whitehouse blog

President Obama Opens 2012 by Advancing Pipeline Safety

Ed note: This has been cross-posted from the Department of Transportation's Fastlane blog

When we say at DOT that safety is our number one priority, we are not kidding around. And today, as part of that important goal, President Obama signed into law the Pipeline Safety, Regulatory Certainty, and Job Creation Act. 

Last April, following several fatal pipeline accidents, we called upon U.S. pipeline owners and operators to conduct a comprehensive review of their oil and gas pipelines to identify areas of high risk and accelerate critical repair and replacement work.  We also convened a Pipeline Safety Forum with state officials, industry leaders, and other stakeholders to discuss steps for improving the safety and efficiency of America's pipeline infrastructure. 

In one of their final actions for …

From the Archives: President Obama Signs the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act

President Barack Obama signs H.R. 847, the “James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act” in Kailua, Hawaii, Jan. 2, 2011.

“We will never forget the searing images of September 11, 2001. And we will never forget the selfless courage demonstrated by the firefighters, police officers, and first responders who risked their lives to save others.  In the face of unspeakable brutality and evil, these brave men and women demonstrated the enduring strength of our values and the American spirit.  Many who survived did not emerge from the dust and debris unscathed, facing continuing health problems as a result of their service.

– …

Helping Small Businesses to Drive Innovation

Ed. Note: Cross-posted with the Small Business Administration Blog.

Last week, President Obama signed a bill reauthorizing the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs for another six years. This long-term reauthorization is good news for the innovative small businesses that these programs support.  SBIR and STTR invest about $2.5 billion a year in America’s most promising small research and development companies. Through SBIR and STTR, federal agencies with large R&D budgets provide competitive awards to help small businesses bring their best innovations from the drawing board to the marketplace. SBIR and STTR operate in three phases, providing support for research, development, and commercialization.

Over the years, SBIR and STTR have played a role in the growth of firms like Qualcomm, Symantec, …

2011 Year in Photos

Throughout 2011, staffers at the White House Photo Office followed the President, Vice President, and First Family across the country and around the world. They were on hand for moments that made history — and captured what it's like to go behind the scenes with the Obama administration.

Now, they've compiled some of their favorite images from 2011. Check out the slideshow (and click through for captions).

Weekly Address: Working Together in the New Year

President Obama tells the American people that, by joining together, we can move past the tough debates and help to create jobs and grow the economy in the new year.

Transcript | Download mp4 | Download mp3

More Than 1.9 Million Records Released

In September 2009, the President announced that—for the first time in history—White House visitor records would be made available to the public on an ongoing basis. Today, the White House releases visitor records that were generated in September 2011. Today’s release also includes several visitor records generated prior to September 16, 2009 that were requested by members of the public in November 2011 pursuant to the White House voluntary disclosure policy. This release brings the total number of records made public by this White House to more than 1.9 million records—all of which can be viewed in our Disclosures section.

Intern Picks: Must-See White House Videos of 2011

All week, we've been sharing some highlights from 2011. Now it's time for another special list.

After much debate, the interns in the White House Office of Digital Strategy have decided on their 10 must-see videos of 2011. These funny, memorable, inspirational—and even quirky—videos highlight the best behind-the-scenes moments at the White House and feature sensational musical performances, holiday preparations, civil rights leaders, impressive young Americans, and more.

Take a closer look inside the White House and see the behind-the-scenes footage that you don’t want to miss.  For even more White House videos from 2011 and years past , visit Youtube.com/WhiteHouse.

10. Smart Youngsters Saving the World: Google Science Fair

This October, President Obama welcomed the winners of the first-ever Google Global Science Fair to the White House. Hear the stories of the …

Improving Affordable Housing Delivery Across Federal Agencies

Today, the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development released the report “Federal Rental Alignment: Administrative Proposals” which lays out a broad vision for improving the delivery and operation of affordable housing across the country. The initiatives in this report – many of which are already being implemented – will streamline federal housing requirements to support more efficient delivery of affordable housing, and help state and federal agencies’ staff to better serve low-income families who rent their homes. The Administration's goal is to make government work better by reducing the unintended consequences associated with the reality of housing finance today – multiple overlapping public investments on a given rental property. 

The report includes ten initiatives proposed by the Rental Policy Working Group that will …