President Barack Obama Visits Afghanistan

During a surprise visit to Afghanistan, President Obama speaks to the troops at Bagram Air Base:

So on behalf of me, on behalf of Michelle, on behalf of Malia and Sasha, on behalf of more than 300 million Americans, we are here to say thank you.  (Hooah!)  We are here to say thank you for everything that you do.

Now, I also want to say thank you to your families back home so that when you talk to them you know that they know.  (Applause.)  They’re serving here with you -- in mind and spirit, if not in body.  

Millions of Americans give thanks this holiday season just as generations have before when they think about our armed services.  You’re part of an unbroken line of Americans who have given up your comfort, your ease, your convenience for America’s security.

In the coming days, Congress will vote on the DREAM Act – a common-sense piece of legislation drafted by both Republicans and Democrats that will give young people who grew up in the United States a chance to contribute to our nation by pursuing a higher education or serving in the U.S. armed forces. It’s limited, targeted legislation that will allow only the best and brightest to earn their legal status, and applies to those brought to the United States as minors through no fault of their own by their parents, and who know no other home.

Here are 10 reasons we need the DREAM Act:

1. Like Ginkgo Biloba, It’ll Make Us Smarter: Secretary of Education Arne Duncan has stated that passing the DREAM Act will “play an important part in the nation’s efforts to have the highest proportion of college graduates in the world by 2020,” something vital for America to remain competitive in today’s global economy.
2. For Ivan Rosales: With the DREAM Act, young people like Ivan Rosales, who came to the United States when he was a year old, can become doctors and work towards a cure for cancer. Ivan’s brother, a National Guardsman, and his brother-in-law, an Iraq veteran, inspired his dream to serve as a doctor in the military, before going on to work as a cancer researcher. Without the DREAM Act, Ivan and others like him have no way to even stay in the country, much less serve it.
3. Uncle Sam Says, The DREAM Act supports our troops: Secretary of Defense Gates has written to DREAM Act sponsors citing the rich precedent of non-citizens serving in the U.S. military and stating that “the DREAM Act represents an opportunity to expand [the recruiting] pool, to the advantage of military recruiting and readiness.
4. For Gaby Pacheco: So Gaby Pacheco, who was the highest ranked J-ROTC student in her high school and president of her college student government, can serve in the Air Force and eventually live out her dream of working with special needs children.
5. It Helps Separate The Bad Guys From The Good Guys: Secretary Napolitano believes this targeted legislation provides a firm but fair way to deal with innocent children brought to the U.S. at a young age so that the Department of Homeland Security can dedicate their enforcement resources to detaining and deporting criminals and those who pose a threat to our country.
6. For David Cho: So David Cho, who graduated from high school with a 3.9 GPA, plays seven instruments and is the drum major at UCLA, can live his dream of serving the United States in the Air Force.
7. It’s Bipartisan: The DREAM Act is a bipartisan piece of legislation designed to stop punishing innocent young people for the actions of their parents by giving them the chance to obtain legal status by pursuing a higher education, or by serving in the U.S. armed forces for the country they've grown up in and love as their own.
8. For Cesar Vargas: So Cesar Vargas, a proud Brooklyn kid, can live his dream  to serve in the military as a JAG officer or on the front line as an intelligence officer with the Marines. He wants to “earn [his] place next to the great heroes of our nation that have and are fighting to defend our Constitution."
9. It Will Help Our Economy: According to a recent UCLA study, students that would be impacted by the DREAM Act could add between $1.4 to $3.6 trillion in taxable income to our economy over the course of careers, depending on how many ultimately gain legal status. According to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office, the DREAM Act in its current form will cut the deficit by $1.4 billion and increase government revenues by $2.3 billion over the next 10 years.
10. It’s The Right Thing To Do: It’s just plain common sense and it’s the right thing to do. For more information on the DREAM Act, view the fact sheet.

Stephanie Valencia is an Associate Director of the Office of Public Engagement

Are you 21 or younger? Keep reading. The United States is setting the agenda for the United Nations Security Council during the month of December, and Ambassador Susan Rice wants to bring your voice into one of the world’s most important decision-making bodies. From December 2-14, you have a chance to call attention to an issue that you care about. What’s the most vital challenge to international peace and security facing your generation? Send your answer in a one-minute video or in written form to youth@state.gov, keeping your submission to fewer than 250 words. If selected, your answer will become a topic of debate at an innovative Security Council event that will be hosted by Ambassador Rice and broadcast live on December 21 at www.un.org/webcast. 

The National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform, led by Co-Chairs Erskine Bowles and Alan Simpson, will be announcing its vote total this morning.

[UPDATE: This event has now concluded. Watch the video below.]

After this week’s Pentagon report showing that a strong majority of America’s military men and women and their families are prepared to serve alongside Americans who are openly gay and lesbian, newspapers across the country have urged the Senate to step up and repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.  Many have echoed the President’s remarks earlier this week, when he said, “With our nation at war and so many Americans serving on the front lines, our troops and their families deserve the certainty that can only come when an act of Congress ends this discriminatory policy once and for all.  The House of Representatives has already passed the necessary legislation.  Today I call on the Senate to act as soon as possible so I can sign this repeal into law this year and ensure that Americans who are willing to risk their lives for their country are treated fairly and equally.”

