Office of the First Lady

Remarks by the First Lady at California Endowment “Building Healthier Communities” event

2:43 P.M. PDT

MRS. OBAMA:  Thank you, everyone.  Thank you so much.  It is -- (applause) -- thank you, guys.  (Applause.)  All right, you all are crazy.  (Laughter.) 
 
I am just delighted to be here.  I can’t tell you -- as much as I love living in Washington, there is nothing that I love better than getting out of Washington -- (laughter) -- particularly when it means coming to such a beautiful community with such energy and passion.  So I am happy to be here. 
 
I want to start by thanking Rosa for her wonderful introduction, for her terrific leadership in community service.  We are so very proud of you.  Let’s give her a big hand.  (Applause.)  Thank you, Rosa.
 
And I just want to also acknowledge a few people, as well.  I’m honored to be joined by the Lieutenant Governor -- it’s so good to see you, thank you for your work -- as well as the State Controller.  Wonderful to see you.  Thank you so much for taking the time to be here. 
 
I know that the mayor had to leave, but I want to thank he and his wife for being here.  I know that the one thing I heard over there, when I was touring the plots -- more land!  (Applause.)  More land.  (Applause.)  But he’s done a terrific job, and I just want to thank all the city officials here for making this visit wonderful.  To all of the elected officials who are here, thank you for your work, your leadership, your energy.
 
I want to thank Bob Montgomery and Amy Lint from the New Roots Community Farm.  Yay!  (Applause.)  They’re doing a fabulous job, and proud of their work, and full of the kind of energy that you need to get this thing going. 
 
And I want to again acknowledge the 14 community leaders who are here, the Building Healthy Community partners who are representing all segments of this state.  Don’t let Dr. Ross use that picture as any kind of leverage.  (Laughter.)  You get the picture and hassle him when you need to, right?  (Laughter.)  I know they will.
 
We are just proud of the work that you’re doing.  And I know that everyone could not be here, but I know that you’ll send back my excitement, my gratitude, and just assure them that we’re supporting the work that they’re doing.  It is a model for the nation, for the world.  So thank you.  Thank you so much.  (Applause.) 
 
And finally, I want to thank my dear friend, Dr. Bob Ross and -- (applause) -- yes, yes -- (applause) -- as well as all the folks from the California Endowment who have joined us today.  Thank you so much.  Thank you.  We’ve been plotting this for a little bit, right?  (Laughter.)  He’s been such a wonderful partner.
 
For more than 30 years, as a pediatrician, a professor, a public health administrator, and an advocate, Dr. Ross has worked tirelessly to give all of our kids the kind of healthy start that they deserve.  He has been a tremendous asset not just to the state of California but to this nation.
 
And no matter how he’s served, Dr. Ross has always had a knack for bringing people together -- that’s been his MO --- hospitals, non-profits, businesses, elected officials, you name it –- bringing people together constantly to tackle some of the toughest public health challenges that we face here in our country.
 
So I think it’s fitting that we’re all here today and that he’s leading the charge to take on yet another challenge.  And it is one, as you know, that I care about deeply not just because I’m the First Lady, but I am a mother of beautiful children.  (Applause.)  When I look at children, I see my kids.  And I know that we have to work now to start to curb the epidemic of childhood obesity in this nation.
 
We all know that this phenomenon is relatively recent.  It is not something that has been a challenge for us all this time.  This is a new issue, because as I said time and time again, back when we were growing up, we naturally led reasonably healthy lives.  It’s just the way we had to function.  It kept us healthier than we could imagine.
 
Most of us lived in communities and went to schools in our communities, so we walked to school.  So if nothing else, you were getting exercise just walking to and from school.  Everyone had recess and gym.  It was not an option; it was mandatory.  No one liked it.  Some of us did it, but you had to do it.  And that also gave us a sense of movement that we’d lost.  And at home, we had some pretty simple rules, particularly at dinner.  You ate what was put before you, period.  No choices, no options, no discussion.  And if you didn't, you just went to bed hungry.  (Laughter.)  We all know that.  My mother pretends like she didn’t apply those rules, but she did.  (Laughter.) 
 
And many kids today aren’t so fortunate.  For many kids, those walks to school have been replaced by car or bus rides because it’s either not safe or they’re going to schools that are far away.  School budget cuts mean the so-called “extras” like P.E. and recess are often the first things that go, meaning that our kids are doing a lot less running around during the day, and they’re living and existing in a more sedentary life.  And the truth is, is that parents are busy and struggling and working hard, many of them working multiple jobs.  That is just the truth.  People are working harder than ever.  And oftentimes the cost of fresh fruits and vegetables, they keep going up, so many families can’t afford to purchase the foods that they know that they need.
 
And it is unfair to look to families and tell them to do something better for their children that they can’t afford or don’t have access to.  So today, many parents really feel like the deck is stacked against them.  They want to do the best for their kids.  All of us do -- parents, grandparents, all of us. 
 
But it just seems like the odds are against us.  They know their children’s health is their responsibility, but sometimes they feel like the whole issue is just out of their control.  They’re trying to do the right thing, but they’re bombarded by contradictory information at every turn –- and they don’t really know who or what to believe.  Labels are tough to work through.  And sometimes what we prepared when we were young have a different impact physically on our children today.
 
So that’s why, two months ago, we launched the “Let’s Move!” campaign.  (Applause.)  And we launched it with the help of so many partners.  As you know, this is a nationwide campaign with one single but very ambitious goal, and that's to solve the problem of childhood obesity in a generation so that children born today grow up at a healthy weight with a different set of habits and a different set of beliefs about how to live their lives.
 
As part of this initiative, we’ve issued a call to action to get things going all throughout the nations -- nation.
 
And we’re working with so many different groups.  We’re working with pediatricians, and food manufacturers, with the FDA to give parents the information they need to make healthy decisions for their kids.  And we’ve created a Web site, letsmove.gov, to help provide those helpful tips, step-by-step strategies that parents need to get on the right track to eat well and to stay fit. 
We’re working to get healthier food into our schools.  This is an important initiative.  Most of our kids these days are getting a lot of their calories at school, and by strengthening legislation that supports our federal school meal programs, we can go a long way to changing the eating habits of our children.  (Applause.) 
And we’re also working with several major food suppliers to get them to do their part -- to decrease sugar, fat and salt not just in school meals but in all the foods that we eat, and to increase fruits, vegetables and whole grains.  And we’re getting them to think about how they market to our kids, as well.
One important goal in this initiative is we’re working to eliminate “food deserts.”  And you all know what “food deserts” are -- communities that don’t have access to any fresh produce or grocery stores.  There are so many of them that exist throughout this country.  Millions of children are living in “food deserts.”  And our goal is to completely eliminate those by bringing grocery stores and farmers markets into underserved areas so that our families have access to the kind of healthy food, the affordable food, that they’re going to need.  And there are many examples in communities around this country, showing how they’re bringing these resources back into communities.
And finally we cannot forget the whole key to “Let’s Move,” and that's moving.  (Laughter.)  We have to get our kids moving again.  And we’re revamping the President’s physical fitness challenge.  That's coming up.  We’re going to be working with professional athletes from dozens of sports leagues to inspire kids to stay physically fit and active.  So if you see me hula hooping and jumping around like I’m crazy, I am.  (Laughter.)  But it’s a lot of fun, and, you know, it just shows that parents taking the lead, doing simple things with their kids, jumping around, dancing, sweating, turning on music, can make a big difference in their lives.
But we’ve also known from the very beginning that the solution to our childhood obesity crisis isn’t going to just come from Washington.  I have talked to a lot of experts about this issue, and not a single one of them has said that the answer is to have federal government telling people what to do.  That never works. 
Instead, as I’ve traveled across this country, one thing that has become very clear is that we already have many of the solutions to childhood obesity right at our fingertips.  There are so many communities in this country that are doing some innovative things.  And our goal is to find those folks in those communities who are already running some of the most innovative and creative and effective programs out there, and to do our job to highlight those successes and to share those successes so that they become models for the rest of the country and perhaps even the rest of the world. 
And that's why just last week we hosted a summit at the White House for members of our childhood obesity task force so that they could gather with experts around the country and get some new ideas from all across the country.  We heard from doctors about the role of prenatal care in determining a child’s health.  We can’t underestimate that as an important factor. 
We heard from teachers about the need for schools and suppliers to think about how the food that’s -- that are served are, again, marketed to kids.  That's the key:  How are we talking to our children and our parents about healthy eating?
And we also heard from community advocates about the creative ways that our cities and towns are transforming urban environments into oases for growing fresh fruits and vegetables, just like we’re doing here.
That’s why a new foundation, The Partnership for a Healthier America, was created –- to help support these kind of efforts.  This foundation is really key to this movement.  It’s going to serve as an independent, non-partisan player that’s going to mobilize and continue to coordinate businesses, foundations, state and local governments, community leaders, the media and others to help with the key goals that come out of the task force for “Let’s Move!”
And it’s no surprise that the California Endowment signed right on board to be a beginning player in this foundation.  (Applause.)  The Partnership is designed to do just what the Endowment has been doing for years, so it makes sense that they’ve been such an important partner.  The goal is to address problems at their root and help folks around the country turn good ideas into something bigger.  That's what the California Endowment is trying to do.  That's the mission of this partnership.
And today, I’m pleased that the California Endowment is once again leading the way with their new plan to create healthier, more active communities all across this state with this fabulous new “Building Healthy Communities” initiative that’s based on a simple idea –- that healthy children come from a place; a place that is a healthy community. 
If a family lives in a neighborhood with a grocery store nearby, it is simple -- they’re more likely to put fresh fruits and vegetables on the table because they’ll have access to it.  If there’s safe, inviting parks down the street, parents are going to be more likely to let their kids play.  They’re going to be more likely to go to that park with them and enjoy being outdoors.  And if our environment is clean and pollution-free, children are less likely to get sick, being outside, and they’re more likely to spend time outside.  These are not complicated principles.
But this isn’t just about good ideas and good intentions.  It’s about serious investments that make a lasting difference for our kids.  And that is why the California Endowment is investing $1 billion -– that’s billion with a “b” –- (applause) -- pretty amazing -- in these 14 California communities across this state to support people and programs that will help our kids lead active, healthy lives right from the beginning.  So you all have a lot of money.  And that's good.  (Laughter.)  That's really, really good.  It’s never enough; it isn’t.  And that's the point.  Money alone won’t do it.  But money is an important first start.
The investments that will be made will go to folks like Dennis and Michelle Mineni.  Did I pronounce that right?  Are they here?  They’re not here.  But they run the Merced Flea and Farmers Market.  They’ve run it for more than 10 years.  And Dennis and Michelle, I understand, are working with the state to ensure that their customers can use food stamps to buy fresh produce at much lower prices than at supermarkets or convenience stores.  (Applause.)  That's something that we’ve heard throughout this campaign.  We have to make sure that everyone has access to farmers markets.  This initiative that Michelle and Dennis are promoting is an example of the right thing to do that's already happening.
The Endowment is also investing in people like the students from Chula Vista who realized that the park that they played in growing up was now too dangerous for other kids to use.  So what did they do?  They worked with local leaders to fix up that park.  And now it’s cleaner and busier than ever before, and now they’re ready to move on to the next park.  That's what our young people are doing.  (Applause.) 
The Endowment is also investing in people like the teachers from Willard Intermediary School in Santa Ana who turned the school’s old wood shop into a fitness center and are now working to combine gym class and science classes, which is something that we can do -- exercise and learning, go figure, they go hand in hand -- teaching students about heart rate and exercise science through personalized fitness programs.
And the Endowment is also investing in people like the farmers here today.  The stories of these farmers are amazing.  A group of refugees from around the world who founded the New Roots Community Farm right here in City Heights, it is just a phenomenal initiative.  (Applause.)  And what it shows is that although these farmers come from different corners of the globe, they all recognized a common problem right here in America as they have immigrated:  that for many refugees like themselves, tight budgets and the lack of supermarkets often meant that folks were skipping fresh fruits and vegetables in their diets and settling for fast food.  That’s -- that has been the natural trend -- transition.  And that's what’s happened to many of us.  And as a result, many recent immigrants were suffering from high cholesterol and high blood pressure, diseases that they were not dealing with before, migrating here.
So the folks here today got to work.  They saw this problem, they understood the connection, and they got to work.  And after organizing and speaking out and raising money, they broke ground on the garden.  And along with other farmers from places like Somalia, and Uganda, and Kenya, and Cambodia, and Vietnam, Mexico and Guatemala, and many, many more places, they have come together.  (Applause.) 
And at first, they weren’t sure whether people from so many different backgrounds and cultures would get along farming -– especially since the garden only had two hoses, I understand, when it started, to share and the farmers often didn’t speak the same language.
But day by day, and little by little, neighbors started sharing their vegetables.  They started exchanging recipes.  They started losing weight.  And they started recognizing the hopes and dreams they all held in common, just through a plot of land and some vegetables -- these hopes to make a home for themselves here in this country; and to keep their families healthy at the same time; and to give their kids a better life.  Simple values.  Simple shared values.  And together, what they proved is that food is truly the universal language of this planet.
And that’s what “Let’s Move!” and the Building Healthy Communities initiative is really all about.  It’s about giving people the tools that they need to make healthy choices for themselves and for their families.  It’s about realizing that the best ideas don’t come from Sacramento or Washington, DC, but they come from communities large and small all across this country.  And it’s about recognizing the simple truth that giving our children a healthy future starts one person, one family, one community at a time.
You truly are doing extraordinary work.  It is a privilege for me to be able to come here with all the press to highlight what is going on in this simple plot of land.  This is what we need to be doing in communities all across the country.  And the truth is the world is watching these efforts.  We’re not alone in these struggles.  This is happening.  These changes in diets and health are happening in communities across the globe.  And through your effort and your leadership, your coordination, your vision, your determination, we’re beginning, step by step, to find the solutions that are going to make sure that all of these kids behind us have the kind of future that we want for them.
So thank you.  We’re so proud of you.  And it is an honor for me to be here.  Thank you so much.  And thank you to the Endowment.  (Applause.)

END
3:03 P.M. PDT

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Remarks by the First Lady at Youth Forum — Universidad Iberoamericana, Mexico City, Mexico

2:19 P.M. (Local)

MRS. OBAMA:  Thank you.  Thank you.  (Applause.)    Good afternoon, and thank you so much.  Thank you, Jaime, for that very kind and profound introduction.  It is such a pleasure and an honor to be in this beautiful country, at this great university, with so many outstanding young people from all across Mexico.  

Let me start by thanking your First Lady, Mrs. Margarita Zavala.  (Applause.)  I want to thank her for her tremendous kindness not just to me but to my family.  She is smart.  She is tough.  She is passionate.  And she is my friend.  We’ve had a wonderful time together, both here in Mexico and during her visits to the United States.  And I look forward to welcoming her and her husband, President Calderón, to Washington for a state dinner next month.  And I told her to prepare to have fun.  (Laughter.) 

I also want to recognize the U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, Ambassador Pascual.  And I want to thank the rector of this school, Dr. Jose Morales Orozco, for his leadership and for hosting me here today.  And finally, I want to thank all of the people of this country for your incredible warmth and hospitality during my visit here.  From the moment I arrived, I felt like I was entre amigos –- (laughter) -- which is only natural given the close and enduring friendship between our two nations.   

