Presidential Proclamation--Older Americans Month

      Older Americans are now living longer, healthier, and richer lives than ever before.  As the eldest of the baby boomers turn 65, our Nation can look forward to the contributions of a new generation of American seniors.  Each year, we set aside the month of May to honor older Americans, celebrate their role in steering the course of our history, and recognize their valuable insights and wisdom.

      The theme for this year's Older Americans Month, "Older Americans:  Connecting the Community," reminds us that seniors are continually enriching lives and contributing to our country.  This theme also highlights how technology, including social media and assistive devices, can help adults remain engaged in their communities and connected to friends and family who may live far away.

      My Administration is committed to meeting the needs and aspirations of American seniors, both now and in the future.  We are working to improve the health and well being of older men and women with a focus on preventive care and community living.  The historic Affordable Care Act gives America's seniors greater freedom and control over their health care.  In addition to benefitting from more comprehensive prescription drug coverage, most people with Medicare will now be able to receive an annual wellness visit and many critical preventive services for free, including certain cancer screenings such as mammograms and colonoscopies.

      Today, millions of our Nation's seniors are making a significant difference in society, strengthening our communities through their service.  Older Americans support the arts and serve meals at soup kitchens.  They mentor our children and stock the shelves at food pantries and libraries.  Programs supported by the Corporation for National and Community Service and the Administration on Aging are working to connect men and women to community service, benefiting Americans of all ages.  Interested individuals can visit www.SeniorCorps.gov for more information and local volunteer opportunities.

      Having lived through many of our Nation's most challenging times, older Americans have shaped the story of America and secured the promise of our future.  We are privileged to recognize these treasured citizens during Older Americans Month, and honor both the impact they have made and their accomplishments yet to come.

      NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 2011 as Older Americans Month.  I invite Americans of all ages to acknowledge the contributions of older Americans during this month and throughout the year.

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-ninth day of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fifth.

          BARACK OBAMA

Presidential Proclamation--National Foster Care Month

      Progress in America can be measured by the opportunities we pass on to our children.  For nearly half a million youth in foster care across our country, the best path to success we can give them is the chance to experience a loving home where they can feel secure and thrive.  During National Foster Care Month, we renew our commitment to ensuring a brighter future for foster youth, and we celebrate the selfless individuals who make a meaningful difference in their lives.

      Young people in foster care are in the system through no fault of their own, and each of our Nation’s children deserves a stable home and a devoted family.  Strong support structures provide children with the environment needed to learn, grow, and reach their greatest potential.  Permanence is critical to the future success of foster youth and must be a key component of foster care initiatives.

      My Administration is committed to achieving security for every child and supporting adolescents in foster care as they transition to adulthood.  The Permanency Innovations Initiative, spearheaded by the Department of Health and Human Services, is providing support to public-private partnerships focused on decreasing the number of children in long-term foster care.  Over the next 5 years, this program will invest $100 million in new intervention strategies to help foster youth move into permanent homes, test new approaches to reducing time spent in foster care placements, and remove the most serious barriers to finding lasting, loving environments.  Over 110,000 children in foster care today are waiting to be adopted.  Across America, there are families who need these children as much as these children need families.  I encourage those interested in adopting a child in need of a home to explore the life-changing resources available at www.AdoptUSKids.org.

      We are also investing in the health and well-being of our young people in foster care.  Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, we have significantly increased funding for the Title IV-E adoption and foster care assistance program to provide safe and stable out-of-home care for children.  As a result of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act I signed into law last year, all children enrolled in foster care automatically qualify for free meals in all Department of Agriculture child nutrition programs.  Additionally, beginning in 2014, the Affordable Care Act will require States to extend Medicaid coverage up to age 26 for all youth who have aged out of the foster care system.

      As a Nation, we all have a responsibility to remain persistent in the charge to provide the best care possible for children when they cannot remain in their own homes.  During National Foster Care Month, we recognize the efforts of foster families, social workers, faith-based and community organizations, and others that are improving the lives of young people in foster care across our country, and I encourage all Americans to partake in efforts to serve these children in the year ahead.

      NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 2011 as National Foster Care Month.  I call upon all Americans to observe this month by taking an active role in activities across our country that recognize not only these cherished children and youth, but also the commitment of so many that touch their lives at a most challenging time.

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-ninth day of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fifth.

      BARACK OBAMA

Background on President Obama's Commencement Address at Miami Dade College

Tonight, President Obama will deliver the commencement address at Miami Dade College to an audience of approximately 4,000 graduates, family members and faculty to applaud their hard work and stress the importance of preserving the same focus and determination as they enter the next phase of their lives.  The President will speak to the West and North Campus graduates at the James L. Knight International Center in downtown Miami. The President will also receive his first honorary associate’s degree and be presented with the presidential medallion.

7:00 PM EDT
Miami Dade College North and West Campus Commencement Ceremony
James L. Knight International Center
400 S.E. Second Ave
Miami, Florida

Key Participants
Dr. Eduardo J. Padrón, President - Miami Dade College (seated to the President’s right)
Helen Aguirre Ferré, Chair of MDC’s District Board of Trustees (seated to the President’s left)
Dr. José A. Vicente, President - Miami Dade College’s North and West Campuses
Hafeeza Rahman- President, North Campus Student Government Association (Introducing the President)

Miami Dade College

Miami Dade College is one of the nation’s largest institutions of higher education, with more than 170,000 enrolled students and one of the largest Minority-Serving Institutions, serving tens of thousands of Hispanic and African American students.  Minority-Serving Institutions account for nearly one-third of all degree-granting institutions and enroll nearly sixty percent of the 4.7 million minority undergraduates in our nation today.  Miami Dade College enrolls students from over 180 countries and will  graduate 14,000 students this spring.

