Federal agencies collect enormous amounts of data about such diverse matters as automobile safety, air travel, air quality, workplace safety, drug safety, nutrition, crime, obesity, the employment market, and health care.  The Obama Administration has made it a priority to share this and other government information – what the President has called a “national asset” – to improve citizen education and decision-making, and to spur innovation and job creation.  

Federal agencies are working hard to foster open government, and we encourage you to examine what they have done. For example:

• The Department of Homeland Security created “Virtual USA,” enabling public safety officials across all levels of government to share information in real time, and improve response to national disasters. 
• The Department of Energy, as part of its efforts to promote clean energy, launched OpenEI.org, containing dozens of clean energy resources and data sets, including maps of worldwide solar and wind potential, information on climate zones, and energy best practices.  The Department intends to expand these resources to include on-line training and technical expert networks.
• The Environmental Protection Agency, together with other federal, state, local, and tribal agencies, developed AIRNow.gov, offering the public daily Air Quality Index forecasts and real-time Air Quality Index conditions for over 300 cities across the country as well as links to detailed state and local air quality cites.
• And six federal agencies—the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, the U.S. Coast Guard, the Food and Drug Administration, the Department of Agriculture, and the EPA—created Recalls.gov, to alert the public to unsafe, hazardous, or defective products and up-to-date consumer safety information.

Throughout the week, WhiteHouse.gov will continue highlighting the Administration’s commitment to open government, including the accomplishments other departments, including Health and Human Services and Transportation.  We hope you will take a moment to read these blog posts.  What unites these federal agencies is that they all consider open government to be a long-term investment in building a stronger democracy and creating a more efficient and effective government. 

As the head of the White House Office of Cabinet Affairs, I work every day with the President’s Cabinet to advance his policy priorities.  Few issues trigger the depth and breadth of support from across the Cabinet as the DREAM Act.  This landmark legislation would strengthen our economy, our competitiveness, our workforce, our national defense, and our homeland security. 

Having worked for the President for the past six years, I know first-hand his deep commitment to the DREAM Act.  As a State Senator in Illinois, he helped pass that state’s version of the DREAM Act.  As a United States Senator, he was a co-sponsor of the legislation. 

Over the past few weeks, members of the Cabinet have spoken eloquently and persuasively about the importance of passing the DREAM Act. 

• Defense Secretary Robert Gates has cited the precedent of non-citizens serving in the U.S. military;
• Education Secretary Arne Duncan has explained how the DREAM Act will enable the U.S. to have the highest proportion of college graduates in the world by 2020;
• Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano has stated that passing the DREAM Act will free up important resources to allow her department to detain and deport criminals and those who pose a threat to our country;
• Commerce Secretary Gary Locke has described the rich history of immigrants building companies that help spur American innovation and competitiveness;
• Labor Secretary Hilda Solis has said that the DREAM Act would result in a stronger American workforce;  
• Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has described the importance of this legislation to the economic revitalization of rural communities; and
• Attorney General Eric Holder has explained how the DREAM Act is grounded in our nation’s finest traditions and principles.

Like many members of the White House staff and the Cabinet, I am the child of immigrants. 

A few hours after the President was inaugurated on January 20, 2009, I walked into the White House as a member of the Obama Administration.  My first thought that wintry afternoon was not about the majesty of the building, the historic furniture and paintings, or even the size of my office.  My first thought was about my immigrant parents.

Both of my parents came to this country to attend college, and the opportunity provided by their education allowed them to embark on successful careers, buy a home, raise a family, send their children to college and graduate school, and eventually watch one of their sons work for the President of the United States. 

Only in a country founded on opportunity and equality – values that are at the heart of the DREAM Act – is such a story possible.  It’s the reason why the bill is supported by business and labor leaders, military commanders, law enforcement officers, educators, religious leaders, and people all across the political spectrum. 

Last week’s approval of the DREAM Act in the House of Representatives was a historic and important step.  Eight Republicans voted together with Democrats to approve this important bill in the House.  Shortly, the Senate will have its chance to vote on the DREAM Act.  The President and his Cabinet are doing everything possible to ensure that the bill becomes law and that this country lives up to its highest ideals.

