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)
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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The Era of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Is Officially Over
Posted by on September 20, 2011 at 6:38 PM EDTIn December, when President Obama signed the historic law that ended discrimination against gay and lesbian Americans serving in our armed forces, he told a story about one of his visits to Afghanistan. “A young woman in uniform was shaking my hand,” he said, “and other people were grabbing and taking pictures. And she pulled me into a hug and she whispered in my ear, ‘Get ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ done.’ And I said to her, ‘I promise you I will.’”That promise made is now a promise kept. As of 12:01am today, “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is over. Already, gay and lesbian men and women have sent in their applications to proudly – and openly – serve the country we all love.I’m delighted to celebrate with friends from around the country, who worked with President Obama to help make this day a reality. Repealing DADT certainly wasn’t easy. There were those who believed our President would not be able to accomplish such a difficult task.But even when the odds appeared to be against him, President Obama never gave up. Just as I’ve seen him do time and time again during our 20 years of friendship, he demonstrated courage, vision, and the ability get things done. Together with a broad coalition of Americans who care deeply about the ideals of this country, he made this moment happen.At a time when the President is calling on Congress to put politics aside and act in the greater interest of the American people, it’s important to recognize that elected leaders from both parties deserve credit for ending DADT. In December, I went to the Capitol Building to watch the Senate vote on repeal. I saw eight Republicans join their Democratic colleagues to vote “Yes.” It was a reminder that when the stakes are high enough, and the choice is clear enough, Congress can come together and do the right thing.Of course, while the end of DADT is a milestone, we’ve got a long way to go. Even on this happy day, there are young people who face bullying at school, just because of their sexual orientation. There are LGBT Americans who still face discrimination, and are denied rights they deserve.So we are not done fighting. But today, we remember that when we all come together to make this country a better place, change is not just possible. Change is inevitable. On behalf of myself, and the entire Obama Administration, I look forward to working with all of you as we continue our journey toward a more perfect union.
Learn more about Civil RightsPutting America Back to Work: LinkedIn Presents a Town Hall with President Obama
Posted by on September 20, 2011 at 6:36 PM EDTWe’re excited to announce that on Monday September 26th, President Obama will travel to Mountain View, California for a Town Hall with LinkedIn, the world's largest professional network. During the Town Hall, the President will answer questions about job creation and the economy from LinkedIn members across the country and hear directly from LinkedIn users who range from small business owners and employees to community college students to veterans.What's your question for President Obama on job creation and the economy? Ask it now on LinkedIn.You’re invited to participate in the Town Hall with President Obama through LinkedIn – ask questions, add comments, share content, and watch the event live. Following the Town Hall, White House Administration officials will continue to engage in the conversation with LinkedIn members about putting America back to work. We hope you’ll join us.Learn more about President Obama's plan to create jobs now here. Join the White House group on LinkedInhere.
Learn more about EconomyPresident Obama on Open Government: "The Essence of Democracy"
Posted by on September 20, 2011 at 6:23 PM EDTThis week, President Obama is in New York City for the United Nations General Assembly to meet with partners and address a range of issues with the international community, including open government.At the U.N. General Assembly last year, President Obama called on nations to make, "specific commitments to promote transparency, to fight corruption, to energize civic engagement, and to leverage new technologies so we can strengthen the foundations of freedom in our own countries." Today, the President outlined the progress that has already been made in response to his call to action:And now we see governments around the world meeting this challenge, including many represented here today. Countries from Mexico to Turkey to Liberia have passed laws guaranteeing citizens the right to information. From Chile to Kenya to the Philippines, civil society groups are giving citizens new tools to report corruption. From Tanzania to Indonesia -- and as I saw firsthand during my visit to India -- rural villages are organizing and making their voices heard, and getting the public services that they need. Governments from Brazil to South Africa are putting more information online, helping people hold public officials accountable for how they spend taxpayer dollars.Here in the United States, we’ve worked to make government more open and responsive than ever before. We’ve been promoting greater disclosure of government information, empowering citizens with new ways to participate in their democracy. We are releasing more data in usable forms on health and safety and the environment, because information is power, and helping people make informed decisions and entrepreneurs turn data into new products, they create new jobs. We’re also soliciting the best ideas from our people in how to make government work better. And around the world, we’re standing up for freedom to access information, including a free and open Internet.Learn more about Ethics, Foreign PolicyPlaying Tennis with First Lady Michelle Obama
Posted by on September 20, 2011 at 4:22 PM EDTEd. Note: Cross-posted from the Let's Move! blog.
