Subject: Re: Remarks by the President, Mrs. Obama and Dr. Biden on the Presidential Studies Directive: Strengthening Our Military Families
From: "Missy Owens" <[email-masked]>
To: "Hunter Biden" <[email-masked]>
Date: Mon, 24 Jan 2011 18:01:04 -0500

nope.  Jonathan McBride (same guy from personnel) emailed me that he wanted
to talk to me today and was free after 5:30, so I said i'm in the office
call when you're free.

On Mon, Jan 24, 2011 at 5:59 PM, Hunter Biden <[email-masked]>wrote:

> any news
>
>
>
> Rosemont Seneca Partners
> R. Hunter Biden
> 1010 Wisconsin Av., NW
> Suite 705
> Washington, D.C. 20007
> 202-333-1880
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On Jan 24, 2011, at 1:07 PM, Missy Owens wrote:
>
> Great speech Aunt Jill!
>
>
> THE WHITE HOUSE
>
> Office of the Press Secretary
>
>
> _________________________________________________________________________________________________
>
> For Immediate Release
>
>
> January 24, 2011
>
>
>
> REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT
>
> THE FIRST LADY AND DR. JILL BIDEN
>
> IN ANNOUNCEMENT OF PRESIDENTIAL STUDIES DIRECTIVE:
>
> STRENGTHENING OUR MILITARY FAMILIES
>
>
> East Room
>
>
>
> 10:57 A.M. EST
>
>
>
> DR. BIDEN:  Good morning.  And on behalf of the President and First Lady,
> the Vice President and myself, I want to welcome you and thank you for
> joining us here today at the White House.
>
>
> I want to offer a special welcome to our service members and military
> families.  Your presence here today honors us all.
>
>
> I’m proud to stand here this morning as a military mom.  My son is a
> captain in the Delaware Army National Guard and he recently spent a year in
> Iraq, so my husband and I know well the mixture of pride and concern that
> all military families share.
>
>
> From our earliest times together, Michelle and I have had the privilege of
> meeting with military service members and their families all around the
> country -- people and families like so many of you who are with us here
> today.
>
>
> People like Jessica Sanders who I met at a deployment ceremony for members
> of the Delaware Army National Guard’s 126th Aviation Regiment.  Jessica’s
> fiancé, Captain Mark Thomas, will deploy in the coming weeks to Afghanistan
> where he and his unit will provide medical evacuations for troops, allies
> and Afghan civilians.  Captain Thomas’s parents are here today, too.  Thank
> you for your service.  (Applause.)
>
>
> People like Sandra Norris, the wife of Colonel John Norris, who I met when
> I traveled to Iraq last summer.  Sandra has volunteered thousands of hours
> of her time and expertise over the past 20 years –- leading family readiness
> groups and supporting other military families as an advisor and a friend --
> all while raising two sons and coping with John’s 42 months in combat.
>
>
> Each of you here today brings your own story of service, strength and
> sacrifice -- just like the many other military families we have been
> fortunate enough to meet.
>
>
> Michelle and I have heard your concerns about schools and career issues.
> We have shared your joy when your service members have returned from
> deployment.  And we have tried to offer solace when your soldiers have
> returned home injured.  And in each and every instance, we have been moved
> not just by your sacrifices, but by your incredible spirit and commitment to
> America.
>
>
> Michelle and I have talked a lot about the ways that all Americans can
> support our troops and thank those men and women for their service.  Today,
> we will highlight the efforts of the federal government to support our
> nation’s military families.
>
>
> At the direction of the President, the agencies are acting in a
> coordinated, strategic, and comprehensive way to bring the full force of the
> federal government to bear on this critically important issue.
>
>
> As a teacher, I am particularly pleased that the Department of Education is
> supporting the military children in public schools throughout the country.
> And I am looking forward to working with Secretary Duncan to help teachers
> understand how they can meet the unique needs of the military students in
> their classrooms.
>
>
> I am also heartened by the efforts to respond to the challenges facing our
> Guard and Reserve families -- from helping them sustain their businesses to
> supporting their reintegration back into their communities after
> deployments.
>
>
> Today is an important next step in this administration’s commitment to
> support our servicemen, their families and our members.
