The donation constitutes the largest contribution to date from a single entity to Herbert’s campaign. Mayor Peter Corroon hasn’t received a single dime for his campaign from this statewide membership group. Corroon’s response to the UAR gift to Herbert is that the governor’s mansion should not be “For Sale.”

            In defending the contribution, UAR president Chris Sloan only mentions that Herbert was a Realtor and has seen Utah through difficult economic times. Sloan coincidentally is also chairman of the Tooele County GOP.

            The UAR offers no perspective on Corroon, the Salt Lake County mayor who has proven to be an adept, fiscally conservative and bipartisan leader. Corroon, an attorney, property developer and real estate licensee, owns industrial, multifamily, and commercial office property in Utah and has seen Salt Lake County through the some of the most difficult economic times the County has ever seen.

            Sloan and Lerron Little, current president of UAR, and the PAC’s trustees are irresponsible in throwing away $100,000 raised from member contributions. These trustees should be bipartisan and more disciplined in directing member funds, focusing on more appropriate efforts such as state and national legislative issues that impact Realtor practices and real property rights.

            In a state that values strong ethics and high values, Governor Herbert willingness to accept such irresponsible donations is evidence that he is part of creating a special interest driven Republican Party that does not share the interests of Utahns across the state. The Governor’s Mansion is not up FOR SALE.

© May 27, 2010 Salt Lake Tribune

In a report by the Salt Lake Tribune, both Republican Senate candidates say they would support a resumption of underground nuclear weapons tests, presumably in Nevada, to help modernize the nation's weapons stockpile.

Mike Lee signed a "Peace Through Strength" pledge Monday, which consists of several defense policy positions, including protecting national sovereignty, not trying enemy combatants in U.S. courts, energy security and the modernization and testing of the U.S. nuclear arsenal.

"We need to always have our eye on the ball for developing new weapons systems and that is going to require new testing," Lee said in an interview with The Salt Lake Tribune .

HB67 sponsored by Rep. Carl Wimmer (R-Herriman) passed 53-20 on a largely party-line vote, changing what was originally a message bill into a barrier that state lawyers warn may be unconstitutional for usurping federal power and threatening the state's own separation of powers.

Wimmer's measure, which now goes to the state Senate, threatens to worsen Utah's healthcare crisis, by allowing the federal government to withhold medicaid funding. Further endangering Utah families' ability to afford healthcare coverage.

"Without some help from Medicaid, you could cripple families -- and that's a scary thought," said an emotional Jennifer Fillmore. Though most of her family is insured through her husband's work, her 13-year-old son's autism is considered a preexisting condition that won't be covered. The Fillmores rely on Medicaid to pay for his multitude of therapies, which can cost $1,000 a month.

The vote followed a press conference by the Utah Health Policy Project urging representatives to consider a substitute bill introduced by Rep. Carol Spackman-Moss, D-Holladay. Her replacement would allow the state to block federal health care reform as long as it had also considered whether federal measures best served individuals and whether there would be consequences such as losing Medicaid funding.

Remember these words come election time: "Utah House OKs Roadblocks for Reform"!

After nearly four and one-half years with the Utah State Democratic Party, Deputy Director Craig Axford has taken a position as the Executive Director for the Citizens Education Project (CEP).  Axford came to the Utah Democratic Party as party of then DNC Chairman Howard Dean’s 50-state program in September of 2005. 

But the bank lobbyists and their paid-for allies in the Congress understand that the public just hates the bailouts, so they are trying to direct that hatred to try to kill a bill that would ... prevent bailouts. Here's how it works: If focus groups showed that the public overwhelmingly loathed green cheese, the reform opponents would be circulating a story that a bill to regulate green cheese actually forces everyone to eat it. Until the public catches on that this is how lobbyists and their allies work, this is how the game will be played.

From yesterday's story, House Democrats Defend Effort to Rein In Wall Street,

Republicans, trying to emphasize an issue that strikes a chord with conservatives, said the creation of a new $150 billion fund to dissolve failing businesses would mean a continuation of the bailouts that have sparked public anger.

The fund is for use dissolving banks, not bailing them out. It helps get rid of the idea of too-big-to-fail. But the bank lobbyists don't want their too-big-to-fail perks to go away, so they want to kill this bill. To do this they spread lies, tell the public the bills do the opposite of what they do, grease the palms of corrupt legislators, and generally degrade the idea that we have a democracy and rule of law.

Why are these huge, corrupt financial corporations allowed to lobby using taxpayer bailout dollars? And why do we have a system that allows corporations to get anywhere near the rulemaking process for regulating corporations? Obviously the big corporations will change the rules to give themselves further advantage, and then use that advantage to further change the rules, giving themselves even further advantage - rinse and repeat forever.

This is one more example of certain members of Congress hiring themselves out for a corporate marketing campaign, like when they ran that coordinated "drill baby drill" campaign with the oil companies. (Read a great joke at the link.)

As I wrote above, this will continue as long as it works for them. But once the public catches on that this crowd will say anything - really anything - to trick people into letting them get away with their low-wage, everything-to-the-top economic schemes maybe nonsense like this won't work anymore.

Office of the Press Secretary

___________________________________________________________

For Immediate Release                     December 10, 2009

REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT

AT THE ACCEPTANCE OF THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE

Oslo City Hall

Oslo, Norway

1:44 P.M. CET

THE PRESIDENT:  Your Majesties, Your Royal Highnesses, distinguished members of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, citizens of America, and citizens of the world: 

I receive this honor with deep gratitude and great humility.  It is an award that speaks to our highest aspirations -- that for all the cruelty and hardship of our world, we are not mere prisoners of fate.  Our actions matter, and can bend history in the direction of justice.  

And yet I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge the considerable controversy that your generous decision has generated.  (Laughter.)  In part, this is because I am at the beginning, and not the end, of my labors on the world stage.  Compared to some of the giants of history who've received this prize -- Schweitzer and King; Marshall and Mandela -- my accomplishments are slight.  And then there are the men and women around the world who have been jailed and beaten in the pursuit of justice; those who toil in humanitarian organizations to relieve suffering; the unrecognized millions whose quiet acts of courage and compassion inspire even the most hardened cynics.  I cannot argue with those who find these men and women -- some known, some obscure to all but those they help -- to be far more deserving of this honor than I. 

But perhaps the most profound issue surrounding my receipt of this prize is the fact that I am the Commander-in-Chief of the military of a nation in the midst of two wars.  One of these wars is winding down.  The other is a conflict that America did not seek; one in which we are joined by 42 other countries -- including Norway -- in an effort to defend ourselves and all nations from further attacks.   

Still, we are at war, and I'm responsible for the deployment of thousands of young Americans to battle in a distant land.  Some will kill, and some will be killed.  And so I come here with an acute sense of the costs of armed conflict -- filled with difficult questions about the relationship between war and peace, and our effort to replace one with the other.  

Now these questions are not new.  War, in one form or another, appeared with the first man.  At the dawn of history, its morality was not questioned; it was simply a fact, like drought or disease -- the manner in which tribes and then civilizations sought power and settled their differences.   

And over time, as codes of law sought to control violence within groups, so did philosophers and clerics and statesmen seek to regulate the destructive power of war.  The concept of a "just war" emerged, suggesting that war is justified only when certain conditions were met:  if it is waged as a last resort or in self-defense; if the force used is proportional; and if, whenever possible, civilians are spared from violence.   

Of course, we know that for most of history, this concept of "just war" was rarely observed.  The capacity of human beings to think up new ways to kill one another proved inexhaustible, as did our capacity to exempt from mercy those who look different or pray to a different God.  Wars between armies gave way to wars between nations -- total wars in which the distinction between combatant and civilian became blurred.  In the span of 30 years, such carnage would twice engulf this continent.  And while it's hard to conceive of a cause more just than the defeat of the Third Reich and the Axis powers, World War II was a conflict in which the total number of civilians who died exceeded the number of soldiers who perished.   

In the wake of such destruction, and with the advent of the nuclear age, it became clear to victor and vanquished alike that the world needed institutions to prevent another world war.  And so, a quarter century after the United States Senate rejected the League of Nations -- an idea for which Woodrow Wilson received this prize -- America led the world in constructing an architecture to keep the peace:  a Marshall Plan and a United Nations, mechanisms to govern the waging of war, treaties to protect human rights, prevent genocide, restrict the most dangerous weapons. 

In many ways, these efforts succeeded.  Yes, terrible wars have been fought, and atrocities committed.  But there has been no Third World War.  The Cold War ended with jubilant crowds dismantling a wall.  Commerce has stitched much of the world together.  Billions have been lifted from poverty.  The ideals of liberty and self-determination, equality and the rule of law have haltingly advanced.  We are the heirs of the fortitude and foresight of generations past, and it is a legacy for which my own country is rightfully proud.   

And yet, a decade into a new century, this old architecture is buckling under the weight of new threats.  The world may no longer shudder at the prospect of war between two nuclear superpowers, but proliferation may increase the risk of catastrophe.  Terrorism has long been a tactic, but modern technology allows a few small men with outsized rage to murder innocents on a horrific scale.   

Moreover, wars between nations have increasingly given way to wars within nations.  The resurgence of ethnic or sectarian conflicts; the growth of secessionist movements, insurgencies, and failed states -- all these things have increasingly trapped civilians in unending chaos.  In today's wars, many more civilians are killed than soldiers; the seeds of future conflict are sown, economies are wrecked, civil societies torn asunder, refugees amassed, children scarred.  

I do not bring with me today a definitive solution to the problems of war.  What I do know is that meeting these challenges will require the same vision, hard work, and persistence of those men and women who acted so boldly decades ago.  And it will require us to think in new ways about the notions of just war and the imperatives of a just peace.

We must begin by acknowledging the hard truth:  We will not eradicate violent conflict in our lifetimes.  There will be times when nations -- acting individually or in concert -- will find the use of force not only necessary but morally justified.  

I make this statement mindful of what Martin Luther King Jr. said in this same ceremony years ago:  "Violence never brings permanent peace.  It solves no social problem:  it merely creates new and more complicated ones."  As someone who stands here as a direct consequence of Dr. King's life work, I am living testimony to the moral force of non-violence.  I know there's nothing weak -- nothing passive -- nothing naïve -- in the creed and lives of Gandhi and King.  

But as a head of state sworn to protect and defend my nation, I cannot be guided by their examples alone.  I face the world as it is, and cannot stand idle in the face of threats to the American people.  For make no mistake:  Evil does exist in the world.  A non-violent movement could not have halted Hitler's armies.  Negotiations cannot convince al Qaeda's leaders to lay down their arms.  To say that force may sometimes be necessary is not a call to cynicism -- it is a recognition of history; the imperfections of man and the limits of reason.  

I raise this point, I begin with this point because in many countries there is a deep ambivalence about military action today, no matter what the cause.  And at times, this is joined by a reflexive suspicion of America, the world's sole military superpower. 

But the world must remember that it was not simply international institutions -- not just treaties and declarations -- that brought stability to a post-World War II world.  Whatever mistakes we have made, the plain fact is this:  The United States of America has helped underwrite global security for more than six decades with the blood of our citizens and the strength of our arms.  The service and sacrifice of our men and women in uniform has promoted peace and prosperity from Germany to Korea, and enabled democracy to take hold in places like the Balkans.  We have borne this burden not because we seek to impose our will.  We have done so out of enlightened self-interest -- because we seek a better future for our children and grandchildren, and we believe that their lives will be better if others' children and grandchildren can live in freedom and prosperity. 

So yes, the instruments of war do have a role to play in preserving the peace.  And yet this truth must coexist with another -- that no matter how justified, war promises human tragedy.  The soldier's courage and sacrifice is full of glory, expressing devotion to country, to cause, to comrades in arms.  But war itself is never glorious, and we must never trumpet it as such.  

So part of our challenge is reconciling these two seemingly inreconcilable truths -- that war is sometimes necessary, and war at some level is an expression of human folly.  Concretely, we must direct our effort to the task that President Kennedy called for long ago.  "Let us focus," he said, "on a more practical, more attainable peace, based not on a sudden revolution in human nature but on a gradual evolution in human institutions."  A gradual evolution of human institutions. 

What might this evolution look like?  What might these practical steps be? 

To begin with, I believe that all nations -- strong and weak alike -- must adhere to standards that govern the use of force.  I -- like any head of state -- reserve the right to act unilaterally if necessary to defend my nation.  Nevertheless, I am convinced that adhering to standards, international standards, strengthens those who do, and isolates and weakens those who don't. 

The world rallied around America after the 9/11 attacks, and continues to support our efforts in Afghanistan, because of the horror of those senseless attacks and the recognized principle of self-defense.  Likewise, the world recognized the need to confront Saddam Hussein when he invaded Kuwait -- a consensus that sent a clear message to all about the cost of aggression.  

Furthermore, America -- in fact, no nation -- can insist that others follow the rules of the road if we refuse to follow them ourselves.  For when we don't, our actions appear arbitrary and undercut the legitimacy of future interventions, no matter how justified.  

And this becomes particularly important when the purpose of military action extends beyond self-defense or the defense of one nation against an aggressor.  More and more, we all confront difficult questions about how to prevent the slaughter of civilians by their own government, or to stop a civil war whose violence and suffering can engulf an entire region.  

I believe that force can be justified on humanitarian grounds, as it was in the Balkans, or in other places that have been scarred by war.  Inaction tears at our conscience and can lead to more costly intervention later.  That's why all responsible nations must embrace the role that militaries with a clear mandate can play to keep the peace.   

America's commitment to global security will never waver.  But in a world in which threats are more diffuse, and missions more complex, America cannot act alone.  America alone cannot secure the peace.  This is true in Afghanistan.  This is true in failed states like Somalia, where terrorism and piracy is joined by famine and human suffering.  And sadly, it will continue to be true in unstable regions for years to come.  

The leaders and soldiers of NATO countries, and other friends and allies, demonstrate this truth through the capacity and courage they've shown in Afghanistan.  But in many countries, there is a disconnect between the efforts of those who serve and the ambivalence of the broader public.  I understand why war is not popular, but I also know this:  The belief that peace is desirable is rarely enough to achieve it.  Peace requires responsibility.  Peace entails sacrifice.  That's why NATO continues to be indispensable.  That's why we must strengthen U.N. and regional peacekeeping, and not leave the task to a few countries.  That's why we honor those who return home from peacekeeping and training abroad to Oslo and Rome; to Ottawa and Sydney; to Dhaka and Kigali -- we honor them not as makers of war, but of wagers -- but as wagers of peace.  

Let me make one final point about the use of force.  Even as we make difficult decisions about going to war, we must also think clearly about how we fight it.  The Nobel Committee recognized this truth in awarding its first prize for peace to Henry Dunant -- the founder of the Red Cross, and a driving force behind the Geneva Conventions.  

Where force is necessary, we have a moral and strategic interest in binding ourselves to certain rules of conduct.  And even as we confront a vicious adversary that abides by no rules, I believe the United States of America must remain a standard bearer in the conduct of war.  That is what makes us different from those whom we fight.  That is a source of our strength.  That is why I prohibited torture.  That is why I ordered the prison at Guantanamo Bay closed.  And that is why I have reaffirmed America's commitment to abide by the Geneva Conventions.  We lose ourselves when we compromise the very ideals that we fight to defend.  (Applause.)  And we honor -- we honor those ideals by upholding them not when it's easy, but when it is hard.  

I have spoken at some length to the question that must weigh on our minds and our hearts as we choose to wage war.  But let me now turn to our effort to avoid such tragic choices, and speak of three ways that we can build a just and lasting peace.   

First, in dealing with those nations that break rules and laws, I believe that we must develop alternatives to violence that are tough enough to actually change behavior -- for if we want a lasting peace, then the words of the international community must mean something.  Those regimes that break the rules must be held accountable.  Sanctions must exact a real price.  Intransigence must be met with increased pressure -- and such pressure exists only when the world stands together as one.  

One urgent example is the effort to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons, and to seek a world without them.  In the middle of the last century, nations agreed to be bound by a treaty whose bargain is clear:  All will have access to peaceful nuclear power; those without nuclear weapons will forsake them; and those with nuclear weapons will work towards disarmament.  I am committed to upholding this treaty.  It is a centerpiece of my foreign policy.  And I'm working with President Medvedev to reduce America and Russia's nuclear stockpiles. 

But it is also incumbent upon all of us to insist that nations like Iran and North Korea do not game the system.  Those who claim to respect international law cannot avert their eyes when those laws are flouted.  Those who care for their own security cannot ignore the danger of an arms race in the Middle East or East Asia.  Those who seek peace cannot stand idly by as nations arm themselves for nuclear war. 

The same principle applies to those who violate international laws by brutalizing their own people.  When there is genocide in Darfur, systematic rape in Congo, repression in Burma -- there must be consequences.  Yes, there will be engagement; yes, there will be diplomacy -- but there must be consequences when those things fail.  And the closer we stand together, the less likely we will be faced with the choice between armed intervention and complicity in oppression. 

This brings me to a second point -- the nature of the peace that we seek.  For peace is not merely the absence of visible conflict.  Only a just peace based on the inherent rights and dignity of every individual can truly be lasting. 

It was this insight that drove drafters of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights after the Second World War.  In the wake of devastation, they recognized that if human rights are not protected, peace is a hollow promise.  

And yet too often, these words are ignored.  For some countries, the failure to uphold human rights is excused by the false suggestion that these are somehow Western principles, foreign to local cultures or stages of a nation's development.  And within America, there has long been a tension between those who describe themselves as realists or idealists -- a tension that suggests a stark choice between the narrow pursuit of interests or an endless campaign to impose our values around the world. 

I reject these choices.  I believe that peace is unstable where citizens are denied the right to speak freely or worship as they please; choose their own leaders or assemble without fear.  Pent-up grievances fester, and the suppression of tribal and religious identity can lead to violence.  We also know that the opposite is true.  Only when Europe became free did it finally find peace.  America has never fought a war against a democracy, and our closest friends are governments that protect the rights of their citizens.  No matter how callously defined, neither America's interests -- nor the world's -- are served by the denial of human aspirations. 

So even as we respect the unique culture and traditions of different countries, America will always be a voice for those aspirations that are universal.  We will bear witness to the quiet dignity of reformers like Aung Sang Suu Kyi; to the bravery of Zimbabweans who cast their ballots in the face of beatings; to the hundreds of thousands who have marched silently through the streets of Iran.  It is telling that the leaders of these governments fear the aspirations of their own people more than the power of any other nation.  And it is the responsibility of all free people and free nations to make clear that these movements -- these movements of hope and history -- they have us on their side. 

Let me also say this:  The promotion of human rights cannot be about exhortation alone.  At times, it must be coupled with painstaking diplomacy.  I know that engagement with repressive regimes lacks the satisfying purity of indignation.  But I also know that sanctions without outreach -- condemnation without discussion -- can carry forward only a crippling status quo.  No repressive regime can move down a new path unless it has the choice of an open door. 

In light of the Cultural Revolution's horrors, Nixon's meeting with Mao appeared inexcusable -- and yet it surely helped set China on a path where millions of its citizens have been lifted from poverty and connected to open societies.  Pope John Paul's engagement with Poland created space not just for the Catholic Church, but for labor leaders like Lech Walesa.  Ronald Reagan's efforts on arms control and embrace of perestroika not only improved relations with the Soviet Union, but empowered dissidents throughout Eastern Europe.  There's no simple formula here.  But we must try as best we can to balance isolation and engagement, pressure and incentives, so that human rights and dignity are advanced over time.   

Third, a just peace includes not only civil and political rights -- it must encompass economic security and opportunity.  For true peace is not just freedom from fear, but freedom from want.   

It is undoubtedly true that development rarely takes root without security; it is also true that security does not exist where human beings do not have access to enough food, or clean water, or the medicine and shelter they need to survive.  It does not exist where children can't aspire to a decent education or a job that supports a family.  The absence of hope can rot a society from within. 

And that's why helping farmers feed their own people -- or nations educate their children and care for the sick -- is not mere charity.  It's also why the world must come together to confront climate change.  There is little scientific dispute that if we do nothing, we will face more drought, more famine, more mass displacement -- all of which will fuel more conflict for decades.  For this reason, it is not merely scientists and environmental activists who call for swift and forceful action -- it's military leaders in my own country and others who understand our common security hangs in the balance.  

Agreements among nations.  Strong institutions.  Support for human rights.  Investments in development.  All these are vital ingredients in bringing about the evolution that President Kennedy spoke about.  And yet, I do not believe that we will have the will, the determination, the staying power, to complete this work without something more -- and that's the continued expansion of our moral imagination; an insistence that there's something irreducible that we all share.  

As the world grows smaller, you might think it would be easier for human beings to recognize how similar we are; to understand that we're all basically seeking the same things; that we all hope for the chance to live out our lives with some measure of happiness and fulfillment for ourselves and our families.   

And yet somehow, given the dizzying pace of globalization, the cultural leveling of modernity, it perhaps comes as no surprise that people fear the loss of what they cherish in their particular identities -- their race, their tribe, and perhaps most powerfully their religion.  In some places, this fear has led to conflict.  At times, it even feels like we're moving backwards.  We see it in the Middle East, as the conflict between Arabs and Jews seems to harden.  We see it in nations that are torn asunder by tribal lines.   

And most dangerously, we see it in the way that religion is used to justify the murder of innocents by those who have distorted and defiled the great religion of Islam, and who attacked my country from Afghanistan.  These extremists are not the first to kill in the name of God; the cruelties of the Crusades are amply recorded.  But they remind us that no Holy War can ever be a just war.  For if you truly believe that you are carrying out divine will, then there is no need for restraint -- no need to spare the pregnant mother, or the medic, or the Red Cross worker, or even a person of one's own faith.  Such a warped view of religion is not just incompatible with the concept of peace, but I believe it's incompatible with the very purpose of faith -- for the one rule that lies at the heart of every major religion is that we do unto others as we would have them do unto us. 

Adhering to this law of love has always been the core struggle of human nature.  For we are fallible.  We make mistakes, and fall victim to the temptations of pride, and power, and sometimes evil.  Even those of us with the best of intentions will at times fail to right the wrongs before us. 

But we do not have to think that human nature is perfect for us to still believe that the human condition can be perfected.  We do not have to live in an idealized world to still reach for those ideals that will make it a better place.  The non-violence practiced by men like Gandhi and King may not have been practical or possible in every circumstance, but the love that they preached -- their fundamental faith in human progress -- that must always be the North Star that guides us on our journey. 

For if we lose that faith -- if we dismiss it as silly or naïve; if we divorce it from the decisions that we make on issues of war and peace -- then we lose what's best about humanity.  We lose our sense of possibility.  We lose our moral compass. 

Like generations have before us, we must reject that future.  As Dr. King said at this occasion so many years ago, "I refuse to accept despair as the final response to the ambiguities of history.  I refuse to accept the idea that the 'isness' of man's present condition makes him morally incapable of reaching up for the eternal 'oughtness' that forever confronts him." 

Let us reach for the world that ought to be -- that spark of the divine that still stirs within each of our souls.  (Applause.) 

Somewhere today, in the here and now, in the world as it is, a soldier sees he's outgunned, but stands firm to keep the peace.  Somewhere today, in this world, a young protestor awaits the brutality of her government, but has the courage to march on.  Somewhere today, a mother facing punishing poverty still takes the time to teach her child, scrapes together what few coins she has to send that child to school -- because she believes that a cruel world still has a place for that child's dreams. 

Let us live by their example.  We can acknowledge that oppression will always be with us, and still strive for justice.  We can admit the intractability of depravation, and still strive for dignity.  Clear-eyed, we can understand that there will be war, and still strive for peace.  We can do that -- for that is the story of human progress; that's the hope of all the world; and at this moment of challenge, that must be our work here on Earth. 

Thank you very much.  (Applause.)

Key benefits to the labor market include the following:

• By slowing the growth rate of health care costs in the public and private sector, health insurance reform will improve take-home wage growth, improve standards of living, and encourage private sector job growth.
• More efficient labor markets will spur entrepreneurship, productivity, and growth at small firms, a key source of job creation.
• Expanding coverage to the millions of Americans who currently lack health insurance will improve health status and reduce disability, increasing labor supply.
• And finally, reform makes direct investments in the health care infrastructure that will create new jobs in research, information technology, medicine, and public health.

Lowering the cost of healthcare will lower the unemployment rate in the short-to-medium run. Bringing down the cost of healthcare will be good for jobs. Academic studies found that slowing health costs helped boost job growth in the 1990s and that the rapid rise of health costs in the 2000s hurt jobs, especially in manufacturing. Putting in place serious reforms to improve quality and slow cost growth will, in the short-to-medium run, lower the burden on businesses and enable them to hire more workers.

• The CEA estimated that if the annual growth rate of health spending slows by 1.5 percentage points per year, then the unemployment rate could fall by 0.24 percentage point and jobs could rise by 500,000.
• Analysis by business groups such as Business Roundtable and other independent analysts shows that reform would slow the growth rate of costs, freeing up funds for job creation. The delivery system reforms and revenue provisions (such as the excise tax on high cost plans in the Senate bill) in current legislation provide incentives and create new measures to contain health care spending, allowing employers to hire more workers rather than spending money on rising health insurance premiums.
• A newly released CBO report finds that premiums will fall by as much as 3 percent in the large group market and 2 percent in the small group market after reform, showing that employers will reap the cost savings necessary to hire more workers and invest in new property, plant, and equipment.

Health reform will spur entrepreneurship, productivity, and growth at small firms, helping fuel a key engine of job creation. Health reform will lower costs for small businesses through tax credits and pooled purchasing on a competitive exchange – reducing their competitive disadvantage vis-à-vis larger firms, thus helping to fuel a key engine of job creation in the economy.

• Firms with fewer than 20 employees accounted for approximately 18 percent of private sector jobs in the year with the most recent data, and nearly 25 percent of net employment growth from 1992 to 2005.
• In the current health care market, small firms must compete for workers alongside large firms that may able to afford better benefits due to their size. Under reform, the health insurance exchange will expand options for coverage, making small businesses a more attractive place for people to work, and encouraging people to start up businesses of their own.

Health market reforms will improve the functioning of labor markets by reducing job lock. By ending limitations on coverage based on pre-existing conditions and expanding portable coverage options, health reform will help reduce "job lock," freeing up workers to be more flexible – increasing the flexibility and productivity of the economy, and increasing labor supply.

Reform legislation invests directly in making the health care system more efficient, creating jobs in research, information technology, medicine, and public health:

• Reform and the health provisions of the stimulus bill invest billions in modernizing the health care infrastructure, creating high-tech jobs for skilled workers to modernize medical records and work to interconnect health information technology throughout the health care system.
• The reform bills in Congress create new jobs for doctors, nurses, and other health care providers by investing billions of dollars directly in the health care workforce, especially in the areas that have the greatest need for more health care providers.
• Reform legislation will create science and technology jobs by encouraging the development of new drugs and new treatments. The bills in Congress create new pathways for the approval of pharmaceuticals and medications such as biosimilar drugs, which will create jobs for the scientists, laboratory workers, and doctors who develop these drugs and conduct the tests needed to ensure their safety and secure their approval.
• Health Insurance Reform will create jobs for skilled researchers who analyze wellness and public health. Reform legislation devotes millions of dollars in funds toward research in wellness, epidemiology, and public health, investments that will create job opportunities for skilled workers in fields that improve the nation’s health.

Christina Romer is Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers

Office of the Press Secretary

_______________________________________________________________________________________

December 8, 2009

President Obama Announces Proposals to Accelerate Job Growth and Lay the Foundation for Robust Economic Growth

Today, the President laid out some of the broad steps that he believes should be at the heart of our efforts to help put Americans back to work and get businesses hiring again. This announcement is part of the President’s ongoing effort to take every responsible step to accelerate the pace of job growth. The President views every bill through the prism of job growth and will continue to explore additional approaches as well. These measures are part of the overall policy designed to not just create jobs in the short run but also shift America away from consumption-driven growth to a focus on enhancing the competitiveness of America’s businesses, encouraging investment, and promoting exports. 

The bold and difficult steps the President took to stabilize the financial system have reduced the cost of TARP by more than $200 billion, providing additional resources for job creation and for deficit reduction. 

I. THREE KEY AREAS FOR ACCELERATING JOB GROWTH

·        Tax cuts to support additional business investment next year – with a particular focus on struggling small businesses – with much of the cost recouped over time.

·         Zero capital gains for small businesses: To encourage investment by small businesses and improve their access to capital, the Administration is calling for a one-year elimination of the tax on capital gains from new investments in small business stock. The Recovery Act allowed a 75% exclusion from capital gains taxes on small business investments.   

·         Extension of enhanced expensing provisions for small businesses: The Administration is also calling for the extension through 2010 of the Recovery Act provision that allows small businesses to immediately expense up to $250,000 of qualified investment. 

·         Extension of Recovery Act bonus depreciation tax incentive: To give businesses an incentive to invest, the Administration is calling for extending the Recovery Act provision that accelerates the rate at which business can deduct the cost of capital expenditures. This provision will put more than $20 billion in the hands of businesses in 2010, while enabling Treasury to recoup much of the funding as business regain their strength.  

·        A new tax cut for small businesses to encourage hiring in 2010. Although the economy is now growing again, many businesses remain reluctant to hire. In this economic environment, an employment tax cut for small businesses has the potential to accelerate the pace of hiring. The Administration believes it is important to provide a short-term tax incentive to encourage small business hiring and support employment, and will work with Congress to design a provision that accomplishes these goals.  

·        Eliminating fees and increasing guarantees for small businesses that borrow through major SBA programs in 2010. The President called for the elimination of fees and an increase in guarantees for loans through the Small Business Administration, a measure that extends provisions in the Recovery Act through the end of 2010. In addition, the President called for continued Treasury efforts to use the TARP to support small business lending.

·         Additional investment in highways, transit, rail, aviation and water. The President is calling for new investments in a wide range of infrastructure, designed to get out the door as quickly as possible while continuing a sustained effort at creating jobs and improving America’s productivity. 

·         Support for merit-based infrastructure investment that leverages federal dollars. The Administration supports financing infrastructure investments in new ways, allowing projects to be selected on merit and leveraging money with a combination of grants and loans as was done through the Recovery Act’s TIGER program.
 

·         New incentives for consumers who invest in energy efficient retrofits in their homes. Smart, targeted investments in energy efficiency can help create jobs while improving our energy security and saving consumers money. The President today called on Congress to consider a new program to provide rebates for consumers who make energy efficiency retrofits. Such a program will harness the power of the private sector to help drive consumers to make cost-saving investments in their homes. 

·         Expansion of successful oversubscribed Recovery Act programs to leverage private investment in energy efficiency and create clean energy manufacturing jobs. The Recovery Act included historic investments that have helped to build the foundation for a clean energy economy. The Administration supports expanding programs for which additional federal dollars will leverage private investment and create jobs quickly, such as industrial energy efficiency investments and tax incentives for investing in renewable manufacturing facilities in the U.S.  

II. A FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE APPROACH TO JOB CREATION THROUGH STEWARDSHIP OF TARP AND OVERALL FISCAL DISCIPLINE  

These steps are part of the President’s overall approach to fiscal discipline. This includes: 

·         Freeing up resources from stabilizing Wall Street and putting them to work on Main Street. Because of the Administration’s stewardship of the TARP program – combined with our broader efforts to revive the economy – we now expect the cost to be at least $200 billion less than anticipated as recently as August. Indeed, since the Obama Administration has taken office, only $7 billion has been provided in assistance to banks, compared to $114 billion in capital that banks subject to the “stress test” have raised from the private sector. These savings will allow us to pay down the deficit faster than was anticipated while also investing funds that would have gone to banks in job creating efforts instead.

·         An overall approach to fiscal discipline in the budget. Although additional resources are needed in the short-run to address the unemployment crisis, the Administration is committed to doing what we need to bring the medium-term deficit under control – and is exploring a range of steps to take as part of the FY2011 budget process. An additional important component of returning to fiscal responsibility is passing health reform legislation that not only reduces the deficit but also reduces the long-term growth rate of health care costs.

III. AN ONGOING FOCUS ON JOB CREATION

In addition to the proposals outlined above, the Administration will be working with Congress to ensure that those hit hardest by this economic crisis continue to receive the support they need. This includes: extending unemployment insurance for Americans who are struggling to find jobs, extending the Recovery Act provision that helps out-of-work Americans keep their health insurance through COBRA, providing an additional $250 Economic Recovery Payment to our seniors and veterans, and taking steps to ensure that state and local governments are not forced to lay-off teachers, police officers and other key personnel at this critical time. 

These steps will build on the efforts that the Administration has already taken to accelerate the pace of job growth, including tax cuts for struggling businesses, an expanded homebuyer credit, additional unemployment insurance to one million Americans, and the Cash for Clunkers program. The Administration is also continuing to pursue efforts to increase the competitiveness of U.S. businesses and strengthen their capacity to export to overseas markets. 

##

Dear Friend,

Sincerely,

U.S. Representative

2nd District of Utah

As many know, I've had a long and friendly history with the paper. I have supported and stood up for it, even when the "Sub-Standard-Exaggerator" jokes started flying.

I occasionally disagree with the editorial columns, but generally find them to be fair and professional. Which is why I was so shocked and disappointed when I read the first two sentences of the third paragraph of the Nov. 24 editorial, "Bennett's Utah GOP problem."

I hope the Standard will pardon me for taking these comments personally. Three years ago, at the urging of friends and party leaders, my wife and I agreed to take on Rob Bishop on behalf of the Democratic Party.

That 10 months ended up being the greatest sacrifice of our lives, not excluding five years as an LDS bishop. We sunk $32,000 of our own money into that race, using a loan we're still paying. Only those who have had the experience can understand what it takes out of us and our families.

There's a reason almost every Democratic candidate for Utah's 1st Congressional District burns out and drops out of politics after that one race. All of this was done in a quest that we had a 99.9 percent chance of losing.

I can think of a few adjectives to describe that experience. Quixotic comes to mind. Maybe even foolishly naive. But "Caspar Milquetoast?" Sorry, I'm just not connecting the dots on that one.

Those few sentences were obviously a clumsy reference to the admitted fact that we lose a whole lot more races than we win. But there is a disconnect between the quality of the candidates in question and the cultural tendency of Utahns to vote Republican.

I choose these words carefully. I am convinced that the majority of Utahns agree with the mainstream, common-sense views of our Utah Democratic candiates when compared with their Republican opponents (reference the remainder of the Bennett editorial). But the "I'm a Utahn so I guess I'm a Republican" cultural thing means we have a frustrating time just getting people to listen to us.

Despite these frustrations, Utah Democrats keep coming back, year after year, swallowing their disappointment and continuing to field and support good candidates. We do this for three reasons. We are loyal Americans who love our communities. We believe balanced government really will make Utah a better state.

And, most importantly, we believe that government should work for everyone, not just those who can afford to pay a lobbyist to give Jazz suite tickets to legislators.

The Standard-Examiner has strongly supported these values over the years. That's why the "Caspar Milquetoast" comment was so distressing. How does such a dismissive and patronizing attack on some of Utah's most loyal and dedicated citizens square with the paper's oft stated values on Utah government?

Having said this, I know we all have bad days. Heaven knows I've been known to stick my foot in my mouth on occasion. The Standard has a great advantage in that it has a newspaper to publicly correct its mistakes. I hope it will take the opportunity to do so.

A good place to start would be a friendly lunch with respected Salt Lake City businessman and civic leader Sam Granato.

I can assure everyone that his campaign co-chairs, Frank Layden and Mac Christensen, will certify he's no "Caspar Milquetoast."

Steve Olsen is chairman of the Weber County Democratic Party.

Washington » One hurdle down, opponents of Salt Lake City-based EnergySolutions' plan to bring foreign radioactive waste to Utah are now bracing for a tough fight in the Senate over a proposed ban on the stuff.

The U.S. House overwhelmingly passed legislation Wednesday that would bar low-level radioactive waste from being brought from foreign countriesinto the United States for disposal. The measure is aimed squarely at EnergySolutions' efforts to bring 20,000 tons of Italian waste to Tennessee for processing, then ship some 1,600 tons of radioactive leftovers to the company's Tooele County site for burial.

Bill supporters cheered Wednesday's 309-112 vote. But they know they face a bigger challenge in the Senate, where companion legislation hasn't moved nor attracted a single co-sponsor since it was introduced 11 months ago.

"We are not surprised by today's vote," EnergySolutions President Val Christensen said in a statement. "We are disappointed that the House of Representatives voted to place American jobs at risk."

Rep. Jim Matheson, a Utah Democrat who cosponsored the House bill, says he will be lobbying the other side of the Capitol.

"I think the focus has been here and now it's going to be there [in the Senate]," Matheson said. "I think this creates a real jolt of momentum."

But Matheson said the bill's chances of seeing Senate action anytime soon are uncertain. That chamber is embroiled in an intense debate over health care reform that President Barack Obama has identified as his top domestic priority and the battle could spill over into next year.

