Each year, after the President's State of the Union address, the Office of Management and Budget releases the Administration's Fiscal Year budget, offering proposals on key priorities and newly announced initiatives. This year, we did things a little differently, from our expanded and enhanced State of the Union coverage to our interview with YouTube creators -- and we wanted to do the same with the budget.

That's why we're releasing all of the data included in this year's budget in an easy, machine-readable format on GitHub, a website for hosting open-source projects. The budget process should be a reflection of our values as a country, and we think it's important that members of the public have as many tools as possible at their disposal to review the President's proposals -- and to have an opportunity to give feedback. And, if you're motivated to create your own visualizations or products from the data, you can do that too.

Explore the budget in a new way:

• Check out the repository on GitHub
• See the full budget on Medium
• Submit feedback on the GitHub budget data here
• Behind the Budget: Dr. Julian Harris, OMB Associate, Director of Health
• Behind the Budget: The Education Program Examiner
• Behind the Budget: The Budget Methods Specialist

Every year, we do everything we can to step up our game around the State of the Union, using new approaches to engage the public online in different and compelling ways. We want to give people a better way to understand the President’s policies and why they’re important to them and their communities. This year, the goal was no different, but we rolled out an exciting new a range of improved platforms, coordinating with the White House policy and speechwriting offices to build digital content into the speech itself. Find out more here.

We’re still running through the numbers, but we wanted to share an early look at our top 10 favorite statistics about how you, the public, reacted to the President’s second-to-last SOTU:

• We enhanced the stream with 127 slides, and launched 89 “boats” for our river of content.
• There were more than 1.2 million views of the enhanced State of the Union live stream.
• Peak concurrent traffic was roughly 50% higher than the 2014 SOTU, and people stayed on the stream for 45% longer.
• More than 75,000 people stuck around to watch a post-speech interview with Huffington Post Politics (streamed from the White House YouTube feed).
• For the technically inclined: we had about 16,000 http requests per second at our peak, a level comparable to some of the most popular websites in the world (for example, Netflix cites 20,000 requests per second to their API).
• At our peak engagement, more than 50% of users were viewing WhiteHouse.gov via a mobile device or tablet.
• A total of 1,575,475 tweets and retweets used #SOTU on the day of the speech – about 25% growth relative to 2014, and @WhiteHouse gained roughly 10 times as many followers as compared to a typical day.
• The posted transcript of the speech as prepared for delivery, where it was first released, has been viewed more than 400,000 times. That’s our best engagement yet on Medium.
• For the first time, we released real-time clips from the speech, garnering almost 1.5 million views on Facebook during the speech.
• Our announcement video for our Big Block of Cheese Day currently has more than 730,000 views – check it out if you haven’t, it’s gouda – then ask a question.

We’re not done yet – and will continue to look for ways to innovate and get feedback from the public. If you have suggestions, let us know.

The President said it:

The State of the Union 2015: Everything You Need to Know:

• Watch the exclusive enhanced speech live at WH.gov/SOTU on Tuesday, January 20, at 9 p.m. ET.
• Visit WH.gov/SOTU to sign up for speech reminders, ask a question for post-speech follow-up, and get updates on the issues.
• The White House is Open for Questions: Get Ready for Big Block of Cheese Day 2.0
• Share which issue you'd most like to see progress on in the time we have left.
• Be sure you get all the latest updates by following the White House on YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Tumblr.

We’re constantly on the lookout for new ways to use digital channels to better engage with the public and give people a way to participate and interact with President Obama. Since 2011, a big part of that has been the "enhanced" version of the President’s State of the Union address, adding charts and graphics to give a deeper look at why policies are pursued, and what they mean for the American people. The format has improved over the years, including last year’s page which incorporated a real-time "tweetserver" that enabled users to share content in real time.

