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Remarks by the First Lady on Health Insurance
Reform and Older Women

3:12 P.M. EST

MRS. OBAMA:  Thank you, everybody.  Thank you so much.  First of all, forgive me -- I’ve got children, and now I have a cold.  (Laughter.)  It goes along with the territory.

Let me begin by first thanking Tina Tchen, who’s doing an outstanding job as Director of the Office of Public Engagement by opening up this White House to the American people and organizing events like this one today.  She’s just been a terrific asset and a dear friend -- and let’s give her a round of applause.  (Applause.)

And I also want to commend Nancy-Ann for her extraordinary leadership on health care -- health insurance reform.  I know my husband, who is traveling abroad right now, would agree with me when I say that without her, we wouldn’t have come this far, and because of her, we’re going to get the job done.  So we are grateful to you, Nancy-Ann.  (Applause.)

And of course, I want to thank all the women who are here today.  This is a wonderful, lively group -- I heard you all giggling earlier today.  (Laughter.)

But I also want to thank the women who spoke today -- to Kelly and Fran and Judy -- for sharing their stories.  What they’ve been through isn’t easy, and I’m grateful that they have been brave enough and open enough to share their stories with all of us.  It takes a lot of courage.

These stories touch our hearts.  They spark in us just a fundamental sense of unfairness.  But the sad truth is none of these stories are unique.  These kinds of stories are being told in city after city, town after town, all across America.  They’re being told by women who lost their coverage when their husband lost a job, or their husband passed away.  They’re being told by women who aren’t getting regular checkups because it’s simply too expensive.  They’re being told my women living on fixed incomes who can’t afford the prescription drugs that they need.

     All of these stories reflect the fundamental reality -- and that is, women are among those struggling most under the status quo, the way things are.  And women are among those who will benefit most from health insurance reform because the truth is that women, we have a special relationship with our health care system.  In a lot of families that’s true because we are the health care system in so many ways.  (Laughter.)

Eight in 10 mothers say they’re the ones responsible for choosing their children’s doctors, taking them to appointments, and managing the follow-up care.  And over 10 percent of all women are now caring for a sick or elderly relative.

Our entire lives as women, we are asked to bear much of the responsibility for our family’s health and well-being.  And yet, we often face special challenges when it comes to our own health insurance.  Part of it has to do with the fact that women are more likely than men to do part-time work or to work in a small business -- in jobs that are less likely to offer the kind of insurance that you really need.  In fact, over half of all women in this country don’t have the option of getting insurance through the workplace at all.

But even women who do have insurance face inequities under the status quo.  Because women make less than 80 cents for every dollar their male coworkers make, it’s more difficult for them to pay their premiums -- especially when studies show that they’re paying far more than men for the same coverage.

And I don’t think anyone here will be surprised to learn that a recent study found that one-third of all women have either used up savings, taken on debt, or given up basic necessities just to pay their medical bills.  And as many of you know firsthand, these kinds of problems -- the problems of coverage and cost -- only grow worse when you get older, making quality, affordable coverage harder to come by just -- as we’ve seen today and heard today -- just when you need it the most.

In the individual market, people in their early 60s are more than twice as likely to be denied coverage than people in their late 30s.  Older women are more likely than men to face a chronic illness, but they’re less likely to be able to afford the cost of treating that illness.  And in recent years, studies have shown that women over the age of 65 spend about 17 percent of their income on health care.  And that’s just not right.

Our mothers and grandmothers, they have taken care of us all their lives; they’ve made the sacrifices that it takes to get us where we need to be.  And we have an obligation to make sure that we’re taking care of them.  It’s as simple as that.  America has a responsibility to give all seniors the golden years they deserve and the secure, dignified retirement that they worked so hard to achieve.  (Applause.)

And that’s exactly what health insurance reform is going to help us do in this country.

Now, I can tell you -- I can’t tell, actually, what the bill that will ultimately land across my husband’s desk will look like -- none of us can.  But I can tell you just a few important ways that the insurance system will be impacted.

For starters -- and this is very important -- your insurance will not change unless you want it to change.  So if things are great for you, you’re fine.  (Laughter.)  It will, however, become more stable and more secure, no matter what your situation is.  There will be a cap on how much you can be charged in out-of-pocket expenses in a year or in a lifetime.  So there will be a cap.  It will be against the law for insurance companies to deny you coverage for preexisting conditions.  (Applause.)  And that change alone will help us end the discrimination women face in our health care system.  And also, insurance companies will be required to cover, at no extra cost, routine checkups and preventive care.

And I’d like to speak just a moment about what reform will mean for seniors, in particular.

There’s been a lot of misinformation on this topic so I want to be clear -- Nancy-Ann mentioned this:  Not a dime of the Medicare Trust Fund will be used to pay for reform.  Health insurance reform will not endanger Medicare; it will make Medicare more stable and secure.  (Applause.)  By eliminating wasteful subsidies to private insurance and cracking down on fraud and abuse throughout the system, this administration believes that we can bring down premiums for all our seniors and extend the life of the Medicare Trust Fund.

