The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
June 02, 2010

Remarks by the President on the Economy at Carnegie Mellon University

Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

1:22 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you.  Thank you very much.  (Applause.)  Thank you, everybody.  Please have a seat.  Thank you very much. 

Let me begin by thanking Dr. Jared Cohon, and the entire Carnegie Mellon community, for welcoming me once again, and for the terrific work that he and the administration, faculty and staff do here each and every day.

I also want to acknowledge your outstanding mayor -- who doesn’t look any older than the last time I saw him -- Mayor Luke Ravenstahl.  There he is, right there.  (Applause.) 

It is great to be back at Carnegie Mellon, and in the beautiful city of Pittsburgh.  I love visiting a good sports town.  Last year, I stole Dan Rooney to serve as my ambassador to Ireland.  (Laughter.)  To make it up, I invited both the Steelers and the Penguins to the White House to celebrate their championships.  (Applause.)  Seeing how the Blackhawks are headed to Philly tonight with a 2-0 lead in the Stanley Cup Finals, I'm just glad that we're on this side of the state.  (Laughter.) 

I noticed a couple of people said they were rooting for the Blackhawks, which tells me something about the rivalry between Pittsburgh and Philly.

Of course, we meet here at an incredibly difficult time for America.  Among other things, it’s a time when the worst environmental disaster of its kind in our nation’s history is threatening the Gulf Coast and the people who live there.  Right now, stopping this oil spill and containing its damage is necessarily the top priority not just of my administration but I think of the entire country.  And we’re waging this battle every minute of every day. 

But at the same time, we’re continuing our efforts to recover and rebuild from an economic disaster that has touched the lives of nearly every American.  That’s what I want to talk about today -- the state of our economy, the future we must seize, and the path we chose to get there.

It has now been a little over 16 months since I took office amid one of the worst economic storms in our history.  And to navigate that storm, my administration was forced to take some dramatic and unpopular steps.  These steps have succeeded in breaking the freefall.  We’re again moving in the right direction. 

An economy that was shrinking at an alarming rate when I became President has now been growing for three consecutive quarters.  After losing an average of 750,000 jobs a month during the winter of last year, we’ve now added jobs for five of the last six months, and we expect to see strong job growth in Friday’s report.  The taxpayer money it cost to shore up the financial sector and the auto industry, that's being repaid.  And both GM and Chrysler are adding shifts and operating at a profit. So, despite temporary setbacks, uncertain world events, and the resulting ups and downs of the market, this economy is getting stronger by the day. 

Now, that doesn’t mean this recession is by any means over for the millions of Americans who are still looking for a job or a way to pay the bills.  Not by a long shot.  The devastation created by the deepest downturn since the Great Depression has hit people and communities across our country very hard.  And it’s not going to be a real recovery until people can feel it in their own lives.

In the immediate future, this means doing whatever is necessary to keep the recovery going and to spur job growth.  But in the long term, it means recognizing that for a lot of middle-class families -- for entire communities, in some case -- a sense of economic security has been missing since long before the recession began. 

Over the last decade, these families saw their income decline.  They saw the cost of things like health care and college tuition reach record highs.  They lived through a so-called economic “expansion” that generated slower job growth than at any prior expansion since World War II.  Some people have called the last 10 years “the lost decade.”

So the anxiety that’s out there today isn’t new.  The recession has certainly made it worse, but that feeling of not being in control of your own economic future -- that sense that the American Dream might slowly be slipping away -- that’s been around for some time now.  And for better or for worse, our generation of Americans has been buffeted by tremendous forces of economic change.  Long gone are the days when a high school diploma could guarantee a job at a local factory -- not when so many of those factories had moved overseas.  Pittsburgh, a city that once was defined by the steel industry, knows this better than just about anybody.  And today, the ability of jobs and entire industries to relocate where there’s skilled workers and an Internet connection has forced America to compete like never before. 

From China to India to Europe, other nations have already realized this.  They’re putting a greater emphasis on math and science, and demanding more from their students.  Some countries are building high-speed railroads and expanding broadband access. They’re making serious investments in technology and clean energy because they want to win the competition for those jobs. 

So we can’t afford to stand pat while the world races by.  The United States of America did not become the most prosperous nation on Earth by sheer luck or happenstance.  We got here because each time a generation of Americans has faced a changing world, we have changed with it.  We have not feared our future; we have shaped it.  America does not stand still; we move forward. 

And that's why I’ve said that as we emerge from this recession, we can’t afford to return to the pre-crisis status quo.  We can’t go back to an economy that was too dependent on bubbles and debt and financial speculation.  We can’t accept economic growth that leaves the middle class owing more and making less.  We have to build a new and stronger foundation for growth and prosperity -- and that’s exactly what we’ve been doing for the last 16 months.
  
It’s a foundation based on investments in our people and their future; investments in the skills and education we need to compete; investments in a 21st century infrastructure for America, from high-speed railroads to high-speed Internet; investments in research and technology, like clean energy, that can lead to new jobs and new exports and new industries. 

This new foundation is also based on reforms that will make our economy stronger and our businesses more competitive -- reforms that will make health care cheaper, our financial system more secure, and our government less burdened with debt.

In a global economy, we can’t pursue this agenda in a vacuum.  At the height of the financial crisis, the coordinated action we took with the nations of the G20 prevented a global depression and helped restore worldwide growth.  And as we’ve recently witnessed in Europe, economic difficulties in one part of the world can affect everybody else.  And that’s why we have to keep on working with the nations of the G20 to pursue more balanced growth.  That’s why we need to coordinate financial reform with other nations so that we avoid a global race to the bottom.  It’s why we need to open new markets and meet the goal of my National Export Initiative:  to double our exports over the next five years.  And it’s why we need to ensure that our competitors play fair and our agreements are enforced.  This, too, is part of building a new foundation. 

Now, some of you may have noticed that we have been building this foundation without much help from our friends in the other party.  From our efforts to rescue the economy, to health insurance reform, to financial reform, most have sat on the sidelines and shouted from the bleachers.  They said no to tax cuts for small businesses; no to tax credits for college tuition; no to investments in clean energy.  They said no to protecting patients from insurance companies and consumers from big banks. 

And some of this, of course, is just politics.  Before I was even inaugurated, the congressional leaders of the other party got together and made a calculation that if I failed, they’d win. So when I went to meet with them about the need for a Recovery Act, in the midst of crisis, they announced they were against it before I even arrived at the meeting.  Before we even had a health care bill, a Republican senator actually said, “If we’re able to stop Obama on this, it will be his Waterloo.  It will break him.”  So those weren’t very hopeful signs.       

But to be fair, a good deal of the other party’s opposition to our agenda has also been rooted in their sincere and fundamental belief about the role of government.  It’s a belief that government has little or no role to play in helping this nation meet our collective challenges.  It’s an agenda that basically offers two answers to every problem we face:  more tax breaks for the wealthy and fewer rules for corporations. 

The last administration called this recycled idea “the Ownership Society.”  But what it essentially means is that everyone is on their own.  No matter how hard you work, if your paycheck isn’t enough to pay for college or health care or childcare, well, you’re on your own.  If misfortune causes you to lose your job or your home, you’re on your own.  And if you’re a Wall Street bank or an insurance company or an oil company, you pretty much get to play by your own rules, regardless of the consequences for everybody else.

Now, I’ve never believed that government has all the answers.  Government cannot and should not replace businesses as the true engine of growth and job creation.  Government can’t instill good values and a sense of responsibility in our children.  That's a parent’s job.  Too much government can deprive us of choice and burden us with debt.  Poorly designed regulations can choke off competition and the capital that businesses need to thrive. 

I understand these arguments.  And it’s reflected in my policies.  After all, one-third of the Recovery Act we designed was made up of tax cuts for families and small businesses.  And when you think back to the health care debate, despite calls for a single-payer, government-run health care plan, we passed reform that maintains our system of private health insurance. 

But I also understand that throughout our nation’s history, we have balanced the threat of overreaching government against the dangers of an unfettered market.  We've provided a basic safety net, because any one of us might experience hardship at some time in our lives and may need some help getting back on our feet.  And we've recognized that there have been times when only government has been able to do what individuals couldn't do and corporations wouldn't do.

That's how we have railroads and highways, public schools and police forces.  That's how we've made possible scientific research that has led to medical breakthroughs like the vaccine for Hepatitis B, and technological wonders like GPS.  That's how we have Social Security and a minimum wage, and laws to protect the food we eat and the water we drink and the air that we breathe.  That’s how we have rules to ensure that mines are safe and, yes, that oil companies pay for the spills that they cause. 

Now, there have always been those who’ve said no to such protections; no to such investments.  There were accusations that Social Security would lead to socialism, and that Medicare was a government takeover.  There were bankers who claimed the creation of federal deposit insurance would destroy the industry.  And there were automakers who argued that installing seatbelts was unnecessary and unaffordable.  There were skeptics who thought that cleaning our water and our air would bankrupt our entire economy.  And all of these claims proved false.  All of these reforms led to greater security and greater prosperity for our people and our economy. 

So what was true then is true today.  As November approaches, leaders in the other party will campaign furiously on the same economic arguments they’ve been making for decades.  Fortunately, we don't have to look back too many years to see how their agenda turns out.  For much of the last 10 years we've tried it their way.  They gave us tax cuts that weren’t paid for to millionaires who didn’t need them.  They gutted regulations and put industry insiders in charge of industry oversight.  They shortchanged investments in clean energy and education, in research and technology.  And despite all their current moralizing about the need to curb spending, this is the same crowd who took the record $237 billion surplus that President Clinton left them and turned it into a record $1.3 trillion deficit.

So we know where those ideas lead us.  And now we have a choice as a nation.  We can return to the failed economic policies of the past, or we can keep building a stronger future. We can go backward, or we can keep moving forward.  And I don't know about you, but I want to move forward.  I think America wants to move forward.

Now, the first step in building a new foundation that allows us to move forward has been to address the costs and risks that have made our economy less competitive -- outdated regulations, crushing health care costs, and a growing debt.

To start with, we can't compete as a nation if the irresponsibility of a few folks on Wall Street can bring our entire economy to its knees.  That's why we're on the verge of passing the most sweeping financial reform since the Great Depression.  It’s a reform that will help prevent another AIG.  It will end taxpayer-funded bank bailouts.  It contains the strongest consumer protections in history -- protections that will empower Americans with the clear and concise information they need before signing up for a credit card or taking out a mortgage.    

