What Government Did Today » health

President Obama’s Plan to Put Veterans Back to Work

White House — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 10:01:00 +0000

Release Time: For Immediate Release In his State of the Union address, President Obama called for a new Veterans Job Corps initiative to help our returning veterans find pathways to civilian employment. The Administration’s new veteran employment initiatives, coupled with the work that President Obama has already accomplished in creating employment opportunities for veterans, will help put tens of thousands of veterans back to work. The President’s Commitment to Veteran Employment Today the President will announce new details of his Veterans Jobs Corps initiative which will help put veterans back to work on a range of projects that leverage skills developed in the military: • New incentives to hire veterans as first responders: The President will announce $166 million in 2012 Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Hiring Grant funding and $320 million in 2012 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grants

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President Obama’s Plan to Put Veterans Back to Work

President Obama’s Plan to Put Veterans Back to Work

White House — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 10:01:00 +0000

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President Obama’s Plan to Put Veterans Back to Work

Presidential Proclamation — American Heart Month, 2012

White House — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 03:22:49 +0000

Release Time: For Immediate Release AMERICAN HEART MONTH, 2012 – - – - – - – BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA A PROCLAMATION Every year, heart disease takes the lives of over half a million Americans, and it remains the leading cause of death in the United States. This devastating epidemic leaves no one untouched; its victims are fathers and daughters, grandparents and siblings, cherished friends and community members across our country. This month, we remember the steps each of us can take to reduce the risk of heart disease and recommit to better heart health for all Americans. While genetic or hereditary factors play a part in many instances of cardiovascular disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, physical inactivity, obesity, tobacco use, and alcohol abuse are major risk factors that can be prevented or controlled. To take action against heart disease, I encourage all Americans to make balanced and nutritious meal choices, maintain a healthy weight, and get active. Avoiding tobacco, moderating alcohol consumption, and working with a health care provider can also help prevent or treat conditions that can lead to heart disease. Additional resources on how to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease are available at: www.CDC.gov/HeartDisease . To help win the fight against heart disease, my Administration is working to ensure individuals and communities have the tools they need to make real gains in this critical effort. Last September, we launched the Million Hearts initiative, which is coordinating programs across Federal agencies and forging new public-private partnerships to prevent one million heart attacks and strokes over the next 5 years. Resources on how to join the initiative are available at: MillionHearts.HHS.gov. To secure our children's heart health and end childhood obesity within a generation, First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move! initiative is encouraging healthy eating habits and promoting physical activity among families and young people. The National Institutes of Health is pursuing cutting-edge research to unlock new treatments for cardiovascular disease. And the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is working in communities across our country to help reduce risk factors and prevent heart disease.

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Presidential Proclamation — American Heart Month, 2012

Presidential Proclamation — National African American History Month, 2012

White House — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 03:22:13 +0000

Release Time: For Immediate Release NATIONAL AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH, 2012 – - – - – - – BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA A PROCLAMATION The story of African Americans is a story of resilience and perseverance. It traces a people who refused to accept the circumstances under which they arrived on these shores, and it chronicles the generations who fought for an America that truly reflects the ideals enshrined in our founding documents. It is the narrative of slaves who shepherded others along the path to freedom and preachers who organized against the rules of Jim Crow, of young people who sat-in at lunch counters and ordinary men and women who took extraordinary risks to change our Nation for the better. During National African American History Month, we celebrate the rich legacy of African Americans and honor the remarkable contributions they have made to perfecting our Union. This year's theme, "Black Women in American Culture and History," invites us to pay special tribute to the role African American women have played in shaping the character of our Nation — often in the face of both racial and gender discrimination. As courageous visionaries who led the fight to end slavery and tenacious activists who fought to expand basic civil rights to all Americans, African American women have long served as champions of social and political change. And from the literary giants who gave voice to their communities to the artists whose harmonies and brush strokes captured hardships and aspirations, African American women have forever enriched our cultural heritage

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Presidential Proclamation — National African American History Month, 2012

Presidential Proclamation — National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month, 2012

White House — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 03:22:00 +0000

Release Time: For Immediate Release NATIONAL TEEN DATING VIOLENCE AWARENESS AND PREVENTION MONTH, 2012 – - – - – - – BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA A PROCLAMATION In America, an alarming number of young people experience physical, sexual, or emotional abuse as part of a controlling or violent dating relationship. The consequences of dating violence — spanning impaired development to physical harm — pose a threat to the health and well-being of teens across our Nation, and it is essential we come together to break the cycle of violence that burdens too many of our sons and daughters. This month, we recommit to providing critical support and services for victims of dating violence and empowering teens with the tools to cultivate healthy, respectful relationships. Though we have made substantial progress in the fight to reduce violence against women, dating violence remains a reality for millions of young people. In a 12 month period, one in 10 high school students nationwide reported they were physically hurt on purpose by their boyfriend or girlfriend, and still more experienced verbal or emotional abuse like shaming, bullying, or threats. Depression, substance abuse, and health complications are among the long-term impacts that may follow in the wake of an abusive relationship. Tragically, dating violence can also lead to other forms of violence, including sexual assault. These outcomes are unacceptable, and we must do more to prevent dating violence and ensure the health and safety of our Nation's youth.

