Flourishing Jewish Community. We play the role of a planner, funder, central address for the community that can ensure we flourish. Federations have a history throughout the country that exist in different mostly urban jewish communities around the country. Can you talk a little bit about what the history of federations across the country is . Absolutely. There are more than 150 around the country. They were formed with the idea of bringing the community together, of ensuring there was a fund raising arm for the community, a planning arm for the community. The federations in many situations built jewish communities around the country with their partners. Our Federation Region serves San Francisco city and counsel city, marin and sonoma. In our particular federation, what does the federation do . We have a large region as you gather geographically relative to many urban federations. In this region first of all what we do is we convene our partners and we together collaborate and plan on
But also to the american people. Secondly, productivity. Productivity is critically important to us. We measure value units, which is a common measurement in the medical industry. It is a measure of productivity. Our productivity is up 8 over the last year, versus a budget increase of 2. 8 . I am asking for ways to improve our productivity every day. There is no question that demand is increasing for our services. I do not feel capable of going to congress and asking for more money, unless i can show them that we are trying to save money. If you look at my testimony over the last year, what you see is i told congress that we had 10 million square feet of unused space. Unfortunately, it is all in somebodys congressional district. If we could close that space, that would save the v. A. And the american taxpayer 25,000 per year. Please look at my testimony. 10 million square feet, 25 million a year. We are eager to work with members of congress to close that space. And we are going to hav
The Unemployment Rate fell to 5 . This congress should pass a serious infrastructure plan and keep those jobs coming. That would make a difference. The pipeline would not have made a serious impact on those numbers and on the American Peoples prospects for the future. The pipeline would not lower gas prices for american consumers. In fact, gas prices have already been falling steadily. The National Average gas price is down to about . 77 over a year ago. It is down one dollar over two years ago. It is down one dollars twice seven cents over three years ago 1. 27 over three years ago. A gas stationnd selling gas for less than two dollars a gallon. Politics has been consumed over a debate on whether this pipeline would create jobs and lower gas prices, we have gone ahead and created jobs and lower gas prices. Third, shipping dirtier crude oil into our country would not increase Americas Energy security. Increased Americas Energy security is our strategy over the past several years to red
Recently, maybe you could hold a hearing on its progress. I would welcome that. Giving alcome me in warm welcome to Veterans Affairs secretary robert donald. [applause] Robert Mcdonald thank you so much. War, the ymcal has been a friend of veterans. Forerunner of the g. I. Bill. Today i am pleased to announce the v. A. And the ymca has agreed by furthering our partnership. This makes it easier for v. A. Facilities and ymcas to help in Service Members to connect resources they need. To you and the entire organization for your enduring help to veterans. The benevolent protection of alex has been friends to too. Ans for a long time, the hospitals they built in boston in 1918 was a forerunner of todays v. A. Medical centers. Committed, the elks 4 million over a fouryear. Over a fouryear time span to help and veterans homelessness. Paul, thank you and the elks across this great country for your generosity and loyalty to our nation. [applause] the ymca, the elks these are Strategic Partnersh
Obama good morning, everybody. Several years ago, the state department began a review process for the proposed instruction the pipeline that would carry Canadian Crude Oil from the heartland through the the gulf of mexico to the market. This morning, senator kerry informed me that after extensive Public Outreach and consultation with other cabinet agencies, the state department has decided that the keystone xl pipeline would not serve the National Interest of the United States. I agree with that decision. This morning, i also had the opportunity to speak with Prime Minister trudeau of canada. While he expressed his disappointment, given canadas position on this issue, we both agreed that our close friendship on a whole range of issues, including energy and Climate Change, should provide the basis for even closer correlation between our countries going forward. And in the coming weeks, members of my team will be engaging with theirs in order to help deepen that cooperation. Now for year