Mexico is home to more U.S. citizens living abroad than anywhere else in the world, and tens of millions of Americans trace their roots right here to this country.  And for generations, Mexico and the U.S. have been bound together not just by a shared border, but by shared values and aspirations -– devotion to family and to faith; a willingness to work hard and to sacrifice for our children; a commitment to democracy rooted in struggles for independence that have defined our nations.   

So when it came time for me to decide where to make my first solo international trip as First Lady, the choice was clear:  Mexico, por supuesto!  (Applause.) 

And there’s also a reason why I wanted to come here to the Ibero and speak with all of you.  It’s the same reason why, when my husband travels abroad to talk about the challenges we face –- from extremism to nuclear weapons, from poverty and hunger to climate change and to pandemics –- he doesn’t just meet with presidents and prime ministers.  He doesn’t just visit palaces and parliaments.  He goes to schools and to universities and he meets with young people just like all of you.

And this isn’t an accident.  Today, we’re seeing what has come to be called a “youth bulge” –- an explosion of the youth population in nations around the world.  And here in Mexico, nearly half the population is under the age of 25.  In the Middle East, it’s 60 percent.  And young people between the ages of 15 and 24 alone now make up 20 percent of the world’s citizens.  This is the largest group in history making the transition to adulthood.  

And the fact is, is that responsibility for meeting the defining challenges of our time will soon fall to all of you.  Soon, the world will be looking to your generation to make the discoveries and to build the industries that will fuel our prosperity and ensure our well-being for decades to come. 

We’re going to be looking to your generation to seize the promise of clean energy to power our economies and preserve our planet for your children and your grandchildren.  We’re going to be looking to your generation to find the courage and the patience to resolve the conflicts and to heal the divides that plague our world.

And I’m here today because I believe that all of you, and your peers around the world, are more ready than ever to meet these challenges.  More than any generation in history, you all are able to access information and connect with one another in ways that my generation could never have imagined.  With the click of a button, you can exchange thoughts on any issue with people just about anywhere in the world.  You have an unprecedented ability to organize and to mobilize to challenge old assumptions, and to bridge old divides, and to find new solutions to our toughest problems.  

And it is because of this immense promise that I intend to focus my international work as First Lady on engaging young people just like you all around the world.  
My husband and I know all too well that meeting the challenges that we will face will depend on whether we effectively tap into your God-given potential –- whether we fully benefit from the industry and the energy and the perspectives of young people from every background and every nation.  Because we know that ambition and ability are found in every corner of the globe.  The question is, how do we ensure that opportunity is, too?  

Now, my husband and President Calderon are working hard to rebuild our education systems, to revive our economies, and to create new opportunities for young people in both of our nations.  But leaders and governments can’t shoulder this responsibility alone.  Ordinary citizens must share the responsibility as well -– and that includes young people.

And it’s not just enough just to change laws and policies.  We must also change our perceptions about who can and who can’t succeed.  We have to confront the wrong and outdated ideas and assumptions that only certain young people deserve to be educated; or that girls aren’t as capable as boys; or that some young people are less worthy of opportunities because of their religion or disability or ethnicity or socioeconomic class -- because we have seen time and again that potential can be found in some of the most unlikely places. 

My husband and I are living proof of that.  We both came from very modest backgrounds.  Our families were not wealthy.  My parents never went to college.  My husband never really knew his father and was raised by a young single mother who struggled to pay the bills. 

And like many kids with backgrounds like ours, we faced challenges:  the sting of low expectation; the constant doubts about whether we could succeed, and whether we were even worth the effort.  You see, back when we were young, no one could have predicted that one day we would become the President and First Lady of the United States of America.  

But we were lucky and more importantly we were blessed.  We had families who believed in us.  We had teachers who pushed us.  We had universities that saw our potential and gave us opportunity.  And we worked as hard as we could.  We learned as much as we could.  And as a result, we were prepared and we were poised to pursue our dreams.  

And our stories are not unique.  They’re the stories of countless young people in Mexico, in the United States, and around the world who’ve worked hard and they’ve defied the odds.  They’re the stories of young people throughout history who’ve succeeded not because of their trust fund, or pedigree, or their test scores, but because of challenges that tested and motivated them and made them who they are, and because someone somewhere believed in them and helped them believe in themselves.

When he was orphaned at a young age and sought work as a servant, no one could have imagined that Benito Juarez would one day become one of Mexico’s greatest presidents.  But thanks to a Franciscan friar who helped him join a seminary and get an education, he was able to realize his gifts.

One of my country’s greatest presidents, Abraham Lincoln, was born in a one-room log cabin in the woods –- but was lucky enough to have a teacher who taught him how to write and debate.

And then there’s Joan of Arc, the daughter of a peasant farmer who tried to persuade anyone who would listen that she could rescue the French army from defeat.  And when a prince finally believed her, that’s exactly what she did.  

You see, throughout our world history, it has so often been that unlikely hero, that unusual perspective, that improbable journey that has been the key to our progress.  So when we dismiss any of our young people, when we fail to tap into their potential, we risk losing their promise.  And just think of the inventions and the cures that are never discovered, the great works of art and literature that are never created, the great acts of courage and leadership that never grace this world.   

But this isn’t just about discovering those few extraordinary folks who still or will change the course of history.  It’s also about breaking down barriers across the globe so that all our young people can learn and work and be productive members of our societies.  It’s about seeking the perspectives and experiences of young people from every background –- those new ideas that make our businesses more productive, our cultures more vibrant, and our governments more open and free.  

But in order to do this –- in order to open up opportunities for more young people –- the truth is that those of you who already have a seat at the table must do your part to make room for others who don’t.  Young people around the world must reach out to help others realize their talents and make their voices heard.

Now, I understand that in these difficult economic times here in Mexico, the United States, and around the world, many young people are struggling and nothing is guaranteed.  And even young people like those of you who have the privilege of attending a university like this may be feeling a bit uncertain about your futures. 

Some of you may be worried about whether you’ll even be able to build careers of your own.  And you may be tempted -- tempted to focus solely on your individual success, take your diploma, get you the best job you can, and never look back.  

But before you do that, I hope that you’ll just think, just for a moment, think about the mission statement of this university, and that is to prepare students, and I quote, “to engage in service to others and develop and spread knowledge to achieve a free, fair, united and productive society.”  

I hope that you’ll think of those words from the Bible -– that to whom much is given, much is required.  And I hope that you’ll think of all those who’ve shaped our history by heeding these words.

Imagine if Mahatma Ghandi had led a comfortable existence as a lawyer instead of leading the struggle for the rights of his countrymen and his nation’s independence –- work he started when he was in his twenties.  Imagine if Nelson Mandela had chosen a life of leisure as the son of a tribal leader instead of joining the ANC at the age of 24, and enduring decades behind bars to end apartheid. Imagine if Mother Teresa had never answered her calling and ventured into the streets of Calcutta to tend to those in desperate need.  

Now, I’m not saying that you have to take a vow of poverty or lead a movement.  But I am asking you to do something -– whether through your career, or as a volunteer –- do something to ensure that other young people have the opportunities they deserve as well.  That’s what folks like you are doing every day all across the globe, and right here in Mexico.

Alberto Salvador from Guanajuato was born deaf and was at first denied admission to elementary school because of his disability.  But he completed high school with honors, got a degree in the United States, and then returned here to Mexico where he mentors deaf children and will soon be starting his job as a teacher.

And then there’s Mariana Vazquez del Mercado, who’s finishing law school at Universidad Panamericana.  And she spends hours volunteering in a free legal clinic and she also directs an organization that builds housing for struggling families.  Of her work, she says -- and this is a quote:  “The goal is to show that despite being young, we are sufficiently responsible and aware.” 

Alberto Irezabal, who graduated from the Ibero last year, used his service project to help an indigenous community in Chiapas better produce and sell their locally grown coffee.  And of his work, he says -- this is also a quote:  “I believe we have a responsibility to see that our projects succeed, not just for ourselves, but for our country.” 

Each and every one of these young people is working to break down barriers and to open doors.  Each of them is giving others the chances they’ve had to succeed.  But also let’s be clear –- I’m not just talking to the university students who are here today.  I am also talking to young people here in Mexico, and the United States, and around the world who feel like they have no place at universities like this.  

And I have met so many young people in so many places who have so much to offer, but because of where they’re born, or the family they’re born into, or the circumstances of their lives, they begin to doubt themselves.  They begin to feel like they don’t belong, or they’re not prepared, or they won’t measure up –- so they shouldn’t even try.

Now while I was fortunate to have so many opportunities in my own life, I can certainly understand those feelings.  See, when I first went to college, I was filled with self-doubt.  I was convinced that everyone else was smarter than I was –- and I felt like I just didn’t fit in.  But I soon realized that I was just as capable, and had just as much to contribute, as my classmates.  All I needed was a little confidence in myself to make that happen.

Now, it’s true, it is so true, that some of you might have to work a lot harder to get what you want.  You might face many more obstacles and setbacks.  But I want you to know that you belong in places like this just as much as anyone.  You have just as much to offer as anyone else.  All you have to do is belief in yourself.  If you refuse to give up, then there is nothing –- there is nothing you can’t accomplish.   

And I hope that all of you, all of you here, when you encounter hardships and when you start to get discouraged -- and I guarantee you, you will -- I hope that you’ll think about young people like you all around the world who have toiled in laboratories and libraries, in factories and fields, who have marched and fought and bled to make our world a better place. 

I hope you’ll think about the young people two centuries ago who risked everything they had for Mexico’s independence.  I hope you’ll think about the young people in America who fought to ensure that all citizens, no matter their gender or the color of their skin, were treated equally under the law.  You and I, we’re here today because of them.

And finally, I hope you’ll think about young people like Sonia Kim.  She was a young woman I met yesterday during my visit in Haiti.  Sonia works at the U.S. embassy in Port-au-Prince.  And like so many people in Haiti, she has been working around the clock on the earthquake relief efforts.  

I want to read you an e-mail that she sent me.  This e-mail inspired my trip there.  It’s inspired my trip here.  She wrote:  “We are exhausted, traumatized and heart-broken.  But we choose to stay here and work.  We choose to stay because we love Haiti and its people.  We choose to stay because we believe in our duty to help the people here in their greatest hour of need.  We choose to stay because we believe in our mission.  We choose to stay because we still hold out hope… for recovery and renewal… and for a Haiti built back better than before.”

And I hope that every single one of you, and young people across the globe, will take up that work –- the work of helping others in need, the work of building stronger nations and a better world, because if we’re going to tackle the challenges of our time -– if we’re going to make our world safer and healthier and more prosperous and more free -– we are going to need the passion and the daring and the creativity of every last one of you.  

We’ll need you to work as hard as you can, and do as much as you can, driven by the belief that has always summed up the spirit of our youth -- three simple words: Si, se puede –- Yes, we can.  Yes, we can.  Thank you.  God bless.  (Applause.) 

END
2:39 P.M. (Local)

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Remarks by the First Lady and Dr. Biden at Thank You Event

UN Logistical Center
Port-au-Prince, Haiti

3:22 P.M. (Local)

DR. BIDEN:  Thank you Mr. Mulet for that introduction, for hosting us on this important visit, and for the ongoing leadership that you and the United Nations team have provided here in Haiti.  And good afternoon and thank you to everyone gathered here today.

It’s truly an honor to be with all of you –- individuals from across the world, along with many Haitians, who have been at the core of the relief and the recovery efforts.

I am honored to be with you today and want to simply say thank you for your heroic actions in recent months.  Your commitment and compassion in the face of unthinkable challenges has inspired the entire world.

Some of your very own here have lost lives, others have risked their lives, and all of you have made us incredibly proud with your determined efforts to save men, women and children –- to provide comfort, and to put Haiti on a path to a brighter future.

All of you in this room know that the devastation in Haiti was unconceivable, and that there is much work to be done.  But after visiting for just a day, I will leave with a renewed sense of hope and optimism because of the will of the Haitian people and the steadfast commitment of those of you standing here today and the international community you represent.

As a teacher, I was especially pleased to visit a school this morning that is providing a sense of normalcy and hope for the children in this area.  And I spoke with Mrs. Préval about the importance of a strong education system to provide young Haitians the chance at a better life.

I also saw rebuilding efforts that will result in more schools.  And with the leadership of the Haitian government, your help and that of the international community, I know these schools will educate Haiti’s future leaders of government, arts, science and business.

Each of you is essential to these efforts.  There is much hard work ahead.  But I know that together with the leadership of the Haitian people, the commitment of the global community, and the ongoing sweat and compassion of those in this room today, we will help Haiti build back better.  (Applause.)

The First Lady and I came here to listen and learn, but also to deliver a sincere and simple message:  Thank you for what you have done and what you will do for this ongoing mission.

I am honored to join First Lady Michelle Obama for this meaningful visit to Haiti.

The President asked Michelle to come here to reiterate the commitment of the United States to Haiti as a steadfast partner, and he could not have asked a more able, dedicated, or compassionate person to deliver this message on behalf of the United States.

I am so proud -- (applause) -- I am so proud and honored to introduce my friend, and a woman we are so fortunate to call our First Lady:  Michelle Obama.  (Applause.)

MRS. OBAMA:  Well, thank you.  Thank you, all.  First let me start by thanking my friend, Jill -- Jill and her husband, that character you know, Vice President Biden, for all that they’ve done over these past few months, especially in support of our wonderful Haitian American communities, in South Florida and across the United States.  Let’s give Jill and Vice President Biden another round of applause.  (Applause.)

And also to Ed Mulet, to David Harland, to Nigel Fisher, General Cruz, and all the United Nations personnel who are here today, thank you.  Thank you for hosting us.  This has been an incredibly warm welcome.  It’s been an incredibly informative visit.  And I want to thank you all for your remarkable service under truly extraordinary circumstances, by any measure.

The mission to help Haiti recover and rebuild is truly, as Dr. Biden said, an international effort -- an international effort that is here at the invitation of the Haitian government and in support of -- by the Haitian people.

And we’re joined today by representatives from many countries, international institutions and NGOs who are playing a vital role in this rebuilding effort.  It is truly an honor to be here with all of you.

This has been a deeply moving day for Jill and I, a very emotional day in so many ways.  And Jill and I first and foremost were grateful for the opportunity to be able to -- sat down with President Préval and the First Lady.  We again expressed to them, as Jill said, America’s deepest condolences, first of all, to the Haitian people for this terrible and tremendous loss.

My husband, the President, asked that we remind President Préval and the people of Haiti that we are going to keep standing with them.  That is for sure.  (Applause.)

So I repeated to President Préval the pledge that my husband made to him at the White House during his visit last month -- that is, as Haiti recovers and rebuilds, you will have a steady and reliable partner in the United States of America.

We had the opportunity also to visit some of the places that reflect the enormous needs of the Haitian people, but also it reflects their amazing strength and resilience.

We visited families living in the tent cities in Champs De Mars -- families who’ve lost everything, everything, and for whom every day is a struggle to stay dry, to feed their children.

We visited a school -- more so, a classroom in buses donated by the Dominican Republic -- where some truly amazing kids were rebuilding and playing and dancing and laughing, even under the circumstances.

