President Barack Obama delivers remarks on energy efficiency, at the Walmart in Mountain View, California, May 9, 2014. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

Today in Mountain View, California President Obama stopped by a business that's making big changes to the way it uses energy.

It's a big store in fact, and one that millions of Americans have in their own hometowns: Walmart.

But this isn't your typical Walmart, President Obama said.

"A few years ago, you decided to put solar panels on the roof of the store," he explained. "You replaced some traditional light bulbs with LEDs. You made refrigerator cases more efficient. And you even put in a charging station for electric vehicles."

Those upgrades are helping Mountain View's Walmart save money on its energy bills -- and created dozens of construction jobs in the process.

"More and more companies like Walmart are realizing that wasting less energy isn't just good for the planet. It's good for business," he said. "And it means jobs." 

Today President Obama announced several new steps that build on the 20 executive actions he's already taken this year to create jobs and opportunity for more Americans -- new steps that will help generate more clean energy, waste less energy overall, and leave our kids and grandkids a cleaner, safer planet in the process.

First, he said, cities, schools, and businesses are pledging to waste less energy.

GM is pledging to improve energy efficiency in 31 plants.  The University of Virginia is doing the same thing in its buildings.  Cities like Little Rock, Kansas City and Detroit are replacing regular street lights with more efficient LEDs. 

And at Walmart, you’ve committed to reducing energy consumption across 850 million square feet of space. That's a lot. That's enough to cover more than half of the city of San Francisco.   

The federal government is doing also its part. President Obama has ordered $4 billion in energy upgrades to federal buildings. And the Department of Energy is putting in place new efficiency standards that could save businesses billions of dollars in energy costs and cut carbon pollution – the equivalent of taking about 80 million cars off the road.

Second, President Obama said, Americans across the country are coming together to use more clean energy.

More than 300 organizations from homebuilders, to affordable housing owners, to companies like Home Depot and Apple have announced they’re going to expand the use of solar energy. Public and private banks are ready to invest billions in renewable energy and Treasury and the IRS are making it easier for renewable energy companies to operate and attract investment. Community colleges across the country will get support to help 50,000 workers learn skills solar companies need.

"So we know that generating more clean energy, using less dirty energy, and wasting less energy overall can be good for business and consumers," President Obama said. "And it’s also good for the world we leave to our children."

Together, the commitments we’re announcing today prove that there are cost-effective ways to tackle climate change and create jobs at the same time.  So often, when we hear about how we’re going to deal with this really serious issue, people say we can’t afford to do it; it won’t be good for the economy.  It will be good for the economy long term -- and if we don’t, that will be bad for the economy.  Rising sea levels, drought, more wildfires, more severe storms -- those are bad for the economy. So we can’t afford to wait ... Climate change is real and we have to act now.

Learn more:

• Watch: Inside the White House -- Solar Panels on the Roof Edition
• Progress Report: Advancing Toward a Clean Energy Future
• Fact Sheet: New Commitments and Executive Actions to Advance Solar Deployment and Energy Efficiency
• President Obama's Year of Action

Transcript | mp4 | mp3

President Barack Obama interacts with a robot during a tour at the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation (Miraikan), in Tokyo, Japan, April 24, 2014. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

On Thursday, President Obama will visit the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation in Tokyo and deliver remarks at an event for youth in science. Watch his full remarks below.

President Barack Obama and Washington Gov. Jay Inslee view the mudslide damage from Marine One, in Oso, Wash., April 22, 2014.(Official White House Photo by Pete Souza) (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

Yesterday, President Obama visited Oso, Washington to tour damage from last month’s mudslide there. President Obama also met with families who lost loved ones, and spoke with some of the first responders who have been working around the clock to help the community recover.

Disaster response began immediately after the mudslide, President Obama said, including a search and rescue team deployed to locate and recover victims followed by an emergency declaration to provide necessary resources for first responders and a major disaster declaration to help residents and business owners rebuild.

“Today, that work continues,” President Obama said.

There are still families who are searching for loved ones. There are families who have lost everything, and it’s going to be a difficult road ahead for them. And that’s why I wanted to come here -- just to let you know that the country is thinking about all of you and have been throughout this tragedy. 

We’re not going anywhere. We’ll be here as long as it takes.

The view of the mudslide from Marine One, in Oso, Wash., April 22, 2014. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza) (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

Although few Americans had heard of Oso before disaster struck there, President Obama said that “we’ve all been inspired by the incredible way that the community has come together and shown the love and support that they have for each other in ways large and small.”

This is family. And these are folks who love this land, and it’s easy to see why -- because it’s gorgeous. And there’s a way of life here that’s represented. And to see the strength in adversity of this community I think should inspire all of us, because this is also what America is all about. 

When times get tough, we look out for each other. We get each other’s backs. And we recover and we build, and we come back stronger. And we’re always reminded that we’re greater together. That’s how we’ll support each other every step of the way.

Today is Earth Day, an important time to reflect on the importance of protecting the future health of our planet in the face of climate change.

But this challenge is bigger than one day of action, and we all have to play a role in forging a healthier, greener and better world for our children-- not just on Earth Day, but every day.

Here are some great tools to help you do your part throughout the year by saving energy and increasing energy efficiency at home and on the road.

How energy efficient is your home?

