National Content

When the Museum of African American History and Culture opens on the National Mall in 2015, it will be "not just a record of tragedy, but a celebration of life," as President Obama said during the ground breaking ceremony on the site today.

The museum, the 19th in the Smithsonian Institution, will feature objects collected from across the country that tell the stories that make up the African American experience, including personal items that belonged to Harriet Tubman and one of the planes flown by the Tuskegee Airmen. Lonny Bunch, the museum's Founding Director, gives us a first look at some of the treasures that will be on display. Watch it now:

Learn more:

• Read President Obama's remarks at the ground breaking ceremony

Today, to commemorate the beginning of the Lenten Season, President Obama released the following statement:

"Today, Michelle and I honor Ash Wednesday with Christians around the country and across the world. This is at once a solemn and joyous occasion, an opportunity to remember both the depths of sacrifice and the height of redemption.  We join millions in entering the Lenten Season with truly thankful hearts, mindful of our faith and our obligations to one another."

Today, to commemorate the beginning of the Lenten Season, President Obama released the following statement:

"Today, Michelle and I honor Ash Wednesday with Christians around the country and across the world. This is at once a solemn and joyous occasion, an opportunity to remember both the depths of sacrifice and the height of redemption.  We join millions in entering the Lenten Season with truly thankful hearts, mindful of our faith and our obligations to one another."

Another day, another example of Romney and his campaign saying whatever it takes to get elected. On a conference call about Romney's latest economic proposal, an adviser said that Romney would "reconsider" closing the carried interest tax loophole. You might not have heard of this particular loophole, but you can be sure Romney knows it well: It's the one that allows him and the very wealthiest American to pay a very low tax rate. Because much of his income comes from capital gains, Romney directly benefits from the loophole in question. His tax rate is an astonishingly low 13.9 percent—much lower than many middle-class families and even lower than many millionaires. So why would he want to do away with it?

Romney himself has been clear that he doesn't want to close the loophole. He told Larry Kudlow on CNBC at the end of last month that "my view is that we don't raise taxes on anyone. I'm not looking to single out some group of people and say let's raise taxes." When Kudlow asked, "So you'd keep the carried interest?" Romney didn't hedge: "Yes."

Another day, another example of Romney and his campaign saying whatever it takes to get elected. On a conference call about Romney's latest economic proposal, an adviser said that Romney would "reconsider" closing the carried interest tax loophole. You might not have heard of this particular loophole, but you can be sure Romney knows it well: It's the one that allows him and the very wealthiest American to pay a very low tax rate. Because much of his income comes from capital gains, Romney directly benefits from the loophole in question. His tax rate is an astonishingly low 13.9 percent—much lower than many middle-class families and even lower than many millionaires. So why would he want to do away with it?

Romney himself has been clear that he doesn't want to close the loophole. He told Larry Kudlow on CNBC at the end of last month that "my view is that we don't raise taxes on anyone. I'm not looking to single out some group of people and say let's raise taxes." When Kudlow asked, "So you'd keep the carried interest?" Romney didn't hedge: "Yes."

The theme of this year’s National African American History Month, Black American Women in American Culture and History, recognizes the role African American women have played in shaping the character of our nation and the many unique contributions they’ve made -- and are making -- to our culture and society.  

Last year, we featured a series of blog posts from African Americans across the Obama Administration that offered a glimpse into the work they do, including posts from several women serving in the Administration.  Below, read the story of Dr. Regina Benjamin, the Surgeon General of the United States, and follow the links at the bottom to read more posts from African American women in the Administration.

As Surgeon General, I am privileged to serve as “America’s Doctor,” providing the public with the best scientific information available on how to improve their health and the health of the nation. I also oversee the operational command of 6,500 uniformed health officers in the Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service. These officers serve in locations around the world to promote, protect, and advance the health of the American People.

I grew up in Daphne, Alabama, and graduated from high school in the nearby town of Fairhope. I received a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Xavier University in New Orleans and attended Morehouse School of Medicine before receiving my medical degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. I later obtained a masters’ degree in business administration from Tulane University in New Orleans. After completing my family medicine residency in Macon, Georgia, I established a clinic in a small fishing village in Alabama to help its many uninsured residents. That clinic in Bayou La Batre is still operating today, despite being destroyed by Hurricane Georges in 1998, Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and a devastating fire in 2006.  President Obama nominated me for the Surgeon General’s post in July 2009, and I was confirmed by the Senate for that position in November of the same year.

read more

Ed note: This post originally appeared on The Commerce Blog, the U.S. Department of Commerce's official blog.

