Obama Announces ‘Unprecedented Commitment' to Military Families
(January 27, 2010) |
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WASHINGTON, Jan. 24, 2011 – President Barack Obama today
unveiled a governmentwide plan to strengthen military family
support, offering a glimpse at a few of the new programs and
cooperative efforts being launched in the coming months to
improve quality of life and well-being for military
families. |
President Barack Obama
announces a whole-of-government initiative to
benefit military families as Dr. Jill Biden,
wife of Vice President Joe Biden, and First Lady
Michelle Obama look on during a Jan. 24, 2011,
White House event. DOD photo by Elaine Wilson |
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“Today, I'm proud to announce that for the first
time ever, supporting the well-being of our
military families will be a priority not just
for the Department of Defense and the Department
of Veterans Affairs, but all across the federal
government,” Obama said.
Speaking from
the White House's East Room, Obama unveiled this
“unprecedented commitment” to military families
with First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill
Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, at his
side. Top government and Defense Department
officials also were on hand, including Defense
Secretary Robert M. Gates, Chairman of the Joint
Chiefs of Staff Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, the
service chiefs, and their spouses.
Spotlighting the importance of military family
support, Obama recalled his trip |
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to Afghanistan last month, where he spoke to
troops and asked them what he could do to better
support them. |
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“Without missing a beat, they looked me in the eye and they
gave me their answer,” the president said. “It wasn't about
more equipment. It wasn't about more resources on the
battlefield. In fact, it wasn't about them.
“They
said, to a man: ‘Sir, take care of our families,'” he said.
“‘If we know our families are all right back home, then we
can do our jobs.'”
Service members and their families
have done everything the nation has asked of them in this
decade of war, and the nation now must serve them with the
same unfailing support, Obama said. That's exactly why he
directed a governmentwide review of military family support,
he added, calling for “innovative new partnerships” to
better serve military families worldwide.
Earlier
today, the White House released the results of this nearly
yearlong review of military family support. From child care
to health care to spouse employment, the report -- titled
“Strengthening our Military Families: Meeting America's
Commitment” -- identifies the key issues military families
face and presents programs and resources government agencies
plan to launch in the coming months to address them.
The report outlines four key areas the whole-of-government
effort plans to address: enhancing military families'
well-being and psychological health, developing military
spouse career and education opportunities, increasing child
care availability and quality, and ensuring excellence in
military children's education and development.
Improving quality of life is a priority, Obama noted,
offering a glimpse at some programs that will focus in the
coming months on families' well-being. The Defense and
Health and Human Services departments, for example, are
working together to improve community mental health services
and to prevent suicides, he said. And a new office in the
Treasury Department will help to protect military families
from financial pitfalls, such as predatory lending.
“And
we are going to remain relentless -- not just at VA, but at
[the Housing and Urban Development and Health and Human
Services departments] and across the government -- in our
fight to end homelessness among our veterans,” the president
said.
“We have to have zero tolerance for
homelessness among our veterans,” he added, a statement that
was met by thunderous applause.
Another priority,
Obama said, is the education and development of military
children, many of whom attend public schools. He praised the
efforts of agencies such as the Education and Interior
departments. The Education Department will give military
families priority in some of its grant programs, and the
Interior Department plans to create more opportunities for
military children.
The government also will
“redouble” its effort to help military spouses attain
education goals and careers, Obama said.
“We're going
to help spouses to get that degree, find that job or start
that new business,” he said. “We want every company in
America to know our military spouses and veterans have the
skills and the dedication, and our nation is more
competitive when we tap their incredible talents.”
Finally, the government is going to expand child care
options for military parents. “Working together, we believe
we can find new child care options for tens of thousands of
military children,” the president said.
In total,
Obama said, his administration is making nearly 50 specific
commitments to military families today. But the government
can't accomplish this mission alone, he added.
“Government has its responsibilities,” Obama said. “One
percent of Americans may be fighting our wars, but a hundred
percent of Americans need to be supporting our troops and
their families -- a hundred percent.” |
By Elaine Wilson
American Forces Press Service
Copyright 2011 |
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