2011/02/25
Good afternoon,
What's it like to have President Obama drop in on your web chat? Well, on Tuesday, I found out.
During the Winning the Future Forum on Small Business in Cleveland, Ohio, we held an online discussion to go over the answers to discussion questions I posed on WhiteHouse.gov as part of our new "Advise the Advisor" program. The President joined us towards the end to respond to a few ideas.
I've posted some of your ideas, my responses and the video of yesterday's event here:
Did you know that small businesses are the backbone of our economy, creating two out of every three new jobs in America?
President Obama is committed to helping small businesses succeed by making America the best place in the world to do business. He has signed into law 17 new tax cuts for small businesses. He launched the National Wireless Initiative to help bring high-speed wireless Internet access to 98 percent of Americans. And he launched Startup America, an initiative to celebrate, inspire and accelerate high-growth entrepreneurship throughout the nation.
It's also important to take the time to listen to folks on the ground about the challenges they face every day. That's why we went to Cleveland this week to talk directly with small business owners, and it's why your "Advise the Advisor" feedback is so important.
If we out-innovate, out-educate and out-build our global competitors, the future is ours to win. That's a challenge that we will tackle together, and I look forward to the work ahead.
Sincerely,
Austan Goolsbee
Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers
P.S. To find out when the next "Advise the Advisor" opportunity is posted, sign up for the Daily Snapshot email:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/daily-snapshot
2011/03/08
Good morning,
The state of the American education system today is unacceptable. As many as one quarter of American students don’t finish high school. We've fallen to ninth place in the proportion of young people with college degrees. The quality of our math and science education lags behind many other nations.
For the sake of the next generation, and America's economic future, this has to change.
Providing our nation's students with a world-class education is a shared responsibility. We can't out-compete the rest of the world in the 21st century global economy unless we out-educate them. It's going to take all of us -- educators, parents, students, philanthropists, state and local leaders, and the federal government -- working together to prepare today’s students for the jobs of the 21st century.
That's why I want to hear from you. As President Obama's chief advisor on domestic policy, I focus much of my time on education reform. As part of the White House’s new Advise the Advisor program, I've posed a few key questions for parents, teachers and students to answer so we can get a sense of what’s working in your communities -- and what needs to change.
Take a minute to let me know what you think:
The good news is that we're making progress and seeing improvements around the country already, focusing on our own Three R's: responsibility, reform and results.
Take Miami Central High School, where the President and I traveled on Friday. Several years ago, Miami Central was struggling. Achievement was lagging at the school, and morale was down. Graduation rates hovered at just 36 percent. But the Miami Central community came together. They set high expectations, and they did the hard work to reform their school. They've turned around their performance -- academic achievement is improving, and graduation rates have improved by nearly 30 points. Miami Central is now well on its way toward providing college and career readiness for its students.
Today, we're visiting TechBoston Academy, a great example of private-sector, non-profit and higher-education partners working with communities to help prepare students with the knowledge and skills they'll need to succeed in college and careers. At TechBoston Academy sixth grade through twelfth grade students learn by using technology in their classrooms. Thanks to strong partners, TechBoston students have access to a 21st century curriculum, early enrollment in college classes, and an extended day program to provide enrichment and to deepen learning in core subjects.
These schools in Miami and Boston are just two examples of success. I'm looking for feedback from more all-star schools, as well as your strategies and challenges to reform our education system.
As I mentioned earlier, education reform is a shared responsibility for all of us, and it's one that we at the White House take very seriously.
Sincerely,
Melody Barnes
Director of the Domestic Policy Council
The state of the American education system today is unacceptable. As many as one quarter of American students don’t finish high school. We've fallen to ninth place in the proportion of young people with college degrees. The quality of our math and science education lags behind many other nations.
For the sake of the next generation, and America's economic future, this has to change.
Providing our nation's students with a world-class education is a shared responsibility. We can't out-compete the rest of the world in the 21st century global economy unless we out-educate them. It's going to take all of us -- educators, parents, students, philanthropists, state and local leaders, and the federal government -- working together to prepare today’s students for the jobs of the 21st century.
That's why I want to hear from you. As President Obama's chief advisor on domestic policy, I focus much of my time on education reform. As part of the White House’s new Advise the Advisor program, I've posed a few key questions for parents, teachers and students to answer so we can get a sense of what’s working in your communities -- and what needs to change.
Take a minute to let me know what you think:
The good news is that we're making progress and seeing improvements around the country already, focusing on our own Three R's: responsibility, reform and results.
Take Miami Central High School, where the President and I traveled on Friday. Several years ago, Miami Central was struggling. Achievement was lagging at the school, and morale was down. Graduation rates hovered at just 36 percent. But the Miami Central community came together. They set high expectations, and they did the hard work to reform their school. They've turned around their performance -- academic achievement is improving, and graduation rates have improved by nearly 30 points. Miami Central is now well on its way toward providing college and career readiness for its students.
Today, we're visiting TechBoston Academy, a great example of private-sector, non-profit and higher-education partners working with communities to help prepare students with the knowledge and skills they'll need to succeed in college and careers. At TechBoston Academy sixth grade through twelfth grade students learn by using technology in their classrooms. Thanks to strong partners, TechBoston students have access to a 21st century curriculum, early enrollment in college classes, and an extended day program to provide enrichment and to deepen learning in core subjects.
These schools in Miami and Boston are just two examples of success. I'm looking for feedback from more all-star schools, as well as your strategies and challenges to reform our education system.
As I mentioned earlier, education reform is a shared responsibility for all of us, and it's one that we at the White House take very seriously.
Sincerely,
Melody Barnes
Director of the Domestic Policy Council
2011/03/10
Good morning,
As a mother, it breaks my heart to think of any child feeling alone or afraid in their classrooms, on the playground or even online. But every year, nearly one third of school-aged children -- upwards of 13 million students -- are bullied.
Bullying in our schools and communities isn't a rite of passage or part of growing up. It's unacceptable.
Today, the President and I are attending a White House Conference on Bullying Prevention to talk about how we can work together to make our schools and communities safe for all of our children.
You can watch the Conference live online, participate in special online discussions throughout the day, and watch a special video message from Barack and me:
Every child deserves a chance to grow up happy, healthy and safe. Kids who are bullied are more likely to have challenges in school, abuse drugs or alcohol, or have health and mental health problems. As adults, it's up to us to send a message that bullying of any kind for any reason isn't OK.
Parents, teachers, coaches, faith leaders, elected officials, and anyone else involved in our children's lives have a responsibility to set a good example through our own behavior and to take action when we see bullying in our communities.
