Author: WhiteHouse

03.01.10 04:05 PM

NOTICE
– – – – – – –
CONTINUATION OF THE NATIONAL EMERGENCY
WITH RESPECT TO ZIMBABWE

On March 6, 2003, by Executive Order 13288, the President declared a national emergency and blocked the property of persons undermining democratic processes or institutions in Zimbabwe, pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701-1706). He took this action to deal with the unusual and extraordinary threat to the foreign policy of the United States constituted by the actions and policies of certain members of the Government of Zimbabwe and other persons to undermine Zimbabwe’s democratic processes or institutions. These actions and policies have contributed to the deliberate breakdown in the rule of law in Zimbabwe, to politically motivated violence and intimidation in that country, and to political and economic instability in the southern African region.

On November 22, 2005, the President issued Executive Order 13391 to take additional steps with respect to the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13288 by ordering the blocking of the property of additional persons undermining democratic processes or institutions in Zimbabwe.

On July 25, 2008, the President issued Executive Order 13469, which expanded the scope of the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13288 and ordered the blocking of the property of additional persons undermining democratic processes or institutions in Zimbabwe.

Because the actions and policies of these persons continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the foreign policy of the United States, the national emergency declared on March 6, 2003, and the measures adopted on that date, on November 22, 2005, and on July 25, 2008, to deal with that emergency, must continue in effect beyond March 6, 2010. Therefore, in accordance with section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d)), I am continuing for 1 year the national emergency with respect to the actions and policies of certain members of the Government of Zimbabwe and other persons to undermine Zimbabwe’s democratic processes or institutions.

This notice shall be published in the Federal Register and transmitted to the Congress.

BARACK OBAMA

THE WHITE HOUSE,
February 26, 2010.

White House.gov Press Office Feed

03.01.10 04:11 PM

A PROCLAMATION

As the foundation that makes all other learning possible, literacy is the key to unlocking every child’s full potential. From riding a bus to opening a bank account, our everyday tasks and decisions require comprehension of the written word. On Read Across America Day, we reaffirm our commitment to investing in our children and giving them an essential tool for success in school and in life: the ability to read.

Today marks the birthday of the late Theodor Seuss Geisel, known to millions as Dr. Seuss. His imaginative tales have helped generations of children learn to read, and they hold a cherished place on bookshelves in homes across America. Authors like Dr. Seuss, whose stories introduce fantastical worlds and characters, fold joy into reading and help spark the curiosity that is central to learning.

While government must ensure that all our children receive a world-class education, parents and caregivers play a crucial role in preparing them — especially during early childhood. We can promote a positive relationship with books and language through everyday activities to make reading fun and interactive. When reading to young children, I urge all parents and caregivers to talk about what is happening in a story, point out details that relate to real life, and encourage them to ask about words they do not understand. Making regular trips to the library, playing word games, and simply keeping books around the home can foster a love of reading that will last a lifetime. We can also set a good example by turning off the television and picking up a book to read with or alongside our children.

On Read Across America Day, my Administration is partnering with the National Education Association to encourage families across our Nation to make reading a priority. Together, we can give our sons and daughters the knowledge and skills they need to compete in the global economy, and in doing so, secure a brighter future for 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 March 2, 2010, 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 first day of March, in the year of our Lord two thousand ten, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fourth.

BARACK OBAMA

White House.gov Press Office Feed

03.01.10 04:16 PM

A PROCLAMATION

From long before American independence to today, countless individuals have reached our shores, bringing vibrant cultures and diverse roots, and immeasurably enriching our Nation. This month, we honor the contributions made by the tens of millions of Americans who trace their heritage to the Emerald Isle.

Irish Americans fought for our independence, and their signatures adorn our founding documents. When famine ravaged Ireland in the 1840s and 1850s, many Irish men and women sought a new beginning in the United States. Though they faced poverty and discrimination, these immigrants transformed our cities, served in our Armed Forces, and settled the frontiers of our young Nation. Their children, and succeeding generations of Irish Americans, have preserved their culture’s values while becoming leaders in every facet of American life.

During this year’s Irish-American Heritage Month, we also celebrate an extraordinary Irishman: Senator Edward M. Kennedy. Throughout his career in public service, Senator Kennedy worked tirelessly to create opportunity for all Americans. His legacy lives on in the legislation he championed, which will bolster and protect the health, education, and civil rights of Americans for generations to come.

Across the Atlantic, the people of Ireland continue to confront their own challenges with resolve and determination. In the face of violence perpetuated by some — testing a hard-earned peace — the people of Northern Ireland have responded heroically. Undaunted, they and their leaders persist on the road to peace and prosperity enshrined over a decade ago in the Good Friday Agreement. The United States remains committed to supporting the political process and the work of those who have shown leadership in pursuit of a lasting peace.

Today, the sons and daughters of Erin can look back with pride on their many contributions to the civic and cultural life of America. Like so many of our Nation’s ethnic communities, Irish Americans are a people whose hard work and resilience have brought them great opportunity and success, and whose service to our Nation has left it a better place.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by the virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States do hereby proclaim March 2010 as Irish-American Heritage Month. I call upon all Americans to observe this month by celebrating the contributions of Irish American to our Nation with appropriate ceremonies and activities.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this first day of March, in the year of our Lord two thousand ten, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fourth.

BARACK OBAMA

White House.gov Press Office Feed

03.01.10 04:29 PM

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998, as amended, 5 U.S.C. 3345 et seq., it is hereby ordered that:

Section 1. Order of Succession.

(a) Subject to the provisions of section 2 of this order, the following officials of the Department of Defense, in the order listed, shall act as and perform the functions and duties of the office of the Secretary of Defense (Secretary) during any period in which the Secretary has died, resigned, or otherwise become unable to perform the functions and duties of the office of the Secretary, until such time as the Secretary is able to perform the functions and duties of that office:

(1) Deputy Secretary of Defense;
(2) Secretary of the Army;
(3) Secretary of the Navy;
(4) Secretary of the Air Force;
(5) Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics;
(6) Under Secretary of Defense for Policy;
(7) Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller);
(8) Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness;
(9) Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence;
(10) Deputy Chief Management Officer, Department of Defense;
(11) Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics;
(12) Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy;
(13) Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller);
(14) Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness;
(15) Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence;
(16) Director of Defense Research and Engineering;
(17) General Counsel of the Department of Defense, the Assistant Secretaries of Defense, the Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Nuclear and Chemical and Biological Defense Programs, the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation, the Director of Operational Energy Plans and Programs, and the Director of Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation;
(18) Under Secretaries of the Army, the Navy, and the Air Force; and
(19) Assistant Secretaries of the Army, the Navy, and the Air Force, and General Counsels of the Army, the Navy, and the Air Force.

(b) Precedence among officers designated within the same paragraph of subsection (a) shall be determined by the order in which they have been appointed to such office. Where officers designated within the same paragraph of subsection (a) have the same appointment date, precedence shall be determined by the order in which they have taken the oath to serve in that office.

Sec. 2. Exceptions.

(a) No individual who is serving in an office listed in section 1 in an acting capacity, by virtue of so serving, shall act as Secretary pursuant to this order.
(b) No individual listed in section 1 shall act as Secretary unless that individual was appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, and that individual is otherwise eligible to so serve under the Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998, as amended.
(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of this order, the President retains discretion, to the extent permitted by law, to depart from this order in designating an acting Secretary.

Sec. 3. Revocation. Executive Order 13394 of December 22, 2005 (Providing An Order of Succession Within the Department of Defense), is hereby revoked.

Sec. 4. Judicial Review. 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

THE WHITE HOUSE,
March 1, 2010.

White House.gov Press Office Feed

03.01.10 04:35 PM

TO THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE

Dear Madam Speaker: (Dear Mr. President:)

Consistent with section 1241 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 (Public Law 111-84), I am providing a classified report prepared by my Administration on U.S. engagement with Iran.

Sincerely,
BARACK OBAMA

White House.gov Press Office Feed

03.01.10 08:13 AM

10:18 A.M. EST

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. Thank you so much. Thank you very much. Thank you. Everybody please have a seat.

Let me begin by acknowledging some of the extraordinary people who are working on this extraordinary project. First of all, I want everybody to know, in case you haven’t already met him, somebody who is working tirelessly on behalf of the young people of America, my Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan. (Applause.)

I want to acknowledge Marguerite Kondracke, the CEO of America’s Promise, who is going to be implementing so much of the terrific work that’s been discussed today. Marguerite — there she is, right there. (Applause.)

I want to thank Tom Donohue for your hospitality in this extraordinary venue; thank you very much and thanks for the Chamber’s support for this terrific effort. I want to acknowledge Margaret Spellings, Arne’s predecessor, who helped to lead a lot of the improvement that’s been taking place and we’re building on.

And obviously I want to thank the Powells — and I will start with the more important Powell, Alma. (Laughter.) I want to say a word about the remarkable woman who introduced me, a champion of children, a dedicated public servant and the recipient of numerous awards. And Alma has poured herself into America’s Promise Alliance, helping make it the largest partnership of its kind to improve education and help children in this country.

And perhaps that’s not surprising, because being an educator seems to run in the family, as I understand. Even though one of her mother’s parents was born into slavery and the other, just after abolition, both went to college, became teachers, four of their children followed them into the education profession. So her family has educated and enriched generations of Americans — and our nation is better off because for it. And so we are very grateful to you for your extraordinary leadership. Thank you. (Applause.)

There’s not much we can say about the man that Alma succeeds as chair of the Alliance that most people don’t already know, anyway. I will say that I’m grateful for his friendship, for his counsel, and like so many Americans, I continue to be inspired by his leadership and by his life’s story.

It’s a story of a son of Jamaican garment workers, a student from the South Bronx, like me wasn’t always at his best in high school, but who went to City College of New York thanks to the support of his family and his friends and his community. It’s a story of a ROTC cadet who went on to distinguish himself first in Vietnam, then in the Pentagon, in the White House, and in the State Department; and who, after spending a lifetime fighting of behalf of America, has now taken up the fight for America’s children.

