Since 2012, We the People has grown from 2.8 million users to more than 10.2 million -- a 360% growth rate. And those users have signed petitions a total of more than 15 million times (up from just 3.4 million last year).

We've already issued official responses to more than 200 petitions -- and we've got more on the way. Even those of us who thought this program would be successful weren't expecting this.

Ultimately, We the People has become an incredible way to hear from people about the issues that they care about -- something we've seen again and again in the last year.

After the tragedy in Newtown, more than 300,000 people wrote in to tell us what they thought about gun violence, and President Obama issued his first video response to a petition. Throughout the year, we've gone back to those signers with updates -- sharing information about executive actions and the legislative process.

More than 114,000 signed a petition asking us to support unlocking cellphones, giving consumers the right to take their phones to different cellular providers -- and we agreed. We kicked off a policy process to evaluate the rule and issued our response, and as legislation works its way through Congress we've taken other action as well: Last week the National Telecommunications and Information Administration asked the FCC to issue new regulations.

We even made some news when we explained why we disagreed with some of our petition signers on other issues. And in one of our most popular responses ever, we explained that we weren't going to build a Death Star, but shared some amazing work in space technology from NASA and DARPA.

For a look at how the policy process for a petition response works, make sure you check out this video.

What's next?

Since the day we launched, we've worked to make We the People more open and useful. In June, we launched a Read API that makes our public data available to developers who want to build new tools and draw lessons from the platform. We've hosted a number of hackathons to help us improve the API as well as engage with the tech community.

Now we're hard at work on a Write API to give individuals the ability to host White House petitions on their own applications and websites.

Stay tuned. 

President Barack Obama delivers remarks during his address to the United Nations General Assembly in New York, N.Y., Sept. 23, 2013. (Official White House Photo by Amanda Lucidon)

Speaking to the United Nations General Assembly this morning, President Obama expressed optimism at the prospects for diplomacy in solving a range of long-simmering conflicts across the globe.

"For decades, the United Nations has in fact made a difference -- from helping to eradicate disease, to educating children, to brokering peace," he said. "But like every generation of leaders, we face new and profound challenges, and this body continues to be tested. The question is whether we possess the wisdom and the courage, as nation-states and members of an international community, to squarely meet those challenges; whether the United Nations can meet the tests of our time."

Specifically, he focused his remarks on three themes -- the civil war in Syria and the use of chemical weapons by the Assad regime, the potential for diplomatic engagement with Iran, and a revival of peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians.

Discussing Syria, the President said that we've seen progress in recent days.

"The Syrian government took a first step by giving an accounting of its stockpiles," he said. "Now there must be a strong Security Council resolution to verify that the Assad regime is keeping its commitments, and there must be consequences if they fail to do so."

The President also told the General Assembly that he has hopes for a diplomatic solution to Iran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons -- despite decades of mistrust.

"I don’t believe this difficult history can be overcome overnight -- the suspicions run too deep," he said. "But I do believe that if we can resolve the issue of Iran’s nuclear program, that can serve as a major step down a long road towards a different relationship, one based on mutual interests and mutual respect."

Finally, the President urged the entire international community to rally behind the pursuit of peace between Palestinians and Israelis.

"Friends of Israel, including the United States, must recognize that Israel’s security as a Jewish and democratic state depends upon the realization of a Palestinian state, and we should say so clearly," he said. "Arab states, and those who supported the Palestinians, must recognize that stability will only be served through a two-state solution and a secure Israel. All of us must recognize that peace will be a powerful tool to defeat extremists throughout the region, and embolden those who are prepared to build a better future."

Watch the video here: 

Transcript | Download mp4 | Download mp3

Transcript | Download mp4 | Download mp3

President Barack Obama holds a Cabinet meeting in the Cabinet Room of the White House, Sept. 12, 2013. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

This morning, President Obama convened a meeting of his Cabinet -- the third of 2013. 

"Even as we have been spending a lot of time on the Syria issue and making sure that international attention is focused on the horrible tragedy that occurred there," he said, "it is still important to recognize that we’ve got a lot more stuff to do here in this government." 