That's what today's Conference on Bullying Prevention is all about – working together to find solutions to keep all of our children safe. I hope you'll take some time today to tune in and join the conversation:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/Bullying-Prevention
Sincerely,
Michelle Obama
First Lady of the United States
As a mother, it breaks my heart to think of any child feeling alone or afraid in their classrooms, on the playground or even online. But every year, nearly one third of school-aged children -- upwards of 13 million students -- are bullied.
Bullying in our schools and communities isn't a rite of passage or part of growing up. It's unacceptable.
Today, the President and I are attending a White House Conference on Bullying Prevention to talk about how we can work together to make our schools and communities safe for all of our children.
You can watch the Conference live online, participate in special online discussions throughout the day, and watch a special video message from Barack and me:
Every child deserves a chance to grow up happy, healthy and safe. Kids who are bullied are more likely to have challenges in school, abuse drugs or alcohol, or have health and mental health problems. As adults, it's up to us to send a message that bullying of any kind for any reason isn't OK.
Parents, teachers, coaches, faith leaders, elected officials, and anyone else involved in our children's lives have a responsibility to set a good example through our own behavior and to take action when we see bullying in our communities.
That's what today's Conference on Bullying Prevention is all about – working together to find solutions to keep all of our children safe. I hope you'll take some time today to tune in and join the conversation:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/Bullying-Prevention
Sincerely,
Michelle Obama
First Lady of the United States
2011/03/17
Good afternoon,
On Monday, President Obama gave a speech on education reform, addressing challenges that need to be tackled if we're going to out-educate the rest of the world. In a global economy that's more competitive and connected than ever before, we need to invest our time and resources to ensure our Nation's children are ready for the jobs of the future. As you'll see, the President laid out how we can all work together to ensure that every child gets ahead:
If you haven’t heard of "No Child Left Behind," reach out to a teacher you know, and ask about it. This major education legislation has inspired heated debate since it passed in 2001, and most experts agree it needs to be improved.
The President's speech on Monday details reforms to the legislation that will ensure we not only leave no child behind, but also that we help every student get ahead, including:
That's why I asked for Americans' ideas on education reform last week, and the feedback has been terrific.
Thousands of responses show broad consensus that the responsibility for our kids' educations begins at home – that parents are taking the time to expand on the lessons learned in the classroom and that teaching fundamental values is irreplaceable. As Wilbur from Nebraska put it:
What works for any school is a high level of involvement by both parents and teachers. Technology is great but the level of involvement by parents and teachers make great schools. The plan should be how to get parents move involved in their children's education.
As the President said in his speech, over the next 10 years, nearly half of all jobs will require something more than a high school diploma. In the long run, there is no better economic policy than one that invests in our children’s future. Nickolaus from Virginia points out:
Students spend too much time sitting and listening to lectures, and they have too little time doing hands-on projects with modern tools and diagnostic systems. America's future depends on hands-on engineers and technologists, and we need to do more to encourage students in these fields.
When we finish reviewing all of the comments, we’ll post a follow up on the White House website. In the meantime, I hope you’ll take a few minutes towatch President Obama's speech.
Sincerely,
Melody Barnes
Director of the Domestic Policy Council
On Monday, President Obama gave a speech on education reform, addressing challenges that need to be tackled if we're going to out-educate the rest of the world. In a global economy that's more competitive and connected than ever before, we need to invest our time and resources to ensure our Nation's children are ready for the jobs of the future. As you'll see, the President laid out how we can all work together to ensure that every child gets ahead:
If you haven’t heard of "No Child Left Behind," reach out to a teacher you know, and ask about it. This major education legislation has inspired heated debate since it passed in 2001, and most experts agree it needs to be improved.
The President's speech on Monday details reforms to the legislation that will ensure we not only leave no child behind, but also that we help every student get ahead, including:
- A flexible and focused accountability system that promotes shared responsibility, college and career readiness, and rewards achievement.
- Support for reform and innovation at the state and local level that will empower both principals and teachers.
- New efforts to drive resources and reform to the Nation's persistently low-performing schools and those with the greatest achievement gaps, and to ensure there is a great teacher in every classroom and a great principal in every school.
That's why I asked for Americans' ideas on education reform last week, and the feedback has been terrific.
Thousands of responses show broad consensus that the responsibility for our kids' educations begins at home – that parents are taking the time to expand on the lessons learned in the classroom and that teaching fundamental values is irreplaceable. As Wilbur from Nebraska put it:
What works for any school is a high level of involvement by both parents and teachers. Technology is great but the level of involvement by parents and teachers make great schools. The plan should be how to get parents move involved in their children's education.
As the President said in his speech, over the next 10 years, nearly half of all jobs will require something more than a high school diploma. In the long run, there is no better economic policy than one that invests in our children’s future. Nickolaus from Virginia points out:
Students spend too much time sitting and listening to lectures, and they have too little time doing hands-on projects with modern tools and diagnostic systems. America's future depends on hands-on engineers and technologists, and we need to do more to encourage students in these fields.
When we finish reviewing all of the comments, we’ll post a follow up on the White House website. In the meantime, I hope you’ll take a few minutes towatch President Obama's speech.
Sincerely,
Melody Barnes
Director of the Domestic Policy Council
2011/03/26
Good morning,
I'm writing today with an update on the situation in Libya, including the actions we've taken with allies and partners to protect the Libyan people from the brutality of Moammar Qaddafi. For further details, please take a moment to watch this morning's Weekly Address:
Sending our brave men and women in uniform into harm's way is not a decision I make lightly. But when someone like Qaddafi threatens a bloodbath that could destabilize an entire region, it is in our national interest to act. In fact, it’s our responsibility.
Our mission in Libya is clear and focused -- and we are succeeding.
Along with our allies and partners, we are enforcing the mandate of the United Nations Security Council. Working with other countries, we have put in place a no-fly zone and other measures that will help prevent further violence and brutality. Qaddafi's air defenses have been taken out, and his forces are no longer advancing across Libya.
As a consequence of our quick action, the lives of countless innocent civilians have been saved, and a humanitarian catastrophe has been avoided.
The role of American forces in this mission is limited. After providing unique capabilities at the beginning, we are now handing over control of the no-fly zone to our NATO allies and partners, including Arab partners like Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
The United States has also joined with the international community to deliver urgent humanitarian assistance. We're offering support to the Libyan opposition and have frozen tens of billions of dollars of Qaddafi's assets.
Our message to Qaddafi is clear: attacks against innocent civilians must end, his forces must be pulled back, humanitarian aid must reach Libyans in need, and those responsible for the violence in Libya must be held accountable.
