Obama Foodorama

Publication Delayed For First Lady Michelle Obama's New Book "American Grown"

2012-01-30T16:33:00.002-05:00

Publisher cites production issues and a different cover: Mrs. Obama's book about gardening and healthy eating has a new subtitle, too...
First Lady Michelle Obama's inspiring book about the White House Kitchen Garden, American Grown, will be published on May 1 rather than its previously announced date of April 10, according to a spokesman from Crown Publishing Group. The lavishly photographed book, which includes personal stories and recipes, also has a new subtitle: "The Story of the White House Kitchen Garden and Gardens Across America." Above, the new book jacket, with the new subtitle.

The original subtitle was "How the White House Kitchen Garden inspires families, schools and communities." Crown spokesman Tammy Blake said "the new subtitle reflects a collaboration between the author and the publisher."* The book was first announced in March of 2011, at the time allowing just 13 months to the project's debut. Pushing the publication date by three weeks is due to production issues, according to Blake.

"The production process for this beautifully illustrated four-color book took a little longer than anticipated," Blake said.

The photographic efforts to document Mrs. Obama working in her garden for American Grown began the day the book was announced, and included Mrs. Obama's most recent Fall Harvest event in 2011. Acclaimed food/lifestyle lensman Quentin Bacon got the assignment, which included battling 100 degree heat during the May 30 cover shoot with Mrs. Obama. Bacon's work has appeared in celebrity chefs' bestsellers, including books by Mario Batali and Ina Garten. (Above: Bacon with Mrs. Obama during a photo session for the book)

"We are very pleased to be able to publish it in advance of Mother's Day," Blake said of American Grown.

Crown has pegged part of its major promotional sales push for the First Lady's first outing as an author to Mother's Day, touting it as "the perfect gift" to book sellers. The publisher has promised author appearances to promote the book, but neither the White House nor Crown will confirm where or if these will occur. Promotional efforts will include social media, TV, print ads, and author interviews. The 256-page hardcover will sell for $30 in the US market.

Mrs. Obama took no advance for the book, and will donate her proceeds to an unnamed charity, according to Crown. (Above: The now collectible cover art released by Crown in October of 2011, with the old subtitle)

Mrs. Obama will appear on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on Tuesday, Jan. 31, and NBC announced that she will be talking about the book. It is one of three TV appearances for Mrs. Obama this week, ahead of the two-year anniversary of the Let's Move! campaign.

*Blake added her comment about the subtitle after this was originally posted.

*Cover art courtesy of Crown Publishing; Bacon photo from Quentin Bacon

Rachael Ray Dishes On Her Day With First Lady Michelle Obama...And Worries About Paula Deen

2012-01-30T12:30:00.003-05:00

Healthy school lunches, exercise, the Super Bowl, White House dating: Exclusive interview with First Lady will air on Wednesday...
By Marian Burros

Rachael Ray, talk show host and cook, couldn’t stop talking. From her interview with Michelle Obama, set to air on Feb. 1, to her anxiety about fellow chef Paula Deen, there was no dead air when Obama Foodorama caught up with her last week. Ray still hadn’t come down from her high after an appearance on Wednesday morning with the First Lady at Parklawn Elementary School in Alexandria, VA, where Mrs. Obama unveiled the new federal regulations that put more fruits and vegetables and whole grains in school meals, while removing some of the sugar, fat and sodium. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack was on hand for the long-awaited announcement, too. (Above: Mrs. Obama and Ray eat lunch with the Parklawn kids)

“There’s no more pleasurable way to spend the day than what I did,” Ray said.

Mrs. Obama gave Ray a shout out as she unveiled USDA's new standards: “I want to give a special hello to Rachael Ray, who’s a special guest here. She has been a true advocate on this issue for quite some time, and we're just thrilled that she's here with us today.”

Later, Mrs. Obama described the Southwestern showcase lunch she enjoyed in the school's cafeteria, made with Ray's recipes, as “nice and well prepared.”

Or in Ray's words, Yum-O. Mrs. Obama, Ray, and the Secretary sat down with 200 plus second and fourth graders to feast on ground turkey tacos with black beans and corn salad, brown rice, and fresh fruit and milk. And to add a little icing to the cake, Vilsack asked Ray for the taco recipe. She also joined the Secretary for a special conference call with reporters.

“It feels like a vacation," Ray said. "Because there’s good food and the joy of the First Lady coming and sitting down here and Sec. Vilsack and the kids and enjoying what will be part of the new school lunch. I love to be able to work with schools and add flavor like ground coriander and improve the kids’ palates.”

Ray interviewed Mrs. Obama in the school's library, sitting on child-sized chairs with a background of books. Ray was last at the White House in June of 2010, when she joined Mrs. Obama for the launch of the Chefs Move to Schools project. Senior Policy Advisor for Healthy Food Initiatives Sam Kass and Second Lady Jill Biden have both appeared on Ray's show.

"Mrs. Obama chatted about how excited she is about coming up on the second year" of the Let’s Move campaign, Ray said. “About the Super Bowl and exercise.”

The First Lady also discussed the dangers of having a teenage daughter who's approaching dating age: Malia Obama turned 13 last July.

"Who should the boys be more afraid of, you or your husband?" Ray asked Mrs. Obama.

Mrs. Obama also told Ray she "absolutely" misses grocery shopping now that she's in the White House.

"That's why I have my little secret Target runs," Mrs. Obama said. One of which happened to be captured on film by a veteran White House photographer who has traveled abroad with Mrs. Obama.

Ray ponders pizza as a vegetable...
Her day with the First Lady had one annoying little cloud for Ray. She said she didn’t understand why so many people insisted on mentioning that Congress had weakened the school lunch regulations by allowing a serving of pizza to be considered a vegetable (because of the tomato paste on it) and insisting that potatoes be allowed on the menu every day--including French fries. (Above: Ray in the lunchline at Parklawn)

“There’s so much good," Ray told Obama Foodorama. "It’s very exciting to see such a major and substantive turn around, seeing all of these great strides come to life.”

“I don’t think we should be focusing on pizza. Whether your opinion is it’s a problem or not a problem, you have to see the large picture: That pizza on the menu will be accompanied by leafy green vegetables."

"The only level playing field we have is the school for attacking hunger and obesity and the subsequent diabetes. Can you image the health care costs for the next generation and we’ve done this to them. There are kids under 10 who are already on diabetes medication. I feel so sorry for them.”

Healthy recipes, promotional deals, and Deen...
Diabetes, cooking show hosts. Paula Deen recently announced she has diabetes, in fact she has had it for three years, and has inked what is reported to be a $6 million deal with pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk to be the spokesperson for Victorza, an injectable diabetes medication. At the same time, Deen continues to promote less-than-healthy recipes, and to make butter, sugar and salt companies richer by touting foods laden with these products.

Ray said she has "no opinion" on Deen's very disconnected value net. But she is worried about Deen.

"I love Paula, I think she has been a hard worker," Ray said. "She loves food and she loves people. I feel very anxious for her. She is going through an anxious time."

"I’ve always loved her I’m sure she’s trying to balance it out for herself in her own home and what she’s going to share with her audience. It must be a very personal thing."

Asked about her own less-than healthy food promotions on her show and website, Ray defended these. On Ray's website, the promotional clip for her interview with Mrs. Obama features advertisements for food and exercise, including one for Twix candy bars.

“On our website we always try to have healthy options though we don’t always think about diabetes on our show," Ray said. "Every day we are not teaching lean, mean cuisine but the food I cook in my own home is balanced. “

On the other hand the Super Bowl is coming.

“I always try to cook for Super Bowl," Ray said. "I don’t like low fat or no fat cheese. I think you should eat a moderate diet. Then you don’t feel so bad if every once in awhile you want a chili dog.”

Or her 7-Layer Chili Dog Dip, which is laden with full-fat sour cream and cheese, as well as hot dogs, chili con carne, beans, and salsa.

"The seven layer--forget it," Ray said, gleeful, by way of enthusing about her signature recipe.

Ray and Alliance for a Healthier Generation...
Ray's school lunch recipes that were served at Parklawn were developed for her work with Alliance for a Healthier Generation, former President Bill Clinton's non-profit foundation with the American Heart Association, created to combat childhood obesity. Mr. Clinton, pounds lighter than when he was in the White House and now a vegan after battling heart disease, is not the type to enjoy 7-Layer Chili Dog Dip. Ray's healthy school lunch recipes are available to schools nationwide, according to the Alliance, and will be used in the National School Lunch Program. (Above: Ray with Vilsack during their conference call)

Mrs. Obama's interview with Ray is part of a TV triple-header this week: She's also appearing on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on Jan. 31, and The Ellen DeGeneres Show on Feb. 2. On Feb. 9, Mrs. Obama kicks off a three-day national tour to celebrate the second anniversary of the Let's Move! campaign with a visit to Des Moines, Iowa.

*Click here for Ray's Parklawn recipes, adapted for home use.

*Top photo by Reuters; second by AP; Vilsack photo courtesy of Rachel Ray

Michelle Obama Launches Twitter Campaign To Get Jay Leno To Eat His Veggies

2012-01-30T02:06:00.022-05:00

Tonight Show host doesn't like the First Lady's favorite food group: "We'll see about that!" Mrs. Obama tweets...
"I don't think I've had a vegetable since 1969," comic Jay Leno told Parade magazine in 2006.

"My mother gave up on trying to make me eat them."

Six years later, First Lady Michelle Obama is stepping in as Mom in Chief: She's launched a Twitter campaign to get Leno to eat some vegetables onscreen when she joins him on Tuesday, Jan. 31 in his Burbank studio to film The Tonight Show. (At top: Mrs. Obama with Leno during a 2008 appearance)

".@JayLeno says he never eats vegetables…we'll see about that! #LetsMove to get Jay to eat some veggies on #TheTonightShow on 1/31! -mo," the First Lady tweeted on the Let's Move! account.

Mrs. Obama will promote the upcoming second anniversary of her campaign when she visits Leno, ahead of a three-day tour which kicks off on Feb. 9 with a visit to Des Moines, Iowa. Leno has not yet responded to Mrs. Obama's tweet, but he's been vocal about his love of unhealthy food, and jokes about it on his show. He's never actually eaten a salad, he said.

"I eat a lot of junk food like pizza hamburgers and hot dogs. When I have a soda, I have a soda — not a diet soda," he told Parade.

Leno has also joked about Let's Move!. Last October, he aired a doctored video clip of Mrs. Obama punching out NBC's Al Roker during an interview when they were discussing her efforts to get kids physically fit.

Mrs. Obama's veggie challenge to Leno is her first personal tweet on the @LetsMove account--distinguished from staffers' tweets by the "mo" signature--though the account debuted in February of 2011. The First Lady's own @MichelleObama account launched on Jan. 12 this year. She will be taking questions from followers of that account this week, according to a tweet from a staffer. (Above: Mrs. Obama's Leno tweet)

The visit to The Tonight Show is her first appearance as First Lady, though Mrs. Obama appeared via satellite from the White House in March of 2010 to do Leno's segment 10 @ Ten, responding to questions about President Obama's habits. Mrs. Obama also joined Leno for a studio visit in October of 2008, weeks before Mr. Obama's election victory. NBC says Tuesday's outing is the first appearance from a First Lady on a late-night TV chat show.

The President last appeared on The Tonight Show in October of 2011, and after joking to Leno that the White House was in danger of getting egged on Halloween thanks to his wife's insistence on including dried fruit in treat bags handed out to costumed school kids, more candy was actually added to the treat bags. (Above: The President and Leno backstage during the visit)

More TV, and a Let's Move! event in Los Angeles...
Mrs. Obama will be in Los Angeles from Jan. 31-Feb. 1, and she will also tape The Ellen DeGeneres Show to promote Let's Move!; that interview will air on Thursday, Feb. 2. Mrs. Obama has one Let's Move! event scheduled during her LA trip. On Wednesday morning, she will attend an event with Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts and Robert Ross, CEO of The California Endowment, to highlight efforts to eliminate food deserts. She will also speak at a DNC fundraising reception on Tuesday night, and at a fundraising lunch on Wednesday.

Mrs. Obama knocks out Al Roker in this Leno clip:

Related: There has been one White House Tweetup for the Let's Move! campaign, held in October of 2011, as Mrs. Obama hosted the Fall Harvest of her Kitchen Garden. Check the sidebar of the blog for White House vegetable recipes.

*Top photo courtesy of Warner Bros./Michael Rozman/AP; the President with Leno by Pete Souza/White House; video from The Tonight Show

Excerpts From President Obama's Remarks, 99th Annual Alfalfa Club Dinner

2012-01-29T08:32:00.001-05:00

The White House on Sunday released tidbits from President Obama's remarks at the 99th Annual Alfalfa Club Dinner, held Saturday night at the Capital Hilton by the exclusive members-only social club for the nation's elite. Over a dinner of Lobster and Filet Mignon, the President joked about his reputation, crooner Al Green, and his "We Can't Wait" campaign. He ribbed club members Warren Buffett, House Speaker John Boehner, seated at the head table, and former Florida Governor Jeb Bush.

"One of my big goals this year was to get out and be among everyday, ordinary Americans -- like the men and women of the Alfalfa Club," President Obama quipped to his audience of billionaires and powerbrokers.

The black-tie event was closed to press. First Lady Michelle Obama accompanied her husband as a noisy protest from Occupy DC went on for hours outside the hotel, which included a human blockade to prevent guests from entering the party, and throwing glitter bombs at fancily dressed VIPs.

"It is great to be here tonight, because I have about 45 more minutes on the State of the Union that I’d like to deliver tonight," President Obama opened.

"You've heard it from the pundits: "Obama is cloistered in the White House." "He's aloof." "He's in the bubble." "He's not connecting,"" the President said. "And that’s why one of my big goals this year was to get out and be among everyday, ordinary Americans -- like the men and women of the Alfalfa Club."

The hundreds of Occupy DC protesters were making this same point outside of the hotel, shouting "shame! shame! shame!" as they noted that the dinner is for the 1% of powerbrokers they decry as having ruined the US economic system. Protesters threw glitter bombs at arriving guests, and created a human blockade to try to prohibit entrance.

"At least my harshest critics can agree I have a promising future -- as a Al Green impersonator," President Obama said.

The President sang a few bars of Al Green's "Let's Stay Together" at a campaign fundraiser in New York two weeks ago, causing an almost 500% rise in the sales of Green's single.

The Alfalfa Club annually nominates a member to serves as President, and this year it was Jeb Bush, who visited the President on Friday at the White House, joined by his father, former President George H. W. Bush, also a member guest at the dinner.

"It is great to see Jeb Bush, who is accepting a nomination for President tonight," President Obama said. "I have to say, though, it's not fair to tease your friends like that."

President Obama has engaged in a series of Executive actions to continue his agenda without Congress, and Boehner heard about it.

"And Speaker Boehner, it is good to see you at the head table. I know how badly Eric Cantor wanted your seat. But, John, I want you to know: I am eager to work with members of Congress to be entertaining tonight. But if Congress is unwilling to cooperate, I will be funny without them."

Warren Buffett's secretary, Debbie Bosanek, has become the face of President Obama's campaign to reform tax law, after he proposed "The Buffett Rule" last September, following an op-ed from Buffett in which the billionaire opined that he paid a lower tax rate than his underling.

"I’d like to acknowledge a very good friend of mine -- Warren Buffet’s secretary’s boss is in the house," President Obama said.

Bosanek was seated in the First Lady's Box during the State of the Union Address.

The President had a few serious moments in his speech.

“Let us never forget the extraordinary privilege that we share as Americans, and the responsibility that we all have, as leaders, to the continued success of this country that’s made so many of our stories possible,” he said.

Guests spotted on the red carpet entering the dinner included tech entrepreneur Steve Case; Sen. John Kerry (D-MA); Sen. Pat Leahy (D-VT); and Baseball Hall of Famer Cal Ripken, Jr.. Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) was among those who got glitter-bombed by Occupy DC as he crossed the street to get to the red carpet with companions. (Above: A photo of the Alfalfa Dinner entree, tweeted by Chef José Andrés, a guest at the dinner)

There are about 200 current Alfalfa Club members, who include Colin Powell, Madeleine Albright, Tom Daschle, Newt Gingrich, Alan Greenspan, Vernon Jordan Jr., and Steve Forbes. The Alfalfa Club was founded in 1913, with its primary function being to celebrate the birthday of Confederate Civil War General Robert E. Lee (born Jan. 19, 1807). The annual dinner is its only event, and is held on the last Saturday in January each year. The club didn't admit African Americans as members until 1974, and women had to wait until 1994.

President Obama last attended the Alfalfa Club dinner in 2009.

"This dinner began almost one hundred years ago as a way to celebrate the birthday of General Robert E. Lee," President Obama said in 2009. "If he were here with us tonight, the General would be 202 years old. And very confused."

The name of the club comes from the alfalfa plant's reputation of doing anything for a drink.

*Entree photo by José Andrés; top photo by AP

On The Menu As President, First Lady Attend Alfalfa Club Dinner: VIPS, Filet Mignon & Protest

2012-01-28T23:01:00.005-05:00

UPDATE: EXCERPTS FROM OBAMA'S REMARKS
Hundreds of members of Occupy DC held a large, noisy protest in front of the Capital Hilton on Saturday night, but it didn't prevent President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama from arriving on time for the 99th Annual Alfalfa Club Dinner. An exclusive organization with members from America's 1% power elite, the Alfalfa Club exists for the sole purpose of hosting the affair on the last Saturday of every January. As is always the case, the dinner was closed to media, who were not allowed to hear President Obama make his comedic remarks. The President's pool, held far away from the action, had just one glimpse of Mrs. Obama all night; she wore a floor-length gown in red. (Above: Mrs. Obama in a red gown at a 2011 black tie affair; it is one of her favorite colors)

Among the moguls and politicos spotted on the red carpet, held under a white tent in front of the hotel and away from the protest: President G. H. W. Bush and his son Jeb Bush, former Governor of Florida, who visited with the President on Friday afternoon at the White House, as well as President George Bush; President Obama's favorite billionaire, Warren Buffett; tech entrepreneur Steve Case; Sen. John Kerry (D-MA); Sen. Pat Leahy (D-VT); and Baseball Hall of Famer Cal Ripken, Jr.. Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) was among those who got glitter-bombed by members of Occupy DC as he crossed the street to get to the red carpet with companions (video below).

The Alfalfa Dinner menu is always the same...
Acclaimed DC chef José Andrés was one of the few guests who tweeted about the event, which included tweeting to Obama Foodorama the photo, above, of his entree. It was a rare Filet Mignon and vegetables; the Alfalfa Club Dinner menu is the same each year, and also includes Lobster.

"At the Alfalfa club dinner.....one unique experience...i feel like Forrest Gump," Andrés tweeted as he entered the dinner.

His next tweet read "now they say that if you tweet they throw you out....." And then after the dinner Andrés sent the entree photo, noting : "im breaking the rules? You owe me one." Andrés hosted Mrs. Obama an d a party of pals at his Oyamel restaurant in DC on Friday night.

President attended dinner in 2009...
The Alfalfa Club was founded in 1913, with its primary function being to celebrate the birthday of Confederate Civil War General Robert E. Lee (born Jan. 19, 1807). The club didn't admit African Americans as members until 1974, and women had to wait until 1994.

"This dinner began almost one hundred years ago as a way to celebrate the birthday of General Robert E. Lee," President Obama said in 2009. "If he were here with us tonight, the General would be 202 years old. And very confused."

There are about 200 current Alfalfa Club members, which include Colin Powell, Madeleine Albright, Tom Daschle, Newt Gingrich, Buffett, Alan Greenspan, Vernon Jordan Jr., and Steve Forbes. Gingrich did not attend this evening; he's campaigning in Florida. Former Presidents Ronald Reagan and Richard Nixon were members, as are the Bushes. The Alfalfa Club's name is a reference to the plant's supposed willingness to do anything for a drink.