We also visited a school that is being rebuilt so that children can realize their dreams of an education and a better life.

We just had a very moving visit at our U.S. embassy with Ambassador Merten, our embassy staff -- Americans as well as Haitians.  They have worked so hard for the past three months.  And some of the civilian and military personnel who’ve been part of the Americans’ contribution to this international effort, we got to spend some time with them.

And like so many of you, they lost colleagues and friends and loved ones.  And our purpose for these visits was to mainly say thank you -- to thank them for their extraordinary service and for delivering on America’s enduring commitment to Haiti.

But we wanted to come here today because, as I said, helping Haiti recover and rebuild has been an international effort.

And those of you here -- those of you here at the United Nations, our many partner nations, these incredibly -- incredible NGOs have really been at the heart of this huge undertaking.

And all of you have displayed such a spirit of compassion and partnership that, frankly, we could use a whole lot more of in the world today.  You all are showing us all how it’s done.

You’ve done this even though so many of you have endured heartbreaking losses yourselves.

Here at the U.N, you lost Hédi Annabi and so many leaders and colleagues and members of the Stabilization Mission.

For the U.N., I understand it has been the single largest loss of life in history.  For each of you, it was the loss of a co-worker, a friend, a fellow peacekeeper.  For those of you in the NGO community, I know that the loss was just as devastating -- friends and partners and neighbors who you worked with every day.

And as we mark the three-month anniversary of this terrible day, I’d like to ask us all to just take a moment of silence to honor all those that we’ve lost.

(There is a pause for a moment of silence.)

We honor every single one of these victims -- people from dozens of nations.

And every day that each of you gets up and go back to work and into the communities that you love, you should know that you’re not only carrying on their work, you’re also honoring their lives and you’re keeping their legacy alive.  So please don’t ever forget that in these times of struggle.

And despite all your loss, you have shown amazing courage and commitment, especially in those first hours and those first days.

One of the first Secretary Generals of the U.N. famously said that the U.N. -- and this is a quote -- was “not created in order to bring us to heaven, but in order to save us from hell.”   And that’s just what you did for so many people here.  You saved them from devastation that was nothing like it on Earth.

You’ve worked around the clock, day after day, clearing rubble, and building shelters, and delivering food, and water, and medicine and supplies to millions of people.  And you’ve done this all with a true spirit of partnership.

Yes, the United States is proud to play a leading role in this effort.  But let’s never forget that this has been one of the largest and most complex relief operations the world has ever attempted -- the world.  And in one way or another, more than 140 nations has helped to make this a reality.

General Peixoto and peacekeepers from dozens of nations restored security so the relief effort could proceed.

And when more peacekeepers were needed, nations around the world stepped up -- especially Brazil, even though it too lost so many in the quake.

And because you live and work in the communities that you serve, those of you in the NGOs were often the first ones on the scene, providing food, and medical care and shelter under nearly impossible conditions.

And I want to salute these inspiring organizations, especially all the Haitian NGOs -- Haitians serving Haitians.  (Applause.)

And so much of your work would be impossible without the generous support of Haitians living abroad, including in the United States.  (Applause.)

To all these NGOs that you all represent, you represent them with the best spirit of service.  And I commend you for joining forces, and working together, and pursuing a common vision of reconstruction.  And as Haiti recovers and rebuilds, you’re going to be indispensable, and America is going to be your partner, too.

So this has truly been a global effort -- an amazing example of what nations and what people can do when they come together to do what’s right.

The road ahead, as you know, is not going to be easy.  And it’s not going to be quick.  As you know, the rainy season is coming soon; it is here.  The hurricane season is coming, too.

But I heard a wonderful Haitian proverb that puts this all in perspective.  And some of you probably know it.  It says, “Little by little, the bird builds its nest.”

And today, the needs of the Haitian people are still overwhelming.  We know that.  I saw that firsthand.  But every day -- and thanks to Secretary General Ban Ki-moon’s unprecedented Humanitarian Appeal -- this international effort is bringing more supplies and more shelter so that little by little, daily life will improve.

President Préval and the Haitian government have been working under unimaginable difficulties.  But they have a vision for the future and they have a roadmap to get there.  So little by little, Haiti will move forward.

The destruction is catastrophic.  But last month, the world came together -- dozens of nations, including the United States; the U.N. and other international institutions; and NGOs -- and they made an historic commitment to Haiti’s long-term reconstruction.  So little by little, Haiti will rebuild.

Now, some might ask, after so much misery, how can we still have faith?  After so much ruin, how can Haiti rise again?  After so much loss, how on Earth can you still have hope?

Well, we have hope because we’ve been inspired -- inspired by the resilience and the faith of the Haitian people -- (applause) -- people who have lost everything, except their belief that tomorrow can be a little bit better than today.

And we have hope because the people of Haiti are not alone.  America is standing with Haiti.  (Applause.)  The world is standing with Haiti.  You are all standing with Haiti.  And your commitment and dedication to this country is truly inspiring.

It’s the commitment reflected in an e-mail that I received from one of your embassy staff before I came for this visit, Sonia Kim, who I just got to meet.  And I think that her beautiful words speak to the commitment that all of you bring to this work, wherever you’re from, whatever language you speak.

She wrote:  “We are exhausted, traumatized and heart-broken.  But we choose to stay here and work.  We choose to stay because we love Haiti and its people.  We choose to stay because we believe in our duty to help the people here in their greatest hour of need.  We choose to stay because we believe in our mission.  We choose to stay because we still hold out hope…for recovery and renewal…and for a Haiti built back better than ever before.”

And that’s why I came here today.  (Applause.)  That’s why we have hope.  And that’s why, little by little, we’re going to keep making tomorrow better than today.

Thank you for your incredible service.  We are so proud of you.  The world is proud of you.  The world is watching.  And we wish you nothing but the best.  God bless.  Thank you so much. Applause.)

END
3:38 P.M. (Local)

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Press Gaggle with the First Lady and Dr. Biden at end of Haiti Visit

3:47 P.M. (Local)

DR. BIDEN:  Okay, so this has been an absolutely incredible trip.  General Keen from the U.S. Army took us around with the U.S. military today.  We saw areas of devastation.  We saw schools.  We saw camps. 

But I think the one thing that we take away from it is really the strength and the resilience of the human spirit, and that's what we saw today and that's what we’ll take home to Washington with us.

Thank you.

MRS. OBAMA:  Well, and I think it was important for Jill and I to come now because we’re at the point where the relief efforts are underway but the attention of the world starts to wane a bit.  And as we enter the rainy season and the hurricane season, you know, the issues are just going to become more compounded.  And I think it was important for us to come and shed a light. 

But it was also important to speak to the President and First Lady, who is just -- she is just a powerhouse.  And she’s been working on education.  The school that we visited, this sort of bus camp, was one of two sites that are feeding and caring for nearly a thousand children a day that are coming through those -- that particular site.  They’re reading, they’re dancing, they’re painting.  I painted a purple fish, by the way -- (laughter) -- and Jill did a house --

DR. BIDEN:  A house.  (Laughter.)

MRS. OBAMA:  With trees and everything.  It’s very good.

But it’s providing some level of stability and normalcy for kids who don't really have a place to go yet. 

But what is clear is that there is still so much to do.  I mean, when we flew over -- we did an aerial tour because it was probably the quickest and safest way -- but what you see -- you know, imagine a country where every church and every school has been destroyed.  And at least that's what the -- every church and every school has been destroyed and has to be rebuilt from the bottom up.

Now, that's an incredibly daunting challenge, but as the President sees it, it’s also an incredible responsibility.  But it’s going to take all of us.  And that's what we talked about when we met with the U.N. staff, is that this has not been a U.S. effort.  This has been a global effort.  America has been a leader, but it has not been the only leader, by any close margin.  And in order for Haiti to get back to where it needs to be, it’s going to take the world continuing to invest, to partner, to show that sense of compassion. 

Stepping up and seeing the world work on behalf of Haiti has been the absolute right thing to do.  And it’s just been a privilege for Jill and I to be able to come to see for ourselves, to lend support, to boost morale wherever.  You know, I think it’s important for us and America to know that we still have U.S. Embassy officials working here, working here tirelessly.  They’ve left their families.  Some have sent them back home.  They’re living in tents.  The same for U.N. officials.

And the world needs to understand that there is still a small cadre of people working day in and day out to get this country back on its feet.  So we’re just happy to be able to shed a little light on this situation. 

DR. BIDEN:  God bless them.

MRS. OBAMA:  Absolutely.

DR. BIDEN:  And God bless the Haitians.

MRS. OBAMA:  Absolutely.  So thank you all.  Thank you for following us around and covering this.  This has been an emotional but important day for Jill and I. 

So thank you.

DR. BIDEN:  Thank you.

Q    Based on what you saw today, do you think that the aid money that's been contributed by Americans is actually reaching the Haitian people?

MRS. OBAMA:  Yes.  And, you know, by all accounts, the Haitian people are very happy with the relief efforts.  Still, accountability is key.  And, you know, I know that the governments are going to continue to work together.  But I think that my sense is the Haitian people feel a deep appreciation for what the world has done, that’s for sure.

END
3:51 P.M. EDT

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Press Gaggle with the First Lady and Dr. Biden at end of Haiti Visit

3:47 P.M. (Local)

DR. BIDEN:  Okay, so this has been an absolutely incredible trip.  General Keen from the U.S. Army took us around with the U.S. military today.  We saw areas of devastation.  We saw schools.  We saw camps. 

But I think the one thing that we take away from it is really the strength and the resilience of the human spirit, and that's what we saw today and that's what we’ll take home to Washington with us.

Thank you.

MRS. OBAMA:  Well, and I think it was important for Jill and I to come now because we’re at the point where the relief efforts are underway but the attention of the world starts to wane a bit.  And as we enter the rainy season and the hurricane season, you know, the issues are just going to become more compounded.  And I think it was important for us to come and shed a light. 

But it was also important to speak to the President and First Lady, who is just -- she is just a powerhouse.  And she’s been working on education.  The school that we visited, this sort of bus camp, was one of two sites that are feeding and caring for nearly a thousand children a day that are coming through those -- that particular site.  They’re reading, they’re dancing, they’re painting.  I painted a purple fish, by the way -- (laughter) -- and Jill did a house --

DR. BIDEN:  A house.  (Laughter.)

MRS. OBAMA:  With trees and everything.  It’s very good.

But it’s providing some level of stability and normalcy for kids who don't really have a place to go yet. 

But what is clear is that there is still so much to do.  I mean, when we flew over -- we did an aerial tour because it was probably the quickest and safest way -- but what you see -- you know, imagine a country where every church and every school has been destroyed.  And at least that's what the -- every church and every school has been destroyed and has to be rebuilt from the bottom up.

Now, that's an incredibly daunting challenge, but as the President sees it, it’s also an incredible responsibility.  But it’s going to take all of us.  And that's what we talked about when we met with the U.N. staff, is that this has not been a U.S. effort.  This has been a global effort.  America has been a leader, but it has not been the only leader, by any close margin.  And in order for Haiti to get back to where it needs to be, it’s going to take the world continuing to invest, to partner, to show that sense of compassion. 

Stepping up and seeing the world work on behalf of Haiti has been the absolute right thing to do.  And it’s just been a privilege for Jill and I to be able to come to see for ourselves, to lend support, to boost morale wherever.  You know, I think it’s important for us and America to know that we still have U.S. Embassy officials working here, working here tirelessly.  They’ve left their families.  Some have sent them back home.  They’re living in tents.  The same for U.N. officials.

And the world needs to understand that there is still a small cadre of people working day in and day out to get this country back on its feet.  So we’re just happy to be able to shed a little light on this situation. 

DR. BIDEN:  God bless them.

MRS. OBAMA:  Absolutely.

DR. BIDEN:  And God bless the Haitians.

MRS. OBAMA:  Absolutely.  So thank you all.  Thank you for following us around and covering this.  This has been an emotional but important day for Jill and I. 

So thank you.

DR. BIDEN:  Thank you.

Q    Based on what you saw today, do you think that the aid money that's been contributed by Americans is actually reaching the Haitian people?

MRS. OBAMA:  Yes.  And, you know, by all accounts, the Haitian people are very happy with the relief efforts.  Still, accountability is key.  And, you know, I know that the governments are going to continue to work together.  But I think that my sense is the Haitian people feel a deep appreciation for what the world has done, that’s for sure.

END
3:51 P.M. EDT

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Remarks by the First Lady at Childhood Obesity Summit

South Court Auditorium

1:40 P.M. EDT

MRS. OBAMA:  Thank you, everyone.  (Applause.)  Thank you all so much.  It’s a pleasure to be here with all of you.

Let me begin by thanking Melody for that kind introduction, that wonderful story.  It’s happening in kitchens and households all over America -- kids really moving for the change.  I also want to thank Melody for her work in chairing the task force.  She has been instrumental, and we’ve seen such significant movement under her leadership.

I’d also like to thank several members of this administration who are providing invaluable leadership on this issue.  Melody introduced them, but let me take time to also thank Secretaries Duncan and Salazar, OBM Director Peter Orszag, Surgeon General Regina Benjamin, Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Kathleen Merrigan and Nancy-Ann DeParle.  Is Nancy-Ann here?  She is the Director of the White House Office of Health Reform and she obviously has been incredibly instrumental on this and so many efforts in this administration.

Thank you all for your leadership.  This has been an administration-wide effort and I am so proud of this team.  Everyone in this administration has embraced this issue with a level of fervor and commitment.  That's why we are able to be standing here today, having made so much progress in such a short period of time.

This gathering has never happened before at the White House.  It’s one where we’re bringing together teachers and child advocates, doctors and nurses, business leaders, public servants, researchers and health experts to talk about one of the most serious and difficult problems facing our kids today, and that is the epidemic of childhood obesity in this country.

We’re here because we all care deeply about the health and well-being of America’s children.  And we’ve gathered folks from across America and across just about every relevant field because, in the end, solving this problem is going to take every single one of us.

And that’s really at the heart of the “Let’s Move” campaign.

We launched this campaign two months ago, but the idea actually was inspired by the planting of the White House Kitchen Garden.

Last March, with the help of local students who have been so incredible, we planted the garden on the South Lawn of the White House, and it allowed us to begin a conversation about the importance not just of healthy eating -- eating right, eating the good food -- but also about getting exercise into our lives.

The kids during that whole year of planting and harvesting showed so much enthusiasm, so much excitement about that garden and about the potential of the topic that we realized there was an opportunity to do much more, because they were so open.

So we launched “Let’s Move.”  The campaign is designed to raise awareness about the problem of childhood obesity and to focus on how we as a nation have to come together to solve it.

My husband signed a presidential memorandum creating the first-ever government-wide Task Force on Childhood Obesity, composed of representatives from key agencies across the government.

And since then, I have spoken to so many people.  I’ve heard from so many people across this country.

I’ve met with mayors and governors and I’ve asked them to do their part to build healthier cities and states.

I’ve met with School Nutrition Association members -- the folks who decide what’s served in schools –- and I’ve asked them to do their part to offer healthier meals and snacks to our kids at school.

