May 09, 2013 | 17:23 | Public Domain

President Obama delivers remarks at Applied Materials, one of the high-tech companies that has helped make Austin, TX a hub for innovation and job creation, and announces a competition to establish three new Manufacturing Innovation Institutes.

First Lady Michelle Obama, Dr. Jill Biden, and Prince Harry of Wales help military children create Mothers Day cards and other crafts in the State Dining Room of the White House, May 9, 2013. The children presented the gifts to their moms during the Joining Forces Military Mother’s Day Tea in the East Room. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson).

In Case You Missed It

Here are some of the top stories from the White House blog:

President Obama Talks Jobs, Skills and Opportunity in Austin
President Obama kicks off a series of Middle Class Jobs & Opportunity Tours focused on the his core agenda: creating a strong and vibrant economy built on good middle class jobs.

Manufacturing Innovation Institutes Explained in 60 Seconds
Gene Sperling, Director of the National Economic Council, explains why plans to establish three new Manufacturing Innovation Institutes are an important part of President’s strategy to invest in manufacturing.

Landmark Steps to Liberate Open Data
President Obama signs an Executive Order directing historic steps to make government-held data more accessible to the public and to entrepreneurs and others as fuel for innovation and economic growth.

Today’s Schedule

All times are Eastern Daylight Time (EDT).

10:45 AM: The President receives the Presidential Daily Briefing.

1:45 PM: Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jay Carney.

2:40 PM: The President delivers a statement on the Affordable Care Act.

Scenes from the First Lady’s Past Commencement Addresses

First Lady Michelle Obama touches the Hokie Stone before walking onto the field at Lane Stadium to give the Virginia Tech commencement address in Blacksburg, Va. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson).

First Lady Michelle Obama attends the Spelman College commencement at Georgia International Convention Center in Atlanta, Ga., May 15, 2011. During her commencement address Mrs. Obama said, “I am so proud of you, all of you. We are so proud of you. Do big things.” (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)

Graduates cheer during the Washington Mathematics and Science Technology Public Charter High School commencement ceremony at Howard University in Washington, D.C., June 3, 2009. During her remarks to students Mrs. Obama said, “To all of you graduates, you are more than ready to assume the mantle of leadership and become the next generation of innovators and entrepreneurs, leaders and legends. So you know what, it’s time to step up. Step up. It’s time.” (Official White House Photo by Samantha Appleton)

The silhouette of stage participants are seen from backstage during commencement exercises at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff in Pine Bluff, Ark., Saturday, May 8, 2010. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)

First Lady Michelle Obama is awarded an honorary degree during commencement at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff in Pine Bluff, Ark., May 8, 2010. Mrs. Obama addressed the graduating class saying, “Often, the harder you have to fight to achieve your goals, the more endurance you build up – not just physical and emotional, but spiritual as well.” (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)

First Lady Michelle Obama delivers remarks during the North Carolina A&T State University commencement at Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, N.C., May 12, 2012. During her address Mrs. Obama said, “So today, as you all are looking ahead toward your own journeys, I would like to pose three of those questions to all of you… ‘Who do I want to be?’… ‘What’s going on in the world around me?’ …’How can I help?’” (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)

Students react as First Lady Michelle Obama delivers the Anacostia Senior High School commencement address at the Daughters of the American Revolution Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C., June 11, 2010. Mrs. Obama told the students, “Don’t ever scale back your dreams. And don’t ever set limits on what you can achieve. And don’t think for one single moment that your destiny is out of your hands, because no one’s in control of your destiny but you. And it is never too late. You can do anything you put your minds to –- and I mean absolutely anything.” (Official White House Photo by Samantha Appleton)

First Lady Michelle Obama greets guests as she enters the West Point Graduation Banquet at the United States Military Academy in West Point, N.Y., May 20, 2011. During her address to the graduating class Mrs. Obama said, “I ask you to remember that family has always been a centerpiece of our American story. I want you to remember that this country and all of its citizens stand ready to serve you and your families.” (Official White House Photo by Samantha Appleton)

Graduates turn their tassels during commencement at Quantico Middle High School on Marine Corps Base Quantico in Quantico, Va., June 3, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Samantha Appleton)

A shirt advertises First Lady Michelle Obama’s attendance at the University of California at Merced commencement in Merced, Calif., May 16, 2009. Mrs. Obama addressed the school’s inaugural senior class saying, “…there are few things that are more rewarding than to watch young people recognize that they have the power to make their dreams come true. And you did just that.” (Official White House Photo by Samantha Appleton)

First Lady Michelle Obama pauses after delivering the commencement address at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, Iowa, May 7, 2011. During her remarks Mrs. Obama said, “Service is what connects us to one another, to our neighbors, our communities, our country, it reminds us that we are not simply individuals living isolated lives, but that we’re all woven together.” (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)

First Lady Michelle Obama greets a student during commencement at Quantico Middle High School on Marine Corps Base Quantico in Quantico, Va., June 3, 2011. During her remarks to graduates Mrs. Obama said, “You may not realize it now, but your experience has given you a resilience and a sturdiness of spirit that will prepare you for the setbacks and hardships that you will inevitably face in life. And that’s something that no one can ever take away from you.” (Official White House Photo by Samantha Appleton)

