Blog

04.16.10 04:39 AM

6:42 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, everybody. Everybody have a seat. Everybody have a seat. Settle down here for a second. (Applause.) Oh, it is good to be back in Miami. (Applause.) It’s good to be back in the Sunshine State. I came to Florida today to visit NASA, lay out a bold new vision for America’s future in space. And I figured, hey, while I’m here — (laughter) — let’s beam down and visit some old friends in Miami. (Applause.)

Thank you, Tim Kaine, not only for the generous introduction but for the great job he is doing — (applause) — an unbelievable job as DNC chair, just like he did an unbelievable job as the governor of the great Commonwealth of Virginia.

Thank you to your vice chair, your own Debbie Wasserman Schultz. We love Debbie. (Applause.) We have in the house Florida’s next governor, Alex Sink. (Applause.) We’ve got Florida’s next CFO and one of the first people in Florida to stand up and endorse my campaign — Lorann Ausley is here as well. (Applause.) Somewhere around here is the next senator from the great state of Florida, Kendrick Meek. He’s here somewhere. There he is. (Applause.) Kendrick’s doing a great job.

I also want to point out a great friend of mine, a former member of my administration who just yesterday announced he is running for Congress in Florida’s 25th — Joe Garcia is in the house. Joe Garcia. (Applause.) So is Florida’s next agricultural commissioner, Scott Maddox. (Applause.) And a wonderful member of Congress from further up north, I don’t know if she came out, but she’s doing unbelievable work, so keep her in mind — Suzanne Kosmas. (Applause.) There’s Suzanne. There she is. She came out.

And thank you to the talented Esperanza Spalding. Isn’t she terrific? (Applause.) I love listening to Esperanza, she is wonderful.

I also want to thank all the leaders of the Haitian American community who are with us tonight. (Applause.) I think some of you know my political director, Patrick Gaspard, is from Haiti. (Applause.) And so through him we understood how much you’ve lost and how much you’ve given. And some of you know, I think, Michelle just took her first solo trip abroad as First Lady. Her first stop was to Haiti. (Applause.) The devastation moved her deeply, and she also saw, though, the resiliency and the resolve of the people. And that filled her with hope. And so I asked her to give the people of Haiti a message from me, which is the United States of America will continue to stand with the people of Haiti as they recover and they rebuild. That is something that we are committed to. (Applause.)

So it’s good to be among friends in Florida. I spent a lot of time here during our campaign. Many of you were on the frontlines, devoting your time, your energy, knocking on doors, making phone calls, arguing with people. (Laughter.) Most of all, affirming that unyielding faith in the promise of America. And so I want to thank you for being part of this journey. (Applause.)

In a time of incredible economic uncertainty, you believed that we could still make the American Dream accessible for everybody who was willing to work for it. And at a time of cynicism, you believed that we could still solve problems that had held us back for years, decades. At a time of great challenge, especially when we were challenged, you believed that change was still possible in the United States of America.

So, Miami, I’ve come back here to tell you tonight that we have kept the faith with those beliefs. We’ve begun to fix the problems that we identified during the campaign. The change you fought for is beginning to take hold in Washington and all across the country. (Applause.)

Now, change is never easy. I don’t know if you’ve noticed this. (Laughter.) People tend to be comfortable with the status quo, even when the status quo isn’t working for them. And the fact is that with all the turbulence that’s been taking place this year, for many Americans, change still can’t come fast enough. But I wanted people to understand what we were looking at when we first came into office: a financial crisis unlike any we had seen in generations; an economy that was bleeding 750,000 jobs a month; challenges that ranged from the specter of terrorism to the impacts of globalization to two wars that were costly in every sense of the word.

Before we could start healing, we had to stop the bleeding. We needed to make sure that an economic disaster did not become a full-blown depression. And some of those short-term steps designed to stabilize the economy, they weren’t popular. The Recovery Act, even though we gave tax cuts to everybody — (applause) — somehow got confused with the bank bailout. And then there was the auto thing, and everybody said, gosh, what’s Obama doing? (Laughter.) He’s not listening to the polls; this is unpopular.

But it turns out that there are some things that, shockingly enough, are more important than polls, more important that elections. (Applause.) The country was in trouble. We had to respond. We had to respond to the problems that were facing the American people with the same sense of urgency that they felt in their own lives. That was just over a year ago.

Now, we’ve still got a long way to travel. There’s still a lot of people hurting out there. You see them in your communities; you see them in your own family; maybe you see them in your own lives. But one year later, we can say that the financial system has stabilized. (Applause.) People have recouped a lot of what they had lost in their 401(k)s. We’ve seen that an economy that was contracting is now growing again. We were losing jobs; now we’re gaining jobs.

