Newsmotion - Megan Slack

Weekly Address: The President Talks About How to Build a Rising, Thriving Middle Class

feed — Sat, 18 May 2013 10:00:00 +0000

Weekly Address: The President Talks About How to Build a Rising, Thriving Middle Class

Sat, 05/18/2013

President Obama talks about his belief that a rising, thriving middle class is the true engine of economic growth, and that to reignite that engine and continue to build on the progress we’ve made over the last four years, we need to invest in three areas: jobs, skills and opportunity.

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http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2013/05/18/weekly-address-president-talks-about-h...

President Obama Talks Early Education, Infrastructure and Strong Communities in Baltimore

feed — Fri, 17 May 2013 18:00:37 +0000

President Obama Talks Early Education, Infrastructure and Strong Communities in Baltimore

Fri, 05/17/2013

President Barack Obama participates in a literacy lesson with children while visiting a pre-kindergarten classroom at Moravia Elementary School in Baltimore, Md., May 17, 2013. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

Today, President Obama is headed to Baltimore, Maryland to talk early childhood education, infrastructure and ensuring hard work leads to a decent living.

The President’s first stop today was at Moravia Park Elementary School, where he took part in a literacy lesson with pre-k students. The students are part of the school’s Judy Center, which provides comprehensive early childhood services including Head Start, child care, intervention services and family engagement. (Learn more about President Obama’s plan to expand access to high-quality preschool to every child in America)

Story URL:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2013/05/17/president-obama-talks-early-education-...

President Obama Explains How Health Reform Is Helping Women

feed — Fri, 10 May 2013 21:20:58 +0000

President Obama Explains How Health Reform Is Helping Women

Fri, 05/10/2013

President Barack Obama delivers a statement on the Affordable Care Act in the East Room of the White House, May 10, 2013. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)

With Mother’s Day just around the corner, President Obama today spoke to a group of women – including many moms – about the ways the Affordable Care Act is already helping millions of Americans like them.

"Women in particular now have more control over their own care than ever before," the President said. "And I’m pleased to be joined today by many women who wrote in to tell us what the Affordable Care Act means to them."

Carol was one of the women who wrote to the President, and today, she introduced him in the East Room. Carol's son, a 22-year-old college grad and traumatic brain injury survivor with a rare genetic lung disease, was able to stay on his family’s health insurance policy instead of being kicked off the plan this year. Finding coverage on his own would have been nearly impossible, as Carol wrote to the President: “Given his history, he would be virtually uninsurable under the old set of ‘rules.’ Instead of contemplating law school, all of his resources would have been channeled into somehow, somewhere, finding health insurance.”

Carol and her son are why the Affordable Care Act lets young people stay on their parent’s plan until they turn 26, President Obama said.

Alycia was also standing behind the President today.

"Alycia is the mother of Avey, who is a beautiful, sweet, 3-year-old girl who also happens to have Leukemia," he explained. "Imagine what that’s like for a parent. While you’re just figuring out how to take care of a baby, you’ve got to figure out how you’re going to pay for expensive treatment that could save your baby’s life.

Story URL:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2013/05/10/president-obama-explains-how-health-re...

Manufacturing Innovation Institutes Explained in 60 Seconds

feed — Thu, 09 May 2013 19:30:30 +0000

Manufacturing Innovation Institutes Explained in 60 Seconds

Thu, 05/09/2013

After shedding jobs for a decade, American manufacturers have added about 500,000 positions over the past three years. Production is growing at its fastest pace in over a decade. And as part of his plan to do everything he can to create jobs, strengthen the middle class, and fuel economic growth, President Obama is committed to continuing this progress, which is why he’s laid out a comprehensive agenda to make America a magnet for manufacturing.

Today, following through on a promise he made in his State of the Union, the President rolled out the first piece of that agenda, announcing competitions to establish three new Manufacturing Innovation Institutes. These new institutes, partnerships among business, universities and community colleges, and government, will develop and build manufacturing technologies and capabilities to help U.S.-based businesses and workers create good jobs.

We asked Gene Sperling, Director of the National Economic Council, to explain in 60 seconds or less why these institutes are an important part of the President’s strategy to invest in manufacturing. Hear what he had to say below.

Watch this video on YouTube

For more information:

Story URL:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2013/05/09/clock-manufacturing-innovation-institu...

President Obama is Headed to Austin - Here's Why

feed — Wed, 08 May 2013 21:25:03 +0000

President Obama is Headed to Austin - Here's Why

Wed, 05/08/2013

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In his State of the Union address, President Obama laid out his belief that a thriving middle class is the engine of economic growth — one that we can reignite by investing in jobs, skills, and opportunity.

Tomorrow, the President is making his first stop on a series of Middle Class Jobs and Opportunity Tours, traveling to Austin, Texas to learn more about what's being done there to create stable and well-paying jobs that can support a middle-class family. He'll visit a high school where students are learning real-world skills for today's jobs and meet technology entrepreneurs who are creating the tools and products that will drive America's long-term economic growth.

We checked in with Todd Park, the United States Chief Technology Officer, to find out more about the President's trip. Hear what he had to say below.

Watch this video on YouTube

Story URL:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2013/05/08/president-obama-headed-austin-heres-wh...

President Obama Meets with President Park of South Korea

feed — Tue, 07 May 2013 21:39:28 +0000

President Obama Meets with President Park of South Korea

Tue, 05/07/2013

Watch this video on YouTube

Today, President Obama welcomed President Park Geun-hye of the Republic of Korea to the White House to mark 60 years of bilateral partnership between our two nations.

Established following the Korean War, the US-ROK Alliance is a linchpin of peace and security on the Korean Peninsula and in the Asia Pacific region. And today, the two leaders affirmed that they would continue building on the past six decades of stability by strengthening and adapting the alliance to meet the security challenges of the 21st century.