First Lady Michelle Obama plays table tennis with a young participant in a Let's Move! event at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York, New York, Sept. 9, 2011. Other participants include Serena Williams, John McEnroe, James Blake and Billie Jean King. (Official White House Photo by Samantha Appleton)
On the sunniest of sunny days earlier this month at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, Let's Move! was alive with action packed fun. The First Lady joined tennis greats Billie Jean King, John McEnroe, James Blake and Serena Williams in serving, lobbing and smashing tennis balls with children from the Harlem Junior Tennis and Education Program and the New York Junior Tennis League. The stars and First Lady kept up pretty well with the junior acers.The occasion for the mini-tournament was to highlight the importance of physical activity and celebrate the US Tennis Association's (USTA) successful implementation of their commitments to build or refurbish thousands of tennis courts in cities all over the United States so that children and youth can have access to the "sport of a lifetime". The USTA was also demonstrating the new Ten-and-Under tennis courts that are making tennis accessible to more and more younger children. No longer will a seven-year-old get discouraged when the racquet is too heavy or the net is almost as tall as she is. Scaled down to child size, the new Ten-and-Under courts keep children in the center of the picture...right on center court.Learn more about , FamilyLessons from the Farm to Strengthen America
Posted by on September 20, 2011 at 12:17 PM EDTEd. Note: Cross-posted from the USDA Blog.A week ago, President Obama released the American Jobs Act, a specific plan to jumpstart our economy and put Americans to work today. It contains ideas that both parties in Washington have supported. And yesterday, he laid out a plan that will pay for it – and for other long-term investments we need to stay competitive – while reducing our deficits.His plan takes a balanced approach. It looks for savings across government. And it asks everyone to do their part and pay their fair share so we can live within our means.For agriculture, the plan focuses on what the President and I believe is one of the most pressing challenges facing producers right now: maintaining a strong safety net and disaster assistance programs that will work for all farmers and ranchers, no matter what they produce or where.The plan will strengthen our disaster assistance programs, which are currently set to run out of funding at the end of the month. It means that farmers knocked down by natural disaster can get their operations back on track. After witnessing flood, drought, hurricanes, tornadoes and wildfires this year – I am even more certain of the importance of this component of the safety net.By modernizing our crop insurance program and making modest changes to the subsidy that crop insurance companies receive, we’ll make sure that we improve the programs and implement them more efficiently.Learn more about RuralOpen for Questions: President Obama’s trip to the U.N. General Assembly with Ben Rhodes
Posted by on September 20, 2011 at 11:49 AM EDTThis week, President Obama is traveling to New York for the U.N. General Assembly. While he’s there, the President is meeting with leaders from some of our closest allies and partners to discuss our shared approach to pressing economic and security challenges. He’s working with leaders from around the world to forge global cooperation on key global challenges, including the transition in Libya and the launch of a new Open Government Partnership.On Wednesday, the President will address the UN General Assembly, where he will address the historic progress that has been made around the world over the past year and discuss the opportunities ahead to enhance international security and peace. In remarks at the Clinton Global Initiative, the President will focus on the urgent need to create jobs and the need for Congress to pass the American Jobs Act.On Friday, Ben Rhodes, Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategic Communications and Speechwriting, will answer your questions on a range of issues that the President will discuss at the U.N. General Assembly this week. Be sure to tune in and ask your questions.- What: Open for Questions with Ben Rhodes
- When: Friday, September 23 at 12:00 p.m. EDT
- Where: Watch the conversation live on WhiteHouse.gov/live and Facebook
- How: Submit your questions in advance via this webform or during the event via the Facebook chat application or Twitter using the hashtag #WHChat.
