• Preserving and strengthening Medicare
• Cutting high prescription drug costs
• Making preventive services free
• Ending overpayments to private insurance companies that cost all Medicare beneficiaries
• Improving quality and patient safety
• Making long term care services more affordable

Our broken health care system that is. That’s right -- it’s not working for many women and their families.

In many states, insurance companies can still discriminate on the basis of gender -- and not just on costs. In some states, maternity care is not covered because pregnancy can be seen as a “pre-existing condition.” It’s even legal in some states to deny a woman coverage because she’s been a victim of domestic violence!

That’s not right. Nobody in America should be treated that way. That’s why First Lady Michelle Obama is standing up for women and families in this newest video. Take a look:

With health insurance reform, the days of discrimination based on gender will be over. Insurance companies will be banned from denying coverage because of a pre-existing condition, or dropping your coverage when you get sick and need it most. They will have to cover preventive care like mammograms and pap smears. And they will be forced to abide by yearly caps on how much they can charge you for out-of-pocket expenses.

But we can’t make health insurance reform a reality without your help. As the First Lady says, talk to your family, your friends, your neighbors. Share this video with them and help get the word out about what’s at stake. It’ll take all of us working together to deliver the change we need on health care. 

Thanks,
Nancy-Ann

Nancy-Ann DeParle
Director, White House Office of Health Reform

Tomorrow, many of us will gather around the table with family and friends to give thanks over a feast of turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy -- and let’s not forget pumpkin pie!

But for some in this country, the feast will not be as bountiful.  In fact, it won’t be much of a feast at all.  Hunger is on the rise in America -- hitting its highest levels in nearly 15 years.  A recent report released by the USDA reveals that in 2008 an estimated 1.1 million children were living in households that experienced hunger multiple times over the past year.

To combat hunger this winter, we’re launching, in coordination with the Corporation for National and Community Service and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the United We Serve: Feed a Neighbor initiative -- a program that empowers you with all the resources you need to mobilize against the hunger crisis in your community.  Learn how you can get started today:



Barack and I are committed to doing all we can to end hunger by making food programs more accessible to eligible families.  But government can only do so much -- it will take all of us working together to put an end to hunger in America.

That’s why we’ve made it easy for you to get involved at Serve.gov. Find local volunteer opportunities like delivering meals to homebound seniors, offering your professional skills at a food pantry, or planting a community garden and sharing produce with your neighbors.  You can also create your own volunteer opportunity using our anti-hunger toolkit.

This holiday season let’s recommit to serving our communities and working together to feed American families.  Get started giving back today.

Thank you,

Michelle

First Lady Michelle Obama
The White House

On Thursday, President Obama is hosting a discussion at the White House to explore every possible avenue for job creation. Small business owners, CEOs, economists, financial experts, and nonprofit groups, as well as Americans who have felt the impact of this economic crisis firsthand, will be there to share ideas.

But you don’t need to be here on Thursday to participate. You can join the discussion by organizing your own jobs forum with your family, friends, and co-workers -- because these conversations can take place in living rooms and conference tables, not just arenas and convention centers.

We’re looking for community leaders like you from all across the country to host discussions from now until December 13th.  Your community jobs forum will be a source of insights and ideas that will inform the President’s approach to job creation.

To get started, let us know you’re interested, and we'll send you information that may help you organize a successful jobs forum in your community:



In the coming days, we’ll follow up with discussion questions and other materials to help make your event as productive as possible. We’re not able to offer an events center where anyone can find events already happening, so if you haven’t heard of one in your area, start your own and reach out to your network for participants.

After the event, we’ll provide a simple online tool for you to submit job creation ideas and thoughts.  Back here at the White House, we’ll compile your feedback and send it to the Oval Office for review.

With all of us working together, we’ll get America working again. Get started organizing a jobs forum in your community today.