The President and Mrs. Obama arrived at 7:02 PM and were back at the White House by 9:25 PM. They traveled the very short distance from the Capital Hilton to the White House in a 16-vehicle motorcade, which dropped them off and picked them up beneath the white tent in front of the hotel. The President's press pool enjoyed a sandwich buffet at the hotel, heavy on roast beef and turkey, as they were held far away from the action.

The 99% protest the 1%...
Thanks to the Occupy DC protest, there was a heavy security presence, which included police on horseback, street closures and barricades. Protesters carried banners and signs, and some women stripped off their shirts so they could not be touched by police. The protest was much tweeted, and there was a livestream of the action. Occupy DC has been given until Monday by District officials to vacate two encampments, both located within blocks of the White House. The National Park Service is scheduled to dismantle the encampments. (Above: Police on horseback face the Occupy protesters)

The video below, from Occupy DC, shows Sen. Lieberman getting glitter bombed as protesters shout "shame shame shame!" The protest delayed but did not prevent guest arrivals.

Occupy DC protesters were last out in force in front of the White House on the First Lady's birthday on Jan. 17, as the President and Mrs. Obama celebrated at nearby BLT Steak.

*The 2011 Alfalfa Club Dinner program, courtesy of Occupy DC.

*Entree photo by José Andrés; protest photo by AP; video from Occupy DC

As President Obama Attends Alfalfa Club Dinner, Members Of Occupy DC Stage Protest

2012-01-28T20:29:00.011-05:00

Singing, dancing, stripping, and glitter throwing as protesters descend on exclusive dinner...
UPDATE: A FULL POST ABOUT THE DINNER IS HERE.
President Obama on Saturday night attended the 99th Annual Alfalfa Club Dinner, an exclusive event for the nation's powerbrokers put on each year on the last Saturday in January by the members-only social club. Held at the Capital Hilton, the area was surrounded by a heavy police presence as the President, accompanied by First Lady Michelle Obama, arrived at 7:02 PM in the presidential limousine, part of a 16-vehicle motorcade. Protesters from Occupy DC filled streets near the hotel, chanting and holding up signs and banners, throwing glitter, and later dancing in the area. Protesters tried to block guests from entering, but were unsuccesful. A large white tent was set up in front of the hotel for secure arrivals. The dinner featured comedic remarks from the President and was closed to press, who instead covered the protests. (Above: Glitter rains down on police during the protest)

Some women Occupy DC protesters took off their shirts, in theory preventing police from touching them. Police on horseback moved among the crowd, who were held back by barricades. (Above: Shirtless protesters from Occupy DC)

Occupy DC has been given until Monday by District officials to vacate two encampments, both located within blocks of the White House. The protest continued as the Alfalfa Dinner progressed.

"Protesters still dancing, mingling. This is great for morale, given what we're facing on Monday," tweeted @OccupyKSt more than an hour after the President and Mrs. Obama arrived. The K street encampment is located in McPherson Square.

Occupy DC protesters were last out in force in front of the White House on the First Lady's birthday on Jan. 17, as the President and Mrs. Obama celebrated at nearby BLT Steak. Hundreds gathered outside the gates of the North Lawn, and threw a smoke bomb over the fence, which caused a White Housue lockdown and the closure of Pennsylvania Avenue.

The protest on Saturday night was much tweeted, and there was a livestream of the action. Above, with this photo of police on hand to contain the protest, @mmorri tweeted "Pepper spray super speakers at #alfalfadinner #occupydc."

*Top photo by AP; other photos by Mike Morris, @mmorri

Tonight: President Obama, First Lady Will Attend Exclusive Alfalfa Club Dinner

2012-01-28T09:46:00.003-05:00

Members-only club founded to celebrate birthday of Confederate Civil War General Robert E. Lee...
UPDATE: A FULL POST IS HERE. Occupy DC was out in force to protest the dinner.
President Obama will deliver remarks at the 99th Annual Alfalfa Club Dinner at the Capital Hilton in Washington, DC this evening. First Lady Michelle Obama will also attend the 7:15 PM affair. The dinner is always closed to press, and always held on the last Saturday each January. The private, exclusive membership of about 200 is former Presidents, Cabinet Secretaries, Supreme Court Justices, lawmakers, and powerful business leaders. Each is allowed to bring two guests to the affair. The menu is always the same: Filet Mignon and Lobster, so the steak-loving First Couple should be pleased.

President Obama's remarks will be comedic, as is the tradition at the Alfalfa Club. It was founded in 1913, with its primary function being to celebrate the birthday of Confederate Civil War General Robert E. Lee (born Jan. 19, 1807). President Obama spoke at the dinner in 2009. The club didn't admit African Americans as members until 1974, and women had to wait until 1994.

"This dinner began almost one hundred years ago as a way to celebrate the birthday of General Robert E. Lee," President Obama said. "If he were here with us tonight, the General would be 202 years old. And very confused."

Presidential Alfalfa Club members...
During the course of the dinner, the Club's leadership will nominate a presidential candidate to serve for the year; the candidate is then required to make a speech. Several past candidates went on to become US Presidents after being nominated, including Richard Nixon in 1965 (elected in 1968), Ronald Reagan in 1974 (elected in 1980), and George W. Bush in 1998 (elected in 2000). In 2001, the Club's presidential nomination went to Sen. John McCain (R-AZ). He had no luck with the US presidency. President Bush's father, President George H. W. Bush, is in DC this weekend: He and his son, Jeb Bush, former Governor of Florida, met with President Obama in the Oval Office on Friday evening. The White House released a photo of the meeting, but did not include it on President Obama's official schedule for the day (above).

The Alfalfa Club's name is a reference to the plant's supposed willingness to do anything for a drink.

*Bush photo by Pete Souza/White House.

Friday Night Dinner Party For First Lady: Michelle Obama & Friends At DC's Oyamel Restaurant

2012-01-27T23:31:00.007-05:00

A repeat visit to Chef José Andrés' Chinatown eatery...
Perhaps tired from his three-day, five-state tour this week, President Obama was not part of his wife's dinner party on Friday night as First Lady Michelle Obama paid a visit to Washington, DC's Oyamel. Mrs. Obama arrived at the Chinatown restaurant at about 6:30 PM with a large group of friends, according to a source inside the popular eatery, and stayed for more than two hours. Owner/executive chef José Andrés, a partner in Mrs. Obama's Let's Move! campaign, was on hand to greet the First Lady. He was in the audience on Wednesday as Mrs. Obama announced USDA's new school nutrition standards. Andrés also appeared on CBS This Morning to discuss Mrs. Obama and the healthier school meals.

The First Lady's security detail was very busy...
Mrs. Obama and her party of about ten dined in Oyamel's glassed-off private area in the main dining room. She has visited the restaurant before, and unlike some of her "incognito" culinary adventures in DC, such as repeat visits to BLT Steak, this one was hard to miss. Agents flanked the busy main dining room, noisy with an end-of-week crowd. In front of the restaurant, on 7th Street NW, the area was partially blocked off, and filled with an armed security detail. Patrons hoping to dine were lined up to be wanded and patted down by Secret Service, who also searched handbags and briefcases. Guests were asked to put these down on the sidewalk to the side, for a thorough search. (Above: The exterior of Oyamel)

The First Lady left after 8:30 PM, exiting out a back door of the restaurant into her waiting motorcade. She loves Andrés' cooking: Since moving into the White House, Mrs. Obama has dined at his Greek/Mediterranean restaurant, Zaytinya, at least three times. Members of the First Lady's entourage were also later spotted dining at Andrés' nearby Jaleo restaurant; the chef stopped by to chat with them, too.

Perhaps Mrs. Obama was in the mood for Oyamel because she visited Florida on Thursday to announce a commitment from Goya Foods to the Let's Move! campaign, and to attend DNC fundraisers. Goya is the largest Hispanic food company in the US.

Andrés is a big fan of Twitter, but he is the most discreet chef who has cooked for Mrs. Obama, and never tweets about the visits of his most high-profile regular guest. But he did tweet about her efforts with school lunch.

"On my way to hear Ms. Obama give a speech about School lunch reform..awesome! Biggest contribution of a First Lady to USA ever @BarackObama," Andrés tweeted before he joined Mrs. Obama at Parklawn Elementary School in Alexandria, VA.

The Oyamel menu...
A cookbook author and host of the PBS show Made in Spain, the James Beard Award-winning Andrés has been a superstar on the DC restaurant scene for more than two decades. Oyamel's menu stars small plates, "Anojitos," billed as "the little dishes from the streets," which include items such as Carne Apache, grass-fed beef with sweet onion, pickled cactus, serrano chile, cilantro and smoked pasilla de Oaxaca chile oil for $11, and Ceviche de Atun Pacifico, Tuna with Maggi-lime marinade, scallions, avocado, toasted pecans, jalapenos and crispy amaranth ($12). There's also "Authentic Mexican" tacos in hand-made corn tortillas, a wide variety Carnes (meats) and Mariscos (seafood), as well as salads and vegetables, all ranging in price from $7-$14. The dinner menu [PDF].

Watch Andrés in action on CBS: (he comes in at 2:30)

Information: Oyamel is located at 401 7th St NW, Washington, DC, 20004. Phone: (202) 628-1005.

*Top photo by Eddie Gehman Kohan/Obama Foodorama; Oyamel photos courtesy of Oyamel; CBS video

Jan Brewer To President Obama: Let's Do Lunch

2012-01-27T13:02:00.003-05:00

The Arizona Governor releases her private letter to the President...the text
Arizona Governor Jan Brewer today released the letter she gave to President Obama on Wednesday during an encounter on the tarmac at the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport. The tete-a-tete made international headlines after observers reported it as tense, with the Governor wagging her finger at the President. In the hand-written letter, Brewer hails Arizona's recovery, and offers the President a visit to the Mexican border and lunch. (Above: Brewer holds the letter)

"My offer to visit the border -- and buy lunch -- still stands!" Brewer wrote.

President Obama on Thursday said the encounter wasn't as tense as reported, calling it "not a big deal."

"She wanted to give me a letter, asking for a meeting. And I said, 'We'd be happy to meet,'" President Obama told ABC.

"I think it's always good publicity for a Republican if they're in an argument with me. ...But this was really not a big deal. Last time we met, she wasn't fully satisfied. But, you know, I think this is a classic example of things getting blown out of proportion."

Brewer's book, Breakfast with Scorpions, has seen a rise in sales in the last two days, and she has become something of an internet meme. On the tarmac, President Obama told Brewer he disagreed with an account in the book about their White House meeting two years ago, which is when Brewer's finger-pointing occurred. (Above: The finger-pointing; the President holds the letter)

The text of Brewer's letter:

Dear Mr. President,

Welcome to Arizona!

You've arrived in a state at the forefront of America's recovery -- and her future. We were at the brink. We were at the bottom of the list in job creation. Today, we have a balanced budget and we're in the top 10 for job creation.

I'm proud of that hard-won recovery -- the result of many tough decisions, courage and perseverance.

My hope is while you are here you will have a chance to see our tremendous results first hand.

We both love the great country, but we fundamentally disagree on how to best make America grow and prosper once again. I'd love an opportunity to share with you how we've been able to turn Arizona around with hard choices that turned out to be the right ones.

And, of course, my offer to visit the border -- and buy lunch -- still stands!

With respect,

Jan

*AP photos

President Obama Marks International Holocaust Remembrance Day

2012-01-27T10:18:00.000-05:00

“Never Forget. Never Again.”
67 years ago today, the Nazi death camp Auschwitz-Birkenau was liberated by Soviet troops in 1945. In 2005, the United Nations designated Jan. 27 each year as International Holocaust Remembrance Day in an effort to put an end to Holocaust deniers. President Obama today issued a statement remembering the millions who were murdered, vowing to combat "the resurgence of anti-Semitism," and pledging "to speak truth to those who deny the Holocaust." During his first visit to Germany as President in June of 2009, Mr. Obama visited Buchenwald concentration camp, accompanied by German Chancellor Angela Merkel and camp survivors Elie Wiesel and Bertrand Herz. He placed a white rose in one of the crematoriums (above).

President Obama's full statement:

This International Holocaust Remembrance Day, Michelle and I join people in the United States, in Israel, and across the globe as we remember the six million Jews and millions of others who were murdered at the hands of the Nazis.

We commit ourselves to keeping their memories alive not only in our thoughts, but through our actions. As we remember all those who perished in camps from Auschwitz to Treblinka, Dachau to Sobibor, we pledge to speak truth to those who deny the Holocaust.

As we celebrate the strength and resilience of survivors, we pledge to stand strong against all those who would commit atrocities, against the resurgence of anti-Semitism, and against hatred in all its forms.

As we draw inspiration from the righteous gentiles who risked their lives to save friends, neighbors, and even strangers, we pledge to continue the hard work of repairing the world.

Together with the State of Israel, and all our friends around the world, we dedicate ourselves to giving meaning to those powerful words: “Never Forget. Never Again.”
##

*Photo by Pete Souza/White House, taken on June 5, 2009

"Massachusetts Chefs For Obama" Fundraiser Features Gov. Deval Patrick, Chef Ming Tsai

2012-01-27T03:39:00.001-05:00

Campaign 2012 event has a culinary competition, food tasting, and a special cookbook...
A staunch supporter of President Obama, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick will be taking a page from the Eater in Chief's playbook next week when he gets in some foodie action during an Obama for America fundraiser. On Tuesday, Jan. 31 in Boston, Patrick will be a judge for a Top Chef-esque cook-off courtesy of Massachusetts Chefs For Obama, a collective of restaurant stars who are stirring the pot for Campaign 2012. Acclaimed chef Ming Tsai, of Blue Ginger restaurant in Wellesley, will also be a judge. The James Beard Award-winner is no stranger to Obama cook-offs: He was one of the contestants last November in a competition spotlighting First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move! campaign. (Above: The President and Patrick during a May, 2011 fundraiser in Boston)

Gov. Patrick's wife, Diane Patrick, and Massachusetts State Treasurer Steve Grossman will also be judges for the cook off, which will be at 6:30 PM at the Cyclorama at the Boston Center for the Arts. The event includes a food tasting, and the 13 participating chefs have also created a cookbook to raise cash for President Obama's war chest, titled "Massachusetts Chefs for Obama." It features handy-dandy pull-out recipe cards, and is being sold for $100 by OFA. (Above: The cover of the cookbook)

Tickets for the fundraiser are $250 for general admission; $500 for general admission and a cookbook; and $1,000 for Host Committee, which includes a cookbook and a pre-reception with the chefs. Ticket information is here.

The chefs...
Tsai's fellow Obama-loving chefs for the fund raiser and cookbook are Jody Adams of Rialto and Trade; Jamie Bissonnette of Toro and Coppa; Chris Coombs of Deuxave and DBar; Evan DeLuty of Stella; Tiffani Faison of Sweet Cheeks; Will Gilson of The Herb Lyceum; Gordon Hamersley of Hamersley's Bistro; Barbara Lynch of No. 9 Park and B&G Oysters; Barry Maiden of Hungry Mother; Seth Morrison of The Gallows; Marc Orfaly of Pigalle and Marco; Brian Reyelt of Franklin Cafe, The Citizen & Tasty Burger; and Ting Wen Yen of Oishii. (Above: White House assistant chef Sam Kass emceed The Great American Family Dinner Challenge; he's watching Tsai finish a dish)

The Cyclorama at the Boston Center for the Arts is at 539 Tremont Street, Boston, MA. Proceeds go to the Obama Victory Fund.

*Top photo by AP; second by Eddie Gehman Kohan/Obama Foodorama

Obama Pushes Back On "Food Stamp President"

2012-01-26T17:01:00.002-05:00

Nightline interview: "I don't put people on food stamps," President says...Video
President Obama on Thursday pushed back against what he called Republicans' "rhetorical flourishes" on the campaign trail, including presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich's oft-repeated accusation that he is the "food stamp president." Telling ABC's Diane Sawyer that he wants a second term "badly," the President said he will fight with "every fiber of my being" for a second term. He debunked Gingrich's food stamp claims point by point. (Above: A White House photo of the President and Sawyer)

The "exclusive" interview with Sawyer followed a speech on energy and the economy at the UPS South Las Vegas Hub.

"First of all, I don't put people on food stamps," President Obama said. "People become eligible for food stamps. Second of all, the initial expansion of food-stamp eligibility happened under my Republican predecessor, not under me. No. 3, when you have a disastrous economic crash that results in 8 million people losing their jobs, more people are going to need more support from government."

"The larger point is this: that there's going to be a debate over the next eight, nine, 10 months about how to move the country forward," he said. "They've got an argument. They will make it forcefully. I think it's an argument that is wrong."

Asked by Sawyer whether he believes there's an undercurrent of race baiting in the "food stamp president" criticism, Mr. Obama wouldn't comment. But he said the rhetoric from conservatives, including Gingrich, is an attempt by Republicans to engage in the kind of divisiveness that they profess to decry.

"The American people are going to make a judgment about who's trying to bring the country together and who's dividing it, who reflects the core values that helped create this country … and who is tapping into some of our worst instincts," President Obama said.

Press Secretary Jay Carney recently dubbed Gingrich's assertions about President Obama and food stamps "crazy." More than 46.3 million people received a total of $75.3 billion in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, also known as Food Stamps, in fiscal year 2011, the highest levels in US history, according to the USDA. That's about 1 in 7 Americans using Food Stamps. There were 31.9 million Americans on Food Stamps when President Obama was sworn into office in January of 2009, and the number of Americans using SNAP benefits has risen each month but one since December of 2008.

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The President also discussed the Somali rescue operation, saying he thought of daughters Malia and Sasha, the ringtone of him singing Al Green, released by his campaign, and the Super Bowl. He billed the upcoming battle as "too close to call."

"I can't call it," he said. "When the Bears are not involved, I can't make predictions, I get in trouble."

The President had one fun food adventure in Las Vegas: He ordered a dozen take-out pizzas and 20 cannolis from Dom DeMarco's Pizzeria & Bar.

*Photo by Pete Souza/White House

Las Vegas: President Obama Feasts On World Famous Pies From Dom DeMarco's Pizzeria

2012-01-26T16:19:00.000-05:00

Co-owner Albert Scalleat dishes on the Presidential take-out order: A dozen pizzas and twenty cannolis...
Delivering a dozen pizzas and 20 cannolis to President Obama on Wednesday night in Las Vegas was "like being in a movie," Albert Scalleat, co-owner and general manager of Dom DeMarco's Pizzeria & Bar told Obama Foodorama. The President's big take-out order was a surprise to Scalleat, whose western branch of the world-famous Di Fara Pizza in Brooklyn has only been open for seven weeks. Scalleat said that when he got a call from the President's hotel, the Element in Summerlin, asking for the takeout order, he was only told that it was for a VIP guest. But he decided to deliver it himself, unaware that he was bringing dinner for the Eater in Chief--or that the President would send his compliments. (Above: President Obama spoke this morning at UPS Las Vegas South)

The Presidential dinner feast was first reported by Eater Las Vegas. As Scalleat arrived at the Element Hotel, the streets were blocked off, with a huge Secret Service and police presence.

"Honest to God it was like a movie," Scalleat said. "Helicopters overhead, police cars everywhere, guys in dark suits."

Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval is a regular at DeMarco's, Scalleat said, but he hailed delivering pizza to the President as a highlight of his long career. Scalleat is 67, and has been in the pizza biz for decades; Di Fara, open since 1964, has been "number one in New York for years;" it's routinely #1 in the Zagat Guide.

Scalleat brought the President six square Brooklyn-style thick crust pizzas, which sell for $27 each, and have 12 slices. There were 3 cheese pizzas, one sausage, one pepperoni, and one combo, which had sausage, pepperoni and mushrooms. Scalleat also brought six round, thin-crust pizzas, with exactly the same toppings. Those sell for $18 for the cheese, and $24 for the meat, and have 8 slices each.