This year, we've been hard at work -- and tomorrow, we'll be rolling out a whole new stream of supporting material at WH.gov/SOTU. We’re calling it our “river of content." In addition to the enhanced livestream that features graphics augmenting the speech, the river will provide a series of discrete pieces of content, or "boats," that showcase expanded, standalone views into Administration policy -- often with an interactive or personalized component. It’s part of an effort to make policy more specific and interesting, and more relevant to the people who will be affected.

So what does the river mean for users? Well, it means you'll be able to see state-by-state or demographic data points in real-time. You'll be able to answer questions and respond to prompts, share feedback, discover related material, and see and share social media content. You'll generally get the kind of real-time experience usually reserved for sports events and technology company product demos -- and that content will all flow onto the page while you’re watching the speech. If it's not clear, we're pretty excited about it.

The whole experience has been built using a responsive design, meaning it will work equally well on a desktop, tablet, or mobile device. The river can serve as a viable second-screen view for users who want to close the livestream and use the page while simultaneously watching on TV. We've also improved accessibility this year, including real-time captioning in both English and Spanish.

You can get an early look at the page right now at WH.gov/SOTU, where you can tune in at 9 p.m. ET on Tuesday to watch the President live, and see the new enhanced features. Then stay tuned after the speech for a live interview from the White House with senior Administration officials conducted by Huffington Post Politics.

For those who want to dive into the technical side, we’re building the new tools with "websocket" technology. Websockets use a back-end connection to users' browsers to "push" content as we publish, rather than asking browsers to repeatedly "pull" content. As a result, we can deploy material in real time, during the speech, without jeopardizing the performance or security of our platform. We’ve also reincorporated tools that we used last year to new effect, including an implementation of Twitter’s API (Tweet Fetch) to curate a custom real-time social media feed.

Of course, the new SOTU live page is only one way we’re using digital tools to engage with the public during this year’s State of the Union. Over the last few weeks, the President has announced a series of policies he’ll be pursuing in the year ahead via digital platforms, including the President’s announcement about free community college (which was filmed from Air Force One), improving access to broadband Internet (featuring the President’s iPad), and creating fairer paid leave policies (released first on LinkedIn).

Then later this week, you can ask Administration officials your questions about the State of the Union at our second-ever, virtual Big Block of Cheese day. And then tune in on Thursday when the President is interviewed by three YouTube content creators asking questions crowdsourced from the public.

Have feedback for how we can keep getting better at communicating with the public? Let us know here.

The State of the Union 2015: Everything You Need to Know:

• Watch the exclusive enhanced speech live at WH.gov/SOTU on Tuesday, January 20, at 9 p.m. ET.
• Visit WH.gov/SOTU to sign up for speech reminders, ask a question for post-speech follow-up, and get updates on the issues.
• The White House is Open for Questions: Get Ready for Big Block of Cheese Day 2.0
• Share which issue you'd most like to see progress on in the time we have left.
• Be sure you get all the latest updates by following the White House on YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Tumblr.

Watch on YouTube

This afternoon, President Obama spoke at the dedication for the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial, honoring heroes who have sacrificed on behalf of our nation.

In his remarks, the President made clear that we must provide proper care for our veterans, noting: "When our wounded veterans set out on that long road of recovery, we need to move heaven and earth to make sure they get every single benefit, every single bit of care that they have earned, that they deserve."

"To every wounded warrior, to every disabled veteran -- thank you," he said.

President Barack Obama delivers remarks during the dedication ceremony of the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial in Washington, D.C., Sunday, Oct. 5, 2014. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)

President Obama detailed what the memorial dedication means for our veterans fighting to recover from the battlefield, and how critical the sacrifices of our veterans have been:

So, today, we take another step forward. With this memorial we commemorate, for the first time, the two battles our disabled veterans have fought -- the battle over there, and the battle here at home -- your battle to recover, which at times can be even harder, and certainly as longer. You walk these quiet grounds -- pause by the pictures of these men and women, you look into their eyes, read their words -- and we’re somehow able to join them on a journey that speaks to the endurance of the American spirit. And to you, our veterans and wounded warriors, we thank you for sharing your journey with us. 

