Hi, all. Today's report features:
Community College Summit Livestream: Watch it live this morning at 9 a.m. EST; the summit focus is “Transitioning Adult Learners to Community Colleges and the Workforce.”
Weekly Address: The President discusses examples he's seen of how America can win the future. He urges Congress to heed these examples in the coming budget debate and not eliminate investments in innovation, education and infrastructure.
Standing Up for Justice: As part of the Celebrating Black History Month series, Attorney General Holder discusses his work and "the pursuit of justice for all."
"Winning It" for Colorado Conservation: Interior Secretary Salazar's shout-out to Aron Ralston, who donated his "Minute to Win it" winnings to a Colorado environmental group.
Energy Backs Oregon Geothermal Project: DOE finalizes Recovery Act loan guarantee; project uses improved technology.
Veterans: HUD and Veterans Affairs work to help homeless veterans; an overview of African-American military service.
HUD Help for Victims of Domestic Violence: Fair Housing Act allows investigation whether evictions in domestic violence cases consitute housing discrimination.
In Performance at the White House: Watch the recent tribute to Motown on PBS, March 1.
COMMUNITY COLLEGE SUMMIT LIVESTREAM
Department of Education, Feb. 25, 2011:
Community College Summit in Philadelphia
ED is holding a regional community college summit in Philadelphia on February 28.
Secretary Duncan and Labor Secretary Hilda Solis will participate in the summit, which is the first of four regional meetings being held as follow-up events to the White House Summit on Community Colleges in October 2010.
The Philadelphia summit — “Challenges, Solutions, and Commitments” — will bring together 150 participants from 15 surrounding states, representing community colleges, business, industry, philanthropy, labor, state and local governments, as well as students. The summit focus is “Transitioning Adult Learners to Community Colleges and the Workforce.”
The morning session will be streamed live (from 9:00 am – 12:15 pm ET).
The remaining three regional meetings will be held around the country during the spring. The purpose of the meetings is to identify promising practices for increasing completion at community colleges.
Duncan has described community colleges as the linchpin for meeting the President’s national goal of once again leading the world in college completion by 2020.
While they’re in Philadelphia, Duncan and Solis will tour the 1199C Training and Upgrading Fund’s Learning Center, a joint labor-management partnership that provides job skills training in the health fields to over 2,000 adult students every year.
WEEKLY ADDRESS
White House, Feb. 26, 2011:
Weekly Address: Traveling the Country, Winning the Future
The President discusses his recent travels and the examples he's seen of how America can win the future. He urges Congress to heed these examples in the coming budget debate and to tighten our belts without eliminating investments in innovation, education and infrastructure.
Office of the Press Secretary, Feb. 26, 2011:
Weekly Address: "Investments in Education, Innovation, and Infrastructure are an Essential Down Payment on our Future"
WASHINGTON – In this week’s address, President Obama said that he expects Democratic and Republican leaders in Congress to find common ground as Congress focuses on a short term budget next week. The President will consider any serious ideas to reduce the deficit, regardless of which party proposes them. In fact, the President has already proposed freezing domestic spending, which would cut the deficit by $400 billion and bring this kind of spending to the lowest level, as a percentage of our economy, since the Eisenhower administration. But, cutting investments in education and innovation would hinder our ability to out-compete the rest of the world. While the President recognizes that everyone needs to be willing to sacrifice, we cannot sacrifice our country’s ability to win the future.
Over the last month, I’ve been traveling the country, talking to Americans about how we can out-educate, out-innovate, and out-build the rest of the world. Doing that will require a government that lives within its means, and cuts whatever spending we can afford to do without. But it will also require investing in our nation’s future – training and educating our workers; increasing our commitment to research and technology; building new roads and bridges, high-speed rail and high-speed internet.
In cities and towns throughout America, I’ve seen the benefits of these investments. The schools and colleges of Oregon are providing Intel – the state’s largest private employer – with a steady stream of highly-educated workers and engineers. At Parkville Middle School outside of Baltimore, engineering is the most popular subject, thanks to outstanding teachers who are inspiring students to focus on their math and science skills.