>
>
> Michelle and I hold this commitment close in our hearts, just as we keep
> each of our soldiers in our hearts and in our prayers.  As long as we have
> the privilege and honor of serving in our roles, we will do whatever we can
> to support those who protect us.
>
>
> And now it is my pleasure to introduce my partner, my dear friend, and our
> First Lady, Michelle Obama.  (Applause.)
>
>
> MRS. OBAMA:  Good morning.  Thank you.  Good morning, everyone.
> (Applause.)  Thank you.  Thanks so much.  Thank you all.  Thank you for
> being here.  Thank you, Jill, for that kind introduction.  It has been a
> true privilege to work with you on these and so many other issues.  And
> we’ve got a lot more work to do, so I’m looking forward to it.
>
>
> I also want to recognize all the members of the Cabinet, the elected
> officials, and all of the military family advocates that we have here with
> us today.
>
>
> And let me say a special word of thanks to folks like Patty Shinseki, Becky
> Gates, and all of the spouses of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the senior
> enlisted advisors who have been such good friends and trusted counselors to
> both Jill and me over these past couple of years.
>
>
> But most of all, I want to take a moment to thank those among us today and
> everyone outside of this room who wears our country’s uniform, and the
> families who serve right alongside them each and every day.
>
>
> Working with all of you is some of the best work I do.  Your stories affect
> me not just as First Lady, but as a mother, as a wife, and as an American.
> Stories like that of the military wife, who has balanced raising a daughter,
> volunteering for her unit’s family readiness groups, and a career as a
> community developer, all while living in seven different states over 17
> years.
>
>
> Stories like the woman who had just gotten her nursing degree and quit her
> new job only after two months, so that she could take care of her Navy SEAL
> brother who was wounded by an IED -- two of my favorite people.  And today,
> he’s doing better, even running last fall’s Army 10-miler on a pair of
> prosthetic legs.
>
>
> Stories like the young woman, just 15 years old, who took on the role of a
> third parent -- helping her brothers and sisters with homework, assisting
> with meals -- as her mother cared for her wounded father.  She summed it all
> up by simply saying, “They needed me and I was there for them.”
>
>
> Stories like these -- and stories like those of so many in this room -- are
> a reminder of what words like “service,” “strength,” and “sacrifice” -- what
> those words look like in real life.  They’re a reminder of the love that
> keeps us together -- the love of family, the love of country.
>
>
> And for me, and for Jill, they are a reminder of our obligation to our
> troops, our veterans, and their families -- an obligation to work harder; an
> obligation to channel the strength and courage of our military families and
> veterans into our work on their behalf.
>
>
> Again, I know Jill feels the same way, and we’ve learned so much as we’ve
> tackled these issues together.  We visited with servicemen and women, like
> many of you, at Fort Bragg or Nellis Air Force Base in San Diego and New
> York, at Landstuhl and in Baghdad.  We’ve played with your kids at childcare
> centers.  We’ve sat with you at hospital bedsides.  We’ve heard your
> concerns around conference tables.  We’ve invited you to the White House for
> roundtable discussions and backyard picnics and even a Halloween haunted
> house or two.  (Laughter.)
>
>
> We’ve seen you giving back to your communities, no matter how strapped you
> are for time or resources or sleep.  We’ve heard how difficult it is when
> the only way you can connect with your spouse is by sporadic cell phone
> calls or emails.  We’ve seen the strength you’ve shown when a loved one
> comes home with a wounded body or painful memories, and the journey back to
> normal takes longer than expected.
>
>
> And the more we’ve listened, the more stories we’ve heard, the more we’ve
> recognized that there is no one, single definition of a military family;
> there’s no standard-issue set of challenges that you all face.
>
>
> The lives you lead, the families you build, the issues you confront are as
> diverse as anything seen throughout America.  You’re not just a military
> wife or a husband.  Maybe you’re a mom or a dad.  Maybe you, too, wear a
> uniform, or take care of a wounded warrior or a survivor to one of our
> fallen heroes.
>
>
> You’re starting your career, or looking to succeed in the one you already
> have.  You’re trying to save for college for your kids and retirement for
> yourselves.  You’re hoping to squeeze in that late night class and make it
> back in time for dinner.  You’re trying to save up for that down payment on
> the home and still afford the right daycare center for your kids.
