-
President Barack Obama delivers a statement after receiving an update on the ongoing response to Hurricane Sandy, in the Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Oct. 29, 2012. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)
Communities up and down the East Coast of the United States are beginning to feel the impact of Hurricane Sandy. Today, President Obama convened a meeting in the White House Situation Room to receive updates from FEMA and the National Hurricane Center.
Following that briefing, the President discussed how federal emergency response teams are moving resources into place to ensure that potentially affected areas have the food, water, and disaster relief supplies they need to begin recovery
“Obviously, everybody is aware at this point that this is going to be a big and powerful storm,” the President said. “And all across the Eastern seaboard, I think everybody is taking the appropriate preparations."
-
President Barack Obama receives an update on the ongoing response to Hurricane Sandy at the National Response Coordination Center at FEMA headquarters in Washington, D.C., Sunday, Oct. 28, 2012. FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate, right, and Richard Serino, FEMA Deputy Administrator, are seated next to the President. October 28, 2012. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
As Hurricane Sandy continues to bear down on the East Coast, federal teams are working with state and local officials to prepare for days of severe weather in communities stretching from North Carolina to Maine. Forecasts from the National Hurricane Center suggest that a huge area of the United States could be affected by high winds, heavy rains, storm surge, and snow – all of which could produce widespread power outages.
Today, President Obama traveled to the Federal Emergency Management Agency to get briefed on those preparations. He met with FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate, FEMA Deputy Administrator Richard Serino, and the FEMA regional directors. Dr. Rick Knabb, the director for the National Hurricane Center, joined the meeting by video conference.
“At this stage, everybody is confident that the staging process, the prepositioning of resources, commodities, equipment that are going to be needed to respond to this storm are in place,” the President said. “But as Craig [Fugate] has emphasized, this hasn't hit landfall yet, so we don't yet know where it's going to hit, where we're going to see the biggest impacts. And that's exactly why it's so important for us to respond big and respond fast as local information starts coming in.”
President Barack Obama talks to staff in the command center at FEMA headquarters in Washington, D.C., after receiving an update on the ongoing response to Hurricane Sandy. October 28, 2012. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
If you live in a community in the path of Hurricane Sandy, there’s still time to prepare for the storm. FEMA makes these suggestions on its blog:
- Get some extra cash out at the ATM today. If the power goes out, banks/ATMs may be offline for some time.
- Make a plan for how you’ll keep your cell phone charged if you lose power for several days. Picking up a solar or hand-crank charger for your phone is a good idea.
- Take steps to protect your home/business from high winds – cover windows, clean gutters, trim trees.
- Get to the store today for emergency supplies such as water, nonperishable food, batteries, flashlight, etc.
- Make sure you have what you need in case the power goes out and cold weather moves in. Double check that you have a safe, warm place you can go, blankets in your home/car, and winter items like snow shovels and rock salt.
- Employers: make sure your employees are prepared and review your continuity and tele-work plans.
-
In this week’s address, President Obama highlights the work of the new independent consumer watchdog he fought to create. This agency’s mission is to stand up for consumers and includes protecting every American from mistakes made by the companies who determine their credit scores.
-
October 26, 2012
04:15 PM EDTWatch the West Wing Week here.
Here’s a quick glimpse at what happened this week on WhiteHouse.gov:
Hurricane Sandy: The Hurricane is currently moving away from the Bahamas and toward the East Coast of the United States. Forecasters with the National Weather Center are tracking the path of the storm, while FEMA offices from Atlanta to Boston are readying for a potential impact. Earlier today, the President spoke on the phone with FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate, Dr. Rick Knabb, Director of the Hurricane Center, John Brennan, Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism about the ongoing preparations.
FEMA is currently advising residents in the path of Sandy (which includes those on much of the East Coast) to prepare for tropical storm and hurricane conditions. Read these set of basic safety tips, and visit www.ready.gov/hurricanes.
U.S.-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement: U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk and Panamanian Minister of Commerce and Industry Ricardo Quijano signed a letter of exchange setting a date for the entry-into-force of the U.S.-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement. Starting October 31, Panama will eliminate tariffs on more than 86 percent of U.S. industrial and consumer goods. Learn more about the trade promotion agreement, and see what key stakeholders are saying this will mean for the United States’ economy.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month: On Wednesday afternoon, Dr. Jill Biden and Secretary Kathleen Sebelius hosted three breast cancer survivors at the Naval Observatory for a Breast Cancer Awareness Month conference call. They reminded advocates around the country about the importance of early detection and prevention. Read more about the call, and learn about the survivors here.
