Category: 2012

The President has put a balanced, reasonable proposal on the table that achieves significant deficit reduction and reflects real compromise by meeting the Republicans halfway on revenue and more than halfway on spending from where each side started.  That is the essence of compromise.  The parameters of a deal are clear, and the President is…

On Tuesday, December 18, 2012, the President signed into law: H.R. 3187, the “March of Dimes Commemorative Coin Act of 2012,” which requires the Department of the Treasury to mint and issue coins in recognition of the March of Dimes; H.R. 6582, the “American Energy Manufacturing Technical Corrections Act,” which modifies the Energy Policy and…

The President and British Prime Minister David Cameron spoke today by video conference, as a part of their regular consultations on a range of strategic issues.  The Prime Minister took the opportunity to personally express his condolences to the community of Newtown and the American people regarding the tragic violence at Sandy Hook Elementary School. The…

President Obama spoke today with President Kagame to discuss the situation in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).  President Obama underscored that any support to the rebel group M23 is inconsistent with Rwanda’s desire for stability and peace. President Obama emphasized to President Kagame the importance of permanently ending all support to armed groups…

NOMINATIONS SENT TO THE SENATE: Richard J. Engler, of New Jersey, to be a Member of the Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board for a term of five years, vice William E. Wright, term expired. Nicholas Christopher Geale, of Virginia, to be a Member of the National Mediation Board for a term expiring July 1,…

Tonight, our country has lost a true American hero with the passing of Senator Daniel Inouye.  The second-longest serving Senator in the history of the chamber, Danny represented the people of Hawaii in Congress from the moment they joined the Union.  In Washington, he worked to strengthen our military, forge bipartisan consensus, and hold those…

As my mother would say, the greatest virtue of all is courage, and Danny was courage personified. From the battlefields of World War II where he received the Medal of Honor, to the floor of the United States Senate where he displayed incredible moral bravery, he was always the same – courageous and resolute.  He…

The President spoke by telephone this evening with Shinzo Abe, the President of the Liberal Democratic Party, to congratulate him on the results of yesterday’s Lower House elections in Japan.  Both sides reaffirmed the importance of the U.S.-Japan alliance as the cornerstone of peace and security in the region.  The President and Mr. Abe discussed…

I congratulate Liberal Democratic Party President Shinzo Abe on his party’s success in the elections in Japan today.  The U.S-Japan Alliance serves as the cornerstone of peace and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific and I look forward to working closely with the next government and the people of Japan on a range of important bilateral, regional…

Newtown High School Newtown, Connecticut 8:37 P.M. EST THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you.  (Applause.)  Thank you, Governor.  To all the families, first responders, to the community of Newtown, clergy, guests — Scripture tells us:  “…do not lose heart.  Though outwardly we are wasting away…inwardly we are being renewed day by day.  For our light and momentary…