Financial reform will not guard against every instance of greed and irresponsibility on Wall Street.  But it will enshrine a new principle in our financial system:  From now on, instead of competing to see who can come up with the cleverest scheme to make the quickest buck, financial institutions will compete to see who can make the better product and the better service.  And that's a competition that benefits Wall Street and Main Street.  That’s why we need to get this legislation done.  It’s why we can’t afford to go back; we have to move forward. 

We also know we can’t compete in a global economy if our citizens are forced to spend more and more of their income on medical bills; if our businesses are forced to choose between health care and hiring; if state and federal budgets are weighed down with skyrocketing health care costs.  That’s why we finally passed health insurance reform. 

Now, let’s be clear.  The costs of health care are not going to come down overnight just because legislation passed, and in an ever-changing industry like health care, we’re going to continuously need to apply more cost-cutting measures as the years go by.  But once this reform is in full effect, middle-class families will pay less for their health care, and the worst practices of the insurance industry will end.  People with preexisting medical conditions will no longer be excluded from coverage.  People who become seriously ill will no longer be thrown off their coverage for reasons contrived by the insurance company.  Taxpayers will no longer have to pay -- in the form of higher premiums -- for trips to the ER by uninsured Americans.  Businesses will get help with their health care costs.  In fact, small businesses are already learning they’re eligible for tax credits to cover their workers this year.  And with less waste and greater efficiency in the system, this reform will do more to bring down the deficit than any step we have taken in more than a decade. 

The other party has staked their claim this November on repealing these health insurance reforms instead of making them work.  They want to go back.  We need to move forward.

Making health care more cost-efficient is critical, because it’s also true that we cannot be competitive as a nation if we remain dragged down by our growing debt.  So let me talk about debt just for a second. 

By the time I took office, we had a one-year deficit of over $1 trillion and projected deficits of $8 trillion over the next decade.  Most of this was the result of not paying for two major tax cuts skewed to the wealthy, and a worthy but expensive prescription drug program that wasn’t paid for.  I always find it interesting that the same people who participated in these decisions are the ones who now charge our administration with fiscal irresponsibility. 

And the truth is if I had taken office in ordinary times, I would have liked nothing more than to start bringing down the deficits that they created.  But we took office amid a crisis, and the effects of the recession put a $3 trillion hole in our budget before I even walked through the door.  Additionally, the steps that we had to take to save the economy from depression temporarily added more to the deficit -- by about $1 trillion.  Of course, if we had spiraled into a depression, our deficits and debt levels would be much worse.  

Now, the economy is still fragile, so we can’t put on the brakes too quickly.  We have to do what it takes to ensure a strong recovery.  A growing economy will unquestionably improve our fiscal health, as will the steps we take in the short-term to put Americans back to work. 

And that’s why I signed a bill that will provide tax cuts for small businesses that hire unemployed workers.  That's why I’ve urged Congress to pass a small business lending fund so that small businesses can get the credit they need to create jobs and grow.  That's why I believe it’s critical we extend unemployment insurance for several more months, so that Americans who’ve been laid off through no fault of their own get the support they need to provide for their families and can maintain their health insurance until they’re rehired.  And we have to work with state and local governments to make sure they have the resources to prevent the likely layoffs of hundreds of thousands of public school teachers across the country over the next few months. 

But as we look ahead, we can’t lose sight of the urgent need to get our fiscal house in order.  There are four key components to putting our budget on a sustainable path.  Maintaining economic growth is number one.  Health care reform is number two. The third component is the belt-tightening steps I’ve already outlined to reduce our deficit by $1 trillion. 

Starting in 2011, we will enact a three-year freeze on all discretionary spending outside of national security -- something that was never enacted in the last administration.  We will allow the tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans to expire.  We’ve gone through the budget, line by line, and identified more than 120 programs for elimination.  We’ve restored a simple budgeting rule that every family and business understands called pay-as-you-go. And we will charge the largest Wall Street firms a fee to repay the American people for rescuing them during the financial crisis -- a fee that will bring down the deficit by $90 billion -- (applause) -- a fee that will bring down the deficit by $90 billion over the next decade.  By the way, that $90 billion represents about one-eighth of the amount these banks will pay out in bonuses over the same time period in time.

Now, finally, the fourth component in improving our fiscal health is the bipartisan Fiscal Commission that I’ve established that will provide a specific set of solutions by the fall to deal with our medium- and long-term deficit.  And I have to warn you this will not be easy.  I know that some like to make the argument that if we would just eliminate pork barrel projects and foreign aid, we could eliminate our deficit.  Turns out such spending makes up just 3 percent of our deficit.  You combine all foreign aid and all earmarks -- that’s 3 percent of our budget.  So meeting the deficit challenge will require some very difficult decisions about the largely popular programs that make up the other 97 percent.  It means we’ll have to sort through our priorities and figure out what programs that we can do without. 

On this point, I strongly agree with my friends in the other party.  What I don’t agree with is the notion that we should also sacrifice critical investments in our people and our future.  You know, if you’re a family who’s tightening your belt, you will definitely sacrifice going out to dinner, but you’re not going to sacrifice saving for your child’s college education.  It’s precisely our investments in education and innovation that will make America more competitive in the 21st century.  And we can’t go back; we’ve got to move forward.  (Applause.)

That’s why I’ve made education reform a top priority -- because countries that out-educate us today will out-compete us tomorrow.  And so we want every citizen to have the skills and training they need in a global economy -- from the day that you’re born through whatever career you may choose.

Last year, we launched a national competition to improve our schools based on a simple idea:  Instead of funding the status quo, we will only invest in reform -- reform that raises student achievement, that inspires students to excel in math and science, and turns around failing schools that steal the future of too many young Americans. 

And to achieve my goal of ensuring America once more has the highest proportion of college graduates in the world by 2020, we passed a law that will make college more affordable by ending the unnecessary taxpayer subsidies that go to financial institutions for student loans.  That means we’re saving billions of dollars that will go directly to students, including students right here at Carnegie Mellon.  (Applause.)

It’s a bill that will also revitalize our community colleges, which are a career pathway to the children of so many working families.

In addition to training our workers for the jobs of the future, we’re also investing in the innovation that will create those jobs here in America -- the research, the technology, the infrastructure that will secure our economic future. 

Right now, as we speak, the Recovery Act is putting Americans to work building a 21st century America.  There’s no reason China should have the fastest trains or that rural Pennsylvania should be without high-speed Internet access.  We’ve got to make those investments.  From the first railroads to the Interstate Highway System, this nation has always been built to compete.  So we’re going to invest, and are investing right now, in new infrastructure -- expanding broadband, health information technology, advanced manufacturing facilities, America’s first high-speed rail network.  We’re also investing in the ideas and technologies that will lead to new jobs and entire new industries. 

Consider what we’ve done with clean energy.  The tax credits and loan guarantees in the Recovery Act alone will lead to 720,000 clean energy jobs in America by 2012 -- 720,000.  (Applause.)  I’ll give you one example.  The United States used to make less than 2 percent of the world’s advanced batteries for hybrid cars.  By 2015, because of the investments that we made, we’ll have enough capacity to make up to 40 percent of these batteries.  

Now, this brings me to an issue that’s on everybody’s minds right now -- namely, what kind of energy future can ensure our long-term prosperity.  The catastrophe unfolding in the Gulf right now may prove to be a result of human error, or of corporations taking dangerous shortcuts to compromise safety, or a combination of both.  And I’ve launched a National Commission so that the American people will have answers on exactly what happened.  But we have to acknowledge that there are inherent risks to drilling four miles beneath the surface of the Earth, and these are risks -- (applause) -- these are risks that are bound to increase the harder oil extraction becomes.  We also have to acknowledge that an America run solely on fossil fuels should not be the vision we have for our children and our grandchildren.  (Applause.) 

We consume more than 20 percent of the world’s oil, but have less than 2 percent of the world’s oil reserves.  So without a major change in our energy policy, our dependence on oil means that we will continue to send billions of dollars of our hard-earned wealth to other countries every month -- including countries in dangerous and unstable regions.  In other words, our continued dependence on fossil fuels will jeopardize our national security.  It will smother our planet.  And it will continue to put our economy and our environment at risk.

Now, I understand that we can’t end our dependence on fossil fuels overnight.  That’s why I supported a careful plan of offshore oil production as one part of our overall energy strategy.  But we can pursue such production only if it’s safe, and only if it’s used as a short-term solution while we transition to a clean energy economy.

And the time has come to aggressively accelerate that transition.  The time has come, once and for all, for this nation to fully embrace a clean energy future.  (Applause.)  Now, that means continuing our unprecedented effort to make everything from our homes and businesses to our cars and trucks more energy-efficient.  It means tapping into our natural gas reserves, and moving ahead with our plan to expand our nation’s fleet of nuclear power plants.  It means rolling back billions of dollars of tax breaks to oil companies so we can prioritize investments in clean energy research and development.  

But the only way the transition to clean energy will ultimately succeed is if the private sector is fully invested in this future -- if capital comes off the sidelines and the ingenuity of our entrepreneurs is unleashed.  And the only way to do that is by finally putting a price on carbon pollution.   

No, many businesses have already embraced this idea because it provides a level of certainty about the future.  And for those that face transition costs, we can help them adjust.  But if we refuse to take into account the full costs of our fossil fuel addiction -- if we don’t factor in the environmental costs and the national security costs and the true economic costs -- we will have missed our best chance to seize a clean energy future.

The House of Representatives has already passed a comprehensive energy and climate bill, and there is currently a plan in the Senate -- a plan that was developed with ideas from Democrats and Republicans -- that would achieve the same goal.  And, Pittsburgh, I want you to know, the votes may not be there right now, but I intend to find them in the coming months.  (Applause.)  I will continue to make the case for a clean energy future wherever and whenever I can.  (Applause.)  I will work with anyone to get this done -- and we will get it done.

The next generation will not be held hostage to energy sources from the last century.  We are not going to move backwards.  We are going to move forward. 

This overarching principle -- that we must invest in and embrace the innovation and technology of the future and not the past -- that applies beyond our energy policy.  That’s why we’ve decided to devote more than 3 percent of our GDP to research and development -- to spur the discovery of services and products and businesses that we have yet to imagine. 

We’ve proposed making the research and experimentation tax credit permanent -- a tax credit that helps businesses afford the high costs of developing new technologies and new products.  Last year, we made the largest investment in basic research funding in history. 