As far as the bank system goes, we recovered most of the money that it cost to stabilize it. (Applause.) And I proposed a fee on the nation’s biggest banks so that we recover every dime the taxpayers put into them. (Applause.)

So one year later we’ve made progress. The economy is growing again; the markets are rising again; America’s businesses are creating jobs again. One year later more than 2 million Americans, more than 100,000 Floridians are at work today who otherwise would not be there, because of the Recovery Act, because of what Debbie Wasserman Schultz did and Suzanne Kosmas did and Kendrick Meeks did. (Applause.)

And since today happens to be Tax Day — (laughter) — I should just point out that one third of the Recovery Act went to tax cuts — tax cuts that strengthened the cornerstone of the American Dream: working for a living, earning an education, owning a home, raising a family. We cut taxes for 95 percent of working Americans, just like I promised we would on the campaign. (Applause.) That made a difference for 7 million families in Florida alone. We cut taxes on small businesses. We cut taxes for students and parents paying for college. We cut taxes for first-time homebuyers, more than 128,000 here in Florida. In all, we passed 25 different tax cuts last year. And one thing we haven’t done is raise income taxes on families making less than $250,000 a year — another promise that we kept. (Applause.)

So I’ve been a little amused over the last couple of days where people have been having these rallies about taxes. (Laughter.) You would think they would be saying thank you. (Laughter.) That’s what you’d think. (Applause.)

So we’re headed in the right direction on our road to recovery. But the true measure of our progress is the progress that the American people feel in their lives — and there’s still a lot of hurt out here. Too many folks still out of work. That’s why we’re doing everything we can in the short term to accelerate private sector job creation. But here’s the thing, Miami, if we want our economy to fuel job creation in the long term, if we want to grow in the way that brings the middle class along for the ride, then we need to rebuild it on a new and a stronger foundation for growth. And that’s what we’ve been doing. We’re working to give every American the world-class education they need to compete and win in the global economy. (Applause.) Every child in America.

We launched a national competition to improve our schools. We took on the special interests, and with the help of Debbie and Suzanne and Kendrick, we reformed the school loan system — $68 billion that was going to banks is now going to students and families to help pay for their education. (Applause.) So we’re making college education more affordable and more accessible.

We’ve made the largest investment in clean and renewable energy in our nation’s history — (applause) — because there are factories to reopen and assembly lines to restart and workers ready to build wind turbines and solar panels and advanced batteries for the new electric cars, right here in America. The nation that leads the clean energy economy will lead the 21st century economy. And I believe that America has to be that nation. And that’s what we’re going to fight for. (Applause.)

And Miami, for the sake of our families and businesses, and with your help, we finally passed comprehensive health reform right here in the United States of America. (Applause.) We did it thanks to Debbie, thanks to Suzanne, and thanks to Kendrick, and thanks to you. As my Vice President said, this is a big deal. (Laughter and applause.) Joe’s got a way with words. And he was right. It’s a big deal. (Applause.)

I mean, think about what we accomplished here. This reform is the strongest, most sweeping insurance reform in history. It will begin to end the worst practices of the insurance industry. It cuts the deficit by over $1 trillion — (applause) — puts in place all sorts of reforms that are going to make sure that we are getting better-quality health care for less money, and it’s going to finally offer millions of families and small business owners quality, affordable care and the security and peace of mind that comes with it — a lot of people for the very first time in their lives. (Applause.)

So for all the sound and fury and all the scare tactics, here’s what you need about health care reform. The law doesn’t hand more control to the government. It doesn’t hand more control to health insurance companies. It gives it back to you, the American people. (Applause.) This law doesn’t weaken Medicare; it strengthens it and extends its life almost by a decade. This law doesn’t increase our deficits; it’s going to reduce them — more than $100 billion over the next decade, over $1 trillion the decade after that.

And there’s an array of consumer protection and benefits that take effect this year. I just want to list some of these off just in case you’re having a conversation with your coworker or friend. (Laughter.) I know you’ve had some of those conversations.

This year, seniors who fall into the doughnut hole coverage gap will receive $250 to help them pay for their prescriptions, and that begins a pathway where we are closing that doughnut hole completely so that seniors have the coverage they need and the security they need for their prescription drug coverage. (Applause.) This year, millions of small business owners will be eligible for tax credits to cover the cost of ensuring their employees — this year. (Applause.) This year, 10,000 — tens of thousands of uninsured Americans with a preexisting condition and parents with children with preexisting conditions will finally be able to purchase the coverage they need. (Applause.) This year, insurance companies can’t drop you when you get sick. (Applause.) This year, insurance companies can’t apply lifetime limits on your coverage. (Applause.) These are big deals for families all across America.

