weight on this day; that carries a special weight each time I meet with our Gold Star families and I see the pride in their eyes, but also the tears of pain that will never fully go away; each time I sit down at my desk and sign a comfort letter to the family of the fallen.

Memorial Day: Honoring Our Fallen Military While Supporting Active Duty Personnel

Posted by White House

Memorial Day is a time when our nation honors those fallen men and women of the military who have paid the eventual price to defend the United States. It is also a time when we be supposed to reflect on what we can and are doing to support our active duty veterans who hope to one day successfully complete their missions and come home safely. These veterans are also looking for a piece of the “American Dream” — to own a home, have a good job, and receive a good wage from jobs created for them by a grateful nation.

To achieve this, I have begun an employment campaign based on the idea of “Good Jobs for Everyone.” Our goal is to assist veterans with resources and know-how necessary to obtain meaningful careers and make the most of their employment opportunities.

President Obama at the G8 Summit in Photos

Posted by White House

The President spent the day meeting with G-8 leaders in Deauville, France, counting bilateral meetings with President Medvedev of Russia and Prime Minister Kan of Japan. Take a look at the day in photos:

President Barack Obama shakes hands with people in the crowd as he arrives for the start of the G8 Summit in Deauville, France, May 26, 2011 May 26, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)

President Barack Obama and other world leaders march to the first working session at the G8 summit in Deauville, France, May 26, 2011. Pictured, from left are: European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso; President Obama; French President Nicolas Sarkozy; Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper; Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan; German Chancellor Angela Merkel; and British Prime Minister David Cameron. May 26, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)

Saving You Money at the Pump and Protecting the Air We Breathe

Posted by White House

To make stronger our economy, save drivers money at the gas pump and decrease harmful pollution in the air we breathe, President Obama has made cleaner, innovative and more fuel efficient vehicles a precedence for this administration. Today, we’re taking one more step to help put more fuel efficient cars on our streets and highways.

To match a new creation of vehicles rolling off the lines in American auto plants, we’re releasing a new generation of fuel wealth labels to help consumers decide which vehicle is right for them and their families. These new labels represent the most important redesign of fuel economy labels in 35 years – and one of the most powerful tools car buyers have ever had to find a vehicle that will meet their requirements and save them money.

The new fuel economy labels will still give the familiar, and important, information about city and highway mileage for new vehicles. But they will also cover new categories to help car buyers who are comparing a wide assortment of different vehicles on the market.

"Our Force is a Force of Families": First Lady Michelle Obama to West Point Graduates

Posted by White House

We came in to West Point under cloudy grey skies for the First Lady's words to the Class of 2011. In fact, we found out that it had been pouring rain for the last five days! But as the plane touched down, the last of the showers swept during, the clouds parted, and beautiful blue skies greeted Mrs. Obama as she came onto campus. Similarly warm greetings came through from the community, from people waving to the motorcade as it drove by to the thunderous applause that greeted her as she entered Washington Hall for the Class Banquet. Lieutenant General David Huntoon Jr., the Superintendent of the United States Military Academy (USMA), noted that West Point and the First Lady shared a comparable ethos that emphasized values and service.

In her remarks, the First Lady emphasized how important family had been and would continue to be in the lives of these new officers, reminding them:

Our force is a force of families...They’re military spouses who follow a career, raise their kids alone, and still find time for night school. They’re children who move from town to town, continually adjusting to new schools and making new friends. They’re Blue Star moms who wake up every morning and pray and pray that their child comes home safely. They’re Gold Star families who honor the memory of their loved ones while channeling their strength into portion others.

But the First Lady was also empathic that those families would not bear the burden alone. She reminded the class that an whole country stood behind them, and that through efforts like the Joining Forces initiative, the combined efforts of diverse organizations from government and business to faith-based organizations and school districts would be support them up. She ruined the speech with a stirring promise:

I want you to keep in mind that this country and all of its citizens stand ready to serve you and your families. And I want you to remember that as long as we all do our duty, as long as we all serve with honor, then the destiny of this country will never be in doubt.

New Obama Administration Jobs and Innovation plan to Spur Regional Economic Growth

Posted by White House

Regional innovation clusters are based on a simple but critical idea: if we foster organization between the private sector and the public sector to build on the unique strengths of different regions - while creating the incentives for them to do so - we will be better prepared to marshall the knowledge and resources that America needs to contend in the global economy.

