TUESDAY, JULY 14TH, 2009 AT 1:28 PM
Las declaraciones iniciales de la Jueza Sotomayor
Posted by Luis Miranda
Ayer el Comité Judicial del Senado comenzó las audiencias de confirmación para la Jueza Sonia Sotomayor, nominada para la Corte Suprema. En sus declaraciones iniciales, la Jueza Sotomayor prometió "ser fiel a la ley."
En el último mes, muchos senadores me han preguntado sobre mi filosofía judicial. Es muy simple: ser fiel a la ley. La labor de un juez no es formular leyes sino aplicar las leyes. Y en mi opinión, está claro que mi historial en dos tribunales refleja mi riguroso compromiso con interpretar la Constitución según sus términos; interpretar los estatutos según sus términos y lo que se proponía el Congreso y ceñirme fielmente a los precedentes establecidos por la Corte Suprema y mi Corte de Distrito. En cada caso en los que he participado, he aplicado la ley a los hechos en cuestión.
Vean el video completo de las declaraciones iniciales de la Jueza Sotomayor aqui, con capciones en español:
Las audiencias de confirmación de la Jueza Sotomayor continuan hoy con la primera oportunidad de tomar preguntas. Durante los últimos 17 años, la Jueza Sotomayor ha ejercido su labor como jueza desde el punto de vista del mundo verdadero. Ese estilo sencillo y familiar está luciendo en las audicencias, a través de sus respuestas claras y directas. Se puede ver más acerca de la Jueza Sotomayor en todo Whitehouse.gov:
•Fotos de la Jueza Sotomayor
•Mensaje Semanal del Presidente: La Experiencia de la Jueza Sotomayor
•VIDEO: Vea el anuncio del Presidente de la nominación de la Jueza Sotomayor
•Lea el texto de las declaraciones del Presidente al nombrar a la Jueza Sotomayor
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Monday, July 13, 2009
Watch, Discuss, Engage: Christina Romer on Jobs of the Future
MONDAY, JULY 13TH, 2009 AT 2:00 PM
Watch, Discuss, Engage: Christina Romer on Jobs of the Future
Posted by Katherine Brandon
The President’s Council of Economic Advisers released a report today on "Jobs of the Future (pdf)" outlining how the U.S. labor market is expected to grow over the next few years. The report includes information on likely shifts and changes in the labor market, skills and training that will likely be most relevant in growing occupations, the importance of worker flexibility, and how the construction and manufacturing sectors are expected to rebound as a result of the Recovery Act.
CEA Chair Christina Romer will participate in a live chat at 2:30 to discuss the report. She will be taking your questions about the future job market through our Facebook application and WhiteHouse.gov/live, so watch it live, share your questions, and participate in the conversation.
Here is a short snippet from the report:
Well-trained and highly-skilled workers will be best positioned to secure high-wage jobs, thereby fueling American prosperity. Occupations requiring higher educational attainment are projected to grow much faster than those with lower education requirements, with the fastest growth among occupations that require an associate’s degree or a post-secondary vocational award. Key attributes of a well-trained workforce as well as elements of an effective education and training system are detailed below.
Employers value workers who can think critically and solve problems. Many highly-paid occupations require workers with good analytic and interactive skills.
Occupations that employ large shares of workers with post-secondary education and training are growing faster than others. While expected growth in construction and some manufacturing industries would create job opportunities at all skill levels, workers will be better positioned for good jobs if they acquire additional training and education. Occupations that have grown recently require more formal post-secondary schooling than occupations that have declined.
The U.S. post-high school education and training system provides valuable skills to those who complete programs in high-growth fields. However, it could be more effective at encouraging completion and responding to the needs of the labor market
Elements of a more effective system include: a solid early childhood, elementary, and secondary system that ensures students have strong basic skills; institutions and programs that have goals that are aligned and curricula that are cumulative; close collaboration between training providers and employers to ensure that curricula are aligned with workforce needs; flexible scheduling, appropriate curricula, and financial aid designed to meet the needs of students; incentives for institutions and programs to continually improve and innovate; and accountability for results.