Now, this reform is not perfect. There are going to be adjustments that we’re going to have to make. This is going to take a few years to fully implement, because we’ve got the responsibility to get it right.

But when you turn on the television, you’ve got pundits saying that the country is still divided on health care; it’s not universally popular yet. Folks, I want to repeat what I said in Maine: It’s only been a couple weeks. (Applause.) You know, sometimes the way they cover stuff in Washington — I was talking about how the way they cover a farm, you know. You’d be up there tilling the soil, and the press would look, and, “Look, the dirt’s all messed up!” (Laughter.) And then you’d put the seeds in and pack it down. And next morning they’d come up, “There are no crops! It’s not working! We’re going to starve!” (Laughter and applause.) Let me tell you.

And then you’ve got — then you have some of my Republican friends who were warning that after health care — this was going to be Armageddon. (Laughter.) Wanted to repeal health reform before the signature was even dry.

So I went to NASA today and I asked some of the guys. I said, are asteroids coming? (Laughter.) Are you sending Bruce Willis and Ben Affleck out to –- (laughter.) They told me, America is going to be okay. (Laughter.)

And for those Republicans and folks who are on the “repeal” platform, my attitude is, go for it. I’ll have that fight. We’ll have that argument. (Applause.) We’ll take that argument across the country. If they want to let kids — if they want to let kids be barred from getting insurance because of preexisting conditions, we can have that discussion. They want to take back tax cuts from small businesses who want to do the right thing by their employees, I’m happy to have that argument. They want to allow insurance companies to take away your insurance right when you get sick and need it most, I’m happy to have that debate. Are they really willing to look that senior in the eye and say, we’re not going to help you afford that medicine? Well, they may — (laughter and applause) — but I tell you what, if they do it, I don’t think they’re going to get a very good response. (Applause.) I don’t think they’re going to look a small business owner in the eye and take away their tax credits or say that your son can’t have health care after all; too bad, tough luck, you’re on your own.

Look what happened the other day, just north of here. Ted Deutch — (applause) — won the first congressional election since health reform passed. Now, look, I mean, let’s not get too excited, it’s a Democratic district. (Laughter.) But to listen to the Republicans, they were warning over and over again this would be a referendum on health care; this is a referendum on the Recovery Act; this is a referendum on Obama. Well, maybe it was. (Laughter and applause.) I’m just listening to them.

AUDIENCE: Obama! Obama! Obama!

THE PRESIDENT: Here’s what I think, Miami. Here’s what I think. I think if we stay true to our principles, if we do what’s right for the American people, then elections will take care of themselves. (Applause.) You know, I noticed — this was one of the great things about running for President — especially for two years — (laughter) — is it gives you a little perspective because you realize that these things go in cycles, the mood of the media and how things get portrayed. And so you’re like a genius for about a month and then you’re an idiot for about six months. (Laughter.) Then, you know, you’re smart again for — you’re not as smart as you were, but you’re a little smarter than they thought you were, then you’re an idiot again. (Laughter.)

But what it shows you is that you can’t hyperventilate about the day-to-day politics and the gamesmanship and the polls. What you’ve got to focus on is that true North, that lodestar, which is, are the things we’re doing over the long term going to help not just this generation but the next generation? Is this going to make America stronger? Is it going to help the economy grow? Is it going to help equip our children to compete in a new economy?

There are always going to be issues that Democrats and Republicans don’t see eye to eye on. That’s how our democracy works. I have to say, though, it’s one thing to disagree out of principle. It’s another to stand in the way simply because of politics. And too often that’s been what’s going on. (Applause.) And we had — we had Republican leaders who made a decision even before I took office — now, this is their quote, so I’m not making this up — who just said, you know, we’re not going to work with the Obama administration on the most important issues facing the American people.

A few weeks into my presidency I went to the Capitol to meet with some of my Republican friends on the House to talk about what were we going to do about this economy plunging into disaster. It turned out there was a press release issued before I got to the meeting saying they had already decided to vote against it. They didn’t know what “it” was, but they were going to oppose it. (Laughter.)

Early in the health care debate a Republican senator said, if we are able to stop Obama on this it will be his Waterloo, it will break him. When it comes to fiscal responsibility — these are the folks who inherited this massive surplus from Bill Clinton and the Democrats, right? (Applause.) So they conveniently forget when they’re in charge that they turned this massive surplus into massive deficits, voting for two tax cuts for the wealthy that weren’t paid for, two wars, a new entitlement program — paid for none of it. Suddenly we’re in and they’ve got the green visors out and they’re sharpening the pencils — (laughter) — and they’re deficit hawks again. Blamed me for all of it. I walked in with a $1.3 trillion deficit. Suddenly it’s mine. It’s a sight to see. (Laughter.)