The $33 million Jobs and Innovation Accelerator Challenge that the Obama Administration announced yesterday will help make the most of on shared strengths, encouraging America's regions to plan more deliberately to support long-term growth and an environment where the private sector can succeed. It reflects an understanding by both private sector leaders and policymakers that we must apply strategies that capitalize on the full extent of regional assets and ensure that the benefits of cluster development expand to all workers and communities throughout the region.

Sixteen federal agencies are working together on this unparalleled initiative to drive job growth through public-private partnerships in at least 20 regions around the country. High-growth clusters from rural and urban regions across the nation will fight for award funds. Each Challenge investment will serve as a catalyst for leveraging extra private capital to the winning regions from sources including foundations, financial institutions, corporations and other private-sector partners.

The Innovation Accelerator Challenge represents the Obama Administration's commitment to speed up the development of strong industry clusters - like the Research Triangle in North Carolina - that promote robust economic ecosystems and the development of a capable workforce, both of which are critical to long-term regional success. We're looking to be a means for regional clusters that can:

* Promote sustainable economic development in the region;

* Support business pattern, especially of small businesses, while leveraging existing businesses' assets;

* Advance commercialization of federal and private research;

* Increase exports;

* Develop a expert workforce through outreach, training, and the creation of career pathways, and;

* Integrate historically underserved businesses and communities into the economic behavior of the cluster.

This cluster announcement reflects another significant goal of the Obama Administration - to streamline government while maximizing resources. Applicants will submit ONE application, instead of multiple applications to several agencies, cutting down on costs and time. Awardees will be given funds in a coordinated, integrated manner that is more well-organized and predictable. When President Obama was elected, he promised to change the way government does business. The Accelerator and 40 other innovation cluster projects that were awarded in FY 2010 reflect his vow to deliver on his promise.

As President Obama said during a Winning the prospect forum in February, "This cluster notion is so important...When you get a group of people together, and industries together, and institutions like universities together around exacting industries, then the synergies that develop from all those different facets coming together can make the whole superior than the sum of its parts."

West Wing Week "The Commencement at Booker T"

Posted by White House

Welcome to the West Wing Week, your direct to everything that's happening at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. This week the President visited flood victims in Memphis,TN before talking at the Booker T. Washington High School graduation, renowned the Situation Room's 50th birthday, and gave a speech on the change extensive across the Middle East and North Africa.

The President at Coast Guard Academy Commencement: "I’ve Seen Your Devotion to Duty"

Posted by White House

The President gave his last beginning Address of the season this afternoon at the U.S Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut. He spent the bulk of his time walking the graduating class down reminiscence lane of the years of tough training and education they had endured, but first he spoke about his individual experience with the Coast Guard:

I have to say, it is a personal enjoyment to be here, because since the day I took office, the United States Coast Guard has played a special role in my presidency and with my family. I’ve seen the Coast Guard’s accuracy when some of you -- the Class of 2011 -- marched in the parade during my inauguration. You looked pretty good on that day, too. (Laughter.) It was a little colder that day, if you recall. (Laughter.)

I’ve seen your attachment to duty -- all along the Gulf Coast -- when the Coast Guard, including members of this class, worked day and night, tirelessly, as you led the largest ecological cleanup in our nation’s history.

I’ve seen your pride, when I was in, of all places, Afghanistan. I was in Bagram, thanking our troops for their service. And I was giving a shout-out to every service -- Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines. And then, way in the back of the crowd, a voice shouted out: “and Coast Guard!” (Laughter.) There was no ocean in sight. (Laughter and applause.) Not a body of water visible anywhere. (Laughter.) But the Coast Guard was there, portion with honor, as you have in every major disagreement that our nation has ever fought.

President's Council on Jobs and Competitiveness: Helping Local Businesses Reach Global Customers

Posted by White House

Earlier today, I had the privilege of traveling with members of the President’s Council on Jobs and Competitiveness to visit Permac Industries, a small manufacturer just outside Minneapolis, Minn. Why Permac? Because the firm represents the best America has to offer – a company that has grown from a simple machine shop into a state-of-the-art facility that manufactures accuracy parts for customers worldwide in almost all industries.

I was glad to have a chance to talk about the Obama administration’s commitment to giving businesses like Permac the tools they need to win in the worldwide economy. That effort is a two-pronged approach. On the one hand, we’re forcefully incentivizing investment here in America, as highlighted by key supplies that President Obama insisted be included in the December tax package, such as a new expensing benefit that will let companies write off 100 percent of their machinery and equipment purchases made in 2011. This, the largest temporary investment inducement for businesses in American history, will help create demand for new tackle and will mean new factory orders – which in turn means companies will need to hire more workers to keep up with the demand.