The progress we've made over the past seven days demonstrates how the international community should work, with many nations, not just the United States, bearing the responsibility and cost of upholding international law.
Every American can be proud of the service of our men and women in uniform who have once again stood up for our interests and ideals. And as we move forward, I will continue to keep each of you fully informed on our progress.
Sincerely,
Barack Obama
President of the United States
I'm writing today with an update on the situation in Libya, including the actions we've taken with allies and partners to protect the Libyan people from the brutality of Moammar Qaddafi. For further details, please take a moment to watch this morning's Weekly Address:
Sending our brave men and women in uniform into harm's way is not a decision I make lightly. But when someone like Qaddafi threatens a bloodbath that could destabilize an entire region, it is in our national interest to act. In fact, it’s our responsibility.
Our mission in Libya is clear and focused -- and we are succeeding.
Along with our allies and partners, we are enforcing the mandate of the United Nations Security Council. Working with other countries, we have put in place a no-fly zone and other measures that will help prevent further violence and brutality. Qaddafi's air defenses have been taken out, and his forces are no longer advancing across Libya.
As a consequence of our quick action, the lives of countless innocent civilians have been saved, and a humanitarian catastrophe has been avoided.
The role of American forces in this mission is limited. After providing unique capabilities at the beginning, we are now handing over control of the no-fly zone to our NATO allies and partners, including Arab partners like Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
The United States has also joined with the international community to deliver urgent humanitarian assistance. We're offering support to the Libyan opposition and have frozen tens of billions of dollars of Qaddafi's assets.
Our message to Qaddafi is clear: attacks against innocent civilians must end, his forces must be pulled back, humanitarian aid must reach Libyans in need, and those responsible for the violence in Libya must be held accountable.
The progress we've made over the past seven days demonstrates how the international community should work, with many nations, not just the United States, bearing the responsibility and cost of upholding international law.
Every American can be proud of the service of our men and women in uniform who have once again stood up for our interests and ideals. And as we move forward, I will continue to keep each of you fully informed on our progress.
Sincerely,
Barack Obama
President of the United States
2011/04/01
Good afternoon,
Surprised at how much it cost last time you filled up your gas tank? You're not alone. Millions of families and businesses across the country are feeling the pinch of rising gas prices.
Here's the thing: as long as our economy relies on oil and as demand in countries like China and India continues to grow, we'll be subject to these kinds of spikes in gas prices.
We've been down this road before -- just three years ago, gas prices rose to their highest level ever. There was no quick fix to lower prices then, just as there isn't one now.
For decades, politicians here in Washington have talked a lot about the dangers of our dependence on foreign oil, but this talk hasn't always been met with action. And today, Americans pay a price for that inaction every time they fill up their tanks.
Yesterday, we unveiled a Blueprint for a Secure Energy Future that sets a goal of reducing our imports of foreign oil. By 2025 -- a little more than a decade from now -- we will have cut that reliance by one-third.
Learn more about the Blueprint and watch President Obama's speech on energy security:
In his speech yesterday, President Obama outlined his plan to secure our energy future by developing and securing America's energy resources, bringing energy costs down for consumers, and innovating our way to a clean energy future.
But no matter your views on this issue, I think we can all agree that the United States simply can't afford to leave this challenge for future generations to solve.
Sincerely,
David Plouffe
Senior Advisor to the President
P.S. Check out our new Advise the Advisor video featuring Secretary of Energy Steven Chu and give us your feedback on how we can meet the President's goal of reducing imports of oil by one-third in a little over a decade:
http://www.WhiteHouse.gov/Advise
Surprised at how much it cost last time you filled up your gas tank? You're not alone. Millions of families and businesses across the country are feeling the pinch of rising gas prices.
Here's the thing: as long as our economy relies on oil and as demand in countries like China and India continues to grow, we'll be subject to these kinds of spikes in gas prices.
We've been down this road before -- just three years ago, gas prices rose to their highest level ever. There was no quick fix to lower prices then, just as there isn't one now.
For decades, politicians here in Washington have talked a lot about the dangers of our dependence on foreign oil, but this talk hasn't always been met with action. And today, Americans pay a price for that inaction every time they fill up their tanks.
Yesterday, we unveiled a Blueprint for a Secure Energy Future that sets a goal of reducing our imports of foreign oil. By 2025 -- a little more than a decade from now -- we will have cut that reliance by one-third.
Learn more about the Blueprint and watch President Obama's speech on energy security:
In his speech yesterday, President Obama outlined his plan to secure our energy future by developing and securing America's energy resources, bringing energy costs down for consumers, and innovating our way to a clean energy future.
- Increase domestic energy production. Last year, American oil production reached its highest level since 2003. And, because we can't just drill our way out of this crisis, we're reducing our dependence on oil by increasing fuel efficiency and increasing our production of natural gas and biofuels.
- Reduce demand for oil. Transportation is responsible for 70 percent of our petroleum consumption, so one of the quickest and easiest ways to reduce our dependence on foreign oil is to make transportation more efficient. That's why, in April of last year, the Obama Administration established a groundbreaking national fuel efficiency standard for cars and trucks that will save us 1.8 billion barrels of oil and save consumers thousands of dollars. We're also making investments in electric vehicles and the advanced batteries that power them to ensure that high-quality, fuel-efficient cars and trucks are built right here in America.
- Increase production of clean energy. In his State of the Union address, President Obama set a goal that by 2035, 80 percent of our electricity should come from clean energy sources including renewables like wind and solar, nuclear energy, efficient natural gas, and clean coal.
But no matter your views on this issue, I think we can all agree that the United States simply can't afford to leave this challenge for future generations to solve.
Sincerely,
David Plouffe
Senior Advisor to the President
P.S. Check out our new Advise the Advisor video featuring Secretary of Energy Steven Chu and give us your feedback on how we can meet the President's goal of reducing imports of oil by one-third in a little over a decade:
http://www.WhiteHouse.gov/Advise
2011/04/06
Good afternoon,
If you're like me, you've got taxes on the brain this time of year, so I wanted to remind you of two things.
First, don't forget the tax filing deadline this year is April 18, not April 15.
Second, when you are filing your taxes this year, you will benefit from $160 billion of tax relief for middle-class families that President Obama secured this past December -- in addition to extending unemployment insurance, the 2001 and 2003 middle-class tax cuts and other key provisions. If you are one of the nearly 160 million Americans benefitting from the payroll tax cut, which was in the same package of middle-class tax relief, you are already seeing the additional savings in your paycheck.