Learn more about Foreign PolicyFWD the Facts about Famine, War, and Drought in the Horn of Africa
Posted by on September 20, 2011 at 11:16 AM EDTEd. Note: Cross-posted in part from the USAID IMPACTblog.As many of you know, the worst drought in 60 years has devastated communities throughout the Horn of Africa, leaving more than 13 million people in a state of crisis—greater than the population of Los Angeles and New York combined.In Somalia—where twenty years of war and violence has limited humanitarian access and destroyed the country’s ability to respond—the drought has led to an outbreak of famine. According to UNICEF, as a result of this crisis, a child is dying in Somalia every six minutes.The millions suffering from the effects of this crisis are facing incomprehensible suffering. Left with nothing, many are walking more than 100 miles toward refugee camps in Kenya and Ethiopia.Because the crisis in the Horn is so complex and because the scale is so difficult to comprehend, we have not seen people come together to respond in the same way they did after the earthquake in Haiti. Many who do hear about the crisis are left with the impression that we can’t successfully do anything about it.
But I know for a fact that we can fight this famine. We were fighting it before it started. Through safety net programs, we have helped 7.5 million Ethiopians withstand the worst effects of this drought without the need for humanitarian assistance.And as a result of Feed the Future investments, we have seen more than a 300 percent increase in grain yields in Western Kenya in just one year, securing the nation’s agricultural backbone and helping lower the price of critical staples throughout the region.But despite being the single largest donor of assistance in the region, we recognize we cannot fight the famine alone.Learn more about Foreign PolicyThe United States Releases its Open Government National Action Plan
Posted by on September 20, 2011 at 7:30 AM EDT“In all parts of the world, we see the promise of innovation to make government more open and accountable. And now, we must build on that progress. And when we gather back here next year, we should bring specific commitments to promote transparency; to fight corruption; to energize civic engagement; to leverage new technologies so that we strengthen the foundations of freedom in our own countries, while living up to the ideals that can light the world.”--President Barack Obama, September 23, 2010On September 23, 2010, President Obama challenged the members of the United Nations General Assembly to work together to make all governments more open and accountable to their people. To meet that challenge, in July 2011, the United States and Brazil announced the creation of the Open Government Partnership (OGP) – a global initiative that supports efforts to promote more transparent, effective, and accountable institutions globally. The OGP effort builds directly on steps President Obama has taken since the first full day of his Administration to strengthen democracy and promote a more efficient and effective government through greater openness.And today, as part the OGP effort, the U.S. and other members of the OGP Steering Committee are coming together in New York to welcome new members to the partnership and to unveil Open Government National Action Plans. As we developed a U.S. National Action Plan (“National Plan”), the Federal Government engaged in extensive consultations with external stakeholders, including a broad range of civil society groups and members of the private sector. We solicited input from the Administration’s own Open Government Working Group, comprised of senior-level representatives from executive branch departments and agencies. White House policymakers also engaged the public via a series of blog posts, requesting ideas about how to focus Open Government efforts on increasing public integrity, more effectively managing public resources, and improving public services.Among the highlights of the Plan:- “We the People.” The White House announced the launch of the “We the People” petition platform to give Americans a direct line to voice their concerns to the Administration via online petitions. In addition, the Administration plans to publish the source code of the new “We the People” petition platform so that it is available to any government around the world that seeks to solicit and respond to the concerns of the public.
- Whistleblower Protection. Recently, Congress nearly enacted whistleblower legislation that would eliminate loopholes in existing protections, provide protections for employees in the intelligence community, and create pilot programs to explore potential structural reforms in the remedial process. The Administration will continue to work with Congress to enact this legislation. But if Congress remains deadlocked, the Administration will explore options for utilizing executive branch authority to strengthen and expand whistleblower protections.
- Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative. The U.S. is committing to implementing the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI). EITI requires governments to publicly disclose their revenues from oil, gas, and mining assets, and for companies to make parallel disclosures regarding payments. By signing onto the global standard that EITI sets, the U.S. Government can help ensure that American taxpayers are receiving every dollar due for the extraction of these valuable public resources.
Other initiatives include: expanding the use of technology to achieve greater efficiencies in Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) administration; overhaul the public participation interface on regulations.gov to help the public find, follow, and participate in Federal rulemakings; and launching ExpertNet, a platform to communicate with citizens who have expertise on a pertinent topic. There are a lot of exciting initiatives in our Plan – too many to recount in this post – but you can view the full plan here .At the President’s State of the Union Address in January 2011, he said that the American people deserve a government that is “open and competent.” Building on the efforts inaugurated by the Memorandum on Transparency and Open Government, and the President’s continued leadership, we look forward to the work ahead.How Do You Think Federal Websites Can Improve?
Posted by on September 19, 2011 at 5:06 PM EDTIf you've ever been on a .gov site and thought, "Hey, this site could be a lot better," we want to hear from you. As part of President Obama's Campaign to Cut Waste and the Administration's overall commitment to improving customer service, we're taking a fresh look at how government information and services are delivered on the Internet.Head over now to get started.Here are some of the specific discussion topics:- Improving content to make it more readable, engaging, and useful
- Improving how services and transactions are delivered
- Providing universal access to government content online, regardless of device or technology
- Optimizing the way the public is able to search for federal content, via federal websites and commercial search engines
- Ensuring content on federal websites is integrated with social media and other third-party websites
- Improving how federal websites protect privacy and security
- Reaching global audiences and people with limited English proficiency access federal websites
To help facilitate the conversation, a number of people from outside of government have agreed to serve as "catalysts" for the discussion and engage others on their comments to flesh out the best ideas. Here's what a few of them have to say about the project:”Okay, the deal is that Fed workers are seriously interested in better customer service, etc, via their web ops. I've worked with these folks for years, they're the real deal, and are really listening.” –Craig Newmark, Founder & customer service rep craigslist.org and craigconnects.org"Of course, diversity improves all things, especially ideas. Those of us who work on Internet-related things all practice differently. We all do things in ways that we have found better for one reason or another. That’s what they want to learn. Upload your wisdom so that we can all learn.” –Ed Mullen, Principal Edward Mullen Studio; Founder MixTrail“Come one – come all! This is your chance to help the U.S. government figure out how to serve better, online. I told you a few weeks ago about the ground-breaking .Gov Reform initiative the White House and the General Services Administration have underway. In a nutshell, they’re taking a hard look at U.S. government websites and looking for ways to make them easier to use and more efficient and effective. And here’s the thing: they want you to be part of this discussion!”—Candi Harrison, Former Co-Chair, Federal Web Managers Council“The .gov Reform Task Force is hip to the wisdom of crowds. Its leaders have invited citizen Catalysts – including Annetta Cheek, Craig Newmark, Steve Krug, Vanessa Fox, Lee Vann, Ed Mullen, Candi Harrison and others – to “spur and deepen the discussion.” In other words, they want all of us to encourage peers from specific communities of online practice to contribute to open, honest dialogue. Discussions will lead to improvements in the usefulness of web sites and web based services of US Federal government agencies. The Task Force really wants to hear from citizens – ALL citizens, including those with disabilities – about what we need and what we want from dot gov domains.”–Sharron Rush, Co-founder and Executive Director of Knowbility“We know there is a goldmine of good ideas from this community, so we hope — and expect — that you’ll actively participate in the discussion and share your expertise and knowledge. We want to hear what’s working well, what can be improved, innovative ways to rethink the federal web, and specific examples you have from your industry or organization.” –Center for Plain LanguageSo join the discussion today and change the way our government does business online.Learn more about EthicsPresident Obama: Washington Has to Live within its Means
