i.WORLDCommunity . . .: TheWhiteHouseNEWS2011September14

Firman Allah Taala: Dan Kami pecah-pecahkan mereka (kaum Yahudi itu) berpuak-puak (yang bertaburan di merata-rata) dunia ini. Di antara mereka ada yang soleh dan di antaranya juga yang tidak demikian. Dan kami uji mereka dengan nikmat pemberian yang baik-baik dan bala bencana yang buruk, supaya mereka kembali (bertaubat). (7: 168) (God Almighty says in the Holy Quran: And We divided them (Jews) throughout the earth into nations. Of them some were righteous, and of them some were otherwise. And We tested them with good (times) and bad that perhaps they would return (to obedience) (QS Al Araf '7: verse 168)

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Watch Live: President Obama on the American Jobs Act in North Carolina
Posted by Cecilia Muñoz on September 14, 2011 at 11:46 AM EDT
Ed. Note: The event has now ended. Watch video and see photos from the event.
Today, President Obama will visit Raleigh, North Carolina to continue the conversation with Americans on why Congress needs to pass the American Jobs Act to put workers back to work. Watch the President live beginning at 12:55 p.m. EDT at WhiteHouse.gov/live.
In advance of the President’s visit, Governor Beverly Perdue and mayors across North Carolina explained the importance of passing the American Jobs Act. Governor Beverly Perdue said, "My top priority is creating jobs. I'm pleased that the President put forward the American Jobs Act. Congress should pass a plan quickly that encourages companies to hire, helps unemployed people get back to work, and puts more money in the pockets of working families."
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From One Homeowner to Another: “Help is Out There.”
Posted by Phyllis Caldwell and Raphael Bostic on September 14, 2011 at 11:35 AM EDT
Ed note: This post has been cross-posted from treasury.gov
Foreclosure can have a devastating effect on families and communities. According to recent data, roughly one in 11 homeowners has missed two or more mortgage payments. As many Americans struggle with their mortgage payments and don’t know where to turn for help, the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) have joined forces with the Ad Council to launch a new phase of the Foreclosure Prevention Assistance Public Service Advertising (PSA) Campaign.
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American Jobs Act and Your Community
Posted by Jon Carson on September 14, 2011 at 10:07 AM EDT
The purpose of the American Jobs Act, which President Obama sent to Congress this week, is simple: put more people back to work and put more money in the pockets of working Americans. The President's plan will rebuild the economy the American way -- based on balance, fairness and the same set of rules for everyone from Wall Street to Main Street.
The American Jobs Act reflects a commitment to strengthen the recovery and help increase access to jobs for all Americans. To see what impact the Jobs Act will have on your community, click on the link below.
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President Obama: "Every Child Deserves a Great School"
Posted by Nikki Sutton on September 13, 2011 at 7:34 PM EDT

President Barack Obama delivers remarks to students, faculty and staff at Fort Hayes Arts and Academic High School in Columbus, Ohio, Sept. 13, 2011. The President highlights his American Jobs Act proposal to put workers back on the job by rebuilding and modernizing schools across the country. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
It was a hot afternoon in Columbus, Ohio today when President Obama spoke to an enthusiastic crowd of over 3,000 people at Fort Hayes Arts and Academic High School. He laid out how the American Jobs Act will put teachers back in the classroom and get construction workers, carpenters and electricians back on the jobmodernizing America's schools.
Even though the September sun felt more like midsummer, students are back in school at Fort Hayes and on days like today they’re glad to have air-conditioning, one of many recent renovations to buildings on campus that were originally built during the Civil War. The American Jobs Act would make it possible to renovate at least 35,000 schools like Fort Hayes across the country. As the President said, putting construction workers back on the job rebuilding schools is just common sense for the economy and for the education of our kids:
When buildings are that old, they start falling apart. They start leaking, and ceiling tiles start to cave in, and there’s no heat in the winter or air-conditioning in the summer. Some of the schools the ventilation is so poor it can make students sick.
How do we expect our kids to do their very best in a situation like that? The answer is we can’t. Every child deserves a great school, and we can give it to them, but we got to pass this bill.