Vanessa Pierce, executive director of the Healthy Environment Alliance of Utah, says the Senate was likely just waiting for the House to give its nod before moving on its waste importation bill. Pierce and others now want Utah Sens. Bob Bennett and Orrin Hatch, both Repubicans, to lend their support to the measure.

Neither Utahn is a cosponsor of the bill. And Bennett, up for reelection in 2010, already has accepted about $50,000 in campaign donations from EnergySolutions.

"Now is the time we need to turn up the pressure on Hatch and Bennett and get them on board on this," Pierce says.

Two of Utah's House members, Matheson and Republican Jason Chaffetz, are cosponsors of the bill andvoted for the measure Wednesday. GOP Rep. Rob Bishop, a former EnergySolutions lobbyist who represents the district that contains the EnergySolutions' disposal site in Tooele County, was absent. Bishop was on a trip to Williamsburg, Va., with a group of high school students.

Republican Rep. Cliff Stearns of Florida argued against the bill during a brief House debate Wednesday. He called it an "anti-jobs, anti-trade" bill that would undermine economic recovery.

"In effect, this bill is going to hurt businesses in their area of trying to create jobs and promote economic growth," Stearns said.

Matheson disputed that premise, noting that it would actually preserve disposal space for domestic businesses.

"I don't know of any other country that takes imported waste," Matheson said. "For trade to exist, you have goods and services going in both directions. Not just in one. I don't understand how this in any way can be described as a restraint of trade."

Chaffetz urged his fellow House members to back the bill if they were pro-nuclear energy because it would ensure the United States would have space for its own waste.

"Expansion of our nuclear capacity will be nearly impossible if we allow our storage facilities to become saturated with foreign nuclear waste," Chaffetz said.

Stearns also sparred with the legislation's chief sponsor, Rep. Bart Gordon, D-Tenn., over whether there was enough space left at EnergySolutions' Clive facility.

"As Shakespeare said, 'To err is human,' and in this case, the gentleman from Tennessee has erred," Stearns said, adding that the company says it has plenty of space to take foreign waste for decades.

"Shakespeare also says, don't rope-a-dope me," Gordon shot back, contending there is a finite capacity in the company's Utah site, the only licensed disposal facility for 37 states. "It's a very serious problem if you are a lab, a hospital, if you are a utility and you have no place to take your low-level radioactive waste."

EnergySolutions is seeking a license from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to bring the Italian waste to the United States, though the agency has punted the decision until a lawsuit filed by the company is decided.

The state and the Northwest Compact, a congressionally sanctioned panel that controls waste disposal in its region, opposed the effort but lost in the U.S. District Court for Utah. An appeal is scheduled for argument Jan. 14 in the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver.

TO THE NATION

ON THE WAY FORWARD IN AFGHANISTAN AND PAKISTAN

Eisenhower Hall Theatre

United States Military Academy at West Point

West Point, New York

8:01 P.M. EST

      THE PRESIDENT:  Good evening.  To the United States Corps of Cadets, to the men and women of our Armed Services, and to my fellow Americans:  I want to speak to you tonight about our effort in Afghanistan -- the nature of our commitment there, the scope of our interests, and the strategy that my administration will pursue to bring this war to a successful conclusion.  It's an extraordinary honor for me to do so here at West Point -- where so many men and women have prepared to stand up for our security, and to represent what is finest about our country. 

To address these important issues, it's important to recall why America and our allies were compelled to fight a war in Afghanistan in the first place.  We did not ask for this fight. On September 11, 2001, 19 men hijacked four airplanes and used them to murder nearly 3,000 people.  They struck at our military and economic nerve centers.  They took the lives of innocent men, women, and children without regard to their faith or race or station.  Were it not for the heroic actions of passengers onboard one of those flights, they could have also struck at one of the great symbols of our democracy in Washington, and killed many more. 

As we know, these men belonged to al Qaeda -- a group of extremists who have distorted and defiled Islam, one of the world’s great religions, to justify the slaughter of innocents. Al Qaeda’s base of operations was in Afghanistan, where they were harbored by the Taliban -- a ruthless, repressive and radical movement that seized control of that country after it was ravaged by years of Soviet occupation and civil war, and after the attention of America and our friends had turned elsewhere. 

Just days after 9/11, Congress authorized the use of force against al Qaeda and those who harbored them -- an authorization that continues to this day.  The vote in the Senate was 98 to nothing.  The vote in the House was 420 to 1.  For the first time in its history, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization invoked Article 5 -- the commitment that says an attack on one member nation is an attack on all.  And the United Nations Security Council endorsed the use of all necessary steps to respond to the 9/11 attacks.  America, our allies and the world were acting as one to destroy al Qaeda’s terrorist network and to protect our common security. 

Under the banner of this domestic unity and international legitimacy -- and only after the Taliban refused to turn over Osama bin Laden -- we sent our troops into Afghanistan.  Within a matter of months, al Qaeda was scattered and many of its operatives were killed.  The Taliban was driven from power and pushed back on its heels.  A place that had known decades of fear now had reason to hope.  At a conference convened by the U.N., a provisional government was established under President Hamid Karzai.  And an International Security Assistance Force was established to help bring a lasting peace to a war-torn country. 

Then, in early 2003, the decision was made to wage a second war, in Iraq.  The wrenching debate over the Iraq war is well-known and need not be repeated here.  It's enough to say that for the next six years, the Iraq war drew the dominant share of our troops, our resources, our diplomacy, and our national attention -- and that the decision to go into Iraq caused substantial rifts between America and much of the world. 

Today, after extraordinary costs, we are bringing the Iraq war to a responsible end.  We will remove our combat brigades from Iraq by the end of next summer, and all of our troops by the end of 2011.  That we are doing so is a testament to the character of the men and women in uniform.  (Applause.)  Thanks to their courage, grit and perseverance, we have given Iraqis a chance to shape their future, and we are successfully leaving Iraq to its people.  

But while we've achieved hard-earned milestones in Iraq, the situation in Afghanistan has deteriorated.  After escaping across the border into Pakistan in 2001 and 2002, al Qaeda’s leadership established a safe haven there.  Although a legitimate government was elected by the Afghan people, it's been hampered by corruption, the drug trade, an under-developed economy, and insufficient security forces.  

Over the last several years, the Taliban has maintained common cause with al Qaeda, as they both seek an overthrow of the Afghan government.  Gradually, the Taliban has begun to control additional swaths of territory in Afghanistan, while engaging in increasingly brazen and devastating attacks of terrorism against the Pakistani people. 

Now, throughout this period, our troop levels in Afghanistan remained a fraction of what they were in Iraq.  When I took office, we had just over 32,000 Americans serving in Afghanistan, compared to 160,000 in Iraq at the peak of the war.  Commanders in Afghanistan repeatedly asked for support to deal with the reemergence of the Taliban, but these reinforcements did not arrive.  And that's why, shortly after taking office, I approved a longstanding request for more troops.  After consultations with our allies, I then announced a strategy recognizing the fundamental connection between our war effort in Afghanistan and the extremist safe havens in Pakistan.  I set a goal that was narrowly defined as disrupting, dismantling, and defeating al Qaeda and its extremist allies, and pledged to better coordinate our military and civilian efforts.  

Since then, we've made progress on some important objectives.  High-ranking al Qaeda and Taliban leaders have been killed, and we've stepped up the pressure on al Qaeda worldwide. In Pakistan, that nation's army has gone on its largest offensive in years.  In Afghanistan, we and our allies prevented the Taliban from stopping a presidential election, and -- although it was marred by fraud -- that election produced a government that is consistent with Afghanistan's laws and constitution. 

Yet huge challenges remain.  Afghanistan is not lost, but for several years it has moved backwards.  There's no imminent threat of the government being overthrown, but the Taliban has gained momentum.  Al Qaeda has not reemerged in Afghanistan in the same numbers as before 9/11, but they retain their safe havens along the border.  And our forces lack the full support they need to effectively train and partner with Afghan security forces and better secure the population.  Our new commander in Afghanistan -- General McChrystal -- has reported that the security situation is more serious than he anticipated.  In short:  The status quo is not sustainable. 

As cadets, you volunteered for service during this time of danger.  Some of you fought in Afghanistan.  Some of you will deploy there.  As your Commander-in-Chief, I owe you a mission that is clearly defined, and worthy of your service.  And that's why, after the Afghan voting was completed, I insisted on a thorough review of our strategy.  Now, let me be clear:  There has never been an option before me that called for troop deployments before 2010, so there has been no delay or denial of resources necessary for the conduct of the war during this review period.  Instead, the review has allowed me to ask the hard questions, and to explore all the different options, along with my national security team, our military and civilian leadership in Afghanistan, and our key partners.  And given the stakes involved, I owed the American people -- and our troops -- no less. 

This review is now complete.  And as Commander-in-Chief, I have determined that it is in our vital national interest to send an additional 30,000 U.S. troops to Afghanistan.  After 18 months, our troops will begin to come home.  These are the resources that we need to seize the initiative, while building the Afghan capacity that can allow for a responsible transition of our forces out of Afghanistan.  

I do not make this decision lightly.  I opposed the war in Iraq precisely because I believe that we must exercise restraint in the use of military force, and always consider the long-term consequences of our actions.  We have been at war now for eight years, at enormous cost in lives and resources.  Years of debate over Iraq and terrorism have left our unity on national security issues in tatters, and created a highly polarized and partisan backdrop for this effort.  And having just experienced the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, the American people are understandably focused on rebuilding our economy and putting people to work here at home. 

Most of all, I know that this decision asks even more of you -- a military that, along with your families, has already borne the heaviest of all burdens.  As President, I have signed a letter of condolence to the family of each American who gives their life in these wars.  I have read the letters from the parents and spouses of those who deployed.  I visited our courageous wounded warriors at Walter Reed.  I've traveled to Dover to meet the flag-draped caskets of 18 Americans returning home to their final resting place.  I see firsthand the terrible wages of war.  If I did not think that the security of the United States and the safety of the American people were at stake in Afghanistan, I would gladly order every single one of our troops home tomorrow. 

So, no, I do not make this decision lightly.  I make this decision because I am convinced that our security is at stake in Afghanistan and Pakistan.  This is the epicenter of violent extremism practiced by al Qaeda.  It is from here that we were attacked on 9/11, and it is from here that new attacks are being plotted as I speak.  This is no idle danger; no hypothetical threat.  In the last few months alone, we have apprehended extremists within our borders who were sent here from the border region of Afghanistan and Pakistan to commit new acts of terror. And this danger will only grow if the region slides backwards, and al Qaeda can operate with impunity.  We must keep the pressure on al Qaeda, and to do that, we must increase the stability and capacity of our partners in the region. 

Of course, this burden is not ours alone to bear.  This is not just America's war.  Since 9/11, al Qaeda’s safe havens have been the source of attacks against London and Amman and Bali.  The people and governments of both Afghanistan and Pakistan are endangered.  And the stakes are even higher within a nuclear-armed Pakistan, because we know that al Qaeda and other extremists seek nuclear weapons, and we have every reason to believe that they would use them.  

These facts compel us to act along with our friends and allies.  Our overarching goal remains the same:  to disrupt, dismantle, and defeat al Qaeda in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and to prevent its capacity to threaten America and our allies in the future. 

To meet that goal, we will pursue the following objectives within Afghanistan.  We must deny al Qaeda a safe haven.  We must reverse the Taliban's momentum and deny it the ability to overthrow the government.  And we must strengthen the capacity of Afghanistan's security forces and government so that they can take lead responsibility for Afghanistan's future.  

We will meet these objectives in three ways.  First, we will pursue a military strategy that will break the Taliban's momentum and increase Afghanistan's capacity over the next 18 months. 

The 30,000 additional troops that I'm announcing tonight will deploy in the first part of 2010 -- the fastest possible pace -- so that they can target the insurgency and secure key population centers.  They'll increase our ability to train competent Afghan security forces, and to partner with them so that more Afghans can get into the fight.  And they will help create the conditions for the United States to transfer responsibility to the Afghans.  

Because this is an international effort, I've asked that our commitment be joined by contributions from our allies.  Some have already provided additional troops, and we're confident that there will be further contributions in the days and weeks ahead. Our friends have fought and bled and died alongside us in Afghanistan.  And now, we must come together to end this war successfully.  For what's at stake is not simply a test of NATO's credibility -- what's at stake is the security of our allies, and the common security of the world. 

But taken together, these additional American and international troops will allow us to accelerate handing over responsibility to Afghan forces, and allow us to begin the transfer of our forces out of Afghanistan in July of 2011.  Just as we have done in Iraq, we will execute this transition responsibly, taking into account conditions on the ground.  We'll continue to advise and assist Afghanistan's security forces to ensure that they can succeed over the long haul.  But it will be clear to the Afghan government -- and, more importantly, to the Afghan people -- that they will ultimately be responsible for their own country.  

Second, we will work with our partners, the United Nations, and the Afghan people to pursue a more effective civilian strategy, so that the government can take advantage of improved security. 

This effort must be based on performance.  The days of providing a blank check are over.  President Karzai's inauguration speech sent the right message about moving in a new direction.  And going forward, we will be clear about what we expect from those who receive our assistance.  We'll support Afghan ministries, governors, and local leaders that combat corruption and deliver for the people.  We expect those who are ineffective or corrupt to be held accountable.  And we will also focus our assistance in areas -- such as agriculture -- that can make an immediate impact in the lives of the Afghan people. 

The people of Afghanistan have endured violence for decades. They've been confronted with occupation -- by the Soviet Union, and then by foreign al Qaeda fighters who used Afghan land for their own purposes.  So tonight, I want the Afghan people to understand -- America seeks an end to this era of war and suffering.  We have no interest in occupying your country.  We will support efforts by the Afghan government to open the door to those Taliban who abandon violence and respect the human rights of their fellow citizens.  And we will seek a partnership with Afghanistan grounded in mutual respect -- to isolate those who destroy; to strengthen those who build; to hasten the day when our troops will leave; and to forge a lasting friendship in which America is your partner, and never your patron. 

Third, we will act with the full recognition that our success in Afghanistan is inextricably linked to our partnership with Pakistan. 

We're in Afghanistan to prevent a cancer from once again spreading through that country.  But this same cancer has also taken root in the border region of Pakistan.  That's why we need a strategy that works on both sides of the border. 

In the past, there have been those in Pakistan who've argued that the struggle against extremism is not their fight, and that Pakistan is better off doing little or seeking accommodation with those who use violence.  But in recent years, as innocents have been killed from Karachi to Islamabad, it has become clear that it is the Pakistani people who are the most endangered by extremism.  Public opinion has turned.  The Pakistani army has waged an offensive in Swat and South Waziristan.  And there is no doubt that the United States and Pakistan share a common enemy. 

In the past, we too often defined our relationship with Pakistan narrowly.  Those days are over.  Moving forward, we are committed to a partnership with Pakistan that is built on a foundation of mutual interest, mutual respect, and mutual trust. We will strengthen Pakistan’s capacity to target those groups that threaten our countries, and have made it clear that we cannot tolerate a safe haven for terrorists whose location is known and whose intentions are clear.  America is also providing substantial resources to support Pakistan’s democracy and development.  We are the largest international supporter for those Pakistanis displaced by the fighting.  And going forward, the Pakistan people must know America will remain a strong supporter of Pakistan’s security and prosperity long after the guns have fallen silent, so that the great potential of its people can be unleashed. 

These are the three core elements of our strategy:  a military effort to create the conditions for a transition; a civilian surge that reinforces positive action; and an effective partnership with Pakistan. 

I recognize there are a range of concerns about our approach.  So let me briefly address a few of the more prominent arguments that I've heard, and which I take very seriously. 

First, there are those who suggest that Afghanistan is another Vietnam.  They argue that it cannot be stabilized, and we're better off cutting our losses and rapidly withdrawing.  I believe this argument depends on a false reading of history.  Unlike Vietnam, we are joined by a broad coalition of 43 nations that recognizes the legitimacy of our action.  Unlike Vietnam, we are not facing a broad-based popular insurgency.  And most importantly, unlike Vietnam, the American people were viciously attacked from Afghanistan, and remain a target for those same extremists who are plotting along its border.  To abandon this area now -- and to rely only on efforts against al Qaeda from a distance -- would significantly hamper our ability to keep the pressure on al Qaeda, and create an unacceptable risk of additional attacks on our homeland and our allies.  

Second, there are those who acknowledge that we can't leave Afghanistan in its current state, but suggest that we go forward with the troops that we already have.  But this would simply maintain a status quo in which we muddle through, and permit a slow deterioration of conditions there.  It would ultimately prove more costly and prolong our stay in Afghanistan, because we would never be able to generate the conditions needed to train Afghan security forces and give them the space to take over. 

Finally, there are those who oppose identifying a time frame for our transition to Afghan responsibility.  Indeed, some call for a more dramatic and open-ended escalation of our war effort  -- one that would commit us to a nation-building project of up to a decade.  I reject this course because it sets goals that are beyond what can be achieved at a reasonable cost, and what we need to achieve to secure our interests.  Furthermore, the absence of a time frame for transition would deny us any sense of urgency in working with the Afghan government.  It must be clear that Afghans will have to take responsibility for their security, and that America has no interest in fighting an endless war in Afghanistan. 

As President, I refuse to set goals that go beyond our responsibility, our means, or our interests.  And I must weigh all of the challenges that our nation faces.  I don't have the luxury of committing to just one.  Indeed, I'm mindful of the words of President Eisenhower, who -- in discussing our national security -- said, "Each proposal must be weighed in the light of a broader consideration:  the need to maintain balance in and among national programs." 

Over the past several years, we have lost that balance.  We've failed to appreciate the connection between our national security and our economy.  In the wake of an economic crisis, too many of our neighbors and friends are out of work and struggle to pay the bills.  Too many Americans are worried about the future facing our children.  Meanwhile, competition within the global economy has grown more fierce.  So we can't simply afford to ignore the price of these wars. 

All told, by the time I took office the cost of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan approached a trillion dollars.  Going forward, I am committed to addressing these costs openly and honestly.  Our new approach in Afghanistan is likely to cost us roughly $30 billion for the military this year, and I'll work closely with Congress to address these costs as we work to bring down our deficit. 

But as we end the war in Iraq and transition to Afghan responsibility, we must rebuild our strength here at home.  Our prosperity provides a foundation for our power.  It pays for our military.  It underwrites our diplomacy.  It taps the potential of our people, and allows investment in new industry.  And it will allow us to compete in this century as successfully as we did in the last.  That's why our troop commitment in Afghanistan cannot be open-ended -- because the nation that I'm most interested in building is our own. 

Now, let me be clear:  None of this will be easy.  The struggle against violent extremism will not be finished quickly, and it extends well beyond Afghanistan and Pakistan.  It will be an enduring test of our free society, and our leadership in the world.  And unlike the great power conflicts and clear lines of division that defined the 20th century, our effort will involve disorderly regions, failed states, diffuse enemies. 

So as a result, America will have to show our strength in the way that we end wars and prevent conflict -- not just how we wage wars.  We'll have to be nimble and precise in our use of military power.  Where al Qaeda and its allies attempt to establish a foothold -- whether in Somalia or Yemen or elsewhere -- they must be confronted by growing pressure and strong partnerships. 

And we can't count on military might alone.  We have to invest in our homeland security, because we can't capture or kill every violent extremist abroad.  We have to improve and better coordinate our intelligence, so that we stay one step ahead of shadowy networks. 

We will have to take away the tools of mass destruction.  And that's why I've made it a central pillar of my foreign policy to secure loose nuclear materials from terrorists, to stop the spread of nuclear weapons, and to pursue the goal of a world without them -- because every nation must understand that true security will never come from an endless race for ever more destructive weapons; true security will come for those who reject them. 

We'll have to use diplomacy, because no one nation can meet the challenges of an interconnected world acting alone.  I've spent this year renewing our alliances and forging new partnerships.  And we have forged a new beginning between America and the Muslim world -- one that recognizes our mutual interest in breaking a cycle of conflict, and that promises a future in which those who kill innocents are isolated by those who stand up for peace and prosperity and human dignity. 

And finally, we must draw on the strength of our values -- for the challenges that we face may have changed, but the things that we believe in must not.  That's why we must promote our values by living them at home -- which is why I have prohibited torture and will close the prison at Guantanamo Bay.  And we must make it clear to every man, woman and child around the world who lives under the dark cloud of tyranny that America will speak out on behalf of their human rights, and tend to the light of freedom and justice and opportunity and respect for the dignity of all peoples.  That is who we are.  That is the source, the moral source, of America’s authority. 

Since the days of Franklin Roosevelt, and the service and sacrifice of our grandparents and great-grandparents, our country has borne a special burden in global affairs.  We have spilled American blood in many countries on multiple continents.  We have spent our revenue to help others rebuild from rubble and develop their own economies.  We have joined with others to develop an architecture of institutions -- from the United Nations to NATO to the World Bank -- that provide for the common security and prosperity of human beings. 

We have not always been thanked for these efforts, and we have at times made mistakes.  But more than any other nation, the United States of America has underwritten global security for over six decades -- a time that, for all its problems, has seen walls come down, and markets open, and billions lifted from poverty, unparalleled scientific progress and advancing frontiers of human liberty.  

For unlike the great powers of old, we have not sought world domination.  Our union was founded in resistance to oppression. We do not seek to occupy other nations.  We will not claim another nation’s resources or target other peoples because their faith or ethnicity is different from ours.  What we have fought for -- what we continue to fight for -- is a better future for our children and grandchildren.  And we believe that their lives will be better if other peoples’ children and grandchildren can live in freedom and access opportunity.  (Applause.)    

As a country, we're not as young -- and perhaps not as innocent -- as we were when Roosevelt was President.  Yet we are still heirs to a noble struggle for freedom.  And now we must summon all of our might and moral suasion to meet the challenges of a new age.  

In the end, our security and leadership does not come solely from the strength of our arms.  It derives from our people -- from the workers and businesses who will rebuild our economy; from the entrepreneurs and researchers who will pioneer new industries; from the teachers that will educate our children, and the service of those who work in our communities at home; from the diplomats and Peace Corps volunteers who spread hope abroad; and from the men and women in uniform who are part of an unbroken line of sacrifice that has made government of the people, by the people, and for the people a reality on this Earth.  (Applause.) 

This vast and diverse citizenry will not always agree on every issue -- nor should we.  But I also know that we, as a country, cannot sustain our leadership, nor navigate the momentous challenges of our time, if we allow ourselves to be split asunder by the same rancor and cynicism and partisanship that has in recent times poisoned our national discourse. 

It's easy to forget that when this war began, we were united -- bound together by the fresh memory of a horrific attack, and by the determination to defend our homeland and the values we hold dear.  I refuse to accept the notion that we cannot summon that unity again.  (Applause.)  I believe with every fiber of my being that we -- as Americans -- can still come together behind a common purpose.  For our values are not simply words written into parchment -- they are a creed that calls us together, and that has carried us through the darkest of storms as one nation, as one people. 

America -- we are passing through a time of great trial.  And the message that we send in the midst of these storms must be clear:  that our cause is just, our resolve unwavering.  We will go forward with the confidence that right makes might, and with the commitment to forge an America that is safer, a world that is more secure, and a future that represents not the deepest of fears but the highest of hopes.  (Applause.)   

Thank you.  God bless you.  May God bless the United States of America.  (Applause.)  Thank you very much.  Thank you.  (Applause.) 

                                   END                  8:35 P.M. EST

However, all of the challengers seeking to unseat him currently trail far behind him anyway, and are bunched together with none emerging yet as the front-runner opponent, according to a new poll conducted for the Deseret News and KSL-TV by Dan Jones & Associates.

But Bennett is in real trouble. Pollster Dan Jones said the last time he saw such weak numbers for an incumbent was when former Rep. Merrill Cook, R-Utah, sought re-election in 2000 amid scandal over his erratic behavior. Cook lost a GOP primary that year to Derek Smith, who in turn lost the general election to Democrat Jim Matheson.

Bennett, 75, who has served 17 years in the Senate, faces no personal scandal, but has been attacked mostly by conservatives who say he is not conservative enough. However, the poll shows that similar percentages of conservatives, moderates and liberals all would like to see Bennett dumped next year, so opposition is not just from the far-right GOP wing.

"There is great dissatisfaction among the general public" about Bennett, Jones said. "But right now, nobody is ahead of him," so "if the election were held today, it's still his to lose."

When those polled were asked if they want Bennett to be re-elected next year, or if it is time to give someone new a chance, just 27 percent favored his re-election and 58 percent wanted someone new.

"That is very low. Normally, that's between 42 and 44 percent" in such questions for candidates considered to have good chances at re-election, Jones said.

The poll also asked about whom those polled would vote for if the election were held today.

It showed that 31 percent favored Bennett. Among other Republicans, Cherilyn Eagar had 5 percent of the support; Tim Bridgewater and Fred Lampropoulos, 4 percent each; Mike Lee, 3 percent; and James Russell Williams III, 1 percent.

Democrat Sam Granato had 14 percent of the support, and 35 percent of Utahns were undecided.

The poll surveyed 408 Utah adults statewide from Nov. 19-23, and has a margin of error of plus or minus 5 percent.

Jones said one sign of the vulnerability of Bennett is that in Salt Lake County, Bennett was ahead of Democrat Granato by just four points, 28 percent to 24 percent.

"And who knows Granato?" Jones said about the Democrat who has campaigned little so far. "That is all 'ABB' — Anybody But Bennett."

The poll was conducted among the general public, but the first real fight for Bennett is among just delegates to the state Republican convention in May. If a candidate receives 60 percent of delegate votes there, he or she proceeds directly to the general election; otherwise, the top two in the process proceed to a primary. Delegates are elected in March at party caucus meetings.

"It will be a real battle," Jones predicted. He said even if Bennett fails to get the most votes at the convention, it's unlikely anyone else in the crowded field can obtain 60 percent of the votes.

"And if he comes out, he'll be pretty hard to beat because of the name identification" among the general public, Jones said, meaning Bennett's toughest test is likely in the convention with smoother sailing afterward if he survives it.

Jim Bennett, the senator's son and campaign manager, focused on the silver lining in the numbers.

"It's very encouraging that Sen. Bennett beats all of his Republican challengers by over 6 to 1, every one of which trails the Democrat. He's the only candidate with enough support to ensure that this Senate seat stays in Republican hands," he said.

Jim Bennett added, "For well over a year, we've been focused solely on the Republican State Convention next May, and no candidate will be able to match the size and scope of our organization." Sen. Bennett spent a huge $545,000 from July through September this year on that organization to court delegates, forms showed recently.

Bridgewater said, however, that all other Republican opponents share one goal: dumping Bennett. "We hope to work together to unseat Bennett," he said.

So as candidates are eliminated one at a time in voting rounds at the convention, that may mean those eliminated would throw support to anyone but Bennett and eventually give a final survivor a shot at winning 60 percent of delegate votes and eliminating Bennett there.

Bridgewater said the poll numbers "show the general electorate is looking for an alternative to Sen. Bennett. I think the numbers for delegates won't be much different. I don't have much name ID at this point, so I'm not surprised at my numbers."

Lampropoulos, who just entered the race firmly last week, said he was thrilled with his 4 percent of support given that he has not really campaigned yet. "For a guy just getting started, I'm thrilled," he said. "The numbers show there is a general mood looking for someone different."

Eagar said the poll findings reflect "what our internal polls are telling us: that the majority of Utahns want a change." She said receiving 5 percent support in the poll among the general public does not reflect what she feels is greater support for her among likely GOP convention delegates, which, she said, is where the real battle now is.

Mike Lee has not yet formally entered the race, although he has said he has considered it. Williams is in the race, but has raised little and campaigned little.

Democrat Granato was pleased to be in second place among the field at this early point. He also says the numbers show that people want a change in leadership.

"Being a U.S. senator is not an entitlement," he said. "I think it's time for a change. I think that many of the people in office now are the ones who got us into the problems this country is in. I'm optimistic that the numbers in this poll show we have a shot to win this."

World AIDS Day Message to the American People from Ambassador Eric Goosby

I was very pleased to join Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius, the President’s Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett, ONAP Director Jeffrey Crowley, and Dr. Elly Katabira, President-elect of the International AIDS Society at the White House today for an event on the eve of World AIDS Day 2009.   World AIDS Day is an occasion to reflect on how far we have come in the fight against this epidemic, but also to remind ourselves of the important work we have yet to do in preventing and treating HIV.  

This year marks my first World AIDS Day as the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator, although I have been working on HIV/AIDS issues for more than 25 years.  In addition to my work treating persons living with HIV and AIDS, I have held various roles in and outside of government working to respond to HIV/AIDS in the U.S. and around the world.  I was deeply humbled when the President appointed me to serve as the Global AIDS Coordinator.  We are just getting started, but President Obama has demonstrated solid leadership on domestic and global HIV/AIDS issues, and it is an exciting time to be a part of his team.

At today’s event, Secretary Clinton announced that the 2012 International AIDS Conference will be held in Washington, DC.  This momentous event is made possible by the Administration’s recent lifting of the entry ban for HIV-positive travelers to the United States. The full removal of the ban takes effect on January 4, 2010.  This entry ban was originally placed into effect in 1987 when there was little information on how HIV is spread, and was then codified by Congress.  Even after scientists had long proved that HIV/AIDS was not spread through casual contact with a person living with HIV, the entry ban remained in place.  Only a handful of countries worldwide prohibit HIV-positive travelers from crossing their borders, and the United States has been the only Western country to uphold this discriminatory policy.  Last year, Congress finally repealed the law mandating the travel ban, and the Obama Administration was able to remove the remaining regulatory barriers.

Hosting the International AIDS Conference in the United States is an important opportunity for the United States. This event draws scientists, policy makers, program officials, HIV-positive individuals and others from all over the world.  As the largest conference of its type, the International AIDS Conference attracts more than 25,000 participants and over 3,000 members of the media.  Welcoming conference attendees to our Nation’s capital will allow America to demonstrate our ongoing commitment to ending the HIV pandemic both in the United States and around the world.  Given that the conference is fundamentally a research conference, holding this event in such close proximity to the National Institutes of Health and other U.S. Government research facilities will also, hopefully, expand the level of scientific discourse between our scientists and researchers from around the world.
 
Hosting the conference in the United States will also enable us to showcase our efforts to respond to our domestic HIV/AIDS epidemic.  By 2012, the U.S. will have a National HIV/AIDS Strategy in place for the first time in our nation’s history.  We expect to have made new strides by then to better coordinate HIV prevention and care services across the U.S. Government, as well as to reduce HIV/AIDS disparities.  In addition, the conference will allow us to spotlight our ongoing and continued commitment to the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and the President’s Global Health Initiative.  

World AIDS Day is an important day to pause and reflect.  It is also an important day to look forward with renewed optimism and vigor.  Today’s announcement by Secretary Clinton is a sign of renewed commitment that gives us all hope as we move forward in the fight against HIV/AIDS and confront the many challenges ahead.

Eric P. Goosby, MD is the United States Ambassador at Large and Global AIDS Coordinator

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  November 30, 2009                             

OBAMA ADMINISTRATION KICKS OFF
MORTGAGE MODIFICATION CONVERSION DRIVE

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of the Treasury and Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today kick off a nationwide campaign to help borrowers who are currently in the trial phase of their modified mortgages under the Obama Administration’s Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) convert to permanent modifications.  The modification program, which has helped over 650,000 borrowers, is part of the Administration’s broader commitment to stabilize housing markets and to provide relief to struggling homeowners and is a primary focus of financial stability efforts moving forward.  Roughly 375,000 of the borrowers who have begun trial modifications since the start of the program are scheduled to convert to permanent modifications by the end of the year.  Through the efforts being announced today, Treasury and HUD will implement new outreach tools and borrower resources to help convert as many trial modifications as possible to permanent ones. 

“We are encouraged by the pace at which trial modifications are now being made to provide immediate savings to struggling homeowners,” said the new Chief of Treasury’s Homeownership Preservation Office (HPO), Phyllis Caldwell. “We now must refocus our efforts on the conversion phase to ensure that borrowers and servicers know what their responsibilities are in converting trial modifications to permanent ones.” In her new role, Caldwell will lead HPO’s conversion drive efforts. 

“Encouraging borrowers to move through the process of converting trial modifications to permanent modifications remains a top priority for HUD,” said HUD Assistant Secretary for Housing and FHA Commissioner David Stevens.  “As a part of our continuing efforts to improve the execution of the HAMP program, HUD is committed to working with servicers, borrowers, housing counselors and others dedicated to homeownership preservation to improve the transition of distressed homeowners into affordable and sustainable mortgages.” 

With tens of thousands of trial modifications being made each week, the Administration is now working to ensure that eligible borrowers have the information and the assistance needed to move from the trial to the permanent modification phase. (All mortgage modifications begin with a trial phase to allow borrowers to submit the necessary documentation and determine whether the modified monthly payment is sustainable for them.) As the first round of modifications convert from the trial to permanent phase, the Administration has identified several strategies for addressing the challenges that borrowers confront in receiving permanent modifications. 

In addition to the conversion drive that kicks off today, the Obama Administration has already taken several steps to make the transition from trial to permanent modification easier and more transparent by:

• Extending the period for trial modifications started on or before September 1^st to give homeowners more time to submit required information;
• Streamlining the application process to minimize paperwork and simplify the submission process; meeting regularly with servicers to identify necessary improvement to borrower outreach and responsiveness;
• Developing operational metrics to hold servicers accountable for their performance, which will soon be reported publicly;
• Enhancing borrower resources on the MakingHomeAffordable.gov website and the Homeowner’s HOPE^TM Hotline (888-995-HOPE) to provide direct access to tools and housing counselors.

 The Mortgage Modification Conversion Drive will include the following:

• Servicer Accountability. As part of the Administration’s ongoing efforts to hold servicers accountable for their commitment to the program and responsibility to borrowers, the following measures will be added:
  • Top servicers will be required to submit a schedule demonstrating their plans to reach a decision on each loan for which they have documentation and to communicate either a modification agreement or denial letter to those borrowers. Treasury/Fannie Mae “account liaisons” are being assigned to these servicers and will follow up daily as necessary to monitor progress against the servicer’s plan.  Daily progress will be aggregated by the end of each business day and reported to the Administration.
  • Servicers failing to meet performance obligations under the Servicer Participation Agreement will be subject to consequences which could include monetary penalties and sanctions.
  • The December MHA Servicer Performance Report will include the data on permanent modifications as well as the number of active trial period modifications that may convert by the end of the year if all borrower documents are successfully submitted, sorted by servicer and date.
  • Servicers will be required to report to the Administration the status of each modification to provide additional transparency about situations where borrowers face obstacles to moving to the permanent phase.

• Web tools for borrowers. Because the document submission process can be a challenge for many borrowers, the Administration has created new resources on www.MakingHomeAffordable.gov to simplify and streamline this step. New resources include:
  • Links to all of the required documents and an income verification checklist to help borrowers request a modification in four easy steps;
  • Comprehensive information about how the trial phase works, what borrower responsibilities are to convert to a permanent modification, and a new instructional video which provides step by step instruction for borrowers;
  • A toolkit for partner organizations to directly assist their constituents;
  • New web banners and tools for outreach partners to drive more borrowers to the site and Homeowner’s HOPE^TM Hotline (888-995-HOPE).

• Engagement of state, local and community stakeholders. Through the conversion drive, the Administration is engaging all levels of government - state, local and county – to both increase awareness of the program and expand the resources available to borrowers as they navigate the modification process.
  • HUD will engage staff in its 81 field offices to distribute outreach tools.  HUD will also encourage its 2700 HUD-Approved Counseling Organizations to distribute outreach information to participating borrowers.
  • By engaging the National Governors Association (NGA), National League of Cities (NLC) and National Association of Counties (NACo) the Administration is connecting with the thousands of state, local, and county offices on the frontlines in large and small communities across the country who are hardest hit by the foreclosure crisis. These offices will now have the tools to increase awareness of the program, connect with and educate borrowers and grassroots organizations on how to request a modification and take the additional steps to ensure they are converted to permanent status; and serve as an additional trusted resource for borrowers who are facing challenges with the program.
  • In partnering with the Conference of State Bank Supervisors and the American Association of Residential Mortgage Regulators, state regulators will now have enhanced tools to assist borrowers who are facing challenges in converting to a permanent modification and to report to the Administration on the progress and challenges borrowers and servicers are facing on the ground. Regulators will also be empowered to work directly with escalation and compliance teams to ensure that HAMP guidelines are consistently applied.

More information about the Obama Administration’s mortgage modification program can be found at www.MakingHomeAffordable.gov.

www.voteforgranato.com

In June of 2009, Sam Granato announced his candidacy for the United States Senate.

Please use the links below to find out more about Sam Granato's campaign, become involved, or make a donation. 

Please visit Sam Granato's blog

http://voteforgranato.blogspot.com/

Donate to Sam Granato for Senate today!

