White House asks Congress for $1.5 billion to fight swine flu outbreak

September 1st, 2009 Obama says Americans should get swine flu vaccineWASHINGTON — With a potentially deadly swine flu outbreak looming, President Barack Obama is urging Americans to take steps to prevent infection. Obama was briefed Tuesday on the nation's preparedness for swine flu by senior officials, including Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and Homeland Security Janet Napolitano.

July 17th, 2009 White House wants more power to set Medicare ratesWASHINGTON — The White House is asking Congress to give the executive branch more power to limit Medicare's rising costs. A White House letter to top lawmakers on Friday said the move would be "a critical step forward" in controlling health care costs and providing better care.

July 2nd, 2009 White House announces swine flu summitWASHINGTON — The White House is planning a summit to talk about preparations for swine flu. The White House on Thursday announced details for a July 9 meeting at the National Institutes of Health.

June 25th, 2009 WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama has signed into law a measure keeping the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan from running out of money. The $106 billion spending bill also includes money to fight swine flu and a "cash for clunkers" program encouraging drivers to switch to more fuel-efficient cars.

May 14th, 2009 MEXICO CITY - The toll in Mexico's swine flu outbreak has risen to 60, Health Minister Jose Angel Cordova Villalobos said. A total of 2,386 people have been infected with the influenza A(H1N1) virus, also called swine flu.

May 5th, 2009 Obama asks for $50M for non-profitsWASHINGTON — The White House says the president's budget proposal for next year will include $50 million to help promote national service and advise nonprofit groups. First lady Michelle Obama planned to tell an audience at a New York City magazine party Tuesday night that the White House Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation would coordinate the efforts to help non-profits identify best practices.

May 4th, 2009 MEXICO CITY - The Mexican government has said the swine flu outbreak has peaked in the country and is now in decline, with a confirmed human death toll of 22. Health Minister Jose Angel Cordova told reporters Sunday: 'The evolution of the epidemic is now in a phase of decline.' According to the latest data, 22 people have died of swine flu and 578 people have been infected with the virus.

April 29th, 2009 WASHINGTON - US President Barack Obama is asking Congress for an added $1.5 billion to fight the swine flu outbreak that has spread to five US states, his spokesman said Tuesday. The money will be used to 'enhance the nation's capability to stop the spread', including stockpiling anti-viral drugs and develop and 'ramp up production' of a vaccine, said Robert Gibbs.

April 28th, 2009 Official: Some in US deaths likely from fluWASHINGTON — Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano is warning that more severe illnesses and some deaths are likely in the United States from the current swine flu outbreak. At a daily briefing on the government's response to the outbreak, Napolitano also said the virus could subside this summer and return in the fall when the normal flu season begins.

April 27th, 2009 WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama said he was closely watching an outbreak of swine flu in the US, where 20 cases have so far been identified, but urged people to remain calm. 'This is obviously a cause for concern and requires a heightened state of alert, but it's not a cause for alarm,' Obama said in a speech at the National Academy of Sciences in Washington.

April 27th, 2009 House panel to probe swine flu outbreakWASHINGTON — A House committee will hold an emergency hearing this week on increasing cases of swine flu in the United States and other countries. Health subcommittee Chairman Frank Pallone Jr., said Monday that his session will address the public's concern over a potential outbreak and make sure that government agencies are coordinating to protect people as efficiently as possible.

April 27th, 2009 Congress to probe swine flu outbreakWASHINGTON — Congress plans to hold emergency hearings this week on swine flu. Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, the chairman of an appropriations subcommittee dealing with health issues, called for a hearing Tuesday afternoon to explore the public health response to the outbreak.

April 26th, 2009 World Bank gives aid to Mexico for swine fluWASHINGTON — The World Bank said Sunday that it is providing Mexico with more than $200 million in loans to help it deal with an outbreak of a new strain of swine flu. Mexican health officials say swine flu has killed up to 86 people and probably sickened about 1,400 in the country since April 13.

April 26th, 2009 White House to detail govt response to swine fluWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama has received regular briefings from advisers on the swine flu outbreak and the White House readied guidance for Americans. The Obama administration planned a Sunday afternoon briefing to outline the government's response.

April 25th, 2009 Obama health fine after trip to MexicoWASHINGTON — The White House says President Barack Obama's health is fine a little more than a week after he traveled to Mexico, where an outbreak of swine flu has killed at least 68 people and sickened more than 1,000. White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said Saturday that "the President’s trip to Mexico has not put his health in any danger." The top international health official says the new swine flu strain that has hit Mexico has "pandemic potential." Obama was in Mexico last week to meet with top government officials and talk about the growing problem with drug smuggling and border violence.