I’ve met with the food manufacturers and asked them to do their part to improve the quality of the food that they provide and to do a better job of marketing nutritious food to our kids.

I’ve met with kids -- met with a bunch of them the other day in my first town hall meeting, full of kids -- (laughter) -- and they were wonderful.  And I asked them to do their part.  I asked them nicely -- (laughter) -- but I asked them to do their part as well.  What I told them is that they were the most important players in this piece because it’s up to them to make different decisions; to try to make it a little easier on their parents to try new things and to incorporate exercise.

And I’ve been meeting with parents, too, because we all need to do our parts, as well, because the fact is, is that our kids didn’t do this to themselves.  They don’t decide the sugar content in soda or the advertising content of a television show.  Kids don’t choose what’s served to them for lunch at school, and shouldn’t be deciding what’s served to them for dinner at home.  And they don’t decide whether there’s time in the day or room in the budget to learn about healthy eating or to spend time playing outside.

We make those decisions.  That’s all up to us.

And I know how hard it is.  I know how hard it is as a parent when you’re bombarded by ads for junk food; when you’re hit with a barrage of conflicting stories about what’s healthy and what’s not; when you always feel like you’re failing to meet some impossible standard for working parents -- or for any parents for that matter.

We also know how hard it is for schools to provide nutritious lunches with just a few dollars to make that happen.  We know the budget constraints facing local governments in these tough times.  And we all know how difficult this problem is when playgrounds and ballparks are competing with video games and social networking sites; and when our children are simply surrounded by many more opportunities to eat badly and to sit around than they are to eat well and move.

But we also know this -- that over the past three decades, childhood obesity rates in America have tripled.  That is a fact.  Nearly one third of children in America now are overweight or obese.  That's a reality.  And unless we act now, things are only going to get worse.  That is a fact.

“Let’s Move” recognizes this reality and recognizes that there are a few things that we can do right now that can make a big difference.

First, we have to help parents and empower consumers by encouraging companies to offer healthier options and by providing more customer-friendly labels so that people can figure out what’s healthy and what isn’t.

And there are tools and resources available right now to parents and kids at our Web site, letsmove.gov.

Second, with 31 million children getting lunch through federal lunch programs, we can do so much more to provide healthy meals and snacks where our kids spend most of their days.

And I am pleased that the Senate Agriculture Committee has made a significant contribution towards the President’s goal of investing an additional $1 billion per year to ensure that the food provided to our children in schools is nutritious and healthy, and that fewer children in this country go hungry.

Third, we can do much more to make sure that all families have access to healthy and affordable food in their own communities.  23.5 million Americans, including 6.5 million children, live in communities without a supermarket.  That means far fewer healthier options are available to so many families who are going to be working to try to figure this out.  They won’t have access to the resources they need to do what we’re asking them to do.

So, we’re working with the private sector to reach a very ambitious goal, and that is to completely eliminate food deserts in this country.

And finally, there is much, much more that we can do to help kids stay physically active, not just in school but outside of school as well.

And if we can make real progress in these four areas, then there’s so much more else we can do.  But these four areas, as a country, we can reach our ultimate goal, and the ultimate goal for “Let’s Move” is to solve the problem of childhood obesity in a generation so that children born today grow up at a healthy weight with better notions of what is healthy, with better habits, who are incorporating exercise into their lives on a more regular basis, so there are more kids like the ones that Melody described, who know what it even means to eat healthy.  That's our goal.

And to achieve this goal, we are going to need all of you.  We’re going to need all of you -- your insight, your experience, your guidance.  And that’s why we are so excited about this gathering here today, because you all know this issue better than just about anyone.  So many of you have dedicated your lives to fighting this battle, and many of you have just -- are just thankful that there’s someone else shining the spotlight on what you have known for a long, long time.

This -- folks in this room, all of you working together, can do more than just about anyone to help us tackle this issue.  What we have done is started a national conversation.  We’ve started an important national conversation.  But we need your help to propel that conversation into a national response.

So today is very important.  The work that you do here is really meaningful, which is why you have so many heavy-hitters here, because we need your advice and your input.

And to make that happen, we’re going to have you break into smaller sessions, led by members of the task force that will focus on these four key components of “Let’s Move.”  And the information that we collect here today will be essential to construct the final report that's going to come from the task force -- a report that will serve as a very important roadmap, with goals, benchmarks, measurable outcomes, that will help us collectively tackle this challenge.

So, with that, all I have to say is let’s move.  (Laughter.)  Let’s get this going.  Thank you all so much.  Thank you for your energy, your expertise.  I thank our administration.  I am confident, because of the stories we hear from kids, that they’re ready for us to move.  They are more than ready.  Once again they’re waiting for us.  So let’s get this started.  And thank you so much and have a productive meeting.  Thanks so much.  (Applause.)

END
1:55 P.M. EDT

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Remarks by the First Lady during Department of Defense Agency visit

11:11 P.M. EDT

MRS. OBAMA:  Thank you all so much.  You’re so sweet!  (Applause.)  And there’s so many of you.  (Applause.)

First of all, let me start by thanking Secretary Gates, first of all, for your very kind introduction, but more importantly for your outstanding service to this country -- not just under this President, my husband, but under seven other Presidents.  (Applause.)  His service has spanned more than four decades.  So he could be standing up there, too.  (Laughter.)  So on behalf of all of us, thank you.  Thank you for your commitment to our country, thank you for your devotion to the men and women of this department. 

And I would be remiss if I didn’t thank the real hero in that family, Becky Gates.  (Laughter.)  Let’s give Becky a round of applause.  (Laughter.)  I was told that back in college you and the Secretary met on a blind date.  (Laughter.)  So maybe you didn’t really realize what you were getting into.  (Laughter.)  But for more than 40 years, Becky has shared her husband with our nation, and served in her own way, as well, and we honor her for her commitment to this country and to our men and women in service.

And though they couldn’t all be here today, I want to also say thank you to the Joint Chiefs, the Combatant Commanders, the Service Secretaries and the Senior Enlisted Advisors, and to their extraordinary wives.  I want to thank you all for keeping America safe and all our military families strong.  It’s been a pleasure getting to know all of them.  They are true heroes, and they’ve been a wonderful support to me and my husband during our beginning of this term. 

It is truly wonderful for me to be here.  It is a beautiful day.  (Applause.)  I have been waiting for this visit for a long time. 

The President has been to the Pentagon before, thank goodness -- (laughter) -- for discussions with the Secretary, Admiral Mullen, and the Joint Chiefs.  And when he first came, he told me that he had been in “The Tank.”  (Laughter.)  And I wasn’t quite sure whether that was a good thing or a bad thing.  (Laughter.) 

And last September, the President and I had the honor of joining some of you and your families here at the Pentagon memorial outside of the Pentagon for a rainy celebration -- not celebration, but to mark the anniversary of 9/11 and to pay tribute to the fallen colleagues who gave their lives here.

But today, this visit is my very time actually being anywhere inside the Pentagon -- although we’re not quite inside.  We’re very close.  (Laughter.)  But I’m going to get in there.  I know there’s a lot going on -- miles of corridors and all the “rings” I’m hearing about, and the six different zip codes.  (Laughter.)  So I can see why General Eisenhower got lost.  (Laughter.) 

So I’m thrilled that I made it in.  And Secretary Gates, I’m counting on you to make sure I get out safely.  (Laughter.)

Today is a simple chance for me to do a couple of things.  First, I want to say thank you.  It’s one of the things that I’ve done as First Lady that's one of the favorite things that I do, and it’s coming to the different departments to really express my personal appreciation as well as the appreciation of me and my family for all that you do for this country.

The second reason I’m here -- as the Vice President’s wife, Jill Biden, and I have been doing all across this country, this visit is another chance to shine a spotlight on the service and sacrifices of the finest military in the world and your amazing families.  (Applause.)

As Secretary Gates mentioned, the visits that I’ve done to bases all across this country have just been inspiring.  Meeting you, meeting your spouses, your children has been one of the greatest privileges that I’ve had as First Lady.

At Fort Bragg and Fort Hood, I stood in awe of the United States Army.  (Applause.)

At Norfolk, I was truly inspired by the United States Navy.  (Applause.)

At Eglin Air Force Base, I was blown away by our United States Air Force.  (Applause.)

And at the White House every day, I get to witness the amazing commitment of the United States Marine Corps.  (Applause.)

And we can never forget our partners at DHS -- the outstanding men and women of the United States Coast Guard.  (Applause.)  What?  (Laughter.)  Let’s hear it for the Coast Guard!  (Applause.)  All right. (Laughter.)   

Next door at Arlington and around the nation, I’ve seen the unbelievable love of spouses, wives and husbands, sons and daughters who’ve lost a loved one at war. 

And today, and every single day, we all honor America’s Gold Star families. 

I’ve been inspired, beyond measure, by our incredible wounded warriors and their families.  (Applause.)

The one thing that I wish is that the whole country could see what you all did here this morning -- the thousands of you lining the corridors and clapping and cheering and saluting their service, honoring these brave warriors and their families as they passed in this proud procession. 

This is a phenomenal tribute to them but to all of you because it’s a reflection of the spirit of this department.  Service before self.  Love of country.  Dedication to duty.  Taking care of each other.  It’s the spirit that so many of you have shown in Afghanistan and Iraq and all around the world, year after year, tour after tour.

Our country has never asked so much, for so long, of our all-volunteer force.  But the beauty is you never complain -- at least not out loud.  (Laughter.)  You always step up and you always come through.

And it’s the same spirit demonstrated by all the defense civilians, as well -- the force behind the force -- (applause) -- developing the policies; purchasing the equipment; organizing the logistics; ensuring your readiness; and taking care of your families, our wounded warriors and our military retirees.  You all may not always get the glory, but our troops cannot do their job without you. 

And as Secretary Gates pointed out, standing up here on stage with us are some of the Pentagon’s largest -- longest-serving civilian servants -- each of them with more than 40 years.  That’s an amazing thing.  Yes, indeed.  (Applause.)  So we thank you, a special thank you, for your dedication and your commitment.     

Now, I could say “thank you” all day long.  I love to do it.  But what I want you to know is that these words of thanks are backed up by deeds, as well.  They’re backed up by a President, by the Secretary -- by Secretary Gates, by Admiral Mullen, by the military commanders all the way down the chain of command, because they’re working hard every day to make sure that you and your families have what you need to get the job done, whether that means increasing the size of the military, investing in the equipment that saves lives on the battlefield, or working to give you more time home between deployments.

They’ve worked to improve your quality of life, including better pay, better benefits and better military housing.  And they’ve worked to improve care and treatment for our wounded warriors, especially those with post-traumatic stress and traumatic brain injury.  This administration understands that we have to take care of these American heroes who take such good care of all of us.

And Secretary Gates, especially I want to thank you and this department for everything that you’ve done to support our military spouses and children, because you’ve done a lot. 

The Family and Medical Leave Act has been extended to military families and to caregivers of our wounded warriors.  That’s never been done. 

There are more funds for child care now, for family counseling and support for spouses, and to help spouses pursue their careers, which is difficult to do when you are moving from base to base to base.

And since April -- this month is the Month of the Military Child, I want to salute all our military children -- (applause) -- all of your sons and daughters, because the truth is -- and we cannot forget -- these are the most mighty of our servants.   

They serve in a very special way:  trying to stay strong while mom or dad is a world away; recovering -- helping their parents recover from wounds; and in some unfortunate cases they’ve made the ultimate sacrifice and they’ve lost a parent to service.  And it can be so hard for these kids, probably beyond what we could even imagine.  So they need all the support that we can give them, all the love, both at school and at home.

So I want to thank Secretary Gates for your leadership on these issues.  It’s a leadership that is strengthening youth programs and renovating or replacing more than half of the DOD schools.  It’s a leadership that will help tens of thousands of military families and their children.   

But supporting all of you and your families truly takes more than government support.  It’s more than any of us can do.  It also takes an active and engaged citizen. 

So I want all you to know that as long as I’m First Lady, I’m going to keep urging all Americans to do their part, whether it’s something as simple as volunteering time or pro bono services to help our troops and their families, or making a home-cooked-meal for a busy spouse who’s struggling to keep it together, or whether it’s something as simple as just saying thank you when you see one of our troops in your community.

Every American can do something -- every American can do something -- in service to this country and in service around the world.  And you of all people know that, right?

AUDIENCE: Yes!

MRS. OBAMA:  You all know about service.  It’s the code that you live by every day.  It is the spirit that you showed after the terrible earthquake in Haiti:  the Coast Guards, who were the first on the scene, evacuating those in need and repairing the port so that aid could flow through; the soldiers who helped distribute so much food, water and medicine; the sailors who brought fresh drinking water and treated the injured and the sick; the airmen who reopened that airport and then operated those relief flights 24 hours a day; the Marines, some of who had just returned home from the Middle East, who said good-bye to their families and immediately shipped out to Haiti to help sustain one of the largest relief efforts in recent times.

And, of course, every step of the way, there were all the DOD civilians and folks from other agencies, all who worked alongside of you. 

And this international relief and recovery effort continues today.  There is still so much work to do in Haiti.  With the support from America’s military, we’re going to be able to do so much more.  But the need continues to be great.
 
Every American is grateful for the service that you’ve shown to that country.  We’re humbled by it.  We’re inspired by it.  But nothing compares to the appreciation of the Haitian people, which they have expressed in so many ways.  The cheering crowds when you arrived.  The “thumbs up” they gave you as you passed.  The grateful mother who named her newborn for the Navy ship he was born in.  The man who said simply, “Without you, I would be dead.  Thank you, America.”  Now, I couldn’t say it any better myself. 

On behalf of the President, on behalf of the American people, thank you for the service that you display every single day, around the world, often in harm’s way.  Thank you all, military and civilian, and to your families.   You make us so very proud.

So I’m going to come down and say hello.  (Applause.)

END
11:25 P.M. EDT 

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Remarks by the First Lady at “Let’s Move” Town Hall Event

11:17 A.M. EDT

MS. SWAIN:  Good morning on this beautiful spring day, and welcome to the White House.  We are very pleased to be here in the beautiful and historic State Dining Room at the White House for a dialogue on childhood obesity and childhood health with the First Lady, Michelle Obama.

We’re very pleased for this program, which is live on C-SPAN this morning, to have students from all around the Washington, D.C., area and students watching all across the country.  Some of them will be calling in with questions on our discussion on childhood obesity.

We’ll be here for 45 minutes altogether, and we all hope to learn more about this topic and why it’s so important to young people’s health and how to stay healthy, and also why the First Lady is so passionate about it.

So boys and girls here in the White House, would you please join me in welcoming the First Lady Michelle Obama to our discussion this morning.  (Applause.) 

MRS. OBAMA:  Hello, everybody.  (Applause.)  Well, hello.

AUDIENCE:  Hello.

MS. SWAIN:  Well, we’re going to just plunge right into it, and as we get started here, I thought -- I’m going to ask you a question, and then we’re going to introduce the students in the room.  I had a very important question as we were getting ready this morning, Mrs. Obama, from a young man sitting in the back.  We keep using this big word “obesity” and he wasn’t sure what it meant.

