Update from the White House Council on Women and Girls

Happy belated Mother’s Day to all of our moms out there!

This week, to celebrate moms across the country, President Obama surprised three moms who had written letters to him over the course of this year with phone calls to wish them a happy Mother’s Day! The President also issued a Presidential Proclamation in celebration of Mother’s Day and in honor of the mothers who lift us up every day.

Additionally, Mother’s Day was the beginning of National Women’s Health Week! Thank you to all who participated. We hope you had an opportunity to learn about the steps you can take for better health and the great preventive health benefits the ACA provides.

On Monday, President Obama and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued important guidance on the Affordable Care Act: Most insurers must cover, without cost-sharing, at least one form of contraception in each of the 18 methods for women that the FDA has identified. Learn more below about this new guidance and the steps the Obama administration took to eliminate any ambiguity around ACA reforms.

And last week, to celebrate Military Spouse Appreciation Day and an early Mother’s Day, the First Lady and Dr. Biden invited military-connected moms to the White House for their annual Mother’s Day Tea.

Read on for opportunities to engage, and don’t forget to follow the Chair of the White House Council on Women and Girls, Valerie Jarrett, on Twitter at @vj44. You can also email us at cwg@who.eop.gov. We look forward to continuing the conversation!

Latest News and Administration Highlights

A Recap of National Women’s Health Week: May 10-16

Thank you to all who participated and engaged with National Women’s Health Week on May 10-16! National Women’s Health Week is an observance led by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health. The goal is to empower women to make their health a priority. The week served as a time to help women understand what steps they can take to improve their health and the preventive care benefits afforded to women under the ACA.

While National Women’s Health Week may be over, every day is an opportunity to engage and learn what steps you can take for better health!

The White House Council on Women and Girls and Office on Women’s Health continues to encourage women across the country to:

Check out easy-to-use resources from the Office on Women’s Health.
Learn what steps you should take for good health based on your age.
Share National Women’s Health Week infocards with your friends, family, and coworkers.
Check out the Presidential Proclamation recognizing National Women’s Health Week, 2015.

What You Need to Know About the New Contraception Guidance:

It is crucial that insurance companies provide all the benefits that women deserve under the Affordable Care Act, at no cost or inconvenience. So this week, the Obama administration took steps to eliminate any ambiguity around the reforms the ACA calls for. Here is what the Administration’s guidance makes clear:

And here’s a quick recap on how the ACA has been giving women greater control of their own health care since 2010:

Providing tax credits for women who cannot afford quality health insurance
Prohibiting insurance companies from charging a woman more because of her health status or gender
Covering preventive services with no deductible or co-pay, such as cervical cancer screenings, contraception, and more

A Mother’s Day Surprise from President Obama

President Obama called three unsuspecting mothers who had written to him recently to wish them a happy Mother’s Day. The mothers, from Minnesota, Arizona and Florida, had all written the President letters over the course of the year.

Watch the great video of his conversation with these moms here!

The Faces of Health Care

Read about the incredible impact the Affordable Care Act is having on Americans across the country. This week, we are highlighting the stories of women who have benefited from the ACA:

Sarah M. from Antelope, California
Siobhan F. from McKinney, Texas
Teresha S. from Edgewood, Maryland

The First Lady, Dr. Biden, and Ben Folds Celebrate Military-Connected Moms

On May 9, to celebrate Military Spouse Appreciation Day and an early Mother’s Day, the First Lady and Dr. Biden invited military-connected moms to the White House for their annual Mother’s Day Tea.

These mothers, grandmothers, and their guests enjoyed sandwiches, cupcakes, and shortbreads with a selection of teas and juices. Kids came too to make Mother’s Day gifts of petal potpourri, lace-topped cupcakes, and even potted-flower cakes. The First Lady and Dr. Biden greeted the spouses, thanked all military-connected moms, and recognized their service.

Watch the video of their remarks here: