Category: August 2011

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you.  Thank you, everybody.  Well, first of all, let me just thank Don and Katrina, the entire clan for welcoming us all here today. For those of you who helped to organize this, I couldn’t be more grateful.  I know it’s a little warm, by the way, so any gentlemen who want…

Dr. Jill Biden has arrived in Kenya with Senator Bill Frist, USAID Administrator Raj Shah, Assistant Secretary of State Eric Schwartz, and Special Assistant to the President Gayle Smith. Dr. Biden’s trip will underscore the United States’ commitment to working with the governments and people of the region, and the international community, to assist the…

Amid the worst drought in East Africa in 60 years, the United Nations has declared that famine now affects five regions in Somalia and predicts that famine could soon expand throughout southern Somalia.   Thousands of Somalis are fleeing the famine and seeking refuge in Kenya and Ethiopia, which are also affected by the drought.  According…

The President today made additional disaster assistance available to the State of North Dakota by authorizing an increase in the level of Federal funding for Public Assistance projects undertaken as a result of flooding during the period of February 14 to July 20, 2011. Under the President’s major disaster declaration issued for the State of…

The President spoke today with Spanish President Jose Luis Zapatero and, separately, with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi about the latest developments in the eurozone crisis.  The President welcomed the measures pursued by Spain and Italy to address their immediate economic challenges and improve their competitiveness.  The President also consulted with President Zapatero and Prime…

The President today declared a major disaster exists in the State of Utah and ordered federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area struck by flooding during the period of April 18 to July 16, 2011. Federal funding is available to state, Tribal, and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit…

Today marks the thirteenth Anniversary of al-Qa`ida’s terrorist attacks against the U.S. Embassies in Nairobi, Kenya and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.  The United States joins with the people and government of Kenya, where 218 people lost their lives and over 5,000 were injured; and Tanzania, where the attack killed 11 people and wounded at least…

President Obama received a call today from President Karzai of Afghanistan, who reiterated his condolences for the tragic loss of 30 American service-members yesterday in Afghanistan.  President Obama noted the extraordinary service of the Americans who gave their lives, and expressed his condolences for the Afghans who died serving by their side. The two Presidents…

WASHINGTON—In this week’s address, President Obama called on Democrats and Republicans to work together to grow the economy and get Americans back to work.  The President has outlined a number of steps Congress can take right now to spur growth and create jobs, including extending tax cuts for working and middle class families, cutting red…

The President believes it is important that our elected leaders come together to strengthen our economy and put our nation on a stronger fiscal footing. The bipartisan compromise on deficit reduction was an important step in the right direction.  Yet, the path to getting there took too long and was at times too divisive. We…