>
>
> And so, for me and for Jill, this isn’t about just understanding your
> concerns.  It’s about addressing your concerns.  It’s about telling your
> stories throughout the country, but more importantly, giving you a voice
> with decision-makers.  But most of all, it’s about getting something done.
> It’s about making real, lasting changes that make a real difference in your
> lives.
>
>
> And that’s why today means so much to us.  That’s why we’re so excited.
> Because back in May, I announced that my husband had directed his Cabinet to
> identify new priorities and new partnerships to support our military
> families.  So today, they have come back with 50 -- 50 specific commitments
> that aim to keep improving your quality of life.
>
>
> For instance, the Department of Education, as Jill mentioned, is
> simplifying its financial aid application process just for you.  The
> Departments of Labor, Commerce, Defense, and the Small Business
> Administration are partnering with the business community to expand your
> career options.  The Departments of Health and Human Services, Education,
> Agriculture, and Defense are working together to expand your childcare
> options.
>
>
> But the list of commitments goes on and on, addressing everything from
> homelessness to mental health to employment opportunities for young adults.
> So this effort gives you all a seat at the table not just at the White House
> or at the Pentagon or at the VA.  It gives you a seat at the table all
> across the federal government.
>
>
>      And I want to emphasize that this is not a one-time press conference.
> This isn’t just a headline for today that gets buried under tomorrow’s
> news.  These are lasting commitments by the government to address your needs
> and concerns for years to come.  And my hope is that these recommendations
> will live on no matter the President, no matter the party.
>
>
> So today isn’t the end of this process, not by a long shot. Don’t think for
> one minute that Jill and I will not keep pushing and advocating and fighting
> for you, because we will.  And we’re not going to stop until every part of
> our society -– every part, both inside and outside of government -– is fully
> mobilized to support our troops and their families.  After all the time I’ve
> spent with you, I know how much you deserve our government and our people’s
> support.  I know it because of your stories.  I know it because of what
> you’ve done for this country.  I know it because of that 15-year-old who
> answered the call, just because she was needed.   Some of the best memories
> I’ve had in the past couple of years are with you.
>
>
> And my husband feels the exact same way.  I know that because of the
> moments that we’ve shared with wounded warriors and survivors, because of
> the military children who have made us both smile, and because of the
> conversation that he and I have had long after those events are over.
> That’s why he has been such a leader on these issues.
>
>
> And that is why I am so proud to introduce this man –- because he hears
> your stories not only as President and Commander-in-Chief, but also as a
> loving father and as a wonderful husband.  He doesn’t hear me say that
> often.  (Laughter.)
>
>
> So I give to you the President of the United States, Barack Obama.
> (Applause.)
>
>
> THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you, everybody.  Thank you.  (Applause.)  Thank you
> so much.  Thank you very much.  Everyone, please have a seat.  Thank you so
> much.
>
>
> Well, good morning, everyone.  I want to thank Michelle and Jill --
> although I have to say I hate following both of them.  (Laughter.)  As I
> think all you sense, when they speak, the government listens.  You should
> know -- and I know Joe Biden would agree with this -- when they speak, the
> President and Vice President listen.  (Laughter.)
>
>
> So, Michelle and Jill, on behalf of all of us, thank you for being such
> extraordinary champions for our military families and making sure that their
> priorities are America’s priorities.
>
>
> To all the members of Congress who are here, the members of my Cabinet, the
> Joint Chiefs of Staff, leaders from across the administration, and most of
> all, our troops, their families, their advocates -- thanks for joining us as
> we make an unprecedented commitment to America’s military families.
>
>
> Now, last month I was in Afghanistan to visit our troops and to thank them
> for their service, especially during the holidays. And I think as some of
> you are aware, we fly in, in the dark of night for security reasons,
> unannounced.  Folks I'm sure have to scramble on the other end to make sure
> that our visit works.  And we had a wonderful crowd, a great rally.  And
> then afterwards, I took the time not only to meet with General Petraeus and
> some of the other commanding officers, but I also met with a group of our
> special ops forces.  Now, anybody who’s met with SEALs and Deltas, you know
> these are some of the toughest, most battle-hardened troops in our
> military.  They are involved in some of the most dangerous fighting that
> there is.