Chris Lu is Assistant to the President and Cabinet Secretary

• Helping Middle Class Families Save on Energy Bills. As part of our efforts to remove barriers standing in the way of a strong and sustainable home energy-efficiency industry, the Vice President announced several new agency initiatives that will help middle-class families save money on their energy bills. 
• Helping Farmers and Small Businesses Reduce Energy Costs. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack announced $30 million in loans and grants that will generate and save energy for our nation's farmers and rural small businesses for decades to come.  The loans and grants will go to more than 500 farmers, ranchers, and rural businesses for renewable energy and energy efficiency projects across the country. In each case, the projects announced will cut energy costs by 25 to 65 percent, amounting to an estimated 2.9 million kilowatt hours of energy saved. Among other things, this funding will help replace outdated equipment, such as inefficient grain dryers, support energy production from anaerobic digesters, insulate buildings, and allow recipients to incorporate renewable energy technologies into their operations.
• Large Scale Solar Power on Public Lands.  Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar approved a large-scale solar energy project on U.S. public lands in Nevada – a 500-megawatt facility that will provide electricity to about 150,000 homes and create 1,300 construction jobs and up to 200 permanent operation jobs.  Since early October, the Secretary has approved a total of eight large-scale solar energy projects that combined will generate 3,500 megawatts to power more than 1 million homes and create 6,000 construction jobs and 700 permanent plant operations jobs.
• Cars that Will Run on Compressed Natural Gas. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu announced an offer of a nearly $50 million conditional loan commitment that will support the development of the six-passenger MV-1, a factory-built wheelchair accessible vehicle that will run on compressed natural gas.  The Vehicle Production Group estimates that the project is expected to create over 900 jobs and that it will produce approximately 22,650 vehicles per year when at full capacity.
• Greening the Federal Supply Chain. General Services Administrator Martha Johnson and White House Council on Environmental Quality Chair Nancy Sutley recently announced a collaboration between the federal government and vendors and suppliers to create a greener and more efficient supply chain.
• Modernizing Our Electric Grid and Powering Electric Cars. Cathy Zoi, the Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at the Department of Energy, took part in a ribbon cutting at the first public curbside electric vehicle charging station here in the nation’s capital.  The Department of Energy also awarded $19 million, as part of a public-private investment of more than $30 million, for five projects to increase reliability, efficiency and security of our nation’s electric grid. 

Watch the video:

[[nid:20120]]

Throughout our Hurricane Katrina: 5 Years of Remembering & Rebuilding series, we heard stories of dedication and restoration from across the federal government.  Here are just a few examples of the Administration’s continued support for the individuals, families and communities who were affected:

• The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provided more permanent housing to over 30,000 families stuck in disaster housing, made grants to help prevent homelessness, and helped stabilize Gulf Coast communities suffering from foreclosures and abandonment.  Read the full post:  On the Road from Recovery to Revitalization by Secretary Shaun Donovan.
• Over the last several years, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has taken a number of steps to eliminate red tape and bureaucracy, expand the agency’s support for local projects, and aggressively prepare for future hurricanes and other natural disasters.  Read the full post: Cutting Red Tape and Helping Communities Rebuild by Administrator Craig Fugate.
• The Small Business Administration (SBA) has been working hard to overhaul its disaster assistance program and has succeeded in reducing the average processing time for loans, creating new ways for disaster victims to apply for loans, and increasing the capacity of loan processing centers and total disaster response staff.  Read the full post: SBA Disaster Assistance: Then and Now by Administrator Karen Mills.
• Lisa Jackson, Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), discussed her experiences growing up in New Orleans and her efforts to safeguard the region’s natural resources.  Under her leadership, one of EPA’s priorities is the protection of our nation’s vulnerable wetlands and coastal communities.  Read the full post: Restoring the Gulf's Priceless Natural Resources by Administrator Lisa Jackson.
• Since Hurricane Katrina, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has been dedicated to rebuilding and strengthening the Gulf’s health care infrastructure, including support for the network of community health centers, providing funding for medical services and mental health programs, and encouraging primary care providers to work in underserved areas. Read the full post: Strengthening the Gulf's Health Care Infrastructure for Generations to Come by Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.
• The Department of Labor continues to invest in the region’s residents by funding training and education programs, and preparing workers for in-demand careers in high-growth industries.  Because of these efforts, individuals and families are working to rebuild their communities and their livelihoods. Read the full post: Lost and Found: Preparing Workers for New Careers by Secretary Hilda Solis.
• The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has provided funding for new schools and universities, fire houses, police stations, and critical infrastructure, and continues to improve the country’s ability to prepare for, respond to, and recover from major disasters of all kinds.  Read the full post: Improving America's Disaster Response by Secretary Janet Napolitano.
• Since Hurricane Katrina, the Department of Education has provided nearly $2 billion for Gulf Coast schools, helping schools re-open after the hurricanes, and supporting schools that enrolled displaced students.  Read the full post: Helping New Orleans Rebuild Its Schools by Secretary Arne Duncan.
• The Department of Transportation’s ongoing work has been crucial in rebuilding the region and includes repairing and expanding highways, creating new public transit options, and restoring the shipping capabilities of the Mississippi River and its port communities.  Read the full post: Five Years Later, Our Commitment Continues by Secretary Ray LaHood.
• Through the Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development office, work continues with local families to help them regain their sense of dignity and hope, including supporting hundreds of Louisiana families through single-family housing programs.  In the last two years alone, over 1,100 Louisiana families have been assisted through $165 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds for financing their home.  Read the full post: Five Years After Hurricanes Rita and Katrina, USDA Continues to Assist Gulf Residents by Under Secretary Dallas Tonsager.

Despite these great efforts, there is still more work to be done.  The Administration is committed to continuing our support for the Gulf Coast and the community of dedicated residents that are working together to restore the city.  As the President said this weekend:

“And together, we are helping to make New Orleans a place that stands for what we can do in America -- not just for what we can’t do.  Ultimately, that must be the legacy of Katrina:  not one of neglect, but of action; not one of indifference, but of empathy; not of abandonment, but of a community working together to meet shared challenges.”