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Office Hours 9/13/11 or "We Need the American Jobs Act Now": David Plouffe Answers Your Questions on Twitter
Posted by Kori Schulman on September 13, 2011 at 7:30 PM EDT
Today, David Plouffe, Assistant to the President and Senior Advisor, answered your questions on the American Jobs Act during a special session of White House Office Hours. See a recap of the Twitter Q&A below, or over onStorify.
If you didn't have a chance to join us live, there are more Office Hours focused on the American Jobs Act this week. Take a look at the schedule and be sure to follow @WHLive for more chances to engage.

Assistant to the President and Senior Advisor David Plouffe responds to questions on Twitter during a session of White House Office Hours focused on the American Jobs Act. September 13, 2011.
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More Organizations and Businesses Respond to the American Jobs Act
Posted by Jon Carson on September 13, 2011 at 5:22 PM EDT
Yesterday, President Obama sent The American Jobs Act to Congress and urged Congress to pass the bill right away to get the economy moving. Organizations and businesses continue to respond to the President’s call to put partisanship aside and do what is right for the American people. Here is what organizations around the country are saying about the American Jobs Act:
UNITE HERE, John W. Wilhelm, President
On behalf of UNITE HERE’s 250,000 members who work in the hotel, food service, gaming and manufacturing industries, I applaud the President’s vigorous and inspired push to put America back to work. We join him in calling for the Congress to act and to act now!
Public Transportation Association (APTA), William Millar, President
On behalf of the more than 1,500 members of the American Public Transportation Association I commend President Obama for his remarks last night that highlighted creating and supporting jobs through investing in transportation infrastructure. The $50 billion in direct funding proposed in the American Jobs Act will go a long way to jump start needed transportation investments. Every $1 billion in public transportation investment supports or creates 36,000 jobs. Also, for every $1 invested in public transportation, $4 is generated in economic returns.
International Federation of Professional & Technical Engineers (IFPTE), Gregory J. Junemann, President
The President’s plan is needed now, more than ever, and we encourage all Americans and every member of Congress to get on board in pushing this plan into law. President Obama made a great speech in outlining his plan for the restoration of the nation’s economy. And he called on all of us—each and every one of us—to support him. We must answer his call with meaningful action. Reach out to every member of Congress and demand the swift passage of the American Jobs Act.
Fraternal Order of Police, Chuck Caterbury, National President
President Obama has presented us with a sound, no nonsense, blueprint for getting Americans back to work and jumpstarting the economy. We support and applaud this effort and will work to ensure its passage by Congress.
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The Anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act
Posted by Susan B. Carbon on September 13, 2011 at 3:50 PM EDT
Ed. Note: Cross-posted from the Department of Justice blog. Learn how you can take action to stop violence against women at WhiteHouse.gov/1is2many.
Marking the 17th anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) helps us both appreciate the great strides that have been made in addressing all types of violence against women and recognize the fact that more needs to be done to create a society free from domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence and stalking. The Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) remains committed to addressing these crimes in a broad and comprehensive manner.
The concept of a coordinated community response is one of the most critical and visible achievements of VAWA. In the years since VAWA’s enactment by Congress in 1994, we have witnessed a sea-change in the ways that communities respond to domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and dating violence. VAWA encourages communities to bring together stakeholders from diverse backgrounds to share information and to use their distinct roles to improve our responses to and prevention of violence against women. These groups include, but are not limited to: victim advocates, police officers, prosecutors, judges, probation and corrections officials, health care professionals, leaders within faith communities, and survivors of violence. New programs and amendments have strengthened the law and enhanced our work.
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First Lady Michelle Obama's Message to Teens: Work Hard and Believe in Yourself
Posted by Colleen Curtis on September 13, 2011 at 2:26 PM EDT

First Lady Michelle Obama addresses the Smithsonian's Cooper-Hewitt National Design Awards luncheon in the East Room of the White House, Sept. 13, 2011. Standing behind Mrs. Obama is Wayne Clough, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)
Some of the nation’s leading design talents joined First Lady Michelle Obama today to help educate Washington DC teens about career opportunities in their field. The designers, who are being honored by the Cooper Hewitt Design Museum for their extraordinary contributions to design in 10 different categories, took part in a Teen Design Fair before attending a luncheon at the White House, which was hosted by Mrs. Obama.