>
>
> There are tough guys.  Looking at them, you can tell they’re tough.  Some
> folks end up being tough, but these -- you can just tell these guys are
> tough.  (Laughter.)  And they embody the courage and character that makes
> our military the finest in the world.  And just to give you some sense,
> these guys are going out on helicopter raids at night with very little
> support and carrying out extremely dangerous assignments each and every
> day.
>
> So I asked them.  I said, “What do you need from me?  What can I do to
> support you better?”  And without missing a beat, they looked me in the eye
> and they gave me their answer.  It wasn’t about more equipment.  It wasn’t
> about more resources on the battlefield.  In fact, it wasn’t about them.
> They said -- to a man -- “Sir, take care of our families.  Take care of our
> families.  If we know our families are all right back home, then we can do
> our jobs.”
>
>
> So we are here today because nearly a decade of war has been taking place,
> and our Armed Forces -- you and your families -- have done everything
> you’ve been asked to do.  You’ve been everything we could ask you to be.
> You have done your duty.  And as a grateful nation, we must do ours.  We
> have to make sure that America is serving you as well as you have served
> us.
>
>
> This isn’t just a military or -- this is not just a moral obligation.  This
> is a matter of national security.  With millions of military spouses,
> parents and children sacrificing as well, the readiness of our Armed Forces
> depends on the readiness of our military families.
>
>
> As Michelle mentioned, she and I see this in the spouses we meet.  During
> vacation, while we were in Hawaii, we had a chance to see a whole bunch of
> military families out on Kaneohe Marine Base.  And what was true then in the
> conversations we had is what we find wherever we go around the country --
> truly heroic wives and husbands who become single parents on the home front
> and somehow keep it all together —- the house, the kids, maybe even a job of
> their own.
>
>
> We see it in the resilience of so many military kids -— boys and girls who,
> like all the other kids, are just trying to grow up, trying to find their
> way, but who, unlike other kids, are also having to worry about whether
> their mom or dad is going to come home safe.
>
>
> We see it in the devotion of caregivers who tend to their loved ones, our
> wounded warriors, around the clock, day in, day out.  And we see it in the
> quiet pride of our veterans, who only ask that we live up to those words
> from President Lincoln, that as a nation, we truly care for all those who
> have “borne the battle.”  We see it in the unending love of the families of
> the fallen —- our Gold Star families who’ve given their nation the people
> they loved most in the world.
>
>
> As Commander-in-Chief, I am determined to do everything in my power to make
> sure that we are fulfilling that request from our troops, that we are taking
> care of their families.  And that’s why, over the past two years, we’ve made
> major investments:  more military housing, more childcare, new schools for
> our military kids; more counseling and career support for spouses; more help
> for those tireless caregivers; dramatic increases in veterans health care,
> and helping hundreds of thousands of veterans and family members pursue
> their education through the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
>
>
> And that’s why I ordered this government-wide effort, a Presidential Study
> Directive, to bring together the resources of the federal government for
> this mission.  Now, for those of you who aren’t familiar with these
> presidential directives, these are reserved for some of our most important
> and complex national security challenges.  I think Mike Mullen will share
> with you, since becoming President I’ve only ordered about a dozen,
> including this one, which we believe is the first one ever on behalf of
> military families.
>
>
> And today, I’m proud to announce that for the first time ever, supporting
> the well-being of our military families will be a priority not just for the
> Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs, but all across
> the federal government.  That's why all these Cabinet folks are here today.
> Sixteen members of my Cabinet have committed their departments and agencies
> to making military families one of their highest priorities.
>
>
> We’re focusing on four areas —- the things you said matter most to you,
> whether you’re Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine or Coast Guard -- active Guard
> or Reserve, a veteran or a member of a family of the fallen.  We didn’t wait
> for today to launch these efforts.  Many of these efforts have already been
> underway.  And that includes innovative new partnerships so that, in tough
> fiscal times, our government is more efficient and serves you better.
>
>
> So let me just list our primary areas of focus.  First, we are putting new
> emphasis on the quality of life for our military families.  The Departments
> of Defense and Health and Human Services, for example, have joined forces to
> improve community mental health services and prevent suicides.  A new office
> in the Treasury Department is working to protect military families from
> abusive practices like predatory lending.  It turns out that military
> families are more subject to some of these financial scams than just about
> any other group.
