The President's Voice

Posted by Heidi Avery Ed. Note: For more information on federal response resources, volunteer opportunities, and assistance for those in affected areas visit WhiteHouse.gov/Deepwater-BP-Oil-Spill. Below is the latest in the ongoing Administration-wide response provided by the Joint Information Center. Heidi Avery is White House Deputy Homeland Security Advisor **************** The Ongoing Administration-Wide Response to the Deepwater BP Oil [...]

Posted by Jesse Lee The President was able to lay a wreath at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood, Illinois before it started raining.  But he was forced to take the stage only to announce to the crowd that his Memorial Day address had to be cancelled.  The crowd was spared standing around in the rain, [...]

Posted by Jesse Lee Vice President Joe Biden delivers Memorial Day remarks in the Arlington National Cemetery Amphitheater in Arlington, May 31, 2010. (Official White House Photo by David Lienemann) In what he called “the greatest honor of my public life,” this morning the Vice President took part in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of [...]

Posted by Jesse Lee Ahead of Memorial Day, the President asks all Americans to join him in remembering and honoring our men and women in uniform who have died in service to the country. Read the Transcript |  Download Video: mp4 (114MB) | mp3 (4MB)

Posted by Heidi Avery Ed. Note: For more information on federal response resources, volunteer opportunities, and assistance for those in affected areas visit WhiteHouse.gov/Deepwater-BP-Oil-Spill. Below is the latest in the ongoing Administration-wide response provided by the Joint Information Center. Heidi Avery is White House Deputy Homeland Security Advisor READ THE REST

Posted by Norm Eisen In September 2009, the President announced that – for the first time in history – the White House would routinely release visitor records. Today, the White House releases visitor records that were created in February 2010. Today’s release also includes several visitor records created prior to September 16, 2009 that were requested [...]

Posted by Jesse Lee Vice President Joe Biden delivers the commencement address at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, May 28, 2010. (Official White House Photo by David Lienemann) This afternoon the Vice President gave the commencement address at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, and spoke with awe of the tradition the [...]

Posted by Jesse Lee Following up on his press conference discussing the BP oil spill, the President travelled to the Gulf Coast to get another first-hand look at the progress and to be briefed by those on the ground.  At the U.S. Coast Guard Station in Grande Isle, Louisiana, the President spoke to the frustration those in the [...]

Posted by Michael Strautmanis Today we were honored to welcome the United States Men’s Soccer Team as they finish their final preparations for the FIFA World Cup next month in South Africa. After 18 games and nearly two years of work to qualify for the most watched sporting event on earth, the team was relaxed and [...]

Posted by Katelyn Sabochik Earlier today, Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change Carol Browner sent this email to the White House email list: Today I am travelling to Louisiana with President Obama to review the efforts currently underway to respond to the massive oil spill and to lend support to the region. The [...]

Posted by Arun Chaudhary Thanks for checking out the West Wing Week, your guide to everything that’s happening at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. This week, walk step by step with the President as he signs a memorandum on fuel efficiency, meets with his economic team and Congressional leaders about Wall Street reform, delivers the commencement address at [...]

Posted by Heidi Avery Ed. Note: For more information on federal response resources, volunteer opportunities, and assistance for those in affected areas visit WhiteHouse.gov/Deepwater-BP-Oil-Spill. Below is the latest in the ongoing Administration-wide response provided by the Joint Information Center. Heidi Avery is White House Deputy Homeland Security Advisor READ THE REST

Posted by Stehpanie Cutter Today, an opinion piece in the Wall Street Journal misstates many provisions of the Affordable Care Act and fails to mention the many ways the new law will improve our health care system for small business owners and their employees. Here are the facts: Bringing Down Costs, Reducing the Deficit Without reform, health care costs [...]

Posted by Kori Schulman Yesterday Mrs. Obama took the White House youth leadership and mentoring efforts on the road to Detroit, Michigan. The First Lady’s visit, in partnership with Michigan’s First Gentleman Daniel Mulhern, was designed to engage, encourage, and inspire the city’s young people. Leaders from across the country came along to encourage kids to [...]

Posted by Craig Fugate Today marks only six days until the start of hurricane season. FEMA is working across the administration and with our state and local officials to be ready and earlier today I joined Homeland Security Secretary Napolitano, NOAA Administrator Dr. Lubchenco, Bill Read of the National Hurricane Center and five FEMA regional administrators [...]

Posted by Katelyn Sabochik Watch the full video of the President’s press conference above or jump directly to the following sections by clicking the links below (questions are paraphrased): Opening Remarks Q: Why does BP sometimes not do what you say? Q: Why do critics say you’re not doing everything possible? Q: Why not take [...]

Posted by Tobin Marcus Yesterday, Vice President Biden held a Middle Class Task Force roundtable with small business employers and employees who are participating in highly successful jobs programs around the country. These state programs, funded through part of the Recovery Act, give employers a strong incentive to hire by paying for part of a [...]

Posted by Melody Barnes As we continue to tackle our nation’s great challenges, we know that many of the best, most lasting solutions are already being developed in communities across the country. Local answers to our national challenges originate everywhere. The best solutions are often driven by everyday Americans who are having an impact but need [...]

Posted by Nikki Sutton The President’s highest priority is always to keep the American people safe. Today the Administration is releasing the National Security Strategy that lays out a strategic approach for advancing American interests, including the security of the American people, a growing U.S. economy, support for our values, and an international order that can address [...]

Posted by Heidi Avery Ed. Note: For more information on federal response resources, volunteer opportunities, and assistance for those in affected areas visit WhiteHouse.gov/Deepwater-BP-Oil-Spill. Below is the latest in the ongoing Administration-wide response provided by the Joint Information Center. Heidi Avery is White House Deputy Homeland Security Advisor **************** The Ongoing Administration-Wide Response to the Deepwater BP Oil [...]