Look forward to hearing from you,

Valerie

Valerie Jarrett
Senior Advisor and Assistant to the President for Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Engagement
The White House

Dear Friend,

After months of debate this year, and decades of gridlock before, our country is closer than ever to passing the single most important piece of domestic legislation since Social Security.  This is no small feat.  There's a reason that presidents from Truman to Nixon to Clinton have called for, but been unable to achieve, health reform: it's incredibly difficult.

The current legislation in Congress includes many of the protections found in the bipartisan Patient’s Bill of Rights that has been repeatedly defeated by special interests.  President Obama addresses that, as well as the broader substance and fierce urgency of health reform, in his latest weekly address.  Watch it here:


 

There are some great elements of this bill that will take some time to set up, such as the new insurance marketplace -- the Exchange -- that allows people without insurance and small businesses to compare plans and buy insurance at competitive prices.  But there are a lot of other benefits for families that will kick in during the first year if we get this passed:

• In the first year, we will make it illegal for insurance companies to drop coverage for Americans.
• In the first year, more of your money will start going where it belongs: towards your care instead of excessive insurance company profits or TV ads.  We will start forcing insurance companies to report the proportion of premium dollars that are not spent on medical care -- including profits.  If a company isn’t spending enough of its premium dollars providing benefits for families, it will have to issue rebate checks to its customers to make up the difference.
• In the first year, all insurance plans will have to begin covering preventive services, helping to shift our health care from just sickness to wellness.  If you purchase insurance on your own, you will receive preventive care from your doctor without paying a co-pay.
• In the first year, seniors will see major relief in paying for prescription drugs.  The gap in coverage with Medicare, the so-called "donut hole," will start to close for good.

This bill will reduce premiums for your family, shifting the balance of power from your insurance company back to you.

Health reform extends coverage to 30,000,000 Americans without adding a dime to the Federal deficit.  In fact, it represents the largest reduction to the deficit in well over a decade.

The final bill hasn't taken shape yet. There are several more steps in the process, and the President is committed to making it the best bill possible to provide security for those who have insurance and affordable, quality coverage for those who don't.

It is important to look past the bickering and cable chatter and remember that we are on the verge of providing real benefits to Americans who can’t wait any longer.

Thanks, and have a great weekend.

Sincerely,

Nancy-Ann DeParle

Director, White House Office of Health Reform

P.S. Don't miss the video of the President's weekly address. Watch it here: http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2009/12/18/weekly-address-patients-bill-rights-and-health-reform

Dear Friend,

Cybersecurity matters to all of us.  Protecting the internet is critical to our national security, public safety and our personal privacy and civil liberties.  It’s also vital to President Obama’s efforts to strengthen our country, from the modernization of our health care system to the high-tech job creation central to our economic recovery.

The very email you are reading underscores our dependence on information technologies in this digital age, which is why it seemed like a fitting way to announce that the President has chosen Howard Schmidt to be the White House Cybersecurity Coordinator.  Howard will have the important responsibility of orchestrating the many important cybersecurity activities across the government.  

Howard is one of the world’s leading authorities on computer security, with some 40 years of experience in government, business and law enforcement.  Learn more about Howard's background and approach to cybersecurity:

 

Howard will have regular access to the President and serve as a key member of his National Security Staff.  He will also work closely with his economic team to ensure that our cybersecurity efforts keep the Nation secure and prosperous.

Moving forward we will use WhiteHouse.gov, this email program and our other communications tools to keep you posted about our progress in this important area.

Sincerely,

John O. Brennan
Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism

P.S.  You can play an important role in cybersecurity as well.  Learn more about the issue and steps you can take to ensure your own security.

Dear Friend,

As the first year of the Obama Administration concludes with the State of the Union, the White House is inviting Americans across the country to connect directly with some of the President’s senior advisors.  Through WhiteHouse.gov, these leaders will report to you on their work and answer your questions on where we’ve been, where we are, and where we’re heading.

Every morning this week at WhiteHouse.gov, you’ll find a guest blog post from a senior advisor talking about the progress the Administration has made in a particular area. Then, in the afternoon, that advisor will host a live video chat with the public where you can ask anything you want, or just tune in and see what’s going on.