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Presidential Proclamation — National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month, 2012

Remarks by the President on American-Made Energy

White House — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 00:37:00 +0000

Release Time: For Immediate Release UPS Las Vegas South Las Vegas, Nevada 10:11 A.M. PST THE PRESIDENT: Hello, Nevada! (Applause.) It is great to be back in Las Vegas. (Applause.) AUDIENCE MEMBER: I love you! THE PRESIDENT: I love you back. (Laughter.) Although I always say, when we stay here for the night, I’ve got to watch my staff to make sure that they get on the plane when we leave. (Laughter.) Sometimes they conveniently miss the flight. (Laughter.) But everybody please have a seat, have a seat. It is great to see you. Joe, thanks for the introduction. Scott, thank you and the folks at UPS for hosting us today. I want to thank all of the elected officials and the tribal leaders who took the time to join us. Before I get into the core of my remarks, I just want to mention something that I said to Scott and I said to Joe, and that is that UPS I think deserves just extraordinary credit for being the best in its space, one of the best businesses we have in the United States. But the reason is because it’s got such outstanding workers — (applause) — and the relationship between its workforce and management, cooperating, constantly figuring out how to make things better is just an outstanding organization. And so you guys all need to be congratulated for everything that you do. (Applause.) Now, I’m here to talk a little more about what I talked about at the State of the Union on Tuesday night. And what I want to focus on is how we’re going to restore the basic promise of America, something that folks at UPS understand, which is, if you work hard, if you do the right thing, you should be able to do well enough to raise a family and own a home and send your kids to college and put a little away for retirement. That’s the American Dream. That’s what most people are looking for

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Remarks by the President on American-Made Energy

Statement by the President on Successful Hostage Rescue

White House — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 15:30:00 +0000

Release Time: For Immediate Release On Monday, I authorized an operation to rescue Jessica Buchanan, an American citizen who was kidnapped and held against her will for three months in Somalia. Thanks to the extraordinary courage and capabilities of our Special Operations Forces, yesterday Jessica Buchanan was rescued and she is on her way home. As Commander-in-Chief, I could not be prouder of the troops who carried out this mission, and the dedicated professionals who supported their efforts

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Statement by the President on Successful Hostage Rescue

Statement by the President on the Keystone XL Pipeline

White House — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 01:13:00 +0000

Release Time: For Immediate Release Earlier today, I received the Secretary of State’s recommendation on the pending application for the construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline. As the State Department made clear last month, the rushed and arbitrary deadline insisted on by Congressional Republicans prevented a full assessment of the pipeline’s impact, especially the health and safety of the American people, as well as our environment. As a result, the Secretary of State has recommended that the application be denied. And after reviewing the State Department’s report, I agree. This announcement is not a judgment on the merits of the pipeline, but the arbitrary nature of a deadline that prevented the State Department from gathering the information necessary to approve the project and protect the American people. I’m disappointed that Republicans in Congress forced this decision, but it does not change my Administration’s commitment to American-made energy that creates jobs and reduces our dependence on oil. Under my Administration, domestic oil and natural gas production is up, while imports of foreign oil are down. In the months ahead, we will continue to look for new ways to partner with the oil and gas industry to increase our energy security –including the potential development of an oil pipeline from Cushing, Oklahoma to the Gulf of Mexico – even as we set higher efficiency standards for cars and trucks and invest in alternatives like biofuels and natural gas. And we will do so in a way that benefits American workers and businesses without risking the health and safety of the American people and the environment.

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Statement by the President on the Keystone XL Pipeline

New Report: States Moving Forward to Implement Health Reform’s Affordable Insurance Exchanges

White House — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 19:02:00 +0000

Release Time: For Immediate Release Twenty-eight States are on their way toward establishing a key component of health care reform—Affordable Insurance Exchanges—according to a report issued today by the White House. “States are taking strong steps to implement health reform,” said White House Deputy Chief of Staff Nancy-Ann DeParle

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New Report: States Moving Forward to Implement Health Reform’s Affordable Insurance Exchanges

Remarks by the First Lady at Joining Forces Medical College Event

White House — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 05:44:00 +0000

Release Time: For Immediate Release Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond, Virginia 3:00 P.M. EST MRS. OBAMA: Thank you. (Applause.) Thank you all so much. Thank you so much. You all, please be seated. Good afternoon. And again, thank you. I want to thank John for that very kind introduction. And a very special thanks to Specialist Cedric Holland. That was I know a very difficult thing to share, but that’s what this is all about. And we thank Specialist Holland for your service to this nation and for showing strength by standing up today and sharing that story. It is truly admirable.