Worker flexibility is key given the dynamic nature of the U.S. labor market and ongoing technological change. In 2003, for example, a quarter of American workers were in jobs that were not even listed among the Census Bureau’s Occupation codes in 1967, and technological change has only accelerated since then. Environmental-related occupations – which are expected to experience tremendous growth over the next decade – did not exist in comparable data prior to 2000. As we build a new foundation for economic growth in the 21st century, the nation’s workers will be better prepared for ever-changing opportunities if they have strong analytical and interpersonal skills. High-quality education and training is the best way to prepare the workers of today for the jobs of tomorrow.
Watch, Discuss, Engage: Christina Romer on Jobs of the Future
Posted by Katherine Brandon
The President’s Council of Economic Advisers released a report today on "Jobs of the Future (pdf)" outlining how the U.S. labor market is expected to grow over the next few years. The report includes information on likely shifts and changes in the labor market, skills and training that will likely be most relevant in growing occupations, the importance of worker flexibility, and how the construction and manufacturing sectors are expected to rebound as a result of the Recovery Act.
CEA Chair Christina Romer will participate in a live chat at 2:30 to discuss the report. She will be taking your questions about the future job market through our Facebook application and WhiteHouse.gov/live, so watch it live, share your questions, and participate in the conversation.
Here is a short snippet from the report:
Well-trained and highly-skilled workers will be best positioned to secure high-wage jobs, thereby fueling American prosperity. Occupations requiring higher educational attainment are projected to grow much faster than those with lower education requirements, with the fastest growth among occupations that require an associate’s degree or a post-secondary vocational award. Key attributes of a well-trained workforce as well as elements of an effective education and training system are detailed below.
Employers value workers who can think critically and solve problems. Many highly-paid occupations require workers with good analytic and interactive skills.
Occupations that employ large shares of workers with post-secondary education and training are growing faster than others. While expected growth in construction and some manufacturing industries would create job opportunities at all skill levels, workers will be better positioned for good jobs if they acquire additional training and education. Occupations that have grown recently require more formal post-secondary schooling than occupations that have declined.
The U.S. post-high school education and training system provides valuable skills to those who complete programs in high-growth fields. However, it could be more effective at encouraging completion and responding to the needs of the labor market
Elements of a more effective system include: a solid early childhood, elementary, and secondary system that ensures students have strong basic skills; institutions and programs that have goals that are aligned and curricula that are cumulative; close collaboration between training providers and employers to ensure that curricula are aligned with workforce needs; flexible scheduling, appropriate curricula, and financial aid designed to meet the needs of students; incentives for institutions and programs to continually improve and innovate; and accountability for results.
Worker flexibility is key given the dynamic nature of the U.S. labor market and ongoing technological change. In 2003, for example, a quarter of American workers were in jobs that were not even listed among the Census Bureau’s Occupation codes in 1967, and technological change has only accelerated since then. Environmental-related occupations – which are expected to experience tremendous growth over the next decade – did not exist in comparable data prior to 2000. As we build a new foundation for economic growth in the 21st century, the nation’s workers will be better prepared for ever-changing opportunities if they have strong analytical and interpersonal skills. High-quality education and training is the best way to prepare the workers of today for the jobs of tomorrow.
Welcome to IT Dashboard – The Blog!
MONDAY, JULY 13TH, 2009 AT 1:36 PM
Welcome to IT Dashboard – The Blog!
Posted by Vivek Kundra
Cross-posted from the new IT Dashboard blog.
It has been an exciting time since we launched the IT Dashboard. There have been more than 20 million hits so far, and we’ve received an encouraging response from members of Congress and the public in support of our efforts to increase transparency. One of those 20 million hits was from a prominent IT user; see for yourself here:
(The President looks at the new IT Dashboard at his secretary's desk outside the Oval Office.
