Ensuring 2014 is a Year of Action to Grow the Economy

Here's What's Happening Here at the White House           DAILY SNAPSHOT Saturday, January 11, 2014           Featured  Weekly Address: Ensuring 2014 is a Year of Action to Grow the Economy In this week’s address, President Obama calls 2014 a year of action, which should start with Congress quickly passing emergency unemployment insurance for the 1.3 million Americans who lost this vital lifeline as they fight to find jobs and make ends meet. Click here to watch this week's Weekly Address.         Top Stories Promise Zones: The President announced on Thursday the first five “Promise Zone” locations, an initiative to partners with local communities and businesses to create jobs, expand access to educational opportunities and spur economic mobility. President Obama was joined in the East Room by students from Harlem Children’s Zone, an educational undertaking that inspired the Promise Zones, where he spoke about the importance of making sure a child’s path isn’t determined by their zip code, but rather by their hard work and determination. In his speech, the President mentioned how he wasn’t so different from one of the students who has benefitted from the Harlem Children’s Zone. “If you want to know why I care about this stuff so much, it's because I'm not that different from Roger,” President Obama said. There was a period of time in my life where I was goofing off. I was raised by a single mom. I didn’t know my dad. The only difference between me and Roger was my environment was more forgiving than his. That’s the only difference. If I screwed up, the consequences weren't quite as great. So if Roger can make it, and if I can make it, if Kiara can make it, every kid in this country can make it.  The Promise Zones, located in San Antonio, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Southeastern Kentucky, and the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, are the first of 20 being launched over the next three years. Extending Emergency Unemployment Insurance: On Tuesday, President Obama called on Congress to extend emergency unemployment insurance. Two weeks ago, Congress failed to renew the vital lifeline that temporarily extends insurance for 1.3 million Americans who are currently looking for work. “Now, I've heard the argument that says extending unemployment insurance will somehow hurt the unemployed because it zaps their motivation to get a new job,” the President said. I really want to go at this for a second. That really sells the American people short...I can't name a time where I met an American who would rather have an unemployment check than the pride of having a job. The long-term unemployed are not lazy. They're not lacking in motivation. They're coping with the aftermath of the worst economic crisis in generations. The President noted that this insurance is not an abstraction but rather a way to provide a bit of extra security, so that losing your job doesn’t mean you lose everything you’ve worked to build. Affordable Care Act: This week, a new report showed that the growth of health care spending is continuing to slow, and Dr. Biden shared her personal connection to the fight against breast cancer to help highlight a new announcement about no-cost chemoprevention medication for women at high risk of the disease. Since January 1, Americans across the country who signed up for health coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplaces have new access to quality and affordable health coverage. Read one man’s story as well as stories from 10 others who have received coverage and what it means to them.  We the Geeks: It was a big week for “We the Geeks,” which hosted two Google+ hangouts, one on the future of computing and the other on the polar vortex. Scientists and tech experts answered your pressing questions on computing advancements and climate change. If you haven’t already, make sure to check out this video that explains the polar vortex in two minutes and why climate change means more extreme weather is likely in the future. Want to know about future “We the Geeks” hangouts? Make sure to sign up for email updates here. Strengthening our Nation’s Energy Infrastructure: On Thursday, the President signed a memorandum that established the first federal government Quadrennial Energy Review (QER) process. Throughout the next four years, the QER will provide a review of federal energy policies and make sure they are keeping up with the changing energy landscape.   Facebook    Twitter   |   More Ways to Engage Did Someone Forward This to You? Sign Up for Email Updates This email was sent to filter@clubhouseb.com Unsubscribe | Privacy Policy Please do not reply to this email. Contact the White House The White House • 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW • Washington, DC 20500 • 202-456-1111

U.S. Department of Defense Defense News Lead Photo Update

You are subscribed to Defense News Lead Photo for U.S. Department of Defense. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. FOAM FLOW 01/10/2014 06:52 PM CST U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Larry Tarver sprays forming foam to clean the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman in the Gulf of Oman, Jan. 5, 2014. The Harry S. Truman, flagship for the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group, is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility conducting maritime security operations and supporting theater security cooperation efforts. Update your subscriptions, modify your password or e-mail address, or stop subscriptions at any time on your User Profile Page. You will need to use your email address to log in. If you have questions or problems with the subscription service, please visit subscriberhelp.govdelivery.com. Have another inquiry? Visit the online FAQ for up-to-date information. This service is provided to you at no charge by U.S. Department of Defense. Visit us on the web at http://www.defense.gov/. Updates from the U.S. Department of Defense