So the leadership of Colin and Alma are — that they are showing by spearheading the Grad Nation Campaign to end America’s dropout crisis is just the latest chapter in their service to this nation. And so I want to publicly commend them and thank them for their extraordinary service. Thank you very much. (Applause.)

One last person I want to make mention of, because I think it bears on the extraordinary public-private partnership that’s taking place here, we have the CEO of the Corporation for National Community Service, Patrick Corvington, who is here. Where’s Patrick? There he is back there. (Applause.) And so we are hoping to — we’re hoping to make sure we get a whole bunch of volunteers engaged in this effort.

Now, it’s fitting that we’re talking about education here at the Chamber of Commerce. After all, for America to compete and to win in the 21st century, we know that we will need a highly educated workforce that is second to none. And we know that the success of every American will be tied more closely than ever before to the level of education that they achieve. The jobs will go to the people with the knowledge and the skills to do them — it’s that simple. In this kind of knowledge economy, giving up on your education and dropping out of school means not only giving up on your future, but it’s also giving up on your family’s future and giving up on your country’s future.

And yet, that’s what too many of America’s children are doing today. Over 1 million students don’t finish high school each year — nearly one in three. Over half are African American and Latino. The graduation gap in some places between white students and classmates of color is 40 or 50 percent. And in cities like Detroit and Indianapolis and Baltimore, graduation rates hover around 30, 40 percent — roughly half the national average.

Now, it’s true that not long ago, you could drop out of high school and reasonably expect to find a blue-collar job that would pay the bills and help support your family. That’s just not the case anymore. In recent years, a high school dropout has made, on average, about $10,000 less per year than a high school graduate. In fact, during this recession, a high school dropout has been more than three times as likely to be out of work as someone with at least a college degree.

Graduating from high school is an economic imperative. That might be the best reason to get a diploma, but it’s not the only reason to get a high school diploma. As Alma mentioned, high school dropouts are more likely to be teen parents, more likely to commit crime, more likely to rely on public assistance, more likely to lead shattered lives. What’s more, they cost our economy hundreds of billions of dollars over the course of a lifetime in lower wages and higher public expenses.

So this is a problem we cannot afford to accept and we cannot afford to ignore. The stakes are too high — for our children, for our economy, and for our country. It’s time for all of us to come together — parents, students, principals and teachers, business leaders and elected officials from across the political spectrum — to end America’s dropout crisis.

This is a problem that I’ve actually been fighting for years. Way back when, when I was a community organizer in Chicago, I saw what happened to a family or to a school or to a community when a student dropped out. So I helped work with local churches in the region to — and public school officials to get state funding for dropout prevention programs, and brought together African American and Latino leaders to help set up after-school programs — because when we help keep kids off the street, when we give them a productive way to spend their time, then graduation rates go up.

So that’s a commitment that I’ve carried with me to the Oval Office. And today, I want to announce steps my administration will take to help end the dropout crisis in the African American community, in the Latino community, and in the larger American community. Because we know that about 12 percent of America’s schools produce 50 percent of America’s dropouts, we’re going to focus on helping states and school districts turn around their 5,000 lowest-performing schools in the next five years, and Arne will be amplifying and providing details on how we can do this.

We’ll not only challenge states to identify high schools with graduation rates below 60 percent, we’re going to invest another $900 million in strategies to get those graduation rates up. Strategies like transforming schools from top to bottom by bringing in a new principal, and training teachers to use more effective techniques in the classroom. Strategies like closing a school for a time and reopening it under new management, or even shutting it down entirely and sending its students to a better school.

And strategies like replacing a school’s principal and at least half of its staff. Now, replacing school staff should only be done as a last resort. The public servants who work in America’s schools — whether they’re principals or teachers, or counselors or coaches — work long and hard on behalf of our children and they deserve our gratitude. Keep in mind I’ve got a sister who’s a teacher, my mother spent time teaching — one of the most important jobs that we have in this country. We’ve got an obligation as a country to give them the support they need — because when principals and teachers succeed, then our children succeed.

So if a school is struggling, we have to work with the principal and the teachers to find a solution. We’ve got to give them a chance to make meaningful improvements. But if a school continues to fail its students year after year after year, if it doesn’t show signs of improvement, then there’s got to be a sense of accountability.

And that’s what happened in Rhode Island last week at a chronically troubled school, when just 7 percent of 11th graders passed state math tests — 7 percent. When a school board wasn’t able to deliver change by other means, they voted to lay off the faculty and the staff. As my Education Secretary, Arne Duncan, says, our kids get only one chance at an education, and we need to get it right.
Of course, getting it right requires more than just transforming our lowest performing schools. It requires giving students who are behind in school a chance to catch up and a path to a diploma. It requires focusing on students, from middle school through high school, who face factors at home, in the neighborhood, or in school that put them at risk of dropping out. And it requires replicating innovative ideas that make class feel engaging and relevant — because most high school dropouts in a recent study said the reason they dropped out was that they weren’t interested in class and they weren’t motivated to do their work.

So that’s why we’ll build on the efforts of places like Communities in Schools that make sure kids who are at risk of dropping out have one-on-one support. That’s why we’ll follow the example of places like the Met Center in Rhode Island that give students that individual attention, while also preparing them through real-world, hands-on training the possibility of succeeding in a career.

And that’s why we’ll invest in accelerated instruction in reading and math to help students who’ve fallen behind make up credits and ultimately graduate on time. It’s also why we’ll foster better alternative high schools and transfer schools, where students who have dropped out and who are at risk of dropping out, can return to the classroom and earn their diploma.

That’s how we can curb dropout rates and boost graduating rates. I have to point out, in the 21st century, high schools shouldn’t just make sure students graduate — they should make sure students graduate ready for college, ready for a career, and ready for life. And that’s why we’ll foster what are called early college high schools that allow students to earn a high school diploma and an associate’s degree or college credit at the same time. We want to learn from successful charter schools where students can take advanced and college-level courses.

So government has a responsibility. Government can help educate students to succeed in college and a career. Government can help provide the resources to engage dropouts and those at risk of dropping out. And when necessary, government has to be critically involved in turning around lowest performing schools. And nobody has been more passionate about this than Arne Duncan.

But as I’ve said before, education is not and cannot be the task of government alone. It’s going to take nonprofits and businesses doing their part through alliances like America’s Promise. It will take parents getting involved in their children’s education, consistently — going to parent-teacher conferences, helping their children with their homework. I have to point out I just went to my daughter’s parent-teachers’ conference last week. She’s doing very well, by the way. (Laughter.) It will take students, as well, showing up to school on time and paying attention to classes and staying out of trouble. They’re not let off the hook. Education isn’t a passive activity; it’s an active one.

So educating America’s sons and daughters is a task for all Americans. And that’s what this alliance, that’s what this effort is all about — making sure that none of us think that it’s somebody else’s job, but rather we all accept our role to play in making sure that we have the best-educated citizenry in the world. That’s what has made the 20th century the American century; that’s what will make the 21st century the American century.

Now, there’s an old story that Colin has told about a man named George Ellis, who lived about a hundred years ago. And George Ellis was a janitor. His job was to clean up after the artist Daniel Chester French. Some of you may have heard of French — he’s the one who carved the figure of Abraham Lincoln for the Lincoln Memorial.

So day after day, week after week, month after month, Ellis went about his job, barely uttering a word to Mr. French, other than say the occasional "hello" or "goodbye." And then one day, just when French had nearly completed his masterpiece, Ellis spoke up. He said, "Mr. French, I have a question for you." So the artist said, "What is it?" "Well, what I want to ask is how you knew all along that Mr. Lincoln was sitting inside that block of marble."

And as Colin pointed out, that wasn’t a silly question. Because sometimes in this country and in our lives, we see blocks of marble and some people can see what’s inside and some people can’t. It was a question profound — it was a profound question about how we recognize the potential within each of us, and chisel away at what’s keeping it locked inside.

I’m absolutely confident that because of the work of Colin and Alma Powell, because of the work that Grad Nation campaign is going to be doing and America’s Promise Alliance is going to be doing, because of the work that we’re doing across this nation to give our children the best education the world has to offer, from cradle to classroom, from college through career, that we are chiseling away at the obstacles that lie in our path, that block our children’s potential. We want to unlock that potential, carve it out so that our economy succeeds, so that this country succeeds, and so that our children and grandchildren succeed.

So thank you very much for the extraordinary work you’re doing. Thank you all for your participation. May God bless you and may God bless the United States of America. (Applause.)

END
10:35 A.M. EST

White House.gov Press Office Feed

03.01.10 09:02 AM

States Head Into Spring Construction Season with Over 12,000 Recovery Act Projects Funded, Nearly 7,800 Already Underway

CLERMONT, FL – At a Recovery Act construction site outside Orlando today, Vice President Joe Biden and U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced that every state and the District of Columbia met the March 2 Recovery Act deadline to “obligate” – or commit to specific projects – 100 percent of their highway Recovery funds. Once funds are obligated to a project, contracts can be bid, workers can be hired, equipment and supplies can be purchased and work can begin on construction projects that create jobs and drive economic growth. Every state met the target by February 26 and more than 30 of them did so at least a week ahead of schedule, putting a total of $26.6 billion to work on highway projects nationwide. Vice President Biden and Secretary LaHood were joined at the event by U.S. Senator Bill Nelson (FL).

“Construction projects across the country are already creating jobs and upgrading our nation’s infrastructure, but we’re just getting started,” said Vice President Biden. “Because these projects were funded on-time and, in many cases, under-budget, we’re going to be able to put even more people to work improving our highways just as the spring construction season kicks into high-gear.”

“I’ve been to Recovery projects all across the country, and I always hear the same thing from contractors – this work allows them to keep people working and hire new people, and that’s what it’s all about,” said Secretary LaHood. “The states have done a great job in getting all these projects out the door, but to create more jobs and continue strengthening the economy, we have more work to do.”