At the same time, the administration is making unparalleled efforts to help companies grow by breaking into new foreign markets. That’s why early last year President Obama announced his National Export Initiative, which mobilizes departments throughout the federal government to help double U.S. exports by 2015 and support millions of jobs. The reason for this is simple. The more American companies export, they more they produce. And the more they produce, the more workers they need. And that means jobs.

Exports have become a key driver of America's economic recovery, accounting for nearly half of U.S. economic growth since mid-2009. (Consider that exports directly support more than 9 million U.S. jobs!) If we want to continue that success, we’ll need more participation from small to medium-sized businesses, which often aren’t exporting almost as much as they could. That’s where the federal government can help, armed with the NEI and the support it provides to companies that want to sell more of what they make overseas.

We know government can’t solve all the problems facing our country. What it can do is create smart incentives so that businesses like Permac can build incredible special. That’s how we ensure that U.S. companies struggle and win in the global economy and create new American jobs. And I’m sure that together we will get there.

Calhoun to Obama in White House ceremony: 'Yes, we did'

Posted by White House

President Barack Obama saluted the University of Connecticut men's basketball team at the White House on Monday for winning the national championship and joshed that he had made a "big mistake" by worsening to pick them to win.

"I have to be honest -- this is a bittersweet day for me," Obama said. "On the one hand, I get to congratulate a great team and a great coach on winning the national championship. On the other hand, I'm reminded once again that my bracket was a bust. I did not pick UConn to win it all. That was a big error."

Obama continued: "Next time you guys make a decision to reel off 11 straight wins, please let me know ahead of time," referring to the Huskies amazing season closing.

UConn's streak was "a surprise to everybody but themselves and the coach," the president said. "These guys knew they had something special."

Obama cited Coach Jim Calhoun and players Shabazz Napier, Jeremy Lamb and Kemba Walker.

Walker "will go down in history as one of the greatest ever to wear the Huskies uniform," Obama said. "And a player who always lived by his dad's advice: `It's not the size of the person, it's the size of the heart."

When his turn at the mike came, Calhoun joked that Walker required a "one-on-one game" with Obama.

"I'm ready," Obama replied. "As long as he's wearing street shoes and a suit."

Returning to Spelman with First Lady Michelle Obama

Posted by White House

Today, Mrs. Obama will speak to the 2011 graduating class of Spelman College, a historically black liberal arts college in Atlanta for women who look for to change the world in meaningful and inspirational ways. As a graduate of Spelman, and as a member of the Obama’s staff since 2004, this trip fills me with a chiefly special sense of pride.

When I walked through the gates of Spelman College for the first time in 1999, I couldn’t have been more thrilled about the world of possibilities ahead. Four years later, armed with a spectacular education and a Spelman diploma, I was ready to begin the world. However, never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that I would be returning years later to witness such a magical moment in history; the First Lady of the United States giving the beginning address at my alma mater. And not just any First Lady, but a woman who I am honored and grateful to work for, a woman I admire, and a woman who is a role model for young women like me everywhere.

Spelman College laid the foundation for who I am today. From the professors, to campus life, to the eternal friendships I made, Spelman taught me the true definition of sisterhood and service. I learned so much from being surrounded by intelligent, goal-oriented, passionate women who have devoted their lives to giving back to their communities, and it has put me on the path I’m on today – serving as Mrs. Obama’s traveling aide and associated her on trips across the country and around the world.

Rebuilding in the Midwest and South, Our National Responsibility

Posted by White House

Earlier today, Vice President Joe Biden visited Berkeley, Missouri – a St. Louis suburb harshly damaged by a recent wave of tornadoes that swept through the area. The Vice President’s visit came on the heels of Missouri's disaster statement – a step that will speed up federal assistance to the region as a result of severe storms, tornadoes and flooding.

Joined by Missouri Governor Jay Nixon and Berkeley Mayor Kyra Watson, Vice President Biden took a walking tour of one of the hardest-hit neighborhoods, talking with local homeowners unnatural by the storms and pledging to help get “roofs back over their heads” as soon as possible. “We know people’s lives are disrupted … it’s all about giving people a shot to repair or relocate,” the Vice President said. “We get it, we understand it, and we’re on top of it.”