Here we feel your fears -- the shock of that first moment when you realized something was different; the confusion about what would come next; the frustrations and the worries -- as one veteran said -- "that maybe I wouldn’t be quite the same."

And then here we see your resolve -- your refusal, in the face of overwhelming odds, to give in to despair or to cynicism; your decision, your choice, to overcome. Like the veteran who said, "It’s possible for a man to lose half his physical being and still become whole."

The President also highlighted the obligation we have as a country to continue to honor and support our veterans:

Here, in the heart of our nation’s capital, this memorial is a challenge to all of us -- a reminder of “the obligations this country is under.” And if we are to truly honor these veterans, we must heed the voices that speak to us here. Let’s never rush into war -- because it is America’s sons and daughters who bear the scars of war for the rest of their lives. Let us only send them into harm’s way when it’s absolutely necessary. And if we do, let’s always give them the strategy, the mission, and the support that they need to get the job done. When the mission is over -- and as our war in Afghanistan comes to a responsible end in two months -- let us stand united as Americans and welcome our veterans home with the thanks and respect they deserve.

Read the President's full remarks here.

Wounded Warriors are recognized during President Barack Obama's remarks at the dedication ceremony of the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial in Washington, D.C., Sunday, Oct. 5, 2014. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)

First Lady Michelle Obama, left, Malia Obama and President Barack Obama watch the Fourth of July fireworks from the roof of the White House, July 4, 2014. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

Yesterday, true to tradition, the President and First Lady celebrated the Fourth of July by hosting military heroes and their families for an Independence Day celebration with a barbecue, concert, and a view of fireworks on the South Lawn.

Check out the President's remarks:

And then watch the fireworks:

President Barack Obama listens as Deputy Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, Department of Homeland Security administers the Oath of Allegiance during a naturalization ceremony in the East Room of the White House, July 4, 2014. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

This morning, President Obama welcomed 25 new American citizens at a special naturalization ceremony held at the White House. The President celebrated as service members and their families were able for the first time to be called "our fellow Americans" on this Fourth of July, just as they are in ceremonies happening today around the country. The President paid tribute to all those who served and fought for the United States in the Armed Forces, and to the great sacrifice of their spouses and families.

In the President's words:

Today, on this Fourth of July, all across the country –- from Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello to the Alamodome in Texas -- immigrants from around the world are taking the oath of citizenship.  And many of them have worked and sacrificed for years to get to this moment.  All of them have done it for something none of us should ever take for granted:  the right to be called an American, from this moment, and forever after.

Learn more about the Fourth of July at the White House.

That's why we're launching WhiteHouse.gov/Tools: It's a collection of tools from across the government that can make your life easier.

• Trying to figure out which college matches your family's budget? Look no further than Department of Education's handy college scorecard.
• Wondering how much money a hybrid car might save you? Department of Energy has you covered.
• What about finding local farmers markets? There's a map for that (courtesy of USDA).

And those are just some of the tools we're spotlighting.

Check out the page -- and find a tool that works for you.

See something you think we should spotlight? Tell us here. And for even more, go to USA.gov.

Our old privacy policy was just that -- old. The last substantial update occurred in 2011, and its substance remains predominantly based on an even earlier version. Our online presence and infrastructure has evolved to include new capabilities, like expanded use of mobile and email technology, and we need a privacy policy that reflects that growth and which is appropriate for the rest of the Administration.

As a result of some of those new technologies, we have a greater ability to provide users with a more dynamic experience -- one that is better tailored to the information that is relevant to them. On a practical level, if you have opted in to receive email updates, we'll use data that you submit or that is automatically generated by your use of the website to try to send you more information about issues or events you care about. 