Today, in conjunction with the newly-launched BusinessUSA initiative, the Department of Commerce announced the launch of their business app challenge.  The $10,000 contest challenges app developers to find innovative ways to utilize Commerce and other publicly available data and information to support American businesses. The business app challenge calls on developers to utilize at least one Department of Commerce data set in creating an application that assists businesses and/or improves the service delivery of Business.USA.gov to the business community.  Developers may choose the platform that best suits them. Applicants may design for the web, personal computer, mobile handheld device, or any platform broadly accessible to the open Internet. A list of developer-friendly data sets can be found on the Business Data and Tools page of Data.gov.

read more

My President and Commander and Chief, Barack Obama, has accomplished more in four years than the preceding administration did in eight years. He ended a war in Iraq, destroyed al Qaeda and help remove Gaddafi from power in Libya. President Obama has made this country safer. He has the economy going in the right direction and 32 million more American citizens now have health insurance. Those are just a few of the outstanding achievements he has accomplished.

President Obama has already made a positive impact on American history with his accomplishments.

As a 91-year-old World War II Disabled Veteran, I am tired of people complaining about my great President and the Commander-in-Chief. I know this could possibly be the last presidential election I see. I yearn for the chance and the honor to be a part of this presidential campaign and work with President Obama on his re-election. As a senior citizen and honorable veteran of America, I look forward to doing my part in this effort.

My President and Commander and Chief, Barack Obama, has accomplished more in four years than the preceding administration did in eight years. He ended a war in Iraq, destroyed al Qaeda and help remove Gaddafi from power in Libya. President Obama has made this country safer. He has the economy going in the right direction and 32 million more American citizens now have health insurance. Those are just a few of the outstanding achievements he has accomplished.

President Obama has already made a positive impact on American history with his accomplishments.

As a 91-year-old World War II Disabled Veteran, I am tired of people complaining about my great President and the Commander-in-Chief. I know this could possibly be the last presidential election I see. I yearn for the chance and the honor to be a part of this presidential campaign and work with President Obama on his re-election. As a senior citizen and honorable veteran of America, I look forward to doing my part in this effort.

My President and Commander and Chief, Barack Obama, has accomplished more in four years than the preceding administration did in eight years. He ended a war in Iraq, destroyed al Qaeda and help remove Gaddafi from power in Libya. President Obama has made this country safer. He has the economy going in the right direction and 32 million more American citizens now have health insurance. Those are just a few of the outstanding achievements he has accomplished.

President Obama has already made a positive impact on American history with his accomplishments.

As a 91-year-old World War II Disabled Veteran, I am tired of people complaining about my great President and the Commander-in-Chief. I know this could possibly be the last presidential election I see. I yearn for the chance and the honor to be a part of this presidential campaign and work with President Obama on his re-election. As a senior citizen and honorable veteran of America, I look forward to doing my part in this effort.

My President and Commander and Chief, Barack Obama, has accomplished more in four years than the preceding administration did in eight years. He ended a war in Iraq, destroyed al Qaeda and help remove Gaddafi from power in Libya. President Obama has made this country safer. He has the economy going in the right direction and 32 million more American citizens now have health insurance. Those are just a few of the outstanding achievements he has accomplished.

President Obama has already made a positive impact on American history with his accomplishments.

As a 91-year-old World War II Disabled Veteran, I am tired of people complaining about my great President and the Commander-in-Chief. I know this could possibly be the last presidential election I see. I yearn for the chance and the honor to be a part of this presidential campaign and work with President Obama on his re-election. As a senior citizen and honorable veteran of America, I look forward to doing my part in this effort.

As a native of Missouri I know how important agriculture is to our society. This is why I was so glad to see U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack sit down with Judy Woodruff to talk about the great work the Obama Administration and the US Department of Agriculture are doing.

Highlighted in the article is the fact that agriculture is the second most productive sector of the US economy with farm exports helping to support 1.15 million jobs here in the US and farm unemployment dropping faster than most jobs that require specialties.

Also highlighted are the 456,000 home loans the Department of Agriculture helped arrange over the past three years with Vilsack saying “it’s our mission to do this; we’ve been working hard to improve the quality of life for people living in rural areas.”

These investments in agriculture continue with President Obama’s 2013 Budget calling for such things as a 23% increase in funding for DOA’s competitive grants program; an increase in the record number of acres of working land in conservation programs; and maintaining a strong safety net to ensure one bad crop won’t put farmers out of business. These programs help ensure the continued success of farming and the many businesses built around it that are so important to the great state of Missouri and this country.

Click here to read Judy Woodruff’s article and here to read Secretary Vilsack’s statement about President Obama’s 2013 Budget and its benefits to farmers.