We have put together a new tax cut calculator on WhiteHouse.gov that will show you exactly what these tax cuts mean for you and your family. We've also included a link to Recovery Act tax cuts you may be eligible to claim on your 2010 taxes as you file this month. Just answer a few simple questions and our tax cut calculator will demonstrate how President Obama's tax cuts will benefit you, personally, in 2011.
Take a look:
Here are some highlights from the tax cuts and extensions that President Obama got you last year:
Sincerely,
Austan Goolsbee
Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers
P.S. In other news, mark your calendars. On April 20, President Obama will be attending a special facebook townhall event at the facebook headquarters in Palo Alto, California to talk about the economy. Learn more about the event and RSVP here:
http://www.facebook.com/WhiteHouse
If you're like me, you've got taxes on the brain this time of year, so I wanted to remind you of two things.
First, don't forget the tax filing deadline this year is April 18, not April 15.
Second, when you are filing your taxes this year, you will benefit from $160 billion of tax relief for middle-class families that President Obama secured this past December -- in addition to extending unemployment insurance, the 2001 and 2003 middle-class tax cuts and other key provisions. If you are one of the nearly 160 million Americans benefitting from the payroll tax cut, which was in the same package of middle-class tax relief, you are already seeing the additional savings in your paycheck.
We have put together a new tax cut calculator on WhiteHouse.gov that will show you exactly what these tax cuts mean for you and your family. We've also included a link to Recovery Act tax cuts you may be eligible to claim on your 2010 taxes as you file this month. Just answer a few simple questions and our tax cut calculator will demonstrate how President Obama's tax cuts will benefit you, personally, in 2011.
Take a look:
Here are some highlights from the tax cuts and extensions that President Obama got you last year:
- Payroll Tax Cut. President Obama's tax cut included a 2% payroll tax cut -- which amounts to $1,000 for a typical family earning $50,000 a year.
- Child Tax Credit. President Obama cut taxes for 11.8 million families with children.
- Earned Income Tax Credit. President Obama expanded the Earned Income Tax Credit for married couples and families with three or more children. This will help 5.8 million working families and 12.5 million children in 2011.
- American Opportunity Tax Credit. President Obama extended a tax credit of up to $2,500 per student per year (up to four years) to help pay for tuition and other college expenses.
Sincerely,
Austan Goolsbee
Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers
P.S. In other news, mark your calendars. On April 20, President Obama will be attending a special facebook townhall event at the facebook headquarters in Palo Alto, California to talk about the economy. Learn more about the event and RSVP here:
http://www.facebook.com/WhiteHouse
2011/04/13
Good afternoon,
I'm writing to make sure that you know about an unprecedented national campaign to support our nation's military families called Joining Forces.
As First Lady, I've had the privilege of meeting with Americans in uniform around the world. These brave men and women would be the first to tell you that they don't serve alone. Every day, they are joined in service to our country by military wives, husbands, children, siblings and parents.
Joining Forces is about all of us joining together, as Americans, to give back to the extraordinary military families who sacrifice so much every day. Our motto is simple — everyone can do something. So take a moment to find out how you can play a part:
Like their loved ones, military families are proud to serve. But that doesn't mean it’s easy. Indeed many Americans may not realize how difficult it can be to have a parent or spouse deployed overseas.
That's why Joining Forces is so important. We're going to match the unique needs and strengths of America’s military families with specific ways that Americans can offer support.
So on behalf of the President, as well as the Vice President and Dr. Jill Biden, proud military parents themselves, let me offer a heartfelt thanks to not only our troops and their families – but also to the rest of you for joining forces to support them.
Sincerely,
Michelle Obama
First Lady of the United States
I'm writing to make sure that you know about an unprecedented national campaign to support our nation's military families called Joining Forces.
As First Lady, I've had the privilege of meeting with Americans in uniform around the world. These brave men and women would be the first to tell you that they don't serve alone. Every day, they are joined in service to our country by military wives, husbands, children, siblings and parents.
Joining Forces is about all of us joining together, as Americans, to give back to the extraordinary military families who sacrifice so much every day. Our motto is simple — everyone can do something. So take a moment to find out how you can play a part:
Like their loved ones, military families are proud to serve. But that doesn't mean it’s easy. Indeed many Americans may not realize how difficult it can be to have a parent or spouse deployed overseas.
That's why Joining Forces is so important. We're going to match the unique needs and strengths of America’s military families with specific ways that Americans can offer support.
So on behalf of the President, as well as the Vice President and Dr. Jill Biden, proud military parents themselves, let me offer a heartfelt thanks to not only our troops and their families – but also to the rest of you for joining forces to support them.
Sincerely,
Michelle Obama
First Lady of the United States
2011/04/15
Good afternoon,
Yesterday, President Obama laid out a comprehensive and balanced framework to cut the nation's deficit by $4 trillion over the next twelve years while still making the investments needed to win the future. He also described the underlying values that guide his approach, including the role that government should play and the shared responsibility Americans have to one another.
The video of the President’s speech is worth watching, but it's 40 minutes long, so we've also summed up the main points in a graphic. You can see both the video and the graphic here:
President Obama's framework has four key parts:
Now, you may have also heard about a plan from Republicans in the House of Representatives that will cut the deficit by about the same amount.
But there's an important difference between the two approaches.
The Republican plan places the burden of debt reduction on those that can least afford it -- people like seniors and lower income Americans. Their plan slashes investments in areas like clean energy investment and education funding. It ends Medicare as we know it and doubles health care costs for seniors in order to pay for an average tax cut of $200,000 for millionaires and billionaires.
The President's plan protects the middle class, defends our commitments to seniors, and makes the smart investments we need to create good jobs and grow our economy. It's based on the idea that, as a nation, we have a responsibility to come together to provide a basic measure of security and dignity for all Americans.
The President has laid out his framework, but there is clearly much work ahead. As the recent compromise in the face of a government shutdown taught us, Republicans and Democrats can sit down and work through these issues to find common ground.
I'll be sure to keep you posted on our progress.
Sincerely,
David Plouffe
Senior Advisor to the President
Yesterday, President Obama laid out a comprehensive and balanced framework to cut the nation's deficit by $4 trillion over the next twelve years while still making the investments needed to win the future. He also described the underlying values that guide his approach, including the role that government should play and the shared responsibility Americans have to one another.
The video of the President’s speech is worth watching, but it's 40 minutes long, so we've also summed up the main points in a graphic. You can see both the video and the graphic here:
President Obama's framework has four key parts:
- Budget Cuts. Last week, President Obama worked with Democrats and Republicans on a budget compromise that represents the largest spending cut in our history. The President's approach builds on that compromise and will save us $770 billion over twelve years.