In Wisconsin, a company called Orion is putting hundreds of people to work manufacturing energy-efficient lights in a once-shuttered plant. And in the small community of Marquette, in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, widely accessible high-speed internet has allowed students and entrepreneurs to connect to the global economy. One small business, a third-generation, family-owned clothing shop called Getz’s is now selling their products online, which has helped them double their workforce and make them one of America’s 5,000 fastest-growing companies in a recent listing.
Each of these places reminds us that investments in education, innovation, and infrastructure are an essential down payment on our future. But they also remind us that the only way we can afford these investments is by getting our fiscal house in order. Just like any family, we have to live within our means to make room for things we absolutely need.
That’s why I’ve called for a freeze on annual domestic spending over the next five years – a freeze that would cut the deficit by more than $400 billion over the next decade, bringing this kind of spending to its lowest share of our economy since Dwight Eisenhower was President. Just to be clear, that’s lower than it was under the past three administrations, and lower than it was under Ronald Reagan.
Now, putting this budget freeze in place will require tough choices. That’s why I’ve frozen salaries for hardworking civil servants for three years, and proposed cutting programs I care about deeply, like community action programs in low-income neighborhoods. I’m not taking these steps lightly – but I’m taking them because our economic future demands it.
Still, a freeze in annual domestic spending is just a start. If we’re serious about tackling our long-run fiscal challenges, we also need to cut excessive spending wherever we find it – in defense spending, spending in Medicare and Medicaid, and spending through tax breaks and loopholes.
I’m willing to consider any serious ideas to help us reduce the deficit – no matter what party is proposing them. But instead of cutting the investments in education and innovation we need to out-compete the rest of the world, we need a balanced approach to deficit reduction. We all need to be willing to sacrifice, but we can’t sacrifice our future.
Next week, Congress will focus on a short-term budget. For the sake of our people and our economy, we cannot allow gridlock to prevail. Both Democratic and Republican leaders in the House and Senate have said they believe it’s important to keep the government running while we work together on a plan to reduce our long-term deficit.
Given that, I urge and expect them to find common ground so we can accelerate, not impede, economic growth. It won’t be easy. There will be plenty of debates and disagreements, and neither party will get everything it wants. Both sides will have to compromise.
That’s what it will take to do what’s right for our country. And I look forward to working with members of both parties to produce a responsible budget that cuts what we can’t afford, sharpens America’s competitive edge in the world, and helps us win the future. Thanks everyone, and have a nice weekend.
STANDING UP FOR JUSTICE
White House Blog, Feb. 27, 2011:
Eric Holder's Story: Standing Up for American Justice
Posted by Attorney General Eric Holder
Ed. Note: This post is part of the Celebrating Black History Month series, which highlights African Americans from across the Administration whose work contributes to the President's goals for winning the future.
Nearly 35 years ago, as a newly minted law school graduate, I moved from New York City to Washington, D.C., to begin my dream job as a prosecutor in the Justice Department's Public Integrity Section. Very quickly, I learned that the Justice Department was – and still is – an exciting and fascinating place to be. As a young lawyer, I was fortunate to work alongside some of the nation’s most talented and committed public servants: colleagues who cared deeply about advancing the Department’s critical mission, as well as mentors and supervisors who were committed to my professional growth and success.
My early experiences at the Department enabled me to begin looking beyond my next assignment and next case, in order to reflect on the larger responsibilities that guide every Justice Department employee. I came to realize that these obligations are much larger than any one attorney – and certainly any one Attorney General. Put simply, our chief responsibility is the pursuit of justice – and not justice for some, but justice for all. Living up to this responsibility begins by focusing on our number-one mission: protecting the safety of the American people. It also guides our efforts to prevent and reduce violence, crime, fraud, and abuse; to combat the causes and consequences of hate; to safeguard civil rights; to protect the environment; to strengthen the rule of law; to ensure access to legal services; and to maintain the integrity of a system founded on a simple but powerful idea that all people are created equal and deserve the same treatment in the courtroom and in all corners of our society.
For well over two centuries now, we, as a people, have been striving to build the more perfect union underlying every one of these responsibilities – an America where the words and ideals of our Constitution reach the full measure of their intent. Black History Month is an important opportunity to reflect on these responsibilities. In that spirit, it is also a critical time to reflect on how far our nation – and, especially, our African-American communities – have traveled on the long road toward equality and freedom. Although in my own lifetime extraordinary progress has been made, we still have miles to go. It may be tempting when you look at the diversity of people serving in the highest levels of government – or at the man sitting in the Oval Office – to think that equality has been achieved for all Americans. But it will take more than my appointment as the first African-American Attorney General – and even more than the election of the first African-American President – to build a nation that in every respect is, in Dr. King's words, "an oasis of freedom and justice."