The 20 cannolis, all oversized, were vanilla cream with chocolate chips, and go for $6 each, Scalleat said.

"We're known for our cannolis. We make them fresh daily."

Tight security...and the Presidential compliment...
Scalleat--and the huge takeout order--were screened through the Secret Service's tight security operation once he was inside the hotel, which he described as one of the nicest in the area--"beautiful--non-smoking, no gaming, and green." Scalleat went through a magnetometer, as did the takeout order. (Above: Scalleat is in the center, with Di Fara's founder Domenico DeMarco at left)

"I had to take everything out of my pockets and put it on a conveyer belt," Scalleat said. "Like at an airport. The pizzas and cannolis went through too."

Scalleat said he hung around after making his delivery because a crowd was in the hotel lobby, and there was much talk of President Obama taking a stroll through the public area. No such luck. But about 45 minutes after the delivery, one of the President's aides found Scalleat, and sent the President's compliments.

"The guy comes down and says the President told me to tell you that he loves the pizza and the cannolis," Scalleat said.

He didn't catch the aide's name, but someone in the crowd told Scalleat that the dark-suited aide, who was bald and in his 30s, was "the President's executive chef." The description sounds like Sam Kass, but there's no telling who the aide actually was.

Scalleat voted for Mr. Obama in 2008, and said he's thrilled that he got to deliver the pizza.

"It was like a movie," Scalleat repeated. "He's the President--who would have thought?!"

Business has been swell for Dom DeMarco's since they opened, Scalleat said, noting that Las Vegas guests who want to visit Di Faras's but can't make it to Brooklyn are coming in droves to the western outlet.

President Obama this morning spoke at UPS Las Vegas South, on the second day of a three-day, five-state tour that followed his State of the Union Address on Tuesday. He returns to Washington on Friday.

Information: Dom DeMarco's Pizzeria & Bar is at 9785 W. Charleston Blvd., Las Vegas, NV. 89117. Phone: 702-570-7000.

*Top photo by AP; others courtesy of Albert Scalleat

SoCal Trip: Michelle Obama Will Focus On Healthy Food Access For Hispanic Communities

2012-01-26T14:48:00.014-05:00

First Lady will spotlight commitment to build supermarkets in underserved communities from California FreshWorks Fund and Northgate González Markets...
Following on the heels of Thursday's major commitment from Goya Foods to join the Let's Move! campaign, First Lady Michelle Obama next week will continue her focus on nutrition initiatives in the Hispanic community. Mrs. Obama will bring her childhood obesity campaign to the Los Angeles area for the first time on Wednesday, Feb. 1, as she hosts an event at Northgate González Market in Inglewood that will focus on eliminating food deserts. (Above: Mrs. Obama speaking during the Goya announcement)

"The fact is that today, Hispanic neighborhoods have one-third as many supermarkets as non-Hispanic neighborhoods," Mrs. Obama said during the Goya announcement.

There are 36 Northgate González Markets sprinkled across Southern California, located "in areas where first and second generation Mexican and Hispanic nationals predominantly live," according to the company. Mrs. Obama will be joined by Mayor James Butts, Dr. Robert Ross, CEO of The California Endowment, and LA community leaders "to highlight progress being made to increase access to healthy, affordable food in underserved communities," the White House said.

Last July, as she unveiled major pledges from grocers to build or revamp stores in food deserts, Mrs. Obama announced the creation of the California FreshWorks Fund (CAFWF), a public-private financing initiative that committed to securing $200 million in funding to promote healthy food retailing in California, which would "create or retain" approximately 6,000 jobs, according to White House officials.

The CAFWF "is building a long term partnership with Northgate by providing the financing for their stores," the White House said. "Mrs. Obama’s event will showcase tangible changes being made by Northgate Gonzales Markets that will use FreshWorks financing to further prioritize healthy food retailing as they expand, create jobs, and nourish communities that otherwise lacked access to fresh affordable food."

"While one in three kids in America are overweight or obese, we know that in the Hispanic community, it’s nearly two in five," Mrs. Obama said on Thursday. As part of the Let's Move! campaign, Mrs. Obama has pledged to eradicate all of the estimated 6,500 US food deserts by 2017.

The First Lady's event will also serve to highlight the Obama Administration's efforts to create jobs and revitalize Hispanic communities, a key population for the 2012 re-elect campaign. Mrs. Obama will be in Los Angeles from Jan. 31-Feb. 2, and she will attend two Democratic National Committee fundraisers, as well as film segments for The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and The Ellen DeGeneres Show. Both appearances are to celebrate the upcoming second anniversary of the Let's Move! campaign in February.

In October of 2011, Mrs. Obama traveled to Chicago, Ill., for the first-ever Let's Move! Food Desert Summit, hosted by Mayor Rahm Emanuel. For FY 2012, Congress approved $32 million for the Healthy Food Financing Initiative, an interagency fund designed to eradicate food deserts.

*Photo by

Michelle Obama Unveils Major Commitment For Let's Move! And MiPlato From Goya Foods

2012-01-26T14:46:00.001-05:00

Largest Hispanic-owned US food company will create cookbook and partner with Latino organizations to promote nutrition initiatives...
In Tampa, Florida on Thursday morning, First Lady Michelle Obama visited the National Supermarket to announce a major new commitment from Goya Foods to join the Let's Move! campaign and promote USDA's MiPlato campaign, the Spanish language version of the MyPlate campaign. Goya is the largest Hispanic-owned U.S. food company, and president Bob Unanue joined Mrs. Obama for the announcement, which took place in the produce department before a large audience seated in the supermarket aisles. (Above: Mrs. Obama speaking as Aimee Busquette and Unanue look on)

Hailing the importance of the partnership, the First Lady noted the prevalence of obesity in Hispanic communities.

"The Hispanic communities face unique challenges," Mrs. Obama said. "While one in three kids in America are overweight or obese, we know that in Hispanic community, it’s nearly two in five -- two in five."

Partners in the major promotional effort, which will include putting the MiPlato graphic on Goya bean products, an education campaign for 4th-6th graders, and Goya's official MiPlato cookbook, include the Girl Scouts and Latino community and faith-based organizations. Below, the news release with all the information from the White House. Mrs. Obama will attend two Democratic National Committee fundraisers in Palm Beach and Sarasota before returning to Washington today.

*The full transcript of Mrs. Obama's remarks.

From the White House:

Tampa, Florida - In support of First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move! initiative, Goya Foods, the largest, Hispanic-owned U.S. food company, is committing resources to promote the USDA's MyPlate, or MiPlato, a new food group symbol to remind families about making healthy meal choices with easy “how-tos” about proper portions. Mrs. Obama joined Bob Unanue, President of Goya Foods, and leading Latino organizations to promote their nationwide effort to encourage health and wellness in communities across the country. Goya Foods is rolling out numerous steps to help communities enjoy healthy, tasty and affordable meals including creating brochures, posters, coupons and cookbooks for consumers; developing educational tools for 4th through 6th grade students across the country; and imprinting the MiPlato icon on some of their products.

“Today’s announcement is what Let’s Move! is really all about – folks from every sector of our society stepping up and coming together on behalf of our kids. One of the pillars of Let’s Move! is empowering parents with the information they need to make healthy choices. MiPlato is a tool to help support families in that effort. Today, Goya is utilizing their incredible reach into communities across the country to get this helpful information to the hand of parents,” said First Lady Michelle Obama. “Everything that Goya is doing – from the MiPlato posters and pamphlets to cookbooks and recipes – center around the idea that we parents can make simple changes to help their children lead healthier lives.”

“For Goya, MiPlato is an ideal reflection of our product line; quality, flavor, healthy and nutritious; while offering guidance to the public to easily identify the basic food groups of vegetables, grains, fruits, proteins, and dairy,” said Bob Unanue, president of Goya Food.

Community organizations from Florida to California have shown their support of Let’s Move! with commitments to promote MiPlato and distribute the Goya-produced materials through local churches, food pantries, promotores (community health workers) networks, registered dietitians, and schools. (Above: A longshot of Unanou speaking as Mrs. Obama looks on)

Some of the many organizations include the National Latino Evangelical Coalition, which will distribute materials at its Nuestro Futuro rallies across the country, and the New Mexico Collaboration to End Hunger, which is working with New Mexico’s state social services and statewide food bank to ensure New Mexico’s families receive materials. The booklets will also be distributed through food bank members of Feeding America in Texas, Florida, Arizona, New York, and California. In Tampa, the Girl Scouts of the USA has committed to promote MiPlato to Tampa-area Girl Scouts through the Girl Scouts of West Central Florida. Several organizations have also joined USDA’s Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion’s Nutrition Communicators Network as a Community Partner.

Goya Foods will collaborate with Let's Move! and USDA in the following ways:

*A Goya-produced brochure featuring a series of recipes that meet the Dietary Guidelines that support MiPlato and ten tips for healthy eating. The Goya sales force will offer these brochures to 32,000 supermarkets to distribute in their communities.

*Goya will print MiPlato posters for distribution in various supermarkets and grocery stores.

*Goya will produce brochures with a Goya savings coupon that will be distributed to a variety of national Hispanic associations and organizations at the various festivals and events that Goya sponsors throughout the year.

*In the spring, Goya will launch the official MiPlato cookbook and distribute copies to their consumers.

*Goya developed comprehensive lesson plans for 4th through 6th grade students using beans as education characters, and will distribute these to elementary schools in six major cities including New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Washington, Miami and Tampa.

*The MiPlato icon will be printed on six different Goya products including black beans, pinto beans, white beans, chick peas, red kidney beans and the sazón Goya natural and complete.

The following Latino organizations have joined this effort:

ACTIVE Life
American Cancer Society
California Food Policy Advocates
Catholic Charities Philadelphia
Cuban American National Council (CNC)
Feeding America
San Antonio Food Bank (Feeding America)
Treasure Coast Food Bank (Feeding America)
St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance (Feeding America)
Island Harvest (Feeding America)
FIND Food Bank (Feeding America)
Florida Dietetic Association
Ferias (para Aprender/Fitness)
Girls Scouts of the USA
Help4Kidz Foundation
Hispanic Access Foundation
Hispanic Federation
La Clinica del Pueblo
LULAC and their 850 councils
National Caucus of State Elected Legislators
National Council of La Raza (NCLR) - 300 affiliates
National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference
National Latino Evangelical Coalition (NaLEC)
New Mexico Collaboration to End Hunger
New York City Coalition Against Hunger
Pacific Southwest Conference for the Evangelical Church
Cancer Preventorium
Seventh Day Adventist Church
South Florida Center for Reducing Cancer Disparities
St. Cajetan Catholic Church/Hispanic Access
St. Camillus Catholic Church
Texas Hunger Initiative
Texas Impact
Urban Strategies
Vision y Compromiso
##

*Top photo by AP; second courtesy of Unidos Now

Transcript: First Lady's Remarks At Goya Foods MiPlato Announcement

2012-01-26T12:26:00.002-05:00

In Tampa, Florida on Thursday morning, First Lady Michelle Obama visited the National Supermarket to announce a major new commitment from Goya Foods to join the Let's Move! campaign and promote USDA's MiPlato campaign, the Spanish language version of MyPlate. Read about the major commitment here.

The transcript of Mrs. Obama's remarks:

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the First Lady
____________________________

For Immediate Release

January 26, 2012

REMARKS BY THE FIRST LADY

AT GOYA FOODS "MIPLATO" ANNOUNCEMENT

National Supermarket

Tampa, Florida

11:17 A.M. EST

MRS. OBAMA: Thank you, everyone. (Applause.) Well, hello, and thank you. Thank you for that wonderful welcome. And, Aimee, thank you for sharing your story. Thank you for that kind introduction. And thank you for your work as a health advocate in your own right, working with teenagers. I know you can be one of those key communicators, because it's not just little kids who need to understand that, it's our adolescents and young adults as well. So thank you for that.

It’s wonderful to be back in Tampa.

I want to start by thanking Fausto Castillo -- and I know your family is here as well. Are those your two little ones? They're cute -- very cute. I love your shirts. (Laughter.)

And I want to thank everyone here at National Supermarket for hosting us today. To all the staff who is here, thank you all, thank you for letting us interrupt your workday. It's an honor to be here.

I also want to recognize Representative Kathy Castor and Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn -- (applause) -- as well for their leadership and for joining us here today.

And, of course, I want to thank Bob and everyone at Goya Foods for making this groundbreaking commitment to our nation’s children.

And finally, I want to thank all of you who are here -- the community leaders, the parents, the advocates from so many of our Hispanic communities. When it comes to fighting for the health of our children, it's folks like you, from America’s diverse and growing Hispanic community, who have been leading the way. From the very beginning, when we launched "Let’s Move", you all have been vital partners for us, making sure that we understand the challenges that Hispanic children and families are facing.

And over the past two years, we’ve worked with organizations like the National Council of La Raza, the League of United Latin American Citizens, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and so many others. We’ve met with faith and community leaders, with educators, with other parents in Hispanic communities from across this country.

And what we’ve learned is that when it comes to keeping their kids healthy, Hispanic parents are facing pretty much the same challenges that everyone else is. Kids are spending too much time in front of the TV instead of outside playing. Chips and candy and soda are taking up too much of their diets, while oftentimes fruits and vegetables don't make enough of an appearance on the plate.

And quite frankly, parents are stretched thinner than ever before, so often it’s just easier to pick up fast food or to get something from the corner store, because people don’t have the time or the energy to make a home-cooked meal.

And we’re seeing these struggles in every community in the country, in families from all different backgrounds. But we also know that the Hispanic communities face unique challenges. While one in three kids in America are overweight or obese, we know that in Hispanic community, it’s nearly two in five -- two in five.

Now, some of this disparity is due to simple economics. This economic downturn has hit Hispanic households particularly hard. And folks are struggling to make ends meet and just to put food on the table, and we all know that sometimes the most affordable options aren’t always the healthiest options.

But this disparity is also about access. It’s about whether or not families can actually buy fresh, healthy foods right in their own communities. The fact is that today, Hispanic neighborhoods have one-third as many supermarkets as non-Hispanic neighborhoods. That’s one-third.

And we all know what that means for children and families. It means that a mom who wants to buy fruit for her kids’ lunch or wants to buy lettuce for a salad for dinner has to travel all the way across town just to make that happen. Sometimes they're taking their kids on a bus, going all the way across town, and then traveling home with arms full of grocery bags, and trying to push kids in strollers. Some parents have to get in a cab and pay a fare to get across town to get to a grocery store.

And these are the challenges that so many families are facing, and these are the stories that are truly at the heart of "Let’s Move." But also we have to understand that government doesn’t have all the answers. There is no one-size-fits-all solution to this kind of issue. Every community and every family is different.

For example, as we met with Hispanic leaders and communities, we came to understand the special role that food plays in Hispanic households. Food can be a symbol of cultural identity -- right? It knits families together. Meals are often synonymous with family traditions; recipes are passed down from generation to generation.

And as someone who grew up in a close-knit, food-loving family, that’s something that I can really relate to. Some of my best childhood memories involve food. Family and friends gathering together for hours in the kitchen -- that was the living room, the kitchen; you didn't sit in the living room, you sat in the kitchen -- cooking our favorite dishes, making sure that everyone ate until they were full -- beyond full, right? Sitting for hours, talking, laughing, sharing stories. Actually, a big meal was one of the best ways we had to show the people in our lives how much we cared. That's all we had. And what I’ve come to appreciate is that whether you’re African American, Puerto Rican, Dominican, Cuban –- food is love. Food is love.

But, fortunately, more and more families are realizing that we can still show that love, we can still honor those traditions, but we can do it in a way that’s healthy for everyone -- especially for our kids.

So folks are starting to make simple changes -- things like replacing butter or lard with canola or olive oil -- something as simple as that. Adding tomatoes or zucchini or peppers to rice dishes. Using whole-wheat tortillas -- something we did yesterday, in Virginia. Rachel Ray made these wonderful tortillas. Kids devoured them -- really, I did, too. (Laughter.) Using low-fat cheeses, using lean meats, and adding more fruits and vegetables to the meals. And what people are discovering is that the dishes taste the same, and sometimes they taste better. And more importantly, kids like them as much, and sometimes even more.

And that’s really what "MiPlato" is all about. It’s a framework that any family can use -- any family. Any culture can interpret the plate in a way that is true to their traditions. You just fill up half of the plate with fruits and vegetables, you start there, and you fill the rest of it with lean proteins, whole grains, low-fat dairy products. It is just that simple. You have the plate, you look at it, you fill it up -- you don't have to worry about measurements. It's right there.

And now, thanks to Goya’s new commitments, parents across the country will have the information, the tips, the recipes they need to put this framework into practice. And truly, that is what we miss. It's just the information. We just need to know how this works. Goya is putting "MiPlato," the icon, on the labels -- as Bob said, on products like the beans, black beans, chickpeas, pinto beans.

They’re producing the pamphlets that you saw, cookbooks that provide parents with simple, nutritious recipes -– that's always something that's important when you're a busy mom, just figuring out what to cook and how to do it and make it quick and easy. And giving the coupons so that families can stay within budget -- that is key.

Goya is also distributing posters with simple tips like: Drink water instead of sugary drinks. That is a cost-effective way of cutting a lot of calories out of our kids' meals; just drink water. That's what we do in our house, you drink water. I say that so much. I feel like the kids are here. (Laughter.) Make half of your grains whole grains -- that's another easy tip. And what I hope is that storeowners across the country will display these "MiPlato" posters where parents and kids can actually see them. So make this visible.

And finally, as Bob said, Goya has created a lesson plan that makes all of this fun for our students, so that eating healthy isn’t something that they see as -- that they have to do, but it’s something that they want to do.

So I want to thank Goya for making such a tremendous commitment to our communities. But I also want to be clear that Goya isn’t doing this all on their own. They’re getting help from partners like LULAC, La Raza, and so many others, to help distribute these pamphlets and coupons into communities across the country.

And in the end, that is really what "Let’s Move" is all about. That's what this initiative is all about. It’s about folks from every single sector of our society stepping up and coming together on behalf of our kids. And we have kids here right now. (Laughter.) Happy, joyful kids. See, this is what life is about. He probably wants an apple. (Laughter and applause.) And he's very cute. He should come up here and see me. (Laughter.) See, this is what it's about.

It’s also about businesses and organizations like the National Hispanic Medical Association and Univision offering their advice and support. It’s about companies like Wal-Mart selling products with less sugar, fat and salt -- just like Goya is doing. Companies are making changes, fundamental changes to the content of their product. Companies like Walgreens and SuperValu are making commitments to sell healthy food in 1,500 underserved communities. That is huge.

It’s about congregations and faith-based organizations sponsoring summer food programs as part of our "Let’s Move" Faith and Communities initiative. It’s about community leaders like Sylvia Acevedo -- she's a businesswoman from Austin, Texas, who launched community events that are called "Fitness Ferias." And their kids are playing tug-of-war, they're riding bikes, doing obstacle courses, and having the time of their lives. These are simple things to get nutrition, but to get our kids up and moving. People are doing this all over the country.

And it’s also about government doing its part as well. Congress passed groundbreaking legislation to improve the food we serve to our kids in school -- and so many of our kids are getting all of their calories in our schools. And as I said yesterday, as parents, we do the best that we can, so we don't want our efforts undone when we send our kids to school. We want to know that they're getting the same kind of balance, the same kind of nutrition that we expect for them at home. And the Department of Agriculture launched its "La Mesa Completa" initiative to help families afford groceries, and to bring nutritious meals to kids not just in school but also throughout the summer.

So the truth is, is that we have made some really amazing and important progress. But let’s be clear. While we should be very proud of everything we’ve accomplished so far, today is neither a beginning, nor an end to this story. We still have a long way to go and we’re going to need everyone's help. We're going to need everyone in all of our communities paying attention to these issues, taking this information in, going into the websites, getting informed -- making that effort to spend some time playing with your kids, dancing with your kids, walking with your kids, because we are their best role models in the very end.