 

Here’s the schedule we have planned:

• Monday, 3:30 EST: Carol Browner, Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate, discusses the President’s push to create the new clean energy economy.
• Tuesday, 3:00 EST: Ben Rhodes of the National Security Council discusses the President’s handling of national security and foreign policy.
• Wednesday, 12:00 EST: HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius will talk about health reform, from how far we’ve come to how reform will benefit American families and small businesses
• Thursday, TBD: The nation’s first Federal Chief Technology Officer, Aneesh Chopra, will join Norm Eisen, special counsel to the President for ethics and government reform, to talk about all the ways in which the President has changed Washington.
• Friday, 1:00 EST: Christina Romer, Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers, talks about the President’s primary focus on restoring the economy for all Americans and creating jobs for the American people.

Stop by WhiteHouse.gov to read all of the posts, join the chats, and find any updates on times.  As the President likes to say, this is the “People’s House,” so we want to open it up and make sure you know what we’re doing to bring the change America needs.

Sincerely,

Valerie Jarrett
Senior Advisor to the President

Good morning,

For over 40 years, the President of the United States has awarded the Citizens Medal -- the second highest civilian honor in our nation -- to Americans who have "performed exemplary deeds of service for their country or their fellow citizens."

Now for the 2010 Citizen's Medal, the White House is opening up the process to include an exciting source of nominations: you.  President Obama is inviting the American public to nominate candidates he should consider for the Presidential Citizens Medal -- truly making this an honor of, by, and for the American people.

Who has inspired you?  Whose selfless dedication to service has touched your life or the lives of others?

Watch the President explain the program in this web video and then nominate an unsung hero from your community:

Past winners of this prestigious honor have included respected public figures like Colin Powell, Bob Dole and Rosa Parks, as well as everyday heroes like Oseola McCarty, a washerwoman who left her entire life savings to establish a scholarship for students in need. As you can tell, the bar is set pretty high -- only a handful of nominees will be chosen, so be sure to read the criteria closely and make the best case you can for your nominee.

This year, the President will be looking for several qualities in the special few he honors: people who have demonstrated a commitment to service in their own community or in communities farther from home; who have helped their country or their fellow citizens through one or more extraordinary acts; whose service relates to a long-term or persistent problem; or whose service has had a sustained impact on others’ lives and provided inspiration for others to serve. While many Americans work every day to serve others, this year's Citizens Medal will specifically honor those who have shown exemplary service to help others outside of their normal jobs.

Take a moment to nominate that everyday hero for the Presidential Citizens Medal and help honor his or her unwavering commitment to service.

Nominations will be reviewed by White House staff. The most compelling of these nominations will be sent to the President for his final decision.  Then late this spring, Citizens Medal recipients will be invited to receive their awards in a ceremony at the White House.

Thank you,

Michelle

First Lady Michelle Obama
The White House

P.S. Right now we are only planning to keep the nominations process open for one week. So don't miss your chance to recognize someone amazing from your community.

Good Afternoon,

Tomorrow evening, President Obama will stand before a joint session of Congress and deliver his first State of the Union address outlining where we are and where we’re going as a Nation.  In preparation for this annual address, he asked his Cabinet to take a moment to prepare a similar report for the American people.

In short videos, members of the President’s Cabinet report back to you on their progress this first year and outline what lies ahead for their departments and agencies to keep America moving forward.  Secretary Sebelius talks about the Department of Health and Human Services' successes helping to prevent the spread of the H1N1 virus; Department of Energy Secretary Chu highlights the thousands of green jobs they’ve created using Recovery Act dollars; and Secretary Clinton details the Department of State’s efforts to restore global partnerships.

Take a look and get a sense of what’s to come in tomorrow’s State of the Union address:

 

When President Obama took office a year ago, we faced an array of historic challenges: an economy in freefall, job losses averaging almost 700,000 a month, a middle class under assault, two wars and badly frayed global alliances.