So I said, okay, I’m President, I’m going to take responsibility for it. I embrace a Republican idea — we’re going to create a bipartisan fiscal commission to help us close the deficit. What happened? Some of the same folks who had proposed the idea — they were sponsors of the bill — suddenly they’re against it. (Laughter.)

So I’m sensing a pattern. (Laughter and applause.) So somebody has got to tell them, you talk and you share ideas first, then you can say no. You don’t say no first. (Laughter.)

So, not surprisingly, people are frustrated with Washington. But if folks spent less time trying to score points and more time thinking about the needs and the hopes of the American people, imagine all that we could accomplish together. (Applause.) I know this may be heresy to say in front of a crowd like this, at an event like this — but there are more important things than political party. (Applause.)

So I’m going to keep on reaching out to Republicans. I’m going to keep on incorporating good ideas when they have them — even if they refuse to consider my good ideas — because there is a lot that we should be able to agree on. We should be able to agree on rebuilding our economy so that hard work is rewarded and families feel like they’ve got a shot at achieving the American Dream again. This is more than just an economic challenge because jobs are more than about a paycheck. It’s about feeling a job well done, the sense of self-worth and dignity, the fulfillment of meeting one’s responsibilities. (Applause.) We’ve got to think creatively and collaboratively if we want to put America back to work in well-paying jobs.

We should all agree we’ve got to close our mounting deficits. I take this very seriously. Even as we’ve had to spend our way out of this recession in the near term, helping people with unemployment insurance and their health insurance needs, and helping states so they’re not having to lay off teaches and cops and firefighters — we’ve still been making hard choices necessary to put our country on a more stable fiscal footing in the long run.

But we’re going to face more tough choices ahead, and we’ve got to work on them together. We should all agree that we’ve got to pass common-sense Wall Street reform that prevents the kind of situation that led us into this crisis in the first place and damaged the dreams of millions of Americans. (Applause.)

Now, it’s no surprise that the financial institutions that profit from the status quo have sent hordes of lobbyists to kill reform. It’s like throwing a piece of meat into a piranha tank — they’re going to race to see how fast they can tear it apart. But we can’t allow them to succeed. Every member of Congress is soon going to have to make a decision; they’re going to have to make a choice. And the choice is going to be very simple between special interests and the American people. (Applause.) If you want the status quo where banks are able to take wild risks to pump up their bonuses and leave you footing the bill when things go south — that’s one option. I don’t think it’s the right one. And there’s going to be a very clear choice to make. I believe that all of us, Democrat and Republican, can find some common ground here.

So the bottom line is we’ve come a long way to go — we’ve come a long way this past year, but we’ve got a long way to go. We’ve got a lot of work left to do. Times are still tough for too many of our fellow Americans. But here’s what I want you to remember. America has endured tough times before — tougher times than these, even. And we always come out of them stronger. We always come out of them smarter, we always come out more united. And Miami, I’m convinced that if we keep at it, if we see this through, if we shun the cynics, if we heed the better angels of our nature, if we look beyond the next election, do what’s right for the next generation, then we’re going to meet our common challenges and we are going to finish what we’ve started. We are going to keep the promise and hope of America alive for this generation and for the next generation and every generation after that. (Applause.) And we’re only going to do it because of you guys and the incredible work that you’re doing each and every day.

Thank you. I love you. God bless you and God bless the United States of America. (Applause.)

END
7:11 P.M. EDT

White House.gov Press Office Feed

04.16.10 07:23 AM

MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR
THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE
THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION AGENCY
THE CHAIR OF THE COUNCIL ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY

SUBJECT: A 21st Century Strategy for America’s Great Outdoors

Americans are blessed with a vast and varied natural heritage. From mountains to deserts and from sea to shining sea, America’s great outdoors have shaped the rugged independence and sense of community that define the American spirit. Our working landscapes, cultural sites, parks, coasts, wild lands, rivers, and streams are gifts that we have inherited from previous generations. They are the places that offer us refuge from daily demands, renew our spirits, and enhance our fondest
memories, whether they are fishing with a grandchild in a favorite spot, hiking a trail with a friend, or enjoying a family picnic in a neighborhood park. They also are our farms, ranches, and forests — the working lands that have fed and sustained us for generations. Americans take pride in these places, and share a responsibility to preserve them for our children and grandchildren.

Today, however, we are losing touch with too many of the places and proud traditions that have helped to make America special. Farms, ranches, forests, and other valuable natural resources are disappearing at an alarming rate. Families are spending less time together enjoying their natural surroundings. Despite our conservation efforts, too many of our fields are becoming fragmented, too many of our rivers and streams are becoming polluted, and we are losing our connection to the parks, wild places, and open spaces we grew up with and cherish. Children, especially, are spending less time outside running and playing, fishing and hunting, and connecting to the outdoors just down the street or outside of town.