- Security Spending. Working with Secretary of Defense Gates and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mullen, we will cut $400 billion by 2023 out of defense spending by eliminating waste and inefficiencies while ensuring that our troops have the resources they need to protect our national security.
- Health Care Costs. The President's approach to reforming Medicare and Medicaid keeps our commitments to seniors, people with disabilities, and children while reducing health care spending. These reforms will help us save $480 billion by 2023 and an additional $1 trillion in the decade after that.
- Tax Reform. The President called for closing loopholes and letting the Bush era high income tax cuts -- which we simply cannot afford -- expire. The President is also calling on Congress to reform the individual tax code so that it is fair and simple so the amount of taxes you pay isn't determined by what kind of accountant you can afford. Those savings would be devoted to reducing tax rates and the deficit.
Now, you may have also heard about a plan from Republicans in the House of Representatives that will cut the deficit by about the same amount.
But there's an important difference between the two approaches.
The Republican plan places the burden of debt reduction on those that can least afford it -- people like seniors and lower income Americans. Their plan slashes investments in areas like clean energy investment and education funding. It ends Medicare as we know it and doubles health care costs for seniors in order to pay for an average tax cut of $200,000 for millionaires and billionaires.
The President's plan protects the middle class, defends our commitments to seniors, and makes the smart investments we need to create good jobs and grow our economy. It's based on the idea that, as a nation, we have a responsibility to come together to provide a basic measure of security and dignity for all Americans.
The President has laid out his framework, but there is clearly much work ahead. As the recent compromise in the face of a government shutdown taught us, Republicans and Democrats can sit down and work through these issues to find common ground.
I'll be sure to keep you posted on our progress.
Sincerely,
David Plouffe
Senior Advisor to the President
2011/04/16
Good afternoon,
Have you ever wondered how much of your own tax dollars actually go to support foreign aid? To support education? Well, now you can find out – and you might be surprised.
In his State of the Union Address, President Obama promised that this year, for the first time, American taxpayers would be able to go online and see exactly how their federal tax dollars are spent.
So today, we’re announcing the first-ever federal taxpayer receipt. Check it out:
Just enter a few pieces of information about your taxes, and the taxpayer receipt will give you a breakdown of how your tax dollars are spent on priorities like education, veteran’s benefits, or health care.
Sincerely,
David Plouffe
Senior Advisor to the President
Have you ever wondered how much of your own tax dollars actually go to support foreign aid? To support education? Well, now you can find out – and you might be surprised.
In his State of the Union Address, President Obama promised that this year, for the first time, American taxpayers would be able to go online and see exactly how their federal tax dollars are spent.
So today, we’re announcing the first-ever federal taxpayer receipt. Check it out:
Just enter a few pieces of information about your taxes, and the taxpayer receipt will give you a breakdown of how your tax dollars are spent on priorities like education, veteran’s benefits, or health care.
Sincerely,
David Plouffe
Senior Advisor to the President
2011/04/20
Have you RSVP'd for President Obama's Facebook town hall?
Tomorrow at 4:45 p.m. EDT (1:45 p.m. PDT) President Obama will hold an online town hall at Facebook's headquarters. RSVP and learn how you can participate in the event by visiting the White House’s Facebook page:
http://facebook.com/WhiteHouse
The theme of tomorrow's event is “Shared Responsibility and Shared Prosperity.” The President will connect with Americans across the country to discuss the tough choices we all must make to put our economy on a more responsible fiscal path, while still investing in the innovation economy that makes America more competitive.
After the event, be sure to stay tuned for our Women and Technology panel with White House Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett and the Startup America panel with Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers Austan Goolsbee.
President Obama recorded a video invitation to encourage you to join, which you can watch on the White House Facebook page:
If you aren't on Facebook and want to participate in the town hall without using that site, we've set up a special page on WhiteHouse.gov with all of the information and a form to submit questions:
http://www.WhiteHouse.gov/facebooktownhall
Tomorrow at 4:45 p.m. EDT (1:45 p.m. PDT) President Obama will hold an online town hall at Facebook's headquarters. RSVP and learn how you can participate in the event by visiting the White House’s Facebook page:
http://facebook.com/WhiteHouse
The theme of tomorrow's event is “Shared Responsibility and Shared Prosperity.” The President will connect with Americans across the country to discuss the tough choices we all must make to put our economy on a more responsible fiscal path, while still investing in the innovation economy that makes America more competitive.
After the event, be sure to stay tuned for our Women and Technology panel with White House Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett and the Startup America panel with Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers Austan Goolsbee.
President Obama recorded a video invitation to encourage you to join, which you can watch on the White House Facebook page:
If you aren't on Facebook and want to participate in the town hall without using that site, we've set up a special page on WhiteHouse.gov with all of the information and a form to submit questions:
http://www.WhiteHouse.gov/facebooktownhall
2011/04/21
Good morning,
Do you remember your high school commencement speaker? Neither do I.
This year, one lucky high school will have an unforgettable commencement speaker – President Obama – and we need your help to determine which school it will be.
As part of the Race to the Top Commencement Challenge, several hundred public high schools around the country submitted an application that described how their school is preparing students for college and a career.
We've narrowed down the schools to six finalists, and now it's your turn to weigh in. Each school produced a short video with help from the Get Schooled Foundation and wrote an essay. You can review and rate each school on a scale of 1-5 (5 being the best) between today and Friday April 29 at 11:59 p.m. EDT:
Your ratings will help us narrow down the pool to three finalists, and President Obama will select the winning school from one of these three.
The Commencement Challenge gives public high schools a chance to demonstrate how their school best prepares them for college and a career, helping America win the future by out-educating our competitors and achieving President Obama's goal of having the highest proportion of college graduates in the world by 2020.
The six finalist schools are an excellent example of the best America’s public schools have to offer. Take a moment to watch their videos, read their essays and rate each school:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/commencement
Sincerely,
Melody Barnes
Director of the Domestic Policy Council
Do you remember your high school commencement speaker? Neither do I.
This year, one lucky high school will have an unforgettable commencement speaker – President Obama – and we need your help to determine which school it will be.
As part of the Race to the Top Commencement Challenge, several hundred public high schools around the country submitted an application that described how their school is preparing students for college and a career.
We've narrowed down the schools to six finalists, and now it's your turn to weigh in. Each school produced a short video with help from the Get Schooled Foundation and wrote an essay. You can review and rate each school on a scale of 1-5 (5 being the best) between today and Friday April 29 at 11:59 p.m. EDT:
Your ratings will help us narrow down the pool to three finalists, and President Obama will select the winning school from one of these three.