Realizing that vision is, and will continue to be, my greatest responsibility – and the paramount duty of our nation’s Department of Justice. This is a collective responsibility – one that I urge each of my colleagues and fellow citizens to help fulfill. During this year's Black History Month, let’s commit to this work and to that nation that, together, we can build.
"WINNING IT" FOR COLORADO CONSERVATION
Department of the Interior, Feb. 25, 2011:
Secretary Salazar's message on Minute to Win It
Interior Secretary Ken Salazar sent a "shout out" to a fellow Coloradan, outdoor adventurer Aron Ralston, during Ralston's appearance on the NBC game show "Minute to Win it."
Ralston, the inspiration for Oscar-nominated movie "127 Hours," won $125,000 for charity. He says he'll donate the winnings to an environmental group, the Wilderness Workshop, based in the western Colorado town of Carbondale. Here is Ralston's statement.
ENERGY BACKS OREGON GEOTHERMAL PROJECT
Department of Energy Finalizes $96.8 Million Loan Guarantee for Oregon Geothermal Project
Project Will Use First-of-a-Kind Technology That Could Expand Geothermal Resource Development
Washington, D.C. -- Energy Secretary Steven Chu today announced that the U.S. Department of Energy finalized a $96.8 million Recovery Act supported loan guarantee to a project sponsored by U.S. Geothermal, Inc. to construct a 23 megawatt (net) geothermal power project in Malheur County, in southeastern Oregon. The company estimates that the project, known as Neal Hot Springs, will create approximately 150 construction jobs, over a dozen permanent jobs and many more supply chain jobs across several states, including Texas, California and Ohio.
"Increasing the supply of renewable energy through projects like U.S. Geothermal's will help us reach the President's goal of generating 80 percent of our electricity from clean energy by 2035," said Secretary Chu. "The Neal Hot Springs project will provide clean renewable energy directly from our nation's vast natural resources while simultaneously creating jobs and helping to promote energy independence."
"U.S. Geothermal's project means new jobs in Oregon communities that need them most," said Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber. "This is important step in achieving one of my top priorities - ensuring rural incomes grow along with urban incomes - and reason for optimism about a more prosperous future with Oregon leading the way in clean energy technologies."
"With the finalizing of this loan, southeastern Oregon's economy can heat up thanks to geothermal energy technology," U.S. Senator Ron Wyden said. "This loan will create more than 150 construction jobs, more than a dozen permanent jobs and will be a real economic shot in the arm and another example that when it comes to renewable energy technology, Oregon is on the right side of history."
"Right now Oregonians need jobs and that is exactly what this project will deliver," said U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley. "This is great news for Vale and for the future of clean energy jobs in Oregon. Our state can be the worldwide leader in geothermal energy production, and this project brings us closer to that vision."
The project uses an improved technology to extract energy from rock and fluids in the Earth's crust more efficiently. The technology, referred to as a supercritical binary geothermal cycle, is estimated to be more efficient than traditional geothermal binary systems, allowing lower-temperature geothermal resources to be used for power generation. Unlike coal-fired and natural gas-fired power generation plants, geothermal plants produce virtually no greenhouse gas emissions.
The company anticipates about 95 percent of the power plant's infrastructure and parts will be supplied by U.S.-based manufacturers. In addition, the project's total output will be sold to Idaho Power Company under a long-term power purchase agreement. With the 25-year agreement in place, the project is well positioned to accommodate anticipated population growth and renewable energy demand in the region.
The Department of Energy, through the Loan Programs Office, has issued loan guarantees or offered conditional commitments for loan guarantees totaling nearly $18 billion to support 19 clean energy projects. The program's eight generation projects alone will produce nearly 23 million megawatt-hours or enough to power almost two million homes. Additional DOE-supported projects include two of the world's largest solar thermal projects, the world's largest wind farm, and the nation's first nuclear power plant in three decades. For more information, please visit the Loan Programs Office websitehttp://lpo.energy.gov/.