Miami Dade College is located throughout Miami-Dade County, Florida, with eight campuses offering more than 300 degree programs. 

After opening in 1960, Miami Dade—then known as Dade County Junior College—became Florida’s first integrated junior college, serving a large number of African American and Hispanic students. 
 
Background on Building American Skills by Strengthening Community Colleges

In an increasingly competitive world economy, America’s economic strength depends upon the education and skills of its workers. In the coming years, jobs requiring at least an associate degree are projected to grow twice as fast as those requiring no college experience. Over the next 10 years, nearly half of all new jobs will require education that goes beyond a high school education.  To meet this need, President Obama set a new, national goal: by 2020, America will once again have the highest proportion of college graduates in the world. Our nation’s community colleges are essential institutions to helping meet that goal.   

As the largest part of the nation’s higher education system, community colleges enroll more than 8 million students and are growing rapidly. They feature affordable tuition, open admission policies, flexible course schedules, and convenient locations, and they are particularly important for students who are older, working, or need remedial classes. Community colleges also work with businesses, industry, labor, and government to create tailored training programs to meet economic needs like nursing, health information technology, advanced manufacturing, and green jobs.

During the State of the Union, the President called for fixing No Child Left Behind to raise standards, reward success, and provide flexibility for states and schools to innovate and improve.  He also called for the preparation for an additional 100,000 science and math teachers to provide our students with the skills they need to compete for the jobs of the future.  He also vowed to make college more accessible affordable by revitalizing our community colleges and permanently extending the American Opportunity Tax Credit as well as reforming immigration laws in a comprehensive manner and stop expelling talented, responsible graduates. 

The Community College and Career Training Initiative
On March 30, 2010, President Barack Obama signed the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act, which provided $2 billion over four years to fund the Community College and Career Training initiative. The Department of Labor, in close cooperation with the Department of Education, will soon award approximately $500 million to community colleges to help increase completion of degrees, certificates, and other industry-recognized credentials.    

This program is designed to meet industry needs while also accelerating learning, and improving retention and achievement rates. With these resources, eligible institutions of higher education will be able to improve their capacity to provide quality education and training services to individuals to improve their knowledge and skills, enabling them to obtain high-quality employment to support their families. This investment will incentivize evidence-based projects that that will build career pathways with businesses, advance the teaching of basic skills, and support the creation of a new online, open-source clearinghouse of courses.

Increasing College Access and Affordability
Affordability is critically important to community college students, who generally have lower incomes than four-year students and more likely to cite financial concerns as impediments to persistence and completion. The Obama Administration has taken historic steps to increase affordability for college students by ending wasteful subsidies to banks that administer federal loans giving that money directly to students instead. Now, thanks to the landmark investments in the Pell Grant program since the President took office, this year nearly 9 million students will receive Pell Grants worth up to $5,550 per student.   Investments like these have made college more affordable for low-income students. This Administration has also made student debt more manageable by strengthening income-based repayment and public service loan-forgiveness, and tripling the investments in tax credits for college expenses. And the financial aid process has been made easier and faster to navigate by simplifying the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Presidential Proclamation--Jewish American Heritage Month

      Since before our Nation's founding, America's shores have been a safe harbor for people seeking shelter, hope, and new lives free from persecution.  Here, people of all faiths have broken bread, come together, and built a better future for their families.  The Jewish story is intertwined with the American story    one of overcoming great hardship, and one of commitment to building a more just world.  This month, we embrace and celebrate the vast contributions Jewish Americans have made to our country.

      Seeking a brighter future, a small band of Jewish refugees came to this land more than three centuries ago, to a place called New Amsterdam.  Hundreds of years later, as Holocaust survivors and families caught behind the Iron Curtain made their way to America, their perseverance in the face of unimaginable tragedy inspired the world and proved that the Jewish people will not be defeated.  Many endured bigotry even here, reminding us that we must continue to fight prejudice and violence at home and around the globe.  In this spirit, President Truman recognized the small, fledgling nation of Israel within minutes of its creation.  To this day, we continue to foster an unbreakable partnership with Israel, and we remain committed to pursuing peace in the region and ensuring Israel's security.

      From those first days in New Amsterdam, Jewish Americans have dedicated their innovation, creativity, and hearts to the greater good    contributing scientific accomplishments, pioneering works of literature and musical genius, and performing distinguished service in our Nation's military.  Jewish Americans have defended our country since the days of the American Revolution as devoted service members and chaplains, and they continue to serve with distinction in our Armed Forces.

      Nearly 70 years ago, during World War II, the U.S.A.T. Dorchester suffered an explosion at sea while carrying almost a thousand soldiers and civilian workers.  On board were four Army chaplains    two Protestant, one Catholic, and one Jewish.  While the ship sank, the four chaplains gave their own life jackets to four men without any, calmed the wounded, and preached strength to the survivors, linking arms and praying together as the ship submerged.  In a time of great need, these chaplains showed that their shared commitment to the lives of others was stronger than any division of faith or background.

      This same spirit is found in the countless Jewish Americans who, through their every day actions, work to provide a better life for future generations by joining hands with all who seek equality and progress.  This month, we remember that the history and unique identity of Jewish Americans is part of the grand narrative of our country, forged in the friendships and shared wisdom between people of different faiths.

      NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 2011 as Jewish American Heritage Month.  I call upon all Americans to visit www.JewishHeritageMonth.gov to learn more about the heritage and contributions of Jewish Americans and to observe this month with appropriate programs, activities, and ceremonies.

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-ninth day of April, in the year two thousand eleven, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fifth.

      BARACK OBAMA