Follow Sam on Facebook

But you don’t need to be at the event in DC to participate.  Today we’re announcing nationwide community job forums that will run from November 30th through December 13th.  These discussions, among neighbors, co-workers and friends, will be a source of insights and ideas that will inform the President’s approach to job creation.  Through WhiteHouse.gov, hosts can upload the results of their discussions. Back here at the White House, we’ll compile the feedback into a report that will be sent to the Oval Office for review.

Let us know if you are interested in organizing a jobs forum in your community, and we’ll follow up with discussion questions and other materials to make your event as productive as possible. We’re not able to offer an events center where you can find events already happening, so if you haven’t heard of one in your area, start your own and reach out to your network for participants.

"I think the numbers do show it is a viable race for me to get into," Corroon told the Deseret News. "It shows there is a good amount of support statewide, even though I haven't held a position statewide."

The Democrat confirmed he's considering entering the race for the remaining two years of former Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr.'s term and will likely announce his decision in January. Utahns haven't elected a Democratic governor since Scott Matheson won a second term in 1980.

"I am seriously taking a look at it. I have received a lot of encouragement from Democrats and Republicans," Corroon said. "I appreciate the support people are showing before there's a decision made."

Read full Deseret News story....

I have seen the consequences of a health care system in need of reform – too few insured, too costly for others and too little quality for all. Unsustainable growth in the cost of health care and the continued denial of coverage to millions of Americans is evidence that our health care system has failed.

These failings are amplified in rural America, where folks pay more for health care than their urban counterparts, but are still more likely to experience chronic illness and poor health.  I applaud the National Farmers Union for their  recent endorsement of the U.S. Senate's health care reform bill and their prior support of the House’s bill.  Their support of the legislation and thier courage in this critical debate says a great deal about the need for reform and the consequences for rural America if we do not get it.

Consider the following statistics:

• Rural Americans pay 39% of their total health care costs, out of pocket – the highest percentage for all Americans.
• Almost one in four Americans living in towns with less than 2,500 people have no health insurance coverage.
• Rural Americans are more likely than their urban counterparts to postpone or forego medical care because of the cost – 9% say they delayed care and 7% skipped treatment.
• Approximately 80% of Rural Americans are self-employed or work for a small business – two groups greatly impacted by the rising cost of health care premiums.
• Rural residents are more likely to report fair to poor health status than urban residents, have a higher mortality rate and are more likely to have a chronic condition.

For more information, check out this recent report detailing how health insurance reform will impact rural America.

These numbers aren’t just statistics – they tell the real story about the health and well-being of rural Americans.  When high costs or lack of insurance deters someone from seeking needed health care, illnesses go undiagnosed and long term costs increase.

Soaring health care costs are also hurting rural economies and businesses. Small businesses create most new jobs in rural America, but they are at a disadvantage in our current health care system, paying up to 18% more per worker than large firms for the same health insurance policy.  And over the last 16 years the number of small businesses offering health care has dropped to less than 40%.  We can overcome this by creating a new insurance exchange where individuals and small businesses will have greater leverage to bargain for better prices and quality coverage.

The debate we are having is a good one and it will result in legislation more beneficial to the American people.  But we cannot forget - we have been debating health care reform since Harry Truman was President and the status quo is unsustainable.  We must seize the unprecedented opportunity for reform that will improve the health care security and stability that Americans value, strengthen our economy and maintain the character of our rural communities for decades to come.  The time is now. Rural America can’t wait any longer.

Tom Vilsack is Secretary of the Department of Agriculture

Visit New York Times page to explore differences...

Along with several other projects state and nationwide, the 2010 Energy and Water Appropriations bill, which President Barack Obama signed Oct. 15, is intended to deliver more efficient energy systems and clean up water sources, making them more beneficial to communities.

The bill sends $10 million to Utah State University to further efforts to develop technology focuses on energy-efficiency, renewable and alternative energy, carbon sequestration and carbon-free energy sources. USU also picked up another $600,000 to integrate river science research to restore Utah streams and rivers to their proper functioning conditions.

The University of Utah will pick up $11.5 million to utilize energy resources in the Uintah Basin and surrounding areas for the production of safe, clean fossil energy, and for the Energy and Geosciences Institute at the U., which is working with partners to commercialize the generation of power using enhanced geothermal and solar heat by making use of high-powered computer simulations."As the lead Republican on this appropriations bill, it was my goal to craft legislation that would promote a balanced energy plan for our country while reining in spending in certain areas," said Sen. Bob Bennett, R-Utah.

Southern Utah University is getting $1 million to ensure the new Walter Maxwell Gibson Science Center makes use of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and green building strategies.

"We have worked hard to make a compelling case that SUU's track record in preparing hard-science students for graduate and professional schools is second to none," said SUU President Michael T. Benson. "This federal support will enable us to make the new Gibson Center even better for our faculty and students."

Westminster College will also receive money to help complete a new science building, and $900,000 in federal funds will help the college purchase and equip the new center with energy-efficient, Gold LEED-certified technology.

Of the entire $34.4 million bill, Utah came away with a number of projects fulfilled, Bennett said in a statement.

"This bill also signals Congress' recognition of Utah as a leader in energy research," he said. "Utah's universities continue to achieve great success in their ongoing search for creative, groundbreaking solutions for our energy needs."

Office of the Press Secretary

_______________________________________________________________________________________

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 23, 2009

PRESIDENT OBAMA LAUNCHES “EDUCATE TO INNOVATE” CAMPAIGN FOR EXCELLENCE IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING & MATH (STEM) EDUCATION

Nationwide effort includes over $260 million in public-private investments to move American students to the top of the pack in science and math achievement over the next decade

President Obama today launched the “Educate to Innovate” campaign, a nationwide effort to help reach the administration’s goal of moving American students from the middle to the top of the pack in science and math achievement over the next decade. 

Speaking to key leaders of the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math) community and local students, President Obama announced a series of high-powered partnerships involving leading companies, foundations, non-profits, and science and engineering societies dedicated to motivating and inspiring young people across America to excel in science and math.   

“Reaffirming and strengthening America’s role as the world’s engine of scientific discovery and technological innovation is essential to meeting the challenges of this century,” said President Obama.  “That’s why I am committed to making the improvement of STEM education over the next decade a national priority.”      

The new partnerships, with accompanying major commitments from philanthropic organizations and individuals, mark a dramatic first wave of responses to the President’s call at the National Academy of Sciences this spring for a national campaign to raise American students “from the middle to the top of the pack in science and math over the next decade.”  Each of the commitments—valued together at over $260 million in financial and in-kind support—will apply new and creative methods of generating and maintaining student interest and enthusiasm in science and math, reinvigorating the pipeline of ingenuity and innovation essential to America’s success that has long been at the core of American economic leadership. 

Among the initiatives announced by the President are:

·         Five public-private partnerships that harness the power of media, interactive games, hands-on learning, and 100,000 volunteers to reach more than 10 million students over the next four years, inspiring them to be the next generation of makers, discoverers, and innovators.  These partnerships represent a combined commitment of over $260 million in financial and in-kind support.

·         A commitment by leaders such as Sally Ride (the first female astronaut), Craig Barrett (former chairman of Intel), Ursula Burns (CEO, Xerox), Glenn Britt (CEO, Time Warner Cable), and Antonio Perez (CEO, Eastman Kodak) to increase the scale, scope, and impact of private-sector and philanthropic support for STEM education.  This coalition, with the support of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Carnegie Corporation of New York, will recruit private sector leaders to serve as champions for STEM at the state level; mobilize resources to help scale successful STEM innovations; and raise awareness of the importance of STEM among parents and students.

·         An annual science fair at the White House, showcasing the student winners of national competitions in areas such as science, technology, and robotics.

President Obama has identified three overarching priorities for STEM education: increasing STEM literacy so all students can think critically in science, math, engineering and technology; improving the quality of math and science teaching so American students are no longer outperformed by those in other nations; and expanding STEM education and career opportunities for underrepresented groups, including women and minorities. 

The Obama Administration has already taken bold action in the STEM education arena by directing that the $4.35 billion “Race to the Top” school grant program assure a competitive preference to states that commit to improving STEM education. “The Department of Education takes the STEM competitive priority very seriously – and states should as well,” said Education Secretary Arne Duncan. 

But while federal leadership is necessary, a real change in STEM education requires the participation of many elements of society, including governors, philanthropists, scientists, engineers, educators, and the private sector. That is why the President’s speech at the National Academy of Sciences challenged all Americans to join the cause of elevating STEM education as a national priority.  

“America needs a world-class STEM workforce to address the grand challenges of the 21^st century, such as developing clean sources of energy that reduce our dependence on foreign oil and discovering cures for cancer,” said John Holdren, President Obama’s science advisor and director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. “It is extremely gratifying to see this first and very robust set of responses to the President’s call to action.”

Background on Educate to Innovate: A National Campaign for Excellence in

Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Education (STEM)

Today at the White House, President Obama launched the “Educate to Innovate” campaign, a nationwide effort to help reach the administration’s goal of moving American students from the middle to the top of the pack in science and math achievement over the next decade.  President Obama announced a series of partnerships involving leading companies, universities, foundations, non-profits, and organizations representing millions of scientists, engineers and teachers that will motivate and inspire young people across the country to excel in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).   

President Obama believes that reaffirming and strengthening America’s role as the world’s engine of scientific discovery and technological innovation is essential to meeting the challenges of this century.  A growing number of jobs require STEM skills, and America needs a world-class STEM workforce to address the “grand challenges” of the 21^st century, such as developing clean sources of energy that reduce our dependence on foreign oil and discovering cures for diseases.  Success on these fronts will require improving STEM literacy for all students; expanding the pipeline for a strong and innovative STEM workforce; and greater focus on opportunities and access for groups such as women and underrepresented minorities. 

In a speech to the National Academies of Sciences this spring, President Obama announced a commitment to raise America from the middle to the top of the pack internationally in STEM education over the next decade. At that time President Obama also challenged governors, philanthropists, scientists, engineers, educators, and the private sector to join with him in a national campaign to engage young people in these fields.  The partnerships announced today are the initial response to this “call to action.” 

Additionally, to help meet this goal, the President’s $4.35 billion Race to the Top fund provides a competitive advantage to states that commit to a comprehensive strategy to improve STEM education. Race to the Top will challenge states to dramatically improve their schools and student achievement by raising standards, using data to improve decisions and inform instruction, improving teacher effectiveness, using innovative and effective approaches to turn around struggling schools and making it possible for STEM professionals to bring their experience and enthusiasm into the classroom.These reforms will help prepare America’s students to graduate ready for college and career, and enable them to out-compete any worker, anywhere in the world. 

Public Private Partnerships

Time Warner Cable’s “Connect a Million Minds” Campaign: Time Warner Cable, in partnership with FIRST Robotics and the Coalition for Science After School, is launching a campaign to connect over one million students to highly-engaging after-school STEM activities that already exist in their area. Time Warner Cable will use its media platform, Public Service Announcements, 47,000 employees, and a “connectamillionminds.com” website where over 70,000 parents and community members have already pledged to connect a child to STEM.  Time Warner Cable has made a commitment of $100 million over the next five years to support this campaign, and will target 80 percent of its corporate philanthropy to STEM. 

Discovery Communications’ “Be the Future” Campaign: Discovery Communications, in partnership with leading research universities and federal agencies, is launching a five-year, $150 million cash and in-kind “Be the Future” campaign.  This will create content that reaches more than 99 million homes, including a PSA campaign across Discovery's 13 U.S. networks, a dedicated commercial-free educational kids block on the Science Channel, and programming on the “grand challenges” of the 21st century such as their landmark Curiosity series.Discovery Education will also create rich, interactive education content that it will deliver at no cost to approximately 60,000 schools, 35 million students, and 1 million educators, and through a partnership with the Siemens Foundation, will create STEM Connect, a national education resource for teachers.  

Sesame Street’s Early STEM Literacy Initiative: Celebrating its 40^th Anniversary, and with First Lady Michelle Obama appearing on the first episode, Sesame Street, in partnership with PNC Bank, is announcing a major focus on science and math for young children and a $7.5 million investment in the effort. Sesame Street’s new season kicked-off with “My World is Green & Growing,” which will be part of a two-year science initiative designed to increase positive attitudes towards nature, deepen children’s knowledge about the natural world and encourage behavior that shows respect and care for the environment.  Twenty of the 26 new episodes will have a focus on STEM; 13 focus on science and seven focus on math. In addition, Sesame Workshop, in partnership with PNC Bank’s Grow Up Great Program, is announcing a new math initiative for preschool children entitled Math is Everywhere.   

“National Lab Day,” Bringing Hands-on Learning to Every Student:  National Lab Day is a historic grassroots effort, online at nationallabday.org, to bring hands-on learning to 10 million students by upgrading science labs, supporting project-based learning, and building communities of support for STEM teachers.  The effort is a partnership between science and engineering societies representing more than 2.5 million STEM professionals and almost 4 million educators, with strong financial support from the Hidary Foundation, the MacArthur Foundation, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and industry partners. Collectively, this partnership is committed to working with more than 10,000 teachers and 1 million students within a year, and 100,000 teachers and 10 million students over the next four years.     

National STEM Game Design Competitions: The MacArthur Foundation, Sony Computer Entertainment America, the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) and its partners (the Information Technology Industry Council, the Information Technology & Innovation Foundation, and Microsoft) are launching a nationwide set of competitions that include the design of the most compelling, freely-available STEM-related videogames for children and youth. The competitions will include the 2010 Digital Media and Learning Competition, a $2 million yearly effort supported by the MacArthur Foundation that advances the most innovative approaches to learning through games, social networks and mobile devices. One of the competitions will be open only to children, to help them develop 21st century knowledge and skills through the challenge of game design.  This year Sony will participate in one segment of the competition and encourage the development of new games that build on the existing popular video game Little Big Planet.

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today announced the release of a new report highlighting the benefits of health insurance reform for Utah. Health Insurance Reform and Utah: The Case for Change is available now at www.HealthReform.gov.

“Families, seniors and businesses are all suffering under the health care status quo,” said Sebelius. “Our new reports demonstrate how health insurance reform will improve health care for all Americans.”

The report provides specific details on the benefits of reform for Utah. Under health insurance reform in Utah:

• 389,000 residents who do not currently have insurance and 186,000 residents who have nongroup insurance could get affordable coverage through the health insurance exchange.
• 248,000 residents could qualify for premium tax credits to help them purchase health coverage.
• 262,000 seniors would receive free preventive services.
• 46,500 seniors would have their brand-name drug costs in the Medicare Part D “doughnut hole” halved.
• 31,900 small businesses could be helped by a small business tax credit to make premiums more affordable.

The report also notes that if we do nothing, by 2019 the number of uninsured people will grow by more than 30 percent in 29 states and by at least 10 percent in every state. Without reform, the amount of uncompensated care provided will more than double in 45 states. Additionally, businesses in 27 states will see their premiums more than double and fewer people will have coverage through an employer if the status quo continues.

To read the complete report and learn more about health insurance reform visit www.HealthReform.gov.

READ THE FULL PROCLAMATION HERE...

OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20503

November 20, 2009

(Senate)

STATEMENT OF ADMINISTRATION POLICY

H.R. 3590 — Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act

(Substitute sponsored by Sen. Reid, D-Nevada, and 3 cosponsors)

The Administration strongly supports Senate passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (the proposed substitute to H.R. 3590), which represents a critical milestone in the effort to reform our health care system.  This legislation meets the President’s criteria for health insurance reform:  it provides stability and security to those with insurance; offers access to quality, affordable health care for those who do not have insurance; cuts costs for families, small businesses and the Government; and does so without adding a dime to the deficit.

This legislation is the product of unprecedented cooperation and countless hours of hard work by Members of the Senate who share the President’s conviction that the Nation cannot wait another year for health insurance reform.  They have forged a strong consensus that represents an historic step forward.

The Senate legislation includes critical reforms to the insurance industry, so that Americans will no longer have to worry that they will be denied coverage, or that their coverage will be dropped or watered down when they need it most.  It covers virtually all Americans and ensures that all Americans with health insurance are protected against high, out-of-pocket spending.  The Administration is pleased that the bill includes a public health insurance option offered in an Exchange.  As the President has said throughout this process, a public option that competes with private insurers is one of the best ways to provide the choice and competition that are so badly needed in today’s market.

The Senate bill also includes important health care delivery system and insurance reforms and cost-containment initiatives, and it would extend the solvency of Medicare’s hospital insurance trust fund.  The Administration is also pleased that the bill creates an Independent Medicare Advisory Board.  The bill’s Medicare and Medicaid policies promote integrated care, quality care, and primary care.  It invests in research on the most effective treatments, prevention, and the health care workforce.  It also makes critical improvements for Medicare beneficiaries including beginning to address the coverage gap in the Medicare drug benefit known as the donut hole.  In addition, it provides new options for long-term care.  The bill includes important program integrity protections that will safeguard Medicare and Medicaid from fraud, waste, and abuse.  Moreover, the Senate bill is not only fully paid for, but also reduces the deficit by $130 billion in the first decade and by more than half a trillion dollars in the next decade.

This bill provides the necessary health reforms that the Administration seeks – affordable, quality care within reach for the tens of millions of Americans who do not have it today, and stability and security for the hundreds of millions who do.  The Administration appreciates the hard work of the Senate on this bill, which contributes to transforming the health care system.  The Administration looks forward to continuing to work with the Congress to enact health insurance reform and urges quick action on this landmark bill.

* * * * * * *

RHETORIC: Hatch Said That Republicans Agree With Democrats That Reform Should  Stop Insurers From Denying Coverage Based On Pre-Existing Conditions. Sen. Orrin Hatch: "There are several areas of consensus that can form the basis for a sustainable, fiscally responsible, and bipartisan reform. These include reforming the health insurance for every American by making sure no American is denied coverage based on a preexisting condition." [Senate Floor, 11/19/09] 

RHETORIC: Hatch Said That Spending $5 Trillion To Reform The Health Care System “Doesn’t Make Sense.” “Republicans in Congress agree with the majority of Americans who believe that throwing more hard-earned taxpayers dollars at a problem will not deliver meaningful reform. Simply telling the American people that the solution for solving a $2 trillion health care system is to simply spend $5 trillion, it just doesn't make sense.” [Senate Floor, 11/19/09] 

REALITY: THE REPUBLICAN ALTERNATIVE WOULD ALLOW INSURERS TO CONTINUE TO DENY COVERAGE BASED ON PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS AND KICK PEOPLE OFF THEIR COVERAGE WHEN THEY GET SICK 

NYT: “The House Republican Bill Would Not Explicitly Prohibit Insurers From Denying Coverage To People Because Of Pre-Existing Medical Conditions, Even Though Many Republicans Have Said They Agree With Democrats That The Federal Government Should Outlaw Such Denials.” The New York Times reported on the House Republicans’ alternative health legislation: “It is almost surely cheaper than the House Democrats’ bill because, unlike that proposal, it would not expand Medicaid or offer federal subsidies to low- and middle-income people to help them buy insurance. Nor would the Republican bill impose new taxes. The House Republican bill would not explicitly prohibit insurers from denying coverage to people because of pre-existing medical conditions, even though many Republicans have said they agree with Democrats that the federal government should outlaw such denials.” [New York Times, 11/4/09] 

Roll Call On GOP Alternative: “People With Pre-Existing Medical Conditions Would Pay Up To 50 Percent More Than Average For Insurance Coverage…States Would Face A Massive, Partially Funded Mandate.” Roll Call reported on the GOP alternative health reform legislation: “People with pre-existing medical conditions would pay up to 50 percent more than average for insurance coverage under a draft version of House Republicans’ health care plan…According to the draft, states would face a massive, partially funded mandate to subsidize high-risk insurance pools to cover people denied coverage by insurance companies with ‘a stable funding source.’ Those rates would be capped at 50 percent higher than average premiums for standard-risk insurance in a given state.” [Roll Call,11/3/09] 

GOP Alternative Doesn’t Prohibit Rescissions; Asks Insurers To Notify The Patient They Are Being Dropped, And Offers Third Party Board To Hear Appeals After Being Dropped By Insurer. “If a health insurance issuer determines to nonrenew or not continue in force, including rescind, health insurance coverage for an individual in the individual market on the basis described in section 2742(b)(2) before such nonrenewal, discontinuation, or rescission, may take effect the issuer shall provide the individual with notice of such proposed nonrenewal, discontinuation, or rescission and an opportunity for a review of such determination by an independent, external third party under procedures specified by the Secretary. (b) INDEPENDENT DETERMINATION – If the individual requests such review by an independent, external third party of a nonrenewal, discontinuation, or rescission of health insurance coverage, the coverage shall remain in effect until such third party determines that the coverage may be nonrenewed, discontinued, or rescinded under section 2742(b)(2).” [GOP Reform Alternative, 11/3/09]

REALITY: THE SENATE HEALTH CARE BILL WOULD SLASH THE DEFICIT BY OVER $750 BILLION IN THE NEXT 20 YEARS AND BEND THE COST CURVE OVER THE LONG RUN 

Roll Call: Senate Bill “Slash[es] The Deficit By A Whopping $777 Billion Over The Next 20 Years,” Sen. Kent Conrad Said Sen. Reid Did “An Exceptionally Good Job.” Roll Call reported that, “[a]t first blush, Reid scored a coup with his $849 billion bill, because Democrats said the Congressional Budget Office estimated that it would slash the deficit by a whopping $777 billion over the next 20 years while providing insurance for an additional 31 million Americans. The price tag is also less than the $900 billion President Barack Obama had called for and the $1.2 trillion cost of the House-passed version… ‘He was applauded. His staff was applauded,’ said Senate Budget Chairman Kent Conrad (D-N.D.), a deficit hawk who said Reid did ‘an exceptionally good job.’” [Roll Call, 11/18/09] 

Ezra Klein On Senate Bill: CBO Statements Confirm That, “The Curve, As They Say, Is Bent.” The Washington Post’s Ezra Klein wrote of the Senate health reform bill: “One actual surprise is that the Senate bill doesn't just pay for itself. It balances itself out. That is to say, the bill is not deficit neutral because it costs a billion dollars and then the government raises a billion more dollars in taxes. In that scenario, the government is spending more, but paying for it. Rather, ‘CBO expects that, during the decade following the 10-year budget window, the increases and decreases in the federal budgetary commitment to health care stemming from this legislation would roughly balance out, so that there would be no significant change in that commitment.’ In the first 10 years, in other words, the bill improves the deficit a bit, but the government is spending $160 billion more on health care than it otherwise would have. In the second decade, however, that ends: The savings from Medicare and Medicaid, paired with the excise tax (which CBO says ‘is effectively a reduction in the existing tax expenditure for health insurance premiums’) and a handful of other changes, leaves the government spending no more on health care than it otherwise planned to. That's impressive stuff. And it implies, of course, that in the third decade, the federal commitment actually goes down relative to expectation. The curve, as they say, is bent.” [Washington Post – Ezra Klein, 11/19/09]

In an historic vote a week and half ago, the House of Representatives passed a bill that would finally make affordable health care possible for the citizens of our wonderful country.  Then yesterday the Senate introduced their own legislation, "another critical milestone in the health reform effort" as the President put it.

When President Obama addressed members of Congress in September, "This is our moment to live up to the trust that the American people have placed in us—even when it’s hard; especially when it’s hard. This is our moment to deliver."  But of course as great a milestone as the vote was, we’ve still got a ways to go so we need everybody to stay involved.

For our part, we have been working all along to ensure the American people are engaged in the discussion on reform.  That’s why I hosted a web chat recently on how health insurance reform will help to eliminate health disparities and how reform will affect underserved communities.  Citizens and leaders from around the country submitted hundreds of questions beforehand and during the chat via Facebook.  I wanted to post the video of that for anybody who missed it and take this opportunity to address some of the questions we didn’t have time to answer.

Question #1: We got a lot of questions from disabled Americans – I touched on some of the issues during the chat, but this was another one I wanted to address:

"How will the special needs of some people with disabilities be addressed? Examples include deaf individuals needing interpreters skilled in signing medical information, women who are partially paralyzed or use wheel chairs needing special equipment for medical examinations such as gynecological examinations. The Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago would be a great resource on these issues."

Health reform will lower costs for people with disabilities by rewarding quality and cutting waste, two guiding principles for this entire effort.

By expanding health insurance to all Americans and providing premium assistance to make it affordable, health insurance reform will significantly increase access to a choice of health insurance plans for individuals with disabilities. This will enable individuals who are employed to keep their jobs rather than giving up employment in order to receive Medicaid benefits.

People with disabilities are less likely to receive preventive care and are more likely to be diagnosed with screenable cancers at a later stage. By ensuring that all Americans have access to preventive care and investing in public health, health reform will work to create a system that prevents illness and disease instead of just treating it when it’s too late.

In addition, health reform will include the CLASS Act - a new voluntary, long-term care services insurance program.  Under the program, individuals will pay a premium, and in exchange, the program will provide a lifetime cash benefit that offers seniors and people with disabilities some protection against the costs of paying for long-term supports and services.  The program also helps individuals obtain services and supports that will enable them to remain in their homes and communities. The CLASS Act is not comprehensive long-term care reform, but it represents a helpful step that provides individuals with a viable mechanism for insuring against the risk of needing long-term services that broadens the resources for financing long-term services to lessen the reliance on Medicaid. 

Question #2:  This is a question that we didn’t get to, but really we just can’t answer enough because of how much misinformation has been out there about it:

"How will the health insurance reform affect costs and coverages for seniors who currently already have Medicare? Will they have to pay more taxes in the future? Many solely depend on their social security retirement income, what impact does it have on seniors?"

Health insurance reform protects Medicare benefits and reduces costs for seniors. Medicare benefits will not be cut.  Period.  In fact, seniors will get benefits they do not have under the current system: a reduction in prescription drug prices if they fall into the gap in coverage known as the “donut hole”; no cost-sharing for preventive care; and more coordinated care that will enable providers to track their health, treatments and prescriptions and avoid duplication and medical errors.
 
The President’s plan protects Medicare and improves its financial health. Not one penny of the Medicare Trust Fund will be used to help pay for reform.

By eliminating waste, such as overpayments to private insurance companies and cutting down on unnecessary hospital readmissions--- we will strengthen the Medicare trust fund – by 4 to 5 years - and be sure benefits are protected in the future.

Question #3: This one gets at a core issue in our health care system:

"Health Insurance Reform has focused on acute medical care. Why has it ignored long-term care which if unattended creates serious acute medical care problems (particularly for minority communities)? When will the White House address long-term care?"

As I mentioned above, health insurance reform adds a new, innovative program for long-term supports and services called the CLASS Act. Employed individuals pay premiums, and if they develop a disability, they receive a cash benefit of at least $50 a day that they can use to pay to for services to assist them with daily activities. This program will empower people to remain active in their communities, and take charge of their long-term care needs. It will also help people avoid needing to go into a nursing home or other nursing facility.

Beyond the CLASS Act, several proposals exist that would improve long-term care. The draft Senate Finance bill would provide additional funding to states to develop home and community based services under Medicaid.  It would also provide funding to ADRCs, or Aging and Disability Resource Centers, which provide needed information for people with disabilities seeking caregiver assistance. Also, nursing homes would have increased transparency, including reporting of staffing and improved complaints processes.

Valerie Jarrett is Senior Advisor and Assistant to the President for Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Engagement

Washington » A House committee advanced legislation Thursday that would halt a move by Salt Lake City-based EnergySolutions to import 20,000 tons of Italian radioactive waste into the United States, some of which would be disposed of in Utah.

The House Energy and Commerce Committee overwhelmingly approved the legislation, mostly along party lines, that bars any foreign low-level radioactive waste to be brought onto American soil for storage or disposal.

Rep. Jim Matheson, a Utah Democrat and bill co-sponsor, said the next battle was to get the measure onto the House floor for a vote, which he says potentially could come in December.

"If it comes up with a vote, I think we've got the votes to win," Matheson said.

Committee members passed the bill forward 34-12, with all but four Republicans on the panel opposing the legislation. Several GOP members said the bill would go against trade deals being struck with Italy and other countries and also injects Congress into an issue before the courts.

EnergySolutions won a first round in court over a question of whether Utah and a congressionally chartered nuclear waste compact could block the Italian waste from being buried at the company's Tooele County facility. Utah and the Northwest Compact have appealed.

Rep. Ed Whitfield, a Kentucky Republican who initially co-sponsored the legislation, said that research has shown there is no capacity concern at the EnergySolutions' site, so why not let the Nuclear Regulatory Commission decide whether to grant the company a license to import the waste.

"Obviously, we already have a domestic business in the business of accepting low-level radioactive waste," he said, noting that 14 license have been approved previously to import foreign waste without objection.

He called it "shortsighted."

The bill's main sponsor, Rep. Bart Gordon, D-Tenn., said opponents are misguided in their criticism since U.S. companies are free to build waste sites in other countries and actually preserves the space at EnergySolutions' facility for domestically produced nuclear waste.

The committee rejected, largely along party lines, an amendment by Whitfield that would essentially allow the waste into the United States as long as the NRC says there is enough capacity left. EnergySolutions has promised to only fill up to 5 percent of its Clive, Utah facility with foreign waste and only over a 10-year period.

EnergySolutions officials previously said they expect the bill to pass in the House but that it will have a serious battle getting through the Senate.

The company has applied for a license that would allow it to import the waste from Italy, process it in Tennessee and dispose of about 1,600 tons in Utah.

The idea to repeal tax cuts levied in the 2006 and 2007 legislative sessions that led to the current food tax rate of 1.75 percent has met with mixed reviews from both legislators, who are facing an $850 million budget shortfall in the coming session, and advocates for low-income Utahns who say an unprecedented number of residents are struggling to make ends meet in the dire economy. Raising the tax is estimated to bring some $145 million in new revenue.

Rep. Kay McIff, R-Richfield, is proposing legislation to take the food tax back to the full state rate of 4.7 percent while seeking to balance its impact on low-income families with a targeted tax break. That credit, he said, offsets the regressive nature of a food tax that places a proportionally bigger financial burden on those who earn lower incomes.

"From the outset, the bill that I proposed has always had a provision to address the regressivity problem," McIff said. "We could provide a sales tax credit that would take them back to ground zero, or better off than they are now."

Bringing back the full food tax— an idea McIff tried unsuccessfully to pass last session — has received some positive responses as the 2010 legislative session approaches, including from the Utah Tax Review Commission. The advisory board that includes lawmakers, business leaders and academicians, voted 7-5 Thursday to recommend the state raise the food tax to the previous rate.

Rep. Christine Johnson, D-Salt Lake, a commission member, is not among the supporters. She voted against the recommendation, saying the increased tax puts an unfair and unnecessary strain on the state's disadvantaged.

"I find the whole proposal very disconcerting," Johnson said. "I feel like it's imperative that we look at other options, instead of targeting a population that will be unfairly bearing the burden."

The commission extensively debated how that burden might be eased. While McIff's bill calls for using the federal earned-income tax credit as a matrix for granting a state tax break to offset raising the food tax, commission member Larry Walters said it would leave out many disadvantaged people, including those who earn less than $10,000 a year.

Linda Hilton, from the Utah Coalition of Religious Communities, a group that advocates for disadvantaged residents, said the bigger issue is not who would miss out on the credit, but whether issuing a new credit was an effective way to help the poor.

"There's no good way to mitigate this, except to give it to them at the register," she said. "Saying you're going to give them some money in the spring isn't the same as what they're paying at the checkout."

Other ideas posed to offset the disparity in the tax included looking at ways to enhance the food stamp system and creating an entirely new mechanism to issue tax credits. The commission intends to provide an addendum to its food tax recommendation that will outline ways to lessen the burden on poor people.

In the meantime, McIff says he thinks his bill will get a closer look this session, in light of the deficit and the lack of federal stimulus funds that patched holes in the current budget. "We need ongoing revenue to fund ongoing needs, and this is one way to help create, and stabilize, our ongoing funding." he said.

Office of the Vice President

______________________________________________________________________________

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                   

November 12, 2009

 Recovery Act Reaches 10,000 Transportation Projects Nationwide

Washington, DC – Vice President Joe Biden and Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today announced that the Department of Transportation has jumpstarted more than 10,000 transportation projects across America thanks to its swift allocation of Recovery Act dollars.  As of this week, state agencies reported a total of 10,041 approved

“Just nine months in, tens of thousands of people are on the job at highway, bridge, rail and airport improvement projects across the country thanks to the quick action by the Department of Transportation putting Recovery Act dollars to work,” said Vice President Biden.  “These projects are not only providing new opportunities for hard-hit workers and businesses during tough economic times, but helping lay a strong foundation to support our 21^st century economy.  This is a significant milestone on the road to recovery, but we continue to work every day to create more jobs and drive economic growth.”

“From the beginning of the Recovery Act, it has been our top priority to get money out the door quickly to create jobs and boost the economy,” said Secretary LaHood. “In less than ten months, we have spurred construction of 10,000 transportation projects across the country – many of which would have been stalled or shelved altogether without Recovery Act dollars. In addition to being economically crucial, these projects are critical investments in our national infrastructure.”

In the last week, the DOT has approved hundreds of additional transportation projects across the country, topping 10,000 projects. In Florida, a $71.2 million Recovery Act funded project will construct a new four-lane highway to relieve traffic congestion in the Jacksonville area. In Kentucky, a $25.5 million project will reconstruct approximately 5 miles of US 150 through Rockcastle County. A $37.6 million project in Lee County, North Carolina will widen the 1.8 mile Sanford Bypass to ease congestion on one of the state’s most critical highway corridors. In Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, a $22.9 million project will repair and replace pavement along I-81.

To date, the U.S. Department of Transportation has made $48.1 billion available for highway, road, transit, bridge and airport construction and repairs nationwide.  Of that, $30.6 billion already has been obligated to fund 10,041 approved projects in 53 U.S. States and Territories, with 6,547 transportation projects underway.  

DOT agencies have been doing their part to make Recovery Act funds available to states as quickly as possible for local shovel-ready transportation projects. The FAA has awarded 99 percent of its funding, $1.2 billion, for 355 airport improvement projects; FHWA has approved $20.2 billion for more than 8,500 road, bridge and highway projects; FTA has awarded $7.4 billion to state and local transit agencies for new vehicles, facility renovations and maintenance; FRA has approved 93 percent of funding available under the Amtrak Capital Grants program; and MARAD has spent 96 million, or 100 percent of its ARRA program funds, for capital improvements to small shipyards. This winter, DOT will also announce $8 billion in grants to launch high speed rail in America, and another $1.5 billion in TIGER Discretionary Grants.

###

As I've said from the start of this crisis, hiring often takes time to catch up to economic growth.  And given the magnitude of the economic turmoil that we've experienced, employers are reluctant to hire.

Small businesses and large firms are demanding more of their employees, their increasing their hours, and adding temporary workers -- but these companies have not yet been willing to take the steps necessary to hire again.  Meanwhile, millions of Americans -- our friends, our neighbors, our family members -- are desperately searching for jobs.  This is one of the great challenges that remains in our economy -- a challenge that my administration is absolutely determined to meet.

We all know that there are limits to what government can and should do, even during such difficult times.  But we have an obligation to consider every additional, responsible step that we can [take] to encourage and accelerate job creation in this country.  And that's why, in December, we'll be holding a forum at the White House on jobs and economic growth.  We’ll gather CEOs and small business owners, economists and financial experts, as well as representatives from labor unions and nonprofit groups, to talk about how we can work together to create jobs and get this economy moving again.

It's important that we don't make any ill-considered decisions -- even with the best intentions -- particularly at a time when our resources are so limited.  But it's just as important that we are open to any demonstrably good idea to supplement the steps we’ve already taken to put America back to work.  That’s what this forum is about.

Office of the Press Secretary

_______________________________________________________________________________________

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 10, 2009

Remarks of President Barack Obama – As Prepared for Delivery

Memorial Service at Fort Hood

November 10, 2009 

We come together filled with sorrow for the thirteen Americans that we have lost; with gratitude for the lives that they led; and with a determination to honor them through the work we carry on.  

This is a time of war. And yet these Americans did not die on a foreign field of battle. They were killed here, on American soil, in the heart of this great American community. It is this fact that makes the tragedy even more painful and even more incomprehensible.  

For those families who have lost a loved one, no words can fill the void that has been left. We knew these men and women as soldiers and caregivers. You knew them as mothers and fathers; sons and daughters; sisters and brothers.  

But here is what you must also know: your loved ones endure through the life of our nation. Their memory will be honored in the places they lived and by the people they touched. Their life’s work is our security, and the freedom that we too often take for granted. Every evening that the sun sets on a tranquil town; every dawn that a flag is unfurled; every moment that an American enjoys life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness – that is their legacy.  

Neither this country – nor the values that we were founded upon – could exist without men and women like these thirteen Americans. And that is why we must pay tribute to their stories.   

Chief Warrant Officer Michael Cahill had served in the National Guard and worked as a physician’s assistant for decades. A husband and father of three, he was so committed to his patients that on the day he died, he was back at work just weeks after having a heart attack.  