Because it is going to take all of us -- every single one of us -- working together to give our children everything we know they need to grow up healthy and strong. Because we're going to need them when we get old and tired. (Laughter.) We're going to need them stepping up and being ready for the challenges that they will certainly face. But what I know is that when we come together, and when we focus all the strength that we have in our hearts and in our communities, there is nothing that we cannot accomplish on behalf of our kids -- nothing.

And with the help of folks like Bob and the folks at Goya, I am confident that we can give our kids the happy, healthy futures that they deserve.

So, thank you all. Thank you for taking the time. (Applause.) Thank you, Bob. Thank you, Aimee. God bless you all. (Applause.)

END 11:31 A.M. EST
##

Michelle Obama's TV Schedule For Let's Move!: Rachael Ray, Jay Leno, Ellen DeGeneres

2012-01-26T10:07:00.000-05:00

Two day Los Angeles trip: Celebrating the second anniversary of Let's Move! & DNC fundraisers...
First Lady Michelle Obama will have three network television outings ahead of the second anniversary of her Let's Move! campaign in February. All will air next week: Mrs. Obama will be on the Rachael Ray Show, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and The Ellen DeGeneres Show. Mrs. Obama marks the second anniversary of her campaign on Feb. 9 with an event in Des Moines, Iowa. (Above: Mrs. Obama joined DeGeneres in October of 2010, for an appearance to discuss military family issues)

Mrs. Obama filmed her interview with Ray on Wednesday when the celebrity chef joined the First Lady at Parklawn Elementary School to unveil USDA's new school lunch standards. The interview will air on Feb. 1. Ray told Obama Foodorama that she talked about the Super Bowl, exercise and "how excited Mrs. Obama is" about the second anniversary of the Let’s Move campaign.

In Los Angeles next week, Mrs. Obama will join Leno in his Burbank studio on Tuesday, Jan. 31, to tape The Tonight Show. The interview will air in the evening. Mrs. Obama will deliver remarks at a Democratic National Committee reception in Los Angeles at 7:00 PM.

On Wednesday, Feb. 1, Mrs. Obama will tape her show with DeGeneres. The interview will air on Thursday, Feb. 2. Before the show, Mrs. Obama will deliver remarks at a Democratic National Committee luncheon, and in the morning she will participate in a Let's Move! event focused on food deserts.

*Photo courtesy of Warner Bros./Michael Rozman/AP

First Lady Michelle Obama Calls On America To Embrace Healthier School Lunch Standards

2012-01-25T16:47:00.013-05:00

USDA's new guidelines are part of parents' rights, and will combat sugar highs and eliminate greasy, salty foods from school meals, says First Lady...

By Marian Burros and Eddie Gehman Kohan

Alexandria, Virginia: As she gears up to celebrate the second anniversary of the Let's Move! campaign in February, First Lady Michelle Obama can be satisfied that her efforts to improve America's school lunches are well underway. As the most high-profile champion of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act 2010, the legislation that mandates changes in school nutrition standards, Mrs. Obama on Wednesday unveiled USDA's long-awaited final rule during a visit to Parklawn Elementary School. The event was Mrs. Obama's first Let's Move! outing for 2012, and she hailed it as "a great celebration for us all." (Above: Mrs. Obama dines with kids in Parklawn's cafeteria)

"When we send our kids to school, we have a right to expect that they won’t be eating the kind of fatty, salty, sugary foods that we're trying to keep from them when they're at home," Mrs. Obama said. "We have a right to expect that the food they get at school is the same kind of food that we want to serve at our own kitchen tables."

Clad in fitted blue pants, an orange and brown argyle sweater, and a string of pearls, Mrs. Obama made her remarks to a group of parents, teachers and nutrition advocates packed into the school library. She was joined by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and celebrity chef and talk show host Rachael Ray, who provided recipes for a Southwestern-themed lunch to showcase the new guidelines. Senior Policy Advisor for Healthy Food Initiatives Sam Kass sat in the audience to watch his boss speak. Mrs. Obama thanked everyone for all the work they've done to encourage better school nutrition standards.

"As parents, we all know that if left to their own devices, many of our kids would eat candy for breakfast, they'd follow it up with a few French fries for lunch and cookies and chips for snacks, and then they’d come home for a big chocolate sundae for dinner, right?" Mrs. Obama said.

Beginning in the Fall of 2012, the new standards will be phased in over the next three years. Students will be offered both fruits and vegetables every day of the week, doubling the amount currently offered. After a phase-in period, starting in the 2014-2015 school year, schools must offer only whole-grain products. The new rule limits calories based on age, to ensure proper portion size, and reduces total calories by as much as 225 calories for some age groups. There is an overall focus on reducing saturated fat, trans fats and sodium levels (the sodium reductions will take ten years). Schools may also use tofu as an alternative to meat, according to the rule. Pizza will be available, but it will have lower salt content and it must have a whole grain crust when the rule is in full effect. Milk must be low- or non-fat; flavored milk must be non-fat.

More than 32 million children participate in the National School Lunch Program, according to USDA, and healthier school meals are crucial to academic success, Mrs. Obama said.

"Kids can’t be expected to sit still and concentrate when they’re on a sugar high, or when they’re stuffed with salty, greasy food -- or when they’re hungry," Mrs. Obama said, and noted that the legislation isn't just designed to combat childhood obesity.

"For many kids whose families are struggling, school meals can be their main -- or only -- source of nutrition for the entire day," Mrs. Obama said. "So when we serve higher-quality food in our schools, we’re not just fighting childhood obesity; we’re taking the important steps that are needed to fight child hunger as well."

The new rule, built around recommendations from a federal Institute of Medicine expert panel, and updated with key changes from the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, is the first significant change to school nutrition guidelines in 15 years. It comes after USDA received more than 130,000 comments when it unveiled proposed g uidelines a year ago--and many complaints have been addressed, USDA said, such as how to offer the increase in fruit and vegetables.

In the coming years, schools that meet the new standards will receive an extra six cents per meal, the first change to the federal reimbursement rate for school meals in 30 years. Schools won't start getting more funding until 2013, but Sam Kass told reporters that this will not dramatically impact efforts to make meals healthier.

"We're seeing schools across the country, by the thousand, who have already met these requirements without additional funds," Kass said.

In her remarks, Mrs. Obama pointed to F.S. Ervin, an elementary school in Pine Hill, Alabama, as one school that has changed its lunch program without additional funding.

"Now, Pine Hall [sic] is a little-bitty town, rural town, with a population under 1,000 and an average household income of less than $26,000," Mrs. Obama said. "But they have made some important changes to their school menu already--things like replacing canned vegetables with fresh or frozen ones, moving in more whole grains, offering plenty of fresh fruit, and even baking their French fries instead of frying them."

"We’re seeing changes like these in schools all across the country, of all sizes -- rural, urban and suburban."

Parklawn is one of the schools that has met those challenges: 60% of the 780 students receive free or reduced-price lunches, and the school has been awarded the Gold with Distinction award in the HealthierUS School Challenge, a USDA program that rewards schools for best-practices in food service and fitness initiatives. Mrs. Obama is actively promoting the HUSC as part of the Let's Move! campaign, and there are now more than 2,000 schools certified. (Above: Mrs. Obama in Parklawn's lunch line)

As she ended her remarks, Mrs. Obama called on everyone to "embrace" the new rule.

"I am asking parents and educators and food service workers across this country to embrace this effort on behalf of our children," she said. "Embrace it. Because we all know that we are some of the best role models for our kids. We are the first and best role models."

New rule is less costly than proposed rule...
The new rule reduces the overall cost of the legislation, compared to USDA's proposed rule. The cost will be $3.2 billion over the next five years, less than half of the proposed standards’ originally estimated cost of $6.8 billion. That's due to two key changes: USDA significantly modified the breakfast meal pattern, including eliminating the daily requirement that meat or a meat alternate be served.

USDA also clarified an “offer-vs-serve” requirement, which enables schools to promote fruits and vegetables, while allowing students to take smaller portions of these, if desired. Under the old guidelines, schools would auto-serve a portion of fruit or vegetables, and a child could not choose what this would be, or how much to take. The change will be phased in over a three-year period, according to USDA, and help eliminate "plate waste."

"It's self-policing" for portion size, according to Kass.

USDA has earmarked $50 million for training and technical support for schools, to ensure that meeting the new guidelines will be achieved. The new standards are strong, despite efforts by Congress to weaken them. In 2011, Congress put the interests of food corporations and lobbyists ahead of child health, and mandated two changes to the nutrition rules: Congress declared that pizza sauce can be counted as a vegetable, and also ensured that white potatoes and other starchy vegetables could be served in unlimited quantities during the school week. The proposed standards had limited potatoes and starchy vegetables, so that dark green and orange vegetables could appear more frequently on lunch trays.

The efforts by Congress didn't hinder anyone's enthusiasm on Wednesday.

"It's a red letter day for kids, and the future of our country," Sec. Vilsack said, and quoted President Obama's State of the Union Address on Tuesday, noting that healthier school meals are crucial for creating "an America built to last."

Margo Wootan, Director of Nutrition Policy at the Center for Science in the Public Interest, was on hand for Mrs. Obama's announcement, and she praised the new guidelines.

"They are really, really good," Wootan said.

Dr. Lorelei DiSogra, vice president of nutrition and health for United Fresh Produce Association, was also on hand. DiSogra has worked tirelessly to match schools with donors for Mrs. Obama's Let's Move Salad Bars to Schools project, which aims to get 6,000 child-sized salad bars into schools in the next two years. She is thrilled with the new standards.

“We are very excited that fruits and vegetables will be the stars of healthier school meals,” DiSogra said. "We support this landmark effort by First Lady Michelle Obama and USDA to create healthier school meals and healthier school food environments for millions of America’s children.”

Rachael Ray's school lunch...
"I'm hungry," Mrs. Obama said twice during her remarks, and afterwards she joined about 220 second and fourth graders in Parklawn's cafeteria to enjoy Ray's showcase luncheon, cooked by cafeteria staff from Ray's recipes. The kids speak 38 different languages, and were seated at tables as Mrs. Obama entered, greeting her with wild cheers, many waving mini American flags. (Above: Mrs. Obama ate turkey tacos with a group of excited students)

Carrying a pink tray, Mrs. Obama moved through the lunch line, followed by Ray and Vilsack.

"This is so nice, and so well prepared," Mrs. Obama said of the menu, which included turkey tacos with cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, and salsa; Mexican brown rice and whole grain flat bread; a black bean and corn salad, with a serving of mixed fresh fruit--a choice between strawberries, kiwis and orange, or melon and cantaloupe. Of course there was low- or non-fat milk. (Above: Ray in the lunch line)

The First Lady chatted with the kids behind her as they went through the lunch line, asking them what kind of fruit they liked best and whether they like brown rice or white.

"I love brown rice!" Mrs. Obama said. "That's all we eat at home."

After picking up her child-sized bowl of corn salad ("This is the best part -- veggies!"), Mrs. Obama reached the end of the line, only to be confronted with a cash register. The little girl behind her in line told her she needed a "lunch number" to pay for her meal.

"I don't have a lunch number," Mrs. Obama said. She was of course allowed to eat anyway, and proceeded with her young helpers, who showed her where to get a fork and a carton of milk.

Seated at a long rectangular table with 16 kids and one teacher, Mrs. Obama immediately dug into her meal and chatted with the children sitting around her. Vilsack and Ray sat at nearby tables, also surrounded by kids.

First Lady will be on Ray's TV show...
During today's school visit, Ray interviewed the First Lady for her eponymous talk show; the segment will air next week, Ray told Obama Foodorama. A longtime supporter of the First Lady's childhood obesity initiative, Ray joined Mrs. Obama for a special Kitchen Garden Spring Harvest during the huge South Lawn launch for the Chefs Move to Schools project in June of 2010, and also starred in a White House video about Let's Move!, created after the event. Kass cooked healthy treats with Ray on her TV show in September of 2011. (Above: Mrs. Obama in the lunch line; Vilsack is behind her)

Mrs. Obama's appearance on Ray's show will be one of a number of TV outings in the coming weeks: On Jan. 31, as she visits Los Angeles, Mrs. Obama will join Jay Leno on The Tonight Show to discuss the second anniversary of the Let's Move! campaign and her forthcoming gardening book. On February 1, she'll tape The Ellen DeGeneres Show to promote Let’s Move!, and the show will air on Feb. 2. On February 9, Mrs. Obama will formally celebrate the second anniversary of her campaign with an event in Des Moines, Iowa, which will include thousands of kids at the Wells Fargo Arena.

*The full transcript of Mrs. Obama's remarks. USDA's news release about the new rule is here.

Information:
Read: An overview of the Let's Move! campaign.

*Download USDA's Final Nutrition Standard 2012 [PDF]

*Download Implementation Timeline [PDF]

*Download Before And After School Lunch Menu [PDF]

*Download Comparison of Current and New Regulatory Requirements [PDF]

*Download the White House Childhood Obesity Task Force Report [PDF]

*Top photo by Chuck Kennedy/White House; lunchline photos by Bob Nichols/USDA

Transcript: First Lady's Remarks, USDA School Lunch Standards Announcement

2012-01-25T14:21:00.008-05:00

First Lady Michelle Obama on Wednesday visited Parklawn Elementary School in Alexandria, Virginia, joining Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack to unveil the new school meal standards that are part of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act 2010. Celebrity chef Rachael Ray provided recipes for a model school lunch cooked by cafeteria staff. A full post about the event is here.

The transcript of Mrs. Obama's remarks:

THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the First Lady

_________________________________________
January 25, 2012

REMARKS BY THE FIRST LADY
IN SCHOOL LUNCH STANDARDS ANNOUNCEMENT

Parklawn Elementary School
Alexandria, Virginia

11:32 A.M. EST

MRS. OBAMA: Thank you, everyone. Please, sit, rest. This is exciting. It is such a pleasure to be here today. This is an exciting day.

I want to start by thanking Secretary Vilsack, not just for that very kind introduction but for his outstanding work as Secretary of Agriculture. He has been just a major proponent on so many issues that are near and dear to me, and we wouldn't be here without his efforts and the efforts of his entire agency. So, thank you, sir.

I’d also like to thank Principal Akroyd and Jen Fitzgerald for their terrific work and for hosting us here today at Parklawn Elementary School. Go, Panthers! (Laughter.) I hear you're the "purring Panthers." (Laughter.) It's very, very good -- very good. We are so happy to be here and so proud of you all.

And I want to recognize all of the educators, the administrators, the food service workers and the advocates who are here today for everything that you do, every day, on behalf of our kids. This is a great celebration for us all.

And of course, I want to give a special hello to Rachael Ray, who’s a special guest here. I know she's hard at work getting lunch ready, and I am hungry -- (laughter) -- so I'm looking forward to it. But she has been a true advocate on this issue for quite some time, and we're just thrilled that she's here with us today.

And finally, I want to thank all of the parents who are here today -- because, I just want to be clear that we can't make any mistake about it -- this movement to improve the food in our schools is happening in large part because of all of you, the parents. It’s happening because you all stood up. It's happening because you all spoke out and you asked for something better for our kids.

Because, as parents, we all know that if left to their own devices, many of our kids would eat candy for breakfast, they'd follow it up with a few French fries for lunch and cookies and chips for snacks, and then they’d come home for a big chocolate sundae for dinner, right? (Laughter.) And we know that it is our responsibility, as adults, to make sure they don’t do that. So it’s our responsibility to make sure that they get basic nutrition that they need to stay healthy.

And that’s why so many of us try so very hard to prepare decent meals at home, and to limit how much junk food they get at home, and to ensure that they have a reasonably balanced diet. And when we’re putting forth this kind of effort at home -- and many of us are, and it's difficult to do every single day -- it's always a challenge, particularly with tough economic times and not enough time in the day -- but when we’re putting forth these efforts, when we’re doing what we're supposed to do at home, the last thing we want is to have all these hard efforts, all this hard work undone in the school cafeteria.

When we send our kids to school, we have a right to expect that they won’t be eating the kind of fatty, salty, sugary foods that we're trying to keep from them when they're at home. We have a right to expect that the food they get at school is the same kind of food that we want to serve at our own kitchen tables.

And let’s be clear, this isn’t just about our kids’ health. Studies have shown that our kids’ eating habits can actually affect their academic performance as well. And I’m sure that comes as no surprise to the educators here today. Anyone who works with kids knows that they need something other than chips and soda in their stomachs if they're going to focus on math and science, right? Kids can’t be expected to sit still and concentrate when they’re on a sugar high, or when they’re stuffed with salty, greasy food -- or when they’re hungry.

And that brings me to another important point. For many kids whose families are struggling, school meals can be their main -- or only -- source of nutrition for the entire day. So when we serve higher-quality food in our schools, we’re not just fighting childhood obesity; we’re taking the important steps that are needed to fight child hunger as well.

And that’s why so many schools across this country have been working so hard to improve the food that they serve to our kids in school. In fact, there are many schools that have been meeting these new standards for years, long before this legislation was passed. Thousands more have made significant improvements, offering their students a whole array of healthy -- and tasty, mind you -- new options.

For example, right here at Parklawn and in schools throughout this district, you all are doing some wonderful things, serving baked chicken tenders instead of frying them -- small things; replacing white rice with brown rice. You're offering all kinds of veggie side dishes, everything from succotash to broccoli, exposing kids to a whole array of wonderful tastes and flavors.

And we’re seeing changes like these in schools all across the country, of all sizes -- rural, urban and suburban. And I’m not just talking about schools in well-off areas with plenty of resources. I’m talking about schools like F.S. Ervin -- it's an elementary school in Pine Hall [sic], Alabama. Now, Pine Hall [sic] is a little-bitty town, rural town, with a population under 1,000 and an average household income of less than $26,000. But they have made some important changes to their school menu already -- things like replacing canned vegetables with fresh or frozen ones, moving in more whole grains, offering plenty of fresh fruit, and even baking their French fries instead of frying them. These are small changes.

And plenty of schools like F.S. Ervin are getting creative in this way. There are schools around the country that are holding taste tests and recipe contests to get kids really involved in the whole change -- give kids a competition and they'll get involved. There are schools that are partnering with farmers and with chefs in their communities, and that's making a difference. They’re making these small, daily changes -- simple things like replacing whole milk with skim milk -- changes that add up over time and it can make a real difference in the life of our kids.

And again and again, schools are finding that when they actually offer these healthier options, kids aren’t just willing to try them, they actually like them. That's the thing, that's the surprising thing. I've been to so many schools across the country where parents see their kids eating fresh vegetables off the vine, kids they say would never try anything, but that's the beauty of children -- they change. They change much easier than we do, and when we give them an opportunity to try something new, they embrace it oftentimes, and they come back for more.

So while budgets are tight right now, there are schools across the country that are showing that it doesn’t take a whole lot of money or resources to give our kids the nutrition they deserve. What it does take, however, is effort. What it does take is imagination. What it does take is a commitment to our children’s futures.

So today, I am asking parents and educators and food service workers across this country to embrace this effort on behalf of our children. Embrace it. Because we all know that we are some of the best role models for our kids. We are the first and best role models. And if kids are like mine, if I'm excited about something, they're excited about it -- right? If we as adults embrace it, the kids will follow suit. They're looking to us to figure out how to make this happen. So if we get pumped up about this effort, get excited, get creative, the kids will follow suit and they will do it with vigor and vim, and they'll be out there out front in a way that we would never expect.

So I want to thank you all once again for all that you do every day on behalf of our children. I’m excited to be here. This is a great day, a wonderful accomplishment. And it's just exciting to be able to highlight the work that's being done here at Parklawn.