On Wednesday evening, the Vice President and Dr. Jill Biden hosted a reception at the Naval Observatory commemorating Breast Cancer Awareness Month for survivors, advocates, and women’s health groups. Vice President Biden said that he and Dr. Biden have long been committed to the cause of raising awareness for breast cancer, and he thanked the survivors attending the event for their courage—giving other women with breast cancer hope.
United Nations Day: Wednesday marked the 67th anniversary of the United Nations. In a Presidential Proclamation, President Obama reflected on the progress the international community has made since the creation of the United Nations:
Through the better part of a century, we have seen what is possible when a strong and united international community takes action to advance the interests and values we share. The founding values of the United Nations remind us that countries can resolve their differences peacefully, and that all people deserve the chance to seek their own destiny, free from fear and empowered with their most fundamental rights. As we recognize this 67th anniversary of the United Nations, let us recommit to carrying that vision forward in the years ahead.
Read the full proclamation here.
White House Hosts Visiting Young African Leaders: Earlier this week, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for African Affairs Grant Harris met with a group of twenty-seven young African leaders at the White House, continuing the Administration’s engagement with Africa’s next generation of leaders. Senior Director Harris led a discussion on the U.S. Strategy Toward Sub-Saharan Africa, and the goals of the President’s Young African Leaders Initiative. Learn more about the visit, and the U.S. Strategy Toward Sub-Saharan Africa here.
National Christmas Tree: We know it’s still October, but the nation’s capital is already getting ready for the holidays. This week, the lottery for tickets to see the lighting of the National Christmas Tree is officially open. To sign up for your chance, visit Recreation.gov.
-
In September 2009, the President announced that—for the first time in history—White House visitor records would be made available to the public on an ongoing basis. Today, the White House releases visitor records that were generated in July 2012. Today’s release also includes visitor records generated prior to September 16, 2009 that were requested by members of the public in September 2012 pursuant to the White House voluntary disclosure policy. This release brings the total number of records made public by this White House to more than 2.7 million—all of which can be viewed in our Disclosures section.
Ed. note: For more information, check out Ethics.gov.
-
President Barack Obama receives an update on the ongoing response to Hurricane Sandy during a conference call with FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate, Dr. Rick Knabb, Director of the National Hurricane Center, and John Brennan, Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism, in the Oval Office, Oct. 26, 2012. Alyssa Mastromonaco, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, and Richard Reed, Deputy Assistant to the President for Homeland Security, are seated at right. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
As Hurricane Sandy moves away from the Bahamas and toward the East Coast of the United States, forecasters with the National Weather Center are tracking the path of the storm, while FEMA offices from Atlanta to Boston are readying for a potential impact.
Earlier today, President Obama spoke on the phone with FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate, Dr. Rick Knabb, Director of the National Hurricane Center, and John Brennan, Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism about the ongoing preparations.
FEMA is currently advising residents in the path of Sandy (which includes those on much of the East Coast) to prepare for tropical storm and hurricane conditions. Here are a set of basic safety tips they shared last night:
- For the severe weather forecast for your area, listen to your NOAA Weather Radio, local media and forecast reports.
- Check on the items in your family’s emergency kit - Remember to include items like a flashlight, hand-crank radio, and a solar powered cell phone charger to your emergency kit. Hurricanes often bring power outages, so be sure your emergency kit can sustain your family for at least 72 hours after the storm.
- Make a plan for how you will contact friends and family in the event of an emergency. Flooding is often the most significant threat from hurricanes and tropical storms - avoid walking or driving through flooded areas – it only takes six inches of fast-moving flood water to knock over an adult and two feet to move a vehicle.
- As always, follow the direction of local officials. Don’t put yourself at risk, if they give the order to evacuate, do so immediately.
For more tips on preparing your home and family for the effects of a hurricane or tropical storm, visit www.ready.gov/hurricanes.
-
Today’s report shows that the economy posted its thirteenth straight quarter of positive growth, as real GDP (the total amount of goods and services produced in the country) grew at a 2.0 percent annual rate in the third quarter of this year, according to the “advance” estimate released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Over the last thirteen quarters, the economy has expanded by 7.2 percent overall, and the private components of GDP have grown by 10.1 percent. While we have more work to do, together with other economic indicators, this report provides further evidence that the economy is moving in the right direction.