During her remarks at the luncheon, the First Lady praised the winners for breathing “new life into our homes and our workplaces, the clothes we wear, the products we use every day, and even the most basic ways we process information. A trip to the park is just a bit more refreshing. A book or a chart more readable.” She also addressed the aspiring designers in the room, and emphasized the hard work that goes into great design:
I want you young folks, and as you look around the room, understand that you see some of the sharpest minds alive, some of the most accomplished designers in the world. But understand that none of these people came here ready-made -- all right? They’re here today because they hatched an idea or they followed a dream -- and more importantly, they worked every day, they worked hard every day, to get here.
So to the young people here, I want you to realize that you can share a meal with some of our nation’s greatest talent, you can walk on the same floors as Presidents and as heads of state. And if you work hard enough, if you believe in yourself, you can earn an award just like this in a few decades...
The 2011 National Design Awards recipients are:
- Lifetime Achievement: Matthew Carter
- Design Mind: Steven Heller
- Corporate and Institutional Achievement: Knoll
- Architecture Design: Architecture Research Office
- Communication Design: Rick Valicenti
- Fashion Design: J. Mendel
- Interaction Design: Ben Fry
- Interior Design: Shelton, Mindel & Associates
- Landscape Architecture: Gustafson Guthrie Nichol
- Product Design: Continuum
Read the Transcript | Download Video: mp4 (174MB) | mp3 (17MB)
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What You Missed: Open for Questions with News One, Hello Beautiful, Black Planet, The Urban Daily & TheGrio
Posted by Kori Schulman on September 13, 2011 at 2:09 PM EDT

President Barack Obama drops by an Interactive One panel discussion in the South Court Auditorium in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, Sept. 12, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
Yesterday, the White House hosted an "Open for Questions" event with InteractiveOne, a network of sites that includes NewsOne.com, TheGrio.com, TheUrbanDaily.com, HelloBeautiful.com, and BlackPlanet.com. During the discussion, President Obama made a surprise appearance to speak about the American Jobs Act that hesent to Congress earlier in the day and to answer questions.
Administration officials including Melody Barnes, Director of the Domestic Policy Council; Shaun Donovan, US Secretary for Housing and Urban Development; Jason Furman, Principal Deputy Director of the National Economic Council; Marie Johns, Deputy Administrator of the US Small Business Administration; and Ambassador Ron Kirk, US Trade Representative answered questions on a range of topics submitted by InteractiveOne readers, as well as questions from a live audience and from Twitter.
Watch the video of President Obama's surprise visit or check out the full panel discussion below:
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Open for Questions: The American Jobs Act
Posted by Kasie Coccaro on September 13, 2011 at 12:45 PM EDT
On Thursday, September 15^th at 2:00PM EDT, the White House will host a special “Open for Questions” event.
Last week, President Obama unveiled the American Jobs Act before a Joint Session of Congress and yesterday the President sent the American Jobs Act to Congress. This plan puts more people back to work and puts more money in the pockets of working Americans. On Thursday, September 15^th at 2:00PM EDT Obama Administration officials will answer questions submitted through Facebook, Twitter, and the White House website during a live event that you won’t want to miss.
Participating Obama Administration include:
- Brian Deese, Deputy Director of the National Economic Council
- Jon Carson, Deputy Assistant to the President & Director of the Office of Public Engagement
Right now, you can submit questions through:
- Ask questions in advance on the White House facebook wal l
- Ask us through a form on WhiteHouse.gov
On September 15th at 2:00 p.m. EDT, you can watch and engage live:
- Ask the panel questions on Twitter with the hashtag #WHChat
- Ask question through the White House Live facebook app
- Watch the event on WhiteHouse.gov /live
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How America Creates Jobs
Posted by Secretary Tom Vilsack on September 13, 2011 at 12:18 PM EDT
On Saturday, I visited the Port of Miami to see firsthand the success story of American agriculture and the jobs it is creating. Despite historic natural disasters, our agriculture business is booming.
Last year, almost $920 million in agricultural goods moved through the port, nearly double the amount from 2006. And this year it’s on pace to exceed that total by 8.5 percent. Those exports alone are helping support nearly 8,400 American jobs.