White House Photo, 7/2/09, Pete Souza)
For anybody just joining us, the "IT Dashboard" is a new, one-stop clearinghouse of information that allows anyone with a web browser to track federal IT initiatives and hold the government accountable for progress and results. A part of USASpending.gov, the dashboard allows you to see what IT projects are working and on-schedule (and which are not), offer alternative approaches, and provide direct feedback to the chief information officers at federal agencies – in effect, keeping tabs on the people who are responsible for taxpayer dollars for technology.
Leading up to the launch, we tapped the brightest and most innovative minds from Federal agencies, Congress, independent oversight organizations, and the private sector as we built the IT Dashboard. Over 400 federal employees joined our daily open house sessions for a hands-on opportunity to try the Dashboard, check their data, and suggest improvements. Until July 31, CIOs can submit investment evaluations and update other investment data. During this time, you will notice that the site will continue to be in "beta" as we deliver additional key features.
But we can’t simply make this an exercise in federal agency reporting. That is why we started this blog. We want to hear from you about what works and what doesn’t with the site. Is there a more innovative approach that an investment should consider? Does the contract data look incorrect to you? Is there an application that we should add? This is a site to serve you, and to do that, we need to hear from you.
So bookmark this blog, and come back to us often. There is a lot happening over the next few weeks as we review the entire federal IT portfolio, assess the performance of investments, identify areas to save money, improve performance, and share best practices.
Vivek Kundra is Federal CIO.
Welcome to IT Dashboard – The Blog!
Posted by Vivek Kundra
Cross-posted from the new IT Dashboard blog.
It has been an exciting time since we launched the IT Dashboard. There have been more than 20 million hits so far, and we’ve received an encouraging response from members of Congress and the public in support of our efforts to increase transparency. One of those 20 million hits was from a prominent IT user; see for yourself here:
(The President looks at the new IT Dashboard at his secretary's desk outside the Oval Office.
White House Photo, 7/2/09, Pete Souza)
For anybody just joining us, the "IT Dashboard" is a new, one-stop clearinghouse of information that allows anyone with a web browser to track federal IT initiatives and hold the government accountable for progress and results. A part of USASpending.gov, the dashboard allows you to see what IT projects are working and on-schedule (and which are not), offer alternative approaches, and provide direct feedback to the chief information officers at federal agencies – in effect, keeping tabs on the people who are responsible for taxpayer dollars for technology.
Leading up to the launch, we tapped the brightest and most innovative minds from Federal agencies, Congress, independent oversight organizations, and the private sector as we built the IT Dashboard. Over 400 federal employees joined our daily open house sessions for a hands-on opportunity to try the Dashboard, check their data, and suggest improvements. Until July 31, CIOs can submit investment evaluations and update other investment data. During this time, you will notice that the site will continue to be in "beta" as we deliver additional key features.
But we can’t simply make this an exercise in federal agency reporting. That is why we started this blog. We want to hear from you about what works and what doesn’t with the site. Is there a more innovative approach that an investment should consider? Does the contract data look incorrect to you? Is there an application that we should add? This is a site to serve you, and to do that, we need to hear from you.
So bookmark this blog, and come back to us often. There is a lot happening over the next few weeks as we review the entire federal IT portfolio, assess the performance of investments, identify areas to save money, improve performance, and share best practices.
Vivek Kundra is Federal CIO.
Dr. Regina Benjamin: Nominee for Surgeon General
MONDAY, JULY 13TH, 2009 AT 12:49 PM
Dr. Regina Benjamin: Nominee for Surgeon General
Posted by Katherine Brandon
The President announced his nominee for the U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Regina Benjamin, today at the White House. Dr. Benjamin has an extensive and distinguished career in medicine. She is the Founder and CEO of the Bayou La Batre Rural Health Clinic in Alabama, which aims to provide primary care to people of any age regardless of their financial situation. She previously served as Chair of the Federation of State Medical Boards of the United States, and as the Associate Dean for Rural Health at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine. Additionally, she was chosen as President of the Medical Association of Alabama in 2002, becoming the first African-American woman to be president of a state medical society. She was also the first African-American woman and physician under 40 to be elected to the American Medical Association Board of Trustees. She received the Nelson Mandela Award for Health and Human Rights in 1998, among other honors.