Major Libardo Eduardo Caraveo spoke little English when he came to America as a teenager. But he put himself through college, earned a PhD, and was helping combat units cope with the stress of deployment. He is survived by his wife, sons and step-daughters.                                                                                        

Staff Sergeant Justin DeCrow joined the Army right after high school, married his high school sweetheart, and had served as a light wheeled mechanic and Satellite Communications Operator. He was known as an optimist, a mentor, and a loving husband and father.  

After retiring from the Army as a Major, John Gaffaney cared for society’s most vulnerable during two decades as a psychiatric nurse. He spent three years trying to return to active duty in this time of war, and he was preparing to deploy to Iraq as a Captain. He leaves behind a wife and son.  

Specialist Frederick Greene was a Tennessean who wanted to join the Army for a long time, and did so in 2008 with the support of his family. As a combat engineer he was a natural leader, and he is survived by his wife and two daughters.  

Specialist Jason Hunt was also recently married, with three children to care for. He joined the Army after high school. He did a tour in Iraq, and it was there that he re-enlisted for six more years on his 21^st birthday so that he could continue to serve. 

Staff Sergeant Amy Krueger was an athlete in high school, joined the Army shortly after 9/11, and had since returned home to speak to students about her experience. When her mother told her she couldn’t take on Osama bin Laden by herself, Amy replied: “Watch me.”  

Private First Class Aaron Nemelka was an Eagle Scout who just recently signed up to do one of the most dangerous jobs in the service – diffuse bombs – so that he could help save lives. He was proudly carrying on a tradition of military service that runs deep within his family.   

Private First Class Michael Pearson loved his family and loved his music, and his goal was to be a music teacher. He excelled at playing the guitar, and could create songs on the spot and show others how to play. He joined the military a year ago, and was preparing for his first deployment.  

Captain Russell Seager worked as a nurse for the VA, helping veterans with Post-Traumatic Stress. He had great respect for the military, and signed up to serve so that he could help soldiers cope with the stress of combat and return to civilian life. He leaves behind a wife and son.  

Private Francheska Velez, the daughter of a father from Colombia and a Puerto Rican mother, had recently served in Korea and in Iraq, and was pursuing a career in the Army. When she was killed, she was pregnant with her first child, and was excited about becoming a mother.  

Lieutenant Colonel Juanita Warman was the daughter and granddaughter of Army veterans. She was a single mother who put herself through college and graduate school, and served as a nurse practitioner while raising her two daughters. She also left behind a loving husband.  

Private First Class Kham Xiong came to America from Thailand as a small child. He was a husband and father who followed his brother into the military because his family had a strong history of service. He was preparing for his first deployment to Afghanistan.  

These men and women came from all parts of the country. Some had long careers in the military. Some had signed up to serve in the shadow of 9/11. Some had known intense combat in Iraq and Afghanistan, and some cared for those did. Their lives speak to the strength, the dignity and the decency of those who serve, and that is how they will be remembered.  

That same spirit is embodied in the community here at Fort Hood, and in the many wounded who are still recovering. In those terrible minutes during the attack, soldiers made makeshift tourniquets out of their clothes. They braved gunfire to reach the wounded, and ferried them to safety in the backs of cars and a pick-up truck.  

One young soldier, Amber Bahr, was so intent on helping others that she did not realize for some time that she, herself, had been shot in the back. Two police officers – Mark Todd and Kim Munley – saved countless lives by risking their own. One medic – Francisco de la Serna – treated both Officer Munley and the gunman who shot her.  

It may be hard to comprehend the twisted logic that led to this tragedy.  But this much we do know – no faith justifies these murderous and craven acts; no just and loving God looks upon them with favor. And for what he has done, we know that the killer will be met with justice – in this world, and the next.  

These are trying times for our country. In Afghanistan and Pakistan, the same extremists who killed nearly 3,000 Americans continue to endanger America, our allies, and innocent Afghans and Pakistanis. In Iraq, we are working to bring a war to a successful end, as there are still those who would deny the Iraqi people the future that Americans and Iraqis have sacrificed so much for. 

As we face these challenges, the stories of those at Fort Hood reaffirm the core values that we are fighting for, and the strength that we must draw upon. Theirs are tales of American men and women answering an extraordinary call – the call to serve their comrades, their communities, and their country. In an age of selfishness, they embody responsibility. In an era of division, they call upon us to come together. In a time of cynicism, they remind us of who we are as Americans.

We are a nation that endures because of the courage of those who defend it. We saw that valor in those who braved bullets here at Fort Hood, just as surely as we see it in those who signed up knowing that they would serve in harm’s way.  

We are a nation of laws whose commitment to justice is so enduring that we would treat a gunman and give him due process, just as surely as we will see that he pays for his crimes.  

We are a nation that guarantees the freedom to worship as one chooses. And instead of claiming God for our side, we remember Lincoln’s words, and always pray to be on the side of God.  

We are a nation that is dedicated to the proposition that all men and women are created equal. We live that truth within our military, and see it in the varied backgrounds of those we lay to rest today. We defend that truth at home and abroad, and we know that Americans will always be found on the side of liberty and equality. That is who we are as a people.  

Tomorrow is Veterans Day. It is a chance to pause, and to pay tribute – for students to learn of the struggles that preceded them; for families to honor the service of parents and grandparents; for citizens to reflect upon the sacrifices that have been made in pursuit of a more perfect union.  

For history is filled with heroes. You may remember the stories of a grandfather who marched across Europe; an uncle who fought in Vietnam; a sister who served in the Gulf. But as we honor the many generations who have served, I think all of us – every single American – must acknowledge that this generation has more than proved itself the equal of those who have come before.  

We need not look to the past for greatness, because it is before our very eyes.  

This generation of soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen have volunteered in a time of certain danger. They are part of the finest fighting force that the world has ever known.  They have served tour after tour of duty in distant, different and difficult places. They have stood watch in blinding deserts and on snowy mountains. They have extended the opportunity of self-government to peoples that have suffered tyranny and war. They are man and woman; white, black, and brown; of all faiths and stations – all Americans, serving together to protect our people, while giving others half a world away the chance to lead a better life.  

In today’s wars, there is not always a simple ceremony that signals our troops’ success – no surrender papers to be signed, or capital to be claimed. But the measure of their impact is no less great – in a world of threats that no know borders, it will be marked in the safety of our cities and towns, and the security and opportunity that is extended abroad. And it will serve as testimony to the character of those who serve, and the example that you set for America and for the world.  

Here, at Fort Hood, we pay tribute to thirteen men and women who were not able to escape the horror of war, even in the comfort of home. Later today, at Fort Lewis, one community will gather to remember so many in one Stryker Brigade who have fallen in Afghanistan.  

Long after they are laid to rest – when the fighting has finished, and our nation has endured; when today’s servicemen and women are veterans, and their children have grown – it will be said of this generation that they believed under the most trying of tests; that they persevered not just when it was easy, but when it was hard; and that they paid the price and bore the burden to secure this nation, and stood up for the values that live in the hearts of all free peoples.  

So we say goodbye to those who now belong to eternity. We press ahead in pursuit of the peace that guided their service. May God bless the memory of those we lost. And may God bless the United States of America.   

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Office of the Press Secretary

_______________________________________________________________________________________

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 9, 2009

President Obama Launches Major Veterans Employment Initiative

Initiative Would Transform Federal Government into Model of Veterans Employment

Washington, DC – Today, the White House announced the launch of an initiative that is designed to transform the federal government into the model employer of America’s veterans.  This evening, President Obama will be joined by Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki, Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis, Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano and Office of Personnel Management Director John Berry to sign an Executive Order on the Employment of Veterans in the federal government, which establishes the Veterans Employment Initiative for the Executive Branch. The Initiative underscores to federal agencies the importance of recruiting and training veterans, aims to increase the employment of veterans within the Executive Branch, and helps recently hired veterans adjust to service in a civilian capacity. 

“Honoring our sacred trust with America’s veterans means doing all we can to help them find work when they come home so they never feel as if the American Dream they fought to defend is out of reach for them and their families,” said President Obama. “But this initiative is about more than repaying our debt for their courageous service and selfless sacrifice.  It’s also about continuing to fill the ranks of federal employees with men and women who possess the skills, dedication, and sense of duty that Americans deserve from their public servants.  And few embody those qualities like our nation’s veterans.” 

The Executive Order creates an interagency Council on Veterans Employment that will advise the President and the Director of the Office of Personnel Management on the veterans’ employment initiative.  The Council will be chaired by Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis and Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki. OPM Director John Berry will serve as the Vice Chair and Chief Operating Officer of the Council.  

“Veterans have shown unmatched dedication to public service,” said Secretary Shinseki.  “They offer leadership and technical skills that are in high demand, whether in the public or private workforce. Not only does this initiative present an opportunity for Veterans to serve their Nation once again, the Nation will benefit from the education and training Veterans received in the Armed Forces.  I am looking forward to working with Secretary Solis and Director Berry to achieve the objectives of this initiative across the federal government.” 

“Veterans are an important part of our nation’s past, present and future.  They deserve our full support as they reintegrate into the civilian workforce,” said Secretary Solis, “In signing this Executive Order, President Obama underscores his Administration’s commitment to our military men and women, and keeps us squarely on the path to achieving the goal of good jobs for everyone.” 

“President Obama strongly believes in honoring the service of our veterans and he sees this initiative as an opportunity to put some real muscle behind that promise,” said Director Berry.  “The strong sense of patriotism and public service held by members of our armed forces doesn’t leave them when they exit from active duty.  It benefits our government to seize this opportunity to utilize their skills and dedication to service.  The Veterans Employment Initiative will help our federal agencies identify qualified veterans, clarify the hiring process for veterans seeking employment with the federal government, and help our veterans adjust to civilian life once they are hired.”  

The Order also establishes a Veterans Employment Program office within most federal agencies.  These offices will be responsible for helping veterans identify employment opportunities within those federal agencies, providing feedback to veterans about their employment application status, and helping veterans recently employed by these agencies adjust to civilian life and a workplace culture often different than military service. 

In addition, the Office of Personnel Management will issue a government-wide strategic plan that will focus on creating leadership commitment and an infrastructure in each agency to promote continued skills development and employment success for veterans.  The strategic plan will also include marketing strategies aimed at agency hiring managers as well as veterans and transitioning service members. 

“This Executive Order reflects the shared commitment across the Obama administration to hiring American veterans,” said Secretary Napolitano. “Veterans play a vital role in the Department of Homeland Security’s mission to protect the nation, which is why we have pledged to grow our veteran workforce to more than 50,000 Department-wide by 2012.” 

At the end of Fiscal Year 2008, there were approximately 480,000 veterans working within the federal government. 

For more information, visit: www.fedshirevets.gov

We pushed for that form-of-government change, arguing that it would make budgeting and taxing issues more representative and deliberative. Even though county Mayor Peter Corroon now is proposing a budget that would increase property taxes by $20.85 per year on the average homeowner, we still think this is true.

There is much truth to the argument that governments should avoid any and all tax increases during a time of economic downturn. As governments struggle to find money and provide services, the poor taxpayer often takes one hit after another as special service districts, school boards, city councils, counties and the state each add their own tiny amounts to the general tax burden. The tiny amounts add up to burdens that further impede economic growth.

And yet it would be hard to argue that Corroon is being irresponsible, or that he hasn't made the county bear its own share of cuts. Under his budget proposal, each county employee's salary would be cut by 2.75 percent. The county no longer would match its employees' 401(k) contributions. About 300 county jobs would be eliminated through early retirements and attrition — an overall reduction of 7.4 percent. Employee health insurance coverage would be reduced by 10 percent.

In all, 275 cuts would be made to the overall budget. But Corroon said he couldn't cut any more without harming important services to the elderly, the poor, children or public safety.

In the meantime, the economy is hurting the county, as it is all local and state governments. Sales tax collections have slipped so low that the county no longer can afford to pay off the bond debt on certain projects voters approved through the years. To solve this, the mayor would like to shift the debt to property taxes and enact the small increase mentioned earlier.

We wish this wasn't so, and we would be happy if someone on the County Council could come up with another plan that would avoid a tax increase while still providing essential services and maintaining the county's triple-A bond rating, which ultimately saves taxpayers a lot of money. But counties and other local governments often find themselves in the same position as the lonely taxpayer. The state, in order to avoid its own tax increases, piles burdens on them, from soccer stadiums to mandated increases in retirement contributions, that force them to find extra money.

We doubt the old commission form of government would have held the line on taxes as long as this. Corroon's plan, on the whole, seems a good answer to difficult circumstances.

Office of the Press Secretary

_______________________________________________________________________________________

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 6, 2009 

Statement by Chair of the President's Council of Economic Advisors Christina Romer on the Employment Situation in October 

“Today’s employment report contained both signs of hope for recovery and painful evidence of continued labor market weakness. 

Payroll employment declined 190,000 in October, continuing the steady trend of moderating job loss that began last spring.  Furthermore, the employment loss in both August and September was revised down substantially.  Importantly, employment in temporary help services, typically one of the first industries to see job gains, increased by 33,700.  The motor vehicle industry also posted employment gains.  These are hopeful signs that the unprecedented policy actions are working to stabilize the economy and put us on a path toward recovery. 

The unemployment rate, however, rose four-tenths of a percentage point, to 10.2 percent.  That this occurred despite the rise in real GDP last quarter reflects both the typical lag between GDP growth and unemployment decline, and the recent exceptional increases in productivity.  Having the unemployment rate reach double-digits is a stark reminder of how much work remains to be done before American families see the job gains and reduced unemployment that they need and deserve.” 

This statement and a chart can be found online at:  http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2009/11/06/employment-situation-october

Reps. Jason Chaffetz, a Republican, and Jim Matheson, a Democrat, noted their appreciation of Councilwoman Jani Iwamoto's resolution to support a U.S. House bill, and companion Senate bill, aimed at stopping low-level radioactive waste from outside the U.S. being imported and stored in domestic repositories.

Chaffetz, who phoned into the council meeting, and Matheson, who sent a representative, are supporting the bill scheduled to go before a U.S. House committee Thursday. Iwamoto told the council she was concerned not only with Utah becoming the world's nuclear waste dumping ground, but also about the numerous risks that come with transporting the potentially harmful material.

"Our country would be saddled with waste that we didn't make that would likely travel along corridors running through Salt Lake County," she said. "These shipments will create an additional responsibility in terms of emergency response and could create additional financial burdens in the event of a cleanup."

Mayor Peter Corroon joined in the council's unanimous support of the resolution and voiced his opposition to the country accepting any form of hazardous material.

"I don't support our state or nation taking waste from other nations, regardless of what kind of waste it is," he said.

The federal legislation would curtail Utah's Energy?Solutions' pursuit of permission to import some 20,000 tons of Italian low-level radioactive waste, some of which would find a permanent home after processing in the company's Clive facility.

EnergySolutions officials critiqued some of the language in the resolution in testimony before the council, but after the meeting they said they were "neutral" on the council's effort and were not lobbying against the resolution.

Iwamoto said Wednesday that some of the language may be modified and was being reviewed by the council's legal staff.

Though approved in a voice vote Tuesday, the resolution will likely appear on next week's council consent calendar for a final vote.

The federal government announced Tuesday that Utah will receive $16.6 million in grants for energy conservation and research into geothermal energy and carbon capture.

The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants will go to Salt Lake City and Utah's State Energy Program, which will distribute its $9,593,500 to communities throughout the state that haven't yet benefited from the federal stimulus grant program.

Salt Lake City received a direct Department of Energy grant of $2,116,500. A separate grant of $4.9 million is going to Utah State University for energy research.

About 2,300 cities, counties and states were eligible nationwide for the funding. Jason Berry of the State Energy Program said his office has prepared potential applicants in Utah -- 19 counties and 235 cities -- for the coming competitive grant period whose deadline likely will be in January.

The DOE intended the block grants to help lower energy use, reduce carbon pollution, and create green jobs across the state.

Read full story...

Sails through Energy and Environment Subcommittee on Voice Vote

Matheson, together with Tennessee Congressman Bart Gordon, introduced HR 515 – The Radiation Import Deterrence (RID) Act-- in response to a license application from a Utah company to bring in 20,000 tons of nuclear waste from Italy, with 1,600 tons designated for permanent disposal in Utah.  Witnesses from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission have testified that amount is vastly greater than any volume of foreign waste previously allowed into the United States.

“Utahns have spoken loudly and clearly in their opposition to being a dumping ground for the world’s nuclear garbage. In addition, with increasing domestic demand for radioactive waste storage and finite storage capacity, I see no good reason, as public policy, that Italy, Great Britain, Brazil, Mexico and other countries shouldn’t handle their own nuclear waste,” said Matheson.

I am very pleased with today’s vote of approval. I will renew my efforts to move the bill through the legislative process and to the House floor,” said Matheson.

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THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

______________________________________________________________________________

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                   

October 30, 2009 

New Recipient Reports Confirm Recovery Act Has Created, Saved Over One Million Jobs Nationwide

6,598 Direct Jobs Reported in Utah on Approximately Half of Overall Spending To-Date

 WASHINGTON – The Obama Administration today reported thatrecipients of Recovery Act funds have informed the Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board that they have created or saved6,598direct jobs in Utah in reports covering a little less than half of the funds put to work through September 30, 2009.  Nationwide, recipients of Recovery Act funds reported 640,329 direct jobs as a result of this portion of spending.  These reports, covering only directly created jobs and less than half the funds, support government and private forecaster’s estimates that overall the Recovery Act has created or saved over one million jobs to-date.  To learn more about the jobs created and saved, click HERE.   

“These reports are strong confirmation that the Recovery Act is responsible for over one million jobs so far and we are on-track to create and save 3.5 million jobs through the Recovery Act by the end of next year,” said Vice President Biden.  “This is another encouraging sign of progress following yesterday’s news that the economy has begun to grow again for the first time in more than a year, but the President and I will not be satisfied until monthly reports show net job growth.  We are working every day to create more jobs and we will continue to report on our progress doing so with the Recovery Act in the same transparent way we did today.” 

The majority of the jobs reported were in the construction and education sectors, indicating the Recovery Act is not only bolstering private sector companies during the economic downturn, but also making critical investments in keeping America competitive in the 21^st century.  Of the 640,329 jobs reported nationwide, about 325,000 are in education, and over 80,000 are in construction.  

The reports were filed in early October by state and local governments, private companies, colleges and universities and community organizations who received Recovery Act funds and were posted publicly on Recovery.gov today following a detailed three-week review process.  As mandated by Congress, the reports specifically focused on the approximately $160 billion of the $339 billion in spending through September 30, 2010 that includes projects and activities. The reports do not cover the Act’s significant tax cutsanddirect payments to individuals such as Pell Grants and unemployment compensation.  Seventy percent of the funds were reported by state governments, with both Republican and Democratic governors participating in the process. 

A report released today by Jared Bernstein, Chief Economist and Senior Advisor to the Vice President, notes that the new data confirms the Administration is on-track to meet its goal of creating and saving at least 3.5 million jobs through the Recovery Act by fall of 2010.  The report also found that the states with the highest unemployment rates nationwide reported 25 percent more jobs created and saved per capita than the rest of the country.  To view the report, click HERE 

The recipient reports posted today are part of an historic effort the Administration has undertaken to provide the American people with more information about the Recovery Act at work than with any previous government program.  With the collection and posting of this new recipient data – a first for a government program - visitors to the site can now access over 100,000 recipient and sub-recipient filings that show who received the funds, when they received them, how they began to spend them and the related direct job impact to-date.  Recently upgraded mapping features on the site now allow visitors to sort this data by state, zip code or Congressional District, enabling the public to monitor Recovery Act activity taking place in their own backyard.  Approximately 90 percent of Recovery funding recipients filed these detailed reports on the use of their funds.

Recipients were asked to only report jobs directly funded by the Act and were instructed not to estimate indirect job impact.  For estimates of the total job impact of the Recovery Act, including the impact of the tax cuts, aid to individuals directly hurt by the recession, and much of the state fiscal relief, experts rely on macroeconomic modeling.  Using these models, the Council of Economic Advisers and private forecasters estimated that the Recovery Act has helped to create or retain more than a million jobs so far.   

Today’s news follows the release yesterday of new third quarter GDP figures that show the economygrew at an annual rate of 3.5 percent in the third quarter of the year in stark contrast to the decline of 6.4 percent annual rate just two quarters ago.  Analysis by both the Council of Economic Advisers and a wide range of private and public-sector forecasters indicates the Recovery Act contributed between 3 and 4 percentage points to real GDP growth in the third quarter, suggesting that in the absence of the Recovery Act, real GDP would have risen little, if at all, this past quarter.  

To learn more about the story of the Recovery Act as it unfolds, visit www.WhiteHouse.gov/Recovery.  To follow Recovery Act spending and activity, visit www.Recovery.gov. 

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

_______________________________________________________________________________________

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 29, 2009   

Statement on GDP from CEA Chair Christina Romer 

“Data released today by the Commerce Department show that real GDP grew at an annual rate of 3.5 percent in the third quarter of the year.  This is in stark contrast to the decline of 6.4 percent annual rate just two quarters ago.  Indeed, the two-quarter swing in the rate of growth of 9.9 percentage points was the largest since 1980.  Analysis by both the Council of Economic Advisers and a wide range of private and public-sector forecasters indicates that the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 contributed between 3 and 4 percentage points to real GDP growth in the third quarter.  This suggests that in the absence of the Recovery Act, real GDP would have risen little, if at all, this past quarter.” 

“After four consecutive quarters of decline, positive GDP growth is an encouraging sign that the U.S. economy is moving in the right direction.  However, this welcome milestone is just another step, and we still have a long road to travel until the economy is fully recovered.  The turnaround in crucial labor market indicators, such as employment and the unemployment rate, typically occurs after the turnaround in GDP.  And it will take sustained, robust GDP growth to bring the unemployment rate down substantially.  Such a decline in unemployment is, of course, what we are all working to achieve.”

##

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 27, 2009 

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, Senator Kay Hagan Unveil New Report on Rural America and Health Insurance Reform

Today, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and SenatorKay Hagan of North Carolina held a conference call to discuss a new report, More Choices, Better Coverage: Health Insurance Reform and Rural America. The report examines the health care status quo in rural communities and the importance of enacting health insurance reform.  It is available online at www.HealthReform.gov.  

“Americans who live in rural communities have a harder time finding the doctor they need and getting the care they deserve and their health suffers” said Sebelius. “Americans in rural communities also face some of the nation’s highest rates of obesity and high blood pressure and they struggle to get affordable health care. Reform will improve access to high quality care in rural communities and help give all Americans the stable, secure care they need.”  

“People in rural North Carolina and rural America are more likely to be uninsured and have more difficulty accessing health care,” Hagan said.  “Rural areas in North Carolina have a 33 percent higher mortality rate from diabetes and a 60 percent higher mortality rate from heart disease. Health care reform will improve the quality, accessibility and affordability of health care for people across rural America. 

I have said all along that I support a backstop option for people without access to employer-sponsored health care. I applaud Leader Reid for including a sensible, compromise proposal that will help move our health care reform efforts forward – and will help create options for people in rural areas. I am committed to working with my colleagues on a final reform bill that will bring security and stability to American families and will not add one dime to our federal deficit, now or in the future.” 

The report notes:

·         One in five uninsured Americans – 8.5 million people – lives in a rural area and uninsurance rates are higher for rural minority populations, the rural poor, and those with less than a high school education. 

·         Rural Americans pay for nearly half of their health care costs out of their own pocket, and one out of every five farmers is in medical debt.

·         There were only 55 primary care physicians per 100,000 residents in rural areas in 2005, compared with 72 per 100,000 in urban areas. The rate decreases to 36 per 100,000 in isolated, small rural areas.As a result, nearly 50 million rural Americans lack access to a primary care provider because of shortages in their communities and  12 million seniors live in areas where they do not have adequate access to a primary care provider. 

Health insurance reform will create a health insurance exchange program allowing families to shop for health insurance coverage that is right for them as well as provide tax credits for small businesses to continue offering coverage for their employees. Health care quality will improve through the development of national standards and the coverage of preventative screenings for chronic diseases like diabetes and cancer under health insurance plans. Reform will also provide scholarships, grants, and loan repayments to compel providers to practice in underserved areas so that all Americans can have access to health care.  

To learn more about how health insurance reform will help Americans in rural communities and to read the complete report, visit www.HealthReform.gov. 

## 

A new agency within the department will nurture these and other radical proposals, most of which will probably fail but a few of which could have “a transformative impact,” Energy Secretary Steven Chu said in an interview on Friday. The money will go for projects at all stages of development, including some that exist simply as a smart idea, Dr. Chu said.

The department will announce 37 grants totaling $151 million, mostly going to small businesses and educational institutions but also to a few corporations. Some of the ideas may be supported until they are picked up by venture capitalists or major companies, he said.

The new effort, directed by the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy, or Arpa-e, is modeled on a Defense Department program known as Darpa that helped commercialize microchips and the Internet and helped develop body armor and other high-tech products. Darpa is known for quick decisions and long-shot bets, an approach seldom associated with the Energy Department.

President George W. Bush signed the agency into law in 2007 but did not propose any money for it. It got its first appropriation in the stimulus act, $400 million to be spent over two years. On Wednesday, the Senate confirmed Arun Majumdar, a scientist at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California to lead the agency.

Dr. Majumdar said in a telephone interview that his new agency would identify challenges in the energy industry and would finance “five or ten different approaches.”

“We don’t know which ones are going to work, but we’ll try them,” he said, “and if many of them fail but one works, that’s great, we’ve solved the problem.”

Dr. Chu, a Nobel laureate in physics, was a co-author of a 2006 paper for the National Academy of Sciences that called for the creation of the Arpa-e program.

In the initial round, the grants average $4 million. One is going to researchers at the University of Minnesota’s Twin Cities campus who are working on developing an organism that uses sunlight to convert carbon dioxide into sugars and another that converts the sugars to gasoline and diesel. The two can live in a “co-culture” in a thin latex film, according to Lawrence P. Wackett, a professor of biochemistry, although much research remains to be done to make the organisms work as a system.

“A venture capital group might say it’s a little early for them,” Dr. Wackett said.

“It’s not all worked out, but that’s the spirit of Arpa-e,” he said. “It’s not supposed to be things that are 90 percent worked out, but more what-if kinds of things.”

A second grant will go to a group led by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology that is trying to develop an all-liquid metal battery. It could smooth out the intermittent flow of power from sources like wind mills and solar cells, displacing sources that emit heat-trapping gases like coal, oil or gas.

A third would finance research by United Technologies to use enzymes, which are essentially the digestive juices of living things, to capture carbon dioxide from the stacks of power plants. Existing systems can do the job but consume 30 percent of the power plant’s energy in the process.

Crucial to the new strategy is using top-notch scientists to evaluate the projects, Dr. Chu said. He said that he had written this year to university presidents around the country and asked them to assign their “best and brightest” to the project, and that that 500 top scientists had responded. They sifted through 3,600 preliminary proposals and selected 300 to be developed into fuller proposals before choosing 37 to finance in the first round.

With only about 1 percent of the proposals receiving money, Dr. Chu said, the Energy Department might decide to arrange a “fair” at which venture capitalists could size up some of the others.

The Arpa-e grants are part of a flurry of energy announcements by the Obama administration. In a speech on Tuesday in Arcadia, Fla., President Obama plans to discuss $3.4 billion in spending from the stimulus package to improve the electricity grid. White House officials said the government money would be matched by as much as $5 billion in private spending.

In Arcadia, the site of one of the nation’s largest solar panel arrays, Mr. Obama will also highlight the administration’s commitment to renewable energy sources like the wind and sun, White House officials said. He will also emphasize the importance of upgrading electric transmission systems to improve reliability and reduce energy losses.

The so-called smart grid will include meters for homes and businesses that allow customers to monitor their energy use.

John M. Broder contributed reporting.

The moves Wednesday signaled a growing determination by Democrats to punish the insurance industry for its criticism of President Barack Obama's health care overhaul agenda. The House Judiciary Committee voted 20 to 9 to repeal a 1940s law that exempted the health insurance industry from federal controls over certain antitrust violations including price-fixing.

Lawmakers said they wanted to include the legislation in a larger health care overhaul bill taking shape in the House. In the Senate, Majority Leader Harry Reid announced plans to repeal the antitrust exemption as part of its health care legislation.

Read full story...

Office of the Vice President

For Immediate Release - October 19, 2009

 Vice President Biden Unveils Report Focused on Expanding Green Jobs And Energy Savings For Middle Class Families

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Vice President Biden today unveiled Recovery Through Retrofit, a report that builds on the foundation laid in the Recovery Act to expand green job opportunities and boost energy savings by making homes more energy efficient.  Joining the Vice President today were Nancy Sutley, Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality; Steven Chu, Secretary of Energy; Hilda Solis, Secretary of Labor; Shaun Donovan, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development; and Karen Mills, Administrator of the Small Business Administration. 

At a Middle Class Task Force meeting earlier this year, the Vice President asked the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) to develop a proposal for Federal action to lay the groundwork for a self-sustaining home energy efficiency retrofit industry. In response, CEQ facilitated a broad interagency process with the Office of the Vice President, eleven Departments and Agencies and six White House Offices to develop recommendations for how to use existing authority and funding to accomplish this goal.  These recommendations are described in detail in the Recovery Through Retrofit Report.   

“Recovery Through Retrofit is a blueprint that will create good green jobs – jobs that can’t be outsourced, and jobs that will be the cornerstones of a 21^st-Century economy,” said Vice President Biden. “And, thanks to the Recovery Act’s unprecedented investments in energy efficiency, we are making it easier for American families to retrofit their homes - helping them save money while reducing carbon emissions and creating a healthier environment for our families.” 

“This report builds on the foundation laid in the Recovery Act to expand green job and business opportunities for the middle class while ensuring that the energy efficiency market will thrive for years to come,” said Nancy Sutley, Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality.  “An aggressive program to retrofit American homes and businesses will create more work, more savings, and better health for middle class Americans.”  

Existing techniques and technologies in energy efficiency retrofitting can reduce energy use by up to 40 percent per home and lower total associated greenhouse gas emissions by up to 160 million metric tons annually.  Retrofitting existing homes also has the potential to cut home energy bills by $21 billion annually.  Yet, despite the real energy cost savings and environmental benefits associated with improving home energy efficiency, a series of barriers have prevented a self-sustaining retrofit market from forming.  These barriers include a lack of access to information, financing and skilled workers.  

The recommendations and actions in this Report have been carefully designed to help overcome these barriers and to leverage Recovery Act funding to help ensure that the energy efficiency market will thrive long after the Recovery Act money is fully spent.    

Some recommendations in the report include:  

·        Provide American Homeowners with Straightforward and Reliable Home Energy Retrofit Information:  Consumers need consistent, accessible, and trusted information that provides a reliable benchmark of energy efficiency and sound estimates of the costs and benefits of home energy retrofits.   

·        Reduce High Upfront Costs, Making Energy Retrofits More Accessible:  Access to retrofit financing should be more transparent, more accessible, repayable over a longer time period, and more consumer-friendly.   

·        Establish National Workforce Certifications and Training Standards:  A uniform set of national standards to qualify energy efficiency and retrofit workers and industry training providers will establish the foundation of consumer confidence that work will be completed correctly and produce the expected energy savings and benefits.  Such standards should incorporate healthy and environmentally friendly housing principles, as outlined in the report titled, the Surgeon General’s Call to Action To Promote Healthy Homes (2009).  Proper certification and training standards will ensure that retrofitted homes are healthy homes.  Consistent high-level national standards will spur the utilization of qualified training providers that offer career-track programs for people of all skill levels, promote and expand green jobs opportunities and facilitate the mobilization of a national home retrofit workforce. 

To read the full report and recommendations, please go to http://www.whitehouse.gov/assets/documents/Recovery_Through_Retrofit_Final_Report.pdf

“As Secretary of Labor I'm working to help build the clean energy economy of tomorrow by investing in our workers today," said Secretary Solis "Training for green jobs can empower workers to climb the career ladder, sustain a family and provide a secure retirement. Through Recovery through Retrofit, we're committing to meet the needs of workers, employers and homeowners, so we can shape our clean energy future into one that supports working families and is inclusive of the diversity of our nation.”

"I am proud to join my colleagues today in announcing Recovery through Retrofit," said Secretary Donovan. "It will allow us to work closely together to remove barriers to creating more energy efficient homes for American families.  This initiative will not only lead to cost savings for homeowners and reduce negative environmental impact, but will also be a powerful vehicle for economic recovery by creating quality middle class jobs and lasting neighborhood benefits. This is another demonstration of HUD's commitment to creating jobs for the new economy in high growth industries by encouraging and investing in “green” building and energy retrofits." 

"This initiative will not only result in considerable cost savings for homeowners on their energy bills, but also put resources in the hands of green sector small businesses who will in turn create good-paying jobs in communities across the country," said SBA Administrator Mills. 

EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson, who was unable to attend this event due to travel added, “This is the Recovery Act at work.  Communities will benefit from good jobs, families will benefit from lower energy bills, and we will all benefit from reduced air pollution and a growing green economy. Our Energy Star program can help families cut up to 30% off their energy bills -- saving the average household more than $700 a year through efficiency investments.  EPA is proud to be working with all of our partners to help people save money when they need it the most, and build a new foundation for prosperity through a growing green economy.” 

The Department of Energy today also announced $454 million under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for energy efficiency efforts nationwide.

The Department is now accepting applications for a new $390 million "Retrofit Ramp-Up" program that will deploy innovative approaches to energy efficiency building retrofits. These Recovery Act funds will help create new partnerships to deliver energy bill savings to entire neighborhoods and towns.  Bringing energy retrofits to whole neighborhoods at a time will simplify the process for homeowners and significantly reduce costs. When applied on a national scale, the program could save billions of dollars annually in utility bills for households and businesses and create thousands of jobs across the country. In addition, the Energy Department announced $64 million in energy efficiency funding for cities, counties, and Indian tribes.  

"The Retrofit Ramp-Up initiative is designed to slice through the barriers identified in this report - inconvenience, lack of information, and lack of financing - and to make energy efficiency easy and accessible to all," said Secretary Chu.  "We want to make our communities more energy efficient, block by block, neighborhood by neighborhood -- eventually expanding to entire cities and states.  We can literally bring energy efficiency to the doorsteps of the American people."  

Separately, the Department of Energy will accept state proposals to use State Energy Grant or Energy Efficiency Conservation Block Grant funds for Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) pilots.  This is an innovative model which allows communities to provide financing to homeowners to install renewable energy systems and retrofit buildings that can be paid off over time on their property tax bills.  Today, the White House is announcing a “Policy Framework for PACE Financing Programs” developed through an interagency process to ensure that effective homeowner and lender safeguards are included in PACE programs.   

To read the framework, please go to http://www.whitehouse.gov/assets/documents/PACE_Principles.pdf

To ensure implementation of the Recovery Through Retrofit Report’s recommendations, CEQ will continue to convene an interagency Energy Retrofit Working Group which will be co-chaired by the Department of Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Department of Labor, and the Department of Agriculture.   

The group will track the progress of the Report’s recommendations, develop additional strategies to support expansion of the retrofit market, including recommendations for rental housing, and operate as the single point of contact for the implementation of this effort.   Within thirty days, the group will submit an implementation plan to the Vice President.  Moreover, the group will report to the Vice President regularly on its progress toward implementing each of the recommendations identified in the Report. 

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For printable version of press release, click here

Sen. Bennett: A Day Late and A Dollar Short
A Time to Every Purpose: Planning & Implementation
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH – Legislation sponsored by United States
Senators Robert Bennett (R-UT) and David Vitter (R-LA) would require the
Census Bureau to amend questionnaires for the 2010 census to include a
question to determine legal status and citizenship.

According to Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), Chair of the Commerce,
Justice and Science Appropriations Subcommittee, the Bennett-Vitter
Amendment would be a “financial challenge that borders on… a nightmare.”
“Anyone who has been involved in a construction project can tell you that
the budget is blown when changes, additions, and deletions are made to the
plans once the actual building process is underway. This business principle
is apparently lost on Senator Bennett. I had thought better of his business
skills,” said Sam Granato, candidate for the U.S. Senate.

The Census is a highly coordinated process which has over 700,000 staffers
and costs $14 billion. The amendment would waste hundreds of millions of
dollars because the Census Bureau has already printed materials, trained
workers, and coordinated the nationwide canvass. The Bureau would not
have time to test whether the question would be answered truthfully or
whether it might cause people to refuse to participate in the counting process
leading to a less accurate census and more reliance on statistical samples for
future public appropriations.