Posted by on September 19, 2011 at 1:49 PM EDT
President Barack Obama delivers a statement announcing his Plan for Economic Growth and Deficit Reduction, in the Rose Garden of the White House, Sept. 19, 2011.(Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
President Obama today unveiled a plan for economic growth and deficit reduction that details how to pay for theAmerican Jobs Act while also paying down our debt over time. The plan, which is being sent to the Congressional Joint Committee on Deficit Reduction, offers a balanced approach to further reduce our nation’s deficit and get our fiscal house in order, based on the values of shared responsibility and shared sacrifice.The President’s plan lays out a blueprint that will enable Washington to live within its means, something Americans across the country have been doing for years. And the balanced approach means that no one group has to bear the burden alone. It means that everyone – including millionaires and billionaires – has to pay their fair share.Learn more about EconomyThe President’s Plan for Economic Growth and Deficit Reduction
Posted by on September 19, 2011 at 11:43 AM EDTEd note: This has been cross-posted from the Office of Management and Budget's blogThe health of our economy depends on what we do right now to create the conditions where businesses can hire and middle-class families can feel a basic measure of economic security. In the long run, our prosperity also depends on our ability to pay down the massive debt the federal government has accumulated over the past decade. Today, the President sent to the Joint Committee his plan to jumpstart economic growth and job creation now – and to lay the foundation for it to continue for years to come.The President’s Plan for Economic Growth and Deficit Reduction lives up to a simple idea: as a Nation, we can live within our means while still making the investments we need to prosper – from a jobs bill that is needed right now to long-term investments in education, innovation, and infrastructure. It follows a balanced approach: asking everyone to do their part, so no one has to bear all the burden. And it says that everyone – including millionaires and billionaires – has to pay their fair share.Overall, it pays for the American Jobs Act and produces net savings of more than $3 trillion over the next decade, on top of the roughly $1 trillion in spending cuts that the President already signed into law in the Budget Control Act – for a total savings of more than $4 trillion over the next decade. This would bring the country to a place, by 2017, where current spending is no longer adding to our debt, debt is falling as a share of the economy, and deficits are at a sustainable level.Learn more about EconomyWhat You Missed: Open for Questions on the America Invents Act
Posted by on September 19, 2011 at 9:37 AM EDTAfter President Obama signed the America Invents Act, the White House hosted a live video chat to answer your questions on the historic patent reform legislation. The bill will help American entrepreneurs and businesses get their inventions to the marketplace sooner so they can turn their ideas into new products and new jobs. Chief Technology Officer Aneesh Chopra and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office David Kappos sat down to answer your questions submitted through Facebook and Twitter.Watch the whole video of the Open for Questions event, or use the links below to jump directly to the questions that you're interested in. Follow @WhiteHouse on Twitter for more opportunities to engage with us.Learn more about InnovationsHonoring Our Nation’s Finest Federal Employees
Posted by on September 17, 2011 at 6:05 PM EDTFrom investigating crooks who swindle Americans out of their retirement savings to helping the terminally and seriously ill get the benefits they’ve earned quickly, federal employees work hard each and every day to serve the American people. This past Thursday, 34 great Federal workers and teams were honored as finalists for the Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medal; there were nine winners. Sponsored by the non-profit Partnership for Public Service and at no cost to the taxpayers, the “Sammies,” as they’re known, recognize the outstanding achievements of Federal workers. They do some amazing things that you really need to hear about first hand to appreciate.Along with members of the Cabinet and Congress and other distinguished guests, we had the privilege of meeting them at the awards dinner and learning about their achievements. Here’s just a sample:- A scientist who did the critical analysis that helped end the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
- A Justice Department staffer who helps find missing persons – some who have been missing for many years – with an innovative database that brings together information from different states.
- A NASA team that used their experience sustaining astronauts in space to keep trapped Chilean miners alive deep underground and ultimately rescue them.