In just one year, funding from the Recovery Act has improved more than 33,000 miles of pavement across the United States. Of the more than 12,000 highway projects in all 50 states and the District of Columbia funded through the $26.6 billion Recovery Act investment in highway construction, almost 7,800 are underway – and activity on infrastructure projects like these is expected to ramp up even further this spring as the weather thaws and projects obligated over the winter break ground.

In addition, states around the country routinely received low bids that were 10 to 20 percent – and sometimes as much as 30 percent – below estimates. These lower than expected bids are allowing states to stretch taxpayer dollars, complete additional projects and create even more American jobs. For instance, last year Alabama used $37 million in ARRA funds to repave a crucial segment of I-59, a savings of 31 percent over the initial project estimate of $53.9 million. And in Alaska, the Glenn Highway resurfacing project was awarded at nearly 50 percent below the original project estimate.

The Vice President and Secretary LaHood made the announcement at the State Road 25/U.S. Highway 27 construction site in Clermont, FL, a Recovery project that is currently employing over 50 survey, design and construction workers. The $20 million project, which will run through December 2011, is expanding nearly four miles of the road from four lanes to six lanes, reducing congestion and improving commute times. Prince Construction, the contractor for the project, says that the Recovery Act project not only saved the jobs of its own employees, but nearly 60 percent of the funds will go toward hiring subcontractors and buying materials which will help stimulate the economy and put even more Floridians to work.

More than 800 miles of pavement across the state have already been improved thanks to the $1.3 million Recovery Act investment in Florida highway projects. Of the 588 highway construction projects funded in Florida, 308 of them are already underway.

"Without Recovery Act money, Florida’s economy would certainly be in a much deeper hole," said U.S. Senator Bill Nelson. "The faster we get going on new roads and high-speed rail, the better."

The one-year milestone comes only two weeks after ground was broken on the Dallas-Fort Worth Connector, the largest investment of ARRA highway funds – $250 million toward the overall $1.02 billion project cost. Several other major Recovery Act-funded projects under construction include:

I-4/Selmon Expressway in Tampa. Just today, construction begins on the $653 million I-4/Selmon Expressway Crosstown Connector in Tampa to provide direct access for the more than 12,000 commercial trucks that travel through the downtown to and from the Port of Tampa every day. The new Connector will alleviate congestion and create a quicker and easier way to get around for the city’s 340,000 residents. The project relies on $105 million in ARRA funding. Nelsonville Bypass in Southeast Ohio. Ohio is constructing a new, 8.5 mile, four-lane highway to divert freight traffic from US 33, which bottlenecks in the town of Nelsonville. $138 million in Recovery funds are helping fund this final upgrade of the US 33 corridor in southeast Ohio that will take traffic off local roads, which carry 1,700 trucks a day on one of the busiest truck routes in the state. Merritt Parkway, near Fairfield, Conn. $67 million in ARRA funding is improving safety for the estimated 60,000 drivers who use the Parkway daily by widening shoulders and installing or updating guard rails along 9.3 miles of one of the East Coast’s most congested commuter routes. South Westnedge Avenue Interchange on I-94 near Kalamazoo, Mich. Last fall, ARRA fully funded this $47.7 million project to fully reconstruct the interchange to ease traffic congestion along this key Midwest corridor that serves an estimated 87,000 drivers daily. One more lane will be added in each direction to widen the road from four lanes to six, allowing cars and trucks to move through Kalamazoo more safely and easily. RECOVERY ACT HIGHWAY PROJECT ACTIVITY BY STATE

State Projects Funded Projects Underway Funds Obligated** ALABAMA 320 129 $511,924,313 ALASKA 26 13 $170,461,487 ARIZONA 186 161 $520,911,019 ARKANSAS 114 81 $351,544,468 CALIFORNIA 907 438 $2,542,150,125 COLORADO 102 63 $385,324,130 CONNECTICUT 137 37 $299,253,956 DELAWARE 32 27 $121,828,650 DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 15 12 $123,507,842 FLORIDA 588 308 $1,345,151,413 GEORGIA 361 150 $901,585,680 HAWAII 23 13 $125,746,380 IDAHO 74 63 $178,878,631 ILLINOIS 747 505 $935,592,704 INDIANA 1087 818 $657,727,707 IOWA 233 213 $357,623,007 KANSAS 144 63 $347,817,167 KENTUCKY 107 36 $420,139,347 LOUISIANA 108 51 $429,859,427 MAINE 72 72 $130,752,032 MARYLAND 169 98 $413,934,777 MASSACHUSETTS 84 40 $378,205,755 MICHIGAN 716 462 $846,598,715 MINNESOTA 204 147 $505,264,177 MISSISSIPPI 169 68 $354,564,343 MISSOURI 328 200 $637,121,984 MONTANA 82 67 $211,793,391 NEBRASKA 121 64 $231,739,279 NEVADA 69 18 $201,352,460 NEW HAMPSHIRE 34 29 $129,440,556 NEW JERSEY 161 46 $651,774,480 NEW MEXICO 92 35 $252,644,377 NEW YORK 442 326 $943,968,723 NORTH CAROLINA 381 304 $730,409,684 NORTH DAKOTA 162 118 $167,146,497 OHIO 388 209 $918,827,030 OKLAHOMA 275 178 $464,655,225 OREGON 315 245 $271,625,676 PENNSYLVANIA 303 279 $1,027,679,012 RHODE ISLAND 63 59 $137,095,725 SOUTH CAROLINA 173 105 $463,081,483 SOUTH DAKOTA 51 33 $186,877,359 TENNESSEE 316 288 $572,201,043 TEXAS 450 320 $2,233,015,146 UTAH 114 97 $213,545,653 VERMONT 70 42 $125,791,291 VIRGINIA 136 22 $646,030,364 WASHINGTON 212 171 $491,589,894 WEST VIRGINIA 145 105 $210,852,204 WISCONSIN 398 308 $529,111,915 WYOMING 65 60 $157,616,058 TOTAL 12,071 7,796 $26,163,333,761 **The $26.1 billion reflects the amount obligated by states prior to funds transferred to other DOT agencies. The full amount states obligated was $26.6 billion.

White House.gov Press Office Feed

03.01.10 01:17 PM

2:05 P.M. EST

MRS. OBAMA: Thank you. (Applause.) Thanks so much, everyone. Please, sit. (Applause.) Thank you. It is such a pleasure to be here with all of you. Thanks so much for that warm welcome.

And I also want to thank Dora for that kind introduction and for your outstanding leadership of the School Nutrition Association.

And I want to thank all of you here today for the terrific work that you’re doing every day all across this country.

And I know that you always don’t get a lot of credit and recognition for what you do — and you deserve it. You know, there are not a lot of newspaper headlines about how the meals you serve are the only food that many kids may get all day long. People on TV don’t talk much about how kids who participate in the school meal program perform better in class and they miss fewer days of school. And a lot of folks still don’t understand how the cafeteria is actually one of the most important classrooms in the entire school — (applause) — because what you all know is that our kids don’t stop learning at lunchtime.

Every day, with the food you serve, you’re teaching them these critical lessons about nutrition and healthy eating. You’re shaping their habits and their preferences, and you’re affecting the choices that they’re going to make for the rest of their lives.

So now just multiply that by the 31 million kids in the school meal program, and it’s clear that all of you don’t just shape the future of individual students; you help to shape the future of this country.

And that’s been the case since the National School Lunch Program was first started by President Truman after World War II, back when one of the most common disqualifiers for military service was malnourishment, if you can believe that.

And that’s why President Johnson later in 1966 expanded the program to include school breakfasts and meals at preschools because, as he put it, he said that "good nutrition is essential to good learning."

So whether it’s national security, education or child hunger, for decades we’ve looked to you for help in achieving our most urgent national priorities.

And that’s really why I’m here today -– because once again today we’re going to need your help with a crisis that we face in our own time: and that’s the epidemic of childhood obesity in America today.

And you all know the statistics –- how nearly one in three kids in this country is overweight or obese. And you all see the impact on the kids that you work with. You see firsthand kids who are struggling to keep up with their classmates, or worse yet they’re stuck on the sidelines because they can’t participate. You see how kids are teased or bullied. You see kids who physically don’t feel good, and they don’t feel good about themselves. You see kids who are at higher risk of conditions like diabetes, and cancer, and heart disease -– conditions that cost billions of dollars a year to treat.

And by the way, today, one of the most common disqualifiers for military service is actually obesity.

Now, those of you who’ve been in this business a while, you know that this wasn’t always the case. Things weren’t always this way. I know you may remember a time when kids in your schools led lives that kept most of them at a healthy weight. They walked to and from school, they ran around during recess and gym class, and they played outside for hours after school. Many could — kids ate home-cooked meals, and many had actually seen fruits and vegetables before you served them to them — (laughter) — so they didn’t look at them like foreign objects when they got them at school. (Laughter.) Fast food, soda and candy were special treats; they weren’t part of every meal. And at lunchtime, in many schools, kids just had two choices: either what you served them, or what their mom or dad packed at home, whether they liked it or not.

But over the past few decades, we’ve seen these healthy habits falling away, replaced by habits of convenience and necessity. You know, parents want to buy healthy food for their kids, but they’re sometimes tight on money and can’t afford it. Or they’re tight on time because they’re juggling extra jobs, extra shifts, and they just can’t swing those home-cooked meals anymore. Those walks to school have been replaced with buses or car rides. And as you know, gym class and school sports have been cut in so many places, replaced by afternoons with the TV, video games, and the Internet.

And those two reasonably healthy choices at lunchtime, they’ve become dozens of choices –- some healthy and some not. That occurs as schools struggle to get the revenue that they need. From fast food, to vending machines packed with chips and candy, to a la carte lines, we tempt our kids with all kinds of unhealthy choices every day. And it’s no surprise that they don’t always pick the healthy ones.

And by now, I think it’s clear that between the pressures of today’s economy and the breakneck pace of modern life, the well-being of our kids has too often gotten lost in the shuffle.

