The White House Wednesday, March 5, 2014 White House Arab American & Muslim American Update Friends and colleagues – Salaam. I’m pleased to share with you the launch of our newsletter to Arab, Muslim and Middle Eastern American communities! We look forward to working with all of you as we continue to advance the President’s agenda on the issues that impact our communities and to represent your voice to this Administration. Sincerely, Rumana Ahmed The White House Office of Public Engagement [email protected] Sign up for White House social media alerts Connect with the Office of Public Engagement ACA Health Care Enrollment March 7-9 will be National Muslim American Enrollment Weekend! We are working with various organizations and community leaders across the U.S. to make sure members in their community learn more about health care enrollment and the upcoming March 31st deadline. We are calling on you as community leaders to also take part in this national effort of “Muslim American Enrollment Weekend” on March 7- 9th to make it a success or plan an event before March 31st! Since October 1, more than 4 million people have enrolled. No one is invincible to injuries or sickness and no one should be denied coverage for their gender or for preexisting conditions, which is why it is so important that every American gets covered. We are asking that you make sure members of the people at least understand how they are affected by the health care law, and know their options and how to enroll. You can do this simply by committing to organizing an enrollment event before March 31st. Muslim health organizations are working with others to centralize all commitments and plans for events around Muslim American Enrollment Weekend (March 7-9) and before March 31st. For more information on how to take part in this national effort, plan an event and materials you need please email [email protected]. Thank you for your leadership and all of your efforts in your communities. Raising the Minimum Wage through Executive Order In his 2014 State of the Union address, President Obama affirmed that this would be a year of action to help ensure opportunity for all Americans. He announced his intention to move forward using his own authority and raise the minimum wage for workers on new and replacement federal service, construction, or concessions contracts to $10.10 an hour. As the President said, “If you cook our troops’ meals or wash their dishes, you shouldn’t have to live in poverty.” On February 12, the President signed an Executive Order making this vision a reality. Watch the President’s Weekly Address on Raising the Minimum Wage. Read the Executive Order Fact Sheet. President Obama Signs Minimum Wage Executive Order President Barack Obama delivers remarks on the importance of raising the federal minimum wage for all workers, during an event in the in the East Room of the White House, Feb. 12, 2014. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy) Farm Bill Improves Access to Halal and Kosher Foods The recently enacted Farm Bill improves access to kosher and halal foods through the Emergency Food Assistance Program. The bill also refocuses the Commodity Supplemental Food Program to better target assistance to seniors and improves access to tribal, kosher and halal foods through the Food Distribution on an Indian Reservation, National School Lunch and the Emergency Food Assistance Programs. Community Leader Engagement In the State of the Union address on January 28th, the President laid out his plan for domestic and foreign policy issues, including immigration reform, health care, and conflicts in the Middle East. Ever since, the Office of Public Engagement has been working with other departments, agencies, and leaders in the Muslim and Arab communities to address many of the issues the President has highlighted. Earlier this month, the Office of Public Engagement hosted community leaders, innovators, scholars, health professionals and entrepreneurs from the Iranian-American community to discuss domestic policies and initiatives. They heard from and shared their thoughts with White House staffers on immigration reform, healthcare, civic engagement, and the role that the Iranian-American community can play in shaping policy. Representatives from the State Department also joined White House staff to speak on human rights concerns in Iran and on U.S.-Iran foreign policy. The Office of Public Engagement gathered Arab, Israeli, Palestinian, Jewish, Christian and Muslim American youth leaders from across the country at the White House this month to share the work of their organizations. These young leaders discussed the importance of their roles in this process and ways to organize in support of the current negotiations process and a two-state solution between Palestine and Israel. Youth Leaders Discuss Israeli-Palestinian Two-State Solution Youth Leaders discuss the work of their organizations and ideas for collaboration with State and White House staff. (PHOTO BY: Office of Public Engagement) Also earlier this year, Secretary Kerry joined a luncheon with Christian, Muslim and Jewish faith leaders at Georgetown university, coordinated by the Office of Public Engagement, State Department’s Office of the Special Envoy for Israeli-Palestinian Negotiations, and the new Office of Faith-Based Community Initiatives. Imam Yahya Hendi, Cardinal Theodore McCarrick and Rabbi Sharon Brous came together to give opening prayers on the shared responsibility of people of all faiths in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. Foreign Policy & in the Middle East Visit to the White House of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas The White House – Office of the Press Secretary (Feb. 27): Statement by the Press Secretary on the Visit of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Monday 3/3 Geneva Conference and Situation in Syria Ambassador Samantha Power – Remarks on UNSC Resolution on Humanitarian Access in Syria (Feb. 22): “Todays unanimous resolution of the Security Council, for the first time, specifically identifies areas where sieges must be lifted; it demands the demilitarization of medical facilities, schools, and other civilian facilities; it demands cross-border humanitarian access so that aid can reach people in need through the most direct routes; it demands the cessation of insidious use of barrel bombs, which seem designed for the very purpose of terrorizing, maiming, and killing civilians.” Full Text» (Department of State) Secretary Kerry (Feb. 16): Theres no recess in the suffering of the Syrian people, and the parties and the international community must use the recess in the Geneva talks to determine how best to use this time and its resumption to find a political solution to this horrific civil war. Full Text» (Department of State) P5+1 Talks on Irans Nuclear Program The White House – Office of the Press Secretary (Jan. 16): Summary of Technical Understandings Related to the Implementation of the Joint Plan of Action on Iran’s Nuclear Program Blog Highlights Feb 27: The President Launches My Brothers Keeper Feb 17: 5th Anniversary of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Feb 12: The Economic Case for Raising the Minimum Wage Feb 6: President Obama Praises Freedom of Religion at the National Prayer Breakfast Feb 6: Six Economic Benefits of the Affordable Care Act Feb 5: First Lady Michelle Obama: “I’m First” Jan 31: West Wing Week 01/31/14 or West Wing Week Turns 200! Jan 29: President Obamas 2014 State of the Union Address Jan 2014: 2013: Year in Review Stay Connected Visit us at the White House Office of Public Engagement Be sure to join the online conversation by following Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett at @VJ44, Office of Public Engagement Director Paulette Aniskoff at @PAniskoff44. Did this email get forwarded to you? You can sign up for email updates here. Stay Connected facebook Facebook twitter Twitter youtube YouTube flickr Flickr google+ Google+ This email was sent to raminyc@gmail Sign Up for Updates from the White House Unsubscribe | Privacy Policy Please do not reply to this email. Contact the White House The White House • 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW • Washington, DC 20500 • 202-456-1111
Posted on: Wed, 05 Mar 2014 22:34:53 +0000
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