Hanging on a wall outside the Oval Office, there’s a framed letter from a woman named Natoma Canfield.

For years, Natoma did everything right. She bought health insurance and paid her premiums on time. But one day, the fear of so many became her reality: She was diagnosed with cancer. She fought for her health and had been living cancer-free for some time, but her insurance company kept raising her insurance rates, year after year. She needed the coverage, but she couldn’t afford it. So she had to surrender her health plan and live merely on the hope that she would stay healthy.

She shared her story in a letter to President Obama in 2009. In the following year, during the heated political fight to pass the health care law, President Obama carried Natoma’s letter with him every day as a reminder that health care reform would help change the lives of millions of people who were clinging to hope.

 Tell trump about the brothers and sisters, moms and dads, and sons and daughters across America whose lives have been improved, and even saved, because President Obama … We worked together to pass and implement the Affordable Care Act.

After more than six years of this landmark law, let’s look back at the progress we’ve made:

Twenty million Americans have gained health coverage — not counting the 3 million more children gaining coverage during this period of time. More than 90 percent of Americans have health insurance for the first time ever. Up to 129 million people who could have otherwise been denied insurance because of a preexisting condition now have access to coverage — even as we have seen the slowest growth in health care prices in 50 years. And, the quality, coordination, and effectiveness of the health care we receive has improved.

Just last year, Natoma wrote another letter. She thanked the President for the Affordable Care Act and told him that she’s remained cancer-free. Her note now joins a collection of letters to the President from people who have been helped by the law. People like Astrid from North Carolina, who was diagnosed with a brain tumor and was able to get the surgery she needed. Or Ann Marie from Connecticut who was able to detect an early stage of breast cancer thanks to better preventive care.

You can read these letters and more right here.

As someone who has worked alongside the President, I can tell you that these are the letters that inspired him to put so much work into making health care reform a reality.

So read these letters — and tune in today to hear how far we’ve come since we passed the Affordable Care Act, and what more is needed to further improve the health of the nation.

Thanks,

Jeanne

Jeanne Lambrew
Deputy Assistant to the President for Health Policy
The White House

Starway Incorporated, located at 137 Grattan Street, Brooklyn, NY, 11237, is recalling Peony Mark Brand Dried Lily Flower because the product contains undeclared sulfites. People who have severe sensitivity to sulfites run the risk of serious or life threatening allergic reactions if they consumer this product.

Out of an abundance of caution, Evanger’s Dog & Cat Food of Wheeling, IL is voluntarily recalling specific lots of its Hunk of Beef product because of a potential contaminant Pentobarbital, which was detected in one lot of Hunk of Beef Au Jus. Pentobarbital can affect animals that ingest it, and possibly cause side effects such as drowsiness, dizziness, excitement, loss of balance, or nausea, or in extreme cases, possibly death.

Out of an abundance of caution, Evanger’s Dog & Cat Food of Wheeling, IL is voluntarily recalling specific lots of its Hunk of Beef product because of a potential contaminant Pentobarbital, which was detected in one lot of Hunk of Beef Au Jus. Pentobarbital can affect animals that ingest it, and possibly cause side effects such as drowsiness, dizziness, excitement, loss of balance, or nausea, or in extreme cases, possibly death.

Charlotte, NC Ruth’s Salads is undertaking a recall of Ruth’s Original Pimento Spread in 7oz plastic containers. The product has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria Monocytogenes.

U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company (USSTC) is voluntarily recalling certain of its smokeless tobacco products, listed in the chart below, manufactured at USSTC’s facility in Franklin Park, IL. USSTC has notified the U.S. Food and Drug Administration of the recall and is working with federal authorities on this matter. USSTC initiated the recall after receiving eight consumer complaints of foreign metal objects, including sharp metal objects, found in select cans

Barberi International Inc., based in Miami, Florida, is recalling its Sunmba Frozen Ajiaco (vegetable mix) product across Florida due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. Listeria monocytogenes is an organism, which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.

Hostess Brands, LLC Issues Voluntary Recall of Limited-Edition Holiday White Peppermint Hostess® Twinkies® The recall only applies to the “White Peppermint Hostess Twinkies” (UPC 888109111571)  The confectionary coating contains milk powder ingredients recalled by Valley Milk Products, LLC due to a concern of Salmonella contamination. No illnesses have been reported to date, and none of the confectionary coating sampled has tested positive for Salmonella. However, Hostess is initiating this voluntary recall out of an abundance of caution.

Updated information is now available. A list of retail consignees has been posted for recall 120-2016, Pork Rinds & Snacks, LLC Recalls Pork Skin Products Due to Possible Salmonella Contamination (Dec 22, 2016)

EdNet, the National Food Safety Educator’s Network, is a monthly, multi-agency electronic news journal from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). EdNet provides educators, consumer advocates, government officials, and industry representatives with a quick monthly summary of news about food safety programs and activities. In this issue: Resources for Educators FDA and the Partnership for Food Safety Education Create New Toolbox and Guide for Consumer Food Safety Educators How Are You Tackling Food Safety on Game Day? FDA and EPA Issue Fish Consumption Advice Federal Agencies Partner to Motivate Americans to Be Healthy and Active Is It Really ‘FDA Approved?’ USDA Study Finds Improved Feeding Practices Among Infants Participating in WIC FDA Begins Posting Adverse Event Report Data for Foods and Cosmetics Agricultural Research Magazine, January 2017 (USDA)

Meetings, Conferences, and Workshops

• Save The Date – FDA Public Meeting on the Use of the Term “Healthy” in the Labeling of Human Food
• FDA to Hold Public Hearing on Partnerships to Enhance the Safety of Imported Foods
• NACMCF Subcommittee to Meet on Effective Salmonella Control Strategies for Poultry (FSIS)

People in the News

• FSIS: Faces of Food Safety

Industry

• FDA Announces Draft Guidance to Help Sprout Operations Comply with Produce Safety Rule
• FDA Issues Revised Draft Guidance for Control of Listeria monocytogenes in Ready-To-Eat Foods
• FDA Issues Request For Information and Draft Guidance on Fiber on the Nutrition Facts Label
• FDA Issues Two Guidance Documents on the Nutrition Facts Label and the Serving Size Final Rules
• FDA Aligns Menu Labeling Compliance Date with the Enforcement Date for Menu Labeling to May 5, 2017
• FDA to Redefine “Healthy” Claim for Food Labeling
• FSIS Posts Aggregate Results for Chicken Parts, Comminuted Poultry and Poultry Carcasses Tested for Salmonella and Campylobacter
• FSIS Posts Updated Quarterly Sampling Results
• FSIS Releases Retail Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) Pilot Project Fourth Update
• FSIS Policy Updates