EPA's Home Energy Yardstick provides a simple assessment of your home's annual energy use compared to similar homes. Answer a few basic questions about your home to see:

• Your home's Home Energy Yardstick score on a scale of 1 to 10
• Insights into how much of your home's energy use is related to heating and cooling versus other everyday uses like appliances, lighting, and hot water
• Links to guidance from ENERGY STAR on how to increase your home's score, improve comfort, and lower utility bills
• An estimate of your home's annual carbon emissions

Get started here

Can a hybrid car save you money?

Provide a few pieces of information like how many miles you drive each year, how often you drive in the city, and the price of fuel in your area and find out how much you'd save driving a range of hybrid vehicles compared to their non-hybrid counterparts.

Head over to fueleconomy.gov to how much you might save

How much does it cost to fuel an electric vehicle?

On average, it costs about three times less to drive an electric vehicle compared to one that runs on gasoline.

Find out how much it costs in your state

Do you qualify for energy efficiency tax credits?

Government agencies, utilities and others offer a variety of tax credits, rebates and other incentives to support energy efficiency, encourage the use of renewable energy sources, and support efforts to conserve energy and lessen pollution.  

Find savings that may be available to you or your business based on where you live

See more tools from across the government that can make your life easier.

President Barack Obama observes a moment of silence during his meeting with senior advisors in the Oval Office at 2:49 P.M. to mark the one-year anniversary of the Boston Marathon bombings, April 15, 2014. Pictured from left, are Senior Advisor Dan Pfeiffer, Press Secretary Jay Carney, Chief of Staff Denis McDonough, Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett, Communications Director Jennifer Palmieri, and Katie Beirne Fallon, Director of Legislative Affairs. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

Today at 2:49 pm ET, President Obama will observe a moment of silence to mark the one-year anniversary of the Boston Marathon bombing. 

President Obama also released a statement this morning on the tragedy.

Today, we remember Krystle Campbell, Lingzi Lu, Martin Richard, and Sean Collier. And we send our thoughts and prayers to those still struggling to recover.

We also know that the most vivid images from that day were not of smoke and chaos, but of compassion, kindness and strength: A man in a cowboy hat helping a wounded stranger out of harm’s way; runners embracing loved ones, and each other; an EMT carrying a spectator to safety. Today, we recognize the incredible courage and leadership of so many Bostonians in the wake of unspeakable tragedy. And we offer our deepest gratitude to the courageous firefighters, police officers, medical professionals, runners and spectators who, in an instant, displayed the spirit Boston was built on – perseverance, freedom and love.

Read the full statement here.

Ed. note: This post was updated after the moment of silence to include a photo.

Transcript | mp4 | mp3

Watch on YouTube

Today, President Obama announced that Sylvia Mathews Burwell, the current director of the Office of Management and Budget would follow Kathleen Sebelius as Secretary of Health and Human Services.

Secretary Sebelius’s work over the last five years have been critical to the health and welfare of the American people, and will benefit our families and this country for decades to come, President Obama said.

She has fought to improve children’s health, from birth to kindergarten; expanded mental health care; reduced racial and ethnic disparities; brought us closer to the first AIDS-free generation.  She’s been a tireless advocate for women’s health.   

And, of course, what Kathleen will go down in history for is serving as the Secretary of Health and Human Services when the United States of America finally declared that quality, affordable health care is not a privilege, but it is a right for every single citizen of these United States of America. 

“Kathleen has been here through the long fight to pass the Affordable Care Act,” President Obama said. “She helped guide its implementation, even when it got rough.”

There are 7.5 million people across the country that have the security of health insurance, most of them for the very first time. And that's because of the woman standing next to me here today. And we are proud of her for that. That's an historic accomplishment. 

There’s more work to do at HHS, President Obama said, which is why he’s nominating Burwell to take the role next.

“She’s a proven manager who’s demonstrated her ability to field great teams, forge strong relationships, and deliver excellent results at the highest levels,” he said. “And she’s done it both in the public and private sectors.”

And she’ll need to be a proven manager because these are tough tasks, big challenges. From covering more families with economic security that health insurance provides, to ensuring the safety of our food and drug supply, to protecting the country from outbreak or bioterror attacks, to keeping America at the forefront of job-creating medical research, all of us rely on the dedicated servants and scientists, the researchers at HHS and the FDA and CDC and NIH. All of them are an extraordinary team, and sometimes the American people take for granted the incredible network of outstanding public servants that we have who are helping to keep us healthy and helping improve our lives every single day.

President Barack Obama, with Vice President Joe Biden, announces Sylvia Mathews Burwell as his nominee to succeed Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, in the Rose Garden of the White House, April 11, 2014. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)

Watch on YouTube

Today, 50 years after President Lyndon Baines Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act into law, President Obama spoke at the LBJ Presidential Library to honor the work and legacy of our nation’s 36th president.

“As we commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act, we honor the men and women who made it possible,” President Obama said. “We recall the countless unheralded Americans, black and white, students and scholars, preachers and housekeepers -- whose names are etched not on monuments, but in the hearts of their loved ones, and in the fabric of the country they helped to change.”

“But we also gather here,” President Obama said, “deep in the heart of the state that shaped him, to recall one giant man’s remarkable efforts to make real the promise of our founding:  “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.”’  

Because of the Civil Rights movement, because of the laws President Johnson signed, new doors of opportunity and education swung open for everybody -- not all at once, but they swung open.  Not just blacks and whites, but also women and Latinos; and Asians and Native Americans; and gay Americans and Americans with a disability.  They swung open for you, and they swung open for me.  And that’s why I’m standing here today -- because of those efforts, because of that legacy. 

