Follow Along: The President's Trip to Alaska

Here's what's going on at the White House today.         DAILY SNAPSHOT Monday, August 31, 2015             Follow Along: The President's Day All times are Eastern Time (ET) 5:40 PM: The President arrives Anchorage, Alaska 7:15 PM: The President participates in a roundtable with Alaska Natives 9:00 PM: The President addresses the GLACIER Conference       Featured Follow Along: The President's Trip to Alaska President Obama is traveling to Alaska today to shine a spotlight on what Alaskans in particular have come to know: Climate change is one of the biggest threats we face, it is being driven by human activity, and it is disrupting Americans' lives right now. During his visit, the President will share his experience with people around the country first-hand. Learn more about why the President is going to Alaska, and sign up here to get the latest photos and videos from his trip.       More from 1600 Penn Alaska: The 49th State's Place in History While the President is en route to Alaska, check out this historical look at why Alaska is so important to protect. READ MORE Weekly Address: Meeting the Global Threat of Climate Change In this week's address, the President speaks about his trip to Alaska and highlights ways we can address the challenges of climate change -- including the transition away from fossil fuels to more renewable energy sources like wind and solar, an effort in which America is already leading. WATCH HERE Commemorating the 10th Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina Last week, President Obama traveled to New Orleans to meet with the Mayor and residents who have rebuilt their lives since Hurricane Katrina. READ MORE       Quote of the Day "If another country threatened to wipe out an American town, we'd do everything in our power to protect ourselves. Climate change poses the same threat, right now." -- President Obama, in his Weekly Address   Facebook     Twitter    |   More Ways to Engage Sign Up for Email Updates Privacy Policy  Contact the White House The White House • 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW • Washington, DC 20500 • 202-456-1111

Meeting the Global Threat of Climate Change

Here's what's going on at the White House today.         DAILY SNAPSHOT Saturday, August 29, 2015             Featured Weekly Address: Meeting the Global Threat of Climate Change In this week's address, the President spoke about his upcoming trip to Alaska, during which he will view the effects of climate change firsthand. Alaskans are already living with the impact of climate change, with glaciers melting faster, and temperatures projected to rise between 6 and 12 degrees by the end of the century. In his address, the President spoke to ways in which we can address these challenges, including the transition away from fossil fuels to more renewable energy sources like wind and solar, an effort in which America is already leading. And he stressed that while our economy still has to rely on oil and gas during that transition, we should rely more on domestic production than importing from foreign countries who do not have the same environmental or safety standards as the United States. The President looked forward to his upcoming trip, and promised that while he is in office, America will lead the world to meet the threat of climate change before it's too late. Watch the President's Weekly Address here.       Top Stories Commemorating the 10th Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina This week, President Obama traveled to New Orleans to meet with residents and youth who have rebuilt their lives over the past 10 years since the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. The President also delivered remarks on the region's rebirth and what's possible when citizens work together with city and corporate leaders to lift up their communities and build back in ways that make them more innovative and positioned for economic growth. READ MORE Here's How the Federal Government Is Working with Local Communities to Create Change, in One Map: This week, we released a map showing the Obama administration's community-based initiatives. It combines datasets from initiatives across more than 15 federal agencies, and gives you the opportunity to see what's at work in your area. Get the facts and data behind the programs the Obama administration has put in place in partnership with the communities they intend to serve, all across the country. EXPLORE THE MAP Second Estimate of GDP for the Second Quarter of 2015 Yesterday, a new report from the Bureau of Economic Analysis showed that the economy grew at a much faster pace in the second quarter than in the first, as consumers spent more and businesses invested more than previously estimated. At this time in the global economy, it is essential that we continue to do everything we can to maintain America's domestic economic momentum -- including avoiding a return to fiscal brinksmanship or unnecessary austerity by passing an on-time budget that reverses the sequester, increasing investments in infrastructure as part of a long-term transportation reauthorization, and other steps to foster long-term growth. READ MORE   Facebook     Twitter    |   More Ways to Engage Sign Up for Email Updates Privacy Policy Contact the White House The White House • 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW • Washington, DC 20500 • 202-456-1111

Hurricane Katrina: 10 Years Later

Here's what's going on at the White House today.         DAILY SNAPSHOT Friday, August 28, 2015             Follow Along: The President's Day All times are Eastern Time (ET) 10:30 AM: The President and the Vice President receive the Presidential Daily Briefing 2:10 PM: The President will participate in a live webcast with members of the North American Jewish community WATCH LIVE 4:05 PM: The President participates in a DNC roundtable       From the Photo Office Hurricane Katrina: 10 Years Later President Barack Obama greets a youngster during a walk through the Tremé neighborhood of New Orleans, La., with Mayor Mitch Landrieu, left, Aug. 27, 2015. The area experienced significant flooding during Hurricane Katrina ten years ago. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza) Yesterday, President Obama traveled to New Orleans to meet with the Mayor and residents who have rebuilt their lives since Hurricane Katrina. The President also spoke about the region's rebirth and what's possible when citizens work together with city and corporate leaders to lift up their communities and build back in ways that make them more innovative and positioned for economic growth. See more from the President's visit, and get the facts on the recovery and rebuilding efforts following Katrina.       More from 1600 Penn Second Estimate of GDP for the Second Quarter of 2015 The economy grew at a much faster pace in the second quarter than in the first, as consumers spent more and businesses invested more than previously estimated. READ MORE Here's How the Federal Government Is Working with Local Communities to Create Change, in One Map: Get the facts and data behind the programs the Obama administration has put in place in partnership with the communities they intend to serve, all across the country. EXPLORE THE MAP One Veteran's Perspective on the Iran Deal Congressman Seth Moulton, a combat veteran, shares why he supports the Iran deal and why he's urging others to do the same. READ MORE       Quote of the Day "These Americans live the basic values that define this country -- the value we've been reminded of in these past 10 years as we've come back from a crisis that changed this city, and an economic crisis that spread throughout the nation -- the basic notion that I am my brother's keeper, and I am my sister's keeper, and that we look out for each other and that we're all in this together." -- President Obama, in his remarks about New Orleans' rebirth following Hurricane Katrina   Facebook     Twitter    |   More Ways to Engage  Sign Up for Email Updates  Privacy Policy  Contact the White House The White House • 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW • Washington, DC 20500 • 202-456-1111

