Today, comprehensive health reform came one step closer to becoming a reality. This afternoon, the House Budget Committee voted to advance the legislation to the next phase in the process. After over a year of debate, the final package is only days away from getting the up-or-down vote Americans deserve.

This is good news for all the Americans suffering in the current system. Across the country, millions of Americans have seen their health insurance premiums skyrocket or have been denied coverage due to pre-existing conditions. Health care costs are crushing business, family, and government budgets. And without action, we know these problems will only get worse.

Today, the Budget Committee took an important step forward toward giving these families and small business owners some relief. It’s time for Congress to finish the job and pass reform that will give Americans control over their health care choices.

Kathleen Sebelius is Secretary of Health and Human Services

Click here to see the video.

While most people will have to wait to honor Greek Independence Day, three hundred Greek-Americans, Greeks, and Greek-lovers descended upon the White House Tuesday night to celebrate three weeks early. As the President joked, the Greeks never need an excuse to have a good time.

And there’s no doubt a good time was had by all. Not only were our appetites satiated by the talented Iron Chef Cat Cora, but our hearts were warmed by the attendance of His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios and, for the first time, Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou and his wife, Ada. This year also marked the first time the First Lady joined in the celebration which, in the words of the Archbishop, “certainly enhances the joy of the day.”

First Lady Michelle Obama greets Mrs. Ada Papandreou, the First Lady of Greece, in the Yellow Oval Room of the White House, March 9, 2010. (Official White House Photo by Samantha Appleton)

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But Tuesday’s reception’s significance extends beyond the remembrance of Greek Independence Day. It was also a celebration of what Prime Minister Papandreou called the “lasting link” between the American and Greek people.    – a link further strengthened by the Department of Homeland Security’s announcement that Greece has been added to the Visa Waiver Program. It is an enduring bond forged by our shared history, our common values, and our united obligation to build a better future.

In that spirit, President Obama highlighted the Greek concept of Philotimo – literally, the “love of honor.” But practically, Philotimo means so much more. It is the sense of love for family, community and country. It is the sense of nobility and morality enshrined in Greek mythology. And it is the sense of right and wrong and the duty to do what’s right.

While the English language offers no direct translation of Philotimo, American citizens uphold this essential concept every time they volunteer in their local community, dig deep into their pockets to donate to charity, or generally go out of their way to improve the life of their neighbor.

Darron P. Monteiro is the Deputy Associate Director of the Office of Public Engagement

Click here to see the video.

This afternoon the President was in Ohio as the year-long battle to finally reform America's health insurance system draws towards a close – and he took the opportunity to remind everybody why he has fought so hard for so long against such powerful interests.  He was introduced by Connie Anderson, the sister of Natoma Canfield – a woman whose awful but all-too-common struggles have served as a brutal symbol of what is wrong with our system for millions of others. 

It began with a letter – the type of letter millions of Americans have written to their presidents since the founding of this country.  But this letter, which she likely never expected anybody even close to the President to see, ended up in his hands.  It told of her story having battled off cancer sixteen years ago, and having battled with her insurance company ever since -- see the scanned images below or read the text of the letters here.

The President replied to her letter, but that was only the beginning:

When the President and HHS Secretary Sebelius met with insurance company executives recently asking them to justify their alarming rate increases across the country in recent months, he read her letter to them to make clear that this was not about politics, or lobbying, or grandstanding – this was about countless stories of working Americans being crushed under their health care costs, even when they play by the rules and pay their dues to insurance companies for what is supposed to be peace of mind.

Last week, though, Natoma collapsed.  She was taken to an emergency room, and has since been diagnosed with Leukemia.  Natoma and her family are struggling to determine how they will afford Natoma’s medical treatment now that she no longer has insurance, which she dropped in January 2010 because of rate hikes that simply made insurance unaffordable.

After being introduced by Natoma’s sister, the President recounted her story – and leaned into the microphone as he told the crowd what he has been trying to do for the past year:

THE PRESIDENT: So you want to know why I’m here, Ohio?  I’m here because of Natoma.  (Applause.)   I’m here because of the countless others who have been forced to face the most terrifying challenges in their lives with the added burden of medical bills they can’t pay.  I don't think that’s right.  (Applause.)   Neither do you.  That’s why we need health insurance right now.  Health insurance reform right now.  (Applause.)

AUDIENCE:  Obama!  Obama!  Obama!  Obama!

THE PRESIDENT:  I’m here because of my own mother’s story.  She died of cancer, and in the last six months of her life, she was on the phone in her hospital room arguing with insurance companies instead of focusing on getting well and spending time with her family.

I’m here because of the millions who are denied coverage because of preexisting conditions or dropped from coverage when they get sick.  (Applause.)

I’m here because of the small businesses who are forced to choose between health care and hiring.  (Applause.)

I’m here because of the seniors unable to afford the prescriptions that they need.  (Applause.)

I’m here because of the folks seeing their premiums go up 20 and 30 and 40 and 50 and 60 percent in a year.  (Applause.)
 
Ohio, I am here because that is not the America I believe in and that’s not the America that you believe in.

     AUDIENCE MEMBER:  What’s your plan?

     THE PRESIDENT:  So when you hear people say “start over” --

     AUDIENCE:  No!!