The possibilities of where this research might lead are endless.  Imagine a new treatment that kills cancer cells but leaves healthy ones untouched; regenerative medicine that ends the agonizing wait for an organ transplant.  Imagine a lightweight vest for soldiers and police officers that can stop armor-piercing bullets; educational software that’s as effective and engaging as a personal tutor; intelligent prosthetics that can enable a wounded veteran to play the piano again.  And now imagine all the workers and small business owners and consumers who would benefit from these discoveries. 

We can’t know for certain what the future will bring.  We can’t guess with 100 percent accuracy what industries and innovations will next shape our world.  I’m sure there were times when this city couldn’t imagine life without steel mills and heavy smog that filled these streets.  And when that industry shrank and so many jobs were lost, who could have guessed that Pittsburgh would fare better than many other Rust Belt cities, and reemerge as a center for technology and green jobs, health care, and education?  Who would have thought that the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center’s logo would one day adorn the U.S. Steel Tower, or that this institute -- Carnegie Mellon -- would be the region’s largest employer? 

All of this came to be because as a community, you prepared and adapted and invested in a better future -- even if you weren’t always sure what that future would look like. 

And that’s what America does.  That’s what we’ve always done.  The interests of the status quo will always have the most vocal and powerful defenders at every level of government.  There will always be lobbyists for the banks or the insurance industry that doesn’t want more regulation; or the corporation that would prefer to see more tax breaks instead of more investments in infrastructure or education.  And let’s face it -- a lot of us find the prospect of change scary, even when we know the status quo isn’t working for us.

But there’s no natural lobby for the clean energy company that may start a few years from now.  There’s no natural lobby for the research that may lead to a lifesaving medical breakthrough.  There’s no natural lobby for the student who may not be able to afford a college education, but if they got one could end up making discoveries that would transform America and the world. 

It’s our job as a nation to advocate on behalf of the America that we hope for -- to make decisions that will benefit the next generation -- even if it’s not always popular; even if we can’t always see those benefits in the short-term.  We make decisions like this on behalf of our own children every single day.  And while it’s harder to do with an entire country as large and diverse as ours, it’s no less important. 

The role of government has never been to plan every detail or dictate every outcome.  At its best, government has simply knocked away barriers to opportunity and laid the foundation for a better future.  Our people -- with all their drive and ingenuity -- always end up building the rest.  And if we can do that again -- if we can continue building that foundation and making those hard decisions on behalf of the next generation -- I have no doubt that we will leave our children the America that we all hope for. 

Thank you, everybody.  God bless you.  God bless the United States of America.  (Applause.) 

END
2:04 P.M. EDT

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
June 02, 2010

Extractos de las Declaraciones del Presidente Obama en la Universidad Carnegie Mellon

Versión preparada -

Estados Unidos no se queda de brazos cruzados. Seguimos avanzando. Por eso he dicho que a medida que salimos de esta recesión, no podemos volver al estatus quo previo a la crisis. No podemos volver a una economía que dependa tanto de las burbujas y el endeudamiento y la especulación financiera. No podemos aceptar el crecimiento económico que deja a la clase media con más deudas y menos ingresos. Debemos construir nuevos y más sólidos cimientos para el crecimiento y la prosperidad, y eso es exactamente lo que hemos estado haciendo en los últimos dieciséis meses. 

Son cimientos basados en inversiones en nuestra gente y su futuro; inversiones en la capacitación y educación que necesitamos para competir; inversiones en una infraestructura del siglo XXI para Estados Unidos, desde ferrocarriles de alta velocidad hasta Internet de alta velocidad; inversiones en investigación y tecnología, como energía limpia, que puedan generar nuevos empleos y nuevas exportaciones y nuevas industrias.

Estos nuevos cimientos también se basan en reformas que harán que nuestra economía sea más sólida y nuestras empresas más competitivas; reformas que reducirán los costos de la atención de salud, afianzarán nuestro sistema financiero, y llevarán a nuestro gobierno a estar menos sobrecargado de deuda.

…

Ahora bien, algunos de ustedes quizá hayan notado que hemos estado construyendo estos cimientos sin mucha ayuda de nuestros amigos del otro partido. Desde nuestros esfuerzos por rescatar la economía hasta la reforma del seguro médico, a la reforma financiera, la mayoría de ellos se ha sentado al margen y gritado desde la gradería. Han dicho no a recortes tributarios para pequeñas empresas; no a créditos tributarios para matrículas universitarias; no a inversiones en energía limpia. Han dicho no a proteger a pacientes de las compañías de seguro y a los consumidores de los grandes bancos.

…

Pero para ser justos, gran parte de la oposición del otro partido a nuestro plan de gobierno también ha estado arraigada en sus sinceras y fundamentales convicciones sobre el gobierno. Creen que el gobierno no tiene función alguna—o si la tiene, es limitada—en ayudar a este país a enfrentar nuestros desafíos colectivos. Es un plan que básicamente ofrece dos respuestas a cada problema que enfrentamos: más recortes tributarios para los acaudalados y menos normas para las corporaciones.

…

Al acercarse noviembre, los líderes del otro partido harán campaña frenéticamente con el mismo argumento económico que vienen presentando desde hace décadas. Afortunadamente, no es necesario retroceder muchos años para ver cuál es el resultado. Durante gran parte de los últimos diez años, tratamos de hacer las cosas a su manera. Otorgaron créditos tributarios a millonarios que no los necesitaban, y no compensaron fiscalmente por la pérdida de ese ingreso. Debilitaron las normas y pusieron a personas con intereses en un sector a cargo del propio sector. Escatimaron en los gastos para energía limpia y educación; en investigación y tecnología. Y a pesar de todas sus actuales lecciones de moral sobre la necesidad de reducir el gasto, se trata del mismo grupo de gente que tomó el superávit récord de $237,000 millones que el Presidente Clinton les dejó y lo convirtió en un déficit récord de $1.3 billones. 

Entonces, ya sabemos a dónde nos llevaron sus ideas. Y ahora tenemos una opción como nación. Podemos volver a la fallida política económica del pasado o podemos seguir forjando un futuro más sólido. Podemos retroceder o podemos seguir avanzando.

No sé qué piensan ustedes, pero yo quiero seguir avanzando.…

Quizá resulte ser que la causa de la catástrofe que en estos precisos momentos ocurre en el golfo fue error humano o de corporaciones que hicieron las cosas de manera rápida y fácil, y pusieron en peligro la seguridad. Pero tenemos que reconocer los riesgos inherentes de perforar 4 millas por debajo de la superficie de la Tierra, riesgos que sólo van a aumentar a medida que la extracción de petróleo se haga más difícil. También tenemos que reconocer que un Estados Unidos que dependa únicamente de hidrocarburos como combustible no debe ser la visión para nuestros hijos y nietos. 
 
...Ha llegado el momento de que, de una vez por todas, esta nación opte plenamente por un futuro de energía limpia. Eso significa continuar nuestros esfuerzos sin precedente para hacer que nuestras casas y empresas, nuestros autos y camiones sean más eficientes en el uso de energía. Eso significa utilizar nuestras reservas de gas natural y seguir adelante con nuestro plan de expandir el número de plantas de energía nuclear en nuestro país. Y significa retroceder miles de millones de dólares que se le han dado en recortes tributarios a las petroleras para darle prioridad a la inversión en investigación y desarrollo de energía limpia.
 
Pero la única manera en que la transición a la energía limpia tendrá éxito es si el sector privado se compromete plenamente a este futuro, si se invierte capital de manera generalizada y si damos rienda suelta al ingenio empresaria. Y la única manera de hacerlo es finalmente ponerle un precio a la contaminación con carbono.
 
...La Cámara de Representantes ya ha aprobado un proyecto de ley integral sobre energía y clima, y ya hay un plan en el Senado, un plan formulado con ideas de demócratas y republicanos, que lograría estas mismas metas. Puede ser que no existan los votos en este momento, pero tengo toda intención de buscarlos en los próximos meses. Argumentaré a favor de un futuro de energía limpia en donde pueda, y trabajaré con cualquier miembro de ambos partidos para lograr que esto se apruebe. Pero lo haremos. La próxima generación no será prisionera de los recursos energéticos del siglo pasado. No retrocederemos. Avanzaremos.

The White House

Office of the First Lady

For Immediate Release
June 01, 2010

Remarks by the First Lady at "Let's Move Outside" event with Senator Harry Reid

Red Rock Canyon
Las Vegas, Nevada

2:45 P.M. PDT
 
MRS. OBAMA:  Thank you.  Thank you so much.  (Applause.)  Woohoo!  (Laughter and applause.)  Oh, my goodness, I am just delighted to be here.  This is beautiful.  And you notice, kids, how quiet it can be outside?  We’re outside!  I live in the city.  It is never this quiet outside. 
 
It is beautiful.  This is just a perfect place for the launch of this new initiative. 
 
But let me begin by thanking -- doing my thank you:  First, to Senator Reid, not just for his kind introduction but all of the wonderful work he’s done to move this country forward.  He’s just been a tremendous asset, not just to my husband, but to the country and to all of you kids.  You know, everybody hears about what the President does, but Presidents can’t do anything if they don't have a good team.  And Senator Reid is a member of that good team.  So we’re just grateful to have him onboard. (Applause.)
 
And I have to thank Representative Titus for her tireless advocacy for the people of Nevada in Congress.  She’s a member of the team and is doing a terrific job.
 
Assistant Secretary Suh, for everything that she’s doing along, with the folks in her agency to really preserve and protect places like this -- Red Rock Canyon here in Nevada and all across the country.
 
I also want to thank Nevada State -- Nevada State Controller Kim Wallin and State Senate Majority Leader Steven Horsford as well for their leadership.  (Applause.)  Where are they?  Where are you?  There you are.  (Applause.)  Thank you all.  Thank you for being here.  Thank you for your support and your work.
 
And I want to particularly acknowledge the young people in the back -- (applause) -- because we’re really here for you guys today.  All of this is for you, just like all these parks are for you today.  We’re here for you.  And we’re going to be doing a little fun stuff together in a little bit -- a little hiking, a little something.  I’ve got cold, so you have to bear with me today.  And I hear we’re going to learn a little something about how to do a “rock scramble.”  I don't know what that is.  Sounds scary.  (Laughter.)  But I’m looking forward to it.
 