So now, as I mentioned, I'm a little hungry. (Laughter.) I understand that I get to hang out with the kids, have a little lunch. And it's turkey tacos! Sounds really good. So with that, I want to thank you all for being here, and we're going to have some lunch.

Thank you all. (Applause.)

END 11:42 A.M. EST
##

Information on the new lunch standards:

Read: An overview of the Let's Move! campaign.

*Download USDA's Final Nutrition Standard 2012 [PDF]

*Download Implementation Timeline [PDF]

*Download Before And After School Lunch Menu [PDF]

*Download Comparison of Current and New Regulatory Requirements [PDF]

*Download the White House Childhood Obesity Task Force Report [PDF]

*Photo by Getty/pool

House Republicans Cry Over President Obama's Spilled Milk Joke

2012-01-25T14:19:00.000-05:00

The House Agriculture Committee, chaired by Rep. Frank Lucas (R-OK), today put out a statement blasting President Obama's milk joke in Tuesday's State of the Union Address. Long critics of the Obama Administration's farm and ranch regulatory efforts, House Ag corrected the record on the President's milky assertions about EPA regulations.

The full statement:

In his State of the Union Address last night, President Obama addressed criticisms of over-regulation by his administration. He claimed success for exempting dairy farmers from an Oil Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) program mandate that would have regulated milk the same way as oil:

“We got rid of one rule from 40 years ago that could have forced some dairy farmers to spend $10,000 a year proving that they could contain a spill – because milk was somehow classified as an oil. With a rule like that, I guess it was worth crying over spilled milk.”

The truth is that the Obama administration actually withdrew the Bush administration's proposal to exempt dairy farmers from oil spill regulations, and then delayed their decision on this exemption for nearly two years.

In contrast, House Republicans responded to dairy farmers’ concerns and introduced legislation to force the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to finalize the dairy exemption.
Meanwhile, the president made no mention of other equally preposterous regulations that our farmers and ranchers still face.

The president claims that he’s working to reduce unnecessary regulations, but only the House has actually taken action.

Until the Senate takes up H.R. 872, businesses across the country are facing a redundant permitting requirement for the use of already-regulated pesticides. The Senate is also delaying action on H.R. 1633, which ensures that the EPA does not maintain the authority to regulate rural dust.

If the President is serious about eliminating regulations, it’s time to act.
##

USDA News Release, New School Meal Standards

2012-01-25T13:02:00.003-05:00

USDA Unveils Historic Improvements to Meals Served in America's Schools

New Standards Will Improve the Health and Wellbeing of 32 Million Kids Nationwide

FAIRFAX, Va., Jan. 25. 2012 – First Lady Michelle Obama and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today unveiled new standards for school meals that will result in healthier meals for kids across the nation. The new meal requirements will raise standards for the first time in more than fifteen years and improve the health and nutrition of nearly 32 million kids that participate in school meal programs every school day. The healthier meal requirements are a key component of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, which was championed by the First Lady as part of her Let's Move! campaign and signed into law by President Obama.

"As parents, we try to prepare decent meals, limit how much junk food our kids eat, and ensure they have a reasonably balanced diet," said First Lady Michelle Obama. "And when we're putting in all that effort the last thing we want is for our hard work to be undone each day in the school cafeteria. When we send our kids to school, we expect that they won't be eating the kind of fatty, salty, sugary foods that we try to keep them from eating at home. We want the food they get at school to be the same kind of food we would serve at our own kitchen tables."

"Improving the quality of the school meals is a critical step in building a healthy future for our kids," said Vilsack. "When it comes to our children, we must do everything possible to provide them the nutrition they need to be healthy, active and ready to face the future – today we take an important step towards that goal."

The final standards make the same kinds of practical changes that many parents are already encouraging at home, including:

*Ensuring students are offered both fruits and vegetables every day of the week;

*Substantially increasing offerings of whole grain-rich foods;

*Offering only fat-free or low-fat milk varieties;

*Limiting calories based on the age of children being served to ensure proper portion size; and

*Increasing the focus on reducing the amounts of saturated fat, trans fats and sodium.

USDA built the new rule around recommendations from a panel of experts convened by the Institute of Medicine —a gold standard for evidence-based health analysis. The standards were also updated with key changes from the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans – the Federal government's benchmark for nutrition – and aimed to foster the kind of healthy changes at school that many parents are already trying to encourage at home, such as making sure that kids are offered both fruits and vegetables each day, more whole grains, and portion sizes and calorie counts designed to maintain a healthy weight.

USDA received an unprecedented 132,000 public comments on its proposed standards (available on the web at www.regulations.gov) – and made modifications to the proposed rule where appropriate.

USDA Under Secretary Kevin Concannon said: "We know that robust public input is essential to developing successful standards and the final standards took a number of suggestions from stakeholders, school food service professions and parents to make important operational changes while maintaining nutritional integrity."

The new standards are expected to cost $3.2 billion over the next five years -- less than half of the estimated cost of the proposed rule and are just one of five major components of the Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act, now implemented or under development, that will work together to reform school nutrition.

In addition to the updated meal standards, unprecedented improvements to come include:

*The ability to take nutrition standards beyond the lunchline for the first time ever, foods and beverages sold in vending machines and other venues on school campuses will also contribute to a healthy diet;

*Increased funding for schools – an additional 6 cents a meal is the first real increase in 30 years – tied to strong performance in serving improved meals;

*Common-sense pricing standards for schools to ensure that revenues from non-Federal sources keep pace with the Federal commitment to healthy school meals and properly align with costs; and

*Training and technical assistance to help schools achieve and monitor compliance.

The final nutrition standards released today also provide more time for schools to implement key changes, which will be largely phased in over a three-year period, starting in School Year 2012-2013. For example, schools will be permitted to focus on changes in the lunches in the first year, with most changes in breakfast phased in during future years.

USDA's Food and Nutrition Service administers 15 nutrition assistance programs including the National School Lunch and School Breakfast programs, the Summer Food Service Program, and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). Together these programs make up the federal nutrition safety net.
#

Information on the new lunch standards:

Read: An overview of the Let's Move! campaign.

*Download USDA's Final Nutrition Standard 2012 [PDF]

*Download Implementation Timeline [PDF]

*Download Before And After School Lunch Menu [PDF]

*Download Comparison of Current and New Regulatory Requirements [PDF]

*Download the White House Childhood Obesity Task Force Report [PDF]

Milking It: Obama's Dairy Good SOTU Joke

2012-01-24T23:27:00.018-05:00

No crying over spilled milk: President says change in EPA oil spill rule can save dairy farmers $10,000 per year...
During last year's State of the Union Address, President Obama joked about salmon to point out that federal regulations often make no sense. This year, he made a joke about milk to highlight his efforts at changing regulatory burdens, saying that the Environmental Protection Agency no longer classifies major milk spills on dairy farms as the equivalent of oil spills. In the White House's "enhanced" livestream of the speech, an illustration of a carton of milk appeared onscreen beside the President (above).

Noting that he's "approved fewer regulations in the first three years of my presidency than my Republican predecessor did in his," the President made his joke:

"We got rid of one rule from 40 years ago that could have forced some dairy farmers to spend $10,000 a year proving that they could contain a spill -- because milk was somehow classified as an oil. With a rule like that, I guess it was worth crying over spilled milk."

The audience of lawmakers, Cabinet Secretaries, top military brass, Supreme Court Justices and special guests laughed, though TV cameras in the Capitol Gallery captured First Lady Obama making the kind of face all wives seem to make when their husbands are attempting to be funny: A bit aggrieved.

"Now, I’m confident a farmer can contain a milk spill without a federal agency looking over his shoulder," the President added, to more laughter.

The joke got plenty of attention from viewers at home: According to Twitter analysts, the milk moment was the most tweeted part of the President's speech, getting 14,131 TPM at 9:51 PM EST.

The President, after joking, pledged to continue his work on food safety. This month marks the one-year anniversary of Mr. Obama signing the sweeping FDA Food Safety Modernization Act.

"I will not back down from making sure an oil company can contain the kind of oil spill we saw in the Gulf two years ago," President Obama said. "I will not back down from protecting our kids from mercury pollution, or making sure that our food is safe and our water is clean."

Is the milk joke "true?"
So what was the President referring to in his milk joke? And what's that $10,000 some farmers might have been "forced" to spend?

Since 1973, EPA has regulated milk spills in the same way it regulated petroleum spills, under the Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure program in the Clean Water Act. Other edible oils, including animal and vegetable oils, were also regulated this way, and milk got in thanks to its high fat content. But in February of 2009, EPA announced that it intended to change this regulation, so large milk storage containers would not have to meet the same piping and construction standards as large oil storage containers--provided the milk was pasteurized.

The new standard exempting milk and milk product containers from the Oil Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure rule went into effect in April of 2011, because EPA determined that "the current regulations – which were designed to prevent oil spill damage to inland waters and shorelines – placed unjustifiable burdens on dairy farmers," the agency said in a press release. It noted that the change was part of President Obama's "executive order on regulatory reform."

EPA said the change would "potentially" save "the milk and dairy industries more than $140 million per year." Somehow President Obama, in his speech, translated this into dairy farmers not being "forced" to spend $10,000 per year to prove their compliance. It's unclear where that figure comes from. Read more about milk spill prevention and control measures here.

When the rule was issued last April, EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson hailed the exemption as an example of the Obama Administration's good faith efforts at not over-regulating agriculture, something the Republican-led House Agriculture Committee routinely complains about.

“Despite the myths that have arisen about EPA’s intentions, our efforts have been solely focused on exempting milk and milk products from this regulation -- and that exemption is now permanent,” Jackson said. “This step will relieve a potential burden from our nation’s dairy farms, potentially saving them money, and ensuring that EPA can focus on the pressing business of environmental and health protection.”

Click here for all posts about the President's SOTU address, including the full transcript of the President's remarks and his post-SOTU tour schedule.

Transcript & Video: Obama's 2012 State Of The Union Address, "An America Built To Last"

2012-01-24T22:13:00.002-05:00

From the White House, the text of President Obama's remarks in the US Capitol on Tuesday night. Click here for all posts about the President's SOTU address.

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary
_____________________________________________

For Immediate Release
January 24, 2012

REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT
IN STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS

United States Capitol
Washington, D.C.

9:10 P.M. EST

THE PRESIDENT: Mr. Speaker, Mr. Vice President, members of Congress, distinguished guests, and fellow Americans:

Last month, I went to Andrews Air Force Base and welcomed home some of our last troops to serve in Iraq. Together, we offered a final, proud salute to the colors under which more than a million of our fellow citizens fought -- and several thousand gave their lives.

We gather tonight knowing that this generation of heroes has made the United States safer and more respected around the world. (Applause.) For the first time in nine years, there are no Americans fighting in Iraq. (Applause.) For the first time in two decades, Osama bin Laden is not a threat to this country. (Applause.) Most of al Qaeda’s top lieutenants have been defeated. The Taliban’s momentum has been broken, and some troops in Afghanistan have begun to come home.

These achievements are a testament to the courage, selflessness and teamwork of America’s Armed Forces. At a time when too many of our institutions have let us down, they exceed all expectations. They’re not consumed with personal ambition. They don’t obsess over their differences. They focus on the mission at hand. They work together.

Imagine what we could accomplish if we followed their example. (Applause.) Think about the America within our reach: A country that leads the world in educating its people. An America that attracts a new generation of high-tech manufacturing and high-paying jobs. A future where we’re in control of our own energy, and our security and prosperity aren’t so tied to unstable parts of the world. An economy built to last, where hard work pays off, and responsibility is rewarded.

We can do this. I know we can, because we’ve done it before. At the end of World War II, when another generation of heroes returned home from combat, they built the strongest economy and middle class the world has ever known. (Applause.) My grandfather, a veteran of Patton’s Army, got the chance to go to college on the GI Bill. My grandmother, who worked on a bomber assembly line, was part of a workforce that turned out the best products on Earth.

The two of them shared the optimism of a nation that had triumphed over a depression and fascism. They understood they were part of something larger; that they were contributing to a story of success that every American had a chance to share -- the basic American promise that if you worked hard, you could do well enough to raise a family, own a home, send your kids to college, and put a little away for retirement.

The defining issue of our time is how to keep that promise alive. No challenge is more urgent. No debate is more important. We can either settle for a country where a shrinking number of people do really well while a growing number of Americans barely get by, or we can restore an economy where everyone gets a fair shot, and everyone does their fair share, and everyone plays by the same set of rules. (Applause.) What’s at stake aren’t Democratic values or Republican values, but American values. And we have to reclaim them.

Let’s remember how we got here. Long before the recession, jobs and manufacturing began leaving our shores. Technology made businesses more efficient, but also made some jobs obsolete. Folks at the top saw their incomes rise like never before, but most hardworking Americans struggled with costs that were growing, paychecks that weren’t, and personal debt that kept piling up.

In 2008, the house of cards collapsed. We learned that mortgages had been sold to people who couldn’t afford or understand them. Banks had made huge bets and bonuses with other people’s money. Regulators had looked the other way, or didn’t have the authority to stop the bad behavior.

It was wrong. It was irresponsible. And it plunged our economy into a crisis that put millions out of work, saddled us with more debt, and left innocent, hardworking Americans holding the bag. In the six months before I took office, we lost nearly 4 million jobs. And we lost another 4 million before our policies were in full effect.

Those are the facts. But so are these: In the last 22 months, businesses have created more than 3 million jobs. (Applause.)

Last year, they created the most jobs since 2005. American manufacturers are hiring again, creating jobs for the first time since the late 1990s. Together, we’ve agreed to cut the deficit by more than $2 trillion. And we’ve put in place new rules to hold Wall Street accountable, so a crisis like this never happens again. (Applause.)

The state of our Union is getting stronger. And we’ve come too far to turn back now. As long as I’m President, I will work with anyone in this chamber to build on this momentum. But I intend to fight obstruction with action, and I will oppose any effort to return to the very same policies that brought on this economic crisis in the first place. (Applause.)

No, we will not go back to an economy weakened by outsourcing, bad debt, and phony financial profits. Tonight, I want to speak about how we move forward, and lay out a blueprint for an economy that’s built to last -– an economy built on American manufacturing, American energy, skills for American workers, and a renewal of American values.

Now, this blueprint begins with American manufacturing.

On the day I took office, our auto industry was on the verge of collapse. Some even said we should let it die. With a million jobs at stake, I refused to let that happen. In exchange for help, we demanded responsibility. We got workers and automakers to settle their differences. We got the industry to retool and restructure. Today, General Motors is back on top as the world’s number-one automaker. (Applause.) Chrysler has grown faster in the U.S. than any major car company. Ford is investing billions in U.S. plants and factories. And together, the entire industry added nearly 160,000 jobs.

We bet on American workers. We bet on American ingenuity. And tonight, the American auto industry is back. (Applause.)

What’s happening in Detroit can happen in other industries. It can happen in Cleveland and Pittsburgh and Raleigh. We can’t bring every job back that’s left our shore. But right now, it’s getting more expensive to do business in places like China. Meanwhile, America is more productive. A few weeks ago, the CEO of Master Lock told me that it now makes business sense for him to bring jobs back home. (Applause.) Today, for the first time in 15 years, Master Lock’s unionized plant in Milwaukee is running at full capacity. (Applause.)

So we have a huge opportunity, at this moment, to bring manufacturing back. But we have to seize it. Tonight, my message to business leaders is simple: Ask yourselves what you can do to bring jobs back to your country, and your country will do everything we can to help you succeed. (Applause.)

We should start with our tax code. Right now, companies get tax breaks for moving jobs and profits overseas. Meanwhile, companies that choose to stay in America get hit with one of the highest tax rates in the world. It makes no sense, and everyone knows it. So let’s change it.

First, if you’re a business that wants to outsource jobs, you shouldn’t get a tax deduction for doing it. (Applause.) That money should be used to cover moving expenses for companies like Master Lock that decide to bring jobs home. (Applause.)

Second, no American company should be able to avoid paying its fair share of taxes by moving jobs and profits overseas. (Applause.) From now on, every multinational company should have to pay a basic minimum tax. And every penny should go towards lowering taxes for companies that choose to stay here and hire here in America. (Applause.)

Third, if you’re an American manufacturer, you should get a bigger tax cut. If you’re a high-tech manufacturer, we should double the tax deduction you get for making your products here. And if you want to relocate in a community that was hit hard when a factory left town, you should get help financing a new plant, equipment, or training for new workers. (Applause.)

So my message is simple. It is time to stop rewarding businesses that ship jobs overseas, and start rewarding companies that create jobs right here in America. Send me these tax reforms, and I will sign them right away. (Applause.)

We’re also making it easier for American businesses to sell products all over the world. Two years ago, I set a goal of doubling U.S. exports over five years. With the bipartisan trade agreements we signed into law, we’re on track to meet that goal ahead of schedule. (Applause.) And soon, there will be millions of new customers for American goods in Panama, Colombia, and South Korea. Soon, there will be new cars on the streets of Seoul imported from Detroit, and Toledo, and Chicago. (Applause.)

I will go anywhere in the world to open new markets for American products. And I will not stand by when our competitors don’t play by the rules. We’ve brought trade cases against China at nearly twice the rate as the last administration –- and it’s made a difference. (Applause.) Over a thousand Americans are working today because we stopped a surge in Chinese tires. But we need to do more. It’s not right when another country lets our movies, music, and software be pirated. It’s not fair when foreign manufacturers have a leg up on ours only because they’re heavily subsidized.

Tonight, I’m announcing the creation of a Trade Enforcement Unit that will be charged with investigating unfair trading practices in countries like China. (Applause.) There will be more inspections to prevent counterfeit or unsafe goods from crossing our borders. And this Congress should make sure that no foreign company has an advantage over American manufacturing when it comes to accessing financing or new markets like Russia. Our workers are the most productive on Earth, and if the playing field is level, I promise you -– America will always win. (Applause.)

I also hear from many business leaders who want to hire in the United States but can’t find workers with the right skills. Growing industries in science and technology have twice as many openings as we have workers who can do the job. Think about that –- openings at a time when millions of Americans are looking for work. It’s inexcusable. And we know how to fix it.

Jackie Bray is a single mom from North Carolina who was laid off from her job as a mechanic. Then Siemens opened a gas turbine factory in Charlotte, and formed a partnership with Central Piedmont Community College. The company helped the college design courses in laser and robotics training. It paid Jackie’s tuition, then hired her to help operate their plant.

I want every American looking for work to have the same opportunity as Jackie did. Join me in a national commitment to train 2 million Americans with skills that will lead directly to a job. (Applause.) My administration has already lined up more companies that want to help. Model partnerships between businesses like Siemens and community colleges in places like Charlotte, and Orlando, and Louisville are up and running. Now you need to give more community colleges the resources they need to become community career centers -– places that teach people skills that businesses are looking for right now, from data management to high-tech manufacturing.

And I want to cut through the maze of confusing training programs, so that from now on, people like Jackie have one program, one website, and one place to go for all the information and help that they need. It is time to turn our unemployment system into a reemployment system that puts people to work. (Applause.)

These reforms will help people get jobs that are open today. But to prepare for the jobs of tomorrow, our commitment to skills and education has to start earlier.

For less than 1 percent of what our nation spends on education each year, we’ve convinced nearly every state in the country to raise their standards for teaching and learning -- the first time that’s happened in a generation.

But challenges remain. And we know how to solve them.

At a time when other countries are doubling down on education, tight budgets have forced states to lay off thousands of teachers. We know a good teacher can increase the lifetime income of a classroom by over $250,000. A great teacher can offer an escape from poverty to the child who dreams beyond his circumstance. Every person in this chamber can point to a teacher who changed the trajectory of their lives. Most teachers work tirelessly, with modest pay, sometimes digging into their own pocket for school supplies -- just to make a difference.