U.S. Department of Defense Defense News Lead Photo Update

You are subscribed to Defense News Lead Photo for U.S. Department of Defense. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. FIRST PLACE 01/10/2014 06:13 PM CST Retired Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Patrick Blair finishes in first place for the men's 50-meter backstroke heat during the Wounded Warrior Pacific Invitational swim meet in Honolulu, Jan. 9, 2014. The meet is a competition among seriously wounded and ill service members from the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Navy and Special Operations Command. Blair was a logistics specialist. SCRIMMAGE MATCH 01/10/2014 06:02 PM CST Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Wayne Damron and Cpl. Matthew Miller participate in a scimmage match during the Wounded Warrior Regiment Wheelchair Basketball Camp at the University of Central Florida in Orlando, Fla., Jan. 9, 2014. The Warrior Athlete Reconditioning Program provides opportunities for wounded, ill or injured Marines to train as athletes while increasing their strength to continue with military service. Damron and Miller are assigned to Detachment San Antonio Military Medical Center. Update your subscriptions, modify your password or e-mail address, or stop subscriptions at any time on your User Profile Page. You will need to use your email address to log in. If you have questions or problems with the subscription service, please visit subscriberhelp.govdelivery.com. Have another inquiry? Visit the online FAQ for up-to-date information. This service is provided to you at no charge by U.S. Department of Defense. Visit us on the web at http://www.defense.gov/. Updates from the U.S. Department of Defense

U.S. Department of Defense Defense News Lead Photo Update

You are subscribed to Defense News Lead Photo for U.S. Department of Defense. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. CREW COMPETITION 01/10/2014 05:44 PM CST 131226-N-TQ272-971 Air Force Senior Airman James Mullen, left, operates a jammer vehicle lifting a GBU-10 Paveway II while Master Sgt. Keith Williams acts as a guide during the first day of the annual load crew competition on Atlantic City Air National Guard Base, N.J., Jan. 9, 2014. Mullen and Williams are aircraft armament systems specialists assigned to New Jersey Air National Guard's 177th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. Update your subscriptions, modify your password or e-mail address, or stop subscriptions at any time on your User Profile Page. You will need to use your email address to log in. If you have questions or problems with the subscription service, please visit subscriberhelp.govdelivery.com. Have another inquiry? Visit the online FAQ for up-to-date information. This service is provided to you at no charge by U.S. Department of Defense. Visit us on the web at http://www.defense.gov/. Updates from the U.S. Department of Defense

U.S. Department of Defense Defense News Lead Photo Update

You are subscribed to Defense News Lead Photo for U.S. Department of Defense. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. AUTOGRAPH STOP 01/10/2014 05:23 PM CST Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel autographs a bulkhead reserved for distinguished visitors as visits the E-01 Missile Alert Facility and Launch Control Center near Cheyenne, Wyo., Jan. 9, 2014. WYOMING WELCOME 01/10/2014 05:05 PM CST Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel shakes hands with Air Force Maj. Gen. Jack Weinstein, commander of the 20th Air Force, Air Force Global Strike Command, as he arrives in Cheyenne, Wyo., Jan. 9., 2014, before visiting the E-01 Missile Alert Facility and Launch Control Center there. CARGO HOOK 01/10/2014 05:00 PM CST U.S. Army Spcs. Hanook M. Chi, right, and Vonza Abney use a cargo hook from an overhead aircraft to hook up sustainment supplies during slingload operations on Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan's Parwan province, Jan. 6, 2014. Through sling load operations, coalition forces in outlying forward operating bases receive equipment and supplies needed in a timely manner. Update your subscriptions, modify your password or e-mail address, or stop subscriptions at any time on your User Profile Page. You will need to use your email address to log in. If you have questions or problems with the subscription service, please visit subscriberhelp.govdelivery.com. Have another inquiry? Visit the online FAQ for up-to-date information. This service is provided to you at no charge by U.S. Department of Defense. Visit us on the web at http://www.defense.gov/. Updates from the U.S. Department of Defense

