The White House

Office of the First Lady

For Immediate Release
April 14, 2014

Remarks by the First Lady at Fisher House Family Easter Event

Maryland Fisher House IV
Bethesda, Maryland

1:59 P.M. EDT

MRS. OBAMA:  Hi, everybody!  What are you guys doing in here?  Are you making Easter cards?  Yes?  Well, I’m going to come by and see you.  I brought two friends with me today -- Sunny and Bo.  They’re here!  And I also brought some goodies from the pastry chef, so there’s some cookies for you guys if you all behave and your parents say you can have some.  (Laughter.)  There are cookies for you.

But one of the reasons why I like to come to the Fisher House is to shine a light on all the great things that the Fisher House staff do here.  I mean, I know that they give you guys a home away from home when you’re going through some of the toughest times in your life.  And it’s nice to be able to come to a beautiful facility like this where I know the staff is so -- yes!  What?  (Laughter.)  There’s something important here.  (Laughter.)

(Child hands Mrs. Obama an Easter card.) 

Let me see.  Oh, my gosh.  It’s Happy Easter!  I love it!  See, this is why I come here.  This is the best part of my day -- with so many great families, you guys.  But, more importantly, I get to shine a light on you all, the families -- our military families and our military kids.  Because you all are our heroes, especially our kids.  Do you know -- hey, hey, kids, do you guys know you’re heroes? 

CHILDREN:  Yes.

MRS. OBAMA:  You are.  You guys are heroes.  You’re -- yes, that’s Spiderman.

MOTHER:  Spidergirl.

MRS. OBAMA:  Spidergirl, yes.  (Laughter.)  An important hero.  Because you guys do what you do and make your parents’ lives so wonderful, they’re able to do the job that they do.  And I know your parents couldn’t do this without you guys.  So we’re so proud of you all.

And to show just how grateful -- are these mine to keep? 

CHILD:  Yes.

MRS. OBAMA:  Are these mine?  Okay!  (Laughter.)  But because the President and I are so grateful to all of you, I have a little surprise, too.  We’ve got this really cool thing that happens at the White House on Monday.  It’s the Easter Egg Roll, and it’s a day full of fun.  We’ve got 30,000 people who come to the South Lawn.  And you can do Easter egg rolls, and learn how to cook healthy and eat healthy, and jump around.  And there’s entertainment.  There are cool bands and groups and people you guys will know, and a lot of characters and face painting.  And I brought tickets for all of you guys to come on Monday if you’re free.  (Laughter.)  If you’re free.

So I brought tickets for all of you to come to the White House on Monday.  All right?  So if you guys have time -- the tickets are here, and hopefully I’ll see you guys on Monday. 

But I’m going to come around to the tables.  Are Sunny and Bo here? 

END  
2:02 P.M. EDT

Post-9/11 GI Bill Beneficiaries: Estimate Your Education Benefits in Just a Few Clicks

Posted by Sarah Baker on April 14, 2014 at 01:24 PM EST

Three years ago this month, First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden launched Joining Forces, a national initiative to support America’s service members and military families – before, during and after deployment.

One of the best ways we can support those who serve is by providing them with tools and resources to help them pursue an education or find a good-paying job. We know that veterans make some of the very best students and employees;  they bring the same determination and focus to their studies and their jobs that they brought to serving our country.

As more than one million service members transition back to civilian life over the next five years, many of them will pursue their education by using the Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits they have earned.

That’s why resources like the VA’s GI Bill® Comparison Tool are so important. Veterans, service members, survivors, and eligible dependents can quickly and easily calculate their GI Bill benefits at more than 10,000 approved schools and job training programs.

 

First Lady Michelle Obama Speaks at a Joining Forces Caregivers Event

April 11, 2014 | 45:08 | Public Domain

First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden host Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, Senator Elizabeth Dole, and military and veteran caregivers from across the nation to announce commitments that will strengthen the support provided to the friends and loved ones caring for our wounded warriors.

Download mp4 (1710MB) | mp3 (43MB)

President Obama and Vice President Biden’s 2013 Tax Returns

Jay Carney
April 11, 2014
02:00 PM EST

Today, the President released his 2013 federal income tax returns. He and the First Lady filed their income tax returns jointly and reported adjusted gross income of $481,098. The Obamas paid $98,169 in total tax.

The President and First Lady also reported donating $59,251 – or about 12.3 percent of their adjusted gross income – to 32 different charities. The largest reported gift to charity was $8,751 to the Fisher House Foundation. The President’s effective federal income tax rate is 20.4 percent. The President pushed for and signed into law legislation that makes the system more fair and helps the middle class by extending tax cuts to middle class and working families and asks the wealthiest Americans to pay their fair share. In 2013, as a result of his policies, the President was subject to limitations in tax preferences, as well as additional Medicare and investment income taxes, for high income earners. The President and First Lady also released their Illinois income tax return and reported paying $23,328 in state income tax.