Across America, communities are uniting to protect the places they love, and developing new approaches to saving and enjoying the outdoors. They are bringing together farmers and ranchers, land trusts, recreation and conservation groups, sportsmen, community park groups, governments and industry, and people from
all over the country to develop new partnerships and innovative programs to protect and restore our outdoors legacy. However, these efforts are often scattered and sometimes insufficient. The Federal Government, the Nation’s largest land manager, has a responsibility to engage with these partners to help develop a conservation agenda worthy of the 21st Century. We must look to the private sector and nonprofit organizations, as well as towns, cities, and States, and the people who live and work in them, to identify the places that mean the most to Americans, and leverage the support of the Federal Government to help these community-driven efforts to succeed. Through these partnerships, we will work to connect these outdoor spaces to each other, and to reconnect Americans to them.

For these reasons, it is hereby ordered as follows:

Section 1. Establishment.

(a) There is established the America’s Great Outdoors Initiative (Initiative), to be led by the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) and implemented in coordination with the agencies listed in section 2(b) of this memorandum. The Initiative may include the heads of other executive branch departments, agencies, and offices (agencies) as the President may, from time to time, designate.

(b) The goals of the Initiative shall be to:

(i) Reconnect Americans, especially children, to America’s rivers and waterways, landscapes of national significance, ranches, farms and forests, great parks,
and coasts and beaches by exploring a variety of efforts, including:

(A) promoting community-based recreation and conservation, including local parks, greenways, beaches, and waterways;

(B) advancing job and volunteer opportunities related to conservation and outdoor recreation; and

(C) supporting existing programs and projects that educate and engage Americans in our history, culture, and natural bounty.

(ii) Build upon State, local, private, and tribal priorities for the conservation of land, water, wildlife, historic, and cultural resources, creating corridors and connectivity across these outdoor spaces, and for enhancing neighborhood parks; and determine how the Federal Government can best advance those priorities through public private partnerships and locally supported conservation strategies.

(iii) Use science-based management practices to restore and protect our lands and waters for future generations.

Sec. 2. Functions. The functions of the Initiative shall include:

(a) Outreach. The Initiative shall conduct listening and learning sessions around the country where land and waters are being conserved and community parks are being established in innovative ways. These sessions should engage the full range of interested groups, including tribal leaders, farmers and ranchers, sportsmen, community park groups, foresters, youth groups, businesspeople, educators, State and local governments, and recreation and conservation groups. Special attention
should be given to bringing young Americans into the conversation. These listening sessions will inform the reports required in subsection (c) of this section.

(b) Interagency Coordination. The following agencies shall work with the Initiative to identify existing resources and align policies and programs to achieve its goals:

(i) the Department of Defense;

(ii) the Department of Commerce;

(iii) the Department of Housing and Urban Development;

(iv) the Department of Health and Human Services;

(v) the Department of Labor;

(vi) the Department of Transportation;

(vii) the Department of Education; and

(viii) the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

(c) Reports. The Initiative shall submit, through the Chair of the CEQ, the following reports to the President:

(i) Report on America’s Great Outdoors. By November 15, 2010, the Initiative shall submit a report that includes the following:

(A) a review of successful and promising nonfederal conservation approaches;

(B) an analysis of existing Federal resources and programs that could be used to complement those approaches;

(C) proposed strategies and activities to achieve the goals of the Initiative; and

(D) an action plan to meet the goals of the Initiative.

The report should reflect the constraints in resources available in, and be consistent with, the Federal budget. It should recommend efficient and effective use of existing resources, as well as opportunities to leverage nonfederal public and private resources and nontraditional conservation programs.

(ii) Annual reports. By September 30, 2011, and September 30, 2012, the Initiative shall submit reports on its progress in implementing the action plan developed pursuant to subsection (c)(i)(D) of this section.

Sec. 3. General Provisions.

(a) This memorandum shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of any necessary appropriations.

(b) This memorandum 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.

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

(d) Nothing in this memorandum shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect the functions of the Director of the OMB relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

(e) The Chair of the CEQ is authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the Federal Register.

BARACK OBAMA

White House.gov Press Office Feed

04.16.10 07:51 AM

On this occasion, we remember the day in 1862 when President Lincoln freed the enslaved people of Washington, DC – nine months before he issued the Emancipation Proclamation. I am proud that an original copy of that document now hangs in the Oval Office, and we remain forever grateful as a nation for the struggles and sacrifices of those Americans who made that emancipation possible.