Of course, you can always unsubscribe from our emails or turn off cookies in your browser if you decide you’re not interested in this kind of information anymore.

You'll notice the new policy is substantially different visually. We wanted our new policy to be easier to read and understand, so we've built out a new interactive page that puts this into a simpler, shorter format with plain language (or as plain as we can).

It’s also important to recognize what hasn’t changed: Much of our data retention is a consequence of adherence to the Presidential Records Act. And how we share data covered by the policy outside the Executive Office of the President has not changed.

Have feedback? Submit on WhiteHouse.gov/Privacy/Feedback.

President Barack Obama delivers the State of the Union address in the House Chamber at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., Jan. 28, 2014 (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)

This year, the White House ventured to make the President's State of the Union address more interactive and engaging than ever before. This ranged from a fully "responsive" page optimized for desktop, tablet, and mobile, where we streamed an "enhanced" version of the speech featuring charts, images, and infographics, to unprecedented behind-the-scenes access to the speechwriting process through exclusive videos. On Instagram, White House staff "took over" our account to take you "Inside SOTU," and then, after the speech, dozens of administration officials (including President Obama) answered your questions.

There was a little something for everyone, and you responded like never before. Here's a look at some of the numbers behind SOTU 2014 – and follow along in the year to come to make sure you don’t miss out on upcoming behind-the-scenes content, explanations of White House policy proposals, and the occasional picture of Sunny or Bo.

The "Enhanced" State of the Union Address

• The Speech: The "enhanced" version of this year's State of the Union address featured 132 graphics, charts, and images, up from 104 last year. And you tuned in like never before, as we registered more than 1.4 million views of the stream, a 38% increase over 2013.
• Mobile: This year, 34% of visitors to WH.gov/SOTU were using a mobile device, up from 23% in 2013 and 12% in 2012.
• Real-Time Slide Sharing: For the first time, we gave viewers the ability to share the “enhanced” SOTU slides with their networks in real-time on Twitter. Over the course of the speech, this interactive feature was used nearly 11,000 times for more than 40 slides.
• Email: The week of the State of the Union, our email list grew by seven times the normal rate and drove 87% more traffic to WhiteHouse.gov than over the same period in 2013. If you haven’t already, subscribe now to receive this exclusive content moving forward.

SOTU on Social Media

• @Whitehouse: During the speech, the @WhiteHouse account posted 142 tweets, garnering more than 78,000 retweets and replies. 41 of the 142 tweets featured social-optimized versions of the same "enhanced" SOTU slides to add to the real-time experience.
• #SOTU: A total of 1,193,366 tweets used the hashtag #SOTU during the speech. Here are some of the top moments:

1. Calls for equal pay for women increasing the minimum wage led to the most dramatic response, with more than 20,000 tweets per minute between 9:47 and 9:48 PM
2. Health insurance drew approximately 15,000 tweets per minute 9:56 and 10:01 PM
3. The President’s statement that climate change is a fact led to over 14,000 tweets at 9:35 PM
4. Twitter users also responded strongly to the President’s closing, with about 13,000 tweets per minute between 10:18 and 10:22 PM