The Commencement Challenge gives public high schools a chance to demonstrate how their school best prepares them for college and a career, helping America win the future by out-educating our competitors and achieving President Obama's goal of having the highest proportion of college graduates in the world by 2020.
The six finalist schools are an excellent example of the best America’s public schools have to offer. Take a moment to watch their videos, read their essays and rate each school:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/commencement
Sincerely,
Melody Barnes
Director of the Domestic Policy Council
2011/04/30
Six things you might not know about WhiteHouse.gov
If you haven’t been to WhiteHouse.gov lately, you’re missing a lot. To stay current about what’s going on here at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, be sure to sign up for our Daily Snapshot email. You’ll get the photo of the day, the President and Vice President’s daily schedules, highlights from the White House blog, and exclusive videos like West Wing Week.
Sign up for the Daily Snapshot
In the meantime, check out some of the things you may have missed on WhiteHouse.gov.
Rate the Commencement Challenge Finalists
As part of the Race to the Top Commencement Challenge, public high schools from all over the country submitted an application to have President Obama speak at their 2011 commencement. We’ve narrowed down the schools to six finalists, and now it’s your turn to help decide who will get to have President Obama as their commencement speaker. You can review and rate each school on a scale of 1-5 (5 being the highest) before 11:59 p.m. EDT tonight. Visit WhiteHouse.gov/Commencement to weigh in.
Your 2010 Taxpayer Receipt
In his State of the Union Address, President Obama promised that this year, for the first time ever, American taxpayers would be able to go online and see exactly how their Federal tax dollars are spent. Just enter a few pieces of information about your taxes, and the taxpayer receipt will give you a breakdown of how your tax dollars are spent on priorities like education, veteran’s benefits, or health care.
White House Mobile App
This month we launched the official White House app for the Android operating system. We also released a new upgraded White House iPhone app that has the option to send you an alert when the President is about to speak and gives you the ability to watch it live, right in the palm of your hand. Download the new apps here.
WhiteHouse.gov Photos
West Wing Week is our exclusive look at what’s going on at the White House each week. Check out this week’s episode.
Inside the White House
Thousands of visitors tour the White House each day, but now you don’t have to travel to Washington, D.C. to get a peek inside the White House. Check out our interactive tour with some incredible behind-the-scenes photos and our best "Inside the White House" videos.
Stay Connected
Every week, WhiteHouse.gov has new videos, photos and other features. You can stay updated on what’s happening in the Obama Administration by following the White House on Facebook and Twitter.
If you haven’t been to WhiteHouse.gov lately, you’re missing a lot. To stay current about what’s going on here at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, be sure to sign up for our Daily Snapshot email. You’ll get the photo of the day, the President and Vice President’s daily schedules, highlights from the White House blog, and exclusive videos like West Wing Week.
Sign up for the Daily Snapshot
In the meantime, check out some of the things you may have missed on WhiteHouse.gov.
Rate the Commencement Challenge Finalists
As part of the Race to the Top Commencement Challenge, public high schools from all over the country submitted an application to have President Obama speak at their 2011 commencement. We’ve narrowed down the schools to six finalists, and now it’s your turn to help decide who will get to have President Obama as their commencement speaker. You can review and rate each school on a scale of 1-5 (5 being the highest) before 11:59 p.m. EDT tonight. Visit WhiteHouse.gov/Commencement to weigh in.
Your 2010 Taxpayer Receipt
In his State of the Union Address, President Obama promised that this year, for the first time ever, American taxpayers would be able to go online and see exactly how their Federal tax dollars are spent. Just enter a few pieces of information about your taxes, and the taxpayer receipt will give you a breakdown of how your tax dollars are spent on priorities like education, veteran’s benefits, or health care.
White House Mobile App
This month we launched the official White House app for the Android operating system. We also released a new upgraded White House iPhone app that has the option to send you an alert when the President is about to speak and gives you the ability to watch it live, right in the palm of your hand. Download the new apps here.
WhiteHouse.gov Photos
- Photo of the Day
Each day, new photos of the President, Vice President and First Family are posted in the Photo of the Day gallery. In addition, there are periodic photo galleries of important events and trips. Check out the Photo of the Day and other galleries. - Behind the Scenes Photos
The White House Photo Office just released their latest batch of behind-the-scenes photos, this time following the President from town halls across the country to the Situation Room to a moment alone reading on the patio outside the Oval Office.
West Wing Week is our exclusive look at what’s going on at the White House each week. Check out this week’s episode.
Inside the White House
Thousands of visitors tour the White House each day, but now you don’t have to travel to Washington, D.C. to get a peek inside the White House. Check out our interactive tour with some incredible behind-the-scenes photos and our best "Inside the White House" videos.
Stay Connected
Every week, WhiteHouse.gov has new videos, photos and other features. You can stay updated on what’s happening in the Obama Administration by following the White House on Facebook and Twitter.
2011/04/30
Good morning,
This week, as gas prices hit four dollars a gallon, oil companies like ExxonMobil announced skyrocketing profits -- while still receiving billions of dollars in taxpayer subsidies.
There's something wrong with this picture, and in this video President Obama outlines the steps we're taking to make it right:
A few weeks ago, I emailed you about rising gas prices, and I want to give you a quick update on three important steps:
Sincerely,
David Plouffe
Senior Advisor to the President
This week, as gas prices hit four dollars a gallon, oil companies like ExxonMobil announced skyrocketing profits -- while still receiving billions of dollars in taxpayer subsidies.
There's something wrong with this picture, and in this video President Obama outlines the steps we're taking to make it right:
A few weeks ago, I emailed you about rising gas prices, and I want to give you a quick update on three important steps:
- Ending oil and gas subsidies. Oil companies are receiving $4 billion a year in taxpayer subsidies that don't make sense and that we can't afford. That's why President Obama has called on Democrats and Republicans in Congress to stop subsidizing the oil and gas industry so that we can afford to invest in the clean energy economy of tomorrow.
- Stopping oil market fraud. Last week, Attorney General Eric Holder announced a working group focused on rooting out the cases of fraud in the oil markets that might affect gas prices (the President discussed this in his Weekly Address last Saturday).
- Reducing our dependence on oil. Stepping back to look at the bigger picture, President Obama recently unveiled his Blueprint for a Secure Energy Future that set a goal of reducing our imports of foreign oil by a third in a little over a decade. To do this we have to increase our domestic energy production, reduce our demand for oil by building cleaner, more efficient vehicles, and fully utilize alternatives to oil in the transportation sector like natural gas and advanced biofuels.