Teachers matter. So instead of bashing them, or defending the status quo, let’s offer schools a deal. Give them the resources to keep good teachers on the job, and reward the best ones. (Applause.) And in return, grant schools flexibility: to teach with creativity and passion; to stop teaching to the test; and to replace teachers who just aren’t helping kids learn. That’s a bargain worth making. (Applause.)

We also know that when students don’t walk away from their education, more of them walk the stage to get their diploma. When students are not allowed to drop out, they do better. So tonight, I am proposing that every state -- every state -- requires that all students stay in high school until they graduate or turn 18. (Applause.)

When kids do graduate, the most daunting challenge can be the cost of college. At a time when Americans owe more in tuition debt than credit card debt, this Congress needs to stop the interest rates on student loans from doubling in July. (Applause.)

Extend the tuition tax credit we started that saves millions of middle-class families thousands of dollars, and give more young people the chance to earn their way through college by doubling the number of work-study jobs in the next five years. (Applause.)

Of course, it’s not enough for us to increase student aid. We can’t just keep subsidizing skyrocketing tuition; we’ll run out of money. States also need to do their part, by making higher education a higher priority in their budgets. And colleges and universities have to do their part by working to keep costs down.

Recently, I spoke with a group of college presidents who’ve done just that. Some schools redesign courses to help students finish more quickly. Some use better technology. The point is, it’s possible. So let me put colleges and universities on notice: If you can’t stop tuition from going up, the funding you get from taxpayers will go down. (Applause.) Higher education can’t be a luxury -– it is an economic imperative that every family in America should be able to afford.

Let’s also remember that hundreds of thousands of talented, hardworking students in this country face another challenge: the fact that they aren’t yet American citizens. Many were brought here as small children, are American through and through, yet they live every day with the threat of deportation. Others came more recently, to study business and science and engineering, but as soon as they get their degree, we send them home to invent new products and create new jobs somewhere else.

That doesn’t make sense.

I believe as strongly as ever that we should take on illegal immigration. That’s why my administration has put more boots on the border than ever before. That’s why there are fewer illegal crossings than when I took office. The opponents of action are out of excuses. We should be working on comprehensive immigration reform right now. (Applause.)

But if election-year politics keeps Congress from acting on a comprehensive plan, let’s at least agree to stop expelling responsible young people who want to staff our labs, start new businesses, defend this country. Send me a law that gives them the chance to earn their citizenship. I will sign it right away. (Applause.)

You see, an economy built to last is one where we encourage the talent and ingenuity of every person in this country. That means women should earn equal pay for equal work. (Applause.) It means we should support everyone who’s willing to work, and every risk-taker and entrepreneur who aspires to become the next Steve Jobs.

After all, innovation is what America has always been about. Most new jobs are created in start-ups and small businesses. So let’s pass an agenda that helps them succeed. Tear down regulations that prevent aspiring entrepreneurs from getting the financing to grow. (Applause.) Expand tax relief to small businesses that are raising wages and creating good jobs. Both parties agree on these ideas. So put them in a bill, and get it on my desk this year. (Applause.)

Innovation also demands basic research. Today, the discoveries taking place in our federally financed labs and universities could lead to new treatments that kill cancer cells but leave healthy ones untouched. New lightweight vests for cops and soldiers that can stop any bullet. Don’t gut these investments in our budget. Don’t let other countries win the race for the future. Support the same kind of research and innovation that led to the computer chip and the Internet; to new American jobs and new American industries.

And nowhere is the promise of innovation greater than in American-made energy. Over the last three years, we’ve opened millions of new acres for oil and gas exploration, and tonight, I’m directing my administration to open more than 75 percent of our potential offshore oil and gas resources. (Applause.) Right now -- right now -- American oil production is the highest that it’s been in eight years. That’s right -- eight years. Not only that -- last year, we relied less on foreign oil than in any of the past 16 years. (Applause.)

But with only 2 percent of the world’s oil reserves, oil isn’t enough. This country needs an all-out, all-of-the-above strategy that develops every available source of American energy. (Applause.) A strategy that’s cleaner, cheaper, and full of new jobs.

We have a supply of natural gas that can last America nearly 100 years. (Applause.) And my administration will take every possible action to safely develop this energy. Experts believe this will support more than 600,000 jobs by the end of the decade. And I’m requiring all companies that drill for gas on public lands to disclose the chemicals they use. (Applause.) Because America will develop this resource without putting the health and safety of our citizens at risk.

The development of natural gas will create jobs and power trucks and factories that are cleaner and cheaper, proving that we don’t have to choose between our environment and our economy. (Applause.) And by the way, it was public research dollars, over the course of 30 years, that helped develop the technologies to extract all this natural gas out of shale rock –- reminding us that government support is critical in helping businesses get new energy ideas off the ground. (Applause.)
Now, what’s true for natural gas is just as true for clean energy. In three years, our partnership with the private sector has already positioned America to be the world’s leading manufacturer of high-tech batteries. Because of federal investments, renewable energy use has nearly doubled, and thousands of Americans have jobs because of it.

When Bryan Ritterby was laid off from his job making furniture, he said he worried that at 55, no one would give him a second chance. But he found work at Energetx, a wind turbine manufacturer in Michigan. Before the recession, the factory only made luxury yachts. Today, it’s hiring workers like Bryan, who said, “I’m proud to be working in the industry of the future.”

Our experience with shale gas, our experience with natural gas, shows us that the payoffs on these public investments don’t always come right away. Some technologies don’t pan out; some companies fail. But I will not walk away from the promise of clean energy. I will not walk away from workers like Bryan. (Applause.) I will not cede the wind or solar or battery industry to China or Germany because we refuse to make the same commitment here.

We’ve subsidized oil companies for a century. That’s long enough. (Applause.) It’s time to end the taxpayer giveaways to an industry that rarely has been more profitable, and double-down on a clean energy industry that never has been more promising. Pass clean energy tax credits. Create these jobs. (Applause.)

We can also spur energy innovation with new incentives. The differences in this chamber may be too deep right now to pass a comprehensive plan to fight climate change. But there’s no reason why Congress shouldn’t at least set a clean energy standard that creates a market for innovation. So far, you haven’t acted. Well, tonight, I will. I’m directing my administration to allow the development of clean energy on enough public land to power 3 million homes. And I’m proud to announce that the Department of Defense, working with us, the world’s largest consumer of energy, will make one of the largest commitments to clean energy in history -– with the Navy purchasing enough capacity to power a quarter of a million homes a year. (Applause.)

Of course, the easiest way to save money is to waste less energy. So here’s a proposal: Help manufacturers eliminate energy waste in their factories and give businesses incentives to upgrade their buildings. Their energy bills will be $100 billion lower over the next decade, and America will have less pollution, more manufacturing, more jobs for construction workers who need them. Send me a bill that creates these jobs. (Applause.)

Building this new energy future should be just one part of a broader agenda to repair America’s infrastructure. So much of America needs to be rebuilt. We’ve got crumbling roads and bridges; a power grid that wastes too much energy; an incomplete high-speed broadband network that prevents a small business owner in rural America from selling her products all over the world.

During the Great Depression, America built the Hoover Dam and the Golden Gate Bridge. After World War II, we connected our states with a system of highways. Democratic and Republican administrations invested in great projects that benefited everybody, from the workers who built them to the businesses that still use them today.

In the next few weeks, I will sign an executive order clearing away the red tape that slows down too many construction projects. But you need to fund these projects. Take the money we’re no longer spending at war, use half of it to pay down our debt, and use the rest to do some nation-building right here at home. (Applause.)

There’s never been a better time to build, especially since the construction industry was one of the hardest hit when the housing bubble burst. Of course, construction workers weren’t the only ones who were hurt. So were millions of innocent Americans who’ve seen their home values decline. And while government can’t fix the problem on its own, responsible homeowners shouldn’t have to sit and wait for the housing market to hit bottom to get some relief.

And that’s why I’m sending this Congress a plan that gives every responsible homeowner the chance to save about $3,000 a year on their mortgage, by refinancing at historically low rates. (Applause.) No more red tape. No more runaround from the banks. A small fee on the largest financial institutions will ensure that it won’t add to the deficit and will give those banks that were rescued by taxpayers a chance to repay a deficit of trust. (Applause.)

Let’s never forget: Millions of Americans who work hard and play by the rules every day deserve a government and a financial system that do the same. It’s time to apply the same rules from top to bottom. No bailouts, no handouts, and no copouts. An America built to last insists on responsibility from everybody.

We’ve all paid the price for lenders who sold mortgages to people who couldn’t afford them, and buyers who knew they couldn’t afford them. That’s why we need smart regulations to prevent irresponsible behavior. (Applause.) Rules to prevent financial fraud or toxic dumping or faulty medical devices -- these don’t destroy the free market. They make the free market work better.

There’s no question that some regulations are outdated, unnecessary, or too costly. In fact, I’ve approved fewer regulations in the first three years of my presidency than my Republican predecessor did in his. (Applause.) I’ve ordered every federal agency to eliminate rules that don’t make sense. We’ve already announced over 500 reforms, and just a fraction of them will save business and citizens more than $10 billion over the next five years. We got rid of one rule from 40 years ago that could have forced some dairy farmers to spend $10,000 a year proving that they could contain a spill -- because milk was somehow classified as an oil. With a rule like that, I guess it was worth crying over spilled milk. (Laughter and applause.)

Now, I’m confident a farmer can contain a milk spill without a federal agency looking over his shoulder. (Applause.) Absolutely. But I will not back down from making sure an oil company can contain the kind of oil spill we saw in the Gulf two years ago. (Applause.) I will not back down from protecting our kids from mercury poisoning, or making sure that our food is safe and our water is clean. I will not go back to the days when health insurance companies had unchecked power to cancel your policy, deny your coverage, or charge women differently than men. (Applause.)

And I will not go back to the days when Wall Street was allowed to play by its own set of rules. The new rules we passed restore what should be any financial system’s core purpose: Getting funding to entrepreneurs with the best ideas, and getting loans to responsible families who want to buy a home, or start a business, or send their kids to college.

So if you are a big bank or financial institution, you’re no longer allowed to make risky bets with your customers’ deposits. You’re required to write out a “living will” that details exactly how you’ll pay the bills if you fail –- because the rest of us are not bailing you out ever again. (Applause.) And if you’re a mortgage lender or a payday lender or a credit card company, the days of signing people up for products they can’t afford with confusing forms and deceptive practices -- those days are over. Today, American consumers finally have a watchdog in Richard Cordray with one job: To look out for them. (Applause.)

We’ll also establish a Financial Crimes Unit of highly trained investigators to crack down on large-scale fraud and protect people’s investments. Some financial firms violate major anti-fraud laws because there’s no real penalty for being a repeat offender. That’s bad for consumers, and it’s bad for the vast majority of bankers and financial service professionals who do the right thing. So pass legislation that makes the penalties for fraud count.

And tonight, I’m asking my Attorney General to create a special unit of federal prosecutors and leading state attorney general to expand our investigations into the abusive lending and packaging of risky mortgages that led to the housing crisis. (Applause.) This new unit will hold accountable those who broke the law, speed assistance to homeowners, and help turn the page on an era of recklessness that hurt so many Americans.

Now, a return to the American values of fair play and shared responsibility will help protect our people and our economy. But it should also guide us as we look to pay down our debt and invest in our future.

Right now, our most immediate priority is stopping a tax hike on 160 million working Americans while the recovery is still fragile. (Applause.) People cannot afford losing $40 out of each paycheck this year. There are plenty of ways to get this done. So let’s agree right here, right now: No side issues. No drama. Pass the payroll tax cut without delay. Let’s get it done. (Applause.)

When it comes to the deficit, we’ve already agreed to more than $2 trillion in cuts and savings. But we need to do more, and that means making choices. Right now, we’re poised to spend nearly $1 trillion more on what was supposed to be a temporary tax break for the wealthiest 2 percent of Americans. Right now, because of loopholes and shelters in the tax code, a quarter of all millionaires pay lower tax rates than millions of middle-class households. Right now, Warren Buffett pays a lower tax rate than his secretary.

Do we want to keep these tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans? Or do we want to keep our investments in everything else –- like education and medical research; a strong military and care for our veterans? Because if we’re serious about paying down our debt, we can’t do both.

The American people know what the right choice is. So do I. As I told the Speaker this summer, I’m prepared to make more reforms that rein in the long-term costs of Medicare and Medicaid, and strengthen Social Security, so long as those programs remain a guarantee of security for seniors.

But in return, we need to change our tax code so that people like me, and an awful lot of members of Congress, pay our fair share of taxes. (Applause.)

Tax reform should follow the Buffett Rule. If you make more than $1 million a year, you should not pay less than 30 percent in taxes. And my Republican friend Tom Coburn is right: Washington should stop subsidizing millionaires. In fact, if you’re earning a million dollars a year, you shouldn’t get special tax subsidies or deductions. On the other hand, if you make under $250,000 a year, like 98 percent of American families, your taxes shouldn’t go up. (Applause.) You’re the ones struggling with rising costs and stagnant wages. You’re the ones who need relief.

Now, you can call this class warfare all you want. But asking a billionaire to pay at least as much as his secretary in taxes? Most Americans would call that common sense.

We don’t begrudge financial success in this country. We admire it. When Americans talk about folks like me paying my fair share of taxes, it’s not because they envy the rich. It’s because they understand that when I get a tax break I don’t need and the country can’t afford, it either adds to the deficit, or somebody else has to make up the difference -- like a senior on a fixed income, or a student trying to get through school, or a family trying to make ends meet. That’s not right. Americans know that’s not right. They know that this generation’s success is only possible because past generations felt a responsibility to each other, and to the future of their country, and they know our way of life will only endure if we feel that same sense of shared responsibility. That’s how we’ll reduce our deficit. That’s an America built to last. (Applause.)

Now, I recognize that people watching tonight have differing views about taxes and debt, energy and health care. But no matter what party they belong to, I bet most Americans are thinking the same thing right about now: Nothing will get done in Washington this year, or next year, or maybe even the year after that, because Washington is broken.

Can you blame them for feeling a little cynical?

The greatest blow to our confidence in our economy last year didn’t come from events beyond our control. It came from a debate in Washington over whether the United States would pay its bills or not. Who benefited from that fiasco?

I’ve talked tonight about the deficit of trust between Main Street and Wall Street. But the divide between this city and the rest of the country is at least as bad -- and it seems to get worse every year.

Some of this has to do with the corrosive influence of money in politics. So together, let’s take some steps to fix that. Send me a bill that bans insider trading by members of Congress; I will sign it tomorrow. (Applause.) Let’s limit any elected official from owning stocks in industries they impact. Let’s make sure people who bundle campaign contributions for Congress can’t lobby Congress, and vice versa -- an idea that has bipartisan support, at least outside of Washington.

Some of what’s broken has to do with the way Congress does its business these days. A simple majority is no longer enough to get anything -– even routine business –- passed through the Senate. (Applause.) Neither party has been blameless in these tactics. Now both parties should put an end to it. (Applause.) For starters, I ask the Senate to pass a simple rule that all judicial and public service nominations receive a simple up or down vote within 90 days. (Applause.)

The executive branch also needs to change. Too often, it’s inefficient, outdated and remote. (Applause.) That’s why I’ve asked this Congress to grant me the authority to consolidate the federal bureaucracy, so that our government is leaner, quicker, and more responsive to the needs of the American people. (Applause.)

Finally, none of this can happen unless we also lower the temperature in this town. We need to end the notion that the two parties must be locked in a perpetual campaign of mutual destruction; that politics is about clinging to rigid ideologies instead of building consensus around common-sense ideas.

I’m a Democrat. But I believe what Republican Abraham Lincoln believed: That government should do for people only what they cannot do better by themselves, and no more. (Applause.) That’s why my education reform offers more competition, and more control for schools and states. That’s why we’re getting rid of regulations that don’t work. That’s why our health care law relies on a reformed private market, not a government program.

On the other hand, even my Republican friends who complain the most about government spending have supported federally financed roads, and clean energy projects, and federal offices for the folks back home.

The point is, we should all want a smarter, more effective government. And while we may not be able to bridge our biggest philosophical differences this year, we can make real progress. With or without this Congress, I will keep taking actions that help the economy grow. But I can do a whole lot more with your help. Because when we act together, there’s nothing the United States of America can’t achieve. (Applause.) That’s the lesson we’ve learned from our actions abroad over the last few years.

Ending the Iraq war has allowed us to strike decisive blows against our enemies. From Pakistan to Yemen, the al Qaeda operatives who remain are scrambling, knowing that they can’t escape the reach of the United States of America. (Applause.)

From this position of strength, we’ve begun to wind down the war in Afghanistan. Ten thousand of our troops have come home. Twenty-three thousand more will leave by the end of this summer. This transition to Afghan lead will continue, and we will build an enduring partnership with Afghanistan, so that it is never again a source of attacks against America. (Applause.)

As the tide of war recedes, a wave of change has washed across the Middle East and North Africa, from Tunis to Cairo; from Sana’a to Tripoli. A year ago, Qaddafi was one of the world’s longest-serving dictators -– a murderer with American blood on his hands. Today, he is gone. And in Syria, I have no doubt that the Assad regime will soon discover that the forces of change cannot be reversed, and that human dignity cannot be denied. (Applause.)

How this incredible transformation will end remains uncertain. But we have a huge stake in the outcome. And while it’s ultimately up to the people of the region to decide their fate, we will advocate for those values that have served our own country so well. We will stand against violence and intimidation. We will stand for the rights and dignity of all human beings –- men and women; Christians, Muslims and Jews. We will support policies that lead to strong and stable democracies and open markets, because tyranny is no match for liberty.

And we will safeguard America’s own security against those who threaten our citizens, our friends, and our interests. Look at Iran. Through the power of our diplomacy, a world that was once divided about how to deal with Iran’s nuclear program now stands as one. The regime is more isolated than ever before; its leaders are faced with crippling sanctions, and as long as they shirk their responsibilities, this pressure will not relent.

Let there be no doubt: America is determined to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon, and I will take no options off the table to achieve that goal. (Applause.)

But a peaceful resolution of this issue is still possible, and far better, and if Iran changes course and meets its obligations, it can rejoin the community of nations.

The renewal of American leadership can be felt across the globe. Our oldest alliances in Europe and Asia are stronger than ever. Our ties to the Americas are deeper. Our ironclad commitment -- and I mean ironclad -- to Israel’s security has meant the closest military cooperation between our two countries in history. (Applause.)

We’ve made it clear that America is a Pacific power, and a new beginning in Burma has lit a new hope. From the coalitions we’ve built to secure nuclear materials, to the missions we’ve led against hunger and disease; from the blows we’ve dealt to our enemies, to the enduring power of our moral example, America is back.

Anyone who tells you otherwise, anyone who tells you that America is in decline or that our influence has waned, doesn’t know what they’re talking about. (Applause.)

That’s not the message we get from leaders around the world who are eager to work with us. That’s not how people feel from Tokyo to Berlin, from Cape Town to Rio, where opinions of America are higher than they’ve been in years. Yes, the world is changing. No, we can’t control every event. But America remains the one indispensable nation in world affairs –- and as long as I’m President, I intend to keep it that way. (Applause.)

That’s why, working with our military leaders, I’ve proposed a new defense strategy that ensures we maintain the finest military in the world, while saving nearly half a trillion dollars in our budget. To stay one step ahead of our adversaries, I’ve already sent this Congress legislation that will secure our country from the growing dangers of cyber-threats. (Applause.)

Above all, our freedom endures because of the men and women in uniform who defend it. (Applause.) As they come home, we must serve them as well as they’ve served us. That includes giving them the care and the benefits they have earned –- which is why we’ve increased annual VA spending every year I’ve been President. (Applause.) And it means enlisting our veterans in the work of rebuilding our nation.

With the bipartisan support of this Congress, we’re providing new tax credits to companies that hire vets. Michelle and Jill Biden have worked with American businesses to secure a pledge of 135,000 jobs for veterans and their families. And tonight, I’m proposing a Veterans Jobs Corps that will help our communities hire veterans as cops and firefighters, so that America is as strong as those who defend her. (Applause.)