In talking through the agenda, the President described focusing on the steps necessary to improve education, put people back to work, and tackle some of the budget debates looming in the near future. 

Check out his full remarks.

Just after 9:00 PM ET, President Obama delivered a national address from the East Room of the White House to discuss the situation in Syria. He explained why he has called for military strikes in response to the Assad regime's use of chemical weapons, laid out his reasons for asking Congress to authorize the use of force, and described how the threat of U.S. action has created the potential for a diplomatic breakthrough.

"Terrible things happen across the globe, and it is beyond our means to right every wrong," the President said. "But when, with modest effort and risk, we can stop children from being gassed to death, and thereby make our own children safer over the long run, I believe we should act."

Read the full remarks here | Watch the full video here

President Barack Obama delivers an address to the nation regarding Syria, in the East Room of the White House, Sept. 10, 2013. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)

For more information:

• Explore WhiteHouse.gov/Syria to learn more about President Obama's response to the Assad regime's use of chemical weapons in Syria and get the latest news from the White House about the situation.

In a video, President Obama thanked the delegates for their work on behalf of the working men and women of America and voiced his shared commitment to their fight.

Watch: President Obama's Remarks to the AFL-CIO from The White House on Vimeo.

Transcript | Download mp4 | Download mp3

Ed. note: For more information, check out Ethics.gov.

President Barack Obama tapes the Weekly Address in the State Dining Room of the White House Aug. 9, 2013. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)

President Obama says we are on the way to fully implementing the Affordable Care Act and helping millions of Americans.  

Transcript | Download mp4 | Download mp3

"The United States strongly condemns the steps that have been taken by Egypt’s interim government and security forces," he said. "We deplore violence against civilians. We support universal rights essential to human dignity, including the right to peaceful protest. We oppose the pursuit of martial law, which denies those rights to citizens under the principle that security trumps individual freedom, or that might makes right. And today the United States extends its condolences to the families of those who were killed and those who were wounded."

The President announced that he is canceling the biannual joint military training exercise that U.S. forces hold with Egyptian counterparts and weighing the implications of the Egyptian interim government's actions as the United States considers further steps that we may take. 

"The Egyptian people deserve better than what we’ve seen," he said. 

Watch video of President Obama's statement here: 

Listen to the audio of the President's statement here:

As President Obama said in his State of the Union address, "If we’re truly committed to strengthening our middle class and providing more ladders of opportunity to those who are willing to work hard to make it into the middle class, we’ve got to fix the system. We have to bring this shadow economy into the light so that everybody is held accountable — businesses for who they hire, and immigrants for getting on the right side of the law. That’s common sense. And that’s why we need comprehensive immigration reform."

In June, the Senate passed historic legislation that is largely consistent with the President’s principles for commonsense immigration reform with a strong bipartisan vote. This bill would strengthen border security while providing an earned path to citizenship for undocumented farmworkers who are vital to our nation’s agriculture industry, and a new temporary worker program negotiated by major grower associations and farmworker groups. If enacted, the Senate bill would result in undocumented workers paying a fine, their full share of taxes and is estimated to allow an estimated 1.5 million agricultural workers and their dependents to earn legal status.

To learn more about how the Senate-passed bill and bipartisan commonsense immigration reform would benefit the agriculture sector and rural communities, check out this fact sheet or read the full report released today by the White House.

Transcript | Download mp4 | Download mp3

Learn more: 

• President Obama Lays Out a Better Bargain for the Middle Class
• Speak Out in Favor of a Better Bargain for the Middle Class

Ed. note: For more information, check out Ethics.gov.

Transcript | Download mp4 | Download mp3

Learn more: 

• White House White Board: Why Immigration Reform is Good for the Economy

Ed. note: For more information, check out Ethics.gov.

Update: Learn more about the President Obama's climate change action plan.

On Tuesday afternoon, President Obama will speak at Georgetown University and lay out his vision for the steps we need to take to prepare our country for the impacts of climate change and lead the global effort to fight it. In the video below, he describes why this is the time to take action. Watch it, then share the video with your friends.