It is important to recognize that GDP is made up of various components. Personal consumption expenditures, for example, increased by 2.0 percent at an annual rate in 2012:Q3, as compared with 1.5 percent in the previous quarter. Residential investment increased by 14.4 percent last quarter and has increased for six quarters in a row, its longest streak since 2004-2005. Federal defense spending rose 13.0 percent, federal nondefense spending rose 3.0 percent, and state and local government purchases were essentially unchanged. The severe drought, which has affected more than half of the country, subtracted 0.4 percentage point from overall GDP growth.
To strengthen economic growth and increase job creation, President Obama has proposed to Congress a plan that would help State and local governments retain and hire teachers and first responders, would assist the construction sector and economy of tomorrow by rebuilding and modernizing our Nation’s infrastructure, and would give small businesses tax cuts to encourage them to increase payroll. President Obama also proposed extending tax cuts to protect middle class families and virtually every small business owner from getting a tax increase at the beginning of next year. Extending these tax cuts would provide more certainty for the economy for 98 percent of American families and 97 percent of small business owners.
Alan B. Krueger is the Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisors.
-
Welcome to the West Wing Week, your guide to everything that's happening at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. This week, the President urged Congress to join him in helping responsible homeowners refinance, Cecilia Muñoz reflected on the importance of the Cesar Chavez National Monument, and the Vice President and Dr. Biden honored Breast Cancer Awareness Month, while the White House wrapped up its annual fall garden tours and held a Garden Social Tweet Up.
-
October 25, 2012
03:30 PM EDT
Dr. Jill Biden, center, holds a conference call with advocates and women’s health groups to raise awareness on the importance of early detection and treatment of breast cancer, at the Vice President’s residence in Washington, D.C., Oct 24, 2012. (Official White House Photo by Sonya N. Hebert)
Yesterday afternoon, we were honored to host three breast cancer survivors at the Vice President’s Residence for a Breast Cancer Awareness Month conference call to remind advocates around the country about the importance of early detection and prevention.
We heard from Myrna Rodriguez Previte, a breast cancer survivor who struggled to get health insurance as a self-employed real estate broker. When she was diagnosed in 2003 at age 36, she was refused coverage by insurance company after insurance company. Myrna eventually received coverage as a newlywed because she was getting married and was soon covered under her husband’s policy.
But as Myrna noted, because of the Affordable Care Act, starting in 2014, insurance companies will no longer be able to discriminate against anyone in her situation for having breast cancer as a pre-existing condition.
Myrna has since founded Amigas Unidas, a peer-to-peer breast cancer organization that works with Latina women to provide bilingual and financial services.
-
Vice President Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden speak at a Breast Cancer Awareness month reception at the Naval Observatory Residence, in Washington, D.C., October 24, 2012. (Official White House Photo by David Lienemann)
On Wednesday evening, the Vice President and Dr. Jill Biden hosted a reception at the Naval Observatory commemorating Breast Cancer Awareness Month for survivors, advocates and women’s health groups.
Vice President Biden said that he and Dr. Biden have long been committed to the cause of raising awareness for breast cancer, a disease he said had taken 40,000 lives this year. He thanked the survivors at the reception for their courage, which he said gives other women with breast cancer hope.
“The thing that amazes me is those of you who are survivors how you speak up,” he said.
Every time you speak up about what you’ve been through it takes you back to having gone through it. There’s nothing easy about that. I think people underestimate what courage it takes. But I know you do understand it gives so many other women hope. It means more in my view than anything that doctors can do or say to see you guys who actually went through what they went through and survived.
He said that the progress underway in detecting and treating breast cancer is incredible, thanks to more research and our nation's stronger focus on women’s health issues. He said that 35 years ago, breast cancer was "viewed as a death warrant," but today that is not the case.
-
October 25, 2012
12:54 PM EDTEarlier this week, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for African Affairs Grant Harris met with a group of twenty-seven young African leaders at the White House, continuing the Administration’s engagement with Africa’s next generation of leaders. These distinguished young leaders were selected from twenty-three nations across sub-Saharan Africa to participate in a U.S. Department of State International Visitor Leadership Program entitled “'Young African Leaders: Grassroots Democracy and the U.S. Elections.” The objectives of this particular program are to provide an understanding of democracy in the U.S. and the significance of citizen participation in the democratic process; examine how citizen action groups interact with U.S. elected officials in an effort to influence political, social, and economic change; observe mechanisms for voter outreach; and explore the diversity of views held by Americans and how this diversity contributes to a dynamic and resilient political system.