Read President Obama’s full remarks, or watch them above. 

President Barack Obama delivers remarks as First Lady Michelle Obama, Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., and LBJ Presidential Library Director Mark Updegrove, listen at right at the LBJ Presidential Library in Austin, Texas, April 10, 2014. They attended a Civil Rights Summit to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Civil Rights Act. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)

Watch on YouTube

Last month at the White House, the President and First Lady honored great “foremothers” of American music -- music legends and contemporary artists whose songs express the struggles and achievements of women. The program, “In Performance at the White House: Women of Soul,” included performances by Tessanne Chin, Melissa Etheridge, Aretha Franklin, Ariana Grande, Patti LaBelle, Janelle Monáe and Jill Scott, with Greg Phillinganes as music director.  

Check out this behind-the-scenes look at the event, then tune to PBS tonight at 9:00 pm ET to watch the full program. Check your local listings for times and channel information.

Learn more:

• See more from the "In Performance" series at the White House
• Watch First Lady Michelle Obama's "The History of Women in Soul" student workshop, featuring artists from the program

If you don't have health insurance, today is the last day to get coverage that starts in 2014. Go right now to HealthCare.gov to sign up. 

There are three ways to sign up:

• Online. You can sign up at HealthCare.gov . You can also sign up in Spanish at CuidadoDeSalud.gov.
• On the Phone. You can call 1-800-318-2596, any time, any hour, and a trained representative will help you enroll.
• In Person. You can also find a person in your community to help you at localhelp.healthcare.gov.

Don't put it off any longer -- get covered now!

See what others are saying about why it's important to get covered on Facebook and Twitter.

Watch on YouTube

Today, President Obama wrapped up the second and final day of his stay in the Netherlands, the first stop on a five-country trip to Europe and Saudi Arabia.

In the morning, President Obama met with President Nursultan Nazarbayev of Kazakhstan. See a joint statement from the United States and Kazakhstan on their shared commitment to nonproliferation and nuclear security, or a fact sheet on their cooperation around these issues.

President Barack Obama participates in a third plenary session during the 2014 Nuclear Security Summit at the World Forum, The Hague, the Netherlands, March 25, 2014. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)

Following their meeting, President Obama participated in the second day of the Nuclear Security Summit. In a press conference following the closing session of the summit, President Obama thanked Prime Minister Rutte and the people of the Netherlands who organized and led the event.

“I convened the first Nuclear Security Summit in Washington four years ago because I believed that we need a serious and sustained global effort to deal with one of the greatest threats to international security -- and that’s the specter of nuclear terrorism,” President Obama said. “We made further progress at our second summit in Seoul. And under your Prime Minister’s stewardship, we’ve built on that progress here.”

Twelve countries and two dozen nuclear facilities around the world have now rid themselves entirely of highly enriched uranium and plutonium.  Dozens of nations have boosted security at their nuclear storage sites, or built their own counter-smuggling teams, or created new centers to improve nuclear security and training. The International Atomic Energy Agency, or the IAEA, is now stronger and more countries have ratified the treaties and international partnerships at the heart of our efforts.  So we've seen a fundamental shift in our approach to nuclear security. 

“We still have a lot more work to do to fulfill the ambitious goals we set four years ago to fully secure all nuclear and radiological material, civilian and military, so that it can no longer pose a risk to any of our citizens,” President Obama said. “I believe this is essential to the security of the entire world, and given the catastrophic consequences of even a single attack, we cannot be complacent.” 

Read President Obama’s remarks at the closing session of the Nuclear Security Summit, or remarks from his joint press conference with Prime Minister Rutte of the Netherlands.

In the evening, the President held a series of meetings with other world leaders. In a meeting with the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan of the United Arab Emirates, President Obama discussed the United States’ commitment to Gulf security and our efforts to support the opposition in Syria, and provided an updated on ongoing nuclear negotiations with Iran and the Middle East peace negotiations.

Later, President Obama met with President Park of the Republic of Korea and Prime Minister Abe of Japan. 

“Japan and the Republic of Korea are two of our closest allies in the world and our two most significant and powerful allies in the Asia Pacific region,” President Obama said in a statement before their meeting.

One of the things that brings us together today is our shared concern about North Korea and its nuclear weapons program. Over the last five years, close coordination between our three countries has succeeded in changing the game with North Korea, and our trilateral cooperation has sent a strong signal to Pyongyang that its provocations and threats will be met with a unified response and that the U.S. commitment to the security of both Japan and the Republic of Korea is unwavering, and that a nuclear North Korea is unacceptable.

“I very much look forward to discussing some of the specific steps that we can take to deepen that coordination in terms of both diplomacy and military cooperation,” President Obama said.

Read his remarks following the meeting. 

Learn more:

• President Obama's Spring 2014 Trip
• Day One: President Obama Travels to the Netherlands, Meets with World Leaders
• Nuclear Security Summit: Advancing Global Nuclear Security

Transcript | mp4 | mp3

POTUS Fills Out His Brackets

For the sixth straight year, the President filled out his brackets for the NCAA men’s and women’s basketball tournaments. On the men’s side, he has Louisville, Michigan State, Florida, and Arizona headed to the Final Four, with the Spartans winning it all.