THE PRESIDENT:  -- I want you to think about Natoma.  When you hear people saying that this isn’t the “right time,” you think about what she’s going through.  When you hear people talk about, well, what does this mean for the Democrats?  What does this mean for the Republicans?  I don’t know how the polls are doing.  When you hear people more worried about the politics of it than what’s right and what’s wrong, I want you to think about Natoma and the millions of people all across this country who are looking for some help, and looking for some relief.  That’s why we need health insurance reform right now.  (Applause.) 

President Barack Obama is introduced by Connie Anderson, at the Walter F. Ehrnfelt Recreation and Senior Center in Strongsville, Ohio

This afternoon the President was in Ohio as the year-long battle to finally reform America's health insurance system draws towards a close – and he took the opportunity to remind everybody why he has fought so hard for so long against such powerful interests.  He was introduced by Connie Anderson, the sister of Natoma Canfield – a woman whose awful but all-too-common struggles have served as a brutal symbol of what is wrong with our system for millions of others. 

It began with a letter – the type of letter millions of Americans have written to their presidents since the founding of this country.  But this letter, which she likely never expected anybody even close to the President to see, ended up in his hands.  It told of her story having battled off cancer sixteen years ago, and having battled with her insurance company ever since:

The President replied to her letter, but that was only the beginning:

When the President and HHS Secretary Sebelius met with insurance company executives recently asking them to justify their alarming rate increases across the country in recent months, he read her letter to them to make clear that this was not about politics, or lobbying, or grandstanding – this was about countless stories of working Americans being crushed under their health care costs, even when they play by the rules and pay their dues to insurance companies for what is supposed to be peace of mind.

Last week, though, Natoma collapsed.  She was taken to an emergency room, and has since been diagnosed with Leukemia.  Natoma and her family are struggling to determine how they will afford Natoma’s medical treatment now that she no longer has insurance, which she dropped in January 2010 because of rate hikes that simply made insurance unaffordable.

After being introduced by Natoma’s sister, the President recounted her story – and leaned into the microphone as he told the crowd what he has been trying to do for the past year:

THE PRESIDENT: So you want to know why I’m here, Ohio?  I’m here because of Natoma.  (Applause.)   I’m here because of the countless others who have been forced to face the most terrifying challenges in their lives with the added burden of medical bills they can’t pay.  I don't think that’s right.  (Applause.)   Neither do you.  That’s why we need health insurance right now.  Health insurance reform right now.  (Applause.)

AUDIENCE:  Obama!  Obama!  Obama!  Obama!

THE PRESIDENT:  I’m here because of my own mother’s story.  She died of cancer, and in the last six months of her life, she was on the phone in her hospital room arguing with insurance companies instead of focusing on getting well and spending time with her family.

I’m here because of the millions who are denied coverage because of preexisting conditions or dropped from coverage when they get sick.  (Applause.)

I’m here because of the small businesses who are forced to choose between health care and hiring.  (Applause.)

I’m here because of the seniors unable to afford the prescriptions that they need.  (Applause.)

I’m here because of the folks seeing their premiums go up 20 and 30 and 40 and 50 and 60 percent in a year.  (Applause.)
 
Ohio, I am here because that is not the America I believe in and that’s not the America that you believe in.

     AUDIENCE MEMBER:  What’s your plan?

     THE PRESIDENT:  So when you hear people say “start over” --

     AUDIENCE:  No!!

THE PRESIDENT:  -- I want you to think about Natoma.  When you hear people saying that this isn’t the “right time,” you think about what she’s going through.  When you hear people talk about, well, what does this mean for the Democrats?  What does this mean for the Republicans?  I don’t know how the polls are doing.  When you hear people more worried about the politics of it than what’s right and what’s wrong, I want you to think about Natoma and the millions of people all across this country who are looking for some help, and looking for some relief.  That’s why we need health insurance reform right now.  (Applause.)
 

This morning Secretary of Education Arne Duncan appeared on ABC’s Good Morning America, Fox News’ Fox and Friends, CNN’s American Morning and MSNBC’s Morning Joe to talk about the President’s new blueprint for an updated Elementary and Secondary Education Act to overhaul No Child Left Behind.  From his appearance on Good Morning America:

We have to educate our way to a better economy. We should be leading the world in college graduates, not lagging many other countries, and the way we get there is through unprecedented investment. The president is putting tremendous resources behind this and we have to lead the country in a race to the top. If we can graduate every child from High School, college and career ready and prepared to fulfill their dreams they’re going to have a great chance at education, and that’s what we’re prepared to do.

Secretary Duncan discussed the importance of expanding the curriculum under the new program and offering every student the opportunity for an education in a system that holds teachers, principals, schools and states accountable.

Every child needs a well rounded education.  Yes reading and math are hugely important but so is social studies so is science so are the arts  so is PE so is recess, all those things that keep children healthy and happy and developing their skills and passions. That’s what we have to get back to and that’s what we’re committed to doing. We’re putting as much as a billion dollars out around the country to make sure students have access to a well rounded education

For the first time with this law there’ll be shared responsibility not just with teachers, principals schools systems and even states everyone is  gonna be accountable for driving better results. We’re also making an unprecedented investment, 3.9 billion dollars, to help teachers be more successful. More time for collaboration better professional development, better mentoring, we have to partner and support the extraordinary work and the very every difficult work that teachers are doing around the country and were gonna be a better partner than the federal government has ever been.

In case you missed it, the President discussed this overhaul in his Weekly Address --  and don’t forget today’s
deadline for the President’s Race to the Top Commencement Challenge – apply here.