White House

October 7, 2009 -- MR. GIBBS: One quick series of announcements before we get going. I want to walk you through just a scheduling thing for the middle of November.

The President, as you know, will be traveling to Asia next month to strengthen our cooperation with this vital part of the world on a range of issues of mutual interest. The President will begin his trip in Tokyo, Japan, on November 12th and 13th. We leave here on the 11th.

The President's visit will provide an opportunity to deepen coordination with this key ally on a range of economic, security and other issues. The President will meet for a second time with the Japanese Prime Minister.    » read more »

October 7, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – Today, President Barack Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individuals to key administration posts:

* David Huebner, Ambassador to New Zealand and the Independent State of Samoa
* David D. Nelson, Ambassador to the Oriental Republic of Uruguay

President Obama said, "I am confident that these individuals will represent our nation well in these important roles. I am grateful for their service and look forward to working with them in the months and years ahead."

President Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individuals today:
David Huebner, Nominee for Ambassador to New Zealand and the Independent State of Samoa    » read more »

Hinchey: Internal Pentagon Documents Show Plans for Replacement Presidential Helicopter Project Would Yield Nearly Identical Aircraft as Cancelled VH-71 at Triple the Cost

October 7, 2009 -- Washington, DC - A new internal Defense Department document recently acquired by the office of Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) shows that plans for a replacement presidential helicopter program that the Pentagon is seeking would yield aircraft that have nearly identical capabilities as the recently cancelled VH-71 presidential helicopter replacement program, but cost three times as much and take 12 years longer to deliver.    » read more »

Senate Judiciary Committee, Subcommittee on the Constitution

October 6, 2009 -- As Prepared for Delivery

“I think it is fair to acknowledge that there has been a lot of discussion about the Obama administration’s appointment of so-called czars to various positions in the White House and other departments or agencies. I called this hearing today because I think this is a serious issue that deserves serious study.    » read more »

October 5, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC – Demonstrating a commitment to lead by example, President Obama signed an Executive Order (attached) today that sets sustainability goals for Federal agencies and focuses on making improvements in their environmental, energy and economic performance.

The Executive Order requires Federal agencies to set a 2020 greenhouse gas emissions reduction target within 90 days; increase energy efficiency; reduce fleet petroleum consumption; conserve water; reduce waste; support sustainable communities; and leverage Federal purchasing power to promote environmentally-responsible products and technologies.    » read more »

Rose Garden

October 5, 2009 -- THE PRESIDENT: Thank you so much. Thank you, guys. Thank you. Please, have a seat on this spectacular day here in the Rose Garden. I want to welcome all the doctors who gave joined us today at the White House. But there are a couple that I want to make special mention of.

First of all, on stage behind me: Dr. Hershey Garner, Dr. Mona Mangat, Dr. Richard Evans, and Dr. Amanda McKinney, who are representing, as we were talking about in the Oval Office, red states, blue states, recalcitrant states -- (laughter) -- high-cost states, low-cost states, rural and urban states. And so we're so pleased to have them.    » read more »

October 5, 2009 -- The Federal Register—the 73-year-old official chronicle of White House and Executive agency activities and the public’s window on proposed changes to federal regulations—emerges today in a new 21st Century format that for the first time will allow readers to sift through, reorganize, and electronically customize its daily contents.    » read more »

October 5, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. – President Obama today announced that his Administration is taking several steps to ensure that there is fair and equal access to employment for all Americans, particularly the 54 million people in this country living with disabilities. The announcement comes during National Disability Employment Awareness Month.    » read more »

October 3, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – In this week’s address, President Barack Obama spoke of how the rising costs of health care are stifling America’s small businesses, and how reform will strengthen these businesses and the economy. Small businesses create roughly half of all new jobs, but they also pay up to 18 percent more for the very same insurance plans as larger businesses.

Too many have been forced to cut benefits, drop coverage, shed jobs, or shut their doors entirely. Health insurance reform is integral to laying a new foundation for our economy so that small businesses can grow and create new jobs.

Prepared Remarks of President Barack Obama
Weekly Address
Washington, DC
October 3, 2009    » read more »

October 2, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – Today, President Barack Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individuals to key administration posts:

* Patrick A. Corvington, CEO, Corporation for National and Community Service
* Daniel I. Gordon, Administrator for Federal Procurement Policy, Office of Management and Budget
* Pamela S. Hyde, Administrator, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Department of Health and Human Services
* John H. Laub, Director, National Institute of Justice, Department of Justice
* Ian Solomon, United States Executive Director, International Bank for Reconstruction and Development
* Richard Sorian, Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs, Department of Health and Human Services    » read more »

October 2, 2009 -- Officials from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the White House Office for Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships began distributing a new flu-response guide for community and faith-based organizations this week in an effort to reach out and educate Americans about the dangers of the new H1N1 and seasonal flu, and to reach populations who may not have access to this public health information in other ways.

The document, entitled H1N1 Flu: A Guide for Community and Faith-Based Organizations, provides information about 2009 H1N1 flu and current response activities that are relevant to communities.    » read more »

Survey finds 36% believe Obama administration policies are directly responsible for rising unemployment numbers

UTICA, New York - Nearly half of likely voters (47%) blame the policies of the Bush administration for continued job losses in the U.S., while 36% believe the policies of President Barack Obama's administration are directly responsible, a new Zogby-Scoop 44 interactive poll shows.    » read more »

Recent Actions Give Obama Boost Among Democrats & Independents

UTICA, New York - For the first time since early June, President Barack Obama's job performance receives majority approval in a Zogby Interactive poll of likely voters. A Sept. 25-28 interactive survey of 4,183 found 52% of likely voters approving, 47% disapproving and 1% undecided.

Obama picked up 10 points in his approval rating since his low point of 42%-48% on August 31. At that time, Obama's approval was down among groups that were key to his election.

Both Republicans and conservatives continue to rate Obama's performance as poor. In the Sept. 28 survey, only 10% of Republicans and 6% of conservatives indicated they somewhat or strongly approve of Obama's performance.

The poll also found that:    » read more »

Hawaiian False Killer Whale Population Faces Extinction

LOS ANGELES (September 30, 2009) – The Natural Resources Defense Council today called on the federal government to list the Hawaiian population of false killer whales as an endangered species and designate critical habitat to ensure its recovery under the Endangered Species Act. The Hawaiian false killer whale population is a small and ecologically unique population of 120 animals that has suffered a significant decline over the last 25 years.    » read more »

Washington, DC - 09/30/2009 - Today, Carol Browner, director of the White House Office of Energy and Climate Change Policy and Kathleen Hicks, deputy undersecretary of Defense for Strategy, Plans and Forces joined leading military and defense experts to discuss the critical links between climate change, energy and national security.

The Pew Project on National Security, Energy and Climate, the Military Officers Association of America and CNA hosted the National Security, Energy and Climate Forum: Challenges and Solutions for the Future. During the event, panelists discussed how climate change and our energy posture threaten the country’s national security and ways the U.S. military is preparing to meet these challenges.    » read more »