“We cannot afford to place the efforts made already on the scrap heap for
the political convenience of career politicians. Senator Bennett, there is a
time to every purpose. There is a time for planning and a time for
implementation. The time for planning for the 2010 census is over. The time
for implementation has begun. I will be happy to put your idea on the table
for 2020 at the appropriate time.” Granato added, “If the Republican
Congress and President Bush had addressed immigration reform in a timely
and responsible manner earlier this decade, this census issue would be mute.
Lack of respect for the taxpayer’s money and the inappropriate and untimely
use of polarizing issues is why Utah needs fresh leadership in Washington.”
# # #

• The Latin American debt crisis of the early 1980s
• The stock market crash of 1987
• The savings and loan debacle of the late 1980s
• The Mexican financial crisis of 1994
• The Asian financial crisis of 1997
• The bursting of the dot-com bubble
• The collapse of the hedge fund LTCM in 2000
• The fraud and bankruptcy at Enron
• And now the financial crisis that began in 2007

• Raising capital requirements
• Eliminating a system where financial institutions can choose who regulates them
• Imposing rigorous standards and supervision to protect the economy and investors, and
• Establishing resolution authority to ensure that no financial institution is too big to fail

“Even as we seek to bring about recovery, we must act on behalf of those hardest hit by this recession. That is why I am announcing my support for an additional $250 in emergency recovery assistance to seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities to help them make it through these difficult times. These payments will provide aid to more than 50 million people in the coming year, relief that will not only make a difference for them, but for our economy as a whole, complementing the tax cuts we’ve provided working families and small businesses through the Recovery Act,” said President Obama.   “This additional assistance will be especially important in the coming months, as countless seniors and others have seen their retirement accounts and home values decline as a result of this economic crisis.  I want to compliment all the members of Congress who have been working to address these challenges, especially Senators Reid, Baucus, Sanders, and Lincoln, Speaker Pelosi, and Representatives Rangel, McCarthy, and DeFazio.” 

Fact Sheet 

The President’s proposal would provide an additional year of the $250 “Economic Recovery Payments” initially enacted under the American Reinvestment & Recovery Act (ARRA). Under this proposal: 

·         57 million people would benefit. These include 49 million Social Security beneficiaries, 5 million Supplemental Security Income beneficiaries, 2 million veterans benefit recipients, 0.5 million railroad retirement and disability beneficiaries, and also about 1 million public-employee retirees not entitled to any of the previous benefits. 

·         The benefit would be $250 – or equivalent to a 2 percent increase in benefits for the average Social Security retiree beneficiary. Under the rules no person could “double dip” and receive a $250 Economic Recovery Payment through more than one program. Nor could they receive both an Economic Recovery Payment and the Making Work Pay tax credit. 

·         The total cost of the proposal would be $13 billion – and would not hurt the solvency of Social Security. The President is committed to ensuring that the $13 billion cost of the proposal does not reduce the solvency of Social Security or other social insurance programs. 

·         Would extend an effective relief program. To date Economic Recovery Payments have been made to 55 million people including seniors, veterans and people with disabilities and totaled $13.7 billion. Most of the checks were mailed out in May 2009. 

In addition to this legislative proposal, the Internal Revenue Service and the Department of Treasury will take steps this week to prevent reductions in the amounts that workers can contribute to IRAs, 401(k)s, and other aspects of tax-favored retirement systems in 2010 that some feared could result from negative inflation over the past twelve months.

The Matheson family has called Utah home for six generations. Growing up in Utah, Jim learned from his parents to respect the values of hard work, service to the community, and the bond of a family. Today, Jim and his wife, Amy, a pediatrician, live in Salt Lake City with their two sons, William and Harris.

Jim has taken these core values to Congress and has been an effective and independent voice for Utahns – standing up against efforts to transport and dump nuclear waste in Utah, working for better schools and building a stronger economy. Jim Matheson is putting Utah first.

www.mathesonforcongress.com

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Vice President
___________________________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release                                                      October 1, 2009

Vice President Biden Announces End of Year Targets for Recovery Act Progress

Agencies Make Ambitious Project Commitments, Total Obligations to Hit Sixty Percent

Washington, DC – Vice President Joe Biden today announced nine new targets for Recovery Act progress through the end of 2009. The nine spotlighted targets are just a few of the many objectives set for Federal agencies implementing the Recovery Act during the final 90 days of 2009. Included in the announcement was a new Administration-wide goal of obligating 60 percent of the CBO estimated $499 billion in spending under the Recovery Act by December 31, 2009.

"We’ve made great progress in the first seven months of Recovery Act implementation in 2009 – now we want to finish the year even stronger," said Vice President Biden. "We want to continue to be ahead of schedule on key metrics, doing all we can to create and save jobs, and building a lasting economic platform for our country."

Vice President Biden last set Recovery Act targets in early June as part of the Recovery Roadmap for the second 100 days of the Recovery Act. At the 200 day mark, he announced that every goal set as part of that effort had been met – and, in many cases, exceeded.

The year-end goals for the Recovery Act (targets to be met by December 31, 2009) that the Vice President announced were:

• Batteries for Vehicle Electrification: By the end of the year, the Department of Energy will have put in place funding for battery manufacturing plants that can power 400,000 plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, each year.
• Military Hospitals: The Department of Defense will begin 34 construction and modernization projects at hospitals and medical centers throughout the country over the next 90 days, for a total of 65 hospitals and medical centers with projects under construction since passage of the Act.
• National Parks: The Department of Interior will begin on-site construction improvement work in 105 more national parks throughout the country over the next 90 days.
• Small Business Assistance: The Small Business Administration will provide and leverage $5 billion in capital to over 12,000 small businesses through two key lending programs (7a and 504) in the next 90 days.
• Fuel Efficient Bus Purchases: By the end of the year, the Federal Transit Agency will have awarded enough grants to enable the purchase of approximately 10,000 new transit vehicles across the country.
• Housing Loans and Rehabilitation: By the end of the year, the Department of Agriculture and the Housing and Urban Development Department will have provided housing loans and capital funding to finance, build, or renovate over 100,000 households across America.
• Renewable Energy: By the end of the year, the Departments of Energy and Treasury will help fund renewable energy projects that will generate enough alternative energy to power 900,000 homes in the United States once completed.
• Road Projects: By the end of the year, the Department of Transportation will have obligated enough funds to support 10,000 highway projects.

  The Recovery Act was signed into law on February 17, 2009 as the country faced the greatest economic crisis in a generation. The Act was designed to create jobs and drive economic growth through a combination of tax relief for individuals and businesses, aid to hard-hit families and state and local governments and funding for science, technology and infrastructure projects across the country. The Council of Economic Advisors estimates that the Recovery Act is responsible for approximately 1 million jobs so far.

To learn more about the story of the Recovery Act, visit:

. To track Recovery Act spending and progress, visit:

.

Office of the Press Secretary

_______________________________________________________________________________

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 30, 2009

PRESIDENT OBAMA ANNOUNCES RECOVERY ACT FUNDING FOR GROUNDBREAKING MEDICAL RESEARCH

$5 Billion from Recovery Act Will Fund 12,000 Grants and Speed Scientific Discoveries in Every State

Bethesda, MD - In a visit to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) campus, President Barack Obama announced $5 billion in grant awards under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act) to fund cutting-edge medical research in every state across America.  The more than 12,000 grant awards are expected to create tens of thousands of jobs over the next two years and are part of an overall $100 billion Recovery Act investment in science and technology to lay the foundation for the innovation economy of the future.  

“We know that this kind of investment will also lead to new jobs: tens of thousands of jobs conducting research, manufacturing and supplying medical equipment, and building and modernizing laboratories and research facilities,” said President Obama.  “I’ve long said, the goal of the Recovery Act was not to create make-work jobs, but jobs making a difference for our future. There is no better example than the jobs we will produce or preserve through the grants we are announcing this morning.”

 “This historic investment demonstrates this administration’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of science and turning those discoveries into benefits for the American people.  NIH researchers and grantees are already conducting some of the world’s most groundbreaking biomedical research, said Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. “These awards will accelerate our progress towards the new medicines, treatments, and cures that will help Americans live longer, healthier lives.

By creating brand-new programs, such as Challenge Grants, Grand Opportunity grants, and Signature Initiatives, NIH is funding innovative research throughout the nation.  The grant awards will support the full spectrum of medical research—from basic research to clinical and translational studies.  The Recovery Act funded NIH grants are in several areas including heart disease, autism, HIV-AIDS, H1N1 Flu and cancer.   

More than $1 billion of the grant funding is dedicated to research applying the technology produced by the Human Genome Project between 1990 and 2003.  This new funding will allow researchers to make quantum leaps forward in studying the genomic changes linked to cancer, heart, lung, and blood disease and autism– potentially leading to new treatments and cures.  The investment includes $175 million for The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) to collect more than 20,000 tissue samples from more than 20 cancers, and determine in detail all of the genetic changes in thousands of these tumor samples.  TCGA involves more than 150 scientists at dozens of institutions around the country.  All data will be rapidly deposited in databases accessible to the worldwide research community.

“We are about to see a quantum leap in our understanding of cancer,” said NIH Director Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D.  “Cancer is a disease of DNA—it occurs when glitches in the DNA cause a good cell to go bad.  This ambitious effort promises to open new windows into the biology of all cancers, transform approaches to cancer research and raise the curtain on a more personalized era of cancer care.  This is an excellent example of how the Recovery Act is fueling discoveries that will fundamentally change the way we fight disease and improve our lives.”

More information about NIH’s efforts under the Recovery Act is available at www.nih.gov/recovery/index.htm.  A list of the NIH Recovery Act grants can be viewed at http://report.nih.gov/recovery/arragrants.cfm.  To view a web video on how these Recovery Act funds will create jobs and speeding scientific discovery, go to: www.whitehouse.gov/blog/Creating-Jobs-and-Finding-Cures/.

FACT SHEET

Recovery to Discovery: $5 Billion Recovery Act Investment in Scientific Research and Jobs 

Since September 1^st, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), a part of the Department of Health and Human Services, has awarded more than 12,000 grants to research institutions in every state across the country.  This $5 billion investment through the Recovery Act is the largest infusion of capital into biomedical research ever and is expected to support tens of thousands of jobs over the next two years, ranging from support staff and lab technicians to database managers and scientists.  In addition, NIH estimates that every dollar of research funding produces more than two dollars worth of goods and services in the overall economy, providing an economic benefit that extends well beyond the lab and classroom. 

The research grants, which are roughly equal to one-sixth of the annual NIH budget and one half of NIH’s Recovery Act funds, are part of the overall $100 billion investment the Recovery Act makes in innovative research and advancing America’s science and technology infrastructure.  The awarding of these grants nationwide marks a significant step forward in fulfilling the Recovery Act commitment to not just rescue the economy by creating new job opportunities, but to rebuild it better by laying a new foundation that makes American competitive in the 21^st century. 

More than $1 billion of the grant funding is dedicated to research applying the technology produced by the Human Genome Project which culminated in the sequencing of the first human genome.  Since then, researchers have sequenced approximately a dozen additional genomes.  Now, through Recovery Act funded research, scientists will sequence over 2,300 complete genomes – or 168,000,000,000,000 DNA base pairs.  This effort will allow researchers to make quantum leaps forward in studying the genomic changes linked to cancer, heart, lung, and blood disease and autism – potentially leading to new treatments and cures.  The genomic research funded by the Recovery Act includes:  

Cancer

The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) is a comprehensive, collaborative effort led by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to map the genomic changes that occur in major types and subtypes of cancer. Researchers across the nation are using various genome analysis technologies, including high-throughput DNA sequencing, to carry out this effort.  

A pilot project initiated in 2006 established the scientific infrastructure and demonstrated the “proof of concept” needed to mount a large-scale cancer genome mapping project. Based on this success, TCGA announced in September 2009 that it will map the genomes of at least 20 cancers over the next five years.  $175 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds, plus $50 million each in appropriated funds from NCI and NHGRI, over two years. Funding for the remaining three years has not yet been finalized. 

TCGA is currently in the process of selecting the 20 cancers to be mapped over the next five years.  

TODAY: Patients receive chemotherapy without knowledge of each individual’s sensitivity to these powerful drugs. 

IN TWO YEARS BECAUSE OF THE RECOVERY ACT: A novel approach utilizing microRNAs may be able to predict which patients have tumors that are likely to spread throughout the body.  This information will allow physicians to identify and aggressively treat high-risk patients and spare low risk patients from ineffective treatments and their damaging side effects.  

TODAY: Doctors have a limited number of drugs to treat a wide variety of cancers.   

IN TWO YEARS BECAUSE OF THE RECOVERY ACT: Tests of plant extracts known to have anti-cancer properties may result in an arsenal of entirely new anti-cancer agents that could dramatically increase our ability to target effective new drugs to the specific cancer type of each patient.  

TODAY: Oral and pharyngeal cancer kills about 8,000 Americans each year and less than 60 percent diagnosed survive more than 5 years.  

IN TWO YEARS BECAUSE OF THE RECOVERY ACT: A catalog of the genetic changes associated with oral cancers will be completed. This information will guide the early identification and treatment of pre-malignant lesions, allowing the disease to be prevented before a tumor ever develops. 

Heart Disease

Heart, lung, and blood diseases account for 3 of the 4 leading causes of death in the United States. Under ARRA, the NIH is investing more than $750 million into cutting-edge research on the prevention and treatment of heart, lung, and blood diseases. Genomic technologies have advanced to the point where large-scale DNA sequencing and molecular profiling can be undertaken at the level of entire groups of people.  This information promises to lead the way toward more personalized medical and behavioral interventions for heart disease. 

TODAY: Doctors monitor our cholesterol, blood pressure and other risk factors for heart disease.  

IN TWO YEARS BECAUSE OF THE RECOVERY ACT: Researchers will have sequenced the genomes of over 10,000 individuals with known risk factors for heart disease that will identify the genetic changes that cause these risk factors. This will lead to entirely new ways to prevent and treat this killer -- such as identifying individuals likely to develop cholesterol and blood pressure problems and discovering ways to intervene before heart disease ever develops.  

TODAY: Doctors test an individual’s HDL (or “good cholesterol”) and try to increase it by various means.   

IN TWO YEARS BECAUSE OF THE RECOVERY ACT: Researchers will have compared the genomes of those individuals with high HDL and low HDL and will move closer to understanding the genetic differences that account for this variability. Such information will accelerate the development of drugs that increase the good HDL and reduce the risk of heart attack.  

TODAY: The treatment of heart failure does not take into account the 30 percent of heart failure that is due to genetics.  

IN TWO YEARS BECAUSE OF THE RECOVERY ACT: The genes of over 7,000 heart failure patients will be examined to identify those critical genetic changes.  This information will, for the first time, allow doctors to identify those at risk for heart failure and develop personalized treatments to treat, slow or even prevent the disease.   

TODAY: Plaque rupture and thrombosis strikes without warning and with deadly consequences.  

IN TWO YEARS BECAUSE OF THE RECOVERY ACT: Researchers will have indentified markers circulating in the blood that signal that such a critical event is coming and allow rapid initiation of lifesaving emergency therapies that can prevent deadly plaque rupture before it occurs.   

TODAY: Statin therapy for atrial fibrillation works well for many patients but also makes some patients worse. 

IN TWO YEARS BECAUSE OF THE RECOVERY ACT:  Biomarker and genetic data will have been analyzed from large pools of patients from around the world to find markers that identify which patients will benefit from statin therapy as well as those with a higher risk of statin-induced adverse effects.  

TODAY: The underlying reasons for health disparities are unknown for many conditions. 

IN TWO YEARS BECAUSE OF THE RECOVERY ACT: The genetic markers for increased occurrence of hypertension, obesity, cardiac hypertrophy and kidney failure in African Americans will be identified.  This critical information will facilitate novel and early intervention in these vulnerable populations to slow or even stop disease progression. 

Autism

The NIH is committed to finding the causes and treatments for autism spectrum disorders.  The NIH awarded nearly $100 million—the single largest infusion of funding for autism research to date.  Studies include: determining the complete DNA sequence of individuals with autism and their parents, to look for hidden genetic causes; developing and testing diagnostic screening tools for different populations; assessing risk from prenatal or early life exposures; initiating clinical trials to test early interventions; and adapting existing, effective pediatric treatments for older children, teens, and adults with autism.  

TODAY: Researchers have limited quantities of human material collected during pregnancy and from infants before the development of autism. These materials are vital to understanding the role of environment in autism.  

IN TWO YEARS BECAUSE OF THE RECOVERY ACT: Researchers will have analyzed hundreds of bio-specimens from ongoing autism studies for environmental chemicals, diet and lifestyle factors to provide a more complete picture of environmental risk factors for autism. This information will drive prevention, early intervention and treatment of this devastating and usually life-long disability.  

TODAY: Researchers have only a rudimentary understanding of the many genes that define and contribute to the different clinical subtypes of autism.  

IN TWO YEARS BECAUSE OF THE RECOVERY ACT:  Researchers hope to be able to identify specific subtypes based on genomics, provide the first molecular targets for treatment development, and yield a robust strategy for the study of environmental factors, which interact with genetic risk, that lead to this devastating disease.   

TODAY: Researchers have difficulty diagnosing children with autism and placing them appropriately on the spectrum.   

IN TWO YEARS BECAUSE OF THE RECOVERY ACT:  Researchers will have more precise diagnostic techniques to classify children on the spectrum, allowing more personalized approaches to treatment and intervention.

For more information on specific projects, go to: www.nih.gov/recovery/index.htm.  To view a web video on how these Recovery Act funds will create jobs and speeding scientific discovery, go to: www.whitehouse.gov/blog/Creating-Jobs-and-Finding-Cures/.

Office of the Press Secretary
______________________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release                                         September 23, 2009

REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT
TO THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY

United Nations Headquarters
New York, New York

10:10 A.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT:  Good morning.  Mr. President, Mr. Secretary General, fellow delegates, ladies and gentlemen, it is my honor to address you for the first time as the 44th President of the United States.  (Applause.)  I come before you humbled by the responsibility that the American people have placed upon me, mindful of the enormous challenges of our moment in history, and determined to act boldly and collectively on behalf of justice and prosperity at home and abroad.

I have been in office for just nine months -- though some days it seems a lot longer.  I am well aware of the expectations that accompany my presidency around the world.  These expectations are not about me.  Rather, they are rooted, I believe, in a discontent with a status quo that has allowed us to be increasingly defined by our differences, and outpaced by our problems.  But they are also rooted in hope -- the hope that real change is possible, and the hope that America will be a leader in bringing about such change.

I took office at a time when many around the world had come to view America with skepticism and distrust.  Part of this was due to misperceptions and misinformation about my country.  Part of this was due to opposition to specific policies, and a belief that on certain critical issues, America has acted unilaterally, without regard for the interests of others.  And this has fed an almost reflexive anti-Americanism, which too often has served as an excuse for collective inaction.

Now, like all of you, my responsibility is to act in the interest of my nation and my people, and I will never apologize for defending those interests.  But it is my deeply held belief that in the year 2009 -- more than at any point in human history -- the interests of nations and peoples are shared.  The religious convictions that we hold in our hearts can forge new bonds among people, or they can tear us apart.  The technology we harness can light the path to peace, or forever darken it.  The energy we use can sustain our planet, or destroy it.  What happens to the hope of a single child -- anywhere -- can enrich our world, or impoverish it.

In this hall, we come from many places, but we share a common future.  No longer do we have the luxury of indulging our differences to the exclusion of the work that we must do together.  I have carried this message from London to Ankara; from Port of Spain to Moscow; from Accra to Cairo; and it is what I will speak about today -- because the time has come for the world to move in a new direction.  We must embrace a new era of engagement based on mutual interest and mutual respect, and our work must begin now.

We know the future will be forged by deeds and not simply words.  Speeches alone will not solve our problems -- it will take persistent action.  For those who question the character and cause of my nation, I ask you to look at the concrete actions we have taken in just nine months.

On my first day in office, I prohibited -- without exception or equivocation -- the use of torture by the United States of America.  (Applause.)  I ordered the prison at Guantanamo Bay closed, and we are doing the hard work of forging a framework to combat extremism within the rule of law.  Every nation must know: America will live its values, and we will lead by example.

We have set a clear and focused goal:  to work with all members of this body to disrupt, dismantle, and defeat al Qaeda and its extremist allies -- a network that has killed thousands of people of many faiths and nations, and that plotted to blow up this very building.  In Afghanistan and Pakistan, we and many nations here are helping these governments develop the capacity to take the lead in this effort, while working to advance opportunity and security for their people.

In Iraq, we are responsibly ending a war.  We have removed American combat brigades from Iraqi cities, and set a deadline of next August to remove all our combat brigades from Iraqi territory.  And I have made clear that we will help Iraqis transition to full responsibility for their future, and keep our commitment to remove all American troops by the end of 2011.

I have outlined a comprehensive agenda to seek the goal of a world without nuclear weapons.  In Moscow, the United States and Russia announced that we would pursue substantial reductions in our strategic warheads and launchers.  At the Conference on Disarmament, we agreed on a work plan to negotiate an end to the production of fissile materials for nuclear weapons.  And this week, my Secretary of State will become the first senior American representative to the annual Members Conference of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.

Upon taking office, I appointed a Special Envoy for Middle East Peace, and America has worked steadily and aggressively to advance the cause of two states -- Israel and Palestine -- in which peace and security take root, and the rights of both Israelis and Palestinians are respected. 
 
To confront climate change, we have invested $80 billion in clean energy.  We have substantially increased our fuel-efficiency standards.  We have provided new incentives for conservation, launched an energy partnership across the Americas, and moved from a bystander to a leader in international climate negotiations.

To overcome an economic crisis that touches every corner of the world, we worked with the G20 nations to forge a coordinated international response of over $2 trillion in stimulus to bring the global economy back from the brink.  We mobilized resources that helped prevent the crisis from spreading further to developing countries.  And we joined with others to launch a $20 billion global food security initiative that will lend a hand to those who need it most, and help them build their own capacity.
 
We've also re-engaged the United Nations.  We have paid our bills.  We have joined the Human Rights Council.  (Applause.)  We have signed the Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.  We have fully embraced the Millennium Development Goals.  And we address our priorities here, in this institution  -- for instance, through the Security Council meeting that I will chair tomorrow on nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament, and through the issues that I will discuss today.

This is what we have already done.  But this is just a beginning.  Some of our actions have yielded progress.  Some have laid the groundwork for progress in the future.  But make no mistake:  This cannot solely be America's endeavor.  Those who used to chastise America for acting alone in the world cannot now stand by and wait for America to solve the world's problems alone.  We have sought -- in word and deed -- a new era of engagement with the world.  And now is the time for all of us to take our share of responsibility for a global response to global challenges.

Now, if we are honest with ourselves, we need to admit that we are not living up to that responsibility.  Consider the course that we're on if we fail to confront the status quo:  Extremists sowing terror in pockets of the world; protracted conflicts that grind on and on; genocide; mass atrocities; more nations with nuclear weapons; melting ice caps and ravaged populations; persistent poverty and pandemic disease.  I say this not to sow fear, but to state a fact:  The magnitude of our challenges has yet to be met by the measure of our actions.

This body was founded on the belief that the nations of the world could solve their problems together.  Franklin Roosevelt, who died before he could see his vision for this institution become a reality, put it this way -- and I quote:  "The structure of world peace cannot be the work of one man, or one party, or one nation….  It cannot be a peace of large nations -- or of small nations.  It must be a peace which rests on the cooperative effort of the whole world."

The cooperative effort of the whole world.  Those words ring even more true today, when it is not simply peace, but our very health and prosperity that we hold in common.  Yet we also know that this body is made up of sovereign states.  And sadly, but not surprisingly, this body has often become a forum for sowing discord instead of forging common ground; a venue for playing politics and exploiting grievances rather than solving problems. After all, it is easy to walk up to this podium and point figures -- point fingers and stoke divisions.  Nothing is easier than blaming others for our troubles, and absolving ourselves of responsibility for our choices and our actions.  Anybody can do that.  Responsibility and leadership in the 21st century demand more. 

In an era when our destiny is shared, power is no longer a zero-sum game.  No one nation can or should try to dominate another nation.  No world order that elevates one nation or group of people over another will succeed.  No balance of power among nations will hold.  The traditional divisions between nations of the South and the North make no sense in an interconnected world; nor do alignments of nations rooted in the cleavages of a long-gone Cold War.

The time has come to realize that the old habits, the old arguments, are irrelevant to the challenges faced by our people. They lead nations to act in opposition to the very goals that they claim to pursue -- and to vote, often in this body, against the interests of their own people.  They build up walls between us and the future that our people seek, and the time has come for those walls to come down.  Together, we must build new coalitions that bridge old divides -- coalitions of different faiths and creeds; of north and south, east, west, black, white, and brown.

The choice is ours.  We can be remembered as a generation that chose to drag the arguments of the 20th century into the 21st; that put off hard choices, refused to look ahead, failed to keep pace because we defined ourselves by what we were against instead of what we were for.  Or we can be a generation that chooses to see the shoreline beyond the rough waters ahead; that comes together to serve the common interests of human beings, and finally gives meaning to the promise embedded in the name given to this institution:  the United Nations.

That is the future America wants -- a future of peace and prosperity that we can only reach if we recognize that all nations have rights, but all nations have responsibilities as well.  That is the bargain that makes this work.  That must be the guiding principle of international cooperation.

Today, let me put forward four pillars that I believe are fundamental to the future that we want for our children:  non-proliferation and disarmament; the promotion of peace and security; the preservation of our planet; and a global economy that advances opportunity for all people.

First, we must stop the spread of nuclear weapons, and seek the goal of a world without them.

This institution was founded at the dawn of the atomic age, in part because man's capacity to kill had to be contained.  For decades, we averted disaster, even under the shadow of a superpower stand-off.  But today, the threat of proliferation is growing in scope and complexity.  If we fail to act, we will invite nuclear arms races in every region, and the prospect of wars and acts of terror on a scale that we can hardly imagine.

A fragile consensus stands in the way of this frightening outcome, and that is the basic bargain that shapes the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.  It says that all nations have the right to peaceful nuclear energy; that nations with nuclear weapons have a responsibility to move toward disarmament; and those without them have the responsibility to forsake them.  The next 12 months could be pivotal in determining whether this compact will be strengthened or will slowly dissolve.

America intends to keep our end of the bargain.  We will pursue a new agreement with Russia to substantially reduce our strategic warheads and launchers.  We will move forward with ratification of the Test Ban Treaty, and work with others to bring the treaty into force so that nuclear testing is permanently prohibited.  We will complete a Nuclear Posture Review that opens the door to deeper cuts and reduces the role of nuclear weapons.  And we will call upon countries to begin negotiations in January on a treaty to end the production of fissile material for weapons.

I will also host a summit next April that reaffirms each nation's responsibility to secure nuclear material on its territory, and to help those who can't -- because we must never allow a single nuclear device to fall into the hands of a violent extremist.  And we will work to strengthen the institutions and initiatives that combat nuclear smuggling and theft.

All of this must support efforts to strengthen the NPT.  Those nations that refuse to live up to their obligations must face consequences.  Let me be clear, this is not about singling out individual nations -- it is about standing up for the rights of all nations that do live up to their responsibilities.  Because a world in which IAEA inspections are avoided and the United Nation's demands are ignored will leave all people less safe, and all nations less secure.

In their actions to date, the governments of North Korea and Iran threaten to take us down this dangerous slope.  We respect their rights as members of the community of nations.  I've said before and I will repeat, I am committed to diplomacy that opens a path to greater prosperity and more secure peace for both nations if they live up to their obligations.

But if the governments of Iran and North Korea choose to ignore international standards; if they put the pursuit of nuclear weapons ahead of regional stability and the security and opportunity of their own people; if they are oblivious to the dangers of escalating nuclear arms races in both East Asia and the Middle East -- then they must be held accountable.  The world must stand together to demonstrate that international law is not an empty promise, and that treaties will be enforced.  We must insist that the future does not belong to fear.

That brings me to the second pillar for our future:  the pursuit of peace.

The United Nations was born of the belief that the people of the world can live their lives, raise their families, and resolve their differences peacefully.  And yet we know that in too many parts of the world, this ideal remains an abstraction -- a distant dream.  We can either accept that outcome as inevitable, and tolerate constant and crippling conflict, or we can recognize that the yearning for peace is universal, and reassert our resolve to end conflicts around the world.

That effort must begin with an unshakeable determination that the murder of innocent men, women and children will never be tolerated.  On this, no one can be -- there can be no dispute.  The violent extremists who promote conflict by distorting faith have discredited and isolated themselves.  They offer nothing but hatred and destruction.  In confronting them, America will forge lasting partnerships to target terrorists, share intelligence, and coordinate law enforcement and protect our people.  We will permit no safe haven for al Qaeda to launch attacks from Afghanistan or any other nation.  We will stand by our friends on the front lines, as we and many nations will do in pledging support for the Pakistani people tomorrow.  And we will pursue positive engagement that builds bridges among faiths, and new partnerships for opportunity.

Our efforts to promote peace, however, cannot be limited to defeating violent extremists.  For the most powerful weapon in our arsenal is the hope of human beings -- the belief that the future belongs to those who would build and not destroy; the confidence that conflicts can end and a new day can begin.

And that is why we will support -- we will strengthen our support for effective peacekeeping, while energizing our efforts to prevent conflicts before they take hold.  We will pursue a lasting peace in Sudan through support for the people of Darfur and the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, so that we secure the peace that the Sudanese people deserve.  (Applause.)  And in countries ravaged by violence -- from Haiti to Congo to East Timor -- we will work with the U.N. and other partners to support an enduring peace.

I will also continue to seek a just and lasting peace between Israel, Palestine, and the Arab world.  (Applause.)  We will continue to work on that issue.  Yesterday, I had a constructive meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Abbas.  We have made some progress.  Palestinians have strengthened their efforts on security.  Israelis have facilitated greater freedom of movement for the Palestinians.  As a result of these efforts on both sides, the economy in the West Bank has begun to grow.  But more progress is needed.  We continue to call on Palestinians to end incitement against Israel, and we continue to emphasize that America does not accept the legitimacy of continued Israeli settlements.  (Applause.) 

The time has come -- the time has come to re-launch negotiations without preconditions that address the permanent status issues:  security for Israelis and Palestinians, borders, refugees, and Jerusalem.  And the goal is clear:  Two states living side by side in peace and security -- a Jewish state of Israel, with true security for all Israelis; and a viable, independent Palestinian state with contiguous territory that ends the occupation that began in 1967, and realizes the potential of the Palestinian people.  (Applause.) 

As we pursue this goal, we will also pursue peace between Israel and Lebanon, Israel and Syria, and a broader peace between Israel and its many neighbors.  In pursuit of that goal, we will develop regional initiatives with multilateral participation, alongside bilateral negotiations. 
         
Now, I am not naïve.  I know this will be difficult.  But all of us -- not just the Israelis and the Palestinians, but all of us -- must decide whether we are serious about peace, or whether we will only lend it lip service.  To break the old patterns, to break the cycle of insecurity and despair, all of us must say publicly what we would acknowledge in private.  The United States does Israel no favors when we fail to couple an unwavering commitment to its security with an insistence that Israel respect the legitimate claims and rights of the Palestinians.  (Applause.)  And -- and nations within this body do the Palestinians no favors when they choose vitriolic attacks against Israel over constructive willingness to recognize Israel's legitimacy and its right to exist in peace and security. (Applause.)

We must remember that the greatest price of this conflict is not paid by us.  It's not paid by politicians.  It's paid by the Israeli girl in Sderot who closes her eyes in fear that a rocket will take her life in the middle of the night.  It's paid for by the Palestinian boy in Gaza who has no clean water and no country to call his own.  These are all God's children.  And after all the politics and all the posturing, this is about the right of every human being to live with dignity and security.  That is a lesson embedded in the three great faiths that call one small slice of Earth the Holy Land.  And that is why, even though there will be setbacks and false starts and tough days, I will not waver in my pursuit of peace.  (Applause.) 

Third, we must recognize that in the 21st century, there will be no peace unless we take responsibility for the preservation of our planet.  And I thank the Secretary General for hosting the subject of climate change yesterday.

The danger posed by climate change cannot be denied.  Our responsibility to meet it must not be deferred.  If we continue down our current course, every member of this Assembly will see irreversible changes within their borders.  Our efforts to end conflicts will be eclipsed by wars over refugees and resources.  Development will be devastated by drought and famine.  Land that human beings have lived on for millennia will disappear.  Future generations will look back and wonder why we refused to act; why we failed to pass on -- why we failed to pass on an environment that was worthy of our inheritance.

And that is why the days when America dragged its feet on this issue are over.  We will move forward with investments to transform our energy economy, while providing incentives to make clean energy the profitable kind of energy.  We will press ahead with deep cuts in emissions to reach the goals that we set for 2020, and eventually 2050.  We will continue to promote renewable energy and efficiency, and share new technologies with countries around the world.  And we will seize every opportunity for progress to address this threat in a cooperative effort with the entire world. 

And those wealthy nations that did so much damage to the environment in the 20th century must accept our obligation to lead.  But responsibility does not end there.  While we must acknowledge the need for differentiated responses, any effort to curb carbon emissions must include the fast-growing carbon emitters who can do more to reduce their air pollution without inhibiting growth.  And any effort that fails to help the poorest nations both adapt to the problems that climate change have already wrought and help them travel a path of clean development simply will not work.

It's hard to change something as fundamental as how we use energy.  I know that.  It's even harder to do so in the midst of a global recession.  Certainly, it will be tempting to sit back and wait for others to move first.  But we cannot make this journey unless we all move forward together.  As we head into Copenhagen, let us resolve to focus on what each of us can do for the sake of our common future.

And this leads me to the final pillar that must fortify our future:  a global economy that advances opportunity for all people.

The world is still recovering from the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression.  In America, we see the engine of growth beginning to churn, and yet many still struggle to find a job or pay their bills.  Across the globe, we find promising signs, but little certainty about what lies ahead.  And far too many people in far too many places live through the daily crises that challenge our humanity -- the despair of an empty stomach; the thirst brought on by dwindling water supplies; the injustice of a child dying from a treatable disease; or a mother losing her life as she gives birth.

In Pittsburgh, we will work with the world's largest economies to chart a course for growth that is balanced and sustained.  That means vigilance to ensure that we do not let up until our people are back to work.  That means taking steps to rekindle demand so that global recovery can be sustained.  And that means setting new rules of the road and strengthening regulation for all financial centers, so that we put an end to the greed and the excess and the abuse that led us into this disaster, and prevent a crisis like this from ever happening again.

At a time of such interdependence, we have a moral and pragmatic interest, however, in broader questions of development -- the questions of development that existed even before this crisis happened.  And so America will continue our historic effort to help people feed themselves.  We have set aside $63 billion to carry forward the fight against HIV/AIDS, to end deaths from tuberculosis and malaria, to eradicate polio, and to strengthen public health systems.  We are joining with other countries to contribute H1N1 vaccines to the World Health Organization.  We will integrate more economies into a system of global trade.  We will support the Millennium Development Goals, and approach next year's summit with a global plan to make them a reality.  And we will set our sights on the eradication of extreme poverty in our time.

Now is the time for all of us to do our part.  Growth will not be sustained or shared unless all nations embrace their responsibilities.  And that means that wealthy nations must open their markets to more goods and extend a hand to those with less, while reforming international institutions to give more nations a greater voice.  And developing nations must root out the corruption that is an obstacle to progress -- for opportunity cannot thrive where individuals are oppressed and business have to pay bribes.  That is why we support honest police and independent judges; civil society and a vibrant private sector.  Our goal is simple:  a global economy in which growth is sustained, and opportunity is available to all.

Now, the changes that I've spoken about today will not be easy to make.  And they will not be realized simply by leaders like us coming together in forums like this, as useful as that may be.  For as in any assembly of members, real change can only come through the people we represent.  That is why we must do the hard work to lay the groundwork for progress in our own capitals. That's where we will build the consensus to end conflicts and to harness technology for peaceful purposes, to change the way we use energy, and to promote growth that can be sustained and shared.

I believe that the people of the world want this future for their children.  And that is why we must champion those principles which ensure that governments reflect the will of the people.  These principles cannot be afterthoughts -- democracy and human rights are essential to achieving each of the goals that I've discussed today, because governments of the people and by the people are more likely to act in the broader interests of their own people, rather than narrow interests of those in power.

The test of our leadership will not be the degree to which we feed the fears and old hatreds of our people.  True leadership will not be measured by the ability to muzzle dissent, or to intimidate and harass political opponents at home.  The people of the world want change.  They will not long tolerate those who are on the wrong side of history.

This Assembly's Charter commits each of us -- and I quote -- "to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women."  Among those rights is the freedom to speak your mind and worship as you please; the promise of equality of the races, and the opportunity for women and girls to pursue their own potential; the ability of citizens to have a say in how you are governed, and to have confidence in the administration of justice.  For just as no nation should be forced to accept the tyranny of another nation, no individual should be forced to accept the tyranny of their own people.  (Applause.)

As an African American, I will never forget that I would not be here today without the steady pursuit of a more perfect union in my country.  And that guides my belief that no matter how dark the day may seem, transformative change can be forged by those who choose to side with justice.  And I pledge that America will always stand with those who stand up for their dignity and their rights -- for the student who seeks to learn; the voter who demands to be heard; the innocent who longs to be free; the oppressed who yearns to be equal.