Check out Obama's NCAA bracket—and vote on the top reasons to #GetCoveredNow → http://t.co/HGHF1PeQkU #Baracketology pic.twitter.com/VOW3kMVRA7

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) March 19, 2014

Too bad the President also had Duke going all the way to the Elite Eight.

24 Army Veterans Receive the Medal of Honor

On Tuesday, President Obama awarded the Medal of Honor to 24 Army veterans for their service in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. Nineteen of them were previously overlooked for the Medal of Honor due to their racial or ethnic backgrounds.

“No nation is perfect,” the President said at the ceremony. “But here in America, we confront our imperfections and face a sometimes painful past, including the truth that some of these soldiers fought and died for a country that did not always see them as equal.”

President Obama's Nowruz Message

As families and friends gathered around the As families and friends gather around the Sofreh-e Haft Sin to celebrate Nowruz, President Obama offered his best wishes for the new spring and new year.

Watch on YouTube

In his message, the President speaks directly to the people and leaders of the Islamic Republic of Iran about the possibility for the first time in many years of a new chapter in the history of Iran and its role in the world – including a better relationship with the United States and the American people.

The First Lady in China: Robotics Classes, Ping Pong, and More

The First Lady arrived in Beijing on Thursday, where she met with First Lady Peng Liyuan, visited the Beijing Normal School, and took in historic local sites. 

Watch on YouTube

Learn more about the First Lady's trip.

Visiting the Forbidden City with the First Lady

While in Beijing, the First Lady also toured the Forbidden City, which served as home to China's emperors for more than 500 years. The buildings and outdoor spaces are now part of a museum that visitors can tour and explore.

Touring the Forbidden City. #FLOTUSinChina pic.twitter.com/Nh87xzlhZJ

— FLOTUS (@FLOTUS) March 21, 2014

Read the First Lady's travel journal from her Forbidden City visit.

As always, to see even more of this week's events, watch this week's episode of West Wing Week below:

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

Today, President Obama updated the American people on the situation in Ukraine and the steps the United States is taking in response.

Over the last several days, we’ve continued to be deeply concerned by events in Ukraine. We've seen an illegal referendum in Crimea; an illegitimate move by the Russians to annex Crimea; and dangerous risks of escalation, including threats to Ukrainian personnel in Crimea and threats to southern and eastern Ukraine as well. These are all choices that the Russian government has made -- choices that have been rejected by the international community, as well as the government of Ukraine. And because of these choices, the United States is today moving, as we said we would, to impose additional costs on Russia.

Based on the executive order that I signed in response to Russia’s initial intervention in Ukraine, we’re imposing sanctions on more senior officials of the Russian government. In addition, we are today sanctioning a number of other individuals with substantial resources and influence who provide material support to the Russian leadership, as well as a bank that provides material support to these individuals.

President Barack Obama delivers a statement to the press regarding sanctions against Russia and the situation in Ukraine, March 20, 2014 (Official White House Photo by David Lienemann)

Diplomacy between the United States and Russia continues, President Obama said, and Russia still has a different path available, “one that involves Russia pursuing a diplomatic solution with the government in Kyiv, with the support of the international community.”

We want the Ukrainian people to determine their own destiny, and to have good relations with the United States, with Russia, with Europe, with anyone that they choose. And that can only happen if Russia also recognized the rights of all the Ukrainian people to determine their future as free individuals, and as a sovereign nation -- rights that people and nations around the world understand and support.

Learn more:

• Latest updates: Responding to the situation in Ukraine

In his message, the President speaks directly to the people and leaders of the Islamic Republic of Iran about the possibility for the first time in many years of a new chapter in the history of Iran and its role in the world – including a better relationship with the United States and the American people.  The President is clear that if Iran meets its international obligations with regards to its nuclear program, it will open up new possibilities and prosperity for the Iranian people for years to come. 

Eid-e Shoma Mobarak.

Transcript (Persian)

Transcript (English)

Watch on YouTube

Today, President Obama announced new measures the United States is taking to send a strong message to the Russian government that there are consequences for their actions that violate the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, including their actions supporting the illegal referendum for Crimean separation. 

“As I told President Putin yesterday,” President Obama said in today in the White House Press Briefing Room, “the referendum in Crimea was a clear violation of Ukrainian constitutions and international law, and it will not be recognized by the international community.”

“Today, I’m announcing a series of measures that will continue to increase the cost on Russia and on those responsible for what is happening in Ukraine,” he said.

President Obama explained four specific actions: “First, as authorized by the executive order I signed two weeks ago, we are imposing sanctions on specific individuals responsible for undermining the sovereignty, territorial integrity and government of Ukraine,” he said.

Second, I have signed a new executive order that expands the scope of our sanctions … Third, we’re continuing our close consultations with our European partners, who today in Brussels moved ahead with their own sanctions against Russia… Fourth, we’ll continue to make clear to Russia that further provocations will achieve nothing except to further isolate Russia and diminish its place in the world. 

“Now, I believe there’s still a path to resolve this situation diplomatically in a way that addresses the interest of both Russia and Ukraine,” President Obama said. “But throughout this process, we’re going to stand firm in our unwavering support for Ukraine. 

As I told Prime Minister Yatsenyuk last week, the United States stands with the people of Ukraine and their right to determine their own destiny. We’re going to keep working with Congress and our international partners to offer Ukraine the economic support that it needs to weather this crisis and to improve the daily lives of the Ukrainian people.