“Guided by our joint vision, we’re investing in the shared capabilities and technologies and missile defenses that allow our forces to operate and succeed together,” President Obama said. “And we’re determined to be fully prepared for any challenge or threat to our security.”

President Barack Obama holds a bilateral meeting with President Park Geun-hye of the Republic of Korea, in the Oval Office, May 7, 2013. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

President Obama and President Park also agreed to continue implementing the historic trade agreement between the United States and South Korea, which is already yielding benefits for both countries, President Obama said.

Story URL:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2013/05/07/president-obama-meets-president-park-s...

President Obama Reaffirms the United States-Mexico Relationship

feed — Fri, 03 May 2013 17:01:38 +0000

President Obama Reaffirms the United States-Mexico Relationship

Fri, 05/03/2013

President Barack Obama greets President Enrique Peña Nieto of Mexico at the Palacio Nacional, Mexico City, Mexico, May 2, 2013. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

On the first day of his trip to Mexico and Costa Rica, President Obama was in Mexico City for meetings and a joint press conference with President Peña Nieto.

The two leaders, who first met in Washington, DC last November, discussed the broad range of issues that bind our nations and affect the daily lives of citizens in both countries, and renewed their commitment to a strong relationship between the United States and Mexico.

President Barack Obama participates in a press conference with President Enrique Peña Nieto of Mexico at the Palacio Nacional, Mexico City, Mexico, May 2, 2013. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

While working together to confront urgent challenges like security, “we can’t lose sight of the larger relationship between our peoples, including the promise of Mexico’s economic progress,” President Obama said. “I believe we’ve got a historic opportunity to foster even more cooperation, more trade, more jobs on both sides of the border, and that’s the focus of my visit.”

Story URL:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2013/05/03/president-obama-reaffirms-united-state...

President Obama Nominates Anthony Foxx as Secretary of Transportation

feed — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 20:15:59 +0000

President Obama Nominates Anthony Foxx as Secretary of Transportation

Mon, 04/29/2013

President Barack Obama announces Mayor Anthony Foxx, of Charlotte, N.C., as his nominee for Transportation Secretary, in the East Room of the White House, April 29, 2013. Outgoing Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood applauds at right. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

Today, President Obama announced Anthony Foxx as his nominee for the next Secretary of Transportation.

Foxx is currently the mayor of Charlotte, North Carolina, which he helped turn around since taking office in 2009. Both the city and country were going through a “bruising economic crisis,” President Obama said.

“The economy is growing. There are more jobs, more opportunity,” he said. “And if you ask Anthony how that happened, he’ll tell you that one of the reasons is that Charlotte made one of the largest investments in transportation in the city’s history.”

Since Anthony took office, they’ve broken ground on a new streetcar project that’s going to bring modern electric tram service to the downtown area. They’ve expanded the international airport. And they’re extending the city’s light rail system. All of that has not only helped create new jobs, it’s helped Charlotte become more attractive to business.

President Obama said that one of the best ways we can grow our economy and rebuild opportunity for the middle class is by putting more Americans back to work by investing in rebuilding our infrastructure.

Story URL:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2013/04/29/president-obama-nominates-anthony-foxx...

President Obama Honors Those Lost and Injured in West, Texas Explosion

feed — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 22:15:18 +0000

President Obama Honors Those Lost and Injured in West, Texas Explosion

Thu, 04/25/2013

President Barack Obama delivers remarks during a memorial service at Baylor University in Waco, Texas, for victims killed last week at a fertilizer plant explosion in West, Texas, April 25, 2013. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

Today, President Obama traveled to Waco, Texas to speak at a memorial service for those lost and injured in last week’s deadly explosion at a fertilizer plant in nearby West, Texas.

The President honored the first responders and volunteers from the tight-knit community who rushed to the scene as soon as the fire alarm sounded, “farmers and car salesmen; and welders and funeral home directors; the city secretary and the mayor… folks who are tough enough and selfless enough to put in a full day’s work and then be ready for more.”

And together, you answered the call. You dropped your schoolwork, left your families, jumped in fire trucks, and rushed to the flames. And when you got to the scene, you forgot fear and you fought that blaze as hard as you could, knowing the danger, buying time so others could escape. And then, about 20 minutes after the first alarm, the earth shook, and the sky went dark -- and West changed forever.

“Today our prayers are with the families of all who we’ve lost -- the proud sons and daughters of West whose memories will live on in our hearts,” President Obama said. “Our thoughts are with those who face a long road -- the wounded, the heartbroken, the families who lost their homes and possessions in an instant.”

Story URL:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2013/04/25/president-obama-honors-those-lost-and-...

Watch Live: 2013 White House Science Fair

feed — Sat, 20 Apr 2013 17:10:35 +0000

Watch Live: 2013 White House Science Fair

Sat, 04/20/2013

On Monday, April 22 President Obama hosted the 3rd Annual White House Science Fair, celebrating the student winners of a broad range of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) competitions from across the country and people everywhere were able to watch live from this blog post.

This year’s Science Fair featured 100 students from more than 40 states and represented 45 different competitions and organizations that recognize the talents of America’s next generation of scientists, engineers, inventors and innovators. Students showcased projects ranging from economically-viable algae biofuel to a robot that paints with watercolor to a computer program that improves cancer detection and many more.

As the President has noted, “If you win the NCAA championship, you come to the White House. Well, if you're a young person and you produce the best experiment or design, the best hardware or software, you ought to be recognized for that achievement, too.”

For a full list of the exhibits that the President will see, as well as more information on all the students, competitions, and organizations being honored, click here.

Story URL:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2013/04/20/watch-live-2013-white-house-science-fa...