• "Day in the Life" Instagram Takeover: In the week leading up to the State of the Union, the White House kicked off a “Day in the Life” series featuring White House Chief Speechwriter Cody Keenan, Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett, Director of the Domestic Policy Council Cecilia Munoz, Press Secretary Jay Carney, and Senior Advisor Dan Pfeiffer who provided followers with a behind-the-scenes look into the State of the Union process. The Instagram posts garnered 163,734 total likes and the White House Instagram account gained over 20,000 followers.
• Virtual "Big Block of Cheese Day": The day after the speech, over 30 Obama Administration officials (including four Cabinet Secretaries, President Obama, and the First Lady) took to social media and answered hundreds of questions from everyday Americans during a day-long "open house" on Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, Instagram, and Google+. Nearly 20,000 questions were submitted using the hashtag #AsktheWH, which trended nationwide during the event.
• Google+ Virtual Road Trip with President Obama: On Friday, January 31st, the President went on a virtual "Road Trip" via Google+ and joined three different hangouts with Americans across the country to answer questions about his address. This event has been viewed nearly 500,000 times, and during the event, the hashtag #POTUSRoadTrip trended nationwide.
• White House SOTU Social: This year marked our third State of the Union Social event during which social media followers are invited to join in-person to watch the Enhanced State of the Union address. More than 2,000 citizens applied, and 60 guests from 21 states and the District of Columbia were selected to attend. Following the speech, the guests participated in a live Open for Questions event with administration officials, including a surprise visit from Secretary of Labor Tom Perez, who responded to questions both from the live audience and from Twitter and Facebook with the hashtag #SOTUChat. The Open for Questions event was carried on the livestream on WhiteHouse.gov/SOTU immediately following the speech and retained more than 210,000 views. 

President Barack Obama delivers the State of the Union address in the House Chamber at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., Jan. 28, 2014. (Official White House Photo by Amanda Lucidon)

For the 2014 State of the Union, the White House is rolling out a series of new online features designed to improve accessibility and interactivity. We're making an effort to give you a look inside the State of the Union process – however you want to engage.

Last week, we launched WhiteHouse.gov/SOTU, a new, fully "responsive" page that provides desktop, tablet, and mobile visitors an identical experience, dynamically optimized for their specific device. Users can RSVP for the speech and receive dedicated updates, dig deeper and learn more with exclusive content like behind-the-scenes access on the speech-writing process, a series of "Day in the Life" Instagram "take-overs" from senior administration officials, and more. And we've made it easier than ever to share this content with your social networks – particularly during our exclusive enhanced live broadcast – to help you spread the word.

An "Enhanced" Speech with Live Sharing
Since 2011, we've streamed "enhanced" versions of President Obama's State of the Union on WhiteHouse.gov with official charts, data, and other graphics to illustrate the facts that explain why the President has taken specific positions. This year we've added a new live social media feature, so you'll be able to share these graphics and other dynamic content via Twitter in real time during the speech. Check it out – this will be your best option for where to watch the speech.

A "Two Screen" Experience
Watching on TV? No problem. You can still get an exclusive enhanced experience too. Check out WH.gov/SOTU with your tablet or smartphone, and click the "watching on TV?" tab to minimize the live stream, and optimize your view of the enhanced slides, live share functionality, and all the other exclusive White House content

Responsive Design
The 2014 State of the Union Address will mark the first time that a major event will be published in a responsive format on the White House website. The White House has developed responsive site features in the past, but this is our biggest undertaking to date. And in the coming months, we'll be extending this functionality across WhiteHouse.gov, with the goal of making the entire site fully responsive.

Other Ways to Watch
In addition to the live enhanced version of the speech on WhiteHouse.gov/SOTU, you can also tune in live on Facebook, YouTube, Google+ and through our mobile app.

Keeping The Conversation Going
It doesn't end just because the speech is over. Following the speech, the page will not only have the full, enhanced video of the speech, but all of the additional White House content published before and during the speech, optimized for sharing with your social networks. Then on Wednesday, January 29th, with a nod to history (and maybe the TV show the West Wing), the Obama Administration is hosting the first-ever virtual "Big Block of Cheese Day," during which dozens of White House officials will take to social media for a day long open house to answer questions from everyday Americans in real-time on Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, Instagram and via Google+ Hangout. And on Friday, you can join the President on a virtual road trip across the country via Google+ Hangouts. Want to join in? Learn more about how you can ask questions and tune in.

Today, President Obama presented the Medal of Honor to U.S. Army Captain William Swenson.

Last month, the United States Army released a remarkable piece of video. It’s from the combat helmet cameras of a Medevac helicopter crew in Afghanistan. It’s shaky and grainy, but it takes us to the frontlines that our troops face every day. And in that video, as the helicopter touches down by a remote village, you see, out of a cloud of dust, an American soldier.

He’s without his helmet, standing in the open, exposing himself to enemy fire, standing watch over a severely wounded soldier. He helps carry that wounded soldier to the helicopter, and places him inside. Then, amidst the whipping wind and deafening roar of the blades, he does something unexpected. He leans in and kisses the wounded soldier on the head – a simple act of compassion and loyalty to a brother in arms. And as the door closes and the helicopter takes off, he turns and goes back the way he came, back into the battle.

In our nation’s history, we have presented our highest military decoration, the Medal of Honor, nearly 3,500 times for actions above and beyond the call of duty. But this may be the first time that we can actually bear witness to a small part of those actions for ourselves. And today we honor the American in that video – the soldier who went back in – Captain William Swenson.

Swenson received the Medal of Honor for his courageous actions while serving as an Embedded Trainer and Mentor of the Afghan National Security Forces with Afghan Border Police Mentor Team, 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, during a lengthy battle with the Taliban in Kunar Province, Afghanistan on September 8, 2009.

Moments like this, Americans like Will, remind us what our country can be at its best – a nation of citizens who look out for one another; who meet our obligations to one another, not just when it’s easy, but when it’s hard. Especially when it’s hard. Will, you’re an example – to everyone in this city, to our whole country – of the professionalism and patriotism we should strive for – whether we wear the uniform or not.

It was only the second time in nearly half a century that the Medal of Honor has been awarded to two survivors of the same battle. Corporal Dakota Meyer who fought not far from Swenson, was presented the Medal of Honor two years ago.

President Obama told the story of Swenson's actions in battle that day.

I want to take you back to that September morning four years ago. It’s around sunrise. A column of Afghan soldiers and their American advisors are winding their way up a narrow trail towards a village to meet with elders. But just as the first soldier reaches the outskirts of the village, all hell breaks loose.

Almost instantly, three Marines and a Navy corpsman [CORE-man] at the front of the column are surrounded. Will and the soldiers in the center of the column are pinned down. Rocket-propelled grenade, mortar, and machine gun fire is pouring in from three sides.

As he returns fire, Will calls for air support. But his initial requests are denied – Will and his team are too close to the village. Then Will learns that his noncommissioned officer, Sergeant First Class Kenneth Westbrook, has been shot in the neck. So Will breaks across 50 meters of open space, bullets biting all around. Lying on his back, he presses a bandage to Kenneth’s wound with one hand and calls for a Medevac with the other, trying to keep his buddy calm.

By this time, the enemy has gotten even closer – just 20 or 30 meters away. Over the radio, they’re demanding the Americans surrender. Will stops treating Kenneth long enough to respond – by lobbing a grenade.

Finally, after more than an hour and a half of fighting, air support arrives. Will directs them to nearby targets. Then it’s time to move. Exposing himself again to enemy fire, Will helps carry Kenneth the length of more than two football fields, down steep terraces, to that helicopter. And then, in the moment captured by those cameras, Will leans in to say goodbye.

But more Americans – and more Afghans – are still out there. So Will does something incredible. He jumps behind the wheel of an unarmored Ford Ranger pickup truck. A Marine gets in the passenger seat. And they drive that truck – a vehicle designed for the highway – straight into the battle.

Twice, they pick up injured Afghan soldiers – bullets whizzing past them, slamming into the pickup truck. Twice they bring them back. When the truck gives out, they grab a Humvee. The Marine by Will’s side has no idea how they survived. But, he says, “by that time it didn’t matter. We [were] not leaving any soldiers behind.”

Finally, a helicopter spots those four missing Americans – hours after they were trapped in the opening ambush. So Will gets in another Humvee, with a crew that includes Dakota Meyer. And together, they drive. Past enemy fighters. Up through the valley. Exposed once more.