Sincerely,
David Plouffe
Senior Advisor to the President
2011/05/03
Good afternoon,
Last night, President Obama announced that the United States has killed Osama bin Laden, leader of al Qaeda and a terrorist responsible for the murders of thousands of innocent people. He made clear that even though Osama bin Laden has been brought to justice, Americans should remember the spirit of unity in the days after 9/11 as we continue to secure our nation and work for a safe and prosperous future.
If you haven’t yet seen President Obama’s remarks, you can watch them here and read the full transcript below:
Full Transcript of the President’s Remarks on Osama bin Laden
Good evening. Tonight, I can report to the American people and to the world that the United States has conducted an operation that killed Osama bin Laden, the leader of al Qaeda, and a terrorist who’s responsible for the murder of thousands of innocent men, women, and children.
It was nearly 10 years ago that a bright September day was darkened by the worst attack on the American people in our history. The images of 9/11 are seared into our national memory -- hijacked planes cutting through a cloudless September sky; the Twin Towers collapsing to the ground; black smoke billowing up from the Pentagon; the wreckage of Flight 93 in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, where the actions of heroic citizens saved even more heartbreak and destruction.
And yet we know that the worst images are those that were unseen to the world. The empty seat at the dinner table. Children who were forced to grow up without their mother or their father. Parents who would never know the feeling of their child’s embrace. Nearly 3,000 citizens taken from us, leaving a gaping hole in our hearts.
On September 11, 2001, in our time of grief, the American people came together. We offered our neighbors a hand, and we offered the wounded our blood. We reaffirmed our ties to each other, and our love of community and country. On that day, no matter where we came from, what God we prayed to, or what race or ethnicity we were, we were united as one American family.
We were also united in our resolve to protect our nation and to bring those who committed this vicious attack to justice. We quickly learned that the 9/11 attacks were carried out by al Qaeda -- an organization headed by Osama bin Laden, which had openly declared war on the United States and was committed to killing innocents in our country and around the globe. And so we went to war against al Qaeda to protect our citizens, our friends, and our allies.
Over the last 10 years, thanks to the tireless and heroic work of our military and our counterterrorism professionals, we’ve made great strides in that effort. We’ve disrupted terrorist attacks and strengthened our homeland defense. In Afghanistan, we removed the Taliban government, which had given bin Laden and al Qaeda safe haven and support. And around the globe, we worked with our friends and allies to capture or kill scores of al Qaeda terrorists, including several who were a part of the 9/11 plot.
Yet Osama bin Laden avoided capture and escaped across the Afghan border into Pakistan. Meanwhile, al Qaeda continued to operate from along that border and operate through its affiliates across the world.
And so shortly after taking office, I directed Leon Panetta, the director of the CIA, to make the killing or capture of bin Laden the top priority of our war against al Qaeda, even as we continued our broader efforts to disrupt, dismantle, and defeat his network.
Then, last August, after years of painstaking work by our intelligence community, I was briefed on a possible lead to bin Laden. It was far from certain, and it took many months to run this thread to ground. I met repeatedly with my national security team as we developed more information about the possibility that we had located bin Laden hiding within a compound deep inside of Pakistan. And finally, last week, I determined that we had enough intelligence to take action, and authorized an operation to get Osama bin Laden and bring him to justice.
Today, at my direction, the United States launched a targeted operation against that compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. A small team of Americans carried out the operation with extraordinary courage and capability. No Americans were harmed. They took care to avoid civilian casualties. After a firefight, they killed Osama bin Laden and took custody of his body.
For over two decades, bin Laden has been al Qaeda’s leader and symbol, and has continued to plot attacks against our country and our friends and allies. The death of bin Laden marks the most significant achievement to date in our nation’s effort to defeat al Qaeda.
Yet his death does not mark the end of our effort. There’s no doubt that al Qaeda will continue to pursue attacks against us. We must –- and we will -- remain vigilant at home and abroad.
As we do, we must also reaffirm that the United States is not –- and never will be -– at war with Islam. I’ve made clear, just as President Bush did shortly after 9/11, that our war is not against Islam. Bin Laden was not a Muslim leader; he was a mass murderer of Muslims. Indeed, al Qaeda has slaughtered scores of Muslims in many countries, including our own. So his demise should be welcomed by all who believe in peace and human dignity.
Over the years, I’ve repeatedly made clear that we would take action within Pakistan if we knew where bin Laden was. That is what we’ve done. But it’s important to note that our counterterrorism cooperation with Pakistan helped lead us to bin Laden and the compound where he was hiding. Indeed, bin Laden had declared war against Pakistan as well, and ordered attacks against the Pakistani people.
Tonight, I called President Zardari, and my team has also spoken with their Pakistani counterparts. They agree that this is a good and historic day for both of our nations. And going forward, it is essential that Pakistan continue to join us in the fight against al Qaeda and its affiliates.
The American people did not choose this fight. It came to our shores, and started with the senseless slaughter of our citizens. After nearly 10 years of service, struggle, and sacrifice, we know well the costs of war. These efforts weigh on me every time I, as Commander-in-Chief, have to sign a letter to a family that has lost a loved one, or look into the eyes of a service member who’s been gravely wounded.
So Americans understand the costs of war. Yet as a country, we will never tolerate our security being threatened, nor stand idly by when our people have been killed. We will be relentless in defense of our citizens and our friends and allies. We will be true to the values that make us who we are. And on nights like this one, we can say to those families who have lost loved ones to al Qaeda’s terror: Justice has been done.
Tonight, we give thanks to the countless intelligence and counterterrorism professionals who’ve worked tirelessly to achieve this outcome. The American people do not see their work, nor know their names. But tonight, they feel the satisfaction of their work and the result of their pursuit of justice.
We give thanks for the men who carried out this operation, for they exemplify the professionalism, patriotism, and unparalleled courage of those who serve our country. And they are part of a generation that has borne the heaviest share of the burden since that September day.
Finally, let me say to the families who lost loved ones on 9/11 that we have never forgotten your loss, nor wavered in our commitment to see that we do whatever it takes to prevent another attack on our shores.
And tonight, let us think back to the sense of unity that prevailed on 9/11. I know that it has, at times, frayed. Yet today’s achievement is a testament to the greatness of our country and the determination of the American people.
The cause of securing our country is not complete. But tonight, we are once again reminded that America can do whatever we set our mind to. That is the story of our history, whether it’s the pursuit of prosperity for our people, or the struggle for equality for all our citizens; our commitment to stand up for our values abroad, and our sacrifices to make the world a safer place.
Let us remember that we can do these things not just because of wealth or power, but because of who we are: one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
Thank you. May God bless you. And may God bless the United States of America.
