Category: White House

President Obama visited St. John’s Parish in Louisiana Monday to take in the damage from Hurricane Isaac and highlight the “extraordinary work” done by first responders: Because of the great work of law enforcement, National Guard, Coast Guard, making sure that folks were out in rescue mode rapidly, even in some cases at risk of their own lives, no lives were lost. Read more about the President’s visit to Louisiana.

President Obama marks the second anniversary of the end of major combat in Iraq, by thanking our servicemen and women for the outstanding work they did. It’s the summer’s special Mailbag Edition of West Wing Week, featuring Elizabeth Olson, Director of Presidential Correspondence. This week we’re taking a moment to pick out a few of your letters from the thousands that arrive everyday here at the White House and answer some of your questions on immigration, healthcare, and the economy. …

Salute the Troops: Two Years After the End of Combat Missions in Iraq On August 31st, 2010, President Obama addressed the nation from the Oval Office. “So tonight,” he said, “I am announcing that the American combat mission in Iraq has ended.” To mark two years since the end of combat in Iraq, and with troops still serving in Afghanistan, take a moment to show your support for those that serve and their families. Here’s how you can participate: Use the …

President Obama speaks to the American people about the critical need to strengthen and preserve Medicare for our seniors and future generations. This week, The White House held an historic, first-ever Kids’ State Dinner; hosted Americorps, School Improvement Grantees, and Presidential Innovation Fellows. The President held a news conference and spoke with regional reporters about the need for Congress to agree on a balanced deficit reduction plan; and the First Lady made a major veterans hiring announcement in Jacksonville, Florida. …

The Kids’ State Dinner is a White House original in many ways — it’s not only the first time the guests of honor are ALL under the age of 13, it’s also the first time the White House kitchen has served a formal meal where the entire menu was created by “chefs” who have no formal training. But Executive Chef Cris Comerford and Executive Pastry Chef Bill Yosses say they learned a thing or two about healthy cooking from the …

With students starting to head back to school, President Obama discusses the critical role that education plays in America’s future. Welcome to the West Wing Week, your guide to everything that’s happening at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. This week, the White House hosted PTA day and the annual Iftar dinner, the President addressed the drought and spoke with the Curiosity team, and the Administration began accepting applications for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. That’s August 10th to August 16th …

If Congress doesn’t act, taxes are going to go up for 114 million middle-class families on January 1. The good news is that nearly everyone in Washington agrees we need to do something about it. The bad news is that Republicans in the House of Representatives are refusing to act unless they can also extend cuts for the wealthiest two percent of people in this country. But right now, most Americans don’t really understand just how stark a difference there …

President Obama discusses the Administration’s all-hands-on-deck approach to one of the worst droughts in more than fifty years. West Wing Week: “We Have A Moral, Sacred Duty” This week, the President continued to push for middle class tax cuts, spoke with both the AAPD summer interns with disabilities and with the White House summer interns of 2012, signed the Honoring America’s Veterans and Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act, and convened his Rural Council to discuss ways to ease the …

Today, we will welcome more than 150 Parent Teacher Association leaders from 41 states, DC, and US military bases overseas to the White House for a day-long briefing. But this Friday isn’t just for those joining us at the White House: we’ll also be engaging with millions of moms and dads who can’t make it to Washington. We’re hoping you’ll tune-in live and join the conversation on Twitter using the hashtag #WHPTA. Watch the conversation live at WhiteHouse.gov/Champions for PTA Day tomorrow, …

As chair of the White House Council on Women and Girls, I am incredibly proud to highlight an important part of the health care law that gives women more control over their health care. Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, 47 million women will have access to the preventive services they need. We all know that women and men face unique health risks and benefit from different preventive services. For too long, too many women have gone without these services due …

In response to the shooting in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, President Obama released this statement: Michelle and I were deeply saddened to learn of the shooting that tragically took so many lives in Wisconsin. At this difficult time, the people of Oak Creek must know that the American people have them in our thoughts and prayers, and our hearts go out to the families and friends of those who were killed and wounded. My Administration will provide whatever support is necessary …

President Obama congratulates all of the American athletes competing in the Olympics and Paralympics this summer. These men and women have inspired us all with their hard work, determination, and their indomitable spirit as they present the best of America to the rest of the world. The President tells our Olympic and Paralympic competitors that the American people could not be prouder of them, and thanks them for reminding us that we are one people, and by working together we can achieve …

Wednesday night, Republicans in the House of Representatives voted to shower the wealthiest two percent of people in America with a $1 trillion tax cut. That’s what they’re demanding in return for keeping taxes low for the middle class. But here’s the other thing that has happened over the past week: Tens of thousands of you from all across the country have started speaking out about why it’s so important to prevent taxes from going up on 114 million middle-class …

This summer, Americans across the country are receiving a new set of benefits from the Affordable Care Act. One of the biggest changes has to do with your health care premiums. Because of the new health care law, insurance providers are now required to devote at least 80 percent of the premiums you pay to your health care — not to advertising, or administrative costs, or salaries for their CEOs. Providers can make sure they meet that standard by lowering …

Starting August 1st, and for the first time ever, women will have access to potentially life-saving preventive care free of charge. Thanks to the health care law, services including well-woman visits, gestational diabetes screening, breastfeeding support and supplies, contraception, domestic violence screening, and more will be covered without cost sharing in new health plans starting August 2012 — giving women more control over their own health. To talk about these new benefits becoming available for women, the Department of Health …

President Obama urges Republicans in the House of Representatives to act on his proposal to protect middle class families and small businesses from being hit with a big tax hike next year. West Wing Week 07/27/12 “A Brighter Day Is Going To Come”:  This week, the President addressed the nation on the tragedy in Colorado and made Aurora his first stop on a four day trip out West, then continued to Reno to address the VFW, and to New Orleans …

When the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve, taxes are scheduled to go up for 114 million middle-class families, leaving a typical family of four paying an extra $2,200 in 2013. Preventing this from happening is critical — not just for individual people but for our overall economic recovery — and nearly everyone in Washington agrees we need to do something about it. We saw that yesterday when Republicans and Democrats in the Senate — who almost never see …