When they reach the village, Will jumps out – drawing even more fire, dodging even more bullets. But they reach those Americans, lying where they fell. Will and the others carry them out, one-by-one. They bring their fallen brothers home.

While there, the President joined volunteers and helped prepare food for the pantry. He spent some time with a few elementary school students working alongside furloughed federal employees, making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for Americans who are in need of a helping hand.

With the shutdown dragging into its third week, it’s time to let these furloughed employees return to work. In the President’s words:

This week if we don’t start making some real progress, both the House and the Senate and if Republicans aren’t willing to set aside their partisan concerns in order to do what’s right for the country, we stand a good chance of defaulting and defaulting could have a potentially have a devastating effect on our economy.

Martha’s Table has been serving the DC community for over 30 years. The organization helps more than 1,100 people per day obtain healthy food and needed clothing, daycare and after-school programs, and other family support services. To learn more about them, you can visit their website at marthastable.org.

Transcript | Download mp4 | Download mp3

In government, Dr. Yellen has been known for her sound judgment and ability to build consensus. As an academic, she made critical contributions to understanding how monetary policy can make a difference for jobs, growth and the lives of ordinary people. 505 economists from more than 211 colleges and universities—including some of the country’s leading monetary economists—have signed a letter endorsing her for Fed Chair.

If confirmed by the Senate, Dr. Yellin would be the first woman to hold the position of Chair of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve.  

See the event from earlier today in the State Dining Room here:

Transcript

"This morning, I had a chance to speak with Speaker Boehner, and I told him what I've been saying publicly, that I am happy to talk with him and other Republicans about anything — not just issues I think are important, but also issues that they think are important. But I also told him that having such a conversation, talks, negotiations, shouldn’t require hanging the threats of a government shutdown or economic chaos over the heads of the American people."

Watch the full remarks here.

President Barack Obama answers a question during a press conference in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House, Oct. 10, 2013. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

He concluded:

I think the American people simply want government to work. And there’s no reason that there has to be a shutdown in order for the kinds of negotiations Speaker Boehner says he wants to proceed. Hold a vote. Call a vote right now.

Watch the full remarks here or you can read them here:
 

Transcript | Download mp4 | Download mp3

In this week’s address, President Obama said that Republicans in the House of Representatives chose to shut down the government over a health care law they don’t like, Oct. 5, 2013

Watch on YouTube

The President's remarks highlighted the effects of the shutdown on the American people, effects that could be avoided just by putting a resolution to fund the government and avoid a default to an up-or-down vote. Watch the entire speech here:

Related Posts:

• What Does the Health Insurance Marketplace Mean for You?
• Applying for Health Insurance Just Got Easier
• White House White Board: What Obamacare Means for You

Watch President Obama's statement here:

Below, find an overview of some of the government services and operations that will be impacted until Congress passes a budget to fund them again. For detailed information about US government operations, you can learn more at whitehouse.gov/omb/contingency-plans.

• Vital services that ensure seniors and young children have access to healthy food and meals may not have sufficient Federal funds to serve all beneficiaries in an extended lapse.
• Call centers, hotlines and regional offices that help veterans understand their benefits will close to the public.
• And, veterans’ compensation, pension, education and other benefits could be cut off in the case of an extended shutdown.
• Every one of America’s national parks and monuments, from Yosemite to the Smithsonian to the Statue of Liberty, will be immediately closed.
• New applications for small business loans and loan guarantees will be immediately halted.
• Research into life-threatening diseases and other areas will stop and new patients won’t be accepted into clinical trials at the National Institutes of Health.
• Work to protect consumers, ranging from child product safety to financial security to the safety of hazardous waste facilities, will cease. The EPA will halt non-essential inspections of chemical facilities and drinking water systems.
• Permits and reviews for planned energy and transportations projects will stop, preventing companies from working on these projects.
• Loans to rural communities will be halted.
• Hundreds of thousands of Federal employees including many charged with protecting us from terrorist threats, defending our borders, inspecting our food, and keeping our skies safe will work without pay until the shutdown ends.
• Hundreds of thousands of additional Federal workers will be immediately and indefinitely furloughed without pay.