- A Veterans Affairs staffer who has built a network of 300 Vet Centers that help hundreds of thousands of Veterans adjust to civilian life with counseling and job assistance.
- A radiation researcher who adapted America’s nuclear emergency plans to help Japan respond to the recent nuclear crisis.
- A doctor called “America’s leading medical detective,” who helps people suffering with diseases so rare, they don’t even have names.
This is just a small taste of what Federal employees do every day to make all of our lives better. Their impact spans the globe and the breadth of the human experience, and the finalists come from all corners of our country. I hope you’ll take a moment to read through the profiles of this year’s finalists and winnersand be inspired. We certainly were.Their work is hard, it’s urgent work, and at times it’s thankless. But not on Sammies night. The Partnership for Public Service does an incredible job putting this event together each year. They sort through stacks of nominees to find the very best—and it can’t be easy, because so many Federal workers do amazing work every day.Once more, congratulations to the winners, and thanks to the Partnership!Learn more about Additional IssuesWeekly Address: Passing the American Jobs Act
Posted by on September 17, 2011 at 5:30 AM EDTPresident Obama discusses the need for Congress to pass the American Jobs Act to put more people back to work, and more money back in the pockets of people who are working. Read the jobs bill.Learn more about EconomyWhat You Missed: Open for Questions on the American Jobs Act
Posted by on September 16, 2011 at 6:18 PM EDTOn Thursday, September 15th, Jon Carson, Director of the Office of Public Engagement, and Brian Deese, Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy Director of the National Economic Council, answered your questions from Facebook, Twitter, and WhiteHouse.gov on the President's American Jobs Act.Download the fact sheet to learn more about how the American Jobs Act will create opportunity for young Americans or find out more about the American Jobs Act.The questions below are paraphrased from the questions asked by participants during the live chat:Learn more about EconomyWeekly Wrap-Up: Innovative Ideas
Posted by on September 16, 2011 at 5:58 PM EDTHere’s what happened this week on WhiteHouse.gov:American Jobs Act On Monday, the President sent the American Jobs Act to Congress and throughout the week he met with Americans who will benefit from the measures proposed in the Act, including gatherings at Fort Hayes High School, in Columbus, Ohio where the conversation focused on how the American Jobs Act will help teachers and student across the country, North Carolina State University and WestStar Precision, a small business that will benefit from the proposed Jobs Act. Here on whitehouse.gov, we held Office Hours with some of the President’s senior economic advisers and hosted an Open for Questions session, answering your tweets, Facebook posts and questions sent to WhiteHouse.gov about the bill.Remembering September 11 Sunday marked the 10th anniversary of the worst attacks on American soil in our history. Across the country people answered the President’s call and participated in service projects, including the First Family. The President and First Lady visited the September 11 memorials in all three of the crash sites, ground zero in New York City, Shanksville, Pennsylvania and the Pentagon. Vice President and Dr. Biden participated in the dedication ceremony for the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, and attended the Sunday service at the Pentagon. On Sunday evening, the President told the audience at the Kennedy Center’s Concert for Hope: “We kept the faith, took a painful blow, and we are stronger than before.”America Invents Act Thomas Jefferson would be proud. On Friday morning, President Obama signed theAmerica Invents Act in law at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science & Technology in Alexandria, Virginia – in a nod to Jefferson, the first official to issue a U.S. patent. This historic legislation will help American entrepreneurs and businesses get their inventions to the marketplace sooner so they can turn their ideas into new products and new jobs.Medal of Honor Dakota Meyer On Thursday the President awarded the Medal of Honor to Dakota Meyer, a former active duty Marine Corps Corporal from Kentucky. Sergeant Meyer was recognized for his courageous actions above and beyond the call of duty while serving in Kunar Province, Afghanistan, on September 8, 2009. Meyer is the third living recipient - and the first Marine - to be awarded the Medal of Honor for actions in Iraq or Afghanistan. And at 23, he is also one of the youngest recipients in decades.Violence Against Women Act This week marked the 17th anniversary of the landmark legislation, and Vice President Biden, who sponsored this bill as a senator, spoke about the great strides that have been made in addressing all types of violence against women. Since the enactment of the bill in 1994, major changes have been made in the ways that communities respond to domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and dating violence.We the People Turns out people want to know more about our upcoming petitions platform. Macon Phillips, the White House’s Director of Digital Strategy, addressed some of the questions and comments WhiteHouse.gov visitors have submitted about the new petition site. We the People will provide you with a new way to petition the federal government to take action on a range of issues that you care about.Don’t miss some behind the scenes footage on West Wing Week.The American Jobs Act and Nonprofits