Americans from all walks of life are gathering in Washington today to remind members of Congress that although DC residents pay federal taxes and serve honorably in our armed services, they do not have a vote in Congress or full autonomy over local issues. And so I urge Congress to finally pass legislation that provides DC residents with voting representation and to take steps to improve the Home Rule Charter.

White House.gov Press Office Feed

04.15.10 04:30 PM

2:43 P.M. PDT

MRS. OBAMA: Thank you, everyone. Thank you so much. It is — (applause) — thank you, guys. (Applause.) All right, you all are crazy. (Laughter.)

I am just delighted to be here. I can’t tell you — as much as I love living in Washington, there is nothing that I love better than getting out of Washington — (laughter) — particularly when it means coming to such a beautiful community with such energy and passion. So I am happy to be here.

I want to start by thanking Rosa for her wonderful introduction, for her terrific leadership in community service. We are so very proud of you. Let’s give her a big hand. (Applause.) Thank you, Rosa.

And I just want to also acknowledge a few people, as well. I’m honored to be joined by the Lieutenant Governor — it’s so good to see you, thank you for your work — as well as the State Controller. Wonderful to see you. Thank you so much for taking the time to be here.

I know that the mayor had to leave, but I want to thank he and his wife for being here. I know that the one thing I heard over there, when I was touring the plots — more land! (Applause.) More land. (Applause.) But he’s done a terrific job, and I just want to thank all the city officials here for making this visit wonderful. To all of the elected officials who are here, thank you for your work, your leadership, your energy.

I want to thank Bob Montgomery and Amy Lint from the New Roots Community Farm. Yay! (Applause.) They’re doing a fabulous job, and proud of their work, and full of the kind of energy that you need to get this thing going.

And I want to again acknowledge the 14 community leaders who are here, the Building Healthy Community partners who are representing all segments of this state. Don’t let Dr. Ross use that picture as any kind of leverage. (Laughter.) You get the picture and hassle him when you need to, right? (Laughter.) I know they will.

We are just proud of the work that you’re doing. And I know that everyone could not be here, but I know that you’ll send back my excitement, my gratitude, and just assure them that we’re supporting the work that they’re doing. It is a model for the nation, for the world. So thank you. Thank you so much. (Applause.)

And finally, I want to thank my dear friend, Dr. Bob Ross and — (applause) — yes, yes — (applause) — as well as all the folks from the California Endowment who have joined us today. Thank you so much. Thank you. We’ve been plotting this for a little bit, right? (Laughter.) He’s been such a wonderful partner.

For more than 30 years, as a pediatrician, a professor, a public health administrator, and an advocate, Dr. Ross has worked tirelessly to give all of our kids the kind of healthy start that they deserve. He has been a tremendous asset not just to the state of California but to this nation.

And no matter how he’s served, Dr. Ross has always had a knack for bringing people together — that’s been his MO — hospitals, non-profits, businesses, elected officials, you name it –- bringing people together constantly to tackle some of the toughest public health challenges that we face here in our country.

So I think it’s fitting that we’re all here today and that he’s leading the charge to take on yet another challenge. And it is one, as you know, that I care about deeply not just because I’m the First Lady, but I am a mother of beautiful children. (Applause.) When I look at children, I see my kids. And I know that we have to work now to start to curb the epidemic of childhood obesity in this nation.

We all know that this phenomenon is relatively recent. It is not something that has been a challenge for us all this time. This is a new issue, because as I said time and time again, back when we were growing up, we naturally led reasonably healthy lives. It’s just the way we had to function. It kept us healthier than we could imagine.

Most of us lived in communities and went to schools in our communities, so we walked to school. So if nothing else, you were getting exercise just walking to and from school. Everyone had recess and gym. It was not an option; it was mandatory. No one liked it. Some of us did it, but you had to do it. And that also gave us a sense of movement that we’d lost. And at home, we had some pretty simple rules, particularly at dinner. You ate what was put before you, period. No choices, no options, no discussion. And if you didn’t, you just went to bed hungry. (Laughter.) We all know that. My mother pretends like she didn’t apply those rules, but she did. (Laughter.)

And many kids today aren’t so fortunate. For many kids, those walks to school have been replaced by car or bus rides because it’s either not safe or they’re going to schools that are far away. School budget cuts mean the so-called “extras” like P.E. and recess are often the first things that go, meaning that our kids are doing a lot less running around during the day, and they’re living and existing in a more sedentary life. And the truth is, is that parents are busy and struggling and working hard, many of them working multiple jobs. That is just the truth. People are working harder than ever. And oftentimes the cost of fresh fruits and vegetables, they keep going up, so many families can’t afford to purchase the foods that they know that they need.