You can say this better than we ever could

The very best people to describe what having new health insurance means -- what it feels like -- isn't me, or any White House policy staffer. It's not even the President. It's you. Or your neighbor, coworker, sister, or partner. It's anyone who woke up on the morning of January 1st with the peace of mind, security, and quiet dignity that comes with taking your health care into your own hands. We've been hearing from a lot of you. Your stories are powerful, and they keep coming in. Read what 10 different Americans had to say about what being covered now means to them. Then, join them and share a story of your own. JoAnn S., Florida "I haven't had insurance in years and my husband had a shared insurance junk-type policy. The day I signed up on Dec 10, I actually cried when the application went through. I got my first premium notice in the mail yesterday and was never so happy to see a bill before." Gayla W., New Hampshire "I lost my job last April. My partner and I both have pre-existing conditions so our only option was to COBRA my employer-provided plan -- at a cost of $1,676 a month. It was a good plan, but now we have a comparable plan through the ACA for $87 a month. I can't describe just how life changing this is for us. We can afford to live again." Stella R., California "For me this makes all the difference between having good health or not. I recently had a CAT scan (which I had to pay out of pocket for) because I was losing a lot of weight. It turns out that something was found and now I will need to see specialists and have further procedures done to make sure it is not cancer. My first appointment is on January 6 with a specialist. If I did not have health insurance, I would not be able to see a specialist. It would wipe out any savings I have and leave me medically at high risk." Brian F., Florida "I have not had Insurance for over 10 years. I had a pre-existing condition that made me uninsurable -- even though I was perfectly healthy. The last quote I got was in 2008: It was $1,750 a month with a $10,000 deductible. There was no way to ever afford that. …This insurance changes everything for me. I do not have to worry anymore when I get a sore throat or an infected cut that I will have to go to the emergency room -- run up thousands in bills and then have to file bankruptcy. This is a great day. Thank you for the ACA. It is a life changer." Elina K., Colorado "My mom, who is 61 and works as a freelance Russian interpreter, went to the ER in November. She, her partner and myself are uninsured. Tests confirmed she had a major blockage and would need surgery. The mass appears to be cancerous and is pushing down on her internal organs. She has been in severe pain for weeks. … Last night, around 3 a.m., she was admitted to the hospital and will be having surgery which she had to put off until her ACA policy kicked in at midnight. She now has expert care in a facility that in less than 24 hours changed her medication and treated her symptoms with noticeable results. When my stepdad came home tonight, exhausted after spending all day at the hospital, all he could say was 'thank god for Obamacare' …It may well end up saving her life." Kendra S., Oklahoma "Just this past October, my husband was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer. This devastating news was compounded by the fact we were not insured, my husband could no longer work, and the rapid medical procedures that occurred quickly ran up thousands of dollars that we don't have the money to pay. We quickly began researching the ACA, made an appointment with a local Community Care office and after many hours of research, to determine the coverage that we could afford. We are so grateful for the ACA. With the incredibly terrible stress that has befallen upon our family, at least now we know his medical expenses are covered." Rachelle L., Florida "My 28-year-old daughter was able to get healthcare coverage on her own for the first time through the ACA. She has a pre-existing condition, a genetic kidney disease that prevented her from getting coverage in 2009 at the age of 24 when she had to come off of our policy due to the age requirement. Her Cobra payments were $650 a month because she could not get more reasonable private coverage due to her pre-existing condition. In 2010, she was able to come back on our BCBS plan because of the ACA and was able to remain there until she finished school. We signed her up through the website and paid for her plan directly through Cigna on December 2: $298/month for a silver plan with a $0 deductible! She received her new insurance card on December 27th for coverage starting Jan 1! We now have peace of mind that all of her medical needs will be covered at a reasonable cost." Curtis D., Washington "Our new coverage has begun. I am 62, and my wife is 55. We are both self employed and neither of us have had coverage for the past seven years. Thankfully we are both pretty healthy, but it feels good to know we can schedule a checkup and take care of any lingering issues we've been putting off. Thank you for making improvements to the health care of the country." Kelly M., Maryland "I have a new plan. I haven't had insurance for years. When I applied for insurance before, I was denied for pre-existing conditions, even for plans with huge deductibles. I signed up on the Maryland Healthcare Exchange back in October, and by January 1st, I was holding an insurance card from Carefirst Blueshield and have already had my first doctor's appointment. It works. I am proof. And I'm so grateful that I can take care of myself with dignity without having to go to the ER whenever I'm sick or have to spend half of my paycheck at an urgent care center. I can do all of the preventative measures that I have been putting off, and get back on the road to health. It's a good feeling." Kate S., Connecticut "This healthcare reform is a life-changing event for my family. My husband and I have had to carry our own insurance for the past 25 years and, with the family insurance we had, we were paying $2,500.00 a MONTH for coverage, which we could not afford. Once the children graduated from high school, we had to take them off our policy because we could not afford it anymore. … We have never been high wage earners and the costs of our insurance have for years been an impossible burden. Now that the system is fair and goes by our income, we finally may be able to set money aside and save for our future." Simply put, for millions of Americans: Health reform matters. If you've got a story of your own, share it with us here. And if you don't think stories like these ones get told enough -- then do something to change that. Pass this on. Thank you, David David Simas Deputy Senior Advisor The White House @Simas44  This email was sent to filter@clubhouseb.com. Unsubscribe | Privacy Policy Please do not reply to this email. Contact the White House The White House • 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW • Washington, DC 20500 • 202-456-1111