(President Barack Obama, with Health & Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, right, announces his new
Surgeon General nominee Dr. Regina Benjamin, left, in the Rose Garden of the White House, Monday, July 13, 2009. Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)
The President emphasized this experience in his remarks, chronicling her dedication to providing health care for her rural community in the face of adversity:
And that's why, even though she could have left the state to make more money as a specialist or as a doctor in a wealthier community, Regina Benjamin returned to Alabama and opened a small clinic in Bayou La Batre.
When people couldn't pay, she didn't charge them. When the clinic wasn't making money, she didn't take a salary for herself. When Hurricane George destroyed the clinic in 1998, she made house calls to all her patients while it was rebuilt. When Hurricane Katrina destroyed it again and left most of her town homeless, she mortgaged her house and maxed out her credit cards to rebuild that clinic for a second time. She tended to those who had been wounded in the storm, and when folks needed medicine, she asked the pharmacist to send the bill her way.
And when Regina's clinic was about to open for the third time, and a fire burned it to the ground before it could serve the first patient, well, you can guess what Dr. Benjamin did. With help from her community, she is rebuilding it again. One disabled patient brought her an envelope with $20 inside. Another elderly man said simply, "Maybe I can help. I got a hammer."
For nearly two decades, Dr. Regina Benjamin has seen in a very personal way what is broken about our health care system. She's seen an increasing number of patients who've had health insurance their entire lives suddenly lose it because they lost their jobs or because it's simply become too expensive. She's been a relentless promoter of prevention and wellness programs, having treated too many costly and -- diseases and complications that didn't have to happen. And she's witnessed the shortage of primary care physicians in the rural and underserved areas where she works.
But for all that she's seen and all the tremendous obstacles that she has overcome, Regina Benjamin also represents what's best about health care in America -- doctors and nurses who give and care and sacrifice for the sake of their patients; those Americans who would do anything to heal a fellow citizen.
(President Barack Obama with Surgeon General nominee Dr. Regina Benjamin in the Rose Garden
of the White House, July 13, 2009. Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)
As the President explained, through this personal experience working with the poor and uninsured, Dr. Benjamin understands firsthand the urgent need for health care reform. As Surgeon General, she will be the people’s health advocate, and will play a key role in health care reform. In her remarks, Dr. Benjamin explained how she sees her role:
My hope, if confirmed as Surgeon General, is to be America's doctor, America's family physician. As we work toward a solution to this health care crisis, I promise to communicate directly with the American people to help guide them through whatever changes may come with health care reform.
Dr. Regina Benjamin: Nominee for Surgeon General
Posted by Katherine Brandon
The President announced his nominee for the U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Regina Benjamin, today at the White House. Dr. Benjamin has an extensive and distinguished career in medicine. She is the Founder and CEO of the Bayou La Batre Rural Health Clinic in Alabama, which aims to provide primary care to people of any age regardless of their financial situation. She previously served as Chair of the Federation of State Medical Boards of the United States, and as the Associate Dean for Rural Health at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine. Additionally, she was chosen as President of the Medical Association of Alabama in 2002, becoming the first African-American woman to be president of a state medical society. She was also the first African-American woman and physician under 40 to be elected to the American Medical Association Board of Trustees. She received the Nelson Mandela Award for Health and Human Rights in 1998, among other honors.
(President Barack Obama, with Health & Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, right, announces his new
Surgeon General nominee Dr. Regina Benjamin, left, in the Rose Garden of the White House, Monday, July 13, 2009. Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)
The President emphasized this experience in his remarks, chronicling her dedication to providing health care for her rural community in the face of adversity:
And that's why, even though she could have left the state to make more money as a specialist or as a doctor in a wealthier community, Regina Benjamin returned to Alabama and opened a small clinic in Bayou La Batre.