Democracy cannot be imposed on any nation from the outside. Each society must search for its own path, and no path is perfect.  Each country will pursue a path rooted in the culture of its people and in its past traditions.  And I admit that America has too often been selective in its promotion of democracy.  But that does not weaken our commitment; it only reinforces it.  There are basic principles that are universal; there are certain truths which are self-evident -- and the United States of America will never waver in our efforts to stand up for the right of people everywhere to determine their own destiny.  (Applause.)

Sixty-five years ago, a weary Franklin Roosevelt spoke to the American people in his fourth and final inaugural address. After years of war, he sought to sum up the lessons that could be drawn from the terrible suffering, the enormous sacrifice that had taken place.  "We have learned," he said, "to be citizens of the world, members of the human community."

The United Nations was built by men and women like Roosevelt from every corner of the world -- from Africa and Asia, from Europe to the Americas.  These architects of international cooperation had an idealism that was anything but naïve -- it was rooted in the hard-earned lessons of war; rooted in the wisdom that nations could advance their interests by acting together instead of splitting apart.

Now it falls to us -- for this institution will be what we make of it.  The United Nations does extraordinary good around the world -- feeding the hungry, caring for the sick, mending  places that have been broken.  But it also struggles to enforce its will, and to live up to the ideals of its founding.

I believe that those imperfections are not a reason to walk away from this institution -- they are a calling to redouble our efforts.  The United Nations can either be a place where we bicker about outdated grievances, or forge common ground; a place where we focus on what drives us apart, or what brings us together; a place where we indulge tyranny, or a source of moral authority.  In short, the United Nations can be an institution that is disconnected from what matters in the lives of our citizens, or it can be an indispensable factor in advancing the interests of the people we serve. 

We have reached a pivotal moment.  The United States stands ready to begin a new chapter of international cooperation -- one that recognizes the rights and responsibilities of all nations.  And so, with confidence in our cause, and with a commitment to our values, we call on all nations to join us in building the future that our people so richly deserve.

Thank you very much, everybody.  (Applause.)

END                                           
10:48 A.M. EDT

“After too many years of inaction and denial, there is finally widespread recognition of the urgency of the challenge before us. We know what needs to be done,” Obama told fellow heads of state gathered for a climate change summit called by U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon.

“The journey is long. The journey is hard,” Obama added. “We don’t have much time left to make that journey.”

The U.S. Department of Justice says the grants are intended to help society's most vulnerable members during the economic downturn.

Citizens Against Physical and Sexual Abuse in Logan will get about $344,000 to provide transitional housing for 21 women and their children who are fleeing domestic violence in northern Utah.

A group called Your Community Unity in Brigham City will get about $250,000 to expand its transitional housing program and provide 100 counseling sessions per year for victims of domestic and violence, and sexual assault.

Go to story on KSL Television

By shifting to direct federal lending, the Obama administration said it would save more than $80 billion over 10 years, which would go into higher Pell grants for low-income students, new investments in community colleges, early-childhood programs and other education efforts.

The vote was 253 to 171. The measure, the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act, now goes to the Senate, where Democratic leaders expect it to pass.

“This legislation provides students and families with the single largest investment in federal student aid ever,” said Representative George Miller, Democrat of California and chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, who wrote the bill. “Today, the House made a clear choice to stop funneling vital taxpayer dollars through boardrooms and start sending them directly to dorm rooms.”

 Read full story and find link to roll call vote...

First, a simple question for Congressman Rob Bishop: If Republican ideas for health insurance reform are so great, how come they weren't enacted when you guys were driving the bus? Republicans controlled Congress from 1994 to 2006, and controlled both the White House and Congress during most of the last decade. Where were these great ideas back when you were in power? Let me remind you how things work: The American people gave Democrats the White House and Congress in the last election. That means Republicans get to follow, not lead, on health insurance reform. Kudos to Sen. Robert Bennett, who at great political risk is working with Oregon's Sen. Ron Wyden and others to make a difference. Raspberries to Congressman Bishop and most other Republicans, who by insisting they won't participate unless they get to be in charge have rendered themselves irrelevant. And Congressman Bishop -- we need you to not be irrelevant.

My second comment is about the arguments I've heard from conservatives on their health insurance reform ideas. There has been one little thing lacking: Where is the evidence? There are around 40 free-market, industrialized democracies in the world that have some sort of modern health care system. If the "get government out of health care," "everyone for himself" model is so superior, surely at least a few of these nations would have implemented it and can demonstrate how wonderfully it works?

It should tell us something that the two major countries to undergo health care reform the last decade, Switzerland and Taiwan, adopted the German and Canadian models respectively.

If the conservatives have no evidence, what arguments do they offer? Quite simply, political ideology. Their entire argument boils down to this: Our ideology tells us our way is the right way. We are asked to have religious-like faith that their ideology is the only correct and "American" way to administer health care. Anything else is "socialism".

Sorry. I'm an engineer, and I limit my religious-like faith to religion. Political ideology, no matter how devoutly held, falls into the "philosophies of men" category.

To those who hold the belief that studying other nations for ideas s unAmerican, I would remind that America's skill at plagiarizing ideas from other countries is one of the things that make us great. Whether it is Mexican food, reality TV, or the interstate highway system, we routinely borrow ideas from others and make them better.

Not only that, there are good reform models right here in America. As I listen to the arguments about the evils of "Obamacare," I wonder: Who are these guys listening to? I'm not hearing any of this stuff from the president. (I admit I'm probably at a disadvantage because I'm actually listening to the president rather than Glenn Beck's interpretation of what he says.) You want my interpretation? Obama is saying, "I want to reform the market to allow America to have health care like Utah." Anyone who listened to his speech last Wednesday heard him cite our state as an example of health care done right. He constantly talks about how Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic and Intermountain Healthcare (all not-for-profit private entities) have come up with fixes for the perverse incentives created by the traditional pay-for-service model and created significant improvements in quality and cost.

Researchers with the Dartmouth Atlas project have estimated that if all 50 states treated Medicare patients for the same cost Intermountain Healthcare does, Medicare's future funding problem would largely be solved.

It's well documented our nation is headed for bankruptcy if we don't bend the cost curve on health care. But we also need to answer a moral question. Nikki White was diagnosed with lupus about the time she graduated from college. Because of this "pre-existing condition," Nikki was unable to get health insurance. As a result, she died at the age of 32 of a disease that with treatment would have allowed her to live a normal life.

Here's the question: Does America believe we should let Nikki and thousands like her die every year from the capricious way we ration health care in this country, because our political ideology forbids us from helping them? Today, America's collective answer to that question is, unfortunately: Yes. Let Nikki die.

I hope one of the outcomes of the health care debate is that we change our minds on that question.

Olsen, who lives in Plain City, is the chairman of the Weber County Democrats.

"We've had some development that started before this crisis hit and has continued really unabated, so that certainly has made a difference in the whole psyche of the city," he said.

He also says entrepreneurs have kept the recovery going, with 23 new businesses coming downtown in just the last two to three months.

The mayor says Salt Lake and Utah's economic diversity helps, and the federal stimulus money fit right in with all of that.

"Our goals and objectives have meshed very well with what we've seen in the stimulus package and the emphasis on renewable energy, energy efficiency and transportation improvements," he said.

Mayor Becker says government and business leaders have been working hard together, but that's not all. "I think the other thing, though, is not to lose sight of the positives going on. We have a suburb quality of life here," he said.

E-mail: mrichards@ksl.com

To read a copy of the Congressman's letter, click here.

Secretary Gates, Admiral Mullen and members of the Armed Forces, fellow Americans, family and friends of those that we lost this day — Michelle and I are deeply humbled to be with you.

Eight Septembers have come and gone. Nearly 3,000 days have passed — almost one for each of those taken from us. But no turning of the seasons can diminish the pain and the loss of that day. No passage of time and no dark skies can ever dull the meaning of this moment.

So on this solemn day, at this sacred hour, once more we pause. Once more we pray — as a nation and as a people; in city streets where our two towers were turned to ashes and dust; in a quiet field where a plane fell from the sky; and here, where a single stone of this building is still blackened by the fires.

We remember with reverence the lives we lost. We read their names. We press their photos to our hearts. And on this day that marks their death, we recall the beauty and meaning of their lives; men and women and children of every color and every creed, from across our nation and from more than 100 others. They were innocent. Harming no one, they went about their daily lives. Gone in a horrible instant, they now "dwell in the House of the Lord forever."

We honor all those who gave their lives so that others might live, and all the survivors who battled burns and wounds and helped each other rebuild their lives; men and women who gave life to that most simple of rules: I am my brother's keeper; I am my sister's keeper.

We pay tribute to the service of a new generation — young Americans raised in a time of peace and plenty who saw their nation in its hour of need and said, "I choose to serve"; "I will do my part." And once more we grieve. For you and your families, no words can ease the ache of your heart. No deeds can fill the empty places in your homes. But on this day and all that follow, you may find solace in the memory of those you loved, and know that you have the unending support of the American people.

Scripture teaches us a hard truth. The mountains may fall and the earth may give way; the flesh and the heart may fail. But after all our suffering, God and grace will "restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast." So it is — so it has been for these families. So it must be for our nation.

Let us renew our resolve against those who perpetrated this barbaric act and who plot against us still. In defense of our nation we will never waver; in pursuit of al Qaeda and its extremist allies, we will never falter.

Let us renew our commitment to all those who serve in our defense — our courageous men and women in uniform and their families and all those who protect us here at home. Mindful that the work of protecting America is never finished, we will do everything in our power to keep America safe.

Let us renew the true spirit of that day. Not the human capacity for evil, but the human capacity for good. Not the desire to destroy, but the impulse to save, and to serve, and to build. On this first National Day of Service and Remembrance, we can summon once more that ordinary goodness of America — to serve our communities, to strengthen our country, and to better our world.

Most of all, on a day when others sought to sap our confidence, let us renew our common purpose. Let us remember how we came together as one nation, as one people, as Americans, united not only in our grief, but in our resolve to stand with one another, to stand up for the country we all love.

This may be the greatest lesson of this day, the strongest rebuke to those who attacked us, the highest tribute to those taken from us — that such sense of purpose need not be a fleeting moment. It can be a lasting virtue.

For through their own lives — and through you, the loved ones that they left behind — the men and women who lost their lives eight years ago today leave a legacy that still shines brightly in the darkness, and that calls on all of us to be strong and firm and united. That is our calling today and in all the Septembers still to come.

May God bless you and comfort you. And may God bless the United States of America.

 REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT

IN DISCUSSION WITH 9TH GRADERS

Wakefield High School

Arlington, Virginia

11:01 A.M. EDT

      THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you.  So this is the first day of high school?

     STUDENTS:  Yes.

     THE PRESIDENT:  Wow.  I'm trying to remember back to my first day of high school.  I can't remember that far back.  But it is great to see all of you here.  I'm really proud of my Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, who is just doing a great job trying to create an environment where all of you can learn.  And I know it's a little intimidating with all these cameras around and all this --

SECRETARY DUNCAN:  Don't pay any attention to them.

THE PRESIDENT:   -- so just pretend that they're not there. 

     Here's the main reason I wanted to come by.  As Arne pointed out, when I was growing up, my dad wasn’t in the house.  We weren’t poor, but we weren’t rich.  My mother had to work really hard, so sometimes my grandparents had to fill in.  And my wife, Michelle, who all of you have seen -- the First Lady -- her dad worked in a -- as a -- basically in a blue-collar job, an hourly worker.  Her mom worked as a secretary.  And they lived in a tiny -- they didn’t even live in a house, they lived upstairs above her aunt's house.  And so neither of us really had a whole lot when we were growing up, but the one thing that we had was parents who insisted on getting a good education.

     And I want you all to know that despite the good home training I was getting, that when I was in 9th and 10th grade, I was still kind of a goof-off and I didn’t study as hard as I could have.  I was a lot more concerned about basketball.  I made some mistakes when I was in high school, wasn’t as focused as I should have been.  But the fact that my parents -- that my mother and my grandparents had emphasized education allowed me to make up for some of those mistakes and still get into a good college.  And when I got to college, I was then able to really bear down and focus on education.

     Michelle, she was a good student the whole time.  She was sort of a goody-two-shoes.  (Laughter.)  And she just did well in high school, and then she went to college and then she went to law school, and she just was always really organized and together.

     But the point is, is that both of us were able to succeed not because of who our parents were, not because we came from a lot of wealth or because we had a lot of connections, but it was mainly just because we ended up getting into good schools and we worked hard and we did well.

     All of you are in that same position.  And as I look out at this class, I say to myself, you guys remind me of me and Michelle.  And you're in the same position that we were.  We were no different.  You have the same opportunities that we had.  The key is for you to seize those opportunities. 

And the reason I wanted to come by to talk to students -- and then we're going to talk to students all across the country   -- Arne is working really hard to make sure that your schools are well equipped; we're trying to get more money in the budget for things like computers, and we want to make sure that we're getting the very best teachers and that they're getting all the training they need -- we're doing everything we can as adults to give you a good learning situation.  But ultimately, we can't force you to learn.  Not even your parents can force you to learn.  Ultimately, you've got to want to learn.  You've got to realize that education is your ticket.  And that education is not going to happen just because you show up, although showing up helps, so I want to make sure everybody --

SECRETARY DUNCAN:  We're glad you're here.

THE PRESIDENT:  We're glad you're here.  You've got to be hungry to want to learn more -- whatever the subject is.  And if you have that hunger and that drive and that passion, you're going to do well.  And if you don't, you know, you're just going to do okay, you'll be mediocre.  And I don't think that's what any of you want for your lives.

So that's the main message that I wanted to send is, take advantage of the opportunity.  If you are hungry for learning, you will find teachers that want to help you.  You will -- your parents will be there for you.  The community will be there.  You will be able to finance college.  You will be able to get a good job.  You will be able to have a successful career.  But you've got to want it.  And that's the main message that we wanted to send.

So, with that, we've got about 20 minutes just to go back and forth.  And I know, like I said, it's a little intimidating having these folks around.  But it's not every day that you get a chance to talk to the President.  (Laughter.)  I'm not going to call on anybody.  Just whoever has a question or a comment, a suggestion, an idea about what you think would make school better, things that you think make it tough for some kids, even if it's not you, but things that you've heard that you think we should know.  Questions about Bo, my dog, that's okay, too.  (Laughter.)  Whatever comes to mind.

     So who wants to start off?  I know -- there you go.  That's what I'm talking about.  We got a mic, so everybody can hear you.  Introduce yourself.

     STUDENT:  How has your life changed?

     THE PRESIDENT:  What's your name?

     STUDENT:  Jimmy.

     THE PRESIDENT:  Jimmy.  How has my life changed? 

SECRETARY DUNCAN:  That's a good question. 

THE PRESIDENT:  Well, you know, when you announce that you're running for President -- first of all, I was a U.S. senator before I was President, so people already sort of knew me but just in Illinois, in my home state, in Chicago.  And when you announce that you're running for President, suddenly a lot more people know you.  And then slowly you get Secret Service. And then when you win the nomination you get more Secret Service.  And then when you become President, then everything just shuts down.  And so one of the biggest changes in my life is that I can't just do things normally like I used to be able to do them.  And that's hard sometimes.  I mean, I can't just get in my car, go to the store, pick up some -- whatever it is that I feel like picking up.  I can't go take a walk without shutting down a whole bunch of roads and really inconveniencing a lot of people.  (Laughter.)  

     And so in terms of my own personal life, I think the biggest change is that I'm inside what's called the bubble.   I can't just do things on the spur of the moment.  And that's actually the toughest thing about being President, because you want to just be able to interact with people normally, right?  And these days either people are waving and really happy to see me, or they're booing me, saying -- (laughter) -- you know.  But nobody just kind of interacts with you in a normal way.

     The good thing about being President is I've got this really nice home office called the Oval Office -- (laughter) -- and it means that I don't have a commute.  Basically I walk downstairs, I'm in my office, I'm working, and then I can leave to get home in time to have dinner with my family.  So I'm spending a lot more time with my kids now, and my wife now, and having dinner with them every night.  That's a lot better than it was before when I was traveling a lot and commuting back and forth between D.C. and Chicago.  So that's really good.

Now, obviously the other way my life has changed is just I have so much more responsibility.  But that part of the job I really enjoy.  I mean, I really like meeting smart people who are passionate about their work; trying to figure out how do we get the schools better, how do we provide health care for people who don't have it -- the policy work of thinking through how can we make changes in the country that will give people more opportunity, better jobs, better education.  That stuff is what I spend most of my day doing and that's really interesting.  I really enjoy it.

All right, who else?  Right here.

STUDENT:  Hi, my name is Brandon.  I was wondering, you said that your father wasn't really in your life.  That's kind of like me -- my parents were divorced.  But how do you think your life would have been different if he would have been there for you?  Like, if -- how would your education have been and would you still be President?

THE PRESIDENT:  It's an interesting question.  You know, you never know exactly how your life would turn out if there was a change in circumstances as big as your dad being around.  I think that -- I actually wrote a book about this, called "Dreams For My Father," where I tried to figure out what was he like, who was he.  He was a very, very smart man, but he was sort of arrogant and kind of overbearing, and he had his own problems and his own issues.  So my mother always used to say that if he had been around, I probably would have been having a lot of arguments with him all the time. 

I think that I was lucky, though, that my mother always -- she never spoke badly about him, which I think since I was a boy, knowing that even if your dad wasn't around, that you still were hearing good things about him I think probably improved my own self-confidence.

When I look back on my life, I think that -- Michelle's dad was around, and Arne I think knew him.  Just a great guy.  Wonderful, wonderful man.  And he actually had multiple sclerosis, so he had to walk with canes, but went to every basketball game that my brother-in-law played in, was there for every dance recital Michelle was in, was just a great family man.  And when I look at her dad, I say to myself, boy, that would be nice to have somebody like that that you could count on who was always there for you.

On the other hand, I think that not having a dad in some ways forced me to grow up faster.  It meant that I made more mistakes because I didn't have somebody to tell me, here's how you do this or here's how you do that.  But on the other hand, I had to, I think, raise myself a little bit more.  I had to be more supportive of my mother because I knew how hard she was working.  And so, in some ways, maybe it made me stronger over time, just like it may be making you stronger over time.

Let's get a young lady in here.  Go ahead.

STUDENT:  Hi. I'm Lilly.  And if you could have dinner with anyone, dead or alive, who would it be?  (Laughter.)

THE PRESIDENT:  Dinner with anyone dead or alive?  Well, you know, dead or alive, that's a pretty big list.  (Laughter.)  You know, I think that it might be Gandhi, who is a real hero of mine.  Now, it would probably be a really small meal because -- (laughter) -- he didn't eat a lot.  But he's somebody who I find a lot of inspiration in.  He inspired Dr. King, so if it hadn't been for the non-violent movement in India, you might not have seen the same non-violent movement for civil rights here in the United States.  He inspired César Chávez, and he -- and what was interesting was that he ended up doing so much and changing the world just by the power of his ethics, by his ability to change how people saw each other and saw themselves -- and help people who thought they had no power realize that they had power, and then help people who had a lot of power realize that if all they're doing is oppressing people, then that's not a really good exercise of power.

     So I'm always interested in people who are able to bring about change, not through violence, not through money, but through the force of their personality and their ethical and moral stances.  And that's somebody that I'd love to sit down and talk to.

     STUDENT:  Hi, my name is Alexis.  And I was just wondering what were your main goals before you graduated college, what you wanted to achieve in life?

     THE PRESIDENT:  You know, as I said, when I was your age, I've got to say that I was a little bit of a goof-off, so my main goal was to get on the varsity basketball team, to have fun.  And when I was younger, my aspirations were to be an architect, maybe to be a judge.  And then I went through this phase where I was kind of rebelling -- this was part of not having a dad around.  I think I sort of was trying to work through my issues.  But by the time I got to college, A, I realized I was never going to be a pro basketball player.  Arne never realized that.  (Laughter.)  He still doesn’t. 

     SECRETARY DUNCAN:  Still trying.

     THE PRESIDENT:  We played this weekend.  But so I realized I wasn’t going to be a world-class athlete.  I realized that I was good with writing.  I was good in sort of analyzing how the world worked, whether it was politics or economic or -- that those were my strengths.  I was pretty good at math, but wasn’t great at it.  And the problem was the four years in high school that I let my math skills kind of go, it's hard to catch up with math once you’ve -- which is why, by the way, we need more scientists, we need more engineers, and if you're good at math stay with it and really focus on it.  That's something that I regret, is having let some of that go, because I was good at when I was young.

     So I think I figured out at that point that I wanted to be in some sort of job where I was helping people, that -- I was never that interested in just being rich.  That wasn’t my -- that wasn’t really my goal.  My goal was more to do something that I thought was meaningful.  And so in college I became interested in public policy and urban policy.  And I started doing some stuff off campus around different issues, which is something -- and doing community service type of work. 

And I don't know what the opportunities here are at Wakefield, but one of the things that is a really great learning opportunity is to -- if there's a community service program here, or if you want to do it through your church or your synagogue or your mosque or some other community group, you can really learn a lot about the world not just in the classroom, but also outside of the classroom.

Now, you've got to focus on doing what -- your top priority has to be your classroom work.  But I found in college that some of the work I did in the community actually opened my eyes and gave me a sense of how I might be able to help people.  And that was really important.

STUDENT:  Why did you decide to come to Wakefield instead of, like, Yorktown or Washington?

THE PRESIDENT:  You know, Wakefield has a wonderful reputation; this is a good school.  I think when I look around the room, I really like the fact that it's a diverse school, that there are just people from all different walks of life here.  I think that's part of the strength of America.  And this is basically what America increasingly looks like, people from all different walks of life, different backgrounds, different religions, different ethnic backgrounds.  And so we thought that this would be a good representative sample of students.  And your questions have proven me right.  

     STUDENT:  Hi, I'm Sam.  And I was just wondering how you motivate yourself to do all the work that goes along with your job.

     THE PRESIDENT:  That's a great question.  You know, some of it -- I'm just going to be honest with you -- some of it is just you don't want to fail.  Right?  A lot of people are counting on me.  And so even when I'm really tired or things aren't going exactly the way I thought they would be going, or there's just a lot of problems that are landing on my desk, I think about all the struggles that a lot of people are going through around the country and I say to myself, it's such an honor to be in this job; I can't afford to get tired; I just want to make sure that I'm doing the best that I can do for those folks.

And one of the things that we started doing as soon as I came in -- we get thousands of letters -- I think it's 40,000 letters a day -- letters or e-mails -- a day from people all across the country, on all different subjects.  And one of the things we started doing was trying to get 10 letters every day, sort of a sample of letters that I read personally.  So at the end of my day, along with my big briefing book of things I have to read to prepare for the next day -- education policy, or health care, or what's happening in Afghanistan -- I have these 10 letters from ordinary folks.

And you read these letters and some of them are really inspiring.  People talk about how they're the first in their family to go to college, and they're having to work full-time but they're sure that they are going to get a better job and a better career, and so they're sticking with it even though that it's hard. 

Some of the stories are really depressing.  You hear about people who are sick but don't have health care, and suddenly they get a bill for $100,000, and there's no way they can pay for it, and they're about to lose their house. 

     And you're just reminded that the country is full of really good people who sometimes are going through a hard time.  They just need a break.  They need a little bit of help.  Maybe the way things are set up right now isn't always fair for people, and that motivates you, because you say, well, I can't make everything perfect, I can't prevent somebody from getting sick, but maybe I can make sure that they've got insurance so that when they do get sick, they're going to get some help.

     I can't make everybody in an inner-city school suddenly not have problems with drugs on the street corner, or maybe parents who aren't really parenting well, but I can at least make sure that if they do show up at school that they've got a teacher who is well trained.  So that really, really motivates you a lot.  That's what gets you up in the morning.

     SECRETARY DUNCAN:  Last one.  Last question.

     THE PRESIDENT:  Who's got the mic?  Well, he already had the mic, so we'll give two last questions.  These two right here.  Go ahead. 

     STUDENT:  Hi, Mr. President, my name is Jessie.  When I grow up, I would like to have your job.

     THE PRESIDENT:  Okay. 

     STUDENT:  Is there any advice you can give me, or career paths that I -- things I need to know?

     THE PRESIDENT:  Well, let me give you some very practical tips.  (Laughter.)  First of all, I want everybody here to be careful about what you post on Facebook -- (laughter) -- because in the YouTube age, whatever you do, it will be pulled up again later somewhere in your life.  And when you're young, you make mistakes and you do some stupid stuff.  And I've been hearing a lot about young people who -- you know, they're posting stuff on Facebook, and then suddenly they go apply for a job and somebody has done a search and -- so that's some practical political advice for you right there.  (Laughter.)  That's number one.

Number two, look, obviously, doing well in school is hugely important, especially if you don't come from some political family where they've got you all hooked up.  If you're going to succeed it's because people are going to think that -- they have confidence that you can do the job.  So really excelling in education is important. 

Number three, find something that you're passionate about and do that well.  There are a lot of people who decide to go into politics just because they want to be important or they like the idea of having their name up in lights or what have you.  The truth is, is that I think the people who are the best elected officials are the people who they found something they're good at; they get really -- whether it's they're a really good lawyer, they're a really good teacher, they're a good business person -- they've built a career and learned something about how to organize people and how to motivate people.  And then they go into politics because they think that they can take those skills to do some more good -- as opposed to just wanting to get elected just for the sake of getting elected.

And we have a lot -- I'll be honest with you, I mean, there are a lot of politicians like that who, all they're thinking about is just, how do I get reelected, and so they never actually get anything done. 

But that's not just true in politics; that's true in life.  I think even if you didn't want to be President, if you wanted to be a successful -- successful in business, most of the most successful businesspeople I know are people who, they were passionate about some idea about a product or a service, and they really got into that.  And then the money was a byproduct  -- the money came because you really did something good, as opposed to you just thinking about how do I make money. 

You talk to somebody like a Bill Gates.  That guy was just fascinated with computers, and that's everything he was thinking about.  Now, he got so good at it that he then ended up being a very good businessman, as well.  But his focus was on how do I create something that actually helps people or is useful to them.  And I think you should have that same attitude, whatever it is that you decide to do.

All right.  Okay, last question.

STUDENT:  Hi, my name is Sean.  And my question is, currently 36 countries have universal health coverage, including Iraq and Afghanistan, which have it paid for by the United States.  Why can't the United States have universal health coverage?

THE PRESIDENT:  Well, I think that's the question I've been asking Congress, because I think we need it.  I think we can do it.  And I'm going to be making a speech tomorrow night talking about my plan to make sure that everybody has access to affordable health care.

Part of what happened is that back in the 1940s and '50s a lot of -- most of the wealthy countries around the world decided to set up health care systems that covered everybody.  The United States -- for a number of different reasons -- organized their health care around employer-based health insurance.  So what happened was, is that you basically got your health insurance through your job.  And you can see some problems with that.  Number one is if you lose your job, then you don't have health insurance.  The other thing is some employers may not want to do right by their employees by giving them health insurance, and then they're kind of out of luck.

And so what happened was, is that the majority of Americans still have health insurance through their job and most of them are happy with it, but a lot of people fall through the cracks.  If you're self-employed, if you start your own business, if you are working in a job that doesn't offer health insurance, then you're -- you have real problems.

So what we're trying to do is set up a system where people who have health insurance on the job, they can keep it, but if you don't have health insurance for the job, if you're self-employed, if you're unemployed, that you're able to get health insurance through another way.  And we can afford to do it and it will actually, I think, over time save us money if we set that up.  All right? 

Well, listen, guys, these have been terrific questions.  I can tell you guys are going to excel in high school.  You guys are going to do great.  And your teachers are lucky to have you.  And just remember that -- my only other piece of advice is stay focused, do well, apply yourself in school -- but also understand you're going to make some mistakes during your teenage years and you can recover from them.  Just make sure that if you do make a mistake that you learn from it and you'll be fine. 

All right.  Thank you guys for taking the time.

SECRETARY DUNCAN:  Thanks, guys.  Have a great school year.  (Applause.)

                                         END                     11:29 A.M. EDT

 REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT

IN DISCUSSION WITH 9TH GRADERS

Wakefield High School

Arlington, Virginia

11:01 A.M. EDT

      THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you.  So this is the first day of high school?

     STUDENTS:  Yes.

     THE PRESIDENT:  Wow.  I'm trying to remember back to my first day of high school.  I can't remember that far back.  But it is great to see all of you here.  I'm really proud of my Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, who is just doing a great job trying to create an environment where all of you can learn.  And I know it's a little intimidating with all these cameras around and all this --

SECRETARY DUNCAN:  Don't pay any attention to them.

THE PRESIDENT:   -- so just pretend that they're not there. 

     Here's the main reason I wanted to come by.  As Arne pointed out, when I was growing up, my dad wasn’t in the house.  We weren’t poor, but we weren’t rich.  My mother had to work really hard, so sometimes my grandparents had to fill in.  And my wife, Michelle, who all of you have seen -- the First Lady -- her dad worked in a -- as a -- basically in a blue-collar job, an hourly worker.  Her mom worked as a secretary.  And they lived in a tiny -- they didn’t even live in a house, they lived upstairs above her aunt's house.  And so neither of us really had a whole lot when we were growing up, but the one thing that we had was parents who insisted on getting a good education.

     And I want you all to know that despite the good home training I was getting, that when I was in 9th and 10th grade, I was still kind of a goof-off and I didn’t study as hard as I could have.  I was a lot more concerned about basketball.  I made some mistakes when I was in high school, wasn’t as focused as I should have been.  But the fact that my parents -- that my mother and my grandparents had emphasized education allowed me to make up for some of those mistakes and still get into a good college.  And when I got to college, I was then able to really bear down and focus on education.

     Michelle, she was a good student the whole time.  She was sort of a goody-two-shoes.  (Laughter.)  And she just did well in high school, and then she went to college and then she went to law school, and she just was always really organized and together.

     But the point is, is that both of us were able to succeed not because of who our parents were, not because we came from a lot of wealth or because we had a lot of connections, but it was mainly just because we ended up getting into good schools and we worked hard and we did well.

     All of you are in that same position.  And as I look out at this class, I say to myself, you guys remind me of me and Michelle.  And you're in the same position that we were.  We were no different.  You have the same opportunities that we had.  The key is for you to seize those opportunities. 

And the reason I wanted to come by to talk to students -- and then we're going to talk to students all across the country   -- Arne is working really hard to make sure that your schools are well equipped; we're trying to get more money in the budget for things like computers, and we want to make sure that we're getting the very best teachers and that they're getting all the training they need -- we're doing everything we can as adults to give you a good learning situation.  But ultimately, we can't force you to learn.  Not even your parents can force you to learn.  Ultimately, you've got to want to learn.  You've got to realize that education is your ticket.  And that education is not going to happen just because you show up, although showing up helps, so I want to make sure everybody --

SECRETARY DUNCAN:  We're glad you're here.

THE PRESIDENT:  We're glad you're here.  You've got to be hungry to want to learn more -- whatever the subject is.  And if you have that hunger and that drive and that passion, you're going to do well.  And if you don't, you know, you're just going to do okay, you'll be mediocre.  And I don't think that's what any of you want for your lives.

So that's the main message that I wanted to send is, take advantage of the opportunity.  If you are hungry for learning, you will find teachers that want to help you.  You will -- your parents will be there for you.  The community will be there.  You will be able to finance college.  You will be able to get a good job.  You will be able to have a successful career.  But you've got to want it.  And that's the main message that we wanted to send.

So, with that, we've got about 20 minutes just to go back and forth.  And I know, like I said, it's a little intimidating having these folks around.  But it's not every day that you get a chance to talk to the President.  (Laughter.)  I'm not going to call on anybody.  Just whoever has a question or a comment, a suggestion, an idea about what you think would make school better, things that you think make it tough for some kids, even if it's not you, but things that you've heard that you think we should know.  Questions about Bo, my dog, that's okay, too.  (Laughter.)  Whatever comes to mind.

     So who wants to start off?  I know -- there you go.  That's what I'm talking about.  We got a mic, so everybody can hear you.  Introduce yourself.

     STUDENT:  How has your life changed?

     THE PRESIDENT:  What's your name?

     STUDENT:  Jimmy.

     THE PRESIDENT:  Jimmy.  How has my life changed? 

SECRETARY DUNCAN:  That's a good question. 

THE PRESIDENT:  Well, you know, when you announce that you're running for President -- first of all, I was a U.S. senator before I was President, so people already sort of knew me but just in Illinois, in my home state, in Chicago.  And when you announce that you're running for President, suddenly a lot more people know you.  And then slowly you get Secret Service. And then when you win the nomination you get more Secret Service.  And then when you become President, then everything just shuts down.  And so one of the biggest changes in my life is that I can't just do things normally like I used to be able to do them.  And that's hard sometimes.  I mean, I can't just get in my car, go to the store, pick up some -- whatever it is that I feel like picking up.  I can't go take a walk without shutting down a whole bunch of roads and really inconveniencing a lot of people.  (Laughter.)  

     And so in terms of my own personal life, I think the biggest change is that I'm inside what's called the bubble.   I can't just do things on the spur of the moment.  And that's actually the toughest thing about being President, because you want to just be able to interact with people normally, right?  And these days either people are waving and really happy to see me, or they're booing me, saying -- (laughter) -- you know.  But nobody just kind of interacts with you in a normal way.

     The good thing about being President is I've got this really nice home office called the Oval Office -- (laughter) -- and it means that I don't have a commute.  Basically I walk downstairs, I'm in my office, I'm working, and then I can leave to get home in time to have dinner with my family.  So I'm spending a lot more time with my kids now, and my wife now, and having dinner with them every night.  That's a lot better than it was before when I was traveling a lot and commuting back and forth between D.C. and Chicago.  So that's really good.

Now, obviously the other way my life has changed is just I have so much more responsibility.  But that part of the job I really enjoy.  I mean, I really like meeting smart people who are passionate about their work; trying to figure out how do we get the schools better, how do we provide health care for people who don't have it -- the policy work of thinking through how can we make changes in the country that will give people more opportunity, better jobs, better education.  That stuff is what I spend most of my day doing and that's really interesting.  I really enjoy it.

All right, who else?  Right here.

STUDENT:  Hi, my name is Brandon.  I was wondering, you said that your father wasn't really in your life.  That's kind of like me -- my parents were divorced.  But how do you think your life would have been different if he would have been there for you?  Like, if -- how would your education have been and would you still be President?

THE PRESIDENT:  It's an interesting question.  You know, you never know exactly how your life would turn out if there was a change in circumstances as big as your dad being around.  I think that -- I actually wrote a book about this, called "Dreams For My Father," where I tried to figure out what was he like, who was he.  He was a very, very smart man, but he was sort of arrogant and kind of overbearing, and he had his own problems and his own issues.  So my mother always used to say that if he had been around, I probably would have been having a lot of arguments with him all the time. 

I think that I was lucky, though, that my mother always -- she never spoke badly about him, which I think since I was a boy, knowing that even if your dad wasn't around, that you still were hearing good things about him I think probably improved my own self-confidence.

When I look back on my life, I think that -- Michelle's dad was around, and Arne I think knew him.  Just a great guy.  Wonderful, wonderful man.  And he actually had multiple sclerosis, so he had to walk with canes, but went to every basketball game that my brother-in-law played in, was there for every dance recital Michelle was in, was just a great family man.  And when I look at her dad, I say to myself, boy, that would be nice to have somebody like that that you could count on who was always there for you.

On the other hand, I think that not having a dad in some ways forced me to grow up faster.  It meant that I made more mistakes because I didn't have somebody to tell me, here's how you do this or here's how you do that.  But on the other hand, I had to, I think, raise myself a little bit more.  I had to be more supportive of my mother because I knew how hard she was working.  And so, in some ways, maybe it made me stronger over time, just like it may be making you stronger over time.

Let's get a young lady in here.  Go ahead.

STUDENT:  Hi. I'm Lilly.  And if you could have dinner with anyone, dead or alive, who would it be?  (Laughter.)

THE PRESIDENT:  Dinner with anyone dead or alive?  Well, you know, dead or alive, that's a pretty big list.  (Laughter.)  You know, I think that it might be Gandhi, who is a real hero of mine.  Now, it would probably be a really small meal because -- (laughter) -- he didn't eat a lot.  But he's somebody who I find a lot of inspiration in.  He inspired Dr. King, so if it hadn't been for the non-violent movement in India, you might not have seen the same non-violent movement for civil rights here in the United States.  He inspired César Chávez, and he -- and what was interesting was that he ended up doing so much and changing the world just by the power of his ethics, by his ability to change how people saw each other and saw themselves -- and help people who thought they had no power realize that they had power, and then help people who had a lot of power realize that if all they're doing is oppressing people, then that's not a really good exercise of power.

     So I'm always interested in people who are able to bring about change, not through violence, not through money, but through the force of their personality and their ethical and moral stances.  And that's somebody that I'd love to sit down and talk to.

