Category: Feb-2013

Vice President Biden called Syrian Opposition Coalition (SOC) President Moaz al-Khatib today to discuss the February 28 Friends of the Syrian People (FOSP)  ministerial in Rome.  Vice President Biden welcomed President Khatib’s confirmation that Coalition members would attend the gathering and meet with Secretary of State Kerry.  He emphasized the importance of the meeting as…

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, President Barack Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individuals to key Administration posts: • Jannette L. Dates – Member, Board of Directors of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting • Geoffrey R. Pyatt – Ambassador to Ukraine, Department of State President Obama also announced his intent to appoint the following individuals to…

DR. BIDEN:  Thank you very much.  (Applause.)  Thank you, David, for that kind introduction.  And thank you all for coming this morning.  It was great to see you all last night.  And wasn’t Audra McDonald incredible?  (Applause.) So we’re delighted to have you here at the White House again this morning.  And the last time…

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Thank you all.  I tell you what, I didn’t know Jack was as good as he is until I heard that rhyme last night.  (Laughter.)  Jack, if you had done that, I’d be introducing you here.  (Laughter.) Thank you all very, very much.  I’m sorry — you guys are much more disciplined…

THE PRESIDENT:  Welcome, everybody.  It is wonderful for us to have you here at the White House.  Michelle and I are so happy to host you, and I want to start by acknowledging your outstanding chair, Jack Markell — (applause) — and your vice chair, Mary Fallin.  (Applause.)  But more importantly, I want to recognize…

WASHINGTON, DC—President Obama used this week’s address to urge Congress to stop the harmful automatic cuts that threaten thousands of jobs and affect our national security—called the sequester—from taking effect on March 1st.  The President and Congressional Democrats have already put forward solutions to avoid these cuts and reduce the deficit in a balanced way,…

Dear Mr. Speaker:   (Dear Mr. President:) On February 20, 2013, the last elements of a deployment of approximately 40 additional U.S. military personnel entered Niger with the consent of the Government of Niger. This deployment will provide support for intelligence collection and will also facilitate intelligence sharing with French forces conducting operations in Mali,…

The President today declared a major disaster exists in the State of Louisiana and ordered Federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area affected by severe storms and flooding during the period of January 8-17, 2013. Federal funding is available to state and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations…

Dear Mr. Speaker:   (Dear Mr. President:) Section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d)) provides for the automatic termination of a national emergency unless, within 90 days prior to the anniversary date of its declaration, the President publishes in the Federal Register and transmits to the Congress a notice stating that the…

On March 1, 1996, by Proclamation 6867, a national emergency was declared to address the disturbance or threatened disturbance of international relations caused by the February 24, 1996, destruction by the Cuban government of two unarmed U.S.-registered civilian aircraft in international airspace north of Cuba. On February 26, 2004, by Proclamation 7757, the national emergency…