MRS. OBAMA:  Yes, yes.  Well, it is a pretty big word, but I think it -- you know, just to make it simple, it’s when people’s weight gets higher than it should be.  And there are very scientific measurements for it.  Something called Body Mass Index is what a lot of doctors try to measure.  But as you grow, your weight and your height should remain fairly consistent, but people’s Body Mass Index really varies. 

So there’s no one right weight or height to be.  If you look in my whole family, we’ve got people who are 6’6” and people who are 4’11”.  And weight and height really depend on you as a person.  But what this is all about, really, is about making sure that you guys are healthy, that you’re eating the right foods, that you’re getting enough exercise.  This isn’t about how you look, this isn’t about appearances, because we all have to own and be proud of exactly who we are. 

I am 5’11”.  I was probably this height when I was very young, and my parents taught me to be proud of the way I look.  And this isn’t about how you look.  This is about how you guys feel.  It’s about health.

So I think that’s the big takeaway.  And you can talk to the doctors and the experts and the scientists, if you want to get a more definitive answer to what obesity technically is, but it’s really about our health.  It’s about your health.

Does that help?  Yes, yes?  All right, good.  It’s a good way to start.

MS. SWAIN:  The way that this event all came together is that students around the country have participated in an annual documentary contest that our network C-SPAN holds, called “Student Cam”, and this year we had 1,000 documentarians --

MRS. OBAMA:  That’s great.

MS. SWAIN:  -- from all around the country.  But interestingly, health was the number one issue among young people.  We had 128 different entries on aspects of health, so it’s much on their minds.  The economy, number two.  (Laughter.)  So not surprised there.

But today we’re going to meet one of the very special documentarians, Matthew Shimura, who is here as the first prize middle school winner; he’s been thinking about childhood obesity for a while.  Matt is in the front row and will meet you in just a minute.  Matt, welcome and congratulations for your winning documentary.

We also have young people who entered the contest who are watching from all the country -- also did, on the topic of childhood obesity, so they are thinking about this and have questions for you.  But let me introduce you to the young people who are here at the White House with us today.  And I’m going to ask you to stand up with your group when I call the name of your schools, so your parents can see that you’re here.

First of all, where’s the Hamstead Hill Academy in Baltimore?  Welcome.

MRS. OBAMA:  Welcome, you guys.

MS. SWAIN:  Stuart Hobson Middle School in Washington, D.C. -- sixth through eighth grade.  Hello, Stuart Hobston, looking good.

Next is Alexandria, Virginia -- Lyles Crouch Elementary School.  Hello, Lyles Crouch.

Now, we’ve got a group of Girl Scouts from the national capital region who have been involved in health and wellness issues.  Welcome, ladies.

MRS. OBAMA:  Good to see you all.

MS. SWAIN:  How about the Alliance for a Healthier Generation?  Where are those students?  Good morning and welcome. 

And then we have a number of student journalists who are covering this event.  Where are our student journalists?

MRS. OBAMA:  Oh, good, it’s the journalists.

MS. SWAIN:  They’re right near the professional journalists in the back, too, so --

MRS. OBAMA:  All right, watch them.  Watch them behind you. (Laughter.) 

MS. SWAIN:  Then is there any person here who hasn’t had a chance to stand that I didn’t introduce your group?  If not, please stand up now.

MRS. OBAMA:  And make sure you stand up, because your parents are watching.

MS. SWAIN:  Okay, it looks like we’ve got everybody.

MRS. OBAMA:  All right, great.

MS. SWAIN:  Well, if you could begin by telling us -- in the past every First Lady has had a special issue.  Mrs. Reagan was worried about drug use by young people.  Mrs. Bush was involved with literacy and reading.  How did you come to choose this issue, and why?

MRS. OBAMA:  Yes, I’ve said this so many times before.  I came to this issue as a mom way before we were anywhere near coming to the White House.  I mean, you guys know I have these two beautiful little girls, Malia and Sasha -- they’re not so little now -- but I was like a lot of your parents.  I worked a job, my husband worked a job, we were very busy, you’re trying to make sure that you’re doing the right thing as a mom and keeping your job together, and our health habits got way out of kilter because we were eating out too much.  I didn’t have time to cook.  I had to buy a lot of quick packaged things, so my kids were drinking a lot of sugary drinks, and you were rushing to make sure that the lunch was good and something that they’d eat.  We were probably eating too many things out of a box.

So we were doing probably what most of your parents do, because you’re just trying to get through the day, and everybody has got too many activities, and you’re shuttling to work, and you’re eating on the run, and you’re missing dinner together.  We were living that life. 

And it seemed fine, I thought I was in control until one of my kids’ pediatrician kind of tapped me on the shoulder, because he was regularly measuring that BMI, that Body Mass Index, that I talked to you about.  And we were lucky that we had a pediatrician that really checked this pretty accurately, because we lived on the South Side of Chicago, predominantly African American community, and weight issues and obesity issues are pretty significant there, so he was tracking that.  And he told me, you know, you may want to watch it.  And I didn’t think we had a problem because I look at my kids and I see perfection, just like your parents see.  They’re perfect, they’re beautiful.  And it wasn’t that they weren’t, but it was just that things were just tipping over to the point that we needed to make some changes.

So we made some pretty simple changes in our household.  We made sure we got more fruits and vegetables and dinner.  I cooked more.  We ate out a little bit less.  We limited desserts to weekends -- I know, not every day.  I took out sugary drinks so my kids were drinking more water.  We made sure they were exercising; at least moving around everyday, so no TV during the weeks -- week.

So those little changes made a pretty significant difference.  And my view is that if I could make those kind of changes and it could help my family in such a significant way, I wanted to make sure that we were doing that with the rest of the country, because my view is that if I’m having this problem in my household and I don't know it and it was unclear to me, then what’s going on with everybody else, people who don’t have information or don’t have pediatricians who are working with them? 

So when we planted the garden, the White House Kitchen Garden a year ago, we did it to start a conversation with young people about eating healthy.  Maybe they would get more engaged in fruits and vegetables if they were involved in growing them. 

And what we found with working with the kids that helped me with the garden was that if kids planted it and were involved in it and understood it, they’d eat it and they’d be excited about it.  And they could help not only change their own health habits, but they’d go back home and start teaching their parents, because once I started talking to my kids about what they needed to eat, trust me, they were monitoring me way more than I was monitoring them.    

They cleaned out the cabinets.  They looked at labels a bit more.  They made decisions about the kind of snacks they would eat.  They started making pretty healthy choices for themselves, and a lot of times, when I wanted to cheat, they’d pull me back.

So my hope is that young people around the country will take that kind of interest in their own health.  And then to see the statistics, seeing that one in three kids in this country is overweight or obese, and that we’re on track for the first time ever for our kids to live shorter lives than we do.  That in and of itself was terrifying enough for me.  I wouldn’t want that fate for my girls, and I don't want it for any of you or any other kids in this country.

So we started “Let’s Move” and hopefully it will catch on, and you guys are going to be the key ambassadors to really make this happen, because this is really about you and it’s about the kids that are going to follow you.

So I'll stop there.  I can go on and on and on.  (Laughter.) 

MS. SWAIN:  How can they be ambassadors?

MRS. OBAMA:  You know, I think first you can take the lead in your own homes.  This is what I tell my kids, my girls.  It’s not about never having the stuff you want, right?  I would love it if I could live healthy on pie and French fries.  I’d do it.  I’d eat it.  But the fact of the matter is, is that you can’t.  We are made as humans to need a balanced diet with enough fiber and enough vegetables and fruits.  And we have to be educated about what that diet should look like, and then we have to start making choices to not have candy every day, even if you can; to not ask for those desserts all the time, even if you can; to think about learning how to cook for yourselves, how to bake a chicken and make a little pasta; how to think about putting more water in your diet. 

Those are decisions at your age.  You’re the age of my girls.  You guys can make those decisions, and you can help your parents, because they’re trying -- they’re just trying to get you to eat.  That's all we want to do.  We want you to eat something.

And if you complain and you don’t want to try new things, if you’re hesitant, if you are going to get that -- you know, buy those chips instead of some pretzels, if you’re not going to make good decisions, it’s really not a whole lot that parents can do, because you’re not with us all the time, you’re at school, you’re with your friends.

So my whole goal in my kids -- for my kids is to try to get them to think about the choices they’re going to make in their own lives.  And I tell them it’s not about who they are today, it’s about who they want to be when they’re 20 and 25.  I have them thinking about what kind of moms are you going to be, you know?  If you don’t know how to feed yourself, then how are you going to feed your own kids?

So it’s really about you guys taking responsibility of your own future in so many ways and helping your parents and your families make those kind of decisions.  I think that that's the first thing that you can do, because that's your power.  You don't have to live in a certain neighborhood.  You don’t have to know anything more to make better decisions for yourself and be willing to make some of those decisions on your own.  You don't need a teacher or a parent to do it.  You guys have the power to start doing it.  And once you do it, your parents will follow.  That, I know.

MS. SWAIN:  Well, let’s introduce Matt Shimura officially.  Matt is sitting in the front row and he came all the way to the White House from Honolulu.  We’re very proud of his accomplishment.  We had 1,000 entries in this StudentCam documentary, and Matt Shimura’s documentary on childhood obesity took first place in middle school.  Matt, congratulations.  (Applause.)

Now, Mrs. Obama announced her big project on childhood obesity in early February.  By then you had finished your documentary, so you’ve been thinking about this for a while.  What got you interested?

MR. SHIMURA:  What got me interested was when I looked at our state’s furlough Fridays.  It’s when we don’t have -- the public schools don’t have school on Fridays, so they don’t have lunch and they don’t have P.E. on those days, so they’re lacking nutrition and physical exercise.  So I thought that could lead to childhood obesity, and that's how I chose that topic.

MS. SWAIN:  What did you learn while making your film?

MR. SHIMURA:  I learned, like, how to make a great documentary and express my ideas through filmmaking.

MS. SWAIN:  We’re going to show just a minute of it for our viewers and students watching around the country.  Here in the room -- you’ll just hear it, as I told you before -- but we’ll hear the audio of the documentary that you made, and then we’ll come back and have a question from you for Mrs. Obama.

(The documentary is shown.)

And that was Matt doing the voiceover in his documentary, as well.  Congratulations on your work.  You have a question for Mrs. Obama?

Q    Mrs. Obama, how do you think the government can improve nutrition and physical activity in schools?

MRS. OBAMA:  You know, I think that first of all, one thing I just want to say is that the solution to this challenge has to come from the bottom up.  The government can’t be in a position telling people to do -- what to do in their own homes, and that generally doesn’t work.  So it’s really going to require all of us working together -- the federal government, business leaders, food manufacturers, farmers, students, nurses -- everyone has to come together. 

But specifically, when you think about the federal government, when it comes to school lunches, the Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act is one of the ways that the government supports school lunches.  And one of the things we’re trying to get done, because it’s time for it to be reauthorized, is to get more money put into implementing that act so that we change the kind of food you all get in your lunches so that there are more fruits and vegetables added; that there’s less processed food; that the quality of the food goes up, because a large percentage of kids in this country are getting half of their meals at school. 

So if we can do a better job in the schools of providing better options that are healthier, more nutritious, then we’re going to go a very long way.

But this act also works to encourage more schools to become U.S. Healthier Schools.  And these are schools that are designated as already taking those steps to change the way they do things, providing healthier meals, incorporating nutrition education into the curriculum, making sure that they’re making time for physical activity and recess -- because in many schools around this country, with budget cuts, oftentimes that's the first thing to go. So we can’t tell kids, you know, “Get more exercise” and then take away recess and all physical activity out of the school.

So there are schools out there that are finding ways to put that kind of exercise and activity back into the curriculum.  The Healthier Schools Challenge recognizes that, and we’re going to work to double those numbers of schools that qualify.

So there are many, many ways that the federal government can work on -- through the Child Nutrition and Reauthorization Act. 

Also, through the FDA, the Food and Drug Administration, we can work with grocery manufacturers to make sure that the foods that are produced in the stores have labels on them that help families make decisions.  Because, you know when you walk into a grocery store, you walk down an aisle?  My kids know the brands.  Oh, that’s “X” brand!  They know the commercial.  But when a mom or dad picks up the cereal, how do you know whether this is something that's nutritious?  How many servings? 

And right now the labels are really confusing.  And if you’re busy and you’re trying to get in and out of the grocery store, you don’t have time to read labels or to make the kind of calculations.  So we’re trying to work with the FDA and food manufacturers to simplify those things so that it’s easy, so that you guys can walk in and look at foods and make decisions about what actually is going to be healthy and how much of it to eat.

So those are just some of the ways that the federal government can be involved.  But more importantly, this is an effort that's going to require everyone.  No one is off the hook on this one.

MS. SWAIN:  Our next question is going to come from a student in Jenks, Oklahoma, who’s watching us on television.  After that, we’ll take a question from the room.  Who has a question so we can get ready?  Okay, this young lady that's on the row, you’ll be our first question after our call from Alexander England, who’s watching us in Jenks, Oklahoma.  He goes to Jenks High School, and his winning documentary was “Childhood Obesity:  America’s Underlying Problem.”  He watches C-SPAN, which we appreciate, on COX cable in Oklahoma.  Alexander, what’s your question? 

Q    Good morning, Mrs. Obama.  It is an honor to talk with you this morning. 

MRS. OBAMA:  Good morning, Alexander.  Thanks for calling in.  What’s your question?

Q    For my C-SPAN film, I interviewed the vice president of a fast food chain.  He said that he rarely (inaudible) choices based on how healthy the food is, but instead on price.  With that in mind, do you think efforts should be focused on lowering the price of healthy food?  And if so, is there anything the government can do to encourage that?

MRS. OBAMA:  I think you’re absolutely right that the cost of healthy foods oftentimes becomes a barrier.  The access and affordability of foods is a huge issue.  And with “Let’s Move” that’s one of our major pillars, is eliminating what are known as food deserts.  There are millions of kids who live in areas all throughout the country that we call food deserts.  Those are places where you can’t -- there isn’t a grocery store, there isn’t a place to buy fresh produce, healthy food. 

There are a lot of people who live in communities where the only access to food comes in the form of a convenience store or a gas station.  You imagine trying to feed your family when the closest grocery store is a train ride or a cab ride or a car ride away.  And there are millions of Americans who find it very difficult to cook the kind of foods that they know that they should, because they don’t have access.

We’re looking at starting a healthy food financing initiative modeled after some of the efforts that have been done in cities across the country and states.  Pennsylvania has managed to eliminate food deserts through this financing initiative.  With this, we’re taking money from the Treasury Department and the Department of Agriculture, and trying to leverage resources, millions of dollars, to try to encourage more grocery stores to relocate in underserved communities. 

And that way, not only do you help to eliminate the food desert issue, but you can create jobs.  You can build economies around new grocery stores relocating to communities.  I saw this firsthand in Philadelphia in a community that hadn’t had a grocery store in it for a decade.  You imagine a decade.  So if you’re 10 years old, that means you’ve grown up in a community where your mom can’t go and buy a head of lettuce.  That is a frustration, and it’s a reality in so many families’ lives. 

But with their financing initiative in Pennsylvania, they were able to partner with a chain store that came in.  This grocery store is amazing.  It looks like any Whole Foods store that you’d see in any community -- fresh produce, fresh vegetables, everything you can imagine.