From Missouri to Alabama, rebuilding the homes, towns and cities overwhelmed by tornadoes and floods and helping communities recover across the Midwest and the South is a “national responsibility,” said Vice President Biden.

President Obama Signs Missouri Disaster Declaration

Posted by White House

The President today declared a major disaster exists in the State of Missouri and prepared Federal aid to supplement State and local revival efforts in the area struck by severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding beginning on April 19, 2011, and continuing.

The President's action makes Federal funding available to affected persons in the counties of Butler, Mississippi, New Madrid, St. Louis, and Taney.

Assistance can embrace grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help persons and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.

Federal funding also is available to State and entitled local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities injured by the severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding in St. Louis County.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.

W. Craig Fugate, Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Department of Homeland Security, named Elizabeth Turner as the Federal Coordinating Officer for Federal recovery operations in the unnatural area.

FEMA said that damage surveys are ongoing in other areas, and additional counties may be designated for assistance after the assessments are fully completed.

FEMA said that inhabitants and business owners who continued losses in the designated counties can begin applying for assistance tomorrow by registering online at http://www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA(3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (local time) seven days a week until further notice.

view this : home products, google updation

President Obama, Congressional Black Caucus on solid ground?

Posted by White House

If President Barack Obama and the Congressional Black Caucus distinct their relationship on Facebook, there’s little doubt what the status would be: It’s complicated.

This week, Obama will meet privately with the caucus at the White House in the newest attempt to define a sometimes stressed relationship between Congress’s most recognizable legislative coalition and its highest-profile former member. The session with Obama comes just days after a closed-door, clear-the-air meeting last Thursday between the caucus and White House chief of staff Bill Daley.

Neither side would outline the agenda for the upcoming meeting, hesitantly scheduled for late this week.

The membership has long complained that, in addressing the lethargic economy, Obama has neglected chronic problems in the African-American community — including an unemployment rate that’s nearly twice the national average. The caucus has also criticized the president for negotiating away funding for key social programs during the last budget fight — most remarkably, canceling federal funding for abortions in Washington.

But the White House insists Obama hasn’t forgotten black voters, who still give him endorsement ratings above 80 percent. Aides also note that despite three overseas military conflicts and bare-knuckle budget fights with Republicans — not to talk about the raid on Osama bin Laden’s compound and the launch of Obama’s 2012 reelection campaign — the president is making sure the lines of communication with the CBC are open.

Obama to journey to Texas to Push for Immigration Legislation

Posted by White House

President Barack Obama schedule to Texas on Tuesday to make the case that his administration has worked hard to safe the border and the time has come for Congress to deal with the 10.8 million people previously in the U.S. illegally.

He will also dispute that those who care about this subject need to step up pressure on Congress to act, a point he has made privately in a cord of meetings with business executives, evangelical leaders and Hispanic celebrities.

Many activists guilt the White House for not making the issue more of a priority, and Tuesday's speech is an effort, in part, to shift notice to Republicans who are blocking action.

Many Republicans and some Democrats resist the measures Mr. Obama favors that would create a path to citizenship for some people who entered the country unlawfully, saying it would reward law-breaking. Opponents also say not enough has been done to secure the border with Mexico. The White House says it has put more "boots on the ground" along the southwest border than ever previous to and has cracked down on employers who hire undocumented workers.

The administration has also deported a record number of illegal immigrants, a point that has angered Hispanic activists. Federal officials say deportations of unlawful immigrants hit a record 392,000 in fiscal year 2010.

Hoping to push from side to side the political stalemate, Mr. Obama has held private meetings to talk about immigration with political figures such as New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, business leaders such as John Engler, president of the Business Roundtable; and religious leaders such as Leith Anderson, president of the National Association of Evangelicals.

He also met with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, and with a number of Hispanic celebrities. On Thursday, he will speak at the National Hispanic Prayer Breakfast.

In Congress, Sen. Charles Schumer (D., N.Y.) said he and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R., S.C.), who worked for months on a complete bill before talks fell apart last year, are talking again about a political plan to pass the legislation. But the seriousness of those talks is unclear.

Mr. Schumer said Friday that talks had intensified in the last month and that he and Mr. Graham have only one substantive issue to work out—the crafting of a guest-worker program. But a spokesman for Mr. Graham suggested the talks weren't serious, saying the two senators have been talking for two years but have unsuccessful to produce legislation.