The U.S. Strategy Toward Sub-Saharan Africa, released in June 2012, prioritizes efforts to empower Africa’s next generation of leaders. President Obama highlighted this when he announced the Strategy, saying: “These young men and women have shown time and again the willingness and ability to change their communities and their countries for the better, and the United States will continue to be their steadfast ally and partner.”
(Courtesy of the U.S. Department of State)
-
The National Christmas Tree is illuminated during the lighting ceremony on the Ellipse in Washington D.C., Dec. 1, 2011. The White House is visible in the background. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)
Though it's still October, preparations are already underway in the nation's capital for the holidays.
On December 6, for the 90th time, we'll celebrate the lighting of the National Christmas Tree, and if you'd like to attend, the lottery for tickets starts today.
To sign up for your chance, visit Recreation.gov and follow the instructions.
Even if you can't be in Washington, DC, you'll still be able to watch the festivities, live online on December 6 at http://www.thenationaltree.org/.
For more information about the White House and the holidays, keep visiting WhiteHouse.gov.
-
President Barack Obama addresses the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the United Nations in New York, N.Y., Sept. 25, 2012. Sitting on the dais are: U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, UNGA President Vuk Jeremić and Jean-Jacques Graisse, Acting Head for General Assembly and Conference Management. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)
On October 24, 1945, 67 years ago today, 51 founding member states came together to form the United Nations. After a war that had engulfed much of the world, those countries pledged to work together to pursue a lasting peace.
On the anniversary of that beginning, we celebrate United Nations Day. As President Obama announced in a proclamation this morning, it's a time to mark the progress we've made toward achieving that goal and redouble our commitment:
Through the better part of a century, we have seen what is possible when a strong and united international community takes action to advance the interests and values we share. The founding values of the United Nations remind us that countries can resolve their differences peacefully, and that all people deserve the chance to seek their own destiny, free from fear and empowered with their most fundamental rights. As we recognize this 67th anniversary of the United Nations, let us recommit to carrying that vision forward in the years ahead.
Read the proclamation in its entirety here.
Learn More
- President Obama spoke at the opening of the United Nations General Assembly in September. Read his remarks.
-
October 23, 2012
12:53 PM EDTEditor's note: This is a cross post from the Office of the United States Trade Representative's blog. To see the original post, please click here.
Yesterday, key government officials, trade stakeholders, and members of the press were on hand to witness U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk and Panamanian Minister of Commerce and Industry Ricardo Quijano sign a letter exchange setting a date for the entry-into-force of the U.S.-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement (TPA). This letter-exchange and the pending entry-into-force represent a conclusion to a comprehensive negotiating process—negotiation of the Agreement was concluded in 2006, Panama’s government gave it its seal of approval in 2007, and President Obama signed the agreement into law on October 21, 2011. This is the third such agreement to enter-into-force under the Obama Administration within a year of its signing, following the Korean and Colombian agreements.
-
President Obama urges Congress to act to build on the momentum we are seeing in the housing market by helping responsible homeowners refinance, saving $3000 a year. Construction workers are building new homes at the fastest pace in more than four years, home values are rising, and foreclosure filings are at the lowest point since the housing bubble burst five years ago. The steps that the President has already taken have given hundreds of thousands of Americans with high-interest loans the chance to take advantage of the low rates, and the President is calling on Congress to act to help millions more.
Transcript | Download mp4 | Download mp3
Learn more about President Obama's plan to help responsible homeowners refinance their mortgages
-
October 19, 2012
05:00 PM EDTWatch the West Wing Week here.
Here’s a quick glimpse at what happened this week on WhiteHouse.gov:
The Power of We: The White House participated in Blog Action Day this week, reflecting on moments over the past year when everyday Americans joined together to demonstrate the “power of we.” The White House is constantly looking to expand public engagement, making government both accessible and responsive to the needs of its citizens. Check out some our favorite examples of how American voices matter and can be extremely powerful.
#WHGarden: Last weekend, the White House once again opened its gardens and grounds to visitors, continuing First Lady Michelle Obama’s commitment to open the White House to more Americans, and making the White House truly the ‘People’s House.’ The Fall Garden Tour includes the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden, the Rose Garden, the South Lawn, and the White House kitchen garden—the first vegetable garden planted at the White House since Eleanor Roosevelt’s Victory Garden. During the tour, visitors have been encouraged to use the hashtag #WHGarden to share photos of their experience. Check out some of them here.