And then all of them are going to be sworn in as official “Let’s Move Outside” Junior Rangers, which I think is pretty exciting.  (Applause.)  So you guys in the back hold the great honor of being the first to launch this program all across the country!  (Applause.)  Yes!  (Applause.)
 
We are here because of you.  We want every child in this country to have opportunities like this -- to get outdoors and to get fit and to lead active lives right from the beginning.  And you guys are lucky to have access to places like these -- and not every kid does. 
 
Experts, as others have said, recommend that kids get 60 minutes of physical activity every day to stay healthy.  That's 60 minutes, an hour, every day. 
 
And while today that may seem like a lot, if adults here can just think back to when we were growing up, back then an hour of just vigorous activity was nothing, because we didn’t call it “activity.”  It wasn’t required.  We called it “play.”  (Laughter.)  We had recess, we had gym class at school, and when we got home in the afternoons, our parents didn’t want to be bothered with us so they kicked us outside.  In fact, they told us not to come back inside.  (Laughter.)  So we could run around for another hour before dinner.  They were really just trying to make us sleepy.  (Laughter.)  But all of that was really good for us. 
 
But today, at a time of a lot of belt-tightening and budget cuts, unfortunately it’s gym class and recess and after-school sports that often are the first things to go.  And too many of our kids end up spending way too much time inside in front of the TV, playing video games.  Can I get -- do you hear from the parents?  It’s too much!  It’s too much.
 
In fact, a study just released by the Centers for Disease Control found that -- and this is amazing -- only 17 percent of high school students reported meeting the recommended hour-a-day requirement.  That's only 17 percent of high school students in our country today.
 
So it shouldn’t come as a surprise to us that today nearly one third of our children in this country are overweight or obese.  You know, we’re just not giving them the chance.  And that's one in three.  And that's a lot.  That's way too many.  It’s more than what it was when all of us were growing up.  Things just weren’t like that.  That means that these kids are at greater risk for obesity-related conditions like heart disease and diabetes and cancer.  I mean, this is the fate that we’re handing over to our kids. 
 
And it’s not just a health crisis, as Senator Reid said.  It’s an economic crisis.  We are spending nearly $150 billion a year to treat obesity-related illnesses.  And if we don't act now, if these kids now grow up to be adults, then that number is just going to continue to go up. 
 
And none of us wants that kind of future for our kids.  We don't.  And we definitely don't want that kind of future for our country. 
 
So instead of just talking about the problem, which we -- a lot of -- we can do a lot of talking, and worrying and wringing our hands, we really need to get moving.  And that's why about a year or so ago -- I’m losing track of time because we’ve been doing this -- but we launched “Let’s Move,” which is the big nationwide campaign with the single goal of ending childhood obesity in a generation so that kids born today would grow up at a healthy weight.  It sounds so simple, but this goal has to be generational and it has to be big. 
 
And we’ve spent the last year or so working on a number of different fronts.  We need to get more information to parents so that they can make the right choices for their kids.  They have to have the information. They have to have access to affordable healthy foods.  We have to work on that.  We have to work closely with our schools to make sure that there are healthy choices in the classroom, because many of our kids are getting most of their calories at school, which is why we need to get the Child Nutrition Reauthorization bill passed, because that piece of legislation is going to go a long way to changing and improving the quality of foods in our -- that our kids are getting at school.
 
But more importantly and something that we focused on a lot, now that it’s summer time, is that we need to substantially increase the amount of physical activity that our kids are getting not just in school but outside of school, as well, and that's why I am very excited about the launch of this program, “Let’s Move Outside.”  Very clever, right?  “Let’s Move Outside” -- I love it.  (Laughter.)
 
And it’s a collaborative effort with the Bureau of Land Management, with National Park Service, Forest Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, and others.  And as you’ve heard, we just want to encourage kids to use the resources that are available to them.  I mean, that's part of the point of this, is that activity doesn’t have to cost a thing. 
 
We have access in this country to some of the greatest parks and recreation facilities in the country, and it’s all free.  And as Rhea said, it’s all yours, guys.  This stuff belongs to you.  And my family and I, we’ve tried to go every summer to some of the parks.  We went to Yellowstone, we went to Asheville, we did some hiking, and I think -- I’m hoping, if they treat us right, they’ll let us go somewhere else this summer.  (Laughter.)  But you never know.  (Laughter.)
 
And it’s really a lot of fun.  And it’s not just a great way to get exercise.  It’s also a phenomenal way to come together as a family and spend some time together without spending a whole lot of money.
 
So in addition to this part of this program, we’re upgrading the Junior Ranger Program, because there’s always been Junior Rangers.  I’ve met several of them all over the country, but we’re upgrading it to encourage more of our kids to be more physically active.  Our wildlife refuges and conservation areas, our national parks and forests, and historic sites -- these are ours, and we have to make use of them.  And our agencies have just been phenomenal, rallying around to make this possible. 
 
I want to thank everyone, particularly our not-so-junior rangers who have played a really important part.  And my kids have had direct experience with the grown-up rangers.  They are knowledgeable.  Many of them are doing this as their second or third career.  Their stories are phenomenal in so many ways.  These are people who love this country.  They love these parks.  They want to make sure that our kids learn and they pass on these traditions.  And we’re grateful for all of you, because we couldn’t do this on the ground without your enthusiasm and your knowledge.  So I want us to give our not-so-junior rangers a hand, as well.  (Applause.)
 
But in the end, our overall goal for “Let’s Move Outside” is to really get our kids active so that they make it a habit of moving around and seeing the activity they need not as a chore but as a fun way to explore our country and to do some things they haven’t done. 
 
So with that, I'll stop talking, because this program is called “Let’s Move,” right?  (Laughter.)  So we need to get moving.  All right?  You guys ready?  You ready to scramble up a rock?  All right!  Thank you, guys.  Thanks so much.  (Applause.)
 
END
2:55 P.M. PDT

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
June 01, 2010

Remarks by President Obama and President Alan García of Peru in the Oval Office

Oval Office

6:41 P.M. EDT

PRESIDENT OBAMA:  Well, I’ve just had an excellent meeting with President Garcia.  I want to welcome him not only to the Oval Office but also say to the Peruvian people how much we appreciate the friendship between our two countries.

Peru I think has been an extraordinary success story over the last several years.  We’ve seen not only the solidification of a thriving democracy, but also an extraordinary economic success story.  And even last year in the midst of a very tough global recession, we saw that Peru was able to remain resilient.  And I think that’s a testimony to the President’s leadership on this front.

We had an extensive conversation about a range of issues.  On our bilateral relationship we agreed to continue to pursue the details of the free trade agreement that has already been executed so that it is creating jobs and prosperity in both countries.  We discussed how we can work together on security issues. 

We also talked, though, about a broader international vision of how we can continue to promote democracy, human rights, press freedoms, economic development, not just for those at the top but also from the bottom up; poverty reduction.  These are all issues that the President has some excellent track records of success in his own country, and we want to continue to be an effective partner with Peru as they continue to grow and develop.

Finally, we discussed some important international geopolitical issues.  One of the main concerns that both President Garcia and I share is the issue of nuclear non-proliferation.  We recognize that it’s important to leave to the next generation a country that has fewer nuclear threats rather than more nuclear threats.  And so I very much appreciate Peru’s strong stance on that issue.

We also discussed the environment, issues like climate change, and we came to recognize that we can’t solve these problems individually.  A single country can’t solve these problems, but we have to work together in partnership. 

That’s the kind of relationship that the President and I have established personally.  It’s the kind of relationship that our countries have been able to establish over the years.  And it’s a relationship that I expect will continue to grow and develop in the years to come.

So, welcome, Mr. President.  Thank you very much.  Thank you. 

(Pause for translation.)

PRESIDENT OBAMA:  And I also apologize -- I should have let the translator break that up.  But sometimes I forget I’m supposed to wait for my translator.  Fortunately, she’s very good.  (Laughter.) 

Mr. President.

PRESIDENT GARCIA:  (As translated.)  I want to thank President Obama very much for the invitation to visit him here in the White House, to this dialogue -- a very warm and friendly dialogue we’ve had today.  And I think that President Obama just provided you with a succinct and brilliant summary of what we discussed.

We did discuss global issues.  Although Peru is not a major power in the world today, it is a country that believes firmly, as does the United States, that nuclear proliferation must stop here and now.  This is something that we believe in very firmly.  We believe in nuclear non-proliferation.  We believe in putting a stop to nuclear disorder.  And we support President Obama’s ideas. 

Regarding the economic crisis that has affected our entire world, I believe that the United States has exerted very important leadership in this sense, calling on the meetings of the G20.  I agree with the criteria that we have presented at those fora.  We believe in the importance of economic expansion, and also regulation of economic activity.  But all countries need very deep reforms economically in order to avoid the stumbles and falls that have beset some regions of the world; we’re looking at what happened in Europe just recently.

And I would humbly suggest that perhaps a professional organization should be following up on these G20 proposals.  Perhaps that organization could be the IMF.

And on regional issues, we are convinced that democracy will become stronger and stronger in Latin America.  But this democracy needs to be modern, vibrant, a democracy that works with technology, with investment, one that does not fall into the trap of protectionism -- protectionism which can only lead to poverty.

Peru is a country that congratulates itself therefore on having attained a free trade agreement with the United States, one that will promote more jobs, more technology, and more investment.

And so I am very pleased that Peru chose correctly in the last few years, and this has been demonstrated in fact.  We opened our economy.  We opened the way to more investment.  We were not beset by political complexes that made us close our doors.  And so as a result, we’ve seen a growth in our economy.  We’ve seen a growth in the job rate.  We’ve seen all kinds of economic growth despite the international crisis that the world went through last year. 

And today in South America, what we’re seeing is the waning effects of socialist capitalism -- a force that has not led to good results, a force that would have had us close our doors and open up the path to poverty.

And we discussed a number of other issues that we know we will continue to develop when Secretary Clinton comes to Peru in the next week, where she will be leading the U.S. delegation during the OAS General Assembly.  And we talked about our commitment -- we will continue talking about our commitment to combat drug trafficking.

We will continue to talk about our defense and support for immigration reform.  And we would ask the U.S. Congress to support this idea.

And we will continue talking about other issues -- issues that I know will be supported by the strong friendship and leadership shown by President Obama that will lead to a greater partnership between our two countries.

And finally I would like to say to the people of the United States that I bring to you my greetings and I bring to you all my respect.  The United States has always served as a laboratory for the most important social issues affecting our globe. 