Faced with these unparalleled challenges, the President and his Cabinet got to work. The Administration took bold steps to rescue the country from a potential second Great Depression; to rebuild the economy for the long-term, so businesses can thrive, the middle class can grow and all our families can be more secure; and to restore America’s leadership in the world as we wrestle with the global challenges of the 21st Century.

Check out the Cabinet’s reports and learn more about what we’ve done this past year and how we plan to keep our Nation moving forward in the next.

Thank you,

Valerie Jarrett
Senior Advisor to the President

P.S. Tomorrow at 9 p.m. EST, remember to watch the President’s State of the Union address live at WhiteHouse.gov.

Good afternoon,

At 9 p.m. EST tonight, President Obama will deliver his first State of the Union address before a joint session of Congress. Here’s what you can expect:

The President will clearly articulate the steps we need to take to continue to rebuild our economy and jumpstart private sector job creation. He’ll talk directly to you about restoring security for middle class families after a lost decade of declining household income, eroding retirement security and escalating health and tuition costs. And he’ll detail his efforts not only to better protect you and the American people at large, but also to restore America’s alliances and standing in the world.

Right after the President’s address, we’ll be open for questions on WhiteHouse.gov. So watch the President live at WhiteHouse.gov and stay tuned for a live chat immediately following with some of the President’s top policy officials.

As you know, when the President took office a year ago, he faced an array of historic challenges: an economy in freefall; job losses averaging almost 700,000 a month; a middle class under assault; two wars and badly frayed global alliances; and a staggering $1.3 trillion budget deficit.

Tonight, the President will address the progress we’ve made to rescue the economy, rebuild the middle class, and restore our standing and leadership around the world. In addition, he’ll outline what’s needed to create a new foundation for prosperity and deliver on the change you and all Americans expect and deserve.

Tune in to WhiteHouse.gov tonight at 9 p.m. EST to watch the President’s State of the Union address, then stick around to chat with some of his top policy officials.

Thank you,

David Axelrod
Senior Advisor to the President

Dear Friend,

This was a week where we at the White House were reminded more than ever of why we came to work for this President.  

On Wednesday, President Obama delivered his State of the Union address, laying out his priorities for jumpstarting job creation, fighting to restore economic security for American families and changing the way business is done in Washington.

But then on Friday something remarkable happened -- with much less fanfare.  The President visited House Republicans at their retreat and answered their questions directly for most of an hour.  It was an honest and unscripted discussion where the President took their questions and concerns seriously, acknowledged where they had valid points, and explained genuinely where he felt they were wrong.

In short, it was something that for many Americans has seemed all but inconceivable in American politics -- a real discussion with honest disagreements about the challenges we face.

You can watch the video at WhiteHouse.gov:

The President talked about how politicians of both parties need to work together to bring change to Washington. But changing our politics is not just about Washington. It’s about you, and every American citizen, knowing that government is listening and that you can hold your government accountable.

That’s why immediately after the State of the Union, we partnered with YouTube to give you an opportunity to ask questions of the President.  Ask whatever you want, or just vote on other questions that your fellow citizens have submitted. The President will answer some of those questions in a unique live event on Monday at WhiteHouse.gov.

If changing our politics were easy, it would have been done long ago.  I hope we can all join the President in helping make that change happen.

Watch the video of President Obama with House Republicans, then submit your own question or just vote on the questions that you'd like to see him answer on Monday.

Sincerely,

David Axelrod
Senior Advisor to the President

Good Afternoon,

I’m writing to share a startling prospect: due to rising levels of childhood obesity, our Nation’s youngest generation could actually face a shorter expected lifespan than its parents.

That’s unacceptable. As Americans, we all work tirelessly to provide a better world for the next generation. As a mother, I can tell you that nothing is as important as a child’s health.

The problem is clear. Over the past three decades, childhood obesity rates in this country have tripled. Today, obesity and excess weight threaten the health of one out of three American children.

