President Barack Obama is led through a hall outside of the House of Commons by the Rt Hon John Bercow, Speaker of the House of Commons, during a tour of Parliament in London, England, May 25, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
White House Photo, Pete Souza, 5/25/11
As President Obama spoke to "the Mother of Parliaments" at Westminster Hall in London, it was a stark reminder of just closely linked our fates are.
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The President called for an unprecedented government-wide review of rules to create a regulatory system that is simpler, smarter and protects the health and safety of Americans. Share your feedback on agency plans that reduce burdens and save money.
New fuel economy labels empower car buyers with better information about what they will spend or save on fuel costs when looking to purchase a new vehicle.
Much of the President's trip to Europe so far had seemed to be light-hearted diplomacy, from joining an excited crown in Dublin to toasting the Queen and a tour of Buckingham Palace. But as President Obama spoke to "the Mother of Parliaments" at Westminster Hall, it was a stark reminder of just closely linked our fates are. He began with a recounting of our shared history, from "a small scrape about tea and taxes" to sacrificing "side by side to free a continent from the march of tyranny, and help prosperity flourish from the ruins of war."
Even more stark, though, was the myriad of challenges facing out two nations today. Turmoil, war and democracy in the Middle East; the ongoing threat of loose nuclear materials and the hope that we can move towards a world where nuclear weapons no longer threaten us; these, along with countless other eruptions and issues around the world, can only be dealt with through international cooperation. And the U.S. and the UK will always be at the forefront of that.
Right now, though, the American and British people are rightly concerned about their own economies first and foremost, and here too the President laid out a strong case for our importance to each other:
In other words, we live in a global economy that is largely of our own making. And today, the competition for the best jobs and industries favors countries that are free-thinking and forward-looking; countries with the most creative and innovative and entrepreneurial citizens.
That gives nations like the United States and the United Kingdom an inherent advantage. For from Newton and Darwin to Edison and Einstein, from Alan Turing to Steve Jobs, we have led the world in our commitment to science and cutting-edge research, the discovery of new medicines and technologies. We educate our citizens and train our workers in the best colleges and universities on Earth. But to maintain this advantage in a world that's more competitive than ever, we will have to redouble our investments in science and engineering, and renew our national commitments to educating our workforces.
We've also been reminded in the last few years that markets can sometimes fail. In the last century, both our nations put in place regulatory frameworks to deal with such market failures -- safeguards to protect the banking system after the Great Depression, for example; regulations that were established to prevent the pollution of our air and water during the 1970s.
But in today's economy, such threats of market failure can no longer be contained within the borders of any one country. Market failures can go global, and go viral, and demand international responses.
A financial crisis that began on Wall Street infected nearly every continent, which is why we must keep working through forums like the G20 to put in place global rules of the road to prevent future excesses and abuse. No country can hide from the dangers of carbon pollution, which is why we must build on what was achieved at Copenhagen and Cancun to leave our children a planet that is safer and cleaner.
Moreover, even when the free market works as it should, both our countries recognize that no matter how responsibly we live in our lives, hard times or bad luck, a crippling illness or a layoff may strike any one of us. And so part of our common tradition has expressed itself in a conviction that every citizen deserves a basic measure of security -– health care if you get sick, unemployment insurance if you lose your job, a dignified retirement after a lifetime of hard work. That commitment to our citizens has also been the reason for our leadership in the world.
And now, having come through a terrible recession, our challenge is to meet these obligations while ensuring that we're not consuming -- and hence consumed with -- a level of debt that could sap the strength and vitality of our economies. And that will require difficult choices and it will require different paths for both of our countries. But we have faced such challenges before, and have always been able to balance the need for fiscal responsibility with the responsibilities we have to one another.
President Barack Obama gives a speech to members of both Houses of Parliament at Westminster Hall in London, England, May 25, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama talk with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in the 1844 Room at Buckingham Palace in London, England, May 24, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
In London, President Obama pledges support for those affected by the devastation in Missouri, Minnesota and across the Midwest. On Sunday, the President will travel to Missouri to talk with people on the ground.
President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama greet people as they walk along Main Street in Moneygall, Ireland, May 23, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
President Barack Obama addresses a crowd of thousands at College Green in Dublin, Ireland, May 23, 2011. Standing behind the President is Ireland's Taoiseach Enda Kenny. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)
The President embraces Ireland's heritage before a crowd of thousands in Dublin, Ireland.
Thousands of people gather at College Green in Dublin, Ireland, to welcome President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, May 23, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)
President Barack Obama talks on the phone with Missouri Governor Jay Nixon, during his visit to Dublin, Ireland, May 23, 2011. The President and Gov. Nixon discussed the deadly tornado that touched down in Joplin, Mo., Sunday night. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
In the wake of yet another terrible storm, the President calls Missouri Governor Jay Nixon to personally extend his condolences and to tell all of the families of Joplin affected by the severe tornadoes that they are in his thoughts and prayers.
Having just given the commencement address at a school making inspiring progress, the President says Congress must reform No Child Left Behind to help all our schools thrive.
-i agree with President !Obama says Congress must replace No Child Left Behind to help all our schools thrive.GREAT!-
edjane maps :)
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Your quick look at the week that was at Whitehouse.gov.
-excellent-edjane :)
President Barack Obama talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel as they walk from the Oval Office to the South Lawn Drive of the White House, following their meetings, May 20, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
President Barack Obama meets with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel, in the Oval Office, May 20, 2011. (by Pete Souza)
President Barack Obama delivers remarks to the intelligence community in the lobby of the Old CIA headquarters in Langley, Va., May 20, 2011. The backdrop is the CIA Wall of Stars. The President thanked intelligence community workers for the work they do every day and specifically for their excellent work in tracking down Osama bin Laden. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
The President makes his third visit to CIA Headquarters in Langley, Virginia, this time to thank them for a job well done.