When people couldn't pay, she didn't charge them. When the clinic wasn't making money, she didn't take a salary for herself. When Hurricane George destroyed the clinic in 1998, she made house calls to all her patients while it was rebuilt. When Hurricane Katrina destroyed it again and left most of her town homeless, she mortgaged her house and maxed out her credit cards to rebuild that clinic for a second time. She tended to those who had been wounded in the storm, and when folks needed medicine, she asked the pharmacist to send the bill her way.
And when Regina's clinic was about to open for the third time, and a fire burned it to the ground before it could serve the first patient, well, you can guess what Dr. Benjamin did. With help from her community, she is rebuilding it again. One disabled patient brought her an envelope with $20 inside. Another elderly man said simply, "Maybe I can help. I got a hammer."
For nearly two decades, Dr. Regina Benjamin has seen in a very personal way what is broken about our health care system. She's seen an increasing number of patients who've had health insurance their entire lives suddenly lose it because they lost their jobs or because it's simply become too expensive. She's been a relentless promoter of prevention and wellness programs, having treated too many costly and -- diseases and complications that didn't have to happen. And she's witnessed the shortage of primary care physicians in the rural and underserved areas where she works.
But for all that she's seen and all the tremendous obstacles that she has overcome, Regina Benjamin also represents what's best about health care in America -- doctors and nurses who give and care and sacrifice for the sake of their patients; those Americans who would do anything to heal a fellow citizen.
(President Barack Obama with Surgeon General nominee Dr. Regina Benjamin in the Rose Garden
of the White House, July 13, 2009. Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)
As the President explained, through this personal experience working with the poor and uninsured, Dr. Benjamin understands firsthand the urgent need for health care reform. As Surgeon General, she will be the people’s health advocate, and will play a key role in health care reform. In her remarks, Dr. Benjamin explained how she sees her role:
My hope, if confirmed as Surgeon General, is to be America's doctor, America's family physician. As we work toward a solution to this health care crisis, I promise to communicate directly with the American people to help guide them through whatever changes may come with health care reform.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
A New Moment of Promise in Africa
SATURDAY, JULY 11TH, 2009 AT 10:40 AM
A New Moment of Promise in Africa
Posted by Kol Peterson
Today, the President gave a speech in Accra, Ghana. He laid out his vision for human rights and democracy in Africa’s future, and he described what America’s role in promoting better governance in Africa will be. The speech was entitled, "A New Moment of Promise."
We made sure that speech would be as accessible to as many Africans as possible on the radio, TV, and by SMS. These are the speech excerpts that we sent out to thousands of SMS subscribers in Africa and around the world.
•It is an honor for me to be in Accra & to speak to the representatives of the people of Ghana. I am proud that this is my first visit to sub-Saharan Africa as President of the US.
•The 21st century will be shaped by what happens not just in Rome or Moscow or Washington, but by what happens in Accra as well.
•I will focus on four areas that are critical to the future of Africa and the entire developing world: democracy; opportunity; health; and the peaceful resolution of conflict.
•Governments that respect the will of their own people are more prosperous, more stable, and more successful than governments that do not.
•With better governance, I have no doubt that Africa holds the promise of a broader base for prosperity.
•People must make responsible choices that prevent the spread of disease… promoting public health in their communities and countries.
•America will support these efforts through a comprehensive, global health strategy.
•Africa’s diversity should be a source of strength, not a cause for division
•We must stand up to inhumanity in our midst. It is never justifiable to target innocents in the name of ideology.
•I am speaking to the young people. You have the power to hold your leaders accountable, and to build institutions that serve the people.
•I can promise you this: America will be with you. As a partner. As a friend. Freedom is your inheritance. Now, it is your responsibility to build upon freedom’s foundation.
A New Moment of Promise in Africa
Posted by Kol Peterson
Today, the President gave a speech in Accra, Ghana. He laid out his vision for human rights and democracy in Africa’s future, and he described what America’s role in promoting better governance in Africa will be. The speech was entitled, "A New Moment of Promise."
We made sure that speech would be as accessible to as many Africans as possible on the radio, TV, and by SMS. These are the speech excerpts that we sent out to thousands of SMS subscribers in Africa and around the world.