First Lady Michelle Obama walks on stage for the George Washington University commencement on The National Mall in Washington, D.C., May 16, 2010. During her commencement address Mrs. Obama said, “…more than any other generation, yours is fully convinced that you’re uniquely equipped to solve those challenges. You believe that you can change your communities and change the world. And you know what, I think you’re right. Yes, you can.” (Official White House Photo by Samantha Appleton)

First Lady Michelle Obama delivers remarks during the Oregon State University commencement at Valley Football Center, in Corvallis, Ore., June 17, 2012. During her address to graduates Mrs. Obama said, “what it means to be your true self. It means looking inside yourself and being honest about what you truly enjoy doing. Because graduates, I can promise you that you will never be happy plodding through someone else’s idea of success. Success is only meaningful –- and enjoyable –- if it feels like your own.” (Official White House Photo by Sonya N. Hebert)

First Lady Michelle Obama waves to students as she exits Lane Stadium following the Virginia Tech commencement in Blacksburg, Va., May 11, 2012. During her commencement address Mrs. Obama said, “…in the end, people can only define you if you let them. In the end, it’s up to each of us to define ourselves. It’s up to each of us to invent our own future with the choices we make and the actions we take.” (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)

Megan Slack

May 09, 2013
06:00 PM EDT

 

Today President Obama traveled to Austin, Texas, kicking off a series of Middle Class Jobs & Opportunity Tours focused on creating a strong and vibrant economy built on good middle class jobs.

 

The first stop on today’s tour was Manor New Tech High School, where students are learning the real-world skills they need to fill jobs that are available right now. Watch the President’s remarks at the school here.

 

 

President Barack Obama has lunch and talks with local residents at Stubb’s BBQ in Austin, Texas, May 9, 2013. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

 

 

Next, President Obama sat down for lunch (Texas barbecue, of course) with local residents to discuss his vision for making sure that hard work leads to a decent living. He also met with technology entrepreneurs who showed him some of the tools and products they are developing that will drive America’s long-term economic growth.

 

 

President Barack Obama listens to a presentation about a new car that you can drive a wheelchair into, at Capital Factory in Austin, Texas, May 9, 2013. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

 

 

Finally, President Obama visited Applied Materials, one of the high-tech companies that has helped make Austin a hub for innovation and job creation. Read his remarks at Applied Materials here.

 

President Barack Obama takes a tour of Applied Materials Inc., a high-tech company in Austin, Texas, May 9, 2013. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)

 

 

During this trip, the President also announced two important executive actions that will strengthen the economy.

 

First, the President is following through on a promise he made during the State of the Union by launching competitions for three new Manufacturing Innovation Institutes, which are partnerships among business, universities and community colleges, and government, to develop and build manufacturing technologies and capabilities that will help U.S.-based manufacturers and firms like Applied Materials to invest, innovate, and create more high-quality jobs in the United States. Watch Gene Sperling explain these institutes in less than 60 seconds.

 

 

President Barack Obama views equipment during a tour of Applied Materials in Austin, Texas, May 9, 2013. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

 

 

Second, President Obama issued an executive order requiring that newly released government data be made freely available in open, machine-readable formats, while appropriately safeguarding privacy, confidentiality, and security. The move will make troves of previously inaccessible or unmanageable data easily available to entrepreneurs, researchers, and others who can use those files to generate new products and services, build businesses, and create jobs. In fact, one of the technology entrepreneurs the President met with today utilizes government data to grow their company, create jobs, and strengthen their local community. Learn more about the executive order here.

 

Although these steps are not a substitute for the bold Congressional action we need to create jobs and grow the economy, they will make a difference. But President Obama is not waiting for Congress to act, and he will continue pushing lawmakers on Capitol Hill to take action on our economic initiatives while doing everything he can to strengthen the economy and create jobs.

Kasie Coccaro

May 10, 2013
10:00 AM EDT

Yesterday, First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden hosted a special Mother’s Day tea to honor military mothers and show their appreciation and thanks for all the important work they do as well as the sacrifices their families have made in service of our country.

White House Mother’s Day Tea

While our sons and daughters serve so selflessly, having a community share the burden makes all the difference in the world. Today I am here to say thank you for all that you do, for your selflessness and for your sacrifice on behalf of our country.

The First Lady echoed Dr. Biden’s sentiments:

And that’s what military moms do every day.  You all help people soar.  You help our country soar. When somebody needs you, whether it’s your family, or your community, or your country — you lift them up.  You answer the call every single time.

 

 

First Lady Michelle Obama delivers remarks at a Joining Forces initiative Mother’s Day tea in honor of military mothers in the East Room of the White House, May 9, 2013. Dr. Jill Biden stands with her. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)

 

 

Then, while kids prepared gifts for their moms in the State Dining Room, the First Lady and Dr. Biden showed up with a special guest, Prince Harry of Wales, to help them create Mother’s Day cards and other crafts.

First Lady Michelle Obama, Dr. Jill Biden, and Prince Harry of Wales help military children create Mothers Day cards and other crafts in the State Dining Room of the White House, May 9, 2013. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)

 

 

Show your support for military moms this Mother’s Day by visiting our Joining Forces site dedicated to thanking military moms and contribute to the conversation on Twitter using the hashtag #ThankAMilitaryMom.

Statements and Releases

Statement by the Press Secretary on the National Strategy for the Arctic Region

Statement by the Press Secretary on the President’s Travel to the UK and Germany