It’s time for us to act. That's why I’m asking you to be part of Let's Move! -- a nationwide effort to solve the obesity epidemic within one generation. Learn more here:

Thank you,

Michelle

First Lady Michelle Obama
The White House

P.S. We’ve posted a special video about this effort to LetsMove.gov. Check it out.

Good Morning,

A year ago, President Obama signed the Recovery Act, a bold initiative not only to rescue our country from a potential second Great Depression but also to build a new economic foundation for the future of our Nation. At that time, we were in an economic freefall -- hemorrhaging more than 700,000 jobs a month with the middle class under assault and financial institutions on the brink of collapse.

One year later, I’ve prepared a report for the President on the impact of the Recovery Act. Even though we have much more to do, the evidence is clear: the Recovery Act is working.

Before I give you the hard facts, take a look at this video featuring several Mayors -- officials on the front lines of this economic crisis -- who discuss the impact of the Recovery Act.

Now here are some facts from the report I hope you’ll share far and wide:

• 2 Million Jobs: Public and private forecasters ranging from the Council of Economic Advisors to Moody’s Economy and IHS Global now say the Recovery Act is responsible for about 2 million jobs nationwide. 
• Economic Growth: We recently learned that our economy grew 5.7 percent in the fourth quarter -- the biggest gain in six years that many economists say is largely due to the Recovery Act.
• Tax Relief: The Recovery Act provided over $100 billion in tax relief for American businesses and families.
• Aid to Small Businesses: This past year, the Recovery Act supplied over 42,000 small business loans that provided nearly $20 billion in much-needed capital.
• Building a New Foundation: The Recovery Act funded tens of thousands of projects nationwide this year that are not only creating jobs right now, but also laying a long-term foundation for economic growth, including investments in high-speed rail, health technology, broadband, a smarter electrical grid, clean cars and batteries, and renewable energy.

While we’ve made tremendous progress, our work is far from finished. Many projects are just now getting underway that will be creating jobs throughout 2010 and beyond. And on behalf of the President, I can say our Administration will not stop until every man or woman who wants a job can find one.

But one year in, the Recovery Act has helped pull us back from the brink of economic disaster and is helping lay a firm foundation for our economic recovery.

Thank you,

Joe Biden
Vice President

P.S. Take a moment to check out the video, browse through the report and share it with your friends and neighbors.

Good Afternoon,

A lot of people think that health insurance reform doesn't matter to them because they already have coverage. And it's easy to understand why some Americans might resist changing the insurance system for fear that significant reform would threaten what they have now.

There is a threat to health care coverage in the country, but it isn't reform: it's doing nothing. Rising costs of insurance premiums are pushing more and more people into the ranks of the uninsured.

The President discusses all of this in his Weekly Address this morning:

At a time when health insurance companies are fighting as hard as ever to stop health reform, their actions couldn't show more clearly why we need it.

In California, beneficiaries recently received letters from Anthem Blue Cross announcing their rates would go up as high as 39 percent. Elsewhere, in the last year alone, large insurers have requested premium increases of 56 percent in Michigan, 24 percent in Connecticut, 23 percent in Maine and 20 percent in Oregon.

If we don't pass reform, premiums will continue to rise and Americans will continue to be at the mercy of the worst insurance company practices and abuses.

We’re closer than ever to making reform a reality. We can't let up now.

Sincerely,

Kathleen Sebelius
Secretary of Health and Human Services

P.S. Don't forget to come back to WhiteHouse.gov on Thursday, when the President will meet with members of Congress from both parties to discuss reform and the path ahead.  For now though, don't miss this week’s address and share it with your friends and family.

Good Morning,

This Thursday, President Obama will meet with Republicans and Democrats from both houses of Congress to discuss how to finally give the American people and small business owners more control over their health care choices.

To make this meeting as productive as possible, the President won't be coming empty-handed. He'll bring to the table a health insurance reform proposal that does just that.