•It is an honor for me to be in Accra & to speak to the representatives of the people of Ghana. I am proud that this is my first visit to sub-Saharan Africa as President of the US.
•The 21st century will be shaped by what happens not just in Rome or Moscow or Washington, but by what happens in Accra as well.
•I will focus on four areas that are critical to the future of Africa and the entire developing world: democracy; opportunity; health; and the peaceful resolution of conflict.
•Governments that respect the will of their own people are more prosperous, more stable, and more successful than governments that do not.
•With better governance, I have no doubt that Africa holds the promise of a broader base for prosperity.
•People must make responsible choices that prevent the spread of disease… promoting public health in their communities and countries.
•America will support these efforts through a comprehensive, global health strategy.
•Africa’s diversity should be a source of strength, not a cause for division
•We must stand up to inhumanity in our midst. It is never justifiable to target innocents in the name of ideology.
•I am speaking to the young people. You have the power to hold your leaders accountable, and to build institutions that serve the people.
•I can promise you this: America will be with you. As a partner. As a friend. Freedom is your inheritance. Now, it is your responsibility to build upon freedom’s foundation.
Weekly Address: Recovery and the Jobs of the Future
FRIDAY, JULY 10TH, 2009 AT 11:59 PM
Weekly Address: Recovery and the Jobs of the Future
Posted by Jesse Lee
The President explains how the Recovery Act helped end our economic free fall, and how his agenda is helping to set a new foundation for our economy. From health reform, to energy, to creating the jobs of the future, the President’s proposals will make our economy stronger for both the current generations and our children, all in a way that will get our deficits under control.
Weekly Address: Recovery and the Jobs of the Future
Posted by Jesse Lee
The President explains how the Recovery Act helped end our economic free fall, and how his agenda is helping to set a new foundation for our economy. From health reform, to energy, to creating the jobs of the future, the President’s proposals will make our economy stronger for both the current generations and our children, all in a way that will get our deficits under control.
The President Takes Questions from Africa
FRIDAY, JULY 10TH, 2009 AT 5:25 PM
The President Takes Questions from Africa
Posted by Katie Stanton
Tonight, President Obama arrives in Ghana in his first trip to sub-Saharan Africa as President of the United States. Over the past week, we have been collecting questions, comments and words of welcome for President Obama via SMS, Twitter, Facebook and from newspapers across Africa. We shared these responses with 3 journalists in Africa, Ms. Angela Quintal of Independent Newspapers in South Africa, Mr. Mamadou Thior of Radio Television Senegal (RTS) and Mr. Peter Kimani of The Standard in Kenya. These journalists, in turn, picked a few of the questions for the President to answer. We'll post a video and audio recording of those answers on Monday.
Tomorrow at 8:40 AM EDT the President will address the Ghanaian Parliament -- you can listen live at WhiteHouse.gov/live. We'll also post the transcript and the audio of the speech soon after on our site, and get video up in the coming days.
In the meantime, we thought we'd share an interactive map which samples some of the questions.
The President Takes Questions from Africa
Posted by Katie Stanton
Tonight, President Obama arrives in Ghana in his first trip to sub-Saharan Africa as President of the United States. Over the past week, we have been collecting questions, comments and words of welcome for President Obama via SMS, Twitter, Facebook and from newspapers across Africa. We shared these responses with 3 journalists in Africa, Ms. Angela Quintal of Independent Newspapers in South Africa, Mr. Mamadou Thior of Radio Television Senegal (RTS) and Mr. Peter Kimani of The Standard in Kenya. These journalists, in turn, picked a few of the questions for the President to answer. We'll post a video and audio recording of those answers on Monday.
Tomorrow at 8:40 AM EDT the President will address the Ghanaian Parliament -- you can listen live at WhiteHouse.gov/live. We'll also post the transcript and the audio of the speech soon after on our site, and get video up in the coming days.
In the meantime, we thought we'd share an interactive map which samples some of the questions.
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