And it is unfair to look to families and tell them to do something better for their children that they can’t afford or don’t have access to. So today, many parents really feel like the deck is stacked against them. They want to do the best for their kids. All of us do — parents, grandparents, all of us.

But it just seems like the odds are against us. They know their children’s health is their responsibility, but sometimes they feel like the whole issue is just out of their control. They’re trying to do the right thing, but they’re bombarded by contradictory information at every turn –- and they don’t really know who or what to believe. Labels are tough to work through. And sometimes what we prepared when we were young have a different impact physically on our children today.

So that’s why, two months ago, we launched the “Let’s Move!” campaign. (Applause.) And we launched it with the help of so many partners. As you know, this is a nationwide campaign with one single but very ambitious goal, and that’s to solve the problem of childhood obesity in a generation so that children born today grow up at a healthy weight with a different set of habits and a different set of beliefs about how to live their lives.

As part of this initiative, we’ve issued a call to action to get things going all throughout the nations — nation.

And we’re working with so many different groups. We’re working with pediatricians, and food manufacturers, with the FDA to give parents the information they need to make healthy decisions for their kids. And we’ve created a Web site, letsmove.gov, to help provide those helpful tips, step-by-step strategies that parents need to get on the right track to eat well and to stay fit.
We’re working to get healthier food into our schools. This is an important initiative. Most of our kids these days are getting a lot of their calories at school, and by strengthening legislation that supports our federal school meal programs, we can go a long way to changing the eating habits of our children. (Applause.)
And we’re also working with several major food suppliers to get them to do their part — to decrease sugar, fat and salt not just in school meals but in all the foods that we eat, and to increase fruits, vegetables and whole grains. And we’re getting them to think about how they market to our kids, as well.
One important goal in this initiative is we’re working to eliminate “food deserts.” And you all know what “food deserts” are — communities that don’t have access to any fresh produce or grocery stores. There are so many of them that exist throughout this country. Millions of children are living in “food deserts.” And our goal is to completely eliminate those by bringing grocery stores and farmers markets into underserved areas so that our families have access to the kind of healthy food, the affordable food, that they’re going to need. And there are many examples in communities around this country, showing how they’re bringing these resources back into communities.
And finally we cannot forget the whole key to “Let’s Move,” and that’s moving. (Laughter.) We have to get our kids moving again. And we’re revamping the President’s physical fitness challenge. That’s coming up. We’re going to be working with professional athletes from dozens of sports leagues to inspire kids to stay physically fit and active. So if you see me hula hooping and jumping around like I’m crazy, I am. (Laughter.) But it’s a lot of fun, and, you know, it just shows that parents taking the lead, doing simple things with their kids, jumping around, dancing, sweating, turning on music, can make a big difference in their lives.
But we’ve also known from the very beginning that the solution to our childhood obesity crisis isn’t going to just come from Washington. I have talked to a lot of experts about this issue, and not a single one of them has said that the answer is to have federal government telling people what to do. That never works.
Instead, as I’ve traveled across this country, one thing that has become very clear is that we already have many of the solutions to childhood obesity right at our fingertips. There are so many communities in this country that are doing some innovative things. And our goal is to find those folks in those communities who are already running some of the most innovative and creative and effective programs out there, and to do our job to highlight those successes and to share those successes so that they become models for the rest of the country and perhaps even the rest of the world.
And that’s why just last week we hosted a summit at the White House for members of our childhood obesity task force so that they could gather with experts around the country and get some new ideas from all across the country. We heard from doctors about the role of prenatal care in determining a child’s health. We can’t underestimate that as an important factor.
We heard from teachers about the need for schools and suppliers to think about how the food that’s — that are served are, again, marketed to kids. That’s the key: How are we talking to our children and our parents about healthy eating?
And we also heard from community advocates about the creative ways that our cities and towns are transforming urban environments into oases for growing fresh fruits and vegetables, just like we’re doing here.
That’s why a new foundation, The Partnership for a Healthier America, was created –- to help support these kind of efforts. This foundation is really key to this movement. It’s going to serve as an independent, non-partisan player that’s going to mobilize and continue to coordinate businesses, foundations, state and local governments, community leaders, the media and others to help with the key goals that come out of the task force for “Let’s Move!”
And it’s no surprise that the California Endowment signed right on board to be a beginning player in this foundation. (Applause.) The Partnership is designed to do just what the Endowment has been doing for years, so it makes sense that they’ve been such an important partner. The goal is to address problems at their root and help folks around the country turn good ideas into something bigger. That’s what the California Endowment is trying to do. That’s the mission of this partnership.