Which brings me back to where I began. Those of us who’ve been sent here to serve can learn a thing or two from the service of our troops. When you put on that uniform, it doesn’t matter if you’re black or white; Asian, Latino, Native American; conservative, liberal; rich, poor; gay, straight. When you’re marching into battle, you look out for the person next to you, or the mission fails. When you’re in the thick of the fight, you rise or fall as one unit, serving one nation, leaving no one behind.

One of my proudest possessions is the flag that the SEAL Team took with them on the mission to get bin Laden. On it are each of their names. Some may be Democrats. Some may be Republicans. But that doesn’t matter. Just like it didn’t matter that day in the Situation Room, when I sat next to Bob Gates -- a man who was George Bush’s defense secretary -- and Hillary Clinton -- a woman who ran against me for president.

All that mattered that day was the mission. No one thought about politics. No one thought about themselves. One of the young men involved in the raid later told me that he didn’t deserve credit for the mission. It only succeeded, he said, because every single member of that unit did their job -- the pilot who landed the helicopter that spun out of control; the translator who kept others from entering the compound; the troops who separated the women and children from the fight; the SEALs who charged up the stairs. More than that, the mission only succeeded because every member of that unit trusted each other -- because you can’t charge up those stairs, into darkness and danger, unless you know that there’s somebody behind you, watching your back.

So it is with America. Each time I look at that flag, I’m reminded that our destiny is stitched together like those 50 stars and those 13 stripes. No one built this country on their own. This nation is great because we built it together. This nation is great because we worked as a team. This nation is great because we get each other’s backs. And if we hold fast to that truth, in this moment of trial, there is no challenge too great; no mission too hard. As long as we are joined in common purpose, as long as we maintain our common resolve, our journey moves forward, and our future is hopeful, and the state of our Union will always be strong.

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

END 10:16 P.M. EST
##

Obama Will Tout "Home-Grown Energy" In SOTU; USDA Launches New Energy Website

2012-01-24T17:05:00.003-05:00

USDA as 21st century DoE: New website and new web-based tools, including a Renewable Energy Investment Map and an Energy Matrix...UPDATED with President's SOTU remarks on energy
In tonight's State of the Union Address, President Obama will call for “a new era for American energy strategy, fueled by home-grown and alternative energy,” according to White House sources. That includes biofuels and other renewable, green energy projects to ensure a "secure energy future," to create jobs and reduce dependency on foreign oil. Ahead of the President's speech, the US Department of Agriculture has just launched a new energy website to serve as a clearing house for funding and other USDA energy resources, at www.USDA.gov/energy.

USDA's new site is designed to be a "one-stop shop for data about energy efficiency and renewable energy programs at USDA," according to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.

"The website provides access to all USDA energy resources, including agricultural, forestry, economic, and social data. A set of new web-based tools, including a Renewable Energy Investment Map and an Energy Matrix, focus on USDA’s investments and projects, providing information to a broad spectrum of stakeholders," Vilsack said.

The site is supposed to make it easy to navigate USDA’s many energy resources, and also provides links to find energy experts in USDA’s state and local offices, and to the White House. Download USDA's Advancing Renewable Energy brochure [PDF] for an overview of USDA's energy related programs.

One of the 23 guests in First Lady Michelle Obama's Box for the President's Address this evening is Julián Castro, the Mayor of San Antonio, Texas. Castro was invited because he's just announced that CPS Energy, a municipally-owned utility, has entered negotiations to bring at least 800 jobs and $100 million in capital investment to San Antonio. "This is expected to be one of the nation’s largest solar projects resulting in 400 megawatts of zero-emissions solar energy," according to the White House.

President Obama embarks on a five-state tour on Wednesday to discuss his Address. His remarks during stops in Colorado and Nevada will focus on energy development, according to the Whit House. The full schedule.

UPDATE, 10:00 PM: President Obama's SOTU remarks on energy:

The President announced that the Department of Defense, "the world’s largest consumer of energy," will make "one of the largest commitments to clean energy in history – with the Navy purchasing enough capacity to power a quarter of a million homes a year."

The President's full remarks on energy:

"Nowhere is the promise of innovation greater than in American-made energy. Over the last three years, we’ve opened millions of new acres for oil and gas exploration, and tonight, I’m directing my Administration to open more than 75 percent of our potential offshore oil and gas resources. Right now, American oil production is the highest that it’s been in eight years. That’s right – eight years. Not only that – last year, we relied less on foreign oil than in any of the past sixteen years.

But with only 2 percent of the world’s oil reserves, oil isn’t enough. This country needs an all-out, all-of-the-above strategy that develops every available source of American energy – a strategy that’s cleaner, cheaper, and full of new jobs.

We have a supply of natural gas that can last America nearly one hundred years, and my Administration will take every possible action to safely develop this energy. Experts believe this will support more than 600,000 jobs by the end of the decade. And I’m requiring all companies that drill for gas on public lands to disclose the chemicals they use. America will develop this resource without putting the health and safety of our citizens at risk.

The development of natural gas will create jobs and power trucks and factories that are cleaner and cheaper, proving that we don’t have to choose between our environment and our economy. And by the way, it was public research dollars, over the course of thirty years, that helped develop the technologies to extract all this natural gas out of shale rock – reminding us that Government support is critical in helping businesses get new energy ideas off the ground.

What’s true for natural gas is true for clean energy. In three years, our partnership with the private sector has already positioned America to be the world’s leading manufacturer of high-tech batteries. Because of federal investments, renewable energy use has nearly doubled. And thousands of Americans have jobs because of it.

When Bryan Ritterby was laid off from his job making furniture, he said he worried that at 55, no one would give him a second chance. But he found work at Energetx, a wind turbine manufacturer in Michigan. Before the recession, the factory only made luxury yachts. Today, it’s hiring workers like Bryan, who said, “I’m proud to be working in the industry of the future.”

Our experience with shale gas shows us that the payoffs on these public investments don’t always come right away. Some technologies don’t pan out; some companies fail. But I will not walk away from the promise of clean energy. I will not walk away from workers like Bryan. I will not cede the wind or solar or battery industry to China or Germany because we refuse to make the same commitment here. We have subsidized oil companies for a century. That’s long enough. It’s time to end the taxpayer giveaways to an industry that’s rarely been more profitable, and double-down on a clean energy industry that’s never been more promising. Pass clean energy tax credits and create these jobs.

We can also spur energy innovation with new incentives. The differences in this chamber may be too deep right now to pass a comprehensive plan to fight climate change. But there’s no reason why Congress shouldn’t at least set a clean energy standard that creates a market for innovation. So far, you haven’t acted. Well tonight, I will. I’m directing my Administration to allow the development of clean energy on enough public land to power three million homes. And I’m proud to announce that the Department of Defense, the world’s largest consumer of energy, will make one of the largest commitments to clean energy in history – with the Navy purchasing enough capacity to power a quarter of a million homes a year.

Of course, the easiest way to save money is to waste less energy. So here’s another proposal: Help manufacturers eliminate energy waste in their factories and give businesses incentives to upgrade their buildings. Their energy bills will be $100 billion lower over the next decade, and America will have less pollution, more manufacturing, and more jobs for construction workers who need them. Send me a bill that creates these jobs.

Building this new energy future should be just one part of a broader agenda to repair America’s infrastructure. So much of America needs to be rebuilt. We’ve got crumbling roads and bridges. A power grid that wastes too much energy. An incomplete high-speed broadband network that prevents a small business owner in rural America from selling her products all over the world. "

From USDA's new site:

Energy Investments Map
The Energy Investments Map is an interactive map to help users understand where USDA is providing investment support for renewable and sustainable energy initiatives across the United States. Research what's going on in your State or County.

USDA Energy Matrix
The Energy Matrix is a Navigational Aide. USDA's energy related programs are large in scope, and extends among many USDA agencies and mission areas. If you are searching for alternative and affordable energy solutions, funding for projects, available programs and program information, or research and development - we are here to assist you. The Energy Matrix is USDA's one-stop-shopping matrix serving the public, private businesses and the government.

The Renewable Energy Tool
The Renewable Energy Tool is an interactive tool to help users identify at the National, state, and county level the logistics, environmental linkages, and economic linkages across feedstock production, renewable energy production and renewable energy demand and distribution.
###

First Lady Michelle Obama's Guest List For 2012 State Of The Union Address - Updated

2012-01-24T13:35:00.010-05:00

23 guests include Special Ops Admiral responsible for bin Laden raid; Capt. Mark Kelly; Warren Buffett's secretary; Laurene Jobs, Steve Jobs' widow; Mayor of San Antonio...
First Lady Michelle Obama will be joined by 23 guests this evening at the US Capitol for President Obama's State of the Union address, including Second Lady Jill Biden and Valerie Jarrett, confidant and Senior Advisor to the President. Admiral William McRaven, the Special Ops man responsible for designing the raid that killed Osama bin Laden, is also one of Mrs. Obama's guests, as is retired USN Capt. Mark Kelly, the husband of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ). Kelly will join Mrs. Obama in her Box; Giffords will be seated in her chair in the gallery, for her last event as a Member of Congress, after announcing her retirement this weekend. (Above: An updated photo of Mrs. Obama on Tuesday night; to her left is McRaven and Jackie Bray; at right is Kelly and Dr. Biden)

"I hope everyone's made plans to watch tonight's State of the Union—where will you be watching? -mo," Mrs. Obama tweeted ahead of her husband's speech.

Update: The White House announced late Tuesday afternoon that consumer watchdog Richard Cordray would also sit with Mrs. Obama.

Mrs. Obama's guests represent policy issues the President will discuss in his Address, and many come from battleground states for the 2012 election. Joining the First Lady are Laurene Powell Jobs, widow of Apple founder/CEO Steve Jobs, and Mike Krieger, co-founder of Instagram, which @BarackObama recently joined. Debbie Bosanek, the secretary to billionaire financier Warren Buffett, will also be seated with Mrs. Obama. Buffet's 2011 op-ed about taxing millionaires mentioned Ms. Bosanek, and led President Obama to propose the “Buffett Rule” last September as part of comprehensive tax reform. (Above: In this updated photo, Bosanek, l, sits beside Jobs)

Mayor Julián Castro, 37, of San Antonio, Texas, "is the youngest mayor of a top 50 American city," the White House noted, and represents a battleground state for 2012, as well as energy policy. The municipally owned CPS Energy could become one of the nation's largest solar power projects, if all goes as planned. Dr. Hiroyuki Fujita, Founder, President and CEO Quality Electrodynamics, represents the President's efforts to spur American innovation. "Dr. Fujita is creating high tech, advanced manufacturing jobs in the healthcare and energy sectors in the United States," the White House noted.

In a nod to same-sex marriage issues and the President's repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell, Colonel Ginger Wallace, USAF, an intelligence officer, will join Mrs. Obama; she is noted on the guest list for living in Virginia "with her partner of over a decade, Kathy Knopf."

Fifteen of Mrs. Obama's guests hail from states that could determine the outcome of the 2012 election: Four are from California, where Mrs. Obama will fund raise on Jan. 31; two are from Colorado; two are from North Carolina; two are from Michigan, two are from Virginia; and there is one each from Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Florida. Mrs. Obama will travel to Florida on Thursday for two campaign fundraisers. She will be in Virginia tomorrow for a Let's Move! event. President Obama embarks on a five-state tour on Wednesday to discuss his Address. The full schedule includes visits to Michigan and Colorado.

Guest List For The First Lady's Box
State Of The Union Address

Dr. Jill Biden

Valerie Jarrett, Senior Advisor to the President

SGT Ashleigh Berg, USA
Malibu, California

SGT Ashleigh Berg is from Malibu, California, and joined the United States Army in July of 2004. SGT Berg has been stationed in South Korea and Germany, and has served two tours of duty in Iraq. Her husband, SGT Matthew Berg, USA is currently deployed to Afghanistan on his 3rd combat tour. SGT Berg is currently assigned to the 94th Army Missile Defense Command in Fort Shafter Hawaii, and is serving a three year tour as the Commanding General's Executive Administrative assistant.

Alicia Boler-Davis
Plant Manager, General Motors Orion Assembly
Detroit, Michigan

Alicia Boler-Davis lives in Detroit with her husband, Fitzgerald, and their two young sons. She is the plant manager at General Motors Orion Assembly and Pontiac Stamping, and is responsible for overseeing the production of the first new small car program from General Motors to be manufactured in the United States. Last October, Ms. Boler-Davis led President Obama and President Lee of South Korea on a tour of the General Motors Orion Assembly and Pontiac Stamping. President Obama and President Lee traveled to the GM plant to highlight the free trade agreements and the resurgence of the American auto industry.

Debbie Bosanek
Assistant, Berkshire Hathaway
Bellevue, Nebraska

A Nebraska native, Debbie Bosanek has worked for Berkshire Hathaway for 37 years and has been Warren Buffett's secretary for almost two decades. Last September, the President proposed the "Buffett Rule" as part of comprehensive tax reform, and is working to build an economy that works for everyone, including Americans like Ms. Bosanek, not just a wealthy few. Ms. Bosanek lives in Bellevue, Nebraska with her husband of 23 years and their son, and spends most of her time and energy trying to keep up with her boss.

Jackie Bray
Process Operator at the Siemens Charlotte Energy Hub
King's Mountain, North Carolina

Jackie Bray is a single mother from King's Mountain, North Carolina. Last January she was laid off from her job as a high speed packaging mechanic. That is when she enrolled in Central Piedmont Community College to prepare for Siemens pre-hiring test. After finishing the course and passing the test, Ms. Bray was hired by Siemens in August of 2011. This type of partnership between businesses and community colleges is exactly what President Obama hopes to strengthen to maximize workforce development strategies, job training programs, and job placements. Ms. Bray now works as a process operator, combining her machinist background with new skills she has been trained on since working at Siemens: laser training, robotics training, penetrant inspection training, and product orientation.

Mayor Julián Castro
San Antonio, Texas

Mayor Castro was first elected mayor of San Antonio in 2009 and at 37 years old is the youngest mayor of a top 50 American city. He is a former city councilman and founder of a law firm. He graduated from Stanford University and earned his J.D. from Harvard Law School in 2000. During his Administration, the Milken Institute ranked San Antonio as the best-performing city in the nation in 2011. In January 2012, Mayor Castro announced that CPS Energy, a municipally-owned utility, has entered negotiations to bring at least 800 jobs and $100 million in capital investment to San Antonio. This is expected to be one of the nation's largest solar projects resulting in 400 megawatts of zero-emissions solar energy.

Bruce Cochrane
President and CEO of Lincolnton Furniture
Lincolnton, North Carolina

Bruce Cochrane comes from a family that has manufactured furniture in North Carolina for decades, but when Cochrane Furniture was sold in 1997, the new owners moved manufacturing to China. Two years ago, Mr. Cochrane decided the time had come to start his own furniture company back in his home state. In January 2012, production began at Lincolnton Furniture in the same plant his family once ran. Lincolnton Furniture is expected to add 130 new jobs to the area. Mr. Cochrane attended President Obama's Insourcing American Jobs Forum earlier this month.

Sara Ferguson
Teacher, Columbus Elementary
Parkside, Pennsylvania

Sara Ferguson teaches literacy and math at Columbus Elementary, and has worked for the Chester Upland School District for 20 years. She is a third generation educator in Chester Upland, and a proud product of that district. When the Chester Upland School District faced bankruptcy earlier this year in light of severe state budget cuts, Ms. Ferguson vowed to continue teaching even without being paid, saying "we are adults; we will make a way. The students don't have any contingency plan. They need to be educated, so we intend to be on the job."

Dr. Hiroyuki Fujita
Founder, President and CEO Quality Electrodynamics
Cleveland, Ohio

Dr. Hiroyuki Fujita is founder, president and chief executive officer of Quality Electrodynamics (QED), in Cleveland, Ohio. Coming to America from Japan in 1988 and after receiving his Ph.D. in physics from Case Western Reserve University in 1998, Dr. Fujita chose to continue his professional training in America. In 2006 he started his own company, QED, which is a developer and manufacturer of highly proprietary state-of-the-art MRI radiofrequency antennas. QED is now one of the world's largest suppliers of these products and ships throughout the globe. In 2010, Dr. Fujita founded his second company, eQED, a solar energy-related electronics development and manufacturing company. With the founding of both QED and eQED, today Dr. Fujita is creating high tech, advanced manufacturing jobs in the healthcare and energy sectors in the United States.

Mahala Greer
Student
Denver, Colorado

Mahala Greer grew up in Paonia, a small town in rural Colorado. She is currently a student at the University of Colorado Denver majoring in Spanish, and has just been accepted into Teach for America as a Bilingual Education Corps Member. In May she will graduate with more than $35,000 in student loans. Last October, Ms. Greer introduced President Obama when he spoke to students at CU Denver about how his Administration is working to make college more affordable and reduce student loan debt.

Adrienne Howard
San Diego, California

Adrienne Howard is a military spouse from Lynchburg, Virginia, and currently lives in San Diego, California with her three children. Her husband, Commander Colby Howard, USN, is currently on a seven month deployment. Mrs. Howard has moved 14 times during her husband's career, and their oldest child has attended 9 different schools along the way. For nearly 20 years, she has been heavily involved as a volunteer in family readiness groups and Navy spouse organizations. This past September, Mrs. Howard was inspired by First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden's Joining Forces initiative to reach out to her community, and the response was overwhelming. Mrs. Howard shared her story of rallying her community to 'adopt' a Sailor on the Joining Forces Blog.

Mike Krieger
Co-founder Instagram
San Francisco, California

Mike Krieger is the co-founder of Instagram, the fastest growing social mobile startup in the U.S. today, with over 15 million registered users. Mike was born in São Paulo, Brazil, and moved to California in 2004 to attend Stanford University, where he studied computer science and cognitive science. In 2010, he joined up with Kevin Systrom to co-found Instagram, and now employs a talented, growing team of designers and engineers. After graduation, Mr. Krieger worked for a year on his student F-1 visa, later applying for and receiving an H-1B visa as a high-skill worker. Mr. Krieger wants to permanently stay in the U.S. and has applied for a green card.

Captain Mark Kelly, USN, Ret.

Mark Kelly is an American astronaut, retired US Navy Captain, best-selling author, and an experienced naval aviator who flew combat missions during the Gulf War. The winner of many awards, including the Legion of Merit, two Defense Superior Service Medals and two Distinguished Flying Crosses, Kelly was selected as an astronaut in 1996. He flew his first of four missions in 2001 aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour, the same space shuttle that he commanded on its final flight in May 2011. He has also commanded Space Shuttle Discovery and is one of only two individuals who have visited the International Space Station on four different occasions.

Already a celebrated American, Kelly became the center of international attention after the January 2011 assassination attempt on his wife, US Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. In their best-selling memoir, Gabby, the couple shares their story of hope and resilience with the world.

Lorelei Kilker
Analytical Chemist
Brighton, Colorado

Lorelei Kilker is an analytical chemist for an environmental laboratory, and lives in Brighton, Colorado with her domestic partner and their two children. In October of 2011, Ms. Kilker was one of a class of women who benefitted from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's (EEOC) investigation of alleged systematic sex discrimination at her former employer that resulted in the award of back wages and significant remedial relief, arrangements that were achieved through a cooperative process between the employer and EEOC.

Since the creation of the President's Equal Pay Task Force in January 2010, EEOC obtained almost $50 million in monetary relief through administrative enforcement for victims of sex-based wage discrimination, obtained changes to workplace practices that benefit over one quarter of a million workers, and filed five cases including sex-based wage discrimination claims.