SHARE ON FACEBOOK | SHARE ON TWITTER

President Barack Obama tapes the Weekly Address and videos in the Blue Room of the White House, June 21, 2013. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)

President Obama discusses the bipartisan legislation in the United States Senate that would take important steps towards fixing our broken immigration system, while growing our economy and reducing the deficit.

Transcript | Download mp4 | Download mp3

How's that work? Immigration reform means that undocumented immigrants can come out of the shadows and start paying more in taxes for things like education and Social Security. It means that everyone plays by the same set of rules -- which makes the economy fairer for middle class families.

We've put together a graphic that explains exactly how this works, and we need your help to share it.

Take a look, then share this graphic with folks you know:

"My job is both to protect the American people and to protect the American way of life, which includes our privacy," he said. "So every program that we engage in, what I've said is let's examine and make sure that we're making the right tradeoffs."

Watch that part of the exchange:

Watch the full interview here

President Barack Obama participates in an interview with Charlie Rose in the White House Library, Sunday, June 16, 2013. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

Before leaving for this week's G-8 summit in the United Kingdom, President Obama sat down with Charlie Rose in the White House Library for a 45-minute interview on topics ranging from Syria to the National Security Agency.

That discussion will air tonight at 11:00 PM on PBS stations across the country. For more specifics, check your local listings.

Update: Watch a segment of that interview here. 

Transcript | Download mp4 | Download mp3

Hi, all --

A couple weeks ago, I was in a meeting with a group of community leaders and President Obama here at the White House. Before the discussion kicked off, one of the women in attendance handed me a letter. It was written by her dad, a 90 year old college professor from Cleveland.

He was born in China in 1923, and he came to the United States with $24 in his pocket. Two years later, he'd earned a master's in electrical engineering. Five years after that, he had completed his PhD. In 55 years of teaching, he's trained 180 graduate students.

"I fulfilled my dream," he wrote in that letter. "I light up a spot on the great nation of opportunity."

His letter reminded me of my dad, who came here from Bolivia to study engineering, and lived his American dream in Michigan, where I was born. So many Americans have stories like these, and they're all powerful. Each personal history is an important asset in the fight to reform the immigration system. To win the debate, we need more than statistics in a fact sheet or the rhetoric in a press release. Every time we put a face on the push for reform, we take an abstract concept and makes it real.

Which means your stories are crucial in this effort. Join the conversation now:

http://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/issues/immigration/stories

Thanks so much!

Cecilia

Cecilia Muñoz
Director, Domestic Policy Council
The White House

President Barack Obama delivers remarks commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Equal Pay Act, in the East Room of the White House, June 10, 2013. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)

It's been 50 years since President Kennedy signed the Equal Pay Act, but its goals today stand unrealized. In 2013, full-time working women still make less than men on average.

This morning, President Obama spoke at an event to mark the anniversary.

"The day that the bill was signed into law, women earned 59 cents for every dollar a man earned on average, he said. "Today, it’s about 77 cents. So it was 59 and now it’s 77 cents. It’s even less, by the way, if you’re an African American or a Latina. So I guess that’s progress, but does anybody here think that’s good enough?"

The President has made tackling this issue a priority since his first day in the White House. The first bill that President Obama ever signed was the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. His administration was the first to create a White House Council on Women and Girls. He launched a National Equal Pay Task Force to help crack down on violations of equal pay laws, and earlier this year, he signed a presidential memorandum directing the federal government to close the gender gap for its employees.

But there's more work to do -- like passing the Paycheck Fairness Act, training more women for careers in science, technology, and math, and making sure that businesses offer parents the flexibility they need to excel in their jobs and care for their children.

"This will be part of our broader agenda to create good jobs and to strengthen middle-class security, to keep rebuilding an economy that works for everybody, that gives every American the chance to get ahead, no matter who you are or what you look like, or what your last name is and who you love," the President said.

For more perspective on the anniversary of the Equal Pay Act, check out the video below:

Learn More: 

• Your Right to Equal Pay

Watch the full video.