Posted by Secretary Tom Vilsack As part of the Obama administration’s work to turn the economy around and create jobs, one of the most important roles we have at USDA is to act as a catalyst for business development in rural America.  Small businesses are the economic engine that drives our economy.  And every year, USDA [...]

Posted by Katelyn Sabochik Today, President Obama visited Solyndra, Inc. in Fremont California – a solar panel manufacturer that is building a new facility (and creating new jobs) thanks to funding from the Recovery Act.  So far, construction of the new facility has created over 3,000 construction-related jobs and the new factory could create up to 1,000 [...]

Posted by Patrick Corvington Every day, in communities across America, promising non-profit organizations direct heroic efforts to implement innovative, effective solutions to our nation’s most daunting social challenges. Tackling a wide variety of issues, from poverty to failing schools, non-profits are at the forefront of what I call the “solutions business.”  The impact of their good work [...]

Posted by Heidi Avery Ed. Note: For more information on federal response resources, volunteer opportunities, and assistance for those in affected areas visit WhiteHouse.gov/Deepwater-BP-Oil-Spill. On Friday morning, President Obama will travel to the Louisiana Gulf Coast to assess the latest efforts to counter the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The President will join more than 22,000 people [...]

Posted by Matt Rogers Ed. Note: Read the President’s remarks in California as well as the Vice President’s statement on the new CBO analysis showing the Recovery Act being responsible for up to 2.8 million jobs. President Obama is in Fremont, California today to visit Solyndra, Inc, an innovative solar panel manufacturer that is building a new [...]

Posted by Jason Djang Want to see more of the President on the basketball court? Watch him take on the Connecticut Lady Huskies in a game of P-I-G and shoot around with some remarkable Wounded Warriors.

Posted by Melissa Blaustein This afternoon the First Lady welcomed nearly 100 local students to the White House to kick off the South Lawn Series – events throughout the summer season to bring local children, sports leagues, community programs and coaches to the South Lawn to participate in sports, games and activities. Today’s event featured sports [...]

Posted by Trooper Sanders First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden meet with Leadership 18 members in the State Dining Room of the White House, May 25, 2010. (Official White House Photo by Samantha Appleton) First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden met at the White House today with Leadership 18, a coalition of [...]

Posted by Melissa McNeal This Administration opened its doors to the first class of White House interns in 2009. Since that time, over three hundred promising leaders have come through the program and served a vital role in the White House. These individuals have participated in service project partnerships with nine D.C. high schools and a [...]

Posted by Stephanie Cutter As the Administration works to implement the Affordable Care Act, it is critically important to ensure that consumers across the country have accurate information about their new rights and benefits under the new health insurance law.  Throughout the Congressional debate on health reform, Americans were bombarded by the opponents of reform with rumors, misinformation [...]

Posted by Jesse Lee There’s no question that the economy has seen a dramatic turnaround since the President came into office — but the President knows full well that it is not enough.  That’s why he continues to look for every opportunity for government to help spur hiring and get the economy growing at an even [...]

Posted by Stephanie Cutter Earlier this month, the Department of Health and Human Services announced new information regarding a program in the Affordable Care Act that will make it easier for large employers to provide health benefits to early retirees who aren’t eligible for Medicare. The $5 billion early retiree reinsurance program will provide resources to businesses [...]

Posted by Jesse Lee Given the elaborate financial instruments, products, and schemes that helped lead to the financial crisis of the past two years, one might be forgiven for thinking Wall Street Reform is too complex for any normal person to get his or her head around. But while there are plenty of complex details, there are [...]

Posted by Lisa P. Jackson Last week I was proud to join President Obama to honor the 2010 President’s Environmental Youth Award(PEYA)winners. These young people could be our next clean energy innovators and environmental advocates and they’re setting the bar for environmental stewardship in every corner of our country – from places as far apart as Westerly, [...]

Posted by Jesse Lee This morning the President took part in the daily briefing call with Gulf Coast Governors on the BP oil spill.   Governors Jindal of Louisiana, Barbour of Mississippi, Riley of Alabama, and Crist of Florida.  Press Secretary Robert Gibbs issued the following statement about the call: The President reiterated the Administration’s sense of urgency for dealing [...]

Posted by Stephanie Cutter Today’s New York Times takes a look at the Affordable Care Act’s provisions regarding the shared responsibility of health care between taxpayers and employers.   The story claims part of the law will saddle employers with new hidden penalties.   That is not that case.   What it will do is help bring down health care costs [...]

Posted by Jen Psaki Later this afternoon, the Senate will vote on a motion to instruct conferees on the Brownback Amendment.  That basically means members of the Senate will cast a nonbinding vote on whether or not they think the House and Senate conferees should consider carving out a loophole for auto dealers that make auto [...]

Posted by OMB Director Peter Orszag Today, the President sent to Congress the Reduce Unnecessary Spending Act of 2010 to establish a new, expedited tool to reduce unnecessary or wasteful spending. Under this new expedited procedure, the President would submit a package of rescissions shortly after a spending bill is passed. Congress is then required to consider [...]

Posted by Katelyn Sabochik On Saturday, President Obama delivered the commencement address at the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York.  This year one thousand and two cadets entered into the “Long Gray Line” of West Point graduates. The class of 2010 is the ninth consecutive class to graduate while our nation is at [...]

Posted by Howard A. Schmidt Earlier this month I had the privilege of attending the awards ceremony at Fort Gillem, Georgia for one of our nation’s top cyber-defenders. At this event Special Agent Thomas M. Williamson received the outstanding special agent of the year award from U.S. Army’s Criminal Investigation Command’s Computer Crime Investigation Unit. As stated [...]