Read President Obama's full statement

President Barack Obama delivers remarks on the situation in Ukraine, in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House, March 17, 2014. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)

Learn more:

• Fact Sheet: Ukraine-Related Sanctions
• See a readout from President Obama's call with President Putin of Russia
• Latest updates: Responding to the Situation in Ukraine

President Barack Obama holds a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk of Ukraine in the Oval Office, March 12, 2014. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

Today, President Obama held a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk of Ukraine.

In their meeting, the President and Prime Minister Yatsenyuk discussed how to find a peaceful resolution to Russia’s ongoing military intervention in Crimea that would respect Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity. They also discussed support the international community can provide to help Ukraine confront its economic challenges, and the importance of uniting Ukraine and working to fulfill the aspirations of the Ukrainian people as they prepare for May presidential elections.

After the meeting, both leaders spoke briefly to the press. Read their remarks here, or watch them below.

Learn more:

• Latest updates: Responding to the situation in Ukraine

President Obama sat down between two ferns to talk health care, Bradley Cooper, and basketball with Zach Galifianakis. Watch it here now -- all your friends have probably seen it already, don't be "that guy" who hasn't.

Copy this code to embed this widget on your website:
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As of today, there are just 20 days left to enroll in health care coverage at healthcare.gov before open enrollment ends on March 31.

If you don't already have health insurance, head over to healthcare.gov to get covered now. You can compare your options based on price, benefits, quality and other features, and enroll in a plan that fits your needs and your budget.

WIth just one application, you can also find out whether you qualify for tax credits to help pay for insurance or other free or low-cost coverage options. 

To mark the 20 final days of open enrollment, here are 20 reasons to get covered. Check them out, then head over to healthcare.gov.

20 reasons to get covered:

1. Six in ten uninsured Americans can get coverage for less than $100 a month. 
2. Preventive services like well-woman visits, cancer screenings, flu shots and more cost you nothing out of pocket.
3. Health insurers are prohibited from charging women more than men for the exact same coverage.
4. It's illegal for insurance companies to charge more or deny coverage due to a pre-existing condition.
5. Birth control for women is covered with no out-of-pocket costs or co-pays. 
6. Insurance companies can't cancel your coverage when you get sick.
7. All plans must cover essential health benefits including outpatient care, hospital visits, prescriptions, and more.
8. Because accidents happen, and no one is invincible. 
9. There's a new way to shop for plans, compare benefits and apply for coverage all online on healthcare.gov.
10. You may qualify for lower cost coverage or tax credits to help pay for care depending on your income or family size.
11. Mental health and substance abuse disorder services including counseling and psychotherapy must be covered at parity with medical benefits. 
12. If you're a parent, your kids can stay covered on your plan until they turn 26.
13. Insurance companies can no longer put a lifetime cap on the essential health benefits they'll cover if you get sick.
14. Insurance companies can no longer impose yearly limits on coverage for essential health benefits.
15. Insurance companies must spend at least 80 percent of your premium dollar on health care -- or you get a rebate.
16. No one deserves to go broke just because they get sick.
17. Insurance companies can't cancel your coverage because you make a mistake on your application.
18. Insurance companies must publicly justify their actions if they want to raise your premiums by 10 percent or more.
19. Because you only live once.
20. You can apply for coverage online at healthcare.gov. on the phone by calling 1-800-318-2596, in person (find local help here) or by mail (download the application to mail in here) -- the whole process takes most people about 15 to 20 minutes.

President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama acknowledge the crowd after the President spoke at Coral Reef Senior High School, Fla., March 7, 2014. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

Today, President Obama and the First Lady visited Coral Reef High School in Miami to discuss the President's plan to equip all Americans with the education they need to compete in the 21st century economy.

“By working hard every single day, every single night, you are making the best investment there is in your future,” President Obama told the students. “And we want to make sure you’ve got everything, all the tools you need to succeed.” 

President Obama talked about one tool that’s helping give more students the opportunity to afford, attend, and graduate from college: the Free Application for Student Aid or FAFSA.

It is a simple form. It used to be complicated; we made it simple. It doesn’t cost anything -- that’s why the word “free” is right there in the name. It does not take a long time to fill out. Once you do, you’re putting yourself in the running for all kinds of financial support for college -- scholarships, grants, loans, work-study jobs. 

Over the last five years, the Obama administration has been working to make college more affordable for more students. And today, more young people are earning college degrees than ever before. But we have to do more, President Obama said.

“Unfortunately, there are still a lot of young people all across the country who say the cost of college is holding them back,” he said. “Some of you may have sat around the kitchen table with your parents wondering about whether you’ll be able to afford it.”

“FAFSA is by far the easiest way to answer that question,” President Obama told the students at Coral Reef.

Last year, almost half of high school graduates in Florida didn’t fill out a FAFSA. Together, they left a combined $100 million on the table that could have helped pay for college.

So today, President Obama issued a challenge to every high school student in America: Fill out the FAFSA, even if you think you might not qualify for financial aid.

“We’re making it easier that ever,” President Obama said. The form is now available online, and shorter than earlier versions – it takes about half an hour to fill out.

And as of today, school administrators can confidentially find out which students have already filled out their FAFSA, and which students haven’t and might need help completing their forms. And anyone can go online and find out the number of students who have filled out the form at each high school – setting the stage for a new kind of rivalry.

And if you keep reaching for success -- and I know you will, just based on the small sampling we saw of students here -- if you keep working as hard as you can and learning as much as you can, and if you’ve got big ambitions and big dreams, if you don’t let anybody tell you something is out of your reach, if you are convinced that you can do something and apply effort and energy and determination and persistence to that vision, then not only will you be great but this country will be great. Our schools will be great.  

Learn More:

• Fact Sheet: Opportunity for All: Promoting College Opportunity and Graduation

Today, President Obama delivered a statement on efforts to address the ongoing crisis in Ukraine from the Brady Press Briefing Room.

Since the Russian intervention, we’ve been mobilizing the international community to condemn this violation of international law and to support the people and government of Ukraine.

This morning I signed an executive order that authorizes sanctions on individuals and entities responsible for violating the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, or for stealing the assets of the Ukrainian people.

According to my guidance, the State Department has also put in place restrictions on the travel of certain individuals and officials. These decisions continue our efforts to impose a cost on Russia and those responsible for the situation in Crimea. And they also give us the flexibility to adjust our response going forward based on Russia’s actions.

Watch the full statement, or read the remarks here.

President Barack Obama delivers a statement on Ukraine in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House, March 6, 2014. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

For more information:

• Latest Updates: Responding to the Situation in Ukraine

President Barack Obama delivers remarks on the minimum wage, at Central Connecticut State University in New Britain, Connecticut, March 5, 2014. The President is joined by Gov. Dannel Malloy of Connecticut; Labor Secretary Thomas Perez, Gov. Peter Shumlin of Vermont, Gov. Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island, and Gov. Deval Patrick of Massachusetts. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

Today, President Obama traveled to Central Connecticut State University in New Britain, Connecticut to speak about the importance of raising the minimum wage.

Joined by Secretary of Labor Tom Perez, along with Connecticut Governor Dan Malloy, Rhode Island Governer Lincoln Chafee, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, and Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin, the President addressed a crowd filled with students to dicsuss his plan to expand opportunity for all Americans.

He detailed the four parts of his opporuntity agenda: 1) create more new jobs; 2) train Americans with the skills to fill those jobs; 3) guarantee every young person access to a world-class education; and 4) make sure hard work pays off.

Ensuring that hard work pays off means that women should receive equal pay for equal work, that Americans can save and retire with dignity, that people have health insurance when they need it most, and that the wage you make is enough to support yourself and your family.

"Nobody who works full-time should ever have to raise a family in poverty. That violates a basic sense of who we are.  And that’s why it’s time to give America a raise," said President Obama. "What every American wants is a paycheck that lets them support their families, know a little economic security, pass down some hope and optimism to their kids. And that’s worth fighting for."

That's why President Obama isn't waiting for Congress to take action. Last month, he used his pen to sign an executive order requiring federal contractors to pay their employees a fair wage of at least $10.10 an hour. 

Raising the minimum wage for all Americans to $10.10 an hour would help not only minimum wage workers; it would lift wages for more than 28 million Americans across this country and raise millions of people out of poverty.

If you agree it's time to give America's workers a raise, add you name here.

President Barack Obama signs copies of the FY 2015 Budget as Sylvia Mathews Burwell, Director, Office of Management and Budget, and OMB staff look on in the Oval Office, March 4, 2014. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

Today, after sending his 2015 budget to Congress, President Obama visited a local elementary school to discuss what he called a “roadmap” for the agenda he laid out in his State of the Union address to restore opportunity for all Americans.

President Barack Obama talks with students during a classroom visit at Powell Elementary School in Washington, D.C. March 4, 2014. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

"These kids may not be the most excited people in town on budget day," President Obama said, "but my budget is designed with their generation and future generations in mind." 

The budget I sent Congress this morning lays out how we’ll implement this agenda in a balanced and responsible way. It’s a roadmap for creating jobs with good wages and expanding opportunity for all Americans. And at a time when our deficits have been cut in half, it allows us to meet our obligations to future generations without leaving them a mountain of debt.

This budget adheres to the spending levels that both parties in both houses of Congress already agreed to. But it also builds on that progress with what we’re calling an Opportunity, Growth and Security Initiative that invests in our economic priorities in a smart way that is fully paid for by making smart spending cuts and closing tax loopholes that right now only benefit the well-off and the well-connected.

“Our budget is about choices,” President Obama said. “It’s about our values. As a country, we’ve got to make a decision if we’re going to protect tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans, or if we’re going to make smart investments necessary to create jobs and grow our economy, and expand opportunity for every American.”

The American people have made clear time and again which approach they prefer. That’s the approach that my budget offers. That’s why I’m going to fight for it this year and in the years to come as President.

Later that afternoon, Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget Brian Deese took to Twitter to answer questions about the President's budget, which folks could ask using the hashtag #BudgetChat. Take a look at some of the questions and answers. 

And if you want to be in the loop on Twitter chats like this in the future, make sure you're following @WhiteHouse and @OMBPress.

Learn more about the President's Fiscal Year 2015 budget

President Barack Obama delivers remarks announcing two new public-private Manufacturing Innovation Institutes, and launches the first of four new Manufacturing Innovation Institute Competitions, in the East Room of the White House, Feb. 25, 2014. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)

Today President Obama announced two new public-private manufacturing innovation institutes – one in Chicago and one in the Detroit area -- as well as a competition for the first of four additional institutes that will will boost advanced manufacturing in the United States and attract the types of high-quality jobs that a growing middle class requires.

"For generations of Americans, manufacturing was the ticket to a good, middle-class life. The stuff we made – like steel and cars and planes – is what made America what it is," President Obama said. "But advances in technology allowed manufacturers to do more with less, and global competition meant a lot of good manufacturing jobs went overseas."

Today, our manufacturing industry is adding jobs -- more than 620,000 over the last four years. "But the economy has changed," President Obama said. "And if we want to attract more good manufacturing jobs to America, we’ve got to make sure we’re on the cutting edge of new manufacturing techniques and technologies."

That’s what these new hubs are all about. They’re partnerships – they bring together companies and universities to develop cutting-edge technology, train workers to use that technology, and make sure research is turned into real-world products made by American workers.    

Each institute serves as a regional hub, bridging the gap between applied research and product development by bringing together companies, universities and other academic and training institutions, and federal agencies to co-invest in key technology areas that encourage investment and production in the United States.

This type of “teaching factory” provides a unique opportunity for education and training of students and workers at all levels, while providing the shared assets to help companies, most importantly small manufacturers, access the capabilities and equipment to design, test, and pilot new products and manufacturing processes.

President Barack Obama delivers remarks announcing two new public-private Manufacturing Innovation Institutes, and launches the first of four new Manufacturing Innovation Institute Competitions, in the East Room of the White House, Feb. 25, 2014. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

Learn more about the new institutes below.

Lightweight and Modern Metals Manufacturing Innovation Institute

Headquartered in the Detroit area, the LM3I Institute pairs the world’s leading aluminum, titanium, and high strength steel manufacturers with universities and laboratories pioneering new technology development and research.  The institute will focus on expanding the market for and create new consumers of products and systems that utilize new, lightweight, high‑performing metals and alloys by removing technological barriers to their manufacture. 

Autoworkers in Detroit are already using advanced, lightweight metals to build new cars that use less gas -- just one example of what these materials can do, as President Obama explained.

They can help us build lighter armored vehicles for our troops; planes and helicopters that can carry bigger payloads; wind turbines that generate more power at less cost; prosthetic limbs that help people walk again who never thought they could.  We believe there’s going to be incredible demand for these metals, both from the military and the private sector, and we want them to be made right here in America.  We want our workers to have those jobs. 

Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation Institute

Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, the DMDI Institute spearheads a consortium of 73 companies, universities, nonprofits, and research labs. The partnership between world-leading manufacturing experts and cutting-edge software companies will develop enhanced digital capabilities to design and test new products, and reduce costs in manufacturing processes across multiple industries.

“The country that gets new products to market faster and at less cost, they’ll win the race for the good jobs of tomorrow,” President Obama said. “And we want that country that is specialized in this to be us, the United States of America.”

We want suppliers to be able to collaborate with customers in real-time, test their parts digitally, cut down on the time and money that they spend producing expensive prototypes.  We want our manufacturers to be able to custom-design products tailored to each individual consumer.  We want our troops to be able to download digital blueprints they can use to 3-D print new parts and repair equipment right there in the field.  And these are all ambitious goals, but this is America -- that’s what we do, we’re ambitious.  We don’t make small planes. 

New Competition

President Obama also announced a new competition for an Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation Institute to improve our ability to manufacture materials that increase the energy efficiency of our cars, planes, windmills, and other products. This new competition is the first of the four the President will launch this year, building on his pledge in this year’s State of the Union and hitting the halfway point on his initial goal of creating 15 Manufacturing Innovation Institutes.  

In May 2013, the Administration launched competitions for the three institutes with a Federal commitment of $200 million across five agencies – the Departments of Defense, Energy, Commerce, NASA, and the National Science Foundation, building off the success of a pilot institute headquartered in Youngstown, Ohio. In January 2014, the first of these three institutes was announced, the new Department of Energy-led Next Generation Power Electronics Manufacturing Innovation Institute in Raleigh, N.C. 

• Learn more about the pilot institute in Youngstown
• Learn more about the Next Generation Power Electronics Manufacturing Innovation Institute
• On the Clock: Manufacturing Institutes Explained in 60 Seconds

Transcript | mp4 | mp3

Today, President Obama updated the American people on the situation in Ukraine and the steps the United States is taking in response. Watch his remarks below or on YouTube.

Update: March 17, 2014

Today, in the White House Press Briefing Room, President Obama announced new measures intended to send a strong message to the Russian government that there are consequences for their actions that violate the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, including their actions supporting the illegal referendum for Crimean separation. 

Read President Obama's statement here, or see a fact sheet on Ukraine-related sanctions here.

Update: March 16, 2014

Today, President Obama spoke with President Putin of Russia. According to a readout of the call, President Obama emphasized that the Crimean “referendum,” which violates the Ukrainian constitution and occurred under duress of Russian military intervention, would never be recognized by the United States and the international community."

See the full readout here, and a statement from the Press Secretary on today's referendum here.

Update: March 12, 2014

Today, President Obama held a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk of Ukraine. Below, watch remarks from both leaders following the meeting, or read them here.

Update 6: March 6, 2014

This afternoon, President Obama delivered a statement from the White House Press Briefing Room on efforts to address the ongoing crisis in Ukraine. Watch the statement here. Later, he spoke by phone with President Putin of Russia. On the call, President Obama emphasized that Russia's actions are in violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. See a readout from the call here. 

As a statement issued from the White House Press Secretary earlier today explained, the United States is pursuing and reviewing a wide range of options in response to Russia’s actions. 

Pursuant to the President’s guidance, today the State Department is putting in place visa restrictions on a number of officials and individuals, reflecting a policy decision to deny visas to those responsible for or complicit in threatening the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. In addition, the President has signed an Executive Order that authorizes sanctions on individuals and entities responsible for activities undermining democratic processes or institutions in Ukraine; threatening the peace, security, stability, sovereignty, or territorial integrity of Ukraine; contributing to the misappropriation of state assets of Ukraine; or purporting to assert governmental authority over any part of Ukraine without authorization from the Ukrainian government in Kyiv.

Read the full statement here or read the Executive Order here.

Update 5: February 28, 2014

President Barack Obama delivers a statement on Ukraine in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room, Feb. 28, 2014. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

President Obama delivered a statement on the ongoing situation in Ukraine. Read the full statement here.

Update 4: February 26, 2014

The latest statement from White House Press Secretary Jay Carney says that "the United States strongly supports Ukrainian leaders’ ongoing work to form an inclusive, multiparty government to represent all the people of Ukraine as they prepare for May elections, and to restore order, stability, and unity to the country."

As the process moves forward, the United States again calls on all parties in Ukraine and in the region to support reconciliation and the country’s return to political and economic health, and will work with the international community in building an economic assistance package based upon Ukraine’s achievements in crafting a unity government. An inclusive, broad-based government committed to reconciliation and to economic reform is the necessary foundation for international assistance.

Read the full statement here

Update 3: February 22, 2014

The White House Press Secretary released a statement on the latest developments in Ukraine, highlighting the constructive work done in Ukraine's parliament, and former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko's release from a prison hospital:

The United States is closely monitoring developments in Ukraine. We have consistently advocated a de-escalation of violence, constitutional change, a coalition government, and early elections, and today’s developments could move us closer to that goal. The unshakeable principle guiding events must be that the people of Ukraine determine their own future.

Read the full statement here

Update 2: February 21, 2014

The White House Press Secretary released a statement on the agreement signed today between Ukrainian President Yanukovych and Opposition leaders:

The United States welcomes the agreement signed today between Ukrainian President Yanukovych and Opposition leaders. The agreement, facilitated by Foreign Ministers Fabius, Sikorski, and Steinmeier and witnessed by Russia, is consistent with what we have advocated in calling for a de-escalation of the violence, constitutional change, a coalition government, and early elections.

Read the full statement here

Update 1: February 20, 2014

Pres Obama talks on phone w German Chanc. Merkel re situation in Ukraine pic.twitter.com/awwLn0TeqU

— petesouza (@petesouza) February 20, 2014

Today, President Obama spoke by phone with Chancellor Merkel of Germany to consult on the situation in Ukraine. The two leaders agreed it is critical that the United States, Germany and the European Union continue to stay in close touch in the days ahead on steps we can take to support an end to the violence and a political solution that is in the best interests of the Ukrainian people.

See the readout from today's call here and the statement released by White House Press Secretary Jay Carney here.

Before a bilateral meeting yesterday with President Peña Nieto of Mexico, President Obama said that "the United States condemns in strongest terms the violence that's taking place" in Ukraine. "And we have been deeply engaged with our European partners as well as both the Ukrainian government and the opposition to try to assure that that violence ends," he said.

But we hold the Ukrainian government primarily responsible for making sure that it is dealing with peaceful protesters in an appropriate way; that the Ukrainian people are able to assemble and speak freely about their interests without fear of repression. 

And I want to be very clear that as we work through these next several days in Ukraine that we are going to be watching very carefully and we expect the Ukrainian government to show restraint, to not resort to violence in dealing with peaceful protesters.  We've said that we also expect peaceful protesters to remain peaceful.  And we'll be monitoring very carefully the situation, recognizing, along with our European partners and the international community, there will be consequences if people step over the line.  And that includes making sure that the Ukrainian military does not step into what should be a set of issues that can be resolved by civilians.

So the United States will continue to engage with all sides in the dispute in Ukraine, and ultimately our interest is to make sure that the Ukrainian people can express their own desires.  And we believe that a large majority of Ukrainians are interested in an integration with Europe, and the commerce and cultural exchanges that are possible for them to expand opportunity and prosperity.

But regardless of how the Ukrainian people determine their own future, it is important that it is the people themselves that make those decisions.  And that’s what the United States will continue to strive to achieve.

And I do think there is still the possibility of a peaceful transition within Ukraine, but it’s going to require the government, in particular, to actively seek that peaceful transition, and it requires the opposition and those on the streets to recognize that violence is not going to be the path by which this issue will be resolved.

Check back at whitehouse.gov/ukraine for updates and more information as it is released.

More information on the Obama administration's response to the situation in Ukraine:

• Readout of President Obama's call with Chancellor Merkel
• Statement by the Press Secretary on Ukraine
• President Obama's remarks before a bilateral meeting with President Peña Nieto
• Readouts of Vice President Biden's calls with Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych
  • 2/20/2014
  • 1/28/2014
  • 1/27/2014
• Statement by NSC Spokesperson Caitlin Hayden on Ukraine  

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