FLOTUS Speaks @ a Joining Forces Hiring Event

VIDEO: Joining Forces Honors Military Moms

FLOTUS Announces Proposed Changes to FMLA for Military Families

First Lady Michelle Obama visited the Department of Labor on Monday. Joined by Labor Secretary Hilda Solis, FLOTUS proposed an expansion to the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) for military family caregivers.

The proposed expansion would give more job protection to families that care for military service men and women. FMLA would be expanded for up to 12 weeks for families to help a service member who has been deployed on short notice and up to 26 weeks for those caring for the injured or sick. Rest and recuperation leave would be extended to 15 days. Family members of veterans leave would be extended by up to 5 years.

The current law only covers caregivers of active members of the military but the proposed new laws would include family members of veterans for up to 5 years.

To read the First Lady’s remarks click here.

Joining Forces Teams Up with Major League Baseball

FLOTUS & Dr Biden with reps from MLB at Joining Forces Event in St Louis on October 19

Fab FLOTUS @ World Series

FLOTUS & Dr Biden watch Game One of the World Series with Marine Lance Cpl. James Sperry & his daughter Hannah, 5, at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri

Last night First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr Biden attended Game One of the World Series in St Louis at Busch Stadium. As part of their Joining Forces initiative, the two ladies recognized Major League Baseball’s support of veterans and military families.

Before the game the First Lady and Dr Biden hosted a military family appreciation event, along with reps from MLB, at St Louis Veterans Medical Center. The duo also will answered questions about their Joining Forces initiative via Twitter using the hashtag #AskMichelle and on Major League Baseball’s Facebook page.

There were some really great questions asked on Twitter

Click to read more ...

FLOTUS Announces 25,000 Jobs

FLOTUS & Dr Biden take Joining Forces to Game One of the World Series

FLOTUS, former Yankee Yogi Berra, & Dr Biden at Game One of the 2009 World Series at Yankee Stadium

Tomorrow First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr Biden will travel to St Louis to attend Game One of the World Series at Busch Stadium. As part of their Joining Forces initiative, the two ladies will be recognizing Major League Baseball’s support of veterans and military families.

According to the White House Press Office…

The game will encourage Americans to support Joining Forces and Major League Baseball’s Welcome Back Veterans program to recognize and serve veterans, service members and their families. Mrs. Obama and Dr. Biden will join representatives from MLB and the St. Louis Cardinals including Hall of Famer and Army veteran Red Schoendienst in hosting a military families appreciation event at the St. Louis Veterans Center. Families attending will be the first to view the new Joining Forces and MLB Public Service Announcement (PSA) that will premiere during Game One featuring Mrs. Obama as well as New York Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira and Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Johnny Damon, both of whom come from military families.

Before the game the First Lady and Dr Biden will answer questions about the Joining Forces initiative. You can submit your questions on Twitter using the hashtag #AskMichelle and on Major League Baseball’s Facebook page. Game One of the World Series will be broadcast live on FOX starting at 7:30 PM EDT / 6:30 PM CDT.

GO CARDINALS!!!

First Lady & Dr Biden attend Joining Forces at Home 1,000 Rebuild Event

This morning First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr Jill Biden helped complete a home renovation at a Joining Forces event in Washington, D.C. The home of Sergeant Johnny Agbi is the 1,000th home refitted by Sears Holdings and Rebuilding Together for a wounded members of the armed forces courtesy of the Heroes at Home Project.  

According to CBS News...

Army Sgt. Johnny Agbi's narrow three-story rowhouse doesn't look ideal for a disabled veteran. It's perched on a small hill along a busy thoroughfare just blocks from the U.S. Capitol. There are steps leading to the front and rear doors.

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REMARKS: FLOTUS & Dr Jill at Joining Forces Military Cookout

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the First Lady

For Immediate Release                           

July 24, 2011

REMARKS BY THE FIRST LADY AND DR. BIDEN

AT JOINING FORCES MILITARY FAMILY COOKOUT

New Hampshire National Guard Headquarters

Concord, New Hampshire

DR. BIDEN:  Hello.  Thank you, General Reddell, for that warm introduction.  And thank you and your wonderful wife, Becky, for all you’re doing, for your support of the New Hampshire National Guard & Reserve families.  We are delighted to be here and appreciate your hosting us today.  Thank you.

And good afternoon everyone!  It’s great to see so many Guard Members, reservists, family members, and friends of the Guard.  I want to also recognize the Gold Star families who are here with us today. 

I am Jill Biden, and I am proud to stand here this afternoon as a military mom.  Like you, I come from a small state with a strong National Guard that has shouldered a tremendous burden over the past decade.

My son, Beau, is a Captain in the Delaware Army National Guard and he recently spent a year in Iraq, so I know well the challenges that Guard families face when their soldiers are away.  And I also know how much it means when communities rally around family members who are managing in their soldier’s absence.

The First Lady and I came here today for a very simple reason: to say thank you to all of you for all of your service.  You and your family -- service members around the country and the world inspire us with your strength and your resilience, and that applies especially to the family members of all ages who are here today.

The First Lady and I are working hard through our “Joining Forces” initiative to make sure that every American understands the sacrifices that each of you as family members are making for the security of our nation.

And we hope to inspire more communities around the country to reach out to military families like we are doing tonight in Concord and like I saw in Portsmouth later today -- earlier today.

We’ve seen some incredible examples of Americans helping out with childcare for military families, lending a hand with accounting during tax season, and hosting baby showers for expectant military moms, and we want to formally applaud these efforts.

In fact, I’m excited to share tonight that the First Lady and I are launching the Joining Forces Community Challenge, which will recognize individuals and groups around the country who are making a difference in the lives of military families.

We are really excited about this program and hope you will go to our website at joiningforces.gov to learn how you can nominate a group or an individual who has come up with a creative or innovative way to make life a little easier for our military families.  The idea can be large or small, new or old, as long as it demonstrates in some way the tremendous gratitude all of us feel for our military families.

Every American has the ability to make a difference in the life of a military family.  That’s what our Joining Forces initiative is all about.

And now it’s my honor and privilege to introduce a woman who is a tireless and devoted advocate for our service members, veterans, and military families, my dear friend and our wonderful First Lady Michelle Obama.  (Applause.)

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Making History

Michelle Obama made history on May 20th by being the only first lady to address West Point cadets at their graduation banquet.  This event also dovetailed with her Joining Forces initiative. 

Michelle Obama reminded cadets that they not only must support their soldiers' families, but that their families helped them to this point in their careers.

This week, the Obamas are due to arrive in Dublin, Ireland around 4:30 am eastern time.  The detailed itinerary is listed here.