Posted by on September 16, 2011 at 5:43 PM EDTDuring these tough economic times, nonprofit organizations, both faith-based and secular, are the front-line responders to communities in need. From convening support groups and prayer services to providing child care, teaching job skills, and putting Americans back to work, these nonprofit and faith-based groups are supporting working families and individuals across the country.President Obama recently announced a major new proposal called the American Jobs Act and sent legislation to Congress for action. The American Jobs Act is all about getting Americans working and putting money back in the pockets of the American people, and nonprofit organizations are a key part of this bill.The President recognizes that roughly one in twelve workers in the United States are employed in the nonprofit sector, which is why he made nonprofits – both faith-based and secular – a key part of this bill. The Act will help all Americans by creating jobs now, sparking economic growth, and providing relief to millions of families. Under the Act, all business and organizations – including nonprofits – can receive a tax credit through partnering with state entities when they hire long-term unemployed individuals or veterans. The Act also includes an innovative entrepreneurship and wage protection program that will allow unemployed workers to receive unemployment insurance while they start new businesses – including nonprofit enterprises. And employers won’t have to be as hesitant to hire new employees, because the American Jobs Act would cut the payroll tax in half for the first $5 million in wages, and temporarily eliminate employer payroll taxes on wages for new workers or raises for existing workers. This is great news for many small business and nonprofit organizations.A Part of Something Bigger
Posted by on September 16, 2011 at 5:06 PM EDT
A POW-MIA flag flies over the White House, Sept. 16, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)Today, September 16, is a day set aside for remembrance of those veterans who are prisoners of war or missing in action. The day falls at an especially fitting time this year: yesterday, President Obama awarded the Medal of Honor to Marine Sergeant Dakota Meyer. Meyer received the award for rushing into enemy fire to rescue comrades who were under attack by Taliban forces. Meyer sustained wounds and put his life at risk to rescue his friends, his brothers in arms. Though three of those friends had already been killed by the time he found them, and a fourth would die soon afterwards, Meyer nonetheless continued to brave enemy fire and carried them, one by one, to his vehicle. Because of his actions, 36 lives were saved, fallen American Marines returned home, and their families had at least some small measure of closure.All of our service members deserve to rest easy in the knowledge that they will return to their families at the end of their deployments. Unfortunately, that has not always been the case. Too many American soldiers, airmen, marines, sailors and coastguardsmen and women have never come home. Too many have endured unthinkable hardships as prisoners of war. For them and for their families, the tours of duty have never ended.America will never forget its missing, nor its prisoners of war. We will pursue the fullest possible accounting of those who have gone missing on our battlefields. We will care for their families. We will carry on their legacy. As the President said in his proclamation marking today's observance, "This is a promise we keep for our fallen, for our veterans past and present, and for all those whose loved ones have not returned from the battlefield."Today the stark black and white flag memorializing America's POWs and MIA is flying over the White House. It bears the solemn pledge, "You Are Not Forgotten." This simple banner has been raised as a testament to the fact that our brave and men and women shall remain forever in our memories.To find out how you can help veterans and military families, check out joiningforces.gov. You can volunteer in your community, write a thank you note, and more.Learn more about VeteransAmerican Jobs Act: Rebuilding the Economy the American Way