-I loved your speech today Barack!Simply the best! -
edjane maps :)
more from the blog
President Obama delivers a speech on the Middle East and North Africa, and U.S. policy in the region.
May 19, 2011 11:45AM EDT / 3:45PM GMT
LIVE WEB CAST AND WEB CHATS
The speech by the President will be web cast live on www.whitehouse.gov.
To participate in the English live webchat, go to: https://statedept.connectsolutions.com/potus.
To participate in the Arabic live webchat, go to: https://statedept.connectsolutions.com/potusarabic.
To participate in the Hebrew live webchat, go to: https://statedept.connectsolutions.com/potushebrew.
To participate in the Farsi live webchat, go to: https://statedept.connectsolutions.com/potusfarsi.
Choose the Enter as a Guest option, type in your name and enter the room. For questions on how to participate in these viewing options, contact CO.NXTeam@state.gov.
President Barack Obama delivers the commencement address at the 130th Coast Guard Academy graduation ceremony in New London, Conn., May 18, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)
The President gave his last Commencement Address of the season this afternoon at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut. He spent the bulk of his time walking the graduating class down memory lane of the years of tough training and education they had endured, but first he spoke about his personal experience with the Coast Guard:
I have to say, it is a personal pleasure to be here, because since the day I took office, the United States Coast Guard has played a special role in my presidency and with my family. I've seen the Coast Guard's precision when some of you -- the Class of 2011 -- marched in the parade during my inauguration. You looked pretty good on that day, too. (Laughter.) It was a little colder that day, if you recall. (Laughter.)
I've seen your devotion to duty -- all along the Gulf Coast -- when the Coast Guard, including members of this class, worked day and night, tirelessly, as you led the largest environmental cleanup in our nation's history.
I've seen your pride, when I was in, of all places, Afghanistan. I was in Bagram, thanking our troops for their service. And I was giving a shout-out to every service -- Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines. And then, way in the back of the crowd, a voice shouted out: "and Coast Guard!" (Laughter.) There was no ocean in sight. (Laughter and applause.) Not a body of water visible anywhere. (Laughter.) But the Coast Guard was there, serving with honor, as you have in every major conflict that our nation has ever fought.
Cadets file into Leamy Hall to take their seats at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy graduation ceremony in New London, Conn., May 18, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)
President Barack Obama works as his motorcade arrives at Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks, Conn., May 18, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
The President welcomes some of the most influential people of our time to the White House, from Members of Congress and Supreme Court Justices to Elie Wiesel.
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The President gave his last Commencement Address of the season at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut.
President Barack Obama meets with King Abdullah of Jordan in the Oval Office, May 17, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
President Obama welcomes His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is taking action to ensure that workers are able to maintain their existing health insurance.
Heather Zichal, Deputy Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change, discusses the Administration's policies to support safe and responsible domestic oil and gas production.
President Obama travels to Memphis, Tennessee to deliver the commencement address at the Booker T. Washington High School and surprises the very excited class of 2011. Watch the behind-the-scenes video.
President Barack Obama listens as Memphis Mayor A.C. Wharton speaks during a meeting with elected officials and families affected by the floods in Memphis, Tenn., May 16, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
-amazing!-
edjane maps :)
Howard Schmidt, the White House Cybersecurity Coordinator, announces the United States' first, comprehensive International Strategy for Cyberspace.
The President gives the commencement address at Booker T. Washington High School in Memphis, chosen as a finalist for the Race to the Top Commencement Challenge on the basis of its inspiring turn-around story, and voted the winner by the public.
The President and Vice President release their 2010 financial disclosure reports.
United States Trade Representative Ron Kirk encourages small businesses across the country to consider the advantages of exporting to one of our trade agreement country partners.
President Obama sends an email to the White House email list asking for nominations for the 2011 Citizens Medal, our nation's second-highest civilian honor.
Karen Mills, Administrator of the Small Business Administration, discusses the release of The Small Business Agenda: Growing America's Small Businesses to Win the Future report. The report details the many things the Administration has done over the past two years to help small businesses do what they do best: create jobs.
President Barack Obama meets with staff in the Oval Office, May 13, 2011. Attending the meeting, clockwise from the President, are: Director of Communications Dan Pfeiffer; Deputy Senior Advisor Stephanie Cutter; Jon Favreau, Director of Speechwriting; Jon Lovett, Associate Director of Speechwriting; and Senior Advisor David Plouffe. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
Pete Souza, Chief Official White House Photographer and Director of the White House Photography Office, releases a new series of behind-the-scenes photographs from the last two weeks of April 2011.
This year's Social Security and Medicare Board of Trustees reports show that Medicare and Social Security are strong, but there is far more work to be done.
First Lady Michelle Obama announces new Let's Move! commitments to support our military kids and military families
President Barack Obama takes the stage during the National Hispanic Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C., May 12, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)
President Obama & Poets at the White House
May 11, 2011
Director of the White House Domestic Policy Council Melody Barnes discusses a report which details the powerful role that arts education strategies can play in closing the achievement gap, improving student engagement, and building creativity and nurturing innovative thinking skills.
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President Obama Surprises Booker T. Washington Graduates
President Obama Honors the Nation's TOP COPS
Press Briefing
National Hispanic Prayer Breakfast