Tag Archive

Recovery Act in Action, #3: Tracking the Ripples

Editor’s Note: In case you missed them, read Part 1 and Part 2.
Throw a rock in a still pond and you will observe many ripples.
Throw a Recovery Act program in a stagnant economy and you will observe many jobs.
Therein lies the lesson from our latest entry of the Recovery Act in Action, thanks to some truly thorough journalism by Robert Gavin of the Boston Globe.
Gavin looked at the ripple effects, or—if you want to be boring—multipliers, from $77 million in Recovery Act contracts awarded to Reveal Imaging Technologies (RIT), a manufacturer of airport security equipment in Bedford, MA.
RIT reports that thanks to the Recovery Act-funded contracts from the Transportation Security Administration, they’ve added nearly 40 jobs over the past year and …

The White House Asks about Healthy Kid Apps

This afternoon the First Lady announced the Apps for Healthy Kids Challenge — a contest with the USDA to challenge professional and amateur developers to come up with games that incorporate nutritional information and promote healthy living. From dance video games to nutrition mobile applications, we’re challenging designers to come up with the next big idea to make healthy living fun. The App Challenge is just one of the innovative ways that the First Lady is working to help kids lead active, healthy lives and end childhood obesity within a generation, as part of the nationwide Let’s Move! campaign.
Developer or not, we want to hear your ideas. This week, the White House is teaming up with GOOD to ask:
What kind …

March 10 — Redoubling Our Efforts on National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

Today, we commemorate the 5th annual National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day.  Yesterday, I had the opportunity to participate in a briefing held by the National Alliance for State and Territorial AIDS Directors (NASTAD) and the HHS Office on Women’s Health with important leaders in Congress.  The event highlighted how the domestic epidemic is affecting women and how much we need to maintain our commitment to addressing this public health issue. 

(Left to right) Moderator Rosie Perez, Dr. Howard Koh (HHS), Tina Tchen (White House Council on Women and Girls), Janet Cleveland (CDC) and Amna Osma (Michigan Department of Community Health) participate in a briefing on HIV/AIDS and women,

The …

The Internet in America: A YouTube Interview with the FCC

Cross-posted from the FCC’s Broadband Blog.
If you’re reading this, then you’re probably on the Internet — via your laptop, your mobile phone or other handheld device, or maybe even through your television. But even in 2010, millions of Americans do not have access to the wealth of information made available on the Web. Even though the Internet was invented in the U.S. over 20 years ago, many Americans lag behind in both access to the Internet and speed of connections, which is why the Federal Communications Commission (or the FCC, the federal agency that regulates the U.S. communications industry) is launching its much-antipated National Broadband Plan next Tuesday, to lay out its strategy for connecting all Americans to fast, affordable high-speed Internet. …

The First Lady and Secretary Clinton Present the International Women of Courage Awards

Yesterday Labor Secretary Hilda Solis discussed her perspective on International Women’s Day, and the First Lady’s role in recognizing and exemplifying the ideals behind it.  Today, the State Department’s DipNote blog tells us about the annual International Women of Courage Awards — and will allow you to watch the ceremony live at 3:00:
First Lady Michelle Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton will host the annual International Women of Courage Awards on March 10, 2010, at 3:00 p.m. EST at the Department of State. You may watch the ceremony broadcast live on DipNote.
To mark International Women’s Day, the annual International Women of Courage Award recognizes women around the globe who have shown exceptional courage and leadership in advocating for women’s rights and advancement. This …

President Obama on Federal Employees

Yesterday, the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) held its annual legislative conference in Washington, D.C.  NTEU represents some 150,000 employees in 31 federal departments and agencies.  A topic of discussion at the NTEU conference was last month’s attack on Internal Revenue Service employees in Austin, Texas.  President Obama sent the following letter to NTEU’s National President Colleen Kelley:
Dear Colleen:
The events of recent weeks have again reminded us of the risks that federal civilian employees face in service to their nation.  We are grateful to these employees for their dedication to enforcing laws and managing important programs that help all Americans.  The Constitution’s vision of ‘a more perfect union’ is only possible because of their tireless efforts.  
My Administration is fully committed to maximizing the safety of …

8

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8 — The number of people every minute who are denied coverage, charged a higher rate, or otherwise discriminated against because of a pre-existing condition. [Source: HealthReform.gov]
8 — The number of lobbyists hired by special interests to influence health reform for every member of Congress in 2009. [Source: Center for Public Integrity]

Ellen Linderman is a wife and farmer — and one of those 8 people every minute that’s been discriminated against because of a pre-existing condition.  Here’s her story:
Ellen is a 61-year old farmer in Carrington, ND. She has had several difficult experiences with health care in recent years. Ellen was initially denied health insurance coverage a few …

It’s The Dress

Today First Lady Michelle Obama continued the long tradition of First Ladies donating their inaugural gowns to the Smithsonian. Mrs. Obama presented her 2009 inaugural gown to the National Museum of American History, joined by dress designer, Jason Wu, and thirty two aspiring young designers from the Huntington High School Fashion Program in New York.

First Lady Michelle Obama presents her 2009 inaugural gown to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C.