Nationally, an estimated 45 million Americans suffer from illnesses like depression, schizophrenia or post-traumatic stress syndrome. 

And today, the White House hosted a day-long conference with health care experts, psychologists, faith leaders, advocates for veterans, and a host of administration officials to kick off a national conversation about mental health in the United States. 

"We all know somebody -- a family member, a friend, a neighbor -- who has struggled or will struggle with mental health issues at some point in their lives," President Obama said as he opened the gathering.

The conference focused on ways we can all work together to reduce stigma and help the millions of Americans struggling with mental health problems recognize the importance of reaching out for assistance, as President Obama explained: 

We know that recovery is possible, we know help is available, and yet, as a society, we often think about mental health differently than other forms of health. You see commercials on TV about a whole array of physical health issues, some of them very personal. And yet, we whisper about mental health issues and avoid asking too many questions. 

The brain is a body part too; we just know less about it.  And there should be no shame in discussing or seeking help for treatable illnesses that affect too many people that we love.  We've got to get rid of that embarrassment; we've got to get rid of that stigma. 

Too many Americans who struggle with mental health illnesses are still suffering in silence rather than seeking help, and we need to see it that men and women who would never hesitate to go see a doctor if they had a broken arm or came down with the flu, that they have that same attitude when it comes to their mental health. 

Today’s conference is just one part of the Obama administration’s effort to raise awareness and improve care for Americans experiencing mental health issues. The Affordable Care Act is expanding mental health coverage for millions of Americans, we're working to improve access to mental health services for veterans, and we're supporting initiatives to help educators recognize and refer students who show signs of mental illness.

In addition, today the administration launched a new website -- mentalhealth.gov -- aimed at providing resources for those suffering from mental illness and sharing success stories from those who've received treatment. 

But this isn't something the government can do alone -- and knowing that, President Obama applauded a number of commitments from private sector and nonprofit organizations that will help raise awareness, teach students and educators about mental health, give health care providers tools they need, combat stigma, and encourage conversation. Read more about those commitments here.

"For many people who suffer from a mental illness, recovery can be challenging," President Obama said. "But what helps more than anything, what gives so many of our friends and loved ones strength, is the knowledge that you are not alone. You’re not alone. You’re surrounded by people who care about you and who will support you on the journey to get well. We're here for you." 

Ed. note: For more information, check out Ethics.gov.

Watch this video on YouTube

This morning, when President Obama called on Congress to prevent federal student loan rates from doubling on July 1, he returned to a familiar theme.

A year ago, we were in the same place -- just a few weeks out from seeing the average student with these loans racking up an additional $1,000 in debt.

So speaking from the Rose Garden, the President discussed his long-term plan to keep student loan rates from doubling, and give students and their families certainty about college costs. He asked the students and young people in attendance to speak out in favor of action on college affordability, just as they did in 2012.

"Last year, you convinced 186 Republicans in the House and 24 Republicans in the Senate to work with Democrats to keep student loan rates low," he said. "You made something bipartisan happen in this town that is -- that's a powerful thing. You guys were able to get Democrats and Republicans to vote for something that was important. So this year, if it looks like your representatives have changed their minds, you're going to have to call them up again or email them again or Tweet them again and ask them what happened, what changed?"

In his remarks, the President also made a broader argument: Increasing access to college isn't just good for the future of young people -- it's an imperative for the nation at large.

President Barack Obama delivers remarks on student loans in the Rose Garden of the White House, May 31, 2013. (Official White House Photo by Amanda Lucidon)

"Higher education cannot be a luxury for a privileged few," he said. "It is an economic necessity that every family should be able to afford, every young person with dreams and ambition should be able to access…Now is the time to reaffirm our commitment to you and the generation that's coming behind you, and that if we work together to generate more jobs and educate more kids and open up new opportunities for everybody who’s willing to work and willing to push through those doors of opportunity, America can't be stopped."

If you want to speak out in favor of college affordability, join the conversation on Twitter or Tumblr using the hashtag #DontDoubleMyRate.