At the same time, the port is beginning work on a major tunnel and a deep-dredge project that will provide jobs for construction workers to keep it among the busiest in the nation. These are steps - much like those proposed by President Obama in the American Jobs Act – that are already underway to grow the economy and create jobs.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack speaks at the Port of Miami on Saturday, September 10, 2011 after meeting with leaders from agriculture and business industries. (Photo by Ryan Holloway in Miami-Dade County)
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Affordable Care Act in Action: Fewer Uninsured Young Adults in America
Posted by Kathleen Sebelius on September 13, 2011 at 10:27 AM EDT
Ed note: This post has been cross-posted from healthcare.gov
We know that young adults are the age group most likely to be uninsured and before health reform was enacted, many young Americans lost their health insurance when they left home or graduated from school. This meant that your sons or daughters – who might be college students or in their first job – were often forced to choose between paying their rent or maintaining their health insurance. A policy in the Affordable Care Act changes this, by allowing young adults to be on their parents’ plan until age 26.
Today, a new report shows that the Affordable Care Act is working. According to the Census Bureau’s Current Population Survey released today, there was a significant increase in the number of 18-24 year olds with health insurance in the U.S. over the past year.
The report showed that the percentage of young adults with insurance increased from 70.7% in 2009 to 72.8% in 2010. That translates into 500,000 more young people with insurance. We expect even more will gain coverage in 2011 when the policy is fully phased in.
Young people sometimes think they’re invincible, but it’s important for everyone to have insurance. One car accident, one slip in a shower, or one sudden illness can result in months or even years of health care bills that can bankrupt the average family if that son or daughter is uninsured.
This 2% increase in coverage for young people came as the number of Americans under 65 with insurance went down slightly. The Affordable Care Act will help provide coverage at a decent price for millions of uninsured Americans starting in 2014, when millions of Americans will have access to affordable insurance options.
To read more about the health insurance coverage data released today, please visit this page.
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Open for Questions: Youth and the American Jobs ActPosted by Ronnie Cho on September 12, 2011 at 7:48 PM EDT
Hi everyone. I’d like to invite you to a very special edition of “Open for Questions” on Wednesday, September 14th, at 4:00PM EDT. Please join me and senior White House officials as we field questions on how the American Jobs Act will impact young Americans. I'll moderate this conversation with:
- Michael Pyle, Special Assistant to the President, National Economic Council
- Roberto Rodriguez, Special Assistant to the President for Education Policy
We’ve already received a number of questions about the American Jobs Act, like:
- How will the President’s plan support young entrepreneurs?
- Will the plan help prevent police, firefighters and teacher layoffs?
- What programs will the American Jobs Act support on youth employment?
On Wednesday, we'll answer these questions, and many more. So, send us your questions and please be sure to tune in for the live video chat. Here's how you can participate:
Right now, you can:
- Ask questions in advance on the White House facebook wal l
- Ask us through a form on WhiteHouse.gov
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President Obama Sends The American Jobs Act to Congress
Posted by Nikki Sutton on September 12, 2011 at 6:52 PM EDT
Today, President Obama sent a message to Congress with the American Jobs Act of 2011 and a section-by-section analysis of the legislation. The American Jobs Act is composed of the kinds of proposals to put Americans back to work that both Democrats and Republicans have supported. That's why President Obama is urging Congress to pass the bill right away to get the economy moving. As the President stressed this morning, this is not a time to play politics:
It’s not okay at a time of great urgency and need all across the country. These aren’t games we’re playing out here. Folks are out of work. Businesses are having trouble staying open. You’ve got a world economy that is full of uncertainty right now -- in Europe, in the Middle East. Some events may be beyond our control, but this is something we can control. Whether we not -- whether or not we pass this bill, whether or not we get this done, that’s something that we can control. That’s in our hands.