     STUDENT:  Hi, my name is Alexis.  And I was just wondering what were your main goals before you graduated college, what you wanted to achieve in life?

     THE PRESIDENT:  You know, as I said, when I was your age, I've got to say that I was a little bit of a goof-off, so my main goal was to get on the varsity basketball team, to have fun.  And when I was younger, my aspirations were to be an architect, maybe to be a judge.  And then I went through this phase where I was kind of rebelling -- this was part of not having a dad around.  I think I sort of was trying to work through my issues.  But by the time I got to college, A, I realized I was never going to be a pro basketball player.  Arne never realized that.  (Laughter.)  He still doesn’t. 

     SECRETARY DUNCAN:  Still trying.

     THE PRESIDENT:  We played this weekend.  But so I realized I wasn’t going to be a world-class athlete.  I realized that I was good with writing.  I was good in sort of analyzing how the world worked, whether it was politics or economic or -- that those were my strengths.  I was pretty good at math, but wasn’t great at it.  And the problem was the four years in high school that I let my math skills kind of go, it's hard to catch up with math once you’ve -- which is why, by the way, we need more scientists, we need more engineers, and if you're good at math stay with it and really focus on it.  That's something that I regret, is having let some of that go, because I was good at when I was young.

     So I think I figured out at that point that I wanted to be in some sort of job where I was helping people, that -- I was never that interested in just being rich.  That wasn’t my -- that wasn’t really my goal.  My goal was more to do something that I thought was meaningful.  And so in college I became interested in public policy and urban policy.  And I started doing some stuff off campus around different issues, which is something -- and doing community service type of work. 

And I don't know what the opportunities here are at Wakefield, but one of the things that is a really great learning opportunity is to -- if there's a community service program here, or if you want to do it through your church or your synagogue or your mosque or some other community group, you can really learn a lot about the world not just in the classroom, but also outside of the classroom.

Now, you've got to focus on doing what -- your top priority has to be your classroom work.  But I found in college that some of the work I did in the community actually opened my eyes and gave me a sense of how I might be able to help people.  And that was really important.

STUDENT:  Why did you decide to come to Wakefield instead of, like, Yorktown or Washington?

THE PRESIDENT:  You know, Wakefield has a wonderful reputation; this is a good school.  I think when I look around the room, I really like the fact that it's a diverse school, that there are just people from all different walks of life here.  I think that's part of the strength of America.  And this is basically what America increasingly looks like, people from all different walks of life, different backgrounds, different religions, different ethnic backgrounds.  And so we thought that this would be a good representative sample of students.  And your questions have proven me right.  

     STUDENT:  Hi, I'm Sam.  And I was just wondering how you motivate yourself to do all the work that goes along with your job.

     THE PRESIDENT:  That's a great question.  You know, some of it -- I'm just going to be honest with you -- some of it is just you don't want to fail.  Right?  A lot of people are counting on me.  And so even when I'm really tired or things aren't going exactly the way I thought they would be going, or there's just a lot of problems that are landing on my desk, I think about all the struggles that a lot of people are going through around the country and I say to myself, it's such an honor to be in this job; I can't afford to get tired; I just want to make sure that I'm doing the best that I can do for those folks.

And one of the things that we started doing as soon as I came in -- we get thousands of letters -- I think it's 40,000 letters a day -- letters or e-mails -- a day from people all across the country, on all different subjects.  And one of the things we started doing was trying to get 10 letters every day, sort of a sample of letters that I read personally.  So at the end of my day, along with my big briefing book of things I have to read to prepare for the next day -- education policy, or health care, or what's happening in Afghanistan -- I have these 10 letters from ordinary folks.

And you read these letters and some of them are really inspiring.  People talk about how they're the first in their family to go to college, and they're having to work full-time but they're sure that they are going to get a better job and a better career, and so they're sticking with it even though that it's hard. 

Some of the stories are really depressing.  You hear about people who are sick but don't have health care, and suddenly they get a bill for $100,000, and there's no way they can pay for it, and they're about to lose their house. 

     And you're just reminded that the country is full of really good people who sometimes are going through a hard time.  They just need a break.  They need a little bit of help.  Maybe the way things are set up right now isn't always fair for people, and that motivates you, because you say, well, I can't make everything perfect, I can't prevent somebody from getting sick, but maybe I can make sure that they've got insurance so that when they do get sick, they're going to get some help.

     I can't make everybody in an inner-city school suddenly not have problems with drugs on the street corner, or maybe parents who aren't really parenting well, but I can at least make sure that if they do show up at school that they've got a teacher who is well trained.  So that really, really motivates you a lot.  That's what gets you up in the morning.

     SECRETARY DUNCAN:  Last one.  Last question.

     THE PRESIDENT:  Who's got the mic?  Well, he already had the mic, so we'll give two last questions.  These two right here.  Go ahead. 

     STUDENT:  Hi, Mr. President, my name is Jessie.  When I grow up, I would like to have your job.

     THE PRESIDENT:  Okay. 

     STUDENT:  Is there any advice you can give me, or career paths that I -- things I need to know?

     THE PRESIDENT:  Well, let me give you some very practical tips.  (Laughter.)  First of all, I want everybody here to be careful about what you post on Facebook -- (laughter) -- because in the YouTube age, whatever you do, it will be pulled up again later somewhere in your life.  And when you're young, you make mistakes and you do some stupid stuff.  And I've been hearing a lot about young people who -- you know, they're posting stuff on Facebook, and then suddenly they go apply for a job and somebody has done a search and -- so that's some practical political advice for you right there.  (Laughter.)  That's number one.

Number two, look, obviously, doing well in school is hugely important, especially if you don't come from some political family where they've got you all hooked up.  If you're going to succeed it's because people are going to think that -- they have confidence that you can do the job.  So really excelling in education is important. 

Number three, find something that you're passionate about and do that well.  There are a lot of people who decide to go into politics just because they want to be important or they like the idea of having their name up in lights or what have you.  The truth is, is that I think the people who are the best elected officials are the people who they found something they're good at; they get really -- whether it's they're a really good lawyer, they're a really good teacher, they're a good business person -- they've built a career and learned something about how to organize people and how to motivate people.  And then they go into politics because they think that they can take those skills to do some more good -- as opposed to just wanting to get elected just for the sake of getting elected.

And we have a lot -- I'll be honest with you, I mean, there are a lot of politicians like that who, all they're thinking about is just, how do I get reelected, and so they never actually get anything done. 

But that's not just true in politics; that's true in life.  I think even if you didn't want to be President, if you wanted to be a successful -- successful in business, most of the most successful businesspeople I know are people who, they were passionate about some idea about a product or a service, and they really got into that.  And then the money was a byproduct  -- the money came because you really did something good, as opposed to you just thinking about how do I make money. 

You talk to somebody like a Bill Gates.  That guy was just fascinated with computers, and that's everything he was thinking about.  Now, he got so good at it that he then ended up being a very good businessman, as well.  But his focus was on how do I create something that actually helps people or is useful to them.  And I think you should have that same attitude, whatever it is that you decide to do.

All right.  Okay, last question.

STUDENT:  Hi, my name is Sean.  And my question is, currently 36 countries have universal health coverage, including Iraq and Afghanistan, which have it paid for by the United States.  Why can't the United States have universal health coverage?

THE PRESIDENT:  Well, I think that's the question I've been asking Congress, because I think we need it.  I think we can do it.  And I'm going to be making a speech tomorrow night talking about my plan to make sure that everybody has access to affordable health care.

Part of what happened is that back in the 1940s and '50s a lot of -- most of the wealthy countries around the world decided to set up health care systems that covered everybody.  The United States -- for a number of different reasons -- organized their health care around employer-based health insurance.  So what happened was, is that you basically got your health insurance through your job.  And you can see some problems with that.  Number one is if you lose your job, then you don't have health insurance.  The other thing is some employers may not want to do right by their employees by giving them health insurance, and then they're kind of out of luck.

And so what happened was, is that the majority of Americans still have health insurance through their job and most of them are happy with it, but a lot of people fall through the cracks.  If you're self-employed, if you start your own business, if you are working in a job that doesn't offer health insurance, then you're -- you have real problems.

So what we're trying to do is set up a system where people who have health insurance on the job, they can keep it, but if you don't have health insurance for the job, if you're self-employed, if you're unemployed, that you're able to get health insurance through another way.  And we can afford to do it and it will actually, I think, over time save us money if we set that up.  All right? 

Well, listen, guys, these have been terrific questions.  I can tell you guys are going to excel in high school.  You guys are going to do great.  And your teachers are lucky to have you.  And just remember that -- my only other piece of advice is stay focused, do well, apply yourself in school -- but also understand you're going to make some mistakes during your teenage years and you can recover from them.  Just make sure that if you do make a mistake that you learn from it and you'll be fine. 

All right.  Thank you guys for taking the time.

SECRETARY DUNCAN:  Thanks, guys.  Have a great school year.  (Applause.)

                                         END                     11:29 A.M. EDT

Arlington, Virginia
September 8, 2009
 

Contact:          Sherrie Swensen

Salt Lake County Clerk

(801) 468-3519

New State Voter ID Law in Effect for Municipal Primary Voters

SALT LAKE COUNTY, UT (August 28, 2009) – Voters will be required to show ID before being allowed to vote in the upcoming municipal primary elections held on September 15, 2009.   A new law (House Bill 126) passed by the Utah State Legislature last session, requires all voters to show “valid voter identification” before being allowed to vote at the polls.  Voters must show a current Utah Drivers License, Utah State Identification Card or current U.S. Passport in order to vote.  If voters do not have one of these accepted photo IDs, they may present two separate documents that lists the voters’ name and current address. 

If a voter does not have  the necessary ID, the voter may vote a provisional ballot and provide ID to the county clerk’s office or their city recorder’s office within five days after the election and the provisional ballot will be counted.

Voters may call the Salt Lake County Clerk’s Office at 801468-3427(801 GOT VOTE), or visit the clerk’s website at  www.clerk.slco.org for more information and a list of acceptable forms of ID according to the new state law.   

Utah Policy speaks with Wayne Holland, Chairman of the Utah State Democratic Party, about healthcare reform, who the party might nominate to run against Governor Gary Herbert in 2010, and expanding the Democratic Party message in the West.

Click here to watch complete video of conversation

(202) 586-4940                                                                          Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Secretary Chu Announces $14.9 Million for Clean Cities Grants in Utah

Utah Clean Cities Coalition Program will create jobs, limit pollution, and reduce America’s dependence on foreign oil

WASHINGTON, DC – Energy Secretary Steven Chu today announcedthe selection of 25 cost-share projects under the Clean Cities program that will be funded with nearly $300 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. These projects will speed the transformation of the nation’s vehicle fleet, putting more than 9,000 alternative fuel and energy efficient vehicles on the road, and establishing 542 refueling locations across the country. The Department of Energy also estimates they will help displace approximately 38 million gallons of petroleum per year.

“The Clean Cities program is helping give state and local governments the tools they need to build a greener transportation system that will create new jobs and help to put America on the path to a clean energy future,” said Secretary Chu.  “Advancing the number of alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicles on the road will increase our energy security, decrease our dependence on oil, and reduce pollution across the country.”

Utah Clean Cities Coalition received a $14.9 million award today for their Clean Cities Transportation Sector Petroleum Reduction Technologies Program.The initiative includes 16 new compressed natural gas (CNG) public fueling facilities, upgrades to 24 CNG public fueling facilities, three new liquid/compressed natural gas facilities, three new biodiesel public refueling stations, and increases the number of natural gas vehicles operating in Utah by 678.  DOE estimates that this initiative will help displace 1.1 million gallons of petroleum annually (Total DOE award: $14,908,648).

Under the Recovery Act, the Clean Cities program will fund a range of energy efficient and advanced vehicle technologies, such as hybrids, electric vehicles, plug-in electric hybrids, hydraulic hybrids and compressed natural gas vehicles, helping reduce petroleum consumption across the U.S.  In addition, funding will support refueling infrastructure for various alternative fuel vehicles, including biofuels and natural gas.  Other efforts under the Clean Cities program include public education and training initiatives to further the program’s goal of reducing the national demand for petroleum.

The projects announced by Secretary Chu will support a combined total of more than 9,000 light, medium and heavy-duty vehicles and establish 542 refueling locations across the country.  The vehicles and infrastructure being funded include the use of natural and renewable gas, propane, ethanol, biodiesel, electricity, and hybrid technologies.  And with the cost share contributions from the recipients, every federal dollar spent will be matched by nearly two dollars from the project partners.

Last week, the Department of Energy also announced that it had selected 23 projects for up to $15 million in annual appropriations funding. Like the Recovery Act-funded projects, the annual Clean Cities projects include grants for vehicles, infrastructure, and education.

Clean Cities is a government-industry partnership that works to reduce America’s petroleum consumption in the transportation sector.  Over the last 15 years, the Clean Cities program has established local coalitions across the country that promote the growth of alternative fuels and showcase the potential of advanced and energy efficient vehicles.

The projects announced today are selections for financial award.  The final details and funding level of each project is subject to modification based on further contract negotiations between the selected entity and DOE.

For a map and complete list of awardees, visit  http://www.energy.gov/recovery/cleancities.htm 

 ###

I was very pleased with the positive response yesterday from the Judiciary, Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Interim Committee members with regards to my presentation on my proposed resolution for the State Legislature to act on an interagency coordination of Gang Activity.  Last year I introduced SJR 21, and due to the lack of time, there was no vote in the House of Representatives.  At today’s interim committee meeting, I asked for the Gang Task Force headed by CCJJ and Salt Lake District Attorney Lohra Miller as well as the co-chair of the Gang Reduction Project from Salt Lake City (Leticia Medina) to present on the efforts taking place at their respective groups.  It was refreshing to hear how when we all come together, we can be more proactive in finding aggressive solutions to serious problems. 

My resolution will urge state and local governments to work in collaboration with the federal government in combating and reducing gang activity, focusing on prevention, intervention and suppression.  Working together with law enforcement, community and religious-based organizations as well with the community in general will make this endeavor possible.

This is not an issue that only impacts a specific geographic area of our state, even though it’s true that some areas are seeing more violent crimes due to gang-related activity.  This type of violent and disruptive activity is being seen all over the state.

It is time the State Legislature takes a proactive approach and commits to work with all the other stakeholders in finding real and comprehensive solutions.  I was pleased to see a true bipartisan support for this idea and hope to get a recommendation for this resolution in the next interim committee meeting.

Please take a minute to read the story in the

.

As someone whose family includes doctors who count many Utahns as patients and as a father who wants a healthy future for his children, I have a deep commitment to passing comprehensive, deficit-neutral health care reform. Such an overhaul should lower costs for Utah families and businesses, increase the quality of care provided and expand access for every American.

The president has said he will not sign a health care bill that 1) adds to the deficit and 2) fails to lower the excessive growth of long term health costs. I share those goals. According to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office, the bill recently considered by the House Energy and Commerce Committee fails on both counts.

Skyrocketing health care costs are straining family budgets, threatening the survival of small businesses and exploding our national deficit. Even Utahns with good insurance coverage know they are paying more and more in premiums, deductibles, and co-payments and they are getting less and less. Over the past nine years, premiums have doubled -- rising at twice the rate of wages.

Health care spending now consumes 30 percent more of state and local budgets than it did 20 years ago -- leaving less money for things like schools and public safety and increasing pressure to raise taxes. Costs are staggering for companies in Utah such as 1-800-Contacts, who, despite the challenge, continues to do the right thing by providing insurance benefits to hundreds of Utah employees

The same is true for our country as a whole. Health care costs are the number one driver of our long-term deficits, which is why achieving health care reform is the single most important thing we can do for our nation's long-term fiscal health.

The status quo is unsustainable and unacceptable. Inaction is not an option.

But to preserve what is best about our system, we have to fix what is broken. If we don't contain explosive costs, everyone's insurance will be in jeopardy. Premiums will continue to rise, benefits will erode and the number of uninsured -- including the current 298,000 uninsured Utahns -- will swell.

There are health care reform bills being debated in a number of House and Senate committees. In my committee, House Energy and Commerce, I proposed substantive ideas about how to write bipartisan, common-sense, responsible health care reform legislation. Some of my changes were incorporated before the committee voted but several key concerns haven't yet been addressed.

My view is that in order to get real cost savings, we must reform the incentives of a system that automatically equates more expensive care with better care. Utah has been at the forefront of health information technology innovation and the development of practices which improve the quality of care and reduce costs. National health care reform should build on Utah's example.

We also need to align incentives for doctors and hospitals so that they're reimbursed based on the quality of care they provide, not on how many tests or procedures they prescribe. A third of the $2 trillion spent on health care in this country goes toward administrative costs, not to patient care. We must cut down on fraud, waste and abuse and create a more efficient, less bureaucratic system.

There is broad consensus that Americans currently without insurance be provided an opportunity to receive affordable coverage -- not only because it's the right thing to do, but also because when people without insurance have to be treated in the emergency room, we all end up paying for it. Insurers should not be able to deny coverage based on pre-existing conditions, should not be able to hike premiums when people become ill, and should invest in prevention and wellness programs.

Because the issue of health care reform is so complex and the imperative to get it right is so strong, I believe it is worth taking the necessary time to debate, amend, review and discuss with my constituents, any comprehensive bill. We can do this and bring affordability, stability and better health to all of us.

Rep. Jim Matheson , a Democrat, represents Utah's Second Congressional District.

 Office of the Press Secretary

                               August 5, 2009

REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT

ON THE ECONOMY

Monaco Coach,

Wakarusa, Indiana

11:55 AM. EDT

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you so much.  Well, it is wonderful to be in Wakarusa.  Thank you so much for the wonderful welcome.  Herman, thanks for the great introduction.  It is great to be back in Indiana.  (Applause.)  This is as close as I've gotten to home in a while.  (Laughter.) 

And I flew out here with somebody who I think the people of Indiana have known for a long time, have trusted for a long time because he's fighting for working families in Indiana each and every day -- and that is our great Senator, Evan Bayh.  Please give Evan a big round of applause.  (Applause.)

And it's nice to get out of Washington and spend some time with people who actually sent me to Washington.  (Applause.)  Too often, there are those in Washington who focus on the ups and downs of politics.  But my concern is the ups and downs in the lives of the American people:  the families feeling the pain of this recession; the folks I've met across this country who've lost jobs and savings and health insurance, but haven't lost hope; the men and women who still believe in the capacity, the ability of this nation to meet the challenges of our times.

     Now, these are challenges you know all too well here in Wakarusa and in Elkhart County.  This area has been hit with a perfect storm of economic troubles.  Over the last few decades, you've borne the brunt of a steadily weakening of American manufacturing in the face of global competition.  You've felt the impact of the struggles of American auto industry and the repercussions that have hit the Midwest especially hard.  And you're living every day with the consequences of this recession and the financial meltdown, and you've felt it in the form of lost jobs and lost savings.

So as a result, the Elkhart area has experienced the second greatest increase in the rate of unemployment in the country -– up 10 points in a year.  It's an astonishing statistic.  And there have been times where nearly one in five people in this area have been looking for work.  You've seen factories close, and your sons and daughters move away in searches of jobs and opportunity.  So this is more than an economic crisis.  This goes to the heart and soul of a community.  It tests the strength of families and the spirit of good people -- hardworking folks who've given their all to a company and now don't know where to turn.

There are some who see what's taking place here and suggest that it's all somehow inevitable, and that the only way for America to get ahead is for places like Elkhart to be left behind.  You hear that argument sometime in Washington.  But I know and you know that the truth is exactly the opposite.  I'm here because I believe our ability to recover –- and to prosper –- as a nation depends on what happens in communities just like this one.  (Applause.)  

The battle for America's future will be fought and won in places like Elkhart and Detroit, Goshen and Pittsburgh, South Bend, Youngstown –- in cities and towns across Indiana and across the Midwest and across the country that have been the backbone of America.  It will be won by making places like Elkhart what they once were and can be again –- and that's centers of innovation and entrepreneurship and ingenuity and opportunity; the bustling, whirring, humming engines of American prosperity.

For as the world grows more competitive, we can't afford to run the race at half-strength or half-speed.  If we hope to lead this century like we did the last century, we have to create the conditions and the opportunities for places like Elkhart to succeed.  We have to harness the potential –- the innovative and creative spirit –- that's waiting to be awakened all across America.  That's how we'll rebuild this economy stronger than before:  strong enough to compete in the global economy; strong enough to avoid the cycles of boom and bust that have wreaked so much havoc on our economy; strong enough to support the jobs of the 21st century; and strong enough to unleash prosperity for everybody, not just some.   

     But before we can rebuild our economy for tomorrow, we have to rescue it today.  Now, that's why we passed a Recovery Act less than one month after I took office –- and we did so without any of the earmarks or pork-barrel spending that's so common in Washington, D.C.  And let me just talk about the so-called stimulus package, or the Recovery Act, because there's been a lot of misinformation out there about the Recovery Act.  Let me tell you what it is and what it's not. 

`The plan was divided into three parts.  One-third of the money has gone to tax relief for families and small businesses.  One-third of the money is cutting people's taxes.  For Americans struggling to pay rising bills with shrinking wages, we kept a campaign promise to put a middle-class tax cut in the pockets of 95 percent of working families -- (applause) -- a tax cut that began showing up in paychecks of 4.8 million Indiana households about three months ago. 

We also cut taxes for small businesses on the investments that they make.  And more than 425 small businesses in Indiana have received SBA loans through the recovery package.  So that's -- one-third of the money was tax cuts.

Another third of the money in the Recovery Act has been for emergency relief that is helping folks who've borne the brunt of this recession.  For Americans who were laid off, we expanded unemployment benefits –- and that's already made a difference for 12 million Americans, including 220,000 folks right here in Indiana.  We're making health insurance 65 percent cheaper for families relying on COBRA while looking for work.  Some of you know people who lost their jobs, were worried about losing their health care, couldn't afford COBRA -- we were able to reduce their costs by 65 percent so they could keep their health care while they looking for jobs. 

And for states facing historic budget shortfalls, we provided assistance that has saved the jobs of tens of thousands of teachers and public -- and police officers and other public servants so that you wouldn't see the recession get even worse. 

So that's the second half.  First half, tax relief.  Second half, support for individuals, small businesses, and states that had fallen on hard times.

The last third of the Recovery Act -- and that's what we're going to talk about here today -- is for investments that are not only putting people back to work in the short term, but laying a new foundation for growth and prosperity in the long run.  These are the jobs of building the future of America:  upgrading our roads and our bridges; renovating schools and hospitals.  The Elkhart area has seen the benefits:  Dozens were employed to resurface the runway at Elkhart Airport; a four-mile stretch of highway is being upgraded on US-33; the Heart City Health Center has received recovery dollars to expand services and hire additional staff.

And as part of the recovery plan, we're making a historic commitment to innovation.  The Recovery Act creates jobs doubling our capacity to generate renewable energy; building a new smart grid that carry electricity from coast to coast; laying down broadband lines and high-speed rail lines; and providing the largest boost in basic research in history –- to ensure that America leads in the breakthrough discoveries of the new century, just as we led in the last.  Because that's what we do best in America -- we turn ideas into inventions, and inventions into industries.

Now, history should be our guide.  The United States led the world's economies in the 20th century because we led the world in innovation.  Today, the competition is keener; the challenge is tougher; and that's why innovation is more important than ever.  That's the key to good, new jobs in the 21st century.  That's how we will ensure a high quality of life for this generation and future generations.  With these investments, we're planting the seeds of progress for our country, and good-paying, private-sector jobs for the American people.

So that's why I'm here today -- to announce $2.4 billion in highly competitive grants to develop the next generation of fuel-efficient cars and trucks powered by the next generation of

battery technologies all made right here in the U.S. of A.  (Applause.)  Right here in America.  (Applause.)  Made in America.  (Applause.)

For too long, we failed to invest in this kind of innovative work, even as countries like China and Japan were racing ahead.  That's why this announcement is so important:  This represents the largest investment in this kind of technology in American history. 

See, I'm committed to a strategy that ensures America leads in the design and the deployment of the next generation of clean-energy vehicles.  This is not just an investment to produce vehicles today; this is an investment in our capacity to develop new technologies tomorrow.  This is about creating the infrastructure of innovation.

Indiana is the second largest recipient of grant funding, and it's a perfect example of what this will mean.  You've got Purdue University, Notre Dame, Indiana University, and Ivy Tech, and they're all going to be receiving grant funding to develop degree and training programs for electric vehicles.  That's number one.  (Applause.)  We've got EnerDel, a small business in Indianapolis that will develop batteries for hybrid and electric vehicles.  You've got Allison Transmission in Indianapolis, Delphi in Kokomo, Remy in Pendleton, and Magna located in Muncie, all who will help develop electric-drive components for commercial and passenger vehicles.

And right here in Elkhart County, Navistar –- which has taken over two Monaco Coach manufacturing facilities -– will receive a $39 million grant to build 400 advanced battery electric trucks -- (applause) -- with a range of a hundred miles, like the trucks here today.  (Applause.)  Just a few months ago, folks thought that these factories might be closed for good.  But now they're coming back to life. 

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  Thank you!

THE PRESIDENT:  You're welcome.  (Laughter.)  Thank the American people.  (Applause.) 

The company estimates that this investment will help create or save hundreds of jobs in the area.  And already, folks like Herman are being rehired.  So, overall, the companies believe these investments in battery technology will save or create thousands of Hoosier jobs.  And I want to point out these thousands of jobs wouldn't be possible if it weren't for the leaders in Congress who supported the Recovery Act -- leaders like Evan Bayh and Joe Donnelly, who's here today.  (Applause.)   And Andre Carson and Brad Ellsworth and Peter Visclosky.  (Applause.)  And these grants will create tens of thousands of jobs all across America.

In fact, today, Vice President Biden is announcing grant winners in Michigan.  Members of my Cabinet are fanning out across the country announcing recipients elsewhere.  We're providing the incentives to those businesses –- large and small –- that stand ready to help us lead a new clean-energy economy by developing new technologies for new kinds of vehicles. 

See, I don't want to just reduce our dependence on foreign oil and then end up being dependent on their foreign innovations.  I don't want to have to import a hybrid car -- I want to be able to build a hybrid car here.  (Applause.)  I don't want to have to import a hybrid truck -- I want to build a hybrid truck here.  (Applause.)  I don't want to have to import a windmill from someplace else -- I want to build a windmill right here in Indiana.  (Applause.)  I want the cars of the future and the technologies that power them to be developed and deployed right here, in America.

And that's just the beginning.  In no area will innovation be more important than in the development of new ways to produce, use, and save energy.  So we're not only doubling our capacity to generate renewable energy and building a stronger and smarter electric grid.  We've helped reach an agreement to raise fuel economy standards.  And for the first time in history, we passed a bill to create a system of clean energy incentives which will help make renewable energy the profitable kind of energy in America -– while helping to end our dependence on foreign oil and protect our planet for future generations. 

The bill passed the House; we're now working to pass legislation through the Senate.  Because we know that real innovation depends not on government, but on the generative potential of the American people.  If the American people get a clear set of rules, if they know what's needed, what challenges we've got to meet, they'll figure out how to do it.

In fact, that's why our budget makes the research and experimentation tax credit permanent -- the R&D tax credit.  This is a tax credit that helps companies afford what are sometimes very high costs in developing new ideas and new technologies and new products –- and that means new jobs.  This tax credit returns $2 to the economy for every $1 we spend.  And for a long time we were just trying to renew it once every year, and companies didn't know whether or not they were going to be able to get it for the next year.  That's changed.  We've now made it permanent. 

I've also proposed reducing to zero the capital gains tax for investments in small or startup businesses.  Because small businesses are innovative businesses; small businesses produce 13 times more patents per employee than large companies.

Of course, in order to lead in the global economy and ensure that our businesses can grow and innovate, we also have to pass health insurance reform that brings down costs.  (Applause.)  Reform that brings down costs and provides more security for folks who have insurance, and affordable options for those who don't.  I promise you:  We will pass reform by the end of this year because the American people need it.  (Applause.)  The American people need some relief.  (Applause.)  We're going to have to make it happen.

In fact, the recovery plan began the process of reform by modernizing our health care infrastructure.  We took some long-overdue step of computerizing America's health records, which can reduce all the waste and errors that cost billions of dollars and thousands of lives –- while protecting patients' privacy.  It's important also to know that these records hold the potential of offering patients the chance to be more active participants in the prevention and treatment of illnesses.  You won't have to fill out the same form a dozen times.  You won't have to rely on your memory when talking to your doctor about your medical history.  All those things make people healthier, but they also reduce your costs, lower your premiums, give you more security in your health care.

Now, in addition to energy, and in addition to health care, we also know that the nation that out-educates us today will out-compete us tomorrow.  So we're making a historic commitment to strengthening and improving education, from cradle through career.  Right now, our schools continue to trail many of our competitors.  And that's why I've challenged states to dramatically improve achievement by raising standards and modernizing science labs, upgrading curriculum, forming new partnerships to promote math and science, and improving the use of technology in the classroom. 

And I've set this goal:  In the next decade –- by 2020 –- America will once again have the highest proportion of college graduates in the world.  (Applause.)  We used to be number one.  We will be number one again when it comes to college graduates.  (Applause.) 

Now, to reach this goal, we've provided tax credits and grants to make college education more affordable and we've made a historic commitment to community colleges, which are the unsung heroes in America's education system.  America can and must have the best-educated, highest-skilled workforce in the world -- because if we're building new cars here in America, if we're building a new clean-energy grid in America, then we're also going to need to build engineers in America, and scientists in America, and skilled technicians right here in America.  So all these pieces end up fitting together.

Energy and innovation, health care and education -- these are the pillars of the new foundation that we have to build.  This is how we won't just rescue the economy, but we're going to rebuild it stronger than before.

Now, there are a lot of people out there those who are looking to defend the status quo.  There are those who want to seek political advantage.  They want to oppose these efforts.  Some of them caused the problems that we got now in the first place, and then suddenly they're blaming other folks for it.  (Applause.)  They don't want to be constructive.  They don't want to be constructive; they just want to get in the usual political fights back and forth.  And sometimes that's fed by all the cable chatter on the media.

But you and I know the truth.  We know that even in the hardest times, against the toughest odds, we have never surrendered.  We don't give up.  We don't surrender our fates to chance.  We have always endured.  We have worked hard, and we have fought for our future.  Our parents had to fight for their future; our grandparents had to fight for their future.  That's the tradition of America.  This country wasn't built just by griping and complaining.  It was built by hard work and taking risks.  (Applause.)  And that's what we have to do today.

So I know these are tough times.  If you haven't lost a job, you know somebody who has -- maybe a family member, a neighbor, a friend.  You know that as difficult as the financial struggle can be, the sense of loss when you lose your job is about more than just a paycheck.  We as Americans, we define ourselves by the work we do.  It's a source of pride; a sense that you're contributing, that you're supporting your family, that you're doing the right thing, that you're responsible.  And the truth is, it can be easy to lose hope, especially when you see a lot of folks out there who failed to meet their responsibilities –- from Wall Street to Washington.  It can be easy to grow cynical when you see politicians say one thing and then do another, or say one thing and then do nothing; when you've seen decades of broken promises and broken politics.

      But this is a rare moment in which we're called upon to rise above the failures of the past.  This is a chance to restore that spirit of optimism and opportunity which has always been central to our success.  We've got to set our sights higher, not lower.  We've got to imagine a future in which new American cars are powered by new American innovation; a future in which cities that led the global economy before are leading it again; a brighter future for Elkhart, a brighter future for Indiana, and for the United States of America.  (Applause.) 

 That's what we're fighting for.  That's what this plant is about.  That's what you're about.  That's what we're going to achieve in the weeks and months to come.  (Applause.)

      So thank you very much, everybody.  God bless you.  God bless the United States of America.  Thank you.  (Applause.)

                                           END            12:19 P.M. EDT

Office of the Press Secretary

_______________________________________________________________________________________

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 5, 2009

 President Obama Announces $2.4 Billion in Grants to Accelerate the Manufacturing and Deployment of the Next Generation of U.S. Batteries and Electric Vehicles

Recovery Act will fund 48 new advanced battery and electric drive components manufacturing and electric drive vehicle deployment projects in over 20 states

Elkhart, Indiana – Further accelerating the manufacturing and deployment of electric vehicles, batteries, and components here in America, and creating tens of thousands of new jobs, President Obama today announced 48 new advanced battery and electric drive projects that will receive $2.4 billion in funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. These projects, selected through a highly competitive process by the Department of Energy, will accelerate the development of U.S. manufacturing capacity for batteries and electric drive components as well as the deployment of electric drive vehicles, helping to establish American leadership in creating the next generation of advanced vehicles.

“If we want to reduce our dependence on oil, put Americans back to work and reassert our manufacturing sector as one of the greatest in the world, we must produce the advanced, efficient vehicles of the future,” said President Obama.

“For our nation and our economy to recover, we must have a vision for what can be built here in the future – and then we need to invest in that vision,” said Vice President Biden. “That’s what we’re doing today and that’s what this Recovery Act is about.”

The announcement marks the single largest investment in advanced battery technology for hybrid and electric-drive vehicles ever made.  Industry officials expect that this $2.4 billion investment, coupled with another $2.4 billion in cost share from the award winners, will result directly in the creation tens of thousands of manufacturing jobsin the U.S. battery and auto industries.

The new awards cover the following areas:

o   $1.5 billion in grants to U.S. based manufacturers to produce batteries and their components and to expand battery recycling capacity;

o   $500 million in grants to U.S. based manufacturers to produce electric drive components for vehicles, including electric motors, power electronics, and other drive train components; and

o   $400 million in grants to purchase thousands of plug-in hybrid and all-electric vehicles for test demonstrations in several dozen locations; to deploy them and evaluate their performance; to install electric charging infrastructure; and to provide education and workforce training to support the transition to advanced electric transportation systems.

Today, President Obama visited Navistar International Corporation, in Elkhart, Ind., to make the announcement. Navistar will receive a $39 million grant to manufacture electric trucks which the company reports will ultimately will create or save hundreds of jobs when full scale manufacturing at the site commences.  Overall, seven projects in Indiana will receive grants totaling more than $400 million.  The applications from the companies and from one university engaged in this technology research anticipate that these awards will create or save thousands of jobs.

Vice President Joe Biden and four Members of the Cabinet, also fanned out across the country to discuss the historic announcement.

Vice President Biden was in Detroit to announce over $1 billion in grants to companies and universities based in Michigan. Reflecting the state’s leadership in clean energy manufacturing, Michigan companies and institutions are receiving the largest share of grant funding of any state.  Two companies, A123 and Johnson Controls, will receive a total of approximately $550 million to establish a manufacturing base in the state for advanced batteries, and two others, Compact Power and Dow Kokam, will receive a total of over $300 million for manufacturing battery cells and materials.  Large automakers based in Michigan, including GM, Chrysler, and Ford, will receive a total of more than $400 million to manufacture thousands of advanced hybrid and electric vehicles as well as batteries and electric drive components.  And three educational institutions in Michigan, the University of Michigan, Wayne State University in Detroit, and Michigan Technological University in Houghton in the Upper Peninsula, will receive a total of more than $10 million for education and workforce training programs to train researchers, technicians and service providers, and to conduct consumer research to accelerate the transition towards advanced vehicles and batteries.

Energy Secretary Steven Chu, whose Department selected the 48 award winners, visited Celgard, in Charlotte, NC, to announce a $49 million grant for the company to expand its separator production capacity to serve the expected increased demand for lithium-ion batteries from manufacturing facilities in the U.S.  Celgard will be expanding its manufacturing capacity in Charlotte, NC and nearby Aiken, SC, and the company expects the new separator production to come online in 2010.  Celgard expects that approximately hundreds of jobs could be created, with the first of those jobs beginning as early as Fall 2009.

EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson was in St. Petersburg, FL, to announce a $95.5 million grant for Saft America, Inc. to construct a new plant in Jacksonville on the site of the former Cecil Field military base, to manufacture lithium-ion cells, modules and battery packs for military, industrial, and agricultural vehicles.

Deputy Secretary of the Department of Transportation John Porcari visited East Penn Manufacturing Co., in Lyon Station, Penn., to award the company a $32.5 million grant to increase production capacity for their valve regulated lead-acid batteries and the UltraBattery, a lead-acid battery combined with a carbon supercapacitor, for micro and mild hybrid applications. East Penn Manufacturing is a third-generation family business with over 63 years in battery manufacturing.

Commerce Secretary Gary Locke visited Kansas City, Missouri, to announce a $10 million grant for Smith Electric to build and deploy up to 100 electric vehicles, including vans, pickups, and their “Newton” brand medium duty trucks.  In addition, Secretary Locke announced three other grants supporting manufacturing and educational programs in Missouri: a $30 million grant to Ford Motor Company supporting the manufacturing of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles in Kansas City and in Michigan; a $73 million grant to Chrysler, for the manufacturing of 220 plug-in hybrid and electric pickup trucks and minivans in St. Louis and in Michigan; and a $5 million grant to Missouri University of Science and Technology, in Rolla, Missouri, to fund educational and workforce training programs on advanced vehicles technologies.