As a native of Missouri I know how important agriculture is to our society. This is why I was so glad to see U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack sit down with Judy Woodruff to talk about the great work the Obama Administration and the US Department of Agriculture are doing.

Highlighted in the article is the fact that agriculture is the second most productive sector of the US economy with farm exports helping to support 1.15 million jobs here in the US and farm unemployment dropping faster than most jobs that require specialties.

Also highlighted are the 456,000 home loans the Department of Agriculture helped arrange over the past three years with Vilsack saying “it’s our mission to do this; we’ve been working hard to improve the quality of life for people living in rural areas.”

These investments in agriculture continue with President Obama’s 2013 Budget calling for such things as a 23% increase in funding for DOA’s competitive grants program; an increase in the record number of acres of working land in conservation programs; and maintaining a strong safety net to ensure one bad crop won’t put farmers out of business. These programs help ensure the continued success of farming and the many businesses built around it that are so important to the great state of Missouri and this country.

Click here to read Judy Woodruff’s article and here to read Secretary Vilsack’s statement about President Obama’s 2013 Budget and its benefits to farmers.

Last week the Obama Administration and the Department of Interior released the draft plan for implementing the Cobell Land Consolidation Program. In the works since May 2011, in consultation with tribal leaders, the Cobell Land Consolidation Program will facilitate the voluntary buy-back of fractioned trust and restricted free land interests owned by individual American Indians.

With a fund of $1.9 billion the Plan is focused on three areas:

• Program 1: Targeted land Fractionation Program to reduce land fractionation in highly fractionated areas
• Program 2: Willing Seller Program to provide flexibility in purchasing fractionated interests from willing sellers
• Program 3: Cooperative Agreements with Tribes to recognize the Department of Interior is exploring criteria that would allow tribes to seek cooperative agreements

The comment period for the draft plan is open until March 19, 2012. For more information on the Cobell Trust Land Consolidation Program please visit: www.doi.gov/cobell . To read the entire White House press release click here.

Last week the Obama Administration and the Department of Interior released the draft plan for implementing the Cobell Land Consolidation Program. In the works since May 2011, in consultation with tribal leaders, the Cobell Land Consolidation Program will facilitate the voluntary buy-back of fractioned trust and restricted free land interests owned by individual American Indians.

With a fund of $1.9 billion the Plan is focused on three areas:

• Program 1: Targeted land Fractionation Program to reduce land fractionation in highly fractionated areas
• Program 2: Willing Seller Program to provide flexibility in purchasing fractionated interests from willing sellers
• Program 3: Cooperative Agreements with Tribes to recognize the Department of Interior is exploring criteria that would allow tribes to seek cooperative agreements

The comment period for the draft plan is open until March 19, 2012. For more information on the Cobell Trust Land Consolidation Program please visit: www.doi.gov/cobell . To read the entire White House press release click here.

Last night, President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama hosted an incredible group of performers for a night of blues music as part of the PBS "In Performance at the White House" series. After a little encouragement from the legendary B.B. King, the President took the mic from Mick Jagger, and sang a few lines from, "Sweet Home Chicago." Watch:

In welcoming the crowd to the White House, President Obama talked about the origin of the blues:

This is music with humble beginnings -- roots in slavery and segregation, a society that rarely treated black Americans with the dignity and respect that they deserved. The blues bore witness to these hard times. And like so many of the men and women who sang them, the blues refused to be limited by the circumstances of their birth.

The music migrated north -- from Mississippi Delta to Memphis to my hometown in Chicago.  It helped lay the foundation for rock and roll, and R&B and hip-hop. It inspired artists and audiences around the world. And as tonight’s performers will demonstrate, the blues continue to draw a crowd. Because this music speaks to something universal.  No one goes through life without both joy and pain, triumph and sorrow. The blues gets all of that, sometimes with just one lyric or one note.

King and Jagger were joined by Jeff Beck, Trombone Shorty, Keb' Mo', and a host of others.

Here's the full set list:

1. “Let the Good Times Roll” (Ensemble)
2.. “The Thrill Is Gone” (B.B King)
3. “St. James Infirmary” (Trombone Shorty)
4. “Let Me Love You Baby” (Buddy Guy, Jeff Beck)
5. “Brush With The Blues” instrumental (Jeff Beck)
6. “I Can’t Turn You Loose” (Mick Jagger)
7. “Commit A Crime” (Mick Jagger, Jeff Beck)
8. “Miss You” (Mick Jagger, Shemekia Copeland, and Susan Tedeschi,)
9. “Beat Up Guitar” (Shemekia Copeland, Gary Clark, Jr.)
10. “Catfish Blues” (Gary Clark, Jr.)
11. “In The Evening (When The Sun Goes Down)” (Gary Clark, Jr.)
12. “Henry” ( Keb’ Mo’)
13. “I’d Rather Go Blind” (Susan Tedeschi, Derek Trucks, Warren Haynes)
14. “Five Long years” (Buddy Guy, Jeff Beck, Gary Clark, Mick Jagger)
15. “Sweet Home Chicago” (Ensemble)

Other "In Performance" events have honored Motown, country, and a concert celebrating the Hispanic musical heritage.