U.S. Department of Defense Defense News Lead Photo Update

You are subscribed to Defense News Lead Photo for U.S. Department of Defense. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. ANNUAL REPORT 01/10/2014 11:29 AM CST Army Maj. Gen. Jeffrey J. Snow, left, director of the Defense Department's Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office, and Air Force Col. Alan R. Metzler, the office's deputy director, brief the press on the annual report on sexual harassment and sexual violence at the military service academies at the Pentagon, Jan. 10, 2014. Update your subscriptions, modify your password or e-mail address, or stop subscriptions at any time on your User Profile Page. You will need to use your email address to log in. If you have questions or problems with the subscription service, please visit subscriberhelp.govdelivery.com. Have another inquiry? Visit the online FAQ for up-to-date information. This service is provided to you at no charge by U.S. Department of Defense. Visit us on the web at http://www.defense.gov/. Updates from the U.S. Department of Defense

U.S. Department of Defense Defense News Lead Photo Update

You are subscribed to Defense News Lead Photo for U.S. Department of Defense. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. DEFENSE RELATIONS 01/10/2014 10:52 AM CST U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, center left, meets with Norwegian Defense Minister Ine Marie Eriksen Soreide, center right, at the Pentagon, Jan. 10, 2014. The two leaders met to discuss bilateral defense topics. PENTAGON WELCOME 01/10/2014 10:46 AM CST U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, left, hosts an honor cordon for Norwegian Defense Minister Ine Marie Eriksen Soreide at the Pentagon, Jan. 10, 2014. Update your subscriptions, modify your password or e-mail address, or stop subscriptions at any time on your User Profile Page. You will need to use your email address to log in. If you have questions or problems with the subscription service, please visit subscriberhelp.govdelivery.com. Have another inquiry? Visit the online FAQ for up-to-date information. This service is provided to you at no charge by U.S. Department of Defense. Visit us on the web at http://www.defense.gov/. Updates from the U.S. Department of Defense

West Wing Week: "A Year of Action"

Here's What's Happening Here at the White House           DAILY SNAPSHOT Friday, January 10, 2014             Watch Live We the Geeks: “Polar Vortex” and Extreme Weather Join us today at 2:00 p.m. ET for We the Geeks: "Polar Vortex" and Extreme Weather -- for a conversation with leading meteorologists, climate scientists, and weather experts about why temperatures dipped to such frigid lows this week, how weather experts turn raw data into useful forecasts, and what we know about extreme weather events in the context of a changing climate. Join us TODAY at 2:00 p.m. ET at WhiteHouse.gov/We-the-Geeks.       Featured West Wing Week 1/10/14 or, "A Year of Action" This week, President Obama called on Congress to extend emergency unemployment insurance for more than a million Americans, and announced the first five of what will be 20 Promise Zones to help change the odds for kids, as the War on Poverty turned 50. And as a polar vortex descended on much of the country, the President's Science Advisor helped explain why. Click here to watch this week's West Wing Week:       Top Stories The Employment Situation in December Though December’s job growth was less than expected, we continue to focus on the longer-term trend in the economy - 2.2 million private sector jobs added and a 1.2 percentage point decline in the unemployment rate over the course of 2013. READ MORE New Steps to Strengthen the Nation’s Energy Infrastructure Yesterday, President Obama signed a memorandum establishing the federal government’s first Quadrennial Energy Review (QER) process, fulfilling an important commitment from his Climate Action Plan and ensuring that federal energy policies continue to meet the nation’s economic, environmental, and security goals. Over the next four years, the QER will provide a comprehensive review of these policies in the context of a changing energy landscape. READ MORE Covered in the New Year: Andrew Santiago’s Story Andrew Santiago is one of the 10.2 million Latinos who stand to benefit from the new protections provided by the Affordable Care Act. Andrew is a comedy writer from Brooklyn who works freelance jobs in television production. Andrew signed up for coverage under the Health Insurance Marketplace and qualified for a tax credit that allows him to purchase medical and dental insurance for only $87 a month. READ MORE       Today's Schedule All times are Eastern Time (ET) 10:00 AM: The President and the Vice President receive the Presidential Daily Briefing 12:45 PM: Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jay Carney WATCH LIVE 2:00 PM: The Vice President ceremonially swears-in Jeh Johnson as Secretary of Homeland Security Facebook    Twitter   |   More Ways to Engage Did Someone Forward This to You? Sign Up for Email Updates This email was sent to filter@clubhouseb.com Unsubscribe | Privacy Policy Please do not reply to this email. Contact the White House The White House • 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW • Washington, DC 20500 • 202-456-1111

