Blog Posts Related to the African American Community

  • Economists: The President’s Plan Will Create Jobs Now, The GOP’s Won’t

    Posted by Dan Pfeiffer on October 7, 2011 at 12:18 PM EDT

    Yesterday, the President held a press conference and once again urged Congress to pass the American Jobs Act to jumpstart the economy and put the American people back to work.  There’s no question that the American Jobs Act will put more money in the pockets of working Americans, get police officers, teachers and firefighters back to work and put construction workers back on the job rebuilding our crumbling roads and bridges.  These are the steps we must take to get our economy moving again. 

    But don’t take our word for it.   Prominent, independent experts have confirmed that the American Jobs Act will materially improve economic growth and employment next year. For example, Moody’s Mark Zandi released a report stating that “The plan would add 2 percentage points to GDP growth next year, add 1.9 million jobs, and cut the unemployment rate by a percentage point.”  Macroeconomic Advisers estimated that it would increase growth by 1.3%, and result in 1.3 million more jobs in 2012. The President has proposed a plan.  It’s been assessed and reviewed by independent experts. 

    But what do those same independent experts say about the Republican’s plan?  According to an article in the New York Times this morning, Macroeconomic Advisers chairman Joel Prakken said their plan “would have little immediate effect relative to a plan that stimulates aggregate demand.”  Moody’s Mark Zandi said the Republicans' ideas “won’t mean much for the economy and job market in the next year,” even as he said “it is vital for Congress and the administration to provide some near-term support to the economy.”

    The Republican plan won’t create jobs in the short term.  The American Jobs Act is made up of the kind of ideas that both Republicans and Democrats have supported in the past. There’s simply no excuse for them sitting on the sidelines while teachers are being laid off in droves and construction workers are out of a job.  It’s time for Republicans to stop playing politics and pass this bill. 

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  • Reaffirming Our Commitment to Fighting – and Preventing – Breast Cancer

    Posted by Kathleen Sebelius on October 3, 2011 at 6:47 PM EDT

    White House Is Pink

    The North Portico exterior of the White House is illuminated pink, Oct. 3, 2011, in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)

    Ed note: This has been cross-posted from healthcare.gov

    October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month – a time to remember those who have lost their lives to breast cancer and those who are battling it now, and to celebrate with those who have survived. It is also a time to reaffirm our commitment to fighting breast cancer and to remind ourselves of the importance of prevention and early detection.

    In recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I had the privilege of joining actress Jennifer Aniston, who recently directed a new Lifetime Original movie exploring a family affected by breast cancer, Dr. Jill Biden, and a small group of breast cancer survivors, providers and others, to discuss lessons learned from those who have been treated for breast cancer. We also talked about how important it is to coordinate health care, so we can do more to treat and prevent breast cancer.

    Breast cancer remains one of the most frequently diagnosed cancers among American women and despite remarkable advances in treatment and prevention, it remains the second leading cause of cancer death.

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  • Welcome to the White House, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

    Posted by Heather Foster on October 3, 2011 at 10:43 AM EDT

    Last Tuesday, September 20th, 2011, the White House welcomed 160 Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA) sorority sisters. Fashioned in the AKA signature colors, salmon pink and apple green, the ladies attended a briefing with senior White House officials to learn more about the American Jobs Act and the Deficit Reduction Plan (PDF).

    The briefing, part of the AKA’s 9th Public Policy Conference “The Time is Now!”, gave members the opportunity to explore ways to progress their civic, social and legislative agenda by focusing on unemployment, poverty, and health disparity issues they find significant to improving the lives of African Americans.

    Senior leadership from the White House Offices of Communications, Presidential Personnel, National Economic Policy fielded questions related to how the AKAs could be supportive of the President’s plan in their own communities. Staff from the Office of Minority Health at HHS discussed the Affordable Care Act, and fellow AKA Dru Ealons of the EPA was on hand to talk about the impacts of clean air and energy and green jobs.

    The AKA Sorority has been previously recognized by the White House and was invited to become a part of the White House Economic Recovery Advisory Board  for their dedication to improving the quality of life for citizens and for promoting peace as well as entrepreneurship and economic success among its members.

    Heather Foster is the Associate Director of African American Affairs.

  • White House Jobs Plan Conference Call with Administrator Lisa Jackson

    Posted by Nicole Young on September 28, 2011 at 6:04 PM EDT

    Please join the White House Office of Public Engagement and Administrator Lisa Jackson on Thursday, September 29 at 10:30 AM EDT for a White House Jobs Plan Conference Call. 

    What: White House Jobs Plan

    When: THURSDAY, September 29th, 2011

    Start Time: 10:30am EDT

    Dial In:  (800) 553-0351

    Passcode Title: Cabinet Secretary Conference Call

    Please RSVP to africanamericans@who.eop.gov with your name, organization, city, state.

     

     

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  • President Obama at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Annual Dinner: "March with me and press on"

    Posted by Erin Lindsay on September 25, 2011 at 10:01 PM EDT

    President Obama speaks at the CBC 2011

    President Barack Obama delivers remarks at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Annual Phoenix Awards in Washington, D.C., Saturday, Sept. 24, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)

    Yesterday evening, the President delivered remarks at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Annual Phoenix Awards at the Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C.  In his speech, the President stressed the importance of passing the American Jobs Act, to put more people back to work, and more money back in the pockets of people who are working:

    Right now we’ve got millions of construction workers out of a job.  So this bill says, let’s put those men and women back to work in their own communities rebuilding our roads and our bridges.  Let’s give these folks a job rebuilding our schools.  Let’s put these folks to work rehabilitating foreclosed homes in the hardest-hit neighborhoods of Detroit and Atlanta and Washington.  This is a no-brainer. 

    Why should we let China build the newest airports, the fastest railroads?  Tell me why our children should be allowed to study in a school that’s falling apart?  I don’t want that for my kids or your kids.  I don’t want that for any kid.  You tell me how it makes sense when we know that education is the most important thing for success in the 21st century.  Let’s put our people back to work doing the work America needs done.  Let’s pass this jobs bill. 

    We’ve got millions of unemployed Americans and young people looking for work but running out of options.  So this jobs bill says, let’s give them a pathway, a new pathway back to work.  Let’s extend unemployment insurance so that more than six million Americans don’t lose that lifeline.  But let’s also encourage reforms that help the long-term unemployed keep their skills sharp and get a foot in the door.  Let’s give summer jobs for low-income youth that don’t just give them their first paycheck but arm them with the skills they need for life. 

    Tell me why we don’t want the unemployed back in the workforce as soon as possible.  Let’s pass this jobs bill, put these folks back to work. 

    Includes Video
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  • One Million More Young Adults Have Health Insurance

    Posted by Nicole Young on September 23, 2011 at 12:25 PM EDT

    This week, HHS released new data revealing that one million more young adults between the ages of 19 and 25 now have health insurance thanks largely to 2010’s health reform law, the Affordable Care Act (ACA).  Health reform was a hard fought victory for millions of Americans, including nearly eight million African Americans (almost one in five) who are uninsured or underinsured, and living one accident or illness away from financial ruin.  Under the Affordable Care Act, most children can remain on their parents’ health insurance plans until the age of 26.  With conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity disproportionally affecting African Americans, the Affordable Care Act allows young adults in our communities to keep themselves insured and stay healthier as they get on their feet as adults and enter the workforce.

    Read HHS’s press release and Secretary Sebelius’ blog for more information on this announcement.

    Learn more about Health Care