Politics. On Point.

Mayor of Charlotte, North Carolina, Anthony Foxx has some big shoes to fill. The newly nominated Secretary of Transportation will succeed the outgoing transportation secretary, Ray LaHood. During today's nomination the president called LaHood possibly the "best Secretary of Transportation that the nation's ever had." Anthony Foxx (middle) nominated as new Secretary of Transportation.  Getty photo. LaHood, a native of Illinois, has held the position since 2009. "From the day that he was sworn in, Ray has fought tirelessly to rebuild America’s infrastructure creating good jobs that strengthen our economy and allow us to better compete in the global economy", said Obama.  "Over the past four years, thanks to Ray's leadership, we’ve built or improved more than 350,000 miles of road enough to circle the world more than 14 times.  We’ve upgraded more than 6,000 miles of rail  enough to go coast to coast and back.  We’ve repaired or replaced...

On Monday afternoon, Dr. Jill Biden, an educator for more than 30 years, hosted a reception honoring the 2013 National Teacher of the Year and State Teachers of the Year at the Vice President’s Residence.  This is the fifth year in a row that Dr. Biden will host this group of accomplished teachers. Today, at the White House, President Obama paid homage in the Rose Garden of the White House. President Obama with 2013 Teacher of the Year finalists. Photo/CD Brown. State finalist I'Asha Warfield has been a teacher for 13 years.   Ms. Warfield teaches 7 th grade at Oakland, CA’s Unified School District and paid homage to her colleagues in her district back home.  “We are grounded by 53 incredible teachers", Warfield boasted. That’s something that most people may not recognize. “You mostly hear negative things about the town that I love", said Warfield. "For a teacher from Oakland to get this award just proves there is great teaching hap...

President Obama told the city of Boston, "You will run again".   Attending today's Interfaith service honoring the victims of this week's Boston marathon bombing that killed three people and injuring dozens of others, the president speaking at the Cathedral of Holy Cross said, "We will finish this race". The ceremony's theme is 'Healing Our City'.   [View the Healing Our City program here ]. The president also reaffirmed that those responsible will be brought to justice. "Bet on it", he said to the generous applause of those in attendance. Joining the president on the trip to Boston were First Lady Michelle Obama, Senator Elizabeth Warren, Senator William “Mo” Cowan, Representative Michael Capuano, Representative Stephen Lynch, Representative Bill Keating, Representative John Tierney, Representative Richard Neal and Vicki Kennedy, wife of the late senator Ted Kennedy. No suspects have yet been found in the bombing that left m...

  This year, First Lady Michelle Obama will deliver commencement addresses at Eastern Kentucky University , Bowie State University , and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Academic Magnet High School for Health Sciences and Engineering at Historic Pearl High (MLK).   The First Lady will be speaking at Eastern Kentucky University as part of her Joining Forces initiative because of its outstanding record supporting veterans and military families; she will be speaking at Bowie State University because of its legacy as Maryland's oldest Historically Black University; and she will be speaking at MLK Magnet as it is consistently ranked among the best public schools in the nation for its academic rigor and high graduation rate.   See the schedule of appearances below.     Eastern Kentucky University Mrs. Obama will deliver remarks at the Eastern Kentucky University commencement in Richmond, KY on Saturday, May 11 at 7:30 PM, where she will address graduat...

'Safer Communities, Brighter Futures' . First Lady Michelle Obama, in unison with her husband on the issues of gun violence and youth education, spoke at two events in her hometown of Chicago this week. Speaking on Wednesday at a joint luncheon meeting in Chicago hosted by Mayor Rahm Emanuel that included members of Chicago's leading civic organizations, Mrs. Obama urged Chicago¹s business leaders to invest in expanded opportunities for youth across Chicago¹s neighborhoods. The first lady reminded the assembled audience that one doesn't have to be born of wealth and privilege to be successful, as long as the community provides opportunities. "But thanks in part to this city, our lives were still rich with opportunities.  We had decent public schools.  I am a product of our public schools.  We attended the Chicago Park District summer camps.  Got a lot of ribbons from those camps I’m quite proud of.  Played basketball on city courts.  Our churc...

President Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individuals to key Administration posts:   Mark Gaston Pearce, Nominee for Member, National Labor Relations Board, and upon appointment to be designated Chairman Mark Gaston Pearce is currently Chairman of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), a position he has held since August 2011.  He has served as a Member of the NLRB since March 2010.  Previously, Mr. Pearce was a founding partner of Creighton, Pearce, Johnsen & Giroux from 2002 to 2010.  Before founding the Creighton, Pearce firm, Mr. Pearce worked as an associate and junior partner at Lipsitz, Green, Fahringer, Roll, Salisbury & Cambria LLP from 1994 to 2002.  From 1979 to 1994, he was a district trial specialist for the NLRB in Buffalo, NY.  He has been a Board Member of the New York State Industrial Board of Appeals, and he has taught labor studies courses at Cornell Un...

President Obama issued the following Executive Orders and Memorandums today, Friday, April 5, 2013. Executive Order -- Continuanc​e of Advisory Council Executive Order -- Adjustment​s of Certain Rates of Pay Presidenti​al Memorandum -- Federal Employee Pay Schedules and Rates that are set by Administra​tive Discretion Presidenti​al Memorandum -- Delegation of Functions Under Sections 404 and 406 of Public Law 112-208   While not an Executive Order or Memorandum, the president also today issued a new policy directive on security sector assistance.    The goals of this new policy are to:  help partner nations build the sustainable capacity to address common security challenges; promote partner support for the policies and interests of the United States; strengthen collective security and multinational defense arrangements and organizations; and promote universal values.    Also released today are the  job numbers for the m...

As President Obama met with leaders of African countries last week at the White House, and welcomed Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong of Singapore to the White House on April 2nd, more visits from heads of international countries have been planned for Spring, 2013. African Leaders leave White House after rapping up meetings with President Obama on March 28, 2013. Photo/CD Brown. The president will meet with His Highness Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani of Qatar on Tuesday, April 23rd.  The President Obama will host His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan at the White House on Friday, April 26. The visit by King Abdullah comes on the heels of the president's visit to Jordan and other cities in the Middle East last month. On Thursday, May 16, President Obama will welcome Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey to the White House. Planned discussions the ERdogan include Syria, trade and economic cooperation, and countering terrorism.

Speaking at the National Press Club yesterday, Dr. Ron Daniels, noted lecturer at York College City University of New York and president of the Institute of the Black World 21st Century has an immediate call to action and fervent message for President Obama: Stop ignoring the plight of African Americans . Dr. Ron Daniels at National Press Club announcing IBW's Day of Direct Action. Photo/CD Brown. When 27 elementary children at a Sandy Hook school in Newtown, Connecticut were assassinated during on a regular school day, President Obama was there - front and center - vowing for tougher gun laws . When a hurricane and winds pummeled cities and towns of New Jersey last year, President Obama was there.  To thwart women being discriminated against in the work place, President Obama took swift and immediate action. As the president continues his push for the rights of the middle class, immigration reform (mainly for those of Hispanic descent), and equal treat...

The White House is honoring the anniversary of the passing of former U.S. Secretary of Commerce Ron Brown . Secretary Brown was a dedicated public servant whose untimely death during a trade mission to Croatia on April 3, 1996 ended his life far too soon. His vision continues to be important and today’s work at the Department of Commerce builds on his legacy. Brown served his country in Korea as a soldier in the U.S. Army and in the halls of Congress as chief counsel to the Senate Judiciary Committee. He also broke down barriers – becoming the first African American chairman of the Democratic National Committee and the first African American to serve as U.S. Secretary of Commerce. In this latter role, he made perhaps his largest impact.During his tenure at Commerce, Secretary Brown pioneered a focus on exports that helped to boost the U.S. economy in the 1990s and contributed to one of the largest periods of economic expansion in our nation’s history. During a time when e...

“ The Healthy Lunchtime Challenge ” Welcomes Children and Their Parents to Create Healthy Lunch Recipes for an Invite to a Kids’ “State Dinner” at the White House With the overwhelming success of the inaugural Healthy Lunchtime Challenge & Kids' “State Dinner” in 2012, First Lady Michelle Obama is again teaming up with Epicurious, the U.S. Department of Education, and the Department of Agriculture to host a nationwide recipe challenge to promote healthy eating among America’s youth. “Last year’s Kids State dinner was one of my favorite events we’ve ever done for Let’s Move! because it perfectly captured how young people, parents, community leaders and businesses can come together for innovative, healthy solutions,” said First Lady Michelle Obama.  “Last year’s young chefs impressed and inspired me with their creativity, and I can’t wait to welcome a whole new group to the White House this summer and taste their creations.  So kids, let’s get cooking!” The second Hea...