And the excitement that this community feels over having this resource that they haven’t seen had just turned this community upside down with excitement.  So our view is that if we can do that in Philadelphia, if they can do it in Pennsylvania, there’s no reason we can’t do this, replicate this model in communities all across this country.

MS. SWAIN:  And we have our student questioner here in the State Dining Room.

Q    Good morning, Mrs. Obama.  How would you think schools can show students what they should eat and what they shouldn’t eat while they’re there?

MS. SWAIN:  And do you want to tell us your name?

Q    Kayla Greenspoon (ph).

MS. SWAIN:  Thank you for your question.

MRS. OBAMA:  Thanks so much.  It’s a good question.  Some -- many schools are already doing this.  I mean, one of the things I said in a speech that I did to some of the school lunch ladies, the association -- they were here in Washington -- is that we have to remember that learning doesn’t stop at lunch time.  The cafeteria is one of the most important classrooms in the school.  And, yes, during that time -- and not just that time alone, but by exposing kids to different types of foods, helping them get introduced, encouraging kids to try things that they haven’t tried -- they may try some things in the school lunch room that they can bring home to their parents.

But nutrition education is an important part of a curriculum.  And there are many schools in this country that are figuring out ways to incorporate those kind of activities into the regular curriculum.  I visited many schools in the Washington, D.C., area that have wonderful community gardens and are using those gardens to not just teach science, but to teach reading and math.  And along the way, if you’re using the garden, you’re also helping kids, again, become exposed to the different variety of fruits and vegetables that are out there.  And when kids see that in the classroom, they may be more inclined to try it at home. 

So this is why trying to increase the number of U.S. Healthier Schools is going to be really critical, because again, there are already schools who are figuring out ways to do this.  So how do we scale that up?  How do we take those best practices that are happening in schools already and make sure that they’re happening in all schools, for all kids around the country?

And it’s going to take some resources.  And it’s going to take the folks who provide the food for the schools -- there are companies out there that get contracts to provide the school lunches.  We need them to take on ownership, to make sure that the lunches that they are providing aren’t just cheap and easy, but that they’re low in fat, salt, and sugar.

And many of them have already agreed that they’re going to do a better job.  But we have to hold their feet to the fire, and that’s another way that you all can be involved.  Look at the lunches that you’re providing -- being provided.  Talk to your teachers about the content.  Ask questions.  Figure out whether they’re balanced or not, because the more you educate yourselves, you guys can set the tone in your own schools in so many ways.  Slowly, but surely, you can change the culture in your own environments.

MS. SWAIN:  Mrs. Obama talked about the fact that they’ve planted a garden here at the White House to help with healthier eating.  How many students in this room have a garden at home?

MRS. OBAMA:  That’s nice.

MS. SWAIN:  And how many of you who don’t?  And a garden doesn’t have to be land.  If you live in the city, you can grow it in pots, as well.  How many of you are going to talk to your parents about planting a garden this year?  I’ve got a few converts. 

Who in this room has a question?  All right, you’ll be next.  But we’re to take another call from around the country.  This is Sarah Gabriel.  She is in Cedar Falls, Iowa, which is a Mediacom system.  She’s an honorable mention winner in our contest.  And her video was “Improving School Lunch:  Too costly, or a way to bend the cost curve?”

Sarah, you’re on the line now for Mrs. Obama.  What’s your question?

Q    Hi.  My question is also about improving the choice quality in schools.  And I go to a public school where they do something to try to implement higher nutritional standards.  But because my school still sells à la carte snack items to generate revenue, many students still just buy unhealthy snack items.  So I was wondering if you have any ideas about how schools might address this issue?

MRS. OBAMA:  Sarah, thanks for the question.  You make a great point about the vending machines and about the la carte lines.  These standards have to apply across the board.  And we have to make sure that kids have healthy options. 

I am a proponent of vending machines, because, kids, when you all are hungry, you’re going to look to a vending machine for a snack.  The question is just what do we have in those vending machines and how do we think about the content of the food in those machines. 

There’s nothing wrong with a vending machine per se.  But you don’t have to always have a sugary drink in a vending machine.  You can have a healthy sports drink.  You can have water.  You can have trail mix.  You can have pretzels, nuts, crackers, cheese.  There’s so many things that kids would eat -- they just gravitate to what’s there.

So I think that that’s part of what we need to do, as we work through these nutrition guidelines, that we can’t just look at the food on the cafeteria line, but we have to look at all the food that’s available to our children.  Again, that’s why this isn’t a problem that can be solved by the federal government -- the school community, the local community, has to want to make these changes.  And they have to make decisions about what’s going to go in those vending machines instead of what’s already there; how do you work with your local vendors.

We can work on high and try to set the tone, but really what happens at your schools and in your communities is really more up to you, your mayors, your city council people, than anything that can happen out of the White House.  And it really should, because folks know their communities better than we’ll ever know. 

But the fact of the matter is, as this question points out, is that we have to make sure that all of the options are good ones and not just some of them, because you guys are pretty sneaky, you’ll find a way to get to that bag of chips.  (Laughter.)    

MS. SWAIN:  How many of you in fact, when you’re looking for snacks, at least feel that you have an option in your vending machines at school to have a healthy choice if you want one?  Would you raise your hand if you have options for it?  It looks like we have a little work to do in some of the schools.

MRS. OBAMA:  Yes.  No, we do.  We do.

MS. SWAIN:  What’s your question?  And tell us your name too.

Q    Well, my name is Terrick Mack (ph).  I’m an eighth grader at Stillhouse (ph) Middle School.  And my question is about false labelings on nutrition labels.  And I wanted to ask what regulations could be put in place so that we can eliminate -- that we know that we can ensure that false labels won’t be put on nutritious facts.

MRS. OBAMA:  Well, as I mentioned earlier, the FDA is going to be working with the grocery store manufacturers this summer to work on the whole issue of labeling.  And our hope is that because the grocery store manufacturers have -- they want to be helpful in this effort, that this is one of the ways, one of the easy ways that they can be helpful, is figuring out how do you make, as I said earlier, simple, clear, accurate labels that give the facts in a way that the average consumer, the average purchaser, can figure it out and trust in the information. 

But the FDA, the Food and Drug Administration, is going to be setting up new guidelines for labels.  We want to do it with the help of the grocery store folks, because it’s their products, and we’re hopeful that they’re going to join in.  But you’re absolutely right, you can’t tell families to make smart decisions if they’re confused about what to buy. 

We’ve also talked to them about how they market to kids, right?  I mean, the majority -- I don’t want to quote percentages, but there are a lot of commercials that come on kid TV programs.  My kids are watching it, with the sugary food and the tasty this and the -- that’s what you guys are seeing a lot of. 

And one of the things we’re asking them is that as you -- as those grocery store manufacturers think about the products they’re going to market to kids, what percentage of those products are really healthy and how much of it is sort of kind of healthy, but it’s the stuff that you guys will push your parents to buy.  And how do we change that?  How do we become more responsible in what is advertised to you guys, right, so that you’re not bombarded with messages that say this sugary stuff is really what you want, really, right, you don’t really want the apple. 

And it’s not enough just to change not marketing the not-so-good stuff.  They have to help us market the good stuff to you.  And they know how to sell stuff, right?  I mean, I’m sure all of you could raise your hand and name your favorite brand of anything, right?  You know the jingle and the tune.  You can recite the words by heart.  But if you’re hearing those same songs and messages about good foods, trust me you’ll be -- those ideas and thoughts will be ringing in your head just as much as the sugary foods are.  So we need to do a better job of getting you all the information that you need to make good choices.

MS. SWAIN:  Once again, let’s see a hand for a future question.  All right, this young man in the blue shirt, you’ll be next.  But first, we’re going to take a call.  And this is Kyle Street.  And Kyle is an honorable mention winner for his video called “Childhood Obesity.”  He is a student at Throop Elementary in Paoli, Indiana.  And Avenue Cable is where he watches C-SPAN.  Kyle, you are on and what’s your question?

Q    Well, first of all, I’d like to say thank you for this opportunity.  And in our small rural community, volunteers have just started a wellness program to promote a healthier lifestyle.  (Inaudible) physical activity at a young age (inaudible) offering organized sports, team (inaudible).  Mrs. Obama, as you mentioned, physical education programs are getting canceled or cut back because of the struggling economy.  What other ways can the community help motivate kids to stay active and exercise?

MRS. OBAMA:  Well, thanks for the question, Kyle, and it’s important.  I’ve spent a lot of time talking about food, the food side of this equation.  But as Kyle points out, the physical activity piece is just as important.  Because the truth is, is that when I was growing up as a kid, we didn’t worry about what we ate.  And we ate the cupcakes and this -- we didn’t eat it every day.

But the difference was that when I was growing up, kids -- every kid played outside for hours and hours, because, number one, it was safe and, number two, we only had like seven TV channels and not 700.  So there was a period at which kid TV was over, so you were bored and your parents were going to kick you out of the house.

MS. SWAIN:  And no computer, right?

MRS. OBAMA:  No computers.  Life has just changed.  And now in my household, my kids could watch SpongeBob 24 hours a day, the same shows over and over and over again.  I even know all the episodes.  (Laughter.)

So you guys just have -- you’ve got computers, you’ve got your iPod.  A lot of what you’re drawn to has nothing to do with movement.  And if you’re not signed up with an activity or you don’t have a ballet class in your neighborhood -- or maybe it’s too expensive, because all these after-school programs are just really, really expensive for parents and families -- if you’re not engaged in any of that, then a lot of times kids nowadays are just sitting in front of the TV or watching -- playing on the video games.  And guidelines basically say that kids should be getting, what is it, 60 minutes of exercise, physical activity every single day.  That’s really what you’re supposed to do, right?

And when I was growing up, 60 minutes of playing around outside was nothing, it was just play.  So things have gotten tougher for you all in so many ways.  So we have to do a better job -- and not just in schools, but outside of school -- to figure out how do we get you guys moving again. 

And, again, some of that is on you all.  Some of that are the choices that you make, because you’re at the age now where you can make a decision to sit in front of the TV, or get up and jump rope, or walk up and down the stairs, or do a pushup, or figure out something fun, or turn on the radio and dance.  I mean, exercise isn’t about sports.  It’s not always about throwing a ball.  It’s just about moving, right?  And those are some choices that you have to make.  But we have to do a better job in giving you guys options to play. 

And Kyle’s community, it sounds like what they’re doing is what we need to have happen in all communities across this country, where the adults -- the mayors and the city officials and the businesspeople and the community groups and the churches -- are figuring out how do we open up parks and spaces for you guys to play?  How do we organize leagues that aren’t going to cost an arm and a leg?  How do we open up gym facilities for longer periods of time?  Those solutions have to come from the bottom up, because it’s going to be different in every community.

But getting you guys moving, which is one of the reasons why we’ve called our campaign “Let’s Move” is because we really don’t have time to wait.  We can’t let you guys sit around for another generation and not make physical activity a regular part of your lives.  So we need to be modeling what’s going on in Indiana.  Is that where Kyle is from?

MS. SWAIN:  He is, yes.

MRS. OBAMA:  And it’s a small community.  They figured out a way to make it happen.  But there are also bigger cities like Somerville, Massachusetts, where they’re figuring out how to just restructure that whole city so that they’re focused on health and physical activity.  And we’ve got to be doing that in cities and towns all across this country.

MS. SWAIN:  What’s your question?  And what’s your name?

Q    My name is Francis Wells.  And my question is, what is the main cause of childhood obesity?

MRS. OBAMA:  You know, I don’t know that they know that there’s one single cause for it.  Sometimes, it’s genetics.  And a lot of times, it’s lifestyle.  As I said before, things have changed.  The way we live as Americans have changed.  We walk less, sometimes because it’s not safe to walk; sometimes it’s because the schools your parents need you to go to are further away than they used to be.  I know when I grew up, I went to the neighborhood school around the corner and everybody went to the school in their neighborhood.  So you could walk to school, right?

But if you’re being -- going to a magnet school or a charter school or a new school somewhere else where you don’t have the ability to walk, what are you -- you’re in your parent’s car, or you’re on a bus, or maybe the walk is shortened.  And then you get to school and there’s no physical education, there’s no P.E., there are no sports programs.  And there were always those when I was growing up.  You played outside before school.  You had recess.  You played out during lunch time.  And you played in the playground after school.  And now, kids are going straight home to sit in front of the TV, do their homework, usually watching TV, or on videogames. 

And parents are much busier, right?  Because of the economy, a lot of parents have to work.  You guys know.  Your parents would love to give you every single minute of their time but they’re trying to pay the bills.  And that may mean that both parents or one parent has got two jobs.  So parents are busy and it’s harder to get you guys where you have to go.

So things have changed in society, and slowly but surely I think that that’s affected how healthy kids are.  And we’re eating more processed foods, we go out more, fast food is no longer a treat, right?  It’s something that you do several times a week because it’s convenient.  So we’ve changed the way we live and it affects you all.  And we got to sort of dial that back.  We have to rethink those kinds of things to figure out how do we create healthy lifestyles in the world that we live in today.  How do we do that for you.

And again, you guys are going to be helpers in this because, you know, the question that I have for you is how do I get you to turn off the TV?  How do I get you, in this culture of all this TV and all these videogames, what do I do as a mom to get you to move?  I don’t know.  I’m working on with it my kids.  But you guys are going to have to help us figure out how to engage you in a way that’s going to make this fun and not work so that you want to do it and don’t feel like you’re being forced to do it, right?

So we’re going to need your help in figuring this out.

MS. SWAIN:  We have about nine minutes left in our conversation with Mrs. Obama about childhood obesity.  Who will be our next questioner?  Let me get someone -- you’re going to be next, right in front of the camera -- okay, so just a second.  And in between, we’re going to hear from Lauren Shatanof.  Lauren is in Weston, Florida, Advanced Cable, Falcon Cove Middle School and a documentarian with the film titled “America’s Biggest Challenge:  Obesity.”  Lauren.

Q    Hello.  It is a great honor for me to speak with you, our First Lady.  Mrs. Obama, my question is:  A country facing challenging economic times, with limited resources to address childhood obesity, what measures will you take to ensure that this problem is prioritized?

MRS. OBAMA:  Well, I think this initiative is one of the biggest ways that I think that I can help.  Having the platform of the White House is really helpful in getting attention to stuff, right?  A lot of times when I do something, a lot of cameras show up and people tend to watch and write about it.  Sometimes they write about more than what I’m wearing.  (Laughter.)  So I think it’s my job to help shine the light on things that are already working.  So that’s one of the reasons why I chose this as my initiative.

I also think that one of the ways that I think we can move this effort, one of the reasons why I think that we can be successful, is that it doesn’t require -- I don’t believe, and others may have struggled a bit more -- it doesn’t require whole-scale changes in your life.  The beauty about kids, you guys, is that you’re young, your metabolisms are really healthy, which essentially means that once you start moving and eating right you’re going to -- you guys change really quickly.  You’re growing and everything is working right.

So if we make some little changes, get you guys moving more, a little more movement, a little less TV, if we take out sugary drinks, if we can make school lunches better, if we get you guys educated and your families about what to eat -- these are all things we can control and it doesn’t take millions of dollars and a whole bunch of legislation to get it done.  We don’t have to count on people passing stuff, thank God, to move this problem along.  And if we all get pumped up and empowered, right, we can move this issue along. 