But we have to be honest: Our kids didn’t do this to themselves. You see, our kids don’t decide what to serve — or what is sold at lunch. Our kids don’t decide whether there’s time for recess and gym. They don’t decide whether they’ll learn about healthy eating or nutrition at school. They don’t make these decisions.

We set those priorities. We make those decisions. And even if it doesn’t always feel like it, we are the ones in charge. But that’s the good news — because if we make the decisions, then we can decide to solve this problem.
And that’s precisely what many of you are already doing right now in schools all across this country.

Anji Baumann, the Child Nutrition Director for Gooding, Idaho, she has local farmers grow fresh fruits and vegetables specifically for her school district. And I hear her staff makes many foods from scratch –- including spaghetti and baked goods. In fact, they even came up with a recipe that uses pureed beans as a substitute for some of the oil in chocolate cake –- and it was so tasty that none of the students even noticed.

In Binghamton, New York, I hear they held a health fair to celebrate when six of the city’s seven elementary schools reached Gold status in the Healthier US School Challenge. Wonderful. (Applause.) And they celebrated with kids proudly displaying the school — their nutrition projects. And the whole community got involved — the local hospital, Boys and Girls Clubs, the USDA office, and others — they all sponsored booths with information on healthy living.

And in Jackson, Mississippi, thanks to the encouragement of the Executive Director of Food Services, Mary Hill, the superintendent now requires elementary school teachers to eat meals with their students. (Applause.) And as you can imagine, with teachers sitting at the table -– both encouraging kids to eat fruits and vegetables, and eating them themselves –- fruit and vegetable consumption has gone up there.

And I’m going to be visiting Jackson on Wednesday, and I am looking forward — (applause) — I’m looking forward to seeing Mary and hearing more about what she’s doing. And I’m hoping to come to your areas, too.

Every day, in communities across this country, you all are proving that if we’re creative and resourceful, if we meet this challenge with determination and commitment, then we can take back control; and we can turn back the tide; and we can give our kids the lives that we know they deserve.

That’s why earlier this month we launched Let’s Move. It’s a nationwide campaign to help our kids lead active, healthy lives right from the beginning.

And we’ve issued a call to action. We are telling people, let’s get going, let’s move to help families and communities make healthier decisions — uh oh — (laughter) — not meaning to call you out or anything — (laughter) – but leave it to the press, they’re just — (laughter.) We have to move to help parents make healthier choices for their kids. And we have to move to get the community together — governors, mayors, doctors, nurses, everyone — to tackle this challenge once and for all.

And we have to move. Let’s move to rally this country around a single, ambitious goal — and that is to solve the problem of childhood obesity in a generation so that kids born today reach adulthood at a healthy weight. (Applause.)

And we’ve already created the first ever government-wide task force on childhood obesity. It’s composed of Cabinet secretaries and senior administration officials. And over the next 90 days, they’re working fast and furious. They’re going to review every government program relating to child nutrition and fitness. And they’ll develop a national action plan to not just maximize those resources, but make recommendations that the public and private sectors can take to move this ahead. They’ll also lay out concrete benchmarks to measure our success and to hold us all accountable for meeting our goal.

But we are not going to wait for 90 days to get to work here. We’ve already gotten started on a series of wonderful initiatives to achieve our goal.

The first: Let’s move to offer parents the tools and information they need to make healthy choices for their kids.

You know, so many parents, they want to do the right thing, but they’re bombarded with all this conflicting information, and they don’t know who or what to believe or where to start. So we’ve started a Web site –- letsmove.gov -– that’s going to provide helpful tips and step-by-step strategies for parents.

In addition, we’re working with our doctors, encouraging pediatricians and family doctors to screen kids for obesity and actually work with parents to write out a prescription for the steps they can take to address the problem.

We’re also working with the FDA and the food industry to make our food labels more customer-friendly so parents won’t have to spend hours squinting at words that they can’t pronounce to figure out whether the foods that they’re buying are healthy or not.

And that brings me to the second part of this initiative: Let’s move to ensure that all our families actually have access to the foods — the healthy foods that they need in their own communities, because right now, 23.5 million Americans, including 6.5 million children, live in what we call food deserts, and these are areas without access to a supermarket. And as a result, what happens in those communities is that families wind up buying their groceries at a local gas station or a convenience store, places that offer few, if any, healthy options.

So we’ve set an ambitious goal in this area: to eliminate food deserts in America within seven years. (Applause.) And to achieve this goal, we’ve created a Healthy Food Financing Initiative that’s going to invest $400 million a year –- and leverage hundreds of millions more from the private sector -– to bring grocery stores to underserved areas and to help places like convenience stores carry healthier food options.

But we know that healthy eating is only half the battle. Experts recommend at least 60 minutes of daily activity. But we all know that many kids don’t even come close to that. So let’s move –- and I say that and mean that literally. We have to move to find new ways for our kids to be physically active. And that’s the third piece of this initiative.

Our work here includes expanding and modernizing the President’s Physical Fitness Challenge. And we’ve recruited professional athletes from dozens of different sports leagues –- like the NFL, Major League Baseball, the WNBA, and many, many more –- and they’re going to work with us to encourage kids to get and stay active.

But here’s the thing: We can help kids eat better at home, and we can help them be more active both in and out of school, but the fact remains that kids who participate in school meal programs get roughly half of their calories each day at school. So that means that all of you have as much influence on what our kids eat each day as their parents do.

And think about that for a minute. This is an extraordinary responsibility. But it’s also an opportunity. And it’s why one of the single most important things we can do to fight childhood obesity is to make those meals at school as healthy and nutritious as possible.

So let’s move to help all of you get healthier food into our school. That’s the fourth and final part of the initiative.

And we’re going to start by working to dramatically increase the number of schools that meet the Healthier US School challenge. Those are schools that provide healthy meals, offer physical education and nutrition education, and ensure that children receive the free and reduced price meals that they’re eligible for. These schools that meet the standard, they are the gold standard. They’re the model of what we want for every school in America.

Now, I know that it’s not going to be easy to meet this challenge, because I know the kind of constraints that all of you are under in this era of budget cuts when you’re constantly pushed to do more with less. And I think that if the average person — if you asked the average person to do what you have to do every day, and that is to prepare a meal for hundreds of hungry kids with just $2.68 a child -– with only $1.00 to $1.25 of that money going to the food itself –- they would look at you like you were crazy. (Laughter and applause.) That’s sad, but that’s less than what many folks spend on a cup of coffee in the morning. So we’re going to have to do everything we can to help you.

Right now, we’re hard at work updating and strengthening the Child Nutrition Act to give you more of the resources that you need to do your jobs. And Secretary Vilsack, the Secretary of Agriculture, is taking the lead. He’s doing a wonderful job. And we’ve proposed a historic new investment of an additional $10 billion over the next 10 years.

And I’m pleased that just last week, 66 retired generals, admirals, and other senior military leaders -– including two former Chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff -– sent a letter to Congress in support of these efforts. And that’s amazing. (Applause.)

Our goals here are very simple: We want to get rid of the unnecessary paperwork that keeps so many eligible kids from participating in the school meal programs –- (applause) — and if we can do that, we can increase enrollment in the school breakfast program so that we can serve an additional 1 million kids in the first five years alone. (Applause.)

But we also want to improve the quality of food in our schools, increasing reimbursements so that you can add more fruits and vegetables and whole grains, and decrease sugar, fat and salt.

We also want to get healthier food into those vending machines too –- which, by the way, has actually meant increased revenues for schools in Kentucky and Maine and elsewhere.

We also want to help you purchase the equipment that you need so that you can start phasing out those fryers and phasing in new ovens and salad bars and serving lines. (Applause.)

And we want you all to have better training and professional development opportunities so that you know all of the latest research and the best techniques.

Now, all of this is going to help. But while we can pass better legislation and invest more money, at the end of the day, when it comes to making a school a healthy school, you all know that you’re where the rubber meets the road, because you know better than anyone what our kids will eat and what they’ll throw away. You know what it takes to make them finally –- if even only reluctantly -– try something new. And the training and mentoring that you provide, the contracts you negotiate, the decisions that you make about what to serve –- that’s what really matters here. That’s what really makes the difference.

So let me tell you I am just thrilled that you all have agreed to work with us to meet the goals of Let’s Move, because we’re going to need everything that you’ve got. We’re going to need your best initiatives. We’re going to need your ideas, both big and small, because in fact, as you know, it’s often the small things that make the difference here.

For example, switching from 2 percent to 1 percent milk, that could mean 20 fewer calories. Switching from fruit served in heavy syrup to fruit served in light syrup or juice could mean another 13 calories. Substituting low-fat or non-fat salad dressing could be nearly 50 more calories. And little changes that cut 20 calories here, 30 calories there –- all of that can add up to the hundreds of calories a week for kids. And over the course of a year, for some kids, that can mean the difference between being at a healthy weight or not.

But fighting childhood obesity isn’t just about the food you serve in your lunchrooms. It’s about the leadership you show in your schools and in your communities. It’s about your work as advocates and educators in your own right.

It could mean reaching out to parents -– posting school menus online, or providing family-sized recipes, so that they can try the foods you serve at home. It could mean working with kids, having them do taste tests, or forming a student nutrition group to advise you on what to do for them. It could mean working with teachers and giving them healthy eating tips that they can share with their students. Or educating administrators about the value of programs like the Healthier US Schools program.

And it always means, as you know, reaching out to the community at large –- partnering with local farmers and food suppliers to get better food and better deals; speaking to community groups like the PTA or the Chamber of Commerce about the work that you’re doing and what they can do to help you.

But let’s be clear: This isn’t your responsibility alone. We all have a role to play here, and the only way we’re going to solve this problem is by working together, because you all can give our kids the healthiest school meals imaginable, but if there’s no supermarket in their community and they’re eating unhealthy food at home, then they still won’t have a healthy diet.