Last night, President Obama announced that the United States has killed Osama bin Laden, leader of al Qaeda and a terrorist responsible for the murders of thousands of innocent people. He made clear that even though Osama bin Laden has been brought to justice, Americans should remember the spirit of unity in the days after 9/11 as we continue to secure our nation and work for a safe and prosperous future.
If you haven’t yet seen President Obama’s remarks, you can watch them here and read the full transcript below:
Full Transcript of the President’s Remarks on Osama bin Laden
Good evening. Tonight, I can report to the American people and to the world that the United States has conducted an operation that killed Osama bin Laden, the leader of al Qaeda, and a terrorist who’s responsible for the murder of thousands of innocent men, women, and children.
It was nearly 10 years ago that a bright September day was darkened by the worst attack on the American people in our history. The images of 9/11 are seared into our national memory -- hijacked planes cutting through a cloudless September sky; the Twin Towers collapsing to the ground; black smoke billowing up from the Pentagon; the wreckage of Flight 93 in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, where the actions of heroic citizens saved even more heartbreak and destruction.
And yet we know that the worst images are those that were unseen to the world. The empty seat at the dinner table. Children who were forced to grow up without their mother or their father. Parents who would never know the feeling of their child’s embrace. Nearly 3,000 citizens taken from us, leaving a gaping hole in our hearts.
On September 11, 2001, in our time of grief, the American people came together. We offered our neighbors a hand, and we offered the wounded our blood. We reaffirmed our ties to each other, and our love of community and country. On that day, no matter where we came from, what God we prayed to, or what race or ethnicity we were, we were united as one American family.
We were also united in our resolve to protect our nation and to bring those who committed this vicious attack to justice. We quickly learned that the 9/11 attacks were carried out by al Qaeda -- an organization headed by Osama bin Laden, which had openly declared war on the United States and was committed to killing innocents in our country and around the globe. And so we went to war against al Qaeda to protect our citizens, our friends, and our allies.
Over the last 10 years, thanks to the tireless and heroic work of our military and our counterterrorism professionals, we’ve made great strides in that effort. We’ve disrupted terrorist attacks and strengthened our homeland defense. In Afghanistan, we removed the Taliban government, which had given bin Laden and al Qaeda safe haven and support. And around the globe, we worked with our friends and allies to capture or kill scores of al Qaeda terrorists, including several who were a part of the 9/11 plot.
Yet Osama bin Laden avoided capture and escaped across the Afghan border into Pakistan. Meanwhile, al Qaeda continued to operate from along that border and operate through its affiliates across the world.
And so shortly after taking office, I directed Leon Panetta, the director of the CIA, to make the killing or capture of bin Laden the top priority of our war against al Qaeda, even as we continued our broader efforts to disrupt, dismantle, and defeat his network.
Then, last August, after years of painstaking work by our intelligence community, I was briefed on a possible lead to bin Laden. It was far from certain, and it took many months to run this thread to ground. I met repeatedly with my national security team as we developed more information about the possibility that we had located bin Laden hiding within a compound deep inside of Pakistan. And finally, last week, I determined that we had enough intelligence to take action, and authorized an operation to get Osama bin Laden and bring him to justice.
Today, at my direction, the United States launched a targeted operation against that compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. A small team of Americans carried out the operation with extraordinary courage and capability. No Americans were harmed. They took care to avoid civilian casualties. After a firefight, they killed Osama bin Laden and took custody of his body.
For over two decades, bin Laden has been al Qaeda’s leader and symbol, and has continued to plot attacks against our country and our friends and allies. The death of bin Laden marks the most significant achievement to date in our nation’s effort to defeat al Qaeda.
Yet his death does not mark the end of our effort. There’s no doubt that al Qaeda will continue to pursue attacks against us. We must –- and we will -- remain vigilant at home and abroad.
As we do, we must also reaffirm that the United States is not –- and never will be -– at war with Islam. I’ve made clear, just as President Bush did shortly after 9/11, that our war is not against Islam. Bin Laden was not a Muslim leader; he was a mass murderer of Muslims. Indeed, al Qaeda has slaughtered scores of Muslims in many countries, including our own. So his demise should be welcomed by all who believe in peace and human dignity.
Over the years, I’ve repeatedly made clear that we would take action within Pakistan if we knew where bin Laden was. That is what we’ve done. But it’s important to note that our counterterrorism cooperation with Pakistan helped lead us to bin Laden and the compound where he was hiding. Indeed, bin Laden had declared war against Pakistan as well, and ordered attacks against the Pakistani people.
Tonight, I called President Zardari, and my team has also spoken with their Pakistani counterparts. They agree that this is a good and historic day for both of our nations. And going forward, it is essential that Pakistan continue to join us in the fight against al Qaeda and its affiliates.
The American people did not choose this fight. It came to our shores, and started with the senseless slaughter of our citizens. After nearly 10 years of service, struggle, and sacrifice, we know well the costs of war. These efforts weigh on me every time I, as Commander-in-Chief, have to sign a letter to a family that has lost a loved one, or look into the eyes of a service member who’s been gravely wounded.
So Americans understand the costs of war. Yet as a country, we will never tolerate our security being threatened, nor stand idly by when our people have been killed. We will be relentless in defense of our citizens and our friends and allies. We will be true to the values that make us who we are. And on nights like this one, we can say to those families who have lost loved ones to al Qaeda’s terror: Justice has been done.
Tonight, we give thanks to the countless intelligence and counterterrorism professionals who’ve worked tirelessly to achieve this outcome. The American people do not see their work, nor know their names. But tonight, they feel the satisfaction of their work and the result of their pursuit of justice.
We give thanks for the men who carried out this operation, for they exemplify the professionalism, patriotism, and unparalleled courage of those who serve our country. And they are part of a generation that has borne the heaviest share of the burden since that September day.
Finally, let me say to the families who lost loved ones on 9/11 that we have never forgotten your loss, nor wavered in our commitment to see that we do whatever it takes to prevent another attack on our shores.
And tonight, let us think back to the sense of unity that prevailed on 9/11. I know that it has, at times, frayed. Yet today’s achievement is a testament to the greatness of our country and the determination of the American people.
The cause of securing our country is not complete. But tonight, we are once again reminded that America can do whatever we set our mind to. That is the story of our history, whether it’s the pursuit of prosperity for our people, or the struggle for equality for all our citizens; our commitment to stand up for our values abroad, and our sacrifices to make the world a safer place.
Let us remember that we can do these things not just because of wealth or power, but because of who we are: one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
Thank you. May God bless you. And may God bless the United States of America.