My husband believes that Medicare is a sacred part of America’s social safety net, and it’s a safety net that he will protect -- he will protect with health insurance reform.  And I know that many seniors on Medicare are also concerned about the cost of prescription drugs; we’ve heard about it here.

Right now, millions of seniors face huge out-of-pocket costs when their spending on drugs falls within a coverage gap.  My husband is committed to closing that gap, which will save some seniors, as you’ve heard, thousands of dollars on medications and make prescription drugs more affordable for millions of older Americans.  (Applause.)

So what we’re talking about -- affordable prescription drugs for Americans who need them; Medicare that’s protected today and tomorrow; stability and security for Americans who have insurance; quality, affordable coverage for Americans who don’t.  That’s what reform will mean for older women, for seniors, and for all Americans.

So that’s why I believe in this so strongly.  That’s why I believe in this so strongly.

But in the end, I’m not here just as a First Lady.  That’s not why I’m doing this.  I am here because I’m a daughter.  I’m here because I have an extraordinary mother who is 72 years old -- young.  (Laughter and applause.)  And I know there are countless women in this country who have loved ones who feel the same way about them as I do about my mother.

And when all is said and done, part of why I believe so strongly in reforming our health care system is because of the difference it will make for these women who gave us life -- so simple -- these women who raised us, these women who supported us through the years.  They deserve better than the status quo.  They deserve a health care system that heals them and lifts them up.

And that’s what my husband is committed to doing, to building that kind of system in the weeks and months to come.

So thank you all.  Thank you for sharing your stories.  Thank you all for your hard work and dedication, for listening, for being a part -- and let’s get to work.  Thank you so much.   (Applause.)

END

3:22 P.M. EST

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Presidential Proclamation - America Recycles Day

- - - - - - -
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Every day, Americans who recycle conserve valuable resources while reducing our Nation's carbon footprint. The reprocessing of materials is fundamental to our future prosperity, as recycling helps preserve our natural environment and sustain our economy. Recycling in the United States is a $236 billion industry, employing 1.1 million workers nationwide in 56,000 businesses. On America Recycles Day, we celebrate the individuals, communities, local governments, and businesses that recycle their waste and continually think of innovative ways to use materials that might otherwise be discarded.

Recycling improves our daily lives and helps to protect our planet for the future. Through recycling, we conserve energy, consume less of our precious natural resources, decrease the amount of waste deposited in landfills, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Communities across America also benefit by avoiding the pollution associated with the extraction of raw materials and their processing into finished products.

If we are to manage materials and products on a life-cycle basis, we must responsibly use and reuse our resources. Curbside recycling, electronics collection drives, community composting programs, and other similar methods contribute to the success of our efforts. Our Nation's health and prosperity depends on the productive and sustainable use of our environment. By recommitting ourselves to recycling, we have the opportunity to secure our long-term success and ensure a bright future for the next generation of Americans.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim November 15, 2009, as America Recycles Day. I call upon the people of the United States to observe this day with appropriate programs and activities, and I encourage all Americans to continue their recycling efforts throughout the year.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirteenth day of November, in the year of our Lord two thousand nine, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fourth.

BARACK OBAMA

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President Obama Announces More Key Administration
Posts, 11/13/2009

WASHINGTON – Today, President Barack Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individuals to key administration posts:

• Walter Crawford Jones, United States Executive Director, African Development Bank
• Leocadia I. Zak, Director, United States Trade and Development Agency

President Obama will also appoint Olivia Morgan to serve on the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities.

President Obama said, “I am grateful that these exceptional individuals will serve in these important positions, and their experience will be valued in my administration.  I look forward to working with them in the coming months and years.”

President Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individuals today:

Walter Crawford Jones, Nominee for United States Executive Director, African Development Bank
Walter C. Jones has worked in the areas of international development, business, law and finance for over 20 years.   Over the course of his career, Mr. Jones has participated in and managed numerous financial transactions worldwide including in Africa, Asia, South America and Europe.  Mr. Jones is currently a Senior Investment Officer at the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) where he structures debt financings for small and medium enterprise projects worldwide.  Earlier at OPIC, Mr. Jones was a Manager handling business development in Africa, the Middle East, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Asia.  Mr. Jones began his professional career as an associate at the law firm of Sidley & Austin.  Mr. Jones later served as a Legislative Assistant on the personal staff of United States Senator Paul Sarbanes (D-MD, ret.) handling foreign relations and banking matters.  Mr. Jones was also an international consultant advising clients on financial, debt restructuring and investment matters.  Mr. Jones later served as General Counsel and head of private equity for Gravitas Capital Advisors.  Mr. Jones served on several corporate and non-profit boards of directors including most recently on the Board of Directors for Atlas Energy, Inc. (NASDQ), and earlier on the Atlas Energy Resources, LLC (NYSE) Board of Directors.  Mr. Jones is a graduate of Princeton University and the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, Harvard Law School and the George Washington University School of Business and Management. 