And we can build all the shiny new supermarkets on every block in this country, but if parents don’t have the information they need, they’ll still struggle to make healthy choices for their kids. And then if kids aren’t active, then no matter how well we feed them, they still won’t be leading healthy lives.

That’s why I’ve met with so many people over the course of the past few weeks — with mayors and governors — asking them to do their part to build healthier cities and states.

That’s why I’ve met with parents, asking them to do their part to make healthier choices for their families.

That’s why I’ll be meeting with the food manufacturers in the Grocery Manufacturers Association, calling on them to offer healthier options.

And that’s why we need more folks from the private sector to step up: from school food suppliers improving the quality of their food, to retailers understanding that what’s good for kids and families can actually be good business, too.

And that’s why I’m here with all of you, because you all have a vitally important role to play in this effort.

See, I think President Truman put it best — I’ve said this before — nearly 65 years ago in a statement to the first national conference of state school lunch officials that read, and this is a quote, he said to them, "To you who carry out the program locally falls the crucial job of seeing to it that we build well for the future." That we build well for the future.

And in the end, that’s what this is all about –- ensuring that we build well for the future. Ensuring that our kids are ready to learn, that they’re ready to serve their country, that they’re ready to make healthy decisions for the rest of their lives. It’s about ensuring that our kids have the energy and the endurance to succeed in school, to pursue the careers of their dream, and believe it or not, to keep up with their own kids, if they’re blessed, and to live to see their grandkids grow up, and if they’re lucky, maybe even their great grandkids too. That’s why we’re doing this.

So let’s act. Let’s move. And let’s do everything that we can to give our kids the future that we want for them and we know they deserve. (Applause.) So I thank you all for your work and for your continued success. We are so very proud of you. Thank you all. Thanks so much. (Applause.)

END
2:29 P.M. EST

White House.gov Press Office Feed

02.28.10 08:17 AM

The following is a report from the President’s routine physical examination performed this morning at Bethesda Naval Medical Center.

The physical examination was performed by Dr. Jeff Kuhlman, a Navy captain and Physician to the President, Chief White House Physician and Director of the White House Medical Unit. Other specialists assisted in their areas of expertise. Some preliminary testing took place prior to today.

Dr. Kulhman recommends his next physical take place when he turns 50 in August 2011.

At no time was it necessary to temporarily transfer Presidential authority under Section 3 of the 25th Amendment.

View the report (pdf).

White House.gov Press Office Feed

02.26.10 03:21 PM

4:54 P.M. EST

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, everybody. Please have a seat. (Applause.) Thank you very much. Well, it is wonderful to be here. And thank you for the outstanding introduction by Mr. Smart. And I was complimenting him on his bowtie — (laughter) — as well as the excellent scholarship that he’s showing. I want to thank all the student leaders from HBCUs and some of the fantastic men and women that I’ve named to serve on my HBCU advisory board. So thank you, all of you, for what you are contributing to this important cause.

I have a few members of Congress that are in the audience that I want to acknowledge. At least I think they’re here. I haven’t spotted everybody. First of all, one of our outstanding leaders in the House of Representatives, and the whip in the House of Representatives, James Clyburn — James Clyburn is right here. (Applause.) One of the deans of the Congress and the chairman of the Judiciary Committee, John Conyers is in the house. (Applause.) A great friend from the great state of Maryland, Elijah Cummings. (Applause.) The chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, Barbara Lee. (Applause.) A champion on behalf of D.C. statehood — or at least voting rights — Representative Eleanor Holmes Norton. (Applause.) Congressman Bobby Scott from the great state of Virginia. (Applause.) And one of our foremost exports — experts on foreign policy, Congressman Donald Payne from New Jersey. (Applause.)

I also want to acknowledge Dr. Earl Richardson, who is finishing tenure as President of Morgan State University. Please, sir. (Applause.) And a great friend, President of Hampton University for more than 30 years, Dr. William Harvey. (Applause.) I promised him I’d come back to Hampton, so I’m going to be speaking at his commencement this year. (Applause.)

And then the Trojan Explosion Drum Line from Virginia State University. (Applause.) I’m told this is the first time there’s been a drum line in the White House. (Laughter.) This is what I’ve been told. (Laughter.)

Before the Civil War and the creation of what we now call the Historically Black Colleges and Universities, an education –- much less a higher education -– just wasn’t possible for most African Americans. Where it was happening, reading and writing were often taught in secret. But as the Civil War ended and the 13th and 14th and 15th amendments were signed, a freed people demanded a freed mind. And the war on illiteracy and ignorance began.

There were some, like Booker T. Washington, a freed slave who walked 500 miles from the mines of West Virginia to study at Hampton, who argued that these colleges should focus on teaching blacks skilled trades and vocations. There were others, like W.E.B. DuBois, who studied at Fisk and became the first African American to earn a doctorate from Harvard, who advocated for education in the arts and the sciences to cultivate the leaders and teachers of the next generation.

Today, at America’s 105 Historically Black Colleges and Universities, our young men and women prepare to do both. They’re the campuses where a people were educated; where a middle class was built; where a dream took hold. They’re places where generations of African Americans have gained a sense of their heritage, their history, and their place in the American story.

But like all colleges and universities, HBCUs face tough challenges today. Endowments and state budgets are shrinking, too many facilities are deteriorating, enrollment is falling -– and the cost of education keeps going up. And these schools feel the pain more acutely –- they do more with less, and they enroll higher proportions of low- and middle-income students. And that’s why the Recovery Act that was passed last year invested in their infrastructure and technology and nearly doubled the Pell Grant award. And that’s why the budget I’ve proposed this year increases HBCU funding by nearly $100 million at the Department of Education alone.

But helping HBCUs chart a new path in this new century will require much more on all of our parts. And that’s why today I’m signing an executive order strengthening the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities. (Applause.)

This initiative originated in President Carter’s administration; it expanded under President Reagan; and its been renewed by each President since, to help these schools give their students every chance to live up to their full potential. And I’ve asked Dr. John S. Wilson, a Morehouse man, to lead it under my administration, and Dr. Harvey to serve as chairman of its advisory board.

And I want to be clear: Strengthening America’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities isn’t a task that falls to these men or to the Department of Education alone –- I expect agencies across the federal government to help support this mission.

We’re not doing this because these schools — well, we’re not only doing this because these schools are a gateway to a better future for African Americans; we’re doing it because their success is vital to a better future for all Americans. We know that Americans with college degrees far out-earn those without. We know that our businesses too often can’t find qualified candidates for open positions. We know that other countries are out-educating their kids to out-compete ours. And yet, year after year, a stubborn gap persists between how well African Americans are doing compared to their white classmates. Year after year, American students trail their foreign peers in too many areas. And year after year, those students who do make it to college often find themselves unprepared for its rigors.

That’s why education reform has been a top priority of my administration. We launched a national competition to improve our schools by investing only in reform that closes the achievement gap, and inspires students to excel in math and science, and turns around failing schools that steal the future from too many young Americans. We’re working with states and governors to develop and implement standards that better position all our students to graduate high school prepared for college and careers.

I’ve urged the Senate to pass a bill that will make college more affordable by ending unnecessary taxpayer subsidies that go to financial intermediaries for student loans, revitalize our community colleges that serve as career pathways for the children of so many working families, and invest more than $2 billion in Minority Serving Institutions, including HBCUs. All of this will help achieve our goal of ensuring that America once again has the highest proportion of college graduates in the world by 2020 -– and keeping our HBCUs strong is vital to achieving that goal.

Still, there are some who question the continued relevance of HBCUS; who say that they’ve fulfilled their purpose; who say that after all the progress that we’ve made, their reason for being is now somehow obsolete. But it was because of these schools that a young prankster discovered the sense of purpose that led him ultimately to sit on the Supreme Court. It was because of these schools that a young broadcaster with a funny name –- Oprah –- (laughter) — could make that name into an empire. It was because of HBCUs that a young preacher grew into a king that shared his dream with all of America.

It was because of these schools that America’s middle class was filled with black doctors and educators and judges and lawyers and engineers and entrepreneurs. And today, it’s because of these schools that one out of every two wide-eyed freshmen who who arrives on their campuses with big backpacks and bigger dreams is the first in his or her family to go to college.

And that’s why we’re here today -– to ensure that these schools remain the beacons that they’ve been for more than a century and a half: Crucibles of learning where students discover their full potential and forge the character required to realize it; catalysts of change where young people put their hands on the arc of history and move this nation closer to the ideals of its founding; and the cradles of opportunity where each generation inherits the American Dream -– and keeps it alive for the next.

That’s what HBCUs are about, and that’s why I’m proud to now sign this executive order. (Applause.)

(The executive order is signed.)

There we go. (Applause.)

END
5:03 P.M. EST

White House.gov Press Office Feed

02.26.10 03:55 PM

WASHINGTON – Today, President Barack Obama signed a new Executive Order re-establishing the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities and the President’s Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities. A copy of the Executive Order is attached.

The Board of Advisors, created in 1981 by Executive Order, is tasked with advising the President and the Secretary of Education on methods, programs, and strategies to strengthen these valued institutions. The signing of the Executive Order today represents the Administration’s commitment to assure increased access to federally-sponsored programs and opportunities for the nation’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities. It will also contribute to the Administration’s efforts to increase the number and percentage of college-trained Americans by the year 2020.

President Obama also announced his intent to appoint the following individuals to serve on the President’s Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities:

William R. Harvey, Chairman, President’s Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and UniversitiesLawrence S. Bacow, Member, President’s Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and UniversitiesEvelynn M. Hammonds, Member, President’s Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and UniversitiesBeverly Wade Hogan, Member, President’s Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and UniversitiesEdward Lewis, Member, President’s Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and UniversitiesRonald Mason, Jr., Member, President’s Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and UniversitiesValerie Mosley, Member, President’s Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and UniversitiesWillie Pearson Jr., Member, President’s Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and UniversitiesBeverly Daniel Tatum, Member, President’s Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and UniversitiesKenneth Tolson, Member, President’s Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and UniversitiesDavid Wilson, Member, President’s Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and UniversitiesPresident Obama said, “I am pleased to announce the appointments of these talented, diverse and accomplished individuals to the Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities, all of whom have shown a deep commitment to the mission of these institutions, which are as relevant and necessary to our society today as they were when first established.”

