UPDATED: The daily press briefing has been moved to 10:45AM EDT. Secretary of Health & Human Services Kathleen Sebelius will join Press Secretary Gibbs at the briefing.

10:45AM Briefing by Press Secretary Robert Gibbs & Secretary Kathleen Sebelius


THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
_______________________________________________________________________________________
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 16, 2009

DAILY GUIDANCE AND PRESS SCHEDULE FOR
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2009

In the morning, the President will meet with senior advisors and receive the Presidential Daily Briefing in the Oval Office. These meetings are closed press.

Later, the President will hold a rally on health insurance reform at the Comcast Center at the University of Maryland in College Park. The rally is open to pre-credentialed media; the deadline to request credentials has passed. The White House will stream the rally live through an innovative Facebook application that will allow students nationwide to both watch the event and discuss it with others as it is happening. Students can join in through the White House Facebook page or at the link below: http://apps.facebook.com/whitehouselive/.

In the afternoon, the President will award Sergeant First Class Jared C. Monti, U.S. Army, the Medal of Honor for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty in the East Room. Sergeant First Class Monti will receive the Medal of Honor posthumously for his heroic actions in combat in Afghanistan. Then-Staff Sergeant Monti displayed immeasurable courage and uncommon valor - eventually sacrificing his own life in an effort to save his comrade. Sergeant First Class Monti's parents, Paul Monti and Janet Monti, will join the President at the White House to commemorate their son's example of selfless service and sacrifice. The First Lady will also attend. This event is open press.

In the evening, the President will host a viewing of a portion of the documentary "The National Parks: America's Best Idea" in the White House movie theater. The documentary is a six-episode series that will air on PBS beginning on September 27th. The 55-minute reel clip the President will view highlights past presidents who made major impacts on national parks as well as interviews of real Americans who are inspired by the national parks. Expected attendees include Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, director of the documentary Ken Burns, Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Fish, Wildlife and Parks Thomas Strickland, and Members of Congress. This event is closed press.

In-Town Travel Pool
Wires: AP, Reuters, Bloomberg
Wire Photos: AP, Reuters, AFP
TV Corr & Crew: NBC
Print: MediaNews
Radio: ABC
Travel Photo: New York Times


EDT

9:00AM Pool Call Time

9:30AM THE PRESIDENT meets with senior advisors
Oval Office
Closed Press

10:00AM THE PRESIDENT receives the Presidential Daily Briefing
Oval Office
Closed Press

11:40AM THE PRESIDENT hold a rally on health insurance reform
Comcast Center, College Park, Maryland
Open to pre-credentialed media (Travel Pool Gather Time 10:45AM - North Doors of the Palm Room)

2:05PM THE PRESIDENT awards the Medal of Honor to Sergeant First Class Jared C. Monti
East Room
Open Press (Pre-set 1:00PM - Final Gather 1:30PM - North Doors of the Palm Room)

5:15PM THE PRESIDENT hosts viewing of "The National Parks: America's Best Idea"
White House Movie Theater
Closed Press


Briefing Schedule

10:30AM Briefing by Press Secretary Robert Gibbs


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