The following services that will continue during the government shut down:

• Social security beneficiaries will continue receiving checks.
• The U.S. Postal Service will keep delivering mail.
• Active military will continue serving.
• Air traffic controllers, prison guards and border patrol agents will remain on the job.
• NASA Mission Control will continue supporting astronauts serving on the Space Station.

For more information:

• Here's how a government shutdown affects the American people
• President Obama: Congress Needs to Keep Our Government Open

Message from the President to U.S. Government Employees:

October 1, 2013

To the dedicated and hard-working employees of the United States Government:

The Federal Government is America’s largest employer, with more than 2 million civilian workers and 1.4 million active duty military who serve in all 50 States and around the world.

But Congress has failed to meet its responsibility to pass a budget before the fiscal year that begins today. And that means much of our Government must shut down effective today.

I want you to know that I will keep working to get Congress to reopen the Government, restart vital services that the American people depend on, and allow public servants who have been sent home to return to work. At my direction, your agencies should have reached out to you by now about what a shutdown means for you and your families.

Today, I wanted to take a moment to tell you what you mean to me—and to our country.

That begins by saying thank you for the work you do every day—work that is vitally important to our national security and to American families’ economic security. You defend our country overseas and ensure that our troops receive the benefits they deserve when they come home. You guard our borders and protect our civil rights. You help small businesses expand and gain new footholds in overseas markets. You guide hundreds of thousands of people each day through the glory of America’s national parks and monuments, from Yosemite to the Statue of Liberty. And much more.

You do all this in a political climate that, too often in recent years, has treated you like a punching bag. You have endured three years of a Federal pay freeze, harmful sequester cuts, and now, a shutdown of our Government. And yet, you persevere, continuing to serve the American people with passion, professionalism, and skill.

None of this is fair to you. And should it continue, it will make it more difficult to keep attracting the kind of driven, patriotic, idealistic Americans to public service that our citizens deserve and that our system of self-government demands.

Public service is noble. Public service is important. And by choosing public service, you carry on a proud tradition at the heart of some of this country’s greatest and most lasting achievements. In fact, more than 50 current or former Federal employees have received the Nobel Prize for their efforts. It was grants from the Department of Energy that helped businesses unlock new sources of renewable energy, and from the National Science Foundation that helped entrepreneurs like the founders of Google change the world. It is your efforts that will help this country meet the great challenge of our time—rebuilding an economy where all who work hard can get ahead.

So while the budget fights in Washington are too often partisan, your service to the country must never be. As one of my predecessors, President George H.W. Bush, once said, “There is nothing more fulfilling than to serve your country and your fellow citizens and to do it well. And that is what our system of self-government depends on.”

This shutdown was completely preventable. It should not have happened. And the House of Representatives can end it as soon as it follows the Senate’s lead, and funds your work in the United States Government without trying to attach highly controversial and partisan measures in the process.

Hopefully, we will resolve this quickly. In the meantime, I want you to know—whether you are a young person who just joined public service because you want to make a difference, or a career employee who has dedicated your life to that pursuit—you and your families remain at the front of my mind. Your agency leaders and I will continue to defend your work at a time when that work has rarely been more important. We will continue to work with your agencies to keep you and your families apprised and informed of what is happening. And I will continue to do everything in my power to get the House of Representatives to allow our Government to reopen as quickly as possible, and make sure you receive the pay that you have earned.

Thank you, again, for your service, your sacrifice, and everything you do every day for this country we love so much.

Sincerely,
President Obama

For more information:

• President Obama's message to the troops regarding the government shutdown
• Here is how a government shutdown impacts the American people

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