10 years after Hurricane Katrina:

This afternoon, I'll be introducing the President as he visits New Orleans to meet with residents who have rebuilt their lives since Katrina, and to talk about what's changed in the city and what still needs work.

In 2005, my husband Norm and I owned a sign-printing shop in New Orleans, right next to the Superdome. We were getting ready to celebrate our 15th year in business. And then Katrina came. As was the fate for much of New Orleans, the hurricane flooded our shop and forced us to move to Lake Charles, Louisiana. (Until Hurricane Rita hit a few weeks later, forcing us to move yet again.) Once the waters receded, Norm and I had to decide whether to abandon our business, or to go back and rebuild it. We decided to rebuild. Just like our city did. This afternoon, I'll be introducing President Obama as he visits New Orleans to meet with residents like me who have rebuilt their lives since Katrina, and to talk about what's changed in the city and what still needs work. Tune in here. Over the past decade, we've learned our lessons from Hurricane Katrina, and we've made some pretty big improvements. For one, Louisiana has worked hard to be better prepared for future storms and extreme weather events -- upgrading our levees and pump stations, as well as elevating homes and retrofitting our buildings. But our efforts aren't limited to making sure we're ready when the next storm comes. We've also worked to improve our schools, for our kids. New Orleans' high school graduation rate before Katrina was only 54 percent; now, it's 73 percent. College enrollment has almost doubled over that time period, giving our children a better chance at a future. And residents like me who stuck with our home through the hardest possible time are expanding job opportunities for our neighbors -- by creating jobs to rebuild New Orleans' transportation systems, and expanding job-training programs in industries like high-tech manufacturing. There's still a lot of work left to be done, but we're getting there. Our growth so far is a great example of what can happen when everyday Americans, community leaders, government agencies, and business leaders work together to make a difference. I'm proud of my city. I'm proud to have rebuilt and to be celebrating 25 years of business this year. I'm proud of how far we've come in the last 10 years, and I can't wait to see how much more we'll grow. Make sure to watch the President's remarks this afternoon at 4:55 p.m. Eastern. And if you have your own story of how your community stuck together, or you know someone who does, share it here. Best, Michelle Michelle Gobert New Orleans, Louisiana                                                 Privacy Policy                                                  Contact the White House The White House • 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW • Washington, DC 20500 • 202-456-1111

Follow the President's Trip to New Orleans Today:

Here's what's going on at the White House today.         DAILY SNAPSHOT Thursday, August 27, 2015             Follow Along: The President's Day Follow along live as President Obama travels to New Orleans to meet with the Mayor and residents who have rebuilt their lives since Hurricane Katrina. All times are Eastern Time (ET) 1:20 PM: The President arrives New Orleans, Louisiana 1:45 PM: The President meets with residents and youth 3:55 PM: The President participates in a resilience roundtable 4:55 PM: The President delivers remarks on the region's rebirth after Hurricane Katrina WATCH LIVE 6:00 PM: The President departs New Orleans en route Washington, DC 8:30 PM: The President arrives at the White House       From the Photo Office President Obama Welcomes the 2014 WNBA Champions: President Barack Obama greets the 2014 WNBA Champion Phoenix Mercury players, coaches and leadership in the State Dining Room prior to an event to honor the team and their victory in the WNBA Finals, Aug. 26, 2015. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza) See more from our "Photo of the Day" gallery here.       More from 1600 Penn Second Estimate of GDP for the Second Quarter of 2015 The economy grew at a much faster pace in the second quarter than in the first, as consumers spent more and businesses invested more than previously estimated. READ MORE Here's How the Federal Government Is Working with Local Communities to Create Change, in One Map: Get the facts and data behind the programs the Obama administration has put in place in partnership with the communities they intend to serve, all across the country. EXPLORE THE MAP One Veteran's Perspective on the Iran Deal Congressman Seth Moulton, a combat veteran, shares why he supports the Iran deal and why he's urging others to do the same. READ MORE       Quote of the Day "At this time in the global economy, it is essential that we continue to do everything we can to maintain America's domestic economic momentum." -- Jason Furman, Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers   Facebook     Twitter    |   More Ways to Engage Sign Up for Email Updates Privacy Policy Contact the White House The White House • 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW • Washington, DC 20500 • 202-456-1111