Leocadia I. Zak, Nominee for Director, United States Trade and Development Agency
Leocadia I. Zak assumed the duties of Acting Director of the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) on January 20, 2009.  She was named Deputy Director of USTDA in January 2006 and served as General Counsel from April 2000 to December 2005.  Prior to joining USTDA, Ms. Zak was a partner in the Washington, D.C. and Boston offices of Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C. practicing in the areas of corporate, municipal and international project finance.  Ms. Zak has taught “International Project Finance” as an Adjunct Professor of Law at the Boston University School of Law and at the Georgetown University Law Center.  Ms. Zak received her B.A. from Mount Holyoke College and her J.D. from Northeastern University School of Law.

President Obama also appointed the following individual to serve on the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities:

Olivia Morgan, Member, President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities
Olivia Morgan is the former Executive Director of the Children's Health Forum and a former principal of the Dewey Square Group, where she worked on communications strategies with a special emphasis on nonprofit development.  Prior to Dewey Square she served as the Director of Federal Relations for former California Governor Gray Davis, as national spokesperson for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, and as Press Secretary for then-Lieutenant Governor Davis.  In addition to serving on the Board of the Children's Health Forum, Ms. Morgan serves on the Advisory Board of The New England Center for Children, as an advisor to Climate Cartoons, and as senior advisor to A Woman's Nation. 
 

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Pai You Guo, Marketed as Dietary Supplement -
Recall

Weight loss product contains undeclared drug ingredients sibutramine and phenolphthalein.

Read The Full Article:
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/SafetyInformation/SafetyAlertsforHumanMedicalP
roducts/ucm190531.htm

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New Report Recommends Enhanced Food Tracing
Guidelines

The Food and Drug Administration's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) today released a report from the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT), which recommends clear objectives be set for all users of a simpler, globally accepted food supply chain that can benefit from existing commercial systems.

Read The Full Article:
http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm190564.htm

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FDA Approves Lysteda to Treat Heavy Menstrual
Bleeding

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Lysteda tablets (tranexamic acid), the first non-hormonal product cleared to treat heavy menstrual bleeding (menorrhagia). Lysteda works by stabilizing a protein that helps blood to clot.

Read The Full Article:
http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm190551.htm

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Statement by the President on the Ukrainian
Holodomor Remembrance Day

Seventy six years ago, millions of innocent Ukrainians – men, women, and children – starved to death as a result of the deliberate policies of the regime of Joseph Stalin.  Tomorrow, we join together, Ukrainian-Americans and all Americans, to commemorate these tragic events and to honor the many victims.

From 1932 to 1933, the Ukrainian people suffered horribly during what has become known as the Holodomor – “death by hunger” – due to the Stalin regime’s seizure of crops and farms across Ukraine.  Ukraine had once been a breadbasket of Europe.  Ukrainians could have fed themselves and saved millions of lives, had they been allowed to do so.  As we remember this calamity, we pay respect to millions of victims who showed tremendous strength and courage.  The Ukrainian people overcame the horror of the great famine and have gone on to build a free and democratic country. 

Remembering the victims of the man-made catastrophe of Holodomor provides us an opportunity to reflect upon the plight of all those who have suffered the consequences of extremism and tyranny around the world.  We hope that the remembrance of Holodomor will help prevent such tragedy in the future.

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IDS Sports Conducts a Voluntary Nationwide Recall
of Bromodrol, Dual Action Grow Tabs, Grow Tabs, Mass Tabs, and Ripped Tabs TR

IDS Sports announced today that it isconducting a voluntary nationwide recall of five of the company?s dietary supplement products soldunder the following names: Bromodrol, Dual Action Grow Tabs, Grow Tabs, Mass Tabs, andRipped Tabs TR.The Food And Drug Administration (FDA) has notified IDS Sports that the recalled products contain thefollowing undeclared substances, which FDA considers to be steroids: ?Madol,? ?Turinabol,??Superdrol,? and/or ?Androstenedione.?

Read The Full Article:
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm190446.htm

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Conagra Foods Issues Nationwide Allergy Alert on
a Limited Number of 15 oz. Tubs of Blue Bonnet Light Spread

Today, ConAgra Foods, in cooperation with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is voluntarily recalling a limited number of 15 oz. tubs of Blue Bonnet Spread that were inadvertently mispackaged?the lid is for regular Blue Bonnet Spread and the tub portion describes the product as Blue Bonnet Light Spread. The product inside of the tub is regular Blue Bonnet Spread. As a result, the product tubs do not declare the allergen whey (milk), as an ingredient.

Read The Full Article:
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm190507.htm

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