President Obama's Weekly Address 8/11/12 : All-Hands-On-Deck Response to the Drought

WASHINGTON, DC— In this week’s address, President Obama discussed the Administration’s all-hands-on-deck approach to one of the worst droughts in more than fifty years. This drought is especially hard on farmers and ranchers who are facing poor crops and are struggling to feed their animals. That is why the Administration is doing everything possible to give them the tools to fight back and recover. The Administration has taken steps including opening more federal land for haying and grazing, giving farmers, ranchers, and small businesses access to low-interest emergency loans, and providing assistance to get more water to livestock and restore land affected by the drought. But the Administration can’t do this alone. The President reiterated his call on Congress to join him in taking action by passing a farm bill that makes necessary reforms while helping farmers and ranchers respond to these types of natural disasters and providing the certainty they deserve.

President Obama's Weekly Address 6/30/12: An All-Hands-On-Deck Approach to Fighting the Colorado Wildfires

In this week’s address, President Obama spoke to the American people from Colorado, where he had just finished touring areas impacted by the devastating Waldo Canyon fire, meeting with first responders as well as families affected by the fires. The President thanked the brave firefighters and countless volunteers who are providing food, water, and shelter to those in need, and made clear that his administration will continue to bring all resources available to assist efforts to combat the fires. The federal government has marshaled thousands of firefighters, hundreds of fire engines, and more than 100 aircraft, including 19 airtankers that are available for us as of today, to support firefighting efforts in a number of Western states including Colorado.