DOWNLOAD THE OBAMAS' TAX RETURNS

The Vice President and Dr. Jill Biden also released their 2013 federal income tax returns, as well as state income tax returns for both Delaware and Virginia. The Bidens filed joint federal and combined Delaware income tax returns. Dr. Biden filed a separate non-resident Virginia tax return. Together, they reported adjusted gross income of $407,009. The Bidens paid $96,378 in total federal tax for 2013, amounting to an effective tax rate of 23.7 percent. They also paid $14,644 in Delaware income tax and Dr. Biden paid $3,470 in Virginia income tax. The Bidens contributed $20,523 to charity in 2013, including contributing the royalties received from Dr. Biden’s children’s book, net of taxes, to the USO.

DOWNLOAD THE BIDENS' TAX RETURNS

Jay Carney is the White House Press Secretary.
Related Topics: Economy, Ethics, Delaware, Illinois, Virginia

West Wing Week 4/11/14 or, “Love Never Ends”

Adam Garber
Adam Garber
April 11, 2014
12:00 PM EST

This week, the President honored Equal Pay Day and signed two executive orders to support efforts to level the playing field for women, pushed for better access to skills-based high school training, hosted the Prime Minister of Tunisia, and traveled with the First Lady to the memorial at Fort Hood and then to Austin, to honor the 50th Anniversary of the Civil Rights Act.

 

Related Topics: Civil Rights, Education, Inside the White House, Working Families, Texas

Joining Forces Third Anniversary

Posted by First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden on April 11, 2014 at 10:26 AM EST

Ed. note: This is cross-posted from Military Spouse magazine. See the original post here.

On June 7, 2012, Linda Mills received a phone call that changed her life forever: Linda’s husband, Army Staff Sergeant Andrew Mills, had been seriously injured when an IED exploded in Afghanistan. 

Almost immediately, Linda quit her job to become Andrew’s full-time caregiver.  In the weeks and months after the explosion, Andrew underwent more than 30 surgeries.  The two of them moved from North Carolina to Virginia, so that Andrew can rehab at a state-of-the-art military hospital.  And every single day, Linda has stood by her husband’s side, helping with physical therapy, assisting with daily personal care, and managing the family’s legal and financial responsibilities. 

Today, after two years in her new role as a caregiver, Linda considers herself not just a military spouse, but a nurse, an advocate, a scheduler, and a coach. And as she often says, even a tragedy can lead to a new beginning – in a few weeks’ time, she and Andrew will welcome their first child into the world. 

See more about Veterans  

West Wing Week 4/11/14 or, “Love Never Ends”

April 10, 2014 | 4:51

This week, the President honored Equal Pay Day and signed two executive orders to support efforts to level the playing field for women, pushed for better access to skills-based high school training, hosted the Prime Minister of Tunisia, and traveled with the First Lady to the memorial at Fort Hood and then to Austin, to honor the 50th Anniversary of the Civil Rights Act.

Download mp4

Behind the Scenes: “In Performance at the White House: Women of Soul”

Megan Slack
Megan Slack
April 07, 2014
03:47 PM EST

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.

Related Topics: Inside the White House

Weekly Wrap Up: Millions Get Covered, Team USA Visits, and More

Jonathan Friedman
April 04, 2014
05:59 PM EST

This week, the President announced that 7.1 million Americans got covered, and the First Lady worked with students to plant the Kitchen Garden. Plus, 2014 U.S. Olympians and Paralympians visited the White House. Check out what else you may have missed in this week's wrap up.

7.1 Million Americans: Covered

The numbers don't lie -- the Affordable Care Act is working. By the end of open enrollment on March 31, 7.1 million Americans had signed up for coverage.

In a Rose Garden speech, President Obama celebrated the news: "the bottom line is this: under this law, the share of Americans with insurance is up and the growth of health care costs is down, and that’s good for our middle class and that’s good for our fiscal future."

Related Topics: Arizona, Florida, Michigan

You're Invited: White House Easter Egg Roll Social

Kasie Coccaro
Kasie Coccaro
April 04, 2014
01:30 PM EST

Ed. Note: Registration for this event is now closed. For more information about the 2014 Easter Egg Roll check out WH.gov/EasterEggRoll.

On Monday, April 21, 2014, the First Family will host the 136th annual White House Easter Egg Roll. This year’s theme is “Hop into Healthy, Swing into Shape,” and more than 30,000 people will assemble on the South Lawn to join in the fun. For our next White House Social, we are giving our followers of @LetsMove and @FLOTUS on Twitter, or @MichelleObama on Instagram, a chance to attend. 

Interested in attending the White House Easter Egg Roll? Sign up for your chance to join us and learn more about the history of the White House Easter Egg Roll at WhiteHouse.gov/EasterEggRoll. All applicants must have children ages 5 to 13. 

White House Easter Egg Social 2014

After you sign up, help spread the word! Let your followers know that you submitted your entry for the #EasterEggRoll Social.

Related Topics: Healthy Kids, Inside the White House