Read the letter to Congress, the full American Jobs Act, and the section-by-section analysis below:
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President Obama: "Let's Put this Country Back to Work"
Posted by Nikki Sutton on September 12, 2011 at 3:45 PM EDT
Read the Transcript | Download Video: mp4 (104MB) | mp3 (10MB)
This morning, President Obama was joined by Vice President Biden as well as teachers, veterans, small business owners, construction workers and first responders, as he called on Congress to pass the American Jobs Act right away:
On Thursday, I told Congress that I’ll be sending them a bill called the American Jobs Act. Well, here it is. This is a bill that will put people back to work all across the country. This is the bill that will help our economy in a moment of national crisis. This is a bill that is based on ideas from both Democrats and Republicans. And this is the bill that Congress needs to pass. No games. No politics. No delays. I’m sending this bill to Congress today, and they ought to pass it immediately.
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Students on the Jobs Act: "Common Sense Solutions to Get Americans Back to Work"
Posted by Nikki Sutton on September 12, 2011 at 12:20 PM EDT
As President Obama said in his address to a joint session of Congress, he is sending over the American Jobs Act to be passed right away. The bill is a set of ideas supported by both Democrats and Republicans to put Americans back to work.
During the President's address to Congress, the White House invited students and young adults to watch the speech and have senior administration officials answer their questions on the President's new jobs proposal. Here is what some of them had to say once the event was over:
Senior staff and policy experts will continue to answer questions about the American Jobs Act in the coming days. Use the hashtag #WHChat on Twitter to get answers live during scheduled Office Hours. And tune in for a special Open for Questions with Interactive One today starting at 4 p.m. EDT at WhiteHouse.gov/live.
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The President's Plan for the Economy and Education
Posted by Secretary Arne Duncan on September 12, 2011 at 11:24 AM EDT
Ed. Note: The following is cross-listed with the Department of Education blog.
In his speech to Congress, President Obama laid out two job programs critical to ensuring every child has the opportunity for a world-class education.
He proposed to invest $30 billion to put hundreds of thousands of construction workers, engineers, boiler repairmen, and electrical workers back to work rebuilding and modernizing our aging public schools and community colleges. And he proposed an additional $30 billion to keep hundreds of thousands of educators facing potential layoffs and furloughs in classrooms where they belong—instead of on unemployment lines.
In the global economy, the nation that out-educates America will out-compete America. But the hard truth is that a number of nations are now out-educating the U.S.—and the antiquated conditions of many public schools are limiting children’s access to the 21st century tools and skills needed to compete in a knowledge economy.
The average public school building in the United States is over 40 years old. Many school buildings are even more antiquated. Today, the digital age has penetrated every nook of American life—with the exception of many of our public schools.
Most classrooms have changed little from a century ago. In fact, 43 states report that a third or more of their schools fail to meet the functional requirements necessary to effectively teach laboratory science—even though hands-on science education is vital for the jobs of the future. That’s no way to provide a world-class education.
Cash-strapped school districts meanwhile face an enormous $270 billion backlog of deferred maintenance and repairs. Tragically, children in the nation’s poorest school districts often attend schools with crumbling ceilings, overcrowded classrooms, and facilities that lack basic wiring infrastructure for computers, projectors, and other modern-day technology.
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President Obama Speaks to State, Local, Tribal Officials on American Jobs Act
Posted by Cecilia Muñoz on September 12, 2011 at 10:30 AM EDT

President Barack Obama has a conference call with local, state and tribal officials in the Oval Office, Sept. 9, 2011 (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
On Friday, after traveling to the University of Richmond to discuss the American Jobs Act, President Obama hosted a conference call for over 1,100 state, local and tribal officials to explain how the plan would put people back to work in communities across the country.
The President thanked the officials on the call for their ongoing support, as well as their input and ideas that helped shape the American Jobs Act through listening sessions, calls and meetings over the past month. The President then laid out his policy ideas to help create more jobs immediately, including proposals to:
- Provide $50 billion in immediate investments for highways, transit, rail and aviation;
- Provide $10 billion to create a National Infrastructure Bank;
- Invest $35 billion to prevent layoffs of up to 280,000 teachers while also keeping tens of thousands of police officers and firefighters on the job;
- Modernize at least 35,000 public schools with $25 billion in infrastructure investments and $5 billion to improve community colleges; and
- Put construction workers back on the job with $15 billion to rehabilitate and refurbish hundreds of thousands of vacant homes in communities across America.
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