VETERANS
Department of Housing and Urban Development, Feb. 24, 2011:
HUD's Work To Tackle Veterans' Homelessness
From interviews with HUD staff to a real-life story of a formerly homeless veteran who HUD helped find a home, this video chronicles HUD's work to end veterans' homelessness and meet Goal 3 of HUD's Strategic Plan: Utilize Housing as a Platform for Improving Quality of Life.
Department of Veterans Affairs, Feb. 17, 2011:
Secretary and Mrs. Shinseki on Homelessness
Secretary and Mrs. Shinseki speak on Veteran homelessness at the 2011 Washington D.C. Winterhaven Stand Down. Over 200 veterans attended, including 12 homeless women veterans.
Department of Veterans Affairs, Feb. 14, 2011:
African Americans in the Military: A Legacy of Exceptional Service
African Americans have served with honor in the military since the beginning of our Nation's history. That service has not only been notable, it has been exceptional- often in the face of adversity. VA honors the service and sacrifice of all African American Veterans.
HUD HELP FOR VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
Department of Housing and Urban Development, Feb. 25, 2011:
HUD Issues Guidance on Discrimination Complaints from Victims of Domestic Violence
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) recently issued guidance making it clear that residents who are denied or evicted from housing as a result of domestic violence may have basis to file a discrimination complaint with HUD under the federal Fair Housing Act. HUD's guidance states that while the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) provides some protections to victims of abuse who experience housing discrimination, the Fair Housing Act provides authority for HUD to investigate whether the denial or eviction violates the Act based on gender or another federally-protected basis.
The Fair Housing Act prohibits landlords from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, and disability.
"People in abusive relationships are not only victims of abuse, but potential victims of housing discrimination," said John Trasviña, HUD Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity. "Evicting a domestic violence victim from her home robs her of the one anchor she has in a sea of uncertainty. HUD is committed to using the Fair Housing Act to protect victims of abuse from unlawful denial of access to decent, affordable housing."
Under the guidance, HUD will review claims of discrimination from victims of domestic violence to determine if there is sufficient evidence to apply the Fair Housing Act to those complaints. For example, a landlord refusing to accept women with a history of domestic violence because they may return to abusive men may violate the Fair Housing Act's prohibition against gender discrimination. Similarly, a "zero-tolerance" policy for criminal activity, under which an entire household may be evicted for the criminal act of one household member, may have a disparate impact on women because they are the overwhelming majority of domestic violence victims. Evicting women for the violent acts of their abusers may violate the Fair Housing Act.
Additionally, the guidance provides examples of recent housing discrimination cases and explains how VAWA protects victims of domestic violence from denial, eviction and termination from public housing and the Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8).
To read HUD's Domestic Violence guidance go to HUD's website.
The Department's domestic violence forms, HUD form 91066, "Certification of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence or Stalking" and HUD form 91067, "Lease Addendum - Violence Against Women and Justice Department Reauthorization Act of 2005," are available in 14 different languages on HUD's Limited English Proficiency Web site.
IN PERFORMANCE AT THE WHITE HOUSE
PBS, Feb. 25, 2011:
In Performance at the White House: Jamie Foxx and Opening Medley (airs on PBS 3/1)
In Performance at the White House Jamie Foxx, John Legend, Seal and Nick Jonas perform a Motown Medley. Airs on PBS March 1.
PBS.org:
In Performance at the White House
The Motown Sound: In Performance at the White House" is a PBS music special in the East Room of the White House. President and Mrs. Obama will host the event on Thursday, February 24 in celebration of Black History Month and the legacy of Motown, the distinctive soul-infused pop music sound, style and presentation that was born in Detroit and embodied by the Motown Records label. The evening will include program host Jamie Foxx and performances by Foxx, Natasha Bedingfield, Sheryl Crow, the group Gloriana, Nick Jonas, Ledisi, John Legend, Amber Riley, Smokey Robinson, Mark Salling, Seal and Jordin Sparks. (Program subject to change.) The sixty-minute television special, part of the Emmy Award-nominated PBS "In Performance at the White House" series, will premiere Tuesday, March 1 at 8 p.m. ET on PBS stations nationwide. (Check local listings.) The program will also be broadcast on March 11 via the American Forces Network to American service men and women and civilians at U.S. Department of Defense locations around the world.