Category: May2013

NOMINATIONS SENT TO THE SENATE: Anthony Renard Foxx, of North Carolina, to be Secretary of Transportation, vice Ray LaHood. Michael Froman, of New York, to be United States Trade Representative, with the rank of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, vice Ronald Kirk, resigned. Melvin L. Watt, of North Carolina, to be Director of the Federal Housing…

NOMINATIONS SENT TO THE SENATE: Colin Stirling Bruce, of Illinois, to be United States District Judge for the Central District of Illinois, vice Michael P. McCuskey, retiring. Sara Lee Ellis, of Illinois, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Illinois, vice Joan B. Gottschall, retired. Andrea R. Wood, of Illinois, to…

The President today declared a major disaster exists in the State of Iowa and ordered Federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area affected by severe winter storm during the period of April 9-11, 2013. Federal funding also is available to state and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations…

Thank you Dr. Gee, the Board of Trustees, Congresswoman Beatty, Mayor Coleman, and all of you who make up The Ohio State University for allowing me the honor of joining you today.  Congratulations, Class of 2013!  And congratulations to all the parents, family, friends and faculty here in the Horseshoe – this is your day…

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you.  (Applause.)  Hello, Buckeyes!  O-H! AUDIENCE:  I-O! THE PRESIDENT:  O-H! AUDIENCE:  I-O! THE PRESIDENT:  O-H! AUDIENCE:  I-O! THE PRESIDENT:  Well, thank you so much.  Everybody, please be seated.  Thank you, Dr. Gee, for the wonderful introduction.  I suspect the good President may have edited out some other words that were used to…

Today we honor the victory of the Mexican people in their fight for freedom at the Battle of Puebla 151 years ago.  On Cinco de Mayo we celebrate the contributions and heritage of Mexican Americans and we recognize the strong cultural, familial, and economic ties that bind the United States and Mexico. This week, I…

The following op-ed by Vice President Joe Biden appeared today in print in the Houston Chronicle. Biden: Background checks are key to gun safety Congress must not let the NRA sway votes on firearm legislation By Vice President Joe Biden In recent years, Americans have witnessed a series of senseless tragedies resulting from mass shootings.…

WASHINGTON, DC—In his weekly address, President Obama spoke to the American people from Mexico City, Mexico about the incredible opportunities to create middle-class jobs in America by deepening our economic ties and expanding trade in Latin America.  He also discussed a recent Senate bill that takes commonsense steps to fix our broken immigration system, like…

PRESIDENT OBAMA:  Well, thank you so much, Mr. Condo.  And once again, I want to thank President Chinchilla and all the people of Costa Rica for their incredible hospitality.  I’ve already been scouting out where I’m going to stay when I come back here for vacation.  (Laughter.)  But, unfortunately, I’m going to have to leave…

In his May 3 meeting with the Presidents of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, and the Dominican Republic, and the Prime Minister of Belize, President Obama discussed our comprehensive regional partnership to improve citizen security in Central America. Through the Central America Regional Security Initiative (CARSI) and multiple complementary citizen security investments,…