Before coming to the White House, I visited the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington Cemetery.  And like everyone who has gone there, I stood thinking how many U.S. servicemen and women have given their lives to defend the world from the decadent monarchies of the 19th and 20th centuries, to stop the racism imposed by Hitler.  And today, they continue to do that -- stopping fundamentalism in all its ugly forms around the world.  And you will continue to do that by stopping the nuclear threat that affects us all throughout the world.

And I know that you are also helping us today in Latin America to secure our peace and our security by combating the illegal drug trade.  And I thank you for all that you do, and I thank you, Mr. President, for this exchange of ideas we were able to have today.

PRESIDENT OBAMA:  Thank you again.  Thank you.

END
6:59 P.M. EDT

The White House

Office of the First Lady

For Immediate Release
June 01, 2010

Remarks by the First Lady at Women's Summit with Senator Harry Reid

Reno Ballroom, Reno, Nevada

11:47 A.M. PDT

MRS. OBAMA:  Thank you.  Thank you all so much.  Thank you.  That’s so sweet of you all -- please.  Thank you so much.

First, let me begin by apologizing because I have a cold that I caught from this wonderful husband of mine.  (Laughter.)  So forgive my voice and my dryness and all that good stuff.  And when I come around to shake hands, there will be somebody following with Purell.  (Laughter.)  Because you all have a lot of work to do and we can’t afford for any of you to be sick.  (Laughter.)

But I am so thrilled to be here with all of you today.  It is an honor to be a part of this summit and to be with so many wonderful women who are doing such amazing things here in Nevada and across the country.  So I am thrilled -- and it’s really pretty nice here, too.  (Laughter.)

I want to start by thanking a few people.  First of all, Attorney General Frankie Sue Del Papa -- (applause) -- as well as State Treasurer Kate Marshall.  (Applause.)  And your Speaker of the Assembly Barbara Buckley.  (Applause.)  I want to thank them for their service, for their dedication to the people of this state.  (Applause.)  They are terrific.  I got a chance to see them in the back.

And of course I have to thank one of my favorite people in the world -- Senator Reid.  (Applause.)  That was such a kind introduction and so generous, and all I can say is the same thing to him -- the same thing.  Over the years, he has been a tireless advocate on behalf of women -- from helping pass health care reform, to supporting legislation to help prevent domestic violence, to helping women get equal pay for equal work.  (Applause.)  This state is -- and this country -- is lucky to have Harry Reid and Landra working on our behalf in Washington.  And I want to thank him for everything -- both of them -- for their friendship, for their hard work, for their kindness.  And let’s give him one more round of applause.  (Applause.)

So I have to tell you, as much as I love living in Washington, it is always nice to get out of town every once in a while.  (Laughter.)  Especially when that means spending time with so many terrific women.

This summit is about bringing a diverse group of women together from different cities and different towns, different generations and backgrounds and walks of life, to talk about the issues that impact our lives as women and as Americans.  And I think it’s especially fitting that we’re here in Nevada, a state that has always been home to so many strong, pioneering women.

As you all know, this state started out as a pretty forbidding place to live.  It was part of the vast, unexplored West -- a land of sweeping deserts and dense wilderness and mountains so high that they’ll just take your breath away.

The nearest town was sometimes hundreds of miles away, but those who were brave enough to venture out here often had to struggle just to survive.  Many of these women worked as prospectors and teachers and nurses and entrepreneurs.  They ran cattle ranches and they worked long days in the mines and they started their own businesses, braving coyotes and rattlesnakes along the way.  (Laughter.)

They were fiercely independent -- many of them with a wonderful stubborn streak a mile wide, and a strong sense of their place in the world.  In fact, due to their tireless activism and leadership, these women here in Nevada gained themselves the right to vote in 1914 -- a full six years before the 19th Amendment was passed.  And that’s pretty incredible.  (Applause.)

So today, all of you are really heirs to that legacy of those tough, trailblazing, visionary women leaders, because you know the same thing that they knew:  that in the end, the success of our communities, of our country, depends on the success of our women.

Now, obviously the challenges that we face today are a little different from the ones Nevadans faced 150 years ago.  And I’m pretty sure none of you had to deal with an angry rattlesnake on your way here.  (Laughter.)  But the -- maybe you did.  (Laughter.)  But the problems are no less daunting today and no less important for the success of our nation.  You know that.  They’re issues that touch the lives of every single American.

And health care is a perfect example.  Today, as you all know, women play a unique and increasingly significant role when it comes to keeping our families healthy.

Eight in 10 mothers report that they’re the ones responsible for choosing their children’s doctors, taking them to the appointments, managing follow-up care.  And many women are making the same decisions for their spouses.  And more than 10 percent of women in this country are currently taking care of a sick or elderly relative, often a parent, and making critical health care decisions for them as well.

But women aren’t just disproportionately affected because of the role we play in our family, we’re also affected because the jobs we do are more likely to be part-time or in small businesses, jobs that are -- less likely provide health insurance.  Women are more likely to be denied coverage because of so called preexisting conditions like having a C-section or a previous pregnancy.  In some cases, insurance plans don’t cover basis women’s health services like maternity care or preventative care for mammograms and Pap smears.  And a recent study showed that 25-year-old women are charged up to 84 percent more than 25-year-old men for the same coverage.  And at age 40, it’s 40 percent more -- for the exact same coverage.

Now, we know this is unacceptable.  It is unacceptable for women.  It’s unacceptable for families.  And it is unacceptable for our country.  (Applause.)

And that's part of the reason why so many people fought so hard to pass health reform this year.  Under the new law, starting this year, insurance companies will never again be allowed to deny children coverage because of preexisting conditions.  (Applause.)

And in the coming years, no one with a preexisting condition will be banned from coverage.  (Applause.)  Insurance companies won’t be able to drop your coverage when you get sick, deny you the care you need because you’ve reached your annual or lifetime limit, or charge you more because you’re a woman.

And soon, if you don't have insurance or are looking for a more affordable option, you’ll be able to compare prices and purchase coverage through an insurance exchange, which is the same way members of Congress will get their insurance.  (Applause.)

So we’ve done some great things, but as much progress as we’ve made, health care is really only one of the issues affecting women in this country, which brings us to a second challenge that we face, and that's securing an equal place in today’s economy.

Right now women make up nearly half of our workforce, and mothers are the primary or co-breadwinners in nearly two-thirds of American families.  The majority of our students in our colleges are female.  So we play an increasingly important role in setting the family’s budget, keeping food on the table.  And across the country, women are breaking barriers in every field -- from science and business, to politics and the armed forces.  So there’s no question that we have come a long way.  But the fact remains that women still earn 77 cents for every dollar men earn.

And only 3 percent of Fortune 500 CEOs are female.  And inequality, as many of you know, still exists in small and very stubborn ways in the lives of too many women.  That’s why the first bill that my husband signed into law after taking office was the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act.  (Applause.)

As he put it, he said, here in America, “There are no second-class citizens in our workplaces,” and there is no reason why women shouldn’t get equal pay for equal work.

But as you all know, the success of women in the workplace isn’t just about a paycheck.  It’s also about being able to juggle the needs of our families with the demands of our jobs.  You all know that constant struggle to meet our responsibilities both as employees and breadwinners and as mothers and daughters and wives and everything else we do.

And as the mother of two beautiful girls -- and they're not little any more, they’re getting big.  Malia is here, so don't be shocked.  It’s still her.  (Laughter.)  This is an issue that is particularly close to my heart as I know it is for so many of you.  Now, as I’ve said before, in our current life in the White House, we are incredibly blessed.  We have more resources and support than I could have ever imagined that I would have, including a grandmother who lives upstairs.  And let me tell you that is priceless.  (Applause.)

But the truth is, we didn’t always live in the White House.  And for many years, before coming to Washington, I was a working mom, doing my best to juggle soccer and ballet with meetings and conference calls.  And when I was at work, I was feeling like I was shortchanging my kids.  And when I was with my girls, I worried that I was falling behind at work.  And there was just a lot of stress and a lot of guilt.  And I was one of the lucky ones.  I had understanding bosses and accommodating jobs.

In fact, I remember being on maternity leave with Sasha.  She was about four months old, and I was still trying to figure out my next career move.  And I got a call to do an interview for a senior position at the University of Chicago hospitals.  So I frantically called every babysitter I knew and none of them were available.  So guess what I did.  (Laughter.)  I packed her up -- still nursing -- put her in the stroller, and I took her with me.  And I prayed that she wouldn’t need to do anything -- (laughter) -- while we were there, and that would automatically disqualify me.  But, fortunately, she slept through the entire interview.  And it was fortunate, because the man I was interviewing with, he and his wife had just had a baby.  So he knew what I was going through, and I ended up getting the job.    
But I know most folks are nowhere near as lucky as I was, especially in this economy.  So many people struggle every day to find affordable childcare or to take time off to care for a child or an aging parent.  Often they have to scramble to figure out that backup plan when the usual arrangements fall through.  And that is the most destabilizing thing that can happen in the course of your day. 

Our military families have it even tougher than most, with women serving in uniform themselves or struggling to provide a stable home while facing long deployments and loved ones who are stationed in harm’s way.  To me, this reflects a larger problem -- that for too long, policies that help people balance work and family responsibilities have been viewed as niceties for women rather than as a necessity that can benefit all of us, men and women.
There is still this perception out there that employees who want more flexible schedules, so that they can pick up a child after school or take care of an elderly parent, are somehow less committed, and that businesses who accommodate them are destined to be less profitable.  But we all know that that’s simply not true.  We know that these kinds of policies that support family balance can actually make employees more productive, because they allow them to focus on work rather than worrying about what’s going on at home.

And that’s one of the reasons why my husband has proposed helping states that want to set up paid leave funds, and recognized companies that are adopting innovative polices that focus on work output rather than hours and face time.  And that’s why we’re working to make the federal government a model for the kind of change that we’re talking about -- things like expanding telework options and providing emergency childcare and affordable day care.
That’s why we’ve worked to expand the Family and Medical Leave Act to have it go to more of our military families.  And that’s also why Jill Biden and I are encouraging everyone in this country, including employers, to do everything in their power to support our men and women in uniform and their loved ones.  (Applause.)