>
>
> The Agricultural Department is expanding its support for families in rural
> areas.  A disproportionate number of our military families come from rural
> areas or are stationed in rural communities.
>
>
> The Interior Department -- we use our national parks to help our wounded
> warriors recover.  And we are going to remain relentless -- not just at VA,
> but at HUD and HHS and across the government -— in our fight to end
> homelessness among our veterans.  We have to have zero tolerance for
> homelessness among our veterans.  (Applause.)
>
>
> Second, we’re putting a new focus on the education and development of our
> military children, most of whom go to public schools.  So for the first time
> ever, the Department of Education will make military families a priority for
> some of its grant programs.  And that’s going to give states and communities
> new incentives to address the unique needs of military children.
>
>
>      The Interior Department, which is already one of the largest federal
> employers of young people, will create more opportunities, like summer jobs,
> for young people from military families.  And today, we are renewing our
> call for every state to adopt the Interstate Compact, which makes it easier
> for military children to transfer between schools and succeed in the
> classroom.  (Applause.)
>
>
> Third, we’re redoubling our efforts to help military spouses pursue their
> educations and careers.  As Michelle said, we’ve brought in the departments
> of Labor and Commerce and the Small Business Administration.  We’re going to
> help spouses get that degree, find that job, or start that new business.  We
> want every company in America to know our military spouses and veterans
> have the skills and the dedication, and our nation is more competitive when
> we tap their incredible talents.  (Applause.)
>
>
> And finally, we’re going to keep increasing childcare for our military moms
> and dads with young children.  This is not just a job for the Department of
> Defense.  As Michelle said, the departments of Education, Health and Human
> Services, and Agriculture are now helping, too.  And working together, we
> believe we can find new childcare options for tens of thousands of military
> children.
>
>
> So these are just some of the nearly 50 specific commitments that my
> administration is making today.  In other words, we’re not simply
> reaffirming our responsibility to our military families, we are upping our
> game.  In fact, these 16 members of my Cabinet have signed their name to
> this report, pledging personally to see this through.  So, gang, you are all
> on the hook.  (Laughter.)  We know where to find you -- (applause) -- and
> not only to fulfill these commitments, but to make sure that as we go
> forward our military families are being heard across the government.  That's
> what we’re looking for here.
>
>
> Michelle and Jill said they’re going to keep pushing —- and I promise you
> they are not kidding.  (Laughter.)  And as President, I’m going to make sure
> that we get this done.
>
>
> We also recognize that this can’t be a mission for government alone.
> Government has its responsibilities, but 1 percent of Americans may be
> fighting our wars; 100 percent of Americans need to be supporting our troops
> and their families -- 100 percent.  (Applause.)
>
>
> So to help launch this effort, Michelle will be on “Oprah” this week to
> urge --
>
>
> MRS. OBAMA:  Oooh!  (Laughter and applause.)
>
>
> THE PRESIDENT:  -- to urge every American to join a new national campaign
> to support our military families.  That's a pretty good plug.
>
>
> You see, this is one of those challenges, and one of those moments, when we
> have to remember what unites us as Americans, what we can achieve together
> -- and what we owe to each other, especially to those who serve and
> sacrifice so we can live free and be safe.
>
>
> I want every service member who’s deployed to know that when you’re over
> there taking care of the country that you love, your country is back here
> taking care of the families that you love.  I want every military wife and
> husband to know that we’re going to help you keep your family strong and
> secure.  I want every military kid to know that we’re going to be there for
> you, too, to help you grow and to live your dreams.
>
>
> I want our Gold Star families to know that this nation will never forget
> and will always honor the supreme sacrifice that your family has made to our
> nation.
>
>
> And I want every single American to remember that as the beneficiaries of
> their service, each of us has an obligation —- a sacred duty —- to care for
> those who have “borne the battle.”
>
>
> These are my commitments; these are Michelle and Jill’s commitments; these
> are my administration’s commitments; and they must be America’s
> commitments.  And as long as I am President, we’re going to keep working to
> fulfill those commitments for all who serve.
>
>
> Thank you very much, everybody.  God bless you.  (Applause.)
>
>
>                                     END                  11:29 A.M. EST
>
>
>
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