President Obama announced his intent to appoint the following individuals to the President’s Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities:

William R. Harvey, Appointee for Chairman, President’s Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities
Dr. William R. Harvey has served as President of Hampton University since 1978. During his tenure, he has increased enrollment, raised the endowment, raised the average SAT scores for entering freshmen, and implemented innovative programs which have led to increased opportunities for Hampton graduates. Prior to joining Hampton, Dr. Harvey worked in various roles at Harvard University, Fisk University, and Tuskegee University. He previously served on the President’s Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges as well as the President’s National Advisory Council on Elementary and Secondary Education, Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education, Commission on Presidential Scholars, and U. S. Department of Commerce Minority Development Advisory Board. Dr. Harvey is currently a Lieutenant Colonel in the Army Reserve. He is a graduate of Talladega College and earned his doctorate in College Administration from Harvard University.

Lawrence S. Bacow, Appointee for Member, President’s Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities
Lawrence S. Bacow has served as the President of Tufts University since 2001. He is a lawyer and economist whose research focuses on environmental policy. Bacow is also known as an advocate for broader access to higher education, the importance of need-based financial aid, and the role of civic engagement in colleges and universities. Prior to coming to Tufts, Bacow was the Chancellor and Lee and Geraldine Martin Professor of Environmental Studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. A member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Bacow received his S.B. from MIT, J.D. from Harvard Law School, and M.P.P. and Ph.D. from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government.

Evelynn M. Hammonds, Appointee for Member, President’s Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities
Evelynn M. Hammonds is Dean of Harvard College and the Barbara Gutmann Rosenkrantz Professor of the History of Science and of African and African American Studies at Harvard University. She previously served as Harvard’s first Senior Vice Provost for Faculty Development and Diversity from 2005-2008. Her current work focuses on the intersection of scientific, medical, and socio-political concepts of race in the United States. Before joining the Harvard faculty, Professor Hammonds taught at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology where she was the founding director of the MIT Center for the Study of Diversity in Science, Technology, and Medicine. She has published articles on the history of disease, race and science, African American feminism, African American women and the epidemic of HIV/AIDS, and analyses of gender and race in science and medicine. She is the recipient of numerous awards including an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Spelman College. Professor Hammonds earned a Ph.D. in the history of science from Harvard University, an S.M. in physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a B.E.E. in electrical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology, and a B.S. in physics from Spelman College.

Beverly Wade Hogan, Appointee for Member, President’s Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities
Beverly Wade Hogan was named President of Tougaloo College in 2002. She previously served on the College’s Board of Trustees and as the Interim President, Executive Assistant to the President, and Vice President for Institutional Advancement. She was also the Founding Director of the Owens Health, Wellness & Human Resources Center. Additionally she has taught courses on public policy at Jackson State University and is a frequent speaker at colleges and universities across the country and abroad. President Hogan has been a scholar with the Kettering Foundation where her research focused on higher education and civic responsibility. She received her B.A. from Tougaloo College and M.P.A. from Jackson State University. She is also the recipient of a number of honorary doctorates.

Edward Lewis, Appointee for Member, President’s Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities
Edward Lewis is the Co-Founder of Essence magazine and Chairman and Publisher Emeritus of Essence Communications Inc., which is one of the largest African-American owned communications companies in the United States. For 35 years, he led the strategic direction of Essence and built it into the multi-media leader that it has become today. A frequent speaker at universities and business schools across the country, he is also the current Chairman of Latina Media Ventures and former Chairman of the Magazine Publishers of America. Lewis received his B.A. and M.A. from the University of New Mexico.

Ronald Mason, Jr., Appointee for Member, President’s Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities
Ronald Mason, Jr. has served as President of Jackson State University in Jackson, Mississippi, since 2000. He was previously the Founder and Executive Director for Tulane and Xavier Universities’ National Center for the Urban Community. During his 18 year tenure at Tulane, President Mason also held appointments as Senior Vice President and General Counsel and as Vice President for Finance and Operations. He began his career as a lawyer with the Southern Cooperative Development Fund, Inc. President Mason has served on the President’s Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities, the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity, and the American Council on Education Board of Directors. He received his B.A. and J.D. from Columbia University.

Valerie Mosley, Appointee for Member, President’s Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities
Valerie Mosley is a Senior Vice President, Partner, and Portfolio Manager for Wellington Management Company, LLP, a $540 billion global investment firm. Valerie personally manages billions of dollars for institutional clients, serves on two of the firm’s fixed income strategy groups, and has chaired the firm’s Industry Strategy Group. Before joining Wellington Management in 1992, Mosley worked at Chase Manhattan Bank, Kidder Peabody, and P.G. Corbin Asset Management. She speaks frequently on issues related to the economy and investments, personal empowerment, and financial literacy. She is also working with high schools to develop a financial education program that can be scaled nationally. Mosley received her B.A. from Duke University and her M.B.A. from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania.

Willie Pearson Jr., Appointee for Member, President’s Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities
Willie Pearson, Jr. is a Professor of Sociology at the Georgia Institute of Technology’s School of History, Technology, and Society. He specializes in the sociology of science and sociology of the family. His research focuses primarily on broadening participation in science and engineering and the careers of African-American Ph.D. scientists. He is the author or co-editor of numerous books and articles, including Beyond Small Numbers: Voices of African American PhD Chemists (2005). Pearson is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and former Chair of the Committee on Equal Opportunities in Science and Engineering, Office of the Director, National Science Foundation. He received his Ph.D. from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale.

Beverly Daniel Tatum, Appointee for Member, President’s Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities
Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum became the ninth President of Spelman College in 2002. During her tenure, the Center for Leadership and Civic Engagement (LEADS) was created and its annual Women of Color Leadership Conference established as a national professional development resource. She has also increased scholarship support for students and supported innovative programs such as the construction of an LEED-certified “green” residence hall. She previously served as a faculty member at the University of California at Santa Barbara, Westfield State College, and Mount Holyoke College, where she also served as Dean and Acting President. In 2005, Dr. Tatum was awarded the prestigious Brock International Prize in Education for her innovative leadership in the field. Formerly a member of the President’s Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Dr. Tatum also serves on the boards of the Institute for International Education, the Council of Independent Colleges, Teach for America, and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. Dr. Tatum earned a B.A. degree in psychology from Wesleyan University, and M.A. and Ph.D. in clinical psychology from University of Michigan. She also holds a M.A. in Religious Studies from Hartford Seminary.

Kenneth Tolson, Appointee for Member, President’s Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities
Kenneth Tolson is the Executive Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer and Innovation Transformation Officer for the Emerging Technology Consortium, a division of TBED21. TBED21-ETC is a non-partisan research and educational institute whose mission is to formulate and promote public policies to advance technological innovation and economic productivity in America. Tolson has served in various senior information technology and management focused roles for both public and private sectors. He has held the position of Chief Information Officer and Chief Technology Officer managing large scale technology implementation programs for the Federal Government and other agencies. He is a member of the National Society for Black Engineers and multiple technology industry associations. Tolson also founded The Melvin B. Tolson Foundation in honor of his grandfather who was a noted African American poet and educator. He received his B.S. from Morehouse College and is a former United States Marine Corps Reserve Officer Candidate.

David Wilson, Appointee for Member, President’s Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities
Dr. David Wilson was recently named as the next President of Morgan State University. He has over 31 years of experience in higher education from leading colleges and universities across the country. Dr. Wilson is currently the Chancellor of the University of Wisconsin Colleges and University of Wisconsin-Extension. Prior to his present position, Dr. Wilson served in numerous capacities, from Vice President to faculty and administrative roles, at Rutgers University, Kentucky State University, Radcliffe College, Auburn University and Tuskegee University. He received his B.S. in political science and a Ed.M. from Tuskegee Institute (now Tuskegee University). He also and earned a second Ed.M. in Educational Planning and Administration and a Doctorate in Administration, Planning and Social Policy from Harvard University.

White House.gov Press Office Feed

02.27.10 11:17 AM

1:48 P.M. EST

THE PRESIDENT: Good morning, everybody. Earlier today, a devastating earthquake struck the nation of Chile, affecting millions of people. This catastrophic event was followed by multiple aftershocks, and has prompted tsunami warnings across the Pacific Ocean. Earlier today, I was briefed by my national security team on the steps that we’re taking to protect our own people, and to stand with our Chilean friends.

Early indications are that hundreds of lives have been lost in Chile, and the damage is severe. On behalf of the American people, Michelle and I send our deepest condolences to the Chilean people. The United States stands ready to assist in the rescue and recovery efforts, and we have resources that are positioned to deploy should the Chilean government ask for our help. Chile is a close friend and partner of the United States, and I’ve reached out to President Bachelet to let her know that we will be there for her should the Chilean people need assistance, and our hearts go out to the families who may have lost loved ones.

We’re also preparing for a tsunami that could reach American shores later today, particularly in Hawaii, American Samoa, and Guam. A tsunami warning is in place, and people have been alerted to evacuate coastal areas. I urge citizens to listen closely to the instructions of local officials, who will have the full support of the federal government as they prepare for a potential tsunami, and recover from any damage that may be caused.

I also urge our citizens along the West Coast to be prepared as well, as there may be dangerous waves and currents throughout the day. Again, the most important thing that you can do is to carefully heed the instructions of your state and local officials.

Once again, we’ve been reminded of the awful devastation that can come at a moment’s notice. We can’t control nature, but we can and must be prepared for disaster when it strikes. In the hours ahead, we’ll continue to take every step possible to prepare our shores and protect our citizens. And we will stand with the people of Chile as they recovery from this terrible tragedy.

Thank you very much, everybody.