But in the end, whether we’re talking about health care or the economy or caring for our families, we need to remember that while these issues may affect women in particular, they aren’t just women’s issues.  When insurance companies deny coverage to women for preexisting conditions or refuse to cover treatment, it can devastate an entire family.  When women make less than men for the same work, that hurts families who find themselves with less income and have to work harder just to get by.  And when employers don’t allow employees the flexibility to care for their family, that hurts children, it hurts grandparents, it hurts husbands, and it puts a strain on an entire household.

But the good news is that thanks to so many extraordinary women who came before us, we’ve really come a long way.  We know that all of us are here today because of all those generations who put in that time, who packed up their things, and staked their claims in places here, and who cracked and shattered those glass ceilings so that we could have opportunities that they never dreamed of.

And we know that it will be up to all of you -- the leaders, the activists, the visionaries, the organizers, the everyday women, to carry that work forward, because what we’re working towards -- all of us -- is to ensure that our daughters and our granddaughters can dream just a little bigger and reach just a little higher than we did.  That’s really why I’m here.  (Applause.)

So what I can promise is that if you keep the discussion going, and if all of you keep fighting and organizing and standing up for the causes that we all share, then I know that together -- together -- we will keep moving forward, not just as women, but as Americans.

So I really, truly, can’t express to you how grateful we are for your leadership.  We look to you for that energy, so don’t ever stop.  Keep it up.  And thank you.  Thank you for all your support and your hard work.
Thank you so much.  (Applause.)

END
12:05 P.M. PDT
 

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
June 01, 2010

Remarks by the President After Meeting with BP Oil Spill Commission Co-Chairs

Rose Garden

11:50 A.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT:  Good morning, everybody.  I just met with these gentlemen, former Senator Bob Graham of Florida and former EPA Administrator, Bill Reilly.  They will lead the National Commission on the BP oil spill in the Gulf, which is now the greatest environmental disaster of its kind in our history.  Their job, along with the other members of the commission, will be to thoroughly examine the spill and its causes, so that we never face such a catastrophe again.

At the same time, we’re continuing our efforts on all fronts to contain the damage from this disaster and extend to the people of the Gulf the help they need to confront this ordeal.  We’ve already mounted the largest cleanup effort in the nation’s history, and continue to monitor -- minute to minute -- the efforts to halt or capture the flow of oil from the wrecked BP well.  Until the well is stopped, we’ll multiply our efforts to meet the growing threat and to address the widespread and unbelievably painful losses experienced by the people along the Gulf Coast.  What’s being threatened -- what's being lost -- isn’t just the source of income, but a way of life; not just fishable waters, but a national treasure.

There are now more than 20,000 men and women in the region working around the clock to contain and clean up the oil.  We’ve authorized more than 17,000 National Guard members to respond across four states.  More than 1,700 vessels are currently aiding in the response.  And we’ll ensure that any and all responsible means of containing this leak are pursued as we await the completion of the two relief wells.  I’ve also directed Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Admiral Thad Allen, who is the National Incident Commander, to triple the manpower in those places where oil has hit shore or is within 24 hours of impact.

The economic response continues as well.  We’ve ordered BP to pay economic injury claims, and we will make sure they deliver.  The Small Business Administration has stepped in to help businesses by approving loans and allowing deferrals of existing loan payments.  We’ve stationed doctors and scientists across the region to look out for people’s health and monitor any ill effects felt by cleanup workers and residents.  And we will absolutely continue to hold BP and any other responsible parties accountable for financial losses borne by the people in the region.

But our responsibility doesn’t end there.  We have an obligation to investigate what went wrong and to determine what reforms are needed so that we never have to experience a crisis like this again.  If the laws on our books are insufficient to prevent such a spill, the laws must change.  If oversight was inadequate to enforce these laws, oversight has to be reformed.  If our laws were broken, leading to this death and destruction, my solemn pledge is that we will bring those responsible to justice on behalf of the victims of this catastrophe and the people of the Gulf region.
 
When Interior Secretary Ken Salazar took office, for example, he found a Minerals and Management Services agency that had been plagued by corruption for years -- corruption that was underscored by a recent Inspector General’s report that uncovered appalling activity that took place before last year.  Secretary Salazar immediately took steps to clean up that corruption.  But this oil spill has made clear that more reforms are needed.  For years, there’s been a far too cozy relationship between oil companies and the agencies that regulate them.  That’s why we’ve decided to separate the people who permit offshore leases, who collect revenues, and who regulate the safety of drilling.

In addition, we’ve placed a six-month moratorium on drilling new deepwater oil and gas wells in the Outer Continental Shelf.  And now that a 30-day safety and environmental review is complete, we’re making a series of changes.  The review recommended aggressive new operating standards and requirements for offshore energy companies, which we will put in place.  And I’ve also called on Congress to pass a bill to provide critical resources to respond to this spill and better prepare us for any spills in the future. 

Now, all that has to do with dealing with the crisis at hand.  But it’s critical that we take a comprehensive look at how the oil and gas industry operates and how our government oversees those operations.  That’s why I signed an executive order establishing this national commission.  And I’m extraordinarily pleased that Bob Graham and Bill Reilly have agreed to be its co-chairs. 

Bob served two terms as Florida’s governor, represented Florida in the Senate for almost two decades.  And during that time he earned a reputation as a champion of the environment, leading the most extensive environmental protection effort in the state’s history.  Bill is chairman emeritus of the board of the World Wildlife Fund, and is also deeply knowledgeable of the oil and gas industry.  He also was EPA Administrator during the first Bush administration, serving during the Exxon Valdez disaster.
 
So I can’t think of two people who will bring greater experience or judgment to this task.  I personally want to thank both of them for taking on this arduous assignment -- for demonstrating a great sense of duty to this country. 

Very soon I’ll appoint five other distinguished Americans, including leaders in science and engineering, to join them.  And they’ll work alongside other ongoing reviews, including an independent examination by the National Academy of Engineers.  And I’ve authorized the commission to hold public hearings and to request information from government, from non-for-profit organizations, and from experts in the oil and gas industry both at home and abroad, as well as from relevant companies -- including BP, Transocean, Halliburton, and others. 

I just said in our meeting:  In doing this work, they have my full support to follow the facts wherever they may lead -- without fear or favor.  And I’m directing them to report back in six months with options for how we can prevent and mitigate the impact of any future spills that result from offshore drilling.   

As a result of this disaster, lives have been lost.  Businesses have been decimated.  Communities that had already known great hardship now face the specter of sudden and painful economic dislocations.  Untold damage is being done to the environment -- damage that could last for decades.  We owe all those who’ve been harmed, as well as future generations, a full and vigorous accounting of the events that led to what has now become the worst oil spill in U.S. history.  Only then can we be assured that deepwater drilling can take place safely.  Only then can we accept further development of these resources as we transition to a clean energy economy.  Only then can we be confident that we’ve done what’s necessary to prevent history from repeating itself.

Thank you very much, everybody.

END
11:57 A.M. EDT

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
May 31, 2010

Remarks by the President on Memorial Day at Andrews Air Force Base

Andrews Air Force Base

7:28 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT:  Hello, everybody.  First of all, I want to just say thank you to Colonel Steve Shepro who’s just done such great work for us and for me over the last several months, several years.  I know he’s about to be transferred, and I just to want to say to him and Helen and Jack how much we appreciate everything that they do.

To Major General Darrell Jones, our commander as -- of Air Force District of Washington, as well as Holly and Stuart, and to all of you, and all the men, women and families of the Joint Base at Andrews, good evening.  It is wonderful to see all of you on this solemn and special day.  In the life of our nation, there are few more sacred places than our national cemeteries -- around the world, at Arlington and our national cemeteries across the country. 

As some of you know, earlier today, I was honored to join the Memorial Day ceremony at the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood, Illinois.  Unfortunately, some extraordinary storms moved in, and for the safety of all involved, the ceremony was cancelled.  But while the storm was raging outside, I was fortunate to meet with some of the families, friends and veterans who had come to honor loved ones who had given their lives in service of this nation.  Later, I was privileged to visit with families of our wounded warriors as they battle to recover from the wounds of war.  And I want to stop by here because I fly in all the time but sometimes don’t get a chance to meet so many of you individually, to say thank you for your service, and recognize that long chain of valor and service that you are a part of.
 
The families that I met with know in their hearts what every American must never forget.  At its core, the nobility and the majesty of Memorial Day can be found in the story of ordinary Americans who become extraordinary for the most simple of reasons:  They loved their country so deeply, so profoundly, that they were willing to give their lives to keep it safe and free. 

In another time, they might have led a life of comfort and ease.  But a revolution needed to be won.  Or a Union needed to be preserved.  Or our harbor was bombed.  Or our country was attacked on clear September morning. 

So they answered their country’s call.  They stepped forward.  They raised their hand.  They took an oath, just as all of you did.  And they earned a title that would define them for the rest of their lives.  A soldier.  A sailor.  An airman.  A Marine.  A Coast Guardsman.

In the letters that they wrote home they spoke of the horrors of war and the bravery it summoned -- how they endured the slaughter of the trenches and the chaos of beach landings, the bitter cold of a Korean winter or the endless heat of a Vietnam jungle.

Today, we can imagine what it must have been like, for all those they fought to save, when American forces finally came into view.  A country was liberated.  A Holocaust was over.  A town was rid of insurgents.  A village was finally free from the terror of violent extremists. 

But had you asked any troop -- any of those troops in the past, they would have likely told you the same thing.  Yes, we fought for freedom.  Yes, we fought for that flag.  But most of all, we fought for each other -- to bring our buddies home; to keep our families safe.  And that’s what they did, to their last breath. 

This is what we honor today -- the lives they led, the service they rendered, the sacrifice that they’ve made for us.  In this time of war, we pay special tribute to the thousands of Americans who have given their lives during the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and who have earned their place among the greatest of generations.  And though our heart aches in their absence, we find comfort in knowing that their legacy shines bright on the people they loved -- America’s Gold Star families.   

Their legacy lives on in the pride of their parents, like the mother who wrote to me about her son, Specialist Stephan Mace, who gave his life in Afghanistan.  She told me, “I just want you to know what kind of hero he was.”  To all those moms and dads, you instilled in your sons and daughters the values and virtues that led them to service.  And to you, every American here, every American around the country, owes a debt of profound gratitude.

Their legacy lives on in the love of their spouses -- the wives and husbands who gave to our nation the person they cherished most in the world.  To all those spouses, you have sacrificed in ways most Americans can’t even begin to imagine, but as you summon the strength to carry on each day, know that you’re not alone, and that America will always be at your side.