The proposal reflects a broad array of input, including the best parts of bills passed by the House and Senate. In addition, on top of some of the Republican concepts that were already in these bills, the President includes even more Republican ideas -- some taken directly from their proposed legislation.  Of course, he's also put in more than a few ideas of his own.

We've published the President's Proposal on WhiteHouse.gov for you to take a look in time for Thursday’s bipartisan meeting.  Find out what the proposal means for you:

 

There are a few key components of the President's Proposal you don't want to miss:

• It sets up a new competitive health insurance market giving tens of millions of Americans the exact same insurance choices that members of Congress will have.
• It brings greater accountability to health care by laying out commonsense rules of the road to keep premiums down and prevent insurance industry abuses and denial of care.
• It ends discrimination against Americans with pre-existing conditions.
• It puts our budget and economy on a more stable path by reducing the deficit by $100 billion over the next ten years by cutting government overspending and reining in waste, fraud and abuse.
• It provides the largest middle class tax cuts for health care in history, reducing premium costs for tens of millions of families and small business owners who are priced out of coverage today.

The President's Proposal also features some key improvements to existing issues you might have heard about:

• For America’s seniors, the proposal closes the Medicare prescription drug "donut hole" coverage gap.
• It improves insurance protections for consumers and creates a new Health Insurance Rate Authority to address unreasonable insurance rate increases and other unfair practices of insurance plans.
• A provision that gave additional funding to Nebraska to help the state expand Medicaid coverage now includes all states.

You can learn more about the President’s Proposal at http://www.whitehouse.gov/health-care-meeting.

It is important to understand that this proposal isn’t meant to be the final say on the legislation. At Thursday’s bipartisan meeting, the President will continue to work with members of both parties to find common ground and look for the best ideas that will help American families and small business owners have greater control over their own health care.  The entire event will be live-streamed on WhiteHouse.gov starting at 10 a.m. EST -- so mark it on your calendar and be sure to tune in.

Health insurance reform matters to every American, so please share this email with your friends, family and neighbors and invite them to watch.

Thank you,

Nancy-Ann DeParle
Director, White House Office of Health Reform

P.S. I also invite you to take part in a special online video discussion with me today at 1:45 p.m. EST where I’ll answer your questions about the President’s Proposal.

Good morning,

Democrats and Republicans agree -- the health care status quo isn't working for the American people.

Health insurance is growing more and more expensive by the day. Too many of us can't afford it -- not middle class families, not businesses, not the Federal Government. Insurance companies have too much control over health care decisions that should be left between a patient and their doctor. They freely ration care based on who's sick and who's healthy; who can pay and who can't.

On both sides of the aisle, we all agree that if we do nothing, the problem will just get worse.  Now, after a long and wrenching debate, it's time to make a decision. Yesterday, President Obama called on the United States Congress to cast a final up or down vote on health insurance reform in the coming weeks and pledged to fight for it every day until that happens.

Watch what the President said yesterday and learn more about what's at stake:

 

The President's final plan for health insurance reform puts control of health care where it belongs -- in the hands of American families and small businesses, not health insurance companies or government.

His proposal takes the best Republican and Democratic ideas and changes three main things about the current health care system:

1. It ends the worst insurance company practices and outlaws discrimination against Americans with pre-existing conditions.
2. It reduces costs for people with insurance and makes coverage more affordable for people without it today.
3. It sets up a new competitive insurance marketplace where small business owners and families can shop for the insurance plan that works best for them, giving them the same buying power and insurance choices as all members of Congress.

We've debated the issue of health insurance reform thoroughly, not just over the past year, but over decades.  It's time to make a decision about how to finally reform health care so that it works for America's families and businesses -- not just for insurance companies.

Let's get it done.

Nancy-Ann DeParle
Director, White House Office of Health Reform

P.S. Today at 3:40 p.m. EST, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and I will be hosting a live chat to answer your questions about the President's proposal. Secretary Sebelius will also tell us about her meeting with health insurance CEOs to demand explanations for their exorbitant premium increases over the past months.