And that’s why I’m so excited about it and that’s why I’m counting on all of you.  Because my thing is that if we get you thinking differently now as middle schoolers and folks headed to college, you’re going to enter adulthood with a whole different baseline of understanding about nutrition.  So you’re not going to carry these problems into your adulthood and you’re going to help your kids learn a bit differently.

So you guys are the beginning of the solution, right?  Our goal with “Let’s Move” is to ensure that kids born today, right, grow up healthy.  And that means you’re going to be taking the lead. 

So if you’re thinking differently about how you eat, if you’re thinking about access and affordability to foods, if you’re thinking about growing your own foods, if you’re thinking consciously and making different choices and knowing that exercise isn’t a luxury, it’s like a necessity to keep up alive and you’ve got to find the thing that you’re going to do that gets you moving every day -- if you’re growing up like that, then you’re not going to have the bad habits that a lot of us grown people have a hard time getting rid of.

So we’re trying to teach you guys differently.  That doesn’t take -- that’s not rocket science.  That’s good information and a coordinated effort and I think that the country from what I can see is ready to respond.  People around the country -- I haven’t gotten a negative response from anybody -- not people, members of Congress, not people in the media, entertainers.  Everybody believes that this is an important issue and they think that they can help move it.  And they’re ready to help make you guys healthier.

So if all of us are online, right, then there’s no reason why we shouldn’t be able to significantly change this trend in your lifetime.

MS. SWAIN:  What’s your question?  Would you stand up and tell your name, too?

Q    My name is Robert.  Good morning.

MRS. OBAMA:  Good morning.

Q    How do you feel about childhood obesity and adult obesity -- do you think they’re the same problem?

MRS. OBAMA:  You know, I am not an expert on sort of the science of this issue.  What I do think is that it’s, as I said, it’s harder to break habits when you’re older.  The longer you do something, right -- eat a certain way, get adjusted to a certain kind of food, get used to a certain taste, get used to not exercising -- it’s hard to break that habit.  It’s hard for grownups to make changes.  It just is.

You guys are still open.  Your brains are still taking in new information.  Trust me, you can learn to love vegetables -- (laughter) -- even though it doesn’t feel that way.  Your taste buds change over time.  Right now if you get used to the taste of a really sugary food, your taste buds are going to adjust to that as being normal, right?  But if you start drinking more water and trying more vegetables, over time you’re taste buds will adjust to where that’s what you crave.  So you can adjust yourself at a young age to want healthy things.  But if all you’re eating is fast food and junk food, that’s just what you’re going to want.

So I just think it’s easier to help people change habits earlier.  That doesn’t mean that it’s not hard for kids to make different choices.  It’s just if it’s hard now, it’s going to really be hard when you get to be an adult.  So why get there, right?  Why not stop it now?  Why not get you guys in the habit of exercising and moving now so that you’re not struggling with these issues for the rest of your life?

MS. SWAIN:  Katie Romos (ph) is in Caro, Michigan, Charter Cable, and also a student documentarian.  Katie, what’s your question?

Q    Good morning, Mrs. Obama.  How do you think parents should address the issue of obesity with their young children?  Should they take a strong obvious approach or a more subtle approach that does not let the child know (inaudible) situation?

MRS. OBAMA:  Yes.  You know, I think it’s a real delicate balance because you want to make sure that kids feel good about themselves, right?  And I think that all parents know their kids better than anyone.  That’s one of those things where it’s -- that’s not -- you can't get involved in how somebody deals with their kids. 

But in the process, I think that we have to make sure that our kids still feel good about themselves no matter what their weight, no matter how they feel.  We need to make sure that our kids know that we love them no matter who they are, what they look like, what they’re eating.  That’s really important.

But what I found in my household is that making small changes and involving my kids in the changes without making it a problem, right -- without saying we’re now -- “Now you’re in trouble, now you’re no longer be able to do this or you’ll have to” -- it’s not a punishment.  I did it more as a, “Let’s figure out how we can do this.  Do we really need this many sugary snacks, and have we thought about what’s in our food?  Why don’t we think about this?”  And I tried to engage them in the process so that it didn’t feel like you’re being punished for something and that they felt more ownership over it.

So, I don't know, that might be viewed as a softer approach, but again, this isn’t about how our kids look -- this is about how our kids feel and it’s about helping our kids take ownership over their lives and what they eat and making sure they have the information that they need to make those choices.

MS. SWAIN:  Do you mind if we go over one minute for a student who’s been on the line for a long time?

MRS. OBAMA:  I don’t mind at all.

MS. SWAIN:  Okay.  This is Reshad Jaji (ph) who is in Cohoes, New York, and Boght Hills Elementary School, a Time Warner community.  Reshad, are you there?

Q    Yes.

MS. SWAIN:  Do you have a question for Mrs. Obama?

Q    Yes.

MS. SWAIN:  Go ahead and ask it please.

Q    Good morning, Mrs. Obama.

MRS. OBAMA:  How are you?

Q    Fine.  Good morning, Mrs. Obama.

MRS. OBAMA:  Good morning.  (Laughter.)

Q    (Inaudible.)

MRS. OBAMA:  I think it’s a great idea.  I think that the more information, the better.  That’s my bottom line on this issue.  There isn’t a thing as too much information.  The question is, what information and what format is right for what age and what community at what time.  And that’s, again, why I think that decisions about what’s taught in the schools and how should be something that principals and teachers and parents in those schools really think through and make sure it makes sense and works for the kids in their community.

MS. SWAIN:  Mrs. Obama told us how cameras follow her wherever she goes, which is why it’s easy to highlight an issue.  I brought along a photograph from the newspaper from last week when she and her two daughters went to New York City and all of the photographers followed as they went to a pizza parlor.  So I think the message here is it’s possible to eat pizza and still eat healthy?

MRS. OBAMA:  Absolutely.  Like I said, I don’t believe in any absolutes in this thing.  It’s really about balance, right?  Can you have junk food every day?  No.  You just can’t.  I wish the answer was yes.  We talk about this in my household all the time.  Why on Earth is there not -- why doesn’t healthy food taste like candy?  And that’s really the question.  And it’s one of those dilemmas of humankind.  I mean, the thing that is best for us isn’t always the thing that tastes the best, right? 

But that’s life, right?  I mean, that’s -- those are the beginnings of the lessons of life.  There’s a lot of stuff that you really need to do that you don't want to do, but you really need to do it.  And I know you’re looking because I’m sure your parents have told you that, right -- but they’re right.  And eating right is one of those things.

So in my household there is no -- there are no absolute nos.  We eat a lot of great, fun stuff.  We eat junk food, snack food -- but it’s a balance.  And desserts are on the weekend.  We set up some basic rules.  But sometimes you break that because if there’s a special occasion or a birthday party at school, there’s no way I’m going to tell my kids, “No, you can’t have that cake.“  It’s not going to work.  It would never work.

So balance and moderation is really to me the key not just to how we eat and exercise but how we live in this country.  And hopefully you guys develop those -- that sense of balance.  Know that you can’t have candy every day.  And if you’re doing it, you’re ruining your teeth, you’re making your parents mad, and you’re not going to be healthy.

MS. SWAIN:  Well, Matt Shimura, thank you for your documentary that brought all of us together today at the White House, and congratulations.

MRS. OBAMA:  Thank you, Matt.

MS. SWAIN:  And Mrs. Obama, on behalf of our students here and also watching around the country, thank you for your hospitality and the discussion.

MRS. OBAMA:  Thank you, guys.  Great questions.  (Applause.) 

END
12:04 P.M. EDT

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Remarks by the First Lady during U.S. Trade Representative Agency Visit

11:19 A.M. EDT

MRS. OBAMA:  Thank you.  (Applause.)  Thanks, all.  Thanks so much.  (Applause.)  Thank you.  It is really a pleasure to be here.  This is a nice, good, small group of real hardworking people.  I really appreciate you all taking the time to welcome me here today.

I want to thank Ron Kirk for not just that kind introduction but for his support to this administration -- not just him alone but his entire family.  I’ve had the pleasure to meet that magnificent, smart, beautiful wife of his, and he is a lucky man -- (laughter) -- for sure.

But I think that it’s safe to say that Ambassador Kirk took this job a year ago and he probably knew that it wouldn’t be easy.  He knew that the scope of the economic challenges that we face would be tough.  He knew that a lot of families and businesses and communities in this country were struggling. 

But he embraced that challenge and he has done a phenomenal job.  And it’s not just him who is embracing this challenge, but every single one of you here in this room has done so, as well.  All of you have answered that call, and we are incredibly proud of you.  That's one of the reasons why I’m making these visits, because so often the people who really do the work behind the scenes do not get thanks or recognition.  And we know it wouldn’t be possible without all of you.

Now I’ve heard that when this agency was founded by President Kennedy back in 1962, it only had 14 employees.  So even though you’re small in numbers, you’ve really grown a bit since then.  But you’re still a very tight-knit family, and I’ve heard that, and I can tell.  So I want to take some time to recognize some of the members of this family, some of your colleagues who are on stage with me today -- people who have devoted huge portions of their career to this agency.

People like Charlotte Brown, who has -- (applause) -- she has 42 years of government service.  Now, that's something.  (Laughter.)

But then there’s also James Murphy, who has 40 years under his belt.  Where’s James?  (Applause.) 

And we also have our longest-serving couple -- (laughter) -- and Don -- do I get -- is it Don Eiss?

AUDIENCE MEMBERS:  Eiss.

MRS. OBAMA:  Don, where are you?  Don Eiss. 

MR. EISS:  Right here.  I’m right here.

MRS. OBAMA:  And Betsy Stillman.  (Applause.)  Between them they have devoted 50 years to the USTR -- and they still seem to like each other.  (Laughter.)  But that is very impressive, and it gives us all a reason to give them all a round of applause.  (Applause.)

It’s important for this country to see people who have dedicated decades of service to working on behalf of this country.  But whether you’ve been here for 40 years or 40 days -- because we have a lot of wonderful young people who are making that same commitment, beginning their careers working for the federal government -- but no matter how long you’ve been here, each of you gets up every day and you go to work for the American people.  That's what’s first and foremost on your minds. 

And that's why it has been such a privilege as First Lady for me to come and make these visits and get to meet you all, and to thank you -- to thank you for the long hours that you put in.  Everybody talks about the President and how hard he works -- and believe me, he does -- but everybody knows that.  People don’t realize that you all are making the same sacrifices, too; that you’re missing time with your families to get your job done, and you’re often doing it without any recognition whatsoever.  So I just want to let you know how much this administration values everything that you do. 

These visits also help me because I get a chance to listen and to learn more about the work that you’re all doing, and to help actually spotlight, because we always bring with us a wonderful group of cameras.  (Laughter.)  But we help to spotlight the difference that you’re making in the lives of so many Americans.

And that's especially true here at the USTR.  People need to know about the work that you do, what does it mean.  The fact is, is that folks across this country depend on trade to put food on the table and to pay the mortgage and to send their kids to college.

And as Ambassador Kirk likes to point out, 95 percent of the world’s consumers live outside of the borders of this country.  And that’s a pretty big market. 

And that’s why here in America, we are the biggest exporters on the planet –- with about one out of every nine dollars earned in this country coming from exports.

But what a lot of people don’t understand is that your work isn’t just about boosting GDP or negotiating billion-dollar trade agreements, which is what we hear about in the papers.  But it’s about keeping the American Dream alive for hardworking folks in every corner of this country who depend on the work that you do, even if they don’t always realize it.

Because of you, our small businesses are able to grow and to thrive.  A manufacturer in Kansas can sell machinery in China and hire more workers in America to make it happen.  And because of businesses that export tend to grow faster, create jobs faster, pay higher wages, that business owner can afford to expand even further and hire more people in the community.  Because of your hard work, communities everywhere are stronger, they’re more resilient –- even in the face of these tough economic times.  What you do is maintaining some kind of stability in this country.

Right now, more than 6 million Americans in cities and towns all across this country owe their jobs to manufacturing exports alone.  And I know you all work hard to try to make those numbers even bigger.  I know that through the Ambassador you’re working to get those numbers up.  Every time I see him he’s talking about job growth and making sure that we’re doing everything in our power to expand job creation here.
 
Because of the agreements you’ve reached, working families can stretch their budgets even further.  Parents can afford to put food on the table, they can buy things like computers and cars, and save a little for retirement or for a rainy day. 

And because of your vision, the next generation of entrepreneurs hard at work in their garages and basements and college dorm rooms all across this country will be able to market their ideas around the world –- secure in the knowledge that they will get a fair shake in this international market.

It’s important for everyone to see the human face behind the work that you do -– that real people who depend on you to protect them; to guide them; and to give them the opportunity to reach their potential.

And it’s important to recognize that every market that you reach and every agreement that you enforce means that someone somewhere can come home to their family at night with their head held high and a newfound sense of purpose.

In the end, everything that you do here at the USTR is part of our commitment to protect and preserve what is best about this nation -– the ability of every American to find a decent job; to be treated fairly in the marketplace; and to follow any idea or dream that they have and take it wherever they think it can.

And for that reason alone, you all deserve our admiration and our thanks, again not just because you’ve been here for 40 or 50 years or 20 days.  We are very proud of the work that you do.  And we’re going to need you working hard every step of the way. 

We are seeing some stabilization in the economy, but there are still a lot of people hurting out there, so the work that you do continues to be important.  But we are grateful to all of you. 

And we hope that you keep an eye on this man -- (laughter) -- and make sure that he stays out of trouble. 

But I want to thank you for taking the time to come see me today.  And I’m going to shake a few hands, say hello to these folks back here, and I'll be out there in a second.

So thank you all.  Thanks for your work.  (Applause.)

END
11:29 A.M. EDT

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Remarks by the First Lady, Senator Bill Frist, Mayor Cory Booker and Dr. Jim Gavin at Foundation Chair Announcement Conference Call

Via telephone

11:02 A.M. EDT

MRS. OBAMA:  Well, good morning, everyone.  This is Mrs. Obama.  It’s good to have you all on the line.  Thank you so much for joining us as we take another very important step forward in the work to address America’s childhood obesity crisis.  This is a very exciting step for us.

As all of you know, nearly two months ago we launched this magnificent campaign, “Let’s Move.”  The nationwide goal of the effort, as all of you know, is to rally this country around a single and very ambitious goal, and that’s to solve the problem of childhood obesity in a generation so that children born today will grow up at a healthy weight.

And with this initiative, we’ve issued a call to action for the nation.  We said let’s move in so many ways.  We said let’s move to give parents the information that they need to make good decisions for their kids’ health.  We said let’s move to get healthier food into our schools.  Let’s move to get more supermarkets into underserved areas, so that every single American in this country has access to fresh and nutritious foods.  And we’ve also said let’s move to help our kids be more physically active –- not just in school but outside of school as well.

But we were also clear from the very beginning when we launched this effort that the solution to this problem isn’t going to come from Washington.  I have had the pleasure of talking to a number of experts around this issue, and not a single one of them has said that the answer to this problem is for the federal government to tell people what to do.  This is going to take all of us getting involved. 