Their legacy lives on in their beautiful children.  To all those sons and daughters, we say as one nation:  Your moms and dads gave their lives so you could live yours.  America will be there for you as well, as you grow into the men and women your parents knew you could be.   

Their legacy lives on in those who fought alongside them -—our veterans who came home, you, our troops, who are still in harm’s way.  Just as you keep alive the memory of your fallen friends, America must keep its commitment to you.  And that means providing the support to our troops and families when they need it, and the health care and benefits that our veterans deserve.  This is our sacred trust to all who serve, and upholding that trust is a moral obligation. 

And finally, on this day of remembrance, I say to every American the legacy of these fallen soldiers, these fallen heroes, lives on in each of us.  The security that lets us live in peace, the prosperity that allows us to pursue our dreams, the freedom that we cherish -- these were earned by the blood and the sacrifice of patriots who went before.  And now it falls on us to preserve that inheritance for all who follow.

They proclaimed our unalienable rights, so let us speak out for the dignity of every human being and the rights that are universal.  They saved the Union, so let us never stop working to perfect it.  They defeated fascism and laid the foundation for decades of prosperity, so let us renew the sources of American strength and innovation at home.  They forged alliances that won a long Cold War, so let us build the partnership for a just and lasting peace.

And today, our forces are fighting and dying once more, in faraway lands, to keep our homeland safe.  Some of you have come from overseas deployments, some of you are about to go.  Let us make sure that all of us are worthy of your sacrifice and of the sacrifices who have fallen.  Let us go forward as they do, with the confidence and the resolve, the resilience and the unity that’s always defined us as a people, and shaped us as a nation and made America a beacon of hope to the world.

So may God bless our fallen heroes.  May He comfort their families.  May God bless all of you, and may God bless the United States of America.  Thank you very much, everybody.  Thank you.  (Applause.)

END
7:38 P.M. EDT

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
May 28, 2010

Remarks by the President After Briefing on BP Oil Spill

U.S. Coast Guard Station Grande Isle
Grande Isle, Louisiana

1:56 P.M. CDT

THE PRESIDENT:  Good afternoon, everybody.  I know it’s a little warm out here so want to get started.  I’ve just had a meeting with these governors, members of Congress, local officials, as well as Admiral Thad Allen, the National Incident Commander in charge of response efforts to the BP oil spill.  Admiral Allen gave us an update, the latest information on both the efforts to plug the well, as well as giving us an update on arrangements and coordination that's being made with respect to mitigating this damage that's been done. 

He updated us on these latest efforts to stop the leak, mitigate the damage to the great beaches of the Gulf coast, and I had the chance to visit with -- Charlotte -- a beach like Port Fourchon that gives you a sense of what extraordinary efforts are being made at the local level, but also the damage that we're already starting to see as a consequence of this spill.

Now, our mission remains the same as it has since this disaster began, since the day I visited Louisiana nearly four weeks ago:  We want to stop the leak; we want to contain and clean up the oil; and we want to help the people of this region return to their lives and their livelihoods as soon as possible. 

And our response treats this event for what it is:  It’s an assault on our shores, on our people, on the regional economy, and on communities like this one.  This isn’t just a mess that we’ve got to mop up.  People are watching their livelihoods wash up on the beach.  Parents are worried about the implications for their children’s health.  Every resident of this community has watched this nightmare threaten the dreams that they’ve worked so hard to build.  And they want it made right, and they want to make it right now.

I just had a chance to listen to Mayor David Carmadelle of Grande Isle, our host here, telling us heartbreaking stories about fishermen who are trying to figure out where the next paycheck is going to come from, how are they going to pay a mortgage or a note on their boat.  And he is having to dig into his pocket at this point to make sure that some of them are able to deal with the economic impact.  So this is something that has to be dealt with immediately, not sometime later.  And that’s everybody’s driving focus -- everybody who is standing behind me. This is our highest priority and it deserves a response that is equal to the task.

That’s why this has already been the largest cleanup effort in U.S. history.  On the day this disaster began, even as we launched a search and rescue effort for workers on the drilling rig, we were already staging equipment in the event of a larger-scale spill.  By the time we discovered the third breach, a week after the Deepwater Horizon platform sank, we had already stationed more than 70 vessels and hundreds of thousands of feet of protective boom on site.

Today, there are more than 20,000 people in the region working around the clock to contain and clean up this spill.  We’ve activated about 1,400 members of the National Guard across four states.  Nearly 1,400 vessels are aiding in the containment and cleanup effort.  And we deployed more than 3 million feet of hard and sorbent boom, including an additional 100,000 just yesterday for these parishes in Louisiana that face the greatest threat. 

Now, I’ve made clear to Admiral Allen and I did so again today that he should get whatever he needs to deal with this crisis.  Whatever he needs, he will get.

Right now, we’re still within the window where we don’t yet know the outcome of the highly complex top kill procedure that the federal government authorized BP to use to try to stop the leak.  If it is successful, it would obviously be welcome news.  If it’s not, a team of some of the world’s top scientists, engineers and experts, led by our Energy Secretary and Nobel Prize-winning physicist Steven Chu, has for some time being -- has for some time been exploring any and all reasonable contingency plans.

But our response will continue with its full force regardless of the outcome of the top kill approach -- because even if the leak was stopped today it wouldn’t change the fact that these waters still contain oil from what is now the largest spill in American history.  And more of it will come ashore.

To ensure that we’re fully prepared for that, and in accordance with input from folks down here, I’ve directed Secretary Napolitano and Admiral Allen to triple the manpower in places where oil has hit the shore or is within 24 hours of impact.  This increase will allow us to further intensify this already historic response, contain and remove oil more quickly, and help minimize the time that any oil comes into contact with our coastline.  That means deploying more boom, cleaning more beaches, performing more monitoring of wildlife and impact to this ecosystem.

We’re also going to continue to do whatever it takes to help Americans whose livelihoods have been upended by this spill.  Gulf Coast residents should know that we’ve gathered all pertinent information regarding available assistance and the federal response in one place at whitehouse.gov.

We have ordered BP to pay economic injury claims, and we will make sure they deliver.  And the parish presidents and governors here in Louisiana were already giving us some sense of some of the bureaucratic problems that we’re going to have to cut through, but we are going to cut through them.  And for those who are in economic distress, if you’ve already filed a claim and you’re not satisfied with the resolution, then whitehouse.gov will point you in the right direction. 

As I said yesterday, the Small Business Administration has stepped in to help businesses by approving loans, but also as important, allowing many to defer existing loan payments.  A lot of folks are still loaded up with loans that they had from Katrina and other natural disasters down here, so they may need some additional help.

If you’re a small business owner and you weren’t aware of some of the programs that have been put in place or haven’t participated, then, again, the White House website will connect you to the resources you need.  And we are making sure that all the parish presidents know, and folks like the mayor, other local officials are going to be aware of how they can get immediate help from us.

What’s more, we’ve stationed doctors and scientists across the five Gulf States to look out for people’s health and then to monitor any ill effects felt by cleanup workers and local residents.  And we’ve begun setting up a system to track these efforts -- excuse me, to track these effects -- and ensure folks get the care that they need.  And we’ve told BP that we expect them to pay for that, too.

As I’ve said before, BP is the responsible party for this disaster.  What that means is they’re legally responsible for stopping the leak and they’re financially responsible for the enormous damage that they’ve created.  And we’re going to hold them accountable, along with any other party responsible for the initial explosion and loss of life on that platform.

But as I said yesterday, and as I repeated in the meeting that we just left, I ultimately take responsibility for solving this crisis.  I’m the President and the buck stops with me.  So I give the people of this community and the entire Gulf my word that we’re going to hold ourselves accountable to do whatever it takes for as long as it takes to stop this catastrophe, to defend our natural resources, to repair the damage, and to keep this region on its feet.  Justice will be done for those whose lives have been upended by this disaster, for the families of those whose lives have been lost -- that is a solemn pledge that I am making.

I think I can speak for anybody here, and for anybody who has been involved in the response and the cleanup effort, and for most Americans, when I say that I would gladly do whatever it takes to end this disaster today.  But I want to also repeat something that I said to the group as a whole while we were meeting.  This is a manmade catastrophe that’s still evolving and we face a long-term recovery and restoration effort. 

America has never experienced an event like this before.  And that means that as we respond to it, not every judgment we make is going to be right the first time out.  Sometimes, there are going to be disagreements between experts, or between federal and state and local officials, or among state officials, or between states, about what the most effective measures will be.

Sometimes, there are going to be risks and unintended consequences associated with a particular mitigation strategy that we consider.  In other words, there are going to be a lot of judgment calls involved here.  There are not going to be silver bullets or a lot of perfect answers for some of the challenges that we face.

Understandably, the feelings of frustration and anger, the sense that any response is inadequate -- we expect that frustration and anger to continue until we actually solve this problem.  But in the meantime, we’ve got to make sure that everybody is working in concert, that everybody is moving in the same direction.  And I want everybody to know that everybody here -- at every level -- is working night and day to end this crisis. We’re considering every single idea out there, especially from folks who know these communities best.

Admiral Allen announced yesterday, for example, that, after a bunch of back-and-forth between state and federal experts, he is prepared to authorize moving forward with a portion of the idea for a barrier island that may stop some of the oil from coming ashore.  We had an extensive conversation about this and  -- to see whether additional steps can be taken on this barrier island idea. 

And what I told the parish president, what I told the Governor, is that if there is an idea that can be shown to work, then we should move forward on it, and they deserve quick answers.  But I also reminded everybody that we’ve got to make sure that whatever we do is actually going to work, particularly because we’re going to have not unlimited resources, at least not right now.  For example, there’s a limited amount of boom.  We’re going to try to get more boom manufactured.  But that may take some time, and that means we’re going to have to make some decisions about how to deploy it effectively.

The bottom line is this:  Every decision we make is based on a single criterion -– what’s going to best protect and make whole the people and the ecosystems of the Gulf.

And I want to thank everybody in this region who’s rolled up their sleeves and pitched in to help -– from the National Guard putting their experience to the task, to the local officials and every citizen who loves this area and calls it home, every American who’s traveled to the region to lend a hand.  If any American is looking for ways to volunteer and help, then we’ve put links to that information on our website, as well -- that's whitehouse.gov. 