Readout of the President's Call with the Amir of Kuwait

Posted by White House

The President spoke by phone today with His tone Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the Amir of Kuwait. The President conveyed condolences on the passing of Sheikh Sabah’s brother, Sheikh Khalid Al-Sabah, and thanked the Amir for Kuwait’s steadfast support to U.S. troops. The President thanked the Amir for Kuwait’s generous vow of assistance to the Transitional National Council of Libya and harassed the importance of such financial support to the opposition given their urgent needs. Both leaders rehabilitated their pledge to build on the historic ties between the United States and Kuwait.

President Obama Welcomes the injured Warrior Project's Soldier Ride

Posted by White House

This afternoon, the South Lawn of the White House was full of veterans, military families, and their bicycles, as the injured Warrior Project's Soldier Ride came to the White House. The Soldier Ride in progress as a way to help offended soldiers recover from their injuries through adaptive cycling. Nearly a decade later, the program has prolonged to involve civilians as well, raising money for and promoting the cause of America's wounded warriors.

In welcoming the riders, President Obama said a few words about the early stages of the Soldier Ride effort:

Today is a reminder -- as Michelle and Jill Biden have already said -- that every American, every single person in this country, can do amazing to support our remarkable troops and their families. Everybody can do somewhat.

So seven years ago, a bartender from Long Island had the same idea. He wasn’t from a military family. He had never served in the military. But he knew that he payable our military something. He was just an ordinary American who was thankful for the service of all those who wear the uniform. And he said, “I just sought to give something back.”

So he jumped on his bike and rode across the country -- over 5,000 miles -- to raise funds and awareness for our injured warriors. Today, there are Soldier Rides all across America giving our wounded warriors the assurance and support they need to recover. That’s the difference a single person can make. Today we want to thank Chris Carney and everyone from the Wounded Warrior Project for reminding us of our obligations to each other as Americans.

After taking special note of a few individual soldiers with whom he had met before, President Obama thanked the riders for the motivation they provide him and so many other Americans:

So to all the riders here today, I want to say, as your Commander-in-Chief and as an American, thank you. We are grateful for you. You symbolize the very best in America. And in your fight to recover and in the ride that you’re about to begin, we see the values and qualities that make our country great.

We may take a hit. We may tolerate great loss. But we are a strong and resilient people. We push on. We persevere. We’re sure in our cause. And we know that, like generations of Americans before us, we will appear stronger than before.

Osama bin Laden not armed, White House says

Posted by White House

The White House retreated Tuesday from its most challenging assertions about the operation to kill Osama bin Laden, acknowledging that the al Qaeda leader was neither equipped nor hiding behind a female human shield when U.S. commandos lethally shot him during a predawn raid.

The disclosures put the Obama administration on the defensive about whether it had overstated elements of earlier accounts for propaganda gain. At the same time, additional details surfaced Tuesday that portray a mission begun amid far greater political and operational uncertainty than had been revealed.

CIA Director Leon Panetta, who supervised the operation, said in interviews that U.S. intelligence agencies never had photographs or other evidence that bin Laden was living at the compound in Pakistan that was attacked. Panetta told Time magazine that analysts were only 60 to 80 percent certain bin Laden would be found.

white house news

Posted by White House

President Obama Presents Medal of Honor: "We're Reminded That We Are lucky to Have Americans Who Dedicate Their Lives to Protecting Ours"

The event to award the Medal of Honor to Anthony T. Kaho’ohanohano and Henry Svehla, two heroes who made the ultimate give up during the Korean War, was long scheduled, but the timing made for a meaningful accident on a day when America is happy with pride over those who serve today.

The President began his remarks on that note:

I think we can all have the same opinion this is a good day for America. Our country has kept its commitment to see that honesty is done. The world is safer; it is a better place as of the death of Osama bin Laden.

Today, we are reminded that, as a nation, there’s not anything we can’t do —- when we put our shoulders to the wheel, when we work jointly, when we remember the sense of unity that defines us as Americans. And we’ve seen that spirit -— that patriotism -— in the crowds that have gathered, here outside the White House, at Ground Zero in New York, and across the country -- people holding candles, waving the flag, singing the National Anthem -- people proud to live in the United States of America.

And we’re reminded that we are happy to have Americans who dedicate their lives to protecting ours. They volunteer. They train. They tolerate separation from their families. They take surprising risks so that we can be safe. They get the job done. We may not always know their names. We may not always know their stories. But they are there, every day, on the front lines of freedom, and we are truly blessed.