Category: 2013

WASHINGTON, DC – Vice President Joe Biden announced today that Bruce Reed is departing as his Chief of Staff and that he has tapped senior aide Steve Ricchetti to succeed him. Mr. Ricchetti has served as Counselor to the Vice President since March 2012. Mr. Reed will step down in mid-December to become President of…

Today, the United States designated Nigeria-based groups Boko Haram and Ansaru as Foreign Terrorist Organizations and Specially Designated Global Terrorists.  In the last several years, Boko Haram and Ansaru have been responsible for thousands of deaths in northeast and central Nigeria, including dozens of attacks on churches and mosques, targeted killings of civilians, and the…

The President and President Hollande spoke today as part of their ongoing discussions on shared security interests, including recent developments related to Iran.  The United States and France are in full agreement regarding the P5+1’s unified proposal to Iran and the approach to negotiations.  They consider the P5+1 proposal to be a sound step toward…

This morning, President Obama, Vice President Biden and senior Administration officials met with faith leaders in the Oval Office to discuss the importance of taking action to pass commonsense immigration reform. The faith leaders from across the country who attended today’s meeting are an important part of the broad array of stakeholders who support reform.…

H.R. 3302, which designates the Department of Veterans Affairs medical center in Bay Pines, Florida, as the C.W. Bill Young Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

On Wednesday, November 13, 2013, the President signed into law: H.R. 2094, the “School Access to Emergency Epinephrine Act,” which includes in the statutory authorization for certain asthma-related grants a funding preference for States that require schools to:  maintain epinephrine supply; and have on the premises trained personnel who can administer the epinephrine as needed.

Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with the people of the Philippines as they mourn so many loved ones and neighbors lost in the awful destruction of Typhoon Haiyan. Here in the United States, we’re offering our support to our fellow Filipino-Americans who are worried for family and friends back home.  The friendship between…

I just want to thank all of the outstanding legislators who are here and advocates.  This is something that will save children’s lives.  Some people may know that Malia actually has a peanut allergy.  She doesn’t have asthma, but obviously making sure that EpiPens are available in case of emergency in schools is something that…

NOMINATIONS SENT TO THE SENATE: Mark Gilbert, of the District of Columbia, to serve concurrently and without additional compensation as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Independent State of Samoa. Timothy G. Massad, of Connecticut, to be a Commissioner of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission for a term expiring…

TO THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES: 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 the 90–day period prior to the anniversary date of its declaration, the President publishes in the Federal Register and transmits to the Congress a notice stating that…