It’s going to require a non-partisan effort because there’s nothing partisan about this issue.  There’s nothing Democratic or Republican about wanting our kids to lead active and healthy lives.  And there’s really nothing liberal or conservative about wanting to reduce the billions of health care dollars we spend each year treating obesity-related conditions. 

Ultimately, this solution is going to be about families and communities making manageable, commonsense changes that fit with their budgets that fit with their needs and their individual goals.

But we all have to play a role in making this happen.  Families can’t do this alone, which is why we’re bringing together governors, and mayors, and parents, and educators, and doctors, and businesses, community groups, all of us.  And I’ve spoken to almost all of these groups over the last month asking them to come together to tackle this challenge once and for all.

And that’s why a new foundation that we’ve created along with this movement -- the Partnership for Healthy America -- is going to be so critical to these efforts.  And I’m very proud of the work that's been done to pull this foundation together.

The Foundation is going to serve as an independent, non-partisan player that’ll mobilize the private sector, foundations, government officials, the media and others around the goals of the “Let’s Move” campaign.

The Foundation will seek truly meaningful commitments from all of these players, and will do something very critical -- and that is measure the success of these efforts and hold us all accountable.

The Foundation is going to also connect potential partners from the public, private and non-profit sectors, working to support the best, the most innovative programs in our communities -– and working to replicate these success stories all across the country.  And that's really the key to this.  As I’ve traveled around, we have many of the answers already at our fingertips.  If you go into states and cities across this country, many are already working to bring their local solutions to this problem.  We need to highlight and elevate those successes.  This Foundation is going to be critical in playing a role in that.  So it’s very exciting.

I have agreed to serve as the honorary chair of this Foundation.  And today, I am pleased and very proud to announce that two incredibly outstanding individuals –- Mayor Cory Booker and Senator Bill Frist -– have agreed to serve as the Foundation’s honorary vice chairs.

As all of you know, Senator Frist and Mayor Booker are both distinguished public servants who are passionately committed to the health and well-being of not just our young people but this country.

Over the past four years, Mayor Booker has made tremendous strides transforming the city of Newark.  He’s done work to increase affordable housing, doing a fabulous job of reducing crime in the city, renovating the parks, playgrounds and recreation centers to provide safe places for children in the city to be active.  And he’s committed to making Newark a model for what a city can do to address childhood obesity.

So I’m so happy to have Mayor Booker with us.  I’m thrilled that he’s agreed to bring the kind of energy, that contagious energy that he has, to focus on this issue and lead this new Foundation.

 In addition to being a renowned heart surgeon and lung transplant surgeon, Senator Frist served, as you all know, as the Senate Majority Leader from 2003 to 2007.

Since he left the Senate, he’s devoted himself to health and humanitarian efforts around the world, leading medical mission trips to Africa and founding an organization called Hope Through Healing Hands to improve health care in developing nations.

In the Senate, he took the lead in sponsoring legislation to address childhood obesity, and I am truly delighted that he’s agreed to bring his passion and expertise to this Foundation.

I also want to recognize the diverse and talented group of advocates, business leaders, dedicated philanthropists who have come together to serve on the board of this Foundation.

Specifically, I’d like to thank the Board’s Chair, James Gavin, for offering his strong leadership to ensure that this Foundation attracts the kind of commitments that are going to be essential to reach our goals.

And I also want to end by thanking the extraordinary organizations that have come together to organize the fund, and fund this new Foundation.  We would not be here if it weren’t for these organizations, and they include the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the California Endowment, Kaiser Permanente, Nemours, and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the Brookings Institute, and the Alliance for a Healthier Generation.

This is a phenomenal group of organizations, people, of leaders that represent all of America.  I am thrilled that all of you have come together to support this effort.  This is why I’m confident that we can move the mark on this issue, because this effort and this issue means so much that we’ve just been able to bring together a group of individuals that has been working on this issue for decades, that understands these challenges in a very powerful way, and will have the commitment and the passion that we need to move this issue forward. 

So I am grateful, truly grateful, to all of you -- not just for being on this call, but for taking the time that it’s going to require to get us to our goals.

So with that, it is now my pleasure to turn this meeting over to Senator Frist.  Senator Frist, I know you’re there.  Thank you, it’s good to have you onboard.  I’m very excited.

SENATOR FRIST:  Well, thank you, Mrs. Obama, and I just, with everybody on the phone, want to thank you and really applaud you for your vision, for your leadership, your commitment, and your demonstrated understanding that this is a solvable problem and that we can do this and we can end this epidemic within a generation. 

It’s an issue that was not an issue in my early childhood years, so it is generational in the way it’s been created, to where it is a true epidemic today.  But also it is a solvable problem, and we can do so, just as you outlined, through partnerships, working together.

And it’s an honor for me to join you and Mayor Booker and Jim Gavin as leaders on this initiative, an initiative that has been important to me.  As you mentioned, as a heart surgeon, when I’ve dedicated my professional healing aspects of my life to dealing with heart disease, which has a direct causal relationship to obesity, and as a former public official and current public health advocate, this is a huge problem to individuals, their individual lives, to children, and to our health care system broadly in terms of the costs that it imposes. 

It is reversible.  We know that obesity is associated with more chronic conditions than smoking or excessive drinking.  Data suggests that health care costs of obese adults exceed the health care costs by other healthier people by 91 percent -- almost a doubling in health care costs; clearly an issue, as we look ahead in terms of health care costs and the impact they have on individuals and the fiscal state of our country.

The obese patients consume more health care resources, and we see this across the entire continuum of health care, from hospitals to ambulatory care centers to pharmacists. 

The problem is increasing, so it’s not a static problem.  So our first goal is going to be flatten it out and then eliminate it over a generation.  The United States is expected to spend over $340 billion on health care costs attributable to obesity just 10 years from now -- 10 years from today.  That’s a cost of about $1,425 per person -- four times what it is today.  Today it’s about $361.

Just by holding the current rate of obesity steady, we can save $55 billion in projected health care costs, much of which could be passed along to the American taxpayer, or invested in other aspects of quality of life issues.

And lastly I just thought I'd mention -- because this -- and I say this as a physician, as someone who has dealt regularly with obesity in my own practice -- this is an issue about individuals, as well -- maybe even predominantly individuals; their dignity, the stigma, the self-esteem, the prejudice that’s associated with being overweight today.

You know, I made this whole fight against childhood obesity a priority, as the First Lady mentioned, during my days in the Senate, championing such legislation as the Childhood Obesity Reduction Act.  And I think, as the First Lady says, this is not going to predominantly be a government solution.  It’s going to be partnerships with businesses and families and parents and children and philanthropists and organizations and foundations all working together. 

I’ve extended my work in the Senate, since I’ve been out of the Senate, and focusing on kids -- more recently through efforts to provide simple things like athletic shoes to children in Tennessee and indeed in the developing world.

So the challenge is achievable, but only through this broad-based participation.  And as I think both Mayor Booker and I demonstrate on the surface, it’s something we all know that it is no one political party or sector that can solve this problem.

It’s important that this issue not get swept up in all the partisan politics of Washington.  The fact that Mayor Booker and I are outside of Washington mean in part our responsibility to join the First Lady as we get the message out across the country.  But it is clearly a target that we all strive together and address in these partnerships in working in public and private sectors together.  We need to get out of Washington, take this message to people all across the country.  And both Mayor Booker and I have expressed our willingness not just to be names on the masthead, even though we’re called honorary vice chairs of the partnership, but to be on the ground to work it, to travel, to give voice, to study it, and to work with the Foundation.

So I enthusiastically join the First Lady and the partnership and this cause, and I truly believe that together we can end this epidemic within a generation.

So thank you, Mrs. Obama, and I will turn it over to Mayor Booker.

MAYOR BOOKER:  Hey.  It’s so fantastic to be on this call, and I’m deeply grateful for my partner who just spoke, Senator Frist, who has been an inspiration to me on many levels for quite some time.  Dr. Gavin, who will speak next, is just, again, is a great relationship for me personally to make through this partnership.  And exciting things are going to happen by, I believe, the leadership that we’re bringing together.

     But more importantly, we can’t lose focus about what this is about.  This is about young people.  This is about our families.  It’s about our neighborhoods.  It’s about our communities.  Those are the fundamental building blocks for America.  And what we are seeing here on the local level, what we all know, is that this is an epidemic problem within our nation, and we see it in urban areas in particular. 

     And it’s very difficult, as I deal with many children every day, to see the impact that obesity has on self-esteem, self-confidence, the kids’ prides in themselves, kids’ love of themselves.  And I tell you, I know more than anything that if our children don’t love themselves, don’t have pride in themselves, we can’t ask them to love their neighborhoods, their communities, their cities, or for their nation.

     And we see that not only is it hurting those seminal parts of our very being and our soul, but it means decreased academic performance, it means a loss of productivity.  We even see connections between obesity and violence.

     And so we know ultimately that it’s about our children, but as the great American writer James Baldwin said, children are never good at listening to their elders, but they never fail to imitate them.  And so we as adults within communities and within families and neighborhoods and cities really have to start setting examples, being the role model, doing more -- but empowering.  This is not about finger pointing to what families aren’t doing; it’s about creating strong communities that nurture the kind of outcomes and habits and cultural norms that we can indeed enjoy and celebrate and create what’s important.

     And so we know in Newark and in cities all across America that there are families that don’t let their children play because there’s no safe places to play, no green spaces to play.  They want to keep their kids in the house for the basic human need of security.  We also know that there are no healthy food options for many families, either at the schools that they send their kids to, or no healthy options even because they don’t have access to supermarkets or places with even green vegetables.

     Now, these are challenges and problems, but we also know that all around America there are activists and innovators and concerned citizens who are trying to find solutions, and indeed showing and demonstrating ways to make a difference. 

Here in Newark we’re trying to do it in many different ways, not only by working in partnership with the private sector in building parks, but also creating fun activities that get people out of their homes into the communities.  Last year we started a triathlon that was about getting people to bike ride to all the city’s different recreation centers so that they could rediscover those gyms that we actually already have in our community.  We’re experimenting with urban gardens and many other things.

     And that to me is the beauty of our nation.  We have islands of excellence everywhere in America, and what this partnership is about is growing those islands of excellence into hemispheres of hope.  I was taught by my mother that African wisdom that spider webs united could tie up a lion.  And this is why I’m just so honored and humbled that the First Lady would choose to involve me in this because she -- by doing this call to our country’s consciousness, to our country’s awareness for our country to come together, she really is weaving together a lot of those great leaders and activists and foundations and businesses to try to create truly a unified nation around the issues that we all indeed agree upon, which is the welfare and future of our children.

     So I’m looking forward to celebrating the success of our efforts to be not just honorary but ornery at times in trying to push hard to get change to happen.  I’m looking forward to joining with other leaders, and the First Lady has already done a great job at shining the light on many of my partner mayors around the country, whether it’s Chip Johnson from Hernando, Mississippi, or Joseph Curtatone from Somerville, Massachusetts.  We’re going to really be making a clarion call to people all around this country to come together.

     And the beautiful thing about this is by finding those innovations that are going on in other neighborhoods, I’m a big believer and I know from my parents’ upbringing that real social change in America around any issue always happens from the grassroots up.  And by shining the light of the First Lady and our national partners and players on those local activities, we not only will be able to celebrate them but we will be able to study them, learn from them, figure out how to grow them.

     So I just want to again thank the (inaudible) of coming together, the vision of our First Lady.  This is something that we can do, that we must do, and I believe with this auspicious start that we will do.  Thank you.

     DR. GAVIN:  This is Jim Gavin.  And on behalf of the Partnership for a Healthier America Board of Directors, I want to thank the First Lady, Senator Frist, and Mayor Booker for the important support that they bring to this partnership.  We are honored to have this commitment and their leadership from these very special individuals as we chart a new course for this private/public effort. 

By setting the first national target for childhood obesity, the First Lady has taken an important step to move the nation towards addressing one of the greatest dangers facing our children today. 

     Now, along with our honorary chair and vice chairs from whom you’ve heard, we are also pleased to publicly present the first board of directors of the partnership.  The board is a diverse and powerful group of stakeholders who are committed to providing real leadership on this issue. 

Now, the partnership has been organized by the collective vision of the organization that has already been mentioned by the First Lady in her remarks.  You can expect to be hearing a lot from this new organization as we begin to mobilize for action around this important initiative.

With the First Lady’s support, we are at a (inaudible) to address these challenges from childhood obesity.  Now, many of us have been fighting the battle against childhood obesity for decades.  But some in our country are just (inaudible) to the seriousness of this obesity epidemic where one in three of our children are overweight or obese.

The rates of childhood obesity have doubled in the last 10 years, has increased fourfold in the last 40 years, and as many as one in every three of our children will develop diabetes or high blood pressure in their lifetime.  It’s a very serious issue.

     With the “Let’s Move” and the grassroots pressures that are emerging, large corporations, non-profits and public institutions are feeling the pressure to respond to the crisis. 

Now, our goal is to complement and accelerate efforts that are already underway across America to address the important issues.  In addition to the work of cities like Newark, state governments as well have enacted legislation or implemented programs to improve the nutritional quality of the lunches and snacks provided in schools and in childcare settings, or to strengthen physical education class.  Other private sector and private foundation initiatives have focused on comprehensive multi-step approaches and environmental factors that make neighborhoods more conducive to healthy eating and regular physical activity. 

     There are a lot of community intervention, such as those funded by the Healthy Eating Active Living Convergence Partnership, that includes increasing access to park, sidewalks and fresh groceries, including (inaudible) and educating caretakers of children about nutrition.

As a doable, independent, nonpartisan foundation, the Partnership for a Healthier America -- PHA, as we will refer to it in shorthand -- will (inaudible) in the large ecosystem of communities, state, and nationally based efforts in that it will focus not only on identifying the solutions to this challenge, but also on creating new norms across all sectors and levels of our society.

     PHA does not seek to compete with (inaudible) or grant-making foundations who are doing important work of their own around these issues, but rather will serve to facilitate partnerships with meaningful and scalable programs at the community, state and national levels and lift up and help scale and replicate their success.  It will do so by convening private, public and non-profit sector members to facilitate meaningful and substantial commitments and hold them accountable by measuring their impact.

     Now, as you heard from the First Lady, we have given ourselves an aggressive mandate and we expect to meet it.  Over the next year, and throughout the lifetime of the foundation, you can expect us to negotiate directly with those organizations and individuals most equipped to bring measurable impact to the First Lady’s target, even some CEOs of Fortune 500 companies, national bank leaders, and the leading non-profits. 

     But we also want to celebrate local community heroes and grassroots leaders whose innovating solutions simply lack the resources needed to reach scale.  We look forward to hosting our first annual meeting with the First Lady towards the beginning of next year to take stock of our progress and recognize those that have stepped up to this cause, while at the same time encouraging those who haven’t yet joined us to do so in this mission.

     Now, we want to encourage that you get more information and updates on our progress by visiting our Web site, www.ahealthieramerica.org.  That’s www.ahealthieramerica.org.  I’d like to thank all of you for your participation in this exchange today, for your help and for your interest in this critically important health issue for our nation.  Thank you and goodbye.

END
11:28 A.M. EDT

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