And, all these governors -- Bobby Jindal, as well as Charlie Crist and Bob Riley, they want -- and I know Haley Barbour is not here but I think he agrees with this, as well -- one of the powerful ways that you can help the Gulf right now is to visit the communities and the beaches off of the coast.  Except for three beaches here in Louisiana, all of the Gulf’s beaches at this moment are open, they are safe and they are clean.  And so that's always a good way to help, is to come down and provide support to the communities along the coasts.

To the people of the Gulf Coast:  I know that you’ve weathered your fair share of trials and tragedy.  I know there have been times where you’ve wondered if you were being asked to face them alone.  I am here to tell you that you’re not alone.  You will not be abandoned.  You will not be left behind.  The cameras at some point may leave; the media may get tired of the story; but we will not.  We are on your side and we will see this through.  We’re going to keep at this every day until the leak has stopped, until this coastline is clean, and your communities are made whole again.  That’s my promise to you.  And that is a promise on behalf of a nation.  It is one that we will keep. 

And I will make one last point -- and I said this to every leader who is here:  If something is not going right down here, then they need to talk to Thad Allen.  And if they’re not getting satisfaction from Thad Allen, then they can talk to me.  There’s nobody here who can’t get in touch with me directly if there is an idea, a suggestion, or a logjam that needs to be dealt with.

So we’re in this together.  And it’s going to be a difficult time, and obviously the folks down here are going to be feeling the brunt of it, but we’re going to make sure that we’re doing everything we can to get this solved as quickly as possible.

And I want to again think everybody here for the extraordinary work that they’re putting in.  You shouldn’t underestimate how hard these folks are working, day in, day out, on behalf of their constituencies.

So thank you very much.  Thank you, everybody.  (Applause.)

Q    Mr. President, how confident are you that it will be -- that the leak will be plugged soon?

THE PRESIDENT:  All I can say is that we’ve got the best minds working on it and we’re going to keep on at it until we get it plugged.

END
2:10 P.M. CDT

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
May 28, 2010

Remarks by the President, Admiral Thad Allen, and Parish President Charlotte Randolf after Beach Tour

Fourchon Beach, Louisiana

11:07 A.M. CDT

THE PRESIDENT:  Everybody, I want you all to meet Charlotte Randolph, who’s the parish president in this parish.  And what I just heard from Thad Allen was that this parish has been as effective as any in coordinating and working to make sure that they respond quickly. 

You’ve got about seven miles of beach here where two types of boom have already been laid.  This is new boom, so what you’re seeing here, if I’m not mistaken -- right, Thad? --

ADMIRAL ALLEN:  The old boom was picked up yesterday.

THE PRESIDENT:  The old boom was picked up yesterday, but this will just soak up the oil as it comes up.  And if you guys want to get a little bit closer and get dirty, you can see -- you might want to stop right around here -- you can see these little balls -- these are the tar balls that they’re talking about. 

So, Madam President, these you can actually send
out teams to pick up as they wash onshore.

MS. RANDOLPH:  And is picked up by the booms.

THE PRESIDENT:  So either the boom soaks stuff up or manually you can pick up these tar balls as they’re coming ashore.  But obviously the concern is, is that until we actually stop the flow, we’ve got problems.  And it may be that there’s some additional strategies, Madam President, that you’re
interested in pursuing.

So, Thad, you want to just talk a little bit about how the parish, Coast Guard, has been -- and the cleanup teams have been working together?

ADMIRAL ALLEN:  Yes, Mr. President.  I was here yesterday meeting with the parish president --

THE PRESIDENT:  Yes, that stick is --

ADMIRAL ALLEN:  An oil stick there.  The unified command center they have here is one of the best examples I’ve seen in the region where you have Coast Guard, the responsible party, and the local responders both from the parish and the state and the other federal stakeholders that are there.  They sit in a room every day; they work together; they’ve got everything up on a
screen in front of them; they know where the boom is at; they track it.  They’re using modern technology to do that and they’ve got a real sound booming strategy.  If oil were to get into the bay over here, which is very, very sensitive, they’d have to have local shrimp boats that are standing by to deploy the boom -- a lot of good integration among state and local and federal and the
contractors.

THE PRESIDENT:  Good.

MS. RANDOLPH:  Plus we’re concerned about the port being closed by oil.  The Coast Guard has been very vigilant over that and the oil that has attempted to get into the port, the Coast Guard is on top of.  We can’t close that port.

THE PRESIDENT:  Right.

ADMIRAL ALLEN:  The other thing is we have -- if a ship comes through and it hits oil before it hits the port, we try to establish a cleaning station so we can manage that so we can keep the commerce going -- unless it’s actually --

THE PRESIDENT:  Now, I was -- they were also saying that a day like today is actually ideal for in-situ burning and skimming.  It’s hot and it’s calm, which means that a lot of boats are out there right now and they’re in a position where they can help prevent it from getting close to shore.

Some of you guys may have noticed when we were walking up, by the way, there were a couple of dolphins right -- just about 50 feet out, maybe 100 yards out.  So obviously there’s precious wildlife in this area even though you see a whole bunch of oil rigs in the background.  The parish president said she used to come out here and do a lot of fishing, so we want to make sure that she comes back and can fish again.

All right, thank you, everybody.

Q    Can you be sure these oil tar balls are from the oil spill?  Because when I used to swim on the Gulf in Texas, I’d get tar balls in my bathing suit all the time.

ADMIRAL ALLEN:  Some of them are naturally occurring.  I think we can say with a high degree of certainty this is from the --

Q    You all attribute all of them right now to BP, yes?  But you do get some occasionally, right, in good times?

MS. RANDOLPH:  Yes, seepage.

ADMIRAL ALLEN:  There’s natural seepage from time to time as well.

THE PRESIDENT:  At some time -- at some point, Jackie, we’ll want to hear more about those tar balls and your bathing suit.  (Laughter.)

Q    Mr. President, would you support Mary Landrieu’s efforts to step up payments of the offshore oil royalties?

THE PRESIDENT:  You know, we’re going to be doing a statement at the next stop.

END
11:11 A.M. CDT

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
May 27, 2010

Remarks by President Obama and President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia Before Bilateral Meeting

Oval Office

3:26 P.M. EDT

PRESIDENT OBAMA:  Well, I want to officially welcome President Sirleaf to the Oval Office.  I have been an extraordinary admirer of her work for many years now.  I fondly recall the speech that she delivered in a joint session of Congress when I was still in the Senate. 

The United States and Liberia are close friends, long-standing partners, and Liberia is now emerging from a very difficult period in its history.  Part of the reason that it has been able to emerge is because of the heroism and the courage of President Sirleaf.  Her own personal story obviously is extraordinary -- somebody who came from being a prisoner to the first female President not just of her own country but also on the continent.

And over the last several years, what we’ve seen is a continued determination on her part to have a full accounting of some of the tragedies that took place earlier -- making sure that the country is refocused on development, being willing to tackle corruption, which obviously plagues not just Liberia but countries throughout the continent of Africa.  She has been committed to rule of law.  She has made strides in reforming her judiciary. 

And in all these endeavors, I want to make sure that the people of Liberia understand and I certainly want you, Madam President, to understand that the United States is going to be a constant friend and partner in these efforts.  We are working with Liberia on a food initiative that will help to create greater food security and independence in the country.  We continue to work with the Liberian government on issues like maternal health and education. 

There has been extraordinary cooperation between our two countries in the issue of counterterrorism as well as drug trafficking, because unfortunately the western coast of Africa increasingly is seen as a place where drug traffickers internationally may be able to operate with impunity.  And so on all these issues, we have been able to cultivate a strong partnership, a strong relationship, and I want President Sirleaf to know that that will continue. 

I also want to commend her for her commitment to democracy.  There are going to be legislative and presidential elections in 2011.  And part of President Sirleaf’s legacy is that she will continue to usher in a sense that democracy is the regular way of doing business in Liberia.  And in that way, she can be an example for countries like Guinea and Cote d’Ivoire and Niger that I think can -- should look to Liberia as an example for democracy and rule of law.

So, Madam President, welcome.  We are grateful to you for your extraordinary work.  I still recall in your speech that part of the reason you ran was because you wanted to see the children of Liberia smiling again, and I want you to know that we have that same hope and that same dream for Liberia and will be there with you every step of the way.

PRESIDENT JOHNSON SIRLEAF:  Mr. President, I want to thank you very much.  I’m extremely proud, extremely pleased, to have this opportunity to meet with you.  In 2006 when our government stopped, we inherited a broken country -- devastated by war, people displaced, infrastructure broken, institutions dysfunctional -- but we said that we were going to make Liberia rise again.

I come today on behalf of the Liberian people to say that we’ve made a lot of progress in that commitment.  We’ve been able to maintain peace for seven years now.  And I say that today, our children who are entering first grade have known -- not known a gun and not had to run, and that’s great progress. 

Our security sector reform, with the United States’ support, has come a long way with the training of our new army.  Today, we’re reopening our economy -- our mining, forestry, and agriculture sectors.  We’ve tackled our debt.  We’re beginning to provide basic services by restoring infrastructure such as roads, clinics, and schools and lights and water -- things that our people have been deprived of for more than two decades. 

And we’re also establishing the rule of law and governance.  Freedoms -- we say today, that all freedoms, basic fundamental freedoms, are allowed in the country.  And we’re very proud of that.

We have challenges, and I’ll be the first to admit that -- challenges in national capacity because most of our brains left the country.  I want to thank you for your approval of the DED that extended them for 18 months, allowing them to stay a little bit while we prepare to receive them.  Corruption; the rule of law; our judiciary system and its weakness; unemployment among the many young who did not have the opportunity to go to school, who knew only war and violence in their young days. 

But those challenges we see as the ones that we have to tackle.  And the progress we have made enable us to have the commitment and capacity to meet those challenges.

I want you to know that the United States has been a great partner to us.  We could not have achieved the progress that we have had if we had not had the support in those initial days when we were just scrambling and looking for the ways to be able to go forward.  The U.S. was there as a great partner. 

And so the administration as well as the Congress have been very supportive of us.  It has continued through these four years.  And I’m just here to say that the return on your investment is beginning to come.  We hope that that return will be even greater in the next few years when we consolidate the peace and when we are able to deliver basic services to our people.  I bring you greetings on behalf of the Liberian people.

PRESIDENT OBAMA:  Excellent.  Well, thank you so much.  Thank you, everybody.  Thank you, guys.

END
3:33 P.M. EDT