The entire concert will air on PBS next Monday, February 27.

I support President Obama because he has put forward a social, political and economic vision for the United States, which ensures that we will continue to prosper in the 21st Century.  For too long, politicians in Washington failed to understand that our nation was crumbling, and little action was taken to find solutions to some of our most pressing issues.  Everything from our bridges, and tunnels, to classrooms and community colleges has suffered from a lack of investment.  Thankfully, President Obama has seized the moment to turn things around.

While he inherited an economy that was spiraling towards a second Great Depression, the president seized the initiative and began laying the foundation for an economy that is built to last.  Not only did he include important funding to keeping teachers in our classrooms and cops on the beat through the Recovery act; but the President is also trying to renew the American values that made the middle class – values like fairness and opportunity where everyone plays by the same rules.  And educating future generations so they can compete against countries like India and China is central to his blueprint.

The President launched “Race to the Top” to rewards schools that provide quality programs for vulnerable children across the country.  And the President has also made a deeper commitment to HBCUs, investing $850 million for these institutions over the next 10 years.  And he’s made it clear to all agencies that supporting HBCUs isn’t just a job for the Department of Education.

While we’ve come a long way over the last three years, there’s still plenty of work left to do.  Click here if you want to learn more about how the President is trying to build an America that lasts.

I support President Obama because he has put forward a social, political and economic vision for the United States, which ensures that we will continue to prosper in the 21st Century.  For too long, politicians in Washington failed to understand that our nation was crumbling, and little action was taken to find solutions to some of our most pressing issues.  Everything from our bridges, and tunnels, to classrooms and community colleges has suffered from a lack of investment.  Thankfully, President Obama has seized the moment to turn things around.

While he inherited an economy that was spiraling towards a second Great Depression, the president seized the initiative and began laying the foundation for an economy that is built to last.  Not only did he include important funding to keeping teachers in our classrooms and cops on the beat through the Recovery act; but the President is also trying to renew the American values that made the middle class – values like fairness and opportunity where everyone plays by the same rules.  And educating future generations so they can compete against countries like India and China is central to his blueprint.

The President launched “Race to the Top” to rewards schools that provide quality programs for vulnerable children across the country.  And the President has also made a deeper commitment to HBCUs, investing $850 million for these institutions over the next 10 years.  And he’s made it clear to all agencies that supporting HBCUs isn’t just a job for the Department of Education.

While we’ve come a long way over the last three years, there’s still plenty of work left to do.  Click here if you want to learn more about how the President is trying to build an America that lasts.

At 10:00 AM ET, President Obama will deliver remarks at the ground breaking ceremony for the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Watch it live right here.

Vice President Joe Biden holds a conference call in the West Wing to thank first responders and to discuss the economic value of increasing spectrum, Feb. 21, 2012. (Official White House Photo by David Lienemann)

Today, Vice President Biden met with law enforcement officials, firefighters and public safety groups in the Roosevelt Room and spoke to a couple hundred more first responders by telephone to thank them for their service and to discuss the new nationwide public-safety broadband network included in the Payroll Tax Extension legislation. 

Members of the audience included police chiefs and sergeants from the New York City Police Department, the International Association of Fire Chiefs, and the National Association of Police Organization, among others. The Vice President discussed the need to ensure the safety of first responders and the public,and announced a new report from the Council of Economic Advisers (CEA) that discusses the positive benefits of wireless broadband for public safety as well as jobs, growth, and investment.

The report illustrates the economic impact of President Obama’s goal of doubling the amount of spectrum available for wireless broadcast over ten years, while adopting a nationwide inter operable wireless network. 

Vice President Biden said the expanded access “will enable new spectrum to be used for innovation, to speed wireless communication, and to fulfill a promise made to first responders after 9/11 that they would have the technology they need to stay safe and do their jobs.”

“I’ve been working on changing the way we allocate spectrum for a long time,” Vice President Biden said, “because a smarter system is good for our economy, good for innovation, and vital to keeping our communities as well as our cops, firefighters and EMTs safe.”