Here’s a roundup of some of the editorials.

Baltimore Sun:  No more excuses for don’t ask, don’t tell

“If the remaining congressional supporters of don’t ask, don’t tell are being honest when they say their primary concern is avoiding harm to the military, they should take Mr. Gates’ advice and vote for a repeal.”

Kansas City Star:  Congress should act on critical to-do list

“This policy doesn’t serve our national interests. It’s time for gay Americans to be allowed to serve openly.”

Chicago Sun-Times:  Positive Steps on Gay Rights

“[A]n exhaustive Pentagon report found that U.S. soldiers can handle serving alongside gays, concluding that a repeal of the military’s ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy presents a low risk to the military’s effectiveness . . .  It’s now up to Congress to follow that lead. In the waning days of the lame-duck session, the Senate must act to repeal ‘don’t ask, don’t tell.’”

Austin American Statesman:  Congress should be open-minded

“Congress should listen to the brass and the troops and repeal this antiquated, discriminatory policy.”

In Tuesday Talks this week, Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu answered your questions from WhiteHouse.gov and Facebook in a live video chat. Secretary Chu recently delivered a speech calling on the United States to sharply accelerate innovations in clean energy -- citing China and other countries' recent advances in clean technology as a critical "Sputnik Moment" for the U.S.

Watch the chat to learn what you can do to save more energy at home and about the initiatives that the Department of Energy is undertaking to promote a sustainable energy economy. You can check out the full video of the chat or use the links below to jump directly to the questions you're interested in.

Today, a new report from the Commonwealth Fund demonstrates once again why we needed the Affordable Care Act and how the new law will help drive down premiums and save money for Americans across the country. The report found that premiums and deductibles in states were skyrocketing. According to the issue brief:

“[P]remiums for businesses and their employees increased 41 percent across states from 2003 to 2009, while per-person deductibles jumped 77 percent in large as well as small firms.”

And without action, the situation only would have gotten worse. The Commonwealth Fund researchers found that if the trends continued the “average premium for family coverage will rise 79 percent by 2020, to more than $23,000.”

Fortunately, the Affordable Care Act will help control premium cost growth, make our health care system more transparent and make care more affordable and accessible. Under the new law:

• Insurance companies will be required to spend at least 80 percent of premium dollars on health care instead of overhead, salaries or administrative expenses, in 2011. If they fail to do so, they will be required to provide a rebate to consumers.
• Insurance companies must publicly justify any unreasonable premium increases in 2011 and post them on their websites.
• The law includes $250 million to help states improve oversight of proposed private health insurance premium increases and take action against insurers seeking unreasonable rate hikes. $46 million has already been distributed to 45 states and the District of Columbia.
• Families with low and moderate incomes will have new, affordable coverage options.
• Americans will have access to new competitive marketplaces -- health insurance Exchanges – that will provide affordable private insurance to individuals and small businesses beginning in 2014. 
• Doctors and hospitals will be incentivized to better coordinate treatments and improve the quality of care for patients.

The Commonwealth Fund looks at these and other provisions in the law that could save money for American families. The report notes:

“If premium growth were to slow to 1 percentage point below the projected national growth rate, the cost of family coverage would drop an average of $995 annually by 2015. Annual savings for families and employ¬ers would increase to $2,323 by 2020…Even greater amounts could be saved if the annual premium growth rates were to slow by 1.5 percentage points. An average of $1,475 could be saved annually on family coverage by 2015. The savings would more than double to $3,403 annually by 2020.”

Our Administration has made great strides to implement the Affordable Care Act, and we’re moving forward to deliver the benefits of reform to the American people and save money for families nationwide.

 Stephanie Cutter is Assistant to the President for Special Projects

Yesterday, First Lady Michelle Obama kicked off the holiday season by welcoming military families who organize a local branch of the Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots drive to the White House. "The idea behind this year’s theme," Mrs. Obama said, "is Simple Gifts, because in the end, the greatest blessings of all are the ones that don't cost a thing -- the time that we spend with our loved ones, the freedoms we enjoy as Americans, and the joy we feel from reaching out to those in need."

Congress is preparing to vote on the DREAM Act in the coming days, so we thought it would be good to lay out what it means for our nation. The DREAM Act is common-sense legislation drafted by both Republicans and Democrats that would give students who grew up in the United States a chance to contribute to our country’s well-being by serving in the U.S. armed forces or pursuing a higher education. It’s good for our economy, our security, and our nation. That’s why the DREAM Act has long enjoyed bipartisan support. It’s limited, targeted legislation that will allow only the best and brightest young people to earn their legal status after a rigorous and lengthy process, and applies to those brought to the United States as minors through no fault of their own by their parents, and who know no other home.

Download the DREAM Act fact sheet.