And today, I’m pleased that the California Endowment is once again leading the way with their new plan to create healthier, more active communities all across this state with this fabulous new “Building Healthy Communities” initiative that’s based on a simple idea –- that healthy children come from a place; a place that is a healthy community.
If a family lives in a neighborhood with a grocery store nearby, it is simple — they’re more likely to put fresh fruits and vegetables on the table because they’ll have access to it. If there’s safe, inviting parks down the street, parents are going to be more likely to let their kids play. They’re going to be more likely to go to that park with them and enjoy being outdoors. And if our environment is clean and pollution-free, children are less likely to get sick, being outside, and they’re more likely to spend time outside. These are not complicated principles.
But this isn’t just about good ideas and good intentions. It’s about serious investments that make a lasting difference for our kids. And that is why the California Endowment is investing $1 billion -– that’s billion with a “b” –- (applause) — pretty amazing — in these 14 California communities across this state to support people and programs that will help our kids lead active, healthy lives right from the beginning. So you all have a lot of money. And that’s good. (Laughter.) That’s really, really good. It’s never enough; it isn’t. And that’s the point. Money alone won’t do it. But money is an important first start.
The investments that will be made will go to folks like Dennis and Michelle Mineni. Did I pronounce that right? Are they here? They’re not here. But they run the Merced Flea and Farmers Market. They’ve run it for more than 10 years. And Dennis and Michelle, I understand, are working with the state to ensure that their customers can use food stamps to buy fresh produce at much lower prices than at supermarkets or convenience stores. (Applause.) That’s something that we’ve heard throughout this campaign. We have to make sure that everyone has access to farmers markets. This initiative that Michelle and Dennis are promoting is an example of the right thing to do that’s already happening.
The Endowment is also investing in people like the students from Chula Vista who realized that the park that they played in growing up was now too dangerous for other kids to use. So what did they do? They worked with local leaders to fix up that park. And now it’s cleaner and busier than ever before, and now they’re ready to move on to the next park. That’s what our young people are doing. (Applause.)
The Endowment is also investing in people like the teachers from Willard Intermediary School in Santa Ana who turned the school’s old wood shop into a fitness center and are now working to combine gym class and science classes, which is something that we can do — exercise and learning, go figure, they go hand in hand — teaching students about heart rate and exercise science through personalized fitness programs.
And the Endowment is also investing in people like the farmers here today. The stories of these farmers are amazing. A group of refugees from around the world who founded the New Roots Community Farm right here in City Heights, it is just a phenomenal initiative. (Applause.) And what it shows is that although these farmers come from different corners of the globe, they all recognized a common problem right here in America as they have immigrated: that for many refugees like themselves, tight budgets and the lack of supermarkets often meant that folks were skipping fresh fruits and vegetables in their diets and settling for fast food. That’s — that has been the natural trend — transition. And that’s what’s happened to many of us. And as a result, many recent immigrants were suffering from high cholesterol and high blood pressure, diseases that they were not dealing with before, migrating here.
So the folks here today got to work. They saw this problem, they understood the connection, and they got to work. And after organizing and speaking out and raising money, they broke ground on the garden. And along with other farmers from places like Somalia, and Uganda, and Kenya, and Cambodia, and Vietnam, Mexico and Guatemala, and many, many more places, they have come together. (Applause.)
And at first, they weren’t sure whether people from so many different backgrounds and cultures would get along farming -– especially since the garden only had two hoses, I understand, when it started, to share and the farmers often didn’t speak the same language.
But day by day, and little by little, neighbors started sharing their vegetables. They started exchanging recipes. They started losing weight. And they started recognizing the hopes and dreams they all held in common, just through a plot of land and some vegetables — these hopes to make a home for themselves here in this country; and to keep their families healthy at the same time; and to give their kids a better life. Simple values. Simple shared values. And together, what they proved is that food is truly the universal language of this planet.
And that’s what “Let’s Move!” and the Building Healthy Communities initiative is really all about. It’s about giving people the tools that they need to make healthy choices for themselves and for their families. It’s about realizing that the best ideas don’t come from Sacramento or Washington, DC, but they come from communities large and small all across this country. And it’s about recognizing the simple truth that giving our children a healthy future starts one person, one family, one community at a time.
You truly are doing extraordinary work. It is a privilege for me to be able to come here with all the press to highlight what is going on in this simple plot of land. This is what we need to be doing in communities all across the country. And the truth is the world is watching these efforts. We’re not alone in these struggles. This is happening. These changes in diets and health are happening in communities across the globe. And through your effort and your leadership, your coordination, your vision, your determination, we’re beginning, step by step, to find the solutions that are going to make sure that all of these kids behind us have the kind of future that we want for them.
So thank you. We’re so proud of you. And it is an honor for me to be here. Thank you so much. And thank you to the Endowment. (Applause.)

END
3:03 P.M. PDT

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