FEMA Emergency Declarations Update

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West Virginia Chemical Spill

01/10/2014 12:01 AM EST

Emergency Declaration number 3366 issued Fri, 01/10/2014 - 00:00

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U.S. Department of Defense Defense News Lead Photo Update

You are subscribed to Defense News Lead Photo for U.S. Department of Defense. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. BASE DEPARTURE 01/10/2014 08:44 AM CST Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel waves goodbye as he departs F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne, Wyo., Jan. 9, 2014. Update your subscriptions, modify your password or e-mail address, or stop subscriptions at any time on your User Profile Page. You will need to use your email address to log in. If you have questions or problems with the subscription service, please visit subscriberhelp.govdelivery.com. Have another inquiry? Visit the online FAQ for up-to-date information. This service is provided to you at no charge by U.S. Department of Defense. Visit us on the web at http://www.defense.gov/. Updates from the U.S. Department of Defense

U.S. Department of Defense Defense News Lead Photo Update

You are subscribed to Defense News Lead Photo for U.S. Department of Defense. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. LUNCH CHAT 01/10/2014 08:28 AM CST Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, center left, has lunch with members of the 319th Missile Squadron as he visits the E-01 Missile Alert Facility and Launch Control Center near Cheyenne, Wyo., Jan. 9, 2014. HAGEL REMARKS 01/10/2014 08:13 AM CST Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel addresses Air Force airmen and personnel of the 90th Missile Wing during a town hall on F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne, Wyo., Jan. 9, 2014. CENTER TOUR 01/10/2014 08:12 AM CST Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, center, listens as Air Force Capt. Erin Gentile, missile combat crew commander, describes her duties as he visits the E-01 Missile Alert Facility and Launch Control Center near Cheyenne, Wyo., Jan. 9, 2014. Update your subscriptions, modify your password or e-mail address, or stop subscriptions at any time on your User Profile Page. You will need to use your email address to log in. If you have questions or problems with the subscription service, please visit subscriberhelp.govdelivery.com. Have another inquiry? Visit the online FAQ for up-to-date information. This service is provided to you at no charge by U.S. Department of Defense. Visit us on the web at http://www.defense.gov/. Updates from the U.S. Department of Defense

Flat Creek Farm & Dairy Recalls Cheese Because of Possible Health Risk

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Flat Creek Farm & Dairy Recalls Cheese Because of Possible Health Risk

01/09/2014 05:39 PM EST

Flat Creek Farm & Dairy of Swainsboro, GA has recalled 90 pounds of Heavenly Blue and 78 pounds of Aztec Cheddar cheese, because of potential contamination of Salmonella. Flat Creek is in the process of notifying all of the purchasers.

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U.S. Department of Defense Defense News Lead Photo Update

You are subscribed to Defense News Lead Photo for U.S. Department of Defense. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. BUNKER ESCORT 01/09/2014 06:31 PM CST Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, right, receives an escort into a bunker by a member of the 898th Munitions Squadron as he tours a munitions storage facility at Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, N.M., Jan. 8, 2014. The squadron is based on Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque. VILLAGE WALK 01/09/2014 06:27 PM CST U.S. soldiers and Jordanian forces walk together after a meeting with elders from a village near Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan's Parwan province, Jan, 7, 2014. U.S. forces meet with Afghan elders to build a better relationship with the people who live outside the base. Brooks is assigned to the 1st Cavalry Division's 3rd Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team. Update your subscriptions, modify your password or e-mail address, or stop subscriptions at any time on your User Profile Page. You will need to use your email address to log in. If you have questions or problems with the subscription service, please visit subscriberhelp.govdelivery.com. Have another inquiry? Visit the online FAQ for up-to-date information. This service is provided to you at no charge by U.S. Department of Defense. Visit us on the web at http://www.defense.gov/. Updates from the U.S. Department of Defense