Chris Lu is Assistant to the President and Cabinet Secretary

The storm and its tragic aftermath took more than a thousand lives, displaced more than a million residents, inflicted major damage to nearly 300,000 homes, and wiped out hundreds of square miles of coastal land.  Since the hurricanes hit, the people of the Gulf Coast have never stopped working to rebuild their communities, but their resilience and determination were sometimes challenged by unnecessary bureaucratic obstacles.   Since taking office, the Administration has eliminated bureaucratic red tape that has delayed assistance, including obligating nearly $2.42 billion in Public Assistance funds for recovery in Louisiana and Mississippi that had been stalled for years, and supported the Federal agencies and state and local partners who continue to provide assistance to the region.  President Obama has also worked to improve disaster preparedness, response, and recovery nationwide, so that the Gulf Coast and all other regions of the country will be more resilient and better prepared in the face of future disasters.

By continuing to support local restoration efforts, provide assistance to businesses, schools and residents, and prepare for future events, the Administration’s efforts have been improving the functioning of government so that it works for all people.  Government agencies have worked together in a collaborative manner to strengthen Federal emergency programs; enhance emergency communications; improve disaster housing; and work with state and local governments, community stakeholders, and individuals, to improve preparedness and capacity for long-term recovery from disasters. 

In the five years since the storm, families have returned to area, houses have gone up, schools have reopened, and businesses have been rebuilt.   But there is more work to do – and this Administration is committed to working with the people of the Gulf region to get the job done. This week, we will be featuring a series of blog posts on WhiteHouse.gov from government agencies that have been working with local communities to restore the region.

For more information about ongoing activities:

• Read more on gulf coast hurricane recovery and nationwide disaster preparedness and response efforts
• Visit the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) site on rebuilding lives and revitalizing communities

Read more posts from the Hurricane Katrina: 5 Years of Remembering & Rebuilding series:

• On the Road from Recovery to Revitalization by Secretary Shaun Donovan
• Five Years After Hurricanes Rita and Katrina, USDA Continues to Assist Gulf Residents by Dallas Tonsager
• Cutting Red Tape and Helping Communities Rebuild by Administrator Craig Fugate
• SBA Disaster Assistance: Then and Now by Administrator Karen Mills
• Restoring the Gulf's Priceless Natural Resources by Administrator Lisa Jackson
• Strengthening the Gulf's Health Care Infrastructure for Generations to Come by Secretary Kathleen Sebelius
• Lost and Found: Preparing Workers for New Careers by Secretary Hilda Solis
• Improving America's Disaster Response by Secretary Janet Napolitano
• Helping New Orleans Rebuild Its Schools by Secretary Arne Duncan
• Five Years Later, Our Commitment Continues by Secretary Ray LaHood

Chris Lu is Assistant to the President and Cabinet Secretary

Dear Colleen:

The events of recent weeks have again reminded us of the risks that federal civilian employees face in service to their nation.  We are grateful to these employees for their dedication to enforcing laws and managing important programs that help all Americans.  The Constitution's vision of 'a more perfect union' is only possible because of their tireless efforts.  

My Administration is fully committed to maximizing the safety of federal employees and preventing acts of violence against them.

Sincerely,

Barack Obama

Chris Lu is Assistant to the President and Cabinet Secretary

Faced with these unparalleled challenges, the President and his Cabinet went straight to work.  The Administration took bold steps to: rescue the country from a potential second Great Depression; rebuild the economy for the long-term by creating good-paying jobs, improving education, reducing health care costs, and promoting energy independence; and restore America’s standing and leadership in the world.

Over the past year, the Administration has made real progress towards these goals.  Today, I’m pleased to announce a new interactive online feature, "The President’s Cabinet Reporting to You."  Through short videos, members of the President’s Cabinet describe their agencies’ accomplishments over the past year, as well as their plans for moving the country forward.

For example:

• Energy Secretary Chu highlights the thousands of green jobs that have been created through Recovery Act dollars;
• Health and Human Services Secretary Sebelius talks about the success in helping to prevent the spread of the H1N1 virus;
• Secretary of State Clinton describes her department’s efforts to restore our global partnerships; and
• Office of Management and Budget Director Peter Orszag discusses the President’s initiative to streamline government programs that work and eliminate those that don’t.

This Friday morning, President Obama will convene the fifth Cabinet Meeting of his Administration and continue his discussions with the Cabinet about their efforts to create more jobs, rebuild the middle class, and transform our economy for the 21st Century.

Chris Lu is Assistant to the President and Cabinet Secretary

Since the country's founding, Presidents have been meeting behind closed doors with their Cabinets.  That's to be expected, since it's important for the President to be able to speak candidly with his most trusted advisors.  Indeed, a Cabinet meeting is so critical to the functioning of our government that it's one of the rare occasions that the entire Cabinet is allowed by Secret Service to be in the same place at the same time.  However, in keeping with President Obama's commitment to openness and transparency, we wanted to give the public a rare, behind-the-scenes look at how a Cabinet meeting comes together: 

Chris Lu is Cabinet Secretary for the White House