Category: Mar2013

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, President Barack Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individuals to key Administration posts: • Deborah K. Jones – Ambassador to Libya, Department of State • James Knight – Ambassador to the Republic of Chad, Department of State President Obama also announced his intent to appoint the following individual to a key…

On March 13, 2013, the President signed into law: H.R. 307, the “Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Reauthorization Act of 2013,” which reauthorizes appropriations through Fiscal Year 2018 and revises authorities for activities to improve public health and bioterrorism emergency planning, preparedness, and response; streamlines authorities within the Department of Health and Human Services to improve…

President Obama joined National Security Advisor Tom Donilon’s meeting today with Libyan Prime Minister Ali Zeidan during the Prime Minister’s first official visit to Washington.  The President expressed the United States’ support for the Libyan people and their government as they continue their democratic transition.  The President reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring that the perpetrators…

On behalf of the American people, Michelle and I offer our warm wishes to His Holiness Pope Francis as he ascends to the Chair of Saint Peter and begins his papacy.  As a champion of the poor and the most vulnerable among us, he carries forth the message of love and compassion that has inspired…

NOMINATIONS SENT TO THE SENATE: Deborah Kay Jones, of New Mexico, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to Libya. James Knight, of Alabama, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to be Ambassador Extraordinary…

Jill and I want to offer our congratulations to His Holiness Pope Francis, and extend our prayers as he takes on this holy responsibility. I am happy to have the chance to personally relay my well wishes, and those of the American people, when I travel to Rome for his Inaugural Mass. The Catholic Church…

The Senate Democratic budget is a concrete plan that will grow our economy and shrink our deficits in a balanced way, consistent with the President’s belief that our economy grows best from the middle-out, not the top-down, while reducing the debt as a share of the economy.  It’s a plan that doesn’t dwell on ongoing…

This afternoon, the President met with business leaders to discuss the importance of commonsense immigration reform. In the meeting, the President reiterated his belief that any bill must strengthen border security, create an earned path to citizenship, hold employers accountable, and streamline the legal immigration process. The President and the business leaders discussed their shared…

THE PRESIDENT:  I want to get back to the official business at hand.  But I did want to stop by.  First of all, I just want to say thanks to the PEC for the unbelievable work that you guys have done and the extraordinary leadership that you’ve provided to our team and the administration as…

PRESIDENT OBAMA:  Well, it is a great pleasure to welcome my good friend, His Majesty the Sultan of Brunei.  The Sultan and I had the opportunity to get to know each other from a series of multilateral meetings, particularly the ASEAN East Asia Summit meeting.  He is a key leader in the Southeast Asia region…