END 1:49 P.M. EST

White House.gov Press Office Feed

02.27.10 02:01 PM

This afternoon, President Obama spoke with President Michelle Bachelet to express his condolences for the losses Chile suffered as a result of this morning’s tragic earthquake. The President commended President Bachelet for the Chilean government’s response to the disaster and recognized Chile’s capacity and expertise in responding to earthquakes. He reiterated that the United States stands ready to assist the Chilean government’s rescue and recovery efforts. President Bachelet thanked President Obama for his call, and said that she would be in touch should Chile require any support.

White House.gov Press Office Feed

02.27.10 03:00 AM

WASHINGTON – In his weekly address, President Barack Obama said that the nation cannot lose the current opportunity to finally enact meaningful health care reform. At Thursday’s meeting on reform, both sides were able to find several areas of agreement, but there were some differences. While the President is willing and eager to move forward with members of Congress from both parties, American families and businesses cannot afford to wait another generation for reform.

The audio and video will be available online at www.whitehouse.gov at 6:00 am ET, Saturday, February 27, 2010.

Remarks of President Barack Obama
As Prepared for Delivery
Weekly Address
February 27, 2010

As the Winter Olympics draw to a close this weekend, I just want to take a minute to congratulate all the athletes who competed in these games. And I especially want to say how proud I am of all the American men and women have achieved over the last few weeks.

Whether it was the men’s hockey team’s stunning upset of the Canadians on their way to the gold-medal game, Lindsey Vonn’s heroic gold-medal comeback from a shin injury, or Apolo Ohno becoming the most decorated American winter Olympian of all time, you can’t help but be inspired by the sheer grit and athletic prowess on display in Vancouver.

And it’s not just the medal count that’s inspiring – though we’ve certainly done great on that score. What’s truly inspiring is the character of the men and women who have won those medals. The sacrifices they’ve made. The integrity they’ve shown. The indomitable Olympic spirit that says no matter who you are or where you come from or what difficulties you may face, you can work hard and train hard and still triumph in the end. That is why we watch. That is why we cheer. That is why in the middle of an extremely challenging time for America, we’ve been able to come together as one nation for a few weeks in February and swell with pride at what our citizens have achieved.

Now, when it comes to meeting the larger challenges we face as a nation, I realize that finding this unity is easier said than done – especially in Washington. But if we want to compete on the world stage as well as we’ve competed in the world’s games, we need to find common ground. We need to move past the bickering and the game-playing that holds us back and blocks progress for the American people.

We know it’s possible to do this. And we were reminded of that last week when Democrats and Republicans in the Senate came together to pass a jobs bill that will give small businesses tax credits to hire more workers. We also saw it when Democrats and Republicans in the House came together to pass a bill that will force insurance companies to abide by common-sense rules that prevent price-fixing and other practices that drive up health care costs.

We need that same spirit of cooperation and bipartisanship when it comes to finally passing reform that will bring down the cost of health care and give Americans more control over their insurance. On Thursday, we brought both parties together for a frank and productive discussion about this issue. In that discussion, we heard many areas of agreement. Both sides agreed that the rising cost of health care is a serious problem that plagues families, small businesses, and our federal budget. Many on both sides agreed that we should give small businesses and individuals the ability to participate in a new insurance marketplace – which members of Congress would also use – that would allow them to pool their purchasing power and get a better deal from insurance companies. And I heard some ideas from our Republican friends that I believe are very worthy of consideration.

But still, there were differences. We disagreed over whether insurance companies should be held accountable when they deny people care or arbitrarily raise premiums. I believe they should. We disagreed over giving tax credits to small businesses and individuals that would make health care affordable for those who don’t have it. This would be the largest middle class tax cut for health care in history, and I believe we should do it. And while we agreed that Americans with pre-existing conditions should be able to get coverage, we disagreed on how to do that.

Some of these disagreements we may be able to resolve. Some we may not. And no final bill will include everything that everyone wants. That’s what compromise is. I said at the end of Thursday’s summit that I am eager and willing to move forward with members of both parties on health care if the other side is serious about coming together to resolve our differences and get this done. But I also believe that we cannot lose the opportunity to meet this challenge. The tens of millions of men and women who cannot afford their health insurance cannot wait another generation for us to act. Small businesses cannot wait. Americans with pre-existing conditions cannot wait. State and federal budgets cannot sustain these rising costs.

It is time for us to come together. It is time for us to act. It is time for those of us in Washington to live up to our responsibilities to the American people and to future generations. So let’s get this done.

Thanks for listening.

White House.gov Press Office Feed

02.26.10 03:41 PM

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, in order to advance the development of the Nation’s full human potential and to advance equal opportunity in higher education, strengthen the capacity of historically black colleges and universities to provide the highest quality education, increase opportunities for these institutions to participate in and benefit from Federal programs, and ensure that our Nation has the highest proportion of college graduates in the world by the year 2020, it is hereby ordered as follows:

Section 1. Policy. 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. The Nation’s 105 HBCUs are located in 20 States, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands and serve more than 300,000 undergraduate and graduate students. These institutions continue to be important engines of economic growth and community service, and they are proven ladders of intergenerational advancement for men and women of all ethnic, racial, and economic backgrounds, especially African Americans. These institutions also produce a high number of baccalaureate recipients who go on to assume leadership and service roles in their communities and who successfully complete graduate and professional degree programs.

Sec. 2. White House Initiative on HBCUs.

(a) Establishment. There is established the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (Initiative), to be housed in the Department of Education (Department).

(b) Mission and Functions. The Initiative shall work with executive departments, agencies, and offices, the private sector, educational associations, philanthropic organizations, and other partners to increase the capacity of HBCUs to provide the highest-quality education to a greater number of students, and to take advantage of these institutions’ capabilities in serving the Nation’s needs through five core tasks:

(i) strengthening the capacity of HBCUs to participate in Federal programs;

(ii) fostering enduring private-sector initiatives and public-private partnerships while promoting specific areas and centers of academic research and programmatic excellence throughout all HBCUs;

(iii) improving the availability, dissemination, and quality of information concerning HBCUs to inform public policy and practice;

(iv) sharing administrative and programmatic practices within the HBCU community for the benefit of all; and

(v) exploring new ways of improving the relationship between the Federal Government and HBCUs.

(c) Administration. There shall be an Executive Director of the Initiative. The Department shall provide the staff, resources, and assistance for the Initiative, and shall assist the Initiative in fulfilling its mission and responsibilities under this order.

(d) Federal Agency Plans. (1) Each executive department and agency designated by the Secretary of Education (Secretary) shall prepare an annual plan (agency plan) of its efforts to strengthen the capacity of HBCUs through increased participation in appropriate Federal programs and initiatives. Where appropriate, each agency plan shall address, among other things, the agency’s proposed efforts to:

(i) establish how the department or agency intends to increase the capacity of HBCUs to compete effectively for grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements and to encourage HBCUs to participate in Federal programs;

(ii) identify Federal programs and initiatives in which HBCUs may be either underserved or underused as national resources, and improve HBCUs’ participation therein; and

(iii) encourage public-sector, private-sector, and community involvement in improving the overall capacity of HBCUs.

(2) Each department and agency, in its agency plan, shall provide appropriate measurable objectives and, after the first year, shall annually assess that department’s or agency’s performance on the goals set in the previous year’s agency plan.

(3) The Secretary shall establish a date by which agency plans shall be submitted to the Secretary. The Secretary and the Executive Director shall review the agency plans in consultation with the President’s Board of Advisors on HBCUs, established in section 3 of this order, and shall submit to the President an annual plan to strengthen the overall capacity of HBCUs.

(4) To help fulfill the objectives of these plans, the head of each department and agency identified by the Secretary shall provide, as appropriate, technical assistance and information to the Executive Director for purposes of communicating with HBCUs concerning program activities of the department or agency and the preparation of applications or proposals for grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements.

(5) To help fulfill the goals of this order, each executive department and agency identified by the Secretary shall appoint a senior official to report directly to the department or agency head with respect to that department’s or agency’s activities under this order, and to serve as liaison to the President’s Board of Advisors on HBCUs and to the Initiative.

(e) Interagency Working Group. There is established the Interagency Working Group, which shall be convened by the Executive Director and that shall consist of representatives from agencies designated by the Secretary, to help advance and coordinate the work of Federal agencies pursuant to this order, where appropriate.

Sec. 3. President’s Board of Advisors on HBCUs.

(a) Establishment. There is established in the Department the President’s Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (the Board). The Board shall consist of not more than 25 members appointed by the President. The President shall designate one member of the Board to serve as Chair, who shall coordinate with the Executive Director to convene meetings and help direct the work of the Board. The Board shall include representatives of a variety of sectors, including philanthropy, education, business, finance, entrepreneurship, innovation, and private foundations, as well as sitting HBCU presidents.

(b) Mission and Functions. Through the Initiative, the Board shall advise the President and the Secretary on all matters pertaining to strengthening the educational capacity of HBCUs. In particular, the Board shall advise the President and the Secretary in the following areas:

(i) improving the identity, visibility, and distinctive capabilities and overall competitiveness of HBCUs;

(ii) engaging the philanthropic, business, government, military, homeland-security, and education communities in a national dialogue regarding new HBCU programs and initiatives;

(iii) improving the ability of HBCUs to remain fiscally secure institutions that can assist the Nation in reaching its goal of having the highest proportion of college graduates by 2020;

(iv) elevating the public awareness of HBCUs; and

(v) encouraging public-private investments in HBCUs.

(c) Administration. The Executive Director of the Initiative shall also serve as the Executive Director of the Board. The Department shall provide funding and administrative support for the Board to the extent permitted by law and within existing appropriations. Members of the Board shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, as authorized by law. Insofar as the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended (5 U.S.C. App.), may apply to the Board, any functions of the President under that Act, except for those of reporting to the Congress, shall be performed by the Secretary, in accordance with guidelines issued by the Administrator of General Services.

(d) Report. As part of the annual report of the Initiative, the Board shall report to the President and the Secretary on their progress in carrying out its duties under this section.