For more information:

• Learn more about President Obama's plan to keep student loan interest rates from doubing
• Watch: Don't Double My Rate Remix
• Watch: President Obama Slow Jams the News

Good morning --

On Sunday, I was in Moore, Oklahoma. Today, I'm headed to the Jersey Shore. Those two communities are separated by half a continent but united by a common sense of purpose. Like Joplin, Tuscaloosa, and New Orleans, they are home to people who've seen nature at its worst and humanity at its best. And they're filled with those who have made the choice to rebuild after disaster, to come back stronger than ever.

The scene on the ground this weekend was one we all know too well: homes wrecked and neighborhoods devastated. But the memories I'll take away from Moore will be of people standing tall, of neighbor helping neighbor, of survivors working to ensure that no one suffers through tragedy alone. And that too, was strikingly familiar. I could have been back in Brigantine Beach after Hurricane Sandy. I could have been in Joplin in 2011.

It's because of those past experiences in places like New Jersey and Missouri that I have faith that Moore will emerge from the wreckage of this tornado stronger than ever. And that's in part because I know that they won't undertake the road to recovery alone. This was a national tragedy, and that demands a national response.

If you want to help, the best way to support those affected by this storm is to make a financial contribution to the voluntary organization of your choice. The best way to volunteer is to affiliate with an organization that is already providing support to survivors.

We've set up a page to help steer you in the right direction. Check it out to get started:

http://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/oklahoma

Thank you,

President Barack Obama

Transcript | Download mp4 | Download mp3

On Memorial Day, we honor and remember the men and women who gave their lives in service of our country. And while our commitment to those who serve and their families remains important every day, Memorial Day is the perfect time to offer a simple act of kindness to our veterans and military families. You can send a message of thanks to our troops or a military family. Or pledge hours of service. Or even start your own volunteer project. And afterward, please share your story — tell us how you made a difference in your community in support of military families. 

To mark the day, President Obama visited Arlington National Cemetery, where he laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and delivered remarks honoring the troops.  

On Memorial Day two years ago, First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden launched Joining Forces to recognize, honor and serve our nation’s veterans and military families. Joining Forces focuses on three key areas — employment, education and wellness — while raising awareness about the service, sacrifice and needs of our troops, veterans and their families. Learn more about the work Joining Forces is doing.

Learn more:

• President Obama Honors the 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War on Memorial Day 2012
• Photo Gallery: Thirteen Presidents Mark Memorial Day
• Photo Gallery: The Launch of Joining Forces

Hi all --

Today, Republicans in the House of Representatives are going to come together, cast a vote, and try to repeal the Affordable Care Act just as they've done nearly 40 times before.

Don't expect much to come of it.

The health care law was passed by Congress, signed by the President, and upheld by the Supreme Court. It's been the law of the land for more than three years. It's not going anywhere. We know that, and so do the lawmakers on Capitol Hill. But instead of creating jobs and growing the economy, some of them want to make yet another gesture of protest -- even if it's meaningless.

So we're responding with a little gesture of our own, and we need your help.

We're asking people like you to speak out, to let us know if you're one of the 85 percent of Americans who've already benefitted from the health care law, and make a public stand in support of Obamacare.

Lend your name now.

Repealing the Affordable Care Act would mean that 6.6 million young adults would lose the option of staying on their parent's health insurance. It would mean that 34.1 million seniors would pay more for preventive care like mammograms and colonoscopies, and 18 million middle-class families lose the opportunity to save money on their monthly premiums starting in 2014. But this isn't about numbers; this is about our families's lives.

And we're not just asking you to share your stories for the sake of speaking out. We're building a network of people to help make sure that everyone has the information they need as we implement the law. We'll keep you in the loop as we reach important milestones. We'll make sure you have all the key facts so that you can share them in your communities.

If you lend your name, we'll make sure you're part of that network. This is a chance to do more than send a message about your support for the Affordable Care Act. It's an opportunity to be part of making the law a success.

Show your support for the health care law today:

http://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/healthreform/stories

Thanks,

David

David Simas
Deputy Senior Advisor
The White House