Posted by on September 16, 2011 at 2:02 PM EDTIn this morning’s Wall Street Journal, U.S. Chamber of Commerce president and CEO Tom Donahue raised concerns about the American Jobs Act, and I’d like to address them here.The American Jobs Act includes a series of proposals that will give a boost to the economy and get Americans back to work -- the kinds of proposals that have been supported in a bipartisan way in the past. It’s a plan that not only puts money back in the pockets of middle class families, and puts workers back on the job, but also includes the kinds of proposals that economists agree will help business grow and hire. And it’s a plan that rebuilds the economy in the American Way – based on fairness, balance and ensuring there is the same set of rules for everyone from Wall Street to Main Street.Mr. Donahue questions whether the plan will create jobs. The answer is simple: yes it will. Prominent, independent experts have said that the American Jobs Act could create 1.5 million or more jobs, increase growth by as much as two percentage points next year, and lower the unemployment rate.And the American Jobs Act is fully paid for, not adding a dime to the deficit. We share Mr. Donahue’s concern about cutting spending and reducing our deficit. That’s why the President recently signed into law the Budget Control Act, which locked in almost a trillion dollars in cuts to discretionary spending. The American Jobs Act increases the Joint Committee’s deficit reduction target to cover the full cost of the job creation provisions. On Monday, the President will outline his vision for a balanced approach deficit reduction to the Joint Committee.We also share the Chamber’s goals of investing in our nation’s infrastructure. A few weeks ago, the President was joined by representatives from the Chamber and the head of the AFL-CIO – groups that usually don’t agree on much – to come together and call on Congress to extend the surface transportation bill. And that’s why the American Jobs Act makes the investments in our nation’s infrastructure that will put construction workers back to work and rebuild and modernize our nation.We hear a lot from the Republican Leadership and the Chamber on the need to reduce burdensome regulations. We agree. The President ordered a government-wide review of existing federal regulations. So far, we’ve identified over 500 reforms, which will save billions of dollars over the next few years.The number of rules we’ve reviewed and issued in the first two years of this Administration is actually lower than the number of rules issued in the last two years of the Bush Administration.But let’s be clear. The President will continue to protect the health, safety and well-being of American families – keeping their air and water clean, food and highways safe. He fought to ensure American families have the strongest consumer protections in history and protection against being discriminated against for having a preexisting condition. Overturning these reforms might be popular with Republican special interests and donors, but they aren’t good for American families and that’s why we will keep fighting to ensure they are implemented effectively.We also agree with Mr. Donahue on the importance of passing three Free Trade Agreements that the President negotiated that will support tens of thousands of American jobs, supporting affordable clean energy and ensuring our visa system is fair.The American Jobs Act contains ideas that are supported by both Democrats and Republicans that will put people back to work and put more money in the pockets of working Americans. It includes tax cuts. It keeps teachers in the classroom and cops on the beat. It rebuilds our roads and bridges. Bottom line, it puts Americans back to work right now.We should all agree is that the economy needs a boost, and that we need to do more to get the American people back to work. We hope that Mr. Donahue and the businesses his group represents will join us in this important goal for our nation.Learn more about EconomyA Status Report on the Administration’s Commitment to Open Government
Posted by on September 16, 2011 at 2:00 PM EDTPresident Obama has made open government a high priority. Greater openness renders our government more efficient and effective. It strengthens our democracy. It improves our citizens’ lives.To these ends, the Administration has taken many substantial steps to promote increased participation and collaboration in government, and to make government more transparent. For example, federal agencies have increased transparency through redoubled efforts to disclose more information under the Freedom of Information Act. They have implemented ambitious Open Government Plans, and made voluminous data newly available to the public. The Administration has also made spending information more transparent, and taken steps to disclose previously sensitive government information.Of course, creating a more open government requires sustained effort. How best to harness new technologies in the service of open government, to strike the proper balance between transparency and the protection of national security and personal privacy, to change agency culture so that openness becomes the new normal–such issues require long-term commitment.Learn more about Ethics
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