Category: 2013

The White House released a report today underscoring the costs of repealing the Affordable Care Act for millions of Americans. The benefits of the health care law – lower costs, new protections, and expanded access to quality, affordable care – are real, and the repeal plan pushed by some Republicans in Congress would undermine or…

The Administration appreciates the bipartisan work of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees on the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014, and their continued support of our service members and national defense.  The bill will, among other things, assist the Armed Forces in operating in unconventional and irregular warfare and countering unconventional…

WASHINGTON, DC – Today President Barack Obama granted clemency to twenty-one individuals, consisting of eight commutations and thirteen pardons. The President granted commutations to the following eight individuals: Clarence Aaron – Mobile, Ala. Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute cocaine; attempt to possess cocaine…

Three years ago, I signed the bipartisan Fair Sentencing Act, which dramatically narrowed the disparity between penalties for crack and powder cocaine offenses.  This law began to right a decades-old injustice, but for thousands of inmates, it came too late.  If they had been sentenced under the current law, many of them would have already…

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, President Obama nominated Judge Michael P. Boggs, Tanya S. Chutkan, Mark Howard Cohen, Judge M. Hannah Lauck, Leigh Martin May, Judge Eleanor Ross, Judge Leo T. Sorokin, and Judge James Alan Soto to serve on the United States District Courts. “I am honored to put forward these highly qualified candidates for…

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, President Obama nominated Judge Julie E. Carnes and Judge Gregg Jeffrey Costa to serve on the United States Courts of Appeals. “Judges Carnes and Costa have displayed exceptional dedication to public service throughout their careers,” President Obama said. “I am honored to nominate them today to serve the American people on…

Dear Mr. Speaker: (Mr. President:) On December 18, 2013, approximately 45 U.S. Armed Forces personnel deployed to South Sudan to support the security of U.S. personnel and our Embassy. Although equipped for combat, this force was deployed for the purpose of protecting U.S. citizens and property. This force will remain in South Sudan until the…

WASHINGTON – Today, President Barack Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individuals to key Administration posts: Paige Eve Alexander – Assistant Administrator for the Middle East, United States Agency for International Development Sharon Y. Bowen – Commissioner, Commodity Futures Trading Commission John C. Cruden – Assistant Attorney General for the Environment and Natural…

NOMINATIONS SENT TO THE SENATE: Michael P. Boggs, of Georgia, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Georgia, vice Julie E. Carnes. Julie E. Carnes, of Georgia, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Eleventh Circuit, vice James Larry Edmondson, retired. Tanya S. Chutkan, of the District of Columbia, to…

In 2011, millions of South Sudanese voted to forge a new nation, founded on the promise of a more peaceful and prosperous future for all of South Sudan’s people.  In recent years, against great odds, South Sudan has made great progress toward breaking the cycle of violence that characterized much of its history. Today, that…