Admiral William McRaven, USN

Admiral McRaven assumed command of the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) on June 13, 2008. Prior to assuming command, he served from June 2006 to March 2008 as commander, Special Operations Command Europe (SOCEUR). In addition to his duties as COMSOCEUR, he was designated as the first director of the NATO Special Operations Forces Coordination Centre (NSCC), where he was charged with enhancing the capabilities and inter-operability of all NATO Special Operations Forces.

Adm. McRaven has commanded at every level within the special operations community, including assignments as deputy commanding general for operations at JSOC, commodore of Naval Special Warfare Group 1, commander of SEAL Team 3, task group commander in the CENTCOM area of responsibility, task unit commander during Desert Storm and Desert Shield, squadron commander at Naval Special Warfare Development Group, and SEAL platoon commander at Underwater Demolition Team 21/SEAL Team 4.

Adm. McRaven's diverse staff and interagency experience includes assignments as the director for Strategic Planning in the Office of Combating Terrorism on the National Security Council Staff, assessment director at U.S. Special Operations Command, on the Staff of the Chief of Naval Operations and the chief of staff at Naval Special Warfare Group 1.

Adm. McRaven's professional education includes assignment to the Naval Postgraduate School, where he helped establish and was the first graduate from the Special Operations/Low Intensity Conflict curriculum.

Joan Milligan
Orlando, Florida

As deep rooted Orlando, Florida, residents, Joan Milligan and her husband Bill share a strong commitment to their community and volunteering. Faced with losing their home, President Obama's Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP) allowed Joan and her husband to refinance their existing loan when other means of refinancing were not open to them. As Mrs. Milligan has said, "I can't believe how easy the process was. The bank bent over backwards to accommodate us". The Milligans will celebrate 50 years of marriage in October 2012.

Amber Morris
Virginia Beach, Virginia

Amber Morris, a Virginia Beach resident, responded to the White House's call in December asking Americans "What does 40 mean to you?" saying, "Forty dollars a pay check means that I'll be able to pay my bills, but most months it'll be a tight squeeze. It means that I'll have no spending money which means I can't do my part in encouraging my local economy. Forty dollars a paycheck may not seem a lot, but it could mean a steady job for me and my coworkers or unemployment."

Ms. Morris graduated from Northeastern Law School in 2008 and found herself unable to find a job in her field. She was working for a non-profit in Boston, but after they lost funding she found herself unemployed in 2009 and forced to move back home with her parents. She's since found work as a waitress in a local restaurant and although it's less than ideal, she feels "lucky to have paycheck" to help pay student loans and help save up for the Virginia bar exam.

Laurene Powell Jobs
Founder and Chair of Emerson Collective
Palo Alto, California

Ms. Laurene Powell Jobs is founder and chair of Emerson Collective, an organization focused on harnessing the potential of individuals from underserved communities to help them build a better life.

Ms. Powell Jobs also serves as president of the board of College Track, an after-school program she founded in 1997 to prepare underserved high school students for success in college. Started in East Palo Alto, College Track has expanded to serve students in Oakland, San Francisco, New Orleans and Aurora, Colorado. The program's intensive academic and extracurricular program is designed to ensure admittance to and graduation from college. All of the program's graduates have completed their secondary education and gone on to college.

In addition to her work with the Emerson Collective and College Track, she serves on the boards of directors of NewSchools Venture Fund, New America Foundation and Conservation International. She also serves as a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

Ms. Powell Jobs holds a BA and a BSE from the University of Pennsylvania and an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business. Earlier in her career, she spent several years working in investment banking and later co-founded a natural foods company in California.

Adam Rapp
Fall Creek Township, Illinois

Adam Rapp lives in Fall Creek Township, Illinois, and is the only child of Stephen and Lisa Rapp. On his 23rd birthday, he was diagnosed with cancer, and without the Affordable Care Act he would have lost health insurance coverage the same day. Adam's mother wrote President Obama a letter last May thanking him for passing the health reform law so that her son could remain on their health insurance policy. After undergoing treatment, Mr. Rapp is now cancer-free and engaged to be married to Adrienne Mast of Quincy, Illinois.

Juan Jose Redín
Attorney
North Hollywood, California

Juan Jose Redín was born in Ixtapan de la Sal, Mexico before coming with his mother and younger sister to the United States at the age of 10. After enduring many challenges throughout his journey to achieve his dream of higher education. Juan benefited from California's Assembly Bill 540 and was able to enroll, and excel, in his studies at UCLA. He received both his undergraduate (with honors) and law degrees from UCLA. Now a US citizen and a practicing attorney, Juan is as passionate as ever about ensuring educational access to all.

Bryan Ritterby
Lab Technician
Holland, Michigan

Bryan Ritterby had been in the furniture manufacturing industry for more than 25 years working on the manufacturing floor, in the quality department and as a field service representative, but was laid off in February of 2009. Mr. Ritterby then went through the Grand Rapids Community College Composite Technician Training Program in conjunction with a new start-up company, Energetx Composites. Upon completion of the program, Mr. Ritterby was hired by Energetx Composites as a composite technician in April of 2010.

Today, Mr. Ritterby is a Lab Technician for Energetx Composites conducting material tests in the company's laboratory verifying materials to be used in wind turbine blades, as well as working on blade validation tests for all of the community scale wind blades Energetx is manufacturing.

Colonel Ginger Wallace, USAF
McLean, Virginia

Colonel Ginger Wallace is an Air Force intelligence officer who has led airlift and intelligence operations during Operations SOUTHERN WATCH, PROVIDE RELIEF, UPHOLD DEMOCRACY, ALLIED FORCE, ENDURING FREEDOM and IRAQI FREEDOM. She currently lives in McLean, Virginia with her partner of over a decade, Kathy Knopf. In December, Ms. Knopf attended Col. Wallace's promotion ceremony and participated in the "pinning on" of Col. Wallace's rank, marking the first such event reported following the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." Col. Wallace is currently training to deploy to Afghanistan in the Spring 2012 through the Afghanistan-Pakistan Hands program.

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*Updated
*Getty photos

President Obama's Schedule, Jan. 25-27: 5 State Tour For 2012 State Of The Union Address

2012-01-24T09:11:00.002-05:00

Iowa, Arizona, Nevada, Colorado and Michigan...
Following Tuesday's State of the Union Address, President Obama will travel over the next three days to Iowa, Arizona, Nevada, Colorado and Michigan to speak about issues in his speech. The White House is running a social media campaign for the President's address, and an enhanced version of the speech that "features graphics, data and stats that highlight the issues the President is discussing" will be available on WhiteHouse.gov/SOTU. Use the Twitter hashtag #SOTU to discuss the speech live. Twitter users are also using #SOTU2012.

President Obama's travel schedule

Wednesday, Jan. 25 Iowa, Arizona
President Obama will travel to Cedar Rapids, Iowa to deliver remarks at Conveyor Engineering & Manufacturing, 1345 76th Avenue SW. Event is scheduled for 12:00 PM.

The President then travels to the Phoenix area to deliver remarks at the Intel Ocotillo Campus, 4500 South Dobson Road, Chandler, AZ. Event is scheduled for 4:30 PM MST.

The President will travel to Las Vegas, NV and spend the night.

Thursday, Jan. 26 Nevada, Colorado
Las Vegas: President Obama will deliver remarks at UPS Las Vegas South at 335 East Arby Lane. Event is scheduled for 10:00 AM PST.

President Obama will travel to the Denver, Colorado area.

The President will deliver remarks at Buckley Air Force Base, East Mississippi Avenue and Aspen Street, Aurora, Co. Event is scheduled for 3:05 PM.

The President will travel to Detroit, MI, and spend the night.

Friday, Jan. 27th Michigan, Maryland
Ann Arbor, MI: President Obama will deliver remarks at the University of Michigan campus in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The President will speak at the Al Glick Field House, 1300 South State Street. Event is scheduled for 9:35 AM.

The President then returns to the Washington, DC area, and he will attend the House Democratic Issues Conference in Cambridge, Maryland.
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*Photo by Pete Souza/White House

White House Social Media Push For President Obama's 2012 State of the Union Address

2012-01-23T14:06:00.005-05:00

Schedule: Senior Policy Advisors and aides will answer policy questions on social media during and after speech...UPDATED
The White House on Monday released a long list of Senior Policy Advisors and aides who will be engaging with the public via social media, including Twitter, Google +, Facebook, and YouTube following President Obama's State of the Union Address on Tuesday and for three days following. The full schedule is below. President Obama will make a three-day, five-state trip starting on Wednesday to discuss his speech. The full schedule. (Above: The President during last year's SOTU address)

The heady new media effort will include "a live panel featuring senior White House advisors" answering questions immediately following President Obama's 9:00 PM ET speech, the White House said. On Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, "a group of policy experts and advisors to the President will sit down for Office Hours on Twitter."

The advisors and aides scheduled to engage on Twitter cover everything from Veterans Affairs to LGBT issues to small business to education and Hispanic Media. On Friday at 10:00 AM, Doug McKalip, Senior Policy Advisor for Rural Affairs, will discuss Rural Issues on Twitter.

"The State of the Union will be a bookend to the President’s speech in Kansas last month about the central mission that we have as a country, and his focus as President of building a country and an economy where we reward hard work and responsibility, where everyone does their fair share, and where everyone is held accountable for what they do," Press Secretary Jay Carney said today.

An "enhanced" version of the President's speech that "features graphics, data and stats that highlight the issues the President is discussing" will be available on WhiteHouse.gov/SOTU. Use the Twitter hashtag #SOTU to discuss the speech live.

The President will embark on a five-state tour on Wednesday as a follow up to his SOTU address. He'll visit Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Phoenix, AZ on Wednesday, and Las Vegas, NV and Denver, Col. on Thursday. On Friday, he will speak in Detroit, MI. On Monday, Jan. 30, "in the first completely-virtual interview from the White House, President Obama will answer questions that have been submitted by Americans from across the country via YouTube," the White House said. "The virtual event with the President will happen through Google + Hangouts, for a live multi-person video chat." It's from the West Wing.

The White House SOTU Engagement Schedule

All times are ET:

Tuesday, Jan. 24

10:00 PM: Immediately following the speech, pose questions to a live panel at the White House. Senior advisors will answer your questions about the President’s address submitted via Twitter (use #WHChat and #SOTU), Facebook, Google+, and an in-person audience of Tweetup participants.

Wednesday, Jan. 25 Office Hours Schedule

All Day: Josh Earnest, Principal Deputy Press Secretary, answers questions on Twitter (@jearnest44). Use #WHChat and #SOTU

1:00 PM: Office Hours with Mark Zuckerman, Deputy Director of the Domestic Policy Council

3:00 PM: Office Hours with Dan Pfeiffer (@pfeiffer44), White House Communications Director

Thursday, Jan. 26 Office Hours Schedule

10:00 AM: Veterans: Matt Flavin, White House Director of Veterans and Wounded Warrior Policy

11:00 AM: LGBT: Miriam Vogel, White House Senior Policy Advisor and Gautam Raghavan, White House Associate Director for Public Engagement

12:00 PM: Women: Racquel Russell, Special Assistant to the President for Mobility and Opportunity and Avra Siegel, White House Deputy Executive Director for the Council on Women and Girls

1:00 PM: Seniors: Jeanne Lambrew, Deputy Assistant to the President for Health Policy and Nick Papas, Assistant Press Secretary

2:00 PM: Latinos: Felicia Escobar, White House Senior Policy Advisor, Julie Rodriguez, White House Associate Director of Public Engagement and Luis Miranda, White House Director of Hispanic Media

3:00 PM: Native Americans: Kimberlee Teehee, Senior Policy Advisor for Native American Affairs

4:00 PM: Small Business Owners: Christine Koronides, Senior Advisor for Economic Policy, National Economic Council

5:00 PM: African Americans: Danielle Gray, Deputy Assistant to the President for Economic Policy

6:00 PM: Asian American Pacific Islanders: Chris Lu, Assistant to the President and Cabinet Secretary

TBD Youth: Administration official to be announced

Friday, Jan. 27 Office Hours Schedule

10:00 AM: Rural Issues: Doug McKalip, Senior Policy Advisor for Rural Affairs

11:00 AM: Foreign Policy: Ben Rhodes, Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategic Communications and Speechwriting

12:00 AM: Education: Roberto Rodriguez, Special Assistant to the President for Education Policy

1:00 PM: Health: Jeanne Lambrew, Deputy Assistant to the President for Health Policy and Nick Papas, Assistant Press Secretary

2:00 PM: Energy: Heather Zichal, Deputy Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change and Dan Utech, Deputy Director for Energy Policy

3:00 PM: Consumer Protections: Brian Deese, Deputy Director National Economic Council

4:00 PM: The Economy: Jason Furman, Principal Deputy Director National Economic Council

5:00 PM: Job Opportunities: Portia Wu, Senior Policy Advisor for Mobility and Opportunity Policy

6:00 PM: Urban Issues: Racquel Russell, Special Assistant to the President for Mobility and Opportunity

Monday, January 30

President Obama participates in a Google+ Hangout from the White House

From the White House: "Participating in the Hangout is easy -- just visit the White House YouTube channel to submit your questions and vote for your favorites between now and January 28. A few participants will be chosen to join the President in the Google+ Hangout to ask their questions of the President live!"

*Updated; the Rural Affairs discussion with Doug McKalip was added late on Monday.

*Photo by Pete Souza/White House

Michelle Obama To Kick Off Second Anniversary Celebration For Let's Move! In Iowa

2012-01-23T12:52:00.002-05:00

Three-day, multi-state tour planned for childhood obesity campaign...physical fitness activities spotlighted...
Physical fitness initiatives will be front and center when First Lady Michelle Obama marks the second anniversary of the Let's Move! campaign with a visit to Des Moines, Iowa, on Feb. 9th. It's the start of a three-day national tour to celebrate the achievements of the campaign, according to Press Secretary Hannah August. Thousands of kids have been invited to join Mrs. Obama to take part in fitness and sports activities during the event at the Wells Fargo Arena, in keeping with the Let's Move! campaign's renewed focus on physical activity in the year ahead. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, a former two-term governor of Iowa, will join Mrs. Obama.

"Iowa has become a national leader in ensuring kids are leading healthy, active lives and created a program that makes sense for their state," Mrs. Obama said in a statement about her visit.

Mrs. Obama will also be joined by Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad, the Republican leader who has adopted his predecessor's Healthiest State program, a public-private partnership with a goal of making Iowa the nation’s healthiest state by 2016. The project is the key reason Mrs. Obama is visiting Des Moines, according to August.

"I’m looking forward to visiting Des Moines and celebrating all that Let’s Move! and Iowa have done to help our kids lead healthier lives," Mrs. Obama said.

In 2012, the Let's Move! fitness initiatives will include unveiling "wonderful new tools and information for parents," continuing to promote the Presidential Active Lifestyle Award, and continuing a community-level focus, through Mayors, on improving access to physical activity opportunities, the First Lady said in November of 2011. She added that this can all be done without "spending a dime."

"When I launched Let’s Move! two years ago, my hope was that people would truly make the initiative their own, because we know that there’s not just one solution to the problem of childhood obesity," Mrs. Obama said.

The First Lady celebrated the one-year anniversary of her campaign in 2011 in Georgia, with a speech at North Point Community Church in Alpharetta and a visit to Burgess-Peterson Academy in Atlanta. She launched the campaign at the White House event in 2010. An overview of the campaign is here.

“We are excited to welcome the first lady to help us put Iowa’s public-private partnership in the national spotlight,” Gov. Branstad said in a statement. “Her visit will energize Iowans at the local level and encourage all of us to embrace our goal to make Iowa the healthiest state in the country."

The First Lady's first official visit to Iowa was in May of 2011, when she gave the commencement address to the University of Northern Iowa's Class of 2011, in Cedar Rapids.

"It feels like I’ve spent more time in this state than anywhere besides Illinois or Washington, D.C. My family was here a lot back in 2007," Mrs. Obama said.

Candidate Obama's win in the Iowa caucuses helped propel him to the Democratic nomination. President Obama is visiting Cedar Rapids this Wednesday, to deliver remarks at Conveyor Engineering & Manufacturing, as a follow-up to his State of the Union Address.

Mrs. Obama's other stops on her Let's Move! anniversary tour have not yet been announced.

>In this po st, experts weigh in on Let's Move! achievements at the one-year mark.

Mrs. Obama's speech on the one-year anniversary of Let's Move:

*Photo at top of post by Chuck Kennedy/White House; Mrs. Obama was participating in one of her many fitness events with kids on the South Lawn of the White House

First Lady's "Tonight Show" Appearance Begins Promotional Efforts For New Gardening Book

2012-01-23T12:50:00.004-05:00

First Lady Michelle Obama will kick off a national media campaign to promote her forthcoming book about the White House Kitchen Garden with a visit to NBC's Tonight Show With Jay Leno on Jan. 31. "American Grown," Mrs. Obama's first outing as an author, will be published in April. NBC said when announcing Mrs. Obama's appearance that she will discuss the book and the Let's Move! campaign; Mrs. Obama will embark on a three-day national tour to celebrate the second anniversary of her childhood obesity initiative starting on Feb. 9, with a visit to Des Moines, Iowa.

Mrs. Obama will also discuss life in the White House, according to the network, for her first appearance on The Tonight Show as First Lady. Mrs. Obama previously joined Leno in October of 2008 to discuss her husband's election campaign. NBC said Mrs. Obama's upcoming visit is the first for any First Lady on any late-night TV talk show, adding to her growing list of "firsts," including the gardening book.

Other promotional activities for Mrs. Obama's 256-page, $30 book, which will be released by Crown Publishing Group, will include a "Major national television campaign" and a "National and regional NPR [National Public Radio] campaign," as well as "National review and feature attention," according to the publisher. The advertising campaign will include announcement ads in the New York Times and Washington Post, and banner ads on major dot coms such as USAToday.com, as well as a social media campaign. Mrs. Obama joined Twitter on January 12. Her book deal was announced in March of 2011, after the Spring Planting of the now internationally famous Kitchen Garden.

Author Lyric Winik, known for helping craft bestselling memoirs for former First Lady Laura Bush and Sen. Scott Brown, has helped Mrs. Obama tell her story in "American Grown," and food/lifestyle photographer Quentin Bacon is responsible for the photos.

The President last visited Jay Leno right before Halloween, and his joking about the too-healthy contents of White House treat bags led to more candy being included in the bags doled out to kids for 2011's annual ghoulish celebration under the North Portico. In March of 2009 when he appeared on The Tonight Show, Mr. Obama became the first sitting US president to appear on any late night talk show. (Above: Mrs. Obama with Leno in 2008)

Mrs. Obama this month made her TV sitcom debut, appearing as herself on the popular Nickelodeon teen comedy "iCarly" in an episode created to honor military families. She's also cameo'd on a special White House edition of Iron Chef America, and appeared on Sesame Street in 2009 and, with her husband, she appeared on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" in May of 2011. Mrs. Obama is something of a regular on NBC's Today show.

*Cover photo by Crown; other courtesy of NBC

Staff Fueled By Cookies At Obama Campaign HQ

2012-01-23T08:04:00.005-05:00

The sweet chaser for pizza and vats of coffee...
If you're wondering what superfood is powering President Obama's re-election campaign, apparently it's chocolate chip cookies. This photo was posted by a campaign staffer to BarackObama's instagram account. It got 195 comments, which included observations about everything from the look of the cookies to SOPA and internet freedom.

"Chocolate chip cookies and a serving of fruit: helping to sustain the #Obama2012 HQ staff today," was the message with the photo.

"Obama posting cookie pictures is a joke... Use our resources for something meaningful, not your shameless self promotion," wrote intagram user aarondomino.

Under tight deadlines, OFA staffers usually gorge on lousy food and drink loads of coffee, according to Rufus Gifford, the National Finance Director for Obama for America, who shared details of staffers' dietary habits in an e-mail to potential donors.

"We've all had more pizza and bad takeout in the past few weeks than anyone should have in a year," Gifford wrote. "The staff and I are working around the clock, powered by too much coffee."