For a full list of award winners, click HERE.  For a map of their locations, click HERE.

##

August 3, 2009

SUPPORTING OUR TROOPS: UTAH AND THE POST 9/11 GI BILL

Sixteen Utah Colleges and Universities Partner with VA to Improve GI Bill Benefits

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, President Obama celebrated the beginning of implementation of the Post 9/11 GI Bill. This bill, through its Yellow Ribbon Programs and partnerships with colleges and universities throughout the nation, will provide our service members with the most generous educational benefits package since the original GI Bill of 1944.

Over 3,400 agreements were received from the 1,100 schools participating in the Yellow Ribbon Program. The Yellow Ribbon Program, a provision of the new Post-9/11 GI Bill, funds tuition expenses that exceed the highest public in-state undergraduate tuition rate. 

A list of Utah schools participating in the Yellow Ribbon Program can be found here: http://www.gibill.va.gov/GI_Bill_Info/CH33/YRP/states/ut.htm

“Sixty-five years ago, a grateful nation offered a generation of World War II heroes the chance to go to college,” President Obama said. “The original GI Bill paved the way to a better life for millions of veterans and their families while building the foundation of the American middle class. Today, the Post-9/11 GI Bill is affording a new generation of heroes a 21st century version of that same opportunity.”

“The President and I know that the nation’s courageous service members and their families have shouldered the heaviest burden for our country’s security and safety over the past eight years,” VA Secretary Eric Shinseki said. “This new GI Bill is a way for a grateful nation to tangibly demonstrate our heartfelt appreciation and abiding respect for their service.”

“More than two and half years ago, we began with the simple concept that those who have been serving since 9/11 should have the same opportunity for a first class educational future as those who served during World War II,” Senator Jim H. Webb said. “This bill provides a modern and fair educational benefit to address the needs of those who answered the call of duty to our country--those who moved toward the sound of the guns--often at great sacrifice.”

With the implementation of the Post 9/11 GI Bill, our nation has an opportunity to honor America’s veterans in a very tangible way.  The maximum benefit under the Post-9/11 GI Bill allows veterans, service members, Reservists and Guard members the ability to receive an in-state, undergraduate education at a public institution at no cost.

Further, to honor their many sacrifices, the Post 9/11 GI Bill allows for the transferability of unused benefits to eligible career service members’ families. More information on the transferability of unused benefits can be found here: http://www.defenselink.mil/home/features/2009/0409_gibill/

President Obama has directed Secretary Shinseki to create a results-driven, 21^st Century VA. Since the signing of this monumental legislation, VA has made meeting the August 1 implementation deadline a top priority.  As of July 30^th VA has processed over 112,000 claims.

Office of the Vice President

For Immediate Release

July 28, 2009

VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN, ATTORNEY GENERAL HOLDER ANNOUNCE RECOVERY ACT FUNDING FOR UTAH TO SUPPORT LAW ENFORCEMENT

Recovery Act Funds to Add Police Officers in Utah; Build Safer Communities

Vice President Joe Biden and Attorney General Eric Holder today announced $1 billion in grants to fund the hiring and rehiring of law enforcement officers all across the country under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.  The grants will be awarded to 1,046 law enforcement agencies from all 50 states, including more than $5,010,407 in grants to fund the hiring and rehiring of 25 law enforcement officers in Utah.   These funds will provide 100 percent of the approved salary and benefits for these officers for three years.  All police departments receiving the grants will then be required to retain the grant-funded positions for a fourth year. 

“A big part of the Recovery Act is about building communities – making them as strong as they can be, allowing every American family to live a better life than the one they are leading now,”  said Vice President Joe Biden.  “And we can’t achieve the goal of stronger communities without supporting those who keep our streets safe.”

The Recovery Act grants, which will be administered by the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) through the federal agency’s COPS Hiring Recovery Program, provide much needed financial support to state, local and tribal governments,  and will help the nation’s law enforcement agencies add and retain the manpower needed to fight crime more effectively through community policing. The Department of Justice received over 7,200 applications for more than 39,000 officer positions, representing a total of $8.3 billion in requested funding.

“These Recovery Act funds will pump much needed resources into communities through a program with a proven track record,” said Attorney General Holder. “The tremendous demand for these grants is indicative of both the tough times our states, cities and tribes are facing, and the unyielding commitment by law enforcement to making our communities safer.” 

The COPS Hiring Recovery Program funds were awarded to the following applicants in Utah:

The Recovery Act includes $4 billion in Department of Justice grant funding to enhance state, local, and tribal law enforcement efforts, including the hiring of new police officers, to combat violence against women, and to fight internet crimes against children. In addition to today’s COPS awards, to date the Department of Justice has awarded $1.7 billion through formula state and local Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grants, $95 million through the Victims of Crime Act Formula Grant Program, $41.5 million for Internet Crimes Against Children initiatives, $127 million in Office on Violence Against Women Recovery Act funds and $8.6 million for assistance for law enforcement along the Southern Border and in high intensity drug trafficking areas.

For more information about the COPS grants, or to learn which law enforcement agencies received funding, please visit www.cops.usdoj.gov.

###

Closing Lobbyist Loopholes

Cross-posted from the OMB blog.

Contacts by registered lobbyists prior to the filing of a formal application remain subject to the previously announced restrictions, which require rapid Internet disclosure of the contact.  These rules are by far the toughest ever and go well beyond the minimum disclosures previously required by law.  To make that disclosure more consistent, the White House shortly will provide departments and agencies with a new technology tool – so that thorough reporting and information standards will be easily accessible for anyone to see.

"I think some of the public felt that, you know, we were coming to them too late. And some of that was by necessity but other parts of it maybe weren't," Becker says. "And so part of the lessons learned for us is: How can we find a way to protect the city's and taxpaers' interest when it comes to real estate issues and still involve the public."

Getting early input from the public on city decisions is one of the goals outlined in the city's 180-day progress report on Becker's transparency initiative released yesterday. Also in the report is a critique of the city's web site. The site received a C average out of 37 different categories, including two Fs for not including a way to submit GRAMA requests for city records online and for difficulty searching for public notices. The mayor says an effort is underway to get more information online and to improve the search functions.

"We don't want you and the public to have to go through a lot of bureaucracy to get information we should have available," Becker says. "And we got information both from our departments and the steering committee about putting that whole process online and how to make information that's in government more available."

Becker believes the city will continue to make significant progress toward the goals outlined in the transparency in government initiative. He says the effort is still in its early phases.

But Matheson said afterward that the group will still "take whatever time it takes to have a good bill," and will "not be rushed by a deadline." House Democratic leaders have said they want to pass reform out of committee by July 31, when the House starts its summer recess.

"It was a long meeting," Matheson said afterward. "It was almost three hours long. The president wasn't in there the whole time, but the president spent about an hour with us, and then we met with White House staff and other folk for a couple of hours beyond that."

Matheson himself would not call it an arm-twisting session, but rather "a constructive meeting" to "discuss a lot of issues out there and be candid."

Invited were seven moderate "blue dog" Democrats on the House Energy and Commerce Committee. "The seven of us represent a bloc of votes that actually would preclude the bill from moving out of committee if we all vote no" along with Republicans, Matheson said.

Matheson said he and fellow blue dogs found some encouraging signs from President Barack Obama during the meeting.

"One is the president reaffirmed his two major objectives that have to be achieved for him to support a bill." Matheson said they include that a bill "has to be deficit neutral, can't add to the deficit," and that it "would have to have third-party validation that it has an impact on reducing growth in health-care costs in the future."

Matheson added, "Those happen to be fundamental issues for me and my fellow blue dogs as well because if we don't get a handle on the explosive growth of health-care costs in the country, we all have a problem" and the current system could collapse.

Matheson said much work remains to bring the various sides together on issues ranging from how to contain costs, create incentives for quality care, help small business and how to make Medicare more efficient.

Matheson said the energy committee and subcommittee chairmen overseeing the bill were also in the meeting and Obama "moved them toward agreeing that an independent entity is going to help find savings in Medicare." But he said, "We feel we have a number of issues that haven't been addressed."

Matheson added, "This is a truly complicated, challenging issue," and he would be happy to skip summer recess to stay in Washington and work on it.

The meeting is not the only way that the White House has been pressuring Matheson. Obama's campaign group has said it would begin running TV ads in Salt Lake City. The ads say it is time for health-care reform, and end with a plea for viewers to call their representatives.

Those ads are from Organizing for America, an arm of the Democratic National Committee.

Matheson was not only being pressured by Democrats on Tuesday. The National Republican Congressional Committee attacked him, too, in a press release.

"As Jim Matheson gets his wrist slapped by his party bosses for stepping out of line, it's clear who's calling the shots in Washington," said NRCC communications director Ken Spain.

"Utah families likely thought it was too good to be true when they heard that Matheson might actually side with them instead of (House Speaker) Nancy Pelosi as Democrats attempt to drive up health-care costs. Unfortunately for them, they were right," he said.

But Matheson said he and the White House are seeking an ongoing dialogue about what reform should be, and he has not, as the NRCC claimed, simply been pressured into supporting the president. "I think you've seen enough press releases from the NRCC to assign it its proper validity," he said.

While Matheson was meeting with Obama, Utah's two other House members were involved in a three-hour protest of their own on the House floor, where many Republicans used rules allowing "unlimited time for one-minute speeches" to tie up the floor for hours with short speeches attacking Democratic health-care reform proposals.

Both Reps. Jason Chaffetz and Rob Bishop, R-Utah, spoke in that talkfest, protesting that Democrats have been excluding them from the debate.

Chaffetz said, for example, "This credit-card Congress has now put us nearly $12 trillion in debt. We are spending nearly $600 million per day just in interest on that debt. And now we have a proposal to slam through a government-run, Chinese-financed health-care system that puts a Washington, D.C., politician between our doctor and my wife."

Chaffetz said, "Stand up America. Let your voice be heard. Put a stop to this credit-card Congress."

Federal stimulus money and an extra allocation from the Omnibus Appropriation Act infused an additional $118 million to the project to accelerate the timeline of the cleanup.

Rep. Jim Matheson, D-Utah, said the funding boost is critical, given the severity of contamination at the former Atlas mine northwest of Moab.

"The danger posed by this unstable site is clear," he said. "It is a risk not only to Moab but to millions of downstream water users. It's important that this threat is removed as quickly as possible."

Read full story...

f you're curious where all that federal stimulus money went, you might want to look under the lamp shades at Julie Christensen's house. Twenty-eight energy efficient light bulbs and a new water heater and furnace brought the young mom to tears earlier this year as her home was transformed with weatherization dollars courtesy of the federal plan.

The Magna family, which relies on food stamps to feed its two children, didn't pay a cent. "It's so nice to finally have help," Christensen said this week.

Thousands of Utah homes will become less drafty as $38 million in weatherization funding is spread throughout low-income families over the next three years.

Read full story...

A tall order, says Salt Lake Community College President Cynthia Bioteau, who leads a sprawling institution that last year handed out the fourth-highest number of associate degrees in the country. She said it's about time community colleges get the investment they need to succeed.

The move increases visibility for what Bioteau said is "the gateway to economic recovery."

Read full story...

Washington » Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker told a Senate panel Tuesday that Congress' move to limit industry pollution is a good start.

In testimony before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, Becker said the nation needs to cut consumer vehicle exhaust in addition to capping pollution by companies, as proposed in the House-passed energy bill.

"The climate change issue to us is one that requires a comprehensive approach, one that is accomplished at all levels of government and one that looks at all sectors of the economy in our society," Becker said. "The American Clean Energy and Security Act -- which passed the House, which certainly I commend and I know many others do -- really misses a key component from our point of view: the transportation sector."

Read full story...

WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu today announced today that Utah will receive up to $2,626,000 in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for its state-run rebate program for consumer purchases of new ENERGY STAR qualified home appliances. The new program underscores the Obama Administration’s commitment to make American homes more energy efficient, while helping to support the nation’s economic recovery.

“Appliances consume a huge amount of our electricity, so there’s enormous potential to both save energy and save families money every month,” said Secretary Chu.  “These rebates will help families make the transition to more efficient appliances, making purchases that will directly stimulate the economy and create jobs.”

The new funding will be awarded to states and territories, through their energy offices, using a formula set forth in the Energy Policy Act of 2005.  Each state or territory is required to submit a plan that specifies which ENERGY STAR appliance categories will be included in their rebate program, the rebate level for each product type, how the rebates will be processed, and their plan for recycling old appliances.  States and territories must first file an initial application expressing their intent to participate by August 15, 2009, followed by a full application by October 15, 2009. Approximately 10-25 percent of each award will be spent on administrative costs.

States and territories will receive 10 percent of the funds after submitting the initial application with the balance awarded after their program plans are approved.  DOE anticipates that a vast majority of funding will be awarded by November 30, 2009.  The complete Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) number DE-FOA-0000119 can be viewed at grants.gov.

Eligible Appliances

States have the flexibility to select which residential ENERGY STAR qualified appliances to include in their programs and the individual rebate amount for each appliance. DOE recommends that states and territories focus their program efforts on heating and cooling equipment, appliances, and water heaters as these products offer the greatest energy savings potential.  ENERGY STAR qualified appliance categories eligible for rebates include: central air conditioners, heat pumps (air source and geothermal), boilers, furnaces (oil and gas), room air conditioners, clothes washers, dishwashers, freezers, refrigerators, and water heaters.

The Recovery Act appropriated funds for the program to help achieve the national goals of spurring economic growth, creating jobs, saving energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. States and territories can use these funds to leverage the utility companies and energy efficiency program sponsors in their area. 

For more information on these and other Recovery Act related funding opportunities, visit www.energy.gov/recovery.

-DOE-

The 10-year program, which he will announce during a visit on Tuesday afternoon to Macomb Community College in Warren, Michigan, includes a new goal of graduating an additional 5 million students from community colleges over the next decade, double the current number of expected graduates.

Education is the often-forgotten third pillar of Obama's economic plan and has received far less attention than the other two -- healthcare reform and renewable energy.

 Read full story...

One day after hosting a summit on the 2009 novel H1N1 flu with representatives from state, tribal, territorial and local governments from across the country, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today announced the availability of $2,934,572 in grants to help Utah prepare for the 2009 novel H1N1 flu virus and the fall flu season. The grants were funded by the recent supplemental appropriations bill that was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Barack Obama on June 24, 2009. 

“With flu season around the corner, we must remain vigilant and do all we can to prepare our nation and protect public health,” said Secretary Sebelius. “These grants will give states valuable resources to step up their flu preparedness efforts.” 

Utah is eligible to receive $2,181,440 in Public Health Emergency Response grants and $753,132 in Hospital Preparedness grants. A total of $260 million in Public Health Emergency Response Grants and $90 million in Hospital Preparedness grants will be distributed nationwide. 

Public Health Emergency Response grants help state public health departments perform a variety of functions, including preparing for potential vaccination campaigns, implementing strategies to reduce people’s exposure to the 2009 novel H1N1 flu and improving influenza surveillance and investigations.  

Hospital Preparedness grants enhance the ability of hospitals and health care systems to prepare for and respond to public health emergencies. Local outbreaks of the novel H1N1 virus have produced a surge of patients at hospitals, and these grants will help ensure hospitals are ready for future outbreaks that may impact their community. 

In addition to the grants released today, the Obama Administration has taken a series of steps to help prepare and protect the American people from the novel H1N1 flu. In May of this year, HHS distributed 11 million treatment courses of antivirals to states, territories and tribes to fight the H1N1 influenza outbreak.  Also in May, HHS invested more than $1 billion to produce bulk supplies of key vaccine ingredients as part of the process to develop and test a potential H1N1 vaccine. 

The Administration has upgraded and expanded www.flu.gov, which includes guidance that community leaders and the American people need to prepare for, prevent, and respond to the H1N1 flu virus. 

The Obama Administration has also launched a new public service announcement competition. Any American can record and submit his or her own public service announcement regarding H1N1 flu preparedness by visiting www.flu.gov. The entries will be judged by experts and the winner will receive a $2,500 prize and the opportunity to have his or her announcement aired on television across the country.

$97.1 Million in Federal Recovery Act Funds to Pay for Transit Improvements in Utah

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today announced $97.1 million in Recovery Act funds will go to the Utah Transit Authority and the Utah Department of Transportation for transit upgrades and improvements.

  “By quickly moving federal dollars to the cities and towns across the country, we are putting people back to work now and ensuring that our nation will have reliable and efficient transit system for generations to come,” said Secretary LaHood.

The Utah Transit Authority will receive $90.89 million for advanced payment of the New Starts Mid-Jordan Light Rail line, which includes construction of nine new light rail stations, one additional platform plus modifications to the existing station.

The Utah Department of Transportation will receive $6.17 million to fund two bus storage facilities, the construction of one administration building, and the purchase of six buses. Mobility management activities will be funded in addition to two passenger bus shelters and communication equipment.

Since President Obama signed ARRA into law on Feb. 17, 2009, 343 grants totaling $3.2 billion have been made available for transit improvements throughout the nation.   

“These funds are creating jobs now while investing in the future of our transit systems,” said Administrator Peter Rogoff of the Federal Transit Administration (FTA).  “The public’s demand for transit service continues to grow, and these dollars will help meet that need.”

Overall, the U.S. Department of Transportation has made $48.1 billion available for highway, road, shipyard, bridge and airport construction and repairs nationwide, including $8.4 billion for transit capital and operating improvements.  Currently, about 6,000 transportation projects across the country have been approved. 

END

Thursday, July 9, 2009

Contact:  Doug Hecox

Tel:  202-366-0660

U.S. Transportation Secretary Awards $6.7 Million in Training Grants

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Helps Provide Job Training for

Transportation Related Careers in Fourteen States 

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood today announced $6.7 million in job training grants from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) in fourteen states across the country.  The grants will fund apprenticeships and training centers for underrepresented or disadvantaged people seeking careers in transportation, engineering or construction. 

“Providing individuals with the job training skills they need is key to keeping our highway system up and running,” said Secretary Ray LaHood.  “These training programs will help ensure that the American highway system has able stewards for years to come.”

The “On-the Job Training Supportive Services” (OJT/SS) grants were included in ARRA to supplement federal training programs and to support the training programs of state departments of transportation for highway construction contractors, apprentices and trainees. The OJT/SS program encourages completion of training programs and promotes training opportunities for minorities and women in skilled and semi-skilled crafts.

One successful example of the OJT/SS programs is Virginia’s Wounded Veteran’s Internship program which started in 2006.  The program helps wounded active-duty military personnel keep job skills sharp, or develop new ones, while they recuperate.

Details of today’s awardees are as follows:

#          #          #

Thursday, July 9, 2009

Contact:  Doug Hecox

Tel:  202-366-0660

U.S. Transportation Secretary Awards $6.7 Million in Training Grants

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Helps Provide Job Training for

Transportation Related Careers in Fourteen States 

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood today announced $6.7 million in job training grants from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) in fourteen states across the country.  The grants will fund apprenticeships and training centers for underrepresented or disadvantaged people seeking careers in transportation, engineering or construction. 

“Providing individuals with the job training skills they need is key to keeping our highway system up and running,” said Secretary Ray LaHood.  “These training programs will help ensure that the American highway system has able stewards for years to come.”

The “On-the Job Training Supportive Services” (OJT/SS) grants were included in ARRA to supplement federal training programs and to support the training programs of state departments of transportation for highway construction contractors, apprentices and trainees. The OJT/SS program encourages completion of training programs and promotes training opportunities for minorities and women in skilled and semi-skilled crafts.

One successful example of the OJT/SS programs is Virginia’s Wounded Veteran’s Internship program which started in 2006.  The program helps wounded active-duty military personnel keep job skills sharp, or develop new ones, while they recuperate.

Details of today’s awardees are as follows:

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“Given that he championed and continues to advocate the very same economic policies that got us into this mess to begin with, perhaps John Boehner just doesn't know what creating new jobs looks like.  Or perhaps he was willfully misleading the public about the effect of the President's economic recovery package to score political points,” said DNC National Press Secretary Hari Sevugan.  “Either way, considering that the Republican 'alternative' included ZERO funding for construction projects, it's the height of hypocrisy for Boehner to criticize the status of these projects at all.  I’d say it’s time for John Boehner to decide who he really represents – the people of Ohio or the 'Party of NO' – but he’s already made that clear through his false and irresponsible claims.”

 Cleveland Plain Dealer: Boehner "Was Wrong" When He Said That There "Hasn't Been A Contract Let" In Ohio By The Economic Recovery. "When U.S. House Minority Leader John Boehner told a newscaster Sunday that not a single stimulus-funded road contract in his home state of Ohio had been let, he was wrong. The Ohio Department of Transportation has OK'd 52 stimulus-funded road and bridge projects at a cost of nearly $84 million. Boehner told Fox News Sunday host Chris Wallace that in 'Ohio, the infrastructure dollars that were sent there months ago,' as part of the economic recovery package, 'there hasn't been a contract let, to my knowledge.'" [Cleveland Plain Dealer, 7/7/09, http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/news/1246955468164200.xml&coll=2]

FLASHBACK: Boehner Admitted That Economic Recovery Funds For Construction Projects Would "Create Much-Needed Jobs."  "Congressman John Boehner (R-West Chester) issued the following after federal officials ordered Ohio transportation officials to kill a $57 million slush-fund to study projects and put the money into shovel-ready projects: 'The stated intent of the so-called stimulus package was to create jobs, and certainly a $57 million slush-fund studying projects did nothing to achieve that goal. With Ohio’s unemployment rate the highest it’s been in 25 years,  I’m pleased that federal officials stepped in to order Ohio to use all of its construction dollars for shovel-ready projects that will create much-needed jobs .'" [Rep. Boehner release, 6/15/09, http://boehner.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=132281]

FLASHBACK II: House Republicans' Economic Recovery Package Offered A Host Of Tax-Cutting Measures Instead Of Spending. "Far from rolling over, House Republican leaders are trying to win concessions from President Obama over the massive economic stimulus package and have proffered a bill of their own to put on the negotiating table. The counter-package, which is separate from a substitute amendment already proposed by House Republicans, would shift focus entirely from spending to tax relief. ... Their bill, called the Economic Recovery and Middle-Class Tax Relief Act of 2009, promises a host of tax-cutting measures. It includes a 5 percent 'across the board' income tax cut; an increase in the child tax credit from $1,000 to $5,000; a freeze on capital gains and dividends tax rates at 15 percent; and a number of other measures targeted toward businesses. ... House Minority Leader John Boehner dismissed the Democratic proposal as a partisan grab bag driven by 'old liberal spending priorities.'" [Fox News, 1/28/09, http://www.foxnews.com/politics/first100days/2009/01/28/house-republicans-push-counter-proposal-stimulus/]

FLASHBACK III: House Republican Economic Recovery Package Was Comprised Almost Entirely Of Tax Cuts. "The party's leader, Rep. John Boehner of Ohio, said the measure "won't create many jobs, but it will create plenty of programs and projects through slow-moving government spending." A GOP alternative, comprised almost entirely of tax cuts, was defeated, 266-170." [AP, 1/28/09, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/01/28/house-gop-stimulus-plan-h_n_161564.html]

Office of the Vice President

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                    July 1, 2009

VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN LAUNCHES INITIATIVE TO BRING BROADBAND, JOBS TO MORE AMERICANS

 Announces Availability of the $4 Billion in Recovery Act Loans and Grants to Increase Broadband Access and Adoption

      WATTSBURG, PA – Vice President Biden today announced the availability of $4 billion in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act loans and grants to help bring broadband service to un-served and underserved communities across America. This is the first round of Recovery Act funding aimed at expanding broadband access to help bridge the technological divide and create jobs building out Internet infrastructure.

 Vice President Biden was joined today by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski and Congresswoman Kathy Dahlkemper at Seneca High School, the first stop on the President’s National Rural Tour. 

      “Today’s announcement is a first step toward realizing President Obama’s vision of a nationwide 21^st-century communications infrastructure – one that encourages economic growth, enhances America’s global competitiveness and helps address many of America’s most pressing challenges,” said Vice President Biden.

 The Recovery Act provided a total of $7.2 billion to the Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Utilities Service (RUS) to accelerate broadband deployment in areas of the country that have been without the high-speed infrastructure. Of that funding, NTIA will utilize $4.7 billion to deploy broadband infrastructure in un-served and underserved areas in the United States, expand public computer center capacity and encourage sustainable adoption of broadband service. RUS will invest $2.5 billion to facilitate broadband deployment in rural communities.

      “The Commerce Department’s Broadband Technology Opportunities Program will reach the last frontiers of America’s information landscape, and the investments it makes in inner-city neighborhoods and rural communities will spur innovation and pave the way for private capital to follow,” Secretary Locke said. “This first wave of funding will help create jobs, jumpstart additional investment and provide model projects that can better inform our national broadband strategy.”

       “The funding we’re announcing today will carry out President Obama’s goal to expand broadband to communities that lack access to it,” Secretary Vilsack said. “The President is committed to bringing the educational and economic benefits of the Internet to all communities.”

 “Access to high-speed Internet is no longer a luxury, but an essential tool to compete in this 21^st-century economy. The availability of this technology is critical to attracting the business and development that will create the good paying jobs that stay in the United States,” said Congresswoman Dahlkemper. “I am so pleased that Vice President Biden and the administration chose Western Pennsylvania to announce this critical broadband initiative - a region that will benefit from this strategic investment.”

      NTIA and RUS will be accepting applications for loans, grants and loan/grant combinations to be awarded by each agency under a single application form. This collaborative approach will ensure that the agencies’ activities are complementary and integrated, make the best use of taxpayer funds and make it easier for applicants to apply for funding. This is the first of three rounds of funding the Agriculture and Commerce Departments will provide.

      Vice President Biden also announced today that Commerce and USDA officials will host public workshops in July to share information about the funding availabilities and the application process. Forums will be held in Boston, Mass.; Charleston, W.Va.; Minneapolis, Minn.; Memphis, Tenn.; Lonoke, Ark.; Birmingham, Ala.; Billings, Mont.; Albuquerque, N.M.; and Los Angeles, Calif.  

     Applications will be accepted beginning July 14, 2009, through 5:00 p.m. EDT on August 14, 2009. The complete details of this Notice of Funding Availability are available at http://www.broadbandusa.gov.

      The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 was signed into law by President Obama on February 17, 2009. It is designed to jumpstart the nation’s economy, create or save millions of jobs, and put a down payment on addressing long-neglected challenges so our country can thrive in the 21st century. The act includes measures to modernize our nation's infrastructure, enhance energy independence, expand educational opportunities, preserve and improve affordable health care, provide tax relief and protect those in greatest need.

      More information about efforts regarding the Recovery Act is available at www.usda.gov/recovery, www.commerce.gov/recovery and www.recovery.gov.   

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Washington, DC – First Lady Michelle Obama today announced the release of $6,444,030 in grants to community health centers in Utah. The grants will help address immediate and pressing health center facility and equipment needs and increase access to health care for millions in Utah.  The money was made available by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and comes as more Americans join the ranks of the uninsured due to the economic downturn and skyrocketing health costs.

“Community Health Centers provide care to the Americans who need it most and their work has never been more important,” said Obama. “These grants will help centers in Utah serve more Americans who simply can’t afford insurance coverage anymore.”

The Recovery Act Capital Improvement Program (CIP) grants will support the construction, repair and renovation of over 1,500 health center sites nationwide. More than 650 centers will use the funds to purchase new equipment or health information technology (HIT) systems, and nearly 400 health centers will adopt and expand the use of electronic health records.

To see a list of Recovery Act CIP grantees in Utah, go to http://transparency.cit.nih.gov/RecoveryGrants/grant.cfm?grant=HRSA_CIP

Health centers deliver preventive and primary care services at more than 7,500 service delivery sites around the country to patients regardless of their ability to pay; charges for services are set according to income.  Health centers serve more than 17 million patients, about 40 percent of whom have no health insurance. Community Health Centers are the responsibility of the Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

The Capitol Improvement grant awards are the third set of health center grants provided through the Recovery Act.  On March 2, President Obama announced grants worth $155 million to establish 126 new health center sites.  Those grants will provide access to essential preventive and primary health care for more than 750,000 people in 39 states and two territories.

On March 27, HHS also awarded $338 Million in Increased Demand for Services grants for health centers. Health centers are using these Increased Demand for Services grants to provide care to more than 2 million additional patients over the next two years, including approximately 1 million uninsured people.

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Milestone Ahead of Schedule

Utah Obligated Half of Its Highway Funds on March 12

Washington, DC – Vice President Joe Biden and Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today announced that transportation projects funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) are putting people to work and building a foundation for the country’s long-term economic strength.   

As part of the Administration’s effort to infuse Recovery Act funds swiftly into the economy, states are required under ARRA to obligate 50 percent of their highway funds by June 29, 2009.  Working in coordination with the U.S. Department of Transportation, all 55 U.S. states and territories successfully beat this deadline at least 10 days ahead of schedule.   

Nationwide, to date, $19 billion has been obligated to fund over 5,300 approved for highway and other transportation projects nationwide.  Of those, 1,900 projects are already underway.  Already in Utah, the state has put to work $145.5 million in highway funds - or 97.4 percent – of the funds required under the Act.  

“Our number one priority with the Recovery Act is getting folks back to work – and there is no better way to do that in these early days than by putting shovels in the ground and jump-starting projects like these that create jobs and boost local communities,” said Vice President Biden.  “By delivering on these projects ahead of schedule and under-budget, we have been able to do even more than we expected – create more job opportunities more quickly, with more dollars left over to put toward more projects that put people back on the job.” 

As of today, Utah’s largest ARRA-funded project is a $15.9 million road structural overlay on I-80 in SummitCounty, from Echo Junction to Emery. This 12-mile-long project, about an hour east of Salt Lake City in an economically distressed area, is fully funded by ARRA and will improve safety for motorists along what has become a road with deteriorated conditions.  

Across the country, many transportation projects funded by the Recovery Act are coming in under budget and ahead of schedule.  Reports continue to show that contractor bids to build and repair transportation networks are coming in substantially below the original engineering estimates.  In some cases, thanks to fierce competition for the work, bids are 10, 20 and even 30 percent lower than expected.  That means states are able to stretch taxpayer dollars, completing additional projects and creating even more jobs.  

“Every state not only met the 120-day deadline, they beat it,” said Secretary LaHood.  “This is a testament to the fact that we’re putting money out there quickly and helping to get the economy back on track.”  

President Obama signed ARRA on February 17, 2009, and funding was made available on March 3. ARRA funding for highway projects may be used for restoration, repair, construction, and other activities under the Surface Transportation Program. Each proposed project must be approved by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). Governors must certify that proposed projects meet certain conditions and that the state will use ARRA funds in addition to, not in replacement of, state funding of transportation projects. 

Priority is given to projects that are projected to be completed within three years, are located in economically distressed areas, or will maximize job creation and economic benefits.

OBAMA ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCES

STREAMLINED COLLEGE AID APPLICATION

Improvements aimed at increasing college access for low- and middle-income students: The Obama Administration today announced a shorter, simpler, and more user friendly Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) that will make it easier to apply for college financial aid. The changes--some of which are already in place while others will be phased in over the next few months--are designed to increase postsecondary enrollment, particularly among low- and middle-income students.  

“President Obama has challenged the nation to once again have the highest percentage of college graduates in the world,” said Arne Duncan, U.S. Secretary of Education. “To do that, we need to make the college-going process easier and more convenient, and to send a clear message to young people as well as adults that college is within their reach. Simplifying the financial aid process is an important step toward reaching that goal.”  

At his first White House press corps briefing, Secretary Duncan outlined the Administration’s plan for streamlining the FAFSA.  

• Since May 2009, the Education Department has provided instant estimates of Pell Grant and student loan eligibility, rather than forcing applicants to wait weeks. Links to graduation rates and other college information are also provided;

• Available summer 2009, enhanced skip-logic used in the new web-based FAFSA will reduce user navigation for many applicants by more than half;

• Starting in January 2010, students applying for financial aid for the spring semester will be able to seamlessly retrieve their relevant tax information from the IRS for easy completion of the online FAFSA. The Department of Education and the IRS will be working together to examine the possibility of expanding this option to all students in the future.  

• The Administration will also introduce legislation seeking statutory authority from Congress to eliminate financial information from the aid calculation formula that is not available from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). This will remove 26 financial questions from the FAFSA form that have little impact on aid awards and can be difficult to complete. Only questions that rely upon information that applicants must already provide to the IRS would remain.  

The simplified FAFSA is one of several recent steps taken by the Obama Administration to improve access to higher education and make it more affordable. Highlights of the Obama Administration’s Agenda for College Affordability include:

• Expanding Pell Grants and College Tax Credits: The Recovery Act increased Pell Grants by $500 to $5,350 for 2009-2010 and created the American Opportunity Tax Credit, a new $2,500 tax credit for four years of college tuition. The President’s 2010 Budget proposal would make these policies permanent and ensure the Pell Grant continues to grow steadily by making it an entitlement. Together, they provide approximately $200 billion in college scholarships and tax credits over the next decade.  

• Modernizing and Expanding the Perkins Loan Program: The President’s 2010 Budget proposes to make this vital program available to over 2,600 additional schools and an estimated 2.7 million additional students each year. By providing an additional $5 billion in Perkins Loans and continuing the low five percent interest rate, President Obama hopes that the neediest of students will have access to federal financial resources they did not have before.  

• Creating a New College Access and Completion Fund: In his 2010 budget proposal, President Obama proposes a five-year, $2.5 billion fund to build federal-state-local partnerships aimed at improving college access and completion, particularly for students from disadvantaged backgrounds. These funds would be used to evaluate programs aimed at increasing college enrollment and graduation, and to grow and bring to scale programs that are proven to be successful.  

• To help families in special circumstances during these challenging economic times, the Department sent a letter in early April to financial aid administrators reminding them of their authority to make adjustments, on a case-by-case basis, to address circumstances, such as unemployment, not reflected on the original application.  

“Simplifying the FAFSA is another significant action in our quest to keep a college degree within the reach of every person who aspires to higher education,” Duncan said.

More information on federal financial aid for college is available at http://studentaid.ed.gov.

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The 09 Convention Arrangements Committee is grateful to Craig Blanch and Jason Williams for shooting the entire convention on our behalf and sharing these videos with us and others on the internet.  Donald Lewin Nelson shot the first video below of Murray Mayor Dan Snarr.  We have posted three videos below and a directory to all the video footage with links at the bottom of the page. 

Murray City Mayor Dan Snarr welcomes delegates to Murray City

(by Donald Lewin Nelson)

Chairman Wayne Holland accepts reelection to another two year term as Chair

Congressman Jim Matheson addresses delegates at 2009 Convention

 All 2009 Convention footage

Opening Remarks, Chairman Wayne Holland, Jr

Welcome, Convention Chair and Outgoing Vice-Chair Rob Miller

Congressman Jim Matheson

Welcome to Murray City, Murray City Mayor Dan Snarr

Welcome from Salt Lake County, Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon

Democratic National Committee Member Reports: Patrice Arent & Joe Hatch (Coming Soon)

Summit County Chair Glenn Wright on Fair Boundaries

Candidate for State Party Treasurer: Kathy Snyder (Coming Soon)

Candidate for State Party Secretary: Colt Smith (Coming Soon)

Candidate for State Party Vice Chair: Karen Hale

Candidates for State Party Chair:

Jeff Bell Part One and Part Two

Incumbent, Wayne Holland, Jr.

Election Report and Wayne Holland Acceptance Speech

June 16, 2009

Mayor Becker Elected to United States Conference of Mayors Leadership

PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND - On Friday, June 12, 2009, Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker was elected to the United States Conference of Mayors (USCM) Advisory Board. The election came during the 77th Annual Meeting of the group in Providence, Rhode Island.

The Advisory Board constitutes a part of the leadership of the Conference of Mayors, whose top officers include Conference of Mayors President Greg Nickels, Mayor of Seattle and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa of Los Angeles.

With his election to the Advisory Board, Becker joins the ranks of former Salt Lake City Mayors Ted Wilson and Deedee Corradini who also served as members of the Advisory Board. 

“I’m honored to be elected to the Advisory Board, particularly since it was a decision made by my fellow mayors from around the country,” stated Mayor Becker.  “Serving as part of Conference leadership provides an ideal platform to advocate for Salt Lake City and its residents at the federal level and also offers our city the opportunity to work with the Obama Administration, which has shown great support for cities.”

The Conference is composed of cities with populations of 30,000. Those cities are represented within the Conference by their Mayors.  The members of the Advisory Board work with other Conference leaders to steer USCM strategy and activity in pursuit of the policies adopted by the Mayors.

While at the Conference, Mayor Becker successfully passed a resolution urging Congress to increase streetcar investments and streamline the process for receiving federal approval for streetcar projects.

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