Sec. 4. General Provisions. (a) For the purposes of this order, "historically black colleges and universities" shall mean those institutions listed in 34 C.F.R. 602.8.

(b) This order shall apply to executive departments and agencies designated by the Secretary. Those departments and agencies shall provide timely reports and such information as is required to effectively carry out the objectives of this order.

(c) The heads of executive departments and agencies shall assist and provide information through the White House Initiative to the Board, consistent with applicable law, as may be necessary to carry out the functions of the Board. Each executive department and agency shall bear its own expenses of participating in the Initiative.

(d) 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.

(e) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.

(f) 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

(g) Executive Order 13256 of February 12, 2002, is hereby revoked.

BARACK OBAMA

THE WHITE HOUSE,
February 26, 2010.

# # #

White House.gov Press Office Feed

02.26.10 04:18 PM

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, President Obama signed an executive order, which can be viewed here, renewing the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities in the White House East Room. This event demonstrates the President’s strong appreciation for the historic role these institutions have played in educating our citizens and the Administration’s commitment to assisting HBCUs with accomplishing their mission.

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 have, for over 150 years, 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.

The Nation’s 105 HBCUs are located in 20 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and serve more than 300,000 undergraduate and graduate students. These institutions continue to be important engines of economic growth and community service, and they are proven ladders of intergenerational advancement for men and women of all ethnic, racial, and economic backgrounds, especially African-Americans.

Among its provisions the Executive Order:

Establishes the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities to be housed in the Department of Education. Headed by Dr. John Wilson, the Initiative will lead the Obama Administration’s work to partner with federal departments, agencies and offices, as well as other public and private partners to focus on five key tasks: strengthening the capacity of HBCUs to participate in Federal programs; fostering private-sector initiatives and public-private partnerships that would include promoting specific areas and centers of academic research and programmatic excellence; improving the availability, dissemination, and quality of information concerning HBCUs to inform public policy and practice; sharing administrative and programmatic practices within the HBCU community for the benefit of all; and exploring new ways of improving the relationship between the Federal Government and HBCUs. Establishes a President’s Board of Advisors on HBCUs that will advise the Obama Administration on matters pertaining to strengthening the educational capacity of these institutions. Apart from the Executive Order, President Obama has demonstrated his commitment to strengthening educational opportunities at HBCUs through his FY 11 Budget which includes:

$98 million in new money for HBCUs at the Department of Education. This includes a 5% or $13 million increase for the Strengthening HBCUs program and support for the $85 million in mandatory funding for HBCUs in the pending Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act. $20.5 million for the HBCU Capital Financing program, to provide HBCUs with access to financing for the repair, renovation, and construction or acquisition of educational facilities, instructional equipment, research instrumentation, and physical infrastructure. This funding will support $279 million in new loans in 2011, more than $100 million more than in 2010. $64.5 million for the Strengthening Historically Black Graduate Institution program, a $3.1 million or 5% increase. $103 million for a comprehensive science and technology workforce program at the National Science Foundation designed to engage undergraduates at Historically Black, Tribal, and Hispanic-serving colleges and universities by realigning and building on existing programs. The President’s budget request would increase funding for these activities by over 14%. An increase in the Pell Grant maximum award to $5,710 in 2011 – an increase of $160 over the 2010 level – and a provision to increase that rate faster than inflation in future years. In 2011, students attending HBCUs will receive about $900 million in Pell Grants, an increase of nearly $400 million since the Administration took office. Students attending HBCUs will also benefit from provisions included in the President’s higher education package, the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act (SAFRA), currently pending before Congress and reflected in the President’s FY 11 Budget. SAFRA deepens the President’s commitment to Pell, includes an expansion of low-interest Perkins Loans and further simplifies federal financial aid forms. SAFRA would also provide increased support for Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) including HBCUs and helps MSIs through programs such as the American Graduation Initiative that lends new support for community colleges, and the Access and Completion Fund, which would make grants to states, institutions of higher education, and other organizations to support innovative strategies to increase the number of students entering and completing college.

President Obama is working to provide students a complete and competitive education from cradle to career by ensuring that students, families and communities have the resources and opportunities needed to improve educational outcomes. Today, we set a course to work with HBCUs to achieve this goal.

White House.gov Press Office Feed

02.26.10 12:15 PM

“We are enormously grateful to Desiree Rogers for the terrific job she’s done as the White House Social Secretary. When she took this position, we asked Desiree to help make sure that the White House truly is the People’s House, and she did that by welcoming scores of everyday Americans through its doors, from wounded warriors to local schoolchildren to NASCAR drivers. She organized hundreds of fun and creative events during her time here, and we will miss her. We thank her again for her service and wish her all the best in her future endeavors.”

White House.gov Press Office Feed

02.26.10 07:37 AM

Announces New Department of Labor Regulations to Protect Workers’ Retirement Savings

WASHINGTON, DC – Vice President Joe Biden, Chair of the White House Task Force on the Middle Class, today released the Middle Class Task Force’s Annual Report, which lays out a series of policy recommendations designed to tackle the challenges facing America’s middle class. The Vice President was joined at this event by Director of the Office of Management and Budget Peter Orszag, Deputy Secretary of Labor Seth Harris, Director of the White House Domestic Policy Council Melody Barnes, Chair of the Council of Economic Advisors Christina Romer, and Director of the National Economic Council Lawrence Summers. The Vice President delivered this report to the President earlier today.

The report brings together the work the Task Force has done over the past year; examines the state of the American middle class; and discusses steps that the Administration is taking to address the challenges facing middle class families across the country.

“The goal of this Task Force has been clear from the start – to make sure the middle class emerges from this recession able to grow stronger and more secure than before it began,” said Vice President Biden. “We’ve spent the past year traveling the country talking about the economic challenges facing the middle class. As a result, the initiatives we lay out in this report offer specific solutions to improve the quality-of-life for middle class families everywhere.”

Most importantly, the report offers a set of proposals targeted directly at the issues that are critical to the aspirations and everyday lives of middle class families, many of which are prominently featured in the President’s FY 2011 Budget.

Some of these key FY 2011 Budget proposals supported by the Task Force include:

Helping Families with Soaring Child Care Costs. Parents are working harder but with less to show for it after paying for child care, which keeps getting more expensive. The Budget nearly doubles the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit for middle-class families making under $85,000 a year, and nearly every family that makes under $115,000 will see its credit increase. The Budget also provides a $1.6 billion increase in funding for the Child Care and Development Fund, which will fund services for approximately 235,000 children and improve quality. Supporting Families Caring for Seniors and People with Disabilities. The Budget boosts funding for programs that support caregivers and allow seniors to live in the community for as long as possible. Capping Student Loan Payments. The Budget strengthens the Income-Based Repayment plan for student loans by limiting a borrower’s payments to 10 percent of his or her income above a basic living allowance and by forgiving all remaining debt after 10 years of payments for those in public service work and after 20 years for all others. Enhancing Retirement Security. The Administration will require most employers who do not currently offer a retirement plan to enroll their employees in a payroll-deduction IRA unless the employee opts out. The Budget also simplifies and expands the Saver’s Credit to provide a 50 percent match on the first $1,000 of retirement savings for families earning up to $65,000 and providing a partial credit to families up to $85,000. We will also make this credit fully refundable. The full Task Force Annual Report includes a more comprehensive discussion of the Administration’s proposals to help middle-class families. To read the Annual Report, please click HERE.

Since the release of the Budget, leading policy experts and advocates, many of whom have studied the issues facing the middle class for decades, have expressed support for the Task Force’s policy proposals. The Task Force received letters from organizations across the country backing the proposals to reduce student loan payments, help families with child care costs, enhance retirement security, and support family caregivers. To view a sampling of these letters, please click HERE.

Also at today’s event, the Vice President announced that the Department of Labor is proposing new protections for workers with 401(k)s and IRAs. These new protections are an important step in the Administration’s efforts to make the retirement system more secure for middle class workers and families. The regulations will protect workers from conflicts of interest and expand the opportunities for employers to offer workers the expert investment advice they need to make the best possible decisions about how to save their hard-earned wages.

“A secure retirement is essential to workers and the nation’s economy. Along with Social Security and personal savings, secure retirement allows Americans to remain in the middle class when their working days are done. And, the money in the retirement system brings tremendous pools of investment capital, creating jobs and expanding our economy,” said U.S. Deputy Secretary of Labor Seth Harris. “These rules will strengthen America’s private retirement system by ensuring workers get good, objective information. When that happens, workers make the kind of decisions that are good for their families and the nation as the whole.”

About the Middle Class Task Force: The Task Force, Chaired by Vice President Joe Biden, includes top-level Administration agencies and councils whose policies and programs touch on many of the key issues facing middle-class families, including the Secretaries of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, Energy, the Treasury, Commerce, Housing and Urban Development, Transportation, and Agriculture, as well as the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, the Directors of the National Economic Council, the Office of Management and Budget, and the Domestic Policy Council, and the Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers.

To read learn more about the Middle Class Task Force initiatives, please visit: www.WhiteHouse.Gov/AStrongMiddleClass.

White House.gov Press Office Feed

02.23.10 08:37 AM

Today, Vice President Biden called Ad Melkert, the Special Representative to the U.N. Secretary General for Iraq, to discuss preparations for Iraq’s March 7th elections. They agreed on the importance of broad participation in these elections by all Iraqi parties and voters, including Iraqis living abroad; and discussed the need for a timely and inclusive process of government formation following the vote.

White House.gov Press Office Feed

02.24.10 03:15 PM

“I applaud the House of Representatives for passing the Health Insurance Industry Fair Competition Act on a strong bipartisan vote today. This bill will help ensure that insurers abide by common-sense rules that prevent bid-rigging, price-fixing, and other practices that drive up health care costs for the American people.

Repealing the antitrust exemption for health insurers is an important step toward achieving reform that gives families and business owners greater control over their health care. I look forward to meeting with congressional leaders tomorrow to continue this critical discussion.”

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