Tomorrow is the last White House Fall Garden tour of the season. It is open from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. For more information, please read here.
And today, we invited 50 of our followers on Twitter, Facebook, and Google+ for a private tour of the White House gardens. Following the tour, the guests were invited inside to talk and tweet with Deputy Director of Digital Strategy Katelyn Sabochik, Executive Pastry Chef Bill Yosses, Official White House Photographer Sonya Herbert, and Director of the Office of Public Engagement Jon Carson. Read about their experience at the White House here.
Staying Safe Online: On Monday, Special Assistant to the President and Cybersecurity Coordinator Michael Daniel joined leaders from Department of Homeland Security, members of Congress, and many others, to recognize the importance of National Cyber Security Awareness Month. Check out his blog post about the event, and learn a few basic steps to be more secure at home.
Going Purple: To honor Spirit Day— the celebratation and day of support for young people who have been victims of bullying—the White House is once again going purple online. You can check out our Twitter feed and our Facebook page to see how we’re marking the day. To learn more about what you can do to support kids and stop bullying, check out stopbullying.gov.
BONUS: This week, we released the latest installment of Catching Up with the Curator. Learn the history behind the Presidential Seal with Curator Bill Allman. Check it out here.
-
As part of the 2012 White House Fall Garden Tours, we invited 50 of our followers on Twitter, Facebook, and Google+ for a private tour of the White House gardens. They enjoyed the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden, Rose Garden, and South Lawn, including the White House Kitchen Garden. Along the way, the participants learned about the gardens from Grounds Superintendent Dale Haney and Supervisor Horticulturalist Jim Adams, and even had a surprise sighting of the President walking to the West Wing.
At the end of the tour, they came inside to talk and tweet with Deputy Director of Digital Strategy Katelyn Sabochik, Executive Pastry Chef Bill Yosses, Official White House Photographer Sonya Hebert, and Director of the Office of Public Engagement Jon Carson.
Follow their experience in Tweets. Check out the #WHGarden Social story below or on Storify. For ways to engage with the White House in the future, be sure to visit WhiteHouse.gov/Engage.
-
This month, the White House once again opened its gardens and grounds to visitors from across the country, continuing First Lady Michelle Obama's commitment to opening up the White House to more Americans.
As the First Lady has explained, "This is really what the White House is all about. It’s the 'People’s House.' It’s a place that is steeped in history, but it’s also a place where everyone should feel welcome. And that's why my husband and I have made it our mission to open up the house to as many people as we can."
During these Fall Garden Tours, visitors experienced the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden, the Rose Garden, and the South Lawn of the White House as well as the White House Kitchen Garden – the first vegetable garden planted at the White House since Eleanor Roosevelt’s Victory Garden.
Those taking the tour were encouraged to use the hashtag #WHGarden to share photos of their experience. Check out a selection of photos:
Check out the full 2012 fall garden tour booklet here
-
Spirit Day -- the celebration to honor and support young people who have been victims of bullying -- is now three years old.
It has become a day when people the world over rally for LGBT community and speak out against the bullying of LGBT teens.
And this year, the White House is once again going purple online. You can check out our Twitter feed or our Facebook page to see how we're marking the day -- and take part by making your social networking icon purple or adding a statement of support.
To learn more about what you can do to support kids and stop bullying, check out stopbullying.gov/.
-
This morning I'm pleased to announce something you may have already noticed: an improved homepage for WhiteHouse.gov.
We're always working to make WhiteHouse.gov easier to use and provide clearer paths to key information. Over the past eighteen months, we’ve launched a new White House blog, updated the Briefing Room and Issues sections of the site, and expanded Inside the White House, an inside look at the history of this great building. We’ve also rolled out a new version of our mobile site, rebuilt the White House iPhone app, and released new applications for Android and iPad.
This upgrade is the latest step in that process.
What makes it better?
Most visitors aren't just stopping by; they're looking for specific information about the President and his policies. With these changes, we're applying the lessons we’ve learned from our earlier updates and making sure that the homepage is a gateway to our most timely and important content. It puts tools to search the site front and center and makes the page easier to navigate. We've also made it easier to catch live events broadcast on WhiteHouse.gov/live and highlighted the many White House social media accounts.
We believe that these changes will help to make visiting WhiteHouse.gov a better experience. Take a look around let us know what you think: drop a line via our contact form or tweet @WHWeb on Twitter.
Watch all the musical acts
